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Chapter 6
A loud, cackling laugh pierced the night air as Greyback ripped a poor unsuspecting muggle apart under the eerie light of the full moon. Bellatrix sat slouched comfortably against a large oak tree, twirling her wand expertly while she giggled, her amusement triggered by the helpless howls of Greyback's victims.
Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange sat with her, quietly taking in the dark scene as it played out. They were not disturbed so to speak but they didn't share in the crazed delight Bellatrix seemed to drown her senses in whenever she saw blood.
"I honestly don't understand what you see in her," Rabastan whispered to his brother, "She's mental."
"Be quiet," Rodolphus said softly, throwing Rabastan a disparaging look. "She might kill you just for saying that, you know?"
"My point exactly," Rabastan muttered through gritted teeth. He kicked the corpse of the half-eaten muggle that lay before him as he waited for the feral werewolf to finish his meal.
"I just don't understand why we have to stay with them," Rabastan said.
"You know very well why," Rodolphus hissed, "I don't know if it has escaped your attention but for the last year, our kind has been hunted down and thrown into Azkaban. Or worse, murdered in cold blood. I prefer my chances as they are in a larger group instead of by myself, thank you very much."
"Rookwood seems to be doing fine all alone," Rabastan sighed.
"Well I'm sorry to say but you are simply not as clever or cunning as Rookwood," Rodolphus replied, "You are welcome to take your chances by yourself, brother but I am staying with my wife and her pet wolf if it's all the same to you."
"What are you two blathering about?" Bellatrix' shrill voice cut through the sultry summer air.
"We were just wondering about Rookwood's whereabouts, my dear," Rodolphus replied, "No one has seen him in a while."
"I doubt that anyone will see him again," Bellatrix pouted, "He's always been a cowardly little rat. Very much like Pettigrew, you know. He likes to hide and bide his time while his stronger allies do all the dirty work."
"Of course, Bella," Rodolphus said trying not to unnerve his wife.
Bellatrix huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "What? Don't you like being around me anymore?"
Rodolphus put on his winning smile and closed the distance between him and his wife in one long stride. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, his lips meeting hers in what appeared to be a wild, passionate kiss. But while her eyes were closed, Rodolphus shot a warning look at his brother before refocusing his attention on taming the beast.
"I would never want to leave your side, my love," he added for good measure. "We're simply worried about our current status."
Bellatrix wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and grinned widely as she tapped Rodolphus' nose lightly. "I'm sorry, my pet," she whispered, "It's all because of that traitor, Snape that we're in this mess."
"You are quite right, my darling," Rodolphus agreed easily, glad that the focus wasn't on him or his brother for a change. He tried desperately to ignore the sounds of ripping flesh and someone gurgling as they tried to breathe through their blood-filled throat. "If it wasn't for Snape, we would all still be in the presence of our esteemed and wonderful Lord."
As expected, Bellatrix fell despairingly into his arms, wailing loudly as she was reminded of their tragic loss.
"There will never again be one as great as he was," Bellatrix sniffed, clinging onto Rodolphus' robes as she sobbed. "He understood. He always understood."
"I know Bella," Rodolphus said lovingly. Or at least, he tried to sound loving. Greyback howled somewhere in the distance and Rodolphus' eyes darted to his brother who was looking around in fear, probably wondering if he would be Greyback's next victim.
"I will murder them," Bellatrix suddenly said viciously.
"What did you say, my love?"
"I will murder them all!" Bellatrix screeched, "And I will start with Snape and that Potter brat. They took my lord away. My reason for being alive! I shall take their lives as compensation and they will suffer greatly before I do!"
Rodolphus had to do his very best not to roll his eyes at the deranged woman. She had been spouting nonsense about revenge every other night. But the truth was that as long as they were hunted by the ministry, they could hardly move about casually. Planning any sort of attack on people who were under the protection of Hogwarts and – by extension – Dumbledore would be nothing short of foolish. Even Bellatrix would be able to understand that.
Harry carefully watched the bubbling of the potion in his cauldron, adding the ingredients at exactly the right intervals. He was stirring the concoction as he wandlessly commanded his stirrer to circle in intricate patterns, holding his book open with the hand that was not busy casting spells.
He barely heard Slughorn's lecture or corrections as he hovered near other students' cauldrons. Instead, Harry focused carefully on the hiccoughing solution he was brewing. A silly potion for being relatively difficult to brew, for sure. Especially when one considered the fact that hiccoughing was harmless most of the time and would pass on its own. But it was good practice.
In fact, Harry thought that if he tweaked the potion a bit, it might become useful to combat heartburn.
