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
- 3
- 4
- 5
WARNING: Humanized Slytherins, girls (hence the reason it's in extras), Occlumency lessons, child abuse, snark, expressed dislike at Dumbledore's manipulativeness.

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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Draco was appalled as he made his way towards the library. He had never fallen behind on any subject in his entire life and now he had, in the lamest subject ever none the less. He shuddered to think what his father would do if he came away with something less that all O's in all subjects so he had agreed to be tutored. It was just his luck that the professor had assigned goody two-shoes know-it-all Granger to the task. Not only did he have to spend the evenings with Potter now he had to study with Granger, if he wasn't careful he would get some weird Gryffindor disease.

Walking into the library he spotted a head of wild, curly hair straight away and with a sigh of utter most suffering he made his way over and plonked his bag down on the table. "Let's get this over with then shall we."

Hermione suppressed a scowl. When Professor McGonagall had asked her to tutor Malfoy in Muggle Studies she'd nearly choked on air and refused. The bloody little ferret was still a total prat outside of Potions class and had maintained his habit of insulting her as well as Ron and Harry when he encountered them in the halls and the last thing she wanted was to spend long stretches of time dealing with his arrogant disdain. Her head of house had convinced her by playing on her sense of fairness, saying that Malfoy hadn't been using his new position to wreck the Gryffindor's grades and had even managed to get Neville's potions skills up by a couple grades. So here she was, staring at the pointy nosed prat and talking herself out of being nasty. "By all means Malfoy. Let me see your last few homework assignments for Muggle Studies. I need to see what you're having trouble with."

Showing weakness in front of Granger was not something he wanted to do and having trouble with Muggle Studies was a weakness but if he wanted to get his grades up then he didn't have a choice. He opened his dragon hide bag and pulled out a few rolls of parchment. "Muggle studies is a useless subject anyway. The Malfoys are purebloods, I guarantee I won't have any use of this in the real world."

Her rich brown eyes narrowed as she took the scrolls from him. "Oh really. You think so? What about the Wizard Registration Act that is on the verge of being passed in the Ministry? If it goes through then you'll be going to Muggle Parliament every time a member is added to your family, whether by marriage or birth, and you'll need to know how to navigate a Muggle city to do so."

"The act haven't been passed yet." Draco drawled and drummed on the table top as Hermione read through his homework. He wasn't about to admit to any concern or worry about his ability to function in a muggle world. He was a Malfoy, above worry or concern, that was what he had always been taught.

"Hmm." The girl scanned quickly over the homework. "Quidditch matches then, I know you attend those. The tents are usually camped on muggle property, in a highly muggle visible area and you are required to blend in so as not to attract attention. How can you blend in when you don't know how?"

"Fine, fine...I suppose it can have its uses." Draco waved a long fingered hand in front of his face. "It's not like I fell behind on purpose. Can't you just tell me what I need to read up on?"

She looked up at him, her eyes almost piercing in their intensity. "Draco Malfoy tutoring is not simply telling someone what they need to read up on, as I'm sure you realize with your position as Potions TA, and I'd kiss Fang before I'd slack off in tutoring you. Merlin you're more impatient than Harry and Ron put together."

"Please, don't compare me to Humpty and Dumpty." Draco made a face. "I can't imagine you like being here with me more than I do so I was just trying to give you an out. Tell me what to do and I'll do it, I'm not an idiot like most of your friends...I actually have a brain."

"Malfoy don't you insult them! They're a far sight brighter than the Neanderthals you keep around you. Crabbe and Goyle are barely one step up from dragging their knuckles."

Draco's lips quirked upwards at that rather fitting description but he quickly schooled his face into his usual sneer again. "They have their uses. Besides our families go way back, I've known both of them forever."

She gave him an arch look. "Way back, so which family dragged which into the shadows I wonder? You know Malfoy even if Harry and Ron were dumber than a sack of rocks I'd still be honored to be considered their friend because they have my back no matter what. I somehow doubt Goyle or Crabbe would stand with you if they thought tossing you over would benefit them."

