AN: this chapter was meant to be the first Potions class AND the
revelation, but the class seemed to drag on a little. Next time, okay. But
I won't make any promises.
Athena Keating-Thomas: I should thump you about the head. I happen to like Severus. = P Anyways, if anything like that happens, it will be in the sequel....
Lee Lee: XD McGonagall wasn't particularly hard to get in character, I don't think.
Ayame: I like longer reviews. Draco, Harry, force her to write nice looong reviews, mm-kay?
Hippy Flower=Voldie's Kid: interesting nick. Oooo, love eternal! Is this soon enough?
ahem. No-name: *grouches* PLEASE give me a name! I do try to be original.
jliles: heh. What *I* want to see is the school's reaction....
hermionegranger: No, I agree with you. This one just flowed better. Damn. I'll have to get a cursebreaker in...
Chosentwo4381: Severitus challenge fics are SO much fun. And, oh yes! Mine has a twist.
Crydwyn: Nah. If I announced it at the start of year feast, we wouldn't get to have lots of fun in Potions class now would we?
Mikee: XD Yah, the wedding ring. I just realised that Sev hasn't told Harry his reasons behind wearing it.... Eh.
Saavik: I see no reason why Sev shouldn't be a parselmouth, and it makes it so much more fun... I'm glad you found my story and found it worthy of reviewing. I'm almost certain there will be something further about those wizardmarks...
Tantz: you liked chapter 17? I didn't. Oohh, no I don't think JK's finished with Sev either... Yeah, what I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in some of this confrontations....
leXis 'rmour: *huge grin* Thanks. Although, its not *strictly* a challenge response. I might attempt one of those later, but I'm afraid it will always be compared to this one... eh.
Penny Alford: A few little things? Like words missing and spelling mistakes. If so, I know and it really bugs me, but not quite enough to take it down and fix it.. I'll gladly accept the stars tho'. Can I have Alan Rickman, Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and whoever it is that plays Draco (never quite figured that out)?
SilverWolf: No, probably McGonagall wouldn't stutter and all that, but it was so much FUN. Maybe I'll just clone the bird instead?
Elektra: You thing you have it bad? I've got to respond to all these reviews. Well, I don't HAVE to, but I like doing it....
M. F. Luder: Well I hope your finals went well. Hang on. SUMMER hols? You live in the Southern Hemisphere. WOO! Sorry. I like trying to figure out where ppl are from.... *hides in her corner* don't look at me like that! Ehem. Sorry. Again. Anyhoo, our characters are just actors on the page's stage. = P I don't go in for torture. Here's the next chapter....
LeXis 'rmour: Heyla you again. Ah the prequel! I've been asked about that before. I'm thinking on it still. I'll let you in on a little secret *beckons leXis closer* I never really went in for the James/Severus pairing either, but now.... And I STILL don't know what's going on with Remus and Severus. I know a couple of things that will be happening in the SEQUEL, but nothing concrete....
Better than Chapter Seventeen, but not quite up to par with Chapter Eighteen, it's:
Chapter Nineteen: Potion Brewing 101
Harry woke the next morning to find Sakuna and Hedwig eyeing each other from opposite sides of his pillow.
He was becoming used to it: this was the third morning in a row he had woken up to the same spectacle. Hedwig had somehow found out about Sakuna and decided to stake her claim on Harry. Unfortunately, Sakuna was doing the same thing.
Harry had tried to reassure Hedwig that she wasn't about to be replaced, but she didn't seem to trust him. Or at least, she didn't trust Sakuna. Which wasn't particularly surprising, considering the quetzalcoatl's attitude.
Sakuna seemed to feel that he had some superior claim to Harry's affections. Harry had tried telling him to lay off the attitude, but Sakuna wouldn't take him seriously. In the end Harry decided to leave it alone, proving to them both that he wasn't about to ditch Hedwig in favour of Sakuna by example.
But this little morning ritual of theirs was really starting to get on his nerves....
Blinking blearily up at them both, he hissed, 'Can't you leave this for an hour a little else early?'
Sakuna broke the staring contest with Hedwig, who ruffled her feathers in self-satisfaction. Sakuna flickered his tongue at her and received an irritable hoot in response. The snake turned his silver eyes on Harry.
'It isss not early, little lord, it isss late.'
Harry sat bolt upright and fumbled for his glasses. Sure enough, when he snatched up his watch, the dial told him that he had only twenty minutes to get ready and get to his first class. Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore had given him his timetable several days ago and he wouldn't have to dash down to the Great Hall to get one. Although it did mean he would miss breakfast.
