Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Blood Quill Consequences	By : EarthandWater Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Snape Views: 31160 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We make no money from the writing of this.

Chapter List
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WARNING: Snark, lots and lots of glorious snark.

Disclaimer: We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We gain only amusement from writing this.

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Harry sighed and looked up at the infirmary ceiling. He had tried to convince Madame Pomfrey to let him go back to his own room. There was really nothing wrong with him that warranted a night in the infirmary, he was fine albeit a bit embarrassed for having caused a stir...again. He raised his hand and watched the back of it, it was only a scar, a small one at that. He had plenty of them even without mentioning his most famous feature, one more wasn't a big deal.

Hermione poked her head in and smiled softly, pleased to see her friend awake, before settling her expression into stern lines. "Harry why on earth didn't you tell us how bad off you'd gotten thanks to that cow before this happened?"

Green eyes flickered from the back of his hand to land on his friend. "Because it wasn't a big deal Hermione."

"Not a big deal? When you pass out in Snape's class mate...I'm sorry but I call that a big deal." Ron poked his head in alongside Hermione's. "I thought we had finally weaned you off this whole lone hero stint, don't tell my we have to start the training all over again..." Ron's long, freckled nose twitched.

Harry couldn't help but grin. "No, no new training needed. I really didn't think this was something to make a fuss about. What's a little detention to Voldemort having his body back?"

Hermione out-right frowned. "I'd say it's a large problem if it takes so much blood from you that you become severely anemic and need to spend, according to Madame Pomfrey, at least a week in bed taking two blood replenishing potions each day. Oh and let's not forget her pronouncement on Quidditch hmm?"

"A week?" Harry groaned, he wanted to go back to Gryffindor tower right now. "Wait...what's this about Quidditch?" He looked from Hermione to Ron and back again. Ron was shuffling his feet and wouldn't meet his eyes, that was a clear indication that whatever it was it wasn't something that he would like.

The teen girl got a knowing look on her face. "You're banned from playing Quidditch for eight weeks." She mentally counted down in her head, timing Harry's reaction. Three...two...one and....

"WHAT?!" Harry tensed and struggled to get up in a sitting position. "Eight weeks, that's half the season, they can't do that. I need to play...I need to fly." He flopped back down and put his arm over his eyes. "I'm captain, what will happen to the team?"

"You'll have to ask Madame Pomfrey if you can still make plays and go to meetings. You aren't allowed to fly until your body goes through the blood replacement cycle, which takes eight weeks." Hermione moved into the room and went to sit on the side of his bed, brushing his hair back in a sisterly manner. "You lost a lot of blood in those detentions Harry, more than I think you realize. According to what Madame Pomfrey said you were two detentions away from nearly dying from blood loss. In truth you passing out in Snape's class was a blessing in disguise. Not only won't you end up losing anymore blood thanks to that cow but she's been dismissed. I saw Professor McGonagall escorting her out of Hogwarts."

Harry was still miserable about the Quidditch but hearing that was a bright spot. "She's gone? No more fluffy pink cardigans and meowing kitty plates?"

"All gone." Ron grinned. "Now maybe the DADA lesson's won't be pure shite any longer."

"Thank goodness. I'm all for books and learning what you can from them but for heavens sake those classes were travesties." Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Her lessons had nothing to do with defense against the dark arts." Harry scoffed. "It was all about praising the ministry and stopping all of us from asking questions, nothing useful at all." He looked over at his friends. "The war is coming, no matter what Umbridge and the Minister says and even kids need to know at least the basics about how to defend themselves. Hopefully Dumbledore will hire a professor who knows what they are doing now."

Ron nodded silently.

Hermione smoothed down Harry's sheets. "He will I'm certain. The Board of Governors let themselves be pressured by the Ministry but after this I don't think that will happen again." She jolted when a loud bang sounded outside. "What on earth?" She flew to the window and blinked at the firework creature that was sparkling there before shaking her head and looking to Ron. "Your brothers are at it again."

"They are celebrating of course, that the mad cow is finally gone." Ron's freckled face was glowing. "I bet they have a wicked party going on in the common room...Err sorry mate." He cast guilty glance Harry's way.

