Harry Potter and the slytherin Prince

Most of the students turned up early on Monday morning for breakfast. After the weekend everybody just wanted to get back on with school life, most of all the teachers who hadn't really had much sleep at all due to searching the castle and checking through all of the post that kept arriving. The Aurors were still stationed around the school and grounds finishing thier checks on the wards and to complete thier final sweeps of the floors for any other cursed chocolate frogs that might of escaped. Once the majority of students were seated and eating breakfast on Monday morning Dumbledore stood up and called for silence.

'The problems we had this weekend are finally resolved. I do ask you to be careful about what products you eat or buy from outside the castle for the next month st to make sure that all cursed chocolate frogs are accounted for. I have been informed by Madam Pomfrey that the students that had been poisoned are well on their way to recovery and should all be ready to leave the infirmary by tomorrow evening at the latest. Now i believe you are all anxious to start your lessons so off you go.'

Hermione leans over to Harry and Ron who are whispering to each other and taps the table. They jump and look at her.

'What Hermione?' Ron asks confused.

'Didn't you just listen to Dumbledore?' Hermione sounds annoyed.

'Why bother when you will fill us in later.' Ron quips. Hermione frowns at them.

'Come on Ron we have to get to Care of Magical Creatures. I'll see you in Potions, Hermione.' Hermione doesn't answer and turns away from them, Harry goes to apologise but Ron grabs his arm.

'Come on mate. Leave that till later.'

Ron drags Harry out of the Great Hall and out of the main entrance doors. The weather outside is still sunny and hot for this time of year so a lot of students were taking advantage of the weather by walking around the lake and sitting on the grass instead of being locked inside the castle. Harry and Ron turn and head towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest where Hagrids hut is, to once again start their lesson. As they are the last to arrive, Hagrid and the other students are all ready waiting for them alongside the same table that was set up on Friday before the attack in Hogsmeade.

'Mornin' class. Line up 'longside the table. We 're continuin' on from Friday. What do Bowtruckles tend to eat?' A few of the hands go up. 'Mr Smith?'

'They eat all types of insects but their favourite foods are woodlice or Fairy eggs.' Replied Zacharias Smith.

'Excellent. Where to Bowtruckles live?'

'Mr Evans?'

'They prefer to live in trees from which the wood is used to make wands, usually in England and Germany.'

'Good, good. Now there are several trees behind me that are housing bowtruckles. Your job is to catch one and bring it back to the table. I want you to draw it and label all the parts and for homework i want you to study any predators they may have and write me an essay. You only have an hour so you'd best get started.'

Ron and Harry look at each other and pick up a bowl each. Along with the rest of the students they head towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As they step under the first few trees the thick canopy of leaves above blocks out the sunlight.

Thank Merlin we are miles away from the Acromantula nest.'

'Yeah.' Ron shivers remembering thier second year adventure to meet Hagrids friend Aragog. They both carefully look around and see a tree to their left that looks like an old Willow tree with distinctive claw marks on the trunk indicating a Bowtruckle had recently defended the tree. Once they reach the base they lay down their bowls of woodlice and silently step back. They wait. After several minutes Ron looks around and sees a few students walking back to the tables with a Bowtruckle held tightly in thier hands.

'Do you think we should try somewhere else?' Ron asks Harry. Harry shrugs. Just then a couple of bowtruckles slowly climb down the trunk and crawl with interest towards the bowls. Harry takes out his wand. Ron looks shocked before grabbing his wand arm and pulling it down.

'What you playing at?'

'I'm not getting scratched on my first morning back. Immobilis.' A small jet of red light shoots and hits the Bowtruckle. It freezes halfway to the bowl. The others turn to run but Harry freezes a second one quickly. Harry bends down and picks up the first one he froze and then casually passes the second over to Ron. Leaving the bowls behind they return to the table and grab a piece of parchment to draw thier Bowtruckle on. Hagrid comes over.

'You were not suppose' to stun 'em.'

'Sorry Hagrid. I've been attacked by these before.' Harry explains. 'I didn't want to visit Madam Pomfrey this early.'

