I noticed an error in the last chapter, so I went and fixed it. Aside from
that there were no other changes, so I kept going with the story. Many
thanks to all who reviewed!
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Severus sat in his office, marking essays from the second year Gryffindor- Slytherin class. Neither he nor Harry had spoken much since the Leximor Morirtis potion incident. He did keep a closer eye on Harry and didn't single him out as much during classes. He noticed how much time he'd spent worrying about the boy and thought he was going crazy.
All this time thinking about Harry, he thought to himself. What am I, falling in love with him?
This thought shocked him, and he realized that he was, in fact, starting to have feelings for Harry.
God help me.
Speaking of Harry, Severus had that class next. He leaned back in his chair, flipping through his grade book. It was time to start the next unit, Altering Potions. He wrote down the instructions and ingredients of the first potion on the board, finishing just as the bell rang.
Good, he thought, Let's see just how well these brats can do it. He smirked as he walked over to the door, opened it, and returned to his desk.
The class drifted in, some in groups, others on their own. Harry was the last to arrive before the final bell rang, leaving Weasley, Thomas, and Longbottom running late.
"Five points from Gryffindor each for your tardiness," Severus said, enjoying the angry looks on Weasley's and Thomas' faces and fear on Longbottom's. Weasley sat down next to Harry, who muttered something to him.
"We're due to continue on to a new subject," Severus began, looking at them all. "From now until Christmas break, we will be doing Altering Potions. I hope that the last four years of this class have enabled you to at least make an effort to make these potions properly, and without the usual idiocy that is displayed."
"Today's potion is called the Invisibility Potion. I should think that you can figure out what it does by the name." He gestured at the board. "Instructions are on the board. Begin."
Let the games begin.
He watched as they got their supplies together and set out to brew the potion. He had a feeling something was going to happen, something bad. And he had a feeling it would involve Harry.
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Harry concentrated on his cauldron, following all the instructions as perfectly as possible. He noticed that the use of Acadia leaves was necessary, which made him smile slightly. He hadn't talked to the Potions Professor all week, and he really had no reason to, at least, not yet.
"Shit!"
Harry looked over at Ron, who was having some problems with his potion. It was supposed to be bright green, but Ron's was red and smoking profusely. Looking up, Harry saw Severus walking near them, examining the other's work. Severus turned his head, catching Harry's eye. Harry cringed slightly, nodding his head in Ron's direction. Severus smiled a little, turning back to Seamus' cauldron.
Ron's potion began to smell like burning plastic, making it hard for Harry to concentrate.
"Sir?" It was Malfoy, who had his nose crinkled. Severus turned toward him.
"Yes, Draco?"
"What's that horrible smell?" Ron's face and ears turned a deep shade of red.
"It's a smell similar to that of burning plastic." Harry said. "Except that in this case, there's no plastic to burn, so it is nothing more than someone who has added too much Acadia to their potion."
The class was staring at him in shock and silence, including Severus. Draco was the first to break it.
"I'm sorry, Potter, but I don't remember asking you, of all people," he said with contempt. And last I checked, you are not the Potions Master."
The Slytherins laughed loudly.
"Excuse me for answering a very simple question, Malfoy," Harry shot back. Malfoy glared at him.
"That's it, Potter," he spat.
The next thing he knew, something red and scorching hot seared past him. A second later, Ron's shrieking voice was heard.
KER-BOOM!!!
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Severus was standing in shock that Harry had actually answered a question about potions, least of all correctly. He was still in shock when Malfoy snapped and tried to hex Harry. Unfortunately, the spell hit Ron, who was thrown back into the wall. The spell rebounded off him and hit his cauldron, which promptly exploded.
KER-BOOM!!!
Everyone screamed as the scalding contents of the potion hit them triggering the explosions of the other cauldrons. In seconds, the room was filled with smoke, screaming students, and spraying liquid.
The fact that he was standing in the middle of the dungeon wasn't helping him any and he was completely soaked in various amounts of half-brewed Invisibility Potions. Not to mention that he had burns on various places of his body from the explosions. He snapped his fingers and the room cleared of smoke, and he took account of the damage.
Some of the students hadn't been doused, as they had backed away from their cauldrons. Others were slightly less fortunate, but no one was in worse shape than Harry, who had been next to the initial explosion and his own, nearly complete potion had been the second to blow up. Upon seeing this, Malfoy and his cronies began to laugh.
