Author: mony2208
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 'In the past decade, the indications have been that wizard kind is living through nothing more than a brief calm between two wars' as Firenze said in Divination class, fifth year … In Harry Potter's 6th year, will this 'brief calm' end and the 2nd war finally begin? Will he have the power to become the murderer or the murdered? … All that can be said is Harry's sixth year proves to be his most difficult yet, with his connection with Voldemort growing stronger everybody and his worst nightmares haunting him at every turn. Ootp spoilers.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Forewords: Well, here I am … updating another chapter. This will probably be the earliest update I've made in a while, and unfortunately it will probably remain that way. I start university in a few days, so I'll be pretty busy settling in again and all … sorry about that, but I'll try not to take too long.
Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch
Chapter Eleven
First day fizzles
Even after dinner had finished, Harry was still fuming by the time he reached the fat Lady portrait; both Hermione and Ron unable to calm him down.
After stating the password ("Fudge for brains"), Harry wordlessly stormed into the common room, ignoring the few that already occupied it. Luckily, there weren't too many in the common room; they'd beaten the first years who had not yet arrived with the fifth year prefects, Ron and Hermione opting to skive out on their own prefect duty to see to Harry.
"I shoulda known," Harry spat furiously, turning to face them. He kept his voice low, not wanting anybody else in the common room to overhear. "Those glares that Snape kept on sending me should've told me that something else was happening."
With a frustrated cry, Harry roughly raked his hand through his hair. "Why Snape? Why continue with it now, when all Snape wants to do is kill me?"
Hermione sighed exasperatedly. "I doubt Snape wants to kill you." she said calmly. "He's on our side."
"How do we know that, Hermione?" said Ron, forcefully. He was perched on the arm of a nearby armchair and looking quite downtrodden himself. "Harry had lessons with Snape for over three months and nothing good ever came from it – even after Snape stopped the lessons."
"He was the one who went to check up on Sirius, regardless of what's between them-' argued Hermione.
"Yeah, and still left us to be tortured by that Inquisitorial Hag and Snape's Slytherin pets." Ron shot back.
"We got out of there though."
"Yeah, and Sirius is dead!" shouted Ron, then reddened instantly. He turned to Harry, aghast, but after a moment where Harry's eyes flickered with anguish, Harry remained stoic and emotionless. If he let himself feel angry at every mention of Sirius, he'd go crazy.
"Finished?" said Harry, sarcastically, looking from Ron to Hermione.
Ron looked down at the ground. "Sorry, mate." he muttered.
"It doesn't matter." replied Harry, shortly, sitting down on a couch. He felt tired all of a sudden. Tired and sick of everything that was happening to him. He wouldn't be able to stand it, if things went back to the way it was last year … having Dumbledore keeping him from things until it was too late. It was just too painful.
Harry sighed, and that gained back Ron and Hermione's attention who sat cautiously beside him.
"There has to be a reasonable explanation for this, Harry." Hermione tried to say pleadingly, but Harry would have nothing of it.
"Snape? Reasonable?" he laughed hollowly. "The only thing we ever both agreed on was having him not teach me Occlumency."
"No," Hermione tried to say forcefully. "I'm talking about Dumbledore. He was the one who sent you the letter, wasn't he?"
Harry snorted bitterly. "Yeah … sent it, but didn't bother to explain why I had to go with Snape again." Great Harry, once again he's keeping things from you, just bloody brilliant.
"Can I see the letter he gave you?" asked Hermione, outstretching her hand to Harry.
Harry plunged a hand into his pocket, and pulled out the parchment. It was slightly crumpled from the times Harry had been clenching it in his fist on the way back to the common room. With a sigh, he handed it to Hermione, then stood up abruptly and began to pace across the room.
She took only a few seconds to read it through … as Harry had remembered, there were only three sentences on the parchment, informing Harry that he was to resume Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape, and that Snape would be the one to set a time and place for the lessons. He hadn't bothered to read that last bit until he'd left the Great Hall though.
When Hermione looked back up again, Harry stopped his pacing and looked expectantly at her. If there was a time he needed Hermione's quick-working brain, it was now.
