Harry Potter: The Witch Boy of Hogwarts
Disclaimer/Plot/Author's Note: SEE FIRST CHAPTER
Recommended Reads: Do Not Meddle In The Affairs Of Wizards by Corwalch, Dark Lord Potter by JustBored21, Worthy of Magic by Sage Ra, Path to Power by sirius009, The Downward Spiral Saga by BolshevikMuppet99, Kill me if you can by PercyPendragon3, Harry Potter: Lord of Darkness by AngelSlayer135, The Rise of a Dark Lord by LittleMissXanda, Hogwarts black prince by chernabog 90, Enveloped in the Darkness and Embraced by the Darkness by Brigade and Harry Potter and the Prince of Slytherin by The Sinister Man
Key Pairing: Harry/Ginny; Draco/Hermione
Other Pairings: To be determined
Normal Speech
'Thoughts'
'Mental Speech'
/Parseltongue/
Review Answers:
Winged Seer Wolf: Something tells me this chapter will take that idea and shred it for you, my friend;
Serena530: Well, just keep reading to find out;
Nagiten: Well-spotted and yes, I admit, I was inspired by that;
Witch Boy
ALSO: This chapter features something of an early retcon concerning one character in this story: why, I hear you ask?
Well, just like my idea to experiment with the Dramione pairing, I am also going back to how I like to write stories and bring some fun out with certain ideas, but, more than that, in keeping with my earlier self-guarantee to finish this story, no matter what, I'm writing it the way I want to, which includes remembering my personal favourites for Fanfiction.
And, as always, if you don't like it, don't read it…don't read on…stop reading NOW!
There, you were warned…
Witch Boy
Still, maybe, just like this was Harry's chance to get to know his potential ally, Draco was doing the same for Granger.
Or maybe he had a crush on her.
If Harry was a normal boy, he might have laughed and made a cruel joke about that.
Instead, the only thing he did was help himself to another glass of milk.
Chapter 5: Break Your Chains
After breakfast, Harry left the Great Hall, taking a brief moment to enjoy the peace and quiet that came with returning to the dark, grim surroundings of the dungeons. At the same time, the emerald-eyed scion took a separate moment to prepare himself, more-mentally than anything else, for the trial of having to deal with his Head of House.
Of course, he did not promise he wouldn't deal with his Head of House if the greasy-haired stalker forced his hand, which Harry was almost-certain he would do.
As he walked towards the Potions Classroom, Harry was a little surprised to find he wasn't the only one there; a couple of Gryffindors, as well as Draco and Hermione, Crabbe and Goyle and, to the Slytherin Saviour's delight, his quarry for the lesson.
Giving a curt nod to Draco, Harry walked past his first friend before he approached said quarry, ignoring the suspicious, if not hateful looks sent to him by many of the other Gryffindors, as he asked, "Mr Longbottom?"
Not to Harry's surprise, Longbottom jumped almost a foot off the floor, as though he literally thought he'd been the only one in the room, while Harry, steeling his resolve, quickly continued, "No need to be afraid, Longbottom: I just heard a rumour that Potions isn't your strong suit and I thought I might offer you a friendly hand."
"M-M-M-Me?" asked Neville, earning a slow nod from Harry, before Neville gulped hard as he asked, "W-W-W-W-Why?"
"Why not?" asked Harry, earning a flicker of a smile from Draco – though Harry didn't see it – as the emerald-eyed scion then extended his hand to Neville as he explained, "Just because you're a Lion and I'm a Snake…"
"A damn slimy snake traitor!"
"Ah, Weasley; I wondered where you were lurking," drawled Harry, turning to face the disgustingly-messy robes of Ronald Weasley, as well as a mouth that looked like the guy had never even heard of a napkin, judging by the egg, ketchup and even breadcrumb stains adorning his face. "Do you know something? I almost feel sorry for your family, having to deal with such a slob for a brother and son. Of course, when I say family, I'm mostly talking about dear Ginevra; how is she?"
"Stay away from my sister, Death Eater!"