"Be quiet!" Severus hissed, and the laughing receded. "I'm sorry to inform you that all of your cauldrons are completely destroyed and you'll be buying new ones. Those of you who are more than slightly sprayed, report to the Hospital Wing. The rest of you, take your things and leave now."
The class left quickly, but not without Malfoy smirking at Harry on his way out. Finally, he was the only student left in the room, and Severus closed the door.
"Come with me," he said, waving at Harry. He led them through his office, out the door, and down the hall.
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Harry followed without saying a word, knowing Severus was pissed beyond hell. He felt sorry for the man, since he was in just as bad shape as he himself. After they made a few turns, he noticed the halls were darker here, and he couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"Where are we going?" he asked tentatively.
"Somewhere we can get both of us cleaned up, before we start eroding to death."
That idea made Harry shiver, as he imagined feeling as though being eaten by rats. He shivered again, and didn't ask any more questions.
They went into a room, lit with blue flames by the walls. As soon as they walked in, it was like entering a rainstorm. Water poured over them, washing away the remains of the potion from their bodies. Both were still badly burned, and Severus went to the back of the room and drew some vials from the cabinet.
"Come here, Harry," he called. Harry walked over to him, and Severus held out one of the vials. "Drink this. All of it."
Expecting it to taste as horrible as the rest of the potions he'd drunk, Harry threw it back and swallowed it as fast as he could. Then the after- taste hit him. It was sweet, like strawberries, and he regretted taking it so fast.
"Damn." He muttered. "Shouldn't've done it like that."
Severus smirked as he drank his, enjoying the taste. He took Harry's vial and rinsed it out along with his.
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Severus finished rinsing the vials, dried them and put them away.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Shitty."
Severus' eyebrows went up. Harry cursed himself silently.
"Sorry."
Severus turned around so quickly that Harry flinched. "For what?" He demanded.
"F-for s-swearing." Harry stuttered, backing into the counter.
"Don't be sorry," Severus snapped.
Harry hung his head.
Severus' hand touched his chin. "Harry?"
He jerked his head away from Severus' fingers, but they pulled his head up so Severus could see his eyes. They had tears in them, and Severus immediately wished he hadn't been so harsh.
"Harry, I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
"It's not your fault," Harry sniffed as the tears slid down his face, mixing with the still falling water. "I shouldn't have said that. It wasn't right."
"Nonsense, Harry."
"No, seriously. It wasn't." Harry raised his hand to wipe his eyes from under his glasses, and Severus caught it on the way down, closing the distance between them.
"It's okay," he said, trying to comfort Harry.
"No, it's not." Harry looked down at the floor again. Severus shook his head and leaned in towards Harry's ear.
"If you don't stop trying to correct me," he whispered, "I'm really going to make you regret swearing. Am I understood?"
Harry turned his head to look up at him and Severus pulled his chin up. Their faces were mere inches away from each other, and Severus could hear Harry's breathing increase as he nodded. When Severus responded, their lips touched.
"Good. Then shut up." With that, he kissed Harry. Harry's body tensed and he froze. After some encouraging yet unsure kisses, he returned it. It was gentle at first, and gradually became more passionate. When they finally pulled away from each other, Severus looked at Harry nervously.
He watched as a drop of water slid down Harry's nose and hung from the edge, making him sneeze. Twice. Severus burst out laughing, and Harry gave him a look, before smiling.
"Dare I ask what the hell you did that for?" Harry asked, still smiling.
"I don't know, really," Severus responded. "You were upset, and I.I felt the urge to.um.uh."
Harry grinned evilly. "Severus Snape, Potions Master of this school, famous for making everyone and anyone want to run and cry to their mothers in fear, at a loss for words? I guess miracles do happen."
"How much do you value your life, Harry Potter?"
Harry shrugged. "Not enough."
"Obviously."
"Oh shut up, you grouchy old bat."
Severus looked at him. "Grouchy, old bat?"
Harry wrapped his arms around Severus' neck.
"Yes," he said softly, "grouchy, old bat."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm," and Harry kissed him softly. "But you love it."
"You are so dead." Severus growled at him.
"Then what am I doing, standing here in front of you?"
"How the hell would I know?" Severus exclaimed. He looked Harry over. The burns had vanished. "How are you feeling now?"
Harry pulled away from him. "Soaking wet, but otherwise a hell of a lot better. You?"
"I'm fine."
They started to head back to the main dungeons. When they reached Severus' office, they stopped.
"Go on up and dry yourself off, alright?" Severus said to Harry. "I'll see you in the morning."
"'Kay. Adios," Harry said, walking towards the Hall.
