Who: Honey and Snape
What: Meeting to discuss/observe Honey's creepy memory, and a little defense against the dark arts lesson!
When: A couple days before Halloween.
Where: Snape's dungeon OF LOVE DOOM
Warnings: ...SNAPE POINTS HIS WAND AT HONEY. /mature


After the students in his last class left, Snape remained there. He normally did, anyway, to look over various potions he had brewing, the sort that took time and care to make properly. There were also various spells to research, and other matters to look into. He recalled having mentioned to that boy over the journals to meet him here. He would therefore wait and see if he arrived.

It was hardly his problem if he didn't heed his words... but, however, a potential threat to the campus would become his problem soon enough. Snape still wasn't certain he could rule out Dementors behind this... or any form of Dark Arts from his world. But... for the time being, he would occupy himself with some of his own projects. He pulled out a thick tome and opened it up, frowning furiously as he turned pages.

As Honey walked the hall on the way to Snape's classroom, pausing every few steps to make sure he was on the right path, he sighed. Honey was interested in magic, sure, but he was still working on what a Dementor did to people. Eating chocolate to fight it made sense, at least in passing. Not that the thought helped calm him.

Holding onto Usa-chan, Honey rubbed at his forehead. When he had realized that Snape had left a comment on his journal, Honey had replied like nothing was wrong. Which was what he remembered, aside from things suddenly going cold. Whatever happened after was a blank, and thinking about it made his head hurt.

Standing in front of the door to Snape's classroom, Honey stood on his toes long enough to grab the door knob and turn it. Resting back onto his feet as the door swung open, he was about to say hello to Snape when the room won out. Honey knew he taught potions, but this was the first time Honey had ever been in the room.

Taking in everything with a quiet "Wow.." Honey snapped back to attention and closed the door behind him. "Professor Snape?" he called to the figure in the room, his gaze landing on the book. Curious, Honey made a mental note to ask about it when the time presented itself.

Snape heard him upon his first utterance, one which hardly surprised him. He was used to the students here never having been in a classroom like his before. Indeed, some First Years at Hogwarts often had had similar reactions... when they weren't reacting in fear or otherwise. But at first, he acted as if he hadn't heard him, turning a page in his book. He did look up abruptly when Honey spoke his name. He silently studied him a moment, eyebrow raised in surprise. This was the student in question?

"Mr. Hainozuka, I presume?" He shut the large tome with a heavy sound, and then stood, crossing toward Honey. He continued to eye him critically as he approached.

Honey, still holding onto Usa-chan, looked at Snape as he approached. While he didn't know Snape to be threatening, there was something about the way he walked that was imposing. Not imposing enough to render Honey mute, but in the same ball park.

Finding his voice after a minutes hesitation, Honey nodded and then spoke. "R- Right, that's me. This is my bunny-" Honey held the doll up, just in case Snape couldn't see it. "His name is Usa-chan." Looking around the room again, since it was interesting enough that Honey couldn't help but do so, his mind wandered for a few seconds. "Oh-"

Suddenly realizing where he was, Honey looked back to Snape. "What did you want to see me about?" His gaze threatened to wander, but Honey concentrated. He could admire things later.

He had a bunny.

He had a... bunny. While Snape would not have found it unusual for someone to have a living creature- yes even perhaps one as unsuitable as a rabbit- he couldn't comprehend the notion of just... keeping a stuffed one around? Wasn't this boy old enough to be in college? That was what the school's records had indicated. But Snape was well aware at how deceiving looks could be. He continued to study him a moment longer.

"I wanted to discuss... the nature of your dreams." Snape frowned intensely, now drawing forth his wand and holding it up. "How familiar are you with magic?" He'd been here long enough to be aware that many different forms of magic existed, unlike what he was used to... so he must first determine the nature of Honey's past experiences with it.

Snape's studying of him caused Honey to give him a hesitant grin. Did he have something on his face? Thinking back to lunch, and not remembering getting anything on it, Honey looked to the ground when Snape mentioned his dreams. He was going to elaborate, but then Snape mentioned magic and Honey's eyes were back on him.

Looking at the wand, Honey took a minute to answer. "I've studied good luck charms a little, and I'm okay at making them." He paused before deciding to elaborate. "Shields. Um, I'm not good at them, but I had one show up once, so that has to count for something, right?" A nervous laugh followed that, and Honey rubbed the back of his head. To Snape, it probably didn't count for very much. It's not like Honey could control when the shield would show up, or how long it would stay.

"What do you want to know about them?" Honey asked, quickly clarifying, "Ah, about my dreams, I mean. There's not really a lot to tell.." Which was true, aside from the temperature changes in both of them, they were identical.

Snape's frown caused Honey to fidget. He didn't like it when people frowned at him, and this wasn't an exception. Looking to Usa-chan, Honey slowly held the rabbit doll out to him.

"You want to hold him?" he asked.

Snape gave him a scathing Look. He was immune to Honey's personality, probably one of the few who truly was. "No, I do not. I didn't invite you here to play with toys." He gave Usa-chan a look which might have killed him were he alive. "I assume that is merely a toy and not... anything of magical value?"

