Disclaimer: I don't own the name Harry Potter or the characters. Need I say more?
Harry Potter and the Potion of Devil's Tears
Snape opened the door to his office and stepped inside, Harry still following. The door closed by itself, the lock clicking ominously.
"What do you want, Potter?" Snape asked, standing behind his desk, still surveying Harry with a calculating look.
Harry reminded himself that if he was to leave the office in one piece, and with the information he wanted, he would need to be civil.
"Well," Harry said, picking his words very carefully, "I'd like to congratulate you on being appointed Defense Against the Dark Arts, first. I know it's been something that you've wanted for a long time, and it says a lot of what Dumbledore think of you to appoint you over an Auror." Harry knew that he sounded like he was buttering Snape up; he grimaced mentally.
Snape's look softened a bit, but he was still on guard. "Thank you," Snape said shortly.
Harry took a deep breath before plunging on. "I also wanted to say that I've noticed you've changed a bit since the beginning of term." Bad choice of words, bad choice of words…
However, Snape didn't appear upset. He looked…thoughtful, if anything.
"Many things have happened since the beginning of term, Potter, most of which you are unaware of," Snape said, a bit of sarcasm in his voice. Harry reminded himself to keep his temper under control; it wasn't easy talking in a casual way to a person he had a long-standing enmity with.
"Well, I know that you seem to be making an effort to encourage some of the other students, and we've noticed," Harry said slowly, still being extremely careful how he worded his sentences.
"We?" prompted Snape.
"The Gryffindors."
Snape nodded, still looking as if he were in deep thought. "Yes, there was a particularly good second-year who managed to concoct a perfect Sleeping Draught fifteen minutes before the end of class."
Harry wasn't sure whether Snape was talking out loud or talking to him…it sounded almost as if Snape were praising that second-year. Harry continued on.
"But, there's something I don't understand, Professor," Harry said, and Snape looked at him, waiting.
"Why did you stick up for me in the Great Hall yesterday morning?" Harry asked, hurriedly going over what he had said in his mind to make sure he was being respectful.
Snape again looked thoughtful. "I suppose…it is because it resembles something I went through…" Snape abruptly stopped, and his menacing demeanor was back in an instant.
"My reasons are my own, Potter. It is a personal matter," Snape said, as if Harry had tried to interrogate him.
Harry had a hunch what Snape was on about, though. "You mean when you were at school, and people made fun of you?"
Snape's eyes flashed dangerously, and Harry knew he had crossed a line.
"What I mean is…" Harry amended quickly, "…you were unpopular because of my father and the rest of his lot."
Snape still looked angry, but the edge was taken off.
"Yes, Potter, your father made my life at school miserable. Is that why you've come? To remind me of what you saw in the Pensieve last term?" Snape snapped.
Harry grimaced. "No, sir, that's not why I'm here. I think that my father overshadowed a lot of what you did at school…nobody saw what you accomplished, only your popularity."
Snape's angry look dropped right off his face. To Harry, he looked dumbfounded.
"What do you know of my accomplishments at school?" Snape said, almost in a curious voice.
Harry drew a blank. He honestly didn't know anything about when Snape had been at school, other than what he had seen in the Pensieve, and what Sirius had told him…
"Well, Sirius told me that you had the widest knowledge of the Dark Arts in school. He said that you knew more spells than the rest of the school put together," Harry said, hoping that Snape would buy it.
Snape's look of curiosity faded, but he didn't become hostile again. "I won't disagree with him," Snape said neutrally.
Suddenly, Harry had an epiphany, remembering when Ginny had reminded him of Snape being an agent for Dumbledore.
"You also were a spy for Dumbledore in school, weren't you?" Harry bluffed.
Now Snape's expression was one of astonishment.
"How do you know about that, Potter?" he said, looking a bit unnerved.
Harry silently thanked Ginny for making him think of it before continuing.
"Well, I guessed. I know that you work within the Death Eaters to bring Dumbledore information, and I guessed that you might have already been helping Dumbledore in school," Harry said, hoping that he wasn't wrong.
Snape's face was unreadable. "Yes, I was a Death Eater at school, and was collecting information for the headmaster before I graduated. Nobody knows about that."