"No one ever really has your back Granger, in the end you're always on your own." Draco's gray eyes were serious as they looked at Hermione. "The sooner you learn that the better, it'll save you from a lot of disappointment and wasted trust." He shifted on his chair. "Now let's get back to the thing at hand, I want to get back to my neanderthals and I suppose your bags of rocks are waiting for you. Weasel is probably right outside the door, making sure I'm not putting some Slytherin curse on you."

Hermione's eyes had a brief sadness in them for Draco. She couldn't imagine not having at least one person she could trust implicitly and, as big a git as he was, she was sad Draco didn't have a true friend. The brief moment of sadness was replaced by humor at his last sentence. He might be a prat but you couldn't say Malfoy wasn't clever. "Ron wouldn't do that. He knows I'm more than capable of defending myself from you if I feel the need, whether with wand or fists." She gave him a small smirk knowing he had to remember the punch she'd given him third year.

She turned back to the materials and pointed at his homework. "You have absolutely no problems with Muggle laws, etiquette, or currency, none of which is surprising considering that you're a sneaky snake." Her tone was light, letting him know that it wasn't actually an insult. "Your difficulties are coming from the operation of Muggle objects."

"I just can't figure them out. They are all so...Gadgety and complicated. Who needs all these buttons and things?" Draco wiggled his fingers in front of him. "All you need is a good wand and then you're set."

She rolled her eyes. "Only if you have magic Malfoy. Muggles and Squibs don't have that luxury and have to create gadgets to make do." She tapped her lips with a finger, eyes narrowed as she considered the best way to tutor Malfoy in Muggle Objects. Her eyes lit and she set about closing books, rolling scrolls back up, handing Malfoy his, and waved for him to follow her. "We need to move to the Room of Requirements. The best way to learn with Muggle objects is by doing, trial and error. We'll start small, a basic toaster."

Eyeing Hermione with great scepticism but he packed up his things and followed behind her. "You just want me alone in a dark room, there is no shame in that, I know I'm irresistible." Draco smirked and ran a hand through his silvery blond hair as they made it up a set of stairs and to the room of requirements.

Hermione actually snorted at that. "Malfoy I hate to burst your bubble but you've a nose like the business end of a needle and the way you lacquer down your hair I'm shocked no one's mistaken your skull for a crystal ball yet. I'll have no problems with resisting your charm." Sarcasm lay heavy on the last word as if she doubted he could be charming. They arrived at the Room of Requirements and she walked past the hidden door three times then entered it, making sure Draco was on her heels, and beamed at the array of Muggle objects in the room.

"Rather slicked back than live with the rats nest you have stuck on your head. Ever heard of a hairbrush?" Draco sniffed, his nose wasn't pointed...It was noble. He looked around the room, cringing a bit at the sight of all the objects in the room.

"It's a pain to wrestle with the curls every morning. So long as it's clean and out of my way Malfoy I don't generally care how it looks as it takes too much time to bother." She led him to a simple toaster, the first of a long line of gadgets. "Obviously we're not going to get you using all of these in one tutoring session but we'll get a start." She pointed to the toaster then used her wand to conjure some bread slices. "Simple toaster, whole point of it is to toast bread slices to the user's preference. See the knob under the lever? You turn that to choose how toasted you want your bread."

Draco leaned down and peered at the knob, not knowing how a little knob could decide how toasted the bread should be. He twisted it back and forward a few times. "So I place the bread in here, turn the knob and press on the lever?" It didn't sound all that complicated but it still seemed like a lot of work when you could just call a house elf.

"That's the basic idea. See how there are different shades of brown around the knob? Well you pick which one of those is the darkness of the toast you like then turn the knob so that little red line is pointing to the one you want. For example I like my toast right in the middle, a nice light brown," she grabbed his hand and had him turn the knob so it was in the middle shade, "Then put the bread in and press down the lever. When the toast is done it'll pop back up."

Her hand was smooth and warm and Draco had to fight the urge to pull his back, not because he didn't like it but because maybe he liked it too much. "Okay, I'll give it a go then." He left the knob in the middle shade and pressed to slices of bread into the slot before pulling the lever down." Draco watched in rapt attention, waiting for something to happen. "Why are the small wire thingies turning red?" He reached out his hand as if to touch them.

