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<div class="chap-title">
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6. Chapter 6
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</div>
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<div class="chap-text">
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<p><em>I want to thank you lovely people for the reviews. I'm especially happy that
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Maya is so well received since she will play an important part later on. Please
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enjoy!</em></p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p class='c1'><strong>Chapter 6</strong></p>
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<p>A loud, cackling laugh pierced the night air as Greyback ripped a poor
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unsuspecting muggle apart under the eerie light of the full moon. Bellatrix sat
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slouched comfortably against a large oak tree, twirling her wand expertly while she
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giggled, her amusement triggered by the helpless howls of Greyback's victims.</p>
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<p>Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange sat with her, quietly taking in the dark scene as
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it played out. They were not disturbed so to speak but they didn't share in the
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crazed delight Bellatrix seemed to drown her senses in whenever she saw blood.</p>
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<p>"I honestly don't understand what you see in her," Rabastan whispered to his
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brother, "She's mental."</p>
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<p>"Be quiet," Rodolphus said softly, throwing Rabastan a disparaging look. "She
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might kill you just for saying that, you know?"</p>
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<p>"My point exactly," Rabastan muttered through gritted teeth. He kicked the corpse
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of the half-eaten muggle that lay before him as he waited for the feral werewolf to
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finish his meal.</p>
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<p>"I just don't understand why we have to stay with them," Rabastan said.</p>
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<p>"You know very well why," Rodolphus hissed, "I don't know if it has escaped your
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attention but for the last year, our kind has been hunted down and thrown into
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Azkaban. Or worse, murdered in cold blood. I prefer my chances as they are in a
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larger group instead of by myself, thank you very much."</p>
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<p>"Rookwood seems to be doing fine all alone," Rabastan sighed.</p>
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<p>"Well I'm sorry to say but you are simply not as clever or cunning as Rookwood,"
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Rodolphus replied, "You are welcome to take your chances by yourself, brother but I
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am staying with my wife and her pet wolf if it's all the same to you."</p>
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<p>"What are you two blathering about?" Bellatrix' shrill voice cut through the
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sultry summer air.</p>
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<p>"We were just wondering about Rookwood's whereabouts, my dear," Rodolphus replied,
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"No one has seen him in a while."</p>
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<p>"I doubt that anyone will see him again," Bellatrix pouted, "He's always been a
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cowardly little rat. Very much like Pettigrew, you know. He likes to hide and bide
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his time while his stronger allies do all the dirty work."</p>
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<p>"Of course, Bella," Rodolphus said trying not to unnerve his wife.</p>
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<p>Bellatrix huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "What? Don't you like being
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around me anymore?"</p>
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<p>Rodolphus put on his winning smile and closed the distance between him and his
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wife in one long stride. He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to
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him, his lips meeting hers in what appeared to be a wild, passionate kiss. But while
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her eyes were closed, Rodolphus shot a warning look at his brother before refocusing
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his attention on taming the beast.</p>
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<p>"I would never want to leave your side, my love," he added for good measure.
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"We're simply worried about our current status."</p>
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<p>Bellatrix wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and grinned widely as she
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tapped Rodolphus' nose lightly. "I'm sorry, my pet," she whispered, "It's all because
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of that traitor, Snape that we're in this mess."</p>
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<p>"You are quite right, my darling," Rodolphus agreed easily, glad that the focus
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wasn't on him or his brother for a change. He tried desperately to ignore the sounds
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of ripping flesh and someone gurgling as they tried to breathe through their
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blood-filled throat. "If it wasn't for Snape, we would all still be in the presence
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of our esteemed and wonderful Lord."</p>
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<p>As expected, Bellatrix fell despairingly into his arms, wailing loudly as she was
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reminded of their tragic loss.</p>
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<p>"There will never again be one as great as he was," Bellatrix sniffed, clinging
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onto Rodolphus' robes as she sobbed. "He understood. He always understood."</p>
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<p>"I know Bella," Rodolphus said lovingly. Or at least, he tried to sound loving.
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Greyback howled somewhere in the distance and Rodolphus' eyes darted to his brother
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who was looking around in fear, probably wondering if he would be Greyback's next
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victim.</p>
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<p>"I will murder them," Bellatrix suddenly said viciously.</p>
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<p>"What did you say, my love?"</p>
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<p>"I will murder them all!" Bellatrix screeched, "And I will start with Snape and
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that Potter brat. They took my lord away. My reason for being alive! I shall take
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their lives as compensation and they will suffer greatly before I do!"</p>
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<p>Rodolphus had to do his very best not to roll his eyes at the deranged woman. She
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had been spouting nonsense about revenge every other night. But the truth was that as
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long as they were hunted by the ministry, they could hardly move about casually.
