Chapter seven: Gryffindor's style of Persuasion

Today is the last day of my detention, Renee finally realized and signed.

She glanced at the potion master stirring his cauldron. Renee was assisting him to brew cough potion in request of Madam Poppy, since many students were now getting flu these days. He was stirred his cauldron gracefully, like painting on a blank canvass. Renee cannot help but stared to it, it was really beautiful.

"It would be best if don't drool on the ingredients Miss Matte, I will not be able to used that if you infect it with your saliva" Snape said in his cold voice, making Renee shiver. She looked down at the ingredients she's chopping, feeling her cheeks become hotter.

"Where did you learn that kind of stirring? I didn't read that on the books" Renee gained courage to ask after long silence.

"That is none of your business" Snape hissed, making her speechless again.

He looked at the student beside her, astonished as Renee rolled her eyes at him.

I'm no longer afraid on his sharp comments. Maybe I'm getting immune for it; I've been receiving his harsh comments for almost two weeks now.

Renee peeked at the cauldron and looked at him, sinking every movement of his hands on the potion on her head. He signed in resignation and looked at Renee warily.

"What do you want?"

"Can I try that?" She pointed at the stirring rod, looking at him hopefully.

"No. focus on the one I've given you"

Renee pouted as he said that and returned to chopping.

"Professor?" asked Renee for his attention once again, an idea popped to her head.

"What is it again? Can you just keep you mouth shut until we finished this potion?" Snape was already losing his patience to her; Renee pushed her luck this time.

"I was just thinking…can I have advance lessons from you?"

He looked at her like she said a bad joke.

"No"

"Just give me a chance professor. I'll be a good student…I'm still haven't gotten hang on the subject that I think I need supplemental lessons" Renee plead.

That was actually a lie, I was better than Ron in potions.

"No"

"Professor…"

"If I hear another plead on your mouth I'll deduct points, or see yourself in detention until the end of the term" Snape warned Renee.

"But"

"That's it ten points from Gryffindor. Didn't you know what a last warning means? Now resume to chopping" Snape sneered, making Renee looked down on her chopping in defeat.

To her disappointment her last day of detention leave as that, neither of the two spoke until they finished brewing and putting it in a batch of vials.

I never knew I would enjoy potions, much more than reading mediwizardly books in the library. Maybe hands on practice made me love it, she thought.

"Goodnight professor" Renee glanced at the potion master the last time as Snape was arranging the vials on the vial container. He raised his hand, not even looked at Renee.

She left the room determined, with wide idea's swarming to her head.

I swear to myself that I will gain his supplemental lessons no matter what, she declared.

The classes seem to be pretty normal in next few days, though they were literally drowned to homework and exams. No signs of Dementor or fugitives, it's like they were doing it for the student's sakes for them to be focused to their studies. Renee didn't even have a single dream about the fugitives that it already gave her goodnight sleep.

That made Renee focus on persuading professor Snape for the Supplemental lesson. She even made an intentional mistake on her potion, letting him see how clumsy she could get in potions.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for being clumsy, let alone doing it intentionally" He hissed and he could hear her softly cursed on the failed attempt. Snape nearly smiled, though he hides it through his sneers on Neville.

Better let go the idea of getting clumsy. I think I would just deduct all of the house points at the end of the month if I still do this, Renee thought as she think another plan to persuade the man.

There were times that Renee would make herself be late in getting out of the class. She decided not to be very attentive to class since that was Hermione's job. She would look at him grinning foolishly at him, trying all her efforts to make him impress to her like making my lab table so clean that she could even looked at my complexion on it, making perfect essays and perfect potions. Renee would ask him if he needed anything in particular that she could help him.

"I don't need any help Matte, and I am still not doing supplemental lessons" said Snape sternly, yet hiding his enjoyment on torturing the new student.

Renee signed in defeat and exited the room and looked back at him before leaving.

"I'm not giving up sir" she declared before closing the door, missing the Snape's lip twitching upwards.

Today's weather was really nice. Renee looked at the clear blue sky and signed. She still hasn't convinced professor Snape for the supplemental lessons. The frustrated girl as she signed again, she was on the astronomy tower, looking the lovely scenery below her.

Renee ducked my head on her arms and signed again. She was really run off ideas now, and she's really getting upset about it.

"We have good weather today, isn't it Miss Matte?" a voice made the girl jumped. Renee looked at next to her and saw the Headmaster.

How did he come here unnoticed?

"Yes professor…it's really beautiful" Renee looked at the scenery once again. At the far side they could see flying brooms, must have been a practice in Quidditch. He looked at her thoughtfully.

"How is your staying here? Are you making friends?"

"Its really wonderful here sir…there are many things to learn. I made friends here, the Gryffindors were really nice. I made friends with Hermione and Harry. Oh and there's Ron also" Renee happily told him. She could see a curiosity look in his eyes in a moment.

"Friends are a good source of energy. Keep them well" his eyes twinkle behind his spectacles.

"Yes sir"

"Any subject you like here?"

"Every subject is really interesting except for history…I mean I like transfiguration and especially Potions! They were really interesting! I even like to have supplemental lessons in potions but my professor still didn't agree on it" Renee blurted out which she regret after a few seconds.

"Yes I've heard you excel on transfiguration and potions. Those rabbit ears were fascinating" Renee looked down in embarrassment, realizing that he knows what she did to Malfoy. She looked at him again, smiling at her and grinned back.

"Well sir I have a reason for that…"

"I've heard it from professor McGonagall. Defending your friends, you really deserve to be in Gryffindor" Renee grinned back on his comment. At least I know I was really meant to be in Gryffindor.

"You didn't mention Divination. Don't you fancy that subject?"

"I…it's like I don't like predicting my future sir. I rather have it in surprise" Renee flushed at her opinion. She looked at him, looking more curious than ever.

"Yes…yes…the future still depends on you…"

She smiled at him and looked at the scenery again. It is really peaceful.

Renee stood in front of Professor Snape's office. She swallowed hard, thinking about her last resort. She knocked softly and heard his cold voice saying "enter".

Severus looked so dumbstruck when he saw Renee standing on his door, but it was just a second and his face returned as a warily one.

"What do you want?" Snape scowled, raising his one eyebrow.

Just one last time, Renee thought and made a deep breathe, gaining her Gryffindor's courage before answering.

"Sir, you know very well why I went here" she finally answered, meeting his black eyes.

Long silence, Snape stared at Renee and she dared not to break away the eye contact. Renee was desperate now, though she still doesn't know why she's doing this.

Why is this so important to me?

Snape was the one who break the eye contact and went back in grading papers and release a long sign. Renee remained staring at him, keeping her gait steady.

"It will be every Friday, after dinner. If you come here late I will make sure that these supplemental classes will be off"

No way, Renee looked at him in disbelief.

"t-thank you, professor!" Said Renee, came back as the one who first met him; always stammer in front of him.

"Now go before I change my mind" Snape said almost in a whisper.

Renee hurriedly exited the room, but ducked her head again on the door after a moment.

"Thank you so much!" She beamed at him, and saw him scowling. Renee chuckled in response and closed the door.

She ran excitedly on the corridors, not caring if a professor would scold her, she was too happy to care.

I succeed! I just got his supplemental lessons!

Renee happily skipped on the dungeons, whistling her favorite tune that she didn't even mind some slytherins glaring at her. She even grinned at Malfoy and his goons when she collided with them and leaving them stunned.

This is going to be exciting!