Disclaimer: standard--see chapter one.
Severus put his plan to increase Potter's suffering into motion shortly after lunch. "Miss Smith, you will be pleased to know that you will now receive back your graded homework assignments," he said coolly once everyone had settled down from being outside.
Angie's face turned slightly pink.
"I was, however, very disappointed in your grades. Did Mrs. Dandelion teach you anything while she was here?"
"Umm, sir, it's Donaldson."
"Whichever," he dismissed, scooping the stack of red-ink-covered papers off his desk. "Let's see what we haven't learned, shall we?" He walked over to Lancaster's desk and glared for a moment. It was much easier to criticize students in subjects he was familiar with...this muggle history was presenting something of a challenge. "Three marks out of ten, Lancaster. I suggest you try opening a book." He dropped the heavily-inked paper on the boy's desk with a sneer.
Dudley laughed a little.
When no reprimand came, a couple others giggled.
Potter was looking at Severus with confusion.
Severus continued through the pile of homework, handing out snide comments and backwards compliments to each student until there were only three who had not stood before the fire squad: Dursely, Polkiss, and Potter.
"Mr. Dudley Dursley," Severus read slowly, strolling towards the fat boy. "Well, at the very least, I can say you spelled your name right. But I'm quite afraid schools stop giving out marks for that after you leave kindergarten," he concluded nastily.
Dudley's round face went quickly from a healthy tan to a sick puce as he stared up at the formidable Mr. Williams.
"If you'd have managed to spell 'Britain' correctly as well, I might have found some merit to give you at least a couple points. But as this piece of trash stands..." he trailed off in disgust as he dropped at shiny, red F on the Dudley's desk.
Dudley looked fit to kill as several people in the class started giggling and chuckling.
"Mr. Polkiss. What, may I ask, is this?" Severus held up an unmarked paper for all to see.
"My homework," Piers answered slowly.
"Wrong, Polkiss. This is nothing. As atrocious as your penmanship is, I only concluded that this rubbish was yours as you were the last left without a grade. Well, second to last, as Mr. Potter didn't turn anything in. However, his lack of work also left me with a lack of annoyance, so, by scale, he's found himself up a bit from you and Mr. Dursley. Indeed, from most in this room. If you ever turn something that looks like this in to me again, you'll be copying lines every afternoon until the end of the school year. Do I make myself clear?"
Piers glared murderously. "Yes, sir."
Harry looked fearful for his very life.
"I will not take every opportunity to give individual critiques on homework. I hope this little exercise has enlightened you all, and I expect to see a marked improvement in your work. And since I did have to take up all this time to go over your work, there will be no lecture notes. You have thirty minutes to outline chapter five in your history books and place it on my desk. Anyone who is not finished with pay severe penalties. I am not in a mood to be trifled with--Put your hand down now, Miss Smith!"
The next thirty minutes were filled with the furious sounds of pencils scratching on paper as everyone rushed to finish their work.
Sitting behind his desk, once more perusing his potions book, Severus felt satisfied that Dudley and Piers were ready to kill Potter at their first possible opportunity. Potter might blame me, he mused. No. I'll have my chance to smooth things over before anything happens.
When the final bell rang, Harry didn't lift his head from where he'd dropped it on his desk five minutes ago. He was too busy being depressed and scared. He'd seen the look on Dudley's face: he was dead.
When all the students were gone and the hall was silent, Mr. Williams's voice filled the quiet space. "Potter, I have-- What's the matter?"
Harry looked up, his eyes wide with borderline hysterics. "What's the matter? You just chopped me up into little pieces, and now I'm just waiting for the wolves to get me, and you want to know what's the matter!"
Mr. Williams's eyes narrowed. "I don't see your point."
"Dudley and Piers are going to murder me."
"Over what?"
"Your little homework comment. I'm dead! Sir," he added quickly.
"What comment? I merely made mention that you hadn't turned yours in."
"After telling-- Never mind. You don't get it."
Mr. Williams crouched beside Harry's desk so they were at eyelevel with one another. His dark eyes were open and apologetic.
Harry started slightly, finally lifting his head from his desk.
"I'm sorry. I hadn't realized my little tirade would cause you such problems. I suppose I wasn't thinking as I should have been. But it is frustrating to grade so much homework written in tiny, illegible writing, done by children who haven't even attempted their readings."
"That's your job. You get paid to do that."
Mr. Williams laughed a little. It was a hollow laugh. "Not enough, I don't." Pause. "Look, I'm sorry. I really am. I wish I could take back what I said. But as I can't, I can only try to make it up to you." He plopped a brown paper bag in front of Harry.
"What's this?"
"A snack. I made double when I did mine. I don't want to pry, but you didn't make it sound like you get fed very well at home."
Awestruck, Harry stared between the bag and Mr. Williams. Never, in his life, had anyone done something so nice for him. "Thank you, sir."
Mr. Williams smiled a little. "Eat up, then get to your homework."
Not needing to be told twice, Harry tore into the food. There was a thick peanut butter sandwich, some chips, a pastry, and another perfect, round, red apple. It was better than Aunt Petunia had ever packed him for lunch. Usually, she gave him a small juice drink, a couple carrot sticks or some celery, and a thin half-a-sandwich made out of the loaf heels. He smiled. He'd save the apple for the walk home.
When he finished eating, Harry opened his book and did his work. By the time he was done, there were only fifteen minutes before he had to go, so he leaned back in his chair and took out the apple, unable to resist, and, after polishing it on his shirt the way he'd seen Mr. Williams do his, took a huge bite.
Mr. Williams looked up. "Done, are you?"
"Yes, sir."
"No questions, comments, or concerns?"
"No, sir."
"Well, boy, bring up your work and we'll go over it."
Gathering his papers in his apple-free hand, Harry went up to Mr. Williams's desk.
"Math, first. That's your weak subject."
"No, I'm good at math. History is where I have--"
"The assignment was on page forty, correct?"
"Um, yes, sir."
Mr. Williams opened his own math book and took Harry's paper. He went over the first row of questions, ticking off the ones that were all right. Without looking up, he said, "Don't hover over my shoulder. Get a chair."
When the activity bell rang, Harry looked at the clock in disappointment. He found he really enjoyed sitting with Mr. Williams, going over work, or just talking. Well, not talking, really. Bickering back and forth over math problems, was more like. But it was good-natured bickering, and Mr. Williams seemed to enjoy it, too.
"Time for you to be on your way. Have a good night."
Harry stood up and picked up his book bag, dreading the impending confrontation with Dudley and his gang. "Yes, sir. You, too."
"And Harry, I really am sorry I caused more problems for you."
Shaking his head, Harry said, "It's all right. Dudley's always mad at me about something anyway." He tried to smile bravely, but felt like he only looked more nervous, because Mr. Williams didn't return the smile.
"You're a good kid, Harry. You'll be fine as long as you keep in mind what, exactly, it is that you want. And don't forget to trust in yourself to be able to get it."
Harry snorted. "Yeah. Thanks."
"You'll see what I mean when you're older."
With a last, forced smile, Harry turned and walked out into the hallway. He found he hated the real world--the world beyond Mr. Williams's classroom door. It was too big, and too scary. Too full of people who wanted to hurt him. If only he could stay with Mr. Williams forever. Yeah, he wasn't very nice on purpose, but he was all right.
TBC