That couldn't be helped now. Especially considering his first class was Double Potions. Harry didn't think his father would take too well to him turning up late for the first class of the year.
Harry leapt out of bed, knocking both Hedwig and Sakuna into the air. He ignored their indignant protests as he grabbed up fresh new school robes from his trunk and hurried to the bathroom.
Five minutes later, he remerged, freshly - if hastily - washed. He immediately dove back into his trunk, rummaging about for his potions books and writing utensils. He gathered them all up and dumped them in his book bag. He shoved his feet into his shoes and stood up.
'Come on Sakuna, we gotta go,' Harry hurried out of the room, calling back over his shoulder, 'See you later Hedwig.'
He made it to the dungeon classroom with barely three minutes to spare. All of the other students were there already and they turned to see who was running through the door this late.
Harry had never liked being the centre of attention and wished he'd thought to bring his invisibility cloak. Especially when his classmates noticed Sakuna. The snake had caught up to him and now had his tail wrapped about Harry's neck and his wings mantled behind his right ear. Everybody was staring at Sakuna and he knew it; he was showing off.
Nobody spoke; Harry edged over to the seat Ron and Hermione had saved him. He hoped Professor Snape would come in before anyone got up the courage to comment on Sakuna's presence. He should have known better.
'New pet, Potter?'
Harry groaned. Of course it would be Malfoy that spoke first. But better him than someone else, Harry supposed. At least he knew how to deal with Draco's malice.
'Not a pet, Malfoy. A familiar. But I wouldn't expect *you* to know the difference.'
The Gryffindors laughed and the Slytherins glared at Harry along with Draco, who sniped back, 'Whatever. It won't last long once Professor Snape arrives.'
Harry was about to retort when the door swung open and the potions master strode in. He looked neither left nor right as he made his way down the classroom to his desk. He deposited his books and turned to address the class. But before he could even open his mouth, there was already a hand in the air.
'You have something you think I wish to hear, Mr Malfoy?'
Draco lowered his arm, a little thrown at the tone in which his head of house had addressed him. But in his arrogance, he didn't dwell on it. Instead he said smugly, 'Professor, I thought you should be know that Potter brought a snake to class.'
The Gryffindors glared at him; all except Harry, who was pretty confident of the professor's response. He wasn't disappointed.
Severus almost casually brushed his hair behind his ear, revealing Sasu wrapped about his neck. There was collective gasp.
'Not a snake, Mr Malfoy,' he murmured, unconsciously echoing his son's earlier phrasing, 'A quetzalcoatl. I am aware that Mr Potter has him.'
Harry smirked at the stunned expression on Draco's face, but quickly stopped when his father looked at him.
'B-but...' stammered Draco, thoroughly thrown now.
Severus blatantly dismissed the Slytherin boy's protests, turning his back on him and picking up the potions text, 'Mr Potter has Headmaster Dumbledore's permission, as well as that of myself as his.... Professor.'
The text cradled in one hand, Severus turned back to his class, not bothering to look the gobsmacked Draco, 'Now, as we did not come here to discuss snakes, I suggest you have your summer assignments ready by the time I reach your desk.'
He immediately started forward to collect the scrolls of homework, sending the students at the front desks scrambling for their work.
On the pretence of leaning over to extract his scroll from his bag, Ron leant in to Harry and whispered, 'Are you *sure* you're related to him, Harry mate?'
Harry turned his head and stared at his friend, 'What are you talking about, Ron?'
Ron pretended to fumble about in his bag, 'Its just that you're so nice and good and loyal, and Snape's.... well, *not*.'
Harry snorted, but before he could answer, Hermione, who was sitting on Harry's other side, listening to their conversation said, 'You can't expect him to change over night, Ron. I'm sure over time he'll get better.'
Harry rolled his eyes, 'Actually, you're both wrong.'
They both turned to stare at him, Hermione because she was rarely told she was wrong by her friends, and Ron just because he was Ron.
Harry shrugged, 'He's always like this. Always has been. You know that pensieve he gave me for my birthday,' - Ron and Hermione both nodded; Harry had told them of it the day before they had left during the holidays - 'He was the same in all those memories. I don't think he's about to change just because I know who he is now....'
Harry, Ron and Hermione became aware of the silence of the rest of the room and looked up. Professor Snape had reached their desk and was standing scowling down at them. The rest of the class was watching in silence, apprehensive on the part of the Gryffindor and gleeful on the part of the Slytherins.
About Severus's neck, Sasu lifted her head. She turned her eyes on Harry and said by way of greeting, 'Little lord.'
Harry grinned. He couldn't help it. Sasu took such a superior attitude to the world and could only ever said to be deigning to speak to someone. Unless that someone happened to be Severus, who she seemed to consider her equal.
