Always, Snape

The subtle art of potionmaking

He made a quick decision. In order to fasten their progress he would reveal one of his greatest treasures to Snape. Maybe he would learn more this way...

Later Harry went to Snape's private lab where he had never been before. Impressed, he watched Snape work in deep concentration. He used to enjoy watching the other man work quite much in class. The precision of his long, slim fingers, the concentrated expression on his face, even the way his hair fell in long strands into his eyes. Of course, Harry would never admit that to anyone.

Finally Snape noticed Harry. "You may come in." He sneered to the boy who was still standing at the door frame. "What an honor to enter your sacred lab, finally." Harry said sarcastically. Snape shot him a dark glare. "I always thought a potion lab had to be gloomy, messy and cold." Harry muttered eying the well lit, cleaned up and warm room. The potionmaster just shot him another sinister look which made Harry shut up.

Carefully Harry lay the book he had brought onto the desk standing nearby and pointed at a receipt for a potion where many changes had been made with different kinds of ink. "What do you think about this one, sir?" He asked shyly. "Where. Did. You. Find. This. Book, Potter?" Snape hissed who looked suddenly much paler than he usually did. "What's wrong with the book? There are many useful things written in it." Harry defended his treasure shocked. "I don't doubt that." Snape snorted. "But I asked you where you did find this." The professor roared. "Well," Harry stuttered, "I did find it at Hogwarts." "Oh, there's no doubt about that either." Snape sonorous voice sounded dangerously close to the edge. "Then why are you asking?" Harry wanted to know, unable to move anymore because Snape seemed to radiate with anger. "Did you ever find out who the halfbloodprince is?" Snape's voice was cutting. "Well, I tried to look it up. "Harry offered. "I even had Hermione to do so. But we didn't find out much. Only some traces." "Like what?" Snape asked staring menacingly at Harry.

"First, the writer was probably a halfblood due to the name. Second, the writer went to Hogwarts probably over twenty years ago due to the publishing date of the book. Thirdly, the writer was probably a male Slytherin because of the way he wrote. There is nothing particular to underline this but the way the S are formed and so on... they remind me of Zabini or Malfoy." Snape trailed his thin lip with his index finger. "Fascinating." Easily his tone could match sarcasm but Harry knew his professor didn't mean to this time. Harry said nothing just stared in Snape. He had hoped to trigger some reaction of the man. But Snape didn't give himself away as usual. Therefore Harry pointed onto the potion receipt. "So, what do you think?" Harry repeated his former question. "Well, the potion would make an interesting addition to my ideas but as it is it will never work." Snape looked challenging at the boy who nodded as if he understood. "Yeah, you are right there. Then how about this?" He flipped to a paper which lay loose in the book. "What you mind having a look onto this as well?" Snape snatched the paper from the boy and scanned through it.

"Well, Potter, as I hate to admit it, this could possibly work so far. But there is still a major weak point. What are you going to do about it?"

"I have no clue." Harry admitted deliberately. "But you as potionmaster could probably figure it out easy going." Snape looked furious at Harry. "Never I wanted to take points from you for your insolence that badly but also award you." He sad sourly what made Harry snicker. "You can leave now." Snape announced absently while he reread the page. Harry took his treasured book and left frustrated without another word.

The whole next month Snape and Harry exchanged ideas for the potion. Frequently they met to talk about new approaches or ingredients in Snape's lab but they never actually brewed. While their meetings Harry tried his best to show his professor his knowledge about potions. This pissed Snape off a great deal because the brat had never been worse in his lessons. He still couldn't understand why Harry needed to be so desperately stupid in his of all classes. Not that Snape did mind berating Harry all the time. In fact he enjoyed to see the brat struggle.

It was late autumn when the potionmaster finally permitted his apprentice to actually help him brew.

Although Snape just told Harry to prepare some ingredients it meant a lot to Harry. Meanwhile

his teacher sat down on a table and began writing something down. Thoughtfully the student began to prepare the ingredients. He tried to focus on his work and not Snape who sad across the room and looked kind of breath taking while with his stern expression. Eventually Snape glanced towards Harry to make sure the boy didn't endanger himself like he often did in class. But today he seemed alright.

Harry forced himself to keep concentrated. He had the feeling he better did not screw this up.

"How are you doing, Potter?" Harry nearly jumped because Snape's low voice was far to close, right behind him. Harry cringed. "I'm nearly done." He tried to back off. Snape was standing far to close to him. "Mix them with one of these." Snape hold out his hand in which he hold some kind of black stones. "What are they?" Harry eyed them curiously. "Just put them in. I'll explain later." Snape handed Harry two of them. "This will suffice." Carefully Harry hold them into the light to have better view. Then he carefully put them into the jar with the diced asphodel root, then handed it to Snape who put it into the nearby cauldron. "You are really the halfblood prince, aren't you?" Harry said admiringly watching the display of colors in the cauldron with amazement. "That shall remain my secret." Snape sneered. Harry shrugged and stared at the cauldron for a very long time before he said: "You know, it is strange for any moment I hate you I always admire you because of

your cunning at the same time. But now, if you have really written this book, I think you have to be a true genius. It helped me a lot in the past. Thank you." Snape embraced him from behind what was a rare thing to do for him. "I may vomit." He said in his velvet voice. "But probably you are just a greasy old git who is presumptuously the famous halfbloodprince." Harry threw Snape an offended look. "You are sailing preciously close to the wind, Potter." Snape bit softly his ear. "Maybe I should punish you a little." Harry shook his head him in confusion. "Why? For helping you?" "Indeed why? Maybe because it is so hard to resist you and not to spoil your innocence any further." Snape murmured against Harry's ear. "Or maybe it is because of your beautiful eyes." Snape absently lifted Harry's chin up to look directly at the boy. "You are such a bastard why do even bother to always play so noble?" Harry asked infuriated. "Habit." Snape sneered before he parted the boy's lips and kissed him thoroughly.