"Dylan, how is it that you've already learned Legilimency, and so incredibly well at that?" Cedric rubbed his aching temples, looking across at Dylan.
Today, finally, the rain had stopped. The sun was even out. The afternoon sun slanted through the stained-glass windows of the abandoned classroom, bathing them both in a warm glow – quite a comforting feeling.
"That's the third time," Cedric panted slightly, re-clipping his wand to his belt. "Your Legilimency is like it has a mind of its own. I was just thinking about the Quidditch match, and you instantly knew I was picturing the moment I caught the Golden Snitch."
Dylan chuckled softly, a casual smile playing on his lips as he lowered his head to gently wipe his wand with his handkerchief. "Occlumency isn't just about blocking thoughts; it's about layering your memories like a thousand-leaf pastry. Do you understand now?"
Putting away his handkerchief, Dylan suddenly raised his hand, the tip of his wand resting against Cedric's forehead. Cedric instinctively recoiled, but his eyes glowed with a silvery-grey light due to Dylan's magic.
"Imagine your memories are wandering ghosts," Dylan's voice whispered in Cedric's ear. "What you need to do isn't to chase them away, but to put an Invisibility Cloak on them."
"The key is to keep your thoughts flowing, like swimming in the Black Lake – though no one actually swims in the Black Lake. What you need to do, while swimming, is not to get caught on any single image."
"Because once there's a strong emotional fluctuation, it's like a signal light flashing, easily caught by a Legilimens."
Cedric, hearing this, gradually held his breath, feeling the cool magic seep from his forehead into his consciousness. He didn't resist Dylan's help in simulating Occlumency. Although doing so might lay his memories bare before Dylan, Cedric didn't believe he had any shameful memories that couldn't be known. Even if some memories carried unpleasantness, his emotions, the difficulties he'd felt, they were all in the past. Cedric wasn't someone who often got caught up in the past.
Dylan was a little surprised by Cedric's cooperation. But precisely because he offered no resistance and allowed him to slowly infuse magic into his brain, Dylan could not only guide Cedric but also take the opportunity to study someone else's mind – though he had only studied a few human brains before.
"Don't resist, relax your nerves, just like you adjust your broom's angle on the Quidditch pitch. Guide the magic with the most natural posture."
"The more you try to hide a certain image, the more it will inflate in your mind, like it's been hit with an Engorgement Charm."
At this point, while Cedric was adjusting his thoughts as instructed, Dylan took the opportunity to implant a few things into his mind.
"Wait, what is this? What are you doing, Dylan...?"
"Shhh, it'll be over soon."
When the last wisp of Legilimency magic dissipated into the air, Cedric snapped back to awareness, then stumbled, steadying himself against a dusty, old desk. His face flushed, he looked at Dylan.
Dylan was slowly wiping his wand. "Why are you looking at me like that?" Like a little wife he'd bullied.
Cedric choked. "You... why did you put an image of a troll doing ballet into my head? And Ron making his trousers vanish in Transfiguration class, only to reveal glow-in-the-dark, slightly ripped knickers with a Niffler pattern?"
Cedric's expression was incredibly complex, and he was struggling to keep a straight face. "You can actually create images in my mind – and the key is, these images are utterly impossible to shake off!"
"Now, when I close my eyes, I see a troll dancing ballet, and Ron, in his glow-in-the-dark knickers, wiggling his backside in front of me!"
Dylan shrugged. "Don't you think it's effective? Look, it's almost instantaneous; you can't think of anything else."
Cedric paused, blinking. It actually... seemed to be true. But wasn't this method a bit too bizarre? It didn't feel very proper.
Dylan glanced at him. "What, you think it's not orthodox? As long as it works, right?"
Cedric's mouth twitched, then he nodded slightly. "You're right."
After a moment of silence, Cedric suddenly asked, "Have you really seen a troll doing ballet? And did Ron really make his trousers disappear in Transfiguration class?"
Dylan burst out laughing. "No, I just imagined that." Dylan explained his little trick for using Occlumency to Cedric. "Imagine more outlandish images; they'll become your mental shield."
Dylan waved his wand. The old, abandoned desks and chairs around them suddenly grew two backside-like protrusions. Then...
"Pffft" "Pffft" "Pfft-pfft-pfft~"
The desks and chairs suddenly started to fart. Cedric's eyes nearly popped out of his head. He quickly raised a hand to cover his mouth.
Dylan, a smirk playing on his lips, waved his wand again. The desks and chairs instantly returned to normal, and the gases they'd released vanished.
"When you encounter an enemy who uses Legilimency, if they want to peek into your secrets, they'll first have to get past Dumbledore doing a tap dance."
Hearing this, Cedric instinctively recoiled. Good heavens! He sounded like a madman! Cedric suddenly felt as if Dylan's training methods were even more bizarre than those of Dark wizards.
"You... you dare to mess with Headmaster Dumbledore?"
Dylan blinked innocently. "Why not? As long as it helps, right? I imagine Headmaster Dumbledore would even praise us for a job well done, even if he knew."
Cedric: "..." Are you sure? Are you sure the Headmaster, after seeing himself in your mind, wearing a pink tutu and tap dancing... wouldn't blast you with a Fulgari spell and obliterate you?
Swallowing hard, Cedric tried his best to maintain his gentlemanly composure. He let out a dry laugh, not pursuing the topic. "I think I've grasped the key points of practicing Occlumency. I'll go back and try it out properly."
Dylan nodded, a look of approval on his face, as if Cedric were a promising student. "But remember, this method is just a trick. Someone trying to probe your thoughts might think you're mad, and they might also naturally suspect that you're deliberately thinking these absurd images."
