Quiditch and Snape

It was coming up to Halloween and was the first flying lesson for the new first years. The Gryffindor's were paired up with the Slytherin's, much to each other's distaste. They were stood on the grounds outside of the castle as they weren't going to be flying around too much, just the basics. Madame Hooch, the eccentric teacher strolled down the line of students giving a comforting smile to the students that looked the most nervous before coming to a stop a the end.

"I'm sure that there are some of you that have ridden a broom before, however, we shall be working at the same pace today to make sure that everybody is flying correctly. Now, I would like you to place your hand over your broom on the floor and say 'UP'. Go!"

The air was soon filled with the sounds of students shouting 'Up' willing their brooms on the floor to shoot into their hand. Harry was the first to get it, the broom shooting into his hand much to the annoyance of the bushy haired girl Hermione standing next to him, whose broom didn't look like it was doing much any time soon.

Ron was standing on Harry's right and he was making slight progress, his broom was making it half way to his hand before it dropped back to the ground. Eventually people managed to get their brooms into their hands using the magical way and were soon being shown how to mount up. As Madame Hooch was explaining the handgrip to Lavender Brown, Neville's broom suddenly lifted into the air and began to shake violently. The broom was slowly getting higher of the ground and Neville's grip on his broom lessened.

After holding on for a good five minutes in which Madame Hooch was unable to get the broom down, Neville's grip gave way and he fell to the fall with a thud. Everybody rushed over and Madame Hooch examined Neville, he had only broken his wrist and sprained his ankle from the dodgy landing. She immediately rushed him to the hospital wing, telling the students to stay on the ground 'till she got back.

Harry noticed Malfoy walking over to him with a smug look on his face holding something in his hands. It was Neville's remeberall that had obviously fallen out of his pocket when the broom was bucking.

"Malfoy, give me Neville's remeberall!" said Harry

"And why would I want to do that? I think I'll place it somewhere really high so he has to get on a broom to get it down again" replied Malfoy with a smirk on his face causing a few Slytherin's behind him to laugh.

"Give. It. To. Me. Malfoy!" said a now angry Harry

Malfoy smiled, "Fine then" He threw the ball into the air towards the school. Harry immediately jumped on his broom and rushed towards the translucent ball soaring through the sky. Harry was gaining on the ball as it began to fall into a steep dive, rushing towards the ground.


Professor McGonagall was sitting in her study planning her next lesson when she saw young Harry fly into a complete dive after a small ball. It reminded her of James when he was at school, he was famous for a move similar to that and it always won the Quiditch matches for Gryffindor. She quickly snapped out of her memory and focused again on Harry who was gaining on the ball but also the floor.

With one last spurge of effort Harry grasped the ball in his hand and pulled out from the steep dive, moments before hitting the ground. He smoothly glided back along to the Gryffindor students who were cheering his name whilst the Slytherin students just scowled at him menacingly. The small celebration was cut short when Professor McGonagall walked out of the Main door. "POTTER! With Me!" she shouted. Harry's face immediately fell a s he passed the ball of to Ron and followed the stern looking Professor through the door.

She walked him al the way to her classroom and ushered him into her office at the back. He took a seat in front of her desk and looked at her in the face, noticing the angry expression on it. "Harry, why were you in a vertical dive just now?"

"I-I- Malfoy stole Neville's remeberall when he went to the nurse and when I asked for it back, he threw it away. I just went after it," replied Harry never meeting her gaze when he spoke.

"Well, five points from Gryffindor for disobeying teachers instructions as I'm sure you were told to stay on the ground," Harry Nodded, "But, Twenty points to Gryffindor for stopping Mr. Malfoy from breaking Mr. Longbottom's remeberall."

Harry looked up at the Professor and gave her a small smile, which she returned, "Now Harry, I would like you to see me in Professor Dumbledore's office at seven tonight please, I need to discuss something with him and I would like you there as it concerns you. Now go and continue your day." Harry got up, smiled again at McGonagall and left quietly. He is so much like his father and yet also his mother, she thought.


Potions was the first class Harry had after lunch that day and he hated it. Snape seemed to have this undying hatred for him. He didn't understand why and it was beginning to get on his nerves.

He entered the Dungeon and sat a table with Ron waiting for Snape to start the lesson. He bellowed in from the door at the back, his robes wafting behind him as he walked. "Today, we are going to be making a rather simple Potion so I'm sure that almost all of you will be able to get it correct. It is a simple bruise remover potion that will clear up any minor bruises. Instructions are on the board, Begin!"

All the students made their way to the storage cupboard to collect the ingredients required for the potion and then back to their desk to begin brewing. Snape did his usual, walking around staring at people's technique and making snide comments when they were bad, strangely that only happened to the Gryffindor students.

When the time was up, everybody got a sample of their potion in a glass vial and handed it up to Snape. He took each one with a hint of disgust even if they were perfect until he came upon Harry's one. "Potter, what do you call this?"

"My potion sir" replied Harry

"This is abysmal, not even worth my time" Snape then threw the vial into the air, whipped his wand out and vanished it. Harry walked back to his desk and began to clean his table up.

He had small brainwave. He was seeing Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore tonight; maybe he could get them to look at it. He quickly took a sample of his potion and placed it in his bag.


At seven o'clock sharp, Harry was climbing the staircase to the Headmaster's office after a small chat with the Gargoyle at the bottom. He knocked on the door before entering. "Good evening Harry," said Dumbledore, "Please take a seat." Harry moved to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk.

