Disclaimer: No. Not Rowling's. Nothing belongs to me. Just playing in her universe

Okay, I know you guys will be reading Deathly Hallows this weekend, as will I (shrieks) I'm really excited, and then I'm going to be a counselor at my church camp from Monday to Friday (23rd -27th ), and I won't have access to the internet for that whole time (pouts), but I will have some time to write, so I should have some chapters ready for you by the time I get back.

I hope Deathly Hallows doesn't change my views on anything. Even if it does, I don't plan on changing my story, just in case you were wondering.

As I said, I'm sorry about the last chapter. I hope this makes up for it just a little bit. It was one of my favorites to write. And just a warning, the class schedule dose not match the class schedule in the 1st book. Thanks for reading.

Midnight Star 25

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First Classes

Harry awoke early the next morning, grabbed his book bag and headed to the Owlery.

"Hedwig." He called. "Want to take a letter to Remus?"

She affectionately nipped his finger, as she accepted the offered owl treat, before taking off with the letter.

Harry then made his way to the Great Hall. Students were just starting to file in. He noticed Hermione was already down, and made a beeline for her.

"Hi Hermione." He greeted

"Hi. You're up early."

"No earlier then you."

She shrugged. "I'm always up early."

They made casual conversation, until Ron and Neville joined them.

"Morning." Ron yawned

"Hey." added Neville

It was then, that Professor McGonagall came down the table handing out the schedules.

"Look, we have transfiguration first."

"Uh, I heard McGonagall's really hard."

"What else do we have today?"

"Charms, Defense, and Double Potions with the Slytherins."

"Boy, that's gonna be fun. Fred and George say Snape HATES Gryffindor, and always favors Slytherin."

Transfiguration went much like the first time, just this time, he didn't struggle with the assignment. He pretended to, until right at the very end, when he successfully pulled off a shiny, pointy needle. Hermione looked a little put out at sharing her limelight, and Ron kept demanding to know how he'd done it.

Charms was simple enough, just skull-crushing boring, since all they were doing was learning wrist movement.

Defense was on the same level. Quirrell stuttered through the whole class, although, at least Harry knew why this time. His time would come. Very, very soon.

Now came Potions. This was the class he'd been waiting for, yet also dreading. He knew what he had to do. He just wasn't sure he wanted to do it, or if it would even work. Well, if it didn't work, he could at least say he tried.

Snape swept in, his billowing black robes intimidating the class. He gave the same lecture about the 'subtle art that is potion making', then he turned on Harry.

"Harry Potter…our…new…celebrity."

"Tell me Mr. Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"Draught of the Living Dead, sir." He answered without hesitation.

The silence was deafening. Even Snape blinked.

All of a sudden, Harry's mind was assaulted with a strong thrust of Legilimency, but Harry's shields held true.

"Where would you look if I asked you to find me a beazor?"

"In the stomach of a goat." Harry replied evenly

"What's the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

"Nothing, sir. They're the same plant. Muggle botanists call it aconite."

"Now, sir, I have a question." Snape's attack on Harry's mind faltered for a second.

"What?" he questioned dangerously.

"I have a question." Harry repeated. "I read several potions books this summer, and I have a question on one of the potions I read about."

Snape sneered. "Oh, and what might that be?"

"It's about the Invigoration Draught. Its main purpose is to boost or invigorate the drinker's magical core, which makes it a valuable potion going into battle or during a duel, although it's often banned from official duels. But there is a downside to the potion. Once drunk, the effects ware off in about three hours, despite the dosage, leaving the drinker sluggish, depressed, and their magical core incredibly drained, and depending on the dosage, it can leave them in that state, anywhere from several hours to several days, and if drunken excessively over a long period of time, it can cause permanent damage to your core. Now, as I understand it, this mainly stems from the acid that's being released when the essence of belladonna is added, then mixed with the armadillo bile, which also releases an acid. Wouldn't it be more prudent to add a strong base that would be able to balance the acids out, and thereby nullifying the negative effects that it has on your body? Re'em Blood, for example. It's a strong enough base, and once added, the blood would actually add an extra benefit of enhanced physical strength, which is what the blood is originally used for in the first place."

