A few weeks passed by and as they did, Harry became more and more troubled over a certain Professor. In Harry's classes, all the teachers loved him. And why wouldn't they? He always concentrated, he is always on time, he is so respectful and he always got perfect marks. Of course they all think that he's just a quick learner, but Harry had learned all this years ago. In fact, he is currently at the same level as the fourth years. But he would never tell anyone except Draco. Doing so would just attract more unwanted attention. But there is one teacher who seems to wake up of a morning with all intentions of making Harry's day hell. And that Professor would be Professor Snape.
In every potions class, Harry has not made a single mistake. He has brewed perfect potions every time and handed in perfect essays every time as well. But Severus would always be unsatisfied. Even Draco was confused as to why his godfather was being so unreasonable to Harry. So, Harry decided to ask Remus. He decided that it would be best to ask Remus over Sirius, considering he knew Sirius wasn't a huge fan of the potions Professor. So he began to write a letter to Remus.
Dear Remus,
I hope you are well. I have been having an issue with one of my teachers. And that certain teach is Professor Severus Snape. I have been such a good student for him, I never make a mistake, my potions and essays are always perfect, I respect him (unlike the Gryffindors), but he's never happy with me. In fact, he's quite rude to me.
So, I was wondering if you had any idea as to why he is like this? I know Sirius isn't a fan of Professor Snape so I thought it would be best to ask you. Say hi to Sirius for me.
From Harry.
He quickly walks over to one of the schools owls. The owl nibbles him before sticking out his leg for Harry. Harry ties the letter to its scrawny leg.
"Please be as quick as possible."
The owl hoots in response before taking off out the window. Harry slowly wanders back out of the owlery and slowly makes his way to the entrance hall. Once there, he decides on going for a walk around the grounds rather than heading back to the common room.
Even though they were only three weeks into Autumn, the winter breeze had come early. The breeze whips against Harry's face, causing his cheeks to go pink and his eyes to water slightly. He heads towards the black lake. As he gets closer, he notices a figure in a long black cloak entering the forest next to the lake. Harry's pace quickens as he heads towards where the figure was just standing. As he reaches the edge of the forest, he looks into it. Not seeing anything through the darkness, he casts lumos. The light from his wand brightens the forest a little, but not enough to see the figure.
"Nox."
He walks away from the forest and back to the black lake. He takes a seat under a tree close to the shore. The dark water ripples as the breeze skims it. Harry finds some stones a couple of metres away. He scoots over to them and begins to throw them across the surface of the lake, trying to get them to skim.
***
A few hours pass by and Harry's record for the most skims is twelve. He transfigures another leaf into a stone and prepares to throw it. Just as he lets go, an owl lands on his shoulder. The stone lands in the water and quickly sinks.
"Hey buddy! I didn't expect you to be back quite so soon."
The owl hoots and sticks out his leg. Harry reaches up and unties the letter and the owl flies off. Opening the letter quickly, Harry begins to read.
Hi Harry!
It's great to hear from you! You made the right choice by asking me. Siri would've just gone on about how greasy his hair is or something ridiculous like that.
Anyway, the reason could be that your father was absolutely awful to him. Severus was best friends with Lily, they met before Hogwarts. But James would always bully Severus (even hanging him upside down and pulling his trousers down). Eventually Severus and Lily didn't talk much once she began to date your father. I think Severus felt as though Lily betrayed him by dating the boy who was bullying him. I personally think your father's actions were disgusting. But perhaps you should speak to Severus about how you feel?
Let me know how you go.
Love from, Remus.
Harry sprang to his feet quickly and made his way back to the castle. He made his way down to the dungeons, stopping right outside the door to the living quarters of his head of house. He knocks on the door twice and waits. Within a few seconds, the door swings open to reveal Severus. His eyes land on Harry and his sneer becomes more prominent.
"Potter. What do you want?" His low voice drawls.
In any other situation, Harry would be his polite self and ask to talk. But Harry knew better than to ask Severus. So he ducks under the Professor's arm and enters the living quarters.
"Potter, I did not invite you in. Please leave. Obviously you got your manners from your father."
There it is. That's what he needed to hear to confirm Remus's theory.
"I'm sorry Professor. In any other situation I would ask to enter, but I had a feeling that you would deny me entry. Also, it's Lupin-Black, not Potter. Now, to get to the point of my visit. I know why you hate me. And if I'm being honest, I completely understand why you would. I know how my father treated you. I think his behaviour towards you is absolutely disgusting. I also get the feeling that you felt betrayed when my mother began to date him. I mean, who wouldn't feel betrayed when their best friend begins to date their bully? But I must remind you Professor, I am not my father. Nor am I my mother. I lived with them for just over a year. I can't even remember them. I may look like my father, and I know I have my mothers eyes and brain. But you must understand that I am not either of them. I am repulsed by my fathers behaviour towards you. So I must ask you, can you please treat me like my own being rather than like my father. I understand that it must be hard for you to do that considering just how much I look like him. But just remember, I have never disrespected you. Well other than just then when I entered uninvited, which I must say, I am truly sorry about. I actually study and care about learning, and I am a Slytherin. My father would've hated the fact that I'm a Slytherin, but I would've hated it if I was sorted into Gryffindor. Surely you can see that I am not my father, or my mother. I am my own person, so please treat me that way." Harry takes a deep breath as he waits for a response.
"You are right Mr Lupin-Black."
"Please call me Harry, sir. Lupin-Black is a little long to say all the time."
"Alright, Harry. You are right of course. Your mother was my best friend for so many years. I loved her. But she loved your father. She knew it hurt me that she chose him over me, but I could never blame her. And your father, he hated my very existence. I avoided him, yet he would always manage to find me and hex me. Or whatever else he felt like doing at that moment in time. I'm sorry that I've treated you like you are your father. I will try my hardest to remember that you aren't him."
"Thank you Professor. That's all I can ask for. I'll let myself out."
Harry wanders down the corridor of the dungeons, heading towards the common room. A small smile on his face as he thinks of just how well that went. He won't write to Remus about it quite yet, he decides it would be better to wait until he's had a couple of classes with him. That way he will know if Severus was telling the truth or not. As he enters the common room, he notices Draco sitting on one of the couches. He quickly walks over and lays down, his head in Draco's lap. Draco chuckles before combing his fingers through Harry's slightly knotted hair.
"I think I just sorted things out with your godfather." The raven haired boy announces, excitement evident in his voice.
Draco grins down at the boy, his fingers still in the raven hair.
"I sure hope you have. Otherwise my father will hear about this and I'll get him to have words with Sev."
"Thank you Dray. Hopefully that won't need to happen."
