It was currently Thursday. Harry had spent the whole of Sunday trying to make the goblin customs he was reading about stick in his head. He had managed to get some basics to stick, but unluckily for him Granger had gotten out of the hospital wing Monday evening, so it left little time for him to continue. She has been out three days and he already wanted to push her out a window. Ron was easy to deal with on his own, but add Hermione, who was nosy and persistent and you couldn't have a worse duo. She had been observing him, very obviously might he add, since she woke up. He also knew every time she went to "the library" she went in a direction that was definitely not the library. Conveniently enough though, she did always seem to be going in the same direction as the headmasters office. One time she said she was going to the library when Ron was with his brothers leaving him on his own just so she could follow him. He decided to go see his very much alive Hedwig.
In all honesty he was angry at himself. they were so obvious and yet he had missed it. He let out a long sigh. "Are we boring you Mr Potter?" oh and there was this. He was currently trying to perform badly in a second year class when he had already taken his OWL's in the subject. He had been struggling all week hoping no one would notice.
"No sir." He had been trying to be respectful, after having the man die in his arms, and seeing just how much Snape had done for him, he didn't have it in him to fight with the man. He couldn't say he didn't enjoy it though, his respectful attitude seemed to be throwing everyone off and it was amusing to watch. The first time he didn't rise to the bait, one of the slytherins who was cutting up a root turned his head to look so quick he slipped and sliced his thumb. Draco in particular was making his life difficult at the moment and not for the normal reasons. He would try to goad Harry into an argument only for Ron to step in and make a fool of himself. It took everything in Harry not to laugh, and look appropriately appalled on his friends behalf. It would get even harder when Hermione would join the argument only to be called an ignorant mudblood. The frequency in which the interactions were happening was also increasing. It was now every time he saw Harry he just had to say something.
Tuning back into the class he saw Snape hovering near him, his eyes scrutinizing every movement Harry made. He needed to try and reduce the animosity the man felt towards him. But he didnt know how. After seeing Snape's memories he knew he didn't act like his father. What he had done to Snape was not OK and Harry knew more about what it was like in Snape's shoes over his fathers. Dudley treated him similarly.
Soon enough class was over, and Harry slowly began to pack his belongings away, urging Granger and Weasley to go ahead because he needed to talk to Snape about the grading on his last essay. Once everyone had left he approached Snape's desk and placed a vial of violently yellow liquid in front of the man. All he got in response was a single raised eyebrow. Harry just continued to stare at the man until Snape sighed and reached for the vial. He waved his wand over it, and Harry watched as Snape's eyes went wide and snapped to him.
"Where did you get this? Wait no. Why are you giving me this?" He narrowed his eyes at Harry. He didn't know what the brat was doing but whatever it was wouldn't work. Harry decided he would copy the older man and raised a single eyebrow at him as if to say 'are you stupid'.
"What would I do with a vial of basilisk venom sir?" Snape narrowed his eyes further and Harry sighed. "I got it from the basilisk when I got Ginny out of the chamber of secrets. I then realized; One, what on earth would I do with basilisk venom, and two I should not just carry around a vial of the most deadly venom in the world." Snape sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. The brat had a point but still.
"Potter, do you understand what you just gave me?" Harry was confused; he just said what it was and where he had gotten it. Something must have shown on his face because the potions professor rose from his chair and walked to a cabinet after a minute and a few dozen unlocking charms he retrieved a small vial about the size of a finger tip. It was mostly empty but the liquid that was left was a toxic yellow. "This is the last bottle of basilisk venom I bought." he placed it next to the vial Harry gave him. It was a quarter of the size. "That vial cost two hundred galleons.'' Harry looked between his professor and the vile on the desk in genuine shock. Harry sat on the floor. He had six and a half Jars filled with that stuff. If that single vial is four times the amount in the one Snape bought that's eight hundred galleons and there are about ten vials in a jar, maybe more and that's six jars that's forty eight thousand galleons.
Movement caught his eye, focusing he saw a hand coming towards him. years of conditioning from the Dursleys had him flinching violently before he could stop himself. Remembering where he was and who he was with he looked up to see a very pale severus snape. Acting as calm as he could he spoke with an easy smile "Sorry I was distracted for a minute and am probably wasting your time." he walked towards the door. "Oh and even though the venom would sell for a lot it's still worthless to me, so don't worry about it." and with that he left.
The brat had gone catatonic and severus didn't know what to do. At first Severus thought he was just showing off his wealth, but the genuine shock and the now catatonic boy proved otherwise. He knelt down on the floor in front of Potter and put a hand out to get his attention. The boy zeroed in on his hand and flinched violently. The fear that flashed through his eyes when he focused on his hand was not from someone who was startled. As quick as it was there, it was gone, and never before had severus seen such a blank yet convincing smile on a twelve year old. And in less than a minute the boy was gone. He left Severus like nothing had happened.
Harry made his way through the corridors wondering if he should use this time to go back to Salazar's library. Before long he heard raised voices and knew he didn't want to do this. peeking around the corner he saw the two idiots yelling at Malfoy. Deciding that yes he really didn't want to do this he turned and left for the library. Completely missing the cobalt blue eyes watching him.
Theodore Nott prided himself on being observant, so on Tuesday morning when Malfoy started antagonizing Potter. he noticed the small up turn of his lips as the weasel made a fool of himself. It was quickly masked by indignation. but there was no missing the amusement in his eyes every time Draco insulted the duo. And that made Nott pause. Because Draco wasn't insulting Potter, and now that he thought about it every 'fight' Malfoy had with Potter had nothing to do with Potter. Sure Malfoy would start it aimed at Potter but in all the confrontations he could remember Potter hadn't said a word.
Later the same day the same thing happened Potter stood back as the two were verbally beaten by Malfoy. Yes, he had a mask of outrage on his face but Theo could see the gleam of amusement beneath it. He had been thinking about it all day. It was bothering him. He couldn't remember one fight Potter took part in. He was jolted from his mind when someone placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw it was Blaise with Pansy, Daphne, and Draco. They had been sitting round one of the fireplaces in the common room since dinner.
"Theo, you haven't turned the page in an hour." Theo looked down at the book in his hands and back to them, and focused on Malfoy.
"Why do you antagonize Potter?" Everyone just looked confused. So he tried something else. "Do you realize that Potter has never started or even taken part in one of your confrontations?" Draco just frowned at him. It remained silent for several minutes before Pansy spoke.
"He's right. I can't remember a single time Potter even said anything other than trying to get them to walk away."
"Earlier I noticed something. He smiled when you insulted Weasley. He masked it quickly but he still looked amused." They looked between each other and Daphne spoke.
"You think he's wearing a mask?" Theo could see the doubt on their faces which really just proved how good his mask was.
"A very good one, yes. Watch him, it's subtle but it's there if you look for it. They still looked skeptical but they nodded. They would watch him and draw their own conclusions.
As the week progressed Draco was harassing Potter every chance he got, and by this point everyone of them had noticed the slight cracks in his mask. A twitch of the lips every time a creative insult was used, an eye twitch every time one of the duo said something stupid. After potions Thursday without Harry there Draco went straight for Weasley. It had been a minute when he noticed a head of raven hair come round the corner. Theo elbowed Blaise and flicked his eyes to the corridor just in time to see him turn and leave.