Guilty as Sin

CHAPTER 3

Harry sat quietly in the sun beside the lake, throwing pebbles into the water and catching them again as the squid threw them back at him. He wasn’t sure quite how long he’d been sitting there but he was certainly aware that by now he’d have missed both breakfast and lunch. It was intentional to. It had been awkward having to sit through dinner again last night alone on the Gryfindor table, while McGonagal, Dumbledore and Snape sat staring at him from the head table. It was bad enough he had to endure their disapproving gazes without having to try and eat at the same time. He didn’t feel much like eating anyway, his stomach still upset from the tripe his aunt and uncle had been feeding him all summer.

So far the three professors had left him well alone all week, something that Harry was appreciative of despite knowing their behavior was out of disgust more than respect for his privacy. Snape visited him at random times during the day, obviously doing his duty of making sure he wasn’t running amuck. Harry was in no doubt that the professor was due to make an appearance anytime soon, especially considering he’d missed two meals already. Harry was prepared though, his daily exchange of sarcastic barbs with the professor becoming almost second nature. He hadn’t achieved or done anything much all week. He’d cleaned out his trunk, sorted out his textbooks and school things for the coming term, and spent hours on end reading the trash in daily papers about him but that was it. It was far safer to stick to the Gryfindor tower where he was less likely to run into the three professors still in residents. The ministry officials had arrived yesterday and he’d been treated to sitting in the headmaster’s office for three hours, listening to them talking about him as if he wasn’t even there. Not that he cared; he’d spent most of the summer being ignored. Plus given half a chance he’d have told the ministry officials what he really thought of their strict guidelines they’d set down for him and no doubt caused himself more trouble than he was already in.

It was all crap what they were saying anyway, throwing accusations about without knowing the facts. Admittedly Harry wasn’t about to enlighten them on the truth, so instead they’d taken Uncle Vernon’s account of events as the truth and Harry was now facing the consequences of his uncles wicked vendetta against him.

Harry was still throwing stones at the squid when he felt a shadow fall over him, blocking out the warm sunshine he’d been enjoying. Pointedly Harry ignored the professor, just as he had the numerous other times his ‘parole officer’ had come looking for him. Harry continued to throw stones back and forth to the squid that was now returning the stones with just as much force as Harry was throwing them at it. Snape didn’t like to be ignored and Harry knew the man would snap before Harry himself did. Reaching up to catch a stone the squid had thrown back, Harry was beaten to the smooth rock as Snape snatched it out of the air, forcing Harry to look up at him.

“Don’t throw stones at the squid, it teaches it bad habits.” Snape dropped the stone back onto the gravel edge of the lake before glaring down his nose at Harry. Harry scowled at the potions professor but said nothing as he turned his gaze back out to the calm lake surface. “The headmaster wishes to know why you have been absent from meals?” ‘Straight to the point then.’ Harry thought to himself as he folded his arms across his chest and lay back on the grass, his eyes closed as to avoid looking up at Snape’s oppressive and looming figure.

“Tell him it’s because I couldn’t be arsed making the effort to go down to the hall and have to sit in his odious presence, only to chuck up the meal afterwards anyway.” Harry smiled inwardly to himself his witty and sarcastic repartee just as cutting as Snape’s was known to be. Harry heard Snape sniff in disgust but the potions master didn’t bait, his temper remaining balanced precariously on the edge.

“Are you unwell?” Harry kept his eyes closed and breathed in deeply as a warm afternoon breeze blew up from off the lake, making Snape’s long robes swirl about him.

“Does it matter if I am. Perhaps I enjoy having my head thrust down a toilet, you delight in reminding me my life is shit anyway, so why not just accept the inevitability and get used to the place.” Harry dared crack open an eyelid to see the professors expression, delighting when he saw the potion masters thin lips press impossibly tighter together in irritation of Harry’s arrogance.

“Mr. Potter, you are trying my patience.” Harry this time opened his eyes and glared up into the inky depths of the potion master’s angry stare.

“And you’re wasting what’s left of my holidays by this pointless charade, so do us both a favor and fuck off.” There would have been a time when Harry had feared the potion masters gaze, the intense stare and murderous expressions enough to melt even the strongest of will power. This summer however Harry had looked into the face of fear itself and the potion masters wrath was weak in comparison. Matching the professors impressive stare with one of his own, Harry thought that perhaps he’d won their little war of words however the opposite was true. Within a blink of an eye Snape had reached down and grabbed the boy’s collar hauling him up to his feet with force. Harry swallowed involuntarily as Snape pulled his face up to Harry’s own, his fist clenched tightly around Harry’s collar making breathing difficult for the boy, and forcing Harry to stand on tip toes.

“I suggest you listen to me Potter, because I shan’t be repeating myself again.” Harry tried to pull away from the man’s surprisingly strong grip but was unsuccessful as Snape pulled him closer to his own face so that Harry could feel the wizard’s warm breath and spittle against his face as Snape spoke. “This attitude you’ve recently acquired is going to have to be rectified because there is no way I am going to put up with it, as everyone else seems to be doing. Further more, I suggest you learn a little respect for your elders because at present Albus Dumbledore is the only person, who stands between you and a long stay in Azkaban after the stunt you pulled this summer. Do you think this is a game Potter?” Harry didn’t quite manage to shake his head, his hands still grasping at Snape’s fist around his collar in the hopes of escape. “Because I can assure you boy this goes beyond any school prank you may have pulled in the past and no scar or famous name can excuse you of these crimes you’ve committed.” Harry was feeling light headed and was having trouble focusing on Snape’s face so close to his. Having realized Harry’s situation Snape sharply let go of Harry’s collar leaving the boy to flop like a rag doll to the ground at his feet. “Everything you do from now onward Potter is my responsibility and I will see to it you stick to every rule laid down for you. You will not even sneeze without me knowing about it understood?” Rubbing his neck and still light headed Harry managed to nod in acceptance of the potion masters terms, knowing he had very little choice in the matter. “When I address you I expect an answer, and when I am not addressing you I will expect you to shut up and listen. Is that understood?” Again Harry nodded carefully looking up at Snape who was still looming above him. “Now we’ve established a little discipline I’ll ask again. Are you unwell Mr. Potter?”

“Yes sir.” Harry whispered hating the way he’d caved so easily under the potion masters pressure.

“Your symptoms are?” Snape snapped pointedly his eyebrow slightly raised in a mock show of patient waiting.

“My stomach is upset sir.” Harry muttered avoiding eye contact with Snape who stared at him coldly and in disgust.

“Then I will have a potion sent up to Gryfindor tower for you.” Harry finally managed to stand up, the shaking due to lack of air finally ending leaving him merely to stand in front of Snape his head tucked against his chest, and his eyes cast downwards.

“Thank-you sir.” Harry whispered his thanks although bitterly. Snape didn’t comment on the boy’s tone of voice and merely continued.

“Good. I expect you to be present at dinner this evening, if you are not you will spend your remaining weekend of holidays with me cleaning out cauldron’s.” With a swirl of robes Snape had gone, the man striding back to the castle leaving Harry standing defeated by the lake. If Snape’s display of dominance was expected to curb Harry’s ‘attitude’ as the professor had put it then Snape would be surely disappointed. Harry had no intention of suppressing himself, not after putting up with years of manipulation. He was already in over his head, what did he care what anyone thought. It was just a matter of staying there beneath the surface until he faltered and drowned.

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