"As for how it works… have you ever heard the saying 'the eyes are the windows to the soul?'" Nicholas asked. "That is a phrase that best describes Legilimancy. You will come to find that, as you delve deeper into the mysteries of magic, that sometimes, myths and superstitions have more power and influence on magic than some realize or give credit to. But as fascinating as that particular topic is, that is not what we're discussing today. Right now, we're learning how to properly structure the mind with Occlumency."
"Occlumency is not a matter of building up walls in your mind, nor is it for crudely squashing down emotions so they do not affect you, it is organizing your thoughts. A well-ordered mind is truly powerful, for it can allow you to recall with perfect clarity distant memories, boost the speed at which you can think, and of course, help you navigate through emotional turmoil so you can come to grips with it," Nicholas stated.
"So that's how Occlumency is supposed to defend against Legilimancy. I think I get it, now! You're not blocking someone's entry into your mind, you are redirecting them away from the memories you don't want them to see," I realized. That made sense, actually. Didn't Snape do that himself whenever he had to have a meeting with Voldemort in the books?
"You catch on quick," the alchemist praised, and I felt a bit of pride swell up in my chest. "You can block Legilimancy with enough skill in Occlumency, even throwing them out of your mind entirely, but such advanced applications are far beyond you at this point, and require decades of study and practice."
"Mr. Flamel, when I was learning about Occlumency, there was mention of something called a Mind Palace," I brought up after a moment of thought, recalling something from my own studies years ago. "What is that?"
"A Mind Palace is the ultimate expression of Occlumency. It is a mental construct you have created in your mind that acts as a literal inner world of sorts. A person who has made a Mind Palace can literally project themselves inside their own mind and do all sorts of things. From reliving memories as if they'd just happened, to conducting experiments in the privacy of your own mind, unburdened by physical constraints or limitations. I have heard it compared to lucid dreaming while awake. However, the creation of a full Mind Palace is not easy, and even myself and Perenelle only managed to do so after three hundred years of practice," Nicholas explained, a note of warning in his tone as he finished.
"Oh," I muttered, disappointed by that revelation.
"Do not be sad, however, as the lesser forms of Occlumency are more than sufficient for protection of mind and memories. Now, from what source did you learn Occlumency?" Nicholas inquired.
"I read it in Greyworth's Guide to the Mind," I said. "I taught the methods within to Harry, Sam, and Delilah."
"Hmm. Greyworth's method isn't the worst, but his version of Occlumency is primarily a meditation aide and for sorting and recalling memories. It is not the best for emotional suppression or protecting the mind," Nicholas replied. "Learning defensive Occlumency is also difficult in the first place as it requires some form of mental attack to deflect as part of the training. It is very much an active defensive measure and has to be used as soon as you feel your mind come under assault."
"Does that mean you could shake off something like the Imperius if you have a strong enough mind and enough warning?" I asked, earning a shake of the head.
"There is a reason the Imperius Curse is reviled and illegal in every magical polity across the world," Nicholas stated grimly. "It targets not the mind, but the soul itself, just as the other two Unforgivables do. It is what makes them 'Unforgivable,' after all. There is next to no defense against a direct assault on your soul."
Harry gingerly reached up to his scar, causing the alchemist to give him a sorrowful smile. "The only known ways to resist the Unforgivable Curses is through sacrifice. Pure, unburdened, and freely given. No life debts or compulsions can force such a protection to occur."
"If that's the case, then why haven't there been other survivors of the Killing Curse?" Sam asked softly. "Surely there have been other people who sacrificed their lives for other loved ones?"
"Of course there were. Love is powerful and transcends all cultures. But if the Killing Curse fails once, why would the attacker not try and strike again after the first failed attempt? Or use a different spell? And in the heat of battle, some people might just assume the curse missed them."
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