My Own, Chapter Three.
Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, therefore I own none of the characters and considering how often this plot has been used, nor the plot!
Previously: "Severus will have to hear about this." Albus mutters to himself, unaware that Harry had heard what he said…
3rd Person Point Of View:
Severus had spent a whole two days drowning himself in his self-pity. He didn't have one shower. He didn't eat (although he had several cups of coffee). He didn't even go to the toilet. By the third day, he was over moping around – after all, it didn't achieve anything. But, after the days of endless battles in his head, he only came to one conclusion: Harry is James' replica, and he doesn't deserve to know or be treated any different. Sure, he loves Lily. 'But she can't expect me to take care of that boy." He thought.
Eventually, he heaved himself from the bed and had a shower, cleaning himself up a little and changing into fresh robes. Just as he exited the bathroom, Albus Dumbledore walked through the door unannounced. Severus looked at the man with unjustified hate.
"I have some news." Dumbledore announced, in a strained voice. Severus gestured him to sit and as Albus cleared the seat of old coffee mugs, Severus spoke.
"And?" He asked, expecting something serious considering Dumbledore's facial expression.
"And" Said Dumbledore, sitting down, "Harry has been injured: two broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a bit of internal bleeding. Nothing Poppy can't fix, though."
"Why should I care?" Severus spat. Dumbledore sat taken aback at his reaction. Albus was tempted to say 'because he is your son', but refrained. It shocked Albus to see Severus go from grieving and crying to anguish and hate.
"He fell during the Quidditch match against Slytherin." Albus hinted. Severus despised the fact that he (as the Slytherin head) wasn't excited by their defeat of Harry - but he despised the fact that a jolt of anxiety shot through him for Potter more. Dumbledore sighed deeply.
"Severus, you may not want to hear this but I have no choice but to tell you. I have been watching Harry for the past few weeks and I have seen his stamina, personality and enthusiasm fade. You know as well as I that flying is Harry's greatest skill and yet he clumsily fell on Friday's match. He has treated his friends distantly and I can't help but feel that Lily has put a spell on him to keep up his appearance (and personality) like James'…the spell is therefore fading and Harry is losing himself as your personality shines through him more."
"But that is just a theory. It's sounding to me that he is James' son after all! And do you mean to say that I am un-coordinate and friendless?" Severus snapped, deeply offended.
"Take it the way you want Severus. But the Boy Who Lived is our only chance of defeating Voldemort. And the only way to keep him strong, I believe, is for you to tell him you're his father so he knows why he's changing. And, of course, so he is aware he has family left." Dumbledore concluded, with his theory and conclusion making no sense at all.
"He is James' son! He is the worst person in the world – just like his father James!" Severus shouted, spit flying everywhere. Dumbledore began to loose his cool at Severus' immature attitude.
"You only see in the boy what you want to see. Harry has more of Lily then you. He has more of Lily's traits then James'. He is sweet and gentle…with your temper. He has her eyes. How dare you call him those names? How dare you curse the boy so?" Dumbledore questioned, bewildered.
"How do I know that you have been telling the truth the whole time? And are you so blinded and inconsiderate to come in here to tell me that my so-called son's life is being wrecked because he is becoming more like me? I have made my mind up, and I will not tell him for he is no son of mine!" Severus yelled. Dumbledore knew a dismissal when he saw one.
"As long as you try to open your mind to see that he is Lily's boy as well yours, instead of denying it. I will owl you the DNA tests within the next few days, so you can have no doubt left in your mind." Dumbledore replied softly, getting up from the chair. Once the door clicked closed, Severus stood up and kicked the chair, ignoring the pain in his foot. Why is it that life was so much more complicated for him then everyone else? And since when did his world revolve around Harry Potter!?
As Dumbledore walked off to his office, frustrated, he thought of how he wouldn't be surprised if Snape stomped his foot – after all he has been acting immaturely. Albus couldn't help but wonder whether the years of being a contained teenager were coming back, as if the teenager inside him needs to be released. Sighing, he mumbled 'Sherbet Lemon' and as he sat down at his desk he couldn't help but feel that Snape was extremely insecure and for once, Snape doesn't know what to do, hence his attitude.
"How much homework have I missed out on?" Harry asked Hermione as they walked back from breakfast.
"Well…there are two Transfiguration essays, two charms to learn, one lengthy Potions essay and three Defence essays." Hermione listed, using her fingers to help.
"Blimey! I didn't realize we had that much homework!" Ron exclaimed, shocked.
