Chapter 9 - Potter the Enigma
Severus Snape was a refined man. He was a man who always had a scathing reply, had a reputation for having the most biting and acerbic wit. He was not a man who was left sputtering in corridors. Well, not usually. But there he was, his face plastered with a look of shock and hatred as he watched Harry Potter retreat into the Slytherin common rooms. Yes and that was what he was doing, retreating, since he must know that Snape would've had a scathing comeback to put him in his place after his little speech. Or at least, that's what Severus told himself.
The man spun on his heel and walked briskly back to his own rooms. He needed a stiff drink before he would be able to go on his patrol route tonight around the castle. His patrols were always his favorite part of the day. Severus could and would give detention with Filch to any student he found out after hours in the halls or classrooms. But first, he needed that drink.
Severus strode into his private chambers and grabbed the decanter from on top of the table near his sofa. He looked at the offensive gray sofa with distaste. He never used the thing so perhaps he'd get rid of it. In its place he could put a larger table, with a larger decanter. This thought of course pleased Severus to no end because there would then be no end to the alcohol he consumed. The man poured himself a small glass of his brandy and gulped it down. Usually he would take the time to savor the wonderfully varied undertones his expensive brandy offered, but after tonight - after his interaction with Potter - he felt that just letting it start its work immediately would be best. Setting the glass and decanter down Severus nodded to himself. It was time to start his patrols. He only hoped he would be able to take away a record of amount of points tonight from the other houses.
After hours of patroling and finding no one out of bed, the potions master cursed his luck. Just when he really needed to find someone to take points from or award a detention to, all of the students just had to be in bed. Nearing midnight, the man made his way up to the astronomy tower. Perhaps he could catch a couple snogging. The thought made him almost gleeful. Then he could award two weeks of detention, and oh wouldn't that be so gratifying!
However upon reaching the astronomy tower he paused at the door, listening to the faint latin string of words that signified a ritual for the departed. The potions master had never done one himself, they took a lot out of you magically, but he had considered doing it for Lily the first year after her death. Of course, the thought of also doing it for James Potter as he had also died that night made Severus cease those thought immediately and never return to them again. But here was a quiet voice, slowly speaking, almost humming the melodic latin. The older man slowly inched the door open, just enough to see inside without being discovered from his hiding place.
There was Harry Potter, candles in front of him arranged to match various constellations above him in the sky, lit and glowing ever so faintly.
Snape leaned in slightly, careful not to be discovered, and listened as the boy's voice shifted from his chant, "Mum, Dad, I miss you. I almost didn't make it tonight to do this but I couldn't let anything stop me." The boy laughed harshly for a moment, startling Snape, "Not even Quirrell. But of course," Harry's voice softened, "he isn't important and you are everything, everything that could've been. I don't ever want to have to say that about anything, about anyone, except you both and I promise I'll do everything in my power so I don't have to. I hope I can see you again soon." Snape strained in an attempt to hear the boy's hushed tones, missing the last few words that Harry said as the boy-who-lived stared intently into the candlelight. He seemed to be panting slightly, his magic having been exhausted from sending his words up into the stars.
Snape watched the boy sit there a while longer before the professor took his leave. Potter was so ... strange. The boy certainly wasn't what he had expected out of James Potter's heir. In fact, he really was quite like Lily ... Snape shook himself from his thoughts as he made his way to his own chambers. No, that wasn't true. He wasn't much like Lily either, though if Flitwick was correct it seemed he had her penchant for charms. Lily had been the scent of flowers and the sunshine during a lifetime of clouds. The boy didn't embody any of that. Suddenly his face contorted angrily and his pace sped up. The potions master cursed himself silently. How had he forgotten to give Potter detention for being out late?
Severus Snape growled and made a harsh line through multiple lines of writing on the parchment on his desk. "Even in fifth year they don't understand how chopping affects ingredients differently than dicing. Disgraceful..." The man was seated in his study, tall bookshelves lining the walls, while he marked up potions essays. Students somehow always seemed to find new ways to surprise him with their mediocrity.
Severus looked up as he heard the door open and watched as Draco strode gracefully into the room and flopped disgracefully on to the sofa, sighing loudly. "Draco, to what do I owe the pleasure? Do you need assistance with your homework?" The raven haired man groaned mentally. Yes, that was why he needed to keep his sofa, so that he could entertain Draco.
Draco groaned, "No not at all. In fact I've completely finished all my homework for the holidays and it's turned out lovely. It's Harry. I've invited him to stay at the manor for the holidays along with Blaise and Theo, but he said he's staying here at Hogwarts! Honestly I can't tell if he actually likes me or not. He acts like we're friends but sometimes he gives me these weird looks like he's sad or angry or something. I don't know Uncle Sev, it's just so bloody annoying. Do you think he actually likes me?" The boy sat up suddenly as though coming to some nightmarish epiphany and Severus scoffed.