Harry decided to act on a hunch. "You weren't just passing information to Dumbledore, were you? You were doing something more active than that."
Snape slowly nodded. "I was also bringing names of Death Eaters to Dumbledore, who would pass them along to the Order, and would be inspected by the Aurors in the Order, and consequently arrested."
Harry was stunned. "You mean you were sending Death Eaters to Azkaban…while you were still in school?"
Snape again nodded slowly, and Harry could tell that he was pleased that Harry had no idea that Snape had contributed so much.
"That's why Dumbledore knew you were really on his side…and that's why he's told me that it's between just you and him, because nobody else knew that you were active in school," Harry deduced.
Snape again nodded. "Nobody knew who it was that was responsible for the arrests of more than two dozen Death Eaters at Hogwarts—all among Slytherin, I might add."
Harry jumped at the mention of the Slytherins. "Speaking of that, sir, why is it that you're being so hard on the Slytherins lately?"
Snape's eyes flashed menacingly, and Harry flinched involuntarily. Fortunately for Harry, Snape wasn't mad at him.
"That is because the Minister of Magic is more cheaply bought than even I would have imagined. Many parents of Slytherin students gave impressive "donations" to the Ministry, and the O.W.L. scores were miraculously raised before they were returned to the students," Snape spat. Cheating, Harry realized.
"So…Malfoy was in on it, right?" Harry said.
Snape's eyes narrowed at Harry, but he nodded.
"Probably Nott, Crabbe and Goyle, too?" Harry said, guessing the pattern.
Snape nodded again.
"All Death Eaters," Harry said.
Snape nodded.
"But why is that?" Harry said, not seeing a connection. "Why would the Death Eaters fake the scores of their children?"
"I'll tell you why," Snape hissed angrily. "Because the Dark Lord has always picked the best and the brightest for recruitment. Despite what the grades in school, all that matters to the Dark Lord are the things that count: the O.W.L.s. If a student scores exceptionally well on the O.W.L.s, and the Dark Lord hears of it, he will inevitably send someone to look into the possibility of recruiting that student."
Harry understood now. "So the Death Eaters want their children to become Death Eaters as well?"
Snape sneered in contempt. "Do you know that the teacher is not allowed to circumvent their own rules, Potter? Only the headmaster may do that. I knew of the cheating before this term, but the headmaster would not allow me to prevent those with falsified O.W.L. results from enrolling in the N.E.W.T. class. So all those who scored an 'O' on their O.W.L.s were accepted into the class. He did, however, make a reverse exception for you," Snape said, his lip curling.
Harry did his best to ignore Snape's last comment. "So that's why they dislike you: because you're being hard on them to make it obvious that they're not cut out for N.E.W.T.s."
Snape again nodded. "I am, in a way, attempting to stop them from joining the Dark Lord's ranks. If the discrepancy is noticed, then they will be ignored. That is the way the Dark Lord operates."
"But nobody knows about it except the Order," Harry said.
Snape shook his head. "The Order does not even know about the falsified O.W.L. scores. Only the headmaster."
Harry took another opportunity. "But sir, nobody knows what you're doing…what you're contributing."
Snape again shook his head. "That is the way it will stay. Nobody can know about it; my usefulness will evaporate if I am exposed as a spy."
Harry stopped for a moment and marveled at the situation. He was standing in Snape's office talking in friendly tones with him. Maybe not friendly, Harry thought, but certainly neutral, if not civil.
"Sir," Harry said, speaking plainly now, "I think that you should tell the Order. I know that it would increase the respect of them towards you, especially those who are still in school."
Snape was taken aback, registering surprise on his face. Harry decided to play his last card.
"I know that I haven't been an exemplary student, but now that I know about what you're doing—and what you've done in the past—I've gained a respect for you that I didn't have before," Harry said, as sincerely as he could. "When I first got here, Ron told me that you favored the Slytherin students, and I suppose it misconstrued my own perception of you. Now, I think that it was also because of who I was; a boy famous for something he had no control over, and the son of a person who made life hard for you, no less. I was getting attention for something that merely happened to me, and you had never gotten a shred of praise for your work for Dumbledore, except from him, probably."
