I do not own anything from Harry Potter, if I did the series would've been a lot darker
Hello guys, Badger here. Whilst updating my stories with new chapters, I noticed this story which seemed to have flew under the radar. Yeah, I forgot about it and I apologise for that. But the third chapter is now finished and ready for you to read. Not my favourite chapter that I've written for the story so far, but I still think it's good.
Oh, and it was also supposed to be finished and uploaded yesterday but I've been so exhausted for the last day or two, preparing for my Second Year at University, so if the writing seems a little wonky in places, I apologise.
But for now, read on and enjoy and I'll see you at the end.
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Chapter 3
A Warning For The Potions Professor
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The next morning after the Sorting, Dumbledore was pacing back and forth within his office. Something that was starting to annoy his Phoenix, Fawkes, who was watching the Headmaster with an irate look in its eyes. Fawkes had let out trills of annoyance to voice how Dumbledore's constant pacing was getting on his nerves. However, Dumbledore was too lost in his own thoughts to hear or notice Fawkes' annoyance.
His thoughts were still on Harry.
He still felt a chill in his bones, from the Sorting Hat placing Harry within Slytherin of all places. The longer he looked back on his meeting with Harry, to the Sorting, the more he felt like he was watching history repeating itself. His dreams the previous night had been filled with nightmares of Harry standing beside Voldemort as the two took over the entire Wizarding World. He couldn't let those nightmares become a reality. Or something much worse. Dumbledore knew he was going to have to keep Harry on a tight leash whilst the boy was at Hogwarts. If he didn't the Headmaster dreaded to imagine what Harry could do, with free rein across the whole of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore eventually stopped pacing, much to Fawkes' relief, when the door to his office opened, and Snape entered. The Potions Professor looked more then a little disgruntled about being summoned up to the Headmasters office so early in the morning.
"You summoned me, Albus?" Snape asked, smoothly
"Yes Severus" Dumbledore nodded, as he took a seat at his desk, "I needed to talk with you about Harry…"
"Potter?" Snape interrupted, his eyes narrowing in disdain, "You summoned me here to talk about that brat?"
"Yes, I did" Dumbledore said, giving the man a serious look, the twinkle in his eye gone, "And if I were you, I would put aside whatever grudge you have towards James Potter and listen to what I have to say…"
"Well get on with it then, Albus!" Snape demanded, "What is so important that you had to drag me away from my classroom, where I was busy setting up todays class for the new First Year brats!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore warned, before sighing, "I'll have you know, I had the…opportunity, to meet Harry before the term began…and I was quite worried to see that he was not at his relatives, like where I left him ten years ago…instead, he was at Wool's Orphanage…"
"Wool's Orphanage?" Snape asked, his eyes widening a little in shock, "Isn't that where…"
"Voldemort once lived, when he was a mere boy who went by the name Tom Riddle?" Dumbledore finished, "Yes it is…at first, I tried to think nothing about it, but now with Harry being sorted into Slytherin, I fear the worst…which is why I want you to keep an eye on the boy during his time at Hogwarts and warn me if you see or find anything…worrying…"
Snape's eyes narrowed, when he was informed of such news. The thought of having to watch the spawn of James Potter made him nauseous. He'd rather do anything else. However, the urgency and sincerity of Dumbledore's tone made the Potions Professor a little wary. And Snape did have to profess to the fact that, Harry reportedly living in the same Orphanage the Dark Lord once had, did make him feel a little cautious. Though he'd never admit it out loud.
"Very well Albus, I will…watch over the boy…" Snape nodded, "Now, if you don't mind, I have lessons to prepare for…"
Dumbledore nodded and watched as his Potions Professor left his office, the door closing shut behind him. The ancient Headmaster let out a deep sigh as he leant back in his seat, starting to really feel his age. The whole situation was starting to make him feel like the old man that he was. And on top of that, he had Quirrell to deal with. Oh yes. Quirrell may believe he had everyone fooled, but Dumbledore wasn't so easily deceived. Dumbledore had caught on quite quickly, that his Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor was in league with Voldemort. To what extent, he couldn't be certain, but Dumbledore had no doubt Quirrell would attempt to steal the Philosophers Stone to restore his Masters body.
Initially, Dumbledore had planned to leave hints for Harry throughout the year, where Harry would learn about Quirrell's intentions and hopefully put a stop to it. That way, Dumbledore could see just how capable the boy was before moving forward with his plans. Now though, Dumbledore planned to keep the two as far away from each other as he possibly could. He feared that if the two were locked in the same room, they'd leave side by side. Dumbledore couldn't have that. Dumbledore would just have to deal with Quirrell himself, when the time came.
