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'Bellatrix Lestrange did that？' whispered Hermione； horrified。 That woman Kreacher's got a photo of in his den？'
There was a long silence； broken by Lockharts angry voice。
'Look； I didn't learn joined…up writing for nothing； you know！'
… CHAPTER TWENTY…FOUR …
Occlumency
Kreacher； it transpired； had been lurking in the attic。 Sirius said he had found him up there； covered in dust； no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard。 Though Sirius seemed satisfied with this story； it made Harry uneasy。 Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood on his reappearance； his bitter muttering had subsided somewhat and he submitted to orders more docilely than usual； though once or twice Harry caught the house…elf staring at him avidly； but always looking quickly away whenever he saw that Harry had noticed。
Harry did not mention his vague suspicions to Sirius； whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that Christmas was over。 As the date of their departure back to Hogwarts drew nearer； he became more and more prone to what Mrs Weasley called 'fits of the sul…lens'； in which he would bee taciturn and grumpy； often withdrawing to Buckbeak's room for hours at a time。 His gloom seeped through the house； oozing under doorways like some noxious gas； so that all of them became infected by it。
Harry didn't want to leave Sirius again with only Kreacher for pany； in fact； for the first time in his life； he was not looking forward to returning to Hogwarts。 Going back to school would mean placing himself once again under the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge； who had no doubt managed to force through another dozen decrees in their absence； there was no Quidditch to look forward to now that he had been banned； there was every likelihood that their burden of homework would increase as the exams drew even nearer； and Dumbledore remained as remote as ever。 In fact； if it hadn't been for the DA； Harry thought he might have begged Sirius to let him leave Hogwarts and remain in Grimmauld Place。
Then； on the very last day of the holidays； something happened that made Harry positively dread his return to school。
'Harry； dear；' said Mrs Weasley； poking her head into his and Ron's bedroom； where the pair of them were playing wizard chess watched by Hermione； Ginny and Crookshanks； 'could you e down to the kitchen？ Professor Snape would like a word with you。'
Harry did not immediately register what she had said； one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Rons and he was egging it on enthusiastically。
'Squash him … squash him； he's only a pawn； you idiot。 Sorry； Mrs Weasley； what did you say？'
'Professor Snape； dear。 In the kitchen。 He'd like a word。'
Harry's mouth fell open in horror。 He looked around at Ron； Hermione and Ginny； all of whom were gaping back at him。 Crookshanks； whom Hermione had been restraining with difficulty for the past quarter of an hour； leapt gleefully on to the board and set the pieces running for cover； squealing at the top of their voices。
'Snape？' said Harry blankly。
'Professor Snape； dear；' said Mrs Weasley reprovingly。 'Now e on； quickly； he says he can't stay long。'
'What's he want with you？' said Ron； looking unnerved as Mrs Weasley withdrew from the room。 'You haven't done anything； have you？'
'No！' said Harry indignantly； racking his brains to think what he could have done that would make Snape pursue him to Grimmauld Place。 Had his last piece of homework perhaps earned a T？
A minute or two later； he pushed open the kitchen door to find Sirius and Snape both seated at the long kitchen table； glaring in opposite directions。 The silence between them was heavy with mutual dislike。 A letter lay open on the table in front of Sirius。
'Er；' said Harry； to announce his presence。
Snape looked around at him； his face framed between curtains of greasy black hair。
'Sit down； Potter。'
'You know；' said Sirius loudly； leaning back on his rear chair legs and speaking to the ceiling； 'I think I'd prefer it if you didn't give orders here； Snape。 It's my house； you see。'
An ugly flush suffused Snape's pallid face。 Harry sat down in a chair beside Sirius； facing Snape across the table。
'I was supposed to see you alone； Potter；' said Snape； the familiar sneer curling his mouth； 'but Black …'
'I'm his godfather；' said Sirius； louder than ever。
