The classroom fell silent after Percy and the others left, as if no one were there at all. Suddenly, a female voice echoed, "Harry, do you think they'll come back?"
Harry listened carefully for any sounds outside, then ripped off the Invisibility Cloak. Hermione crawled up from the floor, still clutching a frog in her arms.
"Scourgify!"
Harry helped Hermione clean the dust and slime off her. Hermione sighed dramatically, "I can't believe Percy is actually dating Prefect Clearwater! They're both prefects, they seem like a perfect match!" Harry nodded in agreement on the surface, but secretly, he doubted Percy and Clearwater would last. After all, Percy couldn't even tell Ginny that Clearwater was his girlfriend—what kind of relationship was that?
But now wasn't the time for gossip. Harry took the frog from Hermione's arms and examined it. "Good, this frog seems to be in decent shape." Hermione looked a bit embarrassed. When Percy had returned earlier, she'd been so nervous she'd squeezed the frog tightly. Luckily, Harry had noticed in time and pried her hands open, otherwise the frog would have been squashed.
"Harry," Hermione said, "are we still going to practice tonight?"
"Not here. Come with me." Harry decided they needed a new spot, hoping the Weasley twins weren't in the tunnel behind the humpbacked witch statue on the fourth floor.
Hermione followed Harry to the fourth-floor corridor and looked at the wall in front of them, a little puzzled. Harry pulled out his wand and said to the humpbacked witch statue, "Dissendium." Hermione watched in astonishment as a dark opening appeared before them. She'd walked this corridor many times but had never known there was a secret passage here.
"Lumos!" Harry lit his wand and led the way in, with Hermione close behind. Tonight must have been Harry's lucky night; the Weasley twins weren't there.
Hermione asked curiously, "Harry, how did you find this?"
"It's the Weasley twins' secret hideout. They told me," Harry explained briefly. They walked for a bit, feeling they were deep enough. Harry then urged Hermione to take out the frog; he was ready to start practicing Legilimency.
However, Hermione looked at him seriously and said, "Harry, perhaps we should review the theory again."
"Practice makes perfect, Hermione."
Harry said, pointing his wand at the frog's head. It seemed to sense danger and began to struggle frantically, but Harry had already cast Petrificus Totalus on it. But Hermione pulled Harry back again. Harry looked at her, puzzled, wondering what other issues there could be.
"Harry, maybe I should go first," Hermione said worriedly. "After all, this magic is very advanced. If something goes wrong, you can save me in time." Harry was speechless. He hadn't expected the usually decisive Hermione to be so hesitant tonight. But then he remembered the book stating that Legilimency was a very profound form of magic, and failure to practice could result in a backlash. Harry could then understand why Hermione was so reluctant.
They looked at each other in silence for a while, and then Harry suddenly smiled. Harry reassured her, "Hermione, don't worry. My magic is stronger than yours. Even if there's a backlash, I can handle it." Hermione opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, just stood silently to the side with her wand out.
Harry turned, focusing all his attention on the frog, staring into its eyes. "Legilimens!"
A light flared from his wand tip. Harry felt the fear in the frog's mind. He had successfully entered the frog's mind on his first try. Harry felt as if he were floating in an ocean. He casually stirred a wave, and a memory fragment surfaced. Harry felt a surge of pleasure. This feeling was wonderful; it gave him a sense of being in control of everything. It wasn't an illusion; he truly could control this vast ocean.
Then, Harry began to shamelessly observe the frog's entire life: birth in the Black Lake, a little tadpole searching for its mother, heavy rain, squid, mosquitoes, and then being caught... Suddenly, the memories stopped, and Harry was pulled out of the frog's recollections. The frog in reality had stopped moving. Harry tentatively touched it and found that it was dead.
"Harry? Are you alright?" Hermione asked cautiously. Harry turned to Hermione blankly. He saw his own eyes; his normally gentle green eyes were now somewhat aggressive. Is this one of the reasons Malfoy is so afraid of me? Then he felt Hermione's emotions... Why was Hermione afraid? And in pain? Harry couldn't understand, so he continued deeper, and an ocean appeared before him. Oh, this ocean was larger and warmer than the last one. Harry thought vaguely, and casually stirred a wave.
