Rewind

By Koschei_xSigma

Rating: T for mild swearing.

Summary: AU. First Year. A simple misunderstanding started it all; rectifying it changed the separate paths of Harry Potter and Severus Snape. Snape-mentors-Harry fic.

Author's Note: Hello, everyone! This little plot bunny came to me as I was re-watching SS/PS the other day (along with a few others, but this is the more prominent one) and decided to write it. For starters, let me just say I have never condoned Snape's treatment of Harry — however, I do understand it. Likewise, Harry's immediate dislike of Snape never settled good with me, either. And the first Potions class was the start of it all. A stupid misunderstanding (at least movie-wise, anyway; book!Snape's badgering of Harry that first class made it kind of hard to call a "misunderstanding", even though I realize Snape was attempting to see what level Harry was at at the time academic-wise, and was perhaps hoping the boy would impress him, only to be disappointed greatly). I think had Harry simply stated he was taking notes, Snape would have had a different impression of him. First impressions are everything; Snape didn't like of what he saw of Harry (with Harry's little smart-aleck response to the questions, "Clearly, Hermione knows. Seems a pity not to ask her!"), and Harry what he saw of the Professor who seemed to hate him for no apparent reason. Had both of them attempted to change what was happening, things could have been different. Thus the point of this fic. Now, while Snape's treatment will be acceptable, he will not be border-line "nice", but he won't be mean, either. He will not coddle Harry, but he won't be his usual hard-ass self (God, do I love him, though). So yeah. :) Please read and review; I would love feedback! xD Thanks!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter – Jo does. And it couldn't ever be done any better than what it was.

Chapter One:

"First Impressions"

Severus Snape stormed briskly down the corridors, his robes billowing gracefully behind him. Many of the students glanced at him apprehensively as he passed them, some whispering frantically to each other once they thought he was out of earshot. He ignored them. As he rounded the corner that lead to the dungeons which encased his classroom, he saw two first year girls looking around anxiously, holding pieces of paper, seemingly lost. At the sound of his approaching footsteps, one of the two, a little red-head he recognized from the Sorting feast as a new Hufflepuff student, Susan Bones, looked up and spotted him. Immediately, her eyes widened in fear and she halted abruptly, as if frozen into place, letting out a small whimper. Her companion, a small blonde called Hannah Abbot, gazed up at her friend, frowning, and asked in a hushed voice what was wrong. When Susan swallowed thickly and her gaze didn't move, Hannah's eyes followed, and seeing Snape rapidly approaching at last, let out a tiny "Eep!" and straightened into a robot-like posture. He sneered.

"Get to class!" He barked, satisfied when the two girls let out small yelps and raced past him. Smirking, he slowed down his pace as he reached the foot of the door. He could hear the loud, unimportant chit-chat amongst the students. He grimaced. Of course, the first class of the new year had to be bloody First Years. His hand reached out for the handle; this class was going to be a trying one, and likely one that he would need to have a Pain Reliever Potion ready for afterwards. Not only would the new students be confused and have to get used to the routines, and he would have to put up with the questions among other things, but most – if not all – of these students would be incompetent, as were many of the eleven-year-olds he got each year, and would be blowing up cauldrons from nervousness and unsettlement, along with their sheer stupidity. But that was only a small part of the problems he would have to endure from this class, although dealing with the little pests would be cause enough for a migraine – he would have to encounter one student in particular, one child he wished would just drop off the face of the earth before he had to lay his eyes on him: Harry Potter.

The son of the arrogant, bullying, James Potter. He released the handle. Surely, the boy was going to be just the same as his asshole father, the man who had made Severus's time at Hogwarts a living Hell. The apple never fell far from the tree, especially one as rotten and decaying as Potter. Maybe the little brat would blow himself up in today's class, then Severus would not have to deal with him. Or even better, maybe he didn't come to class at all. That would be ideal. But Snape never did have such luck; the boy was likely attending his class. Who knows, maybe the little runt would do something disastrous, like blowing up another child's cauldron with his bullying, and he could get the pest expelled? Even though he knew deep down that Dumbledore would never allow his little, precious savior be expelled.