"Well?" he prompted venomously, but Hermione didn't say anything. "Got any bright ideas? Perhaps send Snape out to meet the centaurs?"
Ron, silent up until that point, snorted and sank down into the chair. "If only." he said. "Imagine what would happen in your potions class if someone were to imitate a galloping centaur?"
Harry turned his head to look at Ron at the same time Hermione did, and for a moment the three remained stunned into silence, before suddenly breaking out into laughter.
"You know," Hermione said, once she'd regained her composure. "I heard a seventh year Gryffindor, whose mother works at St Mungo's, say to her friend that Umbridge is currently residing there, and that she spends half the time with ear plugs in her ear because she always seems to hear hoof beats around her."
"I really wish Snape would get an adjoining room with her.' Ron sighed wistfully, making the three laugh again.
"You're not the one who has to put up with him for two different lessons though." Harry said, his mood darkening once more. "I just wish I knew why I-"
Harry was cut off prematurely as the Gryffindor portrait opened inwards to allow entrance to the fifth year prefects and the small group of huddled first years.
"I'm going upstairs," Harry said quickly, after catching Mark Evans' eye for the second time that night. He didn't fancy a chat at the moment, not with his blood boiling with so much anger.
"I'll uh – come up with you?" said Ron, and Harry shook his head, answering the silent question.
"Don't worry about me." Harry waved him off. "It's still pretty early. I'm just going to get an early night. 'Night Hermione." He turned to Hermione and forced a smile on his face.
She returned the smile, but her eyes shined brightly as she looked back at him. "Goodnight."
Saying the same to Ron, Harry took the stairs two at a time, practically bolting for his dorm. When he reached it, and shut the door in relief, he noted that neither of the other boys in his year were there. He gladly accepted the peace and quiet, moving over to his beloved four poster bed. Then, more out of having something to do, Harry began to unpack his belongings from his trunk, which had already been brought up and placed beside his bed.
As he went to fold up his pyjama's into one of the bedside drawers, Harry's eyes caught a glimpse of the small mirror in the corner of his trunk. Remembering Remus's letter, Harry only hesitated for a second before shooting out a quick hand to grab the mirror. He held it up to his face so that his reflection was still staring at him.
"Remus." Harry called into the mirror, but like with Sirius, only his reflection remained. He tried again, this time pronouncing the whole name clearly. "Remus Lupin."
The mirror shimmered for a moment before Remus's face appeared worriedly in the mirror.
"Harry? What's wrong?" he called back, and Harry replied breathlessly.
"You knew about Snape, didn't you?" his voice held a ting of accusal.
Remus sighed and looked down momentarily. "I only found out during the meeting, Harry, which is where I just came from." he said. "I assure you I would have told you otherwise. That's why I answered you so quickly. I figured you might be a bit angry."
Harry sighed and fell back onto his bed, still gripping the mirror so that Remus remained in view. "How can I learn Occlumency with Snape again?" he moaned. "Last year was a disaster."
"You've got to have faith in yourself," said Remus. "and Professor Snape is a very accomplished Occlumens and Legimens. I am sure that Professor Dumbledore has told Snape to be less demanding this time around."
"Yes, but why couldn't Professor Dumbledore teach me?" Harry asked. "He's more powerful than Snape, what's wrong with learning from him? Not to mention that Dumbledore doesn't want me dead like Snape does."
"I'm not sure, Harry, but you do know now how important it is for you to learn it, no matter what." Remus sighed as if pained he had to say that, then jerked his head up to look Harry square in the face. "But on another front, I do have some good news to spread."
"What?"
"The twins have been accepted into the Order. So … apart from the Order members, you are now the first to know."
"Wow," Harry gasped. "I bet Mrs Weasley's spitting chips." He could almost imagine the rampage she'd be going on at Order Headquarters right then.
Remus chuckled slightly and his head bobbed up and down in the mirror. "She is not – entirely pleased, no. Of course, I can hardly blame her … having all but two of her children in the Order is not exactly good news. Not after what happened to most of the past Order members."
"What about me?" Harry asked, suddenly thinking of something.
Remus frowned. "What about you, Harry?"
