chapter six: Personal Tutor
As soon as Draco disappeared behind the door, Snape turned and faced Harry, for the first time in awhile, with a civil look in his eyes. He gestured to the chair before his desk for Harry to sit; following in suite after Harry did so. Snape leaned forward and fixed Harry with his gaze.
"Mr. Potter, he began, I don't think you need me to remind you of the score on your last potion assignment."
Harry cringed. He hadn't expected this, news about Voldemort yes, but never in a million years did he ever think that Snape cared enough about him to lecture him on a grade. Now speaking of the grade….not too pretty, it was failing actually and right up the alley between horrendous and pitiful.
Snape continued, "I also don't think you need me to tell you how disappointed the Headmaster is with your performance in this class."
'Figures' Harry thought. 'Snape wouldn't care about my grades…In fact he probably jacks off to the thought of failing me. The Bastard.' Snape paused and watched the scowl form on Harry's face.
A smirk curled on his lips at the sight. "So the Headmaster has demanded that I provided you a tutor, in hopes that you would pass the class." He leaned over closer, so close in fact; Harry could actually count his professor's nose hairs, if he wasn't so repulsed at the sight. "I don't really think that there's any hope for you in potions, Mr. Potter. You're going to fail, just like your father failed in life."
To say Harry was mad at his professor would be an understatement. He was livid. He'd probably have steam coming out of his ears, or foam dripping from his mouth if he'd been any madder. He shot up from his seat and had to forcibly restrain himself from strangling Snape then and there. "Good night, professor." He ground out between clenched teeth. With that he turned on his heal and headed for the door.
Snape stopped him before his hand reached the door knob. "Mr. Malfoy will be tutoring you for three weeks. After that I will give you a private exam that will determine your success in my class. I recommend you begin studying." He paused, giving Harry enough time to open the door. "I'll look forward to seeing you in detention tomorrow night." He called after him, a smirk sounding clear in his voice.
Harry slammed the door behind him, anger almost bringing tears to his eyes. How dare Snape bring up his father again! If only the damn vampire would get over his damn grudges and move on with his life. His anger was clouding his sight and judgment so much, he didn't notice who he bumped into, sending them both to the floor.
"OW! You big brute!" cried Malfoy playfully from his spot on the floor. Harry, being the polite Gryffindor he is, put out a hand to the other boy but, as he expected, it was pushed aside. Draco stood without help and dusted himself off. "So, what's the big deal? You burst out of there like a virgin being chased by a hooker"
Harry rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to keep his temper down, not to mention blocking the mental images he was getting. "Did you know?" Malfoy looked at him confused. Again with the emotion in his face. What the hell was up with that! Dra-Malfoy never showed emotions before! He must be playing a trick, he had to be. With all the talking to him without saying one word about his friends/parents/or beliefs and he was showing emotion. Harry could imagine Malfoy maybe slipping up once or twice but this many times in one night was ridiculous. "Did you know?" he repeated in a dangerous voice.
"Know what, you dumb sod?" Malfoy spat.
"About Snape making you my tutor!" he yelled, "Don't lie to me Malfoy! I know you know something. Malfoys always know something."
Malfoy stood up to his full height, still a tad shorter than Harry but not much, and approached Potter. "You don't know a damn thing about my family Potter, so don't go assuming anything until you know the facts." he said between clenched teeth. "And when Severus decides to make me your tutor, Satan better get out his long johns, cause hell will have frozen over."
Harry took a deep breath, talking to Malfoy was harder than it looked, "Snape made you my personal tutor for potions because he said I was failing." An awkward moment of silence ensued, only to be broken by Malfoy and his mocking laugher. "What could be more priceless, more perfect than Snape sending the Gryffindor Golden Boy to the snake pit"
"Stop laughing Malfoy, it's not funny."
Malfoy gasped for air, "But it is... don't you see... the professors are trying to throw us together..." he went back into his fits of laughter. "It's so predictable!"
"That's stupid, why would they do that?" stuttered Potter. "Because, Dear Saint Potter" replied Malfoy, bringing himself under control, "You are The Boy Who Lived, and I am the sole heir to the Malfoy fortune and the Malfoy secrets. Do you know how much your little Order needs the information I store in my head? With my alliance you could have all the information you need to defeat Voldemort."
Harry paused to consider this. It sounded reasonable… "What if Snape just thinks that we'll spend so much time fighting that we'll never get any studying done? Therefore when the exam comes up I'll fail for sure"
"Hmmm…sounds like something he would do doesn't it. Well I guess we'll have to thwart his plans, whatever they may be." He tilted his head to one side and smirked. Harry found himself drawn to the milky white skin that was revealed in that slight movement of Malfoy's head. He quickly realized this and snapped himself out of his fazed out state.
