Disclaimer: Don't own it! If I did, I would be making money. /opens wallet and moths fly out/ No money. No ownie.

Chapter 5: So It Continues…

The next morning, Harry wandered into the Great Hall before anyone else. Then again…

Severus smiled slightly at the boy as he entered and got a wave in return. He then sensed someone's eyes on him and turned to lock gazes with Dumbledore. The old wizard was staring at him, his blue eyes clouded.

He knows! Thought Severus in fright for a moment. Then he calmed down and took a breath. No. No, he can't know. You and Harry were far too careful. He doesn't know anything about Harry. Stay calm, Severus, stay calm…

Harry sat down at the very end of the Slytherin table and picked up a pear from a bowl of fruit…which was the only thing on the table. As he bit into it, he wondered if he could ask Severus to move him back into his rooms. He missed his old room. And breakfast with Severus.

Nice, quiet breakfasts where they could talk.

Severus had found Harry to be rather insightful for an eleven-year-old and extremely hungry for knowledge. He'd gone through the man's library in the span of a week and had begun on the school library the next day. Madam Pince was kind to him and allowed him to borrow books for as long as he wanted. Except from the Restricted Section, which Severus had warned him to never ask her about or to ask him permission to go into.

Harry had taken those words to heart. Severus had warned him that some of the books had things in them that could be harmful to him.

And some of them by themselves could be harmful to him.

Pear juice dribbled down his chin and Harry used his sleeve to wipe it away. He could sense Severus' gaze on him and knew that he was annoyed with him for not using something besides his clothes. As there were no napkins on the table, he had no other choice.

"Well…you're up early."

Harry turned his eyes upwards and found himself looking into Blaise's dark eyes.

"Mornin'," he mumbled around the piece of pear in his mouth. He chewed for a moment and swallowed before continuing with, "How are you, Blaise?"

"Great. I'm at Hogwarts. My dreams have come true." She then paused and added, "Well…except for being in the same House as Draco."

"He is a pest, isn't he?"

"Very," growled Blaise as she sat down across from him. "I've known him since we were both two. He didn't use to be like that. Not till after…" Her voice faded away and she stared down at the tabletop for a moment.

Harry frowned and leaned towards her.

"You okay?" he asked.

Blaise blinked then said hurriedly, "Yeah, yeah. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"I am. Don't worry about it, Harry. It's in the past. Can't be changed." She shrugged then reached out to snatch an apple from the fruit bowl.

"Mmm, good fruit."

"I know. The pears are great."

"Ick. I hate pears. They're so…so…"

"So so?" said Harry, cocking his head to the side and looking at her quizzically. Blaise frowned at him and put her apple down.

"You remind me of Severus."

Harry blinked.

"You know Severus?"

"I'm surprised you do. What with you being the Boy-Who-Lived and all. And he's my cousin, by the way."

Harry shrugged and said, "He rescued me from my relatives. Taught me about the wizarding world. Only person that's ever been kind to me ever, really."

Blaise's eyebrows rose up into her hair as she stared at him. Harry scowled at her and snapped, "What?"

"Nothing," she replied. "Just hard to believe that you would say Severus is the only person that's ever been kind to you. I don't believe it."

Harry snorted.

"You haven't met my relatives."

"That bad?"

"I've lived in a cupboard underneath the stairs since I can remember and worked like a house-elf. That bad enough for you?"

Blaise's jaw dropped and her eyes widened until Harry could see the white all around her iris.

"Merlin's beard…that's horrible. That's crueler than the stories I heard about Death Eater's from Draco's father."

Harry frowned and said, "He was one, you know."

"So was Severus."

"Yeah. But I trust him."

"You don't trust Draco's father?"

"Blaise, I've never even met the man and I know what he's like. From watching Draco and hearing Severus talk. He's a bastard and a Death Eater through and through. There's nothing else to be said about him."

"You're right about that. But don't say that to Draco. He loves his father even though he knows full well what the man's like."

"Thanks," said Harry. "I'll remember that."

"Mmm. Any other incriminating things I should know about the illustrious Boy-Who-Lived?"

Harry scowled and said, "Don't call me that."

"What?" asked Blaise, surprise in her eyes.

"'Boy-Who-Lived.' My parents died to give me that title." He paused and looked at her. "Isn't that wrong, somehow? I saved the world and all I got was a lousy title. Life's grand, eh?"

"You just reminded me of Severus again."

Harry sighed and said, "Courtesy of me living with him since the beginning of August. I am now eloquent in the arts of sarcasm, scowling, cynicism, and that nifty trick he does with his robes."

