Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.


Chapter 9 Changes

Harry tried to relax while he waited for the Potions master to finish in the bathroom. So much had happened today and Harry was quite sure that it would take him some time to fully process everything they had learned today. Just the idea that the castle now seemed to recognize him as the master was enough to boggle his overworked mind.

A wicked thought came to the young Gryffindor as he walked over to the Potions master’s bedroom. Picturing in his mind just what he wanted, Harry opened his eyes to see that the castle had indeed heeded his wishes. Hearing the gasp from across the room, amused green eyes watched the older man take in the changes in his room. Where before the décor had reflected the sour man’s dark personality, now the décor definitely leaned towards the temporary guest’s liking. Rich, deep red adorned the bed hangings and the coverlet, while silky, metallic bronze fabrics scattered here and there complemented the Gryffindor-inspired color-scheme. Also, where before there had been only one bed, now another bed completed the furnishings. Smiling innocently, Harry waited for the Potions master to explode. Ah, here it is, he thought. Not long to wait at all…

“Mr. Potter, do you mind telling me what you have done to my bedroom?” the irate man demanded.

“Well, Professor, I slept in the chair last night and it wasn’t comfortable in the least. So I thought that tonight if I have to stay down here with you I should at least be comfortable. And obviously the castle is working with me, as you can see the results,” Harry finished helpfully.

An incredulous eyebrow lifted in response. “And what gave you the idea that I would welcome another bed in my rooms, let alone in this atrocious color scheme?” Severus asked.

Innocent green eyes gazed up at his professor. “Oh, sir, would you rather I just left the one bed and we share?”

Severus opened his mouth in surprise and then snapped it shut. Fine. He had been outmaneuvered this time. By a Gryffindor! No one would ever know if he had anything to say on the matter. “That will not be necessary, Mr. Potter. Just be sure to direct the castle to return my chambers to their original state in the morning.”

So saying, the taciturn older man went over to his own bed and quickly ensconced himself in the warm, soft bed coverings. Harry grinned as he watched his professor cede this round to him. Score one for Gryffindor, Harry thought to himself. As an afterthought he added, and ten points to Gryffindor House. The self-satisfied young man climbed into his own new bed unaware that down in the Entrance Hall ten stones had been added to Gryffindor House’s total.


Harry awoke to a rather brisk and annoyed voice telling him to get up. Yawning, the young man stretched sleepily before slipping out of the surprisingly comfortable bed. Pointedly ignoring his professor, Harry walked into the bathroom to ready himself for the day.

Returning to the now crowded bedroom, Harry grinned at the still irate Potions master. He was definitely enjoying needling the older man with the change in the décor.

“Mr. Potter,” the Potions master intoned as he adjusted a shirt cuff, “if you would be so kind as to return my chambers to its former state?”

Openly smiling now, Harry closed his eyes and concentrated. When he felt the magic course through and around him, he looked around to see the result. “Sorry, Professor, but it looks like the castle likes the new colors better.”

Indeed, though the extra furniture had disappeared, the deep reds and bronzes remained. Scowling at the room in general and the boy in particular, Severus was interrupted by a laugh.

“I do think it needs something, though,” Harry said as he tilted his head to the side. “Oh, I know. You need some green in here!” he exclaimed. Before the Potions master could object the young Gryffindor had again silently communicated his wishes to the castle and had been rewarded when dark green pillows and other accents appeared around the room. Smiling proudly at his handiwork, Harry held up a hand. “No need to thank me Professor,” he said as he walked out into the sitting room, which had been similarly transformed.

“Believe me, Mr. Potter, thanking you was the last thing on my mind,” the tall man muttered as he followed his student out into the castle.


Harry approached the closed main doors to the Great Hall, but the doors opened on their own accord before him. Sighing, Harry decided this was definitely going to take some getting used to. Now all he had to do was to face the inquisition from his friends. He was sure that they would be tearing in to him about his whereabouts the past couple of days.

It seemed that Harry needn’t have worried as Hermione jumped up and hugged him immediately. “Oh, Harry. Professor McGonagall told us how you were working with Professor Snape this weekend. I just wish they would have let you tell us beforehand,” she whispered in his ear.

“Uh, yeah. Sorry about that, guys,” Harry addressed both his friends with that one statement. Silently he thanked his Head of House for her quick thinking. He was pretty sure that Snape wouldn’t want the truth getting out about what had really happened with him and Harry certainly wasn’t ready to talk about Dumbledore or the castle just yet.

The trio spent a few minutes chatting and catching up on events when Ron suddenly remarked that it was taking a long time for the food to arrive this morning. Curiously, Harry looked up at the head table to see Snape scowling at him. Well, nothing new there, Harry smirked. However, Professor McGonagall was furiously jabbing her fork at her plate while looking pointedly at Harry. Frowning, the young man tried to figure out what his Head of House could possibly mean. His eyes opened wide in sudden understanding. Concentrating, Harry asked the castle to provide the breakfast for the waiting staff and students. Immediately, the usual assortment of breakfast foods appeared on the large tables. The students happily tore into the food while two professors and one Gryffindor student frowned.

His appetite greatly diminished, Harry quickly finished his breakfast before heading back out the large doors. Unfortunately, it didn’t look as if everything was going to go his way today, though. “Malfoy, if you don’t mind,” he snarled at the young aristocrat blocking his way, “I have things I need to do before classes.”

The Malfoy smirk was firmly in place as the young man eyed his rival. “I don’t think so, Potter. Rumor is that you were gone this weekend and I for one want to know why. For all we know, you may be in league with the Dark Lord himself.”

Harry shook his head in disbelief. “You know, Malfoy. You really should stop trying to think for yourself. You just might hurt yourself one of these times.”

Deciding that he had no use for further conversation with the ferret, Harry pushed past the blond boy and muttered to himself, “And ten points from Slytherin for your cheek, Malfoy.” Grinning at his little joke, Harry was brought up short by a firm, yet familiar voice.

“Mr. Potter, my office. Immediately.” The Potions master turned and descended down into the dungeons.

Oh, yeah, today was just going great, Harry thought as he followed the black robed figure through the castle corridors.