Sorry about the long wait. It's still crazy here. This chapter is more of a linking chapter. The next one is the pay off. I'm not sure if the next one is going to be the end or not yet, but it's getting close.
Reasons ch. 11
Classrooms and Corridors
Professor Slughorn returned from lunch early. Severus was glad that he had pinched the Veritaserum first thing after thee class had left.
"I want to have a word with you Mr. Snape," Slughorn requested on his arrival. "Professor Dumbledore and myself have been having discussions since yesterday about these, detentions. I'm afraid that because of the mishap yesterday and - - " Slughorn was pretending Dumbledore had known nothing of Snape's toe-rag trick until he'd seen James the night before. " - - on learning about Monday; he thinks it best to keep Mr. Potter in detention but not let you tutor him."
"Yesterday wasn't my fault," Snape protested.
"I know that. The headmaster knows, but we think it's best."
"Potter and Black aren't going to leave me alone unless they're afraid to."
Slughorn felt for the boy, but didn't want to cross Dumbledore. "I think you should know Mr. Black has been given some conditions for his return next year - - You're not supposed to know about it, so I'm not going to tell you the details. If Black or one of his friends let it slip, so be it. I can not break the headmaster's trust in me."
Severus was trying to think fast. How could he slip Potter the Veritaserum in a place where he could question him alone? He asked, "Would it be breaking the headmaster's trust if - - " Sev put on his sly self. " - - No you won't let me try a different approach, I suppose."
"Different approach?" Slughorn wondered.
"I was thinking - - No it will never work."
"What?"
"Last night in the hospital wing, I thought for a moment, Potter and I had a moment where we actually connected," Severus lied. The last thing he would ever want was to connect with Potter. "Maybe I could have an honest talk with him, and as they say, bury the hatchet?"
Slughorn's bullshit detector must have been off, he bought Snape's malarkey. This stemmed from the point that he would have liked it to have been the truth. He would have liked nothing better than the Gryffindor and the Slytherin to be friends. Maybe he could let the boy have one more stab at making peace with Potter.
Snape was still laying it on thick, "If I'm wrong, and I can't win him over to friendship, I'd still like to scare him enough to make him stop - - " Severus managed to simulate looking pitiful enough to tug at the professor's heart. " - - Persecuting me." Though looking that way real on many occasions, this time it was pretence.
"Just scare him you say; like the other day?" Slughorn spoke out loud, but it was more a thought. He was arguing with himself.
Horace Slughorn had more than one weakness. One of them was always wanting things to go smoothly. That had not happened much lately. The rift between Slytherin and Gryffindor was getting wider and wider every day. He thought if these two could come to terms with each other, maybe others could. He had no idea that Severus Snape had no intention of coming to terms with James Potter. He hated the other boy with an intensity that burned like a cauldron flame. That hate came from the things that Potter and Black had done to him over the years. Severus was a person of extremes. The people he hated, he hated with every fiber in his being. Likewise, the people he cared about he loved and was loyal to with all that same intensity. That was why Snape could fool Slughorn, the potions master had always been one of the people on his cared about list. He had never given Slughorn a reason to mistrust him. At the moment Severus' hate was getting the best of him. He was willing to risk that trust, to find out what had started it all. Snape wanted to know why Potter had taken an instant dislike to him all those years ago before James had ever known a single thing about Severus.
Slughorn looked at the expectant hope in Severus' eyes. That was real, just not for the reasons the teacher thought. "Professor Dumbledore said you were not to tutor Potter." This statement made Snape think things were not going to go his way. "He didn't say anything about you trying to reconcile with him."
"Does - - " Sev questioned. "Does Potter know what the headmaster said?"
"If Dumledore or McGonagall told him."
'Probably,' Snape thought.
"If," Slughorn began. "You were to turn up down here this afternoon, I might turn a blind eye." He winked. "One more time."
Severus tried to contain his joy on hearing this. Still, one side of his mouth curled up in the sneer that passed for Snape's smile. "You 'are' the best Professor Slughorn."
The rest of the class began arriving so the two Slytherins ended their tête-à-tête.
That afternoon in charms class, Snape had a difficult time concentrating. Potter had shown up for this class. 'Must have been afraid to go back to the potions dungeon so soon,' Severus gloated to himself. He wasn't as triumphant as the class went on.
