A Darker Form of Magic, book two: Parseltongue

Chapter three

Snape found himself watching the Slytherins walk into the Great Hall once more and felt a spark of relief that most of them had no markings to show the previous night's illicit activities. Expect for Hatton, that was, who looked as if he'd found himself on the wrong end of a Bludger, but none of the professors at the High Table were too concerned about that, not even the potions master himself. In fact, Snape thought he heard a few of them quietly giving points to Slytherin House, but didn't dare tear his gaze away to check.

The second years had just walked in.

Just like last year, the ten snakes walked into the Great Hall as a unit, one never straying far from the others. And just like last year, the gazes of those already sitting at the house table morphed into that of respect, more so this time than last year even.

Unlike last year though, when the group went to sit down the boy didn't take his place between the Malfoy and Zabini boys, but rather between Miss. Parkinson and Greengrass. Though the boy looked physically fine - trying hard to appear in such a way it seemed - the Slytherin Head of House knew then that the boy hadn't come out of the summer holidays as unscathed as he had intended for the potions Professor to believe.

—-

The second years left for Greenhouse Three with refreshed looks on their young faces. Though most of them didn't particularly like the idea of doing Herbology, having the class first thing in the morning meant that none of them had to properly think for a little while. Harry was especially looking forward to the class as he had the best marks in it for his house, and was right behind Neville Longbottom in their year. He supposed spending so long 'helping' Aunt Petunia care for the garden had to be good for something.

However, the boy's mood quickly soured upon seeing who else was at the Greenhouses.

The second years shared confused glances as they watched Professor Sprout walking out of the greenhouse to greet them, something of a scowl disfiguring the normally kind looking witch's face as another followed her out of the building.

Lockhart was dressed neatly in turquoise robes and an obnoxious hat of the same color that made Harry wonder why someone would be so foolish as to think that anything about the professor's outfit was acceptable in public. The Slytherins bit back a collective groan as some of the Hufflepuff girls waking behind them all but swooned at the sight of the defense professor, likely thinking that the wizard was an attractive hero. But lairs knew one another, and even Vincent and Greg knew part of the game that the blond Professor was playing.

Harry was sure that Dumbledore did too.

"Oh, hello there!" The man in question all but beamed as he looked at the gathering mass of students. His eyes seemed to linger on Harry for a moment longer than the rest, something that did not go unnoticed by the snakes. "I was just talking with Professor Sprout here about the right way to care for aconite-"

But the Herbology Professor wasn't giving the younger teacher the time of day. The witch stepped up in front of the man and began speaking over him, much to the appreciation of the Slytherins and disappointment of the gathered Hufflepuffs.

"Why don't you lot go to the greenhouses?" The Herbology Professor all but shouted, looking as close to murderous as any of them had ever seen the normally jolly witch.

"I think the chances of him not making it the year have just risen once more," Blaise commented quietly and Harry was inclined to agree even as he shuffled away from the other boy and towards the greenhouses.

"Harry! I've been wanting a word-" an annoyingly charismatic voice called suddenly as the boys had begun to walk away. The smaller of the two snakes turned to see the defense Professor looking at Harry with those hungry eyes of someone that wanted something that they shouldn't, and Harry would have rather endured the sickness that the castle brought upon him in full than speak to the man alone even once. "You don't mind if he's a few minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?" Lockhart asked with a smile that the Slytherins were sure was meant to be charming.