Back again with another update!

Well, this chapter practically wrote itself! I realise the last chapter may have been a little boring, but I promise this one won't be! Over the next few chapters, everything you think you know about school life is going to change… –evil grin-

I can't believe I've actually managed to update again! Could it be I'm finally becoming a little more reliable? O.o I wouldn't count on it… but maybe! :D

Disclaimer: Not mine, never has been, never will be.

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An unsettling feeling of unease swilled sickly in Harry's gut as he approached Snape's office; the few times he'd been inside could hardly be described as pleasant experiences, and he was loath to think he would soon be subjected to yet another.

However, all of the other times he'd entered the office he was aware of something he'd done wrong; of some act of tomfoolery or folly on his behalf that had ended with him and the professor being at odds.

This time however, Harry had no idea what to expect.

Stopping before the large, imposing door, he took a deep, calming breath, and knocked.

'Enter' came the quiet response from within.

Harry pushed the door open gently, wincing as it shrieked on its hinges despite his care, and stepped inside.

He was a little early, so he noted with an odd swirl of some unknown emotion, that the two chairs set before the teacher's desk were both empty, Draco obviously still to arrive.

'Professor', he inclined his head respectfully, eyeing the man sat calmly behind his desk.

Snape looked up at him with dark eyes, normally fogged with anger or loathing, but now oddly clear. 'Good evening Mr. Black, please take a seat.'

Harry noticed his newly appointed last name flow from the other man's lips with ease, completely lacking in any kind of judgement or dislike, and felt a sudden swell of warmth fill him in such an unexpected way that he practically fell into the proffered chair, legs close to giving out on him.

Snape noticed the startled look in the boy's eyes, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Swallowing thickly, Harry straightened and sat more neatly, before turning his eyes on the tall man, 'Good evening professor.' He took a few more soothing breaths; the tingling warmth slowly sinking into his gut in a way that had him totally put off, before continuing.

'I'm sorry, it must be hard for you to call me by Si-…by his name, please don't force yourself to adopt it. I wouldn't want to cause you any discomfort.'

Snape eyed him seriously, seeming to think over his slightly shaky words, before shaking his head slightly, 'I do not force it. It will take some getting used to, but I think the name suits you better than the old one, and I for one would not begrudge you it.'

The older man's eyes fell to his slim fingers, which twisted imperceptibly, in what might have been an unconscious motion of unease, 'He…he was a strange man. Both dark and light at the same time, and I can only hope that you grow up to be similar.'

His eyes flickered up to meet Harry's, 'No, Mr Black, I will call you by your correct name. But I thank you for your consideration.'

Harry could do naught but stare at the other man as the warmth in his gut positively exploded, enveloping his whole body in a rush of heat that melted his brain unexpectedly. His eyes stung and he licked his dry lips, trying hard to make sense of the new emotion as it bathed his whole being in fire.

'Professor?'

The soft voice spoken from the door startled Harry and he sat straight with shock, his eyes blinking rapidly as he forced his body and mind to settle. Snape however, sat calmly behind his desk, looked as though their conversation had never even happened.

'Draco', he nodded, 'please, have a seat.'

Draco moved smoothly into the room, closing the door quietly behind him as he settled gracefully in his seat, nodding a slight hello to the boy beside him.

Still reeling with shock, Harry nodded stiffly and turned back to face the tall man.

'No offence professor,' Draco spoke up suddenly, 'but this better not be a dressing down of some sort, I've done nothing wrong.'

Harry couldn't stifle the slight, surprised chuckle that worked its way from his mouth, but was pleased to see a wicked grin flit across the other man's lips, stilling his fear of repercussions.

'Of course not Draco, if you'd done something wrong, you would have been punished immediately.' Here the man paused to grin, before continuing, 'This meeting is of an entirely different nature.'

Draco looked visibly relieved, 'Well what's all of this about then?' he asked brazenly, gesturing to himself and Harry.

Harry startled a little at the boy's tone, but reminded himself that the two were practically family, and as such some level of informality should be expected. It didn't stop him from observing the two men closely, wishing to know all he could of their interactions.

'The two of you are being removed from my potions class.' The professor said without preamble, and both Harry and Draco were rising from their seats in indignation before the words had fully left the man's lips.

