Title: Truth behind the name and the lies
Pairing: DracoxHarry,
Fandom : HP
Notes: An abused boy finds out he's a wizard and a hero; his tormented mind rebels. One person sees through the misconceptions to the real Harry and treats him the way he deserves. Why Harry never fights back from personal attacks...why does he crave more? Because he isn't a hero, he isn't brave, he's hiding behind the shadow of the boy they all believe him to be. -yes I did rename the story. the title wasn't fitting...
"..." is spoken.
'...' is mind to mind communication.
Aelijah85-
'I am loving this story, Protective!Draco/In-need-of-protecting!Harry is always loved (when written well), can't wait for another update. And looking forward to seeing what will happen when Harry meets Ron and Hermione, and Snape. Also little Draco saying his punishment will be swift and him calling Harry "his little Adder" , yep that made want to came back for more.' - I'm glad you are enjoying it. It sounds from your comment you think I am writing it well? *blushes* Well here is Harry meets Ron and Hermione. It's very different from the chapter written by JKR. Somethings will sound familiar but others will be different. Draco and Harry are connected, how so and why are yet to be revealed. Poor Harry. As for Snape his treatment of potter in public won't differ though during Detentions it will be radically different.
Chapter 8- Professor Snape and more
"There, look."
"Where?"
"Next to the tall kid with the red hair."
"Wearing the glasses?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"
Honestly, could they stop? Harry couldn't remember how to get to the Great Hall from the tower if they kept this up. He needed to see Draco, first day of classes and he was already shaking.
People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring. It was very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot. The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk. He got lost on the way to the great hall and then again on his way to class.
He learned quickly that Peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class. He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUR CONK!"
Even worse than Peeves, if that was possible, was the caretaker, Argus Filch. Harry managed to get on the wrong side of him on his way to class he was lost. Filch found him trying to force his way through a door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the out-of-bounds corridor on the third floor. He wouldn't believe he were lost, was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose, and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons
A deep yet raspy voice came from behind him, "I'll take care of the brat. He'll have a healthy respect for the rules when I'm done with him. Dinner. Detention. The Potions classroom."
Harry nodded glumly.
XoooooX
Draco was pleased when he heard Uncle Sev had given Harry a detention. He asked for a house elf to bring dinner to the Potions' dungeons. He smiled as he made his way back to the Potions classroom. He found Harry on his way, he looked into those scared eyes and smiled. 'Adder'.
Harry's eyes opened in shocked, 'Draco.'
'Come along. I'll show you to uncle Sev's classroom.'
Harry smiled, 'It's nice to see you.'
Draco led the way, closing the door of the Potions Classroom behind them and pulling Harry into his arms. 'You're safe Adder.'
Harry stiffened and then relaxed, this was Draco who made him feel safe…who promised to always look out for him.
"You're Lily's son. Let me see you boy." it was the Professor who gave him detention.
Harry shivered slightly.
Draco rubbed his back, the way his mother had when he was young and had nightmares. 'He promised to help look after you. This is my godfather, Severus Snape.' he spoke out loud for Uncle Sev's benefit and well apparently their connection allowed for mental communication if they had eye contact.
"I did promise Draco that I would." calling him Potter reminded him of James, he'd rather remember Lily. There were a few reasons he agreed to this; his life debt, his responsibility for Lily's death and his own memories of his tormented childhood. Snape stood dropping his robe and his glamour. His nose wasn't hooked it was actually broken many times and hadn't been set properly. He held out his formerly smashed fingers and his crooked arms, honestly Snape walked with a slight limp that his glamour covered. He turned so they could see the numerous scars on his back and chest, "I created Glamourous Magnus to cover these and project what I wanted them to see while using as little magic as possible." His hair wasn't greasy but did hang limply at his shoulders as if it too was defeated. "I use spells and charms to lighten loads or use house elves because I've never manage to gain the strength in this arm properly. I've had to work twice as hard at everything, one to prove that I deserved to be here and that no one could hurt me again. I didn't count on your father and his friends. We never did get a long, probably because we both liked your mother. Rivals rarely are friends…" he'd glossed it over, Harry didn't need to know the whole truth yet…
Harry said quietly as he saw all the scars, "You…are a professor? How? Surely…they told you how worthless you were when they did that."
Snape nodded, "Of course they did. I decided early that I wouldn't let them win. My father beat me and my mother because we had magic and he didn't. He couldn't change reality. I wasn't stupid because I could do things he couldn't. Then I met Lily and I told her she was witch. Petunia hated me, I think she blames me for making Lily a witch though that is preposterous."
