Glamour

Potions

 "Mr Potter, you will remain behind after class."

Harry internally groaned as Snape's voice cut through the classroom causing a few sniggers from several of his classmates. He didn't know what he had done wrong. These last few weeks, aside from the Malfoy incident, his potions had all been brewed to an at least acceptable level (by Snape's marking), and he had not had a failing grade in his homework for over a month. Slowly sinking back into his seat, he waited as the class quickly left, no one else wanting to be on the end of the wrath Snape was about to unleash.

"I do not abide with cheats Potter" Snape snarled, looming over the desk where Harry sat in shock. "Of all the despicable things you have done during your time here. This is one of the most cowardly and abominable acts. You really have sunk to new depths"

"I – I don't understand sir," Harry stuttered, trying desperately not to quake under the potion masters gaze.

"Don't you dare try and lie your way out of this one Potter. You have been blatantly using Miss Granger or some upper year student to do your homework for the past month. How else would the quality of your work suddenly change not merely to passable but one of the best in the class?"

"Best in the class?" Harry couldn't help but feel a small rush of pride. His hard work had been paying off. Snape thought his work was one of the best in his class.

"Yes. Now we know that you are incapable of producing such results, so it must mean you are either copying someone's work or getting them to do it for you."

"Sir, I haven't. Its my own work." Harry protested. He was proud of his achievement, and he wasn't going to let Snape pass it off as someone else's work.

"Why must you insist on keeping this ridiculous charade up."

"I can prove it sir, um, I have my notes for the last essay."

"That means nothing," Snape sneered pacing round the class, his soft footfalls echoing. "You likely took them from whichever gullible fool you have assisting you."

"What if I did my homework in front of you?" Harry was getting desperate, there was no point in him doing well if the teachers just thought he was cheating, and he knew if Snape got his way, Harry's other improved marks would be cast in a doubtful light as well.

"Hmm, I suppose if you want to insist on keeping up this pretence. You already owe me a detention for this facade." Snape turned facing Harry once more. "Detention. Seven tonight. You will do the essay I assigned just now, and once you fail to meet the standard I have seen in your submitted work these past few weeks I will drag you to the headmaster and he can expel you himself." Snape smirked, clearly please with his plan. Harry just nodded desperate to escape the situation he had found himself in. He thought Snape would be pleased he was finally applying himself, forgetting how little Snape truly thought of him.

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Seven o'clock brought Harry back to the dungeon classroom, his book bag filled with the resources he planned to use in his essay. He knocked on the door before entering and making his way to a desk in the middle of the room.

"Up front Potter." Snape snapped, looking in a worse mood than that afternoon. "You will be using parchment and a quill from my own collection, charmed with anti cheating spells. Any additional resources must be approved by me and you will leave your bag by the door so I know you are not concealing anything."

Harry nodded, quickly pulling out the two textbooks he wanted to used and handing them over before placing his bag by the door and sitting at the indicated desk at the front of the room. He waited nervously as Snape flicked through both books before waving his wand over them muttering several spells before slamming them back on the desk. He then pointed his wand at Harry and muttered a few more spells, scowling when they did not appear to do anything.