The Desk
30 March 1998
"You know Harry, the reason I gave up potions was because I didn't want to have lessons with Snape. It meant that I had to give up my dreams of being an Auror all because I can't stand Snape and now we have to have him in our DA lessons."
"Ron it is not Snape's fault that you put the short term advantage of not having a teacher that you disliked above your long term goal of becoming an Auror. Anyway if you had stayed on you would have found that Snape isn't as mean to students who get into his NEWT class." Hermione answered obviously annoyed at Ron.
"Yeah she's right Ron he's ok in his NEWT class he has been even better since he has been discovered as a spy. I think he had to be more unfair than he would wish to be to try and show to Voldemort that he was loyal to him.
"I mean he'll never be the nicest teacher in the world, but he is fair now. Actually it kind of like being in a lesson with McGonagall, he demands your best but now he actually praises you if you do really well."
Harry understood why Ron was worried about Snape being part of the DA lessons, while everyone involved took the DA seriously, the lessons were also fun. The students felt comfortable with Harry teaching them. However most of the students who went to the DA had given potions up at the end of the fifth year at the first available opportunity. Either because they did not get the grades that they needed to get into the potions NEWT class, or they either hated and/or were scared of Snape. Subsequently most of the DA students did not know that Snape was now not half as bad to students who were not Slytherins anymore.
It had been a hard job to convince them that is was a good idea that Snape should assist Harry with the DA. Hermione had of cause backed him up all the way pointing out that not only did Snape know more about the dark arts and the defence of them than Harry, he would also give Harry more time to concentrate on other subjects, pointing out that Harry was also taking his NEWT's that year. That finally managed to guilt them into accepting Snape in their lessons with no one dropping out.
"Ok I get it, Snape isn't as bad any more, but there is no way that these lessons are going to be as much fun as they used to be. I bet he gives his first detention within ten minutes and takes points within the first five."
"Ron I've already told you and everybody else that he won't be able to give detentions or take points in these lessons. Not to mention the fact that I am in charge of these lessons." Said Harry now getting as irritated with Ron as Hermione was earlier.
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"See the lesson wasn't all that bad now was it?" Harry said gloatingly to Ron
"Ok it wasn't that bad, actually he was quite nice I thought he would take this as an opportunity to bully us again but he didn't he was even nice to Neville, well not nice but not horrible. Is that what he's like in potions? Because it wouldn't have been to bad sticking out if he is like that now."
"Yes actually that is what he is like now in lessons, he will take points if you do something wrong, as you know he doesn't suffer fools gladly. But now he is fair across the Houses, he doesn't take more points for the same mistake from a Gryffindor than he would from a Slytherin. You can still get detentions from him too but now when you get them you know that you really deserved it. If you need proof of that he hasn't given Harry a detention since last year."
"She's right Ron, he hasn't. Actually I've been getting on quite well with him for the last year, I actually get on better with him now than I do with McGonagall he's much more useful in a crisis than she is.
"If we had thought that it was McGonagall or indeed any of the other teachers that were after the philosopher's stone in our first year and we had gone to him about it I bet that we wouldn't have had to go and save the day ourselves, he would have contacted Dumbledore straight away McGonagall relies on the systems to much."
"Actually I think your right Snape would have been more useful than McGonagall was in that situation if we had trusted him. But I can't believe that you like Snape more than her, he has been unfair to you for years and he is such a Slytherin."
"Ron" Hermione exclaimed "I thought you were getting past these sort of prejudices. They're wrong, as wrong as not liking just because they are muggle born."
"Maybe that's the reason I like him, I was almost placed in Slytherin. Most people say that I am the most Slytherin, Gryffindor ever, though I'm not sure of that, Dumbledore can act like a Slytherin when he wants to. Actually Snape can do a pretty good impression of a Gryffindor when he wants to. Maybe that's it I get on with people who are borderline between Gryffindor and Slytherin."
"Harry you don't need to explain yourself Ron was wrong to say what he just said it should be him who is explaining himself."
"She's right Harry I do know better than putting someone down just because of what house they are in, but I still find it hard to trust him even though you and Hermione do. I think it's probably because I haven't really had to get to know him since he hasn't been in the service of you-know-who or pretending to be at least. This is the first time I've seen him act like a human being." Ron said looking guilty.
"I guess you haven't really had to see him since the fifth year... Anyway guys I've got to see Dumbledore I'll see you guys later."
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"Hello Harry."
"Hello Professor how are you today?"
"I'm fine Harry. So how was your first DA lesson with Professor Snape today?"
"It went fine sir, he never got angry once did not try and give any detentions or try and take any points. I think if nothing changes after about four lessons my classmates won't be worried to go to lessons."
Dumbledore's eyes took on their usual sparkle "I'm glad to hear that Harry. Though I assume that wasn't the reason you can all the way down hear to tell me why did you wish to see me Harry? By the way would you like a lemon drop?"
Harry smiled when Dumbledore offered lemon drops it usually meant that at that exact moment there was nothing to worry about it immediately made him feel safe. "Yes please." Harry immediately became to feel relaxed he knew it was because of the calming potion on them but didn't really care,
"Sir I was wondering if you have finished with the diary from the desk?"
"I haven't yet Harry, I will return it to you when I have got some answers from it. I'm sorry it has taken so long, I assure you I am trying my hardest to get my head around this puzzle."
"That's ok sir I'm just curious to find out where the desk is from and if there is an important reason that I have it."
"I understand Harry I will do my utmost to see that the diary is returned to you as quickly as possible."
"Thank you sir. May I go now?"
"Of cause Harry. Goodnight."
"Goodnight sir."
Dumbledore had in fact been putting a lot of effort into reading the diary, however he was unable to crack the protective spells on the diary which where designed to keep the diary private. He knew that he should have given the diary to Harry to see if he could read it but he wasn't ready to give up trying to solve this puzzle on his own.
Thanks to everybody who have spent time reading this story especially to those who have reviewed. I'm not that happy with this chapter but if I waited until I was happy with it I would never put anything out so I'm putting this out any way and again thank you for reading this.