"Don't call me that! You know I hate nicknames." Severus threw his godson a dirty look before returning, "I don't pretend to know what Potter thinks, but he seems genuinely happy when in your company." Severus went back to marking the essays, "Perhaps your new friend doesn't think Malfoy manor will be luxurious enough to satisfy him." Except he isn't spoiled, is he? He told you that, Severus' mind taunted him and he roughly shoved his inner voice to the side to hear Draco's reply.
"Not bloody likely. I bet it'd be like heaven for him. The way he flinches when he stretches, and always is first in and out of the showers in the morning, there's no way those muggles treated him like he deserves, even if he is only a half-blood."
Severus's quill paused, "May I remind you, Draco, that I am a half-blood?" Draco gulped.
"Right, sorry sir. Er, anyway. Like I was saying, those muggles were probably absolutely wretched. It's a good thing he fits in with us wizards. You know he's been reading books on wizarding tradition? He said I could borrow them sometime but I don't know why I'd need to." Here Severus scoffed and gestured dramatically to Draco's lump of a form on the sofa. The blonde boy ignored this and continued animatedly, "Miss Granger has them right now. Even though she's a ... er, well even though she comes from muggle-lineage, she's very dedicated to becoming a witch of standing and intelligence. I daresay with someone like me as her friend she might have some standing yet."
Severus said nothing to his godson's continued acceptance and even encouragement of the Granger girl in their little group. Though he was loath to admit it the frizzle-haired girl reminded him of himself at that age, both of them keen on learning and improving, though she certainly had more friends to count on her fingers than he had had.
"Draco is that all you came here for, to whine about Potter not liking you because he didn't accept your holiday invitation? And now you're just spouting on about the Granger girl? Surely you have something better to do with both of our time than bother me with these trivial matters." Severus shook his head disapprovingly. If he were honest with himself he actually enjyoed the boy'd company. Though the conversation was inane and uninteresting, Draco was his godson and Severus was glad the blonde felt comfortable enough with him to discuss school problems with him.
The blonde boy shot him a look, "I told you my homework is done and everyone else is busy. Miss Granger is helping Blaise finish his Transfigurations essay, Theo is sleeping as usual, and Harry is just reading out by the lake. Always reading, I swear, sometimes I think he's trying to commit every word to memory. You won't leave me alone will you Uncle" Draco pouted.
Severus sighed and put down his quill, "All right." There was no way he'd be finishing his essays tonight.
The days were cold and snowy as the winter holidays came. Most of the students were gone from the castle and the resident potions master was enjoying the reprieve. Of course, he still had lots on his plate. His current thoughts were centered on Quirrell. He wasn't sure what to do with the man. The headmaster felt that he was above reproach as their newest DADA professor, however Severus wasn't so sure. Something about the man rubbed Severus the wrong way, especially after that incident with Potter and Granger. The stuttering fool had brought two first years to the third floor corridor and Snape just knew the man was trying to get the stone. Alas, without Dumbledore's assistance, there was nothing he could do save try to warn the man off, which he had already done repeatedly.
Severus groaned and rubbed his temples as he sat down next to the headmaster at the communal table for Christmas breakfast. Potter and Granger were whispering incessantly back and forth and it was beginning to get on the older man's nerves.
"What a wonderful morning it is. Happy Holidays everyone," the Headmaster welcomed everyone to the morning feast and everyone began to dig in. Severus sniffed as he watched all the students present reach immediately for the sweets in the center of the table, truly they were such barbarians.
From across the table Granger addressed him, "Er, Professor Snape sir? Happy Christmas. Uhmn," the girl was blushing furiously and Potter nudged her quickly, "Right. Nevermind." The girl silenced herself, obviously embarrassed. What in the world had she wanted?
"Eloquent as ever, Miss Granger." Severus smirked as the girl flushed further, shooting a furious look at Potter who shot the same look back at her.
Severus finished the rest of his breakfast in peace and when the quaint affair was over he made to sweep from the room as the hellions rushed out to play in the snow. He craned his neck to listen in as Potter passed him, whispering furiously to Granger, "I can't believe you were going to tell him about the dragon. He's just a baby and Merlin knows Professor Snape is a good man, but he won't want to help us get the baby to safety. C'mon let's go grab my cloak, we have to go talk to Hagrid."
A good man? A baby dragon? Potter was becoming quite the little puzzle. Severus swore he'd figure the boy out. After all, he hated enigmas.
AN: So I'm sorry this chapter was a bit shorter, but I promise the next one will definitely be longer. I'm also sorry for getting it out later than normal but spring quarter at the U just started and the reading list is just enormous. Anyway. Severus seems to like alcohol quite a bit but he isn't going to have issues with alcoholism in this story, he'll just enjoy finding comfort in his brandy more often than most of the other professors. The next chapter should also be coming sooner and will switch back to being Harry centric. Are any of you enjoying these shorter chapters that are more Severus-centric? I feel like they break up the story so we get a reprieve from Harry just doing stuff all the time. Please let me know though if they are really ruining the story for you and I'll try to stay more focused on Harry.