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<div class="chap-title">
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12. Chapter 12
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 12</strong></p>
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<p>It had been merely a few days since the Weasley twins had shown up in such ominous
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circumstances – that many agreed on the twins must have been waiting for – to provide
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Snape with what everyone seemed to think was an ordinary book. Harry knew better but
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wasn't about to spill the beans to anyone except his best friends. But – truth be
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told – he didn't know that much. Not even Hermione was able to tell Harry what the
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book could possibly be about. All she knew was that Pythagoras had been an
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alchemist.</p>
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<p>"Isn't alchemy just another word for potions?" Ron had asked.</p>
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<p>"Don't be daft, Ron," Hermione chided, "Alchemy is so much more than just potions.
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It's a meta-skill of sorts which combines all of the different magics in its
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process."</p>
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<p>"But it is a very difficult skill to master," Harry supplied, "and takes years of
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practice and an understanding of magic that I – to be fair – do not have."</p>
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<p>"Does Snape?" Ron asked.</p>
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<p>Harry wasn't sure. He had never really asked Snape if he was an alchemist simply
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because it had never come up.</p>
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<p>"I'll ask him," Harry said.</p>
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<p>Since they were in the Gryffindor common room, and Snape was nowhere nearby, Harry
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wrote on his cuff.</p>
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<p>'<em>Are you well-versed in the art of Alchemy?'</em></p>
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<p>It took a while before the answer came and Harry snorted at the words.</p>
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<p>'<em>Yes. And you can tell Ms Granger that the book is none of her
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business.'</em></p>
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<p>Hermione blushed when Harry relayed the message. "I was just curious."</p>
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<p>"And he's just teasing," Harry said, "It's what he does. You know him."</p>
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<p>"Say, what is Bell doing outside of the portrait?" Ron asked. He had been lazily
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perusing the marauder's map for no other reason but to cure his boredom.</p>
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<p>"She is?" Hermione asked. "Let me see."</p>
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<p>"It's not even like she's patrolling or something," Ron said, frowning, "She just…
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standing there."</p>
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<p>"She might just be lost," Harry said, "I'll go see what she needs."</p>
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<p>When Harry opened the portrait and met the warm gaze that was professor Bell's, he
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knew that she was not lost. This was exactly where she had intended to come.</p>
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<p>"Harry!" she said happily, "I can't for the life of me remember the password but I
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really wanted to speak with you."</p>
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<p>Harry climbed out of the portrait hole and faced the History Professor with an
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amused smirk.</p>
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<p>"Oh?" he said, "I this what I think it is about?"</p>
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<p>Bell wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, "It is, young accomplice if mine. Oh yes,
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indeed."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>The following morning, Harry woke up bright and early to go to breakfast as soon
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as he possibly could. But he would need to make a small detour first. Using his
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invisibility cloak – just to be sure – he snuck down to the dungeons and into Snape's
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office which was connected to his private potions lab.</p>
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<p>Luckily for Harry, his presence did not trigger any of the wards. He smirked to
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himself. Snape was losing his Slytherin touch if he allowed Harry to just enter here
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on all hours of the day.</p>
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<p>He crept into the potions lab and walked over to the rack where each and every
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bottled concoction was neatly lined up in order of use, their labels facing forward
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in a neat fashion. Harry started turning some just a tiny bit. It was not noticeable
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to anyone who didn't pay attention to such things but Harry made it so that when
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facing the rack, you could not make out the entire first letter on the label.</p>
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<p>After that, he moved a bottle of skele-gro to a shelf above where it was supposed
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to be. He didn't take time to inspect his handiwork. Instead, he crept back out and
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made to leave when he noticed a stack of papers on Snape's desk. He took the top
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piece of parchment and put it in the pile completely at random. That should do it for
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the day. Harry left, closing the door behind him and raced towards the great hall,
