Once again I am floored by your response! Hey, do you think we can get it up to 400 reviews before this fic is over??? (Yes, another hint, and I admit I am ashamed of myself. I should just be thankful for the reviews I've already gotten! So please ignore me!)

I'm glad everybody seemed to enjoy the last chapter.

To Sparkly Spark: I realise that Harry would have seen all of Draco when he drew the picture, and that Draco is probably… fully developed in that area. But I was making the distinction in Harry's mind. I think Harry would see Draco, his sixteen-year-old year-mate, a little differently than his 36-ish year old former professor. Hope that clears things up.

-:-

Harry felt both nervous and excited as he ate an early breakfast on Saturday morning. He tired to remember which curses Snape had thought to use, but the activities Harry had witnessed after that had made the memory rather vague. Sirius kept mumbling about being up too early, but Harry knew the man was just depressed because Remus had left yesterday to go on a mission. Harry missed him as well.

Not one second after Harry had stuffed the last bit of food in his mouth the floo flared and Snape swept into the kitchen. He gave a distasteful look at the pair and then went right the training room Harry and Sirius used. Harry wished Draco was there to duel with them at the same time, that had been fun, but he doubted Snape wanted to lift his wand against Sirius. Too high risk of killing the man outright no doubt.

Harry and Sirius followed quickly, the latter still grumbling. Harry debated with himself whether or not to activate the hearing part of the Scios, but decided against it since it would probably just distract him more than give him hints. Inside the room Snape stood ready, a sour look on his face, though Harry now knew it was simply to cover up nerves. The knowledge made Snape seem more human and Harry felt more confident because of it. He stepped forwards into position while Sirius walked along the wall, his eyes narrowed at Snape in warning. As Harry looked at Snape the insane thought popped into his head that the man should try muggle clothes. It would really suit him. He would probably look sexy, well, more sexy than he was now.

"Confringo!" Snape yelled suddenly and only thanks to Harry's excellent seeker reflexes did he manage to produce a feeble shield, which dissipated when the spell hit, luckily taking the spell with it.

"You could've warned me!" Harry yelled, but Snape was already brandishing his wand again and Harry ducked and rolled to get away from the purple blast.

"Death Eaters won't ask you if you're ready, Potter!" Snape shouted back between curses. Harry dodged and protected himself with magic, while trying to get a good shot in, but Snape was so quick Harry hardly had time to find out what he was casting and protect himself before the next one was coming. Most of the curses were cast non-verbally and that had always been one of Harry's weak spots. Still, Harry thought he was holding his own fairly well, considering. Certainly no other expelled student would have been able to duel their former professor, and probably not any of the current student population either. Harry doubted there was an Auror who could match the man in skill, and Harry was feeling the evidence up close. The only problem was he wasn't going to get the upper hand any time soon, that much was certain. Harry still had a lot to learn, and defeat was inevitable.

It was a blasting curse that got him in the end. Not nearly as powerful as the one Bellatrix had hit him with, but Snape was clearly holding back. Harry was slammed back into the wall pretty hard. He slumped to the floor, his vision going dark for a moment. Sirius was at his side the next instant, and Snape was towering over them both as Harry's godfather gently helped him sit up.

"That is a standard spell in duels, Potter, you should be able to defend against them in your sleep by now," he spat. Harry gazed up at the man as Sirius leapt to his feet and looked seconds away from throttling the man. Snape sneered down at him, but Harry could see it, see it clear as day now that he knew what to look for: Snape loved him and was worried he had hurt him.

"Shut up, Snivellus, Harry did great! You worked him too hard on the first duel and you didn't even start properly, you just jumped him!" Harry might have taken time to blush at Sirius' unintentional double-entendre, but he was too busy looking into Snape's eyes. They stared back, ignoring Sirius completely. Snape's mouth, however, decided to respond.

"He needs to be prepared, Black, the Dark Lord will not stop duelling just because Potter falls on his arse. I only gave Potter this courtesy since it's our first duel. Next time I expect you to get up." Harry heard the order in there, even if Snape's tone hadn't suggested it at all. He got to his legs, a little shakily, but he wasn't sure if it was because of the curse. Snape stepped back swiftly, as if afraid to be too close to Harry, which he probably was. Sirius glared at the man, but didn't retort. They all knew what Snape said was true.

"Again," Harry said firmly. He had been in Quiddith matches that had lasted much longer than this. He would tire out Snape, not the other way around.

