Chapter Five

Harry kept to the shadows as he hurried to the dungeons. There he hoped to find Snape's private rooms when the dreaded voice appeared from nowhere. "Well, well, seems our favorite celebrity has finally awakened. The Hospital Wing not good enough for the famous, Mr. Potter?"

Harry swallowed hard, trying to gain courage as he turned to face the sneaky bastard of the dungeons. "Professor."

"I would like to sleep tonight, Potter."

"We both would." Both wizards turned to face a suddenly appearing Remus Lupin; one seemed surprised at his arrival while the other wasn't affected. "Harry, what was so important you had to sneak away to the dungeons?"

Harry looked away, nervous and fearful. I can't tell them everything yet! "Come." The gentle tone from his most hated Professor shocked him. Remus guided Harry with a gentle hand as they followed the Slytherin to his rooms.

"Drinks, Severus?"

The dark haired man glared but obligingly poured three small drinks, "Sip, Potter. It'll calm you." He waited until Harry had a couple sips, "Why did you have the need to hunt me down with a werewolf?"

"I didn't. He sniffed me out and followed." Remus smirked, not bothering to deny it. "I, uh, wanted to ask something."

Severus froze. From that tone of voice, he did not want to know. But he also had the feeling that he would possibly agree just to protect the boy. Trouble did always follow Harry Potter everywhere. "Speak up."

"Teach me."

Both older males sputtered, choking on their drinks, "What!" Please let it be something else.

Emerald eyes pleaded as they latched onto both men, "We all know the prophecy or at least some of it. Even Voldemort knows somehow." The two men flinched at the blatant use of the Dark Lord's name. "He had to have found the prophecy somewhere. Possibly from me. But I want to learn the Dark Arts. It'll be the only way I can fight back. No one will teach me anything. I can't possibly win with what I'm learning now. Not while Voldemort has no problem using the Dark Arts."

"Ask the Headmaster. I'm sure he'll do anything for you."

"He won't allow it. You've seen what happened when he wouldn't tell me everything. I lost the last of my family, except Remus. Siri is dead because of me, because of Dumbledore. I'm asking you, a Death Eater and a Dark Creature. You know the Dark Arts well. Remus can teach me to defend myself."

"Harry, if this happens, we may lose our jobs. Even my life."

Emerald eyes suddenly began sparkling, "Then they would shut down Hogwarts and no child here would be safe, ripe for thepicking. There is no other Potions Master nor Professor to teach Snape's classes. There is no one willing to join Hogwarts' staff as a Defense Professor. Every one of them knows all about Voldemort, not one would face him in a position that could get them killed within a year or less. Unless Umbridge and Lockhart come back, though I believe Ron mentioned that Umbridge hasn't really been seen since she left the Ministry for a vacation muttering about deadly ghosts in the Forest."

Both men blinked, "You were sorted correctly, right?" Severus had always wondered about the length of Potter's but was thankful that Lupin was curiously willing to ask the boy the very thing that was crossing their mind since Potter's little speech.

Harry shrugged carelessly, "It wanted Slytherin and I wanted Gryffindor. I won."

Severus sighed, knowing he would regret this one day, "Very well, Potter. You will do as we say. No complaining and no telling anyone, not even your little friends. Three nights a week in the Forbidden Forest. The wards would beset off other wise. Be prepared to work. And I expect your grades to rise in my class, Potter. Or we won't continue. Clear?"

"Crystal." Knew Snape refused to do anythingwithout something else in return.

"Now goodnight, Potter, Lupin. Leave."