'Good morning, Sasu,' he hissed.
His father shifted his black gaze exclusively to him and Harry almost shied away from it, 'In English, if you please Mr Potter. Not everyone is so fortunate as to have your gift of tongues.'
Harry nodded, chastised. Severus turned his attention back to the trio as a whole, 'If you three feel you have something to say that cannot wait until you leave my classroom, have the courtesy to share it with the whole class.'
He was met with a sullen silence. Harry couldn't believe his father was treating him like this. It was almost worse than it had been in previous years, when Harry *hadn't* known that his teacher was also his father. He had thought that perhaps now that his father had acknowledged him, he wouldn't be so harsh on him in class, despite his words to Ron and Hermione earlier. Then again, he might overreacting just a little, simply *because* Severus was his father.
Hermione and Ron were simply silent because experience had taught them that talking back to the potions master was a sure-fire to lose their house points, regardless of whose father they now knew he was.
'Nothing more to add?' Severus murmured silkily, 'Then kindly keep any further comments you may have until after my class.'
He held out his hand and the three Gryffindors handed over their assignment scrolls. With a wave of his wand, Severus sent them wafting to the front of the classroom to join the pile already there. He folded his arms inside his sleeves and turned back to Harry.
'Mr Potter, to the front of the class. You shall demonstrate what the reaction between Peruvian urchlid shells and boomslang skin should look like, as I know you have managed to scrabble together some competence in this particular experiment.'
Severus turned and swept back up the aisle, only to pause half to his desk when he realised Harry wasn't behind him. He looked back, 'Mr Potter?'
Harry was still sitting at his desk. He didn't care that the rest of the class didn't yet know that the professor was his father. It was really starting to annoy him that he was getting treated in such a manner. And he kept on calling him....
'Mr Potter!' a sharp note of impatience threaded through Severus's voice.
Harry reluctantly pushed away from the desk and started up the aisle. Under his breath, he muttered, 'I wish you'd stop calling me that.'
Or at least he'd thought it was under his breath. Someone on the other side of the room gasped and Harry looked up. Everyone was staring at him, his father glaring.
'I beg your pardon?' he menaced.
Defiant, Harry straightened his shoulders and looked his father in the eye, 'I said I wish you'd stop calling me 'Potter' all the time.'
There was another gasp. Even the Slytherins were staring at him as if he'd gone crazy; even they hadn't the guts to talk to their professor like that.
Severus turned to face Harry square on, looming over him, 'Would you rather I called you by your *mother's* name?'
Harry was sure the gasp came from Hermione this time, and that indignant grunt was surely Ron. Harry glared up at his father, matching him look for look. Loudly enough for the entire class to hear, he retorted, 'No. I'd rather you called me by my *father's* names.'
Now the other students were looking at Harry as though he were daft. He had spoken back to the meanest teacher in the school just to tell him to call him by his father's name when that was what he had protested in the first place? Of course, it was only Ron and Hermione that noticed the plural Harry had placed on 'names'.
Severus turned away, 'Thirty-five points from Gryffindor for talking back to a teacher.'
Harry gasped, as did all the Gryffindor students. He wasn't surprised his father had taken points, but *thirty-five*! He blurted before he could stop himself, 'But Pa-!'
So quickly it was almost scary, Severus had rounded on Harry. He hissed, 'Nobody gets preferential treatment in my classroom. *Especially* not you.'
Harry flinched. About him he could hear the indignant murmurs of his housemates and the spiteful titters of the Slytherins. Without waiting for a reply, Severus turned and swept up to his desk, leaving Harry standing in the middle of the aisle.
Behind him, Harry heard the malicious voice of Draco; 'Well at least there's one teacher in this school that knows how to treat Pretty-boy Potter.'
Crabbe and Goyle snickered. Harry's back stiffened and Sakuna hissed into his hair.
His voice pitched low, Ron spat, 'You don't know what you're talking about, Malfoy.'
Without turning, Harry could hear the sneer in Draco's voice, 'Of course I do, Weasel. Snape won't treat little Potter any different just because he's the Boy Who Lived.'
Draco managed to make the title sound like an epithet.
A smirk was rich in Ron's voice when he shot back, 'That's not Snape meant. It's because Harry's-'
Harry spun on his heel, wanting somehow to prevent Ron's next words. Hermione beat him to it. She landed a very forceful elbow in Ron's ribs. Harry grinned gratefully at her.
'Oof,' Ron rubbed at his ribs, 'What was that for?' he whined.
Hermione glared at him and looked significantly toward the front of the classroom. Harry turned too.