'You're meant to move slowly around 'em, 'arry.' Harry and Ron nod before Harry drags out his book entitled, Creatures Great & Small by Dragon flicking it open to the right page.

'How you been 'arry. I know you never left your aunt and uncles this holiday. Them muggles tratin' you okay?'

'Fine. They were laying off me after Moody and Mr Weasley had a word with them at the end of last year.'

'Good. Ruddy muggles.' Hagrid scowls before and walking off to check on the ohter students. Shortly after the bell rings and leaving the Bowtruckles for Hagrid to put back they walked back up the slope towards the school. Harry parts from Ron just inside the front doors and headed down to the dungeons, whilst Ron continues up the Grand Staircase. Hermione was already seated at a desk in the middle when he arrives so he sits down beside her. Looking around he realises only 11 students made it into the Potion NEWT class. 4 of them happened to be Slytherins. Suddenly the door to the classroom bangs open and in stalks Snape his robes billowing behind him stopping behind his desk.

'This is your first NEWT Potion lesson and I warn you now any messing about or exploding cauldrons and you will be instantly ejected from this class. I do not expect many of you to actually take the NEWT exam, you will most undoubtedly drop out.' Snapes gaze rests on Harry as Malfoy laughs. 'Before we begin today's lesson I will take in your essays.' Snape sweeps his wand around the room and their essays fly towards the front. He puts them inside a draw in his desk and faces the class again. 'In our Monday lessons we will be discussing the topic i will be covering that week. After the lesson I will expect research to be done before our 2-hour lesson on Wednesday afternoon when you will be expected to make the potion from any notes you make. Not an ingredient and method list I put up on the board.' Snape smiles viciously. 'This will encourage you to learn quickly. I will making the person who makes the worst potion each lesson drink their own concoction.' Snapes gaze this time comes to rest and lingers on Harry. He stays looking at him as he continues. 'So I know that a few of you will be poisoning yourselves soon.' Snape sits down and pulls out a stack of notes.

'This week we are studying the Polyjuice Potion. What is this potion used for?'

Hermiones hand shoots up. Harry puts his hand up to. Making it in the second year and answering questions on it for their OWLs was going to make this a breeze. Snape looks around.

'I want everybody's hands up.' Snape snaps. 'You did it on your exam in the summer.' The rest of the class reluctantly puts their hands up too.

'Malfoy?'

'It changes the physical appearance of the drinker for one hour.'

'Good. 5 points to Slytherin.' Malfoy turns and smirkes at Harry.

'Who can tell me why it only lasts for 1 hour?' Nobody puts their hand up. Hermione for once looks confused. 'Nobody. That means I'll have to take points from every single house. Snape says enjoying the words.' Harry, not wanting for Gryffindor to loose points on thier first day of lessons, puts his hand up. Snape glares at him.

'Yes Mr Potter?'

'It only lasts for an hour as the lacewing flies and leeches that the potion requires are reacting together from the moment they are added. The product of this reaction binds to the fluxweed and deactivates it. It is the fluxweed that holds the transformation.'

The class goes silent looking between Harry and Snape. Snape continues to glares at him

'Correct.' Snape spits out as though the word clearly hurts him to be sdaying it.

'Turn to page 45 of your textbooks and read the chapter.' They all quickly turn their books, Advanced Potions, to the assigned page and start reading. Harry sighs. He has already read this so he pulls out a quill and parchment and makes notes as well. Hermione gives him a long hard sideways look before turning back to her chapter.

The bell rings a while later causing Snape to look up from his notes.

'I expect you all to have the ingredient list and method for the Polyjuice written out for Wednesday I will be checking so do not think you can get away with doing no homework. Keep in mind this is NEWT level Potions and simply writing out this method from a book will not pass this course. It will require extra research. Therefore this potion will be a test. Even though it takes a month to brew I can predict if your potion will turn out correctly or wrong. The top 4 students will be allowed to take an advanced level Potions lesson on a Saturday morning. You have all been timetabled for this lesson but only those select 4, will ever need to come. If one of the top 4 decides not to join us then nobody will be offered that place. You will be working on extremely complex potions so I will not want idiots in my class. Dismissed'

At lunch Harry is sitting eating his lunch trying to ignore Hermione as she stares at him. As Hermione goes to speak Ron comes over with Neville and sits down.