"I have told you all week what homework we had." Hermione retorted, rolling her eyes dismissively.
"How long have I been in the infirmary for?" Harry asked curiously.
"7 days. You have been there since last Friday, mate." Ron replied, the three of them stopping at the Gryffindor entrance.
"Polyjuice." Hermione said, waiting for the portrait door to open. With a slight gruff the door opened and the trio walked in, sitting on the chairs surrounding the fire.
"Snape's been acting weird lately. Just not his usual git-self." Ron comments aloud, looking into the fire.
"He has been acting weird. Not only did he miss three days of Potions lessons, but he looks like as if he has two people inside him – he has extreme mood swings…" Hermione mentions, looking at Harry and Ron.
"Hermione, seriously, Snape is Snape. He can only be a painful, over-emotional greasy git who thinks he's the bees' knees! He can't possibly feel anything more then that!" Ron states. Harry laughed at Ron's choice of words.
"Either way, we must get going. We have Transfiguration then Potions." Hermione said, gathering her books and walking over to the portrait hole.
"Come on!" She ushered. The two boys followed her to their Transfiguration class, all three of them trying to help Ron write a few last-minute notes on his essays.
"Mr. Potter, could you please stay behind?" Professor McGonagall asked when the class was dismissed. Harry put his books down on the table and turned to Hermione and Ron who were waiting for him.
"You go on without me, I'll catch up soon." Harry calls out to them. They nod and leave for the dungeons as McGonagall clears her throat.
"Now, Harry, I hope you are aware of the fact that there were two Transfiguration essays due today, and that I am strict about deadlines." She said, drawing her robes about her waiting for a credible excuse she was sure to get from Harry.
"I am sorry, I had only heard that we had the essays today - I've been in the hospital wing the whole time." Harry said. McGonagall's expression softened.
"I was aware of that, I suppose." McGonagall reasoned, sighing. "But Harry, as much as I would love to tell you that you not to bother with the essays, I need them as soon as possible for your report." She said. Harry started to panic – he hadn't realized it was nearly the end of term.
"I-I will do them tonight and hand them to you tomorrow!" Harry replied hopefully. McGonagall's face seemed shocked; after all, she had expected Harry to bargain for a few weeks' lenience as per usual.
"Well, that would be good. But don't strain yourself; we don't need you spending another week in the infirmary Harry." McGonagall said in a soft voice. Nodding, Harry turned for the door but he just had to ask the question which had been bugging him all week.
"So when do we play for the championships?"
"Harry, I am so sorry to tell you, but we lost the match to Slytherin. Hadn't anyone told you?" McGonagall asked. Harry's body went into shock – this is the second time he had ever lost, and with the purchase of his Firebolt, he was guaranteed to never lose again.
"What! No wonder no one told me when I asked!" Harry yelled, forgetting to keep his temper in check around teachers. Instead of getting angry (like she ought to), McGonagall felt sorry for one of her favourite Gryffindor students.
"You may not remember, but when you were being taken to the infirmary, Draco Malfoy caught the Snitch."
"What about the rest of the team? How many points did we have when he caught it?"
"The players immediately stopped playing the game to come to be with you." McGonagall said, proud of her Gryffindor team. Harry (despite feeling disappointed) felt overwhelmed with emotions at the thought of the team stopping to comfort him instead of securing their place in the championships. All was silent for a while until McGonagall reminded Harry that he had another class. Excusing himself, he ran from the quadrangle down into the dungeons, hoping that Snape wasn't in a foul mood.
'I will slowly open the door and sneak to the first seat.' Harry thought, wincing as he walked because of the pain in his torso.
Snape had just sat down after walking around to see the students attempting to complete their work. Unlike the entrance he had hoped for, Harry accidently slammed the door open causing a few potion flasks to fall and shatter. The whole class turned their heads to Harry then to Snape, whose face went deathly white and still. After a few minutes silence, Harry decided to sit down and Snape controlled himself and spoke.
"30 points from Gryffindor for rude intrusion, disruption and utter disregard for school property." Snape said, his voice deep and menacing. "Stay after class, Mr. Potter." Snape said. Hermione, Ron and Neville turned around to face Harry at the back of the class with sympathetic glances. The rest of Gryffindor cursed Harry for losing points, while Slytherin snickered, once again revelling in Snape's hate of the boy.
After a particularly difficult potion's lesson (Snape was in a worse mood then normal and took to picking on Harry more), the students practically ran out of the doors to escape the potion's room and avoiding more homework. As Gryffindor ran out of the room they dodged the broken flasks that were still on the ground, unlike Slytherin who stomped on the glass in the hope Harry had to clean it.
