AN: Hi! Would just like to thank everyone who followed, reviewed or faved my fanfic. This is only my second fanfic, and I've never gotten favs or reviews or follows before. It means so much to me. Thank you!

And also, would just like to say that English is not my native language, and I am only 15, so please forgive me, should there be some grammar faults (which I know there will be).

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"My friends and family" Harry said with confidence, but he frowned as he saw Snape roll his eyes.

"Spare me the sentimentals, Potter. Try again" Snape sighed with a scowl.

"Sheer dumb luck?" Harry tried with a shrug, thinking of what McGonagall had said when he encountered the troll in his first year. Again, it was the wrong answer.

"Do not pretend to be humble, I already know of your ego, so there is no point in hiding it" he sneered. Clenching his fist, Harry forced himself to calm down by picturing Snape's head on a stake.
"If you will not guess it, I'll just have to tell you", he finally sighed. "Your unrelenting, non-stopping will to never back down. To always do what you deem right. Do you not think it is right to use an hour or two of your time every night, if it would save you and your friends?" Harry tried to process the words, but his tired mind couldn't keep up with Snape. As he didn't reply, Snape continued.
"Will and patience is the most useful tools, should you want to do anything in life. Find some patience, and I believe you will improve. It is important you believe so too, for I refuse to waste another hour with you. You have to learn to Occlude. I refuse to repeat the fact that lives are at stake. Now, stop your wallowing and-" Snape stopped himself as he noticed the brat wasn't even paying attention, but was staring into the air his mind completely elsewhere.
"You state that you care, yet you seem so limitlessly uninterested" Snape hissed through clenched teeth. Harry shook his head to clear it, and looked up at the angry scowl on the bats face. So if he talked, he angered the man, and if he shut up, he angered the man.

"I am interested. I heard what you said, and was considering it"

Snape, who could recognize a lie from a mile away, plastered on the fakest, most unnatural smile, showing off the yellowish teeth.

"And have your considerations reached any conclusions, Potter?" he asked dangerously. Harry swallowed.

"You are right" Harry tried quietly, berating himself for how stupid he sounded.

"You are pathetic, Potter. I have been helping you reach your goal, warning you about the consequences should you not succeed, yet your arrogant self day dream about Quidditch or the liking. You are-"

"I know, but I was paying attention, truly" Harry interrupted, wanting nothing more than to change the subject. "I have to find patience, and believe that I can do this. I'm going to, because you are right. We can't waste any more time" Snape watched Harry with a cool gaze.

"Quite. I also expect you to pay attention, and work harder. Future failures will be punished" Snape spat. At this, Harry finally woke up.

"Punished? What kinds of punishment?" A sly smile reached Snape's lips.

"Detentions scrubbing cauldrons will suffice, don't you think?"

"But this isn't potions, professor. You can't-"

"-you will see that I can, Potter, and I will, if that is what is needed to make you improve. Like you said, this isn't potions class. There is no Mrs. Granger to whisper instructions in your ear. You will have to work for a change"

"But I have worked!"

"No you have not, Potter. You have been lazy and arrogant, talking back to me and wasting both your, and more importantly, my time. If you had done as I said, you would've improved" Harry laughed at this, and Snape's brows furrowed.
"Did you find something I said amusing, Potter?" he asked, venom dripping from his voice.

"I just find it ironic that you continually call me arrogant, yet you never consider the fact that maybe I haven't improved because of you" Harry replied, his voice raising with each letter.

"Oh yes, let's hear how you are going to blame me for your own failings, seeing that the Golden Boy can't possibly have flaws"

"Off course I have flaws. Off course I could've done things differently. But at least I'm willing to admit that. You, however, blame my lack of process solemnly on me. Have it not crossed your mind that your teaching methods might have been a factor in the doing of my failure?"

"You dare question my teaching methods?" Snape stood up, slamming his hands on the desk and lowering himself so he was at the same height as Harry. Harry quickly realized he preferred his professor from a distance, as he took in the bats features. He could practically see the unadulterated loathing in the dark eyes, his crooked nose almost blocking the man's view, and the sunken, sallow pale skin with greasy hair hanging over it as curtains. The surpressed anger started to bubble, threatening to burst.

"Yes, I dare. And with good reason too, seeing that I haven't occluded shit during your lessons"

"Potter, I would be very careful if I were you" His voice was quite similar to the one he used the night before, seconds before he had hit Harry. Harry sighed deeply as he realised he was letting his anger carry him away, and history would repeat itself if he continued.

"Look. I don't want to be here any more than you want to, okay? But if we are going to be able to survive, then we will both have to compromise. I'll promise that I'll work harder, but you can't keep teaching me the way you do" Snape regarded Harry silently as his lips pursed together into a thin, white line.

"What do you propose?" he finally muttered, his eyes glowing dangerously as if daring Harry to insult him again. Harry considered his words carefully before saying them.

"If you could relent from insulting me, I believe it would help my concentration" Harry said carefully. "And cutting me some slack, giving me a minutes pause when I need it, or giving me a bit of time to prepare before invading my mind would make me more willing to… cooperate-"

"-I refuse to coddle you, Potter"

"And I'm not asking you to" Harry assured.

"I have taught you the way I see appropriate. The way I was taught myself. I do not believe my teaching methods was the reason for your failure" Snape sneered. Harry sighed, resting his head in he palm of his hands as he cursed the man's pride, and felt the tiredness finally kick in for real.
"However" Snape continued. "If you truly believe that you will be more cooperative should I "give you some slack", as you so gracefully put it-" Harry's head shot up. "- I will consider it" he finished, looking as if he had tasted something revolting. With wide eyes, Harry said.

"Thank you"

"Now, I have had more than enough of you for one night. You next lesson is Monday, 8 o'clock. Get out" Harry did not hesitate as he abruptly stood up and bolted out of the door, feeling a rush of relief hit him. Snape would consider it.

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What did you think? I am making things up as I write, so thoughts, opinions or suggestions to what should happen next is very appreciated.

Review answers:

Fairy07: Thank you! I don't really know where things will end. But seeing that I prefer the sarcastic, sassy canon Snape, I don't want to make him too out of character. My point is, it will be a Severitus, but I haven't planned how close they'll get. I can picture Snape as a mentor, or at the very most, protective of Harry, almost in a fatherly way. No adoption, though.
Sorry for the long reply

Wizarding Whovian: Thanks!

Guest: Thank you for bringing it to my attention, I didn't notice. There is no chapters missing, just that the first chapter was named chapter 2 and so on. Sorry, fixed it now