A/N: Hi everyone! A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. It's nice to see that some of you are still enjoying this fic, even though I haven't worked on it in ages. I hope you'll be glad to see this next chapter already! I don't dare make any promises yet but I do hope I can pick this up regularly again. As for now, please enjoy.

He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.

Chapter 9: He might of all justly bereft

This was… unexpected. Snape narrowed his eyes at the two… Slytherins, he supposed, walking across the Hogwarts grounds. He knew Ms Greengrass well enough to understand that she was not being played or misled by the former Gryffindor. No, if anything, it was Potter that was in danger of being used.

Still, Snape did not particularly enjoy seeing a teenage boy - whom he definitely did not trust - walk around with a teenage girl. He certainly seemed to be behaving himself. Too occupied by Ms Greengrass to even notice being spied on. Greengrass – on the other hand – had seen him, even though she pretended that she hadn't. That was all fine by Snape. He knew that she was not prone to breaking his rules.

The Greengrass heiress suddenly laughed, demurely covering her mouth with her hand. Potter seemed nothing short of mesmerized by her. Typical. At this age especially, it was so easy for a girl to wrap a boy around her finger, as long as she knew what she was doing. Snape could only wonder about her intentions. After all, she was promised to Malfoy, as he knew. That didn't mean openly flirting with others wasn't allowed. Oh no, it was expected. Narcissa Malfoy had been known to use her wily charms on many occasions to secure benefits for the Malfoy estate. But knowing her son, Draco Malfoy, Snape didn't think he would let any such behaviour slide. Not that he had any say in the matter but… Snape scoffed at his own musings. Teenage boys were still just that. Even if they were Slytherins.

Looking around, Snape already saw several Slytherins enjoying one of the last nice days of the year. And – they too – had noticed the unlikely pair going about their day. Surely, word would reach the Malfoy heir before this day was over. And knowing him, Snape would have to interfere. It would not do to have the Potter brat assaulted under his protection, after all. He would not hear the end of it. Lupin might just tear his throat out for real and McGonagall… Snape shuddered at the thought. Yes, he'd best make an appearance in the common room this evening. For everyone's sake.


"You seem nervous," Daphne said. Her hands tugged at Harry's arm gently as if to guide him with her. "Surely, the great Harry Potter is no stranger to female attention?"

Harry snorted. "I actually really am," he said. "I don't know too many girls to begin with. And please don't call me that."

"What?" Daphne asked. "Great?"

Harry felt his cheeks colour. "Yeah. It's kind of nonsense, after all." The knowledge that there were dementors somewhere in the vicinity proved that. No 'great' wizard would be so easily incapacitated by those things.

"Would you prefer Chosen One?" Daphne asked sweetly, tightening her grasp. "Anointed One, perhaps?" She giggled and Harry thought it made a wonderful sound. "How about the One-and-only?"

"Just stick to Harry, I think," Harry said. "I haven't exactly done anything worth mentioning.

Daphne nodded. "That's very true," she said. "Most people would have defeated their first basilisk at nine years old, after all."

Harry noticed that they had been walking towards the lake, the edge of which now came into view. "That was a fluke, really," he said.

Daphne let go of Harry's arm, which caused the tiniest pang of regret and elegantly kneeled down on a dryish piece of grass next to the water. She patted the ground next to her. "Sit with me for a moment, Harry."

Harry did as she asked, red colouring his cheeks when she shifted a little bit closer to him once he was settled. "You know," she said. "You really need to learn how to use the things you have been blessed with. Especially now that you're in Slytherin."

Harry frowned a bit. "I don't really have anything to use, though," he replied earnestly. "Not like that."

Daphne leaned her shoulder against his and Harry watched as her fingers trailed circles in the grass. He was suddenly afraid to move, fearing that would scare her off but knowing that it probably wouldn't. His breath became a little bit more shallow.

