A Twisted Web We Weave

CHAPTER 5

“He’s gorgeous.”

“So talented.”

“Amazingly smart.”

“And so cool.”

Harry, Hermione and Ron all looked at one another strangely as the small group of fourth year girls came chattering out of the DADA classroom, having obviously just had their own first lesson with the new professor. Harry secretly had been quite looking forward to this class all morning, intrigued almost to know about Professor Julius Snape. Stepping into the classroom side by side the trio watched as the professor finished talking with the last fourth year student before she practically skipped from the room, clutching at the paper she was holding. The professor spotted them the moment he looked up from his papers and smiled at the trio. To his left, Harry heard Hermione sigh almost wistfully as those beautiful emerald eyes sparkled to match the grin that lit up his face.

“Ah, you must be the first of my sixth year class. Have a seat.” The professor stood from behind his desk and flicked his wand at the chalkboard where the two dusters began quickly cleaning it of the last classes work. Like always the trio sat down in their usual seats at the back of the classroom as the professor began laying out textbooks on each desk ready for their class. Harry took the moment of rummaging through his bag to glance over their new professors appearance, closer up. Unlike what normal professors wore, Julius wore a pair of perfectly pressed black pants, with a white shirt rolled up to the sleeves. The top few buttons of his shirt lay open exposing the strange gold chain and pendant hanging about his neck. His long black hair was tied up with a plain leather band at the base of his neck while on his feet he wore the exact same boots as Snape, only these had gold buckles where Snape’s had silver. “So I’m eager to hear what you’ve been taught over these past few years.” When he’d finished handing out the text books Julius perched himself on the edge of one of the desks in front of the trio and folded his arms across his chest. Hermione instantly began listing off the things they’d covered, along with the texts they’d read and what they were scheduled to learn that year.

Harry watched Julius through Hermione’s entire speech and noticed quite acutely the professor was paying her absolutely no attention. Instead Julius was staring at Harry, or rather Harry’s scar. Self-consciously Harry reached up at brushed at his fringe just as Hermione came to the end of her speech. “Well that’s good to know.” Julius smiled at Hermione who blushed a little under his gaze. Harry knew instinctively the man hadn’t heard a word of what she’d said but she seemed not to have noticed which was all that mattered.

“I hear you’re a whiz at Quidditch, Mr. Potter?” Harry glanced around as he heard some more of their class mates beginning to filter into the classroom.

”He’s brilliant, best bloody seeker Gryfindor has seen in years.” Before Harry could reply Ron had already answered for him, and Harry instantly elbowed his friend in the side for being so bold. It didn’t surprise Harry that the professor knew his name after all he was the boy who lived.

“Yeah right Weasley, Potter’s a menace on his broom and we’re going to kick your arse this year in the cup.” Harry shuddered as he heard a very familiar voice. So far he’d managed to avoid Draco Malfoy but it seemed like usual they were doomed to share at least some of the same classes. Turning around Harry glared at the blonde who sauntered confidently to the front of the classroom and sat down directly in front of where Julius was standing. Harry watched as the professor stared at Draco for a moment seemingly surprised before he shook his head and called the now full classroom to attention.

“Alright, welcome everyone to sixth year defense.” Julius walked over to the blackboard and in a strangely swirling hand, wrote his name across the board. “I am naturally Professor Julius Snape.” Almost instantly a hand shot up from the other side of the room and the professor nodded to the Hufflepuff girl to speak.

“What are we to call you sir, we already have a Professor Snape.” Harry was intrigued by this question as well and looked back at the professor who smiled cheekily.

“I see your dilemma, but unfortunately my brother does share my name so I too must be called Professor Snape, but Sir will do if that becomes too confusing. I imagine not many of you are in Professor Snape’s Potions class this year anyway.” Harry sighed quietly to himself. Unfortunately for him he wasn’t so lucky, and while Hermione and Ron had dropped the subject Harry along with only one other Gryfindor had been accepted into Professor Snape’s newt’s potions class. In all honesty Harry had expected to be the one who’d been not allowed in Snape’s Potions class but it seemed instead that Hermione had suffered from the professors selectiveness.

“So if that’s sorted we’ll move on to my expectations, discuss my class rules and begin handing out the terms group project parchment.” With another winning smile the professor went about discussing his class rules as he sat, perched casually on the edge of his desk, so very not like Snape at all. In fact quite the opposite.

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“See Neville, I told you he’d be different.” Hermione patted Neville supporting on the back as the small Gryfindor group finally exited the DADA classroom. So it seemed to Harry that Hermione had been right, Julius Snape was a completely different person to Severus Snape, right down to his method of punishment which wasn’t detentions and taking house points, but volunteering for class demonstrations. The new defense against the dark arts teacher it seemed had had quite the impression on everyone so far and all Harry could hear as they shifted down the corridor were students singing the new professors praises. Harry himself wasn’t too sure about the new professor. Sure he seemed nice enough, polite, intelligent and more than capable of teaching but it was something in the way the professor caught his eye randomly and then smiled at him strangely, that didn’t sit well with Harry. Something just wasn’t right about him. Still Harry wasn’t going to say anything, especially with everyone already so fond of him.

