Adventures In Life Drawing
Partnering Snape
Chapter Six: Partnering Snape
Harry slumped down into his seat and tapped his quill against his chin. He knew he should be paying attention in his godfather's class out of respect, but he couldn't help thinking about what had happened two nights before with the boggart. Most of all, he was worried that Sirius was upset with him. Harry was smart enough to know he hadn't gotten away with his weak explanation. He knew that Sirius and Remus would figure out sooner or later (most likely sooner) why the boggart had turned into a naked Snape. From the way Sirius had acted, he probably had jumped to the conclusion of teenage lust and angst right away.
"Harry... Harry!"
He jumped and sat up straight, looking about him. All of the students were gone except for Hermione and Ron, and Sirius was at his desk putting papers into a stack.
"Sorry. I'm not all here today." Harry started putting his parchment and quill away.
"You can say that again, mate. What's wrong, eh? You've seemed to have a lot on your mind the past few days."
Harry glanced down at Sirius, who seemed intent on whatever he was doing and motioned for the other two to come closer. In a whisper, he told them about the boggart incident.
"Oh, Harry. How awful," Hermione said with sincerity. Ron, however, laughed a bit and Hermione thumped his arm.
"Sorry, mate. You have to admit that it's a bit funny once you get over the embarrassment."
Harry shrugged. "Yeah, I suppose so. But just try to tell Sirius that. He nearly flipped his lid. And I haven't spoken to him since."
Hermione sat down next to him. "I didn't realize you had such a big crush on him. It's a bit of a shocker."
"But it's not really a crush," Harry told them. "Sure he's actually got a great body, but that's it. He's rude to me whenever possible, takes off house points for the worst reasons... Draco even said he'd gone too far when he took those five points on Wednesday, and that's saying something."
"Malfoy said that?" Hermione looked surprised, and Ron looked red in the face. "That's a new one."
"Yeah... Anyhow, I've thought about it all day, because I can't understand it either. Every time I try to convince myself I'm more afraid of dementors the thought of Snape naked enters my mind. I think that's why I'm afraid. I don't have any control over it."
Ron shook his head. "Yeah, Harry. Join the club. You're a teenager; it was bound to happen."
Hermione turned to look at Ron with her lips pursed. "Ron knows what he's talking about," she said. "He certainly can't control himself when Parvati is around."
Ron looked taken back by this comment. "Excuse me? I'm not the one going around snogging Slytherins in the hallway."
"I did not kiss Malfoy! It was the other way around, and I can't believe you'd bring that up! You are so immature, Ronald." She was talking so loudly that Sirius looked up from his paperwork, just in time to see Hermione stalk out the door, her frizzy hair bouncing wildly with every step. Ron and Harry were getting up to go after her.
"One moment, Harry," Sirius said. "I want to talk to you."
Harry paused and bit his lip. Not good.
"You go ahead and find her, Ron," Harry said softly. "And appologize. Trust me."
Ron sighed and tramped out the door, leaving Harry and Sirius to their discussion.
Sirius strolled over to a desk and sat on top of it. Harry pulled out the nearest seat and perched on the edge, waiting for the tirade. It didn't come.
"Harry, I'm sorry for prying at dinner. I keep forgetting what it was like to have adults nosing into every aspect of my life. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course," Harry replied, with a stunned look on his face. "I'm really just relieved you aren't yelling at me right now."
"Yelling at you? Over a fear of Snape? If you weren't afraid of him, I'd be worried." He started to swing his legs restlessly, reminding Harry of how much Sirius still seemed like a teenager.
"If you aren't going to yell, then I'd like to tell you what I figured out... or think I figured out." Harry scratched his nose nervously.
"Only if you want to share," Sirius said. "I'm always ready to listen."
Harry took a deep breath. "I think I'm scared of him being naked... because I can't control my, er, hormones. And that bothers me that I'm not in control of myself."
Sirius nodded. "That's completely understandable. I often feel the same way."
Harry smiled a bit at this, but then realized suddenly where he was supposed to be. "Er, thanks for the talk, but I think I'm late for Remus' class."
"Actually, he wanted me to make sure it was alright with you that Snape is still modeling. He appologizes profusely, but there isn't any other male model available."
"Yeah, it's alright. He would have still been modeling if you hadn't found out about... my feelings toward him. Don't let that ruin the class. I'll be fine."
Sirius hopped down from the desk and put Harry in a headlock.
"That's my little trooper," he said while giving him a noogie. Harry squinched his nose and laughed.
