Harry and Draco entered the potions classroom five minutes later and saw Remus sitting calmly at the front of the room talking to Severus. There didn't appear to be any urgent situation so they didn't comment. They chose seats at the front of the room and began to set up their cauldrons. The students streamed in and the Slytherins formed a kind of shield from the Gryffindors. Ron slipped in at the last second and flopped into his seat next to Hermione, who began to nag him for nearly being late.
Seeing Ron was difficult. After yesterday Harry didn't think they could be friends again, Ron was convinced all Slytherins were evil. Harry was still angry with Ron but he was also saddened by the loss of such a close friend, or at least, whom he thought was a close friend. Ron looked up, catching Harry staring and sent him a nasty glare. Harry sighed and lowered his gaze. Draco, having noticed the red head's glare put a hand on Harry's shoulder. He expected the half hug he got in response, what he didn't expect was the kiss on his cheek. Harry leaned back in his seat and offered Draco a soft smile that was instantly returned.
The ever-observant Severus had also seen the exchange and officially decided to make Ronald Weasley's life hell. When he saw Harry kiss Draco's cheek he couldn't suppress the small smile that came to his lips. The smile startled the class and caused them to question their sanity. Was Professor Snape smiling at Harry Potter? Even though they had been informed of Harry's inheritance, a smiling Snape was still frightening.
Shaking his head, Severus started class. "Today we are going to see if you retained any of the knowledge I have given you the past five years. Brew the potion on page 57 of your textbooks. It should be completed with twenty minutes to spare; during this time you will begin an essay due one week from today on the way ingredients are prepared affect the outcome of the potion." And with that Severus went back to his desk to supervise the class.
Things were going well for the first twenty minutes; potions boiling, not all were the color they were supposed to be but they weren't too bad. Just when Severus was beginning to think Weasley may have grown a brain and wasn't going to pull anything, a burdock root went sailing across the room. Neither Severus nor Remus had the opportunity to react before the root would reach its destination.
The burdock root was sailing rapidly towards Harry and Draco's cauldron, but just before it entered the cauldron Harry's hand shot out and grabbed the root. Harry's 'parents' let out a sigh in relief but they, and Harry, rounded on Ron. It was Harry who exploded at Ron first, if you could call it exploding; Harry spoke in the same intense low tone he had used yesterday, the only difference this time was that there were others close enough to hear the words being spoken.
"I cannot believe you are so stupid Ronald Weasley. Do you have any idea what adding burdock root to this potion could have done? It would have not only killed Draco and I, it most likely would have killed everyone in this room!" Harry had been meaning to surprise Severus with his new knowledge of potions, but was too furious to care. "I warned you yesterday that if you tried to hurt me or my pack I would not be held responsible for my actions." Ron backed away obviously thinking Harry was going to hurt him, and in a way he was but not in the way that was expected. "I am not the same as I was last year. I have matured. You, on the other hand have not. I know you Ronald. I know you lie to people to make them like you. I am not going to hurt you. At least, I will not hurt you physically your social life however, may be damaged beyond repair." Harry held his hands out, palms up and said a spell no one had heard before. A ball of white magic, the purest of all magic, hovered between Harry's hands. Closing his eyes he shot the magic at Ron and it absorbed into the pasty-faced ginger's chest.
"Wha— what did you just do to me" Ron stuttered barely able to get the words past his lips. The other students, who had been backing away at the sight of an angry Harry, began to creep forward a bit in curiosity.
"The spell was: dire nient'altro che la verità, which means, tell nothing but the truth. You are now unable to lie or exaggerate. To try and tell a lie would result in you choking on your words, quite literally, until you stop trying to lie. You are unable to write lies either; to write a lie would burn the parchment." Harry said all this glaring daggers at Ron.
Severus decided now was the best time to step in, as the students were still in a state of shock. "Weasley, detention for a week. Everyone back to work. Harry, come into my office." Hearing the brusque tone, they snapped out of their daze and resumed working. Harry walked swiftly into Severus' office and collapsed into a chair. Remus and Severus entered a moment later and Harry just sat there waiting for one of them to beat him for being a nuisance.
Remus went to put his hand on Harry's shoulder but the boy flinched away and started trembling. Remus and Severus dropped down in front of their all but son; they were worried now. " Harry, what is it child? Why are you afraid of us?" Severus asked softly. Harry met his eyes apprehensively, his eyes searching for a hatred that was not there. It was then Harry remembered that these people cared about him; they were not his uncle.
Harry felt a lone tear glide down his face. "Harry, why are you crying?" Remus asked taking the boys hand in his own. Harry reasoned it was time to tell them a few things.
Harry took a deep breath and began. "I've never been the kind to let my feelings show. I thought that being strong meant never losing my self-control. Losing my control meant that I got another beating for being a freak. I spent most of my childhood being tormented by my cousin, beaten by my uncle, and verbally abused by my aunt. I was not to mention starved and locked in a cupboard for day at a time." All this was said quickly and was a bit hard to understand but the words still shocked his 'parents'. "I'm sorry for worrying you. The thing with Ron kind of shook me up and I guess I had some sort of flashback. Now… what did you want to talk about?" harry asked this to try and change the subject but it only partly worked.
"Harry we will never beat you or scream abuse. We just want you to open up and be happy. I wanted to talk to you about the spell you cast but I will hold off on the questioninguntil tonight. Get back to class and help Draco." Severus dismissed him with a wave of his hand and Harry left, wanting to see his mate.
As soon as Harry had left, closing the door behind him, it was Severus' turn to sink into the chair. " All those times I had seen a tiny flicker of fear in his eyes while I was telling him off for botching up a potion he was probably seeing his uncle. I was so wrong about him." Severus dropped his head into his hands in sorrow.
Remus put a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "But you know him better now and Harry loves you. Don't waste the time you could be spending getting to know Harry better hating yourself for the past. You cannot change the past but you an embrace the future."
"You are right, Remus. Thank you. If I focus on the future I believe I may be able to forgive myself." And with a small smile the two re entered the classroom.
A/N: I like to hear your suggestions! I also love to read your reviews! It is 1:45am and I;m going to sleep! Good-night!(morning?)