"Look, I know that the Order only allows wizards of age and out of school, but don't you think it would benefit me if I became a member now too? I mean, I know about that prophecy now, and keeping things from me will only make things worse." The thought had only just occurred to Harry, after thinking about how Dumbledore always kept him out of the loop of things, and how helpless he was feeling because of it.
The more he thought about it, the more Harry felt confident that it would be best if he was actively involved with the battle against Voldemort. After all, the sooner he did, the sooner he could finish this damned war and just kill the bastard.
Remus looked unsure. "I don't know, Harry. You're still too young …"
"That's bull and you know it." he said forcefully, not caring in the least that he was swearing in the presence of his ex-professor. "I need to know everything that's going on … like tonight. Dumbledore promised not to keep anything from me, but already he's started doing it again … at least if I join the Order, I'll be able to know everything worth knowing. I'm sick of having to find all this out on my own and too late."
There was silence as Remus visibly weighed the idea. Finally, he said slowly, "I can't argue with your point, and I know you're a special case, Harry … but you're going to have to take that up with the Headmaster. I can't make that decision …"
Harry nodded firmly. "Fine, I'll ask him soon."
"Just don't go rushing into things, Harry," Remus cautioned. "and do try not to start fights with Professor Snape."
"Alright, alright," said Harry glumly. "I'll behave myself around Snape."
After Harry had said goodnight to Remus and carefully placed the mirror beside his Invisibility Cloak, Harry fell back onto the bed with a sigh.
If he'll behave himself around me … something which I very much doubt.
The next morning, after a much needed dreamless sleep, Harry was rudely awakened to reality when his quilt was snatched away from him.
"Hey!" he protested indignantly, almost toppling from his bed in the process of catching the culprit. Ron easily evaded Harry and threw the quilt back over to him so that it landed on Harry's head. Seamus hooted with laughter from somewhere over by his own bed.
"I've been calling for you to get up for the past fifteen minutes." cried Ron. "Five minutes ago I told you to get up and you said 'ok'."
Harry removed the covers from his head, his usual messy hair, even more so. "I did?' he asked groggily.
"Yeah." Now Ron looked concerned. "You didn't have any nightmares, did you?"
"Nah, m'fine. Just really tired." Harry emphasised his point by yawning mid-sentence.
"Good. Now hurry up, so I can eat some breakfast. I'll see you in the common room." Ron walked out of the dorm, leaving Harry to groan mournfully and then get ready for breakfast.
Harry gave a wide yawn as he joined Ron at the top of the stairs five minutes later. They walked down together, Harry tugging at his upturned collar as he searched for Hermione.
"Where's Hermione?" he asked sleepily, when Ron began to head towards the portrait. "Shouldn't we wait for her?"
Ron shrugged. "Said she would meet us down at breakfast later on." he said. "Something about having to see McGonagall before our lessons started."
"Oh." Harry answered, furrowing his brow slightly as he tried to think of a reason why Hermione would need to see their Head of House before lessons. The last time that occurred was when Hermione had borrowed a time turner so she could attend all her lessons. Harry hoped she hadn't thought to do that again, and he told Ron as much.
Ron vehemently agreed. "Too right she shouldn't." he said. "She'd have no time for us anymore if she did that again."
"Yeah, and that would be just too disastrous for you, don't you think?" Harry teased, smiling inwardly as Ron's ears turned red.
"I don't know what you mean." Ron said quickly, futilely tugging at his red hair to cover up his ears.
Harry laughed, thinking it was way too easy to bait Ron, but dropped the subject as they continued to walk to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Hey Harry." A boy called when Harry and Ron passed a group of Ravenclaw students.
Slowing down slightly, Harry exchanged glances with Ron and then looked over his shoulder to look at the group. He didn't recognise the guy who had called out to him, so he acknowledged him with an awkward smile. It's just like the train, he thought dolefully. Now that I'm their little hero again.
"Uh – hi." he said, then looked searchingly at Ron again. Ron shrugged, looking at the guy curiously, before dragging Harry off down the hallway.
They passed about three more groups of students; all who called out to Harry for one thing or another. By the time Harry reached the Great Hall, Harry had had enough of being the centre of attention. He slumped down onto the bench and automatically reached out for a glass of pumpkin juice.