Harry paused, taking note of the expression on Snape's face. It was unreadable, but Harry could tell that he had Snape's undivided attention.
"Now, you're getting the recognition that you didn't have before, and I think that's what's caused the difference in you. You've gone for so long without being praised that you've forgotten how to do it yourself."
Harry stopped, amazed at his own audacity. He glanced up at Snape, expecting to see anger again.
To Harry's utter shock, Snape was looking into the fireplace, with the same thoughtful expression on his face.
"Is that why you've come, Potter?" Snape asked. "To tell me that you understand exactly what I'm going through? To say that you've figured out the mystery behind my life?"
Snape turned to look at him. "Let me ask you something, Potter. Did you understand what you saw when you reversed my Legilimens spell on me?"
Harry shook his head dumbly.
Snape looked into the fire again. "My life was as complicated or even more complicated than yours, Potter. Do not pretend that you know anything about why I am the way I am." Snape said this not unkindly, but in a flat tone, as if merely stating a fact.
Harry felt that his borrowed time was running out. "There is one other thing, Professor."
Snape turned to look at him.
"What was the homework for Friday?" Harry asked.
Snape's mouth curled into a slight smile, before he looked back into the fire. "How about…one roll of parchment on reactants."
Harry grinned. He knew that wasn't the real homework Snape had assigned, but he was glad at the chance to show himself willing to amend his previous efforts.
"I'll have it ready, sir," Harry said, turning to go. He reached for the door handle, then stopped, staring at his hand. He had remembered something from earlier.
"Sir?" Harry said, turning around.
"What?" Snape said, still staring into the fire.
"I thought of something earlier…about Devil's Tears Potion," Harry said.
Snape turned to look at him curiously.
"Would someone who could cast the Third Arm Transfiguration be able to safely handle the potion?" Harry said, hoping Snape didn't read between the lines.
He did. "How long have you been able to do the Third Arm Transfiguration, Potter?"
Harry grimaced. It was almost as if Snape had cast Legilimens.
"This morning. I've been working on it since yesterday."
Snape's eyes went wide, and he sat heavily in the chair behind his desk.
"Since yesterday?"
Harry nodded. "Hermione told me about it, and I tried it twice. Then I tried again three more times today. The fifth time, I managed to complete the transfiguration."
Snape regarded Harry with something close to amazement. "Although you may not think it, Potter, I am fair in the way I grade. If you were truly able to do that in the space of two days, I see no reason why you can't take your Defense Against the Dark Arts N.E.W.T. before Christmas."
Harry was floored. Snape was giving him a compliment.
"T-thanks, Professor Snape, but I'd rather sit the class," Harry said, realizing only after he'd said it that he was also complimenting Snape. Then Harry narrowed his eyes.
"Fair in the way you grade? What about all the House points?" Harry asked, for a moment forgetting that he wasn't being respectful.
Snape gave a smirk. "I said grading, Potter, not fringe benefits."
Harry groaned; he knew Snape was right. Hermione had always gotten top marks in Potions, and those who applied themselves also got good grades, despite having House points taken away.
"So," Snape said, looking back into the fire, "could you handle your potion safely with the Third Arm Transfiguration?" Snape pondered it, scratching his chin.
"I believe that you could, Potter. I'm sure you know about the power of the Third Arm Transfiguration?"
Harry nodded an affirmative.
"Well, the reason that the arm is impervious to potion damage is because it is not so much a metal, but a projection of force. Pure force, in any form, is extremely powerful; hence the strength of the arm. However, since the qualities of your potion are uncharted as of yet, here's what we'll do." Snape stood up, going over to the shelves lining the walls of his office and pushed some jars aside to reveal the cyan sphere, still hovering in the back. Snape slid his hand underneath it, picking it up and carrying it over to his desk.
"Like any spell, the Third Arm Transfiguration can be canceled with Finite Incantatem. However, because of the properties of the arm, you have to be the one to cast it. Since this is a direct cancellation of the arm, the transfiguration will cease immediately, saving the arm from damage, should it suffer any." Snape was acting much the instructor, sounding more like Remus Lupin than Severus Snape.
Harry nodded, discarding his cloak and concentrating deeply. It was the fifth time that day he had started the transfiguration, and Harry exerted himself to make sure that he didn't fail in the presence of the Potions master.
