Harry shrugged. "He tried it on me once, after Sirius Black escaped. He blamed be for it, and I think he was pretty angry and careless, because I could feel him in my mind that day. It's the only time I ever felt his presence, but if he's more subtle normally then I wouldn't know. Hermione and I have been practicing occlumency ever since."
Hermione added, "Would you like us to teach you?"
Before Neville could answer, Ron blurted out, "Hey! You're going to teach me too, right?"
Hermione admitted to herself that she deliberately ignored Ron, given how quickly he had blown off the training during the World Cup. Well, I'll give him one more chance, now that the World Cup excitement is over, she thought. "Of course I'll teach you, Ron, if you're willing to learn." She glanced at Harry when she said the second part. "We can start with the basics right now if you to want."
Neville and Ron both nodded.
"Well, to begin, close your eyes and think of some place that keeps you calm and comfortable. It should be tranquil, quiet, and very simple for you to imagine and remember every detail," Hermione explained.
"Uh... could I get an example?" asked Neville.
"Sure, Nev. I use the sky, above the clouds. There's nothing above, and it's endless clouds below so I don't think about the ground." He didn't bother mentioning the fact that, by now, he had added a giant spaceship hovering in the middle, inspired greatly by Dan Granger's collection of Star Wars and Star Trek videos.
"Hm... could I use my greenhouse? I tend to my plants there in the summer just to get my mind off things."
This took Harry by surprise. Neville had always been fairly good at Herbology, but he wasn't aware he had a greenhouse at home. It certainly explained his very natural talent, though. "Sure, that should work pretty well. Now just focus on it and get rid of anything else, all your memories and emotions. Use it to keep your mind completely calm and blank. You'll eventually be turning this into a map of your mind."
Turning to Ron, he asked, "What image are you using, Ron?"
Just like before, Ron answered, "The Quidditch pitch! Innit obvious?"
Hermione sighed. "No, Ron. That's not a good image for you. You love Quidditch, don't you?" Ron nodded. "And it makes you excited every time you go to the pitch, doesn't it?" Ron nodded again, as if he was doing very well. "Ron, excitement is the complete opposite of calm. Pick something else." Ron's face fell.
A few minutes later, Ron spoke up again. "Alright, how about the library?"
"Why'd you pick the library?" asked Hermione.
"Well, because it's the opposite of the Quidditch pitch, innit? It's boring," Ron said simply.
"Ron..." Hermione let out a slow sigh. "Let me explain. You don't like being in the library, do you?" Ron shook his head. "And you'd rather leave than hang around, right?" Ron nodded. "Ron, that just means it's a place where you're not comfortable." Hermione massaged her temples. Could Ron ever possibly work himself into an emotionless state if he couldn't even figure out what he was feeling himself? This would be an uphill battle, and she didn't even know if the prize was worth it. By the end of the train ride, she still wasn't quite sure whether or not Ron had found a suitable mindscape, while Neville was able to clear his mind fairly adequately.
The welcoming feast proceeded as usual- the hat sang its song, the first years were sorted, food was served. Looking over to the Slytherin tables, Harry noticed Malfoy was acting as arrogant as ever. He was probably boasting about the Triwizard tournament, and how he would enter the competition. Harry also noticed that Malfoy seemed to be facing away from the older Slytherins, perhaps to avoid annoying those who were actually more powerful than him.
Dumbledore stood up and waited until the hubbub died down in the Great Hall. "So!" he began, "now that your stomachs are sated and your thirst is quenched, I have a few announcements to make. First is Mr. Filch's list of banned items, which has expanded again this year to include..." He made his customary speech, but one announcement made the entire room gasp in shock. "Quidditch will be cancelled this year. In its place, a much more exciting event will be taking its place."
"Wha coo be more 'iting than uidditch?" mumbled Ron, with his mouth full. Evidently, he hadn't stopped eating when Dumbledore had called for attention.
"The Triwizard Tournament, Ron," answered Neville. "Malfoy only told us a few hours ago, have you forgotten already?"
"The Triwizard Tournament!" announced Dumbledore. "For the first time in over two hundred years, the international competition between the three largest magical schools in Europe will be held, and we have the honour of hosting it. I ask that all the students of Hogwarts show the greatest hospitality to our guests from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and the Durmstrang Institute, who will be staying with us for the duration of the year. Further details about the tournament will be given in two weeks, when the other students arrive. For now, you can read more about it in our school library."
The Great Hall once again burst into chatter, many of the voices confused, some of them excited. Dumbledore raised his hand, and it took another minute for the babbling to quiet down once again.
"Due to our hosting the tournament this year, there will be many visits from Ministry officials and other professionals who will be setting up the various events throughout the year. Please show these hardworking men and women where the bathrooms are, because I certainly had a hard time of it when I began at Hogwarts, myself. I never did manage to find the extremely large one with no less than a hundred chamber-pots..." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and gave a stern look at Dumbledore.
"Yes... well, there is one new face that you can expect to see all year. I have found a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor who will pull double duty as head of security for the tournament as well. Allow me to introduce to you... Professor Alastor Moody!"
Clink-tak- clink-tak- clink-tak came from the opening of the Great Hall. The sound came from a man with both a metallic leg and a wooden cane. He also had an obviously false eye, which was darting back and forth between everyone in the Great Hall. Harry noticed it seemed to fix on him a little longer than everyone else. His face was so scarred that he'd probably look more human with a leather mask on. He paused at the Slytherin table, eyeing many of the students and gave Draco in particular a small sneer. The boy yelped and jumped back a bit. Turning around, he gave their head of house a feral grin and pointed his cane at him, which caused Profesor Snape to stiffen up in his seat. He walked over to the staff table and took his seat without saying a word.
Once again, murmurs swept through the Great Hall. "Did you see his eye?" "Did you see his face?" "Moody? Mad-Eye Moody? The King of Paranoia Moody?" "You think he'll keep the Slytherins under control this year?" "He hates Slytherins. I like him already." The last one was said by Ron.
Harry, however, was feeling just the opposite. Leaning over to Hermione, he said, "Do you have a really strong feeling that we shouldn't trust him?"
"Yes... but at the same time, I'm feeling that he's... reliable. Like he saved my life or something," answered Hermione. "It's weird, and it seems so conflicting."
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