"You are much too modest," Daphne said. "That, or you truly don't know your worth. Now that would be a real pity. Harry, you must know the kind of pull you have with the headmaster and our teachers. With the minister of magic, even!"

"I don't think that's entirely true," Harry said. "They do seem to want things of me but, truth be told…" Harry stopped himself. Why was he talking freely to a Slytherin? He glanced into Daphne's eyes and found that he couldn't help himself.

"Go on," she urged.

"Sometimes it feels as if I'm being used."

Without missing a beat, Daphne replied. "Of course it feels like that," she said. "That's because you are being used. And, quite frankly, that's ridiculous." Her fingers stopped playing with the grass as her hand rested into his. Their fingers interlocking just like that, as if it took no effort at all on her part. All the while, Harry's heart was beating in his throat. This wasn't at all what it felt like when he was around Hermione, for instance.

"You are important," Daphne said. "And when someone wants something from you, all you have to do is make them earn it. You should use them, rather than be used."

Harry's chest was starting to feel tight. The hand that was holding Daphne's tingled and he felt as if his heart was going to explode. All the while, Daphne was staring intently at him with those icy blue eyes. Eyes that betrayed no nervousness. They were calm and yet they pierced his deeply.

Harry instinctively licked his lips. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Daphne smiled at him. "For example," she said. "Say that I need something from you," she said. "Something small. Say, a photograph of you and I as proof of our friendship. You could say…"

"Of course," Harry said easily. "No problem."

Daphne giggled. "No, Harry," she reprimanded softly. Her face came even closer to Harry's and he wasn't sure what to do next. "One favour warrants another," she said. "Isn't there anything you'd like me to give you in return?" Her hand travelled gently up Harry's arm until it came to rest on his cheek.

Of course there was something that Harry wanted of Daphne. She was stunning. But he was a gentleman. "No," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "There's nothing I want that I would feel right to demand of you. I could never."

"You're very sweet," Daphne said, her eyes not betraying any type of reaction to his words. She did not back off, though. "I actually believe you in this. Therefore, have this one for free."

Before Harry's mind could process what happened next, Daphne gently moved his face towards hers with her hand as she gently pressed her lips against his. When their lips touched, it felt electric. A searing warmth spread through Harry's body like lightning and then… it was over. Much quicker than he would have liked.

"I think we'd best get back," Daphne said much to Harry's dismay. "Dinner will be served soon and I would hate to get on Professor Snape's bad side."

Harry nodded and got to his feet, patting his robe down to get the dirt off. Daphne simply used a spell. "Yeah, you don't want that," he agreed. "It isn't fun there."

Daphne rolled her eyes at him. "He's really not that bad," she said. "He's just a careful man."

"I'm sure he's not that bad to you," Harry agreed. "But you must have noticed how he behaves around me."

"Must I?" Daphne replied. "Since you've been sorted into Slytherin, he's been quite… neutral, I believe."

"True," Harry agreed. "But that doesn't change the fact that he used to be a right git. And not only to me."

"Well…" Daphne said. "The equation has changed. You could use this situation to your benefit, don't you think?"

Harry's hand brushed against Daphne's as they walked and he couldn't help but wonder if that was intentional on her part. "My benefit?"

"Of course," she said. "You won't be in Slytherin forever. Gryffindor tower will be rebuilt. There's no question about that. If everything stays the way it is now, Professor Snape will certainly go back to the way he behaved before you were resorted into his house. But if you use this time to show him the best part of you; to show him that you are not everything that he thinks of you, then I am sure that he will adjust the way he acts."

"I doubt that," Harry said without hesitation. "He is this way towards everyone that isn't in his house."

"Perhaps," Daphne agreed. "Although I would have you know that there are several Ravenclaws and even some Hufflepuffs out there that have earned the Professor's respect. Would it harm you to try?"

