My Own : Chapter 4.
Disclaimer: I am not J.K Rowling hence own none of the characters etc. etc.
3rd Person POV:
Severus got up from the bed and attempted to clean the place a little, all the while Madam Pomfrey stood in the same position with her hands on her hips and her foot tapping.
"Severus, you cannot pretend to ignore me or the reason I am here." Madam Pomfrey stated, watching Severus collect then recollect his belongings in a mad attempt to clean up. Despite her anger, Poppy Pomfrey felt sorry for Severus. She knew from all her regular visits to his apartments (and his visits to the infirmary) that he is usually an organized man. Instead of seeing the room perfectly neat and clean, the bed remained unmade, chairs toppled over, coffee mugs and books scattered across the floor and a spider web or three in the corners of the roof. She walked over to Severus (who was bent over something) and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Severus, how about we talk about it? Come, sit down." Poppy said softly, trying to calm the obviously distressed Severus down. After spending so much time with the ill-treated teenager, she had the ability to recognize him when he was in a traumatic state. She guided Severus over to one of the chairs and sat him down, then sat opposite him. After ordering a few pumpkin-juices from a house elf, she turned to Severus.
"What's the matter, dear?" She asks caringly, staring into Severus' blank eyes. Of all the people she had ever had to work with, Severus was the hardest yet most rewarding.
"Nothing." He replies, snapping out of his trance and composing himself. Poppy sighs.
"You and I both know that is a lie. Now tell me the truth young man." Severus moans.
"Nothing! Now what did you want to see me about?" Severus retorts, getting unnecessarily angry. Hurt by the way Severus had treated her and remembering why she was there in the first place, Poppy's mood swiftly changed from patience to anger
"You know well what. You send Mr. Potter in from your class requesting he get a brace – and rightly so – but then you give the boy homework whereby he must strain himself to make high-class potions during his busy schedule! If you give an ounce of care for his well-being and mental state, how could you treat him like that?" Poppy rants, as if scolding a teenage boy (which in many ways, she was). Snape quickly comes to the defense.
"That boy deserves it, he broke several rules, didn't finish his homework and is constantly…" he trailed off.
"Constantly what, Severus?"
"He is rude and complains unnecessarily, trying to get attention. Just like James –"
"James Potter? Do you base all analysis of Harry on his father, James?" Poppy fumes, thinking of how she thought she had taught Severus better. Severus had an unexplainable look on his face.
"Poppy…all I am trying to say is that you are blowing this all out of proportion. So Harry wears a brace and has to complete a few potions in his own time…" Severus shrugs off, trying to squirm out of Poppy's wrath.
"You and I both know that isn't wholly correct. The poor boy got sentenced homework because couldn't complete the set task and he happened to break a few rules - both due to his injuries!" Poppy yells, getting angrier. She hated when others jeopardized the health of students. "How many times have you done the exact same thing as Harry – worse in some cases- for the exact same reasons? Not once were you punished like you are punishing Harry! I wonder what Dumbledore would say!" She said as she flung her arms into the air and stood up.
"It's no big deal…" Snape says, staring moodily at Poppy. This is what she had wanted to hear. Poppy's face changed from anger to smugness.
"Well, Professor Snape, if it is no big deal then I am ordering you to supervise Harry when he is making potions to ensure he doesn't further hurt himself." Poppy declares, sitting down and smiling smugly. Severus just stared at her with his mouth open.
"But I have no idea when he will make them – it is during his free time!" He retorts.
"You'll work something out." She replies, straightening out her dress.
"But…but it's his homework, not mine!"
"Oh don't you dare call it homework mister! Harry happened to tell me exactly what happened and we both know that it is more of a 'detention for no good reason' then homework! I do not know why, but you have a nasty habit of targeting the poor boy unjustly, and of all people I thought it'd never be you." Severus sighed, knowing full well she was right but unwilling to admit it. Her disappointment in him only fueled the disappointment in himself.
"Poppy, I have a full-blown schedule and I cannot babysit a student, lest of all one who has to complete several potions. Potter is an amateur Potions' maker and it'll take him the rest of the term to complete the task!" Snape shouts, not realizing he just contradicted himself. But by the time Severus stopped arguing, Poppy was already out of the chair and walking to the door.