Hermione eeped and grabbed his wrist before he could touch them. "Careful!" She lowered her voice from that one panicked warning. "Those are coils, they get hot so they can toast the bread. If you touch them you'll get burnt."

"Burnt? Well that makes no sense, why would anyone put themselves through that?" Draco took a cautious step back suddenly jumping three feet in the air when the bread popped up. "Well look at that, it's actual toast."

She turned her head to hide a reluctantly amused smile. Draco reminded her a bit of a young child in curiosity at the moment but he'd likely take great offense to her amusement and as they had some kind of truce at the moment she didn't want to ruin it. She snatched the toast from the toaster and took a bite. "This is actually much safer than how people used to make toast. They used to have little cages on sticks that they had to roast over open flame for each slice. But if a Muggle wants toast they have to use a toaster. The bread pops up so no one touches the coils. The longer the bread stays down, the darker the toast. I know people who like it near charcoal," she wrinkled her nose, "and they hold the lever down to get the toast downright black."

"Why would anyone want to eat burnt bread?" Draco made grimace and then stopped Hermione as she was about to take another bite. "Wait." He conjured a glass jar from his room. "You haven't had a proper toast until you've had one with mother's cherry marmalade." He offered her the jar and spoon. "Try it." He spread the marmalade on the other toast and took a bite. "I think I understand the workings of a toaster now."

Hermione blinked in surprise at the jar and took a bit of the marmalade, spreading it on her toast. She didn't worry about Malfoy possibly poisoning her, logic dictated that there would be no point for him to do that as he'd be the first suspect and also with her gone then he'd be getting tutoring from Harry, something she was certain he'd rather eat live slugs than do. She took a bite of the now marmalade covered toast and her eyes widened in pleased surprise. She chewed slowly and swallowed. "Oh my it's amazing. Does your mother just make the marmalade or does she like to cook often?"

Draco gave a pleased smile at the praise of the marmalade and took another bite. "Oh mother likes to cook a lot, I think the kitchen was the first place I learned about potions. Mother always say that cooking and potions is basically the same. Father doesn't like her being in the kitchen though." Draco quieted, realising that he had probably blabbed to much. "Um...Very well Granger, are we done with today's lesson?"

She stifled her curiosity to dig deeper into his family life and nodded. "Yes. Something I want you to read though," she dug into her bag and pulled out a muggle book on electricity and a muggle dictionary, "That book should give you a basic understanding of muggle powersources for the gadgets and the dictionary is in case you run into a muggle word you can't figure out that's not in the wizard's dictionary." She handed him the books.

He took them and places them in his bag, nodding shortly. "I will have read them by next time. Good Evening Granger." He turned on his heel and walked out the room as if chased by something.

She stared after him for a few moments more. 'That was...interesting.' For a few moments there she'd seen Malfoy without his usual arrogant nasty attitude and she liked what she'd seen, a curious and oddly fragile yet strong spirit. If that was how Malfoy truly was then she wanted to see more of it and she wanted to know why he hid behind the nasty attitude. She gathered her things and pondered how to discover more about the Slytherin prince. He'd sounded so light and almost happy when speaking about his mother but then mention of his father...all the light had gone out of the boy. 'I think I need to have a talk with Dobby about the Malfoy family.'

Thinking about the new mystery she had to unravel, she left the room and headed for the kitchens.

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Pansy Parkinson looked up from her Care of Magical Creatures homework as Draco nearly slammed into the common room like he was running from a rabid hippogriff. She raised a brow and got up to go over to him. "Oh Draco was it that awful dealing with the mudblood? I know being near such filth makes one twitch."

Draco glared at her, for once not liking the mudblood comment at all. He caught himself before jumping to Granger's defense. "Well you know, it's never pleasant. Combine that with a night of extra homework...Not really my idea of fun." He ran his hand through his hair again and thought about Granger's crystal ball comment...Maybe he should leave it ungelled tomorrow.

