Chapter XV

Harry sighed as he found himself walking into the Potions classroom yet again for detention. Only this time, he wasn't too sure if he should actually thank Snape or simply grumble about the injustice of it all, as expected.

He should have known something was going to happen when Snape had paired him with Seamus instead of Ron like usual. Seamus had small accidents sometimes; not on the catastrophic scale that Neville did but bad enough to earn detention. So it should have been no small wonder when something had gone wrong and Snape had been quick to dole out a detention to him.

It was bad enough that he found himself fantasizing about the dark haired man more often now; but being stuck in the same room as him after realizing he was attracted to him didn't bode well in Harry's mind. Out of sight was the closest thing to out of mind that he had at the moment.

Harry allowed the mask of indifference slip onto his face as he walked into the room, leaving the door ajar. Snape was seated at his desk, reading an open book intently, his brows furrowed slightly. Harry cleared his throat slightly, expecting Snape to look up. When Snape didn't make any sort of response, Harry walked up to the desk and tried again.

"Professor?" he asked softly, bending forward.

Snape glanced up at him with a grunt of surprise. "The ingredients are in the cupboard," Snape made a lazy flicking motion with his wand and the doors opened. "I suggest you get started."

"Sir?" Harry asked in puzzlement as he looked between the cabinet and Snape. "Are you going to ma-"

"No; you are going to make the Degermate Potion." Snape said coolly.

"Me?!" Harry squeaked in surprise. "I can't make it, Sir! I only know it in theory! This should be made by som-"

"Stop with your inane second guessing," Snape said in an impatient voice. "I saw far less of it when you decided to swoop down on my role a week ago and lecture my goddaughter and young Mr. Malfoy."

"But Sir-" Harry started in protest.

Snape narrowed his eyes. "Don't think I didn't hear it. You had the impudence to challenge me at me speciality." Snape's lips quirked up into a slight smile. "Your challenge has been answered." a few seconds of silence passed. "This potion will not make itself."

Harry didn't say anything, holding his tongue. The expression in Snape's eyes was daring him to say something, anything, to give reason for giving Harry yet another detention. Turning abruptly on his heel, Harry went to the cabinet and made the ingredients float over to an empty workspace. He glanced at Snape, frowning mildly as he got started; he didn't have to be that big a prat. After a few minutes, he had the beginnings of the potion bubbling away softly. He glanced at his watch; only a minute had passed and it still had another forty four minutes to go before he could add in anything else.

He didn't know exactly why Snape was doing this to him. His knowledge of the Degermate potion was purely theoretical. And Merlin knew how Snape would take some sort of perverse pleasure if Harry botched this beyond any semblance of a potion or recognition. He hadn't given Snape a reason to harshly criticize any of his potions for the past two years and he wasn't exactly inclined to give him a reason now.

Harry held his head in his hands, tilting his head slightly and staring at Snape. Of course, he made it look like he was simply staring off into space. Snape wasn't all that bad looking. The hooked nose suited him; fit the dark aura he had about him. His hair framed his face in soft tendrils. Harry drummed his fingers against his cheekbone, feeling an itch to run his fingers through that soft jet mass. Snape's fingers turned the pages of the book with a quick flick before settling back down on the paper. They were slender and rather aristocratic looking. Harry could still see the muscled scarred back; Snape certainly didn't look that powerful in those robes of his; he fit the skinny reclusive Potions professor image he had built up for himself. A slight shiver passed down Harry's spine as he imagined Snape holding him tight in a passionate kiss, those arms locked around him...

"Harry!"

"Huh?" Harry looked up startled. "Yes, Sir?"

"Isn't there something you could do in the meanwhile?" Snape asked a bit archly a few moments later.

Harry felt a slight flush coming to his face as he glanced at his watch; how the hell had the forty four minutes passed by? No matter, time for the next set of ingredients. "Put in the next ingredient." he picked up the Lacewing flies and started to add them in one by one.

After all the flies were in, and the potion had turned a dark brown colour and had thicken considerably. Another set of waiting; fifteen minutes this time.

"No homework?" Snape asked a few minutes later.

"None, Sir." Harry said gazing at his potion like it was the most interesting thing on Earth.

