Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related is the property of J.K. Rowling and anyone else who has claim to a piece of Harry's fame
Disclaimer 2: I own the plot and Saerry Snape. Nothing more, nothing less.
Chapter 17
**Battles**
Harry walked alone that morning to Defense Against the Dark Arts, lost in his own thoughts. As he walked into the class he completely missed Professor Lupin's smile as he dropped into a desk.
Remus looked worriedly at him and wondered where Ron and Hermione were. Normally the three friends were not apart.
"Harry?"
Harry looked up to see Remus standing next to him.
"Yes Professor?"
"Is something wrong?"
Harry blinked and thought, Could he know? No, how could he? Snape probably doesn't even know. He shook his head and replied, "No Professor."
Remus frowned and said softly, "I'm always here if you want to talk about something Harry."
Harry nodded without looking up at Remus' face. The werewolf heaved an inward sigh and walked back to his desk just as Ron and Hermione came in. They said hello to Lupin then looked at Harry for a moment before coming to sit down beside him. Ron smiled and said, "Look, er, I'm sorry about grabbing that book earlier. I had no idea . ."
Harry quickly stopped him by saying, "It was my fault. I shouldn't have blown up about it. It's just that . . . well, it was my mom's diary and I kinda want to keep it to myself."
Ron and Hermione gaped for a moment then nodded.
Hermione smiled and said, "We understand Harry."
Ron nodded. "Yea. Totally. I wouldn't want anyone looking through my mom's diary either."
Harry smiled at them, feeling a bit better. "Thanks guys."
As the rest of the class came into the room and Remus began to call the role Hermione leaned over and whispered, "Oh, and I finally got the Abscondo Charms right. We can get the charms off you guys tonight."
The two boys nodded then all three of them listened intently to the lesson.
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"I hope Snape's still sick," said Ron as they walked down to the dungeons.
Unfortunately the sign was gone from the door, which was unlocked. When they went in they saw Snape sitting behind his desk, looking a bit worse for wear. But he still sneered at them as they went to their seats.
Harry sat down nervously, staring at Snape . . no, his father . . wondering if the man could still hate them so much after five years. Undoubtly he could.
As the rest of the class came in (Malfoy sending a smirk in Harry's direction) Snape stood up and growled, "As I was ill for the first class, you all will do that days work and today's. And you will finish it or you will fail." Sending a glare all about the room, even at the Slytherins, he turned and wrote two lists of ingredients on the board.
"Do the one on the left first, then the one on the right." Snape looked around and snarled, "Why are you still sitting down? MOVE!!"
As the Potions Master sat back down Ron hissed something under his breath that made Hermione say "Ron!" rather loudly.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, Weasley and Granger."
Hermione and Ron scowled while Harry shook his head and began to make the first potion. It turned out to be the right color, a brilliant shade of green, and he set about on the second potion. He actually found it quite easy for once and he wondered if it was because of Snape being his father.
As he finished stirring the second potion, which was a dark purple, Snape stood and began to walk around the room, looking at each potion and saying what was wrong with it.
"Longbottom, can't you get anything right? I suppose you added the snake scales before the beetles didn't you?" When Neville didn't reply Snape hissed, "Five points from Gryffindor."
When he finally came to their table he criticized Hermione and Ron's potions so badly Hermione looked down at the floor and Ron's ears turned red.
But Snape found nothing bad to say about Harry's potion.
Or so Harry thought.
Snape eyed the two potions then snarled, "I suppose you got Granger to help you didn't you Potter?"
Harry nearly snarled "No" in return but he forced his jaws closed.
"Well Potter? Nothing to say?" He hissed, "Bad as your father was."
Harry had to keep himself from jumping up and yelling, "He's not my father!"
Snape finally snarled, "Ten points from Gryffindor. And make sure Granger doesn't help you next time Potter." As he walked over to the Slytherin side of the room, Harry could no longer hold his temper, which for some reason had gotten sharper over the summer, and he snarled, "Hermione didn't help me."
Snape turned around slowly, his black eyes glinting maliciously.
"What was that Potter?"
Hermione and Ron threw Harry looks that clearly said 'Be careful' but he ignored them. Standing up he growled, "Hermione didn't help me. I got the potions all by myself. And there's not a thing wrong with her potions or Ron's either." He added, "Some of the others potions are probably right too but you're too prejudiced against Gryffindors to acknowledge when they've down something right!" His last words formed into a shout and he found himself panting as he glared coldly at Snape.
Snape's eyes narrowed and Harry saw a vein twitch in his forehead.
"Fifty points from Gryffindor for speaking out. Now sit down Potter."
He turned around but stopped as Harry snapped, "No."
Snape turned around, his eyes flashing coldly. "What was that Potter?"
Harry crossed his arms defiantly and fixed Snape with the coldest glare he could manage.
"I said I won't."
"Fifty more points from Gryffindor. Now SIT DOWN!!"
Several of the other Gryffindor were motioning Harry to sit down but something pushed him to continue arguing.
"No."
Snape growled, "I've had enough of you Potter." He stretched an arm towards the door and yelled, "GET OUT! AND REPORT BACK HERE TONIGHT FOR DETENTION!"