Harry shrugged. He didn't like the idea of cosying up to Snape but on the other hand, Daphne really was very pretty. And she was very close by. She was one of the few Slytherins that had been nice to him and was really only trying to help. She obviously knew the intricate workings of Slytherin house better than anyone. And she likely knew Snape better than the students outside of Slytherin house did. It wouldn't harm him to try, he supposed. Maybe the other Gryffindors would be unhappy with him if they found out but he knew that those in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were making do as best as they could. Surely, they wouldn't blame Harry for trying to be less of a target for Snape while he was staying in the dungeons.

"Harry?" Daphne's voice pulled him away from his musings.

"You're right," Harry said. "I'll give it a try. But you have to understand that I'm not great at potions. That's not something I do on purpose."

Daphne smiled and Harry's heart fluttered. "Don't worry," she said. "Next time, you can sit with me and I'll show you some of my tricks."

"I would like that," Harry said. And it was true. He would like that very much.


Dinner had been a somewhat strange experience. Daphne had rejoined her friends at the table after making a show of kissing Harry on the cheek. Harry sat by the twins as he's grown accustomed to and they clapped him on the back.

"Well done, Harrykins," Fred laughed.

"You're a right lady killer, aren't you?" George quipped. "And look at the one you landed."

"Stop," Harry whispered. "I didn't land anyone. She's just being friendly."

"I wish girls were that friendly to me," George said longingly.

Then, Fred gave him a big kiss on the cheek. "I know I'm not a girl but I'm the best you can get."

George raised his fists at his brother. "You dare, foul knave," he said. "I'll have you know that I can get more girls than you."

"Challenge accepted," Fred proclaimed and then shouted loudly across the hall to Angelina.

It was at that point that Harry stopped listening, simply because he had become increasingly aware of the numerous sets of eyes on him. The most obvious glare was that of Malfoy and he looked ready to kill. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to be trying to come across as menacing as well but were oftentimes distracted by the food. Daphne also glanced at him from time to time and Harry noticed that she was whispering to her friends who then also came to stare at him. At least they seemed friendly or at the very least intrigued. A lot of the other boys in his year were also glancing at him, though the intent behind their stares were harder to read.

But what bothered Harry the most was that Snape was also staring. He was watching Harry like a hawk. And when Snape looked at him as he was now, he made Harry feel as if he knew every secret there was to know about him. His look was calculating and the fact that Snape didn't even look away when Harry met his gaze made him even more uncomfortable.

Harry wasn't entirely sure what was going on but it probably had something to do with Daphne, he guessed.

"Harry," Fred whispered at him all of a sudden. "What did you do?"

"Yeah," George chimed in. "The Slytherin kids seem about ready to rip you to shreds or something."

"Whatever it was, was it something funny, at least?" Fred asked.

"I'm not sure," Harry said. "The Slytherins are always out to get me, really."

"Yes," George agreed. "But never this obviously. Not out in the open. Not since the resorting."

"Yeah," Harry said monotonously. "Thanks."

Malfoy already took pleasure in destroying his things and beating him up when he hadn't really done anything to aggravate him. Harry couldn't imagine what fate would befall him now. And would Snape even care when he found his beaten corpse in the morning? But… the animosity he was experiencing now was nothing he wasn't used to. If this was the price to pay for that brief but sweet exchange with Daphne, well, he was more than happy to pay it.


The brat was as un-Slytherin as they came. Couldn't he read the room? At this point, it would be better if he avoided Ms. Greengrass's gaze altogether but the blasted teenager couldn't seem to keep his eyes off of her. And every time his eyes travelled, Mr. Malfoy became increasingly agitated. And when he was agitated, so were the rest of his dormmates.

Honestly, Draco still had his fair share to learn when it came to decorum. That much was clear. Looking at the Slytherin table now, it was obvious that Snape would need to remind everyone that house unity was one of the most important rules they had.