As he said that, Snape returned more directly to the matter at hand. As he suspected, Honey had little to nothing in the way of defense or knowledge. He had a lot of work to accomplish, here. A shield was a start... but an untrained individual not very skilled in magic would have a hard time against Dementors. "Your dreams are consistent with Dementor encounters, and as I have told you, they're dangerous entities. In addition to the effects I already informed you about, they have the ability to draw away your soul. What I wonder is... if these truly are Dementors, why are they targeting you?"

There was a pause, and then Snape continued, "Are you certain that good luck charms and shields are all the magic you've been practicing? You haven't attempted anything... Darker in nature?"

"Like a familiar?" Honey asked, quickly lowering Usa-chan back to his original position. "No, he's not magical." Holding onto the doll, Honey looked at Snape in a mixture of surprise and shock. "Sou- You never said anything about Dementors being able to steal souls!" he exclaimed fearfully.

True, Honey didn't know what that entailed, but the mental image of himself collapsing somewhere, little more than a hollowed out shell; made his stomach turn. Hugging Usa-chan tighter, not caring how it may have looked, Honey took a few moments to collect himself. Snape had said they could steal souls, not that they had done it. There was a difference.

"I don't know why they're targeting me either!" Honey answered. "If- Wha-" his mind floundered for a second and Honey tried speaking again, forming his sentence carefully; "What if they aren't Dementors? They could be something else, couldn't they?"

The question about practicing dark magic quickly blotted out what Honey had been thinking. "Well, I tried moving things with my mind, but that didn't really work." he admitted. "'Darker in nature'? No! No, the books I read all warn that a spell caster will get what they give, and that darker spells are dangerous."

"They're scary, really." he added after a beat. "I've looked at a few of them, but I've never tried them. I can do what I want with the spells I know."

Curiosity, once again, took the blue ribbon. Honey looked at Snape's wand and then asked simply; "Does that really work? Most wands in the books I have are described as just being focal points while casting, like candles. But.. Well, made of wood.. Obviously."

Not really sure how to end that awkward statement, Honey gave a sheepish laugh. "But if that works, do you think it'll help?"

Of course... Snape would know whether or not Honey was lying. He wasn't noticing that happening, but even so... he continued to watch him, wanting to gather what he could from him. That the boy was afraid and unsure could be verified even without Legilimency, and thus the only reason he would be lying would be out of fear. Perhaps Honey did know better in some sense... which would be extraordinarily more than Harry ever managed. ...Students.

"Indeed. Tamper with the Dark Arts without knowledge of what you're doing, and you will suffer dreadful consequences. You should keep that in mind. As for what this might be... if not Dementors, there are any number of Dark spells and creatures which may account for what you're experiencing... but the danger remains the same regardless of what it is." After that, Snape gave him another hardened look. Did he really just ask such a question? He pointed his wand at Honey with a shout of "Petrificus Totalus!"

Then, he walked toward Honey "I would say the wand works fine," he remarked dryly. "That spell is a relatively elementary one, used to render the victim's body immobile. How simple it would be for one of your enemies to cast such a spell and render you incapable of defense... and that is the least of what could be done. However, wandless magic is also possible... and there are other forms of magic from other worlds that do not use them. All forms have the potential to be more dangerous than you could imagine."

"I will." Honey answered as Snape commented that the danger was real regardless of what form it came in. Honey's expression turned to one of confusion before the spell struck him. Feeling his arms and legs snap into place, Honey spilled backwards, landing onto the ground. He couldn't move, but his senses were working; as he could hear Snape's comments. Honey also found he could breathe. Snape's comments about magic being dangerous would've prompted a response, if Honey's jaw weren't locked shut, for lack of a better way of describing it.

Since he was a toy, and not a real bunny, Usa-chan had landed in an apparently uncomfortable heap, but one that looked more natural than Honey's position. Honey's gaze traveled in its general direction. Wordless magic? Nearly all of what Honey casted counted as wordless. Usually it was a lot of concentrating and recasting things to build the chances of the preferred outcome. Unfortunately, Honey couldn't remember if any of his books included tips for moving inanimate objects, and Snape easily dwarfed Usa-chan. What would Honey have the rabbit do if it could be made to get up and walk around? Offer him tea?

Snape said the spell was a beginner's level, but that didn't help calm Honey. Looking at him, Honey's expression was questioning, but also had a healthy dose of fear. He rarely, if ever, was hit with magic; after all, much less by a teacher! Suddenly afraid that he would be stuck in his current predicament for as long as Snape found it entertaining, Honey wanted to cry, but found he couldn't.

There truly was something satisfying about putting students in their place. Such demonstrations were always useful, in order to remind them that magic was not to be trifled with... nor was he. Snape stared at Honey. "Never underestimate my capabilities. Or, for that matter, anything that can be accomplished through magic. I could provide you with defenses that would assist even you. Ways to strengthen your beginner skills to an adequate level... potions that can rid you of your enemies. I have had decades of intense study of the Dark Arts..."

