TWENTY

Harry was vastly amused to see that Neville, Dean and Hermione had had the same idea. It was practically cozy in Hagrid's hut. Especially as Ron and Seamus had come with them.

Harry looked around the room, the only one there not bothered by the underlying hostility.

'You've had expansions done Hagrid.' He announced. Next to him he felt Blaise and Theo appearing to relax, emulating his unconcerned exterior. 'They look good.'

They did too. Now that he was thinking about it, he realised that the hut had been changed like this the last few times he'd been in here. He had just been concentrating on other things. It turns out having an illegal dragon burn down your house wasn't entirely negative. It almost made Harry cross for the effort (and detention) he'd gone through in his original first year.

Hagrid sighed morosely. 'Don't 'spect I'll be enjoying them fer much longer.'

It took an extreme amount of effort not to roll his eyes. He liked Hagrid, he really did, but he'd forgotten the man's flair for dramatics. He could only be glad he arrived after Hagrid had dunked his head in the trough of water outside and the pewter tankard had disappeared (presumably emptied out by Hermione).

'Oh?' Harry asked mildly. 'Has Dumbledore fired you then?'

The Gryffindors immediately fired up.

'Come to gloat have you!?' Ron yelled at the same time Hermione hissed 'Potter you arse!' and Dean sarcastically drawled 'Subtle Potter. Real subtle.'

Really. This was fun.

Hagrid blew his nose into a huge tissue. 'Not yet,' he said miserably. 'But's only a matter o' time, I'n't, after Parkinson…'

'How is she?' Ron asked, turning his back to them out and seeming to pretend Harry, Theo and Blaise didn't exist. 'It wasn't serious, was it?'

'Madam Pomfrey fixed him best she could,' said Hagrid dully, 'but she's sayin' it's still agony…covered in bandages…moanin'…'

Theo turned his laugh into a cough. 'I can't imagine the bandages will stay. Won't match her robes.' He hissed under his breath. Harry let his lips twitch up into a smile.

'I Don' reckon they've ever had a teacher who lasted on'y a day before.' Hagrid slumped in his chair.

Harry snorted. 'Oh, you'd be surprised what the curse on the Defense position has cooked up.' Rumor had it in '82 Dumbledore had lost not one, but three teachers who signed up, and that before the term even started. 'But that is hardly relevant. Pansy will not be getting you fired. Quite frankly I have worked too hard at getting you the job.'

This proved a revelation to the Gryffindors, who all turned to Harry to gape.

'You-' Hermione began, but Blaise cut her off.

'I assume the school governors have been informed?'

Hagrid gave him a cautious look, he had been utterly surprised that Harry had come to check on him. Hagrid had apparently taken a (relatively wary) liking to Harry, since the end of last year, but had been hesitant in letting his friends in too.

'Tha's right. They reckon I started too big. Shoulda left Hippogriffs fer later…started with flobberworms or summat…Jus' thought it'd make a good firs' lesson's all my fault…'

'It's all Parkinson's fault, Hagrid!' said Hermione earnestly.

'We're witnesses,' said Dean. 'You said Hippogriffs attack if you insult them. It's Malfoy's problem that he wasn't listening. We'll tell Dumbledore what really happened.'

'Yeah, don't worry, Hagrid, we'll back you up,' said Ron.

Tears leaked out of the crinkled corners of Hagrid's beetle-black eyes. He grabbed both Dean and Ron and pulled them into a bone-breaking hug.

Harry whispered a wandless sobering charm while Hagrid was distracted.

'That's all well and good. But you're just a bunch of school kids.' Blaise said with a sneer. Harry sighed internally. Gryffindors and Slytherins really didn't get on well. 'Unless Pansy, or rather Lord Parkinson, drops the charges, Hagrid, or in the very least the hippogryff-'

'Blacky.' Hagrid interrupted.

Blaise faltered for a second, but then just took it in stride. '-Blacky, will be in serious trouble. The Department of the Regulation of Magical Creatures isn't what it should be. Unless you get in before this goes to a full hearing…' Blaise trailed off meaningfully.

Hermione sat up straighter and leaned in opening her mouth, no doubt about to inquire about various boring bylaws, but Hagrid had finally remembered about Black. No doubt with the reference to legal procedures. Harry sighed and tried to convince himself that a heavy handed confundus wasn't appropriate between friends.