"No big deal." She replies, quoting Severus, before turning and leaving. Severus sat back, annoyed and frustrated. A note appeared out of nowhere after several minutes, and he grabbed the piece of parchment as it floated gently from the air.
'I, Madam Poppy Pomfrey (of Infirmary), hereby declare that Professor Severus Tobias Snape (of Potions) supervise, cares, helps and tutors Harry James Potter (student) through-out the whole term, whenever Harry creates a potion.
Signed, Albus Dumbledore and Poppy Pomfrey.'
Severus groaned at his foolish actions which led to the consequence of the letter. The house elf appeared and Severus skulled both juices without a second gulp.
"Great. Like I need another excuse to be closer to Harry." Snape mumbled as he heaved himself up from the chair to go visit the Headmaster.
Meanwhile…
Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, moodily eating his food as Ron and Hermione came and sat down either side of him.
"Looks like Snape's disappeared." Ron remarked with glee as he stuffed his plate full of food.
"He probably turned into a bat and flew off." Harry retorted, clearly angry. "Good riddance."
"Couldn't have said it better myself mate!" Ron praised, slapping Harry on the back as he took a large bite from a piece of toast.
"How about we go visit Hagrid before lessons begin? He isn't in the hall…" Hermione asks randomly, sensing Harry's frustration.
"Yeah! Haven't seen him in a while!" Ron said enthusiastically.
"Sure." Harry replied, glad to be getting away from the main castle for once. Harry and Hermione immediately stood up and began to leave the hall (having eaten already), when a distressed Ron yelled out.
"We're leaving now? I haven't finished my breakfast!" He yelled, as he grabbed a glass and gulped down pumpkin juice, causing a bunch of Gryffindor girls giggled at him.
"Ron, you have time to stuff your face and your gut later, now come on!" Hermione said, getting unnecessarily irritated at Ron's laziness. Grumpily getting up, Ron walked over to the pair with several cakes in his arms.
Harry laughed.
"What? I thought I might get hungry for the trip!" Ron defended as the trio walked out of the Great Hall to Hagrid's Hut. But by the time they got to the Hut, Ron hadn't eaten one cake as he was busily engaged in an argument with Hermione; an argument which he stupidly began.
"So how many times have you snogged Viktor?" Ron asked randomly, but with a burning curiosity. His voice echoed down the deserted bridge. Hermione stopped in her tracks and stared at Ron in disbelief as he kept on walking.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I said: how many times have you snogged Viktor!" Ron asked, getting frustrated and embarrassed at having to repeat the question.
"What does that matter to you, Ronald? Since when did my snogging history ever concern you?" Hermione retorted, walking briskly across the bridge and ahead of the two boys.
"Well –I-I have a right as one of your friends to know!" He said, rushing up to walk at the same pace as Hermione. Hermione sighed.
"It could have been once, it could have been a dozen but – "
"So you have snogged him!" Ron cried, assuming the worst. Hermione blushed.
"Come on Ron! You cannot have told me you haven't snogged somebody at least once!" Hermione retorted in a desperate attempt to drive the attention away from her.
Ron didn't reply but blushed intensely. Both Ron and Hermione were mumbling under their breath, and taking every stride in anger. Harry just walked quietly from a few metres behind, inwardly laughing at the situation. Wasn't it just too obvious? To Harry, it was like telling the difference between a hippogriff and a dragon!
Eventually they reached Hagrid's hut. With two members of the group dead silent and facing separate ways, Harry had to reach up and rap his hand against the door. They could hear a clattering of metal and then big thumps as their friend grew closer to the door.
"'Ello Harry, Hermione, Ron! 'Aven't seen yer for a while!" Hagrid boomed as he opened the door, beaming at the students. "Come in come in…don't mind the mess…Fang has been at me bed again…" Hagrid said as he stood beside the door to let them in. The threes students walked in, warily noticing patches of straw spread across the floor. They sat down around Hagrid's table as Hagrid boiled the kettle. Ron was taking the cakes out of his arms and setting them on the table, ready to devour them. He picked one up just as Hagrid turned around.
