A/N: I want to apologize for the sloppy spelling errors I made in the former chapter. It was tired during re-reading and failed to detect them, only afterwards I realized how many errors I'd missed, I will definitely spell-check this chapter better.
This chapter is dedicated to the first sixteen (!) reviewers of this story!
Liz, Ria, Katsy17, dem bones, AlmondWithUnicornHair, Sheankelor, music909, LttleSparrow, Thatsallwegot, Babydex, Princess1heart1Hubby, SevenBlackRoses, Black-Velvet-Hearts, Fire-Metal-Horse17, RavenTheHeartlessMaoh and 13AkiraKuranXIII.
Thank you so much! :) Hopefully I haven't lost your interest after updating this late, muggle-life caught up on me, but the good news is that I passed my finals, graduated and got accepted into law school!
Chapter Two
-I want you bad,
So bad I can't think straight
So bad all my bones shake,
So bad I can't breathe- OK Go
Maybe teaching wasn't that bad, Severus mused as he descended the narrow staircase again, a stack of papers tucked under his left arm. After the collision with the boy, he'd found the staffroom without any further complications. The room was located behind a voluminous double door and had been empty, completely void of any noise that could have irritated the chemistry professor. He had been able to enjoy the silence, sip from a dark remarkably good tasting espresso (he immediately planned on buying a similar machine for himself) and a few pages of his poetry.
In his locker, he'd found his schedule accompanied by a note that informed him he was expected to report at the headmaster's office after his last class for a short evaluation. He'd prepared today's
lessons at home, and after downing another espresso he had left the vacated cosy room and made his way downstairs.
A shrill ringing signalled the end of the current period and the halls filled up with chattering students. A few curious looks where thrown in his direction, but Severus ignored them and strode briskly trough the corridors, searching for the West Wing. He descended another set of shabby looking stairs and found himself in Belfort's basement. Wide concrete corridors with various doors leading to either the Physic-, Biology- or Chemistry-labs greeted his sight as he rounded the last
corner of the winding staircase. One of the many fluorescent tubes that enlightened the corridor flickered annoyingly and all in all the basement made a gloomy impression.
The air was a bit damp, the faint smell of dust mingled with badly disposed chemicals and cheap floor wax assaulted his nose and Severus rubbed his temples. Hopefully he would get used to this smell, he thought darkly, he refused to leave work today nursing a headache only because this school's inability to clean properly.
His class was already gathered in front of the lab doors, they would have a practical lesson today as Severus wanted to determine their practical and theoretical level first before developing a lesson plan. He answered their curious gazes with a curt nod and decided on inspecting his office first before allowing the students to enter the lab. A small door next to the lab entrance lead to this office, and Severus let himself in, using the key that had been attached to his schedule. He disposed his papers on his desk, searching the pile for the check list which would provide him with pictures and the names of his students. After ensuring himself the state of his office and the lab seemed satisfactory enough, he allowed the students to enter, unlocking the doors and beckoning them inside just in time for the second ring.
To his surprise, he caught a glance of the unruly mop he knew belonged to the child with the book from earlier, he hadn't expected the boy to be a fifth year already.
Severus strode towards the whiteboard in front of the class and scanned the name list whilst everyone took a seat. He surveyed the group and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His eyes flickered briefly to the boy he'd ran into. Harry, that was his name. The teen sat in front, fidgeting on his high lab stool, clutching the chemistry book in his hands. A girl with ginger hair and a friendly round shaped face next to him whispered something in the boy's ear.
Severus studied the empty seat to the boys left and frowned. Obviously, these children were used to sitting in permanent seats. He would have to change that, he wanted his students to be able to work
with various partners. His gaze swept back to Harry, just as the boy looked up. Their eyes met briefly and the boy smiled uncertainly. Severus answered with a brief curl of his upper lip before pulling his features in a stern gaze. He cleared his throat, asking for silence, and grabbed a marker.
"Can anyone tell me what gas chromatography or GC is?" Severus spoke whilst writing his name ('Professor Snape') on the board.
He scanned the group of students and saw a tall guy to his left raise his hand.
"Yes Mr. Finnegan?" He said, after he'd found the boy's name on his list.
"Gas chromatography is a type of chromatography. The mobile phase is a gas. GC is can be used for analysing or separating the different components of a mixture."
