Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make a profit from this.
A/N- My favourite Potions Master and his assistant. Let me know what you think.
"Start with something simple." Albus snorted, dicing for his calming draught. Simple, yes. Powerful? No doubt. A pinch of powdered moonstone would add to the potency of the potion. Al glanced at Severus before quickly reaching toward the moonstone. "Don't even think about it. Stick to the instructions. The goal is to make a simple yet perfect potion." Severus remarked, raising an eyebrow at the boy's audacity. Al blushed, returning to his cauldron.
Al sneered at Severus, waiting impatiently as the older man checked his vial of the calming draught. Severus raised in eyebrow at the potion and gave a small, sharp nod. "Good. Now, what were you working on before?" He asked, hiding his surprise at the perfect potion, so perfect that it seemed like one of his own. Potter had average abilities with potions. The girl was better, but not by much. Where did the boy get this talent? He pondered, watching as the boy raised his own eyebrow at him. "Good?" Al snorted. "That was better than just 'good'." Severus scowled at the boy, his black eyes snapping. He schooled his face to be stern and emotionless, hiding his surprise. Albus wasn't afraid of him, that was much of a first for the surly Potions Master. "Mr. Potter, would you kindly inform me of the potion that ended with you in this mess? I would rather not be stuck with you for very long. I do have other things to do." Severus drawled. Albus merely smirked. "I would have believed that you do not. I do not need supervision." The boy shrugged, turning toward an empty cauldron. In reality, he was enthralled to see the famed Potions Master, but he wanted him to teach him amazing, death defying potions and not be yet another Professor Anglar. "Really? Without supervision you could destroy my lab. Your professor did you no favours by letting you work alone." Severus scowled. Al blushed, not meeting his eyes. Suddenly Severus had a thought, a very unsettling thought. "Professor Anglar did let you work alone, didn't he? Look at me, Mr. Potter." Al started at his feet, muttering an answer. "Mr. Potter, kindly repeat that." Al glared at the ground. "Albus." The voice was soft, yet dangerous. Al's eyes snapped up, meeting the professor's. "He didn't know sir. Professor Anglar had banned me from working in the lab except for classes, sir." Severus growled, but not toward the younger boy. The idiot Anglar. Did he not realize the pure talent the boy possessed? Talented that rivals my own? He could be great, yet that idiot won't let him into the lab to work. The lab has never been off limits to students who showed promise, as long as there was a professor there. Of course the boy rebelled and did it anyway. And without help... Severus sighed. "Did Professor Anglar ban other students, Albus?" "No sir. I was the only student, besides NEWT students, who wanted to use the lab. I make the professor nervous, sir." Al shrugged, glancing wistfully at the cauldron. Severus contemplated the situation in front of him with a small, thoughtful frown. "Alright then. This is how it's going to be, Albus. Since Professor Anglar refuses to teach you more than necessary, I will guide you. I am not sure the mechanisms of this place, but I believe, once you come to, that you will be able to return here with ease, as will I. You will not, under any circumstances, try to create without my help, or without supervision from a knowledgeable professor. If I find out that you have, make no mistake, I will find out, the consequences will be severe." "But sir! I need to make potions outside of class! If I make ones that I have perfected, and if I promise not to try anything new or above my knowledge, would that be alright?" Al gasped. Severus bit back a chuckle, needing to save some face with this boy, this boy who he feared that he would come to know greatly over time. " Simple potions, yes. Nothing above a fourth year level. Yes, I know you are a fifth year." Severus held up his hand to stop the incoming complains. "Nothing that is spiteful. Do not use your potions to harm, rather to help. Do not attempt to work in this place alone. This is neither your reality nor mine. What happens to you here effects wherever your body may be. If you need me, I will be around. Any time you need me, I shall find you. For any reason." Severus tone gentled, his eyes crinkling as he gazed down at the boy. Never did I think I would willingly teach a Potter. Nor offer my constant guidance and support! He snorted slightly, but his expressions remained constant, steady. Albus nodded his understanding, eying the older man with the utmost respect in his eyes.
"Now, boy, tell me what you were attempting to create." Al flinched, turning his gaze abruptly back to his feet. "A pain draught." He mumbled. "A simple pain potion? That should not have caused a serious explosion, unless you were preoccupied." Severus frowned at the boy, his eyebrows snapping up. "I do not tolerate lying, Albus." "I'm not lying, sir. I was creating a pain draught. I was attempting to amplify the effects and make it as strong as possible. It needed to be able to reduce pain caused by certain curses." Albus squeaked, indignantly. "For what purpose were you concocting a potion of such magnitude?" Severus asked, hiding his shock and concern. "A.. um..friend of mine needed the potion. Usually I make him basic potions, and they tend to work. But I feared that he would be needing something stronger one day, so I was attempting to make one. I followed the instructions to the key, but I must have messed up." Albus muttered, mostly to himself. "Let me see if I understand. You were trying to complete a potion that most do not attempt until beginning mastery for a 'friend' who happens to be getting cursed enough to need this potion. And yet you are surprised that you can not master a potion of that difficulty. Many adult wizards would not be able to complete that potion. You are not at a level competent enough to make something so difficult. Which step, might I ask, did you manage to get to?" Severus raised an eyebrow at the boy. "The next to last sir. I was almost done, but I must have added that last ingredient too early. It was the right shade and everything." Albus sighed, sulking. "We do not sulk over failed potions, young man. We do, however, try our best to live so that was can learn from our mistakes and note what went wrong. I will not let you retry that potion." Severus scolded, his heart softening, just a bit, at the at the boy who reminded him so much of himself when he was younger. Albus opened his mouth to protest, but Severus shook his head. "I will not be swayed, Albus. You will not recreate that potion, at least not yet. First, we shall worker on a simpler potion for your friend, not as strong but still effective against many dark curses. This is a potion of my own creation." Severus covered a smile as he watched the boy's face break into a grin. Albus quickly schooled his expressions back, so that he only looked interested, not absolutely delighted. "I do have but one question. Why does your friend need such potions? Can he not visit the infirmary?" Al chuckled. "He says that Madam Poppy..erm Madam Pomfery that is, is too much of a mother hen. She worries too much. So I do the healing. Some of the older boys...dislike Scorpius. So I take care him." Al merely shrugged. Severus pursed his lips. "I see. Well, let's start brewing, shall we? I would not want young Scorpius to be without his potions. Fetch these ingredients." Severus ordered, waving his wand at a blackboard, where instructions appeared. Al grinned, running to obey. This boy is going to make me old. Severus thought, holding back another chuckle. He shook his head, going to help the Potter boy.