Ok, my faithful followers of the Fourth Power. (I love alliteration!) I know the last chapter was short, but it wasn't really a chapter. When I wrote the previous chapter, I had originally intended to go straight into this one, but that confused even me, and I'm writing it! I put in that little interlude chapter to bridge the gap between the chapters. I hope that you guys enjoy reading this, much longer, chapter. N.E.W.T. Potions promises to be interesting today…. On with the story!!

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Chapter 09: Potions Class, Round One

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            "Albus, I need a substitute for my class for the next week. The Dark Lord has given me a task, and one week to complete it." Professor Snape was saying to the headmaster. "It will be nearly impossible to accomplish the task without classes, but truly impossible if I have to worry about teaching my class as well."

            "I understand, Severus." Albus said. "I will make arrangements for a substitute teacher, starting tomorrow. I must ask you to teach for today, however."

            Remembering that he only had one class to teach today, Snape agreed. "Perhaps I will use them to my advantage. They will help me analyze the potion." He said. "It will make my job that much easier."

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As it turned out, Harry and Hermione's good mood only lasted until the morning. They had thought that disabling Voldemort for a short period of time would raise their spirits enough that they could be happy until at least Wednesday. However, when Hermione woke up, she checked her class schedule. Monday morning, right after breakfast, was the one thing absolutely guaranteed to make their good mood disappear. They had Potions!

Harry and Hermione were the only Gryffindors still in Professor Snape's potions class, the rest deciding that the torment wasn't worth the effort. Arriving on time, they were surprised to see Snape waiting for the bell. Normally he arrived at the bell, so that he could catch late students at the door, and humiliate them before taking points. Taking their seats, they waited for him to start class. What he said surprised them.

"Students, today will be a very practical lesson. Over the last five years, I have taught you several ways to find out exactly what ingredients are in a potion." Professor Snape said, his eyes scanning the classroom. When his eyes landed on Harry, his face twisted into a sneer. "The Ministry of Magic has discovered a possibly dangerous potion lurking in a tea kettle in the kitchens. This potion seems to stifle magical ability. The Potions Master at the Ministry has enlisted my help to reverse-engineer this potion, in hopes of discovering a counter-potion. Using what you've learned in the last five years, you are to deconstruct this potion to the best of your ability." Professor Snape passed out five shot-glass sized amounts of the potion, one to each table. "Work in pairs. You have four hours, now begin."

Harry and Hermione, being Shadow Masters, were much more in-tune with magic. They both closed their eyes, and tried to feel the magic emanating from the potion. Potions were usually very difficult to feel because the magic was contained. However, as soon as they started to feel the potion, they noticed that its magical field was much stronger than it should be. They also recognized the pattern of the magic as the enchanted potion that they had concocted for Voldemort the day before. Naturally, Harry found this more than a little bit funny.

"Hey Hermione." Harry whispered, so as not to draw Snape's attention. "Do you think Voldemort is having Nightmares?" It was the worst pun imaginable, in the worst possible place to say it. Of course, that also made it incredibly funny to Hermione, who couldn't help but laugh at him. Harry pulled his wand and pointed it at the potion, just as Snape turned to look at them.

"Ms. Granger, what is it that you find so amusing about this assignment?" He asked. "And Mr. Potter, why are you waving your wand about?" He sneered his question to Harry.

Hermione spoke first. "Sorry Professor. Harry said something to me, and for some reason I thought it was funny. It really wasn't, and I do apologize for disturbing the class."

Snape rounded on Harry. "Really. Mr. Potter, perhaps you would like to let the rest of the class in on the joke, if it's that funny." Harry set his wand down on the table.

"Actually Professor, I didn't mean to say anything funny. When I made the discovery, I was so surprised that I just said the first thing that came into my head." Harry said, trying, and failing miserably, to look apologetic.

"Really, Mr. Potter? And what, may I ask was the first thing that came into your head?" Snape looked like he was hoping it was something derogatory, so he could give Harry a detention.