The arm quickly coalesced, more quickly than it had before, Harry thought. He held it out, running his hand over it before looking back at Snape.
Snape tilted his hand slightly so that the sphere slid out of his hand and onto the desk surface, still hovering inches above the tabletop. Harry slid his hand beneath it, so that the sphere was hovering in the palm of his hand.
"Cup your hand, Potter, so that none of it escapes onto the floor," Snape said, pulling out his wand.
Harry obligingly cupped his hand, and he also pulled out his wand, ready to cast if he needed to.
"Ready, Potter? On the count of three: one…two…three, Finite Incantatem!" Snape said, pointing his wand at the sphere. It abruptly fell into the cup of Harry's palm, resting there. Harry made sure that none overflowed onto the floor.
It was cold, Harry realized. The potion didn't seem to be eroding his hand, either. It sat in the palm of Harry's hand, innocuous, yet deadly.
"As I suspected," Snape said, re-casting the Aerial Prison Charm. The sphere magically re-formed, hovering in Harry's hand. Harry handed it back to Professor Snape, who replaced it on the shelf.
"Well, Potter, don't you suppose that you should be getting back to your dormitory and getting started on that essay for me?" Snape said, turning around and raising an eyebrow at Harry.
Harry grinned. "Absolutely, Professor," Harry said, turning around and exiting the office.
Harry gave the password to the Fat Lady, and slipped through the portrait hole into the common room. Ron was sitting at a table by the fire with Hermione, who looked exhausted. Ron heard the portrait open and looked to see who it was. He looked genuinely surprised to see Harry.
"You're still alive?" Ron asked.
Harry grabbed a pillow off the couch and threw it at Ron, laughing. He sat down next to them, resting both his elbows on the table (he had put his cloak back on and had it firmly about him, so nobody could see his arms on the way back to his dormitory).
"Hermione, where were you at dinner?" Harry asked, surveying her. She looked like she hadn't had any sleep in ages.
"In the library, doing Potions homework," she mumbled, before yawning hugely.
"What was the Potions homework, anyway?" Harry asked, curious as to what Snape had assigned the rest of them.
"Two rolls of parchment on the uses of spleenwort," Ron said drearily.
Harry grinned to himself. If only they knew what Snape had assigned him…
"So, what did you see Snape about?" Ron asked, looking interestedly at Harry.
Harry froze. He had just given away his excuse of being with Snape to ask about the homework..
"Um…just congratulating him on getting the Defense Against the Dark Arts position," Harry said, knowing it was a poor excuse.
"Congratulating Snape?" Ron looked as if Harry should be in St. Mungo's for the rest of his life.
"Well, you know, he's wanted it for a long time, and maybe it'll help him to be a little nicer," Harry said.
"You know," Hermione said, picking her head up off the table, "Snape has been acting differently lately." So, Harry thought, Ginny wasn't the only one who noticed.
"Yeah, I was seeing the same thing. Ever since Saturday morning…" Harry wondered how many other people had noticed Snape's behavior.
"I still think he's an insufferable git," Ron said, slumping onto the table.
Harry felt like defending Snape, after what he had just found out, but decided to leave the subject until later, to give Snape a chance to speak for himself.
"Well, I better get started on my Potions work, too. I promised Snape I'd have it for him tomorrow," Harry said, rising from the table and heading up the stairs to his dorm.
Harry quietly slipped into his room and grabbed a quill, ink and parchment from his trunk before climbing into his four-poster and shutting the hangings. He lit his wand and placed it carefully behind his ear, to give him some light. He began to write, the scratching of his quill lost in the snores from Neville's bed.
A/N: Wow, can't believe how quickly this chapter wrote itself.
Just a quick mention, thanks to pimpilidimpi for your personalized feedback. It helped me to notice a couple of plot discrepancies, and I changed them! ;)
To the rest of you, don't forget to tell me what needs work. It does me no good for you to read and notice something that you think would make the story loads better, and then to simply close the window without telling me! (Plus, it's encouraging to know that people are indeed reading. You people wonder why there are so few good fanfics, and when you come across them, you don't review.)
If you notice spelling or punctuation problems, tell me!