"Don't worry about it, you two should go celebrate too, join the party." Harry made shooing motions towards the both of them. "Go have fun the two of you."

Hermione planted her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look. "I'm certainly not about to leave my friend here alone to go to the common room just for some silly party."

Madame Pomfrey bustled in with Dumbledore. "Ah Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley I hope you're not disturbing Mr. Potter."

"We're not disturbing him, we're just visiting our best mate." Ron spoke up from Harry's bedside where he had plonked himself down on the mattress next to Harry.

"They’re no trouble Madame Pomfrey but I was just telling them they should go enjoy what's left of the evening." Harry smiled.

"And we don't want to leave him alone just to go off for fun while he's stuck in bed." Hermione went back over to Harry's side to fuss with his pillows, making them more comfortable.

The healer smiled. "Ah well that's just fine but the Headmaster needs to talk to him and then I'll be giving him a sleeping potion." She wagged a finger at Harry. "You need to rest solidly."

Harry nodded, for once he wouldn't argue against the sleeping potion, he was so tired and so worn from the nightmares that plagued his sleep that he would be grateful for some dreamless sleep. "See 'Mione it's fine, I'm just going to sleep any way. Go have fun and eat a piece of trickle tart for me too."

She sighed. Outgunned and outmanned for the time being she had to give in rather than stay with her friend and make sure he was really okay. "Oh alright then but," she rummaged in her shoulder bag, taking out scrolls and Harry's books and other study materials, "I don't want you to fall behind so I'll take notes for you and Ron and I will both come by to help you study."

"Cheers 'Mione, I appreciate it." Right now studying was pretty far from Harry's mind but he knew he would have to do it so that he wouldn't fall behind. The last thing he needed was for Snape to accuse him of being even more incompetent.

"Sleep tightly mate and we'll be back tomorrow." Ron leaned in close. "I'll try to save you a piece of cake yeah."

Harry smiled and waved goodbye to his best friends, thankful beyond belief that he had them.

Madame Pomfrey placed a potion vial on the nightstand on top of the books Hermione had left behind. "After the Headmaster is finished I want you to drink all of that." She then turned to Dumbledore. "You don't tire him out too much understood?"

"I won't be long Poppy, the boy will get his rest." Dumbledore bowed his head at her. "How are you feeling Harry?"

"I'm fine Sir." Harry said politely even though he winced a bit at being called a boy at sixteen.

"I apologize that you had to be put through something like this within the walls of Hogwarts, and from a member from the staff no less. It should never have happened Harry." Dumbledore's eyes were serious behind the half moon shaped spectacles.

"It's okay Sir. You weren't to know."

"Still if anything like this would ever happen again, please tell someone Harry." He patted the comforter over Harry's right knee. "I will let you rest now. When you are feeling better I have something to discuss with you."

"Can't you tell me now Sir?" Harry was curious.

"No, no, I fear I must take my leave before Poppy chases me out. Rest now dear boy and we'll talk later." Dumbledore offered him a small smile and glided out of the room.

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Two weeks later found Severus Snape carefully mixing a volatile potion and ignoring the continuing bangs and booms of the Weasley twins' fireworks. It had been non-stop celebration among the school's population since Umbridge had been kicked out. Even his Slytherins were celebrating, in their own quietly devious way of using the extra time that had been DADA class to ruin people's days. He almost smirked. Three quarters of the student body wouldn't be celebrating much longer when he was announced as the new DADA teacher as well as Potions. He could just see the expressions of horror and got a rather evil little thrill out of it.

He was an odd teacher he supposed, to get such amusement out of tormenting his students yet willing to protect them no matter what. If he didn't end up with so many undisciplined dunderheads he'd have been less of a bastard but with the wild twits he had to deal with that likely would never happen. Class time was meant to learn and study, not to gossip, goof off with friends, or show off. And if anyone were to tell him that he never punished his own house they'd be completely wrong. The Slytherins got punished when they misbehaved, he simply did not do so in front of other houses. Let them all think he was playing favorites, he didn't mind, it kept the peace for the most part.