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Planning any sort of attack on people who were under the protection of Hogwarts and –
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by extension – Dumbledore would be nothing short of foolish. Even Bellatrix would be
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able to understand that.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>Harry carefully watched the bubbling of the potion in his cauldron, adding the
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ingredients at exactly the right intervals. He was stirring the concoction as he
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wandlessly commanded his stirrer to circle in intricate patterns, holding his book
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open with the hand that was not busy casting spells.</p>
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<p>He barely heard Slughorn's lecture or corrections as he hovered near other
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students' cauldrons. Instead, Harry focused carefully on the hiccoughing solution he
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was brewing. A silly potion for being relatively difficult to brew, for sure.
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Especially when one considered the fact that hiccoughing was harmless most of the
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time and would pass on its own. But it was good practice.</p>
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<p>In fact, Harry thought that if he tweaked the potion a bit, it might become useful
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to combat heartburn.</p>
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<p>"Perfect as always, Harry," Slughorn commented as he glanced into Harry's
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cauldron.</p>
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<p>"Thank you, sir," Harry replied politely, careful not to look away from what he
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was doing. It was not as if he didn't value Slughorn's opinion but he valued Snape's
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more. And he knew that brewing at this level was far beneath him at this point. And
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Harry suspected that Slughorn knew it too. The old Potions master hovered for a few
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seconds more while Harry revisited his heartburn idea in his mind. Something seemed
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to be bothering the man but Harry paid it no attention at this point.</p>
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<p>Harry put a stasis on his cauldron before hurrying off to the pantry. It was so
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odd to think that rummaging through the various potion ingredients felt like second
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nature by now. A couple of years ago, he would not have recognized that black lotus
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that was carefully tucked away in a corner, nor would he have known what its uses
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were. Harry smiled to himself as he considered how far he'd come and kept looking for
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the ingredients he needed.</p>
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<p>It wasn't long until he had his hands on some root of the ginger plant but it took
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him a while longer to find the liquorice. He emerged victoriously and noticed that
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Slughorn was looking at him. Harry thought it would be best if he actually made his
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intentions known and approached the older man.</p>
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<p>"Excuse me, sir," Harry said politely.</p>
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<p>"What can I do for you, Harry?" Slughorn asked kindly, "Those ingredients do not
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belong in the hiccoughing solution."</p>
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<p>"I'm aware of that, Professor," Harry said, "But I was wondering if you would
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allow me to alter the potion a bit to make it more… well… useful."</p>
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<p>"That is not really the assignment, Harry," Slughorn said doubtfully, "My request
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of you was a hiccoughing solution."</p>
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<p>"I understand sir," Harry said, "So how about I divide the potion I've brewed so
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far into two cauldrons and pick up from there?"</p>
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<p>"Do you believe yourself proficient enough to work on multiple draughts at once?"
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Slughorn asked, furrowing his brow.</p>
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<p>Harry actually snorted at that. "I assure you that's not a problem, sir," Harry
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replied respectfully, "I've done it many times before."</p>
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<p>Slughorn considered Harry for a moment before his expression softened. He almost
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seemed disappointed about something.</p>
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<p>"Very well," he conceded, "As long as you provide me with a vial of the
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hiccoughing solution at the end of class, you may proceed as you suggested. But do
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not expect me to go easy on your grade simply because you took on an extra
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difficulty."</p>
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<p>"I wouldn't dream of it, sir," Harry said happily before hurriedly getting back to
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his cauldron.</p>
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<p>With a flick of his wand, he summoned a spare cauldron, belonging to the school
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and set it on the fire. He carefully divided the solution in half and summoned a
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second stirrer that he put to work as well. If his calculations were correct, the
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making of the potion could stay the same for the most part but a few of the
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ingredients needed to be substituted.</p>
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<p>In the cauldron that was meant to become the hiccoughing solution, Harry carefully
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added two spoonfuls of anise oil. At the same time, he added the liquorice to his new
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creation. It smelled sweet and its consistency became a lot thicker. Perhaps not
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entirely as envisioned.</p>
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<p>With the anise oil completely absorbed, Harry added the cups of pineapple juice
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accordingly, moving the stirrer in an up- and downward motion such as to absorb the
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juice without allowing for too much air to be pushed out. It would still need to
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bubble, after all. Harry sighed. He could make this potion with his eyes closed. He
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turned down the fire somewhat to let the hiccoughing solution simmer and turned his
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attention back to the second cauldron. He finely cut up the ginger root and added it
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bit by bit to the solution, watching carefully as the tough roots were swallowed by
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the thicker liquid.</p>
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<p>It would need to boil for a while longer to soften the tough root, but that would
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result in more liquid escaping and a thicker solution. So either it could be used as
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some sort of syrup or he would need to add more water along the way. But that water
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would not have absorbed any of the ingredients yet so that might be problematic.
