The day's classes went rather badly. It wasn't because he had difficulty performing the tasks set. Rather, it was due to a few biased teachers and the interference of Slytherin bullies. First up was Transfiguration, taught by the stern witch who brought them into the hall, Minerva McGonagall. She was reasonably fair to Slytherins and awarded points whenever they answered a question about the levitation charm they were about to perform correctly. When they were all ordered to levitate the feather, Harry had stuck out his hand, about to proceed when the professor stopped him rather angrily. "And just what do you think you're trying to do? I appreciate talent and power, Mr Potter, but I will not tolerate such blatant attempts to show off what would end in a complete failure."
The class snickered. Harry looked at her hurt. He thought this professor was reasonable hence might give him a chance to prove himself. Apparently, he was wrong. Harry whipped out his second hand wand and tried to make his feather float, but he only managed to levitate it barely off the table before it flopped down pathetically. This was to be expected since he was using a wand that didn't suit him. Furthermore the wand's weak core couldn't channel much magic from Harry's powerful magic core.
"Pathetic, Potter. You can't even do a simple levitation charm. Are you sure you aren't a Muggle?" Draco Malfoy taunted. Harry pretended not to hear him.
When the bell rang, he was the only one who didn't manage to complete his task. Professor McGonagall looked at him disappointedly and assigned him extra homework and practice.
Next they had double Potions with the Gryffindors. He noticed that for the first time, Severus was excited. "You love Potions, Severus? This is the first time I have seen you so excited about something." Harry inquired. "Known me for a couple of years, have you?" Severus replied snarkily, but there was a definite glint in his coal black eyes. Harry recognised that look. It was the very same look he had when he first found out he was a wizard- a desire to prove himself.
The Potions Master, Horace Slughorn was a chubby wizard who picked favourites and awarded points only to those he deem worthy. Draco Malfoy was definitely amongst them. When they stepped into the class, Professor Slughorn had immediately warmed up to Draco after learning that he was the son of the influential Lucius Malfoy. He even went so far as to award points for honesty when he asked Malfoy a question and Malfoy replied he didn't know since he hadn't prepared for the class.
Naturally, Harry went unnoticed. Harry raised his hand many times when he knew the answers to the questions Professor Slughorn asked, but he never got picked. Soon his hand began to tire, and Harry stopped trying. As if clothes make a person. I'll show him. I'll show them all someday. Harry was determined never to stop learning and improving himself, even if he had to do it all by himself. He was determined not to let even the Professors hinder his learning progress.
After being lectured on the delicacy of the art of potion making, they were then instructed to put away their wands, open their books and start brewing a calming draught. Severus and Harry sat at the same bench and proceeded. While Harry and most of the class were still setting up their apparatus, he noticed that Severus was ahead already. He was in the midst of preparing ingredients. Harry watched as Severus gracefully chopped the Mandrake roots and stirred the potion. His movements were rhythmic and fluid and his eyes carefully studied the instructions. "My Severus, you are talented in Potions. I think you will make a fine Potion Master one day." Harry complimented. Severus grunted and continued to make his potion, never stopping for one second.
Meanwhile, Harry realised that while he might not have been as talented as Severus, his potion at least changed to the colour it was supposed to, albeit a lighter shade. However, Professor Slughorn passed by his potion without so much as a second glance. Harry gritted his teeth and continued. He told himself that he would revel in the fact that he had accomplished something, not because of gaining the approval of the professors.
Halfway through, Draco Malfoy decided to sabotage Harry's potion by flinging ingredients into Harry's cauldron. Harry warded them off but he hit the Kneeweed too hard and it headed straight for Severus's potion. "Watch out!" Harry cried out but Severus did not hear him, too absorbed in his potion. "Severus!" Harry cried again. Severus whipped around but he was a bit too late. As the Kneeweed was about to touch the surface of Severus's perfect potion, Harry waved his hand and willed the Kneeweed to disappear. That it did.
Severus's eyes widened as he witnessed Harry's incredible bout of magic. His eyes silently told Harry that he would be speaking to Harry about this later. Harry nodded and continued with his potion.
After class, Severus pulled him aside to a deserted corridor and said, "Harry! What was that?!! You just waved you hand and the Kneeweed just disappeared!! I didn't see you take out a wand or hear you speak an incantation."
"I didn't," Harry admitted softly.
Severus eyes widened considerably. "What?! Wandless and non-verbal? Merlin, you're powerful! Why didn't you show that power in Transfiguration just now?" Severus looked on in awe.