They duelled again, Sirius walking the sidelines as if he was in dog form. Snape steadily increased the power behind his curses, and threw in a few nasty ones as well, but Harry used his physical training too, and if a shield wouldn't work, he would simply throw himself out of the way. In the end he was moving around Snape, while the Slytherin stood flicking his wand at him. It would have been comical if it hadn't been for the intense look on Snape's face. He seemed determined to get Harry.

"Protego!" Harry shouted. He was on his feet and hoped his shield would hold against whatever Snape had thrown. To his surprise and disbelief a ball, slightly larger than a snitch, shot out of Snape's wand and barrelled towards him. It passed his shield as if it was nonexistent and just before it hit Harry right in the face it exploded. Harry started coughing and squeezed his eyes shut against the cloud of burning red dust that surrounded his head. He barely registered his wand slipping from his fingers. A moment later and the red cloud was gone. Snape stood holding Harry's wand and Sirius scowled as he came towards Harry.

"You okay?" he asked, his face softening as he looked Harry over for injuries. Sirius didn't see how Snape's face twisted in what Harry abruptly recognised was jealousy. He resented Sirius for being allowed to show his concern for Harry.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What kind of a spell was that?" he asked Snape. The man strode over to them and handed Harry back his wand, saying in a voice that told Harry the man was trying not to sneer.

"You still need a lot of work on offensive techniques. I can't imagine how your other subjects are doing-"

"I've been keeping up to date on everything except History of Magic, Divination and Care of Magical Creatures," Harry informed him, feeling slightly guilty for the last one. Snape lost the battle with his sneer.

"Not exactly important subjects. It hardly matters. I am going to have to work with you during Easter break, and then on Saturdays till the end of term. I doubt you'll have improved much by then so we'll discuss our schedule for the summer at a later date. I'll be testing you in your other subjects, including Potions," Snape's voice was low and threatening and Harry made a mental note to read his sixth-year Potions book again. "I don't have more time now, though. I'll be back on Monday and we'll begin then." Without a goodbye or even a glance at Sirius the man stalked from the room. Sirius made a really awful comment under his breath, so bad in fact that Harry couldn't bear to acknowledge it. Only one thought was on Harry's mind: 'Snape wants to spend time with me so he's going to help me…' Harry felt both grateful and warmed, not to mention eager for the man's knowledge of the Dark Arts and other subjects. He wasn't looking forward to Potions class again, but he figured he'd survive.

"Harry?" Sirius' voice made the younger wizard's head snap up. "You sure you didn't hit your head?"

"I'm fine. I think I need a shower, though." Sirius nodded in understanding and Harry went upstairs, figuring he needed a long shower above all else.

xxx

On Monday Snape came back and grilled Harry in everything a sixth-years were supposed to know. The man was relentless in his questioning, but Harry answered everything correctly and for half a second he thought he saw a glimmer of approval in Snape's eyes. When it was time for Potions Sirius gave up standing around and left. The kitchen was quickly transformed into a replica of the Potions classroom. The large table was filled to the brim with ingredients Snape had brought in a special magical suitcase. A large cauldron stood in the middle with a blue flame underneath. Harry stepped up to it with some trepidation when Snape gestured for him to do so. His face was actually slightly amused, which Harry thought really out of place for the situation.

"Relax, Mr. Potter. There will be no house points taken this time," Snape drawled as he stood beside Harry. Without warning, a wave of bitterness washed over him.

"That's because I'm not in a house," Harry mumbled, focusing on the cauldron.

"I understand you have had a few lessons with Lupin?" Snape asked, completely ignoring Harry's comment.

"Yeah, but I've read the book at least four times."

"Theory will only get you so far, Mr. Potter," Snape said calmly. He sounded almost like a normal professor, Harry thought bemusedly. "I have always found that the art of brewing potions lies in the hands." Harry watched as Snape's long fingers stretched out in front of him and took hold of a long sharp knife, much larger than the ones they used in class.

"In the hands?" Harry asked, his eyes locked on the other hand as Snape reached for an ingredient. Snape answered while he began to cut slowly.

"Indeed, the hands remember what the mind does not. How to prepare ingredients, how to stir and how to add the right amount becomes second nature. That it the mark of a Potions Master." Harry watched as Snape made perfect slices of whatever ingredient he was preparing, Harry didn't even know, or rather, wasn't paying attention to that. Potions Master, Harry had never really considered what that title meant. Was McGonagall a Transfigurations Master? Harry had never heard the term, and he knew Remus wasn't a Defence Against the Dark Arts Master. Snape was something special then, Harry concluded. The man was valuable to Voldemort for his skills. Potions, then, were an art separate from other forms of magic. Harry felt a new respect for Snape stir in the pit of his stomach. This man really was brilliant at everything he did. Harry felt humbled just standing beside him.

