Chapter 3

Sickening Feeling

The first bell rang and people began to get up and move off to class. Ron was the last person to leave the table, he had to stuff down two kippers and another piece of bacon before leaving. The four of them: Neville, Harry, Hermione, and Ron headed towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom where they would have to face Snape.

"Harry, I never got around to asking on the train, but are you going to continue the DA?" Neville asked.

"That's a good question, I spoke to Hannah and Justin last night and they asked about it." Ron added.

"I don't know guys, I'm willing to show up but I don't think I'm up to running it this year. Besides we might not need it." Ron and Neville laughed at his joke.

"You were joking right Harry, Snape couldn't teach his way out of a cauldron."

"I'm glad you feel that way Mr. Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor." The acerbic professor snapped as he passed them and entered the door just up in front of them. Several Slytherins who had been outside the door early broke into laughter. Ron was as red as his hair by the time they were seated in the classroom. Professor Snape choose to lean against his desk until the last bell rang and everyone was seated. When he did speak he used his low voice that demanded attention.

"I have reviewed the papers left by your previous instructors and I have found them lacking. In fact it's a wonder how many of you managed to even pass you OWLs." He was glaring at Harry when he spoke. "After all your teachers have been a progression of fools, mongrels, and idiots." Harry, sitting next to Ron stiffened at the obvious barb at Remus but said nothing. "While your knowledge of dark creatures is adequate your wand work is severely lacking. As such we are going to be using wordless spells much sooner than normal. Potter come up here." Harry stood shakily and came up to stand next to Snape. "Since our class celebrity is going to be working with me to help teach the younger classes its only fair that he be able to help out in his own class as well." By the sneer on Snape's face Harry helping out was the last thing on Snape's agenda.

"Potter! Use a wordless shield charm to block my disarming charm." Harry nodded and started to pull his wand. Snape not giving him the time spun and roared expelliarmus. Harry acting with more speed than Ron had seen before raised his wand in a half flick and a shield flickered into place, reflecting the spell right back at Snape. The disarming charm clipped Snape and caused him to drop his wand. The professor looked absolutely murderous at being shown up. After grabbing his wand and standing he turned and glared at Harry, who actually shrank back under the other man's gaze.

"Potter! Again." This time Snape fired his charm silently, it still met Harry's silent shield but as Harry dropped it Snape caught him with another silently cast charm. Ron hadn't heard of this charm but its affects were pretty obvious. Harry was grabbed by one of his ankles and flipped upside down in the air. Harry's robes falling over his head amidst the laughter of the rest of the class, well all the Slytherins and a few of the Gryffindors.

"That is the usefulness of silent spell casting, with them not only can your opponent not know what you are casting but they can also catch them by surprise…" Snape got no further in his speech as he was distracted by a wretching sound, as Harry barfed up his breakfast. Snape looked at Harry with a rather disgusted face and canceled the charm. Harry fell in his head, right into his vomit.

"Obviously the world of dueling is not for those of the weak of stomach." He drawled and with a swish of his wand vanished the vomit off of Harry's robes and hair.

"Mr. Potter return to your seat." Snape turned back to the class, but made no attempts to quite the Slytherins laughing at Harry's misfortune. He did stop when Harry bent over halfway back and vomited again. Harry having a more or less empty stomach was only able to dry heave the second time, but the first got some more bile on his robes and shoes.

"Potter! Do you need to see the nurse?" Harry nodded weakly. Snape shook his head in disgust.

"Weasley, take Potter to the hospital wing." Ron got up and helped Harry who was vanishing the mess off his robes out the door.

"Mate are you all right?" Ron asked as soon as they were out of earshot. Harry paused for a second and Ron backed up, least he get something on his shoes, but they Harry straightened out and started moving again.

"I'm fine, just a little woozy. You don't really need to escort me all the way to Madam Pomfrey's."

"No I think I'll stay with you. If I go back without a pass Snape will probably give me detention." The rest of the walk to the hospital wing passed in silence. When they arrived Pomfrey took one look at Harry and hustled him away behind a curtained divider and the two began to talk in low tones. Ron couldn't make out a word but didn't try to get any closer.

Since he was the only other one in the room they must be keeping it from me. I wonder what's wrong, that simply wasn't motion sickness.

Several minutes latter the curtain was removed. Harry was sitting on one of the beds downing a potion of some sort. Ron didn't notice Professor Dumbledore sweeping into the room until he was already past him. Ron did, however, notice the hardening of Harry's eyes as the headmaster appeared.

"Hello headmaster." Harry's voice was uncharacteristically cold considering how they had sounded the last time Ron had heard the two talking.

"Ah good morning to you Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley." Ron nodded, deciding to stay out of whatever fight that was unfolding before he knew any of the details.

"I heard about that unfortunate accident between yourself and Professor Snape."

"Unfortunate! He did that on purpose. I did exactly what he asked and he still had to bring in a twenty-year-old grudge." This was the first he'd heard of it, must have been something that happened to Snape because of Harry's dad, Ron assumed.

"How do you think I can work with that git for the rest of the year?" Harry spread his arms to emphasize his point.

"Harry, he is still Professor Snape to you, and we could change your training program but that would mean that you would have to gi…"

"NO! We've had this discussion before, I'm going through with it!" Quieting down Harry continued. "That's final Professor." Dumbledore turned away and sighed. Standing he left the room only stopping at the door.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, I'm going to excuse you from your current class. You may speak to Madam Pomfrey about your next class, but Mr. Weasley you have no such exclusion. Good day." Ron again nodded as the elderly mage left the room.

"Harry what was that about?"

"Nothing Ron." At Ron's incredulous look Harry elaborated.

"It's between me and Dumbledore. Just don't worry about it, everything will work itself out."

"Ok Harry, if you say so." Ron pretended to drop it but something was most definitely up and Ron was going to get to the bottom of this, with or without Harry's help.

He ended up leaving Harry after defense was complete so he could make it to charms. Hermione wanted to know what had happened to Harry but Ron really didn't have an answer other than Dumbledore knew something. This only increased her resolve to ask the headmaster during lunch.

I mean really couldn't she wait until after we've eaten.

"Lemon drop?"

"No thank you professor." Hermione replied sitting down across from professor Dumbledore.

"Speak for your self Mione, we are missing lunch." Ron said as he accepted on of the sour sweets.

"Now then, Mr. and Ms. Weasley, Ms. Granger, what exactly did you want to speak to me about?"

"It's Harry sir. He's hiding something. Why did he come to Hogwarts early? Is he sick? Was it death eaters? Did you-know-who attack? Did…" Hermione continued to rain down progressively dire and serious scenarios until Dumbledore raised his hand to stop her.

"No Ms. Granger, Harry left for Hogwats early because of an altercation with his relatives. To your first question I'm afraid that on Harry's insistence I can not divulge information on Harry's condition."

"So something wrong with him?" Dumbledore had a look resembling Hargird when caught divulging something he shouldn't but then the look faded into a pleasant smile.

"I never said anything is wrong with him, but that being said it is Harry's secret to tell or keep and I can tell you no more. I can only hope that his friends will help him out."

"But Harry won't tell us anything." Hermione's response was almost a whine.

"I'm sorry Ms. Granger, that is all that I can tell you. Now do you have any question not related to Mr. Potter?"