"Correct Mr. Finnegan" Severus nodded in approval. "There are other kinds of chromatography, such as Thin Layer Chromatography or Paper Chromatography. Today however, we will solely focus on GC."
Severus wrote the definition of Gas chromatography on the whiteboard, pleased that his students had a bit basic knowledge.
"Now, does anyone know why gas chromatography can't be used as a purification method? " Severus asked.
"How about you, Mr. Potter?" He probed gently, finally resting his gaze on the bewildered boy again.
Harry bit his lips, flushing a bright red. It was obvious to him that the boy didn't know the answer.
"Eh..." The teen stayed silent, averting his eyes.
Instead of snapping, Severus advanced the boy's seat, Harry's chemistry book was open at the correct chapter and Severus peeked quickly at it's contents. He tapped his index finger on page 394,
where he knew the correct answer to his question could be found. Harry scanned the page almost frantically until his finger halted somewhere at the bottom left.
"Eh, this particular chromatography method is destructive, the sample gets lost during the experiment. Sir?" He asked, peeking through his lashes.
"Are you telling me or asking me?"
"Telling, sir" The teen said more firmly.
"Correct" Severus purred. He almost smiled at the boys happy expression and the encouraging nod he received from the girl called Susan Bones.
"From the notes your former chemistry professor left behind I can deduce you've already experimented with Paper Chromatography." Severus paced back and forth between the rows of students, making sure everyone was paying close attention.
"Today, we will make a gas chromatogram, I want all of you to analyse the contents of a lighter in pairs of two. I will hand out instruction sheets and you will find all the equipment you need in the cupboards behind you. I am sure all of you are already familiar with their contents?"
Severus raised his eyebrows, a few students nodded in confirmation.
"I want all of you to print your chromatogram afterwards. Your homework will be to compare your chromatogram with the chart on your instruction sheets. By doing this, you will be able to name the
different gasses in your lighter such as methane or butene. Every lighter is slightly different, please remember I do not tolerate students copying each other's work."
Severus stalked back to his desk and started to hand out the instructions, pulling his features a stern expression.
"I want to make one thing absolutely clear, I won't tolerate any idiocy in my class. Safety is my top priority, I want all of you to wear a lab coat all the time. Safety glasses aren't necessary this time, always wear them unless I say otherwise. Chemistry can be a very dangerous subject if one is inattentive, and I don't want you to risk your own safety by fooling around. I won't hesitate to suspend you from class if you endanger yourself or your classmates. That said, you may begin."
The fifth years stood from their stools and scurried around, rummaging through the white closets.
Severus stalked through the classroom, observing his students closely.
"Careful with the Chromatograph, Finnegan" he barked as the tall boy who'd answered his question correctly bumped into his partner, almost dropping the expensive equipment. The clattering of glass indicated that Zabini had dropped his lighter and Severus pinched the bridge of his nose in an desperate attempt to keep his temper in check.
"Professor? Which button is the start button? This blue thinggy?" Ron Weasley had his hand raised in the air and was staring intently at his Chromatograph.
"Of course not!" Severus bit. "Read the instructions properly, Mr. Weasley."
The redhead flushed and Severus quelled the urge to roll his eyes. Suddenly he wasn't quite sure if he would be able to stay patient with these obnoxious students, who seemed not even capable of following simple instructions.
"How are you faring, Mister Malfoy?" Severus loomed over a blonde boy with slightly arrogant features who was working together with two boys next to Finnegan and Weasley.
"All right professor" The boy didn't look up from his chart and scribbled something on the answer sheet. Ernie Macmillan, a boy with brown curls and a pompous demeanour explained the three of them usually worked together.
"Last year we got paired up all the time, most of the lessons were practicals and since Nott wasn't often in class, we ended up with an uneven number of students..." The boy trailed of and threw a
meaningful glance towards the empty seat in front, on which Harry had placed his book-bag.
"And if he was, he would join Potter and Susan, Professor" The third boy, Terry Boot if Severus remembered correctly, added.
Severus sighed wearily, sensing it would be difficult to force these students to form different pairs each practical. But, it was necessary, since these students had chosen their partners based on
their friendships, instead of on their abilities. The trio he was currently observing had no difficulties for instance, but Finnegan and Weasley were both disastrous. It would benefith both the weaker as well as the stronger students if they would pair up together.