It seemed that every other minute Professor Flitwick was praising, "Wonderful Mr. Potter," or "Fantastic Mr. Potter," and "Perfect Mr. Potter."
Snape had other thoughts. Severus found himself obsessing, 'everyone thinks James Potter is perfect. Perfect Potter. I know better. I can see through his mask of perfection right down to the bones. It's easy for people to look at me and slap a label on. My ugliness is on the outside, his is inside.'
"Mr. Snape," Flitwick's voice broke Sev's stupor. "Mr. Snape, you've done this a hundred times. What is the matter?"
"Sorry Sir."
"You won't pass your O.W.L.s with work like this."
To Flitwick Sev said, "I'll do better."
"I hope so."
To himself Sev said, 'I know so.'
When charms class was over, Severus was happy. He wouldn't have to hear the praises of James Potter anymore that day; or so he thought. Walking back to the Slytherin dorms he happened to be walking behind Potter and the others. One of the Gryffindor girls who was gaga for the captain of their qudditch team asked very loudly, "What will you do without Black next week?"
"We'll manage," James said smugly.
"Of course," Remus cheered on, "with James flying as seeker, it doesn't matter who else is on a broom."
"That's why we let you fly," James teased his friend.
"Exactly," Lupin agreed back.
"Either way, Ravenclaw is going down."
"Way down," Sirius put in.
James had to add, "Then Hufflepuff will cram it down Slytherin's throat."
"And we'll throttle Hufflepuff."
This time it was a different Slytherin who challenged the Marauders. "Hufflepuff is going to shove it down our throats you say," Rosier challenged. "I get my hands on that snitch, I'll personally shove it up your ass Potter."
Potter looked red at first, as if he were going to do something. "Since you barely get your hands on the ball you're supposed to carry, if I were you I'd keep my mouth shut."
"From someone who never shuts his mouth that's interesting advice. But if you prefer the quaffle, I'm sure that would fit up yours as well."
"Listen you - - " Sirius made a move towards Evan. Potter and Lupin held him back.
"No need to hold back your friend," Rosier said in an unruffled voice. "Let's see how you so called marauders handle yourself with someone who can fight back." This was a clear reference to their constant ganging up on Snape. Severus usually was able to deal with them when it came to wand against wand, but physically he'd be lucky to punch his way out of a wet paper bag. Evan Rosier on the other hand knew a thing or two about fisticuffs.
"Let me go," Black growled to his friends. His friends would not.
"I see, only tough when your picking on a ninety pound shrimp?"
Snape wasn't sure if his friend was defending him or insulting him.
Black was still snarling, "Let me go."
Lupin whispered, "He's bating you."
"So what."
"That is one Slytherin you can't take."
"Listen to Remus," James cautioned. "For once."
Sirius was still struggling to get free. His friends dragged him away from the challenge.
"Why didn't you let me at him?" Black asked.
Lupin replied, "We don't want your pretty face to match your name."
"It makes us look like cowards. Snivs may be a ninety pound shrimp, but his hexing is better than either of Rosier's fists."
"And we know that," James said.
"Rosier knows that to," Lupin added.
Peter finally put in his estimation, "You should have let him take Rosier."
"What part of Rosier would pummel Sirius didn't you understand," Remus reasoned.
"Peter has more sense than either of you," Sirius defended. "I can take Rosier."
"No you can't," James ended the discussion. "I have to go see Slughorn for detention. No Snivelly today, so behave yourselves."
"Don't we always?"
"I'm serious, Sirius."
"He's serious, Sirius," Lupin and Pettigrew echoed.
Potter made his way to the potion dungeon. This should be an easy detention. He wasn't sure what Slughorn would have him doing now that the tutor was gone. Professor Slughorn handed Potter several sheets of parchment. "These are some sample O.W.L. questions. They might come up on the test."
James was pleased at that. He'd rather answer questions that do something practical in potions.
"I trust that you can be left on your own, and not cheat on the questions or the detention," Slughorn said. "If I find that you have left here while I'm gone, I will insist that McGonagall pull you from quidditch faster than - - " Slughorn couldn't think of a metaphor quick enough." - - well fast anyway."
"You don't have to worry Sir."
Slughorn left, and Potter got through a few of the questions before he looked up and saw someone he did not expect. "What are you doing here, Snape? You're not supposed to be here."
tbc