A soft pop came from the door just as he added the final ingredient and the potion stabilized. He cut a glance at the house-elf that had appeared as he bottled the potion. "Yes?"

"The Headmaster is needing Professor Snape and sent Mitzy with message."

"Hm. Tell him I will be there in a moment. I must bottle this potion first."

"Mitzy will tell him sir!"

The elf popped out and Severus quickly bottled the rest of the potion, cleaned up his work area, used a Scourgify charm to clean himself and swept out of the dungeon towards Dumbledore's office.

Harry fiddled with his hands as he sat across from Dumbledore at the man's large desk. He looked at Fawkes who was preening his feathers. "Excuse me Sir. but what are we waiting for?"

Dumbledore smiled. "We're waiting for Severus to get here since the thing that I wish to discuss very much involves the both of you."

Harry's curiosity was piqued, what on earth could involve both him and Snape? As much as he wracked his mind he couldn't think of a single thing.

A brief knock on the door preceded Snape sweeping in like the great bat so many considered him. He paused and cast a baleful eye on Harry. "I see you've ceased lazing about in bed Potter. Perhaps now your irritating compatriots will put an end to their excessive celebration."

Harry's eyes flashed with green fire but he managed to hold his tongue on the scolding words that were itching to slip eyes. "Perhaps...Sir." He added the Sir as an afterthought.

"Ah good, you're finally here Severus." Dumbledore beamed at him and ignored the tension between the two brunettes. "Have you given any more thought to my suggestion? I was just about to brief young Harry here."

"If you're asking if I'm about to back out the answer is no. After this I will discuss it with my choice for the Potions post." The potions master went to stand beside the desk, the better to observe Potter's reaction.

Dumbledore nodded with a pleased expression. "Good, good. So Harry I can imagine you're curious what this is all about."

Harry nodded in silence.

"I have offered Severus to role as professor for DADA alongside with his potions position."

Harry stiffened. Dumbledore had to be kidding, Snape as professor was almost as bad as Umbridge, he would probably only teach his precious Slytherins and leave the rest of them high and dry.

"Since he will govern two classes Severus is going to need help. I'd like you to become a student teacher for DADA, you have the practical experience needed and you have always excelled in the subject. Working close with Severus here I really think the two of you will make a great class."

Harry gaped. Student teacher...Working close with Snape. It all seemed like some weird dream, it couldn't be real.

It was small and petty of him but Snape derived a deep satisfaction from the gobsmacked and half horrified look on Potter's face. "Of course I myself wonder if you have the abilities to be serious and controlled long enough to give me effective aid in teaching your fellow students Potter. You are rather hideously undisciplined."

"I can handle anything you throw at me, you don't know me." Harry was still baffled and hesitant about the whole thing but when Snape put him down like that, it made him want to prove himself, to show Snape what he could do.

"Does that mean you accept the position Harry?" Dumbledore looked vaguely amused and Harry wondered what the old wizard was really thinking.

"I...yes, yes of course I accept. DADA is important, we all need to learn." The words 'Even if I have to work with Snape' hung heavily in the air even though Harry didn't voice them.

Snape allowed a smirk to form on his lips. "Well then Mr. Potter, report to the dungeons after dinner tonight to come up with a lesson plan as well as go over what you can and can not do as a student teacher under my purview and to meet your fellow student teacher as well." An unholy gleam seemed to shine in the potion master's eyes as he considered that meeting.

"Very well Sir, I'll be there." Harry scowled as he spoke to Snape, the blasted man never failed to get under his skin and prod where he was most tender, it was infuriating.

"Excellent, just excellent, I'm glad it's settled then." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. "I'm sure you gentlemen will work well together and teach the student body all they need to know. Harry listen to Severus, he has vast experience and knows what he's doing. Severus you need to listen to Harry too, he is a very bright young man."

To himself Harry thought that Snape probably had more experience casting curses and practicing the dark arts then defending against them but he nodded none the less. He would figure out a way to make it work with Snape, for his fellow students' sake.

