Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Potter Universe. It all belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling, who, I might add, is a genius! I only like to force the characters to do things they would never do without the assistance of chemical substances!!!!
Pairing: Harry/Severus …. If this freaks you out, then PLEASE don't read any further
P.S. Harry is underage, even in the U.K. okay? He's in his 5th year in this fic, but don't worry, it doesn't get really heavy for a while…maybe not ever, because I don't have much confidence in writing naughty scenes like that. -
Summary: Harry tries a blood magic potion to better understand his summer potions homework, but mixes up the name with another potion that binds the drinker to his or her most compatible match in ability – a soul mate, if you will(not necessarily romantic, for instance, siblings are often bonded). Guess who Harry gets bonded with?
Spoilers: All the books except the 5th one because I started writing this before that came out.
Author's Note: Yes, I know there are several fics out there just like this one. Sorry.
Hey guess what gang? Only a few more chapters till the Christmas KISSING scene!!!! Wahoo! So excited!!! But hold on for a few more chapters please?!?!!
P.S. I hope me writing this isn't pointless, considering I have read the 5th book and it totally and completely cancels out everything I've written…if you don't think I should continue the story, let me know. My long absence was due to a 3 week overnight camp then a 2 week road trip, and then school and PSATs! *ducks hurling stones* Sorry!
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Chapter 12: Back to Class
Harry walked hastily to the Potions classroom. For some unfathomable reason, he wanted to be the first one there (if Harry was honest with himself, the reason wasn't unfathomable at all; he wanted to impress Snape).
Harry was indeed the first person in the classroom. After all, who would want to get to Potions early?
Harry sat down in his usual chair in the back and took out his books, parchment, and quill from his bag, then set them up around him in an attempt to look studious. He was just straightening his stack of parchment when Snape stalked in, robes trailing behind him. He shot Harry a look that said quite plainly, "What the blazes are you doing in here?" before rummaging through the equipment cabinet in the corner. Harry busied himself with smoothing out his quill, shooting furtive glances over at Snape, who was setting up his cauldron and ingredients for the day's potion.
"Is there a reason you are here ten minutes early, Potter?"
Harry jumped. He hadn't expected Snape to say anything.
"Er… not really," said Harry lamely.
"I see," Snape's sarcastic drawl suggested to Harry that he did not 'see' at all.
Harry bent over his parchment and occupied himself by writing NOTES on the top of the page. He desperately wanted to strike up a conversation with Snape, but what would they talk about? Snape seemed like the kind of person who would find small talk tedious. He couldn't just say, "So Professor, how about that rain we've been having, eh?" Harry snorted; the idea was ludicrous.
"May I ask what it so amusing, Potter?"
Harry jerked his head up and saw that Snape had once again put his hair in a ponytail. He must have just done it. The look Snape was wearing was one of offense; Snape obviously thought he was laughing at his hair.
"Oh – I wasn't laughing at you, sir." Harry said quickly.
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Er – yeah."
Snape looked at him for a minute longer before returning to his tasks at his desk. Harry breathed a sigh of relief, then turned back to his blank parchment. Great, Potter. Way to impress him, really.
Several long, strained minutes later, the bell rang loud and shrill. Thundering sounds of footsteps could be heard from above, and Harry sat up straight. Snape stalked over to the door and threw it open, shot a nasty glance at Harry as if to say, "You should have been coming in here now", then swept over to his desk and sat down. Harry shuffled his feet embarrassingly against the floor. His hopes that he could share some form of what normal humans call conversation before class were dashed. Just my luck Harry thought bitterly as Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and the rest of the Slytherins trickled in. Malfoy shot Harry a knowing smirk which was very off-putting. Harry raised one eyebrow at him in response (another facial expression absorbed from Snape), then looked back at his parchment. Malfoy didn't look like he had been up all night….
"Hurry up!" Snape barked as Lavender and Parvati scuttled through the open door. Neville stumbled in behind them and narrowly missed being hit by the door slamming shut. He squeaked and hurried over to a chair. Snape waited until everyone was sitting, then, with a flick of his wand, the chalk rose and began writing the potion of the day on the board.