Severus was standing before his desk, glaring menacingly at them all, but Ron in particular. When he was sure they were all cowed to his satisfaction, he turned once again to Harry.
'Potter is the name on the school register. Until such a time as I find that it has changed, I shall *continue* to call you such. Is that understood?'
Until this summer, Harry had never appreciated what effect a dressing down from one's father could have. This time last year, had Severus spoken to him like that he would have been angry and resentful. Now he was still resentful, but that was because he didn't like feeling so thoroughly chastened by so few words.
Besides, it wouldn't be too much longer before Dumbledore revealed their relationship and then Harry could get his name changed on the school roll.
Harry nodded.
Severus gestured at the cauldron he had set up on the front desk, 'Then kindly get on with the demonstration.'
Sakuna lifted from his shoulders and settled on the desktop, clear of the potion making paraphernalia. Sasu soon joined him as Severus stood at Harry's shoulder, watching as he powered the urchlid shells and shredded the boomslang skin.
Harry brought the clear, water to a point just below boiling in the cauldron and added the boomslang skin. He stirred it in a strictly clockwise figure of eight until it had stewed. When the contents of the cauldron had turned a murky and opaque grey, he added the carefully proportioned amount of powdered urchild shell. He stirred round the edge of the cauldron seven times clockwise, then abruptly changed direction and swept the spoon about in an anticlockwise direction once only.
The potion swirled and the urchild shell dissolved. When the last of the blue powder disappeared from the surface of the mixture, a small mushroom cloud of vivid green billowed forth.
When the smoke had dissipated, the rest of the class shuffled forward to peer into the cauldron. The potion had gone so transparent that it appeared to not be there at all. The only sign that it was still in the cauldron was the pungent scent of rotten roses that the concoction exuded.
Severus reached over Harry's shoulder and ladled some of it up, allowing it to splash back into the cauldron again. As the stream of liquid fell, it ran through a rainbow of colours. These same colours swirled about the surface of the potion until the ripples had all subsided.
Severus said quietly, 'It seems you may have inherited something from the long line of potion makers that is your heritage after all, Mr Potter.'
Harry smiled but Severus ignored him. He turned to address the rest of the class, still gathered about the front desk.
'Mr Malfoy, tell me what special properties this quasi-potion has,' he snapped out.
Draco drew himself up importantly, 'It adds an empathic dimension to any potion it is used in.'
The corner of his father's lip quirked in what Harry was sure was *almost* a smile.
'Not up to your usual standard, Mr Malfoy,' he sneered, 'Ten points from Slytherin for failing to properly research the topic.'
A dead silence gripped the room. Snape had taken points from his own house? It was even odds who were more shocked: the Gryffindors or the Slytherins. Although, Harry had to say Draco had the most priceless expression. His eyes were round and his jaw had dropped in a most unbecoming manner. When the blonde boy realised this, his mouth snapped shut and he glared virulently about.
Severus ignored the flabbergasted silence of his class, continuing on as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
'Is it too much to hope that at least *one* of you knows the correct answer. Miss Granger, perhaps?'
Jaws just about dropped all over again. Professor Snape had called on *Hermione* with no sarcasm or derision?
'Um.... the.... um....' Hermione stuttered before she got her equilibrium back, 'The urchlid shell/boomslang skin combination *enhances* the already present empathic qualities of a potion, as well as extending the potion's duration and shelf life. It is most commonly used as an addition to truth serums and love philtres.'
Severus didn't go so far as to compliment Hermione on her full and correct answer, simply nodded curtly and sent the students back to their respective desks to test their won theories on the replication of the effects.
The rest of the lesson passed in an uncommon silence.
The Slytherins were all too stunned at having lost points in Potions, the class were they had only ever *earned* points. And their ringleader had been treated in a manner that could, at best, only be termed curt by their own head of house, renowned for being biased towards them. They simply didn't know what to make of their apparently changed status.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand, simply didn't wish to jeopardise this odd new status quo. They had lost thirty-five points, but Snape hadn't put Hermione down for giving the correct answer and he wasn't looming over them, waiting for the slightest excuse to deduct points.
He hadn't even taken points from Neville when he managed to completely botch his potion; just told the terrified student that he would have do it over in detention.
But the biggest upset of the lesson had to be when Professor Snape had taken an additional ten points from Slytherin and given Draco a detention to be served with Filch for attempting to sabotage Seamus's potion.
TBC
AN: So anyways, was that okay? I seem to have alienated Draco a little. Damn. He's really my favourite little Slytherin. Whatever shall I do?