Snape restrained himself from snorting. Perhaps Potter could make a decent teacher, if he were to abandon the arrogance and not let being The-Boy-Who-Lived go to his empty little head, but thus far he'd seen no proof that the boy had inherited any of his mother's intelligence. He looked at Harry and saw a miniature James Potter before him and couldn't look beyond that. He shook it off and gave Dumbledore a bored look. "If that is all then I have a few potions to finish and a Potions student teacher to inform."

"Fine, fine Severus, you may leave." Dumbledore nodded and turned to Harry. "You better be on your way too Harry, Minerva is a patient woman but she won't put a hold on her class for anyone."

"Yes headmaster." Harry got up from the chair and started to leave alongside Snape, his head filled with warring thoughts on what was to come.

Snape glanced over at the boy as they left the tower. "Try if you will not to lose consciousness in Transfiguration class. I realize so much information in such a small space makes your brain overheat but it would be most inconvenient at this point for your minuscule mind to decide to shut down so absolutely." Without giving the teenager the chance to reply he swept down the hall towards the Slytherin common room to get his student teacher for potions and warn him not to start a fight with Potter tonight. He didn't have the patience to break up a fight between his godson and Lily's child tonight.

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Harry made his way down the stairs to the damp dungeons and Snape's study. His head was still ringing with Hermione's congratulations and Ron's worried blabber. Harry may not like Snape but he highly doubted that this was some sort of masterplan the potions master had schemed together to deliver Harry gift wrapped and defenseless to Voldemort. Sometimes Ron's imagination really got the best of him. Shaking his head in amusement Harry knocked on Snape's door and stepped inside, though when he saw a familiar head of slicked back silver hair he had a good mind to turn on his heel and walk back out again. This meeting would be hell.

"Potter, good to see you have a grasp of punctuality." Snape barely looked up from the cauldron he was tending as he added a small measure of liquid without measuring it out with the spoons and got a favorable puff in return as well as an impressed look from Draco. "Have a seat. You and Mr. Malfoy are acquainted I know."

Harry slid into his seat trying his best to ignore to blond beside him who had only turned to sneer at him before turning back to Snape, watching the cauldron in rapped attention. "Do you add the beetle bones before or after stirring the potion counter clock wise?" Draco asked as he peered into the cauldron.

Remaining in his seat Harry couldn't even feign the slightest interest for whatever it was that Snape was brewing. It was probably an arrogance potions, it certainly seemed as if both Snape and Malfoy were heavily users of such an elixir.

Snape lifted a brow at his godson. "What do you think is the best to do Draco?" He was, in a way, testing his godson to see if his instincts in choosing Draco as the student teacher for Potions was correct. Thus far Draco had been able to grasp that what made a good potion wasn't always in the book and sometimes you had to work intuitively and divert from the book but this was a finer point potion that needed extreme accuracy so it would do for a test.

Draco furrowed narrow brows and looked at the cauldron. "I think it would be best to add the beetle bones after the stirring, to let the potion settle a bit and preserve the beetles potency."

Stifling a yawn Harry started to wonder what he was doing here at all.

Snape rolled his eyes. "Yes Potter we are aware that you find Potions a pointless exercise, once we're finished here we'll get down to the main purpose for tonight's meeting." He turned to his godson. "After then, well let's see." Snape stirred the potion and then did as Draco suggested and the potion turned first a vile green then lightened to a pleasant light aqua, much to Snape's satisfaction. "After it is. Well thought Draco."

Draco gave his godfather a rare honest smile as he watched the potion in satisfaction. "Thank you Sir." When he turned to look at Harry the sneer was back in place.

"I don't find potions pointless." Harry defended himself. "I just don't see the reason for me being here while you brew it."

"Perhaps if you paid more attention to others brewing potions you might learn something and, perish the thought, pass Potions by more than the skin of your teeth." A raised black brow accompanied that pronouncement. "Aside from that, I began that potion quite some time ago and can not simply walk away and leave it in the final stages before completion, something I speak about in first year. The potion is essentially finished now but needs to cool before bottling, so we can begin discussing the reason you are both here."

Harry hadn't meant that he was more important than the potion Snape was working on and he wasn't adverse to learning. For some reason he felt like he should apologize but he couldn't find the words. No matter what he said Snape would manage to find a way to tear him down and belittle him and besides Snape had already moved his attention away from him.