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hoping that there wouldn't be too many people yet.</p>
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<p>And true enough, when he arrived there, there was only one other person already
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occupying her table as she read the quibbler.</p>
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<p>"Hi Luna," Harry greeted.</p>
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<p>"Good morning, Harry," Luna replied warmly, "You're here early."</p>
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<p>"Yes," Harry replied, smirking all the while. "There was something I wanted to
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do."</p>
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<p>"Something mischievous, perhaps?" Luna asked airily, "The Gronkulls told me that
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Professor Bell visited you last night."</p>
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<p>Harry sat down next to the blonde Ravenclaw with a loud thud. "Hush, Luna," he
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whispered, the sounds of their voices reverberating loudly while there was no one
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else in the hall. "She did, but you can't tell anyone. Especially not Professor
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Snape."</p>
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<p>Luna smiled brightly. "Don't worry," she said, "I'm not one to spoil your
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entertainment. And Professor Snape really needs to have some fun sometimes."</p>
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<p>Harry laughed. "I don't think fun is in his dictionary."</p>
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<p>"Perhaps," Luna said, "Or perhaps he needs to be reminded of its meaning." She
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tilted her head slightly as she regarded Harry carefully. "You know, I think you
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might be the one to do it."</p>
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<p>"Do what?"</p>
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<p>"You are the chosen one," Luna replied carefully, "And you will deliver Professor
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Snape from his worry and sadness."</p>
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<p>Harry frowned, ignoring Luna's odd choice of words. "Do you really think he's
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sad?"</p>
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<p>"He always has been," Luna said empathically, "It's become better over time but
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I've rarely seen him just happy. There's always some underlining tone of something
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darker there."</p>
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<p>"I think that's just his act you're seeing," Harry supplied, "He's a lot looser at
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home."</p>
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<p>"A mask tells us more than a face," Luna replied knowingly, "He wouldn't hide
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himself away if he didn't feel like he needed protection."</p>
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<p>"From what?" Harry asked, blinking in confusion.</p>
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<p>Luna smiled sadly. "From caring for others," she said, "And from being cared for.
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I feel that he's suffered tremendous emotional pain already."</p>
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<p>"He's got <em>me</em> though," Harry said.</p>
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<p>"He does," Luna agreed, "And I think that's all he'll allow himself for now. Don't
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you?"</p>
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<p>Harry sat there somewhat flabbergasted at Luna's words while she continued reading
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her quibbler, humming an unknown tune under her breath as she did.</p>
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<p>It was only a few minutes later that other people started to come into the great
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hall, yawning and stretching as they walked.</p>
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<p>As Harry had expected, Snape was one of the first Professors to arrive for
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breakfast. He quirked a surprised eyebrow when he saw Harry sitting there already and
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took his own seat at the high table.</p>
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<p>"Good morning, Harry," Snape said. Since there weren't a lot of people present
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yet, they could easily hear each other. "Defecting to Ravenclaw, I see? How will the
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Gryffindor quidditch team ever survive this blow?"</p>
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<p>"You would like that, wouldn't you?" Harry said, "Well don't worry. I'll be around
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to kick Slytherin –"</p>
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<p>"Language," Snape warned.</p>
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<p>Now Bell and Flitwick came in together – Flitwick clearly serving as Bell's guide
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– and sat down at the table as well.</p>
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<p>"See you around, Luna," Harry said.</p>
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<p>"Be careful of the ravens, Harry," Luna warned, "The Gronkulls told me they have
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it in for a stag."</p>
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<p>"I'll keep that in mind, Luna," Harry replied. He waved to her and walked away.
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But instead of heading back to Gryffindor Tower, he walked straight up to the high
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table and went across it to stand next to Snape.</p>
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<p>"Have you gotten so little sleep that you've forgotten where your house sits?"
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Snape asked, "Do I look like a Gryffindor to you?"</p>
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<p>"Not one bit," Harry admitted, "I just wanted to wish you a very happy Wednesday!"