The end is a little weak too. Grr.. *throws up hands in disgust*
Athena Keating-Thomas: I should thump you about the head. I happen to like Severus. = P Anyways, if anything like that happens, it will be in the sequel....
Lee Lee: XD McGonagall wasn't particularly hard to get in character, I don't think.
Ayame: I like longer reviews. Draco, Harry, force her to write nice looong reviews, mm-kay?
Hippy Flower=Voldie's Kid: interesting nick. Oooo, love eternal! Is this soon enough?
ahem. No-name: *grouches* PLEASE give me a name! I do try to be original.
jliles: heh. What *I* want to see is the school's reaction....
hermionegranger: No, I agree with you. This one just flowed better. Damn. I'll have to get a cursebreaker in...
Chosentwo4381: Severitus challenge fics are SO much fun. And, oh yes! Mine has a twist.
Crydwyn: Nah. If I announced it at the start of year feast, we wouldn't get to have lots of fun in Potions class now would we?
Mikee: XD Yah, the wedding ring. I just realised that Sev hasn't told Harry his reasons behind wearing it.... Eh.
Saavik: I see no reason why Sev shouldn't be a parselmouth, and it makes it so much more fun... I'm glad you found my story and found it worthy of reviewing. I'm almost certain there will be something further about those wizardmarks...
Tantz: you liked chapter 17? I didn't. Oohh, no I don't think JK's finished with Sev either... Yeah, what I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall in some of this confrontations....
leXis 'rmour: *huge grin* Thanks. Although, its not *strictly* a challenge response. I might attempt one of those later, but I'm afraid it will always be compared to this one... eh.
Penny Alford: A few little things? Like words missing and spelling mistakes. If so, I know and it really bugs me, but not quite enough to take it down and fix it.. I'll gladly accept the stars tho'. Can I have Alan Rickman, Daniel Radcliff, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and whoever it is that plays Draco (never quite figured that out)?
SilverWolf: No, probably McGonagall wouldn't stutter and all that, but it was so much FUN. Maybe I'll just clone the bird instead?
Elektra: You thing you have it bad? I've got to respond to all these reviews. Well, I don't HAVE to, but I like doing it....
M. F. Luder: Well I hope your finals went well. Hang on. SUMMER hols? You live in the Southern Hemisphere. WOO! Sorry. I like trying to figure out where ppl are from.... *hides in her corner* don't look at me like that! Ehem. Sorry. Again. Anyhoo, our characters are just actors on the page's stage. = P I don't go in for torture. Here's the next chapter....
LeXis 'rmour: Heyla you again. Ah the prequel! I've been asked about that before. I'm thinking on it still. I'll let you in on a little secret *beckons leXis closer* I never really went in for the James/Severus pairing either, but now.... And I STILL don't know what's going on with Remus and Severus. I know a couple of things that will be happening in the SEQUEL, but nothing concrete....
Better than Chapter Seventeen, but not quite up to par with Chapter Eighteen, it's:
Chapter Nineteen: Potion Brewing 101
Harry woke the next morning to find Sakuna and Hedwig eyeing each other from opposite sides of his pillow.
He was becoming used to it: this was the third morning in a row he had woken up to the same spectacle. Hedwig had somehow found out about Sakuna and decided to stake her claim on Harry. Unfortunately, Sakuna was doing the same thing.
Harry had tried to reassure Hedwig that she wasn't about to be replaced, but she didn't seem to trust him. Or at least, she didn't trust Sakuna. Which wasn't particularly surprising, considering the quetzalcoatl's attitude.
Sakuna seemed to feel that he had some superior claim to Harry's affections. Harry had tried telling him to lay off the attitude, but Sakuna wouldn't take him seriously. In the end Harry decided to leave it alone, proving to them both that he wasn't about to ditch Hedwig in favour of Sakuna by example.
But this little morning ritual of theirs was really starting to get on his nerves....
Blinking blearily up at them both, he hissed, 'Can't you leave this for an hour a little else early?'
Sakuna broke the staring contest with Hedwig, who ruffled her feathers in self-satisfaction. Sakuna flickered his tongue at her and received an irritable hoot in response. The snake turned his silver eyes on Harry.
'It isss not early, little lord, it isss late.'
Harry sat bolt upright and fumbled for his glasses. Sure enough, when he snatched up his watch, the dial told him that he had only twenty minutes to get ready and get to his first class. Fortunately, Professor Dumbledore had given him his timetable several days ago and he wouldn't have to dash down to the Great Hall to get one. Although it did mean he would miss breakfast.
That couldn't be helped now. Especially considering his first class was Double Potions. Harry didn't think his father would take too well to him turning up late for the first class of the year.