Cedric nodded. "Don't worry, I will – I mean, I won't solely focus on this trick as my main practice goal."
Dylan looked satisfied. It had to be said, Cedric's talent wasn't weak either. He wondered how he compared to Florean Fortescue's daughter, Vera. Unfortunately, Vera's father just sold ice cream. It would be hard for him to help her much at the Ministry of Magic. But Cedric was different. Even if his talent might not be as good as Vera's, he had his father's support. Unless something truly unusual happened, he would always rise swiftly and smoothly.
"Speaking of which, I was quite surprised you lost to Ravenclaw in the Quidditch match last week." Dylan said as he and Cedric walked out of the abandoned classroom.
Cedric's eyes shifted, and he smiled again. "It's a game, isn't it? Winning and losing is perfectly normal."
Normal? Dylan shrugged. "Is it possible you were so focused on mastering Occlumency that you neglected your Quidditch training?"
"Not at all." Cedric shook his head. "One thing at a time. I never let one thing distract me from another. So, while it might seem like I spend a lot of time practicing Occlumency, I'm actually very serious about my Quidditch training."
Seeing Cedric's earnest expression, Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Then how did you lose?"
"That's because... Ravenclaw's skill level this year has dramatically improved – it's something I have to admit." As he spoke, a small, uncontrollable smile crept onto Cedric's lips, forming an arc.
Dylan watched his somewhat lovesick expression, then narrowed his eyes. Instantly, he sensed the image forming in Cedric's mind.
"Oh, a pretty girl."
"Yes, very pretty – huh?!" Cedric nodded, then suddenly reacted, stiffening, his eyes wide with astonishment. "Wait a minute! Did you just use Legilimency on me? Training is over now! I don't need you to test my Occlumency anymore!"
Dylan looked hurt. "Oh, fine, so you'll turn on me after you've used me? How heartbreaking."
Cedric's mouth twitched. "Don't act, Dylan, that little expression of yours is a bit too theatrical..."
Dylan dropped the act and shrugged. "Was that Ravenclaw's Cho Chang?"
"You did use Legilimency on me..."
Dylan fluttered his eyelashes. "Whose fault is it that you still haven't mastered Occlumency? Mine, I suppose?"
Cedric rubbed his nose. "My fault, alright? My fault."
"But I remember, Cho Chang should be in Harry's year, shouldn't she? Did she join Quidditch too?" Dylan had bumped into Cho Chang walking out with Luna two days ago when he went to cook with Luna in the Hufflepuff kitchens. The two girls seemed to get along quite well.
Cedric nodded. "Yes, she's Ravenclaw's Seeker. Even though she's only in her third year, she seems very talented. I never thought I'd lose to her."
Dylan laughed. "Didn't you think you might not even beat Harry, and they're not even in the same year?"
"The new students are getting more and more formidable," Cedric shook his head.
"And then what? You lost the Quidditch match to her, and now you're not planning to win the match back, but to win her over instead?" Dylan looked at Cedric with amusement.
"What are you talking about..." Cedric's face flushed, and he paused before finally saying, "We're already dating."
"What?!" Dylan's eyes widened. "So soon? You're already dating??" Dylan blinked, taking a moment to process. He hadn't deliberately probed Cedric's memories while helping him practice Occlumency. This truly caught him by surprise. They were already dating? Hadn't they just met?
Clicking his tongue, Dylan asked, "You didn't lose the match because you started dating her, did you?"
"No way! I'm not that kind of person!" Cedric immediately denied. "Besides, we only met after the match."
Dylan nodded knowingly. "So, have you gone on a date yet? Or did you just confirm the relationship directly?"
"Not yet... it was a direct confirmation. I plan to ask her to Mrs. Puddifoot's Tea Shop when we next go to Hogsmeade."
Oh, goodie! A rather famous dating spot at Hogwarts! Not bad, not bad. Dylan gave a slight nod. "Cho Chang is a good girl. Since you're already dating, cherish her well."
"Of course. Even though I'm two years older than her, I'd do that without you telling me." Cedric gazed down at his feet, but his lips curved upwards uncontrollably. A warm blush spread from his ear tips to his cheeks, even his earlobes tinged with a soft rosy hue.
Dylan watched his rather lovesick expression, his eyelid twitching. "Young people fall in love so fast."
Just then, Cedric said, "I never thought before that I'd fall in love with a girl at first sight. After the match, she came over to shake my hand, and, well..." Cedric seemed a bit shy. "Anyway, we both seemed to have a good feeling about each other, and then this week..."
Dylan, with his eyes narrowed, listened to the sweet details that made his temples throb. He raised a hand, stopping Cedric from continuing. "Alright, alright, I know enough already. You don't need to tell me any more."
Dylan clicked his tongue. "But you are two years ahead of her, and you'll be graduating soon. Don't go graduating and then meeting new girls and just dumping her."
Cedric's eyes widened again. "Am I that kind of person?"
Dylan rolled his eyes. Through this period of more frequent contact and interaction, Dylan's initial impression of Cedric had been completely overturned. At first, he seemed resolute and honest, but that was just a protective facade. A gentleman is always humorous. When a boy naturally exudes charm, he can inadvertently stir the feelings of innocent young girls. It's no wonder Cedric could get along with everyone at school. Especially when he set out to pursue a girl, he would undoubtedly unleash that charm to its fullest. With those irresistibly romantic tactics, it seemed perfectly normal that Cho Chang would be smitten within just a week.
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