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Perhaps he could –</p>
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<p>Oh, he had almost forgotten to add the final ingredient to the hiccoughing
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solution. He grabbed the previously chopped up dill plant and scattered it into the
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potion, giving it two more stirs before hauling it off the fire and leaving it to
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cool. It looked positively perfect and should earn him an O easily.</p>
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<p>However… Harry now stared at the second potion with a hint of defeat but also
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curiosity. This wouldn't work. He bottled a sample anyway to check out later. Maybe
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Snape had an idea of what went wrong.</p>
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<p>"Stay after class if you will, Harry," Slughorn said and when Harry snapped his
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head up to look at his professor, he found him to be looking at him kindly.</p>
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<p>"Of course, Professor," Harry agreed, cleaning his working station before deciding
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that his hiccoughing solution had cooled down enough to bottle as well.</p>
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<p>Both Hermione and Draco shot Harry a curious glance when class was over but went
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on ahead without him. It was not as if Slughorn was known as some sort of terrifying
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teacher. In fact, he had been nothing but friendly in the past so there was no reason
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for concern.</p>
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<p>When the last student had left the room, Harry placed his potion on Slughorn's
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desk and waited.</p>
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<p>"Ah yes, thank you, Harry," Slughorn said, giving the potion only a momentary
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glance. His eyes then searched Harry's nervously, almost as if he was some infatuated
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schoolboy.</p>
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<p>"Harry," he said gravely, "It has come to my attention that you have been
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apprenticed to Severus."</p>
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<p>"That is correct," Harry admitted carefully.</p>
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<p>Slughorn sighed exasperatedly as he stood behind his chair, leaning heavily on the
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slim piece of furniture.</p>
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<p>After a moment's consideration, he asked: "May I ask why you haven't asked
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<em>me</em> to be your master? I <em>am</em> the current Potions Master of Hogwarts,
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after all. Not to mention that I'm the one who taught Severus most of what he knows.
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I have far more experience and I daresay that I am most likely the more capable
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brewer."</p>
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<p>Harry was taken aback for a moment. Slughorn was jealous?</p>
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<p>"It is clear to me that you are a very talented young man indeed," Slughorn
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continued when Harry didn't answer. "At least as talented as your mother was if not
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even more so. I would have very much liked to tutor you as well. Have you not even
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considered me?"</p>
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<p>"Professor," Harry stammered uncomfortably, "I'm not sure if you've heard but I
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have been living with Professor Snape for the last couple of years. Not only that,
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but he officially adopted me last Christmas. Even if you were the better potioneer –"
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<em>Which you're not</em>, thought Harry, "- It was still far easier for me to be
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aligned to someone who already had a connection with me. You see Professor, he knows
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me better than anyone at this point and he knows how to motivate and teach me."</p>
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<p>"So it was more about your personal connection than about skill?" Slughorn
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questioned.</p>
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<p>"That would be accurate," Harry said dryly.</p>
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<p>"I suppose I can understand that," Slughorn agreed, "Especially after having so
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tragically lost both of your parents."</p>
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<p>Harry simply nodded. He knew what Slughorn was trying to do. He wanted to start
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building some sort of rapport between the two of them but Harry really didn't feel
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like opening up to Slughorn. Not that he was a bad man, per se, but Harry didn't like
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how the man seemed to <em>collect</em> people.</p>
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<p>"Very well, Harry," Slughorn said after a moment's respite, "Thank you for your
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explanation. Just remember that if you ever need potion advice and Severus is not
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around, that I can always help you out. Now run along."</p>
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<p>"Yes, thank you, Professor," Harry replied before hastily leaving, hoping that he
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hadn't missed too much of lunch yet.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>The tables in the great hall were still stacked with food and drink and not a
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single student had left yet. Harry supposed that he had more time than he originally
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thought. He went to sit with his friends and glanced at the high table, meeting
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Snape's gaze. The man raised his eyebrows as if asking Harry where he had been but
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Harry simply shrugged.</p>
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<p>The man might officially be his father now, but there was no reason for Harry to
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go and tell him everything that was going on as soon as it happened. He would explain
