AN: This is a sort of mentor Snape fic with some other tropes along with the Harry and Astoria pairing. At the time of posting i am currently almost done with Chapter 15 and not to the Yule Ball yet. This fic will be longer than my last Harry Astoria Fic.
(Hogwarts: Dining Hall – Nov 2nd, 1994)
Severus Snape was sitting at the head table, as he overlooked the rest of the student population as the students ate lunch. He peered over to the Gryffindor table and spotted how Potter was sitting at the end of the table alone, after his name came out of the Goblet of Fire. He saw that even Potters two best friends, Granger and Weasley, had not stuck by him. He was looking forward to seeing Potter get what was coming to him, but he paused. The Tournament had a history of being deadly and competitors being killed. He knew that if Granger was helping him then he would have a chance, but he didn't like the chances of Potter being able to survive in the tournament alone. Potter's friends might come around, but it would be too late if they did before the 1st task. He knew that it was illegal to get help from Professor, but Severus wasn't a Slytherin for anything. Technically Potter was registered for a different school, so Severus wasn't his professor where the tournament was concerned, and the tournament did have a history of cheating. He knew that the other Headmasters would help their competitors, but Albus was too truthful for that, and someone had to look out for Potter as he recalled the promise he made to Lily.
(Hogwarts: Potion Classroom)
Harry was sighing as he sat down at an empty table in the potion classroom, he knew that no one wanted to partner with him. He knew that this happened every year, the school turning against him that wasn't his fault. For Harry, this time was the worst since neither Hermione nor Ron believed that he didn't enter his name. Ron had called him a liar when Harry had denied that he had entered his name, and Hermione was more concerned that Harry had broken the rules and not listened to the professors and somehow bypassed the age line to enter himself. And those stupid badges Draco had made hadn't helped matters, since everyone in Hufflepuff was wearing and some of the other houses. No matter what he said the matter, everyone thought he was lying it was getting really frustrating for him. It was not like he wanted to enter a tournament known for its death toll, he knew someone had entered him but couldn't find out who it was.
"Today we are making a Healing Potion, instructions are on the board" Stated Snape as students looked at the board then their books before going for ingredients, with Harry joining them to get the ingredients since he was working alone.
Gathering the right ingredients, he returned to his station and started following the instructions and looking around every now and then to make sure no one messed up his potion, from the corner of his eye he saw a projectile coming towards his cauldron and knowing that he would get in trouble if he brandished his wand, he stepped in front of it making it fall to the ground as he turned around carefully making sure Snape wasn't watching before seeing who did it, and it wasn't Draco like he thought but instead was Ron, deciding to not give him any satisfaction he turned back to his potion.
"Wrong Color, start over Granger" Barked Snape as Harry attention went back to his potion
"Our potion was almost done" Whined Ron as Hermione elbowed him
"Then you wouldn't mind starting over, and ten points from Gryffindor" Stated Snape as Harry stirred the potion and taking a glance at Malfoy was busy working on his potion, as he added another ingredient before checking the instructions again for the direction of the stir.
"Five points to Slytherin for a good Coloration, Mr. Malfoy" Stated Snape as he walked around the room
"Thank you, Professor" Stated Draco as Harry stirred the potion again before talking the heat off, as Snape went to the front of the room and was looking at the students then the clock, then turning his attention to Potter
"Potter" Barked Snape as Harry sighed, knowing that his good luck with Snape ignoring him this class was not going to last.
"Yes, Professor" Stated Harry
"Where is your Partner?" asked Snape
"I don't have one, Professor" Stated Harry, knowing that punishment was coming his way now
"You are supposed to have a partner when brewing potions, Potter. I think detention tonight shall suffice as punishment" Sneered Snape as Harry wanted to point out that another Student who didn't have a partner but didn't want to get more detentions, he needed the time to prepare for the tournament.
"Time is up, please hand in your potion and remain so afterwards" Ordered Snape as the students put the potion in a glass tube before writing their name on it and filling up to hand it into Snape. As it was Harry's turn, he somewhat expected Snape to drop the vial, but he saw Snape eye the vial, and put it with the others as Harry breathed a breath of relief and returned to his table, just returning as it was Hermione's and Ron's turn.
"Professor" Squawked Hermione and Snape dropped both her and Ron's vials, and Ron turned red
"Opps, a Troll for both of you" Stated Snape as he recorded the scores on his grading sheets
"But we brewed it properly" Argued Hermione
"I can't grade a dropped potion, Ms. Granger" Responded Snape
"Because you dropped it" Snapped Ron
"Twenty points from Gryffindor for arguing with a professor, now return to your tables before I make it more" Warned Snape as Hermione huffed as she and Ron returned to their table, as Snape looked over the potions before picking one at random, or at least to him it was.
"I will show you a demonstration of how to apply the potion, Potter please step forward" Instructed Snape as Harry sighed and went to the front of the classroom
"Roll up your right sleeve" Instructed Snape as Harry compiled and Snape made a cut on the upper arm before pausing and making another cut lower on his arm, both times Harry winced
"In order to administer the potion, you don't drink it but instead apply it around the wound" Lectured Snape as he put some on the bottom cut before stealing a glance at the top cut, the bottom cut healed itself.