He let that statement linger ominously while he cast the counter-spell to allow Honey to move again. "...and how to defend against them. To know how to undermine something, one must study it thoroughly."

Suddenly able to move, Honey sat up and rubbed at his shoulders while wincing. The landing had been anything but smooth. Collecting Usa-chan, he was on his feet and kept a safe distance from Snape. What the professor was saying held merit, and from one view point, Honey could appreciate and understand it, but then his common sense kicked in.

"By what, casting more spells?" he spat. While Honey was afraid, he didn't take well to what were coming across as 'friendly reminders' that Snape knew much more about magic than Honey and wouldn't hesitate to use what he needed to. Glaring at the professor, Honey forced himself to begin to clam down.

And then the fear won out. At least temporarily. His eyes were suddenly wet with tears, a delayed reaction to his position only moments earlier. Snape was momentarily forgotten as Honey wiped at his eyes and held onto Usa-chan as tightly as he could.

"I just want my bad dreams to stop." he said quietly, after a few moments. "I don't want to study Dark Arts or whatever it's called, I'm not looking to be able to hurt anyone by saying- that was Latin, wasn't it?- and waiting for something to happen. I.." Exhaling, Honey rested his forehead against Usa-chan.

"I just.. want them to stop. If you can't help me do that, then I don't need to be here." Honey was surprised at how he sounded. It was a hodgepodge of emotions, the easily readable one being apprehension with an underlying shaky confidence.

Snape was unsurprised by Honey's reactions, having received a good share of all of those at some point or other. Students could be remarkably predictable. He didn't care whether or not Honey agreed with his way of teaching him a 'lesson' or not. He continued to study him for his emotional mindset.

"I will grant you that. Time... is of the essence right now. To gain the full array of defenses you'd need might take years of study." Pausing, he pointed his wand, as if to cast, but then moved it back away. "I can, however, assist you in learning to strengthen your shielding capabilities... as well as using my own powers against these Dark forces when they attack again." Not 'if'... definitely 'when.' Snape knew better than to assume whatever it was would simply go away on its own. If they were from his world, he was curious to find out what and why. And if not... it would simply broaden his own studies. Honey's safety came somewhere much farther after all of that.

Honey's eyes narrowed as Snape pointed his wand. When nothing was done, he relaxed. "..Okay." he agreed, with a nod. "Teach me what you can about shields, then. That-" Honey paused, looking at Snape in confusion. "You can't attack them, they show up when I'm asleep." Tired of standing, Honey located an empty stool and took a seat. "Unless you know how to go into someone's dreams. I've heard about that-" Honey realized that he had nearly mentioned Paprika, and quickly improved the end of that statement with; "I've heard about that in Sci-Fi books."

Honey's grip on Usa-chan tightened. "Why would they attack me agai-" his brow furrowing, Honey looked back to Snape. "Wait. They didn't attack me to begin with! I just heard their voices, and woke up, right? I didn't feel anything, except confused, and I didn't feel or see any injuries.." Unconsciously, one of his hands removed itself from around Usa-chan and drifted towards his throat. Falling silent for a moment, Honey finally spoke.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"I'm telling you all that you need to be aware of," Snape snapped. Honestly, dealing with Honey was becoming as irritating as Harry and his friends. Although there was the fact that nothing in the form of an outright attack had happened... yet. Even so, just because nothing could be seen didn't mean there weren't hidden, invisible ways in which they could have harmed him.

"Attacks encompass more than physical assaults... they could be mental, emotional... Your latest... incident still does indicate a heightened danger to yourself. I do know that Dark forces are persistent when they fixate on a target... they won't stop coming after you until you defeat them. You'll have a lot of work ahead of you in strengthening your defenses." Although identifying what it was still intrigued Snape. If not Dementors... he would have to look into dream-influencing creatures beyond the obvious several he could think of.

Honey wasn't buying that. Like he had said, Snape was talking as if Honey had been attacked. Not wanting to get into an argument, Honey listened as Snape spoke. "I don't mind work." he finally said. "They might stop if they didn't think I could provide them with anything." But that was a slim chance. Honey had read quite a bit on supernatural forces, and most of the books had some variant of 'If a being senses that you're avaliable, or that you could be rendered that way; it will attack you.'.

"Wait. So you're saying they might eat confusion?" Honey had read about some things eating emotions, but confusion was rarely listed. "That doesn't make much sense.." Reaching up to rub at his eyes, Honey squinted and tried to readjust to the lighting in the room. "Which means that it works, sort of." There was something weird about the entire thing, though. Honey fell quiet, thinking. "I wonder what they were saying. If I knew that, then maybe it'd help! Like, 'learn something's true name and you can beat it', or something."

Letting his shoulders slump, Honey idly tugged at one of Usa-chan's ears. "Too bad I can't remember.." Looking at Snape over the top of the doll's head, Honey asked: "Is there a spell for making someone remember something?"