'Got any homework yet you guys?' Ron asks.

'Yes. A ton from Snape.' Harry moans.

'How did you know the answer to Snapes Question Harry?' Hermione enquires. Ron looks at Harry disgusted.

'You answered one of his questions!'

'He was threatening to take points from every house.'

'I'm glad I dropped Potions.' Neville shudders at the thought.

'You haven't answered my question Harry.' Harry looks up at Hermione and sees her frowning.

'I got bored on my own this summer so I sent for some books from the Wizard Library in London.'

Technically he hadn't ordered those books Snape had, Harry adds mentally. Those books had been bloody useful.

Hermione frowns but accepts the answer turning back to her chicken salad. A large black owl lands in front of Harry and drops a letter before flying off. Harry opens it.

Mr Potter

Your Occlumency lessons will continue tonight at 7pm. Do not be late!

Professor Snape

Harry takes out his wand and touches the edge of the paper causing it to curl up and burn. When he drops it on the table to finish burning it disappears without causing scorch marks on the table surface.

'What was that?' Ron asks

'Oh, a spell i picked up from a random charms book.' Ron rolls his eyes.

'Not the spell, the message.'

'Oh, Occlumency lessons are starting again tonight.' Harry moans. Ron and Hermione exchange looks. Harry frowns at them. 'What's up?'

'Well they were not exactly worth doing last year. They made your nightmares worse.' Ron admits.

'Besides after you looked in Snape's pensieve i never thought he would teach you again.'

'I've been practising over the summer on my own and the method works, its just Snape that makes my guard come down. But I've improved so maybe it wont be so bad. Besides i've apologised for the pensive incident.'

Hermione doesn't look convinced but looks proud of Harry too for actually apologising to Snape. Ron meanwhile looks disappointed in Harry and sighs. Neville just looks confused.

'What's Occlumency?'

'It stops Voldemort from getting in my head and planting images.' Harry explains. Neville takes it at face value.

'Worth learning then.' Neville comments. There is silence for a while apart from the sound of Ron eating.

'Come on you two. Herbology.' Hermione stands up and looks pointedly at Neville and Harry. They both sigh and get up.

'Should have not taken it like me.' Ron smiles at them as they leave.

Herbology was in greenhouse 5 and Harry was very pleased when it was all over. They were re-potting small plants with bright purple flowers that liked biting people who were not paying attention. Neville and Hermione were quite good at it, but Harry was finding it boring. He wanted to get his hands on the plants in greenhouse 6 which were the ones likely to eat you or cause serious harm. Madam Sprout had mentioned they would be spending a few classes in there soon.

The lesson finally finished and they met Ron outside the Charms classroom to wait for Professor Flitwick to let them all in.

'Enjoy your day off?' Harry asks Ron. Ron smiles

'Yup. Played some chess with a fifth year and won.'

'Just wait till we start getting lots of homework. You wont be lounging around all the time then.' Hermione shoots at Ron as Flitwick lets them in the classroom. They take their usual seats near the back of the class.

'This year you are starting your NEWT exams. We will starting to concentrate on non-verbal spells. Who can tell me the advantage of non-verbal charms?' Hermione's hand shoots up nearly taking Harry's eye out. 'Ms Granger?'

'It gives you advantage over your opponent, as they will not know what Charm it is you are going to use. This way they will not know how to block it.'

'Correct. 5 points to Gryffindor. Today we are going to start trying to use the levitation spell non-verbally. This will take you a few lessons to get right as the first spell is always the hardest.' Professor Flitwick stands on his pile of books to see the class better. 'Here are some feathers' Flitwick waves his wand at a box on his desk and feathers fly out and land in front of everybody. 'Don't forget the swish and flick movement.'

The class goes silent as they look at their feathers and then at each other. Harry looks at Hermione who predictably opens her textbook and settles down to read the first chapter again, ignoring her feather, on how to do non-verbal spells. Harry has already read the chapter and understands what to do. In fact he had been doing it over the holiday, with Snapes help of course.

