Four Heads Are Better Than One
Year One: One Week Gone
Hi everyone, since everyone liked the first one it looks like I'm going to continue. I'm going to be taking the key events from Harry's years at Hogwarts and imagining what Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout would say about them. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed/favourite/alerted. Any constructive criticism or suggestions are very welcome. I hope you enjoy this.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Severus Snape!" Severus looked up in alarm as Minerva bore down upon him, her green eyes flashing.
"Yes, Minerva?" Minerva jabbed him in the chest.
"Don't you 'yes Minerva' me," she hissed. "What did you say to Neville Longbottom?" Severus sighed and set aside the papers he was marking.
"Minerva, the boy is an idiot." Minerva swelled with rage but, fortunately for the Slytherin, they were interrupted by the arrival of Filius and Pomona. At the sight of them, Filius sighed.
"What's he done this time, Minerva?" he asked resignedly. Severus shot the tiny wizard a grateful look as Minerva turned, her attention temporarily diverted.
"Mr. Longbottom ended up in the hospital wing in his very first Potions class." Her voice was still tight with anger, but the arrival of the other two Heads had brought her to her senses. Filius sighed as he scrambled into a chair next to Severus.
"Minerva, Potions is a dangerous subject," he said. "You cannot blame Severus every time an accident occurs." Minerva glared at him.
"No, but I can blame him for reducing Neville to tears in front of the entire class!" Pomona looked extremely disappointed.
"Was that really necessary, Severus?" Severus scowled.
"All the boy had to do was follow some basic instructions," he growled. "Frankly, his incompetence is astounding." Filius shook his head.
"You've had the lad for one lesson, and you don't exactly go out of your way to make them feel comfortable."
"All the Slytherins seem to manage just fine."
"That's because you're their Head of house and they know you," Pomona pointed out. "Other first years are terrified of you."
"And speaking of incompetence, need I remind you that when Gregory Goyle tried to transfigure his match in my class, he ended up setting fire to his own robes," said Minerva tartly. Severus shrugged moodily.
"He's still not as bad as Potter," he muttered. Minerva rounded on him again.
"And what, may I ask, is wrong with Mr. Potter?" she demanded. Severus glared right back at her.
"He is exactly as I predicted, lazy, arrogant, dim-witted…"
"Severus!" Pomona exclaimed. The Slytherin's scowl deepened.
"It is just the truth." Minerva rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"You are only seeing his father!" she said angrily. "From what I've seen so far, Harry is modest and hard-working, and shows a lot of potential."
"I agree," said Pomona. "He's always very quiet and well behaved in my lessons." Severus shook his head, even as Filius nodded his agreement.
"He is just like his father in every way."
"Just because he looks like James, it does not mean he is James," Minerva said scathingly.
"If anything, he is more like Lily," said Filius quietly. Severus' eyes blazed with fury.
"He is nothing like her," he snarled. With that, he stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him. The three remaining Heads looked at each other sadly.
"He never got over her, did he?" asked Pomona softly. Filius shook his head.
"I don't think he ever will."
There was a subdued silence as they remembered all the students they had lost. After a moment, Pomona shook her head.
"Speaking of being like Lily, what about Hermione Granger?" It was an obvious attempt to break the tension, but both Professors seized upon the subject with relief. Filius managed a small chuckle.
"She answers every question perfectly, and has read books I wouldn't set until third year," he said with a smile.
"And she managed to transfigure her match halfway through her very first lesson," Minerva added. "Some have her classmates still haven't managed it." She looked thoughtful. "In fact, the only other person to have done so within her first lesson was Miss Greengrass." Pomona glanced at her in surprise.
"Daphne Greengrass? From Slytherin?" Minerva nodded.
"Not all the Slytherins are like Mr. Goyle," she said dryly. "Both Miss Greengrass and Blaise Zabini show promise."
"And what do you make of Draco Malfoy?" asked Filius curiously. Minerva frowned.
"He is intelligent certainly, but even for a Malfoy, his arrogance is excessive. And he seems to have already formed a hatred of Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." Pomona sighed.
"That won't endear Harry to Severus," she said wearily. Minerva's nostrils flared.
"Severus will just have to realise that Harry is not his father." Filius and Pomona exchanged dubious looks. After all, Harry did look very like James. They knew it would take Severus a long time to get over that.
I'll try and get the next chapter up at some point in the next few days. Please review and let me know what you thought.