Pansy draped herself on his shoulder. They weren't really dating, neither of them was romantically interested in the other but it suited their purposes to make others think that they were. They were just friends, of a manipulative sort, but Draco didn't want others who's motives he didn't know clinging to the hem of his robes so whenever in the sight of others Pansy played the possessive, clingy, Slytherin girlfriend to the hilt. Her fingers traced along his jaw. "Poor darling. I can put a nice hex on her if you like Draco my sweet."

"Don't bother Pans, with a face like that no one would notice it anyway, it's not worth you getting into trouble." He gave a playful pull on her shiny, dark hair before pulling away from her grasp. "I'm just going to put my bag away and wash away the smell of...homework."

She rubbed her cheek on his shoulder in silent commiseration, something that she'd have done even without the guise of dating. Most assumed Slytherins were icy cold, heartless, and anti-social but that couldn't be further from the truth. No other house was as tactilely affectionate. Many Slytherins came from homes that weren't just broken but shattered and were starved for affection so they gave it to each other in touches that would be considered a little too familiar in any other house but in Slytherin they were considered casual. They maintained the cold facade outside of the dungeons however. Rule number one was to never give your enemies an opening and if the other houses knew how hungry most Slytherins were for affection that would be a weapon that could rip the snakes to pieces.

"Alright. If you change your mind though just say the word."

Draco smiled and leaned in to brush a kiss over her cheek. "You know it Pans, if I feel any hexing urges you'll be the first to know." He walked into his dorm room and unpacked his bag, running his fingers over the books Hermione had given him to read before he shook his head and made his way to the prefects bathroom.

Pansy returned to her homework but in the back of her devious mind she was plotting ways to 'assist' Draco with his mudblood problem. She might not be hexing the bush haired Gryffindor girl but she could certainly scheme up a way to 'play' with Granger's little boy toys if Draco needed a break from Granger.

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Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room, her mind a little fuzzed by what Dobby had reminded her of. Draco's mother was one of Sirius' cousins. She did recall seeing that on the Black family tapestry at Grimmauld Place but it hadn't immediately registered when Malfoy had mentioned his mother. Dobby hadn't really been much help truth be told. He'd mostly refused to tell her anything about his former masters' interactions with each other, something about a house-elf code of silence in regards to what went on within the homes they served. So that was a bit of a dead end but now she'd be able to owl Sirius for a little information, hopefully as unbiased as the man was capable of providing.

She saw Harry and Ron sitting in front of the fireplace playing chess and came over.

Ron looked up from his Knight beating the crap out of Harry's Bishop when Hermione came over and he looked her over for any visible wear and tear. "You alright? That slimy bugger didn't do anything to you did he? Because if he did I will march right down there and rip his pointy nose right of his pasty face." Ron flexed his muscles threateningly, glancing over at Lavender from the corner of his, watching if she caught the show.

"What was he supposed to do...Besides scar her with his lack of knowledge of all things muggle?" Harry rolled his eyes at his friend. Ron had a tendency to go way overboard.

She shook her head at her boys. "Ron really you don't honestly think I can't handle Malfoy do you? He's just as eager to be out of my company as I am his but if he tries to attack me he'll be taking direct instruction from Harry, most certainly not something he'd want." She settled into a deep comfy chair to start on her homework as she talked with her friends. "And Ron, stop trying to impress Lavender, you've just lost a rook."

Ron turned as read as his hair and looked back at the chessboard noticing that Hermione was right. "You are a right tosser you are, taking advantage of my weakness like that." He hissed at Harry as he tried to save the game.

"It's not my problem that you're making cow-eyes at Lavender Brown instead of concentrating." Harry pulled his knees up underneath him and covered a yawn with his hand. His nights were still mostly sleepless.

Ron sputtered but turned his attention back to the game.

Hermione looked at the brunette boy. "Harry are you okay? You look really tired."

"I'm just fine 'Mione." Harry shot her a smile though the effect was slightly ruined by the dark purple bruises under his eyes. He had given up trying to sleep and taken to wander the castle underneath the comfortable weight of his invisibility cloak.

She frowned at him. "Harry I could carry my books in those bags under your eyes."

