The Goblins' Son
by Healer Teddylonglong

All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.

COMPLETELY AU! Partly OOC. Sick!Harry

It is my story, and I intend to write it the way I want it. If you don't like it, don't read it.
Reviews are very welcome, as they inspire my muse. Thank you very much for the kind reviews for the previous chapter!


Harry went straight into Madam Pomfrey's office, sighing in relief as he saw the healer alone. "Brightbird believes that the recipe is a cure for lycanthropy and told me I should just brew it and cure Mr. Lupin," he blurted out, causing the healer to smile.

"Harry, I'm very relieved and happy to hear that," she replied, smiling. "I suggest that I take you to the headmaster's office, where my colleagues are having a conversation with Mr. Lupin."

To Harry's great annoyance, the gargoyle opened on "Wolfsbane."

"Dumbledore should re-think the password," he whispered to Pomfrey, who shared his mischievous grin, when they entered the headmaster's office.

#Hello little nestling,# Fawkes greeted him with a happy trill.

"Hi Fawkes," Harry replied, smiling, before he curiously let his eyes wander around the office.

A man with brown hair and a friendly smile was sitting there together with Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall. Harry immediately liked the man.

"Harry, this is Remus Lupin," McGonagall introduced the man. "Remus, this is Harry Potter."

"Yes, I can see that," Lupin replied, and Harry had the impression as if his smile intensified. "Harry, you won't remember me, but I knew you well when you were a baby," he said in a gentle voice. "I was your parents' best friend."

"I'm very glad to meet you Mr. Lupin," Harry said, returning the smile.

"Remus, Albus, Minerva, Severus," Pomfrey spoke up, as soon as the greetings were over. "I don't know how far you are in your conversation..."

"Remus would be willing to become our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor," Dumbledore threw in, "provided that Harry or Severus supply him with the Wolfsbane potion."

"That's a great relief," Pomfrey replied, ignoring the Potions Master's snort. "However, the situation has changed a little." Seeing everyone but Harry stare at her with a combination of shock and curiosity, she explained, "Harry is in the possession of Salazar Slytherin's complete library, and during the last months, he has occupied himself translating several of Slytherin's potions recipes that are written in Parselscript. Among them are many recipes that have been lost for a long time. Only this week, Harry managed to find a cure for lycanthropy."

"What?" McGonagall blurted out, while Lupin's and Snape's faces turned as white as sheets.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "I've already contacted my Potions teacher and showed him the recipe, and he told me that it seems to be what it promises. He also said that he was going to do some tests with rats and would inform me of the result tomorrow."

"Harry, would it not be better to involve Professor Snape in this?" Dumbledore asked gently.

"I don't have a problem working together with Professor Snape," Harry replied, sighing. "However, since he hates me with a passion, we probably won't be able to efficiently work together."

"Fully understandable," Pomfrey threw in, glaring at the Potions Master.

"That might be, but Professor Snape is a Potions Master, who is officially entitled to administer potions," Dumbledore said, pensively.

"If that's necessary, my teacher has already offered to supervise my brewing," Harry informed the old wizard, who let out a sigh of defeat.

"If Harry is sure that he knows what he's doing, I'd be more than ready to take the potion, even if he's not a Potions Master yet," Lupin spoke up, giving Harry a reassuring nod.

"Thank you sir," Harry replied, smiling.

"This is ridiculous," Snape blurted out, sneering. "At first Potter offered to brew the Wolfsbane, but now, apparently realising that it's difficult to brew, he comes up with a long lost recipe of a cure for lycanthropy? Very unlikely Potter. Many Potions Masters have tried to find a cure during the last centuries..."

"Severus, behave yourself," McGonagall suddenly admonished her youngest colleague. "Harry knows what he's talking about, and I know his teacher personally. He would not joke about such a thing."