And then at the end of the year, Dumbledore would start reworking his plans regarding Harry. Plans that he hoped were still salvageable.
…
Inside the Great Hall, Harry sat alone in peace and quiet as he ate his breakfast. The rest of Slytherin House had given him a wide berth, leaving enough space to fit at least three more people on the seats, between him and the other person. It didn't bother Harry. If anything, it amused him. It was clear to Harry that he had frightened them with his little show the previous night. Or at the very least, spooked them. They thought he would be a weak, Half-Blooded, First Year that they could easily use as their punching bag. Especially when he had caused the destruction of the Dark Lord, which in turn resulted in many of their parents getting arrested and going to Azkaban.
Oh, how wrong they all were.
Though, not everyone seemed fearful of Harry. A good majority seemed curious as they gave him strange looks, as if they were trying to examine him and his soul. No doubt, they were going to watch him and see what happens. And then there were few who clearly hadn't learnt their lesson, the last time. They thought they were being discreet, but he heard their muttering. Mutterings of how they were going to teach him a lesson, and that what they saw last night was just some kind of trick to scare them.
It almost made him laugh out loud. But he restrained himself. He'll deal with them when the time came, as he had bigger fish to fry first.
As Harry ate his breakfast he looked up towards the Professors table, where his gaze landed on the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. Professor Quirrel, if Harry recalled correctly. There was something off about the squirrely man. Almost like his nervousness was purely a façade. Harry had felt something dark about the man the previous night. It was faint and well hidden, but it was there. Whilst Harry spent the year making necessary plans, he was going to keep a watchful eye on the man. If he didn't prove to be a threat, he could prove to be a useful ally. But if he was a threat, well…accidents happen.
"They're scared of you, you know…" A voice said
Harry looked away from the Professors Table to see Draco Malfoy sat opposite him, who wasn't there mere seconds ago.
"The other Slytherins" Draco clarified, "They're scared of you…the younger years at least, the older years seem to be planning to attack you when you least expect it…"
"I know, I've heard them myself…" Harry rolled his eyes, "So how's life back at Malfoy Manor, Draco…your father still behaving himself?"
"As best as he can…" Draco shrugged
Harry chuckled darkly, as he continued eating his breakfast. When Harry was little, Bellatrix had decided to visit her baby sister, Narcissa, and brother-in-law, Lucius, where she had given the two the choice to join her side instead. According to what Harry had been told, Narcissa had immediately accepted the offer. Turns out Narcissa hated the Dark Lord just as much as her older sister. Meanwhile, Lucius needed to be…convinced. Harry wasn't entirely sure what his Mother had done, though he had a rough idea, but now whenever the two were in the same room together, the Malfoy patriarch seemed to be terrified. It amused Harry either way. And now they had loyal allies to their cause.
Whether they would remain loyal is another question entirely.
…
Over at the Professors Table, Quirrell watched the Potter brat as he conversed with Malfoy over at the Slytherin Table. The Defence Professor had felt the boys eyes on him a few moments ago. Though Quirrell would never admit it out loud, the boys gaze had unnerved him. It felt cold, as if the eyes of the Grim Reaper himself had been looking at him. There was a darkness around the boy that he couldn't explain. He had felt it the previous night, during the Sorting. A darkness that seemed to be hidden away from view. A darkness waiting to come out. His Master could feel it and, whilst he would never admit it out loud, Quirrell could tell his Master was unnerved by Potter. Or at the very least, worried.
His Master had ordered Quirrell to keep a close eye on the boy, as Quirrell continues his mission in searching for the Stone. If the boy proves to be a bigger threat to their cause then they initially thought, then his Master wanted the boy to be eliminated as soon as possible. And Quirrell would love nothing more than to kill the brat who was responsible for the state of his Master.
However, his Master still wanted to give Potter the opportunity to join their cause before then. With a darkness like that, his Master would be a fool to let it go to waste.
…
After breakfast, Harry made his way to the Potions Classroom for his first lesson of the day. Once more, most of the Slytherin students chose to stay out of his way for the time being. However, as he made his way down the various corridors, he heard someone call out his name. Turning around, he saw Blaise and Pansy quickly running towards him.