Snape moved to settle on a stool. "As you've both been told you will be student teachers assisting me in the classes I teach. Every students' schedule has been shuffled to make it so that all the Potions classes take place on the same day and each house is doubled up the same has been done with Defense Against the Dark Arts. Gryffindor and Slytherin will be taking the classes together as will Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. This has been done so that the two of you can continue your own eduction and only lose one day out of each week. One day each week you will spend helping me teach, grade papers, and make lesson plans for fourteen classes of students ranging from first to seventh year. Mr. Malfoy I chose you to be the student teacher for Potions not because you know everything there is to know about the subject but because out of all the students in this school you have the best grasp of the essence of potion making. Do not let that go to your head." Snape pinned his godson with a stern stare. "You still have a great deal to learn."

Draco knew he was good at potions, it was his best subject but he also knew that he was nowhere near Snape's class. Maybe with this TA position he could learn more. He had to admit that he was thankful that Snape had chosen him, it would have been horrible being second best to boy wonder over there once again. Being forced to spend time with Harry bloody Potter was not Draco's idea of a good time but at least he would have his godfather there too as a buffer. Hopefully he could get away with mostly ignoring the the Gryffindor. "I understand Sir and I doubt you will let it go to my head even if I tried." He shot Snape a smirk.

Harry wondered who Snape would have chosen as a TA for DADA if it had been up to him because Harry could guarantee that it wouldn't have been him. He would not have been here if Dumbledore hadn't decided it. That knowledge only made Harry want to prove himself further.

The potions professor returned the smirk. "You're correct. As for you, Mr. Potter, loathe though I am to admit it, the Headmaster was quite correct in suggesting you as the TA for Defense Against the Dark Arts. You've already had more experience in that area than most Aurors ever see and shockingly it is one of the subjects that you not only grasp but excel in if your scores are to believed." Snape tugged his sleeves into a more neat appearance. "The Headmaster knows we are heading for a war and he wants the students to be prepared, not just in knowing how to defend against dark magics but also in mindset. First years most of all come through these doors with the expectation of nothing but wonder, joy, and adventures that end in happily ever after. Your job Potter, will be assisting me in informing them that there are things out there much worse than any villain in a fairy tale and then how set about to defending themselves from those things. Despite what I'm sure are your incredibly spoiled summers and the people who flock to increase your ego, you've seen first hand the darkest of magics and can surely impress upon the happy-go-lucky dunderheads just how dangerous the world they live in is for the unprepared."

Snape turned and felt the cauldron the potion was in and nodded. "Draco, bottle the potion." He moved to the blackboard in the study. "The both of you will be taught extra Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts separate from your other classmates as you'll need to remain ahead of the curve in the subject you assist me in and as for the opposite class, I refuse to have either of my assistants prove themselves complete dunderheads in any of the subjects I teach. As you'll be in the extra classes together I want to make one thing exceptionally clear," he paused to be sure their attention was focused on him, "your little rivalry is to be laid aside when in my presence. I will not tolerate the idiocies the two of you get into when you're trying to one-up each other."

Almost choking back a laugh at the thought of the Dursleys spoiling him and stroking his ego over the summers Harry managed to shake the bizarre thought of that out of his head and concentrate on what Snape was saying. He eyed Malfoy and was med with equal distrust that he himself felt. "I'm willing to try if you are." Harry finally made out between clenched teeth.

A sharp silver blond brow raised. "I assure you professor Snape, I have no need to one up Potter as you call it, not when it's clear I'm already so much better. However I will play nice for now." Draco brushed some invisible lint away from his pristine robes and went back to carefully bottling the potions in small glass vials.

Harry bit back a sharp retort, he wouldn't let Malfoy get to him. If he gave in already it would prove to Snape that he couldn't control himself or his temper.

