5

Chapter 5: Incident in the Library

The first Saturday morning after Nathan's departure to Hogwarts saw an anxious Hermione pacing the living room of her apartment. They had agreed he would send a letter every weekend, and she couldn't avoid the anticipation she was feeling.

Where's the owl, where is it? she thought as she paced the room. Thoughts of what could have happened during this whole week her son had spent in Hogwarts haunted her. Is he okay? Is he adapting to the Wizarding world? Has he made friends already? Are they good friends? At that thought, she remembered the Malfoy boy, and sat on the couch, frowning slightly. I hope he is being careful around Malfoy like I told him to.

Then she shuddered as her real concerns surfaced from her inner thoughts. She closed her eyes and sighed. What does Severus think of Nathan? Does he notice him at all? Is he treating him like he did me when I was a first-year? she mused.

"I hope they don't hate each other," she voiced to the room, and then rose from the couch as a brown owl appeared, flapping its wings as it landed near her.

She fretfully took the letter from the bird and went to a chair near the window, ignoring the owl, much to its annoyance. She tore open the envelope and took the parchment folded inside.

Dear Mum,

My first week at Hogwarts has been amazing! The other Gryffindors are great friends, especially Kevin and Andy. The teachers are very good and I love the magical classes. I've already used my wand in Charms, and it really worked! It seems that it was really a good choice for me. We got to levitate a feather, and I was the first one to do it. Professor Flitwick said I'm a natural and gave me house points! I think I'm really good at Charms.

The pretentious little prat! she thought with a smile in her face. She was proud of her son's success with Charms. She continued reading…

But my favorite subject is Potions. We had to brew a remedy for boils on our own! It was the best class of the week, even though Professor Snape took house points from me for lack of attention when brewing…

She frowned. So, he's being his old nasty self. Will he ever change? she asked mentally and went back to the letter…

…I was paying attention, I swear! He was hovering behind me and I was just trying not to laugh at his attempts to make me hesitate on the ingredients I was adding, just like you said he would. I think he heard me, and asked if I thought the potion was funny. I said I was laughing at something I remembered just then, but he took the points anyway.

Her mouth dropped open after those words. Nathan was laughing at him? Oh my God! That must have infuriated him! she thought, then with a smirk added out loud, "Serves him right for attempting to misguide Nathan!"

He's really nasty with the students, but I liked his class the most. The other students were really afraid of him, even before the first class. They were all talking about how he was a Death Eater and saying that he had killed the other Headmaster. But I'm not afraid of him! You told what he did and why, and I believe you.

A notch of pity caught in her stomach. Poor Severus! People won't ever understand all the things he had to do, and the decisions he had to make, she thought, sighing. Hermione was well aware of the kind of things he had to do and the decisions Severus had to make during his life. One such difficult decision had saved her life, once, and she respected him for his courage and strength. I must remember to tell Nathan how brave Severus was during the war. He might be able to change the others' opinion of their teacher.

Besides that, I learned how to change a match into a needle in Transfiguration, about dark curses in Defense, about soil properties in Herbology, about constellations in Astronomy, and about Goblin revolts in History. Professor Binns is the worst teacher, but the others are all pretty cool!

It's getting late and I think I should sleep now. I'll have to wake up really early tomorrow to send you this letter. I know you'll be expecting it first thing in the morning.

I hope you're fine at home. I miss you very much, and I know you miss me, too. I don't want you to be sad, so find something to do during the weekends. Go visit Uncle Harry!

Love you,

Nathan

"Love you, too, son!" she said in a soft whisper, fighting back tears. She really missed him.

She sighed and folded the letter. At least he didn't mention Malfoy, she thought as she left for her study to find some paper and pen to write back her son.

After lunch, Nathan left for the library in search of some references to add to his Potions assignment. The other boys went to the grounds to play in the sun, but Nathan preferred to finish his essay first and play later. He took his school work very seriously, something he had learned from his mother.

Entering the library, he quickly searched for an unoccupied table at the back of the room. He didn't like noise when he studied. He placed his book bag on the table and headed for the Potions section, but never reached it.

A noise coming from the end of a dark aisle between two shelves distracted him. He heard a shriek. Ignoring a sound like that was against his inquisitive nature, so he followed it, carefully, so as not to alert anyone lurking there of his presence.

He found three boys in Slytherin uniforms threatening a Hufflepuff first-year. He approached the boys and recognized one of the Slytherins as the boy from the book shop, Malfoy. Despite his attempt at discretion, they heard his footsteps and turned to see who was there. Having been discovered, Nathan squared his shoulders in a defiant pose.

"What are you doing? Leave him alone!" Nathan demanded.

"Mind your own business, Gryffindor! And tell anyone what you saw, and you're next!" threatened one of them. The two boys accompanying Malfoy were older than Nathan, probably third-years.

Nathan couldn't leave them to beat the boy, though. He moved closer to the group and held his thirteen-inch, ash with dragon heartstring core wand at the ready. Malfoy saw it and took his wand in his right hand as well.