"That's because I want to keep a low profile. At least in school. And because they probably don't believe in me." Harry said the last part so softly that Severus had to strain his ears to catch it.
After lunch, they had Defence against the Dark Arts. Voldemort's welcoming speech was most ominous.
"Welcome to Defence Against the Dark Arts. You will find that this subject requires talent, concentration and power, traits which some of you don't seem to possess," Voldemort's gaze lingered on Harry. Harry froze, not knowing how to deal with the Voldemort's immense dislike for him.
"It is the most challenging yet rewarding subject, and should I find any of you lacking the aptitude for it, or not putting in the necessary hard work, I will not hesitate to make my displeasure unknown." Voldemort said silkily.
"Now, for this first lesson, I want you each to demonstrate a blasting hex so that I can gage your power. You will practise it on this wooden dummy. The incantation is Expelliarmus. Let's begin with you Mr Malfoy." Voldemort instructed.
"Yes Professor." Malfoy stepped forward eagerly.
" EXPELLIARMUS !!" Malfoy bellowed and jabbed his wand towards the dummy so viciously that the wooden dummy exploded.
"Very good Mr Malfoy! Lucius had an aptitude for Defence against the Dark Arts. You have clearly inherited this talent as well. Keep this up, and I might coach you specially in more specific areas. Twenty points to Slytherin!"
Draco Malfoy smirked as he caught on to Voldemort's underlying meaning.
"As Mr Malfoy has demonstrated, when casting a spell, the intention and power behind the spell matters the most, rather than the incantation. This is more apparent in certain advanced spells that some of you would be learning later on."
Some caught on to what Voldemort was referring to and grinned, while others just looked on puzzled.
One by one, they each did the spell in front of Voldemort, who commented and suggested on how to improve the spell. Severus did remarkably as well and Voldemort gave him a smile and awarded Slytherin twenty points.
Finally it was Harry's turn. Harry stepped in front of Voldemort nervously. Being so close to Voldemort made his heart beat faster with a painful ache.
"Come on Potter. I don't have all day." Voldemort barked.
"E-Expperlliaarmus!" Harry chanted, his thoughts all jumbled up.
Nothing happened. The wooden dummy didn't move.
Voldemort frowned, his jaws clenching. " That was beyond pathetic! No skill, no power, no confidence ! " Voldemort rebuked severely. " You better practise hard Potter. I don't plan to waste my time teaching inept students."
Harry blinked away tears, face burning in shame. How he wanted to tell Voldemort that he was the one who saved him and that he could do so much better that this, if only Voldemort would stop looking at him in hatred. But he could not utter a word, as though there was something constricting his throat. Harry backed away into a corner, well aware of Malfoy sneering with contempt and Severus looking at him with disbelief.
After the class, Severus cornered Harry for the second time. " Look! I don't usually interfere or care this much about other people but I'm not going to see such raw power go to waste. It's obvious that you're very powerful and could have reduced that dummy to ashes. Why didn't you do so?!!" Severus pressed on.
" My wand doesn't work for me. I got it in a second hand shop to save money to buy some books I wanted for extra reading. Since four, I have been able to do magic without a wand, so I assumed any wand would do. I didn't realise that the wand has to suit the wizard in order to do magic. But it's too late. I have already spent all my money and have no money for a new wand." Harry explained.
Severus gaped at him. " Since four years old?! Merlin Harry, you are going to be one hell of a powerful wizard."
Harry asked sadly, " Is that it? Power? That's all you care about me?"
For a long time, there was silence.
"No." Severus admitted quietly.
Harry gave him a small smile.
" One more thing, why are you so nervous around Voldemort? I know that he can be quite intimidating but if you show him your true self, he will.."
" I did. And he rejected me." Harry cut him off, not wanting to talk about it.
Three years went by. Severus and Harry became best friends. Harry would defend him inconspicuously whenever James Potter-the bane of his existence-and his gang pranked and bullied him. He enjoyed watching the faces of James Potter and that Sirius Black look around in confusion when he not only managed to defend himself, but also to attack at the same time. Of course, it was Harry conjuring a strong protective shield over him whilst he attacked. Severus would then repay the favour by looking out for Harry as much he could whenever the Slytherins bullied him. It was a relationship that worked well for them. Gryffindors, with their grand notions of bravery and grandeur, might have protested to not openly supporting a friend, but Slytherins knew this worked best.