"Blaise, Pansy…" He greeted smoothly, "I see you haven't been scared off…"
"You're not getting rid of us that easily, Potter…" Pansy declared, after taking a moment to catch her breath
"Pansy is right…" Blaise nodded, "After everything you told us on the train and what we saw in the Slytherin Common, we want to know more about you…"
"So I don't scare you?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow as they continued walking
"Oh no, you scare us to death, especially after we saw those red eyes of yours yesterday…" Pansy replied, "However, it's clear you have secrets and we're going to find out what they are one way or another…"
Harry smirked softly, as the three of them entered the Potions Classroom. He didn't need to be told they were afraid of him, he could sense it coming off of them in waves. However, despite their fear, Harry believed the two of them could become loyal and dedicated followers. Possibly. He'd have to wait and see. He chose to ignore those ideas for the time being as the three of them took a seat at one of the potion tables, a cauldron ready and waiting for them all, whilst the rest of the First Years started to slowly pile in and take a seat, ready to start their first ever lesson at school.
As the last student sat down, Professor Snape then suddenly entered the classroom. Harry watched as the Potions Professor stormed up to the front of the classroom, his cloak billowing behind him, before he spun on his heel and glared across the classroom. Snape's eyes went from student to student, unnerving a few of them, before his gaze landed on Harry. Harry looked at the man with a blank expression, as he watched Snape's eyes narrow before he started the lesson.
"I do not want to see any wand waving, or silly incantations in this class…" Snape spoke, his tone one of warning, as he paced back and forth in front of his desk, "No doubt most of you see Potion Brewing as a lesser form of magic, or not a form of magic at all…if you do, then you can say goodbye to ever stepping foot in this classroom again…whilst not as flamboyant as casting a charm, Potions can prove to be more useful to you than any mere spell…be it for healing or combat…however I will warn you once, and only once, that even the most simplistic of Potions can be harder to brew then it is to learn the most arduous of spells…"
Snape took a moment to look across the classroom, to make sure all the students were listening to what he was saying, before he turned around to face the blackboards. With a wave of his wand, words appeared on the blackboards, written in white chalk. It was a list of instructions, written under the title: Cure for Boils. Putting his wand away once more, Snape spun back around on his heel to face the students once more.
"Today, you will be brewing a Cure for Boils…a simple potion yet requires patience and focus to make…even a small mistake can prove disastrous…" Snape said, "Now, get to work…"
…
Quirrell burst into his office in anger, the door slamming behind him. His mission in searching for the Philosophers Stone, had proven to be more difficult than he had initially thought. Quirrell believed he knew where it was currently being hidden. The Third Floor. The floor had been completely forbidden for students to enter, for reasons unspecified. However, Quirrell had an idea as to why. The old fool had hidden the Stone there. Which caused two problems for the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. The first problem being that, the Third Floor was a massive place. It would take Quirrell some time to fully navigate the corridors, investigating every room, to see if he could find where the Philsophers Stone could be hidden.
But that was only half of the problem.
Quirrell's second problem was that some of the staff seem to be on a regular patrol, up and down the corridors. Quirrell had almost been caught twice, as he tried to do a quick investigation on the Third Floor, before the first Defence Lesson began. The Headmaster just had to make Quirrell's job even harder. No matter. Quirrell had a plan. If the Defence Professor was to investigate the Third Floor corridors, without risk of being caught, he needed to create a distraction. A big enough distraction to keep the rest of the Hogwarts Professors occupied for some time, allowing Quirrell to find where the Stone could be hidden and investigate whatever defences that Dumbledore has, no doubt, set up to protect the Stone.
Quirrell has his work cut out for him. He poured himself a quick glass of Firewhiskey to try and help the migraine that was beginning to pound in his skull. And to make matters worse, his first lesson of the year with a bunch of bratty Second Years would be starting soon.
His day was just getting worse and worse.
…
Back inside the Potions Classroom, Professor Snape walked from table to table as he examined the progress of each student. He couldn't help but sneer at the incompetence of some of his students. In particularly, Ronald Weasley. The red head had to be the most incompetent of his family, that Snape has had the displeasure of teaching for the last decade. The Cure for Boils was supposed to be blue in colour, with a runny yet steady consistency and viscosity. However, Ron's potion was a deep green colour, and was so thick it was more like slime as it stuck the insides of the cauldron. Ron's disastrous potion led to a loss of twenty house points for Gryffindor, as well as having his potion vanished and ordered to start again, much to the red heads anger.
As Snape continued patrolling the classroom, he saw several students he dreaded having to teach for the remainder of their time at Hogwarts, should they choose Potions for their NEWTS. Just when Snape thought students couldn't get worse each year, he was proven wrong. At the very least, there were several students who seemed to be, at least, competent with Potion brewing. Potter being one of them. Whenever Snape looked to the boy, Snape couldn't help but notice that the boy seemed to work with calculated skill, unseen in a mere First Year during their first Potions lesson. Other Professors may just pass it off as natural skill, but it made Snape suspicious.
