average human’s Reviews > Sectumsempra > Status Update

But also, more relaxed, perhaps? Not fully relaxed, his muscles still tightened in fear and his eyes narrowed in anger at other students further down the Slytherin table. But certainly much better than he had been the beginning of last year.

It is amazing what a holiday spent relaxing can do for a child.

He gave the students a cordial nod before addressing the three unnecessary additions. “Miss Bones, Miss Granger, and Mister Longbottom- unless you wish for a resort to try and land in Slytherin, which you would have my upmost support if so, then I insist you return to your actual house tables.”

Granger immediately jumped to her feet, shooting Potter an apologetic frown, but Susan Bones smirked at her before giving Severus a polite smile.

“There’s nothing in the rules that says we can’t sit here, sir.”

Potter had the audacity to smile at the girl before glancing at Severus challengingly.

“I am aware of the rules Miss Bones,” Severus said between grit teeth. Did the girl think he needed reminding of Hogwarts rules? “However, on feast days it is proper for students to eat with their actual houses, as has always been tradition.”

Longbottom, of all the students, was the one to quickly point out the loophole Severus unwittingly gave them. “P-proper isn’t the same as required though, is it?” he said softly, looking sideways towards Draco and Zabini.

“I don’t believe that proper is a synonym for required, no. Neither is tradition,” Theodore Nott murmured, his face hidden behind a book.

“Well if it’s not required then, we’d really rather stay here sir,” Susan said in a tone of voice that just bordered the line of disrespect.

Granger slowly resumed her seat beside Weasley and gave him an uneasy look.

Severus had just publicly lost a battle of rule technicalities to a group of second years. He was as exasperated as he was proud.

“Five points from all four houses for annoying me before the sorting has even started,” he growled. “And one extra point from Slytherin for Potter’s tie being crooked,” he added, before making his way back to his seat, the children’s laughter following behind him.

Somehow, Potter had achieved what he clearly wanted despite not having to speak a single word. His friends were nearly as cunning towards his goals as he was.

It was as impressive as it was infuriating. Severus thought that if Potter was not his student he would likely have hated the brat.

Would you have though? his mind whispered. Could you have truly hated a child as intricately complex as Potter?

“Severus surely you told the students to return to their proper tables?” Pomona admonished him after he was reseated.

“Feel free to explain to your badger how proprieties should be followed,” Severus told her drily. “She informed me that there was no where in the rules that states she cannot sit wherever she pleases at all meals, despite tradition.”

Of which she was absolutely correct. Severus himself had pointed it out to many of the older Slytherins last year when they complained of the odd grouping at the end of their table.

Pomona shot her ‘disappointed grandmother’ look towards the area Bones was seated.

“I worry about her, the girl hasn’t made a single close friend in her house,” she sighed. “And her relationship with sweet little Harry! I worry that she’ll be socially isolated from their mutual friends if she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings.”

Severus nearly choked on his drink. “Potter doesn’t have feelings,” he said before quickly correcting himself. Merlin forbid Albus heard him. “I mean,” he coughed lightly, “Potter is twelve. I do not believe he has the slightest inclination towards romance anytime soon.”

Severus looked again at the group of second years. Potter sat in the same place he always had, the very end seat with his back to the wall. Bones sat beside him, her bright eyes flicking around nearly as constantly as Potter’s. Despite there being eight students seated together, laughing and talking and probably scheming, it looked like it was Potter and Bones who were undeniably the closest two.

It drove a small knife of pain in Severus’ chest as he recalled himself and Lily at their age. He hoped Potter had more luck retaining his closest friend than he had.

Pomona huffed again, looking slightly abashed at his previous recrimination. “They would be a very sweet couple in a few years though, wouldn’t they? They remind me quite a bit of James and Lily.”

Hufflepuffs evidently were ridiculously obtuse. Potter was similar to James Potter in looks- sometimes. But physical features could only stretch so far; they shared no mannerisms, no habits, nor any inherent traits that truly made Potter resemble his father. Miss Bones did have a similar shade of red hair to Lily, but that was as far as the resemblances went physically. And Severus didn’t quite know her well enough to know her personality.

“I am sure there is nothing a young man wishes for more than to find a partner who resembles his deceased mother,” Severus responded to Pomona tersely.

