Remedial Potions
by Teddylonglong
All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story. I am merely borrowing the characters to play with them.
I am not a native speaker of English. Please excuse my mistakes.
Warnings: Completely AU, partly OOC.
On Monday morning, Harry was aged up to nine, and the professor promised that he would be able to receive a stronger potion the following morning, which would return him to his eleven-year-old self.
'Tomorrow I'm going to be eleven again, and maybe I can be re-sorted,' Harry thought in excitement, when he walked to his first morning class. However, the day went downhill from his first class onwards.
Draco, who was usually sitting on Harry's right side, while Hermione sat on his left, was late for their Charms class, and Ronald Weasley slipped into the empty seat next to Harry. Seeing that his classmate was unable to correctly cast the spell that they were told to practise, Harry tried to help the other boy, who then once again insulted him badly, apparently not liking the fact that a nine-year-old tried to correct him.
The next class was Defence Against the Dark Arts, and just like during the last class, Harry's head began to hurt, as soon as the professor entered the classroom. Not wanting to attract attention, Harry did not say anything and somehow endured the pain throughout the class. 'It must have something to do with Professor Quirrell,' he thought, resolving to speak with his guardian about the matter as soon as possible.
HP
When Harry returned to the dungeons after the last afternoon class, he told the professor about his headaches that occurred in the presence of Professor Quirrell. However, the Potions master did not comment on the matter and remained thoughtful, while he engrossed himself in his brewing. Sometimes, Harry and the professor talked about various matters, while they were brewing; however, at other times, they quietly worked together.
After dinner, however, when Harry made himself comfortable on the sofa in the living room to work on his homework, his guardian finally spoke up.
"Harry," he began in a soft voice. "There's something that I'd like to suggest to you. Reflecting your current situation, I've decided to ask you if you want to become my apprentice." Seeing that Harry gave him a questioning look, he explained, "Becoming my apprentice would mean that you'd specialize on Potions from your first year onwards and at the same time would be able to skip some of the other, usual classes like, for example, History of Magic etc. It would also mean that you'd automatically become my ward. Therefore, I could personally teach you in Defence Against the Dark Arts, so that you didn't have to attend Professor Quirrell's class. A further point is that as my ward you were entitled to remain at Hogwarts at any time, even during the summer. "
"Oh, that would be brilliant." Harry interrupted the professor, feeling absolutely thrilled at the prospect.
However, Snape held up his hand to stop him and continued to speak. "There are also several disadvantages though. You'd make an important decision about your field of specialisation at the early age of eleven. You wouldn't be able to choose a guardian of your liking, and you would not belong to one specific Hogwarts house, which means that you wouldn't be able to play Quidditch on a house team." He gave the boy a sharp look, before he continued, "Harry, I don't expect a reply to this suggestion tonight. I want you to think about the matter, possibly speak with some of the other adults to hear their advice and to inform me about your decision whenever you're ready to make it."
"Sir," Harry replied immediately. "Thank you so much for your offer. I don't have to think about it. I'd like to become your apprentice if that's really okay for you."
Snape smirked. "If it wasn't, I wouldn't have suggested it. Nevertheless, I'd like you to sleep over it, before you decide. Is there anyone, with whom you'd wish to speak about the matter?"
"Not really," Harry replied, thoughtfully. "Or maybe Hermione and the twins if that's possible."
"Of course," the professor reassured him and called his house-elf. "Cicero, please ask Ms. Granger and the Weasley twins to come to my office right away."
HP
When Harry woke up in the morning, his long conversation with his three friends was still at the front of his mind. 'They said it was the best that could happened to me and that they'd still be my friends. I'm sure that I want it,' he mused, as he absentmindedly gulped down the potion that aged him up to eleven years.
Handing back the empty goblet, he informed the professor, "Sir, I'd love to become your apprentice."
"Very well, I'll inform the headmaster accordingly." Harry noticed that a small smile played on the professor's lips.
HP
"Minerva, Albus," Severus greeted his colleagues, before he came straight to the point. "Albus, the other day, you told me that I'd be able to request a student assistant."
"Yes my boy," the headmaster replied, smiling, as he leaned forward in his chair eyeing him with apparent interest.
Severus nodded in understanding. "Instead of hiring a student assistant, I have decided to make Mr. Potter my apprentice."
"Did Harry agree to this?" Minerva asked crisply, giving him a sharp look.
"Of course, he agreed, mainly for three reasons. First of all because he loves Potions and is extremely adept, and secondly because he will automatically become my ward and won't have to return to his abusive relatives. The third point is," he glanced at the Sorting Hat, "that Sopho apparently told him he'd put him into Gryffindor, because the lions were nice enough to look after a three-year-old; otherwise, he'd sort him into Slytherin. It's understandable that the boy doesn't feel overly comforted in Gryffindor under this condition, even if he has three good friends in that house."
Severus noticed immediately that the headmaster did not like it. "Harry needs the blood protection that only his aunt can provide. He shouldn't give it up just to become a Potions apprentice." Albus shook his head in apparent annoyance. "Moreover, it would be better for Harry to receive a normal Hogwarts education in all subjects. It would enable him to defeat Voldemort in the future."
"I'll see to the boy's education." It was a promise not only to the headmaster and his deputy, but also to himself and the boy who was his former best friend's son.
Minerva cast the old wizard a menacing glare. "Albus, it's not Severus' fault that Harry has taken such a liking to brewing potions but yours."
Severus smirked. "Indeed. I'm truly sorry, Albus, but had you not placed him with his atrocious relatives, he'd never have stayed at Diagon Alley attending a remedial Potions course during the summer holidays." He quirked an eyebrow at a very pensive headmaster.
"And I wouldn't have had to sort a three-year-old know-it-all," the Sorting Hat spoke up, grumpily fluffing his brim, as the headmaster sighed in defeat.
HP
Harry was over the moon with joy, when returned to their quarters on time for curfew and Severus informed him of the result of his conversation with the headmaster and his deputy.
"Thank you so much for allowing me to become your apprentice." He cast his guardian a grateful look, wearing an expression of pure happiness.
Severus glanced at the time display on the ceiling. "Harry, I believe that it's time for you to go to bed. Please return to our quarters tomorrow right after breakfast. We need to speak about what it entails to be an apprentice.
Harry immediately agreed. "Professor?"
Severus quirked an eyebrow in silent question.
"I will still be able to remain friends with Hermione and the twins, won't I?" Harry eyed his guardian, uncertainly.
"Of course. Good night, Harry."
tbc...?
Thank you so much for your kind words on the first part of the story. I am wondering if I should pick up on this story and expand it through Harry's Hogwarts years. Please tell me if you are interested.