'What should we do?' Ron leans over to Harry and Neville leans that way too

'The book says you should think the word whilst doing the wand movement.' Harry explains.

'Is that all?' Neville doesn't sound very confident.

'You have to want it to levitate. Imagine it levitating in your mind whilst you say the word. That's what the book says anyway.' Harry shrugs.

'Not asking much are they.' Ron says sarcastically as he looks at his feather. He swishes and flicks his wand but the feather stays put. Neville looks at Harry and then at his feather before copying Ron. His too doesn't move. Professor Flitwick comes over.

'Keep on trying Mr Weasley and Mr Longbottom. Mr Potter, why don't you have a go?'

Harry nods. He mentally thinks of his first Occlumency lesson and lets his mind wonder to what exactly Snape will be teaching him before flicking his wand. Nothing happens.

'Try again Mr Potter. Concentrate on a levitating feather. Imagine it raising off the desk.'

Harry imagines the feather still sitting on the desk and bursting into flames. Harry flicks his wand and it chars the feather. Professor Flitwick shakes his head disappointedly.

'Extra work tonight Mr Potter practising that spell.'

'Yes Professor'

Flitwick walks off to another group of students. Hermione pushes her open textbook to one side and picks up her wand. She then closes her eyes and imagines a levitating feather and swishes and flicks her wand. She opens her eyes expecting to see a floating feather but finds it still sitting on her desk. She looks annoyed.

'I did everything the book said to do.'

'Hermione. This takes practise. You can't always get a spell first time.' Harry explains reasonably.

Hermione tries again ands till nothing happens. Harry sighs.

'Wingardium Leviosa.' Harry pronounces swishing and flicking his wand. His feather rises to about a foot off the table. 'Now imagine your feather is floating like this.' Harry moves his wand from side to side and the feather moves from side to side too. Hermione nods, Ron stares at his feather trying to focus and Neville turn back to shaking his head. They all swish and flick their wands. Hermiones moves slightly, where as Rons and Nevilles stay firmly on the table top.

'Good Hermione.' Harry praises hoping she doesn't get too upset that she seems to be having difficulties.

By the end of the lesson, Harry still has his feather floating around them bored, whilst Ron, Neville and Hermione have finally managed to get their feathers to at least turn over, which is a start. They make their way up to the common room once they are dismissed and gratefully collapse onto couches near the fire.

'I think we should get started on our Potions homework Harry. We don't have much time to do it in.' Harry nods sadly and follows Hermione over to a table and chairs nearby under a window from which sunlight is streaming through whilst Ron and Neville go up to a their dormitory to dump thier bags.

Harry makes his way down to the dungeon just before 7 that evening, being careful to avoid any Slytherins that might be lurking around in the dungeons. He makes it to Snapes classroom without any run ins and knocks. When there is no answer he goes in anyway and sits down on a chair opposite Snapes desk. Bored, he looks around and sees the Potions store, which is normally locked, open so goes over and has a look. He pulls up a stool and stands on it looking at the top few shelves where Snape keeps all of his rare and illegal ingredients.

'Naughty Snape. Demon teeth.' Harry says holding up a piece of string onto which 4 teeth are threaded on it. After putting it down on his left he moves aside a few jars and vils to look at the back where the illegal items are kept. Seeing an interesting vial with silver liquid inside he pulls it forward and examines it.

'Unicorn blood!' Harry whistles shocked. 'Wow. I wonder what you use this for?'

'Nothing you will ever be brewing.' Harry turns around and sees Snape glaring at him from the doorway. Harry carefully puts the vial at the back of the cabinet and gets down off the stool pushing it back underneath its table. 'I do not remember telling you, you could enter.'

'Sorry. There was no answer, so I thought….'

'You would come in and go through my Potions cupboard?'

'No, that was just a bonus.' Harry smiles. Harry then walks over and sits down on the chair he vacated a few minutes earlier as Snape locks the classroom door and heads over to his desk and sits on the edge.

'We are continuing Occlumency and creating a block for you to have up permanently.'

'Why? I can already create one.'

'Can you create a block whilst say somebody like Malfoy is taunting you or when the Dark Lord is standing in front of you and you are too scared to move.'