'WHAT D'YEH THINK YOU'RE DOIN', EH?' he roared, so suddenly that they jumped a foot in the air. 'YEH'RE NOT TO GO WANDERIN' AROUND AFTER DARK, POTTER! AN, YOU TWO! LETTIN' HIM!'

Blaise, having not expected it, looked outright startled, and sent Harry a stunned pleading look. The Gryffindors were also completely surprised, though with more reasoning, not knowing Sirius was supposedly after him.

Hagrid strode over to Harry, grabbed his arm, and went to pull him to the door. Harry used a heavy dose of an imbedded stinging hex to get him to let go, but dusted himself down and rose to leave.

Hagrid looked down at his hand surprised, but didn't loose his steam. Harry always underestimated his giant's blood.

'C'mon!' Hagrid said angrily. 'I'm takin' yer all back up ter school an' don' let me catch yeh walkin' down ter see me after dark again. I'm not worth that!'

He seemed to register Harry couldn't be moved, so took Theo and Dean by the arms, obviously assuming Harry and the rest would follow.

'A pleasure, as always.' Harry drawled towards Neville, before giving Ron and Seamus a heavy once-over just to tick them off.

He strode from the hut and ahead of the group, collecting Theo from Hagrid's grip on the way past. Hagrid, seeing that Harry at least wasn't resisting, moved on to Ron.

'Why did we even bother visiting him?' Theo said angrily, as they made their way back to the dungeons.

'I was curious what Pansy's father had done.' And if it would change the timeline much. Harry added to himself. The rounded the corner to come face to face with Snape.

Snape took in the warm cloaks they had conjured and he settled on Harry with a menacing scowl. Harry had a better idea than spending his evening in detention however.

'There is only two minutes before curfew, and if you hurry, five Gryffindors won't make it back to their common room in time.' He offered.

'You had best hope Slytherin displays higher standards.' Snape warned. Harry suspected he would find himself in a supposed mentor meeting before the end of the week, however terrorizing Neville seemed too much of a draw right now, and Snape hurried off towards the staff passage Harry suspected existed between the first and fourth floor. Sadly it was warded to only staff, although Harry did wonder if he could alter his magical signature to suit.

'With how often you fall in line with them, I'm surprised you would sacrifice your lions.' Blaise drawled.

Harry shrugged. 'Yes, however I like to see how many points I can force Dumbledore to give out in one go at the end of the year. House loyalty and all.'

Both boys snorted.

Harry got up early again the next morning. This time he didn't wait for Draco to leave, so the blonde eyed him warily as they dressed in silence. Harry managed to time it so they were heading to the common room at the same time, Draco speeding up his steps to reach the lounge first. Harry grinned, but headed outside at the last turn. He wondered how far he could push Draco.

Harry had other interests at the moment. Namely the beautiful blonde sunning herself on the front steps humming a tune and weaving a bracelet with a purple string and a gold stream of magic coming from the tip of her wand.

'Good morning Harry potter.'

'Morning Luna.'

They didn't say anything else, and Harry pulled out a text he'd got from the restricted section the night before. He had been surprised that Madam Pince let him keep using Lockhart's permission slip, but then he'd been nothing but respectable. Well that, and he'd put a strong parseltongue compulsion on it.

'Rituals are Dark Magic.' Luna said quietly, almost a half hour later.

Harry looked up from the book he'd been going through completely unsurprised that Luna could see past the false cover he'd got off the porn book the previous year.

'Yes. Most of them are. It depends on whether they are sacrificial.'

'Are you going to sacrifice a thousand virgin slaves so that you can gain immortality?' Luna looked up at him curiously.

Harry blinked at her for a second. He seriously hoped Voldemort didn't know about that.

'Not this morning, no.'

'Perhaps that is best.'

'Perhaps.' Harry agreed. Luna went back to weaving.

Harry glanced across at her. He was pleased to see that Luna had shoes on again today. He had done a (highly illegal, but very basic) ritual on Luna's things while at the Lovegood's house. It was technically blood magic, but it wasn't at all painful, and while it involves another person to give up some of their blood, most people had at least one close friend they could trust. It would emphasize the feeling of guilt anyone would have for stealing her things. It would only last a year, and Harry hoped that he wouldn't need the ritual the following years, working on the assumption that brats might learn.