“Guys, I got to go or I’m going to be late for Potions.” With sympathetic pat on the back from Ron, Harry ran off down the corridors towards the potions classroom. This was his first class with Snape for the year and it wouldn’t do to upset him before the year had even begun.

Harry’s backside had only just managed to touch the stool when Snape strode in to the classroom in his usual manner, his robes swirling about him in a whirlwind of fabric. Harry had been the last one in the classroom but he’d beaten Snape there so he thought he was safe. Harry should have known better.

“Five points from Gryfindor for being late Potter.” Snape hadn’t even made it to the front of the classroom before he’d flicked his wand at Harry and had physically moved the boy’s stool, along with Harry atop of it down to the front of the classroom and onto the very front bench, beside Draco Malfoy. Harry who was shocked to have found himself moving sat white knuckled gripping the stool as Snape swirled around on him and bent across the bench so that he and the boy were just mere inches apart. “If I am to put up with your presence in my classroom for another year Potter you will at least do me the courtesy of learning something.” Harry sat frozen as Snape stood back up again and eyed the sixteen select students in his class. “…and that goes for all of you. You are here because you showed to me that you are capable of both passing and doing well at Newts level Potions. However it is a thin line you walk in my classroom and put a finger wrong and you’ll be out of here quicker than my foot can carry you. I will not tolerate tardiness, foolishness or general slackness in this classroom and should you feel you can not fulfill those requirements I give you this one opportunity to leave.” Harry watched as Severus pointed to the still open door of the classroom with his wand. When at length no one moved Snape flicked his wand at the door, which slammed closed and locked with a fearfully ominous sound. Harry swallowed nervously as he watched Snape scan the faces in the room, most of whom were Slytherin students with a few Hufflepuff’s and Ravenclaw’s thrown in for good measure. “Good it seems we understand each other.” Snape smiled his crooked half smirk as he flicked his wand at the pile of leather bound books on his desk which began handing themselves out. “Take a good look at the person sitting beside you, as they are going to be your lab partner for this year, you will work with them on all projects including in class potions. I suggest you try getting along because nothing but death with make me change your partners.” Harry groaned inwardly as he glanced across at where Draco was staring at him as if he’d grown two heads.

“Fucking Potter.” Draco growled angrily as Harry slumped in his stool and threw his quill and note pad onto the bench in disgust. Snape had done this on purpose he was sure of it. The bastard wasn’t content on making his life hell, he wanted to get Harry killed too. No sooner had Draco sworn than the boy yelped in pain as a very audible slap echoed around the classroom. Harry glanced across to see Draco holding the back of his head and staring shocked at Snape who still had his wand pointed in his direction.

“Curb that dirty mouth of yours Draco or I’ll clean it for you.” Draco nodded quietly and glared at Harry before turning back to where the leather books Snape had handed out were now lying in front of them on the benches. Harry opened the leather book and flicked idly through its blank pages. “These are your potion diary’s. They are to be filled in everyday without fail. They are to contain, your observations, your experimentations, your notes, your ingredients lists, your failures and your successes in this classroom. I will collect them every second Friday to be marked and hand them back on the Monday. Ultimately you will use these as study guides come your Newt’s next year so make an effort.” With another flick of his wand a long set of ingredients appeared on the chalkboard behind Snape, before the locks on the supply cabinets around the room sprang open. “There is today’s potions ingredients, the method is outlined in your text which I assume you have all read. You may begin the potion with your lab partner.” Harry sighed and went to stand up to begin collecting the ingredients, having seen Draco already hauling the cauldron out from under their bench. However both Harry and Draco paused as Snape came to stand on the opposite side of their bench. “Consider this a warning, you will learn to get along at least in this classroom or you will both be spending your free time with me, understood.” Both Harry and Draco nodded and watched as Severus swept back up to his desk and sat down to begin reading through some papers. Harry glanced at Draco who sighed and dumped the heavy cauldron on the bench.

“Do we agree to make this work?” Harry queried dubious that Draco was even going to acknowledge him. After an extended pause Draco reluctantly nodded and shook Harry’s offered hand.

“Agreed but only because I actually want to see some free time this year, and this doesn’t make us friends Potter.” Harry nodded understandingly and went to gather their ingredients as Draco lit the fire beneath their cauldron and filled it with water. Perhaps, just perhaps this might actually be an okay year, Harry thought.

Unbeknown to the two warring students Snape had witnessed the entire exchange and smiled secretly to himself. If there was time for change, it was now and Severus was going to see damn sure of it. Dumbledore had manipulated Snape one to many times, and this time Snape was going to give the old man a taste of his own medicine. Having seen that his class was on task Snape turned back to his parchments and settled in for the session.

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