As the brunette teen's eyes were averted, Snape gave his godson a narrow eyed look that clearly communicated that laying the rivalry aside meant no verbal sniping as well. The brief chastising look was gone when Harry's gaze returned to him. "Further there will be no slacking in any of your classes. As for how you two will conduct yourselves when assisting me in teaching, you are merely there to teach discipline is left to me. You have no authority to give or take away points or treat your fellow students of any house in any but the most professional manner whilst teaching. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes Sir." Both Harry and Draco said in a low tone. To be honest Harry was thankful that he wouldn't have any authority, that was the last thing he needed to stand out more, to be more different than the others around him. "Um...Professor, Umbridge didn't allow us to learn anything in her classes, where should we begin to let people catch up?"

Snape sneered. "Well as the previous DADA teachers have been fairly pathetic, aside from a certain mangy wolf. We might as well begin with basic dueling again and teach the little twits Expelliarmus as well as a few hexes and jinxes."

The corners of Harry's mouth itched to turn upwards in a smile at Snape's talk about the little twits but he hoped that he managed to keep a neutral expression. He had a suspicion that Snape would think he was laughing at him and no good could come of that. He approved of Snape's plans, knowing that duels, disarming spells and jinxes, were something he could actually do and feel comfortable doing. "Yes professor, sounds like a good plan." Harry noticed that Snape was really paying Remus some sort of backwards compliment there but he thought it best not to mention it.

"But part of your new duties Potter will be looking through the library, and you'll have special access to the Restricted Section for this, to find spells and such for the classes. I know you'll find actually reading and studying instead of goofing off with Weasley and Granger very straining but you'll have to make that sacrifice. If you don't know the spells you find bring them to me and, if I find them to be appropriate,I will be teaching them to you so you may teach them to the other dunderheads." The professor turned his gaze back to Draco. "You have a similar responsibility and privilege with potions Mr. Malfoy."

"I understand Sir." Draco bowed his head minutely towards Snape, his mind already whirring with all the different kinds of potions he could look up and learn. He wouldn't go against Snape but he wouldn't dismiss the opportunity to further himself either...He was a Malfoy after all.

Harry simply nodded. He didn't have the energy to try to defend himself in front of Snape, the man wouldn't believe him anyway so there wasn't really any point to explain that he wasn't the lazy, bumbling idiot that Snape claimed he was.

"Every evening after dinner I want you both to come here for at least two hours for lesson planning and your own lessons, it may go longer depending on the lessons. And Mr. Potter, though you are a Gryffindor I certainly hope you might show some slight bit of Slytherin cunning in regards to your own education as you have in regards to troublemaking."

Oh Harry could be cunning like a Slytherin alright, much more so than anyone gave him credit for. Not that he felt inclined to offer that information to anyone. "Yes Sir, I'll try my best." He said simply.

"Very well then." Snape brandished his wand, flicked it and had a sheaf of papers appearing before him. He directed it to Harry. "That will be for your notes on the classes you'll be teaching, the pass for the library is contained there as well as your new schedule and blank lesson plans for you and I to fill out each evening."

Taking the stack of papers Harry nodded. "Thank you Sir."

"Oh professor, what will happen with Quidditch?" Draco piped up. "Both Scarhea...Potter and I are on the teams, will we be able to continue that or will we need to give it up?" Draco didn't want to have to give up Quidditch, this year he was determined to finally beat Potter and those blasted Gryffindors into the ground.

"Potter is grounded for the next six weeks but if you'll manage your time correctly you should both still have time for the practices as they take place before dinner."

Draco nodded, feeling very pleased about Potter's continued grounding though he had to admit that it wouldn't be a real victory if he wouldn't be able to really rub boy wonder's nose in it. "Understood Sir."

"Now Mr. Malfoy, you and I have more lesson planning to do. As the DADA classes have been so grievously mishandled Potter and I will be forced to go over things that many of the classes should already know, that he most certainly does know, but the others likely do not so for the next few classes the lesson planning will be simple but as I have certainly not allowed the Potions classes to fall behind, you will need to learn what you will be teaching this Friday." He cast a look at Harry. "You may stay if you wish to learn it now as well Potter but if not then you can take yourself off to parts unknown until tomorrow evening."

If he was to do this, to learn then he'd might as well start right away. Besides Harry could imagine Hermione and Ron waiting in the tower, questioning him and wanting to know everything. He loved his friends, he really did but he didn't feel like being poked and prodded with questions and comments right now. It was only Monday and Harry could already feel the long stretch of the week in front of him. "I'd like to stay Sir."