Harry leapt out of bed, knocking both Hedwig and Sakuna into the air. He ignored their indignant protests as he grabbed up fresh new school robes from his trunk and hurried to the bathroom.
Five minutes later, he remerged, freshly - if hastily - washed. He immediately dove back into his trunk, rummaging about for his potions books and writing utensils. He gathered them all up and dumped them in his book bag. He shoved his feet into his shoes and stood up.
'Come on Sakuna, we gotta go,' Harry hurried out of the room, calling back over his shoulder, 'See you later Hedwig.'
He made it to the dungeon classroom with barely three minutes to spare. All of the other students were there already and they turned to see who was running through the door this late.
Harry had never liked being the centre of attention and wished he'd thought to bring his invisibility cloak. Especially when his classmates noticed Sakuna. The snake had caught up to him and now had his tail wrapped about Harry's neck and his wings mantled behind his right ear. Everybody was staring at Sakuna and he knew it; he was showing off.
Nobody spoke; Harry edged over to the seat Ron and Hermione had saved him. He hoped Professor Snape would come in before anyone got up the courage to comment on Sakuna's presence. He should have known better.
'New pet, Potter?'
Harry groaned. Of course it would be Malfoy that spoke first. But better him than someone else, Harry supposed. At least he knew how to deal with Draco's malice.
'Not a pet, Malfoy. A familiar. But I wouldn't expect *you* to know the difference.'
The Gryffindors laughed and the Slytherins glared at Harry along with Draco, who sniped back, 'Whatever. It won't last long once Professor Snape arrives.'
Harry was about to retort when the door swung open and the potions master strode in. He looked neither left nor right as he made his way down the classroom to his desk. He deposited his books and turned to address the class. But before he could even open his mouth, there was already a hand in the air.
'You have something you think I wish to hear, Mr Malfoy?'
Draco lowered his arm, a little thrown at the tone in which his head of house had addressed him. But in his arrogance, he didn't dwell on it. Instead he said smugly, 'Professor, I thought you should be know that Potter brought a snake to class.'
The Gryffindors glared at him; all except Harry, who was pretty confident of the professor's response. He wasn't disappointed.
Severus almost casually brushed his hair behind his ear, revealing Sasu wrapped about his neck. There was collective gasp.
'Not a snake, Mr Malfoy,' he murmured, unconsciously echoing his son's earlier phrasing, 'A quetzalcoatl. I am aware that Mr Potter has him.'
Harry smirked at the stunned expression on Draco's face, but quickly stopped when his father looked at him.
'B-but...' stammered Draco, thoroughly thrown now.
Severus blatantly dismissed the Slytherin boy's protests, turning his back on him and picking up the potions text, 'Mr Potter has Headmaster Dumbledore's permission, as well as that of myself as his.... Professor.'
The text cradled in one hand, Severus turned back to his class, not bothering to look the gobsmacked Draco, 'Now, as we did not come here to discuss snakes, I suggest you have your summer assignments ready by the time I reach your desk.'
He immediately started forward to collect the scrolls of homework, sending the students at the front desks scrambling for their work.
On the pretence of leaning over to extract his scroll from his bag, Ron leant in to Harry and whispered, 'Are you *sure* you're related to him, Harry mate?'
Harry turned his head and stared at his friend, 'What are you talking about, Ron?'
Ron pretended to fumble about in his bag, 'Its just that you're so nice and good and loyal, and Snape's.... well, *not*.'
Harry snorted, but before he could answer, Hermione, who was sitting on Harry's other side, listening to their conversation said, 'You can't expect him to change over night, Ron. I'm sure over time he'll get better.'
Harry rolled his eyes, 'Actually, you're both wrong.'
They both turned to stare at him, Hermione because she was rarely told she was wrong by her friends, and Ron just because he was Ron.
Harry shrugged, 'He's always like this. Always has been. You know that pensieve he gave me for my birthday,' - Ron and Hermione both nodded; Harry had told them of it the day before they had left during the holidays - 'He was the same in all those memories. I don't think he's about to change just because I know who he is now....'
Harry, Ron and Hermione became aware of the silence of the rest of the room and looked up. Professor Snape had reached their desk and was standing scowling down at them. The rest of the class was watching in silence, apprehensive on the part of the Gryffindor and gleeful on the part of the Slytherins.
About Severus's neck, Sasu lifted her head. She turned her eyes on Harry and said by way of greeting, 'Little lord.'
Harry grinned. He couldn't help it. Sasu took such a superior attitude to the world and could only ever said to be deigning to speak to someone. Unless that someone happened to be Severus, who she seemed to consider her equal.
