Taking it she read the cover, 'Occlumency for Beginners'
"Occlumency?" she asked. "What's that?"
"Occlumency is the magical mind art of sorting out your thoughts and memories, as well as protecting your mind from a Legilimencer," he replied. "As well as improving your ability to retain memory of what you read, see, hear or experience it gives you significant protection from someone using Legilimency against you."
"What's Legilimency?" she asked.
"Legilimency is the magical mind art that grants you the ability to... enter someone's mind to view their memories, scan their surface thoughts and, in extreme cases, interfere with their ability to think," he replied. "Severus Snape was a master at it. And Dumbledore used to use him to spy on the minds of people, especially those around me; including you."
Both women appeared horrified.
"He could do that?" squeaked Hermione.
"That would be an invasion of privacy," said an offended Monica.
Harry nodded back to both with a serious expression on his face.
"What about Dumbledore?" Hermione hesitantly asked.
"From all the experience I had of the man, it's not something he ever did to me," he replied. "I think he couldn't. Being able to become a Legilimencer is not something anyone or everyone can do. And I have no idea how Snape was able to develop it.
"I only know Snape can do it because he tried it on me, right from the start - in that first potions class we had with him in First Year. That's why he was staring at me so much.
"Every time I felt him trying it would cause my scar to hurt; and he tried quite a few times, especially when he was with Dumbledore in Dumbledore's office with just me. But, when I was in Dumbledore's office without Snape there, or when I met Dumbledore anywhere else, I never felt that pain.
"I think it's part of my mother's blood protection she placed on me that's blocking it. And why I think I'm immune to the Obliviate and Killing curses."
"Which is why you think Dumbledore can't do it," she added.
He grinned and nodded back before he said, "Snape's ability as a Legilimencer is one of the reasons why I think Dumbledore kept him around."
Looking down at the book and brushing her hand in a caress across the cover, she asked, "Have you read this?"
"I've read it, yes," he replied. "However, I can't do it. Again, I think it has to do with my mother's blood protection. As I said, it's another form of mind magic."
"And you're immune," she added.
Again, he nodded.
"Thank you," she quietly replied, looking back to him.
He grinned and said, "You're welcome."
"Thank you, Harry," said Monica. "I don't like the idea one of these... Legilimencers... could read my daughter's mind."
Setting the book on her bedside table, Hermione turned back and said, "Now, you wanted something to do. How about, after lunch, we go for a walk around the neighbourhood a little, so you get a feel for the place?"
Surprised by the idea, Harry replied, "That would be nice, thank you."
Stepping back he said, "In that case, I'll leave you ladies to your chat. I have something I need to ask Sirius."
"You forgot to ask this morning?" asked Hermione.
"You could say that," he smiled.
He'd only just made it out the door when Dobby popped in beside him.
"Lunch is served, Master Harry," he said.
"Thank you, Dobby," he replied before turning back to the door.
"Ladies, I don't know if you noticed but Dobby just popped up to let us know lunch is ready."
"Excellent," said Monica. "I'm starved!"
Hermione just rolled her eyes.
_β_
β==(oIo)==β
Λ
Walking into the Great Hall in a new set of robes due to the damage to the set he wore to the Clan Stewart village - stalking in, really - Dumbledore ignored everyone and made his way directly to his chair at the head table. However, on arriving there he realised his chair was now no longer 'his' chair. And it had been removed, anyway.
Marchbanks was now sitting at what used to be his place on a chair with a more comfortable-shaped back, with no armrests; not one that was straight-backed like his own. And was showing a weakness of fortitude by sitting on a large cushion, to boot!
He had been a little delayed as he had stopped a couple of Gryffindor students to find out if they knew where young Harry had gone when he left the school. One of them had told him they thought the boy had gone to stay with Miss Granger, as the two had been inseparable since the First Task - and they'd also heard Neville Longbottom tell someone else, but didn't mention who.
As he looked at Marchbanks, she noticed and said, "Good afternoon, Albus." Then indicated a chair quite a few away from her own. "As Professor of Transfiguration, your seat is down there."
Moving to a chair only two separated from hers, he said, "I can sit here."
"Can, yes," she replied. But, as he began to reach for it to pull it out and away from the table so he could sit on it, she added, "However, that is the seat for the Head of Ravenclaw. And you, Professor Dumbledore, are not that person.
"You may sit on any seat that is not my own or the three either side of me, so long as no one has already chosen that seat for themselves. The closest either side of me, for the time being, are reserved respectively for the Headmistress and Highmaster of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. The next two either side of me are for the four Heads of Houses. Left to right, they are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin; the same current order as the four house tables.
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