He snarled, his eyes darkening, blood beginning to boil. Just the thought of the boy behind the door sent him into fury. He'd rather not have to set eyes on him at all. He wished the brat would just... die. But the memory of Lily, her endearing green eyes, that perfect smile and that calming, wonderful laugh that had made his darkest days more than bearable almost made him regret the thought; She had died to protect the boy, her son, her child. Just as he was Potter's son, he was Lily Evans's as well. Dumbledore had made him swear to not only protect the boy, just as Lily had done, but to give the child a chance, attempt to look past his appearance that looked so eerily similar to James's, and try, try to see Lily in him, and try, just try, to like him.

But how could he? How was he even supposed to? All he could see when he looked at the boy at the feast was a miniature version of James Potter. Although when those green orbs, those beautiful green eyes, Lily's eyes, looked at him from his place amongst the other First Years and up at the Staff table where Snape had been seated, holding nothing but innocence and wonder, just as Lily's had been that first day, he had been taken aback, his foundation rocked. In that moment, and just that moment, the boy was Lily's son. But then those eyes, filled with pain as the lightening-bolt scar on the boy's forehead seared and he stared at Snape with nothing but suspicion and caution looked away, and he became James Potter's spawn once more. And nothing more.

Yes, the child was first and foremost a Potter, and no matter his eyes or his innocence, or how he had briefly reminded him of Lily, Snape knew the brat was just the same as his father. Blood was thicker than water, and Harry Potter was the embodiment of exactly what James had been.

He pushed the door open with excessive force as his anger exploded, causing the students to jump in fear, and raced to the front of the class. "There will be no foolish wand-waving, or silly incantations in this class," He began as he turned and faced them. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle sciene and exact art that is potion-making, however, for those select few..." He lowered his gaze, finding Draco Malfoy, the little blonde son of Lucius Malfoy, one of Severus's old friends. Seeing the boy staring up at him with nothing but admiration, he continued, folding his arms across his chest. "Who possess the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." Draco's eyebrows rose as he grinned, undisguised greed and amazement outlining his features.

Snape then moved his eyes across the room as he surveyed each student, and then he landed on young Harry Potter. Not to his disappointment, the boy was already showing truth to his earlier, unwavering assumptions; He was inattentive, seemingly finding writing in his notebook to be more interesting than the capturing lecture Snape had been giving that had all of the other students at least pretending to be interested. "Then again," He continued, his drawl filling up the room, "Maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of skills so formidable that you feel confident enough.." To his annoyance, the boy did not cease his writing as he indirectly chastised him. "To not. pay. attention!"

At this, Hermione Granger, who sat besides Potter, glanced at him, and seeing that Snape was right, nudged the boy sharply, causing the boy to look up at her confusedly, and only when the girl jerked her head at their teacher, did Potter finally address Snape with his attention, and when he found Snape's black eyes glaring down at him, he shrinked back, flinching.

"Please, sir," The boy spoke meekly, his voice nervous and soft. "I was paying attention, promise. I... I was taking notes, sir."

There was a dead silence.

"Taking notes." Snape repeated softly. At the boy's small nod, as the child looked back at the notes with nothing but scared and unsure eyes, did Snape's anger decrease. Silence prolonged, and Harry looked back up at the Professor. Snape stared at him a moment longer before he gave a curt nod, and placed his hands behind his back as he turned away from the boy and back at the class that seemed to have stopped breathing from the tension. "Well," He said finally, as the children's attention went back to him, "It seems Mr. Potter has the right idea on what to do in the first lesson. It would do you all well to follow his example. Five points to Gryffindor."

As the students all scrambled for quills and proceeded with flipping their notebooks open, Snape saw Harry's eyes alight with pride, his green eyes sparkling in happiness. The rest of the lesson passed smoothly; it happened like he had predicted, cauldrons exploding, messes being created, much confusion and scattered movement from the class as they gathered ingredients, producing their first potion of the year. But none of them were injured, and all in all, Snape was pretty pleased with how the class was managing. With the exception of Neville Longbottom, who he knew right off the bat was going to be the worst of his students, they had all done pretty well. Harry, he saw, when he walked around observing the class, seemed to have a prominent interest and talent at Potions. The boy gave careful thought and consideration to the potion he was brewing; he checked, double-checked, triple-checked, and even checked a fourth and fifth time to the instructions as he brewed, giving nothing but the most careful attentiveness to the ingredients he added, both in amount and size.