"The incessantly billowy thing?"

"That'd be it."

Blaise grinned and asked, "How does he do that?"

"It's the way the robes are sewn," explained Harry. "Apparently his aunt showed it to him. I found some thread and managed to get one pair of my robes done before he caught me. He thought it was amusing."

"I'll bet."

"Aw, isn't this sweet? Zabini and Potter."

"Good morning, Draco," sighed Blaise, not looking at the blonde boy. "You actually managed to get up without the help of a house-elf. I'm impressed."

"Shut up, Blaise," snapped Draco before he turned and went to sit a ways down from them. Blaise chuckled and Harry arched an eyebrow at her.

"Are you two always like that?"

"Mostly. Is that a Gryffindor coming our way?"

Harry blinked and turned around to see Hermione coming towards him. She glanced at Blaise and started to walk towards the Gryffindor table but Harry motioned her on. He then turned towards Blaise, caught the scowl on her face, and hissed, "The rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor is stupid. Even Severus says so. So…let's get over the rivalry here and now shall we? Or we can part company and forget we ever spoke."

Blaise stared at him for a moment before she said, "Your serious."

"Deeply."

"Okay, okay. I can handle a Gryffindor. But none of those annoying one's."

"Right. Morning, Hermione."

Hermione blinked and stammered, "H-hi, Harry."

Blaise gave Harry an askance look then smiled up at the nervous Gryffindor.

"Hi. I'm Blaise Zabini. Sorry about the glare."

Hermione blinked again then said, "It's okay. I'm Hermione Granger."

"Muggleborn?"

Hermione just nodded and Blaise smiled, saying, "Well, I'd better warn you now to avoid most of the Slytherins. Over half of them claim to be completely Pureblood although I think only the Malfoy's can claim that title."

"Pureblood?" said Hermione.

"Some of the older families of wizards have a…dislike…for Muggles and Muggleborns," explained Harry. "So they call themselves Purebloods, saying that there's no Muggle blood in their lines…"

"But that's not possible," picked up Blaise. "If we hadn't married into Muggle families, we wouldn't have survived as long as we have."

"You said the Malfoy's…"

"A right bunch of bastards if there ever was one," snarled Blaise. "And I know for a fact that they've had a vampire in the family."

Harry almost said something about that but stopped himself. Severus had told him that he couldn't let anyone know about him. Not even his new friends.

Though maybe he could ask him if he could tell them…

Harry's first day of Hogwarts didn't include Severus' class but his second did. He, Hermione, and Blaise left the Great Hall together and ambled towards the dungeons as they talked.

"What's Professor Snape like?" asked Hermione to Harry. She'd been told during breakfast of the morning before that he'd spent the summer with the man.

"He's nice. To me at least. But he's got a grudge against Gryffindors, so you'd better watch out."

"Why is that exactly?" asked Blaise. "I've never understood that grudge of his. He's got more against them than he does Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff."

Harry shrugged and replied, "He didn't say. Just warned me that if I ended up in Gryffindor to be set for a tongue-lashing. Oh, don't worry, Hermione, it won't be that bad."

Hermione looked worriedly at Harry and mumbled, "I hope your right."

Harry smiled at her and said, "I am. Chin up! And don't let him get to you. Like I said, if he likes you, he doesn't give you such a hard time."

"How do I get him to like me?"

"Well…he doesn't like busy-bodies for one…"

"Oh dear," said Hermione mournfully.

Harry grinned at her then continued, "And he doesn't like to be interrupted in class. Don't try too hard to answer his questions either or he'll ignore you. Wait till he calls on you. Oh, and read your book well. He likes to throw out questions from any chapter he chooses…and some that aren't in the book."

"He sounds a fright," said Hermione.

Blaise chuckled and said, "But he's bloody brilliant! One of the top Potion Masters in the wizarding world!"

Harry grinned and nodded.

"Number four if I remember correctly. And there are only ten."

Hermione's eyes widened and Harry gave her a nudge with his elbow. He then stopped in front of the classroom door and tried the latch.

"Curses, he's locked it."

"You mean we can't get in?" said Blaise.

Harry frowned and dropped his bag on the floor. He then turned on a heel and walked a few feet back down the corridor. Reaching out, he traced a design on the wall with one finger and said something in Welsh. A doorway appeared with a pop!, causing both girls to jump. Harry grinned at them and chirped, "Be back in a second!" He then went through the doorway, which vanished behind him.

Hermione and Blaise looked at each other fearfully then jumped back as the classroom door opened. Harry poked his head out and grinned cheekily at them.