'Good morning, Sasu,' he hissed.
His father shifted his black gaze exclusively to him and Harry almost shied away from it, 'In English, if you please Mr Potter. Not everyone is so fortunate as to have your gift of tongues.'
Harry nodded, chastised. Severus turned his attention back to the trio as a whole, 'If you three feel you have something to say that cannot wait until you leave my classroom, have the courtesy to share it with the whole class.'
He was met with a sullen silence. Harry couldn't believe his father was treating him like this. It was almost worse than it had been in previous years, when Harry *hadn't* known that his teacher was also his father. He had thought that perhaps now that his father had acknowledged him, he wouldn't be so harsh on him in class, despite his words to Ron and Hermione earlier. Then again, he might overreacting just a little, simply *because* Severus was his father.
Hermione and Ron were simply silent because experience had taught them that talking back to the potions master was a sure-fire to lose their house points, regardless of whose father they now knew he was.
'Nothing more to add?' Severus murmured silkily, 'Then kindly keep any further comments you may have until after my class.'
He held out his hand and the three Gryffindors handed over their assignment scrolls. With a wave of his wand, Severus sent them wafting to the front of the classroom to join the pile already there. He folded his arms inside his sleeves and turned back to Harry.
'Mr Potter, to the front of the class. You shall demonstrate what the reaction between Peruvian urchlid shells and boomslang skin should look like, as I know you have managed to scrabble together some competence in this particular experiment.'
Severus turned and swept back up the aisle, only to pause half to his desk when he realised Harry wasn't behind him. He looked back, 'Mr Potter?'
Harry was still sitting at his desk. He didn't care that the rest of the class didn't yet know that the professor was his father. It was really starting to annoy him that he was getting treated in such a manner. And he kept on calling him....
'Mr Potter!' a sharp note of impatience threaded through Severus's voice.
Harry reluctantly pushed away from the desk and started up the aisle. Under his breath, he muttered, 'I wish you'd stop calling me that.'
Or at least he'd thought it was under his breath. Someone on the other side of the room gasped and Harry looked up. Everyone was staring at him, his father glaring.
'I beg your pardon?' he menaced.
Defiant, Harry straightened his shoulders and looked his father in the eye, 'I said I wish you'd stop calling me 'Potter' all the time.'
There was another gasp. Even the Slytherins were staring at him as if he'd gone crazy; even they hadn't the guts to talk to their professor like that.
Severus turned to face Harry square on, looming over him, 'Would you rather I called you by your *mother's* name?'
Harry was sure the gasp came from Hermione this time, and that indignant grunt was surely Ron. Harry glared up at his father, matching him look for look. Loudly enough for the entire class to hear, he retorted, 'No. I'd rather you called me by my *father's* names.'
Now the other students were looking at Harry as though he were daft. He had spoken back to the meanest teacher in the school just to tell him to call him by his father's name when that was what he had protested in the first place? Of course, it was only Ron and Hermione that noticed the plural Harry had placed on 'names'.
Severus turned away, 'Thirty-five points from Gryffindor for talking back to a teacher.'
Harry gasped, as did all the Gryffindor students. He wasn't surprised his father had taken points, but *thirty-five*! He blurted before he could stop himself, 'But Pa-!'
So quickly it was almost scary, Severus had rounded on Harry. He hissed, 'Nobody gets preferential treatment in my classroom. *Especially* not you.'
Harry flinched. About him he could hear the indignant murmurs of his housemates and the spiteful titters of the Slytherins. Without waiting for a reply, Severus turned and swept up to his desk, leaving Harry standing in the middle of the aisle.
Behind him, Harry heard the malicious voice of Draco; 'Well at least there's one teacher in this school that knows how to treat Pretty-boy Potter.'
Crabbe and Goyle snickered. Harry's back stiffened and Sakuna hissed into his hair.
His voice pitched low, Ron spat, 'You don't know what you're talking about, Malfoy.'
Without turning, Harry could hear the sneer in Draco's voice, 'Of course I do, Weasel. Snape won't treat little Potter any different just because he's the Boy Who Lived.'
Draco managed to make the title sound like an epithet.
A smirk was rich in Ron's voice when he shot back, 'That's not Snape meant. It's because Harry's-'
Harry spun on his heel, wanting somehow to prevent Ron's next words. Hermione beat him to it. She landed a very forceful elbow in Ron's ribs. Harry grinned gratefully at her.
'Oof,' Ron rubbed at his ribs, 'What was that for?' he whined.
Hermione glared at him and looked significantly toward the front of the classroom. Harry turned too.
