In Every Darkness
Chapter Fifteen: OWL Results
21.7.1996 (Afternoon)
Harry woke to hear someone knocking on his bedroom door. He turned over with a groan and looked at the clock – it was four in the afternoon.
He was about to get up and open the door when he realised that it wouldn't be one of the Dursleys – why would they bother knocking? – and that if it was Tatsu, he'd come through the window.
"Who is it?" He demanded cautiously.
"Professor Snape. Open this door Potter!" Came the barked answer. "NOW!"
Harry was immediately overwhelmed by a wave of hate and anger. This man was the reason – in Harry's mind – that Sirius was dead. Why should he let the man into his room? He remained on the bed without moving.
"Potter, open this door!" The Professor demanded once more.
"Why should I?" Harry demanded coldly.
"Dumbledore sent me Potter, and much as I don't like it, I can leave until I've done what I came to do."
Harry thought about it for a moment, then with a sigh got up and opened the door. He glared at the Potions Master, making sure that Snape knew Harry wanted him anywhere but there.
Snape just smirked back at him and entered the room. Glancing around the room, he seemed surprised by the fact that everything was fairly neat and clean.
"You're studying, Potter?" He demanded, arching an eyebrow as he looked at Harry's desk. "And here I thought you got such bad marks because you didn't."
Harry ignored him, sitting himself in the chair in front of the desk and looking at Snape. "You said you couldn't leave until you'd done what you came to do, Snape. So why don't you get a move on and do it?"
Snape seemed surprised by Harry's cold, blunt manner. Suddenly there was a knock on the window.
Harry knew this was Tatsu – no one else would ever come to the window, even if he couldn't see the man.
"What the?" Snape demanded, looking at the window and not seeing anything. Harry got up and headed towards the window. "I wouldn't Potter. You know what happened last time you obeyed one of you trouble-finding instincts."
"Shows how much you know," Harry replied rudely, opening the window and leaning down. Tatsu was clinging to the wall with apparent ease.
"Want a hand?" Harry asked him politely, offering one.
Tatsu took it and allowed Harry to help him into the room. Then he saw Snape and his eyes narrowed. "I'd thought you would be alone at this time in the afternoon. I was going to suggest another practice session," Tatsu remarked. "I can come back later, if you like?"
"No, its fine. He shouldn't be staying long," Harry replied. Tatsu nodded and sat on the end of Harry's bed, watching Snape.
When Harry turned to look at his teacher, he saw that Snape was gaping at Tatsu in amazement. "You are teaching him, Sir?" Snape asked, and Harry was amazed to hear his teacher sounding polite, for once.
"Yes. I find him a very capable student," Tatsu responded, voice completely calm. "Don't you? I know you're Severus Snape, a teacher at Hogwarts, thus I'm sure you'll have had the honour of teaching Harry before."
"I would not call it an honour. I find him rebelious and unwilling to learn," Snape sneered in response.
"Then I will assume it is your style of teaching. I hear that very few people ever learn Potions to the full extent under your tutelage … Unless they happen to be Slytherins, of course."
Snape was looking mad as hell, Harry realised. He'd never seen anyone insult the Potions Master back before. And Snape didn't even say anything in defense.
There was deffinately something no one was telling Harry about Tatsu. He sighed, thinking that it would probably be some time before he found out anything.
"What are you here for?" Harry demanded of his Potions Professor, voice still cold.
"Your OWL results, Potter. I must say I'm amazed that you did so well," Snape sneered.
"Well, are you going to tell him his results, Severus, or are you just going sneer at him?" Tatsu demanded coolly.
"Here, Potter," Snape threw a piece of paper onto the desk in front of Harry.
Harry picked it up, heart thumping in his chest as he looked over the results.
Transfiguration: Outstanding
Charms: Outstanding
Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding
Herbology: Exceeds expectations
Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Divination: Exceeds Expectations
History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations
Potions: Outstanding
Harry gaped at the page. Six owls? And he hadn't gotten anything beneath exceeds expectations! That meant that he could become an auror! YES!
He glanced up – Snape was looking very bitter, he must have known about Harry's results already.
"I'm supposed to help you choose the subjects that you will be taking in the next two years, Potter," Snape hissed, not seeming at all happy about it.
Tatsu stood up from where he'd been sitting and walked over. "I'll help too, from what little I know of this system, I might be able to see things that you cannot, or will not, Severus," he said, voice almost pleasant.
"Fine," Snape snapped waspishly. "Potter, you will give your final choices to Dumbledore before or on the 31st of July. Now, what courses are you intending to do?"
"NEWT level Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, Defence Against the Dark Arts," Harry replied, thinking fast. "And Astronomy," he added after a moments hesitation. "I can do those, since I got Outstanding in most, and only Exceeds Expectations in Astronomy."
"There are also electives that you can choose from. Dumbledore has said that I will be teaching you Occlumency once more. This is against my wishes, but I have no choice, and will therefore comply. Also, the Headmaster believes that you should take some electives that will be offered for this year that haven't been before. He will tell you of those at a later date."
"I don't want to do any of the electives," Harry informed Snape coldly. "And doing Occlumency with you is against my wishes also. I'd guess I haven't got a choice either. I'll talk to Dumbledore about the electives whenever I see him. Now leave!"
Snape sneered at him. "There's nothing that would please me more," he got up and walked to the door, then stopped. "Oh, and before I forget, the Headmaster wanted me to inform you that you may come to Grimmauld Place on the 31st of July. You can tell him your final choices then." He dissaparated almost before he'd finished speaking.
Harry turned to Tatsu. "How did you know Snape? Are you a wizard?" he asked curiously.
"No. I am no wizard, I never have been, never will be, though once it was my greatest dream," Tatsu replied. "I just know quite a bit about the wizarding world, and more than one person in it."
"What do you mean?"
Tatsu sighed, looking down. "I did not mean to come over here, but when I saw Snivellus, I thought it might be a good idea … It seems that it wasn't."
"What do you mean? And why did you call him Snivellus?" Harry demanded, eyes narrowing. That was the Marauders nickname for Snape.
"I had not wanted to tell you about myself – I thought it would be for the best if you didn't know ... I do not like being famous, and prefer not to speak of it, if it can be avoided. But it seems that I must tell you about myself now …"
***
Well, that looks like a good place to stop! Next chapter – Truth About Tatsu. Finally. *sighs* I couldn't keep him to myself forever, it seems.
~WolfMoon~