"Harry my boy," the headmaster spoke up, pensively. "Already last year I have suggested to Professor Snape to make you his student assistant. At that time he told me that he doesn't need anyone; however, I believe that by now he has become aware of how good you are at brewing, and I still believe that it would be a good idea for the two of you to work together."

"I'm sorry sir," Harry replied, inwardly groaning in annoyance. "As long as Professor Snape doesn't change his behaviour towards me, I won't be able to work together with him, especially as he doesn't seem to trust me at all." He remained thoughtful for an instant, while Dumbledore and Snape conferred in small voices, before he continued, "I believe that I won't have time to be a student assistant anyway. During the next few months, I'll probably have to brew many batches of the wolvescure, and I also want to skim Slytherin's other books for further interesting recipes, plus I need to continue the research for a cure for my own disease."

"Yes, that's true," Pomfrey came to his help.

"Harry," Professor McGonagall spoke up, giving him a rare smile. "Don't you think it would be time to tell my colleagues the truth?"

Harry stared at the Gryffindor head in shock. "I don't mind telling Mr. Lupin Professor, but..." He slowly trailed off.

"How can we trust you boy?" Snape suddenly hissed. "Knowing that you're hiding something from us as big as how you managed to take your Potions NEWT after your first Hogwarts year?"

"Would it be possible to call Professor Flitwick here sir?" Harry unsurely addressed the headmaster.

"Of course my boy," Dumbledore said gently and fire-called the Charms professor, who stepped through the fireplace after a minute.

Feeling very much reassured by his guardian's presence, Harry hesitantly told the adults how the goblins had adopted him at the age of seven. "Since I was seven, Brightbird taught me Potions, and I always assisted him. Since I was about eight, I usually brewed the potions for the infirmary on Goblin Island," he informed the completely stunned Potions Master.

"That explains everything," Snape was the first to speak up. "Mr. Potter, I apologize for underestimating you."

Harry slightly inclined his head.

"Since the age of seven you haven't been living with the Dursleys anymore?" Dumbledore queried, seemingly horrified.

"Albus, they completely neglected and abused him. Thank Merlin he got away from them when he did," McGonagall threw in, and Pomfrey and Flitwick nodded their agreement.

However, the headmaster could not easily be convinced and explained about blood wards and that it was essential for Harry to return to his aunt's house at least during the summer holidays.

"No sir," Harry replied simply. "If anyone forces me to go there, I'll just apparate away, and you won't see me ever again."

"Harry," Dumbledore spoke again, sighing. "You might not know this, but I'm your guardian in the magical world..."

"No sir," Harry quickly interrupted the headmaster. "You aren't. Professor Flitwick is my guardian. When my parents adopted me, they changed everything in my favour."

"What I don't understand," Snape threw in, while the headmaster quietened in apparent defeat, "is why you're attending the second-year Potions class instead of using the time for your research?" He quirked an eyebrow.

Harry let out a long sigh. "Because I didn't want everyone to know that I've already taken my OWL and NEWT, and because I think that there are still many things that I can learn from you sir," he replied in a soft voice.

The Slytherin remained pensive for an instant before he offered, "If you consider the matter and are interested in accepting the post of the student assistant that Professor Dumbledore suggested for you, I'll be willing to help finding a cure for your illness."

Harry glanced at Madam Pomfrey, who gave him an unobtrusive nod. "Now that you all know the truth anyway, I can tell you that my illness is nothing else than the Blue Moon disease, a goblin illness," Harry admitted, feeling very much reassured by the comforting looks that he received from Pomfrey, McGonagall and Flitwick.

"Did you know that Poppy?" Dumbledore queried in a stern voice.

"Yes," Pomfrey admitted and explained why she had decided to have Harry live in his own room instead of a dormitory.

"That makes sense," Snape was the first to agree with the healer.

"Excuse me sir," Harry spoke up in a soft voice, "what exactly does a student assistant have to do?"