"Perfect as always, Harry," Slughorn commented as he glanced into Harry's cauldron.
"Thank you, sir," Harry replied politely, careful not to look away from what he was doing. It was not as if he didn't value Slughorn's opinion but he valued Snape's more. And he knew that brewing at this level was far beneath him at this point. And Harry suspected that Slughorn knew it too. The old Potions master hovered for a few seconds more while Harry revisited his heartburn idea in his mind. Something seemed to be bothering the man but Harry paid it no attention at this point.
Harry put a stasis on his cauldron before hurrying off to the pantry. It was so odd to think that rummaging through the various potion ingredients felt like second nature by now. A couple of years ago, he would not have recognized that black lotus that was carefully tucked away in a corner, nor would he have known what its uses were. Harry smiled to himself as he considered how far he'd come and kept looking for the ingredients he needed.
It wasn't long until he had his hands on some root of the ginger plant but it took him a while longer to find the liquorice. He emerged victoriously and noticed that Slughorn was looking at him. Harry thought it would be best if he actually made his intentions known and approached the older man.
"Excuse me, sir," Harry said politely.
"What can I do for you, Harry?" Slughorn asked kindly, "Those ingredients do not belong in the hiccoughing solution."
"I'm aware of that, Professor," Harry said, "But I was wondering if you would allow me to alter the potion a bit to make it more… well… useful."
"That is not really the assignment, Harry," Slughorn said doubtfully, "My request of you was a hiccoughing solution."
"I understand sir," Harry said, "So how about I divide the potion I've brewed so far into two cauldrons and pick up from there?"
"Do you believe yourself proficient enough to work on multiple draughts at once?" Slughorn asked, furrowing his brow.
Harry actually snorted at that. "I assure you that's not a problem, sir," Harry replied respectfully, "I've done it many times before."
Slughorn considered Harry for a moment before his expression softened. He almost seemed disappointed about something.
"Very well," he conceded, "As long as you provide me with a vial of the hiccoughing solution at the end of class, you may proceed as you suggested. But do not expect me to go easy on your grade simply because you took on an extra difficulty."
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir," Harry said happily before hurriedly getting back to his cauldron.
With a flick of his wand, he summoned a spare cauldron, belonging to the school and set it on the fire. He carefully divided the solution in half and summoned a second stirrer that he put to work as well. If his calculations were correct, the making of the potion could stay the same for the most part but a few of the ingredients needed to be substituted.
In the cauldron that was meant to become the hiccoughing solution, Harry carefully added two spoonfuls of anise oil. At the same time, he added the liquorice to his new creation. It smelled sweet and its consistency became a lot thicker. Perhaps not entirely as envisioned.
With the anise oil completely absorbed, Harry added the cups of pineapple juice accordingly, moving the stirrer in an up- and downward motion such as to absorb the juice without allowing for too much air to be pushed out. It would still need to bubble, after all. Harry sighed. He could make this potion with his eyes closed. He turned down the fire somewhat to let the hiccoughing solution simmer and turned his attention back to the second cauldron. He finely cut up the ginger root and added it bit by bit to the solution, watching carefully as the tough roots were swallowed by the thicker liquid.
It would need to boil for a while longer to soften the tough root, but that would result in more liquid escaping and a thicker solution. So either it could be used as some sort of syrup or he would need to add more water along the way. But that water would not have absorbed any of the ingredients yet so that might be problematic. Perhaps he could –
Oh, he had almost forgotten to add the final ingredient to the hiccoughing solution. He grabbed the previously chopped up dill plant and scattered it into the potion, giving it two more stirs before hauling it off the fire and leaving it to cool. It looked positively perfect and should earn him an O easily.
However… Harry now stared at the second potion with a hint of defeat but also curiosity. This wouldn't work. He bottled a sample anyway to check out later. Maybe Snape had an idea of what went wrong.
"Stay after class if you will, Harry," Slughorn said and when Harry snapped his head up to look at his professor, he found him to be looking at him kindly.
"Of course, Professor," Harry agreed, cleaning his working station before deciding that his hiccoughing solution had cooled down enough to bottle as well.
Both Hermione and Draco shot Harry a curious glance when class was over but went on ahead without him. It was not as if Slughorn was known as some sort of terrifying teacher. In fact, he had been nothing but friendly in the past so there was no reason for concern.
When the last student had left the room, Harry placed his potion on Slughorn's desk and waited.
"Ah yes, thank you, Harry," Slughorn said, giving the potion only a momentary glance. His eyes then searched Harry's nervously, almost as if he was some infatuated schoolboy.
"Harry," he said gravely, "It has come to my attention that you have been apprenticed to Severus."