'You can't do that!' Harry cried, eyes alight with the fire of injustice.

'We've done nothing wrong!' Draco yelled beside him, arms thrown wide as he scowled at the tall man.

'Easy', Snape chuckled, 'You're right, you've done nothing wrong, that's the point.'

He motioned for the two of them to sit down, and they did so uneasily, eyes questioning, before he continued.

'The two of you are being removed from the sixth year potions class', Harry opened his mouth to interject but the professor held up a hand, effectively silencing him, 'because your level of skill is far higher than the rest of the class. As such I have seen fit to create a new sixth year class. You will both be entering this advanced level potions class immediately.'

He smiled at them rather impishly, before asking simply, 'Do you find that acceptable?'

Harry and Draco simply sat in shock, staring with mouths open at their professor in sheer incomprehension.

Harry was the one to pull himself back together, 'You're saying we've done so well that you're advancing us?'

Snape nodded, 'That is correct. It would be pointless to leave the two of you in a class in which you will gain no practical experience. Though I have no idea how this has come about. You were both quite average last year.' He levelled a knowing look at the two boys, which appeared to go straight over their heads.

Indeed, Harry had no idea what that look could mean, but he found it oddly appealing on the older man's face. Having only ever been acquainted with the rather dour and moody side of his professor, he found the myriad new expressions that had passed his face in the last ten minutes alone fascinating. With an odd strike in his gut he realised he wanted to get to know the man better; to get an understanding of him. If Sirius could love Snape so much, and if the man himself could about face his opinion of Harry so quickly in the face of new information, then Harry could surely do the same.

Finally breaking his stunned silence, Draco sat forward, 'How many people will be in the class professor? And when will it be held? I thought all of the class lines had already been filled.' His last line was less of a question than it was a statement, the boy already knowing that what he said was true.

Snape smiled warmly at him, a sight which still jarred against the part of Harry that was so used to seeing that face turned in bitter hatred, 'Two. Yourself and Mr Black here, and you are correct, all of the class lines have already been filled. The lessons will be held in the potions lab, every night, eight o'clock sharp.'

Harry's jaw dropped again, sending a slight twitch of pain up his cheek at the sharp, tight movement, 'Every night?' he gaped, 'You have to be kidding!'

Draco nodded his head emphatically in agreement, 'That's crazy!' he said quietly, still in shock.

Snape shook his head, 'Every weeknight of course, you will both still be free weekends. I'm not sure the two of you fully comprehend the program you're about to enter.' He spoke quietly, his voice turned solemn, 'This is not just another class.'

The two boys sat in a continuation of their stunned silence, waiting for him to continue.

'This course has been specially designed for you by me. No students have ever been through a program this rigorous. You will be learning how to create potions that could kill a man, that could kill hundreds of men. Some of these potions will take weeks, some months, and they will have to be strictly watched. Some weekends you may be required to put in extra hours, though we shall see how you progress. It is my aim to push you to your very limits.'

He looked at them pointedly, 'If you finish this course', they noticed with shock the firm intonation he used to say the word 'if', 'and if you manage to make it through the year with all of your course work completed, you will be awarded the highest level attainable for a Potions Master. Only one person has attained that honour in the last hundred years.' His eyes twinkled slightly at that, 'And it took him five years of gruelling study.'

Harry and Draco simply gaped at the man, unsure now if he was playing some kind of cruel joke on them.

'Wait a minute', Harry finally managed to get out around his shock, 'are you telling me you've somehow worked it so that we can do five years worth of work in one? How is that even possible?'

Before Snape could answer him, Draco butted in, 'How are we supposed to believe you?' he gasped, 'Dumbledore would never let you teach us this! And what of the ministry? They'll have a fit if they find out you're teaching us advanced, dangerous potions!'

Snape grinned at the boy, 'It does not matter what the headmaster thinks; I went directly to the ministry myself with this idea, and after a great deal of effort on my part it was approved. I believe the two of you don't quite understand the nature of this course.'

He smiled warmly at them, 'It is ministry funded and approved. Since all of the ingredients and potions are of such a volatile nature, most of the potions you will be making, if completed correctly, are highly valuable, and the ministry will buy them back from you. As such, this course is as much a class as it is a job. You must understand that this level of work is usually for highly experienced potions masters only, and as such, your participating in it is highly unprecedented.'