"Of course," Snape continued as he took his wand and added water to the cauldron, making it about half-full. He took another ingredient and started preparing it, hacking it until it was almost a fine powder. "I do not expect my students to reach anywhere close to that level. I merely demand they manage to find the focus that is required." The cauldron boiled suddenly, making Harry wonder what kind of flame that was. Snape effortlessly turned the heat down and added amounts of each ingredient he had prepared, stirring this way and that. Harry lost count. The potion turned blue, then purple, before landing on indigo. Reaching across the table Snape grabbed a ceramic bowl, which contained pepper-like seeds. He ground them a little and then added two pinches of it. The potion hissed and blew coloured smoke. Snape flicked it away with his wand even as he stirred.

"You may not think that Potions is a very useful subject in times of war," Snape commented as he took an ugly slimy worm from a bowl full of them. They were still wriggling and being contained in the bowl by magic no doubt. Harry felt familiar revulsion well up in him, but still managed to protest to Snape's assumption.

"I know Potions are useful, especially now, for healing and… stuff." Snape sliced the tubeworm open, making it ooze a thick green substance. They had used the stuff in class occasionally, but usually they put them in whole or they squished them with a pestle, thereby avoiding touching them. Snape didn't seem disturbed by the disgusting creature, though, he just continued to work even as he answered Harry.

"I'm glad to hear it, but I was referring to a combat situation. I imagine a Gryffindor has a hard time picturing someone taking the time to ingest a potion in the middle of battle." Harry shrugged, then realised Snape wouldn't have seen it. Another worm spilled its goo over Snape's fingers. Harry realised the man was digging into the worm to find something inside it. The fingers extracted the needed ingredient without hesitation, just as if Snape was picking out a sweet from a bowl full of them.

"Yeah, I guess I can't really see myself thinking of something like Potions in a fight." Harry cringed when the next tubeworm practically spurted its insides all over Snape's hands, but the man didn't flinch, just continued on. While he was doing this, Harry realised, he was also occasionally putting more of the pepper-like seeds in and stirring a few times before going back to the worms. How did the man know when to do everything? Again, Harry was amazed by the skill Snape possessed.

"What would you say then, if I told you the last spell I got you with yesterday wasn't a spell, but a potion?" Harry's eyebrows rose incredulously as Snape finally added the worm ingredient. He spelled away the rest of them and then focused on stirring for a while. He was clearing counting, so Harry wasn't sure if he should answer, but Snape had implied he should, so Harry did.

"You mean the ball that got through my shield?" Harry asked.

"Exactly. The reason it got through, by the way, was that it was dipped in another potion. Inside was dried dust from a potion that created the cloud. Both of my own invention." Harry was speechless. He couldn't imagine inventing anything magical, and was overwhelmed that Snape had done so and mentioned it so casually, like it wasn't anything special at all. Harry's attention was suddenly back on Snape's hands as the man took another ingredient. He was actually disappointed when it was flobberworms this time, used to thicken potions, he remembered. Snape held one by one over the cauldron and squeezed the mucus into the potions. He only used three, and the next ingredient was a bottle labelled Erumpent fluid so again Harry was disappointed, though he couldn't understand why. Snape added almost half the bottle, and Harry wondered how the man knew when to stop pouring. He stirred at the same time, occasionally switching directions, still counting even while he continued to speak.

"Potions can be effective in combat because your opponent won't expect you to use them. Of course, they can be difficult and an encumbrance to use, since you must bring them with you, but in my view that is a small burden to bear compared to the advantages." Harry watched in disbelief as Snape stopped speaking, stopped counting stirs, stopped pouring the Erumpent fluid and flicked his wand at the flame. It went out and Snape picked up a ladle along with a round green bottle. The potion was now a deep black and Snape poured carefully, making the glass bottle black as well. He stopped it with a cork and then flicked away the rest of the potion in the cauldron. All that hard work, gone in a flash. Harry slowly raised his eyes from the cauldron and met the black eyes of Snape, matching the bottle in his hand perfectly.