"Wow," said Harry, feigning surprise as he wafted a hand in front of his face before he added, "Two words, Weasley: breath and mint. Also, I'm surprised you want me to stay away from Ginevra. Last time I checked, doesn't your lovely Mother, Molly Weasley, want the famous Harry Potter for her future son-in-law? And who is the famous Harry Potter? Oh, that's right: me!"
"You're a coward, and a traitor, and your parents would be…"
Suddenly, even Neville was surprised when Ron's lips flapped about like a flag in a hurricane…but no sound came out!
While Draco, Hermione and the other Slytherins looked grateful to Harry for doing what he'd done, Harry hummed softly as he muttered, "Never bring up my parents, Weasley. Servants should never speak ill of their betters unless they want to find their heads mounted on pikes on the walls of the castle. Now, why don't you go and find yourself a bathroom and a tissue? You look like something the cat dragged in…after crapping it out first."
Once again, the Gryffindors were left surprised, if not a little intimidated, to see Ron turn on his heel before he ran away, just as the door to the Potions Classroom opened.
As Neville went to enter, however, he gasped and even let out an eep of alarm when he felt someone grab his arm and spin him around, bringing him eye-to-eye with Harry, who leered at Neville as he told him, "Now, as I was saying, Longbottom: I'm going to work with you in Potions, if only because I refuse to allow such talent like that inside of you to go to waste. So, get inside, take a seat at the front next to Draco and, for the love of Magic, Longbottom: stop being such a pathetic insect. You might as well be a damn Muggle with that attitude."
As much as he wanted to fight back, maybe even call out for help, Neville was surprised to find himself straightening up before he walked into the classroom, Harry bringing up the rear as they both took seats at the front of the class next to Draco and Hermione, the latter of whom seemed both interested and a little stunned at how Draco was willing to let her sit so close to him and Harry.
Judging by the proud look that flitted across Harry's face, however, he seemed content to let things go.
Witch Boy
Unbeknownst to any of the students, as the stragglers ran to get into the class before their teacher arrived, Professor Severus Tobias Snape was already there, concealed by a Disillusionment Charm that was mostly for dramatic effect.
However, at the same time, he wanted to get an up-close-and-personal view of Harry James Potter, and, as he watched the boy strut about, letting his power go to his head and claim superiority over others – exactly as Snape had always said he would do – the Potions Master was also surprised, if not a little alarmed to see Harry cast some sort of spell over that insufferably-pathetic little worm, Longbottom, whom Snape had already decided would be a second vent for his frustrations at Potter being a Slytherin.
With Weasley being the first, he didn't hesitate to add.
And, with Weasley having run off while Potter somehow cast a Silencing Charm on him – which, of course, Severus knew was impossible: as if a Potter could do that; he was so arrogant and pathetic, he probably had someone sneak-attack Weasley, just like his Father had always had Black and Lupin to sneak up on me – that left Longbottom to take the full fury of Snape's ire.
However, when Harry used whatever he had used to compel Longbottom to work with him, Severus found himself both alarmed and amazed, if only because of the power and certainty in Potter's voice.
He was so strong…so dominant…and so commanding!
He was…no…he was a Potter!
And Potters were evil, with Harry Potter being just as bad as his dickhead Father.
Well, Snape would show Potter what happened when you thought you made the rules in his class.
The Son would pay for the sins of his arrogant dickhead Father!
Witch Boy
As soon as Harry heard the bang of the door opening, his eyes narrowed when he sensed something was wrong with the picture.
And not just the fact that he'd had to resort to planting the idea to work with him into Longbottom's fragile, overly-pathetic excuse for a mind to begin with; no, there was something else wrong here and, as Harry pricked up his ears with the rest of his classmates, his eyes widened when he heard a voice speak to the class.
However, what made it so surprising was that it was this voice, which was the source of what was wrong.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class; as such, I don't expect you to understand the fine art and noble science that is Potions-making. However, for those select few…who possess…the predisposition…I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can show you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper…in death…"
Professor Severus Snape, a man whom Harry had been a little suspicious of, if not annoyed at the level of interest he seemed to take in the young boy in the first place, was now standing before the students, having just finished delivering a pretty chilling speech, which left the hairs on the backs of many necks standing on end.