Harry glanced up at the no longer scary-looking Professor, "You think…I can be smart too…"
Draco thought to himself, before replying, "I think Adder should do well on homework and perhaps tests but only apply himself in certain classes. Potions, he should pretend to not be good in class but when we are alone and he isn't surrounded by people he can relax and focus. I want to teach him to guard his mind, I don't want anyone to be able to manipulate him ever." he still hadn't let go of the tiny boy that was cradled against his chest, "I'm good with Potions, Charms and History."
Snape snorted, "that's because I am. I'm keen at Defense against the Dark Arts as well as the Dark Arts. The Dark Arts are misunderstood mind you. Though I would never teach anything truly Dark to Lily's son. I've made enough mistakes with her friendship…"
"What about Transfiguration…I can handle Astronomy, it's a Black Family passion after all."
"I'll tutor him in Transfiguration as well as Herbology, can't be a decent Potioneer without an understanding of plants and their uses."
Harry said quietly, "What do you mean…"
Draco smirked, "We're going to prove that you belong in our house, we're going to teach you how to use the mind that your and your Muggle relatives say you don't have. We're going to teach you how to use your magic so it seems weaker then it is but you are stronger then you appear. In short, we'll teach you to be sneaky. We are going to turn a Gryffindor Lion into an Undercover Slytherin Snake."
Harry gasped, "You think…I can really learn…"
Snape snorted, "I was in the same year as your parents, your mother was the smartest witch of her generation despite being Muggle-born and your father came from an ancient line of powerful witches and wizards- in fact either your grandmother or your great grandmother was a Black which makes you related to Draco. I supposed you're cousins of a sort, Draco can sense your magic-it's a pureblood thing. I think with the right training Harry, you can become even more powerful then I am. You may not believe in yourself Harry but as your parents' child you have potential."
XoooooX
And then, once you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.
They had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets- Harry was thankful Draco had promised to help. Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Snape took a list of what plants and fungi he learned the previous Herbology lesson and showed him how to brew potions using them as ingredients- hands on seemed to be an easier way to learn. The most boring class was History of Magic, which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates. Harry got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up, quills and a note appeared in his lap, he opened it. This is a dictation quill. Use it for History. I'll explain your notes later. There was a small dragon at the end of the note. Harry smiled, Draco, always looking out for him.
Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard- between his height and his pointed ears Harry wondered if he was part goblin, who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight. Harry wanted to disappear and swore to hide in the back of ever class
Professor McGonagall was different in her own way. Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strict and clever, she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.
The class Harry had been looking forward to the least was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Professor Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. He left class feeling like he learned NOTHING…thank god Snape promised to teach him the essentials.
Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasn't miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from Muggle families and, like him, hadn't had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn't have much of a head start. Though with the reading he'd done and Draco's tutoring in August and the guidance he was still receiving from Snape and Draco he felt more confident.
Friday was Harry's first day of not getting lost first thing in the morning. He was greeted by complaining by the other First Year Gryffindors.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins," said Ron. "Snape's Head of Slytherin House. Fred and George say he always favors them — we'll be able to see if it's true."
"Wish McGonagall favored us," Seamus shrugged.
Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it hadn't stopped her from giving them a huge pile of homework the first day of classes- which between Draco and Professor Snape he'd manage to accomplish. Snape was always finding excuses to extend his detention from the first day to keep him in the Potions lab where they could help him.
Harry spotted Draco and smiled at him before picking at his food, he'd already swallowed his nutrition and energy potions. Finally, he would have a real class with Draco…he missed his friend.
Just then, the mail arrived, Hedwig hadn't brought Harry anything so far. This morning, however, she fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harry's plate. Harry tore it open at once. It said, in a very untidy scrawl:
Dear Harry,
I know ya git Friday afternoons off, so would ya like ter come and have a cup of tea with me
around three?
I wanna to hear all about yer first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
Harry sighed, he glanced at Draco, trying to catch his eye and falling into the older boy's mind. 'Hagrid wants to see me. He wants me to come for tea at three. Should I? I was hoping to come study…'
'I'll talk to uncle Sev. Give the man an uncommitted answer. Tell him it depends on your homework load from Potions. The homework is really hard and you're struggling.'
'Thanks Draco. There is something about him I don't trust. He…used my money to buy me my birthday present. It hurt…'
'He did what? Oh Adder. When was your birthday…' that half-giant used Adder's money to buy a present? That was thievery. He'd come up with a way to pay him back for that.
'Just before we met.'
'Then consider your journal a real birthday present. I made it myself.' Draco smirked, Harry deserved many nice things. Eventually, he had to teach Harry want to do with his wardrobe. Those clothes he had were worse then anything worn by Weasleys,
'Draco…you made it? It's so beautiful. Thank you.' Harry blushed, his eyes shining.