Annoyingly, Daphne had kissed that blasted Potter brat as they arrived at their table. Yes, it was merely a peck on the cheek but what would appear innocent to an average bystander, in the house of the snake, this action was nothing less than a claim. Potter was probably not even aware of it himself but he was Daphne's plaything now. And Malfoy was certainly no stranger to such actions. Hence the agitation. Actually, Snape could see full blown anger right about now. The longer the boy stewed, the harsher the explosion was going to be, he could tell. It didn't help that Potter kept smirking like a buffoon, whether he was aware of it or not.

"Done already?" McGonagall asked when Snape got up from his seat.

"I have a fire to put out," Snape growled and he walked to Slytherin table. He stood at the head end and folded his hands behind his back while waiting for everyone to pay attention. As was expected, this did not take long.

"Everyone is to follow me to your common room, right now," he said.

"We're not done yet," Fred and George protested.

"One more word out of you and you will be scrubbing the dungeon walls with your toothbrushes," Snape said, venom dripping from his every word. This was not the time for these idiotic twins to fan the flames.

They wisely shut their Weasley traps and got up with everyone else. Snape noticed that they quickly grabbed some rolls to hide in their robes but decided to let that go. Right now, he had other things to worry about. He turned on his heels, his robes billowing characteristically behind him as his long strides took him to the dungeons.

Behind him, he heard no whispers but only the sound of quick footfalls and the swishing of robes. A sign that all of his students were doing his best to keep up with him. Even with his back turned and even with emotions being so volatile, not one of them would dare act up now. His Slytherins were well-trained. And the ex-Gryffindors were likely too confused to pull anything.

Before long, they arrived at the common room. Snape opened the portrait with the current password and waited at the entrance as everyone climbed in. Most of the children kept their expressions neutral but the youngest of the bunch cast furtive glances at their head of house as they clambered inside. They seemed frightened but it was not them that should be so. Though this experience would prove to be an invaluable lesson for everyone.

Once the last child had climbed inside, Snape followed and took in the scene. All of the seats had been taken by the Slytherins with the most important families. Malfoy had one. Naturally, so did both Greengrasses. If Potter had more sense, he would have claimed a seat as well but instead, he was standing awkwardly to the side as if he was trying to make himself unnoticeable.

The Weasley twins had claimed the sofa in front of the fireplace and while one could argue that their family was old blood and quite important to the wizarding world, it still made Snape's eye twitch. Whatever the case, he had the room's full attention. For effect, he waited ten seconds before he spoke.

"Most of you likely have no inkling of why I have ordered you all to return so swiftly," he said. "On the other hand, I am certain that you all noticed the tension exhibiting from several of your housemates." His eyes swept over the troublesome third years. "I assure you, Mr Malfoy, that your housemates were not the only ones who noticed your lack of decorum. No, in fact, the other houses have started gossiping almost instantly."

"That's hardly my fault," Malfoy said. "Daphne –"

"Ms Greengrass' actions – while not subtle – are not the reason we're here," Snape said darkly. "Her friendly gesture definitely did not break the illusion of house unity and yes, I say illusion because at this point there's hardly any proof left of being a united front."

"Most of us are," Zabini pointed out. "It's the Gryffindors that are the problem."

"No, Mr Zabini," Snape said evenly. "It is most certainly not. It was you, Mr Malfoy, and those you call friends that quite obviously made an enemy of your housemates."

"They are not our housemates!" Malfoy yelled. "They're Gryffindors!"

"Not at this moment," Snape replied evenly.

Malfoy huffed. "If the hat needed to sort me into one of the other three houses for whatever reason, it would not take away my Slytherin nature. Everyone knows that." Some of the students nodded in agreement. "Potter's Gryffindor nature is clear as day!"

"And yet, I suspect that it is not Potter who has you irked, right now," Snape noted. "Is it?"

"That is none of your business, really," Malfoy spat.

"Detention, Mr Malfoy," Snape said. "For your blatant disrespect. And I will have you know that if you insist on playing your games in plain sight and are not able to hide your blatant animosity from the public eye, your strife becomes my personal business." He noticed that by the end of that sentence he was practically yelling. You could hear a pin drop when he was finished.