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And without warning, Harry took a step forward and hugged Snape awkwardly and
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shortly. Before Snape had even processed Harry's movement, the boy had pulled away
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and flashed him an amused grin.</p>
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<p>"Professor Flitwick," Harry greeted as he passed by. "Professor Bell." At her, he
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actually winked and she acknowledged him by shaking her head in disbelief. With her
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back turned towards Snape, she clearly mouthed 'subtle' and rolled her eyes to which
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Harry bowed graciously before running off and sitting at the Gryffindor table where
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Ron and Hermione had arrived by now.</p>
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<p>"And you say the hat thought you might have done well in Slytherin?" Hermione
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asked incredulously, "What was that?"</p>
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<p>"He has no idea," Harry chuckled, "Don't worry. Maybe he'll think I'm sick or
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something but he'll never suspect foul play."</p>
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<p>"I still think you have a death wish, mate," Ron said, "Snape may have warmed up
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to you but I don't think he'll let you off the hook when he finds out."</p>
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<p>"<em>If</em> he finds out," Harry corrected him. "Don't forget. It's Professor
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Bell who is the mastermind at work."</p>
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<p>All three of them sat on the right side of the Gryffindor table where they had a
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clear view of the high table and everything that was going on there. They filled
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their plates with the breakfast foods of their choosing and ate absentmindedly as
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they kept an eye on their defence teacher.</p>
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<p>Snape seemed to sense their staring and looked at the golden trio, arching his
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eyebrows in a questioning look. They averted their gaze to look at their food but
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went right back to staring as soon as Snape refocused his attention on breakfast.</p>
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<p>He poured himself a cup of tea but had poured a bit too harshly, causing at least
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half of the scalding liquid to jump right back out of his cup and land on the
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tablecloth and partly on his robes. The man looked around as if to check that no one
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had seen his little mishap – Harry had seen this reaction coming and pretended to
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have a conversation with his friends - and removed the spillage with a wave of his
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wand.</p>
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<p>Next, he wanted to grab two lumps of sugar – as Harry knew was his usual amount –
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with the tweezers that were meant for them. Harry couldn't help but chuckle as Snape
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obviously wasn't able to get a firm grasp on the lumps. After a few tries, he mumbled
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something to himself and set the sugar aside, not bothering with it anymore.</p>
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<p>Bell had noticed his predicament though and – much to Snape's mortification -
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added a lump of sugar to his tea. She asked him something but he seemed to snap
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something back at her rather rudely which she took in stride. She glanced over at
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Harry and when she saw he was looking she alternatively held up one and two fingers
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with a questioning glance.</p>
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<p>Harry held up two fingers in response. Bell nodded and added a second lump of
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sugar to Snape's tea who simply shoved the cup away and filled a glass with pumpkin
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juice which caused no accidents.</p>
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<p>"He seems grumpy," Ron said, "Maybe you shouldn't have done this on a defence
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day."</p>
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<p>"Please," Harry said in a low tone of voice, "It'll be fine."</p>
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<p>Dumbledore had joined right when Snape was attempting to butter a piece of bread
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but had pressed just a tad too hard, his knife going straight through the bread.
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Snape stared at it, almost dumbfounded and Harry couldn't help it. He laughed loudly.
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Snape turned his head sharply to see his son laughing at him and Harry could only
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barely make out the annoyance in his eyes. It only made him laugh harder. Meanwhile,
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Dumbledore had replaced Snape's piece of bread and put a hand on his shoulder, saying
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something softly. Snape frowned but took the bread. He didn't attempt to butter it
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anymore but simply put a slice of cheese on it and ate it.</p>
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<p>"I know I've asked you this before, but he's not a morning person, is he?"
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Hermione commented.</p>
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<p>"He definitely is not," Harry agreed, "Especially not when he's being picked on by
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a bunch of Gryffindors."</p>
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<p>Snape didn't stay long at all. As soon as he was finished eating, he got up
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brusquely and went to sweep out of the hallways, glaring daggers at Harry as he
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went.</p>
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<p>"I think he suspects something," Hermione said.</p>
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<p>"He's just upset that I laughed," Harry said. "What would he even think I
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did?"</p>
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<p>Harry look over at the high table once more and saw that Professor Bell was
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beaming at him, a mischievous twinkle in her eye that reminded Harry of the
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twins.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>That brat must have done something! What it was, Snape could not possibly imagine
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but oh, it was him. The <em>bloody</em> golden trio had been staring at him from
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before things had gone wrong. They <em>knew</em>!</p>
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<p>Or was he getting paranoid? He must be. This was probably just a rough morning.