The class was stunned, but Snape wore a look of triumph on his face.

"I don't know WHO put you up to this, Potter. But you can tell them that their little theory has a big hole in it. IF you were to try and add Re'em Blood to that particular potion, your potion would not only turn out to be dangerously unstable, but could cause the users magical core to explode, due to the interaction with the lovage, which is also a base, and reacts very poorly with many ingredients, including Re'em Blood."

Snape looked like he had just one a million galleons, but Harry wasn't finished.

"Not if you add it during the 5th cycle." He stated calmly.

"WHAT?"

"The 5th cycle. By that point, you've just added the belladonna, and the acid from it has risen to the top of the cauldron, but it's also put the lovage in a nirvana like state. Simply put, the lovage is temporarily suspended within the potion in a neutral capacity for about 5 minutes during the brewing. Add the Re'em Blood during that timeframe, then immediately add the armadillo bile before that time is up, neutralizing the acid, and the lovage won't be able to interact with the blood in anyway, or cause any nasty side effects."

He could see that Snape was analyzing what he had just said, before switching back to his blank mask.

"Mr. Potter, I don't know what you are trying to pull, or who put you up to it, but the both of you are gravely mistaken! 10 points from Gryffindor for wasting my time, and another 10 for disrupting my class. Now, quills out, and start copying the notes on the board!" With an angry flick of his wrist, a long list of notes appeared on the blackboard. "IMMEDIATELY!" he shouted

The class immediately jumped into action to obey, as did Harry, only at a slower pace. He smiled. He had most definitely gotten the better of Snape on this one, and the best part was, Snape realized it.

The class passed without further incident, with the exception that he was developing a massive headache from Snape's constant attempts to enter his mind, but his shields never faltered.

Harry soon heard the bell ringing. Harry told Ron, Hermione, and Neville to go on without him. They nearly refused, but Harry assured him he'd meet them in the Common Room in a bit.

Soon, the room was empty, and it was just the two of them.

"Professor Snape." He said evenly

Snape turned on him. "If you know what's good for you, Potter, you'll get out of here now!"

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't do that."

"WHAT!?"

"Not yet. I have something for you."

"And just what might that be?" he growled

"This." Harry pulled out a single white envelope, with the word 'Severus' on it.

"I got into my parents vaults this summer, and they left several letters that I was supposed to deliver should anything happen to them. This one's for you. I believe it's from my mother, although it's magically sealed, so only you can open it."

The man was stunned.

"Oh, and my parents also told me to thank you for the warning."

Snape looked up. "What…warning?"

Harry knew he was playing dumb.

"The warning that Voldemort was coming after us. I know you took the prophecy to Voldemort…" the color drained from his potion's master face

"Yes, my parents told me about the prophecy too." Answering Snape's unasked question

"But you made up for it by warning my parents, and giving them the chance to go into hiding. I don't blame you for Voldemort's actions, nor for the death of my parents. So I thank you, again for your warning. Your life debt to my father is paid in full."

With that final word, he placed the envelope on the table, gave a slight bow, and exited the room, before the dumbstruck potions master could find his tongue.

Everything he had just said was true. Snape had warned his parents. That was why Albus put so much trust in him, aside from his unwavering, yet extremely misguided faith that all people needed was a second chance.

Harry quickly made his way to the common room, where Ron was frantically waiting for him.

"What happened in there!? Why'd you stay?"

Harry shrugged it off. "I just had to deliver a letter?"

"Huh?"

Harry chuckled. "Don't worry about it, Ron. Where's Hermione and Neville?"

"Oh, they're around here somewhere."

"Let's go find them, and go to dinner. I'm starving."