When their mouths fell open yet again the professor chuckled, 'You will injure your jaws if you keep doing that.'

Harry gaped; he could do nothing else. The room was silent for a full minute before either he or Draco seemed able to speak.

In the absence of any questions from the two, Snape continued in a more serious timbre, 'These classes will be extremely gruelling, and they will take up much of your time. I want you to understand the level of commitment you must put into this, should you choose to take this opportunity I'm giving you.'

When he could see he had their full attention, he continued, 'The classes may go for anywhere from one to five hours, depending on the potion being worked on at the time, and they will have to take precedence over any other school work. You will be required to drop all but two of your regular classes, so that you can focus more fully on this.'

His eyebrows drew together a little as he said quietly, 'I assumed from your attempted, and successful, 'cease-fire' that this class was important to you. Furthering that assumption, I assumed that if you were willing to put aside what has been such a large part of your relationship to this point, in favour of getting the work done, that you were truly committed to this subject. If that isn't true, you must say so now. There will be no repercussions for declining to enter the course. But rather, should you do so and not put your all into it, I will see to it that you never sleep peacefully again.' His words were solemn and dark, not a hint of humour in his final threat.

In an instant, both Harry and Draco were talking at the same time.

'No professor, you were right, potions is very important to me!' Harry jumped at the chance to agree with the man, not wishing for him to withdraw the offer.

'Professor please let us take this course, we won't let you down!' Draco's voice joined Harry's, surprising the other with the easy use of 'us' and 'we' in his sentence.

Snape's grin grew once again, curling across his lips languidly, 'Excellent! Then you will start tomorrow. You will need to advise your teachers of the classes you will be dropping. The head's of your houses have been made aware of the situation and will help you make all of the final arrangements.'

Harry grinned at the way the man basically referred to himself in the third person, so that he could more easily explain to Harry and Draco, without creating a divide between them by pointing out his obvious hand in ensuring everything was taken care of for Draco.

A sudden look of concern flashed across Harry's face, and noticing it, the teacher turned to him, 'What is it Black?'

That same unfamiliar bolt of warmth shot through Harry at the man's words, and he smiled lightly, before shrugging, 'Nothing really, it's just that I have three regular classes I really wish to continue.'

Snape nodded, 'And they would be?'

Harry looked up, 'Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, and Defence Against The Dark Arts.'

Snape nodded easily, 'Well then your problem is solved; this course will teach you more about herbology than the sixth year class will.'

Harry looked shocked again, before smiling evenly, 'Well then thank you professor.'

The three men sat in companionable silence, simply taking in the deep thrumming of the room, seemingly drinking in the excitement that emanated off each other.

At last, Snape took a deep breath and let it out slowly, before rising, 'Well, the two of you have a long night of planning and preparation to get to. Since you'll be starting the course promptly at eight o'clock tomorrow night, I will expect you to have sorted out your other classes by then.'

Harry and Draco nodded, standing also.

Moving with his usual, somewhat oil-like grace, Snape moved behind them to open the door, ushering them out into the night, 'Goodnight Draco, Black.'

And without another word, he shut the door in their faces.

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Harry stood in the dark blinking. Beside him, the slightly shorter Slytherin did the same.

'Is…is this real?' The shock was clear in the other boy's voice, and Harry turned to him slowly, equally as stunned.

'Yes…I believe it is.'

They stood outside the door in silence for what felt an age, before a soft giggle tore through the silence.

Harry startled, his eyes falling on the face of the other boy as he slowly curled in on himself, silent shakes of laughter making his whole body quake as he slid down the stone wall, falling to the ground in a crumpled heap as he laughed so hard it seemed he might burst a lung.

Harry watched him, a slight grin working its way onto his lips as he observed the other quietly, wondering if he'd finally snapped and gone insane.

Eventually the laughter died down, and Harry found a tight grip encircling his wrist, dragging him down to the ground with such force he hit the wall with a barely concealed 'Oomph', the air driven completely from his lungs.

'Can you believe this?' Draco sighed quietly, his face mostly hidden by the depth of the night, 'One week working together and suddenly we're taking some advanced course, likely to change our whole lives.'

