Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did I would probably have more pets!
Chapter Three
Three weeks had passed since Evan and Harry's argument and both had stayed away from the topic of Quidditch. Evan was still angry that Harry wasn't trying out but he had realized that pushing his brother was not helping.
Tryouts were beginning soon and Evan, Ron, and Ginny were looking forward to them. Ginny had been playing as the Gryffindor Seeker the past year and planned to this year since Harry wasn't going to play. Ron was playing Keeper again and Evan was playing Seeker for Slytherin.
"Are you sure you don't want to come," Draco asked. Harry looked up from the book he was reading.
"No thanks. I'm going to finish my homework." Harry gave a small smile.
"Are you sure? It could be fun to watch everyone tryout. Maybe we could even play a game after everyone's off the field." Ron suggested hopefully.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Harry answered firmly. He appreciated what they were trying to do, but he just didn't want to play Quidditch. He watched as they left. Sighing sadly he turned his attention back to his homework.
Looking up from his homework he began flipping though his book but couldn't find what he needed. He needed to go to the library.
After nearly ten minutes of looking Harry finally found the book he would need to complete his homework.
"Madam Prince?" he called librarian who was no where in sight, but he knew she was close. Receiving no answer Harry began to look around.
Walking by a window he paused. The window overlooked the Quidditch field and he could see the tryouts clearly. A lot of people were there. Part of him wanted to be there with them. There was no other feeling like being on a broom going full speed. When his brother had started playing on Slytherin he had expected there to be fights between them, but there never were. The game was tougher then ever because Evan knew how he played from games they had played growing up. It made it a lot more fun to play.
"Mr. Snape?" Madam Prince's voice pulled his attention away from the window.
He smiled politely. "Can I check out this book for homework?" He held out the book so she could see it. After a moment she nodded. "Thank you Madam," and with that he left the library.
He had almost reached Gryffindor Tower. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice someone coming up behind him; when a hand landed on his shoulder he yelped in surprise. "Professor Cage!" he said in surprise.
The man smiled lightly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, Mr. Snape."
"That's okay, I was distracted," Harry said honestly. He couldn't believe he'd been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone walk up behind him in the quiet hallway. It was very rare that someone managed to sneak up on him. Living with his father, Harry had developed a good sense for people walking into a room because when his father walked he was very quiet and made little sound.
"Are you busy?" Professor Cage asked.
"I was going to finish my homework," answered Harry, though he was curious why his professor had asked.
"If you prefer you can come help me with some potions," Professor Cage offered a polite smile on his lips. "You can always finish you homework later."
After a moment of consideration Harry nodded. He enjoyed making potions, he just wasn't the best at it, but he could make an adequate potion. Besides, it might be best to get his mind on something other than homework for a while.
The walk to the Potions classroom was quiet and Professor Cage began explaining the potion he was making.
"Madam Pomfrey asked me to make some burn relieving salve for her stocks in the hospital wing."
Harry nodded. He was familiar with the potion and knew the ingredients pretty well. He and his father had made it together a few times in the past; Severus liked keeping extra potions around the house should the need arise to use them.
They worked well for the next half hour only talking small talk. Professor Cage asked a few questions about school and his family but otherwise kept to himself. Harry felt more then saw the man staring at him at times but didn't feel it was necessary to leave. He was only helping the man with one potion, and they were almost done. Then he could leave.
Harry sighed as he added the curry seed to the light brown salve in the cauldron. There were only a few more ingredients to add before they were finished. The potion had to turn dark brown before it was completed.
He looked up as he heard a bubbling sound. 'Where is that coming from?' he wondered as he looked over toward Professor Cage's potion. It sounded like it was coming from there. But he knew it shouldn't be bubbling. Not of the correct ingredient were added. The bubbling continued to get louder and he could now see splashes coming from the cauldron. This was not good!
"Move!" He shouted to Professor Cage who stood dumbly a few feet away. He couldn't think of anything better to say. His professor should know what was happening. He was the Potions professor after all. He himself made to get away from the bubbling cauldron.
BOOM!
The potion exploded. Harry gasped as he tried to cover himself. There was no telling what the botched potion would do if it touched him.
Breathing deeply he slowly raised himself from the potions classroom floor. The floor and tables surrounding the cauldrons he and his professor had been working at were covered in a medium brown goop that was speckled with blue. He heard movement near him and turned to see Professor Cage emerging from underneath a table.
"Are you okay," Professor Cage asked, surveying himself, the room and Harry.
Harry didn't answer. He'd been hit with the brown goop. He could feel it on his right arm, it was a burning sensation that was getting worse by the second. He could also feel it seeping into his clothes so he quickly removed his cloak to prevent himself from getting hurt worse.