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These mishaps could happen to anyone. Though they rarely happened to himself. Could
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it have been a potion? No, he thought not. Harry knew very well that he was to report
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every new potion he even attempted to create to Snape and he had brewed nothing that
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would clarify what Snape could only explain as a lack of luck and an increase in
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clumsiness. And Bell had certainly seemed pleased with herself when she offered to
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add the sugar to his tea <em>for</em> him. As if he were four! Maybe she was in on it
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too!</p>
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<p>Snape sighed. No, he was really looking too much into this.</p>
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<p>There was still an hour before he would have to go teach his first defence class.
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He would stop by his private potions lab for a calming draught real quick and he
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would be ready for the third graders who thought they were ready to face
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boggarts.</p>
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<p>From his office, he swept into his lab and searched the labels for the calming
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draught. Wait… that's not where he put the skele-gro. Was it? Perhaps Harry had
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mistakenly put it there after he was done brewing. Snape moved the potion to where it
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belonged and took the calming draught.</p>
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<p>He stared at his potions for a moment longer. Something didn't feel right. But he
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couldn't put his finger on it. He shook himself, dispelling the thought.</p>
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<p>He tried to pull the stopper out of the bottle but didn't quite succeed the first
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time. Instead, his nail got stuck behind the cork, tearing it slightly. It was small
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but enough to annoy him greatly. With a huff of disapproval at his own inelegance,
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Snape removed the stopper on the second try and downed the potion.</p>
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<p>He kicked off his boots and sat behind comfortably behind his desk, quite sure
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that no one would dare disturb him yet. He glanced at the stack of assignments on his
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desk. He frowned only slightly when he noticed the discrepancy but it didn't seem to
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bother him as much. He must've really been out of it the previous day. Could it have
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been the fire whiskey? He had only had one glass though.</p>
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<p>After he took a while to gather his senses, Snape cast a quick 'Tempus' to check
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the time and sighed when he realized he needed to get going. He put on his boots,
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growling to himself when he accidentally tried putting the left one on his right foot
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the first time – and left to go teach class. It was only after he closed the door and
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tried to take a step that he noticed that his robes got stuck. It was with great
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self-restraint that he didn't blast the door to pieces.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>By the time Snape arrived in Harry's defence class – which was the last class of
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the day – he was absolutely furious.</p>
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<p>"Uh-oh," Ron whispered quietly as Snape swept past them to the front of the class,
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"I think you unleashed the beast, mate."</p>
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<p>Harry chuckled, "What I wouldn't give for his memories of today."</p>
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<p>"What are you talking about?" Draco asked.</p>
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<p>"Oh right, we didn't have the chance to tell you," Harry said, "We've –"</p>
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<p>"Be silent," Snape snarled at his son and godson, "Or – so help me – you will be
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repainting every inch of Hogwarts."</p>
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<p>Harry and Draco wisely kept their mouths shut but smiled at each other as soon as
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Snape's back was turned.</p>
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<p>"Today," Snape spat, "You will be learning about detecting as well as breaking
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curses. If you all read the required chapters as I had instructed, you will be fine.
