A Stitch in Time

Chapter 18

Albus was in Potions class. He always excelled in Potions, even at home, and he was a notable favorite of Slughorn, although not everybody liked that.

"Yes, yes just like his grandmother and father, isn't he?" Slughorn would always add merrily. "Yes I taught them both, and they were naturals Lily and Harry! Naturals!"

Albus liked to work from his father's old potions book, which oddly enough happened to be Snape's old potion book. It was filled with helpful tips that always got him points from Slughorn. Harry even sheepishly admitted to him that he had used Snape's helpful hints in his school time too, and that Slughorn always thought he was a natural as well.

Uncle Ron would always tell him how horrible they thought Snape was as a teacher, but Albus liked him. Whether Albus had extra fun in Potions because he was Snape's favorite, he didn't know. But he did like Snape. He had that dark humor sense that a lot of Slytherins liked, and Albus liked it as well.

Harry had told Albus all about his name-sake and what he did during the war, and how he was one of the bravest men. Harry said that Snape had a lot of nice inner qualities that made him a complex person.

Snape came up to Al and peered down at his cauldron. "Excellent work." He murmured. Snape bent close to his ear. "If you could come to my office after class, I would greatly appreciate it. I have some things to discuss with you."

Albus nodded, then watched Snape straighten up and walk over to uncle Ron's cauldron to make a comment. Neville, who was next to him, looked longingly at Albus cauldron.

"You know, Snape genuinely likes you. I guess if I was good at Potions he would like me too." Neville said.

Albus shook his head. "Neville, I'm sure it's not because I'm good at potions!"

Neville shrugged then continued to sweat heavily on mixing his potion which was resembling a mixture of tar and cement.

Albus continued to stir his potion absentmindedly. He hadn't talked to his friends in a long time, and it seemed as though they were ignoring him. Rose, Scorpius, and Teddy were all together when they heard about Harry going to Dumbledore, and Albus was with Neville.

He sighed. Since everyone was in a different house, it felt more and more harder to keep up with the events that were going on with them. At least Scorpius had his mother talking to him. He saw them chatting during lunch a few days ago. Albus' dad thought he was a spy infiltrating the school, and he hadn't seen his mother let alone talk to her.

He glanced over at Neville, who was trying to stir his potion, but the stirring handle was stuck in his potion, and he couldn't move it. At least I have Neville, if I don't have any of my other friends. He thought. He missed having classes with Scorpius.

Once the bell rang, Albus stayed behind and pretended he was putting supplies away. Snape ushered him into his office.

Snape leaned back in his chair, and glanced over at Albus. "How are you liking it here? You know, back in time?" He asked conversationally. He spoke awkwardly, like he wasn't used to talking to people in a regular conversation like this.

Albus shrugged. "It's alright, I guess. It would be better if Dad would talk to me and not think that I was a spy."

"Yes. Nosing in other people's affairs is a specialty of his."

Albus raised his eyebrows. "Really? I didn't know that he did that."

Snape nodded. "Yes. It's a hobby of his, really, creeping around the school. Humph. He thinks I, Severus Snape, don't know about it. By the way, is that Weasley girl, Rose, your cousin?"