"'Ello there," he said in a Cockney accent. "Welcome ter tha 'Otel Asphodel. Step righ' in."

"Blaggard," said Blaise good-naturedly as she shoved past him. Harry just grinned then took his bag from Hermione.

"Thanks. You'll want to sit on the left side of the room. Severus likes to keep the Houses separated. Especially Slytherin and Gryffindor."

Hermione arched an eyebrow. "House rivalry?"

"You got it," replied Harry as he walked over to plunk his bag down in the chair beside Blaise. He then walked to the desk at the front of the room and poked at a black lump sitting on the edge of it. The lump unfolded into a rather large cat that blinked sleepy golden eyes at him.

"Hiya, Chesh. What are you doing in here?"

"Mrow," replied the cat as she stood up and stretched. She flicked her tail then leapt to the floor, where she hurled herself against Harry's legs. He staggered then laughed and crouched down beside her, running his hand along her spine.

"Silly thing. You should be in Severus' rooms. You know he doesn't like you in here."

Chesh gave Harry a mournful look and he sighed, saying, "Please don't look at me like that, Chesh. You know I can't stand it."

"Harry," said Blaise, "you're talking to a cat."

"I know that. Chesh, meet Blaise and Hermione."

"Nyow," said Chesh, flicking her tail. Hermione giggled a little and Blaise quirked a smile.

"Okay then," said Harry. "Off with you, Chesh."

The big cat flicked an ear at him then turned and bounded towards one of the walls. Hermione gasped as she hurled herself at it then blinked when she passed through. Harry chuckled and grinned at her.

"Its okay, Mione. That section of the wall's charmed to take you straight into Sev's rooms. Of course…he has to have given it instruction to allow you in. Otherwise you get this nasty jolt." The dark-haired boy laughed as he continued, "Mrs. Norris tried to jump through it after Chesh once. She looked like a big puffball for the rest of the day. Static and all, y'know."

Blaise laughed aloud at the mental image of the caretaker's cat in such a state while Hermione placed her hand over her mouth to hide a smile.

Something at the back of Harry's mind tickled and he looked towards the door at the back of the room that led to Severus' office. He could sense the faint presence of vampire and the stronger tingle of the Dark Magick that bound the Potions Master to Voldemort.

A second later the door opened and Severus stepped into the room, a dark scowl upon his features.

"Mister Potter, may I inquire as to what you are doing in the middle of my floor?"

"Chesh was in here, sir," replied Harry, not at all put off by the sudden switch from their usual informal converse. "I sent her off."

Severus arched a single eyebrow and his dark gaze flicked to the two girls in the room before resettling on Harry. The eleven-year-old returned the expression with a cheeky grin and a twinkle of his emerald eyes.

"Very well. Take your seat, Mister Potter."

"Yes, sir."

Harry wandered over to his seat beside Blaise and dumped his bag unceremoniously in the floor. Lounging back into the chair, he threw one foot up onto the desk in front of him and leaned back after grinning wryly at Severus.

The Potions Master frowned at the boy but there was a small spark of amusement in the depths of his dark eyes. Blaise blinked at her cousin then gave Harry a confused glance. He'd been telling the truth about staying with Severus? She'd thought he was joking!

The emerald eyes laughed at her as the door behind them opened and the rest of their class poured in, the Gryffindors talking happily to each other as the Slytherin's sneered at them in disdain.

"Get your feet off the desk, Potter," sneered Draco as he took up the desk beside him, two huge, hulking brutes taking the seats on either side of him. "Its unsanitary."

Harry tilted his head back to peer at Draco from upside down, green eyes wide and full of fake fear.

"Oh, yes, Master Malfoy! I, poor untaught creature that I am, shall remove my filthy feet from this pristine desk immediately!"

Draco smirked and said, "That's more like it."

The green eyes narrowed and shot a venomous look at the blonde.

"When Hell freezes over, Malfoy."

Draco bristled and started to draw his wand when Severus stood up.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving in this classroom. This is Potions – wands are for charms. Here you will learn the subtleties of potions as you make them. But beware of what you throw into your cauldrons. It could have…hazardous results." Severus fixed the entire class with a menacing glare then snapped out, "Mister Malfoy!"

"Sir?" squeaked Draco, surprised at being called on.

"What types of potions are Jobberknoll feathers used in?"

The blonde's brow furrowed and Severus immediately snapped, "Miss Zabini?"

"Uh…"

Severus sighed and called on four other students (all on the Slytherin side) before he said, "Mister Potter, would you care to enlighten the class of what types of potions Jobberknoll feathers are used in?"