"I find that hard to believe," Snape said mildly.

"I have long breaks, so I usually get it most of it done then. I finish it off after dinner before Quidditch practice." Harry shrugged slightly. "Did some revision as well."

"This much time to waste in your N.E.W.T year?"

Harry didn't say anything for a moment, glancing at Snape with a slight, crooked smile. "To be honest, I'm glad you gave me detention."

Snape's eyebrows moved up so fast, they nearly disappeared into his hairline. "I beg your pardon?"

"I said," Harry's voice was patient, and a bit amused. "I'm glad you gave me detention."

A somewhat awkward silence filled the classroom for a few minutes before Snape cleared his throat and spoke again.

"You're glad?" he spoke slowly, suspicious of something.

Harry nodded and glanced at his watch before reaching for the orange oil. He drizzled it in with a circular motion. "Yes. There's not really much I can do after Quidditch practice. I used to do my homework then, but since I've been getting it done sooner..." Harry let his words trail as he put down the empty vial and picked up the one with Erumpent liquid and poured it in very slowly. "I've been trying to figure out what exactly to do with my evenings."

"Hm, Granger and Weasley left you alone?"

"Yes." Harry said simply as he watched the potion; a ten minute wait this time. "I see Ron more than I see Hermione, since she's always off doing something...probably trying to recruit more members for S.P.E.W." Harry paused, chuckling slightly to himself. "Now, I seem to have free time than I shake a stick at."

"How pleasant," Snape said dryly.

"It is," Harry said, trying to not laugh at the way Snape's eyebrows shot up yet again. "I don't have to deal with the hypocrites and idiots."

Snape's brow furrowed slightly. "Explain."

Harry watched Snape for a moment; that sounded more like a request than an order. "They stick me with the Dursleys until this year, for my own safety they say. Or rather, I should say, Dumbledore says. Being at Whytemoor Manor was the best time of my life. Sure Leiko's a bitch, but I would have been perfectly fine with Alexandre there."

Snape nodded his head slightly. "You've yet to explain the hypocrisy and idiots...though I can understand the idiot part."

"I'm sure you've noticed it. When I used to break the rules," Harry didn't respond as Snape gave a small cough. "They let me slide far more easily than usual. Wouldn't it have been in my best interest to give me a full punishment instead of a warning pat on the head and being told to not do it again?"

"Hm," Snape said.

"You say that an awful lot, Sir." Harry said, glancing at his watch; time to add in the ground ginger. He added it and stirred before sprinkling in the powdered bicorn horn slowly and stirring that in as well. Now it had to boil for eleven minutes. "I don't see why the rules should be any different for me. I'm still a student of Hogwarts. Sometimes, I think..." he shook his head, letting his words drop.

"You may finish that sentence." Snape said quietly.

"So you can laugh at me?" Harry asked wryly.

Snape didn't say anything for a moment. "Suffice it to say, laughter would be the last thing from my mouth at this time. You haven't said one stupid thing yet."

"Sometimes, I think the only reason why Dumbledore let me go was because I had learned what he considered to be good and evil." Harry paused for a long minute. "I learned his black and white version of it, when all it truly is, is just grey. Merlin knows you've heard this analogy before."

Snape gave a light shrug. "Continue."

"I learned his black and white version and listened to everything he said, told me to do." Harry didn't say anything for a bit, feeling that same sense of disturbance. "Dumbledore the puppet master."

"He is, isn't he?" Snape mused rhetorically.

Harry looked up and Snape and grinned quickly, finding a slight responding smirk before he looked back down at his watch and added in the extract of belladonna. The potion turned a dark black-purple immediately. Harry reached over and slipped in the two bezoars gently, and the colour became a light purple. Silence filled the room now, the potion bubbling away. Harry was adding the last the apple seeds and starting on the nymph eyelashes when Snape spoke again.

"You are making two doses…right?"

Harry gave Snape an incredulous look before he rolled his eyes. "Yes, Sir. Even I'm not that thick. I leave that for Crabbe and Goyle." he dumped in the nymph eyelashes all at once.

"I thought it prudent to make sure." Snape stated simply.