"What are you going to do, Granger? I'm not a feather you can levitate," Malfoy said with a smirk.

"Shut up, Malfoy!" he spat, and then he looked to the older Slytherins. "Leave the boy alone or you'll see what else I can do with my wand besides levitate feathers!" he said in the most dangerous voice he could muster, followed by a smirk of his own. He didn't know any useful hexes for a duel, but he wasn't going to back down now! He wasn't a person to take threats lightly.

But before any hex could escape a wand, a tall, dark figure appeared behind Nathan.

"I don't believe it's prudent to hex other students in the library, Mr. Granger," Professor Snape said in a cold voice. "Explain what's going on here."

By that time, Devon had already hidden his wand up the sleeve of his robe, and with an innocent face he said, "He was threatening to hex us, sir."

One of the other Slytherins added, "We were just helping this boy he was threatening to beat."

Nathan was outraged with the accusation. How could they! he thought, glaring at the Slytherins.

"I was not!" he bellowed. "They were threatening the boy when I came in, Professor! They're lying!"

"Are you denying you had your wand out to hex them, then, Mr. Granger?" asked Professor Snape.

"No, I'm not. I was trying to make then leave that boy alone," he said between gritted teeth.

"Well, that will cost you ten points from Gryffindor and a detention, Mr. Granger! To be served with me on Wednesday, after dinner. Is that clear?" Professor Snape said in a deadly voice. He seemed to be enjoying having a go at the impertinent Gryffindor.

"But, sir—" he tried to argue.

"Speak another word and I'll make it twenty points and a weeks worth of detention!" hissed the professor.

Nathan knew it was a lost battle and didn't try to argue the point with the Potions master. His mother was very clear on this aspect of the dreaded professor. Nathan nodded acceptance and asked, "Can I go now, sir? I have to finish my homework."

"You may," was all the response he got.

"Thank you, sir," he said, and he left the aisle between the shelves, glaring at the other boys.

When he finally got to the potions section, he searched the shelves for books he could use for his essay, muttering to himself under his breath.

"Why did Professor Snape believe them?" Was it because they were Slytherins? It can't be,he mused slightly, shaking his head in denial, disappointed with the Potions master. "Professor Snape wouldn't believe them just because they're Slytherins and I'm not, would he?" he thought gravely while searching through the tomes on the shelves. "Well, it was their word against mine, after all, and Professor Snape is an honorable man," he pondered aloud, and they were three and I was alone. This train of thoughts relaxed him a little, until he remembered his detention and sighed gravely.

I already have a detention and it's just my first week! What's mum going to say about that? he thought, saddened. "Mum will kill me," he admitted aloud, and then left for the table where his book bag was, carrying three books with him.

Professor Snape had taken care of the situation, dismissing the Slytherins and sending the Hufflepuff to his Common Room. He was taking himself out of the library when he heard someone murmuring his name near the potions section. It was the Granger boy.

He stood behind the bookshelf across from the one where Nathan was standing to watch the boy. Nathan was perusing the shelves with a scowl on his face, talking to himself. "Professor Snape wouldn't believe them just because they're Slytherins and I'm not, would he?"

Yes, I would, he admitted mentally, with a smirk in his face. But the smirk slowly melted into a surprised expression with the boy's next words.

"Well, it was their word against mine, after all, and Professor Snape is an honorable man."

What? I'm an honorable man? Not the greasy git bastard? Not the dangerous Death Eater? Not the cold-blooded murderer? He was at a loss for what to think. Where did this boy get these ideas from? he thought then, and his answer came with the next words he heard.

"Mum will kill me."

Miss Granger, he realized, and the ever-present frown was back on his sallow face.

Snape watched the boy walk back to his table with some books, then he left the library and headed towards the dungeons. He hated remembering that nauseating Gryffindor Golden Trio, and especially Miss Granger. He hated what he had to do with her back in the war. It was one more thing his conscience tortured him with. The pain was even harder to endure now that he realized what she told her son about him. Honorable man, Miss Granger? he chuckled without mirth at the thought. "Very honorable, indeed," he added sarcastically to no one in particular.

The rest of the day went uneventfully. Back in the Great Hall, Nathan met his friends for dinner.

"So, how was your day at the library? I believe all the fresh air and sun did you good," joked Kevin.

Nathan chuckled at the joke. "You can make fun, all right, just don't come to me with your sad excuses for essays tomorrow night. I won't help you," he said.

"I didn't say anything, Nathan!" said Andy. "You'll help me, right?"

"I'll think about it," he answered.

Nathan served himself some mashed potato and roast beef. The others were serving themselves as well, when a group of Slytherins passed by their seats, shrieking in mock derision, pointing at Nathan. "It wasn't me, professor. They were threatening the boy, professor. They're lying, professor." They left for their table, laughing.

"What was that all about?" asked Kevin, eying the Slytherins with suspicion.

