First Place - Angst

"I see no reason to review the past six years of your education with you," Severus informed the seventh year potions students. It was the lecture session, with all twenty-four students that had continued their studies in the subject. They were divided into two practical sections where they worked in pairs, all mixed house. "It is your responsibility to ensure you are prepared to take your exams, not mine."

Severus flicked his wand towards the board at the front of the room and a long outline appeared, "The first half of this year you will be concentrating on the identification of potions, on their own, combined, and in various other substances, coffee in particular with respect to Mr. Potter." Harry flushed slightly and Severus smirked. "We will also study the creation of potions to counter the effects of others. This will come in highly useful should any of you consume poison at some point. Are there any questions?" As always, Granger's hand was in the air immediately, "Miss Granger?"

Granger stood, "Will we learn to test ourselves and others for potions already consumed or will we focus on the delivery agent?"

"We will address both Miss Granger," Severus smirked at the girl. She had managed to make quite a few of the students pale, no doubt fearing he would poison them as a test. Idiots. Albus would kill him if he ever poisoned a student.

Severus began a rapidly paced lecture on the identifying characteristics of the Kama class of potions, named after the Hindu god of love. He focused that day on how to recognize when you were under the effect of a love potion, as opposed to feeling like a normal randy teenager. The physiological effects, aside from the sudden lust for your worst enemy, were covered as were the primary ingredients found in the potions. At the end of the lecture he assigned an essay on the legal restrictions concerning love potions and had his entire class blushing bright red.

"Yes Mr. Weasley?" Severus was wondering who it would be this year, and wasn't very surprised.

"How long does the essay need to be?" Weasley asked just a little hopeful.

Severus smiled, but in such a way that several students gulped, "You have reached the point in your education where requiring a specific length in your essays should be unnecessary. Write as much as you believe is appropriate. Miss Granger," Granger looked up with studious innocence, "I do not want a thesis on the subject. Please restrain yourself."

Granger blushed and the students began packing up their bags. Harry nudged Granger and said something that made her blush deeper.

"Mr. Weasley," Severus nearly boomed. He relished the reaction from the boy. Despite the beating his reputation had taken the previous spring he could still instill fear.

Weasley paled, "Yes sir?"

"Stay after," Severus ordered, knowing there were no more classes for the day. He already had Harry's schedule memorized and was meeting with Albus later to put together a training schedule for the year.

"Yes sir," Weasley nodded and flashed a desperate look at Harry, who shrugged innocently and guided Granger out of the room.

Severus had to hand it to Harry. The boy's acting skills were getting better every day. He knew exactly why Weasley was still in the room. Severus waited for the room to empty, and then held open the door to his office. Weasley walked by him and Severus noted that the boy had grown yet again and was a full inch taller than him, blasted Weasley genes. Where did that height come from? Molly and Arthur were both average in height.

"Did I...?" Weasley began as Severus followed him into the office.

A simple look stopped the question and Severus led the youngest male Weasley into his quarters, much to the shock of said Weasley. He motioned for the boy to sit, and he did immediately, back straight and eyes down.

Severus removed his outer robe and conjured a pot of tea with two cups. Weasley looked up in surprise when the tea appeared in his line of sight and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought I had done something," Weasley's face flushed bright red yet again.

Severus sat down and poured tea for himself, "Have you?"

"Erm, not this year sir," Weasley said a bit hopefully. He eventually took the cue and poured tea for himself as well.

"Who did you first talk to concerning your nightmares?" Severus questioned the boy.

Understanding dawned on the freckled face, even more expressive than Harry's. These Gryffindors knew nothing of dissembling.

"My Mum," Weasley replied. "I woke her one night and Dad was out for the Order."

"I can guarantee you, Mr. Weasley, that whatever your parents know concerning these visions, and whatever the Unspeakable you met with knows, the headmaster also knows," Severus sipped his tea and studied the other face.

Anger flushed the face at first, along with some betrayal, then understanding, and then guilt. That last was intriguing.

"I guess I know how Harry feels. Hermione and I used to tell him always to talk to the headmaster, that Dumbledore knew best. We didn't really understand how Harry felt manipulated, because it was Dumbledore's job to protect Harry." Weasley looked truly dejected.

"Tell me everything you remember, and what is occurring now," Severus ordered.