"As my student assistant, you'd help me with my work like, for example, the brewing of potions for the hospital wing, the grading of homework, or maybe teaching lower level classes from time to time. However, your own school work has the highest priority, and you'd only be able to assist after completing your own work," Snape explained, patiently.

"In return," Dumbledore added, "you'd either receive money or privileges, which probably would make more sense in your case. Privileges could be a later bed time..."

"No!" Pomfrey threw in, glaring at the headmaster.

"Or Hogsmeade visits among other things," Dumbledore continued.

"I don't really need anything," Harry replied, thoughtfully. "I'd like to assist because I'm very interested in Potions. I just don't know how much time I'll have, plus I won't be able to assist on the day of the full moon."

"Harry," Madam Pomfrey threw in, smiling. "I can imagine one privilege that would be useful for you." Seeing everyone look at her with a combination of surprise and curiosity, she smirked. "How about apparating to Brightbird sometimes during the weekends in order to work on your cure together?"

"Oh yes, I'd like that," Harry agreed, immediately. 'Especially when I become a student assistant, I can't have Snape wonder where I am every Sunday afternoon,' he thought.

After a short discussion about the goblins' apparition abilities, during which neither Harry nor Flitwick revealed that the goblins were able to apparate within Hogwarts, Harry and the Potions Master agreed that Harry should come to the classroom on Sunday morning in order to talk about the details of Harry's position as student assistant. The adults further decided that Harry, either with or without Snape's help, should brew the wolvescure potion for Remus Lupin during the weekend before the next full moon.

HP

During the following weeks, Harry spent the second-years' Potions classes doing as much of his homework as he could, so that he had time in the evenings to assist the Potions Master. Snape behaved extraordinarily well, and Harry and the professor got along without any problems. Sometimes, Harry also sat in his classmates' class and corrected homework for the professor in order to have time to do his own assignments in the evenings together with his friends.

Whenever he had time, Harry busied himself trying to find a cure for the Blue Moon disease, and Snape took great interest in his research and often gave Harry useful advice. Therefore, Harry decided to do his research in the Potions classroom, where the professor busied himself with other potions.

Too soon for Harry's liking, the full moon approached again. Not only because of his own problem, but also because he wanted to be completely certain that Remus Lupin was cured, which he would only know in the morning after the full moon.

As soon as he heard Pomfrey's voice in the morning, he lazily asked, "Lupin, is he all right?"

"Yes Harry, you managed to cure him from lycanthropy," Pomfrey replied, sounding very happy. "Congratulations sweetie."

'It's not only good for Lupin, but also for all of us,' Harry thought, knowing that Lupin had only agreed to take over the position of the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor if he was cured. To his chagrin, he was not allowed to apparate home, let alone attend Quidditch practice on this day; however, Gwenlin managed to calm Harry by promising to send the twins to Brightbird to tell him the good news.

"May I at least go and assist Professor Snape?" Harry asked in a slightly grumpy voice that made his mother reprimand him sharply.

"Harry, please behave yourself. You know that Madam Pomfrey only wants to keep you safe and healthy," Gwenlin said in a stern voice.

"Sorry Madam Pomfrey," Harry said, obediently. Not wanting to further anger the healer, he just remained in his room and translated potions recipes, until Hermione came to keep him company and study together.

HP

From the first of October onwards, Remus Lupin became the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and all students were happy, not only to get rid of Lockhardt the fraud, but also because they realised soon that Professor Lupin was a very talented teacher.

It was almost Halloween, when one day, the headmaster called Harry into his office just in the morning after the full moon. To his relief, it was a Saturday, so that he didn't have to worry about being late for his first morning class, and Flitwick accompanied him. 'Thank Merlin,' Harry thought, not feeling up to spending an hour guessing various sweets in order to make the gargoyle open.

"Harry my boy," Dumbledore greeted him, offering him a lemon drop, which Harry declined as usually. "This is Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic," the headmaster informed him, before he introduced him to the Minister.