"What was the last ingredient you added!" He asked alarmed. He needed to know so he could get healed quickly and properly.
"Umm…" Professor Cage stumbled a moment. He was eyeing Harry before his eyes locked onto the boy's injured arm which was now covered in boils and in some places bleeding freely. "Bat's wings," he finally answered. "Come on, I'll get you to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can examine you." He grabbed Harry by his uninjured arm and began pulling him toward the door.
Harry pulled free from the man's grasp. "That's okay," he said, his voice tightening a little from the pain in his arm. "I'll get there myself."
"Are you sure?" Professor Cage asked.
"Yeah, don't worry." Harry answered before walking around his professor and leaving the room. He had no intentions of going to the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey would most likely make him stay the night and he did not want to. Instead he was going to his fathers. He knew Severus could heal him.
It didn't take long to reach Severus' rooms, which were guarded by a portrait of a woman dressed in dark velvety green. Saying the password, 'Garang,' he entered his fathers rooms.
"Dad?" he waited for an answer and sighed in relief as he heard the light foot-steps coming from the laboratory.
"Harry?" His father's voice was laced with concern. Entering the hallway he caught sight of his son. Harry watched as Severus looked him up and down curiously. "What happened?" Severus breathed, mostly out of surprise at seeing his son in the shape he was in. Harry was only wearing a white button up shirt and black pants, most of which was covered in the brown potion.
Harry heard an intake of breath from his father and he knew he had noticed his arm.
"I was helping Professor Cage when a potion exploded." Harry answered.
"What potion were you making?" His father asked as he led his eldest son into the living room and to the over stuffed couch.
"Burn salve," answered Harry, wincing slightly as his father removed his shirt. "Professor Cage added bat's wings and it exploded."
"Bat's wings!" Severus asked, his voice raising slightly. Harry nodded. His father didn't say anything more as he quickly stood and left the room, returning a moment later with some gauze and potions. By his stiff movement Harry could tell his father was very angry. Most wouldn't notice the difference in his father's moods, but he could. He guessed that came from living with him all of his life.
Twenty minutes later his dad had finished cleaning his arm and every other part of him that had been covered by the potion. Thankfully only his arm was badly injured. Severus then applied a salve that alleviated most of the pain and numbed his arm then he wrapped the gauze gently but tightly around the injury. By the time he was finished most of Harry's arm was covered in white gauze.
Once finished, his father sat back and eyed his son in a thoughtful manner. He didn't seem as angry.
"What happened? What were you doing making potions with Professor Cage?" Severus asked, his voice silky and smooth. His eyes showed what he was feeling though, anger mostly.
"He caught me coming back from the library. I was getting a book so I could finish homework. He asked if I wanted to help him make some potions for Madam Pomfrey and I agreed. He added bat wings and it exploded." Harry explained. He was feeling groggy now that his arm had been dealt with.
"Why did he add bat wings?" his father asked after a moment. Bat wings were not needed in the burn salve at all. Why was it even on the table with the other ingredients? It was a dangerous ingredient for that particular potion. An experienced potion's maker, as Professor Cage was supposed to be, should know better then to add that ingredient.
"I don't know!" Harry answered, frustration leaking into his voice. "Maybe he got confused." He too didn't understand why the bat wings would be there.
His father gave him a look. The look told him exactly what his father thought of that explanation. He didn't believe it at all.
Severus stood after a moment. "Rest there," He instructed. "I'm going to get the guest room ready." Harry nodded knowing it was useless to argue.
Ten minutes later Severus reentered the living room and beckoned Harry to follow him. Harry absently noted that his father must have asked the house elves to get some of his stuff from the Gryffindor common room; his pajamas and a few extra pairs of clothes were there on the credenza. Severus handed him his pajamas and instructed him to get dressed. It took him several moments to get the pants of his pajamas on but he found he couldn't get the shirt on.
"Dad," he said as he entered the guest room. "I can't get the shirt on." Severus just nodded and gently helped him into his shirt before pushing him into the bed and pulling the covers over him. "Drink this," he handed Harry a goblet. Harry absently noted it was a mild sleeping potion probably mixed with a light pain killer. Drinking it down quickly he handed the goblet to his father before quickly drifting to sleep.
Severus sighed as his son's breathing evened out. Harry was lucky he hadn't been hurt worse. Now his mind was racing with questions. Why did Professor Cage add bat's wings? Was he trying to hurt Harry? Severus hadn't felt right about the new professor and this incident definitely didn't help his views on the professor.
End of Chapter Three
A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm posting the early because I won't be home Saturday. There is a Surfing competition that I want to see and I probably won't feel like posting anything afterward. And tomorrow is my friend's birthday! I hope you like the new chapter! Please review! The more reviews I get the quicker I will post an update! Enjoy!