'I am not scared of Voldemort.' Harry says simply causing Snape to wince at the name.

'I have told you. Never use that name in front of me. It is the Dark Lord or He-who-shall-not-be-named.'

'Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.'

'Sounds like something Dumbledore would say.' Snape sneers.

'Yup. He told me that. End of first year after I rescued the Philosophers Stone.'

'After you had broken over 30 school rules and nearly gotten you and your friends killed.'

'Yeah. Never got expelled though.' Harry shrugs.

'Unfortunately.' Snape sneers. Tired of the conversation Snape stands up and raises his wand.

'Create a block in your mind. Ready?' Harry nods 'Legilimens.'

Harry fells the pressure of Snapes presence just at the front of his mind. It is pushing harder and harder but his block was holding it there. Snapes presence suddenly ducks down and under the block. Images start to flash through Harry's mind.

From far away, above his head, he heard a high, cold voice say, 'Kill the spare.' A swishing noise and a second voice, which screeched the words to the night: 'Avada Kedavra!' (HP and the Goblet of Fire)

Harry manages to stop the memory from continuing but cannot get Snape out. Another memory starts.

He looked back at the parchment, placed the quill on it once more, wrote i must not tell lies, and felt the searing pain on the back of his hand for a second time. (HP and the Order of the Pheonix)

Snape leaves this memory and heads for another one.

Sirius and Bellatrix were battling; a jet of red light hit him squarely in the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock. It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. (HP and the Order of the Pheonix)

'No!'

Harry is on his knees his head in his hands.

'You're not even trying now Potter. Stand up!' Snape yells. Harry stands up and gets ready again.

'Legilimens.' Snape says not giving Harry time to bring up his mental block.

Cedric was lying spread-eagled on the ground beside him. He was dead. For a second that contained an eternity Harry stared into Cedroc's face, at his open grey eyes, blank and expressionless as the windows of a deserted house, at his half open mouth, which looked slightly surprised. (HP and the Goblet of Fire)

Harry pushes Snape out eventually. And drops to the floor shaking.

'You are giving me memories that I can use against you. Focus.'

'I can't.' Harry moans shaking his head. Snape goes over and drags Harry up off the floor grabbing hold of his arms and forcing Harry to look at him.

'You could do it this summer.' Snape yells.

'You were only using it lightly. Going for memories that didn't hurt.' Harry says weakly.

'Do you think the Dark Lord is going to go easy. I did it so you could learn the block. You have learnt it. It's time you started using it.' Harry nods. Snape lets him go and Harry sways.

'I think that's enough for tonight. Go to bed. But up your block before bed tonight.' Snape turns his back on Harry and Harry leaves.

Hermione and Ron are sitting in their seats near the fire. Hermione has a few textbooks open around her trying to figure out the Polyjuice potion. Ron is playing wizard chess against Ginny.

'Knight to E4' The knight moves across the board and smashes Ginny's bishop in half. Ginny smiles.

'Queen to C7. Check'

'What?' Ron explodes. He scans the board and sees the trap he has fallen into.

He looks up as Harry comes through the portrait hole and slumps down into a free armchair. He stretches his neck from side to side. Hermione looks up from her work.

'How are you feeling?'

'Exhausted. I hate Occlumency.' Harry rubs his scar and sighs pulling over his textbooks he left next to Hermione and picks up his quill to write some more of his method. He frowns as he remembers where he was up to.

'Is your scar hurting you again?' Ron asks quietly. Harry just nods and turns to Hermione.

'Hermione you got 'Changing Potions and Their Side Effects' over there?' Hermione pulls out a book in the pile and passes it over. Harry rubs his scar one last time and settles down to work on his essay.

Hours later Ron nudges Harry.

'You coming up to bed, mate? Hermione finished an hour ago. It's nearly midnight.'

Harry looks up at the clock just as it chimes the hour. He bends his neck to get rid of the crick.

'Yeah sure. I can finish this tomorrow.' He packs up his books and follows Ron up to the dormitory.

'You sure you'll be okay sleeping? Last time you had Occlumency lessons it let Voldemort in more.'

'Yeah. I'll be fine.'