"And I thought the reporters were bad." Ron commented finally and Harry, feeling annoyed, nodded his agreement. He thought longingly of the comfortable four poster bed waiting for him back in his dorm, and thumped his head on the table. He didn't notice Hermione's entrance to the Great Hall until she stopped right in front of the Gryffindor table.
"Good morning everyone." Hermione said cheerily, bouncing to a seat across from Ron and Harry.
Harry grunted half-heartedly, not used to so much cheer when he was still feeling half-asleep. Ron's own greeting was muffled with food.
Hermione didn't seem to mind as she added, "Such a beautiful day, don't you think?"
"If I could open my eyes enough to see more than the food on my plate, I'd give you an answer," Harry said blearily, squinting up at Hermione. "but …" he let his sentence trail off as he yawned again.
"Oh, come on," said Hermione, huffily. "You could at least act happy. It's our first day back."
"And that's exactly why we're not dancing on the table singing how wonderful the sun is shining,' said Ron, sarcastically. "First day means first lessons means first lot of work to do. I don't know about you but I sure enjoyed my first summer not having to do any homework for once… and now I'm back at school being forced into more work I have no idea about.'
"I'm with Ron," grunted Harry. "Who knows what lessons we'll have today and what homework we'll be given. With my luck I'll probably have Potions all day."
"Well, you'll find that out now." said Hermione, perking up even more if that was possible. "Here comes our timetables."
Harry and Ron shared a groan as they saw their timetables in their head of House's hands and inevitably growing nearer. She soon came to them and after smiling briefly at Hermione, she handed them their timetables and walked off.
Harry reluctantly looked down at his timetable, and immediately wished he hadn't. Even though his first lesson wasn't horrible (Herbology), the second definitely was.
"Double Potions!" he complained, then looked over at Ron's. "Double free period! It wouldn't kill you to not look so smug about it, y'know."
And smug Ron looked. "Think I might go back for a little nap after Herbology." he said loftily.
Harry sighed in defeat as the image of his bed suddenly deflated in his mind. He scanned his timetable again. "At least I have a free period after lunch. What d'you have then?" he looked again at Ron's timetable and saw something amiss.
"Hang on - I thought you said you wouldn't be doing all the Auror subjects?" he asked.
"Oh, well I'm not doing Potions, which is one of the most important lessons. I'm doing History of Magic instead." Ron answered. "Not that I'm going to know how I'm going to stay awake with you and Hermione not doing it anymore though."
Hermione looked up at that and flushed. "Well actually, that's the reason I went to see Professor McGonagall before breakfast. I decided last night to drop Study of Ancient Runes and take up History of magic again." she admitted, showing the two boys her new and improved timetable. "There's so much more I can learn about the history of house elves and their so-called legislation …"
Obviously tuning Hermione out as soon as the dreaded words 'house-elves' came into the sentence, Ron excitedly threw himself at Hermione and gave her a hug, before pulling back with a red face.
"Uh – uh," he stammered, his ears growing redder by the second. Harry had a hard job at keeping his snickers to himself as he watched Ron and Hermione look at each other. When Ron finally pulled his gaze away, he added nervously.
"Just glad someone else can copy notes for me when I fall asleep." he mumbled.
Hermione looked torn between chiding Ron for his lack of note- taking skills, and smiling for Ron's rare show of affection.
"I'll help do your notes," she said instead, making Ron grin victoriously. "if you promise to help me with S.P.E.W. I've got some great ideas-"
Ron slumped down in his seat. "Argh, I knew there was a down side to it."
But Hermione had started and was already spouting off ideas that her and Ron could work on. Harry couldn't help laughing as Ron faced him with a pleading expression as if to say 'get me away from her.'
Not wanting to incriminate himself, Harry simply excused himself with a simple, "See you in Herbology. I just got to get my books," and ignored Ron's betrayed look as he rose from the table.
He chuckled wryly at Hermione's distant "Don't be late," before she continued on her lecture with Ron. "-And really the discrimination against house elves shouldn't be so blatantly stated in the Statute for –"
Hermione's voice faded out as he continued down the table, nodding half-heartedly at some of his housemates. Yawning again, Harry rubbed at his eyes tiredly, not noticing when he walked past the first year Gryffindor's until he felt a tug on his robe. Starting slightly, Harry looked down and was surprised to see Mark Evans, the boy from his neighbourhood, rising up from his seat.