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Slughorn's jealousy to him the next time they shared a pot of tea or something.</p>
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<p>"What did he want?" Draco asked as he slid in the seat next to Harry. None of the
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Gryffindors even seemed to care anymore that the Slytherin prince joined their table
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every now and then. It had become a normal occurrence and Draco wasn't pestered about
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it by either side anymore.</p>
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<p>"He wanted to know why I chose Snape over him," Harry said easily.</p>
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<p>Draco snorted. "Ah, the never-ending battle for
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The-Boy-Who-Continues-To-Live."</p>
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<p>"Honestly," Harry growled, "You would think that with Voldemort gone, people would
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pay less attention to me."</p>
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<p>"Less?" Ron exclaimed, his mouth filled to the brim. "You killing off the greatest
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threat to the wizarding world in decades has only increased the wonder surrounding
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the golden boy, you know?"</p>
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<p>"Chew with your mouth closed, Ronald," Hermione chastised. "Did Slughorn
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understand in the end, Harry?"</p>
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<p>"I think he did," Harry shrugged.</p>
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<p>Before anyone could say anything else, Peeves flew into the great hall, much to
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the dismay of most of the teachers and students present. Instead of charging forward,
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like he normally would, he floated near the entrance, looking over his shoulder as if
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he were waiting for someone.</p>
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<p>A few seconds later, a frayed and out of breath Professor Bell appeared, smiling
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sheepishly when she saw everyone's gaze fall on her.</p>
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<p>"Milady," Peeves said jovially as he bowed exaggeratedly, stretching his arm
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across the hall.</p>
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<p>"Thank you, Peeves," Bell said gratefully, "I don't know what I would have done
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without you."</p>
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<p>Peeves cackled loud before disappearing through a wall.</p>
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<p>"Bloody hell," Ron whispered, "Did she tame Peeves?"</p>
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<p>"Looks like it," Draco replied in utter amazement. "In the end, it was beauty that
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tamed the beast."</p>
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<p>"Stop drooling," Harry chided, "Before she hears you. And isn't it beauty that
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<em>killed</em> the beast?"</p>
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<p>Bell walked alongside the Gryffindor table to go and sit in her usual seat but
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stopped briefly next to Hermione to whisper: "I got lost again," before she hurried
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along.</p>
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<p>Hermione chuckled loudly as the slightly flushed Professor Bell took her seat next
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to Snape who only gave her a sideways glance before stiffly buttering his toast. Bell
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tried to offer him the jam but Snape ignored her completely. Eventually, she put the
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jam down next to the butter and focused on a bowl of fruit salad herself.</p>
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<p>"Looks like Snape found a new victim to assert his dominance over," Ron said
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flatly.</p>
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<p>"Maybe he's just not used to pretty ladies sitting next to him?" Draco
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offered.</p>
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<p>"Oh, stop it already!" Hermione huffed, "If you like her so much, why did you skip
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her class?"</p>
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<p>"You really shouldn't have," Ron added, "It was brilliant."</p>
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<p>"So I've heard," Draco admitted, "I'll go to the next one."</p>
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<p>When Harry looked at the high table again, he saw Bell having an animated
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conversation with Dumbledore while Snape sat in between them, looking awfully
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disgruntled. Harry couldn't help but laugh. He really did like this woman and most
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others seemed to as well. But it was so like Snape to dislike someone just for being
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happy and perky.</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p>That evening, Harry found himself in the students' lab once again examining the
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sludge he had created. Hedwig was eating the owl treats Harry had brought for her as
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he tested the thick liquid to see if it was poisonous.</p>
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<p>"What are you doing?" Came Snape's deep voice.</p>
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<p>Harry jumped somewhat, slightly startled at the sudden presence of his adopted
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father.</p>
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<p>"Don't do that," he scolded, "prowling around like the dungeon bat you are."</p>
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<p>Snape raised that typical sardonic eyebrow and smirked maliciously. "Five points
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from Gryffindor for your disrespect."</p>
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<p>Harry made a distracted noise as he went back to examining his failure.</p>
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<p>"I will ask again," Snape said impatiently, "What are you doing?"</p>
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<p>"Trying to find out if I made something that works or if I just made expensive
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mud."</p>
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<p>Snape snorted, "Expensive mud is the main export product of Potions Apprentices.