With Potter’s background Severus would be surprised if the child ever allowed himself to enter a romantic entanglement.

Certainly not at twelve years old, at any rate. It was disturbing to even consider.

14%

It likely could even be illegal. He hadn’t forgotten the theft of Flamel’s Stone.

“You may come find me next Sunday morning, early, and you can ask but I make no promises towards granting your favor.”

“Perfect, thank you sir.”

Severus was inwardly relieved to hear that Potter’s elocution and dialect had improved greatly over the summer. Although he could still detect the Cockney twang, he sounded more like an average student from London and less like a ruffian hooligan.

He focused his eyes on Potters fluttering owl. “I forgot to ask, did you decide on a name for that mad creature?”

Potter met his eyes for a moment, mischief suddenly sparkling in the green orbs. “Yeah, I had to find a good name for such an unruly thing like him, didn’t I sir?” he said, stroking the hooting owl fondly. “Sevvie here ain’t as much of a demon as you made him sound.”

Severus vowed to never again give Potter a gift. Or at least, never one that required a name.

“I hope you are challenged this evening and someone slices your impertinent tongue from your mouth,” he told Potter drily.

“Not likely sir, but you can cross your fingers, yeah?”

Severus left the common room, shaking his head at the child’s antics.

‘Sevvie,’ Merlin. Potter was a menace.

15%

Ginny didn’t think her brothers had ever used a curse like that on him before. Mum would have skinned them alive.

Lestrange ignored Ron and smiled at Harry, a cold mean smile that sent a shiver down Ginny’s spine, before he slashed his wand quickly and Ron hit the floor in a dead faint, blood spurting from his chest.

“Ron!” Harry howled, bursting through the barrier. “Draco, come help!”

Williams called out over the students’ chatter, “Lestrange- winner.”

Ginny ran to Ron’s side and grabbed his hand.

There was so much blood.

His eyes were closed and his chest was moving weakly.

He was dying.

“Ron,” she whimpered, “don’t die, please.”

Harry- who she was starting to think was not a hero- laughed after waving his hand over Ron’s chest.

... which immediately stopped bleeding.

“I hate you,” Ron mumbled, his eyes opening.

“I fuckin’ told you to give,” Harry said coolly.

“He’ll be fine,” Malfoy whispered to Ginny, grabbing Ron by the arm. “C’mon, help me get him to the Healer to be checked over.”

Ginny gave him a skeptical look, she didn’t think the sixth year girl standing in the corner counted as a Healer, but she obediently grabbed Ron’s other arm and drug him over to her.

“Quit crying Gin, I’m fine,” Ron whispered weakly. Ginny wiped at her face and tried to give him her best glare.

He wasn’t fine. He got cut wide open.

“Lestrange, as the winner, has the choice to continue with Weasley’s second,” Williams said in a bored tone, as if one of the students hadn’t just nearly been killed.

“I decline.” Lestrange laughed at Harry, who snarled at him.

“Then I challenge Zachariah Dolohov,” Harry said.

Now Draco Malfoy laughed and Ginny stared at him incredulously. How could he laugh when Harry just challenged a boy in 7th year to a duel?

Why were any of them laughing?!

“Accepted,” Dolohov grit out with an angry glare towards Lestrange who shook his head slightly.

“I’ll be his second,” Williams offered.

Blaise Zabini stood up and walked up to Harry. “I’ll be Harry’s second. Even though we all know he won’t need it. Didn’t Harry throw you in to a wall last year or was that a different sixth year he embarrassed?”

Ginny thought that the Slytherins must all be completely mad because half the room chuckled at Zabini’s words.

Williams put up a new barrier and Ginny watched closely as she clutched Ron’s hand.

“C’mon Dolohov, do something,” Harry said softly after they both just stood in their place silently for a few seconds after Williams said to begin.

“Ron he doesn’t have his wand!” Ginny whispered to her brother. How could he be so stupid??

“Shut up and watch,” Ron whispered back.

“What’s wrong Potter? Too scared to make a first move?” Dolohov sneered. Ginny thought he was the one who sounded a little scared as he held his stiff pose, eyeing Harry carefully and twitching every time Harry moved.