"Mr. Potter," Fudge addressed the boy. "Word has reached the Ministry that you're able to brew a cure for lycanthropy. Is that true?"

"Yes sir," Harry replied shortly, inwardly groaning.

"Will you be able to work together with the Ministry of Magic as well as St. Mungo's and cure the werewolves?" the Minister enquired. "If you promise to brew as many batches as you can, the Ministry will pay you one thousand Galleons for each phial, and in addition, I shall award you the Order of Merlin first class.

Harry remained thoughtful for a moment, before he replied, thoughtfully. "I'll accept sir, however, under one condition."

"And what might that be?" Fudge queried, looking at the boy in apparent surprise.

'I don't like him,' Harry thought. 'But nevertheless I have to help the werewolves.' "My condition is that the Ministry offers the same reward for the two Potions Masters, who are my mentors and who are going to help me with the brewing, as I'd probably not be able to brew so many batches on my own."

"Very well," Fudge said, sounding impatient. "Who are these Potions Masters?" he then enquired.

"Brightbird from the goblin school on Goblin Island and Professor Snape from Hogwarts," Harry informed the Minister, who stared at him in disbelief, while the headmaster's eyes began to twinkle merrily.

"Mr. Potter," the Minister replied and sighed, casting Dumbledore a help searching look. "I can't very well award a goblin and a former Death Eater the Order of Merlin."

"Oh that's a pity then," Harry said, matter-of-factly. "In that case, we won't be able to help the Ministry."

"Dumbledore, how are you educating your golden boy?" the Minister growled at Dumbledore, who was sitting behind his desk, following the conversation with a contented expression.

"But Cornelius, I believe that Harry is fully right," Dumbledore said, pleasantly. "Brightbird and Professor Snape are both mentoring Harry, and they will efficiently help him to provide an adequate number of batches to cure the werewolves as soon as possible.

Fudge let out a huge sigh. "Very well then, you get what you want. I'll speak with Healer O'Brien, the Head Healer of St. Mungo's, and tell him to contact Mr. Potter."

"All right sir, thank you sir," Harry replied, politely, sighing in relief when the Minister stepped into the fireplace.

"Well done Harry," Flitwick spoke up, excitedly. "That was very generous of you."

"I'm glad it worked out," Harry replied, shrugging, before he turned to Dumbledore. "Professor, there's something else that needs to be done." Seeing the headmaster look at him in surprise, he enquired, "Did Professor McGonagall speak with you about the so-called Chamber of Secrets, where Salazar Slytherin's basilisk is residing?"

"Oh yes my boy," Dumbledore replied immediately. "I'm sorry Harry that I didn't even get around to thank you for rescuing Miss Weasley and bringing the matter to our attention."

"That doesn't matter sir," Harry said, impatiently. "But Professor McGonagall told me that fifty years ago, Hagrid was accused of having opened the chamber. And that's not possible. The chamber can only be opened in Parseltongue."

Dumbledore thoughtfully stroke his beard. "Would you be able to prove this?"

"Of course sir," Harry said, matter-of-factly. "I can show them how to open the chamber. I won't take them inside though, only if they swear a wizard's oath that they won't harm Amaterasu."

"But Harry," the headmaster replied, pensively, "isn't it dangerous to have a basilisk live in a school?"

"No sir," Harry reassured the old wizard in a firm voice and explained about the charm that he had to cast once a year.

"Very well Harry, I'll speak with the Minister about a possible trial for Hagrid," Dumbledore promised. "I'll better let him cool down for a few days though."

'That's for sure,' Harry thought and exchanged a few words with Fawkes, before he excused himself.

HP

Since it was the morning after the full moon, Harry had already told Neville that he would have to skip the Potions tutoring, which they continued to have on Saturday mornings. Even if Neville's brewing abilities had expanded greatly due to the tutoring, he still needed Harry's help. Instead, Harry decided to go and ask Professor Snape if he could use some assistance.