At the same time, however, when Harry saw the pitch-black-like eyes of the Hogwarts Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House meet his gaze, the emerald-eyed Slytherin also felt something akin to a finger brush against his mind, accompanied by a jolt of surprise that sent the strange brushing sensation recoiling into the darkness from whence it came.
However, the finger's touch was just enough for Harry to realise something he hadn't really considered throughout his first week.
Something was terribly wrong with Severus Snape.
But not the something Harry had first imagined was wrong with him, because of the guy's obsession with him and his problems with Harry, whatever they may be.
No, something was really wrong with him, deep down inside, right down at the core of his magic and the heart of his very being.
And, whatever it was, Harry knew that the act of cleansing and curing this something would not only allow him to see and know the real Severus Snape, but it would also help Harry himself.
How?
He didn't really know.
But, if he was going to go ahead and do the deed, he had to find a way to be able to use all his power on the Potions Master and see about ending the threat of this something, once and for all.
Witch Boy
"Careful!"
After Snape had targeted Harry and asked him a pop quiz of Potions knowledge – only to have Slytherin earn 3 points when Harry answered all three questions correctly, much to Severus' ire – the first-years had been put to work to create a cure for boils.
However, towards the end of their own creation, Harry quickly snatched his hand out, grabbing Neville's wrist, earning an alarmed, if not stunned look from the other boy, as Harry explained, "We have to take the cauldron off the fire before we add the porcupine quills to the mixture. Otherwise the whole thing could…"
BOOM!
"Do…exactly…that!" said Harry, gasping through a coughing fit that seemed to have infected the whole class, thanks to another cauldron exploding.
Thankfully, it wasn't the cauldron that Harry and Neville were working at, much to the shy, but still-alarmed-looking boy's relief.
As Harry released Neville's hand, using his other hand to remove the cauldron, the emerald-eyed scion saw Snape brush past their desk, his face a brand-new shade of furious-red as he snarled, "WEASLEY! Were brains not passed down through all your dunderhead relations? Even Potter was able to realise and warn Longbottom about taking the cauldron off the fire before adding the quills. What were you thinking?"
"Here's a hint: he wasn't," muttered Harry, earning a low titter from Draco and Hermione, while, to Harry's delight, Neville's lips twitched in apparent amusement as Snape continued tearing into Ronald Weasley.
"20 points from Gryffindor and detention for a week with Mr Filch, starting tonight: let's see if some sense can be spared in your genes as you help our caretaker with his tasks. Now, get out of my sight…except you, Potter."
"Yes sir," said Harry, quickly finishing up the potion before he smiled thankfully at Neville, who seemed to be somewhere between tearfully-relieved and amazed, even as Harry bottled their potion and, while the rest of the class – including a nervous-looking Draco, the sight of whom made Harry feel curious about his friend's reaction – filed out of the dungeons, Harry subtly waved his hand, clearing the air – literally – before he also made sure to dispose of his unused and scrapped ingredients.
By the time he was done, Snape had closed the door to the class before, turning to his student, the Potions Master asked, "So, what do you have to say for yourself, Potter?"
"Well, sir, what is there to say? I suppose I'm just like my Father," drawled Harry, earning a shocked look from Snape, while Harry kept his own face apathetic as he explained, "I also did my work by cheating because I'm a Potter and I can't be arsed doing my work by myself. In my arrogant, spoilt and pampered prince's mind, I think…no, I know that everyone should just let me do whatever I want to do. Oh, and I almost forgot: I only knew to take the cauldron off the fire because I'm a Potter and I made Draco whisper it to me, like I'd put him under the Imperius Curse."
On the outside, Severus Snape looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
On the inside, however, he was crowing with laughter, doing a jig and cheering for all the world to hear that he was right and, even better, Potter's spawn had…had…had…
Wait!