Harry opened the door to the arts studio to find that Snape wasn't modeling yet. Instead, Lupin was walking around the classroom, visiting pairs of students. One of each pair was drawing. When the door shut, Lupin looked up.
"Ah, Mr. Potter." He made his way over to Harry. "We're doing fifteen minute hand studies in pairs. Where's Miss Granger? You can pair with her."
"She isn't here?" Harry looked around the room, and sure enough, there was no Hermione in sight. "I thought she'd be here."
"Oh," Lupin said awkwardly. "That's quite odd. And a problem, because that means you don't have a partner. We were having one partner hand model for fifteen minutes and then switch."
Harry scanned the room for Draco until he saw him sitting with a pretty Ravenclaw on the far side of the room. He sighed.
"That's alright, I'll just sit out."
Lupin frowned. "I'm afraid that hands are something you need a bit of help on, Harry. I'd model for you, but I need to be able to walk around and help. I, ah, hate to suggest this, but Professor Snape is here to model for our structural drawings today, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind... And he would be clothed..."
The end of his sentence trailed off and Harry scratched at his nose again.
"Uh, no. That'd be fine. I don't mind, really. Except, just one rule."
"What's that," Remus wondered.
"He can't take off any house points while he's modeling for me. It makes me nervous."
Lupin looked unsure but he told Harry to take a seat while he asked Snape. Harry set up at an easle and a few moments later, Snape, dressed in his long black robes, strode towards him.
"I hear that you are in need of my services, Potter. Let's try to get through this with as little bother as possible." Snape snarled unpleasantly and sat down on the stool nearest Harry. As he held out his hand in a graceful position, Lupin stepped to the center of the room.
"Alright, everyone," Lupin announced. "Please switch for the next fifteen minutes. We start the time now."
Harry darted his eyes nervously between the paper and Snape's hand. For a minute or two, both were silent. Then, Snape suddenly broke the stillness.
"If you had waltzed into my class twelve minutes late, I would have given you detention."
"Unless I was Malfoy," Harry retorted before he could help himself. Snape narrowed his eyes at the Gryffindor, who sat petrified. A moment later, Snape replied-
"You are very, VERY lucky that I agreed to not take any house points from you during these fifteen minutes. Very lucky, indeed."
Harry sighed with relief, but still felt sick to his stomach. That remark would not inspire Snape to hate him any less, and on the contrary would probably cause house points to be taken in the near future for a very undeserving reason. He felt like an idiot and resolved to say nothing else. Snape, on the other hand seemed intent on making conversation.
"And where would your dearest friend, Miss Granger, be? It is so unlike her to miss class." Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know," Harry replied truthfully. "She hasn't missed a class in years... I'd agree with you on that."
The eyebrow lowered. "You would, would you?" Harry agreeing with him on anything seemed to bother Snape and Harry smiled inwardly. It wasn't monumental , but it still seemed like a one up on the potion master. Harry's confidence perked up a bit.
"Out of sheer curiosity, and being asked with the utmost respect, sir, why did you agree to do this class?" Harry looked up with an innocent air. He knew he'd pay for it later, but there was still about eight minutes of tyranny-free time.
Snape had a look on his face that made it clear the question was not appreciated. "That is what is commonly called, 'None of your business.' I suggest you put your nose elsewhere."
Harry shrugged and continued drawing, the smile on his face annoying Snape to no end for the remaining time. When Lupin announced that the fifteen minutes were up, Snape stood abruptly and flounced into the dressing area.
"Got him vexed, alright," Draco commented from behind Harry's right shoulder. He took his usual easle next to Harry. "What'd you do?"
"Oh, nothing," Harry said coolly. "I just asked him why he agreed to model for this class."
Draco snorted. "How many points did he take away this time?"
"None."
"None!"
Harry smiled furtively. "None. And that's all I'm saying about that."
Draco was about to make a smart remark when he noticed the empty seat next to Harry.
"Where's Granger?"
With a shake of his head, Harry replied he wasn't too sure. "But I have a nagging suspicion that it has something to do with what Ron said earlier."
Draco crossed his arms. "And that was...?"
"Something about her snogging Slytherins in the hallways." Harry smiled at Draco, who's mouth drew up tightly.
"Stop smiling," the blond commanded
"What?"
"Stop it!"
"You're such a stud," Harry said, pinching Draco's cheek. Draco smacked at his hand.
"You're such an idiot."
Harry fake-pouted. "It hurts me that you don't respect my feelings."
Draco glared at him for a few moments before giving a grudging half-smile.
"Alright, I'll take it back."
"Good."
"But only because you think I'm a stud."
More to come soon!
Dav