"Homework is a two-foot essay on the Healing Potion due next class, dismissed" Stated Snape as the students started to leave the classroom, he saw Potter take his bag and stare at the top cut before sighing and leaving the room.
(Hogwarts: Dining Hall)
"What is this I hear about you dropping Ms. Granger's potion today?" asked McGonagall as she was sitting next to Severus Snape at the head table during dinner.
"Ms. Granger's potion slipped out of her hands. I couldn't give her anything above a troll for it, the same for Mr. Weasley's" Replied Snape
"She says that the potion slipped out of your hands, not her" returned McGonagall
"Obviously she is not telling the complete truth" Replied Snape smoothly
"She wants a redo of the potion" admitted McGonagall
"And I will not be giving her one, she dropped the potion end of story" Responded Snape
"Did Mr. Potter drop his potion as well" asked McGonagall
"He did not, he actually scored an Exceeds Expectations" admitted Snape, as he never would have given Potter that score before, but his potion was surprisingly the second best in the class after some review and it did work, he did use it on Potter after all.
"An EE asked McGonagall as she blinked, she knew of Snape's hatred for James Potter and therefore Harry and thought he was not over it
"He actually managed to brew a proper potion, without unnecessary distractions" Sneered Snape as he saw that McGonagall was getting suspicious
"Of course, I shall pass on to Ms. Granger that your decision." Stated McGonagall as she got up and went over to the Gryffindor table. As Snape thought back on what he saw in the top cut, a part of a large snake fang what was it doing in Potter's arm, he had taken a visit to the infirmary and glanced at Potter's file, and nothing said anything about it perhaps he would have to question Potter about it tonight.
(Hogwarts: Snape's office)
Harry was standing outside of Snape's office and carefully knocked on the door before hearing a voice.
"Enter" Called out Snape as Harry entered
"I am here, Professor" Stated Harry
"Take a seat" Ordered Snape as Harry compiled, wanting to get this detention over with
"What am I doing tonight, Professor?" asked Harry as Snape stared at him
"We are going to be talking" Responded Snape
"Talk?" asked Harry confused, wondering what Snape wanted to talk to him about
"Yes Potter, talk. Why did you enter yourself into the Tri-Wizard Tournament?" asked Snape as he studied Harry's face for any give away
"I didn't enter myself nor did I ask anyone to do it for me" Snapped Harry
"So, you think someone entered you?" asked Snape
"I … I think so" Stated Harry as he was surprised that Snape did yell at him for lying
"And what may I ask are you doing to prepare for the tournament?" asked Snape
"I was reading tomes on how to get out" Shared Harry
"Potter, you are not getting out of the tournament. If there was a way, the headmaster would have already done so." Explained Snape
"I did read a bit about the tournament itself, this afternoon. The first task usually involves magical creatures of some sort." Shared Harry
"I shall recommend some appropriate books for to study before our next meeting" Stated Snape as Harry was surprised, Snape was helping him
"I … I thought Professor were not supposed to help competitors. And why would you help me?" asked Harry confused
"Yes, I am helping you. As much as I hate you, I don't want to see any student die especially in this outdated tournament that they should have never resurrected. And Professors are not supposed to help but you are not likely to survive without some help. The school's current attitude makes it so, no one is likely to help you. You will however not tell a soul that I am helping you" Explained Snape
"Of course, Professor" Stated Harry as he thought about, and decided to accept the help. Snape's help couldn't be worse than no help and maybe Hermione and Ron will come around.
"I did notice a piece of Snake Fang in your arm, would you care to explain that?" Quired Snape as Harry squirmed
"Well?" Demanded Snape
"I was bite by the Ballisk in the chamber of secrets, as I was stabbing it a fang got in my arm" Explained Harry
"You were bite by a Ballisk?" asked Snape skeptically
"Yes, Fawkes's tear healed it." Explained Harry
"Didn't you tell Madame Pomphrey about it?" Inquired Snape
"I kind of … forgot" admitted Harry as Snape sighed
"And how pray tell did you stab it?" asked Snape
"I got the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat, which Fawkes brought with him" Explained Harry
"The Sword of Gryffindor?" asked Snape skeptically
"That is what Dumbledore said" Responded Harry
"Let me remove the fang" Stated Snape as he approached Harry as Harry rolled up his sleeve, but not too far
"This is going to hurt" States Snape as he brandished his wand and prepared to carefully banish the fang and cast the spell as Harry fell over in pain
"It ... Hurts" Stated Harry through the pain as Snape sighed and was forced to put the fang back in
"I will have to brew some potion to less the pain as I remove it, I shall need a sample of your blood in the meantime to find any affects it may have had on you" Explained Snape
"Alright" Conceded Harry knowing it was a risk giving Snape a sample of blood but he wanting to know about the effects on him won out.
"So, I guess the Venom isn't gone" Stated Harry as Snape was talking a sample
"What gave you the first clue" Sneered Snape
"I thought that Phoenix's tears neutralized it" Defended Harry
"Obviously not, the detention is over. I shall see you tomorrow night at the same time" Stated Snape
"Ok" Stated Harry as he stood and walked out of the room as Snape sighed, he knew that helping Potter would test his patience and it already was.