AN: Well, here's the second part. I just couldn't help myself, this is just so fun to write. The Slytherins aren't mentioned here, by the way, since they're all pure-bloods so I don't think any of them would even know what Harry was talking about. I hope you enjoy!

Identity Crisis, Part 2

„What?" that was the first thing Severus Snape managed to utter after the absolutely unexpected interruption of his lesson – and he hadn't even begun his „firsh year" speech yet, a new record – and what a surprise, Potter was his culprit. The boy certainly didn't waste time.

How so much like his father already.

Shaking his head, Snape repeated his question, more composed this time „What was that, Mister Potter?"

The boy had enough decency to look ashamed – and embarrassed – of what he'd done. A good actor, then, but he wouldn't be able to fool Severus.

„Uh, um, nothing, sorry, Sir," Potter stuttered.

Snape frowned „No, it was not nothing. What did you call me?"

Normally, he wouldn't have asked. The students insulted him enough as it was, though mostly they didn't dare do it while in his classroom. Potter was arrogant enough, then, to insult a grown man on his own terrain. Well, two could play that game...

Harry continued to shake his head, suddenly flustered and a wild blush spreading across his face. A splash of panic in his green eyes, so bright and reflective Severus could almost see Lily in them. He took note not to look at them too much.

„I'm sorry," Harry apologized, rambling slightly „I shouldn't have. It's a secret, after all."

If he weren't a spy and had complete control over every inch of his body, Severus might have blinked at that. He might have, too.

„A secret?" the teacher asked at length. The other students – the ones who considered themselves sane and very much wanted to live – shrank back in their seats. Severus paid them no mind, choosing instead to straighten in his seat, lean on his elbows on the desk. „And... how do you know this "secret"?" he asked, cautiously, this was Potter he was dealing with, after all.

The boy blinked, his lids hiding green eyes for half a second. „Um... everyone knows it, Sir." he revealed, uncertain. Well, it seemed the spy was out of the loop, thought the Potions Master, and that was a dangerous place for him to be, especially when it involved any kind of Gryffindors, firsh-years or not.

Severus raised an eyebrow at the insolent answer – he knew he could never beat Minerva's „eyebrow of doom" but he liked to think his „eyebrow of disgruntled loathing" was useful in its own right.

„Indulge me."

The boy looked his in the eye for a moment, searching and Severus dearly wished he could scorch him just with his gaze, before nodding to himself. The eleven-year-old had apparently found what he was looking for. Finally, he asked „Um... are you Batman, Sir?"

Severus heard a few snickers in the back of the room – from a couple of muggle-born Gryffindors, if he wasn't mistaken – and ignored them.

„Am I what?" he demanded. What in the name of Merlin was a Batman? No, no, he didn't want to know. With his luck, it was a word Potter had invented just for him. How quaint.

The boy flinched at the tone.

„B-ba-bat-?"

„Quit your snivelling Potter, it's disgusting."

The first-year gulped, but held back any potential waterworks „Sorry, Sir."

Severus nodded icily. He wasn't being paid to whipe buggers.

„Now, answer the question."

Again, Potter hesitated. The classroom had fallen deathly silent, so much so you could have dropped a pin and heard it, but Severus was only interested in hearing one thing.

„Are you the Dark Knight?"

That wasn't it.

But now he at least knew the insult hadn't been tailor-maid.

He was still going to get to the bottom of this.

„As in?" the former Death Eater prompted.

The boy looked like he wanted to be anywhere else but in here. Too bad for him then, he was stuck in the dungeons.

„The Caped Crusader?"

Snape decidedly liked the first one better.

„What exactly are you asking, Potter?" Snape, suppressing the urge to sigh, finally asked outright.

„Do you..." Potter hesitated „go out in the night to terrorize bad people?"

Snape said nothing. He seemed to have been shocked into silence.

Instantly, Harry regretted his lack of tact. He regretted asking even more. This was Batman he was speaking to, of course he'd be furious if Harry blurted out his secret in a room crowded with people. Blabber-mouths, no less. He was so dead.

Someone might have laughed, if it hadn't been for the murderous atmosphere that suddenly filled the classroom.

Minerva's „eyebrow of doom" couldn't have held a candle to the expression on Severus's face.

„Ah." the Potion's Master intoned after a while. No one seemed to care that they'd already wasted more than half of their first lesson. Harry fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat.

Severus breathed in, breathed out. Reminded himself that Dumbledore would have have his head if he had Potter's.

„Mister Potter, I expect to see you in my office after class."

„Will you be okay, mate?" Ron asked the moment class was over. His blue eyes darted nervously to the teacher's desk, where Snape was seated. For once, he hadn't roamed the classroom, looming over innocent students like – for lack of better word – a bat.

... on second though, why hadn't anyone before Harry Potter seen the resemblance? Ron certainly didn't know who this „Batman" bloke was, but if he wore an outfit with too many buttons and billowing capes, liked to break down doors and stalked people in the middle of the night, then he and Snape might have been related.

He should ask what mental hospital the bloke was at, maybe they'd have an idea on how they could deal with Snape.

Harry waved his concern off, but it was obvious he was nervous „Yeah, I'll be fine."

„What was that all about Harry?" Ron asked. He'd wanted to ask earlier, but there'd been too many gossipers still present in the room. Everyone in school was going to be talking about this. If Harry Potter hadn't been popular before, than he certainly would be now. „You mistook him for someone or something?" Ron ventured.

Harry shrugged, grabbing his books and turning to the desk. He began to walk down the row of desks like a man leading himself to execution.

„I don't know, but I think I just found Batman's evil twin." he called over his shoulder. That, or this Batman hadn't found his Robin.

Yet.

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