Snape's Ultimatum

"Who's Fluffy?" the younger teen asked as he leaned forward in his seat.

"That's right you wouldn't remember. Well, there was a Cerberus here in the castle supposedly guarding a great treasure in your first year. He was Hagrid's, and his name was Fluffy," George said. He and Fred had gotten the half-giant to spill the beans that year.

Too bad when they got to the room at the end of the gauntlet there was nothing there but a gilded mirror. The things the mirror showed them were like dreams come true, and when they deciphered the saying on the top they realized that was exactly what it was.

However, it made them more determined to become what they wanted most. Greater tricksters than the Marauders. Still, they tried to tell a professor they had completed it but were told that it was forbidden to be there and to not go there again or points would be deducted, and detention would be had.

"Right, three-headed dog, Hermione told me about him, just not his name," the amnesiac stated, going over what little he knew and chuckling at the silly name. "Did your… witnesses see anything else?" he asked, wondering if that bastard Snape was responsible for his condition. He really got bad vibes from the man, it was like the bat hated everything about him. Snape couldn't even speak his name without disgust dripping from his voice. Harry still didn't see what he mum saw in the greasy-haired git.

"Well, there aren't any living portraits in the classroom and Snape's quarters are attached, so they wouldn't know what went on while you were there. However, Snape has been acting weird since that night. While I wouldn't call him nice, in any reality, he has been more tolerant. So we think he's being blackmailed, we just don't know by whom," Fred said, looking at his twin.

"I think I might know, but let me talk to a few… people and I'll get back to you. It all has to do with some research I did when I was on the streets."

"Right, well if you need any more help, let us know," George stated, slapping him on the back, after he got up from his chair.

"Right you are, George, we're always willing to snoop," Fred said with a huge grin as he joined his brother.

"I will," Harry agreed, knowing that if they got this far when the adults hadn't, they would be a great asset. "Goodnight, guys," he added and went to join his other friends.

Snape's POV

"You are not keeping with our bargain," was the accusation thrown at the Potions Master when he returned to his quarters after seeing Malfoy to Madam Pomfrey. He had been hoping for time to cool down, but it appeared that that wasn't going to happen. Blasted ghost.

"I have been… kind to the brats in my class," Snape defended himself to the apparition, leaving off the argument he had just had with Potter. He had graded fairly, only took points when necessary, and didn't yell nearly as loud. So what if he glared at them, they were only going to make mistakes if he didn't use a firm hand. Granted it had been only one day of classes, and he had been hard-pressed to hold his tongue, but he did well, or so he thought.

"I disagree," the Bloody Baron stated with a firm shake of his head. "While you were less volatile, you were far from kind. Mr. Longbottom shook with nerves all through today's class, and you took great pleasure in making him do so. How is the boy to ever do well in your class if you torment him so?" He had been on the ceiling watching the man terrify the boy by just standing over him and staring. "Furthermore, the confrontation you just had with Mr. Potter shows that you are not holding back in the least. You almost gave up the game, as the saying goes. How very unSlytherin of you," he sneered with a sad shake of his head.

"It is a dangerous class that I teach. What would you have me do? Baby them? Longbottom is a menace, and should never be allowed near a cauldron. He requires thorough watching. As for Potter, the brat needs to know his place, and it is not in my past. He is in cahoots with that mongrel of a godfather, I just know he is," was the rebuttal as the man fumed about the spat they just had in the hall.

"I will tell you this once more, Potion Master Snape, stop harassing the students and taking your childhood grievances out on them or you will be seeing the inside of a cell," the Slytherin Ghost threatened ominously as he floated into the man's space and almost through his body. That would have knocked Snape out, and the Baron was still thinking on it, just to teach the man a lesson.

"I will do my best," was all the professor offered as he watched the ghost fly away, snarling internally that Potter ever came back to Hogwarts.

Now all he had to do was confront the boy on where he got his information, and do it without the ruddy ghost around. He knew the boy had done something to Mr. Malfoy, but even the blond said that Potter had no wand. In addition, he still had to convince the Grey Lady to talk to the Bloody Bastard, that wasn't going well at all. And there was the suspicion in the Headmaster's and his Deputy's eyes.

No, not all was going well for our Potions Master. Once again he was thinking of just disappearing. He knew that if the Dark Lord came back that he would not be hidden for long, but there was always a chance that Potter would kill the man on a fluke, so perhaps he would risk it.

Harry's POV

"What did the twins want?" asked the ever-inquisitive Hermione, when our hero approached.

"I have a question for you," Harry said as he sat across from her. "Did I always tell you everything in my life? And did you return the favor? It seems to me that I can't have a private moment without you asking about it," he asked. 'Have I always been this whipped?' he thought. A bit disgusted with himself it he had.

"That is what best friends do," she said defending her actions. Harry had always told her what was going, no matter how much of a secret it was. They shared everything, except their childhoods. Oh, she knew he hated the Dursleys, and they didn't treat him right, but that was all she knew. However, everything that had happened since the troll had been shared.

"Okay, I'll give you that, but we are still learning about one another," he said, rubbing the back of his head and thinking about how to word this. "I mean, you just said that I'm different, so you don't really know me, and I don't really know you. So let's just not ask anything personal for a while and see where it goes, yeah?"

"Okay, I can see that," she agreed with a nod of her head, though it was sad that their tight friendship had to be rebuilt.

"Well, like I said, I'm knackered so I'm off to bed. I'll see you in the morning," our hero pronounced as he got up, kissed her cheek, slapped Neville on the back and used his glasses map to get to the Head Boy's room.

The room wasn't much. It had a large bed, a desk and a wardrobe, but that was all. The best thing about it was that he was alone. He laid in the bed for a moment and relished the softness. Then he sighed, reached in his TARDIS pocket and took out his books.

He stayed up for two hours and read the ones on Occlumency and his mum's diary. He learned more on both and before he went to sleep he meditated and started to build his spaceship. When he first got into his mind he was shocked as to how small it seemed.

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