Alone, Snape loathingly looked at the boy before him ignoring the voice inside his head that reminded him Harry is his son. 'You don't know for sure.' He told himself.
"Potter. Why were you so late to my class? Is it because you are just naturally unpunctual or do you take pleasure in disturbing my class?" Snape sneered. Harry took a deep breath, determined not to bite the bait.
"Sorry, Sir. I was held up by Professor McGonagall." Harry said simply.
"Why, then, did you feel the need to slam the door open, hence breaking school property?" Snape urged, enthusiastic for a reaction from Harry.
"Sir, I am still tender from my fall and I happened to be juggling my books in one arm. I'll try to clean it up." Harry said, trying to not wince while keeping his temper in check, but was failing miserably.
"And why – "
"WHY WHAT!?" Harry shouted, fed up and angry. "Why do I breathe so fast? Or why do I walk with one foot after the other?" He yelled, flinging his arms in the air similarly to the way Lily used to when she was angry, Snape realized subconsciously. Snape smirked smugly.
"I was going to actually ask why you aren't wearing a brace of some type but your questions are much more intriguing." Snape said, letting his words hang in the air. Harry groaned aloud at the confusion of the potion masters' moods. Snape took a step forward, eyeing his pupil with disdain and hurt as he looked deep into Lily's eyes.
"I believe you haven't handed in your potion's essay?" Snape inquired, his voice deep. Harry gulped, suddenly worried about his Potions' report.
"No sir, I have been – "
"I did not ask for an excuse!" Snape exclaimed. "To make up for your lack of…ability, I want you to produce 5 potions from the medium section of your textbook in your own time." He said, fully aware of Harry's tight schedule.
"Where do I make them?" Harry asked in a defeated tone. Snape just stared at Harry – he had been expecting a bit more fight from Potter.
"Aren't you going to complain?" Snape blurted out before he could stop it.
"I've given up – you are too much to handle." Harry mumbled, fully aware Snape had heard. Snape ignored the comment and took one long look at the boy with messy hair and his hate was rekindled.
"Due in two weeks. You can procure them here; the Potions labs will be open. When your done leave the potions on my desk, clearly labelled." Snape said in a dismissive tone. Nodding with a little "Yes Sir", Harry turned and walked over to the broken phials, about to bend down. Snape quickly conjured a vanishing charm and got rid of the broken glass before Harry bent down.
"I will deal with it this time Potter, but you better not let me catch you breaking anymore school property or you will be cleaning it up in any method Mr. Filch chooses." Snape warned, trying to erase the memory of his random act of kindness.
"Yes Sir." Harry muttered.
"And Potter, go to the infirmary for a brace – I will check with Madam Pomfrey to make sure you went." Snape said as he turned around and looked at something on his desk. Harry simply nodded quietly as he left the room. Once the door shut, Severus felt a pang of sympathy for the boy – he had undeservingly received a hard task and Severus knew it.
"Damn you Potter, for being so much like your mother." He said, speaking about his change in emotion. He didn't even realize what he had said. Packing up the pile of homework-marking, he walked to his apartments and laid on the bed, thinking about Lily. She always made him feel comfortable enough to express his emotions. Ever since he lost her, he had only a short variety of emotions that he ever felt. What were they? The typical Melancholy emotions, as Lily would call it. Anger, hurt, sadness, depression, hate and doubt. It is all he has ever felt since Lily left him, but he couldn't deny the fact that now he was feeling so much more…and deep inside him he new it was because of Harry. His mood swings and random acts of kindness were proof, as if a part of him has reopened, he thought. Thinking, he started to doze off until a light tap on the door woke him up. As he sat up, Madam Pomfrey walked through the door.
"Severus Tobias Snape, I am disappointed in you."
Hello everybody!
Thank you all so much for your reviews, they mean alot to me. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.
Please, if you have any questions or comments, please review or PM me and I will reply promptly!
For all my BitterSweet readers, I will update in the next few days; I'm getting there!
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a great New Year - I certainly did and have had guests until yesterday,
hence my lack of updating!
Now, why is Madam Pomfrey disappointed with Severus? What's with Snape's mood swings? What's with Dumbledore's outlook? What's wrong with fuzzy monkeys? Read and Review to find out (though I can't promise to reveal the secret of fuzzy monkeys).
All my love,
Angela (Missteque).