"Now Harry, Professor McGonagall here says that she saw you retrieve a remeberall whilst in a sharp dive on a broom" Harry nodded, "Well, what you pulled is no ordinary feat. That dive is something that only a few Quiditch professionals use, your dad being one of them. What Professor McGonagall is proposing is for you to join the Gryffindor Quiditch team this year as they are without a seeker"

Harry was stunned. He was allowed to join the house team in first year, "But sir, isn't there a rules saying that first years cannot join their house teams?"

"There is Harry, however you have control over the school so you can change the rule without anyone noticing," said Dumbledore with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "If anyone asks, I will say that it is a waste of your talent and that you deserve to be on the team. If that is all then I wish you goodnight Harry."

"Ummm actually Headmaster, could you look over this potion quickly to see its' quality?"

"Of course Harry," Harry Handed over the vial and Dumbledore took a quick look at it, twirling it around in the vial, looking at the colour, "I assume this is a minor bruise remover?" Harry Nodded, "There is nothing wrong with that at all, it's perfectly made. Why be you asking?"

"We made these in Potions today but when I went to hand mine up Professor Snape said that is was 'abysmal' and 'not worth his time'. I don't understand what I could have done wrong if this potion is good."

Dumbledore and McGonagall looked at the sad expression on Harry's face and felt sorry for the boy. It wasn't his fault; it was Severus Snape and his insecurities. "Harry, when your parents were at school, they were in the same year as Professor Snape. Now your Father and Sirius and Remus were part of a group that used to pick on Severus because he was an easy target and also because he was mean back to them. Your mother was friends with Professor Snape up until their sixth year when Professor Snape said something that he regrets to this day," Harry gave a quizzical look at the Headmaster, "the word was 'Mudblood'."

"It is a foul word used by Voldemort and his Death Eaters for any Muggle Born witch/wizard," continued Professor McGonagall

"Yes, it is. Now I believe the Professor Snape sees your father in you more than your mother because you look like him and he believes that you will turn out like your father. He want's revenge for what your father and his friends did to him but he is wrong to take it out on you. I will speak to him if you wish?"

An idea quickly popped into Harry's head. "Professor, I have my mothers portrait with me at school, could I see if she would talk to Professor Snape as he might listen more to her?"

Dumbledore looked at McGonagall who shrugged back at him, "Harry tomorrow is out lesson, bring it then and I will ask Professor Snape to come her and we will both talk to him, OK?"

"Thank you Professors, Goodnight"


Harry made his way up to the Headmaster's tower the next evening with his mothers portrait in his bag, he hadn't told her why he was bringing her to meet with Professor Dumbledore but he said it was important so she agreed.

He said hello to the Gargoyle and made is way up the stairs, knocked on the door as usual and made his way in when called. Dumbledore was behind his desk with Snape in front of him. "Good evening Harry, I trust you brought it?"

"Yep, one second sir," Harry reached into his bag and pulled out the rolled up canvas and handed it to Dumbledore who took it, unrolled it so only he could see then transfigured a frame around it to hold it flat. He placed it on one of the chairs.

Severus wondered why the Albus had requested Potter to bring a weird looking Canvas but then he saw a person he never thought he would see until he was dead, Lily Potter.

Severus was speechless as he looked between Albus and the portrait, before coming to, "Albus, why did you call me hear?"

"Severus, it has come to my attention that you have been mistreating Harry here, ", Lily glared at her old friend at what Albus was saying, "Has he ever done anything wrong in your potions lessons?"

Severus was silent for a moment before launching into what Harry does wrong in his classes, "He never listens to me, He never follows the instructions that I have given and constantly produces shoddy work"

Lily was next to speak, "What was the last thing you had him make?"

"The basic Bruise healing Potion. What he handed to me was a pathetic attempt at the potion."

Albus looked at Severus for a few moments, "I happen to have some of the potion that Harry made yesterday as he thought something was not right and so asked me to take a look at it," he pulled the vial full of the pinkish liquid in it, "Now if I'm not very much mistaken, that is what it should be like when complete. I would rate this as perfect, so tell me why you shouted at Harry and then banished the vial he gave you?"

Severus didn't know what to do.

"I know you dislike James Severus," said Lily, "and I know that Harry and him look similar but they are different people but you seem hell-bent on victimizing Harry because of a hatred you have of his father. Leave him alone and treat him fairly."

Severus simple nodded in response, he knew what they were saying was true, he should have been nicer to Harry and he had nothing to do with the hatred James and he had. He turned to face Harry.

"I'm sorry Harry for the way I have treated you. Your mother is right, when I look at you all I see is your father and I take out the hatred for him on you. I shall mark you properly in future and cut down on the punishments but I will have to keep some for the sake of appearances." Harry smiled back at his teacher.

"Thank you Professor"

"Well then, I believe that should be all Harry. You may return to your dorm"

Harry bid farewell to his professors, collected the portrait of his mother then exited the office.


AN: I'm sorry for the long wait but now I'm back from my trip to Africa and my PC has arrived at my new house in Dubai. This Chapter is slightly shorter than normal but the next chapter would be really confusing if this was part of it.

I realise that Harry seems a bit noble but he really isn't. He acts that way in some places because it is the 'proper' way to do things and it is expected of him to act so.

I'm alternating updates with this story and 'Heir of a Founder' each week from now on so they should be posted every Sunday at about 5 PM GMT.

Plz Review, it's nice to know people like reading my stuff :)