'You deserve to be treated well. You are a descendant of the house of Black after all.' Draco wiped his mouth. 'I'll go see Uncle Sev. You can reply but don't promise to met that creep.'
'I'll see you in class Draco. I promise to send what you said.' Harry started to eat a little now that he was more relaxed but his stomach was rather small.
Dear Hagrid,
Whether I can met you for tea depends on my homework load from Potions. The homework is really hard and I'm already struggling to keep up. It's very different from what I experienced at Grammar school.
Harry
Harry picked up his bag with his potions text, parchment, quills, scales, and potions making ingredients. He cast a levitation charm on his cauldron and tugged it behind him, forgetting he hadn't done the charm properly in class.
Professor McGonagall lifted an eyebrow, there was something about the Potter boy…
Harry made his way to the dungeons and the now familiar Potions Classroom. He took a seat near the back.
Snape had explained previously that he would at outside of detentions to loathe Harry and Harry tried to steal himself from the pain of being treated badly by his only loyal companions. Harry took a position near the front this time…but off to the side.
Snape started the class by taking the roll call, he paused at Harry's name, a smirk on his face. "Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."
The Slytherins snickered but when Harry caught Draco's eye, he winked.
Harry felt a little better.
Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's feigned warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels unless Snape was alone in the potions lab with only Draco and Harry for company then there was a slight glimmer of affection. Having seen beneath Snape's glamour, Harry trusted him to understand better then anyone even Draco. Sometimes he could see beneath the glamour just because he used it himself. He was sure that Snape could see beneath his own glamour if he tried, after all the man created the glamour though he wasn't sure how.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death; if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
More silence followed this little speech.
Harry smiled taking his professor's words to heart, he believed him. Potion making was magic, to take something like a lily and use it for to make medicine or to make the potions he hide in his room. If Snape could teach him to bottle fame, brew glory or even stopper death then he must be a really good teacher. He liked the one on one tutoring he received from Draco and Snape. If he did really well Snape told him stories about his mother, Harry did try hard but he really didn't believe him that he was smart yet.
Ron exchanged looks with Seamus and raised eyebrows, both trying to catch Harry's eyes but Harry ignored him. He wasn't even really sitting with Gryffindors, he was sort of in the middle of the Slytherins and the Gryffindors. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
For a second Harry wasn't going to answer but seeing Granger's hand upset him. He wasn't going to lose to her. "Asphodel and wormwood? I think I read they make a sleeping potion but I don't remember which one." he didn't remember everything his tutors tried to teach him this week.
"Decent answer, they make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. Apparently, you take after your mother as a Know-It-All, which is better then taking after your father who didn't care about marks. What about a Bezoar…"
Harry was not happy with Hermione's attempts to get Snape's attention by waving her hand like that. He caught Draco's eye.
'It's okay Adder, you can do well here. Tell him. We discussed them earlier this week.'
Harry smiled at Snape, "I think a bezoar is a stone taken from a goat's stomach and it will save you from most poisons if you can't find an antidote fast enough."
Snape snorted, "Tell me since you know so much…."
Harry's heart swelled with pride, waiting for the question.
"…what are monkshood and wolfs bane…"
Harry smiled, Snape and Draco had told him this before. "Aren't they the same plant? I think I remember reading that."
Snape sneered, "A Gryffindor who isn't a dunderhead, what a surprise. Perhaps, you've been missorted Potter. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are indeed the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite." he glared at the rest of the class including Granger, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down? You think I ask questions for my own amusement…"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "A point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Granger. Ten for Potter for actually knowing answers. I don't take kindly to volunteering. I will call on you if I want to hear your voices. Learn to speak only when I call on you or I will take away points." he split them into pairing, integrating the Houses.
"Granger, Goyle."
"Weasley, Crabbe."
"Finnegan, Zambini."
"Potter, Malfoy."
"Brown. Bulstrode."
"Patil. Parkington."
"Longbottom, Nott."
And so on, until they were all paired.
All the students groaned except for Harry and Draco.
Harry was happy to be paired with his friend and tried to hide it.
Draco's eyes sparkled with amusement, facing away as he spoke, "Just because he knows half answers doesn't mean he is decent enough to be my partner."
"Malfoy." Snape snapped, "Behavior. Don't make me take points from my own house for rudeness. I don't take kindly to having my instruction methods questioned."
Draco smirked, "Yes Professor."
Harry stiffened, the words hurt even though he knew Draco didn't really mean them.