Harry was grounded by those words, moving to sit beside the other against the wall, rather than continue muttering under his breath, he considered them fully before answering, 'I cannot believe any of it. It seems so unreal, like a dream come true.' Silence fell between them before his final words fell quietly into the air, so softly that he hoped perhaps the other wouldn't hear them at all. '…my dreams never come true.'

Shifting beside him, the other boy spoke equally as softly, clearly having heard him, his voice drifting gently to Harry's ears, 'Mine either…perhaps things are about to change for the better.'

Their words had been so heavy, so sobering, that the two now seemed incapable of further speech. At last though, Draco broke the silence, 'He doesn't hate you anymore.'

Harry looked up at him, startled, 'What?'

'My godfather, Severus, he doesn't hate you anymore. Why? What happened?' The words could have been accusatory, but the way they wore spoken made it clear that they were not.

Harry considered them for a moment; wondered if he had any right to tell the boy what he knew. He understood without a doubt that he didn't; that he had no such right. But against all his better judgement, he found himself putting into words as much as he could, without betraying the secret he held.

'He was left some things in Sirius' will, I gave them back to him when he expected me not to. We came to an understanding I think', here he paused to better find the words, 'If my godfather could care enough about yours to leave him what he did, then I knew there must be more to him. I asked him if we could start over with a clean slate, he agreed. But I had not thought he would follow through.'

Silence settled between them for a moment, before he continued, 'But when I got to school, all of that old resentment was gone, like he had just cleared it all away and forgotten it. I think I understand him a little better now, and I do not hate him either.'

Draco let out a deep breath Harry had been unaware he was holding, 'I am…pleased to hear you say that. The person he presents to the world is not the real him, and I'm glad someone else has finally seen that.' Draco shook his head slightly, 'Everyone sees him for the one thing, nobody ever tries to look deeper.'

Harry nodded slightly, 'I think I know what you mean.'

In the dark, Draco studied him intently, 'You're not the same either.'

Harry stilled, his whole body gone rigid and tense, 'What do you mean?' he asked darkly, voice gone cold.

Seeing the sudden alarm flood through the other boy's system, Draco stood sharply; unsure of what he'd said wrong, but not wanting to drive a wedge through their newly formed…whatever this was.

'It's nothing.' He said hurriedly, running a hand through his blond hair, 'Forget I said anything.'

Harry stood smoothly beside him, his dark shadow detaching from the wall in one even sweep as he looked down stiffly at the other boy, making Draco realise with a gasp for the first time just how much taller the other boy had grown, now an easy three inches taller than him, whereas before they had been almost even in height.

'Well then, we should go and get some sleep.' Harry said smoothly, his tone back to normal, 'Apparently we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow, we have teachers to hunt down and classes to quit.' A slight smile slide across his features as he said it, bowing slightly to the other boy, 'I will take my leave now, and see you tomorrow Malfoy.'

Draco bowed in return, 'Goodnight Black.' He said calmly, before a look of confusion flickered across his face. Catching sight of it, Harry stilled in his retreat, and turned back to the other fully, 'What is it?'

Draco looked at him, puzzled, 'Why are you so formal? I hadn't really noticed it until now, but you do this thing with your words and your actions that makes everyone around you do the same. I've never bowed goodnight to anyone in my life!'

Harry looked at him, startled.

Draco watched as a sudden wave of fear seemed to flood the other boy's face, his eyes blown wide and his body sharply inanimate as he stilled to a level that seemed beyond belief.

'I…' Harry's voice was sharp with something Draco didn't recognise, pulling from his lips with noticeable effort, 'I must go. Goodnight Malfoy.'

And suddenly the other boy was gone, leaving Draco standing alone in the dark hallway, wondering just what he had said to make their otherwise pleasant goodnight go so terribly wrong.

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Well, there you have it! A lot happened in this chapter, no? Well, I dunno, but it seems like it to me. I think the development between these three characters is going to be very important, but it's certainly going to take a long time to come to fruition! I hope you guys are settled in for the long haul, because our boys aren't just going to fall into each other's arms! I believe I warned you of that in the beginning… -laughs evilly-

Why don't you tell me what you think of the developments in this chapter? I'd really like to know how I'm doing! :D

You've come this far, is it really that hard to push the button?