On his way to the Potions Master's office, Harry bumped into Draco Malfoy, who chose the instant to come out of the washroom, when Harry slowly walked through the dungeon corridor. "Oh sorry," Harry quickly said, looking at the other boy.

He had never really spoken to Draco after their first encounter on the Hogwarts Express; he had only heard that Draco got himself into fights with the Gryffindors every now and then and that he was very arrogant. Now, however, Draco looked in no way superior. His face was pale and covered in tears. He was crying.

"Draco, what happened?" he queried in surprise, quirking an eyebrow.

Draco let out a snort. "What does it mean to you?" he asked, sighing. "You, Dumbledore's golden boy, who gets everything that he wants..." He trailed off and after a hasty look at Harry made a quick step around the next corner.

However, Harry grabbed the boy's arm. "No Draco, you can't just run away after saying this. Please explain what you think you know about me and also what's wrong with you." Seeing that Draco looked up, seemingly hesitating, he added, jokingly, "Remember I'm not a Gryffindor but a Ravenclaw, and we have friends in all Houses. I'm not your enemy."

"Do you really believe that?" Draco queried, giving Harry a sharp look.

"Yes of course," Harry replied, simply. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Draco replied, trying to set up a convincing expression.

However, this did not go well with Harry. Harry snorted. "Yes of course, you're walking through the corridor crying so much that you run into people, but nothing's wrong. Well, you have the choice. You can either tell me now or I'll drag you to your head of house. I'm going there anyway."

Draco sighed, but apparently understanding that Harry meant what he said and lured by the boy's firm but friendly voice, he blurted out, "They arrested my father."

"Your father?" Harry queried, shocked at the revelation. He had never met Mr. Malfoy, however, he knew that the Malfoys were one of the proud, old wizarding families. "Why?" he asked in confusion.

Draco sighed again, unobtrusively wiping an errand tear from his cheek. "My father is one of the supporters of the Dark Lord. Anyway, he tried to smuggle a diary into Hogwarts, which was a Horcrux..." Seeing Harry's questioning look, he admitted, "I'm not really sure what it is either, but anyway, he thought he could revive the Dark Lord with it. But apparently, it fell into the hands of the goblins at Gringotts, and they informed the Ministry of Magic and had my father's cellar searched for other dark artefacts. They took many of his belongings with them, and yesterday, they came to arrest him."

"Oh I'm sorry," Harry said, compassionately.

"Thanks," Draco replied, and a small smile appeared on his lips. "On the one hand, he deserves it, because he's evil. But on the other hand, he's my father. You know who the Dark Lord is, don't you?"

"Voldemort?" Harry guessed, thinking that the diary of which Draco had told him had to be the black book that he had found in Amaterasu's room.

"The one who killed your parents," Draco confirmed. "Do you hate me now?"

Harry stared at the other boy in surprise. "No Draco, why would I?" he asked in a soft voice. "You're not your father."

"No I'm not," Draco confirmed. "However, my father takes it for granted that I'm going to follow into his footsteps."

"Do you really want that though?" Harry queried, quirking an eyebrow.

"I'm not sure," Draco admitted, thoughtfully. "On the one hand, it's good that he's in prison because he can't force me to do something that I don't want to do, but on the other hand..." He slowly trailed off.

"I understand," Harry replied, quietly. "You don't have to do what your father wants, Draco. You can make your own decisions."

Draco looked up, seemingly happier than before. "I'll do that. Thanks Potter." He held out his right hand. "Friends?"

Harry accepted, smiling. "Friends," he confirmed. "If you ever want to talk, come and see me in my room. Just go to Madam Pomfrey and ask for me," he added as an afterthought.

HP

When Harry entered the Potions Master's office, he wondered if he should tell Snape about the Order of Merlin, however, he dismissed the thought and merely informed the professor that the Minister of Magic had asked for many doses of the wolvescure.

