:D

It took only the arrival in the Common Room for hell to begin. By the glares several Slytherins cast Harry's way, it hadn't just been Draco, Vincent, Gregory, and Theodore whose parents had asked them to be nice to Harry. Most of the Slytherins, either with Death Eaters as parents, former supporters of Voldemort as parents, or at the very least those who had got along with his ideas as parents, gave him disgusted looks before returning to whatever it was they were getting about to, most of which was catching up with friends or heading towards dormitories.

Harry slunk past everyone and went into his own dorm where he saw Blaise Zabini already changed and in bed. The boy raised his head and gave Harry an unreadable glance before returning his focus to the book he was reading.

The next morning found Harry elated to know he'd be seeing Snape on the first day of the week. He had History of Magic, Double Potions, Divination, and Double D.A.D.A.

History of Magic had become Harry's easiest class halfway through third year, but it wasn't for trying. Theodore unfailingly let Harry copy his notes without ever complaining about it.

"I'd never pass that class if it wasn't for you." Harry thanked Theodore as they exited the room.

"After this year, you probably won't be taking it again."

"Why's that?"

"Won't need it to become an auror, will you?"

"Right..." Harry mumbled and then asked, "What are you aiming for?"

Theodore shrugged.

"You'd make a great teacher." Harry pointed out.

"Don't like kids."

"Oh...something in the Ministry then?"

Theo just shrugged again.

"Well, you can't take everything and hope to pass it all and then decide." Harry grumbled. "You'd kill yourself."

Theo smirked. "True."

They didn't continue the topic as they had entered the dungeons classroom for potions...which was a disaster for Harry. While normally he did exceptionally well, he forgot one thing on the incredibly difficult potion they were attempting today (The Draught of Peace): the hellebore and Snape noticed. Snape, who didn't care how good a person was normally at potions, always pointed out a person's mistake instantly to everyone within earshot, which he did with Harry (this was Snape treating Harry exactly as he would any other student after all). Potion cleared from his cauldron, Harry, all desire to talk to Snape gone, was forced to sit while everyone else bottled their potions (no matter how bad they were) and brought them forward. Theodore, with his perfect potion, handed his over to a fairly pleased-looking Snape. The bell rang, but though Harry started for the door, he was called back by his professor. Feeling even more shame at the "I would like to talk to you about your potion if you would stay behind" that Snape added, Harry slouched back into his seat and tried to pretend there weren't sniggering Gryffindors all around him. Finally everyone, including Theo, had left and Harry was alone in Snape's classroom.

"You did a very bad mistake today, Potter." Snape growled.

"It wasn't as bad as what other people had done." Harry argued, forgetting to pay his teacher respects. "And I could have fixed it."

"You can't fix a Draught of Peace once you have ruined it." Snape hissed. "Worse, had you added the last ingredient, the potion would have become very similar to what it should look like, but much much worse. Without hellebore, what you had created was a poison and one of the most toxic and dangerous as it is nearly indistinguishable from the Draught of Peace save for a slightly darker appearance and it is nearly undetectable when placed in another liquid."

"You could have just said that!" Harry spat, rising angrily from his feet. "You didn't have to make it look like I'm incompetant!"

"There is not a person in this class who actually believes you are incompetant at a potion." Snape sneered. "You're quite good at them and most, including Granger and Nott, are jealous at your skill."

Harry's mouth stayed open for a moment and then his mind started to move again. "You wanted to speak with me without it looking suspicious."

"Yes." Snape replied, his voice cooling. "Furthermore, I took the hellebore from your table when you were not looking so that you would forget it."

Relaxing slightly, Harry retook his seat. "Sorry, sir."

"Moving along," Snape ignored the apology. "I would like to inform you that the Slytherins in your House will be attempting to befriend you with hopes that you will side with their parents..."

"Theodore has told me this."

"No doubt in an attempt to do the same."

"I'm sorry?" Harry's brows raised.

"Do not think that they won't use any means possible." Snape's eyes narrowed. "Theodore especially is quite brilliant and deceptive, more than capable of working out a plan to...seduce you."

"He's dense when it comes to socializing and he doesn't see me...that way..."

"He is not as dense to social skills as you may think." Snape told him. "If anything else, he may actually be more keen to them than most as he is a listener rather than a talker. He sees things most people wouldn't catch and he...understands you...even if he doesn't want...more with you. This of course could also be a ploy to gain your trust of him."

"Are you going to start saying "constant vigilence," sir? Because if you are I think you and Moody can start getting along then..."

"Don't insult my attempts to warn you, Potter." The anger that had flared in Snape's eyes told Harry he'd said the wrong thing. "You can make up your mind about Nott on your own, but I will at least prepare you for disappointment as I can assure you he will disappoint you."

Harry cringed slightly. "Y-you think he will? That...he'll...betray me?"

Snape gave a sigh, pinching the part of nose directly between his eyes. "More likely than not. He is wise to your ways and loyal to his family, if only because he has a stronger desire to prove himself to his father. Until this father-adoration dies, he is an enemy of yours."

Harry swallowed hard, feeling sicker than he had the night Voldemort had returned. "I...don't know what to say..."

"It is a large possibility." Snape stated sternly. "I simply wanted you to be warned. You may go."

Numbness had spread all over Harry's body and he shook his head to his professor before resting his forehad on the desk and beginning deep calming inhales. As much as he was already hoping that Snape was wrong, he, like Dumbledore, trusted Snape's instinct. The man understood Dark wizards and Death Eaters and Slytherins and he also understood their ways to sabatoge the enemy. They were more than willing to use a friendship to get what they wanted. This didn't surprise Harry. What surprised him was how much he was coming to realize that Theodore meant to him...as he burst into the tears he had been unable to shed all summer.

:P Hope you liked it. Review if you want.