"Can I - er talk to you for a sec?" Mark asked hesitantly. The other first years began whispering as Harry nodded and they walked over to the Great Hall doors.
Harry stopped in front of Mark and looked expectantly at him, watching as the young boy began fidgeting uncomfortably, eyes directed to the floor.
"So you don't go to St Brutus's, do you?" were Mark's words when he finally spoke up.
Harry shook his head, still feeling slightly sore about that particular comment because of that incident with his uncle.
"No, 'fraid not." he replied.
Mark Evans let out a nervous laugh. "Y'know when I found out I was a wizard, I never thought I'd see you here." he admitted. "You're supposed to be that criminal boy, not some sort of a – a famous hero." Mark mumbled the last words, almost flushing in embarrassment.
That got a bitter laugh from Harry. "Believe me, this is the last place I expected to see you here too." He ignored the last part.
"So why'd your relatives say you were a criminal?"
"Well, it was a cover up for coming to Hogwarts. My aunt and uncle didn't exactly approve of this whole magic thing."
"But if anyone was to be a criminal," Mark hesitated, obviously not sure whether or not to continue on. In the end he said quickly. "It'd be your cousin."
"Big D?" Harry grinned, not in the least bit offended. It was quite refreshing to have somebody else that didn't fawn all over the fat pig. "Yeah well, the Dursleys are notoriously blind when it comes to their precious Duddykins … they have no idea what he gets up to with that hoodlum gang of his."
Mark relaxed and offered a smile. "He used to always come to the park and beat up anyone who'd say something to him."
"Yeah I heard you badmouthed him … what'd you say to get him all riled up?"
"He saw me eating my lunch one day and demanded that I give it to him." said Mark. "I just told him that any fatter, and he'd be mistaken for a pig … he got really offended, and for some reason, his hands went automatically for his bum."
Harry laughed outright at that, and couldn't help automatically liking the small boy. "Y'see that professor over there?" he asked Mark, pointing out Hagrid who waved enthusiastically.
"Yeah." Mark looked slightly nervous as the giant stood up with a loud crash.
"If you ever get the chance, just ask him about Dudley and pigs. I think you might like the story he'll tell you."
Mark frowned in confusion, but Harry gave him an assuring pat on the back. "Look, I got to get ready for class now," he said. "but if you ever need help or someone to talk to, don't hesitate to approach me. I know how hard it is to come into a new world."
"Thanks." smiled Mark, relaxing. "I'll – uh see you later then. I got to get back to my friends. They were too afraid to come with me to talk to the great Harry Potter." The way Mark said the last few words made Harry feel even more at ease. At least there was someone else who wasn't intimidated by his so-called fame … and not just another Colin Creevy. He actually knew what Harry's home life was like.
Harry turned to leave but Mark shyly added, "I never did think you were a criminal. No matter how much everyone else said it."
'Thanks.' said Harry, smiling slightly. It suddenly occurred to him that maybe his next summer wouldn't be so bad with a wizard so close by. He set off to Herbology with a lighter load on his shoulders.
After a laidback Herbology lesson where they were introduced to the sorts of plants they'd be dealing with in their NEWT's years, Harry and Hermione – being the only two to go on with Potions – parted from Ron's and the rest of Gryffindor's company.
"I'll be thinking of you when I'm playing Exploding Snap with Neville, Dean and Seamus!" Ron called out as he rounded the corner towards Gryffindor tower.
"Stupid prat … Why'd I want to do Potion's again?" Harry was starting to feel like an idiot for choosing to continue on Potions. There was no way he'd be able to pass with Snape. There was no way he'd live through to complete even another year of potions.
"Come on Harry." said Hermione, grabbing Harry by his sleeve. He allowed himself to be pulled along the corridors, but had a glum expression on his face, feeling as though he was being led to his death. "It's too late to back out now, and we don't want to be late."
"Yeah 'cause then he'd actually have a reason for taking away points." Harry mumbled grumpily.