"When exactly does the wolvescure have to be brewed?" Snape queried, raising an eyebrow at the boy.

"It has to be taken between three days and one day before the full moon and must be brewed right before," Harry replied, inwardly groaning.

"I shall help you," Snape promised, causing Harry to let out a relieved sigh upon realising that he didn't have to ask the older wizard.

"Thank you very much sir," he replied, adding, "I hope Brightbird will be able to help as well. I won't be able to brew too many batches so close to the full moon, especially if it's during the week."

The Potions Master gave him a thoughtful look. "I'd like to get to know Brightbird. We should work together in order to more efficiently search for a cure for the Blue Moon disease," he then suggested.

"All right," Harry agreed and hesitantly informed the professor that he used to meet Brightbird every Sunday afternoon and that Snape was very welcome to accompany him. "I don't think that you'll be able to apparate to Goblin Island though," he said, thoughtfully, "but you can take the floo to my parents' house, and we can meet there. Would you like to go tomorrow?"

Snape gave him a sharp look. "You don't seem well to me. Will your condition be improved enough by tomorrow?"

"Yes sir, only the day after the full moon is quite bad, tomorrow will be all right," Harry confirmed, and the two wizards agreed to go and visit Brightbird together on the following day.

"Do you need any potions for the hospital wing?" Harry enquired, giving the professor a questioning look.

"Not today," Snape replied in a firm voice. "Go and rest or gallivant the castle together with your friends. I won't have Madam Pomfrey scold me because of making you brew potions on the day after the full moon."

Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Harry agreed and returned to the aboveground part of the castle.

HP

'Snape has really changed,' he thought. 'He's become very nice. I just hope Jane and Kengo will behave when he accompanies me home tomorrow.' Deep in thoughts, he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. 'Jane and Kengo?' he thought in disbelief.

However, it was the Weasley twins that suddenly showed up right in front of him. 'Oh Merlin, I must be hallucinating,' he thought, inwardly groaning. 'I just hope we'll find a cure soon.'

"Oh, just the right person to meet..."

"... on this lazy Saturday," the twins greeted him, making Harry smile at the familiar antics.

"Hi there," he replied, smiling. "What mischief are you up to now?"

"Since fate arranged for us..."

"... to meet the student who's the most brilliant at Potions..."

"... we'd like to brew a prank potion together," the twins challenged him.

"That we can do," Harry agreed, thoughtfully. "Do you already have an idea what to brew though?"

"We'd like to have everyone have some fun..."

"... so possibly play a prank on the whole head table at dinner," the twins explained, looking at him in apparent expectation.

"Well, let's consult the library," Harry said, matter-of-factly, and led the twins into the Ravenclaw-Gryffindor quarters.

'I wonder if the wall of mist would let Snape or Draco into the quarters,' he thought, when he absentmindedly skimming a bookshelf.

"Oh no, I know something better," he suddenly remembered. "I have one book of Salazar Slytherin, which seems to be full of prank potions."

"Ahh, that sounds much better," the twins agreed, simultaneously.

During the following hour, Harry read the titles and the respective explanations for each potion to the twins, before they finally found an adequate prank. Harry quickly translated the recipe, while George wrote down his every word, and soon the three friends busied themselves brewing a complicated potion. 'Snape will immediately know that it was me,' Harry thought, inwardly sighing. 'No one else would be able to brew this.'

When they finished brewing, Harry instructed the twins to search Helena Ravenclaw and hand her the potion or give it to one of the house-elves. Afterwards he returned to his room right away, where he remained during the rest of the day in order to have an alibi in case anyone suspected him of brewing the prank potion. He took a long nap, before Hermione came and made him do his homework together with her until Madam Pomfrey showed up to check on Harry.

Waving her wand over him, the healer muttered to herself in apparent annoyance, causing Harry to ask, innocently, "May I skip dinner tonight please?"