To say he was stunned would be understating it; Snape was completely shocked that Potter's son was showing such efficiency at a subject Potter had sneered at, had picked on Severus and Lily both for being adept and competent at it, and deemed completely unnecessary for his career choice later on.

"I mean, really," James had sneered, speaking loudly for everyone within a twenty-mile radius to hear as they had left Potions the first afternoon of classes. "Who needs Potions for becoming an Auror? Just gonna be catching dark wizards, it isn't like I'm gonna be measuring a concoction of something or anything. All you need to know is about the dark arts, and how to defend against them. And honestly, it isn't like Potions is a subject that is perfectly interesting anyway; creating chemicals, I can do that all on my own in the loo."

Sirius Black, who bounced along on one side of Potter, and Peter Pettigrew who tailed along beside Remus Lupin who was on Potter's opposite, both laughed.

Disgusted and annoyed, young Severus had snarled from behind him and his little friends, "But if your ambition is to become an Auror, Potter, then won't it be efficient to know if, say, you were facing Grindelwald and he had a vial of Draught of Living Death and had managed to slip it to you when you were unsuspecting, what the effect would be? Or a poison of some sort that could render you paralyzed and useless? Or, say there was an attack you were called for and the room it's in has been put under dark magic that you have to inspect and remove, and there's a cauldron of something that you have no clue what it is or what it can do. It could blow up, release a gas that can kill everyone within the vicinity or produce anything that can be potentially vital to your health. Would you not need to know how to counter-act these and ensure everyone's safety?"

James turned, glaring, and rounded on him. "I didn't ask for your worthless opinion, Snivellus. Besides, it's stupid; no dark wizard is gonna care about dumb potions when they got dark magic and spells that do the exact same thing. Like I said, you don't need it to become an Auror, but apparently you're stupid enough to believe that you do. Though of course, I shouldn't be surprised, seeing as you're a Slytherin."

Lily, as she walked beside Severus, glared sharply at Potter. "He's right, Potter. Potions is essential in anyone wishing to become an Auror. It's in the NEWT's. Or were you not listening to Professor Mgonagall's lecture?"

Potter snorted. "Oh, please, Evans, as if I'd listen to her incessant rambling. Got better things to put my attention to. Quidditch tryouts are next week. My dad was in Quidditch, you see — "

"Of course, Quidditch." Snape sneered. "Can see why you would be interested in it, Potter; it's great for nothing but showing off trying to get girls and attracting attention to yourself. How very Gryffindor."

James spun around, his wand pointing directly in Snape's face. "Shut up, Snivellus. Think you're jealous because no one spares you a second glance except for Evans, and I can't comprehend why she even does – "

"Oh, you comprehend?" Lily said nastily.

" – But let me tell you, even if you were in Quidditch, not that you ever would be, because of your appearance and all, but no one would spare you a first glance even then."

Snape barely had time to blink before Lily was in James's face, her wand pressing hardly at the tip of his nose, her eyes ablaze with fury. Potter's friends seemed shocked stiff, except for Black, who was raising his wand, looking about ready to Hex Lily. This didn't go unnoticed by her. "You had better stay where you are, Black, before I tell you where to go, too." She said cooly. Black swallowed, and looked at the back of Potter's head nervously before he lowered his wand back to his side. Lily's attention went back to James.

"You think you're so smart and so great, Potter," She growled, "But you're just jealous that I won't give you the time of day, and even if you play that stupid game because your dad was in it and you see fit to be a 'Daddy's boy', I still won't give you the time of day! I don't want your friendship, not now, not ever, and I can not see how those idiots — "She jerked her head at James's friends. " – can even stand to be near you. You're bullying, pathetic, arrogant and a complete loser, and that will never earn you any sort of attention from me. Come on, Sev."