Harry glanced at his watch. He would have to head to breakfast soon. He'd prefer to miss it and bask in the sun (and Luna's company) for a bit longer, but he knew he had to eat a lot while using the timeturner. He could wait a little longer though.

'What is your bracelet for?'

Luna hardly ever made something that didn't have a secondary use.

'It will keep my hands from floating if I get distracted and stop holding them down.'

'Will you need a second one?'

'For the other wrist?'

'Presumably.'

'Don't be silly.'

Harry threw his head back and laughed.

A light cough disturbed their solitude, and Harry looked back to see Remus soaking in his laughing face. He wondered how much he looked like James, and tried not to shift to a scowl.

'Good morning Professor Lupin.' Harry offered. Remus nodded at them with a light smile. Harry couldn't help but notice his gaze lingered on Harry's green tie. However if he was surprised to see Harry with a Ravenclaw it didn't show.

'That was an excellent class on hexes yesterday, Sir. Will we also be covering septes?' Luna enquired.

Harry frowned at her. 'Luna.'

He remembered her joking over the holidays about the hexes being based of number six, instead of the more significant seven. He could only assume she was referencing that.

Luna met Harry's eyes with surprising defiance, but then lowered them to look at her finished bracelet.

'We should head inside for food, Lu.' Harry suggested, standing and offering Luna a hand.

'Breakfast will be over shortly.' Remus suggested. Harry was totally surprised to see Luna bristle, but took her hand and pulled her away.

'I look forward to your class this afternoon, Sir.'

He pulled Luna away and around the corner.

'Why don't you like Lupin?' Harry asked.

'He told me off for telling him werewolves and catalopes were just a lie of the ministry. They are really a conspiracy to cover up for-'

'It might be a sensitive subject, Luna. Perhaps in this case your information might be wrong.'

'Have you met a werewolf?' Luna looked up at him, surprised.

Harry guestimated there was now about four hundred meters between them and Remus. 'Yes Lu.'

Luna frowned, but then smiled.

'I like the name Lu.' She said, slipping the bracelet into Harry's hand and skipping towards the Ravenclaw table to grab some toast before it disappeared.

Harry looked down at the bracelet, which was now charmed to be baby pink. He sighed and slipped it on.

.:Well at least your arms won't float away:. Apep hissed with an amused tone.

.:You can hardly talk:. Harry hissed back as he entered the hall. .:You don't have any arms:.

The Slytherins had all left for History first class, so Harry headed of to Runes, figuring that way he wouldn't have to sneak away between class. The lesson went equally as well as the day before, though this time he had it with the Hufflepuffs. It was a smaller class, with just Harry and the four boys. Harry was at a table by himself, as they boys all closed ranks, but he didn't mind so much, as they were doing a worksheet and he didn't have to worry about holding back. It probably pissed them off that he managed to finish before the four of them did together, but Babbling was impressed, and had optimistically told Harry that due to his mixed roster, he could probably just work ahead if he wanted to, and she would just keep giving him work and feedback as he went. He was already pushing three lessons ahead.

History, as he predicted, was not nearly so enjoyable.

Binns was lecturing on important leaders in history. He was focusing on those who influenced any goblin rebellion, however mentioned that they would each be given one person to write up on. Harry could remember this assignment. He'd been given Darick the Dull. The assignment was just as simulating as you might imagine. This time however, he couldn't get Darick again, as he was in Slytherin, who had been allocated a different time period to Gryffindor. All in all it was looking more promising.

Of course he would have enjoyed this knowledge far more if Seamus and Lavender hadn't been having a paper swan war across the room in front of him, constantly blocking view of the board when their birds periodically went up in flames.

Half way through the lesson he snapped and hexed the back of Seamus' chair, causing him to fall loudly to the ground. Using the distraction he moved to the front of the class, abandoning a snoring Theo and sitting next to Draco, who gave him an outraged look, which he ignored. Normally Pansy sat there, but she supposedly still hadn't recovered so Harry figured the seat was fair game.

Binns didn't skip a beat the entire drama.

Harry was in a rather annoyed mood by the end of the double, and didn't appreciate running into Dumbledore afterwards at all. Apparently Peeves had exploded paint all over the entrance hall, and Dumbledore was trying to placate Filch with some lemon drops and kind words. He wasn't sure why Dumbledore didn't just vanish the mess, which would no doubt impress Flich more than any candy could. Harry was sorely tempted to do just that (one never knew when having Filch on side might come in handy), but he didn't want to have to deal with more Gryffindors to do it. They were all standing around and no doubt Dumbledore would have made a fuss.