He decided to leave it be for this lesson, he would approach this subject tomorrow. He moved on to the next couple, Blaise Zabini and Dean Thomas. The two of them didn't seem to have any problems and he continued circling the student's worktables, providing them with scathing comments if they made an, in his point of view, unnecessary mistake or with help if their questions were reasonable.
After a few minutes he found himself studying Harry again. The boy was furrowing his brows whilst Bones was seemingly trying to explain him something. They were both hunched over their chromatograph and Harry threw his hands up in desperation just as Severus approached the pair.
"I just don't get this" The boy exclaimed. Then he noticed his professor standing a few feet from the two of them and he flushed.
"What is it you don't understand, Mr. Potter?" Severus fought the urge to call the boy by his first name. Harry seemed too frustrated to be further embarrassed about his former outburst.
"I just don't understand why we are measuring methane first, before testing our lighter, Sir" He said, almost fuming.
"I mean, everyone has to do it, it's in the instructions, so it must be of importance. Susan has tried to explain it to me, but.."
Harry's lip stuck out in a little pout and Severus felt the sudden need to brush his thumb across the boy's mouth. Of course, he did no such thing, he merely shook his head as to expel these thoughts and smiled a little at the boys antics.
"I am sure we can figure it out together" Severus said, determined to explain all the steps patiently to this boy, who'd captured the writer's interest from the first moment their eyes had met. Severus
didn't even deny the fact that he was fascinated by this teen, the boys innocent appearance, his uncharacteristic features, entirely unfitting for a boy who was sixteen. It was probably inappropriate for any teacher to think in this fashion about one of his students. Then again, Severus didn't like to think of himself as a professor. Nor as a man of man morals either, on that account.
"I take it you do understand it, Miss Bones?" He asked the girl rather friendly.
The girl nodded hesitantly.
"Why don't you help Finnegan and Weasley, they are working in a pair in the back and seem to have a few difficulties."
After a brief glance towards Harry, who nodded reassuringly (a gesture that made Severus smile inwardly), the girl left and Severus took her empty lab stool, adjusting it so it would fit a man of his hight. He felt almost guilty for sending Susan Bones away, but he wanted to speak privately with Harry for a few minutes. The boy didn't strike him as an unintelligent kid, he'd read the instructions carefully, not unlike Finnegan, who had a good knowledge but worked too fast to be accurate and therefore managed to mess up his test-results. But the fact remained that Harry was the only student who had problems with answering the very first question on the answer sheet.
"Maybe it'll help if we make the chromatogram together? I have no doubt that Miss Bones is a perfect tutor, but I want to know where your difficulties lie, since you are a little behind on your
classmates. Maybe you just need to re-read a few chapters, maybe you need some extra tutoring. But for now, we are going to answer your questions."
He scooted a little closer to his student and placed one hand on the instruction sheet.
"You understand the instructions?" He asked.
"Well, I understand which one of these the start-button is and how the chromatograph works." Harry began uncertainly.
"But I don't understand why we need to measure Methane at first... why can't we start with the lighter right away?"
"That's fine, let's just start with following every instruction without knowing the exact reasons behind them?" Severus suggested
"I am sure that we'll find our answers by looking at the chromatogram."
Harry nodded and grabbed the needle filled with natural gas, throwing a questioning look upwards.
"Inject the gas through this entrance" Severus lectured, placing his much longer fingers on the boy's hand, guiding it a little.
"Immediately push the start button after you've injected the gas, and try to repeat this movement if you inject the lighter gas. It is important that the time, which passes between the injection and the
activation of the start button, is the same now, whilst measuring the methane, as later, whilst measuring the lighter gas."
Harry did as he was told, and whilst the chromatograph started to produce a chromatogram on the computer screen, which was installed next to the measuring equipment, Severus continued his lecture.
"Do you understand why you need to push the start button in the same fashion every measure?" He asked.
"If you don't know," He added, "Try and look at the chromatogram."
Harry leaned forward, staring at the screen. The methane-curve was long from complete, it usually took a few minutes, but the chromatogram would provide enough information nonetheless.
"Well, these curves are based on the time it takes the different gasses to pass through the chromatograph. If time is an important factor, it's necessary to match the starting time as accurately as possible" Harry said slowly.
"Correct. You see, it doesn't matter if you don't understand everything right away, some things become evident during the test itself."
