Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Chapter 24: Occlumency

Dumbledore has instructed Harry to take lessons in Occlumency, the magical defense of the mind against external penetration, from Snape. Harry will have lessons after school every Monday night, pretending he has remedial Potions with Snape.

Mr Weasley is fixed, having learned his lesson about trying complementary medicine and realizing that it is not much good.

Sirius gives Harry a package that he says Harry can use to contact him if Snape is giving him a hard time.

Back at school, Cho mentions the upcoming Hogsmeade trip on Valentine’s Day but Harry doesn’t get the hint. Cho starts to leave frustrated when Harry realizes what happened and he chases her to ask her to go to Hogsmeade with him. She excitedly accepts.

At Harry’s first Occlumency lesson, he argues with Snape. Snape empties out some of his own thoughts into the Pensieve before teaching Harry. Harry begins learning to defend himself but doesn’t do very well. During the lesson, Harry realizes that the corridor in the dream he has been having is in the Ministry of Magic Department of Mysteries. That was where Sturgis Podmore was arrested for trying to break into. Harry thinks it must contain the secret weapon Voldemort seeks.