Harry did note that he didn't have any memory of this happening originally, but then Peeves hadn't originally had him as a constant supplier for two previous years, so there was a possibility that Peeves had a stash of pranks hidden away. Thinking of Remus, Harry slipped Peeves a packet of gum as they passed his invisible form cackling quietly around the corner. Wadiwasi was an excellent spell, and Remus was more than likely to share it.

Herbology was calm in comparison. Well, Harry's table was calm. He had taken one look at the stewing Daphne (she had been only seat behind Lavender) and promptly invited himself to share a bench with the Hufflepuff girls. They were pruning daisies, both the non-magical, and singing variety. Professor Sprout had cheerfully told the class that the non-magical daisy roots would be collected later on to be ground down to their juices and used in the brewing of shrinking solution for upcoming potions lessons, while she just had the singing variety around because she liked their voices. Apparently caring for both took the same method.

Every now and then he'd hear an indignant noise from Theo, or a heavy sigh from Tracey at the table behind him, but all in all it was a productive lesson. He joined the Slytherins again after class. Apparently Blaise and Daphne hadn't agreed on the correct way to prune (Or, Harry suspected, much else either).

'You didn't have to cut them so…' Daphne made a gesture with her hands.

'Well you didn't have to take all the little leaves off.' Blaise sniped.

'We were pruning them!'

'Not every leaf needed to be-'

'Whatever Zabini!'

Daphne stormed past where Harry was waiting for them at the door. Tracey sighed and rushed after her, and Theo shrugged and followed.

'You just don't know when to leave it alone, Eh?' Theo laughed at Blaise as he left.

'What is with you and Daphne anyway?' Harry grumbled, watching Daphne stalk off. Blaise watched her go almost longingly.

'Her favorite uncle proposed to my mother at the end of last year.' Blaise stated it in a voice totally voided from all emotions. Harry looked at him sharply.

'Ah.'

'Excellent, isn't it.' Blaise's mask didn't hold and he sounded very bitter.

Harry glanced between Daphne's disappearing form and Blaise's longing look a few times. A slow smile itched at the corner of his mouth. He squashed it, as it would be incredibly inappropriate, but he couldn't help but be amused.

He had always wondered why Daphne, the one he knew in the original future that was, why she had been so openly hostile towards Zabini. It was entirely out of character. Harry had always assumed that whatever stopped the two from working together during school had been a rift that couldn't be healed. There was a small chance Daphne really did just hate Blaise because of her uncle's death (and Harry had absolutely no doubt that his death was imminent), but that didn't really sit inline with her character either. For a Slytherin, Daphne was very easy with her forgiveness.

And really, anyone who married Aida Zabini was quite frankly an idiot, and deserved exactly what they got.

Harry hadn't ever thought about it before, but the Blaise Harry knew from the future was equally passionate and open in his dislike of Daphne. That hadn't been as out of character, however Harry also noted that Zabini never seriously dated, despite numerous offers.

Harry glanced once more at Blaise's face. He grinned on the inside.

'Come on. Something will work out.' Harry would make sure of it.

'Yes. And no doubt I'll have to bury the body behind the manor as usual.'

Harry ignored that for the moment, but they descended into silence as Blaise probably realised he'd just handed Harry excellent Blackmail evidence. Close friends or not, Slytherins didn't really do trust. It made Harry long for the old golden trio just a little. That being said, if Blaise ever did double cross him, Harry was a Slytherin too now.

'Behind the manor, huh?'

'Shut up, Harry!' Blaise groaned resignedly.

Harry was sorely tempted to start teasing him about liking Daphne, but he had far more hints than Zabini had (over far more time), so wasn't sure if his friend actually realised he liked her like that yet.

As they got close to the hall Harry was about to make an excuse to slip away, before realising that he actually didn't need to. Thursdays were his lightest load. He only had two clashes. Runes through one period of History, and Herbology with the Ravens this afternoon at the same time as Potions.

Seeing that Blaise didn't look very keen to follow Daphne, Harry suggested they head to the kitchens for Lunch. Blaise was quite keen to agree.

'How did you find out where the kitchens were anyway?' Blaise asked as they headed down the last stairs.

'Well I wasn't exactly welcome at the table in first year.'

