Ez had made up his mind.
He would learn Occlumency under Snape.
It wasn't a decision he took lightly. Snape was a complicated figure—strict, cold, and known for his favoritism toward Slytherins. But he was also a master of the mind arts. If Ez wanted to unlock his full potential, this was a necessary step.
The next day, after classes, he approached Snape's office. He knocked once.
"Enter."
Snape was seated at his desk, quill in hand, grading essays. He barely spared Ez a glance before speaking.
"You've come to a decision, I assume?"
"Yes, Professor," Ez said. "I want to learn Occlumency properly."
Snape finally looked up, his dark eyes assessing. "Very well. We will begin now."
He stood, moving to the center of the room, motioning for Ez to follow.
"Occlumency is not simply about resisting intrusion," Snape lectured. "It is the art of controlling one's mind—of building walls so impenetrable that no one, not even the Dark Lord himself, can break through."
Ez stood firm.
"Legilimency," Snape continued, "is the opposite—the art of breaking into minds, sifting through thoughts and memories. The stronger your defenses, the harder it is to be read."
Snape's eyes narrowed slightly. "For this reason, we will begin with an attempt to breach your mind."
Ez tensed.
"Do not resist physically," Snape warned. "Clear your mind. Focus."
Before he could prepare any further, Snape raised his wand.
"Legilimens!"
A rush of images flooded Ez's vision.
—His childhood, running through the gardens of the Malverne estate—
—Alys laughing as they played by the lake—
—Fleur's curious gaze when they first met in France—
Ez gritted his teeth. He could feel Snape's presence, pressing against the walls of his mind like a battering ram.
"No."
He fought back, trying to push Snape out. But it was like holding back a tide with bare hands.
Snape withdrew a moment later, his expression unreadable.
"Pathetic," he said coolly.
Ez scowled.
"Your defenses are weak," Snape continued. "Had I been an enemy, I would have plucked every secret from your mind without effort."
Ez clenched his fists. "Then teach me how to stop it."
Snape studied him for a long moment.
"Again," he commanded.
---
The next few sessions were brutal.
Snape did not hold back. Every attempt to shield himself felt like trying to plug holes in a sinking ship. The Potions Master tore through his thoughts with relentless efficiency.
But Ez was determined.
He began experimenting with different mental defenses—imagining walls of stone, locks, vault doors. None held for long.
One evening, after yet another failure, Snape sneered.
"You are trying to block me outright. That is foolish. Even the strongest walls will crumble under a skilled Legilimens."
Ez frowned. "Then what should I do?"
"You must learn to misdirect."
Snape flicked his wand, summoning a small wisp of silver smoke. "A true Occlumens does not simply block entry. He redirects, deceives, buries real thoughts beneath false ones."
Ez absorbed the words carefully.
"You mean I should give you something else to see?"
Snape nodded, for once looking slightly less disdainful. "Precisely. Lead the intruder where you wish, and they will find nothing of value."
Ez's mind raced. That… made sense.
---
At their next session, Ez tried a different approach.
When Snape cast Legilimens, he did not simply block—he redirected.
Instead of resisting the attack, he pushed forward a harmless memory—a quiet evening reading in the Malverne library.
The effect was immediate.
The pressure in his mind lessened.
Snape withdrew, raising a brow.
"A small improvement," he admitted. "You are beginning to understand."
Ez smirked slightly, wiping sweat from his brow.
It was a victory, no matter how small.
---
As the weeks passed, Ez's progress accelerated.
He practiced controlling his emotions, keeping his mind calm and unreadable. He even began experimenting with concealing knowledge behind layers of false memories.
It was working.
At their next lesson, Snape cast Legilimens again—but this time, Ez was ready.
The moment Snape entered his mind, he was met with nothing but an empty sky.
Ez felt Snape push deeper, searching for something real.
But there was nothing.
For the first time, Snape withdrew with a thoughtful expression.
"You are progressing faster than expected," he admitted.
Ez exhaled slowly. "Then let's take it further."
Snape's lips curled slightly. "Eager, aren't we? Very well. If you wish to advance, you must learn to control your emotions even under extreme circumstances. Occlumency is worthless if it crumbles under stress."
Ez nodded.
This was just the beginning.
---
Outside of lessons, Ez found himself watching people differently.
He noticed things he hadn't before—small shifts in expression, hesitation in speech.
Were people lying? Hiding their thoughts?
For the first time, he wondered just how many people in Hogwarts had secrets buried beneath the surface.
One evening, as he sat in the common room, Elena nudged him.
"You've been different lately," she observed.
Ez raised a brow. "How so?"
"You seem more… guarded."
Ez smirked. "Maybe I've just learned to think before I speak."
Elena rolled her eyes. "Well, whatever it is, don't get too lost in that head of yours. You're still human, you know."
Her words lingered with him.
Occlumency was making him stronger—but at what cost?
---
Late one evening, just as Ez was heading back to his dorm, he heard a knock at the common room door.
Frowning, he opened it.
Fleur stood outside.
He blinked in surprise. "Fleur?"
Her blue eyes studied him. "Can we talk?"
Ez nodded, stepping aside to let her in.
As she sat down, he noticed something unusual—her emotions seemed… unusually subdued.
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Something wrong?"
Fleur hesitated, then exhaled.
"Ever since I arrived at Hogwarts, I've felt… drawn to you," she admitted. "At first, I thought it was just because we met in France. But it's more than that."
Ez's heart skipped a beat.
The Veela bond.
Fleur continued, her gaze uncertain. "I don't know if you've noticed, but you're not exactly like other wizards. There's something… different about you."
Ez exhaled. Fleur was perceptive.
"I could say the same about you," he replied smoothly.
Fleur gave him a small smile. "Perhaps we should figure this out together."
Ez smirked. "That sounds like a challenge."
Fleur's expression turned playful. "Are you up for it, Malverne?"
Ez had the feeling this was just the beginning.
---