Authors Note: I should be doing my summer reading now…but some of you have told me you were reading this story when you were supposed to be working…an odd way to feel connected to one's audience, yes?
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"Come on everyone take your seats." Lupin said as the class filed in. He was obviously pleased to be there, and didn't hide his toothy smile in front of the Gryfinndors.
"Um, Harry we sit over here, not in front." Hermione explained as Snape picked a seat closest to Lupin.
"I sit where I please." Snape said in a soft, deadly voice.
"Well, actually the seats are assigned. You know that." Hermione said. Her tone was getting strict and agitated lately, especially at Harry.
Ron had stopped talking to him all together, and refused to unless he apologized for his behavior. His friends lack of effort made him more calloused.
"Hey that's my seat!" a boy said to Snape. Hermione gave Snape an exasperated look.
"Then I thank you for forfeiting it to me." Snape said in a sarcastic voice.
"Jeez, and to think people told me you were a nice guy." The boy said walking off in anger.
"Harry, really, what is wrong with you?" Hermione said angrily but looking desperately confused at the same time. When Snape didn't bother to give her an answer she returned to her usual seat in a fluster.
"Hello Class, I'm Professor Lupin and I'll be substituting this class for the next week and a half. Your other teacher is on vacation and no one else was found to fill the job except me." Here he smiled happily.
"You probably bit the competition." Snape spitefully whispered so only Lupin could hear.
Lupin was shocked to hear the comment, but even more so when it was uttered from Harry. He gave him an uneasy look and tried to tear away from Harry's scowling face.
"Ur, well, today we will be learning about dragons." Lupin explained now giving Harry a questioning look.
"Why not werewolves?" Snape whispered again. "It would be more convenient for you to teach, wouldn't it Lupin?"
Lupin ignored the comment but was looking a little more uncomfortable.
"Although I like a lot of you very much, I expect you to do your work. Now that I'm teaching Defense Against Dark Art's again-"
"-Are you sure this isn't Care of Dangerous Creatures?" Snape whispered.
"Harry see me after class!" Lupin said upset and angry.
The class was a little surprised by Lupin's tone of voice and sudden outburst. He cleared his throat and regained his composure, then smiled.
" Shall we get started?" He said in a cheerful voice.
The class relaxed, and everyone got to work, happy that Lupin was back and teaching, even if it was just a little while.
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Harry stared at the clock until it turned 1:00pm rolled around. He sprang out of his seat as if a bullet had hit him, and darted around the hallways trying to look casual, but failing.
Just the thought of releasing some of this tortuous experience to another human being (through talking of course) made Harry relieved. Lupin would no doubt help him, guide him and make things easier for him. Of course this would have to be a secret, Snape would never let anyone know about the…mistake.
He turned the hallway and saw Hermione and Ron talking together.
"He's just a jerk now Hermione. And he doesn't care about anyone's feelings. Even his friends." Ron said.
Harry hid himself behind the bend of the hallway.
"I know Ron. I've tried talking to him about it. Harry just isn't the person I thought he was I guess."
Harry was furious. Just what the hell was Snape doing!?
"If that's the way he wants to play things, fine." Harry thought.
Ron and Hermione stopped when they saw Snape angrily seething in the turn of the hallway. Harry turned to them and smiled.
" Oh hello. I didn't see you there." Harry said in a pleasant voice. " You had better get to your next class. You don't want to be late do you?" Here he laughed heartily. "Of course not. Oh, and 20 points to Gryfinndor for having a friendly chat with a complete git."
Hermione and Ron looked at each other with wide eyes and sped-walked down the hallway away from Harry.
"Take that Snape." Harry thought as he knocked on Lupin's door.
He was surprised to hear voices talking. He looked through the small window- Lupin was talking to Snape- but in Harry's body. Quickly Harry opened the door and shut it.
"Hello Severus I'll be with you in a minute." Lupin said warily. He turned back to Snape, full of hurt and confusion.
When Snape heard his name he stiffened, and ignored what Lupin had said to him completely.
"YOU STUPID GIT." Harry said in a rage to Snape.
"Now- Severus!" Lupin said surprised, "Don't talk to Harry that way!"
"Don't you have a class to prepare for?" Snape scowled.
"I'm losing all my friends because of you!" Harry shouted.
"Okay…" Lupin said realizing this was completely over his head.
Snape gave Harry a dangerous look.
"Your friends are so easily devoted that I could kill one and his ghost would forgive me. Now get back to work." Snape sneered.
"Shut up! Both of you!" Lupin shouted sternly at them. "Now I don't know what's going on, but there had better be a good explanation for this."
"No, we are not telling him." Snape said at Harry.
"It'd be a little difficult to say nothing was ever wrong. I'm sure everyone will figure it out the way you're acting!" Harry said.
"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME!" Snape shouted.
Lupin grabbed his wand and put a silencing charm on them both.
"Severus, Harry, I'll talk to you both when you can stop screaming." He sighed heavily. "I'll see you both separate if you need me." with a flick of the wand he released the silencing charm and left the room.
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Harry was still fuming about Snape. While Snape had the nerve to make Harry lose all of his friends, Harry wasn't sure he had the nerve to make Snape lose his career. Although he had been considering it.
He was thinking about confronting Hermione and Ron, but that would he mean he would have to tell them everything.
"Fine then. I will." Harry thought bitterly. " I don't know why I didn't in the first place."
After all, Snape hadn't kept his end of the bargain, why should Harry be bound?
Harry looked at his schedule, double potions with the Gryfinndors in an hour. That would be a perfect opportunity to tell Ron and Hermione.
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Authors Note: I've been working on schoolwork lately, that's why I didn't write this chapter earlier.