"That is correct," Harry admitted carefully.
Slughorn sighed exasperatedly as he stood behind his chair, leaning heavily on the slim piece of furniture.
After a moment's consideration, he asked: "May I ask why you haven't asked me to be your master? I am the current Potions Master of Hogwarts, after all. Not to mention that I'm the one who taught Severus most of what he knows. I have far more experience and I daresay that I am most likely the more capable brewer."
Harry was taken aback for a moment. Slughorn was jealous?
"It is clear to me that you are a very talented young man indeed," Slughorn continued when Harry didn't answer. "At least as talented as your mother was if not even more so. I would have very much liked to tutor you as well. Have you not even considered me?"
"Professor," Harry stammered uncomfortably, "I'm not sure if you've heard but I have been living with Professor Snape for the last couple of years. Not only that, but he officially adopted me last Christmas. Even if you were the better potioneer –" Which you're not, thought Harry, "- It was still far easier for me to be aligned to someone who already had a connection with me. You see Professor, he knows me better than anyone at this point and he knows how to motivate and teach me."
"So it was more about your personal connection than about skill?" Slughorn questioned.
"That would be accurate," Harry said dryly.
"I suppose I can understand that," Slughorn agreed, "Especially after having so tragically lost both of your parents."
Harry simply nodded. He knew what Slughorn was trying to do. He wanted to start building some sort of rapport between the two of them but Harry really didn't feel like opening up to Slughorn. Not that he was a bad man, per se, but Harry didn't like how the man seemed to collect people.
"Very well, Harry," Slughorn said after a moment's respite, "Thank you for your explanation. Just remember that if you ever need potion advice and Severus is not around, that I can always help you out. Now run along."
"Yes, thank you, Professor," Harry replied before hastily leaving, hoping that he hadn't missed too much of lunch yet.
The tables in the great hall were still stacked with food and drink and not a single student had left yet. Harry supposed that he had more time than he originally thought. He went to sit with his friends and glanced at the high table, meeting Snape's gaze. The man raised his eyebrows as if asking Harry where he had been but Harry simply shrugged.
The man might officially be his father now, but there was no reason for Harry to go and tell him everything that was going on as soon as it happened. He would explain Slughorn's jealousy to him the next time they shared a pot of tea or something.
"What did he want?" Draco asked as he slid in the seat next to Harry. None of the Gryffindors even seemed to care anymore that the Slytherin prince joined their table every now and then. It had become a normal occurrence and Draco wasn't pestered about it by either side anymore.
"He wanted to know why I chose Snape over him," Harry said easily.
Draco snorted. "Ah, the never-ending battle for The-Boy-Who-Continues-To-Live."
"Honestly," Harry growled, "You would think that with Voldemort gone, people would pay less attention to me."
"Less?" Ron exclaimed, his mouth filled to the brim. "You killing off the greatest threat to the wizarding world in decades has only increased the wonder surrounding the golden boy, you know?"
"Chew with your mouth closed, Ronald," Hermione chastised. "Did Slughorn understand in the end, Harry?"
"I think he did," Harry shrugged.
Before anyone could say anything else, Peeves flew into the great hall, much to the dismay of most of the teachers and students present. Instead of charging forward, like he normally would, he floated near the entrance, looking over his shoulder as if he were waiting for someone.
A few seconds later, a frayed and out of breath Professor Bell appeared, smiling sheepishly when she saw everyone's gaze fall on her.
"Milady," Peeves said jovially as he bowed exaggeratedly, stretching his arm across the hall.
"Thank you, Peeves," Bell said gratefully, "I don't know what I would have done without you."
Peeves cackled loud before disappearing through a wall.
"Bloody hell," Ron whispered, "Did she tame Peeves?"
"Looks like it," Draco replied in utter amazement. "In the end, it was beauty that tamed the beast."
"Stop drooling," Harry chided, "Before she hears you. And isn't it beauty that killed the beast?"
Bell walked alongside the Gryffindor table to go and sit in her usual seat but stopped briefly next to Hermione to whisper: "I got lost again," before she hurried along.
Hermione chuckled loudly as the slightly flushed Professor Bell took her seat next to Snape who only gave her a sideways glance before stiffly buttering his toast. Bell tried to offer him the jam but Snape ignored her completely. Eventually, she put the jam down next to the butter and focused on a bowl of fruit salad herself.
"Looks like Snape found a new victim to assert his dominance over," Ron said flatly.
"Maybe he's just not used to pretty ladies sitting next to him?" Draco offered.
"Oh, stop it already!" Hermione huffed, "If you like her so much, why did you skip her class?"
"You really shouldn't have," Ron added, "It was brilliant."
