Chapter 6

Two weeks later Harry is back at school still frustrated because he lost his lab and is unable to make the sample for his chemistry class assignment. This means he is in trouble but feeling if he goes to his Head of Year and tells him the situation he will get out of trouble. He walks down the corridor scuffing his shoes along the floor with his shoulders slumped to his Head of Year's office and goes to knock on the door. Sighing he raises his hand and knocks three times.

"Enter" says Mr Snape in annoyance. Who could be knocking on his door so early in the day?

Still with his shoulders slumped, Harry goes into the office and stands in front of his teacher's desk. He doesn't know if he will get out of trouble but it is worth a shot.

"Sir Can I talk to you please? It's about the combined chemistry and potions assignment you set me before the holidays" Harry says wobbling his lip between his teeth.

"Yes, what can I do for you? Have a seat."

"I have done the theory part but I couldn't do the other part as my Dad has taken my lab off me until further notice according to him. He says I have been skating on thin ice and I sunk so I have lost everything I enjoy and I am on room arrest" moans Harry to his teacher.

"Ok I will give you one chance and one chance only! You may use my lab to do the second part of your assignment. Let me see the theory part now in case you need to change it"

Reaching into his bag, Harry pulls out his work and hands it over to his teacher, proud of his work; he just wished he had had his lab to be able to complete the second part. He was working on editing a potion by adding bicarbonate soda to take away the effects of lycanthropy.

Severus looks through it and smiles to himself, finally someone who wants to make a difference, most of his students were working on love potions and changing them but the student in front of him was doing something that could change lives.

"Well done, Mr Riddle if you handed this in with the sample you would get an A*. As I understand it you have a free lesson this morning, you can go and use the lab and brew the sample. I will be in there second lesson if you need help with it"

Almost leaping with joy, Harry skipped down the corridor when he jumped too high in the air his trouser split. Cursing like a sailor he ran into the lab and started brewing the needed sample, when he is half way through he added the bicarbonate soda and waited for the yellow flash before going on to the next step of the potion. When he had finished, he poured the potion into a phial and put his name on it. With a smile on his face he placed it on his teacher's desk and said goodbye to the teacher.

Later in the day Harry left school and walked home with a spring in his step as he has been getting A*s' all day and couldn't wait to tell his dad.

When he gets home he tries the door handle to see if the door is open, finding it locked he reaches into his pocket to find his keys missing. Remembering leaving them in the computer at school he grumbles under his breath, before making the walk ten minutes round the corner to his dad's office to get the house keys.

Tom is sitting in his office going through client files when the busser on his desk goes off "What is it Mandy?" he asks his receptionist.

"Your son is here for you. May I let him through?" replied Mandy.

Putting the files away he sits back in his chair to wait for his son wondering what he wants as he has never come to the office before.

"Hey Dad how was your day?" exclaims Harry as he opens the office door after knocking on the door.

"Hello son, it's alright so far. Now what is it you need? I thought you would be at home."

"I accidentally left my keys in the computer at school and can't get in the house. Can I have the front door key please?"

"You really need to be more careful son. I was just about to finish so you don't need the keys. How was school?" Tom replies as he gets up and puts his coat on grabbing his keys from his pocket so he can lock his office door before leaving with his son.

"It was good Dad, I've been getting A*s' all day. Mr Snape let me use his lab to do my sample for my assignment and said it was the most thought out one out of all the ones handed in." Harry tells his Dad excitedly.

"Well done son, let's go home. Bye Mandy I'm off for the night" says tom as they walk out the office to the car, they both get in and drive home listening to One Direction music as that is the only CD they have in the car.

Harry was singing to the music while his Dad drove with a smile on his face. When they reached their street they see a police car parked outside the house. Parking the car, Tom asks Harry what he has been up to.

"Nothing dad, why do you always think the worst of me all the time?" snaps Harry switching off the CD, getting out the car and walking to the front door.

Tom got out of the car locked it and walked over to the officer who is now standing outside the police car.

"What can I do for you officer?" Tom asked the officer.

"May we go inside please?" requested the officer.

Going inside Tom tells Harry to go to his room while he talks to the officer.

"What is going on?" Tom asked.

"I'm Officer Blake and I am sorry to inform you that your mother was found earlier this afternoon dead and we are treating it as suspicious. We have started an investigation and I will be your family liaison officer, what that means is I will let you know of any developments with the case."

"Did she….I mean did she suffer?" questions Tom tears welling in his eyes.

"No I wouldn't say she suffered, it was quick but brutal." replied the officer.

"I would like to be alone with my son please."

The officer said he understands and leaves the house to go back to the office.

"Harry can you come down stairs please?" Tom shouts up the stairs.

"What's wrong Dad and why are you crying?"

"I just had some bad news, and I'm sorry I assumed you were in trouble I was wrong. The officer just informed me my mother has been murdered so I will call your school in the morning as you won't be going in for a few weeks."

"I'm sorry for your loss Dad, Dad since I have been good and I got good grades today please may I have my lab back?" he asked with a sad look and puppy dog eyes so he can have his lab while he is off school.

"I guess you have been good. You may have your precious little lab but if you misbehave again, mark my words you will lose it as quickly as you can say 'but Dad not my lab' understand me?"

"Yes, sir" Harry says getting up to go check his lab out to see if he needs anything for it.