"It might cease their attempts for a time, if they believe you have nothing they desire... but they would always return with a different plan. They won't be satisfied until they claim what they're after." Thus, the problem had to be ended. Snape knew well that those on the side of Dark operated, how tenacious they could be. "Especially if what they wish to claim is simply... you." Although why was a mystery, if that were the case. Honey didn't even bear any unusual scars or indications that he would be useful to Dark powers.

"As for memories... There are means of recovering it... and there is also a means by which we might even attempt to view it. However, the chances of success lessen if the memory has been altered by Dark magic..." Which would take a great deal of work to get around, if that were the case. Not that it was impossible, and it might indeed be interesting enough to look into. Snape's eyes trailed to where a stone basin stood amid the various magical equipment and ingredients.

Honey followed Snape's gaze to the basin, eying it for a minute. "How is that supposed to help recover memories?" he asked. "It looks like a regular sink. Well, except that there isn't a faucet." Walking towards it, Honey looked up at the item, then back to Snape. "Claim.." he repeated, a healthy dose of fear nesting itself in his stomach.

Honey visibly tensed at that. "Why would they want- What would happen if they succeeded? Would I dissappear?" Looking behind himself, expecting a shadowy figure to swoop down and grab him, Honey held tightly to Usa-chan. "I don't want that to happen! If this-" Honey indicated the basin. "Can help, then.. Then tell me what I need to do."

Honey paused for a moment. "If it doesn't work, then couldn't I just tell them that I don't have anything interesting?" Honey doubted that whatever it was that was giving him grief would listen to anything, though. Still, some part of him had to try to reason that specific approach might work. "Or hide? They're just in my head, I could just realize that I'm dreaming, and then hide somewhere until they left!"

"Other than convincing the Dark forces that you're a coward, hiding will do you little good. Perhaps it would gain you more time, but ultimately... they would catch up." Snape gave him a disdainful gaze after that and crossed the room to the table where the basin sat among a few other objects, including several jars and vials, which he moved aside, out of the way. "The Pensieve is not a sink," he explained, as if Honey should have known better. No matter how often he answered questions about magical items, he always held the same tone... that of a teacher who knew the student hadn't done the required studying.

He thought, however, that perhaps something could be revealed this way. Unless tampered with somehow, the memory should hold what Honey had experienced. "This instrument allows the viewing of memories... in this way, you would be able to immerse yourself in the moment of the encounter and observe it to gain new insight about what happened. What you can recall consciously is not always the full extent of what actually remains in memory." Indeed, that was why wizards often used the Pensieve- to extract and look over memories for new perspectives. Who knew what Honey might have still in there?

Honey frowned as Snape confirmed that hiding wouldn't work. Well, then he would just have to work on his shields and hope that they did the job. "I'm not a coward!" Honey protested. "Well, not a big one, at least. It's just that most bad dreams go away on their own, and these aren't; so I'm just confused and scared.." Realizing that his explanation wasn't helping anything, Honey sighed.

Eying what had been called the Pensive, Honey took a few moments to think. Finally speaking, he looked in Snape's general direction.
"Hm.. I don't think my memories were tampered with?" he offered with an uncertain shrug. He couldn't remember much about the dreams, but that was normal. Looking at the Pensive again, Honey stood and pushed his stool closer to the object before climbing back onto it. Making himself comfortable- as comfortable as he could be in this situation, anyway- he looked to Snape.

"How do we get the memories out of my head?" he asked, remembering what had been done once. "Hypnosis?" Honey doubted it involved hypnosis. Dr. Bruckman's office hadn't included a sink. Just a comfortable couch, and a few chairs. But a sink that could let people view memories? Honey hadn't noticed one, and it would've been very hard to miss.

"Or something else?" he added, as an afterthought.

Well, in some respects this might have been worse. Honey was willing to... attempt things, anyway. If he'd been one of those to doubt the capabilities of magic, Snape would have had even more work to accomplish. As it was, the boy simply seemed... ignorant. Uneducated. Not unwilling to learn. Snape held up his wand.

"I will extract the memory from your mind... which is a simple process... and then transfer it to the Pensieve where it can be viewed." He eyed Honey another moment in order to evaluate his reaction to that. "All you will need to do is attempt to focus on what you have of that memory for now... bring it to the surface of all other thoughts. If you're ready, we can begin."

Honey blanched slightly at Snape's explanation. "Simple?" he echoed, as if the word were new. He had no idea what counted as 'simple' when it came to memory extraction; which made sense because Honey had never heard of it being done. For all he knew, it involved something horrible.

When he was told to focus, Honey looked at the Pensive. After a moment, he inhaled and let his eyes close as he concentrated. Honey's mind worked on pulling what he could remember about the nightmares towards the front, while Honey kept reminding himself that the memory recall wasn't dangerous. "I don't need to panic." Honey thought; even though it was proving hard not to.

Swaying a little, but reestablishing his balance, Honey continued to concentrate.

"I'm ready." he finally said.

Of course, Snape purposefully left out the fact that the memory extraction itself was also a very non-threatening, painless procedure. It might not be easy on the boy to view the actual memory, however, and Snape wanted him to be in the proper mindset to handle something difficult. He reached his wand toward Honey's forehead upon seeing him prepared...