Blaise flinched.

'Er-…'

Harry shrugged. 'I'll get you all back later.'

'Sorry.' Blaise held on to his guilt for a moment, but wasn't so easily distracted. 'But how did you find the kitchens.'

Internally Harry winced. He contemplated telling the truth, as a Slytherin wasn't too likely to question a Gryffindor, however twisting that around would still involve too many questions. Suddenly Harry had an amusing idea. He gave Blaise a blank look as he reached out and tickled the pear.

'Quirrell offered me help once it became obvious I was struggling.' Well, he had offered at any rate. Harry of course didn't need it by then, but it wasn't (technically) a lie.

Blaise caught on to the amusing part almost instantly, though looked inclined to be horrified.

'But he had The Dark Lord on the back of his head!' Blaise whispered the name as they stepped through into the kitchens.

Harry was about to ask what Blaise thought that meant (something he'd wanted an opinion on since first year), but was totally de-railed. Sitting amid the house-elves were Fred and George Weasley, who had been stuffing their faces with cake.

However as the twins had clearly heard the end of their conversation, they sat staring with open mouths at Harry. This was rather disgusting as they hadn't finished chewing. Harry gave them a glare and vanished the half-chewed cake from their mouths. This, naturally, snapped them out of their stupor.

'Hey!'

'We were eating that!'

'Clearly you weren't, or I wouldn't have had to vanish it.'

Blaise muttered something that sounded suspiciously like not more Gryffindors, but Harry ignored him, stepping in and requesting two meals from Fizzy, the head elf.

'Actually,' said Harry, once he and Blaise were sitting with a delicious looking chicken pie in front of them, 'I have been meaning to chase you two down.'

I seemed the twins had been having a silent conversation while Harry and Blaise got sorted, and instead of answering, turned to Harry as one.

'That's why you couldn't stop laughing!' They spoke in unison.

Harry was totally confused.

'What?'

'The snowballs!' They said in unison again. Harry had a brief moment (not for the first time) where he considered just asking whether they were mutually telepathic, but his mind was de-railed. His lip twitched.

'Ah yes. I'd say you might be the only people in history who managed to annoy the Dark Lord so much and live to tell the tale.'

Blaise had had enough.

'What are you lot talking about?!' He demanded. 'And since when have you been chummy with even more Lions?' He rounded on Harry.

Harry suspected not his going for the lounge was getting to Blaise.

Harry's lip twitched even more. Despite being worried someone would catch on that he'd known Voldemort was there before Quirrell decided to crucio him, he couldn't help it. He'd been reminded of the bouncing snowballs and just couldn't help but think about it before anything else. Hearing Fred and George explain to (a horrified) Blaise in a sort of awed tone didn't help, and Harry cracked up.

This time at least he managed to calm down after only a few minutes, and even though he was getting odd looks from all three boys, he moved on.

'Anyway, as I said, I've been meaning to catch you. I have a proposition.' Harry would have preferred Blaise not know, but running into the twins without any effort was too good to pass up.

'We're-'

'-listening.'

Harry smirked. 'Draco Malfoy seems to have taken an unhealthy interest in targeting those who are weak to the dementors. Specifically, your brother.'

'Malfoy is a prat.'

'Go on.'

Blaise was now giving Harry an alarmed look. Harry ignored it.

'Very slimy Slytherin behavior, wouldn't you agree?' The twins joined Blaise in the alarmed look. 'Perhaps some brave Gryffindors might take offense.'

'Harry!' Blaise hissed. 'This is sabotage!'

Harry inclined his head.

'Against the whole house.' Blaise added in a desperate whisper, as if Harry might not have noticed.

'Offense, you say?' George asked.

Harry ignored Blaise and smirked, pulling one of the left-over pranking potions he'd brewed for the Dursleys at the end of first year out from his pocket. Blaise let out a whimper.

Fred reached for the semi-perminant hair-raiser potion with glee, however Harry pulled it slightly back. The twins let out an annoyed huff.

'Conditions?' They sighed in unison. Harry laughed.

'I am a Slytherin, boys.'

Blaise muttered something again, though this time Harry didn't catch it.

Ten minutes later the two parties left the kitchens in mutual satisfaction.

As soon as Fred and George disappeared around a corner Blaise dragged Harry into an alcove. Harry cast muffliato as he was aware Blaise would cut into him, and wouldn't be worried about being overheard.

