Beginning of the End
Authors: Starchild and Saavik Chapter Eighteen: Between the Darkness and the Light, I am Found
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
******************
"Potter, what do you think you are doing?"
"Sorry sir, I was trying to follow the instructions. I take it that wormwood is not the next ingredient?"
"It isn't even in this potion! Good Gods Potter, how have you managed to ever survive for this long?" Harry cringed. He had been at Hogwarts for close to a month and he still felt like a walking maggot. Snape's comments did wonders for his already rock bottom self-esteem. Harry swallowed and suddenly felt a swell of Grif. Pride take over.
"Look you overgrown bat, I am trying. Potions isn't exactly my best subject. It's not like I came here intending to become your bloody apprentice! I hate this as much as you do." Harry's voice was low and dangerous.
Snape took a moment to look at the young man. Harry was breathing heavily and his hand was convulsing as though it itched for a wand. //He is dangerously close to the edge. I wonder if he realizes it. Dumbledore probably does and that is why I have to watch the little monster. Damn. The boy who lived is a walking time bomb. His hate and anger are just waiting to take over. If we lose Potter to the Dark we are lost. I hate it when fate bites you in the arse.//
"Potter calm yourself. I meant only to point out an error." Snape's voice was oddly soothing. Harry looked surprised at the tone. Snape sighed. He was getting nowhere with the boy by treating him like the others. His plan to keep the child grounded and give him something to fight for had worked in the past, but now a new path was necessary. //Ever since Diggory.//
"Potter. Harry, I know you don't like potions much. Most people don't. But it is what I am good at, one of the only legal things. Albus left you with me for Merlin knows why and I have to keep working. With Armstrong's destroyed it is simply not safe for you to wander off like normal." Snape sat heavily on his desk, head in hands. "Gods, this is starting to wear on me. To think, all I wanted at your age was to be left alone with an endless supply of potions ingredients and a sufficiently developed female. Now all I want is to find a dark corner to hide in for about a hundred years."
Harry was silent for about 10 seconds than burst into laughter. "What?" Snape's tone demanded attention.
"Sorry Professor. It's just, well, we always assumed you were gay. And change the potion ingredients to snitches and we are on the same wave length."
"Really Potter, I always assumed you and Weasley."
Harry gave an indignant snort and started to reply when he caught the gleam in Snape's eye. "You are joking right?"
Snape let out a laugh. A genuine laugh. "That is depending on what Weasley you thought I was talking about. Let's get back to work."
With that the two confidants began to work on the swelling solution again. It was not long until the arguing broke out again however. "Potter, damn it, pay attention. The roots have to be chopped not sliced!" Harry heaved the whole lot into the dustbin and began again. Snape looked up and saw Harry trying hard not to snap back. //The boy needs to let off some frustration. Well, I haven't been in pain in about a month; it's about time. I mean, he doesn't know the Cruciatus. Right?"//
"Would you care to say something Potter? Defend your simplistic wit, you're below average skills, Hum?"
"MY BELOW AVERAGE SKILLS! In case you didn't notice, PROFESOR, you teach this course. If my SKILLS are not adequate it is due to YOUR teaching." Harry's hand was once again vainly grasping at air.
//This has been building for a while. He really did need the summer off. So did Longbottom. They have lost the carefreeness of their childhoods, but not gained the maturity of adulthood. They can not handle much more responsibility. Something is going to have to give.//
"There is nothing wrong with my instruction Potter. You are simply to arrogant to bother paying attention."
"To arrogant, have you ever stopped to think my lack of attention may be do to more important things?"
"Oh, name one Mr. Potter." Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm. Harry didn't seem to notice however.
"Oh, like stopping Voldermort. Like keeping him from the Philosophers Stone. Like killing a giant basilisk. Like having dementors following me. Like being in a tri-wizard tournament. Like having a tone of deatheaters after me! I have spent every year here at Hogwarts waiting to be killed. Just waiting. Then bam, I have to step up to the plate and save the entire wizarding world, my friends, my godfather, and your skin and all I get is a pay attention in class! You think I wouldn't love to be worried about my NEWTS? If that were all I had to deal with. I haven't had a descent nights sleep since I watched Cedric die because of me. I still hear the screams of my mother as Voldermort killed her and his insane cackling every time I close my eyes. I can't go into a muggle dance club because the lights might flash green and I don't think I could handle it. I start every time I hear a word starting with ad or cru. I wake up screaming from the remembered pain and I have visions of what the sadistic bastard is doing. Your lucky I have managed to not pass out in your class let alone pay attention."