And she grabbed Snape's hand and they were walking briskly away from the four Gryffindors, who all seemed quite put out.

He pulled out of his thoughts as the bell rang, ending class for the day. "Class dismissed," He called in his usual drawl. "Put your completed flask on my desk before you depart for grading and put away your ingredients."

The students obeyed at once, bringing up the completed work, and as he glimpsed the full vials, Snape saw many had only just managed an acceptable draft. Draco Malfoy had done exceptionally well, as did Granger, and when Harry Potter brought up his flask and placed it on the desk, Snape was not surprised to see it was the best out of the class, brewed almost perfectly and without error. The boy lingered at his desk for a moment, and when Snape met his eyes, the child gave him a small smile, one that Severus was only barely able to keep himself from returning.

A few hours later, and classes were done for the day. Severus approached the Gargoyle that lead to the Headmaster's office and struggled to remember today's idiotic candy-based password. "Butter Fingers." He called, almost releasing a sigh of relief when the old Gargoyle opened to reveal the staircase. The last thing he wanted was to look like a dunderhead in front of any on-looking students or teachers. Immediately, he turned and glared murderously at a Seventh Year couple that was passing.

" – Was thinking that we could go to Hogsmead next weekend and hang for a bit, you know." The boy was saying. "Then, I can tell her..."

As she caught the expression on Snape's face, the girl removed her head from her boyfriend's shoulder and let out a loud wail and took off running down the hall, leaving her boyfriend calling out after her, confused and upset.

Smirking to himself, Snape made his way upstairs. A moment later, and he was standing in Dumbledore's office with the old man's blue eyes twinkling up at him, and feeling immensely annoyed.

"Severus, my boy." Dumbledore greeted. "How were your classes for the day?"

"The same as they usually are every year." Snape replied.

"As expected," Dumbledore nodded, as he popped a lemon drop into his mouth. "First Years?"

"Most are dunderheads, however there are a few that may just pass my class after all, having brewed acceptable potions. Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Granger, notably — "

"Ah, young Mr. Malfoy, also as expected," Dumbledore interrupted, nodding again. "And Harry?"

Severus did his best to remain impassive. "Potter produced the best potion out of the class."

"Did he now? And that pleased you, I am sure?" That damn twinkle was back.

Severus's eye twitched. "I will admit, I was impressed – "

"You should have expected Harry might be good at Potions, Severus. I recall Lily was adept at it, and seeing as he is her son – "

" – And Potter's." Snape sneered.

" – He might have inherited some of her talents." Dumbledore continued as if Severus hadn't spoken. "Am I correct in assuming you have come to realize that Harry is not the same as his father?"

Severus sighed. "So far, he has shown to be more like Lily, however he is Potter's son as well, so to assume he is not at all like him would be completely ignorant of me."

"Excellent, Severus, excellent!" Dumbledore beamed, apparently pretending not to have heard that last bit. "I am sure you will come to see just how much more like Lily that Harry is, and look past that old school grudge against the boy's father. After all, it's not the outside that shows us exactly who someone is – it is the inside, the soul that counts. Never judge a book by it's cover."

"...Indeed." Severus was unconvinced, and definitely ready to leave. "Well, if we are finished here, Headmaster..."

"Just a moment, Severus," Dumbledore called, in all seriousness. His expression, which had been lighthearted moments before, was now somber and firm. "I trust you remember the agreement we made eleven years ago... that together, we would protect Lily's son. Should the boy start showing some traits of James – as you said, they are there – I trust you with the promise we made back then, that you will still protect Harry even if he becomes more like him, from all that might harm him."

Severus turned abruptly, away from Dumbledore, and pointed his wand behind him, not bothering to look as the Silver Doe emerged, just as elegant and beautiful as she had always been, or at Dumbledore's sad blue eyes that held pain and sympathy as he responded cooly, "Of course, Headmaster. I will protect Harry Potter, Lily's son, with all that is within me, from anyone or anything that might mean him harm. Even if it's my own misplaced judgment."

And Severus Snape swept from the room.