Occlumency: A Beginner's Guide

**Occlumency: A Beginner's Guide** is a cursed book created by Augustus Rookwood, under his Death Eater name "Nemo", as a tool to turn wizards and witches into Death Eaters. Although the book did teach basic Occlumency, prolonged exposure to the book implanted a malleable secondary personality in the reader.

## History

The original manuscript for the book was created by Augustus Rookwood at some unknown time, likely before the First Wizarding War. The manuscript was then published into a number of smaller copies which was distributed through unknown means.

Narcissa Malfoy (then Black) acquired a copy for her sister, Bellatrix, as an "early graduation gift" due to Bellatrix's desire to become an Auror outside of Hogwarts. However, the book Narcissa gave Bellatrix was cursed and began corrupting Bellatrix. During her gap year after finishing Hogwarts, Bellatrix began experiencing uncontrollable fits rage. By October, she had gaps in her memory, and by Christmas, just over a year after finishing Hogwarts, the book had created the "Miss Demeanor" personality inside her and made it the dominant personality. This then drove Bellatrix to become a Death Eater and one of Voldemort's top assassins.

At some point, likely after Rookwood was arrested, Peter Pettigrew acquired the original manuscript of the book and at least one other copy of the book. Due to his godson, Jim Potter's, growing desire to learn Occlumency, Pettigrew gave Jim a modified copy of the book for his 12th birthday, which lacked some of the politically unacceptable parts of the book. Jim began studying under the book, utilising the "skills" it taught him to "control his emotions". However, Jim's training caused him to start a physical fight with his brother, Harry. Later, when the Common Rooms were being swept for contraband and the Potter Invisibility Cloak, Severus Snape discovered Jim's copy. This lead to this copy being confiscated (and likely destroyed).

The skills Jim learnt from the book did prove valuable to Jim, though, as he later used knowledge he learnt from the book to attempt to escape a Legilimency trap created by Voldemort's Diary Horcrux. Although Jim was successfully creating a way out of the trap, his real body was stunned outside the trap before he could escape, rendering him unconscious and ejecting him from the trap.

## Appearance

The pocketbook is small and bound in red leather, with the cover page blank. On the inside title page are the book's title "Occlumency: A Beginner's Guide" and the author, Nemo.

The copy that Peter Pettigrew gave to Jim Potter was also battered.

## Usage

The book is designed to manipulate a reader's mind to make them more malleable to the whims of the Death Eaters. For instance, the following is a passage from the book when describing how to handle negative emotions:

Anyone with psychological training will tell you this is a bad idea but this book not only encourages this but aims to weaponize it. It postulates that by unleashing those emotions on your enemies, you'll gain a boost of strength. When Jim Potter attempt to do utilise this "advice" after constant stress and hostility from other students, he develops a burning sensation in his chest that even Pepper-Up and Calming potions doesn't soothe. This training soon causes Jim to erupt into an inferno of emotions and start physically assaulting his brother, Harry, after an argument.

The copy of this book that Narcissa Malfoy gave her sister, Bellatrix, was noted to be cursed. Whether this a magical curse, or just the book's natural wording are unknown.

## References

Book 3 - HP&DEM - Ch. 115 - The Blackest Day (Pt 4),

Bellatrix explains her usage of the book to the Azkabal.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 43 - The Birthday Party (Pt 2),

Pettigrew thinks about his plan in his Lair.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 42 - The Birthday Party (Pt 1),

Pettigrew gives Jim a copy in secret.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 59 - Family Dysfunctions (Pt 2),

Jim's emotions unleash punches on Harry.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 61 - Post-Game Developments,

Snape discovers Jim's copy during inspection.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 74 - Endgame (Pt 1),

Jim tries to escape Trap, using knowledge learnt form the book.
Book 2 - HP&TSE - Ch. 58 - Family Dysfunctions (Pt 1),

Jim reveals side-effects of "Occlumency" training.