"Gee, thanks for the compliment. Really though, I'm fine." Harry tried to calm his friends, he didn't need them to worry about him more than they already did.

"You know...if you're having trouble sleeping you could get a potion to help. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey could request a sleeping draught from Snape without divulging who it's for."

"I don't want to rely on potions, besides they leave me woozy the next day. I don't like the feeling." Harry took a hold of Hermione's hand, brushing her knuckles with his thumb. "I promise that you don't have to worry, just trust me will you?"

She wanted to argue but knew from Harry's expression it would be pointless. "Alright but if something happens I retain the right to say I told you so."

"Don't you always retain that right and use it too?" Harry chuckled and Ron gave an amused snort. "It's okay though, we love you even though you're an insufferable know it all."

"And I love you too even if you're a hardheaded, impulsive, overly self-sacrificing idiot and even if Ron is a quick tempered prat." Her eyes twinkled in humor before she remembered Malfoy's earlier words and then she sobered. "I'm lucky to have you two at my back and to stand at yours when you need me."

Harry grew serious too. "Yeah, we're lucky too." Ron nodded so furiously that his freckles turned into a blur. "Knowing that I have someone to trust, always and with anything, it makes all the difference."

She smiled at them and moved to catch both the boys in a group hug. "I just wish everyone was as lucky as we are."

"Yeah, yeah enough with the fluff please, I'm getting cavities here." Ron hugged back before releasing both his mates with a grin.

"Ron you're never going to get a girl with that kind of attitude." Hermione settled back to her homework. "Really if you want a girlfriend you'll need to live with a little 'fluff' from time to time."

"Oh I can live with fluff if it comes from a bird, a sweet, soft, luscious bird." Ron sighed and looked over at Lavender again.

"Why don't you just go over and talk to her then?" Harry resisted the urge to gag at Ron's antics.

"I can't do that!" Ron looked positively horrified. "I don't have anything to say. I really don't want to talk to her, just snog her."

Hermione ran a hand over her face. "Good lord Ron you are such a man-pig."

Ron looked unconcerned as he leaned back in his chair again. "Oink, oink." Was his simple reply.

"As fun as it is to listen to the two of you I need to get going." Harry got up and grabbed the bag that was stuffed under the chair. "I have another fun filled night in the dungeons to look forward to. I'll catch you later alright?"

Hermione nodded. "of course. Take care Harry."

Harry nodded and hoisted his bag on his shoulder, waved to Ron and walked out of the portrait hole. Planning lessons with Snape he could handle but he hated every second of the Occlumency. No matter what he just didn't get it and he had to suffer Snape sniping at him and have him crawling around in his head. For some reason he felt like such a disappointment for not being able to shut Snape out and he didn't like the feeling at all.

He made his way down all the stairs quickly and knocked on the now familiar door to Snape's study.

The familiar cultured tone of the professor's voice came through the door. "Enter."

Snape looked up from the ingredients he and Draco were preparing to see Potter step in. He nodded shortly, deliberately refraining from commenting on the dark circles under the teenager's eyes. If the boy wanted to walk around looking like hell, garnering sympathy and stroking his ego with the masses of people who proposed to 'care' for him it was none of Snape's business. "Potter."

"Professor Snape, Malfoy." Harry nodded and walked over to the desk, pulling out his parchment and quill and sat down. There was something different about Malfoy, it took a moment for Harry to realize what but then he saw that Malfoy's hair wasn't slicked back but rather fell in waves over his ears and forehead.

"By Merlin Potter, you've never been a prize but now you actually look like death." Draco looked appalled and moved his chair a bit out of the way, what if Potter had something contagious?"

"Kind as always Malfoy." Harry grumbled. "Let's just do this shall we?"

Snape half-sneered. "You might be particularly interested in what Mr. Malfoy chose for the next potions lesson, Dreamless Sleep Draught."

"Potions don't solve everything." Harry answered testily. He was getting sick and tired of Snape's barbs, he was here and he was trying but nothing was ever good enough for the mighty Snape when it came to Harry.

