Chapter 4: Under No Circumstances

I didn't have to see Severus again until the staff meeting the next day after lunch. Now that all the Professors were at Hogwarts Grandpa wanted to determine what they each expected in terms of class sizes and required materials. Most Professors were only taking sixth year students who had achieved Exceeds expectations on their OWL exams though Hagrid and Flitwick were more then happy to accept any student that passed, the same with both Divination Professors who I secretly suspected would be lucky to have more then a handful of students in that worthless class.

Severus, however, was determined that he would only take students who had achieved an Outstanding grade so I doubted his class would be much bigger then Divination.

"Ah, yes Severus," Grandpa said. "I had meant to talk to you about that. Mr. Potter…"

"Does not have the required grade and won't be attending my class under any circumstances," Severus snapped.

"Don't be ridiculous," McGonagall huffed. "You are the only one who insists on having practically perfect students in your class, which is absolutely ridiculous. Mr. Potter wishes to become an Auror and need potions to do so…"

"Then teach him yourself if it is so important to you."

"Severus, you are being most unreasonable…"

"I'll teach him," I interrupted McGonagall.

Everyone looked at me in surprise.

"At other schools where they don't have all the courses to offer that Hogwarts does students who are interested in a subject can have a tutorial in that subject with a qualified teacher and then write the ministry NEWT or OWL exam. I'm more then qualified to teach Potions so if the schedules are arranged so that one of Mr. Potters free periods coincides with one of mine then I can teach him Potions in that period."

Everyone was staring at me as if I'd grown a second head then Severus snarled, "Of course we have to make an exception for Potter."

"We wouldn't have to if you'd just be reasonable," McGonagall sniffed.

"I think it's an excellent idea," Grandpa cut in beaming. "It is certainly one that will keep everyone happy."

I looked at Severus doubtfully, he certainly didn't look happy.

"Now Adrian," said Grandpa. "What do you need for this coming school year?"

"Umm…access to Potion ingredients."

"I'm sure Severus will facilitate that."

I looked over at Severus and resisted the urge to say I severely doubt it. "I'm also going to need access to some dark creatures for the younger years and I guess mats so that no one gets hurt falling on the floor when we're practising."

"It might also be a good idea to have various potions on hand just in case accidents occur," McGonagall said. "I'm sure Severus…"

"I can make my own potions," I interrupted knowing that I'd rather serve Voldemort before I asked Severus to do anything for me. "And I'll take any sixth year students who passed their OWL since given the instruction they've received it's a miracle any of them passed."

"You can be sure none of them received an Outstanding grade," Severus said snidely as he went to leave since the staff meeting was drawing to a close.

"Harry did," Grandpa said calmly.

"Of course, precious Potter had to be the only one to accomplish something. The wizarding world needs to know their saviour has one thing going for him other then dumb luck."

"You only hate Harry because you wish you had the adoration he does," I snapped. "And it doesn't matter to you if he wants it or not because you just wish that people would give you the same respect that you did to another wizard when you knelt down at his feet."

"Adrian," Grandpa's voice was harsh and reprimanding. But I didn't need a lecture from him to know what I said was uncalled for, I knew that the moment the words left my lips. And I can tell from Severus' expressionless face that my words found their mark.

"Alright," I said evenly. "That was uncalled for. I apologise."

"Are you apologizing because you mean it or because you were ordered to."

"You should know me well enough to know that I don't ever say anything I don't mean."

He sneered. "You also show no restraint on saying things you mean that would best never said at all."

With that he swooped out, the door closing behind him with a resolute click.

Well, I thought wearily, at least he didn't slam the door