Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters. I'll give them back to JK Rowling when I'm done.
A/N: Thanks to all of those who have reviewed my story so far and are eagerly awaiting each chapter. This chapter and the coming chapters will show more POV's from Snape. Again, let me know what you think. Thanks.
Warning: No animals were harmed in the writing of this chapter, however, if you're a vegetarion, perhaps you might want go elsewhere.
Anything between two *, indicates a thought.
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A Camping We Will Go
Chapter 3 - Lunch is served
Harry did not want to leave the tent. Being inside, away from the watchful eye of Professor Snape, he felt was a good thing. However, it was almost supper time back at Hogwarts if they hadn't left, and he was hungry. If he was hungry, he would bet the others were too, especially Ron, and they would be setting up for lunch. Harry sighed and left the tent slowly, definitely not with the ease and grace that Snape showed.
Harry decided he would analyze his recently disturbing thoughts regarding Snape later when he had a quiet moment alone and a full stomach.
The camp was looking quite good, students hurried to and from the center of the site, setting up the small fire they would need to cook lunch, while others had found some large fallen tree limbs to act as seats for around the camp fire. Harry hadn't realized until that moment that they would have to prepare their own meals for this trip. Harry, of course, could fix breakfast, but that was only if the ingredients were already supplied, he was totally clueless about what they would be preparing for the upcoming meals. Harry walked over to Hermione, who he was sure should would give him some direction.
"Hermione, um, is there anything I can do to help?" Hermione looked at him for a moment and then suggested he might go find some herbs or plants to use for seasoning the lunch. "Perhaps you might ask Professor Snape to go along with you. I'm sure his knowledge will come in handy."
Harry looked at his friend as if she had a few screws loose. "Do you honestly think I would purposefully subject myself to his presence?"
"Think of it a a chance to improve for your N.E.W.Ts. They are coming up quite soon. I know you want to do well so that you can be accepted into the Auror training program. Taking this initiative might also go well in improving your relationship with Professor Snape. You have been complaining about him not treating you well, perhaps all you need is a quiet moment to talk."
Harry snorted at that idea. He knew that nothing he could do would change Snape's opinion. *If standing up again and defeating a Dark Lord hadn't done it, having a talk with the man certainly wouldn't change things.*
Harry sighed, nodded and approached Professor Snape, who stood on the outskirts of the camp watching over the preparations with his perpetual scowl and intense, hooded gaze. Snape turned towards Harry, his gaze became sharper as if daring Harry, challenging him. Harry faltered for a brief second, then continued on. Snape smirked.
*Blast his Gryffindor courage, why can't the boy -- sigh, not a boy any longer really, he's a young man now -- why can't he take the hint and leave me be.* Severus thought to himself. *Honestly, you make sure he bunks with you and yet you are anxious when he approaches you during daylight hours. Such contradictions, Severus. You draw Potter near you and then try to push him away.* Severus shook his head. *No, that's not it. I just want to be more in control of the situation. When Potter approaches me, I'm not the one in control.* He sighed. Deep down, he knew the real reasons he openly mocked and scorned Potter and kept him at arms length. He just wasn't ready to face those reasons just yet, but he knew it would happen sooner rather than later that he would have to.
"Professor, would you help me locate some herbs or plants to help with the cooking? Hermione also suggested that now would be a good time to brush up on the uses and properties on some of the plants used in potions," Harry said in a hurried voice. "I really want to do well on my N.E.W.Ts." Harry held his breath. Snape cocked an eyebrow in surprise.
Harry started to fidget as he waited in agonizing silence for Snape to answer. Snape looked smirked once more in amusement at Harry's nervousness.
"Well, Mr. Potter, I honestly didn't believe you had it in you, actually wanting and seeking my help. You've never done such before, in all your difficulties. You've always been want to tackle situations without thought and preparation -- which has been exceedingly foolhardy at times. I'm still amazed, even now, that you are alive and well, but then you've been getting by solely on your luck and not your brains, now haven't you."
Harry sputtered at this accusation. He so wanted to tell his Professor off, but he held his tongue. He calmed himself and unclenched his fists, so that the knuckles were no longer white with strain. Over the past seven years, Harry was finally coming to realize that it didn't pay to antagonize this man, that no matter how in the right he felt himself to be, Snape would not see it that way, the man loathed him that much. It was just so unfair, he could not win for losing when it came to Snape. Harry just asked once again if the professor would care to join him in searching for edible plants, he would not beg the man, however. Harry waited patiently for Snape's answer.