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If not –" A malicious smile formed on the Professor's lips, "- You will suffer the
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consequences."</p>
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<p>Non-verbally, Snape levitated a whole slew of inconspicuous looking items out of a
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bag, placing them on each student's desk. Harry received a tattered looking plastic
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doll that looked like it could easily star in a horror movie. It missed its right arm
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and eye and its dress was dirty and torn.</p>
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<p>Harry had, in fact, read the requested chapters and was focusing on the object of
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his current consternation, vaguely aware of Snape keeping a watchful eye on him. He
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cast a simple '<em>Revelio'</em>, full well expecting that to not work. And so it
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didn't. He could practically feel Hermione rolling her eyes at him.</p>
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<p>"It can't hurt to be thorough," Harry said, shrugging all the while. On Hermione's
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desk sat a black boot, acting entirely innocent.</p>
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<p>Harry went through an entire sequence of spells he could think of. It didn't take
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long for Neville to discover what was amiss with his 500-piece puzzle and Draco had
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been able to solve the conundrum that was his Chinese puzzle trap within minutes.</p>
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|
<p>It took Ron and even Hermione a lot longer to detect their problems and Harry
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couldn't help but wonder if Snape had purposely given them the hardest ones to crack.
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|
It didn't escape Harry's attention at all that Snape hadn't so much as lifted a
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finger during this entire class. He was simply standing there, with his arms crossed,
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nodding occasionally when someone had been able to break their curse. But his eyes
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kept fluttering back to Harry and it soon became clear that the doll was one of two
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things. It was either not cursed at all or it was cursed at a level that was far
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beyond that of a Hogwarts student.</p>
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|
<p>Interesting. So Snape must have realized that Harry had something to do with what
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had clearly been a bad day.</p>
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<p>Eventually, Harry smirked, crossed his arms and leaned back.</p>
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<p>"Mr Potter," Snape droned, "Do you give up?"</p>
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<p>"Give up?" Harry repeated, "I would never. I simply solved it."</p>
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<p>"You solved it," Snape said icily, "And you expect me to believe that? When would
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you have done that?"</p>
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<p>"At the moment you inspected Hermione's boot, sir," Harry replied easily, "That's
|
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when it hit me."</p>
|
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|
<p>Harry fearlessly met his mentor's eyes and felt the subtle push of his Legilimency
|
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|
but Occluded without a problem.</p>
|
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<p>"So pick it up," Snape said, smirking sadistically.</p>
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<p>Harry had anticipated this response and already knew exactly how to act. He moved
|
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to grab the doll but bumped his desk unceremoniously, causing the doll to fall off.
|
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Snape – with reflexes he honed by years of catching glass vials and potion
|
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|
ingredients that found themselves into the clumsy hands of students – caught the doll
|
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before it landed and looked at Harry just in time to meet his triumphant smirk.</p>
|
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|
<p>There was a poof. There was smoke and then, Snape was gone. Harry frowned, not
|
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|
knowing what had happened. Had Snape disappeared? Did he teleport to the amazon
|
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|
forest or something? But then a couple of the girls screeched and jumped on their
|
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chairs. Harry leaned over his desk to see a small grass snake slithering on the
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|
floor.</p>
|
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<p>"Well, well," he said in parseltongue, "Who knew you would make such a cute
|
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snake?"</p>
|
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|
<p>"Don't jusssssst ssssstand there, brat," the snake hissed. Anyone who didn't speak
|
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parseltongue – which was the entire Hogwarts populace minus Harry – would think the
|
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|