"What do you mean by that?" He razed an eyebrow suspiciously.
Malfoy smiled a truly devious smile. "Well Potter. It means that you'll just have to make a perfect score on his exam that's all."
"WHAT! That's beyond impossible! It's insane"
"Trust me; I know you can do it"
Now that, if nothing else Malfoy had said/done, caught him off guard.
"What?" Malfoy turned on his heal and headed to the Slitherin common rooms, waving briefly over his shoulder at the Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-His. Snape was a genius, what better way to spend time with Potter then to be his personal tutor. And Draco meant to spend every minute he had with the Wondering Golden Savior.
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As soon as Harry entered the Gryffindor common room he was greeted warmly by his two best friends. He barely had time to respond before a bushel of curly brown hair, also known as Hermione, came bounding up to him and shoved his homework in his face.
"Harry! It's about time your through with that detention. Hurry and get your homework done so you can get a good night's sleep for tomorrow"
Harry looked at her curiously, "Mione, remind me what tomorrow is"
Ron gave an exasperated sigh from the other side of the room. "Come on, Harry! The first trip to Hogsmead is tomorrow"
Harry smacked himself on the forehead and laughed out loud. How could "I have forgotten? It's not like I've been swamped with detentions and tutoring sessions or anything"
"Harry what are you talking about?" Hermione guided him to where she and Ron had been sitting.
"Nothing just that I'm failing potions and now, not only do I have to spend my bloody detentions with Malfoy, he has to tutor me as well!" He threw up his hands for emphasis.
There was a prompt 'thud' as Ron fell out of his chair at the sound of his untimely foe, the prince of Slytherin. "What's that bloody bastard Snape thinking! Sending you to be with the evil ferret. I'm telling you Harry, their out to get you. He gasped suddenly coming to a realization. Malfoy's probably working with Snape to capture you for 'You-know-who"
Hermione sighed in frustration. "Brilliant deduction Sherlock! Don't be absurd Ronald, Snape works for the Order. He would never willing put Harry in any danger. He is always trying to get him out of harms way."
"But Hermione, what if its all an act. What if Snape is only pretending to sadistically trying to help Harry, when in reality he is working with Malfoy to give him over to You-Know-Who"
Hermione shook her head at her friend's suspicion. Harry said nothing. Absorbing what Ron said.
What if, is right.
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The Next day Draco woke to the most peaceful of mornings. There was no sun in the sky, the wind was blowing, and the rain was pouring. There is nothing like a day in the middle of autumn. Autumn and winter were Draco's favorite time of year, with the cold air outside and the warm fire inside. He hated the heat. After all, his skin was sensitive of the sun and he didn't tan very well either. Plus he hated to swim, and in the heat that's all there is to do, because it's to hot to do anything else, like Quiddich for example. Just think of how hot it would be flying around in those heavy robes! So for Draco, the days with no sun were the best days. Those were the days he could put on his best coat and do whatever he wanted, because everyone else was stuck inside with him. Including Harry Potter.
He got out of bed and went to refresh himself in the restroom. Oh how very vain our dear Draco is, he washed every blemish from his face, and combed every hair into place. When he was finished his mirror said in a very approving voice,
'Looking as perfect as ever we are.'
Draco winked at himself in the mirror and replied, "Did you expect anything less?" and went on his way down to breakfast.
When entering the Great Hall Draco spotted Potter sitting amounts his friends and he winked in his direction. Potter's eyes narrowed and followed his every movement. But he ignored him and went to him table of fellow Slytherins.
Once he sat down though, and Potter's eyes left his, Draco couldn't keep his eyes from the Griffindor Golden Boy.
"So, where are we going today?" asked Blaise from beside him.
"What are you talking about?" he asked not moving his eyes from Potter.
Potter wanted him; he just didn't know it yet. What great fun he would have with the boy. He wondered if Potter had any experience...in...Well you know. Then as a response to the past thought he scoffed under his breath so no one could here. Of course he has, he's the Boy-Who-Sodding-Lived.
"Its Hogsmeade day, don't you remember?" his friend replied.
"No I completely forgot" he replied, still distracted.
"Obviously," came the retort. "Why do you keep making googly eyes at Potter?" asked Blaise, following Draco's eyes.
Draco laced his fingers behind his head and said in a smug tone. "Something you wouldn't understand...no, not at all."