With very deliberate, careful motions of the wand, Snape himself concentrated, drawing forth the memory. A thin silvery strand manifested as he did so... "This is your memory," he informed him once it was fully drawn out. He observed it a moment, but nothing on the surface indicated that it was any different than any normal memory. Perhaps it was intact. The only way to know with any certainty was to view it. "Next, I place it within the Pensieve..." He did so with a gesture. The memory swirled within the cloudy substance already in the basin, something not entirely liquid or air... but resembling both. "...and it is prepared to view. It requires little in the means of magical talent to observe a memory... I recommend that you move closer. You will need to look directly within the Pensieve, in order to see the memory."

As the smoke-like object appeared in mid-air suddenly before being moved into the Pensive, Honey looked at it. Not wanting to believe that it really wasa memory, but having no real other explanation for it, he moved closer when Snape instructed him to.

Bracing himself, even though the fountain connection was still there and Honey briefly thought about tossing a coin into the Pensive to make a wish; Honey stood on his chair and leaned forward to look into the Pensive.

As the substance swirled, Honey watched in quiet surprise as it parted suddenly. Some of the fog remained, and there, a little off center; was himself. Dressed in what had been the outfit he'd been wearing that day- khaki pants and a middy top, Honey watched as he looked around the area.


So far, things were playing out as well as he could remember them. The fog increased, his memory version moving to hug Usa-chan before something new came into the picture. Two hooded figures appeared suddenly. His memory version's eyes widened, looking over his shoulder before one of the figures moved, the 'screen' as it were; going temporarily dark as it was covered with rippling black fabric. Honey jumped, nearly falling to the floor as his own voice rang out from the Pensive suddenly.

"Don't come near me!" This was quickly cut off by a mirthless laugh- one that Honey didn't recognize. The area in the Pensive cleared, and Honey hesitantly looked back towards it.

He saw himself, being held to the ground, one of the hooded figures, with a decidedly feminine hand, gripping his throat. The other figure was watching the ordeal and flipping through a small leather bound book. "Hold him still, this won't be as effective other-" There was a pause before the figure laughed. "No, let him go. Let's see him run."

Honey tensed, Usa-chan slipping from his grasp as he leaned forward to look at the Pensive as if he were watching an engaging episode of Magma Rangers. This was obviously much different. "I don't want to see any more.." he murmured.

But his memory had other plans, as the memory version of himself sat up, coughing before he scrambled to his feet, running. It was the same as running in quick sand, as he hardly moved. There was a sudden flash of light, coupled with his own pained yell that rose above the call of, "Mneme's Nebulous!" before the memory dimmed, the Pensive going back to normal.

Honey, remembering suddenly that he could breathe, did so; exhaling slowly. "....Is that what happened, then?" he asked quietly. "Is that really what happened?"

Snape had been standing over him, enough to view what was happening in the memory. Now that he had it here, he figured he could also go through it again at his leisure, and possibly gather more insight from repeated viewings. He turned that phrase over in his head, the word not registering for him, but... he may locate something if he researched it.

"Yes, that is... the full memory. It appears to be untampered." He had seen enough of them in his time to be certain of that. Snape looked at Honey critically. "Does any of that mean anything to you, now that you can fully recall what happened?"

Honey shook his head, finding his voice a few seconds later. "No, it doesn't mean anything. I just remember the fog, and it being cold.. Even with it here, it doesn't really jog anything." Holding onto Usa-chan and shivering, Honey backed away from the Pensive like it was suddenly overflowing with snakes.

"It was scary, to be honest." he admitted, casting his eyes to the ground. "Have you ever looked at memories and been afraid?" he asked, looking back towards Snape. Even with only having met him a short time ago, Honey doubted he scared as easily.

"You don't know the meaning of true fear." Snape's tone was ominous and hinted that he would be more than willing to make Honey learn what he meant. Actually, there was more meaning to what he said, not that he would ever inform Honey of this fact. He had spent a great deal of his life in a state of something much like fear... but nothing like being spooked by a boggart or nightmare... The feeling he knew was the persistent, endless risk he'd taken upon himself by spying for Dumbledore. Calling it 'fear' would make it sound much too trite. But after all that he'd been through over the years... he'd become numbed to the notion of regular fear. He knew worse.

Snapping himself out of all of these reflections, Snape shook his head. "I have never been afraid of a memory. They can do no harm in the present." He'd been repulsed by certain memories, infuriated, ashamed even... but never afraid, per se. "Your memory tells me little else, but does eliminate potential suspects..." Such as the Dark Lord, reaching out from the past. He knew he'd have seen signs before some boy, however... it was necessary to be sure. At least, he was mostly certain at this point. That slim chance still bothered him, but it remained only that. A miniscule possibility.

...The Dark Lord's return would have been something worth fearing, indeed.

At Snape's words (or to be more precise, the tone they were delivered with), Honey shrank away slightly. Regaining his confidence, he straightened his shoulders and spoke. "Yes they can. They can give you bad dreams, or make you uncertain about how to act." Honey had a few experiences with both kinds.