snake upset and ready to attack. And perhaps, that wasn't too far from the truth.</p>
|
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<p>"What am I supposed to do even?" Harry asked innocently, "Unfortunately, I'm not
|
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|
too good at curse breaking, and this one seems to be rather high level."</p>
|
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<p>"Blasssssst it all! Jussssst bring me to a Professsssor before I bite you."</p>
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<p>"Alright, alright. Don't get your coils in a twist," Harry chuckled, "Come
|
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|
here."</p>
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<p>Harry extended his arm and the snake slithered onto his wrist, squeezing so he
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wouldn't fall off.</p>
|
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<p>"Class dismissed, I guess," Harry said. He waved his wand and got all the cursed
|
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|
objects to float back into the bag which he closed and took with him just in case
|
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some poor first grader came in for some reason and saw that awesome soccer ball to
|
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|
play with.</p>
|
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|
<p>Slytherins and Gryffindors alike laughed heartily at the situation at hand but
|
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they quickly made themselves scarce when Snape the snake hissed threateningly.</p>
|
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<p>"This is what you get, you know," Harry chided, "For trying to trick me."</p>
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<p>"I did no sssssuch thing," Snape argued, his forked tongue flicking in and out of
|
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|
his mouth.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Oh really?" Harry said, raising a sardonic eyebrow in the same fashion Snape
|
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|
always did. "So you're saying that this curse is on an equal level with the
|
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|
jelly-legs curse you so graciously bestowed on Zabini?"</p>
|
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|
<p>"You are better than Zzzzzzabini," Snape hissed.</p>
|
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|
<p>"You know, I could just leave you a snake," Harry said.</p>
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|
<p>"And perhapssss I could cut off the blood cccccirculation to your wrisssssst,"
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|
Snape replied, squeezing tightly.</p>
|
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<p>"You're a grass snake," Harry chuckled, "You can't do a thing in this state."</p>
|
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<p>"Don't tesssssst me, child," Snape hissed, "I'll have you dicccccing
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|
Flobberwormssssss until Chrisssssstmasssss."</p>
|
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|
<p>"Hey, I'm going, aren't I?" Harry said to the snake, still smiling. The students
|
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|
he encountered in the hallway regarded the pair with either interest or disgust. One
|
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|
lone Hufflepuff boy even took off screaming at the sight.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Maybe this will get the 'The heir of Slytherin' rumours started again," Harry
|
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|
said. There was only humour in his voice though.</p>
|
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|
<p>"That'sssss far more acceptable than sssssstudentsssss knowing I've been coiled
|
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|
around your arm," Snape said.</p>
|
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|
<p>"To you maybe," Harry replied easily, "Well, here we are."</p>
|
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|
<p>"Brat," Snape hissed shortly, "Find sssssssomeone more capable."</p>
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<p>"She's very capable though," Harry replied, "And she's the closest by."</p>
|
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|
<p>"I refussssssse," Snape said.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Quite frankly, Severus, you don't have a choice in the matter," Harry said just a
|
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|
tad too happy about the situation. He knocked on the door of the History
|
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|
classroom.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Come on in," resounded the kind voice of Professor Bell.</p>
|
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|
<p>Harry opened the door and found Bell sitting at her desk, perusing a book. A stack
|
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|
of sloppily piled books sat atop her desk, some of them with the edges of pieces of
|
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|
parchments sticking out.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Hi, Harry!" Bell greeted him, "Oh, and who is this? Is this your new pet?"</p>
|
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|
<p>She placed the book she was reading on top of the pile and moved closer to Harry,
|
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|
leaning forward to get a better look at the snake.</p>
|
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|
<p>"It's beautiful!" she cooed, "What's his name?"</p>
|
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|
<p>"Severus," Harry deadpanned.</p>
|
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|
<p>Bell frowned. "That's a tad formal for a snake, don't you think?"</p>
|
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|