Weasley took a long drink of his tea, ate a biscuit, and drank some more tea before beginning his story. He gave much more detail Harry did, as Harry had been evasive to protect his friend. Severus marveled that the boy trusted him this much and assumed it was because Harry did.

"You tried several potions," Severus stated rather than asked. "I brewed all of them, though I did not know they were for you. That is often the case with work for the Order. We are given tasks without knowing why or what the final purpose of them is. The majority of those guarding the prophecy had no idea what they were guarding and the rest of us only knew that Voldemort wanted a prophecy, not what it was about."

"Really?" Weasley looked up, interested. "I always thought that joining the Order meant knowing what was happening."

"Should you reach that stage Mr. Weasley," Severus gave the young man a smile, "you may find yourself with many more questions than answers."

Weasley just nodded thoughtfully, "So is there anything I can do?"

"Harry had an interesting solution, which may or may not work," Severus looked at the eager expression on Weasley's face. The boy was desperate, but hadn't asked for help, probably believing such an act was a sign of weakness. "He asked me to teach you Occlumency. We can attempt to train your mind to first ward off attacks from without, and then use those skills to protect from within."

There was a long time of sipping tea and eating biscuits. Weasley stared at the fire and was most likely remembering every complaint Harry ever voiced in regards to his Occlumency lessons. The youngest of six brothers examined Severus's face, as if trying to decide if the Potions Master had really changed.

"Would you teach me the way you taught Harry?" Weasley questioned warily.

Severus shook his head, "Not exactly. The urgency in Harry's case is not present in yours. I will, however, see many things in your mind that you may prefer I not see. It is the only way sometimes to get you to shield yourself. You, however, will also most likely be exposed to memories of mine."

Weasley blinked, "Harry saw your memories?"

"Many more than you will," Severus said dryly, not showing how impressed he was that Harry never shared those moments with his friends. "Any memories I strictly do not wish you to see I will keep from you."

"Okay," Weasley nodded slowly and stood. "I would be honored to receive instruction from you sir, on one condition."

Severus had stood when Weasley did, impressed at the boy's grasp of etiquette. He had thought that the younger Weasleys, at least, never learned proper manners. It appeared that they did learn them, but only used them when they decided to.

"What is that condition?" Severus asked formally.

"Call me Ron," Weasley grinned and the silver prefect's badge reflected the firelight. "My best mate's dad should be able to use my first name."

"Very well Ron," Severus said with an exaggerated suffering. "Is there an evening you prefer for your lessons?"

"Is Tuesday okay?" Weas- no, Ron asked with a faraway look. "I know Harry has his lesson with McGonagall then and the prefect meeting is over by eight."

"You may come here at eight on Tuesdays," Severus agreed. "It will be simplest if you use the Floo from your dormitory. It remains connected."

"Thank you," Ron grinned, looking very relieved. "I guess since Dumbledore knows about the brains he can know about this too." Ron snorted, "He probably knows already anyway."

Severus smiled with a touch of mischief, "We will see. Before your first lesson you will attempt to clear your mind every night before you go to sleep."

"How...?" Ron looked confused.

"Try first, questions later," Severus commanded. "You will not know what you find difficult until you experience it. You may ask Harry but do not bother him too much on the subject. He has more than enough work to do."

"Yes sir," Ron looked back and forth between the two exits in the room. "Should I leave through your office? People know you kept me after class."

Severus raised his eyebrows, "Very good Ron. You have decent analytical skills when it comes to chess and practical experiences. Please try to use those skills when you write your essays this year."

"Um, yes sir... thank you... I guess," Ron smiled crookedly and left through his office.

Severus got to the great hall for dinner ahead of Weasley. The walk from staff quarters was much shorter than the walk from the dungeons. Harry was looking up from the Gryffindor table frequently and smiled when he saw his father, lifting his eyebrows in question. Severus just nodded, his face blank, as he sat at his customary spot between Minerva and Remus.

"What was that about?" Minerva questioned. "He's been watching the door anxiously for the past ten minutes."

"Mr. Weasley will be voluntarily learning some discipline this year," Severus let a satisfied smirk appear on his face.

His colleagues looked interested but Albus, seated on the other side of Minerva, was the one who commented, "Is he still having difficulties?"

