Most Evil Plan
Chapter 3
Normality
"You are here because I have allowed you to be," Snape sneered as he shut the door, trapping the sixth year students in the Potions classroom. "Your assignments will be done in a manner worthy of a NEWT Potion student and will be handed in on time. No exceptions.
"Each day you will come into the class and quietly take your seat, next to your assigned partners who will be listed on the board," Snape said, smirking as Harry shot Hermione a worried look.
"You will work together on that day's potion with a minimum of noise. Each night you will write an essay on that potion. The specific topic and length will be provided after you turn in your completed potion." With a look at Potter, Snape continued, "If you were unable to brew the potion successfully, you will complete two essays. The first will be on the correct way to brew the potion, the second will be on why you should be allowed to return to my class.
"Any questions?" Snape paused as he looked around the room, "Good. Mr. Malfoy, collect everyone's summer assignment."
Malfoy walked around the room, collecting the parchments as he passed by. When he arrived at Harry's desk, he raised an eyebrow and held out his hand.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Malfoy," Snape asked after
"Potter won't give me his assignment."
Snape smirked, "Mr. Potter, please hand your assignment to Mr. Malfoy."
"I can't, sir."
"And why not?"
"I don't have it," At Snape's glare, Harry continued, "I didn't do it."
"Apparently Mr. Potter had better things to do over the summer than to open a book," Severus sneered, "Detention tonight, Mr. Potter," he finished before beginning the day's lesson.
Severus sighed as he watched the students pack up their supplies and leave. Correction, as all but two students left.
"Professor Snape?"
"What is it, Potter?"
"I don't think it's fair that I serve a detention for not being prepared for class."
"Of course you don't," Snape sneered.
"Sir, it wasn't my fault," Harry began to explain.
"Of course not, Potter. Nothing is ever your fault, is it?"
"That's not what I meant!" Harry screamed. "Dumbledore-"
"Professor Dumbledore lets you get away with entirely too much," Snape responded, "Even more so than he does with other Gryffindors."
Harry flinched at Snape's comment, believing that the last line was directed more towards his father than him.
"Professor Dumbledore said he would explain it to you," Harry stated.
"And so he did," Snape agreed. While he hadn't actually had a chance to talk with Albus, he had been present when Potter attacked the headmaster that morning.
"Then why the detention?"
"You have only yourself to blame." Snape smirked, "You are the one who told the class that you didn't do the assignment."
"Because I didn't do it," Harry explained, "But that was because I didn't know about it. I didn't even know I was in your class until this morning."
"So I hear," Snape retorted, his voice showing that he didn't believe it. "But regardless of the reason, you still told the class that you didn't complete the assignment."
"So?" Harry asked.
"Potter, use your brain for a minute and think."
Harry stared blankly at his professor before trying to sneak a look at Hermione to see if she understood.
"I didn't tell you to look at your friend. I told you to think. I have no doubt that Miss Granger understands my point."
"I'm sorry, sir," Harry apologized after thinking for a moment, "But I'm not sure what you mean."
"And I am not surprised," Snape said, before turning to Hermione, "Miss Granger?"
"Since you blatantly stated that you didn't do the assignment, Professor Snape had no choice but to punish you," she patiently explained.
"But I didn't know!" Harry exclaimed.
"Immaterial," Snape sneered, "Unless you wanted the school to know that Harry Potter doesn't have to follow the rules."
Harry paled at the professor's words. That's all he would need, was for the school to be against him again.
"Or perhaps you were just garnering more attention for yourself," Severus snickered. "Now unless you want to add more detentions from me for insubordination, leave."
"Sir," Harry stated, trying to keep control of his temper, "What else could I have done? After all I didn't have the assignment."
"Potter, you are wasting my time. What is done, is done," Snape answered. "I suggest you head to your next class, before the professor assigns a detention for tardiness."
"Professor?" Harry asked as he knocked on the classroom door that evening.
"You're early, Mr. Potter."
"Yes, sir," Harry answered nervously. "I was hoping I could talk to you for a moment."
"And what do you call what we are doing now?" Severus stated sarcastically.
"Er, talking, sir," Harry replied, before quickly continuing when Snape raised one eyebrow. "I wanted to apologize for last year. I really wasn't practicing occlumency. I didn't know what you meant by clearing your mind-"
"Surely the concept wasn't that difficult, even for a Gryffindor," Snape sneered. "Clear. Your. Mind. Three simple words."
"Sir," Harry began again, "Will you please let me finish?
"I wasn't sure how to clear my mind. I felt strange asking the headmaster for help since he seemed to be avoiding me, but I still had other resources I could have used. I'm sure that Hermione would've helped me find some books on the subject, I even could've asked you about a book, but I didn't."
"Your arrogance and pride kept you from succeeding,"
"Sir!" Harry hissed, "Please, I'm trying to apologize. You aren't making this any easier."
Snape snorted, why should he make it easier on the brat, that's what the other professors were for.
"I also wanted to apologize for invading your privacy and entering your pensieve,"
"I told you not to mention that," Snape snarled angrily.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Harry apologized, backing away from his professor. "I won't. I just wanted to say that I was sorry and that it won't happen again."
"Anything else, Potter?" Snape asked, ignoring both apologies. "Or can we continue with your detention?"
"Well, actually, there was one more thing," Harry began tentatively, as he sat down at one of the desks.
"What?" Snape asked, resigned to listening to the boy.
