As Potter is to Snape

Chapter 27

The Gryffindor's were halfway through double Potions with the Slytherins and Snape had hardly cast a glance in Harry's direction as he lectured the class before setting them to work on their newest potion. A Shrinking Solution. Harry, at first, felt a bit unnerved at being in the same room with his new guardian while trying to keep up the act that they hated each other. He was sure that he would slip up and say something wrong within the first five minutes, but so far, nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It was just like any other Potions class.

Everyone looked up when Malfoy came through the door, his arm all bandaged and in a sling, acting for all he was worth like he was in terrible pain. As if the whole school didn't know that Madam Pomfrey could have him patched up in minutes. But of course, no one questioned Malfoy.

Harry groaned as Malfoy sat down at the table that he had been sharing with Ron and when he complained to Snape about being unable to cut up his daisy roots, leading to Snape telling Ron to cut them up for him, Harry hissed at the other boy, "You're putting on a good show, Malfoy."

Malfoy grinned and turned to Ron who was chopping the roots up in all different sizes in his hurry to be done with them. "Professor, Weasley's ruining them!" Malfoy called out and Snape quickly came over to their table and looked down at the roots in front of Ron.

Snape's hands were clasped in front of him and Harry paid close attention, barely noticing the slight tap of his finger against his other hand. To anyone else, the motion would have been imperceptible.

"Weasley, trade roots with Malfoy," Snape sneered down at Ron whose eyes widened in horror.

"But-"

"Now!" Snape cut him off and turned to Harry. "And Potter, skin his shrivelfig."

Harry glared but said nothing as he took the shrivelfig and skinned it as fast as he could before tossing it back across the table to Malfoy who looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"That's it, Potter," Malfoy said snidely, "be a good boy or else you'll be in trouble with-"

"Shut it, Malfoy!" Harry hissed back harshly. Evidently, he hadn't been as quiet as he had thought because, in the next instant, Snape was again beside their table. He was leaning against it as he stared down at them and Harry didn't miss it as Snape tapped the table to get his attention. Harry, Ron, and Malfoy all looked up to see Snape glaring back at them, then they just as quickly dropped their heads. Harry grit his teeth and focused on the dead caterpillar that he had accidentally beheaded in his anger until Snape moved away once more.

Harry looked up when another caterpillar landed in front of him to see Malfoy glaring at him now. "We've all got roles to play now, Potter," he whispered quietly enough that Harry knew nobody but he and Ron could hear him. "You need to get better at playing yours."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked, looking between Harry and Malfoy. "What do you know?"

"Everything." Malfoy answered but before Ron could say anything else, Snape was speaking from where Hermione and Neville sat, a few tables over.

"Orange, Longbottom?!" Snape ladled a bit of Neville's potion up with a spoon before letting it splash back into his cauldron. "Did I not clearly say that you only needed one rat spleen? And only a dash of leech juice? Tell me, boy, what must I do to make you understand?"

"Please, Professor Snape," Hermione said, concern for her friend filling her voice, "I could help Neville fix it."

"And let the entire class watch you show off?" Snape sneered, crossing his arms and turning fully towards their table so that his back was to Harry. "I don't think so, Miss Granger."