Chapter 23
Harry begins to wonder if he himself is the weapon Voldemort seeks.
Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry decides the best and safest thing
for him to do is leave Hogwarts forever and return to Little Whinging.
As Harry packs his trunk, Phineas Nigellus appears in his portrait
with a message from Dumbledore, telling Harry to stay where he is.
Harry agrees to stay but does not leave his bed.
The following evening, Hermione disrupts Harry’s
seclusion. She admonishes him for his behavior. Ginny and Ron join
them, and Ginny points out that she’s the only one who knows what
it feels like to be possessed by Voldemort and does not believe
Harry is experiencing what she experienced. Relieved, Harry finally
joins the festivities. At St. Mungo’s, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and
Harry spot Neville and his grandmother, who are visiting Neville’s
parents. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom were tortured into lunacy by Bellatrix
Lestrange.
Chapter 24
Snape arrives to speak with Harry. Dumbledore has asked
Snape to teach Harry Occlumency, which is the defense of the mind
against outside penetration. Harry is unhappy about extra lessons
with Snape, but he agrees to learn. As Harry leaves for Hogwarts,
Sirius hands him a wrapped package, which he claims Harry should
use only if he needs him.
Back at Hogwarts, Harry arranges a Hogsmeade date with
Cho for Valentine’s Day. Harry reports to Snape’s office for his
Occlumency lessons. Snape explains that Voldemort is an expert at
Legilimency, which is the ability to extract feelings and memories
from another person’s mind, and that Harry must be prepared to close
his mind to it. Snape clears his thoughts into a Pensieve. Harry
takes out his wand, and Snape uses Legilimency to shoot himself
into Harry’s mind, rifling through Harry’s memories. Harry fights
back and returns to the present, falling to his knees. They try
again, and Harry once again fails to block Snape. The next time,
Harry is dragged back into his reccurring dream, in which he is
running down a corridor at the Ministry of Magic with Mr. Weasley.
This time, Harry recognizes the hallway as leading to the Department
of Mysteries. He asks Snape about the Department, but Snape dismisses
his question. Later that night, Harry’s scar starts to burn, and
he knows Voldemort is very happy.
Chapter 25
The next morning, Hermione’s Daily Prophet reveals
a mass breakout at Azkaban. Ten former Death Eaters, including Lestrange,
are loose. Harry realizes this is why Voldemort was so happy last
night. They also read that a Ministry of Magic worker named Bode
died at St. Mungo’s after being strangled by a dangerous potted
plant. Ron recalls his father talking about Bode and remembers that
Bode worked in the Department of Mysteries. Umbridge has posted
a new Educational Decree, banning all Hogwarts teachers from discussing with
students anything not directly related to their subjects.
Umbridge attends every Divination and Care of Magical
Creatures lesson, and students begin to wonder whether Trelawney
or Hagrid will be fired first. Hagrid bans Harry, Ron, and Hermione from
visiting his cabin, claiming it’s too dangerous.
