Where Others Fear to Tread

Chapter 12

Quietly Harry stirred his potion, taking due care not to mess up. It had been a miracle he’d made it into advanced potions this year, he didn’t need to fail it now.

“Your strokes are too short, lengthen them.” Harry felt Snape approaching him long before the professor had made it to his bench. Looking up from his cauldron Harry met Snape’s gaze for a second before adjusting his stirring accordingly. Snape lingered over Harry’s bench, watching intently as the boy added the last of the powdered shrivel fig root, to the mixture. Returning to his stirring Harry avoided glancing at Snape, not giving the man the satisfaction of seeing Harry looking for his approval. Being ignored by Harry didn’t seem to sit well and with a snort of disgruntlement, Snape pointed to the disarray of used dishes and bottles on Harry’s bench. “Five points from Gryfindor for an untidy bench Potter.” Harry’s head snapped up abruptly, hardly believing that Snape was being so petty. “How you don’t create more disasters than you do currently with your preparation area in such a mess is beyond me.” Snape moved to continue his slow walk between the rows of students. Harry went to protest Snape’s unfairness but the man cut him off before he could speak a word. “Open your mouth Mr. Potter and I’ll make it 15.” The threat was not idly given and Harry knew better than to push Snape, who from the moment he’d stepped into the great hall that morning seemed to have been in a foul mood. Harry glared at Snape’s back angrily but having stirred his potion the required amount, returned to cleaning up his workbench, which Harry noted was no untidier than Draco’s or Hermione’s for that matter.

While he was washing some of the used potions bottles, Harry glanced up to see Draco staring at him, a smug smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The blonde was far too smug and Harry watched as Draco drew Snape’s attention calling the man over to look at his potion. Silently Harry watched as Snape bent over the bench to see into Draco’s cauldron, the blonde exaggeratingly asking questions. Harry distantly heard Snape award Slytherin points for a well-made potion but that wasn’t what angered him so violently. As Harry watched the blonde’s hand that had strayed on top of the bench was now touching Snape’s. It wasn’t anything Snape or anyone else may have noticed, but every inch of Harry’s body screamed in rage as he saw Draco’s flesh touch Snape’s.

“Harry! Harry!” Harry was drawn abruptly back from his stare to find Hermione shaking him violently. Glancing from his friend down into the sink Harry saw the cause of her anguish. The glass vial Harry had been washing now lay shattered in his hand, the shards of glass embedded deep in his skin, causing it to bleed profusely. The clean water was now bloodied and Harry felt suddenly weak at the knees at the sight of his cut up hand. Shaking Harry struggled to stay up right, Hermione having trouble propping her friend up as he began to sway and paled visibly.

“Potter what on earth do you thing you are doing, you clumsy boy!” A harsh angry voice rang through the fog of Harry’s shock, the pain finally beginning to register as the anger fled. Strong arms captured Harry’s waist before the boy could collapse completely. “Granger, grab me that cloth then go and fetch madam pomfrey.” Harry felt Snape growl angrily right before a cloth was wrapped around his bleeding hand. “The rest of you finish and bottle your potions. Homework is on the board. Class dismissed.” Harry briefly saw the flick of a wand out of the corner of his eye before he was being helped into Snape’s office and sat roughly down in a chair. “I can not leave you alone to do one simple task can I? It will be your own fault if you have contracted something from the mix of ingredients in the water.” Harry’s vision swam a little before his eyes but everything soon came back into focus as Snape wafted an awful smelling liquid beneath Harry’s nose.

Coughing with the strength of the smell Harry focused on Snape who was now perched on the edge of the desk, the boys chin firmly clasped in his fingers. “You will make no Auror Potter, if you faint at the sight of your own blood.” Disgusted but satisfied that the boy was not going to pass out on him Snape let go of Harry’s chin and gestured for the boy to show him his injured hand. Harry obediently brought his hand up and tried not to wince as Snape roughly pulled the hand towards the candle light, inspecting closely the shards of glass that reflected in the light. “Madam Pomfrey can deal with this, you are lucky there seems to be no signs of contamination.” Harry sighed softly as Snape wrapped the injured hand back up in the cloth before allowing Harry to cradle it back against his chest. Harry watched as Snape moved away from the desk, over to the door of his office obviously making sure that his class was doing as they were told.

Harry had not spoken to Snape since storming from his rooms Tuesday evening and they had hardly spent an hour in each other’s company since signing the contract. Having heard Remus’ diagnosis of Harry’s weird feelings, Harry wondered if Snape was experiencing the same strange feelings. Now however was not the time to question it, especially with Snape so volatile. The slap he’d received last time he’d spoken his mind still fresh in his memories. Harry went to ask about his family seal, when the professor spoke first startling Harry into silence.