When Snape mentioned Honey not knowing what the true meaning of fear was, he braced himself; almost expecting something. "There are different kinds." he said quietly. "Just like there are different kinds of a lot of emotions." It was a weak argument, but Honey made it anyway. "Like concern." he ventured, looking from where his gaze had landed (on Usa-chan, of course) to Snape. Letting the statement hang in the air for a moment, Honey glanced to the Pensive.

"Well, at least it did that much.. Wait, you had potential suspects picked out?" Again, he looked to Snape, concerned.

"Who?"

Debating the nature of fear, while mildly interesting, would not do them much good at the moment. So Snape simply let that matter be, focusing another of his penetrating stares on him at his last question. "Someone you should fear... The Darkest Wizard who ever lived. However... it would be obvious were his hand in this, and it isn't. I see no trace of Dementors, either, as I had initially surmised. No, this is something else entirely. Dark, I am certain, and a potential danger... but nothing I have personally encountered."

Which was still troubling, but, again, preferred to dealing with any forces rising back from the past.

Honey almost shrank away as Snape gave him another look. Taking a breath, he listened as Snape elaborated. "Ever?" he asked. Though Snape's tone and expression quickly helped Honey realize that yes, the Potions professor meant it.

"So you don't know how to fight against it, outside of shields.." he said quietly. Giving himself a minute to process that, Honey nodded. "That's okay." Which it was. Some knowledge was better than nothing.

"Actually, I think it's very nice of you to offer to help me like this." he admitted with a sheepish laugh. "You're kind of.. Well, I don't want to say 'mean', but.. um.." Faltering for a second, Honey decided on a term. "Inexorable, that works. Anyway, you're kind of inexorable, but you cared enough to offer, so.. Thank you."

Giving Snape a small, and noticeably hesitant smile; Honey very briefly considered giving him a hug, but decided against it. He could at least ask first! That would be the polite thing to do.

"Would you like a hug?"

"I know plenty of means to fight a force of that nature... but your limited capabilities leave you with little choice but to develop upon what strengths you have." Snape just looked at him incredulously after that, as Honey continued babbling. He had never known anyone quite like him. Not even Potter would have come out with such a thing... nor anyone he'd taught, in all his years in the position.

All he could do was give Honey a look which somehow managed to remain intimidating as well as confused, and ...almost shocked. To the hug question, his answer was blunt. "No. Absolutely not."

"I know that." Honey answered, matching Snape's incredulous look with one of his own. "I'm saying, it's nice that you offered to help; and that you're willing to work with me even though my skills are limited. You could've just told me to deal with it on my own and not helped at all."

When the hug was rejected, Honey rubbed at the back of his head. "R- Right.." Well, he had tried. At least Snape didn't paralyze him for the compliment Honey had paid him. That counted as a silver lining. "I guess you don't like them.. W- Which is fine! Not everyone does!" Not sure where to go with that statement, Honey fidgeted for a minute or two.

"...I still think you're kind of nice." he said after a beat. "But don't worry, I won't tell anyone! Usa-chan won't, either."

"I'm not doing this out of kindness." However, explaining his complicated motives to Honey would be more trouble than it was worth. He had no desire to reveal too much information; even now with Harry's report of the Dark Lord's demise, there was still a danger in saying too much. Besides... Honey wouldn't understand any of it. He shook his head. "It's a necessity that I deal with anything of this nature... no one else here is equipped to handle it, nor do I particularly want any situation to potentially grow beyond my control... which means granting it immediate attention. That is all."

Honey's attitude was almost more difficult to understand than most; Snape simply couldn't see that anyone in the world could be so unwaveringly optimistic... and few saw the good in others to the extent that he did. Foolish. Yet, that had once been the attitude Dumbledore had taken, when it came to placing trust in others, including himself. The main difference being that the older wizard had also possessed the wisdom of age in making his judgments; Snape was certain that Honey was simply naïve. "We can begin on the shielding techniques immediately, or you are free to return again at the same time tomorrow."

Standing, Honey looked towards the door. "We should start." he answered. He was a little tired, but it made more sense to work while he was in the same area. Looking at Usa-chan for a minute, Honey set the toy onto the stool. "Stay." he commanded, eying the doll in case it moved.

It didn't.

Facing Snape, Honey exhaled. "Well, even if you're the only one who can handle it.." Stopping himself, since it'd just be repeating a lot of what had already been said, Honey gave Snape a shrug and a half grin. "I'm ready when you are." Lacing his fingers together and leaning backwards to 'stand' on his heels, Honey tried to figure out what Snape would do first. Realizing something, he asked suddenly: "Wait, do I need a wand to do this?"

"Very well." Snape doubted that this initial session would take very long, and while he would like to return to his own research and review that memory on his own, there would be time for that afterward.

"You will require only yourself and your capabilities. You do recall how you cast that shield in the past? You will have to use it, and from there we will work toward strengthening it." He raised his wand threateningly, but for the moment did nothing else. "Focus now, and bring the shield forth." He wanted to see what it took for Honey to do so, anyway, and assess it. From there he would begin his version of 'assisting' him.