Snape calmed himself down and looked over his students one more time. "I will be very clear. The Gryffindors that have been resorted into Slytherin are – in fact – Slytherins. They will be treated as such. If any of you think it wise to provoke or harm them in any way, I promise you the consequences will be dire."

At this point, the Potter brat dared break the silence with a loud snort. "Is something funny, Mr Potter?"

He quickly shook his head and at least had the sense to look abashed. "No sir," he said. "Sorry, sir."

Snape frowned. Those quick looks between the third years spelled trouble. So did Potter's reaction. Did they already harm the boy in some way?

No, surely not. If they had laid a hand on Potter, he would have been the first to come crying. But that did not mean they weren't planning to. "I mean it," he added darkly. "Depending on your crime, I might even deem it necessary to expel the culprit."

This definitely provoked a reaction. In Malfoy the most. His eyes widened and he became even paler than Snape thought possible. Good. Whatever the boy had planned, he would now surely not go through with anymore. After all, if Malfoy would be expelled from Hogwarts, his father would be less than pleased. And the Slytherins knew that Snape never joked about such things. Greengrass didn't seem affected at all. She just sat there, her hands innocently placed on her knees with her back straight all prim and proper.

"As for the rest of you," he said, clearly focusing his attention on the former Gryffindors. "Be careful. You must have noticed by now that things do work differently in Slytherin and not just because of my rules. There are pureblood customs that are followed and intrigue you need to be aware of. If you're not, you will likely be excluded from the important social conventions down here." He sighed. "Try to fit in, if you will. And if you can't, at least keep a low profile. But know that if you try to understand one another, you might learn a great deal that can benefit you in your further lives and careers."

Some of the students nodded but likely only because they thought it was expected. Malfoy still seemed angry but at least the bomb in him was probably defused at this point. Potter looked abashed and kept looking at Daphne who didn't seem to care. Of course, Snape understood that it would be embarrassing for the boy to realize that the Slytherins had been watching him that closely but he did what had to be done. Otherwise, the boy was likely not going to be safe.

"Ms Greengrass, a word," he then said. "We will be right back," he told the other children. "Try not to murder each other while I'm away. Don't forget that there are dementors on the premises. And while they may be here for Sirius Black first and foremost, they will not hesitate to capture or even kiss those who commit serious crimes" And with that, he left the portrait hole, hearing the soft footsteps of Daphne behind him.

He led her to his office nearby and once inside, had her sit in one of the chairs.

"Am I in trouble, Professor?" she asked. Her face betrayed no worry, though and Snape knew that she knew he had called on her for an entirely different reason.

"You are not," he said, deciding to play along. "Quite the opposite in fact. I need a favour."

The girls face betrayed no emotion. "Of course, Professor, what can I do for you?"

Snape stared at Greengrass for a moment more before deciding that she could not only be useful but also discreet. "I need your help with Mr. Potter," he said. "I've noticed you have become quite close to the boy. He seems to have fallen for your charms. Therefore, I wondered if you could you get him to the hospital wing this Saturday?"

"Whatever for, Professor?" Greengrass asked. "Is he injured?"

"The reasons will remain my own," Snape replied easily. He had expected her question. "All I need to know is if you can get him there by two in the afternoon."

"I most certainly can," Daphne said without a hint of doubt. "But I'm not entirely sure if I should. I would hate to betray him like that, you see. It feels quite deceptive."

"I understand," Snape said. He sighed. Sometimes dealing with Slytherins could be quite exhausting. "What would you like in return?"

Daphne smiled. "I couldn't possibly ask something from you, Professor," she said. "But if you insist…"


A/N: Thanks for reading, everyone! Don't worry. The big reveal is coming but there's just so much more that needs to be covered. As always, I seem to be juggling one too many plot points/red herrings/character development.