Chapter Nine

Severus ate his breakfast thoughtfully, he had no idea what sorts of strings the old man was goig to pull, but he would be damned if he thought that any of his schemes would work. he watched as the Slytherin first years made their way quietly into the Hall and sat with their peers. Harry, as usual was flanked by his siblings, Draco had taken a place on Wednesday's right, they seemed to be talking quietly. Severus chuckled to himself as he pictured Lucius' face if he were to find out who exactly his heir was conversing with.
"Severus?"
"Pomona" He turned to the Herbology teacher
"Those glasses the young Potter heir wears...."
"What of them?" Severus asked
"Will they hinder his ability to work?"
"not at all" Severus replied "Harry is exceptionally skilled if his Parents have anything to say on it, the glasses are black-outs, no light gets in to them to harm his eyes. its called Light Sensitivity"
"I've never heard of a wizard with Light Sensitivity before, nor have I ever heard of a student needing these black-out glasses before" She replied
"it is an enigma" Dumbledore cut in "I am aware that the boy can see as clear as daylight with them on?"
"As easy as we all see now" Severus replied curtly "Excuse me Headmaster, I believe classes are due to start in ten minutes and i must head to my classroom"
"Of course my boy!" Dumbledore replied genially, "Severus, a word after your morning classes if you would?"
"Of course Headmaster" Severus replied, grinding his teeth a little as he left the dais to the teachers corridor, where he stormed down to the dungeons, relishing in the darkness and the soothing shadows that calmed his anger, he trailed to his office which branched from his classroom and began to prepare his papers for his first class of the morning.

The Slytherin first years lined up silently outside the classroom door. Watching their Gryffindor counterparts with veiled animosity. Gryffindor's house was notorious for housing the Lighter families whereas Slytherin housed the Darker ones, Dumbledore always paired them together, as a way of trying to get rid of the house rivalry, it seldom worked and Severus ended up being on watch throughout their classes in order to make sure no-one did anything stupid or life-threatening. He was always glad when the first years began to mature, it meant that the Snakes and Lions simply tolerated each other's presence for the sake of their Potions grade.

This years new students would be like any other, without exception. Severus hoped.

He surveyed them as they piled into the room, immaculate uniforms with house logo's blazing on their chests. He noted that Harry, Pugsley, Wednesday and Draco took the second bench from the front at the Slytherin side of the room. There was a silent yet distinct split in the classrooms inhabitants and Severus was in no hurry to ruin it.

"Welcome to your first Potions class" He stood from his chair "I am Professor Snape, I tolerate no idiocy in my classroom, You will work and you will work hard or you will fail. I do not expect many of you to understand the subtley of a softly simmering cauldron, The phantasma of fumes, As there is no foolish wand-waving in this class, i expect many of you will believe that this is hardly Magick, those of you with this imbeclic notion will most certainly be taking a trip up to the Hospital Wing within the next hour" He stalked across the classroom

"Mister Weasely!" He turned to Ron "you think writing notes is acceptable in my classroom?!" Severus grabbed the parchment and tore it into shreds "tell me Mister Weasely, Where would you look if I asked you to find me a Bezoar?"
Ron's ears turned pink
"The stomach of a sheep isnt it Sir?" Ron hazarded a guess
"What is the difference then, of Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
"Um....I dont know sir?"
"Lucky guess for the first one then? That'll be five points from Gryffindor for writing notes in my class, and another five for being a dunderhead, by not opening your book before class! For your information Mister Weasely, a Bezoar comes from the stomach of a goat and is an effective poision remedy, Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant which also goes by the name of Aconite! I expect you to have this written down! The instructions are on the board, copy them, then proceed to make the potion!"

From the Lions side of the room there was a flurry of quills and parchment from all but one person, Harry had noticed her when she came in. He turned his head slightly to Wednesday
"Unusual for a Gryffindor...no?"
"Indeed" She replied, her dark eyes rested on the girl who was calmly writing the instructions down, her messy hair tied back awkwardly into a bun so it was out of her face.
"Do we have a name?" Pugsley asked
"not sure" Draco replied "Anyway, she's clearly a mudblood.... whats so special about her?"
"Im not sure yet" Harry turned to Draco "Shall we?" he gestured to the cabinet, a few students had already began to collect ingredients.

Harry was coming back from the cabinet when he knocked into the girl
"Sorry" She said quietly, her head kept down, Harry thought he saw the makings of black eye and frowned
"Apologies, it was my fault" He replied "Are you alright?"
"Fine thank-you" She hurried back from the Slytherin section and put her ingredients on her table without looking up
"Hey Granger" Weasely hissed "loitering with snakes now? They wont accept you you know, you're supposed to be a Gryffindor! Act like one!"
"SILENCE WEASELY!" Snape bellowed from the back of the room

Wednesday eyed the girl with contemplation, before turning to her own work.