"How-" Honey started, returning his feet fully to the ground and looking confused. He didn't know how he'd summoned his shield, just that it appeared at random. "Fine." he said, giving a nod in understanding. "Focus and call it.." Letting his eyes close, Honey inhaled.

Concentrating in order to cast wasn't much different than concentrating to remember the words to a song, or concentrating to solve an Algebra problem. Picturing the room and Snape, Honey 'watched' mentally as each object slowly faded away. An inky darkness, which didn't register as threatening or dangerous, lingered. Honey could see himself standing in the middle of it, and wordlessly unlaced his fingers. Turning his palm outwards, Honey imagined the light forming on his palm.

In reality, that was starting to happen. Like a slow to light candle, there was a faint light gathering there. His eyes still closed, Honey continued to concentrate. "Imagine it changing." he thought. The light began to bend and slowly move away from his hand, quietly forming a column that was about a head taller than Honey.

Opening his eyes and watching as the column finished forming itself and then bending into a shield which encompassed the majority of the front of his body (it tapered off and faded towards the middle of his back, looking like haphazardly thrown paint), Honey smiled. Looking back to Snape, he readied himself.

"Whenever you're ready."

Fascinating. It was a different sort of magic than wizards possessed, but as he gave it an initial look, he could surmise some of the basic principles at work behind it. "Similar to a Shield Charm," he remarked as he circled him and viewed it from different angles. Despite the variations, all magic did exhibit many similarities... and to someone like Snape, who not only studied the foundations of spells and had invented his own in the past, this was actually providing an interesting study. The shield was still weak, however, and in serious need of work.

"Concentrate on that shield, on its solidity, on making it an impenetrable barrier. Draw upon what you use to cast it... and attempt to deflect this... Everte Statum!" Snape made a wand motion along with the incantation, for a spell that would send the victim flying backwards. He didn't intend to cause any lasting damage, after all. Just to give Honey an incentive to guard against what he was throwing at him.

Listening as Snape made a few observations about the shield, Honey went into what he personally called 'training mode'. Some people would probably call it 'terrifying', but they weren't around to do it; so it didn't really matter. Tuning out what Snape was telling him about strengthening the shield, Honey paid close attention to where the professor's hands were. The abrupt switch to Latin and the wand movement made along with it caused Honey's eyes to narrow. Not from anger, but concentration.

Feeling something heading towards him, but unable to see it, Honey could do little to deflect it. The shield groaned, an area of it splitting as the spell hit. Lifted and thrown back as if he were an oversized rag doll, Honey had all of ten seconds to ensure that he didn't land at an angle that could inflict permanent damage. Focusing on how he was moving, Honey halfway spun, forcing all of his weight onto his non dominate leg. Unfortunately, he misjudged, and landed roughly in a sort of almost heap. Remaining how he'd landed for a second, his legs gave out, and Honey found himself back on the floor, except face down this time.

The shield flickered and dimmed a few seconds later. Honey sighed and moved to sit up. Biting his lower lip, he looked at Snape from his position on the floor.

"That was interesting!" he said, smiling a little. "I'm lucky I didn't break anything.. You have shield charms?" he asked, mistaking 'charm' to mean an amulet or bauble. "Are they hard to make?"

Snape stared in shock at Honey's surprisingly upbeat response. He would not have expected that from someone who'd only just been magically flung aside like that. He looked down with a sneer, and added, "Get up." They weren't finished after all.

He kept forgetting that Honey had less magical education than the lowliest First Year. "A charm is only a variation of spell, enchantments that can alter an object without changing its inherent nature. Shields fall under this designation. Now. You will try again, and consider what went wrong the last time. Focus more upon the mental processes you're going through than anything else. If you are weak in mind, your shield will be likewise, but the stronger you become... you will begin to have the expected result. Recall what it felt like when the shield broke, and how it faltered." Snape highly doubted that Honey would be able to shield effectively just yet, but a couple of rounds should give him the basic idea. Maybe it would even be enough to make some difference, however slight, when the time came.

Standing, Honey looked to Snape and indicated for him to try again. The comments about his shield being weak and needing mental reinforcement weren't entirely new concepts. Most books on magic made the same connections, though it was just as much strength as it was mental prep and believing in yourself.

When he was told to repeat the shield, however, Honey hesitated for a moment. Going through the motions again, and watching as the shield reformed, he felt sweat beginning to form on his forehead. "I can do this.." he said quietly, waiting for Snape's next move. While Honey didn't doubt his ability a lot, there was a difference in casting for fun, and having to continually cast or summon. To put it simply, Honey would have failed as a Cleric in any number of dice based roleplaying games. Casting usually took a mild strain on him, though.

His shoulders slumped, and Honey took a minute to get his breathing under control. "Use a different spell." he stated in between breaths. "I wouldn't expect an opponent to keep using the same one, unless he saw that it worked better than anything else he could use."