He scowled as the two reached the dungeon's and the scowl only increased as he entered the classroom to find the class half-filled with Slytherins', excluding Crabbe and Goyle. The only plus was the class was also occupied by the other two Houses, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. He waved half-heartedly at Justin and Ernie from Hufflepuff - who he had only just seen in Herbology - and sat with Hermione at a table behind Susan Bones and Mandy Brocklehurst, two Ravenclaws.
Just in time, Harry slid in his seat just as the door slammed open. Snape - a book tucked securely under one black-robed arm - stalked past the desks, and laid his eyes on everyone present. Some, like Hermione squirmed under the watchful gaze, but Harry remained still and glared straight back at him.
This seemed to spur Snape into finally talking and he made his way back to his table with a dramatic swish of his black robe.
"Welcome to my NEWT preparatory potions class. Most," And here, most unsurprisingly, Snape turned to face Malfoy, who was sneering triumphantly. "of you have rightfully earned your place here, with the exception of a few-" here he stopped to glare at Harry with a look of utter distaste, making the Slytherins' present snicker. "-but let me tell you this now. This is a NEWT preparatory class and contrary to previous years, I will not stand for any ridiculous mistakes in this potions class."
He slammed the book he was holding, a book Harry recognised as their current potions textbook on the table, making everybody jump.
"Now that some rather hopeless students have left the fray, particularly Longbottom, I have the utmost confidence that most," Once again, Snape's narrowed eyes found Harry's, "of you will succeed."
Here he stopped to pick up the textbook again and opened it. "Page 26. We're revising Draught of the Living Death." Snape barked. "Instructions are up on the board, and you have thirty minutes remaining of this lesson to complete it."
Snape sat back down at his desk and glared at the students and Harry as he headed off to collect the ingredients needed for the potion. Waiting for his turn behind Hermione, Harry had barely taken another step forward to Snape's cupboard before Snape appeared in front of him.
"This potion may be too advanced for your tastes Potter," he hissed into Harry's ear, looking altogether unpleasant. "but one wrong move and you'll have hell to pay." Then Snape had a rather strange smile on his pale face, and Harry felt a pang of uneasiness. Snape never smiled at him unless something extremely bad was about to happen to him.
Not wanting to disappoint Professor's McGonagall and Dumbledore, Harry shook off the feeling, and merely nodded before grabbing the ingredients and returning back to his table. He then carefully laid out his ingredients, and made sure to read the instructions on the board more than once.
All seemed well at first; Harry had managed to chop, slice and dice all of his ingredients perfectly, and even the first stages of the potion were progressing without any problems. His potion was the required orange colour by the time he had reached the last stage of the potion. Even Hermione hadn't found anything wrong with his work, and she was looking over at him quite often.
"Potter." Snape snapped, making Harry's head shoot up, a hand containing a vial of the last crucial and hazardous ingredient, dragon's blood, hovering above his cauldron. "Ten points from Gryffindor and a detention tonight."
"I didn't do anything!" Harry exclaimed indignantly at the unfairness of Snape, for something he hadn't even done wrong. Unknowingly, he stepped angrily away from his cauldron into the passageway to glare at Snape. He didn't notice that whilst stepping away, he accidentally poured more than the two drops required into the potion, since he was thrown from what he'd actually done to deserve Snape's wrath this time.
There came a sudden explosion beside him and Harry looked back to his now exploded cauldron in alarm. When he turned back towards Snape, anger clenched his jaw shut and he was faced with a gloating, triumphant sneer. Snape had played him.
"For leaving your potion unattended during my class and creating an explosion that Longbottom himself would be proud of.' Snape eventually drawled, over the laughter of the Slytherins. He was carelessly watching the ruined potion slop over the desk and onto the floor.
"But if you-' Harry spluttered desperately, waving the hand that still contained the vial of dragon's blood. "-it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't –"
"Hadn't what, Potter?" Snape asked, his voice deceptively quiet, though it was effective enough to cut off Harry. "Do you have something else to add?"
Catching Hermione's desperate hand movements, Harry hung his head down, and mumbled, "No sir."
Snape nodded, smirking. "Good. Then kindly clean that excuse of a potion from the rest of your cauldron and my potions desk."