"Well Potter, are you going to help me or am I going to have to do this potion myself."
Harry hurried to Draco's side.
Snape snorted, "Since you all finally decided to pair up, I expect you to use the rest of the time before lunch to brew a simple potion to cure boils.
He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy and Potter had stewed their horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon.
Neville had somehow managed to melt Theo Nott's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes.
Draco levitated Harry to a stool the moment the potion started to melt Theo's cauldron. He made a mental note to be sure Uncle Sev never partnered Harry with Neville. He jumped on his own stool while charming their stools to be more resistant to acid.
Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire? Your Father was Headboy and Quidditch Captain even he could brew a decent potion. I've never seen such pathetic brewing since Remus Lupin who was in my year."
Hermione yelled in his defense, "But Professor, how do you know it's his fault."
Draco snorted, "Because, Theo can brew a potion as well as most Second Years. He would never make such a juvenile mistake."
"Thank you Malfoy but we don't need to embarrass these Lions at how much behind a Snake they really are. If you are so keen to help, Ms. Granger why don't you levitate Longbottom to the infirmary."
"We aren't allow to use magic in the halls." Granger gasped.
"You are allowed with permission from a Professor. One look at Longbottom and I doubt even Filch will fault you. One couldn't expect a dunderhead like him to walk in his condition. Now the both of you get out of my lab." he turned to Nott, "My office. Now." he glanced at Draco, "You're in charge. I expect you to respect him as if he were a Professor. He is no doubt the most talented Potioneer in this room."
Draco made sure the potion hadn't damaged too much of the floor or the cauldrons. He managed to repair some of the damage the potion had done. "Very well you heard the Professor. Continue. Don't make me put your names on a list for him to take points off." He glanced at Harry, 'Adder. The potion is fine. Let it simmer and don't touch it okay.'
Harry nodded. 'I'll leave it be.'
Draco smirked, "Don't touch. I won't have my marks on the line because you ruined my perfect potions."
"I'm not going to mess up our potion. I'm not that stupid." Harry sighed as Draco walked off to be junior Snape. He was proud that his friend was trusted by his godfather so much.
Ron leaned over, "How do you stand being around that git."
Harry hissed, "The same way I stand being around you. I can't stand you. When will you learn I don't need any friends. I'm not worth being friends with anyway."
"Ten points for disrespecting the acting professor."
Harry smirked to himself, Ron was getting punished and he was pleased.
Draco walked up to heard find Granger who had returned rather quickly insulting Crabbe, "Excuse me Granger, Crabbe has been doing potions longer then you've know you were a witch. Seriously, I wonder why you think you belong. Being a Know-It-All won't make up for the lack of power being born to an ancient bloodline provides."
"Blood has nothing to do with ability."
Snape emerged with a chastised Theo. "Wrong Miss Granger. Blood has nearly everything to do with Ability. Those from ancient Bloodlines are the best for a reason, though there are minor exceptions like Lily Evans who was in my year. I watched her become a very great witch, you Miss Granger are no Lily Evans."
Harry was enjoying listening to his mother getting complimented.
Snape perused the caldrons, "Malfoy and Potter- full marks."
"Nott and Longbottom- fail. "
"Granger, Goyle- Half marks."
Hermione's jaw dropped, Harry smirked, the girl must never have gotten less then full marks in her life.
"Weasley, Crabbe- half marks. Crabbe I expected you to keep this Gryffindor from destroying your potion this much."
Ron turned as red as his hair and started muttering.
"Two points from Gryffindor for your cheek Weasley."
"Finnegan, Zambini. Full marks."
"Brown. Bulstrode. Half marks."
"Patil. Parkington. Half marks."
And so on…
Snape assigned them homework on the various potions similar to the one they'd made in class, "Finnegan I hope you tell Longbottom he isn't exempt from the homework. Nott? I expect you to accomplish that assignment I gave you and I want in in my office before Monday morning."
Theo bowed, "Yes Professor."
"Malfoy, Potter. I'm thinking of training you to be my assistants. If you think you have the time."
The Gryffindors gasped, there hadn't been a Lion potions assistant for years.
When the others climbed the steps out of the dungeon a few minutes later, Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were rising. Assistant? To Snape? He got to study with Draco? Openly? He smiled, "Sure…I'll be glad to study more. If you think I can learn."
"If you take after your mother I doubt you will waste my time or Malfoy's. I expect you back here right back after lunch for me to assign readings and homework so that you stay ahead."
Draco smirked, "If he dares waste my time it will be his worst mistake."
Harry chuckled, "Like I could waste your time Draco." so much for tea with Hagrid…he was glad to get out of it.