<p>Harry laughed. "Actually, Professor, this is Severus. He cursed himself when he
|
|
|
tried to curse me with an object. I think he's mad at me."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Nonsssssensssse," Snape hissed, "I tried no sssssuch thing."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Bell just started laughing. "You don't say!" she said, tears running down her
|
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|
cheeks, "How unfortunate of him to pick today of all days to work on curse
|
|
|
removal."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What isssss ssssshe talking about?" Snape hissed.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I wonder what he's saying," Bell said.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Remove thisssss curssssse and I ssssshall tell you myssssself?" Snape hissed
|
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|
dangerously.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Can you remove it?" Harry asked.</p>
|
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|
<p>"Of course I can, Harry," Bell said easily, "Nothing to it. If you're ready?"</p>
|
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|
<p>"I think it's time," Harry agreed, "We've had our fun."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Bell nodded and waved her wand elegantly as Harry kneeled to allow Snape to
|
|
|
slither unto the ground again. Finally, Bell pointed her wand at Snape and broke the
|
|
|
curse non-verbally. When Snape was transformed back into his old body, she crossed
|
|
|
her arms and leaned against her desk, smirking triumphantly. Snape's glare was
|
|
|
murderous but Bell seemed completely undeterred.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Will you two finally tell me what's going on before I horribly disembowel one of
|
|
|
you?" Snape growled.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"It's only fair!" Bell exclaimed, "You pranked me before. And by Merlin, you got
|
|
|
me good."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape's gaze softened just a little. Harry thought he was probably the only one
|
|
|
who noticed.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"So, I decided to get back at you," Bell continued, "And since Harry helped you
|
|
|
with your own ploy, I thought it prudent to have him help <em>me</em> as well."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Traitor," Snape spat viciously but Harry detected the amusement underneath.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Oh, just turn around already," Bell said.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Excuse me?" Snape replied in surprise.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Turn around," Bell repeated, chuckling as she did. "I'll remove the rune that was
|
|
|
applied to your robes."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"You use runes?" Snape asked, but he did turn around which Harry thought was a
|
|
|
remarkable sign of trust when faced with someone who Snape's only known for a few
|
|
|
months tops. Especially considering how untrustworthy new teachers had often turned
|
|
|
out to be.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Bell waved her wand over Snape's robes and revealed a piece of paper that sort of
|
|
|
looked like a cut-out stick figure. A strange symbol was drawn on it. It stuck to
|
|
|
Snape's robes but Bell peeled it off and showed it to him.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape took it from her and ripped it up, a satisfied smirk on his face when he
|
|
|
dropped the pieces to the ground.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"And the application was no doubt Harry's rather obvious… theatrics this morning,"
|
|
|
he said.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Subtlety does not appear to be a Gryffindor trait," Bell agreed, "But yes indeed.
|
|
|
You should be able to add sugar to your own tea again."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I must say, that was very well played, Bell," Snape said, holding out his
|
|
|
hand.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Glad to be considered a worthy adversary, Snape" Bell replied, shaking the
|
|
|
offered hand.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Oh, we'll have to see about that," Snape said mysteriously.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Bring it," Bell said, tilting her head in mock defiance.</p>
|
|
|
<p>It was not entirely on the same level as three first graders bringing down a troll
|
|
|
together, but Harry sensed that this too might be the start of a new friendship. Even
|
|
|
if it seemed to be a bit of a rivalry.</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p>Saturday morning was upon them fast as it always was when the week was
|
|
|
interesting. And this year, every week was interesting.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape had gotten up early – as was his habit – but had not seen Harry appear at
|
|
|
breakfast. It wasn't entirely strange to see. Nothing short of Quidditch practice
|
|
|
could wake the boy up before ten in the weekend. In fact, of the golden trio, only
|
|
|
Granger was eating breakfast at a respectable hour, chatting amicably with the
|
|
|
Weasley girl over a piece of toast.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape had gotten a very interesting message earlier that week. He looked over the
|
|
|
letter he had been sent with hungry eyes.</p>
|
|
|
<p><em>Professor Snape,</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>You've asked me to inform you before anyone else when I received a lump of
|
|
|
painite. It is rather small, for which I apologize but as you know, the jewel is
|
|
|
rather rare.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>If you are still interested, I request you to send me a reply at your earliest
|
|
|
convenience. I would expect to have the painite in stock on Saturday. If you can't
|
|
|
come by that day, I'll be forced to sell it. It would be too much of a liability to
|
|
|