Swallowing his anger, Harry pulled his wand from his robe pocket and cleaned the mess with a simple "Evanesco".
"Did I say that you could use magic, Potter?" Harry snapped his head up to look incredulously at Snape, but didn't answer.
It didn't matter because Snape didn't bother to allow Harry to answer anyway. He continued on imperiously, "That's another five points from Gryffindor, and an extra night of detention for you, Potter."
Gritting his teeth with incredible force, Harry contented himself with sitting down as slowly as possible, then crossed his arms with a carefully blank expression on his face. He wouldn't let Snape get the better of him anymore.
He spent the rest of the lesson on his stool, glaring menacingly at the Slytherins', who were openly and unabashedly whispering about him, and Snape. Not even the sympathetic looks from the other students helped Harry calm down.
At the end of the lesson, where all the students apart from Harry were rushing to fill their vials, Snape stood up from his desk and walked over to him, effectively stopping Harry from walking out from behind his own desk.
"Once again you have displayed your inferiority in my potions class by obtaining another D. I can't exactly say I'm surprised." Snape sighed mockingly, then raised his voice a notch higher so that anyone walking outside could hear. "It looks like we'll be back to remedial potion lessons again. See me tonight, Potter."
Remedial potions? All at once, Harry's eyes flashed in realisation at what Snape had done, and he felt that white-hot anger licking the sides of his throat as he saw Snape's mouth twitching into an unpleasant smile. He didn't notice that he was the only person remaining in the classroom, and that the next class were waiting to enter.
Harry now knew the reason for that strange smile by the ingredient's cupboard and he wasn't the least bit pleased.
Finally, with his jaw still clenched shut, Harry nodded tightly at Snape, then grabbed his school bag and left the classroom.
"Harry, what was all that about?" Hermione asked, when Harry came storming out through the throes of the next class. He didn't stop his brisk pace and she began to run in the hopes of catching up with him. "What did he say to you this time?"
Harry stopped to turn abruptly to Hermione. "Snape staged the whole accident so he would have an excuse to give me a detention, and extra remedial potions lessons." he spat. Hermione's mouth opened slightly into an 'o' position.
"I don't care if that was some cover-up for the occlumency lessons," Harry fumed angrily, giving up on all pretences. He couldn't believe that Dumbledore had made the mistake of having Snape as his Occlumency teacher again. "It's totally unfair. I was really trying with that potion, and he's just prejudiced because of my father."
"Maybe you should talk to Dumbledore," Hermione suggested softly. "and find a better way for you and Snape to explain those extra lessons."
"Maybe I should just Avada Kedavra Snape while I'm at it." Harry spat back. "What can Dumbledore do to help, other than to teach me Occlumency himself? He himself, admitted to making the mistake of having Snape teach me, yet he's doing it all over again."
To vent his anger, he stopped to kick a nearby wall in annoyance. Hermione looked momentarily stunned at Harry's blatant show of anger, and stayed back until Harry took a deep breath and calmed down.
"What a fizzle of a day this has been so far, hey?" Harry said to Hermione sheepishly, anger deflating as he leaned against the wall wearily.
A/N: Feel very, very special. This chapter has been my longest chapter yet. 5000 freaken words!! And I still didn't finish Harry's first day back at school. There'll be more next chapter.
Oooh, and if anyone wants to see Harry, Ron and Hermione's complete timetables, you'll soon be able to find them posted on my yahoo group. They'll be good to have, because then nobody will be as confused when I write about their lessons. I also have a list of students in Harry's year, just to help the class numbers out (I have to admit, I'm very detailed when I write out a story. I have to have almost everything planned).
Anyway, as usual, please review and tell me what you think. I depend on reviews to inform me on what people think about my story.
As usual, thanks goes to xxGinnyxx, Lise, Angi, Saxistwriterchick, Silver Dagger, SPASH Panther, John and jac.