Half of the Slytherins leaned forward, ready to see him fail. Harry nearly laughed aloud at the question.

"Memory Potions and Truth Serums, sir."

"At last, someone who has read their material. Ten points to Slytherin, Mister Potter."

"Good show," whispered Blaise as Severus began to talk about Memory Potions.

"I read Sev's entire library over the summer – well, what he'd let me read," whispered Harry back. "And you just know that half of his books are on potions."

Blaise nodded in confirmation then they both fell silent as Severus gave them a sharp glance. The class ended uneventfully (the Gryffindors did get a crash-course in Severus' dislike of them) and they left.

"That was horrid!" said a tall redheaded Gryffindor boy in front of Harry, Blaise, and Hermione as they walked down the corridor. "No wonder they say he's a git!"

Harry scowled at the back of the boy's head, barely listening to Hermione chatter about how exciting she found potions even though Severus was a bit…unkind.

The redhead in front of them stopped in shock and turned to stare at her.

"Unkind! He's bloody vicious! There's no reason to stand up for Slytherin scum!"

Hermione paled while Harry and Blaise bristled. The dark-haired girl crossed her arms over her chest then turned to Harry and said, "This is why I don't like Gryffindors. Bunch of loud-mouthing prats."

"What was that?" snarled the redhead.

"C'mon, Ron," said a sandy-haired Irish boy, tugging on the taller boy's arm. "We'll be late."

"And th-there's no fighting in the h-halls," stammered a short Gryffindor boy.

Ron glared at Blaise then his cold blue eyes landed on Harry. He looked him up and down then stared right into the icy emerald eyes.

"You ought to be ashamed, Potter. Sorted into Slytherin…"

Harry sneered and said, "If you are the pristine example of a Gryffindor student, then I'd happily be a Slytherin any day."

"Oi, what's going on?"

"Are we starting a fight, wee Ronnikins?"

Ron's ears turned red and he shouted, "Don't call me that!"

The twins, both grinning widely, walked up on their side of him and patted his ginger hair.

"Oh but wee Ronnikins…"

"…what else shall we…"

"…call you? Hullo, Harry!"

Blaise and Hermione stared at Harry as he returned George's bright grin.

"Hullo, George," he said. He then jerked his thumb at Ron and asked, "You know him?"

"Know him!" exclaimed Fred, wrenching Ron into a headlock. "Why's he's our wee brother Ronnikins!"

"Let go of me! FRED!"

Harry arched an eyebrow and leaned over slightly to peer at Ron's flushed face.

"You're related to them? I don't believe it."

He straightened and looked at George quizzically.

"You sure he wasn't adopted?"

George laughed and threw an arm about the younger boy's shoulder, saying, "Positive! So how's Slytherin?"

"Good except for Malfoy."

"We were rather disappointed when you didn't get in Gryffindor," said Fred, ruffling Ron's hair as he tried futilely to get out of the headlock.

"But…no matter!" chirped George.

"Got to get to class now."

"Be seeing you, Harry!"

Fred released Ron and the twins walked down the corridor towards the potions classroom. Harry shook his head after them then shouldered his bag and began to walk towards Transfiguration. Blaise and Hermione hurriedly caught up with him, both staring.

"You know those two?" said Blaise in surprise.

"The twins?"

"Yeah."

"Mm-hmm. Met them before the Sorting."

"Huh?" said Hermione. "But you weren't on the train…"

"I was waiting in the entrance hall. They came through and spotted me and decided to have a chat." Harry shrugged then said, "You'd better run, Mione. I think the Gryffindors were heading towards the green houses."

"Oh no!" exclaimed the bushy-haired girl, taking off in a dead run.

Blaise shook her head after her and said, "That girl will be the death of someone."

"Us, most likely," said Harry. "Could be worse."

"Hmm?"

"Could be Malfoy."

"Oh, don't even!"

Harry laughed at Blaise's discontent and continued to laugh as she began to rant about all of Draco's faults. Which made quite the list.

When they reached the Transfiguration classroom, Blaise stopped Harry and asked, "Hey, what did that prat mean?"

"By what?" asked Harry, stopping in mid stride.

"He said there's no reason to stand up for Slytherin scum."

"That's what most people think."

"So?" said Blaise. "What does that have to do with Professor Snape?"

Harry gave her an expression that told her he thought that a stupid question and replied, "He's the only person that will stand up for us." With that he headed into the classroom and took a seat at the back, greeting McGonagall with a grin.

Blaise followed him in, suddenly aware that Harry knew more than the average eleven-year-old.