Quite suspicious considering, according to Dumbledore, the boy had been living in Wools Orphanage for the last decade. The same orphanage the Dark Lord grew up in. Maybe the old man was right in asking Snape to keep an eye on the boy.
"I'm glad to see that, at least, some of you don't seem to be completely incompetent with Potion brewing…otherwise, I'd just retire instead of saving myself the pain of having to teach you all for seven years…" Snape drawled, once all the students had finally finished their potions, "Before you all leave, I want you all to take a sample of your potion and leave the vial on my desk…I will personally test and examine them all, and give you your grades at the start of the next lesson…"
As the students started taking samples from their potions, Snape began clearing off the desks and removing the instructions from the blackboards, preparing for the next lesson that will be starting in just a few minutes. He didn't even take notice of the classroom door closing shut, as the last of the students made their way out. However, when he turned back around, he was susrpised to see Harry still there. He was standing in front of Snapes desk, looking down at the floor.
"Potter, the lesson is over" Snape said, "What are you still doing here?"
"I wanted to speak with you Professor…" Harry replied, before looking up
The Potions Professor back up in shock, colliding with the blackboards as he saw the boys eyes. Instead of the emerald green eyes of Lily Potter, that Snape knew so well, they were a bright crimson and were practically glowing. Snape felt like he was looking back into the eyes of the the Dark Lord, or even the Devil himself. Harry couldn't help but smile at Snape's obvious shock and fear, as he tilted his head to one side.
"My Mother isn't very happy with you…Severus…" Harry drawled
"Your…mother?" Snape asked, confused, as he tried not to look into the boys eyes
"Oh yes, you know her very well…and she's not happy with you…" Harry said, "Neither am I, to be honest…you claim to be a man of honour, yet you were working as a double agent for both sides during the Wizarding War…"
Snape's eyes looked like they were going to pop out from their sockets, from how wide they went. The Potions Professor was in shock about how Harry could know about that. The shock on the man's face merely made Harry's smile grow bigger, the glow in his crimson eyes brightening.
"How…how could you know about that?!" Snape demanded
"It was obvious, Severus…at least to those with a brain, as my Mother has said…." Harry chuckled darkly, "And neither her or myself are happy with that act of cowardice…I'm going to cut to the chase, Professor…let's not beat around the bush, we all know the Dark Lord isn't dead…you know it, I know it and the old fool in the Headmasters Office knows it…when he does return, you'll have to make a choice…and if you're as smart as you claim to be, then I have no doubt you'll make the correct choice and choose the right side…"
With a smirk, Harry then spun on his heel and walked towards the classroom door, leaving the Potions Professor frozen in place as he watched the boy go. However as he opened the door, Harry stopped for a moment, still having something to say.
"Oh…and Severus" He said, looking at Snape once more, his eyes now back to their normal emerald green shade, "Don't tell Dumbledore about this…if you'll be smart enough to choose the right side, you'll also be smart enough in not speaking a word to the old fool…"
With that Harry left the room, the door closing shut behind him with a dull thud, leaving Snape alone in the cold classroom once more.
…
Outside of Hogwarts, within the fields that surrounded the school, Bellatrix LeStrange looked towards the castle with a manic smile. The crazed Death Eater had no doubt that Harry was already causing some kind of chaos within those walls. Oh, how Bellatrix wished she could be with him to see it all. Her son had come a long way in such a short amount of time. No matter. She'll, no doubt, receive a letter from Harry soon enough, once he has started with their plans. She'll learn about whatever chaos he's gotten up to, them. She could wait a little longer.
With a grin, Bellatrix turned around and walked away from the castle, twirling her wand high up in the air as she practically skipped through the forests, her manic laughter bouncing off of the trees.
…
And that is the third chapter done. I hope you all enjoyed it.
Before anyone says it, I know that the Potions lesson doesn't happen until after Transfiguration, but I wanted to do something different. You see, I have a plan for the next chapter, which I feel like would overshadow Harry's warning to Snape in this chapter, so I decided to flip the two lessons around. And no I'm not saying what those plans are. You'll have to wait.
Now, before I go, I wanted to mention something. Recently, I decided that I was going to include a few brief smut related scenes in my story 'With Strange Friends Like These' as people had been asking if I'd ever write scenes like that, plus I feel like it would for great practice for writing things I haven't before. I was thinking about including brief smut scenes in this story two but I don't know if I should for two reasons. One, because I have no ideas as to who Harry should be with in this story. Two, because at this moment in the story the characters are underaged and it wouldn't feel right to write such scenes and I don't know when would be a good time to include them. So please feel free to leave your opinions about what I should do.
But that is all for now, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you all next time, in whatever story I see you in.
Badger Out.
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