"Well done, you've officially managed to botch a second year potion on four consecutive attempts. I don't know that even Mr. Longbottom ever managed that feat," Snape sneered.
Harry was standing in front of a bright orange, sticky mess, that looked nothing like the lilac Sleeping Draught he had been intending to make.
Snape groaned inwardly at the dejected look on the boy's face. He did not have the patience for this. "What's the problem, Mr. Potter? Harry."
"The problem is that I can't even manage to make something that most 12-year olds can do!" He exclaimed frustratedly.
"Yes, that much is apparent. What I meant, Harry, is why? From our discussion over lunch, it seems apparent that you do possess the mental faculties to understand the theory of potions. However, you seem entirely incapable of putting that theory into practice in even the most basic of ways."
"You just don't understand! I'm trying to, but it's just- it's just- I don't know!"
"You are correct in your assertion that I do not in fact understand your trouble, particularly not with a potion this...simplistic, in nature. The instructions seem clear enough to me. Which is why, if you can't verbalize your difficulties, I find myself incapable of helping you."
Harry looked up at the tall man. Even though he looked as imposing and untrustworthy as ever, he did seem to be keeping his patience...well, more than usual anyways. And his question was a valid one. Harry took a moment to sort out his thoughts.
"It's the timing, I think. Everything has to be done just so. A minute here, thirty seconds there, and in between, you have to find time to chop and crush and mix everything properly, but if you rush through and don't do it evenly enough, then that messes your potion up too. Plus, you're supposed to be stirring in between adding ingredients as well. If I could just...I don't know, prepare everything in advance, and then brew, I think I would be okay, but trying to do it all at once...it's like every step I get a little bit more behind and by the end I can't catch up." He let out a huff of frustration and crossed his arms, plopping down onto the stool behind him and looking every bit the pouty child. Snape was sorely tempted to let out a snarky comment about his behavior, but knowing that the rest of the break would be spent trying to improve Harry's potions abilities, he restrained his natural instinct to insult the boy.
"It is true that potions making requires a certain grace of movement and timing that some people, notably yourself, seem to be lacking in," Snape paused, pondering. "I have an idea, although I'm not sure if it will work. You seem to have a flare for cooking, do you not? Considering the lack of ingredients in my cupboard, you managed to make a rather good meal on your first night here." Despite his best efforts, Harry couldn't stop the small smile from emerging. That was the closest thing to a complement he'd ever heard Snape give to anybody outside of Slytherin house. The smile vanished rather quickly though, as the memories of times spent in the kitchen of Number Four, Privet Drive, forced their way to the front of his mind.
"I do like cooking, sir. Well, sometimes...I mean, I enjoyed what I did the other night, that is," Harry stated uncertainly. Snape could easily fill in the gaps in that sentence: Harry liked cooking, as long as he wasn't doing it under threat of violence. "But the thing is, sir, it's not as sensitive as making potions."
"Yes, I am aware of that, having trained extensively in the art of potions brewing myself," Snape couldn't help the small sneer on his face, "but that is exactly why I think it would be useful practice. I see no reason for you to keep depleting my stores of ingredients so rapidly when it seems almost guaranteed that you will fail to produce any useful product. Not to mention, many potions would become toxic or explosive if subjected to the treatment that you gave this one today," he nodded towards the still bubbling orange gloop. "However, if you treat cooking like potions - that is to say, wait to prepare your ingredients in the same manner required by potions, follow the recipe closely, and handle it as though it is a potentially very sensitive task, even if it is not - you could over time improve your speed and brewing abilities without actually ruining so many of my belongings." Harry thought back to the cauldron that he had melted earlier, and grimaced. "It would also likely aid in your ability to chop ingredients quickly and accurately, which will perhaps be of more use than any other skill in your brewing."
"Yes sir, that actually...that sounds like a good idea. I could start slow and work up that way. And I'm sure I could make some good meals for you too. I mean, I'm sure I've cooked some excellent things for the Dursleys over the years. Well, I didn't usually get to try it, so I'm not exactly sure, but I used to get punished when they didn't like my food, and lately they've liked it, I guess, because I haven't been punished so much...for cooking, that is. So I'm sure I could make something that you would like too," the boy peered up hopefully.
Snape closed his eyes for a moment, taking a breath before opening them again and looking down at the child who all of the sudden looked rather younger than his fifteen years. He was glad that Harry was starting to share some pieces of information about his life with those blasted relatives of his, but he wished that he didn't have to be the one to hear it. It brought back far too many memories of his own unhappy childhood. Realizing that those green eyes were still looking for some type of response, he stated, "Yes, Harry, based on my previous experience with your cooking, I'm sure you are perfectly capable of preparing meals that will be more than satisfying. However, I will not eat them unless you partake as well. This is intended to be practice, not punishment." Harry nodded, apparently understanding, although Snape thought he caught a flicker of something else in the boy's eyes...
"Harry," he said rather reluctantly. "You said earlier that your relatives would punish you if your cooking wasn't to their satisfaction." Harry nodded again, this time the apprehension clear in his gaze and his posture. "What punishments, exactly, would they use?" Harry didn't make any move to answer, but his mind was racing. It was tempting, so very tempting, to spill all of the secrets that he had kept closely guarded for so many years. On the other hand, he was still trying to decide whether or not he trusted Snape. Certainly, he had gotten Harry away from the Dursleys, at least temporarily - Harry wasn't willing to believe quite yet that it was a permanent change - and he had clearly been making an effort to constrain his normal insulting and impatient responses to Harry's behavior...and, well, Harry in general. On the other hand, did a few days of tolerance make up for four years of verbal abuse? Harry stared hard at the ground, trying to sort through his conflicting feelings. Apparently tired of waiting for a response, the Potions Master sighed softly.
"I understand that you may not want to answer me immediately. However, for a variety of reasons, I believe you do need to talk about these experiences. And, it was my impression from your response when I alerted Professors McGonogall and Dumbledore to your...plight...that you did not, for the moment, want anyone else to be aware of the situation." At Harry's frantic head shaking, Snape nodded, resigned. "Well, with your Head of House and the Headmaster unavailable at the moment, I'm afraid that leaves me. But the conversation need not be right now." When Harry dared to peek up again, Snape looked more tired than Harry could ever remember seeing him. The professor stared at him appraisingly, and then seeming to find whatever he was looking for, turned towards the door.
"Considering the time that we both have put into brewing today, I will ask Tizzy to provide supper for tonight. We will, however, need to continue our unfinished occlumency lesson from this morning. The library, in one hour." Without waiting for a response, he turned and stiffly walked out of the lab, clearly uncomfortable with what had just passed.
A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews, everybody! I hope you enjoy this chapter as well, and the next one should be up within the next day or two!