"I said 'With all the enchantments on this potion, I wouldn't be surprised if this project gives Snape Nightmares.' I was being serious, but I guess I can see the humor in it." Harry smiled, but Snape's mouth had fallen open. Whatever it was he thought he would hear, it wasn't that.

"Enchantments, Potter?" He said, trying to regain his composure. "Explain yourself."

"Well sir, I cast a forensic recognition spell to show me any patterns in the potion that closely matched any of the potions we've done in the past. I thought that if the potion had similar patterns, it would help discover what ingredients were used. Rather than get the pattern of a potion, I found seventeen different dormant enchantments." Harry said, sounding an awful lot like Hermione. "I was so surprised, I wasn't thinking about what I said."

Snape was quite shaken. Enchantment was a very obscure branch of magic that had gone almost unused for the last three hundred years with objects, and had never been recorded being used in conjunction with brewing potions. Brewing a counter-potion was going to be impossible! Snape's mind was whirling, but nothing prepared him for what came next. Hermione spoke up.

"Please Professor, when Harry cast his spell the enchantments lifted away, so I cast the same spell, to try and see what the potion was. It was a strength sapping potion, like we learned in third year." She said. "I think the enchantments must modify the potion to sap magical ability, rather than physical strength."

Snape had regained his composure while Hermione was speaking, and was now more than just a bit suspicious to the pair of Gryffindors. Harry had spent the last five years barely passing potions, then disappeared over the summer. Thanks to Dumbledore Snape knew that, wherever Harry had been, he was with Hermione. Here in his class, the pair was showing knowledge of a magic that nobody currently practiced. Obviously, at least to Snape, they had undergone some type of training over the summer. He decided to find out what happened, and since he disliked Harry, he was going to make him tell.

"Mr. Potter," He began in his silkiest voice, which Harry immediately picked up on. "I'm interested to know why it is that you decided to check for the magical patterns, considering that Hogwarts doesn't cover forensic trace reading. Where did you learn to do that?" He knew that Harry would defend himself, and probably let something slip.

Harry was fully aware that Snape was trying to bait him into saying something to give him a clue about his summer studies, so he responded simply. "I learned it over the summer."

"Really?" Snape questioned. "And who taught it to you? I would like to speak to them about this potion." Ha! If he could get Harry to tell him who his teacher was, he could find out where Harry had been, and what he was taught over the summer.

"I'm sorry, Professor. My teachers asked us to keep their identities secret. I would be betraying their trust if I were to tell you." Harry responded. Snape had initiated this little conflict, but Harry had every intention of coming out on top of it. "But this potion does remind me of one of the lessons…" Harry said to himself, knowing that Snape would hear him, and undoubtedly take the bait.

"Is that so, Mr. Potter? Well, in that case, I'm afraid that I must insist that you tell me the identity of this teacher." Snape said. Now that he knew that Harry had the information he needed, he was confident that he could get the information from him, even if he had to take it by force.

"Sorry Professor, but I will not give you the information you seek. I told them that I would respect their privacy, and I will not willingly give that information up." Harry said, his eyes full of defiance.

Snape was waiting for this moment. Now that Harry had refused, Snape was free to humiliate him in front of the class. "I'm afraid that it isn't up for discussion, Potter. I need that information, and I'll get it from you, even if I have to take by force." Snape pulled his wand. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Knock yourself out, Professor." Was all Harry said.

"Very well, Potter, you leave me no choice." Snape pointed his wand at Harry's head, and Harry had just enough time to hear Malfoy snicker before Snape said the magic word. "Legilimens!"

A large round steel door, very much like one of the vaults at Gringotts stood before him. He reached to turn the handle but found himself unable to touch the door. This memory was very strange. Suddenly, Harry appeared right in front of him. Ok, this was getting stranger. Snape was not prepared for Harry to speak to him.

"What do you think of this, Professor?" Harry said, looking extremely smug. "I've been working on my Occlumency all summer." Oh, so that was it. Harry had brought his mental shields to bear. Snape tried to end the spell, but found himself unable to. "You're not going to disappear on me now, are you Professor? Not until I push you out, anyway."

