Chapter 14: Secrets and Loyalties
"Well" Snape masked his shock as he looked around the class "it appears you're not all fame after all Potter, five points to Gryffindor. Now all of you start on the boiling cure on the board" As the class continued Snape walked around, idly keeping an eye on everyone. His real interest lay with Potter, he was making the potion as if he had done it a hundred times before. It was perfect in every way possible, he was doubly surprised when he stopped Longbottom from ruining his batch. He noticed the joy on his face when working with Miss Weasley. That, and the absolute bored and pain look on his face when Mr Weasley or Miss Granger tried to converse with him. After class finished, everyone but Mr Potter had left. He approached Snape who was sitting at his desk.
"What do you want Potter? I'm busy"
"I'm not my father" Potter spoke out of the blue
"What?" Snape was confused, did this boy know about his farther. Impossible, Albus had told him he was raised by muggles, muggles who probably spoilt him and told him his father was a hero.
"I'm not my father" Harry repeated "I'm not my mother either, I'm Harry. No more no less, at the sorting ceremony you looked into my mind and I looked into yours"
"What?!" Snape yelled with surprise, how could this boy get past his defences unnoticed?
"I only did it because you were looking into my mind and I needed to assess if you were a threat or not. I admit that I shouldn't have done that and I saw more than I intended. From what I understand you think I'm a spoilt arrogant brat who got by thanks to his fame. I reckon Dumbledore helped you believe that, well, let's just say you're not the only one who can keep secrets. I spent the first seven years of my life being beaten and starved and forced to live in a cupboard by my muggle realatives. For those few years, the only friends I had were the spiders that lived with me there. After finding out about magic, I managed to run away, I spent the next few years repairing whatever damage they did to me and hiding from the public eye. Fame isn't all people think it is, because of my fame most people make an opinion of me before they get to know me, if you consider yourself as someone who was close to my mother than please act like someone worthy of her."
With that Potter left, Snape sat deep in thought. The boy that Albus had lead him to believe was a spoilt brat seemed to have a worse childhood than he had, he's intelligent, he doesn't revel in his fame and he's right. He's noticed all the people trying to get close to Potter so they can snag a bit of his fame, the last comment was especially memorable. Perhaps if Snape had acted worthy of Lilly, than maybe she shouldn't have gone with Potter, while on that subject, why was he still holding a grudge against Potter? He's dead and he did at least try to apologise before he died, perhaps a change is necessary.
....
The next day Harry and Ginny sat with the twins at breakfast, he was telling them about what he did to his cousins before he left the house. The twins, while being slightly scared, laughed as hard as they could. The atmosphere was contagious as Harry and Ginny laughed along, at least until Hermione and Ron joined them. When asked what they were laughing about, the four just shrugged.
"Mr Potter" Professor Snape called from behind them "after out last conversation, I forgot to give you some well-deserved house points" The hall froze in shock, Snape would never willingly give house points to a Gryffindor. Even the teachers had their jaws dropped, Flitwick was so shocked he fell out of his chair
"Twenty points to Gryffindor for your potion and twenty points for that business after class"
"I think the second one deserves at least thirty points" Harry responded, the air thickened, awaiting for Snape to explode with rage.
"Thirty points then, however five points for your cheek and don't push your luck"
"Deal" Harry and the Professor shook hands before Snape departed from the hall leaving everyone wondering what the hell was going on. Harry turned to his friends who all had their jaws dropped, except for Ginny who was beaming with pride and joy as she knew all about their conversation from yesterday.
"Snape gave you points?!" Fred blurted out, it seemed he was too shocked to do his twin speak thing. It didn't seem to matter as George seemed incapable of speaking
"I believe he did, forty-five points in total if my maths I right"
"What was that business after class?" Hermione practically shouted
"None of yours" Harry coolly replied as he and Ginny began eating
"Why can't you tell us? We're your best mates" Ron spoke between shoving massive amounts of food in his mouth
"Ginny's my best friend, followed by the twins, then Neville and everyone else is the just that as far as I'm concerned." Ginny smiled wildly and tilted her head while Harry mock petted her head
"Why Ginny?" Ron asked
"Well dear brother" Fred took over
"It's quite simple" George continued
"Ginny is smart"
"Clever"
"Surprisingly good at magic"
"Kind"
"and pretty"
"Good boys" Harry petted their heads in the same manner as he did Ginny "I knew I'd have you two trained eventually, if you too keep this I might just induct you into the Marauders"
"How do you know about them?!" The Twins asked
"My dad was Prongs and my godfather is Padfoot, how do you know about them?"
"We found" George began
"Their map" Fred concluded
"For real?!" Harry exclaimed "do…do you think I can have it? It's just… I don't have many things of my dad's" The twins patted Harry on the head before beginning their twin talk again
"Of course you can Harrikins" George spoke first
"It'd be a dishonour depriving the heir from such a gift"
"We've mesmerised nearly all of it anyway"
"However we ask that you wait until tomorrow at least so we can memorise the last bit of it"
"Just in case we need it and you can't"
"Or won't give it to us"
"Thanks guys!" Harry loved the twins, despite the twin talks and pranks, they really were the kindest soul you could find
"What map are you talking about?" Hermione asked
"I'm going to save Harry the trouble and say it's none of your business" Ginny spoke
"Harry, you shouldn't keep secrets from your friends" Hermione ignored Ginny
"My friends already know, except Neville but I'll tell him eventually"
"I meant me" Hermione spoke as if it was obvious
"You're not my friend" Harry snickered "the only reason I haven't told you to go away is because I don't know if anybody else wants you here"
"Nope" The twins and Ginny spoke in unison
"Ron does!" Hermione argued
"I don't want Ron here either" Harry argued back "guys?"
"Nope" the twins and Ginny agreed once more
"Find then, me and Ron should just leave should we?"
"Yes" All four spoke at the same time.
....
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