Within the wave was Hermione's memory: age four, Hermione cuddling with Mrs. Granger; age six, girls at school calling her insulting names, Hermione not understanding why; age seven, a new school, and after just one week, the classmates started again...
Am I Harry Potter? Or Hermione Granger?
Harry subconsciously increased his magic; he wanted more. Suddenly, a painful groan sounded. Harry vaguely thought the person must be in great pain. No! He sharply threw down his wand, and the Legilimency was broken.
Hermione collapsed to the ground, uncontrollably. She seemed to have been forced to relive her life as an observer. Seeing Hermione motionless, Harry helped her up by her upper body, trembling as he said, "Hermione, are you okay? Don't scare me." Only then did he realize he had just entered Hermione's mind.
Harry gently lifted Hermione, preparing to find a professor. After a while, Hermione slowly regained consciousness. Just as Harry was carrying Hermione to find a professor, Hermione's weak voice spoke, "Harry, I'm fine." But Harry didn't let go of her. Instead, he held her tighter and continued walking out. "Don't talk. You'll be alright," Harry said softly. Hermione then realized how strong Harry was; she barely felt any jostling.
"Harry, did you just see my memories? They must have been terribly ugly."
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to—"
Hermione placed her hand over Harry's lips, stopping him from speaking further. "It's alright, Harry. I don't blame you."
Harry didn't speak, just walked faster. He remembered the hospital wing was on the second floor. Harry's heart was filled with regret. His smooth sailing since coming to Hogwarts had made him arrogant. He had thought Legilimency would be as easy as any other spell. And it had been, he had performed Legilimency easily. But he hadn't realized how completely engrossed he would become in the spell. If he had been a moment later, he couldn't imagine if Hermione would have ended up like that frog.
Damn it, where are all the professors you usually trip over every other step tonight?!
Harry grew increasingly agitated. He wanted to pull out his wand to create some noise, but his hand found nothing. Hermione then noticed Harry's wand was missing. "Harry, your wand... we have to go back. We can't leave it there," Hermione struggled to say.
Harry ignored her, because a familiar figure he'd usually want to avoid appeared around the next corner. He walked straight towards him.
Severus Snape had just returned to the castle. He'd acquired some Acromantula venom in the Forbidden Forest. Snape was in a pleasant mood as he walked upstairs; it was his turn for night patrol. "This way, my research can continue, perhaps... Tsk." Suddenly, Snape heard hurried footsteps from upstairs, interrupting his thoughts. Snape walked over impatiently, ready to see which fool was daring to be out of bed tonight.
Seeing the pair before him, Snape sneered. "Potter, I'm not surprised in the least. I can't believe you—"
For the first time, Harry found that greasy face surprisingly welcome. "We had a problem practicing magic. Hermione was hit by my spell," Harry interrupted Snape roughly, then continued, "Professor Snape, please help her."
Snape frowned. This must be serious; Potter had actually called him "Professor." He pulled out his wand and performed a quick diagnostic charm on Granger, then turned and performed one on Potter as well, his frown deepening.
"Is Hermione going to be alright, Professor Snape?"
"At least I didn't find anything overtly wrong."
(Harry was too distraught to mention they were practicing Legilimency, and Snape wouldn't have thought to check her mind. In the real world, would you expect a second-year student to be brewing trinitrophenol?)
Hearing that answer, Harry still looked at Snape expectantly. Snape couldn't stand those green eyes staring at him like that, so he turned his head and said, "If you're so worried, then go to the hospital wing and have Poppy check her over." Harry, clutching Hermione, started to follow, but Snape waved his wand, making Hermione float. "Potter, has your brain been invaded by Gillywater? Can't even manage a simple Hover Charm?"