"Finnegan! Collect the homework!" Everyone jumped and the sound of rustling parchment filled the room. Harry placed his essay neatly on the right side of his cauldron and looked back at Snape. He started a little to see that Snape was already looking back at him. He was sneering and looked pointedly at Harry's essay. Harry's face grew hot with anger. Just because he had screwed up royally with the blood potion he had made didn't mean he didn't know what he was talking about! He had worked hard on that essay! It was actually three and ¾ feet long…Harry thought grumpily. Three more inches than the required length! Take that!
Some of the challenge must have shown on Harry's face because Snape's scowl turned into a smirk/eyebrow raise of amusement. This only sent Harry into another fit of righteous anger at the thought of not being taken seriously.
And so it went on from there; the class passed with the usual point deductions from Gryffindor and the success of the Slytherins. By the time the bell rang, Harry was beginning to remember just why he hated Snape so much. Why bother trying to impress a man who was so un-impressible? There's no point, none at all! he thought angrily, shoving his potions book into his bag. They were supposed to be soul mates! Bah! Harry swung his bag over his shoulder nearly knocking Neville off his stool, and stormed out.
"Potter!"
"What?" Harry yelled savagely, spinning on his heel. It was Malfoy.
"Easy there, Potter, no need to get your knickers in a twist," the blonde said smoothly. "You left your notes on your desk." A pale hand held out Harry's notes. Harry glanced at them suspiciously, then looked back at Malfoy. He noticed with some interest that Crabbe and Goyle looked dumbfounded. That meant that there couldn't possibly be some trick involved…but then, Crabbe and Goyle looked dumbfounded most of the time…oh forget it.
"Thanks," he grumbled, snatching the parchment scroll.
"See you around," Malfoy said softly. He gave Harry a significant look before putting on his usual smirk and swaggering away with Crabbe and Goyle. Harry stood there for a moment then shook his head and stuffed the scroll in his bag. Malfoy was just getting weirder and weirder.
Suddenly, Harry became aware that he was the only one left in the corridor. Surely Ron and Hermione hadn't left without him? Harry took about three steps before another person called his name.
"Potter!"
Harry's back stiffened. Snape was standing in the doorway looking at him coldly.
"Yes Professor?"
"Why are you still here?"
Harry's jaw clenched. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't realize it was against the rules to stand in your presence! I'll just go, shall I?" With that said, Harry turned and raced up the stairs to the Great Hall, very ready for lunch.
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"Could you pass the butter, Ron?"
"Of course, Hermione."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome… Do you need any salt?"
"No, but thank you for asking, Ron."
"No problem."
"Someone gag me."
"Fred!"
Harry rolled his eyes as Fred pretended to moan in pain from the sharp slap on the head Angelina had given him.
"Honestly, you two are as bad as Mum and Dad!" George scolded, looking positively revolted at the pair of them.
Ron's face could rival the ketchup bottle.
Harry grinned, albeit a little evilly. He hadn't quite forgiven them for leaving without him just yet.
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That night Harry, seeing that Ron was busy with Hermione establishing their "relationship", went up to the dormitory by himself and, rather reluctantly, dragged out his potions notes from that day. He sat down on his bed and unrolled the scroll – and a note dropped out.
What? Harry thought, peering at it. His jaw dropped. It was from Malfoy! It was just a short message, really. The sprawling, spidery handwriting merely said he wanted proof that he had chosen the right side. Harry smirked. Malfoy had just given him the perfect chance to act out his "mission".
Well, he'd give him proof all right. Right after he stopped thinking about his Potions professor.
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Severus Snape was in a foul mood after dinner that night. He had a pile of summer papers to mark and cruel indigestion. Severus growled at a wayward first year in his path (said first year squealed in terror and fled) and swept off to his dungeon chambers. He was looking forward to making a nice stomachache remedy and was in no mood for distractions. Unfortunately, his wishes were not granted.
"Ah, Severus! I was hoping to catch you here!"
Severus stopped in his tracks and groaned. Albus was standing in front of him wearing that bright smile that only meant one thing: he had some bee in his bonnet about something Severus should do.
"Well there's no need to sound so pleased," the Headmaster chucked indulgently. Severus scowled, but said nothing. His temper was running so short that he thought if he opened his mouth, something would explode. The Potter brat had thrown him completely off balance with that little classroom stunt and he had been in a foul mood the whole day trying to work it out.
