An one time opportunity

5. Chapter

Practise was hard, the new broom, the rule bending strategies, and the brutal attacks from his Slytherin team mates kept him on his toes. `All in all´ Harry decided, `it was glorious`. More satisfied and bruised than ever the boy followed his comrades into their common room. After an hour spend talking and binding over butter beer (smuggled in as easily as the harder stuff, they were the House of cunningness after all) He walked up to his room with the excuse of having potions tutoring with Severus because he was behind. As he left one of the other, Mudock if he remembered right said \"Poor guy, having to spent time with that beast.\" Harry froze \"What....?\" Just in that moment Severus came down from their room and everybody silenced. Without looking at Harry, a book clasped in front of him like a shield he murmured \"Get going Granger, you\'re late.\" and hurried out of the door. Totally confused the former Gryffindor looked at Mortimer who sat next to Mandy and helped her finish a Transfiguration essay. His face blank he answered the quiet question \"Later, you better hurry. Loss doesn\'t give away much lab time for us Slytherins. Snape is the only one who gets any, and even he had to go to Dumbledore for it.\" Harry nodded and hurried after his friend.

He was close to the potions room before he had caught up with him. But the stony mask on his face stopped any questions Harry had. So they entered quietly, to find a rather sour looking Loss whining at Dumbledore \"Do I have too? It\'s not as if I have that much free time and than you expect to undo some stupid Slytherin\'s mistakes?\" He broke of as he saw the shocked Harry and emotionless Snape standing in the door. Dumbledore turned towards them smiling a little apologetically \"There you are boys. Come in, sit down.\" Turning towards the hairless man he said \"Of course you don\'t have to, I\'m sure Severus can do it alon...\" Before he could even finish the last word the professor\'s face reached a deep unhealthy looking read and he piped in a rather high tone \"Oh no, I don\'t think so. He\'s just a student, you need a professor for this kind of thing.\" Dumbledore\'s eyes twinkled madly and he asked in worry \"But what about your timetable, it\'s so strict I don\'t know...\" Again the man fell impolitely into his superior\'s words \"Ah, there is some time. After all it\'s important, I assure you to do my best.\" Harry caught the wink Dumbledore sent Snape and the little twitch that indicated the boy\'s amusement. He himself had problems containing his laughter as he saw the obvious jealousy and competitiveness the Professor felt for a 16 year old student. Even though it was probably justified the circumstances were hilarious.

\"Very well then Obius, I\'ll leave you to do your extraordinary work. I thank you, and I trust you to find a solution.\" During the last words his eyes lay on Snape who nodded slightly. Harry smiled and then saw the headmaster smile in return. Loss hadn\'t noticed as he\'d puffed his chest out in pride at the words. The three conspirators chuckeled inwardly. Then the headmaster left with a last nod at them.

Loss came out of his praise induced stupor and glared at the two Slytherins. Or rather tried to, after being the victim of Snape\'s murderous black eyes this potion master\'s attempt was really pathetic, and didn\'t get any reaction from the students. \"Right, \" he huffed \" Try to remember what kind of foolish thing you did and write it down. When you\'re done, you can go. I don\'t need you disturbing my concentration when I try to correct your idiocy.\" With that he left. Severus murmured \"Or rather you don\'t need us looking at your incompetent efforts in trying to work out how real potions work. Of course you don\'t want us to see you failing, either. Imbecile!\" Harry snickered but stopped as Severus turned his head towards him. Unable to read whatever the black haired boy thought Granger/Potter sobered. \"Uh listen..\" he said, sure that he was blushing furiously \"I just wanted to, ..um apologize, for.. you know.. if what I said somehow insulted you,... or I don\'t know.. but I\'m sorry if I displeased you. I just, please don\'t be angry with me anymore.\" After he\'d stuttered all that out he waited, nearly holding his breath in anticipation.

Looking down at the suddenly fascinating floor he didn\'t see the emotions flickering through his beloved onyx coloured orbs. After what seemed to be an eternity, the silky voice he knew so well spoke \" I accept your apology. Now let us begin working on your potions accident.\" That was obviously all that would be said on this topic. Harry was greatful for the easy forgiveness but still didn\'t know what it was that had Severus offended in his comment. As homosexuality was never an issue in the wizarding world it was an enigma what made the Slytherin flee. Surely everybody liked honestly meant compliments? But as Severus wasn\'t coming forth with information he decided to be happy about the truce rather than tempt the boy into shutting him out again.

The next three hours were spend in deep concentration by both boys. Severus tried to put together every possible mistake that could have been made and it\'s result while Harry focused on remembering all the details and not slipping up about his potion professor\'s identity. Still their conversation was lively and adjourned with sarcastic gossip about students and teachers. At quarter to eleven they suddenly realized that they had missed dinner and left the classroom. Snape carrying several metres of parchment filled with arithmantic potion equation. Something that went right over Harry\'s horizon. They\'d written a small list of ingredients and the potion that was attempted in class down for Loss. Though both knew that if somebody found a reverse philtre it would be Severus.

The Slytherin Common room was empty, which reminded Harry of the strange comments and Mortimer\'s mumbled ´later`. He had to ask the boy tomorrow what it was the other Slytherin meant. Maybe that would finally explain the animosity towards Severus. Putting these thoughts off for tomorrow he followed his future potion master into the corridor in which their rooms lay. In front of them they booth came to a halt. Not looking at each other an embarrassed silence descended. Which Severus broke \"So do you want the bath first or would you rather use it after I\'m done?\" ´Practical as always`Harry thought and grinned \"I\'ll jump in first, I only need to brush my teeth and wash my face, after all I showered after Quidditch practice. If you don\'t mind that is, of course you could..\" Severus stopped his rambling with an eloquent hand gesture, that was so typical for the older version that Harry had to blink back the longing for his time \"That fits my needs perfectly well. After my potion making this afternoon I didn\'t have the opportunity to shower, just knock when you \'re done.\" Harry nodded and the boys wished each other smiling a good night. And the smiles stayed on their faces for the rest of the night.

tbc
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