Draco looked between the two of them, he wasn't stupid, he could tell there was something more than extra potions going on but he didn't know what just yet.

Snape walked past Harry to pick up the next lesson plan the boy had made and spoke softly enough that only Potter could hear him. "So speaks a boy who's so weak he can't even control his own mind." He was extremely frustrated with Potter progress, or rather lack of it, in the Occlumency lessons. So far Snape hadn't poked very far into the teen's mind, just scratching the surface where vaguely happy memories resided but apparently that wasn't a big enough intrusion to get the young man to truly fight to keep Snape out of his mind. So tonight he'd delve deeper where secrets and traumatic memories, if the person who's mind was being read had any of either not a likely thing for Potter in Snape's opinion, were.

Harry's eyes were filled with venom as he glared at Snape. "Maybe if the teacher was better I wouldn't be completely shite at it." He hissed and leaned over his parchment. "So Malfoy, tell us how to brew this thing."

Draco looked confused and suspicious but started to explain the ingredients and brewing protocol.

Snape shook his head and settled to stand like a great big 'bat' watching the two for mistakes. If Potter hated him now that would only increase after Draco left. It didn't bother him, he was more than used to the hatred of others. He was an easily hated man, secretive, sarcastic and caustic in personality and unlike his godson he did not possess the attractive visage to offset his personality flaws. He was often alone and would likely remain that way until his death as no one was strong or determined enough to wade through the thick layer of acid, vicious temper, and guilt that hid his better qualities. The last person who'd truly cared for him like that was dead, because of him and his youthful idiocy so if he were to be honest he most likely didn't deserve to have another shot at that kind of relationship. So he'd fulfill his duty to protect Potter until the Dark Lord was dead and then retreat to some isolated property to live out his life in solitude.

He watched as both Draco and Potter brewed the potion perfectly and had to admit that the brunette teen had improved his potion skills rather drastically. He was almost impressed. Once the potion was bottled, the new DADA spells had been taught to both boys, and Draco had left, he smirked at Potter. "Time to get comfortable once again Potter."

Harry's shoulders tensed as he knew what lay ahead. He answered Snape's smirk with another glare before closing his eyes and trying to focus. He really didn't want Snape to go deeper inside his mind, it wasn't a pretty place. He tried his best to put up the walls around his mind and hoped, hoped, hoped that they would keep Snape out this time.

"Legilimens!" This time Snape pushed past the weak shields deeper into the teen's mind and found himself looking at a very young, painfully thin Potter, probably around the age of five being made to scrub a kitchen floor on his hands and knees while the disgustingly familiar form of Petunia stood over him harping about freaks and making Harry useful if she couldn't make him normal. Then another boy, the size of a large pony, came and kicked Potter over with an evil sneer, causing the scrawny boy to fall against the soap bucket sending it tipping over and spilling dirty water all over the floor.

A loud bellow interrupted Petunia shrieking at Harry for being a lazy so and so and then a hugely fat man waddled into view, hands at his waist to take off a belt. The man began to shout at the tiny boy for shirking his duties and ruining the clean floor as he used the belt to beat the now curled up child. Suddenly the shocked professor found himself being pushed out of the memory hard enough for his physical body to be pushed back a couple steps. He stood in his office staring at Potter, his jet black eyes disbelieving of what he'd just seen.

"Enough, no more!" Harry looked at him with haunted eyes, his whole body trembling with cold sweat after having been forced to relive the memory. Just one of many but painful all the same. Right now he truly hated the potions master, hated him for seeing his weakness, hated him for making feel that small and hurt again. "You have no right, no right watching that. It has nothing to do with anything." Harry felt sick to his stomach and he struggled not to throw up all over Snape's study.

A chill worked through Snape. That memory had been too close to and yet worse than what his own childhood had been. His jaw clenched. He knew from experience that a child like himself or Potter wouldn't wish pity especially not from someone they hated so instead he just lifted a brow. "Block me better then Potter. If you wish me not to see your memories then keep me out of your head."