"Wow," Harry breathed, utterly impressed. In fact he didn't think he had ever been impressed by any other wizard on the same level before. Snape was, in a word, brilliant. Snape quirked an eyebrow at him, clearly bemused. Harry felt a slight blush in his cheeks, but willed it away easily. "I've never seen anything like what you just did before," he said sincerely. Snape's face actually pinked a little at the praise and Harry felt an almost evil inclination to go on. "I never realised what being a Potion Master meant before, but you clearly are one. I feel bad for every stupid thing I said about Potions now. You're… brilliant, actually." Harry suppressed a grin as Snape's face flushed. The man coughed and looked away.

"Enough of that, Potter," he said gruffly. "This," he said as he held out the round bottle. "Is Exploding Fluid. It you find yourself without your wand, throw this and you will incapacitate your opponent. I'm going to teach you how to brew it, along with other potions with similar uses." Harry took the bottle and studied it, turning it over in his hands. He looked up.

"Will you teach me the ball you used, with the red smoke? And teach me how to throw it through a shield?" Snape inclined his head.

"I will, but those potions are difficult. We will start with this one and work our way towards my own inventions. Do not be surprised if you never manage to brew those successfully." Snape didn't sound scratching when he said that, just matter-of-fact.

"Are all your potions extremely difficult?" Harry asked curiously.

"I do not bother to try and make them easy," Snape shrugged. "Many Potion Masters try to so they can go into common use and make them lots of money. I do not see the point in spending more time researching a potion than necessary." Harry smiled, thinking that that just typical Snape for you. Why would he bother making it easier for everybody else, after all? And he certainly didn't care about money. With a start Harry realised they had spent over an hour together in what was basically a Potions Lab without arguing once. Snape seemed to realise this at the same time and a sudden awkward silence fell over them as they both just stared at each other. Being an artist of sorts, though Harry never thought of himself as such, he couldn't help use the moment to study the man's face. He wanted to brush the man's hair back so he could see better, but just then the door banged open and Sirius rushed in.

"There's going to be an attack. Dumbledore just informed me. I'm going to start firecalling people." He strode through the room and got down on his knees in front of the fireplace. Harry felt his muscles tense immediately, his mind preparing for battle. He absentmindedly put the bottle into his pocket. Snape was already magically packing away all the ingredients. They went easily into the suitcase, even the cauldron. Once the table was clear Snape turned to Harry.

"Put this in the training room. Do not try and make any potions without either myself or Lupin present." Harry took the suitcase a little dazedly, realising Snape had just given him a portable Potions Lab. Snape jerked his head at the door and Harry left the room to do as he was told. Once he had put it away in a corner of the training room he went back into the kitchen. It was already filled with people. They were talking heatedly, but a flare from the fireplace quieted them. Dumbledore's voice spoke, though Harry couldn't see him through the throng of people.

"Please come through. It is a temporary connection that will only last about ten minutes. Be quick." A moment later and people started flooing away in pairs. Harry stepped into the room. Soon only Sirius and Snape were left. The former turned to Harry.

"Stay here and whatever you do, don't leave the house," Sirius told him sternly.

"I'm coming with you," Harry insisted immediately.

"Harry, no."

"I can't just sit here and do nothing! This is my war too, Sirius!" His godfather put his hands on Harry's shoulders and looked imploringly into Harry's eyes.

"You're staying here, Harry. You're just sixteen-"

"I'm not a child! I want to fight!" Harry yelled.

"I won't let you out there before I have to!" Sirius yelled right back. He only made Harry angrier.

"You can't stop me from doing what is right!"

"Black, allow me," Snape said suddenly. He stepped forward and grabbed Harry's left shoulder, ripping the boy out of Sirius' grasp and turning Harry towards himself instead. His black eyes seemed to rip through Harry's soul.

"If you die in this battle, everything is lost. Everything. Your friends and family will die. When the time comes, you will kill Him, but not a moment before you are ready and powerful enough to destroy him. That day will come soon, I have no doubt, but until then, stay here. Is that clear?" Harry could only nod mutely, feeling raw inside. Snape let go abruptly and grabbed some powder. The flare of green made Harry jump. Sirius cast one last look, half-worry, half-confusion, before following. In the silence that reigned Harry realised Snape had known exactly what to say to make Harry stay, and not only that, but Harry didn't feel bad for staying behind either. One day he would kill Voldemort, Snape knew that, and Harry felt for the first time that he knew it too.

-:-

I think I like this chapter. No slash, but we're getting closer with every chapter, sentence and word, I swear! I think Harry is really beginning to see Snape from a new perspective.

The reasons for Snape's odd lesson in Potions will be explained in the next chapter!!!!!!