Slytherin Saviors

Disclaimer-Still not mine

Harry, Draco and Blaise made their way to the dungeons for their first class. Double Potions. Crabbe and Goyle had not even come close to attaining the needed O for the class. They had instead taken Care of Magical Creatures. Much to Draco's disgust.

As they got closer to the room, Harry grew quieter and began to bite on his lip in nervousness, something that did not escape the notice of the other two boys even as they continued the quest for the perfect ‘Potter as a Dark Lord’ name.

It was the first class that he would be attending as a Slytherin and it would be with his most hated professor, his former housemates, and suddenly, Harry found himself wishing for a Calming Draught or perhaps well placed Obliviate to forget the past two days entirely.

No matter how slowly he walked, he still eventually found himself outside the door to the potions lab. They walked through the door to find that there were only three Gryffindors and none of the female Slytherins in the class. And four Ravenclaws. Hermione and Seamus and Dean were also in the class. An uneven number of Slytherins and Gryffindors.

With a quick thought and a prayer to any deity that may be listening that this would be okay, he set his bag down next to Hermione and slid into the seat. He saw a flash of a smile on Hermione’s face and he felt himself relax slightly.

“Harry!” she exclaimed. “I thought you couldn’t get into the class? You only got an E didn’t you?” she whispered the last.

Harry nodded slightly.

“Did the Headmaster get you in?” she asked, a slight look of disapproval on her face.

“Um, no. I er… made a deal with Snape,” he flushed slightly.

“What sort of deal?” queried Hermione with a look of suspicion.

“Er,” Harry glanced around nervously. He saw the slightly hostile looks that Dean and Seamus were giving him and the disappointed glares from Blaise and Draco.

“Can we talk about this later?” he pleaded. Hermione gave him a considering look before nodding.

Just then the door slammed open and Professor Snape strode to the front of the class, his robes billowing. Harry lowered his eyes, unsure of what to expect.

“This is a combined class. You are the only students who have gotten the required grade for a NEWTS level Potions class. I shouldn’t be surprised at how dismally your year mates have preformed. However, as you have proven yourselves…somewhat competent,” this was said with a sneer. “I expect better performance from all of you for the next two years.”

With a wave of his wand, instructions for a potion appeared on the blackboard behind him.

“Place your homework on my desk and get started,” he snarled.

Harry kept his gaze focused on the desk as he stayed in his seat while everyone else went to the front of the class. He felt himself flush slightly when he heard Seamus grumbling about how some people didn’t need to do homework anymore.

“10 points from Gryffindor for not minding their own business,” snapped Snape. “Anyone else? No? Then get to work.”

Harry decided he really shouldn’t have been nervous. The Potions Master seemed intent on simply ignoring Harry except for the one brief defense. More than once Snape had found himself biting back scathing remarks but satisfied himself with snide remarks to the bushy haired girl that Harry had partnered himself with.

The two students worked diligently on the potion that they had been assigned. Harry found himself so focused on the work that they were doing that he failed to notice his tie was loosened or that in his distraction that morning he had failed to do up the last two buttons.

Hermione went up to the front to drop off their finished product and Harry cleaned up the station. So far the class hadn’t been bad. He noticed that Snape had been making an effort to not be totally horrible to him. Unfortunately, that hadn’t carried over to Hermione, but at least his vial hadn’t been dropped, or his intelligence or parentage or any number of other things insulted.

Harry sighed. He bent down to tuck his borrowed book into his bag and was startled by the sound of a loud gasp.

“Harry!” Hermione exclaimed. He sat upright, wand in hand glancing around before realizing that she was looking right at his neck. He grabbed her hand just as it was reaching for his collar, presumably to pull it back for a better look.

“Hermione, stop,” he looked around. No one seemed to be paying any attention.

“Harry, did THEY do this to you?” she snarled out the question, looking at the other Slytherins.

“Hermione, keep your voice down, please!” he pleaded. He was quickly doing up the buttons cursing himself for forgetting.

“Harry, if they did this to you, you have to tell the Headmaster,” she said insistently.

“Hermione. Calm down please. Can we talk about this LATER?” Harry asked. He could see Snape looking their way and didn’t want to draw any more attention.