That was essentially Snape's plan, anyway. But it was also true that Honey was only as good as his powers allowed for. Snape didn't think Honey would ever be on par with any wizard, but he might at the very least be able to protect himself when the time came. He eyed him, seemingly not doing anything for a moment to catch him off guard.

A spell of his own then, and one he had annoying familiarity with... and while Levicorpus could be uttered verbally, it was also among the spells that was just as strong if done silently. So, it meant one more means of throwing Honey off. Snape aimed the spell at him in a sudden motion and waited to see what happened. Would the boy be dangled upside down by the ankle? Or would the shield stand against it?

The misguiding worked. Actually, Snape's unwavering look caused Honey to wrack his mind. Did he have something on his face? Reaching up to rub at one of his cheeks suddenly, Honey snapped to attention when Snape moved. Unlike the last spell Honey had thrown at him, though, he couldn't see this one.

The shield, however, held. At least for a few seconds longer than the last one. Once again, the shield cracked and then vanished as the spell shot through it. Looking around, Honey let out a sudden yelp as something coiled around his ankles and pulled upwards. Hanging upside down in mid air, Usa-chan looked up from his new position on the ground where Honey had dropped him.

The good things were that the shield had held. That told Honey that he was at least starting to get a little stronger. The second thing was that his shirt was tucked in. Trying to pull first one ankle free and then the other, Honey frowned. Whatever had grabbed him had a vice-like grip, so his ankles weren't going anywhere. He tried again, and again nothing happened. Honey was, to put it simply, stuck where he'd been lifted.

"H- I can't-" Honey gave Snape a pleading look. "Help!"

"I expect that this gives you a better idea of what it will take in order to strengthen it... but it's still weak. Although, you cannot expect to fully perfect it in a single session. That will require considerable practice..." Snape watched him a moment, letting him hang there to prove... some sort of point. This really was the least of what Honey might experience, and he didn’t know if any shields he could create would even be enough... but it was better than nothing.

Finally, with a simple flick, Snape cast the counter to the spell, allowing Honey to land- more like being dropped- from where he was dangling.

"I'll keep working at it." Honey said almost automatically. He was naive, sure, but he had limits. And then suddenly, Honey's ankles were free and he was spilling towards the floor. Quickly twisting around and drawing his knees up to his chest, Honey landed without breaking his neck. Staying huddled for a minute, he exhaled. Standing, dusting himself off, and picking up Usa-chan, Honey checked himself over. Swaying as the blood worked on going back to its proper place instead of towards his head, Honey slowly tilted his head down.

"Ah.. Dizzy.." Waiting it out, Honey's legs felt like rubber. A few more moments, and Honey steadied his breathing, and looked back up. "That was.. Well, kind of scary, honestly." Honey didn't doubt that Snape probably saw that as a compliment. "Kind of like being on a roller coaster." he elaborated.

Snape knew full well what he was doing and the limits of just how damaging a spell to use on Honey... so he was unconcerned about him getting a little roughed up. Besides, if it were too terrible, he was actually quite a proficient healer. Watching Honey, Snape did notice that he had determination if anything. That was rarely enough, but it did make some difference at times.

To the roller coaster comment, he said nothing, only making another of his wide array of exasperated, disbelieving expressions. Truly, there were no students quite like Honey. "Has that given you enough of an idea what you must work on?" The silent implication being Or must I throw you around more?

"That's enough information for now." Honey answered. Snape's implication didn't go unnoticed, but Honey didn't respond to it. "Thank you." Still a little wobbly, Honey moved to wave one of Usa-chan's paws. "It was nice of you to offer to do this!"

Returning Usa-chan's paw to his side, Honey spoke again. "I should probably go. If I want to be stronger, I need to keep casting. W- Well, that and I've got some homework to do." Could he get home safely, though? Smiling to Snape, Honey thanked him again and then slowly made his way for the door. "Ah.." he murmured, slowing a few times and then resuming his walk. "Is there a spell that makes you more alert?" he asked suddenly, with a chuckle. "I think I can make it there, but.." But he rarely casted as much as he had. "But- well, casting that often can be really draining. I bet wizards have to drink a lot of coffee."

There was that word again... Nice... it really grated on him. However, Snape didn't want to draw further attention to Honey's misplaced assumptions about him. How did he even come to that conclusion, anyway? After he'd just thrown him around as he had done? True, it was a means to an end of helping... but that was beside the point.

Snape had things to do, as well, and saw no point in wasting time. He'd given Honey an idea of what must be done, it was now up to him to do it. He sighed upon hearing his question. It was the attitude of students in general, believing that they could use charms and potions for an energy boost, normally in order to study at the last minute. But Honey falling asleep in his classroom would be more a nuisance than he cared to deal with. "Pace yourself... if you rely too much on magical means to remain alert, it won't do you much good. It would be only a temporary solution. However, since you are not adjusted yet..." Snape reached automatically for one small bottle of a potion on a shelf alongside several others. "There should be enough to enable you to return and be alert the rest of the evening."

And with that, he returned to the book he'd been reading when Honey came in.