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“Harry, stay,” Blaise said imploringly.
“No, thanks,” Harry said quietly. “I’ve got to go get the assignment I forgot before class starts anyway.”
They all knew perfectly well that Harry hadn’t forgotten his assignment, and watched him quietly as he left the Great Hall with Draco.
Chapter 14: Breaking Down
Harry intentionally got to the Potions classroom a minute late, not wanting to deal with everyone. He’d had a difficult night; he was tired, he was confused, and he was feeling generally cranky and hurt now.
“Mr. Potter, ten points from Gryffindor for being late,” Snape sneered.
Harry just nodded and sat Draco at an empty desk at the back of the Gryffindor side of the room, ignoring Blaise trying to wave him to the seat next to him, ignoring the other Slytherins, ignoring the Gryffindors, ignoring Snape’s raised eyebrow at Harry’s choice of seating.
Snape went back to lecturing and Harry quickly got out his parchment, quill and ink to take notes, as well as helping Draco get out the same so he could draw. Harry ignored all the worried and curious glances sent his direction and took down all the required notes.
“Stay right here,” Harry ordered Draco quietly. “I just need to get the supplies for the potion.”
“Okay, Harry,” Draco said quietly.
Harry took a deep breath and made his way over to the student’s store cupboard along with half the class. Pansy and Hermione both cornered him.
“Harry, what’s wrong?” Hermione asked worriedly.
“He’s upset with me,” Pansy said quietly.
“You only told the truth,” Harry said wearily. “I’m not upset with you for telling the truth.”
“Harry, I didn’t mean it that way,” Pansy whispered, not wanting Snape to overhear. “I’m sorry.”
Hermione was now looking at them both with raised eyebrows.
“Look, just forget it. I’m just in a lousy mood because I had a rough night,” Harry said, snagging supplies from the shelves.
“And why was last night so bad?” Hermione asked anxiously.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Harry snapped irritably.
“Are you still going to come to the common room after dinner?” Pansy asked worriedly.
Harry sighed.
“Mr. Potter,” Snape broke into their conversation. “You seem to be intent on disrupting the class today. That’ll be ten points, now return to your seat immediately.”
Harry shot him a glare, but turned his back on the two girls without another word and went back to his seat. Harry scowled to himself as he thought about the fact that it seemed he was going to pay the price for having gotten some comfort the night before.
As Harry made his way back to his workbench, he saw Draco looking back at him with a forlorn expression. Harry knew he had to work hard to try to turn his attitude around again, for Draco’s sake, if not his own.
Harry set the potions supplies down and looked at Draco. “Feel like helping me brew a potion this afternoon?” Harry asked.
“Really?” Draco breathed.
“Really,” Harry said, finally giving Draco a small smile.
Harry set a mortar and pestle in front of Draco and showed him how to grind the scarab beetles while Harry started chopping the daisy roots he needed.
Harry tuned out everyone else and actually spent a fairly pleasant hour working on the potion with Draco. He was more of a help than Harry had expected, but then, Harry realized he should have known better. Draco showed a fascination with potions and he worked with an intense concentration with any task Harry gave him. He also listened to Harry’s every word, careful not to make any mistakes.
Snape came over and glared into their cauldron. “It would seem that even at only age four, Mr. Malfoy is capable of helping you to brew a potion correctly,” he sneered at Harry.
Harry looked down at his work surface, feeling stung by the insult. Things were definitely normal in the Potions classroom once again. Harry refused to say a word and after a few tense moments, Snape finally moved on.
When they were done, Harry sent Draco to take the vial up to Snape’s desk while Harry cleaned up. It made Draco feel important at the same time that it kept Harry away from Snape and everyone else.
By the time class was over, Harry wasn’t exactly feeling better, but he was trying to make more of an effort to stay positive for Draco’s sake. He wasn’t expecting to be ambushed after class, though.
Harry was still working to clean up and pack his and Draco’s things when Ron, Hermione, Pansy and Blaise all converged on him.
“Mr. Potter, you will stay after class,” Snape ordered as everyone was gathering their things.
“But I . . .,” Harry started, and then thought better of it at Snape’s glare. “Yes, sir,” he said quietly.
“You four can wait outside for him,” Snape sneered.
Harry quickly finished packing their things back into their bags and took Draco by the hand to walk up and stand in front of Snape’s desk.
Snape sat at his desk, studying them both for a minute, his hands steepled under his chin.
“Draco, I was wondering if you would perhaps like to help me with a potion this afternoon, just you and I,” Snape said, surprising both Draco and Harry.
“You’d let me really help you?” Draco asked, his eyes lighting up.
Snape nodded and gave his godson a slight smile. “Yes, Draco, as you helped Mr. Potter this afternoon, you proved that you can be a big help in the lab.”
Draco frowned. “But why can’t Harry stay?”
“Mr. Potter does not have the same fascination with potions that you do,” Snape said smoothly. “I do not think that he would begrudge you the time working on potions while he himself would prefer to be spending his time doing something else.”
“You don’t like potions, Harry?” Draco asked in wonderment.
“Uh, well, sometimes, but I don’t really feel like working on any more potions right now,” Harry said, still confused about what exactly was going on. Then again, he seemed to be constantly confused by Snape’s behavior towards him over the last week.
“Mr. Potter can return here and collect you before dinner,” Snape said to Draco.
“Will you remember to come get me, Harry?” Draco asked anxiously.
Harry smiled and crouched down to give him a hug. “Of course, angel. You have fun brewing potions with Severus.”
“Okay, Harry,” Draco said, reassured and excited about working on more potions.