Snape sighed and nodded his head in agreement and walked off in the opposite direction from which they had come that morning. Snape did not look back to see if Harry was following. *Honestly, why is Snape so difficult.* Harry thought to himself. *Well, really! Why do I care so much, anyhow? Why do I desperately seek his approval?* Harry shied away from the answers to those questions. He knew them, he just wasn't ready to look them over just yet, he also knew that he would have to though, sooner rather than later. Harry continued to follow Snape, and watch as the man's long legs gain more ground between them, which forced Harry to speed up ever more. "Professor Snape, would you please slow down."
Snape turned his head and smirked once more at Potter. *Really, the man had the smirk down to a perfect science,* thought Harry.
"Really, Mr. Potter, you would think with all your Quidditch playing, not to mention your youth and vitality, that you would be able to keep up with an old greasy git of a Potions Master." Snape's voice dripped with sarcasm. Snape's voice, like his walk, was smooth, silky and he used it often to his advantage. He found that others could either be pacified by it or insensed, depending on the conversation. Harry growled in frustration. "Sir, if we keep up this pace, we won't be able to see the vegetation properly." Snape, paused, realizing the truth in these words. Harry cheered internally, for he knew that he was right for once. Snape, however would not outwardly acknowledge this. "We are here in the right spot anyway." Snape pointed to some plant location just off the trail. "Can you tell me what plant this is or at least the family it belongs to?"
"Looks like a weed to me, sir." Harry admitted reluctantly. He wasn't really all that knowledgable with everyday common variety plants. "Honestly, Mr. Potter, if you can't recognize such a simple plant as this, you will not fair well once you graduate from Hogwarts. It is thought to primarily be a weed, since it can grow wild and almost anywhere. It is Allium schoenoprasum, or chives if you prefer the more common term. I would suggest you pick some of that, and also some of those." Snape pointed to the base of one of the trees near to the chives. "Can you tell me what those are?"
"Honestly, Professor, that I at least know. They're mushrooms."
"Ah, such a simple answer for a simple person. Tsk. What kind of mushrooms?"
"Apparently an edible kind if you've suggested that I pick some." Harry answered smartly and with a smirk.
Severus bent his head down and brought his hand up to cover his face as if in mortification and exasperation, while actually trying to hide his smile. *I must not let him see that I actually found that amusing. Besides if he saw me smile, he'd probably faint in surprise.* "Once more, Mr. Potter, a smart remark like that is not what I wanted, but an informed, educated one, five points from Gryffindor. Again, what kind of mushroom?"
Harry went over to examine the mushrooms more closely. He closed his eyes and racked his brain for some hint of the answer, "I think it's of the trichloma uspale variety, sir. Avariation of the Vilna."
"Correct, Mr. Potter. Five points to Gryffindor. I would suggest that in future you take the time to answer more appropriately than mouthing off at a professor."
Harry gathered some of the mushrooms and chives. Snape and Harry headed back to the camp site at a more sedate pace than when they left it. "Now, Mr. Potter, after having identified these items, can you tell me their magical properties and uses?" Harry proceeded to answer Professor Snape's question to the best of his ability.
**** Meanwhile, back at camp ****
Ron walked up to Hermione, "'Mione, where's Harry?"
"I suggested he go with Professor Snape to find some herbs or seasonings to help flavour our lunch."
"Are you insane, they loathe each other, why would you suggest such a thing?" Ron yelled.
"Don't take that tone of voice with me Ronald Weasley! Harry and the professor need to work out their animosity towards one another." Hermione said. However, her thoughts were of a different nature. *Ron would have a fit if he knew that their animosity was just a cover.* "They should be back shortly."
Hermione turned back to preparing the lunch. Zabini and Boot had snared and cleaned a rabbit, while some of the other students had found a stream nearby and caught some fish. "Ron, why don't you set up a spit so that we can roast the rabbit, I'm going to get a pan to cook the fish in."
Harry and Snape walked back to the clearing a few minutes later, Harry listening to the professor adding to the information on the uses and properties of the items they had gathered that Harry wasn't aware of. Harry separated from Snape and headed over to stand beside Ron near the fire. Harry found a flat piece of wood to use for a chopping board and took out his Swiss Army knife to chop up the chives and mushrooms. Hermione came back from her tent and saw what Harry had collected.
"Wonderful, those will do quite nicely. So, how did your talk with the professor go?"
"It didn't, really. There was never a right moment to bring up that particular topic."
"Oh, well, that's a shame, but I'm sure there will be more opportunities for you and Professor Snape to have a meaningful discussion." Hermione smiled inwardly, thinking of the night ahead when the two would be sharing the same tent. Talk about having a captive audience. "Okay, let's get this food going so that lunch can be served."
tbc