Severus watched Harry grow to be a strong and beautiful wizard. Well as beautiful as he could get with those hideous glasses covering his face. Harry kept his head down in class, never bothering to volunteer or to answer a question, but instead took notes furiously. He spent hours with Harry in the library, researching and reading as much as they could. He noticed Harry gaining knowledge at a frightening pace, grasping difficult concepts that even he had trouble understanding easily. He witnessed Harry's amazing feats of wandless and non-verbal magic as he practised spells far too advanced for him late at night in their common room, when everyone else was asleep. He could not understand why Harry chose not to reveal such raw power, nor understand why no one else, not even the professors could see Harry for the brilliant wizard he is. His grades certainly topped their year annually, yet the professors have yet to recognise him for it. The students looked down on him, called him a squib, ridiculed him and bullied him constantly. Fools, Severus scoffed, to not look past Harry's torn robes and seemingly meek demeanor . Luckily, they had not dared to harm Severus as they feared his vicious personality and volatile temper. Plus, the Slytherins all knew who was in Voldemort's private dark arts classes. They did not want to pick on someone who had a wide array of nasty curses to hex them with.
Harry's kind and forgiving heart also continued to amaze Severus. Severus knew that Harry never retaliated against those who bullied him, especially Draco Malfoy, for fear of hurting them with his impressive powers. It was precisely because Harry never fought back that he continued to be hurt and bullied for so long.
Just when he thought he could not be amazed by Harry not more, Harry shocked him again.
Flashback
" Harry ! Wake up! There is a bloody snake sleeping on top of your chest !" Severus had yelled in fright. Despite being in Slytherin, Severus did not really like snakes.
Said snake began to wake up and hiss at Harry.
Severus's jaw dropped when his best friend did not speak, but instead hissed back and stroke the snake's scales soothingly.
" Ahh...I forgot...Introductions are in order...Severus, this is Sephora, my familiar and companion." Harry told him amused.
" You forgot? YOU FORGOT! YOU FORGOT TO MENTION YOU ARE A BLOODY PARSELMOUTH!!!" Severus lost his composure and screeched at him.
" Now now Sevvie, no need for theatrics. It's no big deal, honestly." Harry told him cheekily.
" NO BIG DEAL !! You are related to Salazar bloody Slytherin !!! No big deal that you are from one of the most ancient and powerful bloodline! " Severus screamed. " And stop calling me Sevvie, it's so girly."
" Aww.. I didn't know Sev cared about his masculinity that much. Anyway, now you've found out, please keep this and Sephora a secret...Please Sev? I know you're dying to tell everyone about my famous ancestor but I don't want people to change their attitude towards me just because of my heritage. One day, I will make them respect me for the wizard I am. I prefer to say under the radar for now. Please Sev? " Harry pleaded.
Severus sighed. " Oh Harry, what am I to do with you..."
That had certainly come as a big surprise. But soon, that surprise had quickly turned into anger. How dare Harry's guardians abandon Slytherin's noble descendant at some third-rate Muggle orphanage!
He had grown rather fond of Sephora as well. Granted, she was a mean vicious thing which hissed at him menacingly whenever he and Harry broke out into an argument. But, it was her overprotective motherly complex that won Severus over. Whenever Harry was bullied and came back to their room in low spirits, she would wrap herself as lovingly as a snake could around Harry and hissed in what Severus thought was a soothing way to him, the way a mother would do to her child and in the tone of voice one would use to calm a wild animal.
Just imagine, the so called " Slytherin's disgrace" being a Parselmouth ! Malfoy would probably go through the roof. And the look on Voldemort's face if he finds out that the student he hated so much with a passion was a Parselmouth like him , Severus thought gleefully.
Speaking of Voldemort, Severus frowned. There was something going on with both Voldemort and Harry, at least on Harry 's side. Whenever he thought Severus wasn't looking, Harry would often stare at the wizard with such hurt and longing. And Voldemort ! Severus, for the life of him, could not figure out what was wrong with the wizard to treat Harry so poorly. He mocked and sneered at Harry in class, and as head of house, did not do anything to stop the Slytherins from bullying Harry. Perhaps he was angered by the fact that Harry was supposedly weak since he did not fight back. After all, he had always disliked those without power or ambition. But for such a great and magnificent wizard, Voldemort sure was blind. He only saw what he wanted to see, and Harry's passiveness and ragged appearance made him see Harry as inferior. If only you knew Professor, Severus thought grimly. However, he had promised Harry not to reveal his powers until Harry wanted to, and he would keep his promise.
After their summer break, Severus came back to Hogwarts, noticing that Harry looked more haggard and worn than ever. He had inquired about Harry's condition, but Harry just smiled at him."Hurry up Sev! I got something to show you..." Harry told him excitedly.