"I just wanted to thank you allowing me into your class. It means a lot to me. I promise that I'll work hard and that you won't regret your decision."
I already do, Snape thought, I already do.
"You're off to a remarkable start," Snape said instead.
"That wasn't my fault! I told you that. As soon as I receive the book, I'll catch up and turn in the summer assignment. I would borrow Hermione's book, but she's a bit fearful to let it out of her sight," Harry added, mumbling under his breath, "Actually she's a bit mental when it comes to books."
"I think not, Potter," Snape retorted, "I will not have you falling behind in class and risk everyone's safety because you didn't know what you were doing."
Harry stared at Snape in shock, was the man already kicking him out of class?
Snape walked to his desk and pulled a book out of the drawer before walking back and dropping it on the desk in front of Harry. "Tonight, you will read the first three chapters, followed by essays on each regarding the chapter highlights."
"That's my detention?" Harry grinned, that didn't seem so bad.
"As you can see," Severus said, with a glance around the room, "There isn't any cleaning to be done since no potions were brewed today. Not many people are as talented as you and are able to earn a detention on the first day of classes.
"If you find it disagreeable, I'm sure we could find something else for you to do. Mr. Filch might require some assistance tomorrow night."
"No, no," Harry said, "This is fine. I'll just get to work then."
"Very well, then, I expect the essays on my desk before the end of the night," Snape replied as he turned to leave the room. "And Mr. Potter? I expect your summer assignment on my desk by the end of the week."
Harry groaned as he began to read chapter 1, so much for getting out of that assignment.
"Severus, what does Potter know about you?"
"Excuse me, my lord?" Severus asked.
"Potter. What does he know about you and your life?"
"He knows very little, my lord. Very few of the students know or care about the personal lives of their professors."
"Does he know that you belong to me?"
Snape hesitated, not sure how to answer that question.
"Well, Severus?"
"Yes, my lord," Snape answered finally. Honesty was the best policy, after all, wasn't it?
"I'm assuming that like the old fool, he believes that you are a spy?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Very well," Voldemort replied, "We can work with that. I hope that you are treating him the same as usual."
"Yes, my lord, in fact, I assigned him a detention on the first day of classes."
"Very good. You are to treat him as before. Do not let your actions show that something is afoot.
"Now return before someone notices your absence."
"Yes, my lord," Severus replied.
As he headed back to Hogwarts Severus couldn't help but wonder why Voldemort was concerned with what Potter knew about him. Perhaps, Albus could figure it out, he thought as he approached the headmaster's office to report on the latest meeting.
Severus sat at his desk in his office correcting essays when his door opened and the headmaster entered.
"Severus? I understand you needed to see me."
"Yes, sir. I was called earlier this evening," Snape explained. "He wanted to know what Potter knew about my personal life."
"Ah," Dumbledore sang, "and your reply?"
"That he didn't know much. That most students didn't concern themselves with their professor's lives outside of the classroom." Severus became silent as he thought about the specific question The Dark Lord asked.
"What is it, Severus?"
"He most especially wanted to know if Potter was aware that I was a Death Eater."
"Interesting," Albus murmured. "I trust you told him the truth."
"Yes, sir," Severus answered."
"Any word on the plan?" Albus asked, once Snape finished.
"Not yet," Severus answered. "He said it would be a few weeks into the school year, since he wanted everything to appear 'normal'."
"And we still don't know what he is planning?"
"No," Severus stated, pulling the class syllabus for the sixth year NEWT potion students. "I can't see how any of the potions we have in the next few weeks would help him. Even with Potter's atrocious brewing skills, no one should be seriously injured."
"And how are things proceeding with you and Mr. Potter?" Albus asked, eyes twinkling.
"Perfectly satisfactory," Severus replied. "I hate him, he hates me, just the way we like it."
"Severus," Albus sighed, "You are on the same side, you really should learn to get along with him."
"He is as arrogant and immature as his father was. I see no need why we should 'get along'. I already promised you that I would not kill him and use his remains as potion ingredients, what more can you ask of me?
"After all, in two years he will be gone from this school and I will never have to see him again. You should be grateful that I allowed him into my class and haven't kicked him out yet."
"Ah, yes, admittance to your class. Tell me, Severus, has he thanked you for that?"
Severus glared at the headmaster as he remembered the first night of detention were Potter did attempt to both apologize for last year and thank him for entrance into his class.
"He tried," Severus reluctantly admitted.
"And?"
"And I ignored it."
"Severus, the two of you must learn to cast aside your differences. You and Mr. Potter are the most crucial players in this battle. If you cannot get along, then what hope is there?"
The hope that this will soon be over and that we can continue to hate each other without any interference, Snape thought.
"Headmaster, I do not see that happening."
"Severus, I know that you have to uphold your image, but surely you can refrain from persecuting him so much. He has had a difficult life, and as you are aware, a difficult future in front of him. He deserves some peace while he can get it."
"He does not need another professor in this school enamored by his name or fame," Severus sneered. "Pandering to him is not going to make him stronger."
"Neither will your persecution," Albus noted, eyes twinkling.
"It doesn't matter, anyway," Severus stated quietly. "The Dark Lord is most pleased with my attitude towards Potter. He remarked that it is to continue as is.
"Besides, if I were to change my attitude towards him, it would only make Potter and his cohorts suspicious. We have learned from the past that they cannot ignore that which attracts their attention."
END CHAPTER 3
Upcoming: Chapter 4: Severus finds out Voldemort's plan
7/23/05