The potions class passed uneventfully, aside from Ron and Neville Longbottom losing points for melting their cauldrons by putting the porcupine quills into the cauldron whilst still on the heat. Wednesday kept an eye on the mysterious brown-haired Gryffindor as the children made their way towards Transfiguration.

Professor McGonagall gave the students a severe speech at the beginning of class, warning the children against self-transfiguration and then set them upon the task of changing a match into a needle and back again.
"Well done Ms Addams" McGonagall replied, inspecting the silver needle that appeared in front of Wednesday's wand "ten points to Slytherin"

Wednesday looked up and saw the dark haired Gryffindor girl look away quickly.

The lesson ended swiftly and the students were happy to head to dinner after Transfiguration.
"I'll meet you in the Hall" Wednesday murmered, watching as the girl slipped into a bathroom
"Watch your back" Pugsley said to her
"Always" Wednesday replied.

Wednesday straightened her robes as she came out of a cubicle, under the pretence of having needed to use it. The girl was at the sink, her hands under the water
"Why are you following me?" She turned round
"Black eyes on a first day are a concern for all involved" Wednesday replied as the girl dried her hands "Wednesday Addams, you are?"
"Hermione Granger...."

"Severus my boy, thank you for coming"
"What is it Albus?" Severus asked "I am rather busy"
"This wont take long" Albus replied "its about Harry"
"I see"
"I am sure, as you know, that he is a great asset to our world" Dumbledore began "It is our job to steer him away from bad influences"
"The boy is fit to make his own friends Albus" Severus replied "i believe he has a good standing with Draco Malfoy, who is a precocious child yes, but he is well balanced. Marcus tells me the Slytherins have accepted him well into their heirarchy already"
"yes yes about that" Dumbledore fiddled with some parchments "I have been looking over the sorting and I am unsure that Slytherin is the best place for the Boy Who Lived" He replied "You know you cannot order a Resort" Snape replied "Only Harry can do that, and I am assured he is happy with his family in my House"
"Well, I am sure that Lily and James would be unhappy with the boy being where he is" Dumbledore replied
"Dumbledore i do not like your tone" Severus spoke up "Harry is fine in Slytherin, I believe it is the best house for him, the Sorting Hat clearly thought that he would do well in Slytherin anyway, so there is nothing else to discuss here"
"Severus" Dumbledore chided "you're just blinded by your hatred for James, of course you'd love to one up on him by having his Son in your house insted of in Gryffindor"
"WHAT!" Severus exploded "I have made my peace with James and Lily years ago! They died because of Voldemort and left Harry an orphan! how dare you think that I would hold a grudge against a CHILD!"
"Your emotions plead different Severus, anyway, I have discussed things with Minerva and Harry will be moving into Gryffindor tonight, he will be where his parents would have wanted him to be." Dumbledore's glare made it clear that there was nothing he could do about it.
Not a snowballs chance in Hell! Severus thought angrily as he stormed out of the office.

Harry looked up from his plate as Wednesday joined them
"Well?" Draco drawled, noticing the Gryffindor girl entering the hall a few minutes later, taking a seat at the end of her table
"I shall tell you later" She replied, taking some beef and putting it on her plate as Harry was alerted to the presence of Professor Snape behind him
"Hello Professor" he greeted
"Harry, the Headmaster is moving you to Gryffindor tonight, he believes you are better there than here"
"have Mother and Father floo into your quarters" Harry replied "if you dont mind? I don't want this to turn into a spectacle and If i was to do something out of sorts..." he trailed off
"I have already Floo-called them" Severus replied "They are waiting for my confirmation call to come through"
"Thank-you sir" Harry replied with a small grimace, Draco patted him awkwardly on the shoulder
"Dont worry, I can always get my Father to give him the sack...."


"Ah Harry my boy, on time!" Dumbledore smiled, eyes a twinkle
"I am not 'your boy' Headmaster" Harry replied coldly "I am only here to say I refuse to move to Gryffindor, No offence intended to Professor McGonagall, but the Lions house is not for me"
"Nonsense Harry, you and I both know that you're a Gryffindor like your parents"
"I am nothing like my parents who died" Harry's voice turned like steel "I am an Addams, and Addamses belong in Slytherin, now I ask you to stop this foolishness at once and leave me to retire to my dormitory in the dungeons, as I have work to do and reading to catch up on"
"Harry Harry Harry" Dumbledore approached him "I am sorry to do this.....IMPERIO!"