Remembering Voldemort entering Hogwarts stuck to the back of Quirrell's head, Snape fell silent for a moment.
From his position, it seemed that nothing he said right now would be quite appropriate. At the same time, he had gained a new understanding of Wade's consistent caution.
Unlike some foolish troll boy.
He had been hunted by Voldemort for so many years, yet he was still too stupid to learn. All he thought about every day was Quidditch and other pointless nonsense. Even if real danger jumped right onto the bridge of his nose, he would not see it.
The Potions Professor lowered his eyes and swiftly changed the subject.
With a wave of his wand, he sent the parchments scattered across the floor back where they belonged. Leaning against his desk, he said:
"You must understand that Occlumency is only the most basic form of defense."
"At best, it merely keeps you from being read like an open book when facing Legilimency."
"But when you encounter a true enemy, using Occlumency is equivalent to shouting at everyone—'I resisted! The Soul-Sucking Charm won't get anything from my mind either!'"
"Do you know what will happen then?"
Wade answered softly, "They'll use every means possible to break through the defenses and force the person to lay their mind open for them."
"Correct." Snape nodded. "For example... the Cruciatus Curse."
The name of an Unforgivable Curse emerged from the Potions Professor's mouth as though frozen into ice, falling to the ground piece by piece.
He paced slowly back and forth through the dim shadows of the office.
"When someone is rolling on the floor and screaming beneath the torment of the Cruciatus Curse, how long can their Occlumency last?"
"I'll tell you. Under normal circumstances, in less than three minutes, the defenses in