"There won't be any need for that because we're done. No more." Harry's voice was clipped as he started to gather his things to leave. He didn't care about nightmares or visions because nothing could be worse than this. "You can laugh at this but you're not going to get your rocks off doing it again. 'Pathetic Potter, even weaker than I first believed'."

Snape's hand shot out and clamped on Harry's wrist. "Do not presume to think I would laugh at such a thing Potter. You may hate me and I may not particularly like you but I can assure you that trolling through your private nightmares is not my idea of entertainment. You must learn how to block the Dark Lord and not just for your own sake."

Snape's hand was searing hot against the skin of his wrist and Harry found himself more caught by that fact then by the grip itself. His shoulders slumped when he realized that Snape was telling the truth, it wasn't just his life at stake here. Suddenly all the responsibilities and all the musts weighed him down to the ground. "Fine but not tonight. I-I cant tonight."

The professor nodded and slowly released the teen's wrist. "Tomorrow then. I want you to meditate on how you pushed me out this time Potter and attempt to duplicate it tomorrow."

Harry nodded but honestly he had no idea how he had pushed Snape out, he had just been panicked and terrified. "I'll try." His wrist felt cold after Snape released him and he cradled it close to his chest. "See you tomorrow." Harry ducked his head and slipped out the door.

"Hold one moment Potter." Snape grabbed one bottle of the potion Potter and Draco had brewed and walked out to where the teen had paused apprehensively just outside the door. He handed the bottle to the boy. "Five drops in your tea tonight Potter. Don't argue. The less sleep you get the more useless you'll be at Occlumency." Then he turned and swept back into his office.

"Thank you." Harry said softly but he didn't know if Snape had heard him. He clutched the small bottle in his hand as he took the back stairs and secret passage ways up to the Gryffindor tower. He really didn't feel like running into anyone with the way he was feeling right now. Those small moments of understanding and kindness baffled Harry. Just when he thought he had Snape figured out he showed another layer and Harry didn't know what to think. Thankfully the common room was empty and Harry sat down in a chair in front of the fireplace, leaning his head back against the back of the chair and just closed his eyes for a moment.

Back in his own quarters Snape poured himself a glass of Firewhiskey and took a sip as he collapsed into his favorite wingback chair. The burn of the alcohol seared the odd obstruction in his throat as he pondered what he'd seen in Potter's mind. He wanted to believe that it had just been a one time occurrence but from the way the small child that had been Potter had curled up and just lain there without making any sound or protest, just lain there trying to endure the abuse, told him that it had happened many times before that one memory and as he knew of the girl Petunia had been and knew how people like that behaved he also felt it safe to assume that it was likely far from the last time Potter had been beaten for no reason.

Severus brooded into his glass and wondered if Dumbledore knew what Potter's life before Hogwarts had been like and what it almost certainly returned to over the summers. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. The old man was so intent on getting rid of the Dark Lord that he lost sight of the well-being of the youth he was laying that burden on. Snape was man enough to admit that his own attitude didn't help either. He'd just been so sure Potter was a spoiled little prat who basked in his fame like a snake did in the sun, a little bastard just like his father that he'd refused to see the truth. Now part of that truth had slapped him in the face and left him shocked at how wrong he was about Potter being spoiled.

His fingers drummed on the arm of his chair. Now that he knew, what should his course of action be? He wasn't about to suddenly start treating Potter softly. Not only was it not his natural way but the youth would view it as pity. But he also couldn't rightly continue taking the sins of his father out on the boy any longer, not now that he knew how unfair his home life was. He could feel a small twitch form under his eye as the best course of action occurred to him. The best way to gentle his attitude towards Potter without the teenager's back going up was to be fair to all the year five Gryffindors. The thought left a bad taste in his mouth but he knew there really wasn't any other way to make the Boy-Who-Lived-To-Be-A-Pain-In-The-Neck's life better in some small measure.

He sighed and proceeded to vanish the nearly full glass of firewhiskey before heading to his bedroom to get some rest. Tomorrow was bound to be a test in patience.

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More softening and plenty of set up. Ahhhhh I am loving this. Please do review and let us know what you thought of it? Reviews feed the muse.
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Blood Quill Consequences