“Where did you go with Lupin last night?” Snape didn’t turn around from where he was staring out of his office door, his arms folded into the fabric of his robes across his chest. Frowning a little in confusion Harry tucked his injured hand closer to his body, unsure how Snape knew he’d left the castle at all.

“Shopping in Diagon Alley, with the headmasters permission.” Harry added quickly already knowing the way the potions professors mind worked, and not wanting to loose more house points. “Why do you want to know?” Harry queried quickly knowing that their conversation was likely to be a short one, with Hermione returning with Madam Pomfrey soon.

“Students aren’t permitted to leave school grounds during the year unless on a supervised excursion such as the ‘Hogsmede Weekends’.” Snape it seemed was going to ignore Harry’s inquiry and this irritated the boy.

“I just told you I had the headmasters permission and Lupin was my supervision. Quite frankly it’s none of your business where I go.” Almost instantly Snape had crossed the room and Harry had to lean back in the chair as Snape’s face came within inches of Harry’s, the frightening glare unbelievably close.

“You don’t get it yet do you Potter?” Snape practically growled from the pit of his stomach into Harry’s face, the man’s nose just brushing Harry’s as he leaned impossibly closer, his hands blocking any escape from the boy who was pinned to the chair. “Everything you do is now my business and I will not have you foolishly running about Diagon Alley just asking for trouble from those who would take the opportunity of your lax security arrangement to serve you filleted and on a platter to the Dark Lord himself. Do I make myself clear?”

“Perfectly.” Harry whispered as he felt yet another of his freedoms being snatched away from him. Snape seemed almost relived to hear Harry’s reply and Harry watched closely as the man pulled away and sat back on the desk opposite the boy, who straightened back up again, his bleeding hand still against his chest. Surprisingly Harry continued, his gaze not leaving Snape’s as a new determination welled in his stomach. “Logically after the statement you just made I would jump to the conclusion that the opposite of your statement is true also, and that your business is now also mine?” Harry watched as Snape’s gaze narrowed in suspicion surprised that Harry was being so bold.

“And your point being Potter?” Snape queried his suspicious gaze not wavering an inch.

“I want to know why Malfoy was in your rooms on Tuesday evening?” Harry knew he sounded foolish and that thought was concreted when Snape’s suspicious gaze softened slightly and a malicious smile broke out onto the man’s lips.

“Why Potter, if I didn’t know better I would say you’re jealous.” Harry’s determination and confidence deflated quickly and the boy looked hastily away from Snape’s nasty smirk. “Is that the reason for the tantrum the other evening? Pissed off are we that someone other than yourself occupies my time?” Harry instantly fell into defensive mode and glared accusingly at Snape, a very familiar and old anger for his hated greasy potions master rising in him.

“You have an over estimation of your self-worth Professor. I couldn’t care less who you spend your time with, so long as I don’t have to spend any more time than I have to in your company.” Harry paused slightly disbelieving how acid his own words could sound. “As for jealousy? You mistake jealousy for self-preservation and concern. I am merely wondering why you are taking risks in exposing our relationship, when you yourself admit it must remain a secret if you are to retain your life. You can doubtlessly see my concern of our secret escaping when you freely allow the son of a death eater in your rooms? But perhaps you enjoy flirting with your own death, but then that would make your comments about my little shopping trip, just that little less meaningful. After all what’s the point in chastising me over my trip to Diagon Alley when you yourself are digging your own grave any how.” Harry tried desperately not to let the pain those words caused him show in his expression as he met Snape’s glare with one of his own. The silence that now hung in the air was thick and Harry could feel the tension riddled air almost suffocating him. As the silence continued Harry was almost sure Hermione or Madam Pomfrey would come in a break the tension but that way out never came, instead it was Snape who made the move, leaning in again close to Harry.

“Touché.” Snape whispered his gaze burrowing deep into Harry’s, who was unfortunately faltering under the pressure. “It’s little gems like that Mr. Potter that remind me of why I chose you for my partner in wedded bliss.” No sooner had Snape spoken then Madam Pomfrey and Hermione came bursting in through the office door, Snape expertly moving away from Harry onto the other side of the room as if nothing had passed between them.

“Oh Mr. Potter, what have you done this time.” Madam Pomfrey sighed and quickly bustled around to see to Harry’s injury, but Harry’s gaze never left Snape’s the boy completely dumbstruck by the reaction Snape and given him. The pair continued to stare at one another in silence, oblivious to the other observer in the room….

TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A/N *bows down to T-Chan and lays many chocolate frogs at your feet* It is for readers like you whom I truely enjoying writing for.....*winks* Thanks for sticking around....