Snape wasn't sure where this was going, but he didn't like it one bit. Suddenly, Harry brought his hand from behind his back. He seemed to be wearing a large padded mitten. Snape wondered for a moment what he was doing, but when Harry assumed a fighting stance, it became clear. Snape tried once again to end the spell, but wasn't able to.

"Well, if you want out of my head so bad, I guess I can accommodate." Harry said, with a devilish grin. Quick as anything, Harry let fly with the padded mitten. Snape felt himself drop out of Harry's head, and then drop like a stone to the floor of his classroom.

No more than a second later, Snape was on his feet, although he was a bit shaky. He was also mad as a Hornet. Harry's next words made him lose it completely.

"I didn't mean literally, Professor." He said, with that same devilish grin. Snape was livid. The boy had not only prevented him access to the secret, but had made him look like a fool in front of his class.

"POTTER! HEADMASTER'S OFFICE! NOW!" He yelled, heading towards the door. "Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, keep an eye on the class. I will be back soon."

The walk from the dungeons to the Headmasters Office took very little time. Harry was grinning like mad, and Snape was trying to stop himself from attacking Harry. Snape gave the password, and up they went. Snape knocked on the door, and Professor Dumbledore called them in. Snape began to speak.

"Headmaster," He said. "During class, Potter let slip that he may very well know the person who brewed the potion I've been asked to study. I asked him to reveal the information, but he refused. I tried legilimency, but it appears he has had additional tutoring in that, as well. I demand that you take the appropriate actions."

Professor Dumbledore looked at Harry over his half-moon shaped glasses. Harry brought up his shields again. Harry knew that Dumbledore practiced legilimency, and wasn't about to give away his secrets. "Harry, that information is very vital to us. I would like to know who brewed the potion. Would you please tell me?"

Harry answered immediately. "I'm sorry Professor. I was instructed to share that information with only the people that I trust." He threw a very pointed look at Snape, whose eyes narrowed.

"Please Harry, I trust Professor Snape." Dumbledore said. Harry looked at him for a moment, and then responded.

"I don't." He said simply. "I have no reason to believe that my secrets are safe with him."

The headmaster was taken aback by Harry's statement, but had more cards to play. "Harry, you seem to forget that Professor Snape has tried to save your life several times since you've been in school here." Dumbledore felt that this would turn Harry's opinion.

Harry was unmoved. "I also seem to recall that just five minutes ago that Professor Snape tried to exploit a weakness that only he was aware of. If that is the kind of treatment he gives secrets, why would I want to give him more weapons?"

The headmaster was stunned. Harry would not divulge any secrets to Snape, and that was final. Dumbledore knew that Snape would be furious with him, but he needed the information. "Severus, I would like to speak to Harry alone for a while. I believe that you have a class to attend to." Snape looked like he wanted to argue, but a look from Dumbledore silenced him. He stalked out the door, giving a good slam. "Now Harry, would you please tell me who you trained with over the summer?" Harry sat down in one of the Headmaster's armchairs, and looked at his Professor.

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A/N: Does this count as cliffhanger? I have another chapter in the works right now, but I need to break it away from this scene. I'm sorry if you don't like cliffhangers, if this counts as one. I need the chapter break so you can review your notes. The next chapter contains a very startling revelation, but if you have read the five real books, and all of my chapters, then you can probably guess it. Leave me review of what you think the revelation is going to be. Have fun!

Raven Dragonclaw: I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Of course he lied. Who would be afraid of Voldemort: Squib at Large?

Shreve: Whether he fooled Snape or not, it really doesn't matter. Snape holds a position with the Dark Lord that many underlings would love to hold. Snape values his own life, so he'll make every attempt to not piss off the Dark Lord.

Hermionegreen: Yes, the Order was told to pull their spies out, but Snape holds a public position at Hogwarts. His extraction is going to take more time than the others.