“Yep. Terrified,” Harry said in a bored tone.

Dolohov slashed his wand over his head, sending a dark purple spell at Harry. Harry just raised his empty hands and the purple spellfire just disappeared. Ginny was suddenly struck with a terrible thought. Maybe... maybe Harry Potter didn’t defeat Voldemort because he was a hero. Maybe he defeated him because he was a bad guy too. He certainly looked dangerous as he adjusted his glasses, dodging oncoming spells, before flicking his hand casually at Dolohov. The older boys screams of pain echoed around the silent room, hurting Ginny’s ears.

Ginny wanted to go hide in her bed. Or maybe even go home. She wanted her Dad.

“How long can someone stand a crucio before they lose their minds?” Harry called callously towards his friends over the sounds of Dolohovs shrieks.

“Eight minutes,” Malfoy said with a wide and toothy grin.

“Shame.” Harry yawned. “I’m tired and don’t want to do this that long.”

He ended the curse on Dolohov, who struggled to stand back up, and glided slowly right up in front of him. Ginny couldn’t hear what he said to him, he spoke so softly, but she saw Dolohov attempt to send another spell back at Harry.

“You can thank Lestrange for this,” Harry said loudly, his green eyes flashing as he side stepped the oncoming spell.

“Bleed,” he hissed.

Ginny thought maybe Harry’s nonspell didn’t work, and clearly Dolohov did too if his smirk was any indicator, because nothing happened for a split second. Then, suddenly, the older boy shrieked once, as if his body was on fire, and crumpled in to a ball on the floor, moaning in pain.

Harry reached down and took his wand right out of his hand and laughed.

“Winner- Potter,” Williams spat before quickly dissolving the barrier and dragging Dolohov towards the corner Ginny and Ron were in with the student healer. Ginny didn’t see any blood coming from Dolohov and wondered what spell Harry used, hadn’t he said bleed?

“Go get Snape, now,” the older girl told Williams after waving her wand over Dolohov. “He’s hemorrhaging from his internal organs.”

“Duels are over,” the girl called to the rest of the students, “go to your dorms immediately.”

Ginny watched as William’s disappeared through the portrait door, sprinting towards Professor Snape’s office.

“Ron, you okay?”

Harry was walking right up to where Ron and Ginny were seated on the floor. Ginny looked up at him fearfully. He didn’t even seem concerned that Dolohov was hurt so bad that Williams went for Professor Snape.

“I’m fine,” Ron grinned up at him. “What’s wrong with him?” He jerked his thumb towards Dolohov. “Thought you would make him bleed.”

Harry smirked, he looked like a mischievous boy playing a prank, instead of the cold hearted kid who probably killed another student.

“He is bleeding, just from the inside, isn’t he?”

Ron chuckled and Ginny had enough. “I can’t b-believe you guys are so m-mean.”

Percy was right. Slytherin was horrible.

Ron gave her a guilty look, “Gin, Lestrange was trying to bloody kill me. Harry just got him back for me through Dolohov. It’s fine. It’s not like this every night, I swear.”

“Is Williams getting Snape?” Harry asked abruptly, his green eyes narrowed and trained across the room.

“Yeah, should be back any minute. Wanna head to the dorms?” Ron looked uneasy.

“Yeah, hold on, get ready to go,” Harry murmured before shouting, “Hey Lestrange!”

The Lestrange boy stood up from where he had been leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room from them.

“Sorry Potter,” he drawled. “I’m not interested in a rematch and the rules say we only duel on the first night.”

Harry tilted his head to the side and Ginny’s breath caught in her throat, he looked so powerful... even if he was a horrible person.

“Yeah? Fuck the rules and fuck you,” he spat, flicking his right hand.

Every student left in the common room gasped when Lestrange let out a startled yell of pain as the left side of his face started bleeding from a huge gash that ran from his forehead to his jaw bone.

“Now you have a matched set,” Harry laughed coldly, unconcerned with the bloody disfigurement he just caused.

“Gin, go to your dorm, now, before Snape gets here,” Ron hissed urgently in her ear.

Ginny didn’t need told twice.

19%

When they landed Flint looked mad enough to break his broomstick in half.

“Fine,” he said between clenched teeth. “Potter is the new seeker.”