Harry bent his head down, hiding his scowl. "Prudence....is that all you ever check out?" he muttered to himself. Three minutes before he added in the mermaid scales.

He didn't look up when he heard a chair scraping. When a shadow fell over him, he looked up to see Snape standing right beside him.

"Would you care to say that again?" Snape asked softly as he leaned inwards. "I'm not all that sure I heard you correctly."

"H-Heard me correctly?" Harry managed in a straight voice.

"Or is there something else I should 'check out'?" Snape's eyes flickered over him as he arched an eyebrow delicately.

Harry felt his heart start to pound; was Snape hitting on him? No, no, it must be Snape baiting him. Yes, baiting him, that was it. "That I leave up to you, Sir."

"Do you? How very gracious," Snape said silkily. "And if it-"

"The mermaid scales!" Harry exclaimed, scooping up a handful and he started to drop them in one by one, eyes fixed on the shimmering blue pile in his hand.

When he hazarded a glance up, Snape was sitting back at his desk, reading over that large book. Harry wasn't too sure if he should be relieved or disappointed. Probably better he be relieved; he certainly didn't want Snape to loose his job because of some silly little thing that had happened between the two of them. He sat back down heavily, watching the potion finish its last twenty minutes of boiling. Once it was done, Harry took two vials, and poured it out quickly.

"Congela." he murmured, pointing his wand at the vials.

They crackled as ice spread across their surfaces, obscuring the now translucent looking potion. Harry smiled slightly as he looked at them. There was no way that Snape could fail him on-

"Perfect."

"Merlin!" Harry jumped as Snape's voice purred into his ear. His seat tilted sharply, and he ended up sprawled across the hard floor. "Fuck, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" Harry said angrily as he stood, his face flushed red.

Snape picked up a vial an inspected it. "A perfect Degermate potion."

Harry was sure his face flushed some more at Snape's quiet praise. "Um...thanks."

Snape watched him for a moment before picking up the vials. "You may leave now."

Harry watched as he swept off towards his office, closing the door. Harry righted his seat and held his head in his hands. He didn't know what that was. Maybe he'd better try to not get detentions any more; who knew what he might do if he was in a situation like that again. More than likely do something that would make Snape hate him even more. But, strange as it was, Snape was starting to act very differently when it was simply him and Harry. Maybe, just maybe there was a chance that he and Snape...Harry groaned and ran a hand through his hair; he really needed to find a boyfriend.

He looked up at the sound of the door opening. But it wasn't the office door. Turning around, Harry saw a blond haired woman standing in the classroom, an unsure expression on face. Her dress swept the floor, with flowing and a large cloak on top. On her neck was a fitted choker, with a dangling onyx stone. Her hair was pulled back in an intricate do that left a few tendrils curling against her neck. She almost looked like something from a history book.

"Are you looking for someone?" he called out.

The woman started when he spoke. "Oh! I didn't see you there." she walked in slowly, coming to a stop beside Harry.

"It's fairly dark in here," Harry conceded. He spied the bundle in her hand. "Are you delivering something?"

"Yes, just some potion ingredients. I believe some introductions are in order. Laetitia Kuromatsuto." she held out her hand.

"Harry Potter." he said shaking it briskly.

Laetitia nodded with something of a serious smile. "I'm glad you could help in the investigation. I knew Yukiko Matsushita personally. She did fine charity work for Hoshingen Academy of Magic to help out the Muggle born wizards who couldn't afford the tuition."

"Ah. I didn't know Professor Snape ordered from your shop."

"Oh, many times. He filled out this order a month ago. But some things needed to be cleared with the Ministry before they could be sent. Such as dragon eggshells, Flameweed roots, bobea roots, Persand Liquid, those sorts of things."

"Bureaucracy," Harry said with a smile and shrug. "Professor Snape should be-"

"Right here."

Harry turned his head slightly to see Snape standing by his desk with a particularly harsh scowl on his face. He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Snape opened his mouth to say something but Laetitia cut him off.

"Severus?"

Snape shifted his gaze to Laetitia, glaring at her. "Who in the blazes are you? Get the hell out of my office."

Laetitia simply smiled, her eyes misting up. "It's really you Severus." she paused, tilting her head and regarding him. "It really is you. But you don't remember me, do you?"