"Of course he is Albus," Severus snapped quietly. "That sort of experience does not just fade away."

"I had hopes that he would not suffer further," Albus sighed. "He gave no sign of continued effect and his mother reported no nightmares."

Severus rolled his eyes, "Silencing charms and hiding. He saw his problems as insignificant in comparison to Harry's and so did not want to bother anyone with them. While they are nowhere near as serious they are still problems that must be dealt with. The boy turned seventeen before the end of the school year. He was able to use magic all summer to fool his mother."

"How did you become involved Severus?" Albus asked with interest.

Severus noticed Weasley enter the hall and take a straight path to Harry and Granger. The amount of food the redhead piled on his plate was astonishing, more than twice what Harry would eat.

"Harry woke from a nightmare and heard Weasley having one himself. He woke him and they talked," Severus explained. "It was Harry's idea to try Occlumency to help him."

Remus and Minerva were both paying attention and looking extremely confused. As there was no way to use the visions of the future Weasley had experienced the Order had not been informed.

"Two Occlumens in one graduating class," Albus shook his head. "It is an impressive group of children."

"It is need that drives them Albus," Severus said in a sad tone though his face betrayed nothing of the emotion. "There is nothing impressive about it. We could train any number of students in such skills had we the inclination."

"True Severus," Albus went back to his meal.

Minerva was beginning to look frustrated. Severus knew she did not like being kept in the dark concerning her Gryffindors. He felt much the same about his Slytherins.

"Do you think three twelve year olds could brew Polyjuice?" Severus asked Remus in a seeming non sequitur.

"No," the werewolf drew out the word tentatively.

Severus turned back to Minerva, who had not appreciated being ignored, "You should really pay more attention to your House Minerva. It takes two months to brew properly."

"Who...?" Minerva was thrown by the tangent to the earlier conversation.

"I will give you three guesses," Severus smirked widely, "one for each student involved five years ago."

Her eyes widened and Severus could practically feel Remus laughing silently behind him.

"They... why...?" the Head of Gryffindor was not having a good night.

Severus ate a portion of his dinner, "They thought Mr. Malfoy had information regarding the heir of Slytherin. I was told that portraying Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle did not require any degree of acting skills beyond claiming ignorance at every turn."

"Miss Granger is Head Girl!" Minerva declared.

"Brilliant observational skills," Severus commented.

Remus whistled, "You're teasing the dragon now Severus."

Minerva shot a glare towards the Gryffindor table but the students it was aimed at were oblivious, until a questioning look came over Harry's face and he started searching the hall for the source of strong emotion focused in his direction.

"Be calm Minerva," Albus cautioned his Deputy Headmistress. Severus did truly love getting a rise out of her. "I've known about since the end of that year. Harry confessed to me, though I am not aware of how they obtained the ingredients."

All three of the other professors engaged in the conversation looked at Severus, who just smiled lightly, "Harry blew up a cauldron and Granger snuck into my office in the following commotion."

"They certainly are brave," Minerva finally calmed and admitted. "That is the boldest Gryffindor plan I have heard in years. You would have had them expelled if you caught them."

"Yes, I would have," Severus agreed. "Harry was quite pleased with himself when he told me the story."

"The school will not be the same without them," Minerva said wistfully, as though the year was already ending.

Remus chuckled, "True, we'll all be able to sleep at night without fear for the school blowing up."

Minerva and Albus both laughed at the comment but Severus turned his eyes to the Gryffindor table. Harry turned at the same moment and smiled at him, before going back to the conversation he was having with his friends. The school would not be the same without the three Gryffindors, but they would also be away from the protection of Hogwarts.

Though Severus wanted to delay the confrontation between his son and Voldemort as long as possible he knew that it was better if it came by the end of that school year. Once Harry left Hogwarts he would not be able to find a home with as much protection as he needed, not if he didn't want to stay trapped as his godfather was. Knowing Harry he wouldn't accept such restrictions. Voldemort would capture him, and Harry would face him alone.

It was more urgent than ever, the need to find a method to destroy that monster. Severus narrowed his eyes as a protective instinct kicked in. He couldn't stand between them when the fight came, but he would stand at Harry's side and help him any way he could. No one would hurt Harry while Severus was there to prevent it.

Finding the Key - Chapter 19

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