"Aw how 'ovely of yer Ron to bring cakes fer me! Didn't 'xpect it one bit. Nicest thing anyone has ever done fer me." Hagrid said, albeit tearily as he took all the cakes (including the one in Ron's hand) and began to eat them, much to Ron's horror. Despite previous tensions, Hermione and Harry laughed at Ron's expression. After a little grumble, Ron's humor kicked in and they all laughed as all was immediately forgiven: it was as if a bag was lifted of their shoulders. Hagrid looked confused as he continued to eat the cakes. Once he brushed off the crumbs from his beard he quickly ran over to the stove to grab the kettle, remembering he hadn't yet served his guests.
"So what've yer all been doing?" Hagrid asked after he poured the tea and sat down. Harry started picking at the wooden splints in the table.
"The usual, school work." Hermione answered as she gently raises her cup to her lips.
"Yeah." Ron piped up. 'Lot's of homework now – I swear the teachers are trying to kill me with brain overload." Ron remarked.
"Ron, it wouldn't take much." Hermione slyly commented. Ron frowned but the comment went unheard by Hagrid as he was too busy trying to decipher Harry's expression. Hagrid had always had a special spot for Harry – the boy whom he retrieved from the house wreckage at Godric's Hollow to hand over to Dumbledore – and it greatly angered him to see Harry obviously troubled.
"What's the matter Harry?" He asked. Harry didn't resist the temptation to talk.
"I'll tell you what the matter is. Snape gave me a homework task of 5 medium potions to be made in my own time!" Harry fumed.
"Is that bad?" Hagrid questioned.
"Is that bad? The bloody monster gave me the task despite the fact that I am severely injured and have a busy schedule! I haven't got the time to make medium-class potions!" He yelled, feeling extremely mistreated. Ron gave Hermione the wide-eyed look, signaling Harry had lost the plot.
"Well, yer never know…I am sure he had a reasonable excuse…I guess yer didn't do yer homework…" Hagrid reasoned, trying not to bad-mouth a fellow professor. This, however, was the last thing Harry wanted to hear.
"That bloody bastard gave me extra hard potions because I accidently broke a few potion flasks in class because of my injuries! It isn't fair that it is always me!" He yelled, standing up. Hagrid felt torn between defending Snape and encouraging Harry. In the end, he settled for both.
"Yer know Harry, Snape is only doing his job. Too bad he isn't doing a good job!" Hagrid said in attempt to lighten Harry's mood. Harry snickered at the bad joke and resolved, decided he would not let Snape ruin his day.
As they all sat and talked, every body was in a good humor; Harry had calmed down, Hagrid was Hagrid and Hermione and Ron weren't even quarreling. Eventually, however, as conversation topics became scarce, Ron brought up a touchy subject for both parties, his curiosity unscathed.
"Did y'know Hermione has snogged Viktor?" Ron asked aloud, avoiding Hermione's immediate glare. Harry spat out half his drink in laughter, Hermione sat silently, Ron sat albeit irritated and Hagrid with a strange twinkle in his eye as he laughed heartily.
Guess some things can't be let go.
Hello everyone!
Sorry that it has taken so long to update. I had actually lost my last draft of this story which had the final editings, and when I find it i'll update it. I just figured since I finally have time to breathe I should post something!
Life is still treating me harshly, some days are better then others, but I'm pushing through and getting there. Among many things, I found that I am extremely low in iron, which makes everything a lot worse, so I am now taking an iron supplement.
I really hope I can update quicker, but as I mentioned in my Author's note in BitterSweet, life has been a bit difficult. I am so sorry.
And thank you to every single one of you for your lovely words - you have no idea how much they've helped. Honestly, those comments are the only light in my world at times. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
On a lighter note, I hope you've enjoyed the above story - despite any mistakes - and that I've left you looking forward to the next! Please read and review, even if you have suggestions on how to improve the story, or questions. All comments are greatly appreciated!
Hope you are all having a lovely weekend - I look forward to sleeping in!
All my love,
Angela (Missteque).