Snape studied the brunette closely then nodded. "Summon your potion supplies then Potter and we'll get started."

Feeling somewhat relieved Harry accioed his supplies from the cupboard in the back of the potions classroom and set them out in front of him. He really didn't feel much hope of being able to keep up with the other two but he would do his best.

Snape carefully instructed the two and watched carefully, well aware of each mistake Potter made. Each time he'd correct the brunette, not bothering to be tactful, he saw Draco look over both smug and oddly puzzled. Snape could understand both well enough, he certainly was puzzled by the mistakes in preparation and occasional stirring Potter made but he had no desire to delve into the boy's stupidity and merely corrected him rather than seek out why he was making such mistakes in the first place. "By Merlin no Potter. It calls for ground, not powdered arnica. Unless you want it to blow up in your face?"

Feeling a flush of embarrassment and irritation rise on his neck and cheeks Harry struggled to hold his tongue and correct his mistakes. How was he supposed to know what was ground or powdered?

Draco glanced over at Potter again, noting that he was using the sharp edge of the silver dagger to flatten the flobberworms instead of the required blunt. "Really Potter, how can you be this pathetic at potions? A three year old does better than you do. Though you were amusing to watch at first now it's just embarrassing."

Harry seethed and put the dagger down before he was tempted to use it for something other than flattening flobberworms. "Look Malfoy, not everyone grew up around magic, spells and potions. I'd never heard of cauldrons or potion brewing until I got here so yeah, the level of a three year old might be just about right."

Snape paused and raised an eyebrow. "You mean to say you've never seen a demonstration on potion preparation, even in regular cooking?"

"Oh I know cooking, with pots and pans on an electric stove. This, this I had never experienced until I got here." Harry's tone had a bit of a bite to it.

Draco stood gaping with his own dagger in a loose grip. Was Potter serious? He couldn't even imagine not even knowing the basics, his mother had showed him how to brew and the importance of preparations before he even could walk.

The professor pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "Perfect. Bloody muggles. The first book I want you to look at next time you go to the library is Potion Basics for Beginners, it will explain in more depth. For now though," he turned and summoned a line of several enchanted bottles to appear before Harry each bottle was labeled. There was whole, halved, quartered, cubed, diced, sliced, slivered, shaved, crushed, ground, and powdered among a few others, "a potion is affected by the preparation of the ingredients. The slightest difference such as between ground and powdered can have a significant affect on the potion. Those bottles will show you how the ingredient you pick up will look in each kind of preparation. Use it as a visual guide to how to prepare the ingredient and Draco," he met the cool gray eyes of his godson, "consider this a test of your teaching skills. I want you to instruct Potter in the proper ways to stir, flatten, etcetera as he goes."

Draco nodded and moved to stand beside Potter, he thought back on the way his mother had taught him and decided to teach Potter the same way. Really it was too easy to poke fun at the 'chosen one' for this and that took all the fun out of it. What was the point of it if Potter couldn't fight back.

Harry felt a sliver of resentment, if Snape had bothered to ask him what his problem was four years ago then maybe he wouldn't be total shite right now but no~o, the man was too busy hating him to actually teach him something. Avoiding Snape's gaze Harry concentrated on what Draco told him and measured his ingredients by the bottles Snape had summoned.

As for Snape he watched the boys carefully while he considered the information that had just been revealed. He hated to admit it but perhaps he'd been remiss in his duties as potion master when it came to Potter. Most muggleborn students he taught were given a detention to disguise an impromptu lesson in potion preparation but he'd never afforded Potter than opportunity because he'd assumed that someone would have explained it at some point to the boy, now teenager, and most of the time when he looked at the young man all he could see was the mocking smirk of James Potter. Unless Harry raised his gaze and looked him in the eyes Snape so very easily and often forgot that he was just as much Lily's child as he was James'. He'd never really had the chance to repay James Potter for all he'd done and he'd been taking his old bitterness and hatred out on the man's son. He wasn't ashamed of that, per say, but more of the fact that he'd slipped in his duties. He knew the boy lived with his muggle family but he'd conveniently forgotten that fact in favor of an old grudge.

