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Chapter Nine
Pot Stirrer
I had been finishing up grading some essays when I received a message from a very anxious looking house elf who nervously rang his ears as he told me that the Headmaster wanted to see me. I finished reading through the last bit of illegible drivel I had been grading, marked a large A on the top of it, which was extremely generous of me, and left my office.
My annoyance at being summoned so close to the time I was due to be back in my quarters was annoying, but when I entered the office and found not only the Headmaster but Potter there as well, my annoyance level rose considerably.
"You asked to see me Headmaster." I spoke calmly keeping my eyes firmly on Dumbledore.
"Yes, thank you for coming Severus. James had some… well concerns about some of your students I was hoping you could perhaps help."
I could see where this was going through I wouldn't be baited. Not this time. "I will do my best. What seems to be the problem?"
"You are insane, that's the problem!" Potter spat.
"Now, James there is no need for name calling." Albus said attempting, weakly, to keep the Gryffindors temper at bay.
"The students are complaining. The workload he shoves on them is impossible. I've heard them in my class and in the halls, his expectations are completely unrealistic."
A small smirk pulled to my lips through I made no further outward signs of what I thought of his little rant. I honestly could care less what he thinks of my teaching style and I seriously hoped the Headmaster agreed, though… it was common knowledge that Potter was one of his favorites when we were in school, and I doubted that had changed much. I had hoped the Headmaster had enough common sense to see that James was simply trying to stir the pot.
"What students would that be?" I asked taking a step closer to my former school rival.
"What?" Potter asked, his expression as vacant as his mind.
"If there are students having difficulties in my class I of course would be happy to help them. If they require extra tutoring perhaps, I'm sure it can be arranged. In fact I'm sure your son would make an excellent tutor. He does quite well in my class, which needless to say was quite shocking. I assumed he would take after you. Good thing for him he did not."
Potters eyes narrowed, his fists clenched into fists, "You leave Junior out of this!"
"But why?" I continued. "He is a fine example of what a student in my class should be. I would have thought you would be proud of your son."
I could see Dumbledore trying to hide a grin, his white beard rising slightly his blue eyes twinkling quite brightly. Was he really enjoying watching Potter get worked up about this? How… interesting.
"Of course I am proud of him, he's a brilliant kid and does great in all his classes, but this isn't about him. The majority of the kids have no chance of passing Potions with you teaching it!" Potter sputtered pointing and shaking his finger with each word. He actually reminded me highly of McGonagall at that moment and it took all my will power not to laugh in his face.
"Naturally I want every child to succeed in my class," I explained, "if anyone is having difficult I will be happy to see they get the help they need. If you could make me list of the names of the students who mentioned having problems in my class I will see they get the proper extra tutoring. Now if that is all I have plans with my family.
And with that I turned on my heals and walked out the door, my robes billowing behind me.
When I told Lily what happened later that evening, it took her several minutes to stop laughing. I suppose the situation was funny, but at the same time it made me realize more then ever that Potter still holds a great deal of resentment towards me and I doubted this would be his only attempt to get me sacked, or worse.
A/N: A little short something to get you through until the next update. Short but fun.