Hearing Snape's sarcastic tone, Harry actually felt a wave of relief. If Snape was speaking like that, it meant Hermione wasn't in any serious danger. Harry silently followed Snape to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey was still awake; the Weasley twins were already lying in beds there.
"Poppy, this foolish girl was hit by Potter's spell," Snape said curtly. Hearing Snape, Madam Pomfrey took Hermione, placed her on a bed, and began examining her. Only then did Harry remember he hadn't told Snape what magic they were practicing. Harry was about to speak, but Hermione pulled him back.
"Harry, it's alright. Trust me, I'm fine." Hermione tugged at his robe, desperately gesturing with her eyes for Harry not to say anything.
"Silly girl, come, drink this." Madam Pomfrey produced a potion and had Hermione drink it. Hermione immediately fell asleep. Madam Pomfrey then turned and gave Harry a quick check. She raised an eyebrow and said, "You've just over-exhausted your magic. No need to spend the night in the hospital wing."
Madam Pomfrey then pulled Snape aside and whispered, "Granger's mind has been invaded." Snape called Potter out, ready to demand what exactly had happened. But Harry spoke first: "We were practicing Legilimency tonight."
Snape knew Gryffindor students enjoyed breaking school rules, but he never imagined Harry would be so audacious. "Well, I suppose I should congratulate you, the brilliant Boy Who Lived, mastering magic that most adult wizards can't even fathom in his second year. Truly magnificent."
"It's just a shame for Miss Granger; she sacrificed herself for Potter's magic."
"You should be grateful Granger's mind wasn't permanently damaged, or you'd be spending tonight in Azkaban," Snape sneered.
After Snape finished, Harry finally spoke: "I was an idiot. I'm willing to accept any punishment." Snape scoffed at this; he didn't believe for a second that a Gryffindor would ever truly rein themselves in.
"If I were Headmaster, I'd snap your wand immediately. Alas, I'm not. Now, follow me." Snape led Harry to the Headmaster's office. Dumbledore looked at the familiar pair, a bit weary. It was always these two.
"Severus, what's happened so late—"
Snape was in no mood to let Dumbledore finish. He rudely interrupted, "Potter, the Boy Who Lived, used Legilimency on Miss Granger." Dumbledore's brows furrowed upon hearing this.
"Dumbledore, I believe Potter should be expelled. He should be sent to Azkaban!" Snape continued. But Dumbledore raised a hand, stopping him, and turned to Harry.
"Harry, I'd like to hear what happened," Dumbledore said gently.
—The Account of What Happened—
"Remarkable," Dumbledore praised. "You and Hermione managed to figure out how to learn Legilimency from just two books. Many wizards wouldn't even be able to understand those magical texts."
"Albus Dumbledore!" Snape roared. "Now is not the time to praise Potter! He nearly turned Miss Granger into an imbecile!"
"But Madam Pomfrey said they are fine," Dumbledore replied.
"Being fine means they escape punishment?" Snape demanded. But Dumbledore merely said, "Severus, would you kindly go to the hospital wing and ask Hermione if she wishes to hold Harry accountable?"
Snape almost laughed in exasperation. "Are you trying to shield him? Just like Lupin?!" Seeing Dumbledore fall silent, Snape knew he wouldn't get the answer he wanted. He said coldly, "Hmph, it seems I shouldn't have bothered showing up." Snape turned and left, slamming the Headmaster's office door shut.
Dumbledore sighed and looked at the silent Harry. "Harry, do you realize your mistake?"
Harry nodded. "Professor, I—" But remembering Hermione's distress, Harry ultimately said nothing more, lowering his head. After a moment of silence, Dumbledore slowly spoke, "Harry, perhaps I also bear some responsibility."
Harry looked up in surprise at that.
"If I had agreed to teach you magic during the holidays, would you still have ventured into these dangerous spells on your own?" Dumbledore paused, then continued, "I won't punish you this time, because I see remorse in your eyes. There is no greater punishment than remorse itself."
Harry wanted to say something more, but Dumbledore had already waved his hand, signaling him to leave.