"No Harry," Pomfrey replied sternly. "You already slept through lunch today, and I want you to attend dinner. I don't know what you did this morning instead of letting your condition improve," she continued, giving him a questioning look.

"Nothing really," Harry replied, sighing, "apart from a conversation with the headmaster and the Minister of Magic, then one with Draco Malfoy and finally with Professor Snape."

"I'm really glad that you seem to get along well now," Pomfrey commented, smiling.

"Yes, and I hope it'll stay that way," Harry thought aloud. "He's going to accompany me to Goblin Island and meet Brightbird tomorrow."

"Oh, that's great news. Well done Harry," the healer commended him. "Now let's head to dinner. Today, I don't have any other patients, so I can accompany you."

Too excited to feel any hunger, Harry walked to the Great Hall behind Pomfrey and Hermione, who were talking vivaciously. Sitting between his friends at the Ravenclaw table, he forced himself to not look at the teachers' table and absentmindedly listened to his housemates' conversations.

Suddenly, he heard his name being mentioned at the head table, when Professor Dumbledore told his youngest colleague, "Severus, you're going to receive the Order of Merlin first class."

The Potions Master stared at the old wizard, before he turned to the healer, who was sitting on his other side. "Poppy, have you recently examined Albus? It appears that he has consumed too many lemon drops."

"I didn't know that lemon drops make someone delirious," McGonagall threw in, causing Harry to chuckle.

"I know what I'm talking about," Dumbledore said, indignantly, and took a large sip of his pumpkin juice, before he told his colleagues about the conversation between Minister Fudge and Harry Potter that had taken place in his office that very morning.

All of a sudden, the headmaster's voice changed to that of a small child that could be heard throughout the Great Hall, causing the whole student body to break out in laughter at the sight of the professors.

Relieved that everyone laughed at the sight of the head table, Harry did not try to hide his own amusement. All of the teachers' heads, but only the heads, had changed into those of babies, their clothes were transfigured into large jumpsuits with colourful bibs on top of them, the plates and cutlery had changed into baby dishes and spoons, and the glasses had been replaced by feeding bottles.

"Potter!" Snape growled in his high, babyish voice, causing everyone in the Great Hall to laugh - except for Harry, who stared at the head table, feigning surprise.

"No Severus," he heard Madam Pomfrey contradict in her girlish baby voice. "Harry was in no condition today to brew such a thing. Ever since his conversations with Albus and you, he was in bed asleep. He even slept through lunch and would have missed dinner if I hadn't forced him to attend."

"Pity, otherwise, I'd have a valid reason to award points to my house," Flitwick spoke up, pleasantly.

"And Severus would have taken ten times the amount," McGonagall threw in, sternly. "Are you so sure that it was a potion? Maybe someone who's good at Transfiguration played the prank."

Snape let out a snort that sounded very funny to the students. "Be my guest and try to transfigure everything back," he challenged his older colleague, who readily pulled her wand.

After waving her wand over herself and the table in front of her multiple times in vain, the Scottish lioness gave up. "No, it doesn't work," she informed the others.

"Harry, was that you?" Hermione whispered, causing Harry to return an innocent look.

HP

Only when they were back in his own room, while dinner was still on its way, did he admit to his best friend about brewing the potion together with the Weasley twins.

Rolling her eyes in annoyance, Hermione said, "Oh well, that was well done then. When is it going to wear off?"

Harry chuckled. "As soon as they leave the Great Hall. I'm not that mean."

Hermione snorted. "You can be glad that Madam Pomfrey stood up for you though," she said sternly. "I wouldn't want to be you if Professor Snape learned that it was you."

"That's true," Harry agreed, full heartedly, just an instant before the Potions Master's voice penetrated his mind.

'Congratulations Mr. Potter to a very well done potion,' Snape informed him, telepathically. 'But beware, eventually I'm going to get my revenge.'