Severus grumbled and tried to keep up with the petite wizard. They stopped in front of a blank wall.
Harry paced back and forth three times. Suddenly, a huge door appeared.
"The Room of Requirement ! How did you find it?! No student has ever managed to locate it more than once." Severus breathed.
"I think this particular room that I've found is Parselmouth-specific. Anyway, that's not all. I found someone inside whom I know you will be ecstatic to meet."
Harry pushed open the door and both went inside. It was a replica of the Hogwarts library. There was also a roaring fire. Above the fireplace, hanging on a wall, was a golden-framed portrait of a dark- haired wizard with aristocratic features, dark eyes scrutinising Severus as he came in. He sat on his throne regally, and there was a commanding aura surrounding him.
" Good lord! It's Salazar Slytherin !" Severus said in shock.
He bowed. " Lord Slytherin, it's an honour to meet you."
Slytherin raised an eyebrow at him.
" SAL! Don't be such a git! This is my best friend ,Severus Snape." Harry introduced. " Sorry Severus, he doesn't like to be disturbed by anyone other than a Parselmouth." Harry apologised.
Severus looked on in surprise. It seemed Harry and Slytherin were pretty close. He felt a brief flash of jealousy before he shook it away. Don't be silly Severus Snape ! You're jealous of Salazar Slytherin for goodness sake ! He scolded himself.
" Ahh.. it seems like someone is a little jealous....He ought to be, considering I was the only one there for you when you came into the room in tears." Salazar hissed.
" Please Sal, don't tell him, you promised !" Harry hissed pleadingly, giving him the best puppy dog eyes he could manage.
" Why shouldn't I?"
" Then I will tell the whole school that the great Salazar Slytherin had a crush on Rowena Ravenclaw once."
Slytherin glared. "Definitely one of my snakes. Very well little one, I shall not tell your hook-nosed friend." He hissed in amusement.
Severus Snape thought the portrait was angry with him and told the portrait, " Sorry your lordship. I shan't come here and disturb you any longer. Nevertheless, I am very honoured to have met you."
Slytherin turned his head away arrogantly, but Severus seemed unfazed.
"Come on Severus, let's go to dinner." Harry interrupted.
" Fine leave the portrait alone, I'll go find the other one to talk to" Slytherin hissed irritably, but they were already gone. Otherwise, they would have known he went looking for Voldemort.
" Good afternoon, my heir. Why do you have such a sad expression on your face?" Salazar Slytherin hissed inquiringly from his portrait in Voldemort's private chambers.
"Because I haven't found him yet. I know you're my only trusted confidant but please leave me alone for now. I swear, you are just as meddlesome as that old muggle-loving fool." Voldemort bit out.
Slytherin huffed. " What's with young people nowadays? Total disrespect for your elders. Hmph. At least that boy is a much better conversationist than you are."
Voldemort froze. And looked at Salazar Slytherin. "You talked with another Parselmouth?"
" Yes of course. He was quite amusing. In fact do you know he calls me a ..." Slytherin trailed off as he noticed Voldemort's shocked expression.
" You didn't know about the other boy?" He hissed quietly.
Voldemort inwardly was bursting with joy. Another Parselmouth was in the castle! His love was here! He really was here! Voldemort took on a determined expression.
" How could I have known there was another Parselmouth?" He hissed.
" Of course you should have known! He's one of your snakes for Merlin's snake !" Slytherin chided. Then he paused and glared at Voldemort.
" Why you sly snake. I'm sorry but l am quite fond of this boy and have promised not to reveal his identity to anyone. It seems I have said too much on the subject already." Slytherin hissed and disappeared back into his other portrait in his room in the Room of Requirement.
"I'll do whatever it takes to find you...." Voldemort swore, as he mentally started listing possible Slytherins who could be Parselmouths.
Hey people !
Gab here. Next chappie contains some harassment of poor Harry and the truth is out ! I wont say whos doing the harassing though :P Poor Harry is suffering so much! Voldie has a lot to make up for...grins evilly.... anyway, voldemort doesnt realise its been harry all along because he only sees what he wants to see. Voldie here grew up in a muggle orphanage too but he fought back and took revenge on those that bullied him. harry doesnt so voldie thinks harry is weak. and harry's appearance and seemingly meek demeanor doesnt help either. and he doesnt know that harry's wand does not suit him so he thinks harry is magically weak too. hes so blinded by prejudice....
Anyway, dont forget the three Rs !
Read, remember and review!
LOl came up with that randomly. :P
Love,
Gab