Snape did not know why Dumbledore wanted Harry to learn Occlumency.
Dumbledore's reason was that the Dark Lord's fate was intertwined with Harry's, and there might be some kind of connection between them on the level of mysticism and the soul.
Dumbledore told him that Vaughn believed this connection could allow the Dark Lord to read Harry's memories and thoughts.
It sounded quite reasonable—at least, it did to Snape, who knew nothing of fate yet regarded it with reverence.
The Snape of the past had actually been someone who scorned fate.
Mrs. Granger rolled her eyes. "Your daughter used magic to trim it so nicely at Christmas, and now you've ruined it all."
"Shh—" Mr. Granger hurriedly gestured for her to lower her voice. He looked furtively from side to side, then jogged back into the house. "Have you forgotten the warnings from those Ministry of Magic people? What if a Muggle hears us? Hermione's schooling will be over!"
"...You're a Muggle too!"
"No, we're different. Our precious daughter is a witch, so as her parents, we count as half-wizards."
Mr. Granger looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
But his smugness did not last long. While cleaning the terrace, Mrs. Granger found several newspapers in the corner where her daughter usually sat.
As she flipped through them, she suddenly shouted, "Red hair!"
"What red hair?"
"What else could it be? The one Hermione can't stop talking about every day!"
Mr. Granger's face immediately tightened.
He snatched the newspaper from his wife and stared at the red-haired boy in the photograph, surrounded by a crowd.
Damn it!
Thinking of the name his precious daughter had mentioned nonstop over Christmas, Mr. Granger felt a sourness rise in his chest. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Let me see... Vaughan Weasley... It really is that