Chapter 62

Tracy Davis was not subtle, maybe she thought she was, maybe she didn't, but the fact remained that she was most certainly not. Especially when she kept looking over at him during every class period, chewing on her lip, taking a few steps in his direction before turning and going with one of her other friends instead.

No, the witch was not fooling anyone, especially not Harry. Thus, when she finally did work up the nerve and hastened to his side while they were packing up after Charms class it didn't surprise him in the least.

"Harry, could we talk really quick?" She had been nice enough, and thus the boy gave no indication of refusal. "I… heard you are tutoring Daphne."

Ah, so that's what it was about.

He shrugged in response, "Here and there."

The girl stared, as if in shock, though whether it was because he was helping her friend or because her friend had asked Harry wasn't sure. "Do you… maybe have time to help me with some things too?" If it hadn't come out that he was helping Greengrass it certainly would if he started offering assistance to her friend as well, he was just about to make an excuse about not having the time when she quickly spoke once more. "I can pay, I mean Daphne is paying you right, for lessons? I can as well, I just need help with the spells I'm having trouble with. Please?"

He let out a sigh before nodding, "Yeah, that's fine. When are you free?"

****

"We need to have a talk, Mr. Potter."

This time there was no ignoring either of his two sisters halting as they were about to walk out with him. Turning, he saw a demanding look in the Potion Professor's eyes that he recognized all too well from so many of the older Slytherins.

Snape's glanced at the other two, her features unchanging as she spoke once more, "This is a private matter."

"Our mom and dad don't want you alone with him."

Harry would have expected such a comment from the more openly brazen of the two, not from Harriet. Still, he could see the irritation building in the woman's eyes and decided to intervene before his sisters could make their time in class any worse than it already was. "It's okay, why don't you two head on to lunch and I'll meet up with you."

The uncertainty was obvious, and the boy smiled both at their protectiveness and the bit of overreaction.

"I really don't think she's going to attack me."

With one last glare of warning directed at the professor, the two girls turned and departed, notably leaving the door open on their way out.

"I apprecia…"

"Save it," Harry snapped, although he wasn't afraid of Snape, he certainly wasn't happy to be alone with her. "I only asked them to leave so you wouldn't find another excuse to harass them during class."

Serena stared back, as if contemplating what he had said and earning further ire from the preteen. "I do not harass them."

"That's a lie and we both know it. Call it whatever you want but you target them intentionally, trying to make them look unprepared or dumb. I don't like it and neither do their parents." Snape remained silent, and after a few moments Harry realized that he wasn't going to get anything further out of her regarding her behavior. "So, what do you want?"

The professor gestured for him to have a seat, which he ignored without a word, "Your… relationship with Professor Riddle."

"What about it?"

The frown was as clear to him as it was confusing. Why would Snape of all people care about who he was receiving lessons from? Her answer gave him more questions than answers, "I do not believe you should be spending all of your time and effort on what little she can teach you."

It was odd, coming from someone who specialized in a particular subject to dissuade someone else from doing so. "Defense is my best subject."

"But not the only one that you can learn."

"James and Lily Potter spoke to me about it. We believe it best to focus on what I excel at to avoid suspicions in my other classes. Besides, Riddle…"

Her interruption was swift and harsh, "Does not control you or your actions, nor do your parents."

"And yet you are the only one who has a problem with this. Why do you care so much about what I do and who I am with?"

Something changed in the woman's eyes, a change he didn't recognize. "So, you are with her now?"

Harry didn't know how to reply to that, didn't understand what she was even implying. Whatever he was going to say was interrupted as the door opened and the next class began filtering in. The distraction was enough for Harry to escape, intending on getting as far away from the woman as possible.

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