'No,' thought Severus, a part of him then aware of the sight of those emerald-green eyes and how they lit up like fireworks as the boy stared deeply into the Potions Master's pitch-black gaze. 'Why am I thinking like this? How long have I been feeling like this? He is…he's nothing like that arrogant prick; for Merlin's sake, Severus, you know…'
"Professor?"
Suddenly, Severus gave a start as he heard a note of genuine curiosity address him; at the same time, he looked again to Harry, who looked somewhere between alarmed and confused as he asked, "I'm sorry, Professor; you said you wanted to talk to me, but…but what did I do? Is it because I worked with Longbottom? I'm sorry if that offends you, sir; I was just helping out a less-talented Potions student, who could have caused serious injury one day to my housemates."
"Err…no," said Severus, a part of him surprised, as well as secretly-insulted.
Had he really just said err in front of a student?
"Actually," continued Severus, his eyes now locked onto Harry's as he explained, "I just…I want you to keep up your work with Longbottom: I have heard of his lack of confidence in Potions. Something I strongly suspect I have something to do with, but, at the same time, I want you to know that, despite what you might think of me over the past week, I am here for you, should you need aid, counsel or someone to confide in."
"Thank you, sir," said Harry.
"Also," continued Severus, his lips twitching in amusement as he added, "You can drop the act, Mr Potter; as I am sure your fellow Slytherins have done already, I can sense the potential for greatness and, more-importantly, the dark seed of power inside of you. A seed I want you to know I fully encourage you to nurture and nourish."
"All right."
"Furthermore, I don't know what you did, exactly, but I want to thank you for helping me clear my head and look upon you as who you really are; a fact and truth I wish I could share with you, but, regrettably, I am forbidden to do so. Therefore, I will only say that you are on the right path and, while I not only encourage, but approve your influence over your peers, I also want you to exercise caution."
"Around the Headmaster, you mean?" asked Harry, earning a brief flicker of surprise from Severus, before he nodded, earning a smirk from Harry as he explained, "Not to worry, Professor; I know how to be careful. And, for what it's worth, whatever this little truth is you have to tell me, I'm glad you can't. If there is a mystery to be solved about me, I'd sooner solve it myself."
"I understand," agreed Severus, before his lips twitched amusingly again as he added, "And, on that note, I thought you should also know that I award you 10 points to Slytherin for preventing certain destruction. And, because of the risks to us both, I also want you to know that, from this point on, should I ever give you a detention or insist on a Remedial Lesson, it is not a punishment."
"What is it?"
"A safe haven," replied Severus, pointing at Harry as he explained, "A place where your powers can only grow stronger, but, don't worry, Harry; I will do all in my power to keep suspicions to a minimum."
"Thank you," said Harry, turning his back on Severus before he walked out of the classroom, leaving Severus alone in the Potions lab.
Once the boy was gone, however, Severus' eyes darkened ominously as he hissed to no-one in particular.
"Now, you will lose…I may not be able to tell him the truth, but, trust me, you senile old fool, before this year is out, he will know all about it…"
Darkness and silence were his only answers as he moved to prepare for his next lesson.
Chapter 5 and Harry certainly seems to be gaining more allies where he's supposed to find enemies, but what could Severus know that he's been forbidden to share with the powerhouse of Slytherin?
Also, what, exactly, did Harry do to the Potions Master to make him become someone so…so…well, someone whom is so not the greasy git we know and loathe?
Keep Reading to Find Out
Next Chapter: Harry's little pet project confronts him about the strange partnership of theirs, which brings out another side to the Slytherin Saviour that shows others a little secret of his: his desire for allies and assets doesn't end at the head or tail of the snake…
Please Read and Review
AN: Severus
So, I've got a strong feeling that some people might be able to figure out where this one's going while others probably won't like how I handled Severus' change of heart and the switch from Potter-hater to Harry-ally.
Well, be fair: I did warn you that if you didn't like it, you shouldn't read it.
Anyway, aside from having fun writing and going to complete this one, I'm also working with an idea that I've had some fans request and suggest over my long time as an FFN member. So, now I'm finally working with it and, at the same time, writing a theme I enjoy.
So, let's go on with the show…