Severus was standing before his desk, glaring menacingly at them all, but Ron in particular. When he was sure they were all cowed to his satisfaction, he turned once again to Harry.
'Potter is the name on the school register. Until such a time as I find that it has changed, I shall *continue* to call you such. Is that understood?'
Until this summer, Harry had never appreciated what effect a dressing down from one's father could have. This time last year, had Severus spoken to him like that he would have been angry and resentful. Now he was still resentful, but that was because he didn't like feeling so thoroughly chastened by so few words.
Besides, it wouldn't be too much longer before Dumbledore revealed their relationship and then Harry could get his name changed on the school roll.
Harry nodded.
Severus gestured at the cauldron he had set up on the front desk, 'Then kindly get on with the demonstration.'
Sakuna lifted from his shoulders and settled on the desktop, clear of the potion making paraphernalia. Sasu soon joined him as Severus stood at Harry's shoulder, watching as he powered the urchlid shells and shredded the boomslang skin.
Harry brought the clear, water to a point just below boiling in the cauldron and added the boomslang skin. He stirred it in a strictly clockwise figure of eight until it had stewed. When the contents of the cauldron had turned a murky and opaque grey, he added the carefully proportioned amount of powdered urchild shell. He stirred round the edge of the cauldron seven times clockwise, then abruptly changed direction and swept the spoon about in an anticlockwise direction once only.
The potion swirled and the urchild shell dissolved. When the last of the blue powder disappeared from the surface of the mixture, a small mushroom cloud of vivid green billowed forth.
When the smoke had dissipated, the rest of the class shuffled forward to peer into the cauldron. The potion had gone so transparent that it appeared to not be there at all. The only sign that it was still in the cauldron was the pungent scent of rotten roses that the concoction exuded.
Severus reached over Harry's shoulder and ladled some of it up, allowing it to splash back into the cauldron again. As the stream of liquid fell, it ran through a rainbow of colours. These same colours swirled about the surface of the potion until the ripples had all subsided.
Severus said quietly, 'It seems you may have inherited something from the long line of potion makers that is your heritage after all, Mr Potter.'
Harry smiled but Severus ignored him. He turned to address the rest of the class, still gathered about the front desk.
'Mr Malfoy, tell me what special properties this quasi-potion has,' he snapped out.
Draco drew himself up importantly, 'It adds an empathic dimension to any potion it is used in.'
The corner of his father's lip quirked in what Harry was sure was *almost* a smile.
'Not up to your usual standard, Mr Malfoy,' he sneered, 'Ten points from Slytherin for failing to properly research the topic.'
A dead silence gripped the room. Snape had taken points from his own house? It was even odds who were more shocked: the Gryffindors or the Slytherins. Although, Harry had to say Draco had the most priceless expression. His eyes were round and his jaw had dropped in a most unbecoming manner. When the blonde boy realised this, his mouth snapped shut and he glared virulently about.
Severus ignored the flabbergasted silence of his class, continuing on as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
'Is it too much to hope that at least *one* of you knows the correct answer. Miss Granger, perhaps?'
Jaws just about dropped all over again. Professor Snape had called on *Hermione* with no sarcasm or derision?
'Um.... the.... um....' Hermione stuttered before she got her equilibrium back, 'The urchlid shell/boomslang skin combination *enhances* the already present empathic qualities of a potion, as well as extending the potion's duration and shelf life. It is most commonly used as an addition to truth serums and love philtres.'
Severus didn't go so far as to compliment Hermione on her full and correct answer, simply nodded curtly and sent the students back to their respective desks to test their won theories on the replication of the effects.
The rest of the lesson passed in an uncommon silence.
The Slytherins were all too stunned at having lost points in Potions, the class were they had only ever *earned* points. And their ringleader had been treated in a manner that could, at best, only be termed curt by their own head of house, renowned for being biased towards them. They simply didn't know what to make of their apparently changed status.
The Gryffindors, on the other hand, simply didn't wish to jeopardise this odd new status quo. They had lost thirty-five points, but Snape hadn't put Hermione down for giving the correct answer and he wasn't looming over them, waiting for the slightest excuse to deduct points.
He hadn't even taken points from Neville when he managed to completely botch his potion; just told the terrified student that he would have do it over in detention.
But the biggest upset of the lesson had to be when Professor Snape had taken an additional ten points from Slytherin and given Draco a detention to be served with Filch for attempting to sabotage Seamus's potion.
TBC
AN: So anyways, was that okay? I seem to have alienated Draco a little. Damn. He's really my favourite little Slytherin. Whatever shall I do?
The end is a little weak too. Grr.. *throws up hands in disgust*