'You just cut a deal with Gryffindors.'

'Yes.' Harry said, flatly.

'Against Slytherin.'

'No.'

'Then you- wait, what?'

'I specifically targeted rivals for King, this has little to do with the house otherwise.'

Blaise considered the fast paced debating that had gone on. 'You said Draco, sure, but what have you got against Marcello and Brent? Or Sarah for that matter?'

Harry raised one eyebrow. He would have thought his choices were obvious. Blaise hadn't mentioned the other six or so names, so he obviously agreed for those.

'Marcello has been sabotaging Draco in the upper years, he'll have at least one shot at the lounge. He's got backing in the contacts through his dad. If he and Draco teamed up-'

'They wouldn't.' Blaise interrupted.

'They might, once it becomes clear I am beating them both out for the spot. If they teamed up it would be very inconvenient. Brent is one of Flint's main supporters. Sarah is a bitch.'

'Sarah is a-' Blaise had been nodding along, but stuttered over the end. 'What? You just don't like her?' he was clearly completely surprised.

Harry shrugged. She would never threaten his spot, sure, but Harry had seen the way she was bullying the first years and made generally useless nasty comments of anyone outside her group.

'She'll be a good decoy, I guess.' He added.

Blaise raised an eyebrow. 'You utterly confuse me, Potter. One minute I think you're ten steps ahead of the game, and the next you sprout-,' Blaise paused looking for the right word. 'Gryffindor behavior.' He settled on, with venom. Harry laughed.

To true; and Slytherin would never see it coming.

'Come on, we'll be late for Potions.'

Blaise followed him out of the alcove. 'Don't think I missed that little bit about don't worry, Peeves won't be a problem either.' He added.

'Quiet. Plans should remain unheard.' Harry chided. As long as Blaise had forgotten about him knowing about Quirrell, Harry would happily explain his behavior later.

'There you are!' Theo said, sounding extremely relieved.

'We only missed lunch.' Blaise replied confused. Harry had to agree.

'What happened?'

'I don't know.' Theo said. He sounded quite alarmed.

Harry and Blaise glanced at each other. Harry was pleased to note Blaise looked as confused as Harry felt.

'You aren't making any sense.' Blaise sighed. 'And if this is about Quidditch scores again-'

'Never mind Quidditch. Snape-'

'Never mind Quidditch?!' Blaise interrupted. 'Who are you?'

'Snape,' Theo said in a firm voice, ignoring their laughter, 'looked like he was about to kill something. I don't know what's happened, but being even slightly late would have proved lethal.'

Blaise rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to say something, but Snape chose that moment to turn up.

Harry didn't know what Theo had been making a fuss about. Snape was picking on Gryffindor, but that was only normal. He did detect a slight hesitance before Snape launched into his usual diatribe, but nothing drastic.

In fact, when Pansy finally returned to classes, arriving late with her arm in a crisp white sling, Snape followed the exact behavior Harry expected… or rather, remembered.

'Settle down, settle down,' Snape said idly as Draco made a show of making sure Pansy was alright. (Really, he had only just been to see her in the hospital wing that morning. It was ridiculous).

Harry could see the Gryffindors scowling at each other; Harry could only imagine if it had been one of them turning up late it probably would have been fatal.

Pansy set up her cauldron right next to Ron and Seamus, so that they were preparing their ingredients on the same table.

'Sir,' Pansy called once the class had settled back into the quiet of brewing the shrinking solution, 'sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm —'

'Weasley, cut up Parkinson's roots for her,' said Snape without looking up.

Ron went brick red.

'There's nothing wrong with your arm,' Ron hissed.

Harry sighed to himself. Had he really been that dense at that age? The whole class had heard that.

Pansy smirked across their table.

'Weasley, you heard Professor Snape; cut up these roots.'

Ron seized his knife, pulled Pansy's roots toward him, and began to chop them roughly, so that they were all different sizes. Harry sighed again, knowing what was coming.

'Professor,' drawled Pansy the moment Ron finished, 'Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir.'

Snape approached the table, stared down his hooked nose at the roots, then gave Ron an unpleasant smile.

'Change roots with Parkinson, Weasley.'

'But, sir —!'

Just like last time Ron had spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his own roots into exactly equal pieces.

'Now,' said Snape in his most dangerous voice.

Ron shoved his own beautifully cut roots across the table at Pansy, then took up the knife again.