"What are you babbling about woman?" Snape demanded in irritation.

"I remember you," Laetitia said, her eyes, brimming with tears. "I remember you from the summer all those years ago. How could I forget after..." Laetitia trailed off, obviously finding it difficult to speak.

Harry glanced at Snape. He looked like he'd been punched in the gut particularly hard. His face was an even pastier white and his expression grim and devastated. Suddenly, Snape turned to look at Harry.

"What are you still doing here?" Snape asked harshly.

"Sorry Severus-" Harry began in a hesitant voice.

"Get out." Snape ordered. "Now."

Harry needed no second prompting. He ran from the room, not stopping until he arrived, breathless, at the Fat Lady's portrait. He sagged against it, eyes squeezed shut. How could he have been so stupid as to believe that -

"Do you mind?!" The Fat Lady shrieked in indignation.

Harry muttered 'Imperipupa ' quickly. The Fat Lady swung aside, giving a thoroughly miffed huff. Harry stomped into the empty common room and flumped down in the chair, grateful that the fire was still going. He glowered at it darkly. How could he have been so stupid as to let some hopeful thought like that creep into his mind? It sure as hell wasn't going to come true any time soon. And all it had managed to do was get crushed horribly and make him feel horrid.

Maybe he'd have better luck if he ran out of the school down to Hogsmeade, flapping his arms like a mad chicken screeching: 'Come and get me Voldie! Fresh Potter right here, asking for a quick death!’ It suddenly seemed like a much better option than seeing Snape again.

Snape....Harry groaned again, closing his eyes. He'd called Snape by his first name; right in front of Laetitia Kuromatsuto - suddenly, that idea he'd just come up with seemed entirely appealing. Undoubtedly Snape would be sure to punish him for something like that. Feeling a sudden weight in his lap, he cracked an eye open to find Crookshanks curling up in his lap, purring contentedly. Harry closed his eye again and started to stroke Crookshanks ginger fur. Maybe he would just never go to Potions class again. It was bad enough he had to suffer it twice a week, but now, it'd just be horrible.

He gave a heavy sigh, turning his attention to calming down. No point in working himself up over it now. What was done was done and Snape would probably curse him for the rest of the school year and his natural life. His breathing slowed down, and eventually he was started to drift off to sleep. He never noticed the creak that came from the staircase, or the shadow that fell over him, much less the gentle whispers for him to wake up.

"Harry!!"

"Jeez!" Harry scrambled up, forgetting about Crookshanks in his lap.

Crookshanks was more than put out that Harry had nearly dumped him from his lap. Nearly, since he dug his claws in and refused to let go. Harry howled in pain, trying to dislodge the ginger cat from his thighs, but Crookshanks dug in even deeper. After a few minutes of useless flailing, Harry stopped. Crookshanks dropped off immediately and went up the stairs but not before hissing at Harry. Harry scowled murderously as a new sound reached his ears. Turning around, he found Hermione laughing as silently as she could.

"And that was funny?" Harry snapped nastily. That certainly wiped the expression off Hermione's face. "Well, was it?!" he demanded more testily. "Was it?!"

Hermione shook her head, remaining mute. Harry scowled at her before sitting back down in the chair, wincing at the sting of the deep gouges Crookshanks left. Hermione pulled out her wand and murmured 'Leha'. Harry hissed as he felt the wounds close up. He grunted in thanks, choosing to say nothing more.

"I was trying to get your attention for five minutes." Hermione said in an explanatory tone as she sat down in the opposite couch. "How's practice going?"

"Good." Harry looked at her. "Did you want to see?"

"If it's not too much- oh wow!"

Harry had already started changing as Hermione was talking. He watched as Hermione leaned forward eagerly. He had changed a bit since he had last practiced. His face was furry now, as well as his hands. His ears must have been sticking out in some amusing manner since Hermione had a grin plastered to her face. He changed back after a few minutes, wrinkling his nose and scratching at it.

"That was really impressive Harry," Hermione gushed. "I'm a bit behind you. All I have is a tail and some whiskers. That's about it."

"So what did you want, Hermione?" Harry asked with a slight nod of his head.