'I am here on Dumbledore's orders；' said Snape； whose voice； by contrast； was being more and more quietly waspish； 'but by all means stay； Black； I know you like to feel： involved。'
'What's that supposed to mean？' said Sirius； letting his chair fall back on to all four legs with a loud bang。
'Merely that I am sure you must feel … ah … frustrated by the fact that you can do nothing useful；' Snape laid a delicate stress on the word； 'for the Order。'
It was Sirius's turn to flush。 Snape's lip curled in triumph as he turned to Harry。
The Headmaster has sent me to tell you； Potter； that it is his wish for you to study Occlumency this term。'
'Study what？' said Harry blankly。
Snape's sneer became more pronounced。
'Occlumency； Potter。 The magical defence of the mind against external penetration。 An obscure branch of magic； but a highly useful one。'
Harry's heart began to pump very fast indeed。 Defence against external penetration？ But he was not being possessed； they had all agreed on that：
'Why do I have to study Occlu… thing？' he blurted out。
'Because the Headmaster thinks it a good idea；' said Snape smoothly。 'You will receive private lessons once a week； but you will not tell anybody what you are doing； least of all Dolores Umbridge。 You understand？'
'Yes；' said Harry。 'Who's going to be teaching me？'
Snape raised an eyebrow。
'I am；' he said。
Harry had the horrible sensation that his insides were melting。
Extra lessons with Snape … what on earth had he done to deserve this？ He looked quickly round at Sirius for support。
'Why can't Dumbledore teach Harry？' asked Sirius aggressively。 'Why you？'
'I suppose because it is a headmaster's privilege to delegate less enjoyable tasks；' said Snape silkily。 'I assure you I did not beg for the job。' He got to his feet。 'I will expect you at six o'clock on Monday evening； Potter。 My office。 If anybody asks； you are taking remedial Potions。 Nobody who has seen you in my classes could deny you need them。'
He turned to leave； his black travelling cloak billowing behind him。
'Wait a moment；' said Sirius； sitting up straighter in his chair。
Snape turned back to face them； sneering。
'I am in rather a hurry； Black。 Unlike you； I do not have unlimited leisure time。'
I'll get to the point； then；' said Sirius； standing up。 He was rather taller than Snape who； Harry noticed； balled his fist in the pocket of his cloak over what Harry was sure was the handle of his wand。 'If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a hard time； you'll have me to answer to。'
'How touching；' Snape sneered。 'But surely you have noticed that Potter is very like his father？'
'Yes； I have；' said Sirius proudly。
'Well then； you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him；' Snape said sleekly。
Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape； pulling out his wand as he went。 Snape whipped out his own。 They were squaring up to each other； Sirius looking livid； Snape calculating； his eyes darting from Sirius's wand…tip to his face。
'Sirius！' said Harry loudly； but Sirius appeared not to hear him。
'I've warned you； Snivellus；' said Sirius； his face barely a foot from Snape's； 'I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed； I know better …'
'Oh； but why don't you tell him so？' whispered Snape。 'Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months？'
Tell me； how is Lucius Malfoy these days？ I expect he's delighted his lapdog's working at Hogwarts； isn't he？'
'Speaking of dogs；' said Snape softly； 'did you know that Lucius Malfoy recognised you last time you risked a little jaunt outside？ Clever idea； Black； getting yourself seen on a safe station platform： gave you a cast…iron excuse not to leave your hiding…hole in future； didn't it？'
Sirius raised his wand。
'NO！' Harry yelled； vaulting over the table and trying to get in between them。 'Sirius； don't！'
'Are you calling me a coward？' roared Sirius； trying to push Harry out of the way； but Harry would not budge。
'Why； yes； I suppose I am；' said Snape。
'Harry … get … out … of … it！' snarled Sirius； pushing him aside with his free hand。
The kitchen door opened and the entire Weasley family； plus Hermione； came inside； all looking very happy； with Mr Weasley walking proudly in their midst dressed in a pair of striped pyjamas covered by a mackintosh。
'Cured！' he announced brightly to the kitchen at large。 'pletely cured！'
He and all the other Weasleys froze on the threshold； gaz