Well he couldn't say he wouldn't be paying for it now. He'd have to spend more time with Potter than previously planned to fix the years of missed potion instruction. Such joy. If his expression got any more sour you'd have thought someone had forcefed him sea buckthorn.

Harry's expression wasn't much happier as he listened to Draco tell him what to do and watched the Slytherin roll his eyes when he still got it wrong. Oh how he regretted his choice to stay right now, spending the evening in these two's company was as much fun as rolling across burning coal naked.

"Well look at that, it seems you're not completely braindead after all." Draco said when Harry's potion turned a vivid purple. "Now stir it clockwise twelve times and counter clockwise eight and then you're done."

Harry bristled at the surprise in Malfoy's voice but did as he was told.

Snape watched as potion settled as Potter finished and he pulled out a small strip of something that looked like a half rotten chip. He took a bit of the potion up with a medicine dropper and dripped it onto the chip, nodding when it turned from a bright blue to green then purple. "Passable Potter."

"Thank you." Harry said in a flat voice, then after a while he added "Sir."

"You see, if I can teach Potter then I can teach anyone." Draco looked very pleased with himself.

The professor gave the blond boy a kind smile that had both teenagers backing up in trepidation. "Well then I suppose I'll put the passability of Longbottom's potions on your shoulders Draco."

Draco paled and Harry couldn't help but let out a snort, if he was shite at potions then Neville was a walking breathing disaster. "Good luck Malfoy, you'll need it."

"Oh shut up Potter." Draco replied dejectedly, his godfather could be a cruel, cruel man.

Snape ignored the softer banter. His godson would need luck dealing with Longbottom, a great deal of it if the boy was to pass Potions class. "Bottle the potions and then, Potter you may return to your house. Mr. Malfoy I want you to remain to better plan the lesson for tomorrow. Also Potter, in tomorrow's class I expect a successful potion from you as you've already made it once. Prove to me you've learned."

Harry settled for nodding as he bottled the potion and corked up the small vials before putting his supplies back in the cupboard and gathering the stack of papers. "I'll see you both tomorrow then I guess." He said a bit uncertainly before he slipped out of the classroom and made his way from the dungeons and up to the Gryffindor tower.

Snape merely lifted a brow before turning to his godson. "The potion we just made will be taught to the fifth years and above. The years below that," he summoned a single sheet of parchment, "will be working on lesser potions that you already know." He moved to behind his desk and paused looking at his godson. "I did mean what I said about your talent in potions Draco. You have the potential to far outstrip me and any currently living potion master; you shouldn't waste that potential by following the same path Lucius is on."

A soft pink spread across Draco's pale cheeks and he ducked his head so that Snape wouldn't see his expression. He let his quill fly over the parchment as he noted down all Snape's suggestions and orders for the lessons the next day. "It's not that easy Sir, I'm the Malfoy heir, my path is set whether I like the direction its going in or not." He finally said softly.

"Is it? Or is that simply what your father has told you all your life?" Snape's eyes were intense on Draco's bowed head. "You are the Malfoy heir, that can not be taken away unless you do something to disgrace your line. Lucius can not steal your place as the next Lord Malfoy if you choose not to follow his path. Trust me Draco, the path he is trying to force you to follow is paved in nothing but regrets and pain. I want better for you, as does your mother. If you wish to break free of the path Lucius is trying to make you take, you are free to seek my help."

Draco's hands clenched and unclenched and he still wouldn't look up. "My father is a determined man, with very scary friends but I'll remember what you said." He looked up, his grey eyes guarded and wary. "Are we finished for tonight professor? I have a lot to go through before tomorrow and should probably get to it."

The man nodded and sighed as Draco left. He wished he could do more to assure his godson that he would be safe from the other Death Eaters should he choose to divert from the path Lucius set him on. Perhaps this teaching assistance situation might help with that. If Draco could be around others who could show him that he could fight for freedom from the shadowy hands trying to drag him into permanent darkness perhaps he would do so.
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Blood Quill Consequences