"Self pity is not welcome in my presence. As for Diggory, I would not worry too much about it. Not much of a lose."
Harry had had enough. Wand or no wand Snape had gone to far. Harry's right cross came in violent contact with Snape's jaw. Severus was prepared for the blow and handled the shock well. Just then a voice was heard from the doorway.
"Albus I think we've interrupted some male bonding of sorts. Why don't we back out slowly before they convince you to join the 'screaming male club'."
Cat started to back out of the room. Her eyes scanned the scene quickly. //Hum two very angry guys, one sporting the beginnings of quite a bruise. Seems like tensions are high here too. Although that brooding look seems glued to his face, the Professor is kinda cute.// Cat turned her attention back to the room's occupants. "Hello boys. Don't mind us. Albus and I will just continue our tour and try to catch you at a better time." She winked, grabbed Albus and promptly left. Her voice could be heard floating down the hallway. "Well, I feel more at home now. It's nice to know you Brits fight too!"
Harry turned to Snape and asked in a somewhat awed voice, "What was that?"
They moved toward the door and looked down the hall. Albus was craning his neck back to catch one last look. His eyes most definitely had lost their twinkle as he caught Snape's in a hard gaze. He then turned back to Cat and began chatting in his normal half-senile manner. "Potter, ... I don't know. But I have a feeling we should be a little worried. After all she seems able to manipulate Dumbledore. Merlin help the rest of us." Harry silently added his agreement.
A/N: Harry is having some control issues. Wouldn't you! I mean he has seen death, felt death, dealt death, tasted death, and about everything else death and he is just 16. Your average 16-year-old is going to have some BIG issues after going through what he has. So if he seems very out of character, please rationalize. Feel free to review, but don't flame. Constructive criticism is always welcome and thought over. Non- constructive thought is made fun of by my inner demons. I would apologize but they are damn funny.
The title is a quote from Babylon 5; it's a Membari saying.
LL&P Saavik
Authors: Starchild and Saavik Chapter Eighteen: Between the Darkness and the Light, I am Found
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
******************
"Potter, what do you think you are doing?"
"Sorry sir, I was trying to follow the instructions. I take it that wormwood is not the next ingredient?"
"It isn't even in this potion! Good Gods Potter, how have you managed to ever survive for this long?" Harry cringed. He had been at Hogwarts for close to a month and he still felt like a walking maggot. Snape's comments did wonders for his already rock bottom self-esteem. Harry swallowed and suddenly felt a swell of Grif. Pride take over.
"Look you overgrown bat, I am trying. Potions isn't exactly my best subject. It's not like I came here intending to become your bloody apprentice! I hate this as much as you do." Harry's voice was low and dangerous.
Snape took a moment to look at the young man. Harry was breathing heavily and his hand was convulsing as though it itched for a wand. //He is dangerously close to the edge. I wonder if he realizes it. Dumbledore probably does and that is why I have to watch the little monster. Damn. The boy who lived is a walking time bomb. His hate and anger are just waiting to take over. If we lose Potter to the Dark we are lost. I hate it when fate bites you in the arse.//
"Potter calm yourself. I meant only to point out an error." Snape's voice was oddly soothing. Harry looked surprised at the tone. Snape sighed. He was getting nowhere with the boy by treating him like the others. His plan to keep the child grounded and give him something to fight for had worked in the past, but now a new path was necessary. //Ever since Diggory.//
"Potter. Harry, I know you don't like potions much. Most people don't. But it is what I am good at, one of the only legal things. Albus left you with me for Merlin knows why and I have to keep working. With Armstrong's destroyed it is simply not safe for you to wander off like normal." Snape sat heavily on his desk, head in hands. "Gods, this is starting to wear on me. To think, all I wanted at your age was to be left alone with an endless supply of potions ingredients and a sufficiently developed female. Now all I want is to find a dark corner to hide in for about a hundred years."
Harry was silent for about 10 seconds than burst into laughter. "What?" Snape's tone demanded attention.
"Sorry Professor. It's just, well, we always assumed you were gay. And change the potion ingredients to snitches and we are on the same wave length."