"Nothing important," said Nathan in a nonchalant tone, without lifting his eyes from the plate in front of him. "They're just mocking me because I got detention over something they did," he added with a shrug.

"What?" Andy reacted with indignation.

"You've got detention!" exclaimed Kevin. "But who gave you detention? And why?"

"Professor Snape gave me detention because I threatened to hex some Slytherins in the library," Nathan explained with a tone of finality.

"Oh," Andy reacted. "I'm sorry about that."

The Gryffindors stared at Nathan in disbelief, but then went back to their food after realizing their friend wasn't going to say any more. Nathan finished his meal in silence. Glancing at the Head Table, he saw the Potions master talking with the Headmistress. What will he make me do during detention? he mused.

Professor Snape looked out across the Great Hall, caught the boy's eyes on him, and smirked.

Nathan smirked back for a moment and then stood to leave the Great Hall. He bid his farewells and left, heading back to Gryffindor Tower.

Professor Snape frowned at the boy's smirk and kept his eyes on the retreating figure until he disappeared from view. You might be smirking now, boy! You'll see the bastard I can be during detention, he thought and stood up to leave as well.

The sunshine broke through the curtains hanging from Nathan's four-poster bed, waking him up. He swung his legs over the bed, yawning and stretching his arms in a lazy move. Sunday was a lazy day.

Standing up, he went to the bathroom, and looked at his reflection in the mirror, frowning a little. His hair was starting to look greasy at the roots. He brushed his teeth and took a shower.

When he went back to the room, drying his hair with a towel, he found his roommates waking up as well.

"Good morning!" he greeted and received some grunts in response. He smiled at his sleepy friends. "Are you coming to breakfast?"

"Yeah, yeah! We're coming," answered Kevin, getting out of bed and leaving for the bathroom. "From someone who just got a detention with the most vicious professor of Hogwarts, you're really cheerful this morning."

"It can't be that bad," Nathan answered. "I'll wait you in the common room," he said, leaving the boys to their morning rituals.

It didn't take long until he saw his friends coming down the spiral staircase with sleepy faces.

"Come on, it's Sunday! Cheer up, guys! What are we going to do today?" Nathan said animatedly.

"I was thinking we could start with breakfast and go from there. What do you think?" said Andy.

They left the common room laughing and headed to the Great Hall. There weren't too many students there yet. Sunday was the perfect day to sleep late, especially at the beginning of the term.

The sun was streaming in through the windows of the Great Hall as they took their seats at the Gryffindor table and served themselves of some breakfast. They were in the middle of their meal when a flock of owls invaded the hall - owl post.

A brownish owl landed on the table in front of Nathan with an envelope tied to its leg. Nathan disentangled the paper and gave the owl some sausage from his plate. The bird took flight once more and left the hall. Nathan opened the letter. It was from his mother.

Dear Nathan,

It's so good to hear you like Hogwarts and that you've made friends already! It took me some time to adapt and I was worried you'd have problems as well. I want to know everything about Kevin and Andy in your next letter.

I'm glad you're taking to magic easily, but don't fool yourself; Charms and Transfiguration are very difficult subjects, and you'll have to study hard to excel in them. You'll have to study hard in Potions, too. I know you like it, but Professor Snape is really hard to please, and what's Outstanding for the other teachers is only Acceptable for him.

Nothing comes easy, I know, he thought. The 'hard work' speech was well-known by Nathan. His mother constantly reminded him that things never happened without hard work. He continued reading her letter…

By the way, I believe when you say you were paying attention to your potion, and I'm sure it was a perfect brew, but if you don't want to keep losing points during Professor Snape's class, don't laugh at him! I know he's a great teacher, but he can be really nasty when provoked, and you won't like to be on the receiving end of his nastiness or you'll be losing more points than you'll be able to recover with the other teachers. Or worse, you'll get more detentions than Harry and Ron! I don't think that's what you want, right?

Too late, mum, he thought with a snort. I'm already the subject of his ire…and have a detention. He kept reading…

I was sad to know your friends fear Professor Snape for his past. What he did during the war was really important for the Light. I'm glad you stood ground for him, and I want you to keep reminding your friends that he's a good and honorable man. You don't have to change their minds, but you must do your part. Respecting him is the least we can do!

Not easy, not easy, mum, he thought. He wasn't happy with what his friends kept saying about Professor Snape's past, either. He knew the Potions master had helped Harry and saved his mother more than once during the war.

The house is really empty without you. I miss you so much! I promise I'll try not to be so sad. I'll find something to do during the weekends, don't worry. Don't forget to write to me, and if you need anything, just owl me. It doesn't have to be a Saturday.

I love you,

Mum

He had a sad smile on his face after finishing his mother's letter. I miss you, too, mum, he thought. Nathan folded the parchment back into the envelope and pocketed it. He went back to his breakfast and his friends' conversation, trying not to be home sick.

"Let's take a walk around the lake," suggested Kevin when they were all finished eating.

"Sure!" Nathan replied.

"Let's go, then," said Andy, standing from his seat.

And so they left the castle.