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It's too bad nobody will buy it."</p>
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<p>"I thought I was on to something," Harry said, ignoring Snape's attempt at a joke,
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"But my instincts might have been off."</p>
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<p>"Harry," Snape sighed, "What are we practising here?"</p>
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<p>Harry looked up in confusion, twirling his sludge vial back and forth.</p>
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<p>"I may call this subject an art when I try to get through to students but in
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reality, it is a science. Everything needs to be carefully measured and calculated if
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you want something to work. Surely, you know that?"</p>
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<p>"Of course I do," Harry said grumpily, "It was a spur of the moment thing."</p>
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<p>"It's fine if you want to try some things," Snape replied, "But it would be better
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if you thought these things through before you put them to the test. You can get
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lucky every now and then but if you do something very wrong, you might blow up."</p>
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<p>"I know what ingredients not to mix, you know," Harry argued, "I might
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accidentally make the potion inert but I doubt I would blow anything up." He was
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getting a bit annoyed with Snape's interference.</p>
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<p>"Don't presume that you know everything," Snape said sternly, "Not even I know the
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full effects of every single ingredient out there, let alone their effects on each
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other. You are most likely aware of the basics behind most of the ingredients found
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on the premises but I highly doubt you've explored every single possible
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combination."</p>
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<p>Harry huffed in annoyance. "Not yet, no but I can't get there without doing
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research!"</p>
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<p>"Mind your tone," Snape said gruffly, "And you're right. You have to do research
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but that doesn't mean randomly throwing some ingredients together and hoping that
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they magically bland into what you've envisioned. Did you even calculate the proper
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amounts before acting on your <em>instincts</em>?"</p>
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<p>"No, sir," Harry admitted. "But I was sure I got it. It seemed like such an easy
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substitution."</p>
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<p>Snape's gaze softened. "It's not atypical of apprentices to believe they know the
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ins and outs of the craft," he said gently, "But it would do well for you to know
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your limits before you proceed. If not for your own safety, than for that of
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others."</p>
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<p>Harry nodded and thrust his vial in Snape's direction. "So this is –"</p>
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<p>"Expensive mud," Snape replied easily. "Why don't you work out what you were
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trying to do and attempt it again tomorrow? Don't give up now. I bet you're on to
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something here."</p>
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<p>"Okay," Harry said, putting down his notes for now. "Will you help me?"</p>
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<p>"If you deem it necessary," Snape replied, "Though I would first advise you to try
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by yourself."</p>
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<p>Harry nodded, dropping his head on his arms as he looked at Hedwig who was
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cleaning her feathers.</p>
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<p>"Slughorn is jealous of you," he said.</p>
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<p>Snape didn't look the least bit surprised. "<em>Professor</em> Slughorn, Harry,"
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he corrected, "And let me guess. He wished that you had chosen <em>him</em> as a
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master instead of me."</p>
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<p>"Yup," Harry said, "Ten points to Slytherin."</p>
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<p>Snape ruffled Harry's tangled hair as the young man chuckled wearily. "Stop that!"
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he said, batting Snape's hand away.</p>
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<p>"Scared I'll chase away the birds?" Snape asked amusedly but continued on in a
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more serious tone of voice. "Did you get the feeling that Professor Slughorn might
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treat you unfairly because of this?"</p>
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<p>"Nah," Harry said, "He's not like that. It felt more like he's going to try to get
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in my good graces."</p>
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<p>"He's not a bad ally to have, you know," Snape said thoughtfully, "In the end, he
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too is an accomplished master."</p>
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<p>"I guess it's hard to imagine him as such," Harry admitted, "When you're used to
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your Potions Master gliding through the castle like some sort of deranged dementor,
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the charismatic feel of an average ageing man is severely reduced."</p>
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<p>Snape sneered dangerously. "Be careful before this deranged dementor has you
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gutting toads for the rest of the evening."</p>
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<p>"You can't," Harry smiled contently.</p>
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<p>"And do tell me why that is, you brat," Snape snarled.</p>
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<p>"Because I already cut ginger root today," Harry said cleverly, "It wouldn't react
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well with the frog's kidney's, sir."</p>
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<p>Snape smiled broadly. "Exactly right, apprentice."</p>
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<hr size="1" noshade="noshade"/>
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<p><em>Chapter six is finished already. This is going well. Please share your
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thoughts with me through the power of the review! 'Imperio!'</em></p>
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