"You too."
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************************************************************************
Severus sat in his office, marking essays from the second year Gryffindor- Slytherin class. Neither he nor Harry had spoken much since the Leximor Morirtis potion incident. He did keep a closer eye on Harry and didn't single him out as much during classes. He noticed how much time he'd spent worrying about the boy and thought he was going crazy.
All this time thinking about Harry, he thought to himself. What am I, falling in love with him?
This thought shocked him, and he realized that he was, in fact, starting to have feelings for Harry.
God help me.
Speaking of Harry, Severus had that class next. He leaned back in his chair, flipping through his grade book. It was time to start the next unit, Altering Potions. He wrote down the instructions and ingredients of the first potion on the board, finishing just as the bell rang.
Good, he thought, Let's see just how well these brats can do it. He smirked as he walked over to the door, opened it, and returned to his desk.
The class drifted in, some in groups, others on their own. Harry was the last to arrive before the final bell rang, leaving Weasley, Thomas, and Longbottom running late.
"Five points from Gryffindor each for your tardiness," Severus said, enjoying the angry looks on Weasley's and Thomas' faces and fear on Longbottom's. Weasley sat down next to Harry, who muttered something to him.
"We're due to continue on to a new subject," Severus began, looking at them all. "From now until Christmas break, we will be doing Altering Potions. I hope that the last four years of this class have enabled you to at least make an effort to make these potions properly, and without the usual idiocy that is displayed."
"Today's potion is called the Invisibility Potion. I should think that you can figure out what it does by the name." He gestured at the board. "Instructions are on the board. Begin."
Let the games begin.
He watched as they got their supplies together and set out to brew the potion. He had a feeling something was going to happen, something bad. And he had a feeling it would involve Harry.
************************************************************************
Harry concentrated on his cauldron, following all the instructions as perfectly as possible. He noticed that the use of Acadia leaves was necessary, which made him smile slightly. He hadn't talked to the Potions Professor all week, and he really had no reason to, at least, not yet.
"Shit!"
Harry looked over at Ron, who was having some problems with his potion. It was supposed to be bright green, but Ron's was red and smoking profusely. Looking up, Harry saw Severus walking near them, examining the other's work. Severus turned his head, catching Harry's eye. Harry cringed slightly, nodding his head in Ron's direction. Severus smiled a little, turning back to Seamus' cauldron.
Ron's potion began to smell like burning plastic, making it hard for Harry to concentrate.
"Sir?" It was Malfoy, who had his nose crinkled. Severus turned toward him.
"Yes, Draco?"
"What's that horrible smell?" Ron's face and ears turned a deep shade of red.
"It's a smell similar to that of burning plastic." Harry said. "Except that in this case, there's no plastic to burn, so it is nothing more than someone who has added too much Acadia to their potion."
The class was staring at him in shock and silence, including Severus. Draco was the first to break it.
"I'm sorry, Potter, but I don't remember asking you, of all people," he said with contempt. And last I checked, you are not the Potions Master."
The Slytherins laughed loudly.
"Excuse me for answering a very simple question, Malfoy," Harry shot back. Malfoy glared at him.
"That's it, Potter," he spat.
The next thing he knew, something red and scorching hot seared past him. A second later, Ron's shrieking voice was heard.
KER-BOOM!!!
************************************************************************
Severus was standing in shock that Harry had actually answered a question about potions, least of all correctly. He was still in shock when Malfoy snapped and tried to hex Harry. Unfortunately, the spell hit Ron, who was thrown back into the wall. The spell rebounded off him and hit his cauldron, which promptly exploded.
KER-BOOM!!!
Everyone screamed as the scalding contents of the potion hit them triggering the explosions of the other cauldrons. In seconds, the room was filled with smoke, screaming students, and spraying liquid.
The fact that he was standing in the middle of the dungeon wasn't helping him any and he was completely soaked in various amounts of half-brewed Invisibility Potions. Not to mention that he had burns on various places of his body from the explosions. He snapped his fingers and the room cleared of smoke, and he took account of the damage.
Some of the students hadn't been doused, as they had backed away from their cauldrons. Others were slightly less fortunate, but no one was in worse shape than Harry, who had been next to the initial explosion and his own, nearly complete potion had been the second to blow up. Upon seeing this, Malfoy and his cronies began to laugh.
"Be quiet!" Severus hissed, and the laughing receded. "I'm sorry to inform you that all of your cauldrons are completely destroyed and you'll be buying new ones. Those of you who are more than slightly sprayed, report to the Hospital Wing. The rest of you, take your things and leave now."