Harry was distracted from hearing about Pansy needing her leeches split when Neville almost added an unskinned shrivelfig to their potion.

'Wait.' Harry reached out and caught it before it hit the water. Thank the gods for his Quidditch reflexes. That was the eighth or ninth ingredient Neville had got wrong.

Neville squeaked another 'Sorry Harry.' Before promptly stirring the potion in the wrong direction.

Harry quickly pulled the cauldron off the heat and sighed.

'None of your business,' Harry heard Ron jerkily answer across the room.

'I'm afraid Hagrid won't be a teacher much longer,' Pansy flicked her hair. 'Father's not very happy about my injury-'

'Keep talking, Parkinson, and I'll give you a real injury,' snarled Seamus.

'-he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, too you know. And a lasting injury like this-' Harry couldn't help but clear his throat loudly interrupting her. Pansy jumped in her seat a little and turned to look at him.

'Can you gossip on your own time? Some one us are trying to concentrate.' He said lightly. It was true too. Beside him Neville was shredding the Daisy roots, which if Harry hadn't had enough concentration to notice, would have resulted in an explosion that would spray at least the closest three desks with- Harry sighed as their potion turned a sickly yellow colour -no doubt poisonous liquid.

'Who knows if my arm'll ever be the same again?' Pansy said quietly, but defiantly.

'So that's why-' Ron started, but evidently he hadn't been paying much attention to his potion either, as it started to boil over and turned grey.

'Partly, Weasley. But there are other benefits too. Finnigan, slice my caterpillars for me.'

Harry was distracted again. They were in trouble. Harry remembered Neville's potion turning orange instead of the bright acid green in the original timeline, but that was due to adding too many spleens. How he had got theirs to turn purple had Harry completely stumped. He was very glad Apep wasn't publicly known as his familiar. Things didn't look promising for Trevor however. Harry wasn't even sure he knew how to fix it.

Snape bore down on them and Neville whimpered and shrunk back in his seat. Harry shut his eyes and waited for the sarcastic comment.

He waited a bit longer, but when none came he opened one eye and found Snape looking at their potion just curiously.

'Purple, Potter? Explain.'

Harry gaped at him. Beside him he could actually feel Neville shaking, so he was no use either.

'I haven't got all day.' Snape grouched. Harry snapped his jaw shut. He didn't understand however. Neville regularly went to pieces in Potions lessons, despite Harry's best efforts. The fact that one of Snape's favorite hobbies was using his sharp tongue to lash Neville to pieces didn't help.

But right now Snape sounded strained, but calm.

'Did you, or did you not hear me say, quite clearly, that the temperature had to be maintained at a constant?' Snape demanded, once it became obvious neither of them were going to answer.

'Oh. That was me.' Harry found his voice. He was still utterly confused. 'Several times actually. The potion was going to-'

BANG!

'Explode?' Snape finished. For a moment Harry thought he actually detected some amusement in Snape's face, but it was gone an instant later, and Snape rounded on Ron, who had added the shrivelfig to his already boiling over potion while he was distracted by Snape and Harry's conversation. Ron was now coughing through a thick black cloud.

'Does no one in this class have anything between their ears?' Snape yelled. 'Fifteen points from Gryffindor, Weasley. I was just explaining again, why temperature was so important. But as you obviously seem to think yourself above listening, or indeed, following instructions at all, you shall suffer the ramifications of believing the existence of any form of intelligence within your head.'

Ron opened his mouth, but Snape talked over him.

'Weasley, at the end of this lesson we will feed a few drops of this potion to your rat and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly.'

Ron looked at Scabbers horrified.

'Please, sir,' said Hermione, 'please, I could help Ron put it right -'

'I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger,' said Snape coldly, and Hermione went as red, though Harry couldn't really blame Snape. Ron probably wouldn't listen to her anyway, and she knew it.

Harry was still concentrating on being shocked that Snape had given up annihilating Neville, so didn't stop to watch. In fact, he almost missed the significance of the event trying to figure it out. Neville however seemed to have felt obliged to fall to pieces anyway, and backed away from their potion clutching Trevor to his chest protectively.

Harry could only be thankful of the possible opportunity of fixing their own mess, and opened his mouth to say so, when his eyes locked on Trevor and he paled drastically.

What would happen when a morphing potion interacted with a transfigured rat?