Harry nodded in understanding.
"Yes sir"
"Next time, try to perform the instructions without knowing their exact purpose first, you might figure them out during the test itself. Of course, you should ask help whenever you don't understand
something, that's where I am here for" Severus added. He didn't want to give his student the impression he wasn't allowed to ask help.
The chromatogram was finished, and with a few strategically dropped hints from Severus' side, Harry managed to answer the first questions on his sheet correctly.
The rest of the double period passed quietly and a few minutes before the bell Severus ordered the students to clear away their equipment. To his pleasure, they managed to tidy their workspaces accurately without making a mess of the cupboards. He asked MacMillan to clean the whiteboard and allowed the students who were finished to leave a few minutes early.
"Finished, sir"
Ernie MacMillan left the lab quickly, stuffing his sheets in his backpack. The last remaining students disconnected their chromatograph hurriedly and all but raced to the cupboards, as predicted they wanted to leave as quickly as possible to enjoy their breaks. Only Harry took his time, watching the others scurry around him.
"See you outside, Harry?" Susan left the classroom accompanied by Ronald Weasley and Harry was the last remaining student in the lab. Severus leaned against his desk, observing the the teen who packed his back, not at all put off by his friends early departure.
"I take it chemistry isn't your best subject, Harry? Or is it only this particular chapter that bothers you?" Severus found himself breaking the silence. Harry looked up, a little startled.
"No sir, you are right. Every lesson is as bad as this one, usually" He answered, clumsily re-fastening the straps of his backpack, hoisting it over his shoulder once he'd made sure the straps were secure.
"Maybe we could arrange a few remedial lessons?" Severus prompted, finally giving in to his impulses to spend a little more time with the teen.
"Would that be possible, sir?" Harry asked, a shy smile enlightening his features.
"I am sure we can arrange something that fits both our curricula. But we will discuss the details after tomorrows lesson. For now, go and enjoy your break"
"Thank you sir" The child breathed,
Severus smiled and opened the lab door. Harry walked pas him, quickly, his shoulder brushing past Severus' chest. The Professor himself retreated in his little office, deciding to spend his break
reorganizing his belongings. He threw the colourful flowerpot that decorated his desk in the rubbish bin without further thought and allowed himself to relax in the comfortable leather chair that stood
in front of his desk. It was a very comfortable broad chair with soft armrests, ideal to relax during his free periods. He spotted a coffee machine similar to the one in the staff room on one of the bookshelves and he stretched his arms contently, effectively getting rid of the tension between his shoulder blades.
No, he decided, teaching wasn't that bad. At all.
~~~~SS/HP~~~~
"He is stern, but he seems nice otherwise" Susan smiled.
"What do you think Harry?"
"Hm?" The boy raised his head, confused.
"The new chemistry teacher" Susan promted, not at all put off by the fact that Harry wasn't paying attention.
Harry smiled and closed the book, placing it on his lap.
"I like him" He said softly. "He actually helped me when I didn't understand everything."
Theodore sighed.
"Well, anything would be better than last year's fiasco." He mumbled dejected.
"You should come, give it a chance" Harry quipped. He rarely interfered with Theodore's absence during classes, but he hoped their friend would accompany them next time.
The skinny boy shrugged.
"If it makes you two happy" He grumbled.
Susan smiled and stood from the bench they had been sitting on.
"Well, I'll be off to my French classes. I'll see you later, Harry."
Theodore waved and asked her to wait up, announcing he would accompany her since he had Physics in the same Wing.
"Good luck in Sports Harry" Theodore patted him on the back and Harry blanched. For one glorious moment he'd forgotten about his awful afternoon classes with Dominick Umbridge and his undying cricket fanaticism.
"Oh no.." He mumbled. The fact that nor Susan, nor Theodore were in his sports-class made it even worse. It always had been two hours of pure torture, and today would be no difference.
~~~~SS/HP~~~~
With a relieved sigh, Severus left the staffroom by pushing himself trough the double doors. The talk with the headmaster had been brief, but he was glad to escape the man's penetrating gaze. He hurried downstairs, eager to leave the looming halls and obnoxious students. Shouting assaulted his ears as soon as he stepped outside:
"Faster, faster. Do you expect to build up any condition just by trotting along?"