The class left quickly, but not without Malfoy smirking at Harry on his way out. Finally, he was the only student left in the room, and Severus closed the door.
"Come with me," he said, waving at Harry. He led them through his office, out the door, and down the hall.
************************************************************************
Harry followed without saying a word, knowing Severus was pissed beyond hell. He felt sorry for the man, since he was in just as bad shape as he himself. After they made a few turns, he noticed the halls were darker here, and he couldn't suppress his curiosity.
"Where are we going?" he asked tentatively.
"Somewhere we can get both of us cleaned up, before we start eroding to death."
That idea made Harry shiver, as he imagined feeling as though being eaten by rats. He shivered again, and didn't ask any more questions.
They went into a room, lit with blue flames by the walls. As soon as they walked in, it was like entering a rainstorm. Water poured over them, washing away the remains of the potion from their bodies. Both were still badly burned, and Severus went to the back of the room and drew some vials from the cabinet.
"Come here, Harry," he called. Harry walked over to him, and Severus held out one of the vials. "Drink this. All of it."
Expecting it to taste as horrible as the rest of the potions he'd drunk, Harry threw it back and swallowed it as fast as he could. Then the after- taste hit him. It was sweet, like strawberries, and he regretted taking it so fast.
"Damn." He muttered. "Shouldn't've done it like that."
Severus smirked as he drank his, enjoying the taste. He took Harry's vial and rinsed it out along with his.
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Severus finished rinsing the vials, dried them and put them away.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
"Shitty."
Severus' eyebrows went up. Harry cursed himself silently.
"Sorry."
Severus turned around so quickly that Harry flinched. "For what?" He demanded.
"F-for s-swearing." Harry stuttered, backing into the counter.
"Don't be sorry," Severus snapped.
Harry hung his head.
Severus' hand touched his chin. "Harry?"
He jerked his head away from Severus' fingers, but they pulled his head up so Severus could see his eyes. They had tears in them, and Severus immediately wished he hadn't been so harsh.
"Harry, I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
"It's not your fault," Harry sniffed as the tears slid down his face, mixing with the still falling water. "I shouldn't have said that. It wasn't right."
"Nonsense, Harry."
"No, seriously. It wasn't." Harry raised his hand to wipe his eyes from under his glasses, and Severus caught it on the way down, closing the distance between them.
"It's okay," he said, trying to comfort Harry.
"No, it's not." Harry looked down at the floor again. Severus shook his head and leaned in towards Harry's ear.
"If you don't stop trying to correct me," he whispered, "I'm really going to make you regret swearing. Am I understood?"
Harry turned his head to look up at him and Severus pulled his chin up. Their faces were mere inches away from each other, and Severus could hear Harry's breathing increase as he nodded. When Severus responded, their lips touched.
"Good. Then shut up." With that, he kissed Harry. Harry's body tensed and he froze. After some encouraging yet unsure kisses, he returned it. It was gentle at first, and gradually became more passionate. When they finally pulled away from each other, Severus looked at Harry nervously.
He watched as a drop of water slid down Harry's nose and hung from the edge, making him sneeze. Twice. Severus burst out laughing, and Harry gave him a look, before smiling.
"Dare I ask what the hell you did that for?" Harry asked, still smiling.
"I don't know, really," Severus responded. "You were upset, and I.I felt the urge to.um.uh."
Harry grinned evilly. "Severus Snape, Potions Master of this school, famous for making everyone and anyone want to run and cry to their mothers in fear, at a loss for words? I guess miracles do happen."
"How much do you value your life, Harry Potter?"
Harry shrugged. "Not enough."
"Obviously."
"Oh shut up, you grouchy old bat."
Severus looked at him. "Grouchy, old bat?"
Harry wrapped his arms around Severus' neck.
"Yes," he said softly, "grouchy, old bat."
"Really?"
"Mm-hm," and Harry kissed him softly. "But you love it."
"You are so dead." Severus growled at him.
"Then what am I doing, standing here in front of you?"
"How the hell would I know?" Severus exclaimed. He looked Harry over. The burns had vanished. "How are you feeling now?"
Harry pulled away from him. "Soaking wet, but otherwise a hell of a lot better. You?"
"I'm fine."
They started to head back to the main dungeons. When they reached Severus' office, they stopped.
"Go on up and dry yourself off, alright?" Severus said to Harry. "I'll see you in the morning."
"'Kay. Adios," Harry said, walking towards the Hall.
"You too."
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