Paid In Blood - Revised

Chapter 5

Harry Potter confidently walked the corridors of Hogwarts, smirking at how everyone moved out of his path as he approached. Many of the students gawked at him in either awe, fright, or a combination of the two. Any other time this might have annoyed him, but today he was actually in a really good mood, so he just ignored them. He'd had a good night's rest, ate a great dinner with a nice dragon roast to celebrate his successful journey back in time, and now he was on his way to his first Potions class since his return.

Not that he particularly enjoyed Potions – far from it. He was able to see the practicality of the subject and was able to follow the recipes well enough, but in truth, he never did care for it. Personally, he laid the blame for his blasé attitude on the subject at the feet of one Severus Snape, Hogwarts' sallow-faced Potions Master.

Ah, good old Snivellus, who had died in the last days leading up to Voldemort's final defeat. The man who had informed the Dark Lord of the prophecy that destroyed Harry's infant life. The man who had been Dumbledore's spy among the Death Eaters, regularly risking his life to pass information back to the headmaster. Harry had come to admire the man's bravery, even if it had taken Lily Potter's death to change the man's heart. However, even if Severus Snape had earned Harry Potter's respect, that didn't mean he was forgiven. Harry intended to make the man pay for his part in his parents' death and for the way he had treated him, Lily's own son, with nothing short of absolute loathing.

Harry arrived in the dungeons with five minutes to spare before the start of class. Sliding his book bag from his shoulder and dropping it to the floor, he leaned against the wall opposite the classroom and closed his eyes to focus on his Occlumency shields. To suggest that Snape would attempt a Legilimency attack during class was as sure as saying that the Slytherin colours were green and silver, so why not prepare a nasty surprise for him?

This would be his first class with the Slytherins. His first class with her. A small smile appeared on his face as he remembered her expression the first time he revealed he should have been in Slytherin. In his mind, he could see it as clearly as he did all those years ago, when he told her during their third official date in Hogsmeade. She had been both stunned and surprisingly angry, especially when he admitted he'd initially based his opinion of all Slytherins on Malfoy. How she had ranted at him...he always thought she was cute when she was angry.

"First things first, Potter," he thought to himself, crossing his arms.

He needed to establish a bridge between himself and the house of the snakes. It didn't matter how much he wanted to have her in his arms, he would only risk losing everything by rushing in. He understood the risk and was prepared to accept that outcome, if necessary, but he would do all he could to make sure he didn't lose her again.

He heard voices approaching but didn't move from his place against the wall. He ignored the sound and kept working on his surprise for the Potions Master, but he was still aware of what was happening around him. He felt the presence of two magicals approaching, and he could actually sense their apprehension when they caught sight of him.

"I have no quarrel with either of you, so try not to be so nervous. It's embarrassing," he said without opening his eyes.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Potter," Tracey Davis replied sharply, attempting to disguise the unease in her voice.

"I said I had no quarrel with you, Davis, so can you please just lay off?" he asked, opening his eyes and peering at the Slytherin girl. "Unless you'd prefer to have a civilised conversation?"

Theo and Tracey looked at each other, but Theo was the first to break the silence.

"Why?" he asked.

"I can't think of any reason for you to speak favourably of our house, and yet yesterday you actually humiliated the other three houses and said you wanted to join us, who I'm willing to admit have never shown you much courtesy."