It was cold, windy and dark. Harry felt so alone. No matter how hard he cried, no one was here. And then a shadow... A strange woman...
Harry woke up with great difficulty. He had another weird dream but this one felt it was real. Was is because of the dementor? He rose his head. Everyone was still asleep. He checked the hour. It was almost seven. Harry decided to dress and then go in the hall. He was hungry. He went through the common room who was empty except for... Hermione. Harry couldn't understand what she was doing here so he called her.
"Hermione, what are you doing here? Did you go to sleep?
-Oh hi Harry! Of course I slept. I was just studying.
-What the class haven't start yet!
-What we learnt last year still apply you know!"
Harry didn't want to try to convince her to let go a little, he knew better. He proposed to come down with him she accepted and they went. Meanwhile, sometimes she would give him some concerning look and Harry knew she was still worry he would faint. Though he appreciated the care, it was annoying. Better not to talk about his dream nor the woman.
When they arrive, so did a teacher; Snape.
'Good morning professor" they said.
"Good morning" he responded without a look.
Harry felt a pit in his stomach. Was he going to act like nothing happened last summer. Something was on his face because Hermione was glancing at him. They sat on the table and begun to eat. Soon, the hall was full of students and teachers eating their breakfast. Ron joined them and couldn't help but laugh when Harry told him Hermione was studying which made Hermione quite upset. It then upset them when Percy told she was an example to follow.
"But you soon have to study, here is your schedule."
Harry examine it and saw they had potion the very first hour.
"Good way to begin the week! muttered Ron. But hey we have divination and defense against the dark arts! We'll how is this Lupin, can't be worse than Lockhart though. Harry you're alright?
-What? Oh yes, so Hermione what do you... Eh, what's with your schedule?
-What do you mean?
-Look, Ron, she's got so many subject and at the same time!
-Hermione, said Ron, I know you're good but you can't be at two place at the same time!
-I know that Ron! Give some milk, I'm starving!
-But...
-Don't worry, I have settled everything with McGonagall. Let's hurry or Snape will take points from our house."
Harry and Ron stared at each other but didn't dare to add a word. They went to the dungeons where the potions were taking place. The Slytherins were already here. Seeing Harry, Malfoy threw some remarks about the dementors but Harry wasn't giving the pleasure of being punished by Snape so he tried to ignore him which was difficult. Then Snape appeared and they all entered the classroom. Snape never did to raise his voice to have silence in his class, the students were too afraid of him and he was always favoring Slytherin being the headmaster of this house. Their first potion was very difficult. It was a shrieking potion but Harry managed thank to his private class. When Snape passed next to him, the color was good; bright acid green. He was hoping a compliment or something but Snape did nothing. Harry felt hurt and he wondered why. He knew this right? Then again, he hoped and he felt stupid for that. But maybe Snape didn't want other to know he could be nice. This thought cheered Harry a bit. However it didn't last. Neville, as always in potion, was a mess. His potion was:
"Orange Longbottom, showing the result to everyone, orange. Tell me boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours?"
While he was going with his speech, Harry felt he could hit Snape with his cauldron. Why was he doing this to Neville? Did he like to humiliate people that much? It had a last blow when Snape suggested to use Neville's toad a guinea pig. Snape moved away and Hermione took the opportunity to help him.
"Hey Harry, said Seamus, have you read the daily prophet this morning? Sirius Black had been spotted.
-Where?
-No to far from here, it was a muggle lady who saw him. Course, she doesn't know everything but when the Aurors arrived, he was gone.
-Not far from here, repeated Ron.
-Thinking of trying to catch him single handed Potter?"
Malfoy who was behind them had leant.
"Yeah right!
-Of course, if it was me, I'd have done something, to revenge myself.
-Revenge for what?
-Oh! You don't know?"
But before Harry could add something, Snape called to clean their stuffs and then to gather all around Neville's cauldron.
"What did Malfoy mean? Sirius didn't do anything to me yet.
-He wants you to do something stupid so you can't beat him at Quidditch!"
The Slytherins were looking curiously but Harry was ready for anything. If he made Neville miserable...
"Now boy, we shall see what the potion do even if I don't have a doubt about the result."
Snape picked up the toad and gave it a few drops. There was a sudden pop and Trevor had become a tadpole. The Gryffindors burst into applause. Snape poured a few drops from a small bottle and add:
"Five points from Gryffindor, I didn't ask you to help him Miss Granger. Class dismissed."
The Gryffindors looked outraged now and they all want without further notice except for Harry who was now pretending to pack up. When the last student left, he frowned at Snape. He turned his head:
"What are you doing Potter? You're going to be late for your next class."
But Harry didn't move, his fists were clenched.
"Why?
-Why what?
-Why did you treat Neville this way? You know has difficulties in your class!
-Excuse me? Don't you criticized the way I teach!
-Give him lessons! Just like you did for me, you saw how I did well and you didn't say a thing!
-First of all, I don't have to give him private lessons! And next, don't you dare ask a favor...
-Like the way you favor your house?!
-Enough Potter! Snape yelled. All I did this summer was because I was ordered for it! Otherwise, I wouldn't burden myself! I won't accept your insolence! 20 points from Gryffindor! And a detention! Maybe you'll learn respect and..."
But Snape stopped. Harry had tears rolling down his cheeks. He was breathing really hard.
"So, I really am a burden."
Snape gulped, the brat was having a crisis. He knew he to say something but had no idea what.
"I though... Harry whispered, I thought I could count on you this year... If I had a problem. I thought I could talk to you if needed..."
Snape realized the mistake he just made. He had a way to control the brat and he let it slip away like an idiot. But why was Potter thinking of him like that? Because he spends two months with him? Dumbledore warned him it would happen but he didn't want to because he didn't wish to be close to him. And again, just like last summer, he couldn't see James Potter but just a tiny child who was crying because he was hurt.
"I thought you were different from my family. After everything you saw... I thought. I am so stupid! I trusted you!"
And Harry ran off the class leaving a choked Snape.