Draco let out a loud ‘WHOOP!’ and Harry beamed at him. Draco had done something nice for him without expecting anything in return. He could have just pretended to be sympathetic to Harry not getting to tryout while taking the seeker position for himself. He’d find a way to repay him.

He didn’t expect to see his chance so soon until Draco was in the air with eight other Slytherin’s trying out for the one open chasers position. Draco was a good flier, and would probably become a great flier once he started training with the team, but some of the other students were already really good.

And Draco had just pissed Flint off on Harry’s behalf.

“I’ll buy the rest of the team brooms like mine and Draco’s if he makes the team,” Harry murmured, not wanting anyone else to hear.

Flint whipped his head around so quickly it was almost comical. “You mean it?”

Harry nodded, “But if you tell a single soul I’ll kill you in your sleep.”

Flint twitched forward, a step away from Harry, and blew his whistle.

“I’ve made my decision! Land!” he yelled.



Harry listened to Draco brag about his ‘superior flying skills’ the rest of the day and was still smiling happily when he sent Sevvie off with an order form for five new Nimbus 2001’s.

20%

“Morning Professor,” Potter said brightly. “We’re still on for today?”

Severus had actually forgotten he had told Potter to arrive early Sunday to state his ‘favor’. In his defense, it had been the worst first week at Hogwarts he had experienced since his first year of teaching.

And it was Potter’s fault, of course.

“Yes. Come in,” he told the monster.

Potter walked casually in to his office and took an easy seat in front of Severus’ desk. “D’you drink coffee?” he asked as soon as he sat.

Severus slumped in his own seat, too exhausted to follow along with Potter’s chaos this morning. “I do,” he replied tersely.

Potter smiled at him, apparently relaxed as could be in his presence, “Brill, wanna see a cool trick?”

Before Severus had a chance to tell him no that he did not want to see a ‘cool trick’ Potter put his hands around his mouth and screamed, “Mavis!”

A young house elf popped in to Severus’ office. It was wringing an odd green garment it wore across its chest, and his large yellow eyes were squinting in what he assumed to be happiness.

“Master Potter is calling for Mavis! And Mavis is responding! Is Mavis doing it correctly for Master?”

“You’re doing great,” Potter reassured him. “Could you bring us coffee though? And those weird breakfast pastries that Professor Snape eats?”

“Mavis will! And Mavis will bring Master Potter his favorite crumpets!”

Severus watched, shocked in to silence, as the little elf popped away again, only to reappear moments later with trays ladened with a coffee service and pastries.

“Can Mavis be doing anything else for Master Potter?”

“Nope,” Potter said, pouring two cups of hot coffee, “this is great.” The elf bowed low to Potter and disappeared.

“This is for you, sir,” Potter said, nudging a mug towards him.

Severus took a fortifying drink, wishing he had any idea how to deal with Potter when he was in what seemed to be a perky mood.

“Potter,” he sighed, “Students cannot call on the Hogwarts House-Elves.”

“Right.”

“So you cannot call Mavis to bring you coffee and food.”

“Yes I can,” Potter said simply, snagging a crumpet off the tray.

Severus grimaced at his arrogance. “Why?” he sneered, “Because you’re famous Harry Potter?”

Potter glanced up at him and narrowed his eyes in irritation. “No,” he said slowly. “Because Mavis isn’t a Hogwarts elf, is he? He’s mine, kind of.”

“Accio Pain Reliever,” Severus murmured with a quick flick of his wand.

A flick that caused Potter the tiniest twitch of his hand.

Severus would have apologized for startling him, not that Potter would admit to being startled, except it was the brats fault he needed the potion to start with.

Potter watched calmly as Severus swallowed the potion, sighing in relief as his building migraine dissipated.

“Why do you have a House Elf?” he asked him tersely. The foolish boy did not even have a home. Which, as tragic as that was, made a house elf rather moot.

“His name is Mavis,” Potter said coolly, seemingly offended on the behalf of the elf.

“Apologies,” Severus rolled his eyes. “Why do you have Mavis?”

“Bought him, didn’t I?” Potter said, leaning back in his chair with a bright smile.

“You bought-“

“And then I freed him.”

Severus swallowed down his reprimand at interrupting him in favor of raising his brows at the child incredulously.