“Is this why you got in the class? They did this and you agreed not to go to the Headmaster so he let you in right?” Hermione’s mind was working overtime and going in the wrong direction. Harry could see Snape heading their way.

Near pleading Harry wanted to end the conversation before the professor got to them. “No. Hermione please, I’ll explain everything later. Please, just drop it now.”

“Fine. Meet me during lunch in the library,” Hermione conceded.

Harry was just about to agree when he saw the slight shake of Snape’s head. He gave his former housemate a rueful grin and said “I can’t miss lunch. Snape would have my head. Um, as soon as classes are over, before dinner. Library. Okay?”

Snape had stopped his progression towards their table to ostensibly examine some work on Seamus and Dean’s desk but Harry could tell that he was carefully listening to the conversation he and Hermione were having.

“Fine. But you better be there or I will go to the Headmaster about this,” she agreed reluctantly. Harry could see the darkening look on Snape’s face and was starting to get nervous. He was trying to figure out how to change the subject when the bell rang sparing him.

He picked up his bag but was stopped by Snape. “Potter! Remain after please.”

Harry sighed, “Yes sir.”

He waited while everyone else filed out the room and Snape closed the door behind them. Nervously he played with the strap of his bag.

“Kindly desist with that fidgeting Mr. Potter,” snapped the professor.

“Yes Sir,” Harry muttered, his hands falling to his side. He really wished he knew how to react to this “new” professor. He was a snarly and miserable as ever but somehow more helpful and concerned. It was very confusing.

“You are correct; I would indeed be displeased if you were to skip a meal. Regardless of Ms. Granger’s wild theories,” was the almost off-hand comment as the other man sat at his desk.

Harry’s eyes flicked up in surprise.

“Yes Mr. Potter,” Snape smirked. “I did hear the conversation. If it is your desire you may feel free to direct her towards myself. I can ensure she will be far too busy to indulge in speculation over your personal life.”

Harry paused for a moment, thinking over the sentence and translating it in his mind. “Er…thanks but um, I don’t think it would matter. She can be rather, persistent. If I don’t answer her questions, she will keep asking. Or worse, go to Professor Dumbledore. I…it will be okay. I think.”

Snape looked at him for a long moment before finally nodding. “She may be your friend, but you are not obligated to tell her what you do not wish to have known.” He was looking at Harry with concern.

“If you are sure you know what you are doing,” this was said with a look that Harry was certain meant he doubted Harry ever knew what he was doing. The man stood. “Please wait here for a moment.”

Harry stood quietly. His mind was once again racing. He sighed. How to figure out everything that was going on. At least Hermione didn’t seem to mind that he was a Slytherin. That thought sank in and Harry couldn’t help the small smile that graced his face.

Snape came back into the room from the small office space at the back of the lab. He handed Harry a bottle and he was startled at how warm it was. He realized that this was one of the stomach soothing potions and it must have just come from being prepared. He allowed a small smile for his professor.

“Thank you sir,” he acknowledged the work as best he knew how.

The other man simply nodded and indicated the door. “Perhaps you should leave now Mr. Potter. I am certain that Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini are probably a wand point by now. I would truly hate to start the year suffering through Gryffindor detentions.”

Harry’s eyes grew wide as he realized the truth of the statement. Given Hermione’s suspicions of where the bruises on his neck came from combined with the guardian-like behavior of the Slytherins, they very well may be close to combat. With a slight squeak of dismay he darted for the door.

As expected, the three students were standing off against each other. A quick glance showed that they had not yet reached for their wands and for that Harry gave a sigh of relief.

“Er…Hermione? Um, thanks for waiting. I have to go to lunch with Draco and Blaise but later right?” he held his breath for a long moment. Hermione glared fiercely at the other two boys before nodding. She gave him a tight hug before running off.

“Potter! She is a Gryffindor! And you can’t possibly be seen with a Mud…” Draco drifted off at the glare that Harry gave him. “Or, perhaps…never mind.” He shrugged.

Blaise snickered slightly and the three boys made their way towards the Great Hall for lunch. Harry smiled slightly. So far, except the scene with Seamus and Dean and the horrid newspaper article, the day hadn’t been too bad.