"So," the Headmaster rocked on his heels and put his hands behind his back. The man's expression looked awkward, and if Severus had been in a slightly better mood, he would have lifted an eyebrow in astonishment that the Headmaster could look that way.
"Ah, I heard your first class of the year was eventful as always."
Severus stared.
"You…heard?" said Severus snidely.
"Well, I observed, I suppose. Yes, that would be a better word wouldn't it?"
It wasn't really a question, so Severus said nothing. He crossed his arms and flexed his fingers impatiently. Where was the man going with this?
"I noticed young Harry looked quite upset at lunch…," the old man trailed off as if hoping Severus would provide some sort of explanation. None was forthcoming.
"Oh Severus, stop it!" The Headmaster waved a hand at Severus' face as though trying to banish the scowl that had taken residence there. "I must say I am a little disappointed that you couldn't at least make some small effort in making this easier for Harry!"
Severus growled and his arms dropped to his sides, fists clenched in outrage. "Oh yes, it's always about Harry, isn't it? Never about what I need! Have you spoken to your pride and joy Albus? Have you asked him to 'make some small effort'?"
"I am asking him right now, Severus." Albus said calmly. This shut Severus up.
"Severus," The Headmaster's tone was soft now, and he reached out and touched the Potions master's shoulder gently. "You are the adult here. You were making excellent progress with Harry as of late. I would hate to see that progress be wasted."
Severus' ramrod-straight back suddenly slouched. The unfairness of it all seemed to have disappeared and was replaced with grudging responsibility. That always happened when Dumbledore used that 'I would hate to see' line.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked hollowly. "Apologize?"
Dumbledore's eyes glittered. "Not exactly. I don't think you're quite ready for that yet."
Severus glared but said nothing; he wasn't ready for apologizing.
"All I ask is that you keep in mind Harry's feelings. Is that so hard?"
Snape harrumphed but said nothing else.
"Good. I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast then." Dumbledore gave him one final nod, then turned and glided off.
"What a day," Severus muttered, shaking his head as he dissembled his wards.
Later that night, after he had been properly supplied with a large glass of scotch and a stomach settling potion, Severus sat down with the fifth year summer essays, red ink and quill in hand.
"Poorly explained," he murmured in between sips, dragging the quill through a sentence. "Needs more examples,"
Twenty minutes late, Severus picked up Potter's essay. He shifted in his seat, then began to read.
The affect of human blood on potions varies depending on the type of potion being created, but always creates a bond between the giver of the blood and the resulting potion. Human blood is usually used in Dark or Protection potions while animal blood contributes necessary magical properties, such as that of the Salamander which has powerful curative and restorative properties…
And on it went. Severus was actually impressed at the amount of research Potter had actually done. If only the boy put this much effort into actually making a potion.
Reluctantly, Severus scrawled an A on the top of the page and wrote: Impressive for such a person who rarely puts any thought into an essay. If this keeps up, you may actually earn an Acceptable in your OWLs.
'There,' Severus thought. 'That ought to satisfy Albus.'
TBC (hopefully soon)
Yeah I know it's short.
Okay PLEASE don't waste the review space by telling me how long that took. You can all yell at me via my email which is posted in my bio. The long wait was due to a number of issues:
1) Summer: I was deprived of my computer for most of the summer
2) School: school has restarted and I have not found much time for ANYTHING really except schoolwork
3) Writer's block: ashamed as I am to admit it, I do have a bit of a block going on. With the 5th book out, it's hard to write a 5th year story, and also I just wanna skip to the first kiss chapter, but I can't (even though you all want me to) because their relationship needs to develop more.
4) I have this HUGE craving to post another story that's been going around in my head, but I refuse to start it until I've got a good handle on this one.
5) The 5th book: I almost dropped the story after I read the OotP because so many new things came up and this story is basically AU now because of it.
Okay, so there. I owe you all so much thanks for sticking by this story and you have no idea how much I appreciate it! Please use the Review space for something about the story, maybe what you think should happen next or just encouragement cuz I REALLY need it! Thanks again! HARRY/SEVERUS FOREVER!!!!!!