Harry Potter and the Wandless Magic

Chapter Fifteen: Burying the Hatchet

Harry sighed as the Potions class drug on like a funeral march. While Malfoy had thankfully been subdued from his normal jeering due to the incident with Buckbeak, Snape still found ways to make the class as miserable as ever. Poor Neville struggled with Potions as it was, and patience was a word never associated with Snape.

Snape eyed Neville, his voice cold. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson, you will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad. We'll see if that gives you the proper motivation to rise above your constant failure."

Neville looked like he might cry as he begged Hermione to help.

Harry cleared his throat. "Professor Snape, may I have a word in private with you?"

The bubbling of the cauldrons was the only sound that could be heard in the room. Looks of shock, puzzlement, and curiosity were scattered across the faces in the room.

"Why?" The Potions Master asked simply, his mask of indifference threatening to slip.

"I'd rather not say in front of everyone else, sir," Harry replied in a respectful tone.

Narrowing his dark eyes, Snape gestured toward the door and followed Harry out into the hallway. He closed the door behind him and cast a quick Silencing Charm.

"Well, Potter?"

Harry had already thought out what he would say for the past hour. He couldn't half-ass this and he knew that honesty would be the best way to do it. Snape may not listen or agree by the time he finished but at least Harry would know that he had tried.

He cleared his throat again. "Sir, this past summer has given me a lot of time to reflect on my behavior toward others which does include you," Harry said. "I have harbored resentment to your treatment of me and others. This has caused me not to give you the respect you deserve as a Professor. For that I am sorry."

A look of confusion covered Snape's face. "What are you playing at, Potter?"

Harry took a deep breath. "I know you hated my father. I'm not my father even if I do look like him. This feud that you had with him doesn't have to be between us too. I want to do better with my studies and that includes Potions. If you're willing to meet me halfway, I'd really appreciate it, sir. I want to make up for lost time and be better at Potions."

Shock covered Snape's face. "What happened this summer? If I didn't know any better, I'd think you an imposter. Harry Potter wouldn't apologize to me except on pain of death."

"It's still me, sir, just with a bigger picture that I'm seeing." Harry inwardly relaxed at the fact that Snape was at least not dismissing him outright. "I don't need any extra enemies with Voldemort after me. You are a teacher and despite our past, we don't have to be enemies."

"So what now? You want an apology from me as well, Potter?" Snape sneered.

"No, sir. I have made my apology and that's all I wanted to do for the first thing I wanted to talk to you."

"First? What was it that you wanted to speak of next? Class is still in session, and I don't need time being wasted by talk of wishes and feelings."

Harry gave him a small smile. "I want to talk about Neville."

"Longbottom? What could he have to do with anything you might want? He's abysmal at Potions."