Harry nodded calmly and packed up his things. As he walked out of the room he noticed several other Gryffindors glaring at him. He had just lost a hundred points but for some reason he didn't care. As he walked past Snape he gave him a last cold glare then set off out of the dungeons.
Snape slammed the door closed after him then roared at the Gryffindors, "GET BACK TO WORK!" Turning he swept through the Slytherins, complimenting their potions and giving them points, causing the Gryffindors to glare at him.
When class ended, no few of the Gryffindors wished they had walked out with Harry.
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Severus watched as the fifth year Gryffindor and Slytherin class left the room. As soon as the last one exited and the door closed he sank down into his chair. He noticed that his right hand was shaking uncontrollably.
It was doing that because of Potter.
The boy had spoken out for the first time in his class and had continued to do so even after losing fifty points and the rest of his house had been glaring at him. He had also been glaring coldly at Severus with a look the Potions Master well recognized.
That had been him glaring out of Potter's face.
But it couldn't have been . . .
Unless . .
Severus' eyes widened and he leapt out of his chair. He tore out of the dungeons, sprinting past surprised students who stared at him. For once he ignored them. All he was worried about was getting to Dumbledore's office as fast as he could.
As soon as he reached the gargoyle he hissed, "Blood lollipops." The gargoyle shifted to the right and he ran up the moving staircase, going through the door at the top without even knocking.
Dumbledore looked up from where he stood by the window and asked, "Is something wrong Severus?"
Severus shut the door behind him and looked at the headmaster. As he asked his question he found his eyes averting to the floor. He couldn't look the old wizard in the eyes as he asked it.
"Is there any evidence that could suggest that Potter is not Lily and James' son?"
Dumbledore blinked. "Why do you ask Severus?"
"Because I swore I just saw myself glaring at me."
"What?"
Severus sighed and said, "Potter stood up to me in class. I swore I saw me glaring at me."
Dumbledore blinked again and shook his head.
"No Severus, there is nothing that says Harry is not James' son."
Severus breathed a sigh of relief. Until Dumbledore spoke his next words.
"Unless you could prove otherwise . ."
Severus' heart stopped and he stared at Dumbledore. Surely he wasn't suggesting . . .
"Are you suggesting Potter could be my son? That's impossible!"
Dumbledore looked at him curiously and Severus sighed, wishing he had never come up here.
"I have to get back to class."
"Severus . ."
Dumbledore's words were lost as the dark Potions master rose and left the room, slamming the door behind him. The old wizard shook his head and looked at Fawkes, who trilled a soft note and preened his scarlet-and-gold feathers.
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Harry walked all the way up to Gryffindor Tower, his blood still boiling from his encounter with his father. The Fat Lady started to give him a cheerful 'hello' but decided against it when she saw his face. Harry snarled, "Leo Pectus," and the portrait swung open. He stepped through it and walked over to the fire, throwing his bag down and sitting down in a chair.
Glaring at the flames, he didn't hear the portrait-hole open and two people come in.
"Harry?"
Harry turned to see Ron and Hermione standing there, watching him. He spat, "What?"
Ron winced as Hermione softly said, "We wanted to see how you were."
"I'm fine. Now please, leave me alone."
Ron and Hermione looked at each other then left the common room, obviously going down to lunch. Harry sighed and leaned back into the chair. He wondered what in the hell had possessed him to get in a fight with Sna – his father.
Sighing again he closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep.
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Ron and Hermione were worried when Harry didn't appear at lunch and were even more worried when he didn't show up for Transfiguration or Charms. When they returned to the common room, they saw his bag sitting by the fire but no Harry.
Ron sighed and let his bag fall to the floor with a thump. "I guess he's gone to take his detention with that slimy git."
"Ron!"
"You know you hate him as much as me and Harry do Herm."
Hermoine snorted, a strange sound coming from her, and dropped her bag onto the couch. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at Ron, who ducked behind a chair.
"HEY!"
Hermione laughed and said, "Oh be quiet silly. I'm only going to take off the Abscondo Charm."
Ron took a tentative step out from behind the chair. "Really?"
"Yes."
"Alright."
Ron stepped completely out from behind the chair and Hermione said, "Delitesco!"
"HEY! I THOUGHT YOU WERE DOING THE COUNTER CHARM," bellowed Ron as he found himself looking down at Draco Malfoy's hands again.
Hermione smirked and said, "Well, we have to know if it works don't we?"
Ron face fell and he mumbled, "Yea, I guess so."
"Good. Now be quiet."
Hermione raised her wand again and said, "Arguo!"
An instant later Ron was back to normal and he cheered. Hermione shook her head at him then looked up as Parvati poked her head out of the girl's dorm. She asked, "Did I just hear Malfoy in here?"
Hermione grinned and tucked her wand into her robes.
"Nope, that was Ron."
"HERMIONE!"
"What?"
"URGH!" Ron muttered something unintelligible under his breath and grabbed his bag, stomping up the stairs to the boy's dorm. He slammed the door shut behind him and Parvati giggled. Hermione shook her head and sat down to do her homework.
A/N: Next chapter, the detention! AND Hermione uses the counter charm Arguo on Harry!! Surprises await our dear little heroes! *evil laughter*
Leo Pectus – Lion Heart