And an extended thanks to:
Dragonsprincess: You were the only person to comment on my sorting song. I'm glad somebody likes it, because I know my poetry skills are horrendous … lol. Anyway … no, Harry's Occlumency lesson won't be this chapter. It will be in the next one. But don't fret, Harry's first potions lesson will be this chapter, and its guaranteed to be a screamer of a lesson!! Mark Evans, as I said to another person who reviewed, is a mystery to me! I don't know if I'll have him being related to Harry in this story, but he will feature a small part relating to Harry and his life at the Dursleys. About Remus … well I can't tell you much, but he will be visiting the castle a bit more this year … Lastly, I'm really sorry, that I haven't had chance to read your fic yet!! Don't worry, I'll get to it, I'm just a bit stressed at the moment, and haven't had the chance to get on ff.net as much as I used to. Thanks for reviewing again!!
aerinoutlander: Thanks, but I don't think I'll reach JK Rowling's skill at writing. Otherwise I wouldn't bother writing on ff.net … I'd be out there writing lots and lots of books that are worth millions! Lol.
Amber16: he he, just what I like … to keep people guessing. I'm glad you stuck around to read it even with the possibility of an original character, lol. Anyway, Tonks being DADA professor is going to be somewhat wacky, if you know what I mean! And Snape's Occlumency lessons … gulp … I can guarantee you they won't be pleasant. Glad you liked that comment by the way. When I wrote it, I could imagine it happening in my head … he he. Thanks for reviewing again!
ilovered: Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like the way I write my characters! Oh and about Ron … Nah I like Ron, so it's not intentional. So don't worry, he'll get better … more mature, later on … Hermione and Ron … he he, from everything I've read of the books, I gather that those two have something going on … you'll have to read on to find out though.
WinterWonderland02: Well, the whole deal with Mark Evans is somewhat of a mystery to me too! JK Rowling rarely puts something into her books without it meaning something important … so who knows? I mean, although Dumbledore said all of Harry's relatives (bar Petunia) are all gone, there still remains the slight possibility that there's a long lost relative or something. I don't know if I'll have him being related to Harry in my story though. At the moment, he'll just be another student at Hogwarts … one that knows of Harry's home life at the Dursleys, though, of course. Also I looked through Ootp and Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet were the only two Chasers leaving at the end of Harry's fifth year. Ginny said it herself to Harry on page 508 (I think that's the right page. If not it's around that number, lol). Oh and yeah, I thought that Luna did have a crush on Ron, especially after I read about Luna humming the 'Weasley is our King' song. You'll have to wait and see if Luna and Ron become a couple, but I will say one thing; where does Hermione fit? He he. Thanks for reviewing!
tonks: lol, things won't be getting any easier for a while between Harry and Snape. This chapter will be the perfect example!! Thanks for reviewing!
Lillypotterfan: Yeah that's what I thought too about Harry getting the Captain position. He deserves something after everything he's been through, and Quidditch is his best talent … something that has nothing to do with Voldemort or his fame as well. Anyway, thanks for reviewing! Oh and Snape's occlumency lesson won't be until the next chapter, but I think you might like what I have in store this chapter, for Harry's first potion's lesson.
Emma Victoria Arden: Wow, I loved the extra long review, and I have to admit that your review has flattered me more than you could ever know! I actually find myself speechless in regards to my reply to your review … lol. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you, and that I am really glad you've enjoyed reading my story. I have tried as much as it is possible to make my writing as realistic as JK Rowling's, so it's good to know that you thought it was almost like her's. Snape is and probably will always be one of my most favourite characters to write (apart from Harry and Remus). He's so complex and confusing and just downright mean!! It's great. You'll see more of him this chapter. You think Tonks is a good choice for a professor? Thanks … she'll definitely be another fun character to write about. About Ron and Luna? Well, without saying too much, Hermione is right. Luna does have a crush … but as I said in another review … where does dear old Hermione fit into all of it … hehe. Umm, just a last note before I upload this chapter up on ff.net. Seeing as you've liked the length's of all my other chapters, I think you'll like the length of this one. It's my longest yet, and yes it did take me ages!! So once again thanks for the brilliant review, and I hope to continue to read and review my story. You might be my loyal fan (lol, I can't believe I have one) but you are definitely now one of my most favourite reviewers!!
Aliba: No problem, thanks for reviewing this chapter. And Tonks being DADA professor is definitely going to be something to remember throughout the year … lol.