Ron grinned at the thought of food, as Harry knew he would.

Snape's POV

Meanwhile, in a dark part of the dungeon, an angry and very confused potions master sat stewing over the unusual events that had taken place in the last hour. He took a big swig of fire whisky, before going back to the letter clutched tightly in his hand. The words echoing in his mind, haunting his thoughts.

He never imagined something like this would happen. In a way, nothing had changed. In another, everything had.

He read the words over and over again. A message from the grave. A message of thanks and forgiveness. One he had never expected. One he never desires…or at least…felt like he deserved. He had committed too many unforgivable acts throughout his lifetime, whether by choice or circumstance, all of which, he would have to live with the guilt of for the rest of his life. And now…now.

He shook his head, and took another drink.

His worst enemy had forgiven him. He wasn't sure how the boy knew how to do it, but after Harry had spoken the words that 'his debt was paid in full', he had bowed, and then magically sealed and closed the debt. In that moment, he literally felt as if a burden had been lifted from him. He knew that spell could only have worked if the one he was in debt to had truly forgiven and released him. He couldn't fathom James ever coming down to earth long enough to act civil, much less towards him.

And Lily…his precious Lily. His best friend since before 1st year. They had fallen apart in their 7th year, when she started dating James. It was later that year that he had succumbed to the pressure from Lucius Malfoy, and became a Death Eater. When Lily found out, she was livid! She had refused to see him or even speak to him ever again.

It hadn't been 'till after he had taken the prophecy to Voldemort, and realized just who he was targeting. Despite their falling out, and her marriage to James, he still truly cared for Lily, and was desperate to save her.

He thought back to the night he had gone to her and Dumbledore. He'd never forget the look of fear on her face as James held her tightly, and she clung desperately to that newborn baby.

Jealousy raged through him, even as he replayed the scene. That should have been him in that position. Holding her, comforting her, and it should have been his child in her arms!

But it wasn't. He had lost that chance over four years before that scene, when he had made the worst mistake of his life, and joined the Death Eaters. He hadn't seen her once in those four years, and only showed up to tell her that his 'master' wanted her and her family dead.

HOW COULD SHE FORGIVE THAT!? HOW COULD SHE THANK HIM FOR THAT!?

It had gotten her killed, murdered, yet she claimed to be grateful that Harry was alive.

The BOY. He was another mystery.

He was arrogant, much like his father, but…perhaps…not in the same way.

Aside from analyzing a potion theory no 7th year should have been able to…he was still convinced that someone had put him up to it, he just couldn't figure out who…he hadn't openly disrespected him in front of the class. He had obeyed all of the instructions, and had quietly taken notes.

Snape had expected him to be an exact copy of James Potter. Arrogant, disrespectful, rude. All around a total prat.

But this wasn't the case. He was level headed. Calm…to a degree. Nothing Snape did seemed to riel him.

And the scary part, he was an occulemens! How was that possible!? The kid was only 11!

Snape had several theories as to how that was possible, one in particular being the SCARIEST!!

He had NO IDEA what he would do if that were the case. He took another swig of whiskey.

SO…what was he supposed to do now?

He knew Albus would be extremely interested in this information. He also wasn't sure that was the best course of action at the moment. Besides, he knew the old man would be keeping an incredibly close eye on the boy anyway.

No. For now, he would keep this to himself. He would also watch the brat extremely closely, and then decide if other measures needed to be taken.

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Okay, not a super long chapter, but I enjoyed writing this one. Let me know what you think, and if I stayed true to Snape's character.

Oh, and let me make one thing VERY clear, just in case any of you have doubts. NO, NO, NO!!! Harry is NOT Snape's son!!! Just wanted to make sure there was no confusion on that.

And if your curious about the potion or the ingredients, I did my research at The Hary Potter Lexicon on the web, at the Encyclopedia of Potions.

Thanks for reading, and thank you so much for all your reviews.

Midnight Star 25