“You bought Mavis... then you freed him? Why?”

Potter leaned towards him, his eyes wide and excited, as if on the brink of an incredible breakthrough.

“Because, sir, I needed to know more about elves, right? And so Madame Bones said I should talk to a house elf but I didn’t know any, did I? So I wrote to Draco’s Dad, because they have a ton of elves, and he sold me Mavis. But I don’t want to own anyone so I gave him clothes right off the bat. But I needed somewhere for him to go, right? And Mister Malfoy had said there are a lot of elves in Hogwarts so I hoped nobody would notice an extra one so... ta da!” He wiggled his fingers for effect apparently, “here he is!”

Severus cradled his head in his hands. Only Potter would purchase then immediately free an elf just to ‘learn more about them’. It was rather clever to hide the elf amongst the hundreds who live in the castle. He wasn’t wrong, nobody would likely notice one extra elf wearing green.

He thought he may regret asking more questions, but his sense of self preservation seemed to have temporarily left him. “Why does Mavis respond to you if you freed him?”

“Because he’s a sneaky little thing,” Potter grumbled. “I told him that I’m not going to own anyone so you know what he said? He said ‘then Mavis won’t be telling you nothing about elves’. So we made a deal, he answers my questions and he can be my acquaintance.”

Severus lifted his head up, his lips twitching in amusement, and looked at Potter’s exasperated face.

“That must be horribly aggravating,” he said sardonically.

Potter’s owl hooted as the boy threw his hands up in irritation.

“It is,” he swore. Apparently the irony was going over his head.

“Indeed.” Severus sipped his coffee and plucked a Chelsea bun off the tray of pastries. He wasn’t sure how or why Potter became aware of his preference for the ‘weird pastry’ but it made his annoyance at the boys behavior lessen slightly.

They ate in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Severus decided he was prepared to deal with more of Potter’s chaos.

“You said you wished to ask me for a favor?” he asked, raising a single brow.

Potter nodded and wiped his hands off on his napkin.

“Yes, sir. But I wanted to know what you’d want in return first.”

Severus vehemently hoped that Potter’s elf is as irritating as the boy himself was.

“I require nothing for you to ask me the favor,” he informed him. “Depending on what the favor is- I reserve the right to request something in return for fulfilling it. Which,” he raised his hands slowly as Potter opened his mouth to interrupt, “I shall inform you of beforehand.”

Potter nodded, his eyes once again sparkling with joy.

“Is your office warded?” he whispered.

Severus knew this was going to be an illegal discussion.

“Yes.”

“I need to use a pensieve,” Potter said.

“A pensieve?” Severus asked. “And why would you need to use a pensieve?”

Potter studied him closely, his lips pursed and his head cocked sideways. He then released his breath and lent even further over Severus’ desk.

“If I tell you a secret- will you swear to never tell a single person? Actually,” he scrunched his brows down in sudden thought, “will you swear to never tell anyone, period. No human, or elf, or goblin, or werewolf, or centaur, or any other being?”

Severus truly tried not to laugh, but Potter’s attempt at covering any loopholes still caused him to chuckle lightly.

“I swear to never repeat what you tell me to another sentient being unless you absolve me of this swear,” he said with a small grin playing around the corner of his mouth.

Potter grinned back up at him, clearly pleased with Severus’ swear. “There’s a prophecy about me, and I’ve got it, and I need a pensieve to listen to it.”

And that- that wiped the smile right off Severus’ face.

“You have what?” he breathed, his heart thumping erratically. “How in Merlin’s name did you find out about it?”

Potter stared at him hard. His previously excited eyes dulling and his nose scrunched up, as if solving a difficult problem.

His eyes suddenly went wide and flew to meet Severus’. “Was it you?” he asked quietly.

Severus said nothing, praying that Potter’s information was missing a Severus sized piece of the puzzle.

“It was!” he cried, jumping to his feet and lurching away from the desk, his owl hooted and flew to the office rafters. “You were the spy!”

Apparently he was missing no pieces of the puzzle.

Severus stood slowly, his stomach clenching with what he knew to be guilt.

In his most self abusing fantasies he had never even once imagined having to explain to this childs face that it was his fault he was an orphan.