"Really Potter, I always assumed you and Weasley."
Harry gave an indignant snort and started to reply when he caught the gleam in Snape's eye. "You are joking right?"
Snape let out a laugh. A genuine laugh. "That is depending on what Weasley you thought I was talking about. Let's get back to work."
With that the two confidants began to work on the swelling solution again. It was not long until the arguing broke out again however. "Potter, damn it, pay attention. The roots have to be chopped not sliced!" Harry heaved the whole lot into the dustbin and began again. Snape looked up and saw Harry trying hard not to snap back. //The boy needs to let off some frustration. Well, I haven't been in pain in about a month; it's about time. I mean, he doesn't know the Cruciatus. Right?"//
"Would you care to say something Potter? Defend your simplistic wit, you're below average skills, Hum?"
"MY BELOW AVERAGE SKILLS! In case you didn't notice, PROFESOR, you teach this course. If my SKILLS are not adequate it is due to YOUR teaching." Harry's hand was once again vainly grasping at air.
//This has been building for a while. He really did need the summer off. So did Longbottom. They have lost the carefreeness of their childhoods, but not gained the maturity of adulthood. They can not handle much more responsibility. Something is going to have to give.//
"There is nothing wrong with my instruction Potter. You are simply to arrogant to bother paying attention."
"To arrogant, have you ever stopped to think my lack of attention may be do to more important things?"
"Oh, name one Mr. Potter." Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm. Harry didn't seem to notice however.
"Oh, like stopping Voldermort. Like keeping him from the Philosophers Stone. Like killing a giant basilisk. Like having dementors following me. Like being in a tri-wizard tournament. Like having a tone of deatheaters after me! I have spent every year here at Hogwarts waiting to be killed. Just waiting. Then bam, I have to step up to the plate and save the entire wizarding world, my friends, my godfather, and your skin and all I get is a pay attention in class! You think I wouldn't love to be worried about my NEWTS? If that were all I had to deal with. I haven't had a descent nights sleep since I watched Cedric die because of me. I still hear the screams of my mother as Voldermort killed her and his insane cackling every time I close my eyes. I can't go into a muggle dance club because the lights might flash green and I don't think I could handle it. I start every time I hear a word starting with ad or cru. I wake up screaming from the remembered pain and I have visions of what the sadistic bastard is doing. Your lucky I have managed to not pass out in your class let alone pay attention."
"Self pity is not welcome in my presence. As for Diggory, I would not worry too much about it. Not much of a lose."
Harry had had enough. Wand or no wand Snape had gone to far. Harry's right cross came in violent contact with Snape's jaw. Severus was prepared for the blow and handled the shock well. Just then a voice was heard from the doorway.
"Albus I think we've interrupted some male bonding of sorts. Why don't we back out slowly before they convince you to join the 'screaming male club'."
Cat started to back out of the room. Her eyes scanned the scene quickly. //Hum two very angry guys, one sporting the beginnings of quite a bruise. Seems like tensions are high here too. Although that brooding look seems glued to his face, the Professor is kinda cute.// Cat turned her attention back to the room's occupants. "Hello boys. Don't mind us. Albus and I will just continue our tour and try to catch you at a better time." She winked, grabbed Albus and promptly left. Her voice could be heard floating down the hallway. "Well, I feel more at home now. It's nice to know you Brits fight too!"
Harry turned to Snape and asked in a somewhat awed voice, "What was that?"
They moved toward the door and looked down the hall. Albus was craning his neck back to catch one last look. His eyes most definitely had lost their twinkle as he caught Snape's in a hard gaze. He then turned back to Cat and began chatting in his normal half-senile manner. "Potter, ... I don't know. But I have a feeling we should be a little worried. After all she seems able to manipulate Dumbledore. Merlin help the rest of us." Harry silently added his agreement.
A/N: Harry is having some control issues. Wouldn't you! I mean he has seen death, felt death, dealt death, tasted death, and about everything else death and he is just 16. Your average 16-year-old is going to have some BIG issues after going through what he has. So if he seems very out of character, please rationalize. Feel free to review, but don't flame. Constructive criticism is always welcome and thought over. Non- constructive thought is made fun of by my inner demons. I would apologize but they are damn funny.
The title is a quote from Babylon 5; it's a Membari saying.
LL&P Saavik