"I haven't seen you in awhile. I've just been wondering how you've been doing." she said simply.

"Peachy." Harry said with a shrug. He wasn't about to breathe a word of how he was starting to feel about Snape. "Just peachy."

Hermione didn't say anything for a moment. "I'm not joking Harry. ever since this whole...situation started, you've been more withdrawn, you sleep less and I have it on good authority that you make weird noises when you sleep."

"I see," Harry mused quietly. "How did you squeeze that out of Ron?"

"We're just worried about you Harry," Hermione said with a faint blush.

"Indeed."

"Don't feel offended, please Harry."

"No. I find it interesting that Ron said he would breathe a word of anything to anyone. So either Ron broke my trust or you're lying Hermione. Which one is it?"

A red flush spread over Hermione's face. "Well you talk to Ron more than you talk to me."

Harry felt a hot surge of annoyance. "Tell you what, next time," he said in a sarcastic saccharine voice. "I'll find you down when I want to talk and then we'll come back here. That way we can do our hair, and out nails and spend all that time pouring out our deep dark secrets and gossiping all night."

Hermione looked like she had been slapped on the face. "That was just downright cruel. I'm just worried about you Harry."

"Then leave it be Hermione," Harry sighed. "Most of the things I tell Ron are guy things that only he could understand. That's why I don't tell you."

"Well, that's ridiculous," Hermione scoffed. "What if it's something I can help you with?"

Harry gave her a look. "It's a guy thing Hermione. Just leave it be. Ron's usually around when I want to talk. I never meant to make you feel slighted. Besides, the way we're both working, I'm surprised we were both here at the same time."

"Plus you have Quidditch practice," Hermione mused. "Are you sure that you're fine?"

"Like I said before," Harry said. "I'm peachy. Just peachy."

With a sigh, Harry pushed open the door to Trelawney's classroom, removing his cloak with a swirl. It was yet again Friday night and he had dragged himself up here despite the weariness he felt. He didn't even jump when a fluid black shape came down from the room's rafters, padding up to him and rubbing its head against his leg, tails brushing gently against the floor.

"Yeah, I'm finally here Sora," Harry paused. What had Draco said Sora preferred to be called in her animal form? "Sorry, Ruri. I'm here Ruri."

The kitsune gave a happy bark before bounding up on a desk, curling its tails around its hindquarters, and looking at him intently. A few seconds later, along with some slight noises, Sora sat on the desk, gazing at him intently

"Merlin's crystal Harry," she murmured. "You look horrible. Why didn't you just stay and sleep?"

Harry shrugged and rubbed his face briskly. "I'll live, don't worry."

Sora gave him a critical look but didn't say anything. Harry looked around realizing a pale blond Slytherin was missing. "Where's Malfoy? Or he didn't come because of-"

Sora nodded her head quickly. "Can you concentrate tonight? We can just do this on Thursday."

"I can." Harry paused, as some thing occurred to him. "I imagine that he's less pleased than you are."

"My, astute as always," Sora muttered dryly. "The Degermate potion helps to a certain extent. Just so we don't...well, I'm sure you have a good idea by now."

"Hm," Harry mused.

"Harry, there's something else I should tell you."

"What is it?" Harry asked, trying to not assume the worst.

"One moment," Sora said. She took out her wand and pointed it at her mouth, mumbling something. "OK. Promise you won't be startled?"

"No."

"Good answer." Sora flashed a big grin.

"Holy Merlin's ghost!" Harry exclaimed in shock; Sora had two rather prominent canines. "That's what you've been hiding?!" he hissed in a low voice.

Sora gave him a curious expression. "Well, I figured you may have stormed out of here when I told you."

Harry made a sound of exasperation from his throat, pacing for a few minutes. "Have you even told Severus? He'll be furious that-"

"No, no, no," Sora said sliding up to his side quickly. She took his hands in hers. "Severus can't know. Please Harry don't tell him."

"Sora," Harry began.

"Harry, don't, please," Sora wheedled, swinging his hands slightly. "You can't tell Severus. He'd be livid at Mother-"

"With good reason." Harry spluttered.

"And march off to make sure that she didn't lift a finger again. He despises her-"

"I really think you should te-"

"Please Harry. Promise you won't tell Severus?" Sora gave him a pleading look.