have lying around in the shop you see.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>Yours,</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>P. Pippin</em></p>
|
|
|
<p>It had been years since Snape had asked the man to alert him should the rare jewel
|
|
|
ever arrive. Frankly, he had started to think that he had been forgotten. But the
|
|
|
letter had finally come and Snape could not hide his excitement.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What are you so happy about?" Maya asked, nudging Snape slightly. "You're
|
|
|
practically salivating over that letter. Got some hot admirer?"</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape snorted. "Nothing of the sort, Maya, I've just been invited to pick up some
|
|
|
painite back in the apothecary in Hogsmeade."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Amazing!" Maya replied, "I've never actually seen it but I've heard it's really
|
|
|
beautiful."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I don't need it for its beauty," Snape said, "I need it for its function."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Always the practical man, aren't you?" Maya teased, "Could you show me the jewel
|
|
|
though? Before you splinter it into dust or whatever you do with it."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"If that appeases your appetite for shiny things, let it be so." Snape
|
|
|
complied.</p>
|
|
|
<p>So it was that after breakfast, Maya and Snape both walked to Hogsmeade. Snape in
|
|
|
silence, and Maya making remarks about every unremarkable thing they encountered on
|
|
|
the way, much to Snape's annoyance.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Would you kindly refrain from making any more observations about the surrounding
|
|
|
area?" Snape asked coldly, "I am very much aware of its structure and contents, thank
|
|
|
you very much."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"What are you so grumpy about?" Maya asked, "I thought this was a happy day for
|
|
|
you."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I wish to get to Hogsmeade sooner rather than later," Snape replied, "And your
|
|
|
dilly-dallying makes that sufficiently challenging."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Oh, you're such a killjoy," Maya chided, "Fine. First, we get your precious stone
|
|
|
and then we cherish the view."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape sighed. "Or <em>you</em> cherish the view and <em>I</em> keep on
|
|
|
walking.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I could get <em>lost</em>," Maya pointed out in mock horror.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape smirked ever so slightly, "Sleeping here might give you the insight in the
|
|
|
area that you seem to want to know more about. I'm merely granting you the
|
|
|
opportunity."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Just go and get your stone already," Maya huffed as they arrived in Hogsmeade,
|
|
|
"We don't have all day."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape rolled his eyes and walked into the apothecary, walking straight over to the
|
|
|
counter to meet Mr Pippin. The old man almost seemed shocked to see Snape there. He
|
|
|
was sweating profusely and had a guilty look on his face.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Don't tell me you've already sold it," Snape grunted, "We had a deal."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I'm so sorry, Professor Snape," Pippin said, "I had no choice. They have my
|
|
|
daughter."</p>
|
|
|
<p>Before Snape could reply, he felt the presence of several people behind him. He
|
|
|
whirled around, wand already in hand to come face to face with Bellatrix Lestrange
|
|
|
and her husband.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Hello Sevvie!" she greeted, "Out on a date, are you?" She inclined her head
|
|
|
towards the other end of the shop where Greyback had grabbed hold of Maya's arm and
|
|
|
was sniffing her intently. Maya slapped the werewolf in the face but the man did not
|
|
|
relent.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Why don't you come with us, right now?" Bella asked, "And we won't hurt your new
|
|
|
toy."</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Oh, come off it, Bitch!" Maya hollered, "Who do you even think you are? You Death
|
|
|
eater rejects!" This time, she elbowed Greyback in the solar plexus and forced her
|
|
|
wrist towards the gap between Greyback's fingers and thumb as she shifted her weight,
|
|
|
effectively removing herself from his grasp.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Get out of here," Snape yelled.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"I don't think so," Maya said sternly, brandishing her wand.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Fool," Snape muttered. He pointed his wand at her and the history teacher was
|
|
|
blasted out of the shop, leaving no one but Snape, the four death eaters and Mr
|
|
|
Pippin in the apothecary.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Snape's wand arm was grabbed from behind by a strong hand, the limb twisted
|
|
|
painfully behind his back.</p>
|
|
|
<p>"Let's go on a trip, shall we?" Bellatrix said sweetly and with the loud cackle of
|
|
|
her sick laughter, the five death eaters disappeared with the sounds of a car
|
|
|
back-firing.</p>
|
|
|
<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
|
|
|
<p><em>My dear readers. Today, the games pokemon sword and shield were released and I
|
|
|
will be playing them. Don't expect to hear from me anytime soon. give it a week or
|
|
|
so, I would say. I wrote this chapter yesterday to set you all up with a cliffhanger
|
|
|
to enjoy.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>So, I can only ask you to review and perhaps I will show mercy.</em></p>
|
|
|
<p><em>Haha, thanks for reading in any case.</em></p>
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</div>
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</body>
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