Severus sneered in distaste. He felt a severe migraine build up and the annoying shouts accompanied by a whistle didn't help his predicament. He descended the few steps that lead to the main entrance and spotted what he assumed to be the afternoon sport class rounding the corner. A few boys sprinted past, almost colliding with each-other as they defended their rank.
Severus waited until they'd passed, tapping his foot impatiently. Finally, the last cluster of panting teens came in eyesight, rounding the corner with clattering soles on hard pavement.
Their teacher came in eyesight with a flash of bright colour, the man was still shouting and blowing his whistle now and then.
The students who had finished their laps gathered in front of the entrance, to Severus' distaste, making it impossible for the impatient professor to brush past them. Apparently, these laps around the building were the cooling down, since a few of them grabbed their towels, which were deposited on the banister, and headed for the showers, which were installed in a separate block not far from the main hall. Suddenly, he saw Harry sprint, well, rather, trot towards them. The boy was panting, his face flustered.
Severus couldn't help his eyes from lingering on the boy's shorts clad tights for the briefest of moments, before he averted them again. Harry was the last one to arrive, clutching his side. The trainer, who had been jogging behind him, glared.
"And that would be twenty push-ups, Potter. For being the last one, again." The sports professor panted as Harry finally reached the group of talking and waiting students. A few of the taller boys
smirked, and Harry looked ready to explode in a bout of fury. The exhausted boy decided against it and sunk on hands and feet.
Severus observed the trainer, who was now drying the sweat from his neck with a flashy towel. It was a short muscled man with a face resembling a squashed toad, clothed in a hideous orange sweater with matching trainers. The shrill whistle hung in a chord around his thick neck.
"Straighten you back, boy. You are a total disaster" the sports professor snapped as Harry's shoulders sagged a bit. The teen seemed to have difficulties performing push-ups, his elbows shook violently and his back was arched. Severus raised his eyebrows as Harry murmured a violent curse that he hadn't expected to hear from the boy's mouth.
"What was that, Mister Potter?" The trainer asked.
"Nothing sir" Harry raised from his position on the pavement, a hateful expression on his face.
The professor smiled nastily.
"Maybe another twenty push-ups would be in order, Mister Potter?"
"And you can join in, Dean Thomas." He added as the boy rolled his eyes at the trainers antics, mumbling he wanted enough time to shower properly instead of wasting his time watching Harry doing push-ups.
Dean, who had been the second one to arrive, completed his twenty push-ups within mere seconds, whilst Harry was struggling at a slow pace beside him.
"You are dismissed, please make sure you leave the showers and locker room in an acceptable condition." The trainer added, as Harry had completed his task and grabbed his bag, his shoulders a bit hunched. He threw Severus a quick sideways glance, not quite meeting his eyes, before heading for the showers.
The mass of students dissolved quickly and the trainer spotted Severus. He advanced the new teacher, still rubbing his neck.
"Ahem, I don't think we've met? I am Dominick Umbridge, the sports professor. I take it you are the new chemistry teacher?"
"Severus Snape" Severus' tone was clipped as he shook the man's outstretched hand.
"Pleasure. The headmaster has already informed us about your arrival, but I assume you will be introduced properly at tomorrows staff-meeting."
Severus groaned inwardly, a staff meeting, on the very second day of his teaching career. He didn't look forward to having small talk with numerous nosy professors, or, heaven forbid, another 'talk' with the headmaster. Professor Umbridge kept chattering on, oblivious to Severus attempts to excuse himself and leave the school-grounds as soon as possible.
"- really nice. Have you met some of your colleagues yet?"
"No, I haven't."
"But if you will excuse me, I have a few errands to run this afternoon." Severus added rather rudely, cutting of whatever response the other professor had in mind. Without offering any good-byes
himself, Severus turned on his heels and descended the last steps.
A/N: Please don't trust my chemical abilities, I've copied a few terms from my schoolbooks this chapter, but I might have translated them wrong, so the GC explanation might be complete crap. I almost failed my chemistry exam (I had to redo it and score over a B- to pass and finish high-school). Unfortunately, I'm just as hopeless as Harry is in this particular subject, and I don't have a Severus to help me out. *Pout*. On the bright side: I'll never have to study for it again, I would have burned my books if they weren't rented...
A/N2: For all of you who wonder where Tom Riddle and, for instance Sirius Black, are, don't worry. They'll make an appearance somewhere later this story :).