Harry threw his hands up in defeat. "Since you were listening to what I had to say to begin with."

"Thank you Harry." Sora said with a small grateful smile as she slipped her hands into her robe pockets.

Harry huffed. "If Severus comes after me, you're not going to be happy." he paused for a moment. "When did you first notice your teeth start to grow?"

"A few weeks ago," Sora mused thoughtfully. "I thought it was my imagination but by Saturday morning, I had to use concealment charms."

"Anything else?" Harry gave Sora an inquiring look. "No more attempts to jump Malfoy?"

Sora's face flushed bright red almost immediately. "No...other things." Sora sighed as Harry crossed his arms. "I'm more tired in the day, like I want to sleep. And I'm usually up half the night attempting to sleep." Sora didn't speak for a moment. "I just hope Draco doesn't catch on."

"Why?" Harry asked, even though he had a good idea why.

"He'll be livid if he finds out I didn't tell Severus." Sora gave a rather sheepish grin. "He's somewhat protective of me."

"I couldn't tell." Harry said dryly.

Sora's face flushed an even deeper red. "Just wait until it's you. You'll get no mercy from me."

"Ooh, I'm shaking in my boots." Harry said with a grin in tremulous voice.

"I'm warning you Harry," Sora growled.

Harry couldn't stop the cocky smirk from coming to his face. "Or you'll what? Hex me beat me up or, Merlin forbid," he gasped in mock horror. "Bite me?"

Sora stomped up to him with a malevolent glare and poked him repeatedly in the chest, enunciating every word. "I'll. Turn. You. Into. A. Woman."

"There's a big threat," Harry said rolling his eyes. "None of those spells are permanent."

"The ones you don't know about are," Sora said sweetly.

Harry paused for a moment, eerily reminded of Umbridge. And, as if to make matters worse...

"Harry," Sora said sweetly. "Have you ever had the displeasure of meeting a certain Dolores Umbridge? I could make you look like her."

Harry scowled at Sora. "You wouldn't dare. I'll hex you with everything I know before I let you turn me into that."

"Without your wand?" Sora asked, taking a few steps back and twirling it between her fingers.

"Give it back." Harry spluttered angrily.

Sora held it out but moved it away as he reached for it. "Just like that? My Harry, how can you-"

Harry reached out and snatched it back as Sora was talking. "The field suddenly looks fairly level to me."

"It certainly does," Sora said with a laugh. She stepped forward and slung an arm around Harry's shoulders. "I really wouldn't have turned you into a woman. It would be far more amusing to watch Crabbe and Goyle struggle with that."

Harry chuckled as well; that was an amusing image. He placed his wand back in his pocket and placed his arm around her waist, leaning against a desk. "If you do something like that, make sure you get lots of pictures."

"Of course. What kind of Slytherin would I be if I didn't?" Sora smirked. "I was wondering, are you staying here for Christmas, or are you coming home? Or have you already made alternate plans?"

"No. I was going home for Christmas. I better make sure Hermione understands."

"Hermione?" Sora's brow furrowed slightly "Why wouldn't she underst-"

"Vyns!"

Both Sora and Harry looked up to see Pansy Parkinson standing in the classroom. A glance at Sora's face proved that the cold bitch mask had dropped into place once more.

"What is it, Parkinson?" Sora asked in a bored and thoroughly irritated voice.

Pansy's eyes settled on Harry before she looked back at Sora. Harry could have sworn there was a triumphant gleam in her eyes. He tightened his jaw, glaring at her. That seemed to create some hesitancy in her expression.

"Draco sent me to get you. We need to get back to the common room now before Snape notices. And Snape is absolutely livid."

"May I ask why?" Sora asked in cool detachment.

"You'll see when we get there. Come on, I don't want to end up cleaning after first years like Draco." Parkinson said urgently.

Sora flashed Harry an apologetic look before she drew away and started after Parkinson. Harry sighed and grasped his Invisibility cloak. He settled it over his head with a quick snap of his wrist. Next Thursday it was.

When Darkness Comes - Chapter Fourteen || When Darkness Comes - Chaper Sixteen