Talking to Portraits
APOV
"Severus, where did you learn all of that theory about potions?" The portrait Snape asked seriously. I wasn't used to anyone calling me by my second name before. It felt strange that the grumpy professor should use it so easily. Well it was his name.
"I read a lot…" I began "and well my aunt teaches me stuff as well. She even lets me watch some of her work at the ministry since I've been spelled to secrecy." I finished trying to impress him with that.
"Ms Granger was an excellent student if entirely too irritating. You should count yourself lucky to have learned so much from her." Snape added returning to his desk within the portrait. It was more than weird to speak to a dead man's shadow.
"I would like you to consider becoming my private student when the headmistress finds a suitable replacement for me. I will also make a personal recommendation that you be placed into second year potions regardless." The professor said writing a note on Hogwarts parchment and handing it to a witch who had entered his frame without warning. The portrait world must be quite strange.
"I understand what an honor it would be, but I honestly would hate to leave my friends behind." I offered honestly touched by his offer. More honestly though would be that I was pissed at his treatment of the class. How could he say those things to Rose and Score or even test us like that? It was absurd. "Besides I'm good friends with Scor and i'm sure he knew the answer too, if you'd have given him a chance to speak he would have remembered Braxter's theory as well." I said reproachfully.
"You and mr. Malfoy? That surprises me tremendously. You would do well not to lie on another's behalf since it will only hurt them later o…" Snape started before I cut him off.
"I didn't lie, I can assure you he knew that answer, he's as smart as me. You would do well not to presume things that you know nothing about." I snapped bravely, I was tired of people repeating their surprise at our friendship, and Scor had beaten me at chess for Merlins sake!
"Careful Potter, I wouldn't want you to lose the points you just won for your house by overstepping." Snape said casting me a warning glare before continuing. "If that is indeed true I apologize for my assumption. You should however remember a professor may presume whatever he wishes, your father may be famous but that does not accord you his saintly preeminence." Snape snapped back sarcastically, practically spitting out the last two words as though he had found them distasteful. After he finished he looked into my green eyes pausing to consider something.
"Would you rethink your decision to study under me if mr. Malfoy could indeed prove worthy to join us as well?" He finished contemplating his offer as though it were still alien and strange to hear out loud.
"Absolutely!" I said over enthusiastically. I was trying to act tough and Slytherin and here I was shouting my excitement like and eleven yea… oh well I guess I still am… "Then you may tell Mr. Malfoy to present himself to me tomorrow evening so that I may assess his… skills. That will be all." Snape said turning his back on me dismissively.
Al's Interrogation
SPOV
"Stupid old portrait." Al said exiting class turning to find me lazily braced against the stone wall.
"Hey Scor thanks for waiting."
He merely gave me that stupid smile of his and moved to stand by my side as I detached myself from the wall.
"What did the old shit want?"
I really wanted to know why Al came late to class but that could wait. Besides it wouldn't do to let the green-eyed twit think I was actually kind of worried…
"Oh. That was him asking the both of us to be his private pupils after his replacement arrives." Al offered nocking his shoulder playfully into mine.
"What? Why me? I thou…" I started before Al continued his smug little story.
"I told him you knew the answer too, which I know you did, and wouldn't consider taking his offer if it meant leaving friends behind. So he told me that if you passed his assessment tomorrow you could join me." Al finished nocking into me again with his infectious smile.
"Al! that is not the Slytherin way! Those who can't keep up get left behind… and I barely remembered half of it. Although I suppose he never gave me a chance to respond…" I was entirely too annoyed at the professor for that.
"Scor I know you wouldn't have left me behind either so don't play games. And I knew you could have answered it!" Al snapped turning right down the corridor. Well I wouldn't have left Al behind exactly... since it would have been entirely more likely for me to toss that ratty piece of kindling into our common room fire first.
"So Al... why were you late?" I asked turning left this time hearing the distant sound of shifting stairs.
"I… got lost. I thought I mentioned…" He said slightly evasively. My ass he got lost. His face said he didn't want to worry me anymore after last night. Well at least I'm sure until the Headmistress denied him his request to transfer. I gave him Father's raised eyebrow look that said you were full of shit and I knew it.
"Well I ran into Marvolo in the corridor's and he…"
Please not that morbidly disturbing child.
"What did he do?" I said more than asked, interrupting Al mid-sentence and pulling him off the main corridor into the deserted side hall.
"We… just spoke. He was curious about why he seemed to know me from somewhere." Al said sheepishly, not meeting my gaze.
"Well you are Harry Potter's son its not a mystery as to how he knows you and besides that doesn't explain why you seemed so flustered when you got to class." I said. Marvolo was dangerous and he had most likely said something to Al that was designed to mess with his head.
"First of all I seem to have had the same feeling as him ok, and I'm entirely sure his knowing me had nothing to do with my Father. Second I was aggravated because not only had he made me late but he had tried to push some nonsense about you that I didn't buy for a second." Al said in a tone that indicated he had no intention of continuing the discussion.
"Do you still want to talk to the Headmistress?" I asked changing the subject. What did Volo tell Al? That snake felt more dangerous than the majority of the death eaters still in Azkaban and knowing his family that was likely true.
"Well, quite frankly I don't think all the gold in Gringotts would make that hat change its mind." Al said dodging a fanged frisbee as we made our way further towards our charms classroom.
"That musty old dish rag isn't the one who needs convincing, its Minerva Mcgonagall who you so unceremoniously refer to as old bat." I tossed at Al.
"Hey I'm certain your dish rag comment was what drove the hat to torment us like this in the first place you pompous twit. Besides you're just jealous that I'm untouchable." Al said smiling. He is fond of his insults this one.
"You're already touched Al and I know what made that hat do what it did and its decision had nothing to do with my accurate assessment of its condition." I threw back referring to what we both knew to be the cause of our predicament.
"I am perfectly sane thank you. And you will recall your clumsiness got us into that mess." Al said walking backwards to face me with a smile. He continued before I could remind him that it was his clumsiness that had nearly drowned me and that walking backwards was a stupid way of asking for a repeat performance.
"Rosie slipped me a note in class Scor. Apparently the sorting hat's decision is final and magically binding. Thats why she ran off for that book this morning. So I guess that means I'm stuck with Rori and Maddy." Al finished conveniently leaving me out, eyes flashing a darker Slytherin green that said he was laughing hysterically inside.
I was going to respond when he skillfully ducked into class leaving me open mouthed in the middle of a busy corridor.
I will get you for that Al.
At least he'll be in Slytherin with me…