"So I've heard," Draco admitted, "I'll go to the next one."
When Harry looked at the high table again, he saw Bell having an animated conversation with Dumbledore while Snape sat in between them, looking awfully disgruntled. Harry couldn't help but laugh. He really did like this woman and most others seemed to as well. But it was so like Snape to dislike someone just for being happy and perky.
That evening, Harry found himself in the students' lab once again examining the sludge he had created. Hedwig was eating the owl treats Harry had brought for her as he tested the thick liquid to see if it was poisonous.
"What are you doing?" Came Snape's deep voice.
Harry jumped somewhat, slightly startled at the sudden presence of his adopted father.
"Don't do that," he scolded, "prowling around like the dungeon bat you are."
Snape raised that typical sardonic eyebrow and smirked maliciously. "Five points from Gryffindor for your disrespect."
Harry made a distracted noise as he went back to examining his failure.
"I will ask again," Snape said impatiently, "What are you doing?"
"Trying to find out if I made something that works or if I just made expensive mud."
Snape snorted, "Expensive mud is the main export product of Potions Apprentices. It's too bad nobody will buy it."
"I thought I was on to something," Harry said, ignoring Snape's attempt at a joke, "But my instincts might have been off."
"Harry," Snape sighed, "What are we practising here?"
Harry looked up in confusion, twirling his sludge vial back and forth.
"I may call this subject an art when I try to get through to students but in reality, it is a science. Everything needs to be carefully measured and calculated if you want something to work. Surely, you know that?"
"Of course I do," Harry said grumpily, "It was a spur of the moment thing."
"It's fine if you want to try some things," Snape replied, "But it would be better if you thought these things through before you put them to the test. You can get lucky every now and then but if you do something very wrong, you might blow up."
"I know what ingredients not to mix, you know," Harry argued, "I might accidentally make the potion inert but I doubt I would blow anything up." He was getting a bit annoyed with Snape's interference.
"Don't presume that you know everything," Snape said sternly, "Not even I know the full effects of every single ingredient out there, let alone their effects on each other. You are most likely aware of the basics behind most of the ingredients found on the premises but I highly doubt you've explored every single possible combination."
Harry huffed in annoyance. "Not yet, no but I can't get there without doing research!"
"Mind your tone," Snape said gruffly, "And you're right. You have to do research but that doesn't mean randomly throwing some ingredients together and hoping that they magically bland into what you've envisioned. Did you even calculate the proper amounts before acting on your instincts?"
"No, sir," Harry admitted. "But I was sure I got it. It seemed like such an easy substitution."
Snape's gaze softened. "It's not atypical of apprentices to believe they know the ins and outs of the craft," he said gently, "But it would do well for you to know your limits before you proceed. If not for your own safety, than for that of others."
Harry nodded and thrust his vial in Snape's direction. "So this is –"
"Expensive mud," Snape replied easily. "Why don't you work out what you were trying to do and attempt it again tomorrow? Don't give up now. I bet you're on to something here."
"Okay," Harry said, putting down his notes for now. "Will you help me?"
"If you deem it necessary," Snape replied, "Though I would first advise you to try by yourself."
Harry nodded, dropping his head on his arms as he looked at Hedwig who was cleaning her feathers.
"Slughorn is jealous of you," he said.
Snape didn't look the least bit surprised. "Professor Slughorn, Harry," he corrected, "And let me guess. He wished that you had chosen him as a master instead of me."
"Yup," Harry said, "Ten points to Slytherin."
Snape ruffled Harry's tangled hair as the young man chuckled wearily. "Stop that!" he said, batting Snape's hand away.
"Scared I'll chase away the birds?" Snape asked amusedly but continued on in a more serious tone of voice. "Did you get the feeling that Professor Slughorn might treat you unfairly because of this?"
"Nah," Harry said, "He's not like that. It felt more like he's going to try to get in my good graces."
"He's not a bad ally to have, you know," Snape said thoughtfully, "In the end, he too is an accomplished master."
"I guess it's hard to imagine him as such," Harry admitted, "When you're used to your Potions Master gliding through the castle like some sort of deranged dementor, the charismatic feel of an average ageing man is severely reduced."
Snape sneered dangerously. "Be careful before this deranged dementor has you gutting toads for the rest of the evening."
"You can't," Harry smiled contently.
"And do tell me why that is, you brat," Snape snarled.
"Because I already cut ginger root today," Harry said cleverly, "It wouldn't react well with the frog's kidney's, sir."
Snape smiled broadly. "Exactly right, apprentice."
Chapter six is finished already. This is going well. Please share your thoughts with me through the power of the review! 'Imperio!'