Swept From the Past

Chapter 4: A stormy partnership - part one

The next day started with a Potions class. Harry entered Snape's class with Hermione and Neville. There were just a few Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, but there was a great majority of Slytherins. The Potions Master hadn't arrived yet. Hermione, Harry, and Neville sat and felt uncomfortable. The Slytherins were maliciously staring at them.

"Still here, Potter?" Malfoy asked. "And with Longbottom, too! I think you went in the wrong class! Professor Snape doesn't accept students below 'O'! So I guess your 'T' is not enough!"

"Shut up, Malfoy!" Harry replied.

"Did you get less than 'T'?" Malfoy questioned ironically. "I've heard that they gave the students a 'G', when they were mediocre!"

"'G'?" Crabbe asked.

"For 'Gryffindor'!" Malfoy responded. The Slytherins laughed hard. "But maybe it was for 'Granger'!" he added.

"That's strange," Harry replied, "I've heard that the worst mark was 'S.' But I don't remember if it was for 'stupid,' 'Skrewt' or 'Slytherin'?" Now, the Gryffindors laughed.

"You'd better leave now, while you still can!" Malfoy warned. "Even Weasel understood he'd better stay away from this class!"

"That was your smell that repelled him!" Harry retorted.

"I'll teach you to show more respect for pure-bloods!" Malfoy shouted. "One day, you'll see, Potter!" Malfoy replied, furious. "Soon, He'll take care of you like He did to your stinky, red-haired, Mudblood mother! I can't believe a pure-blood wizard like your father even touched something like your mother! It's disgusting!"

Harry furiously took his wand out of his robes. Malfoy reached his at the same time.

"What is going on here?" Snape's voice barked. He had just entered his class and stared at Harry with a furious expression. "Potter! Ten points from Gryffindor!"

"But, Professor--" Hermione said.

"Silence!" Snape interrupted coldly. "Return to your place! All of you! Sit down! Potter, if I catch you again trying to hex one of the students, rested assured that I will go directly to the Headmaster!"

"I was defending myself!" Harry exclaimed, infuriated.

"Silence!" Snape hissed.

"He insulted my parents!" Harry cried. He stood up and hit his desk with his fist. At that moment, he was not only furious about his parents, but also about Sirius and the role Snape had had in his death. No matter what Dumbledore had told him. He would never forget.

"Ten points from Gryffindor!" Snape snarled. "And sit down!" The Potions Master took his wand and made Harry sit by force. "Silencio!" he added. Harry tried to say something, but he had suddenly lost his voice.

"Harry, calm down," Hermione murmured.

"Anything to tell, Miss Granger?" Snape whispered under his breath.

"No, Sir," Hermione replied.

"So," Snape continued, "since Miss Granger has nothing more to tell, we will be able to start the lesson." He went to his desk and took out the register.

"I have inspected the Potions O.W.L.s results during the holidays," he said, "and I have noticed several mistakes made by the Academy. Two marks didn't correspond to the level of the concerned students. As such, I sent an owl to the Academy and I requested that they verify these results."

Harry and Neville blanched. They knew that he was referring to them.

"It will take about a week for the real marks to be reported to Hogwarts," Snape continued. "When I call your name, stand up and line up on the right." Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

The Slytherins sniggered, listening intently.

"Longbottom!" Snape said louder, in case it wouldn't be clear enough.

Neville stood up with difficulty. He trembled with fear. Everyone stared at him, as if he had become a funny creature.

"Well, Longbottom," Snape uttered. "My register indicates that you got an 'Outstanding' in Potions. There's no need to say that it can't be possible," he added sadistically. "Potter!" Snape continued. He obviously took delight in saying his name.

Harry stood up and took his place near Neville. In contrast to his friend, he didn't tremble with fear; he shook with anger.

"Potter, Potter, Potter," the Potions Master said. "In your case, I still have doubts. You would have never earned an 'Outstanding' in my class, of course, but I guess that's one of the effects of celebrity. However, I decided to check on this curiosity personally." Snape's eyes flashed. "Anything to say, Potter?"

Since the moment Snape had used a Silencing Charm on him, Harry's jaws were clenched with fury. At that very moment, he would have liked to utter a spell on Snape and humiliate him, just like Snape had done to the two Gryffindors.

"Oh, I forgot you couldn't speak," Snape continued ironically. "Finite Incantatem!" he said, pointing his wand at Harry.

"No, Sir," Harry replied coldly.

"You should leave, now," Snape said suddenly.

"What?" Harry asked.

"You heard me, Potter," Snape replied. "You and Mr. Longbottom are dismissed from my class until further notice. I can't accept you until I receive your real marks."

"But that's not fair!" Harry exclaimed. "You don't have the right to--"

"Don't make me repeat myself," Snape hissed. "Ten points from Gryffindor if you don't leave immediately, both of you!"

Harry and Neville obeyed, before Snape could take other points from their House.

Five minutes after they left, no one noticed that the door of the Potions Class silently opened and closed again.

***

"I can't believe what he did to you!" Hermione exclaimed. She had joined Harry, Neville, and Ron, in the Great Hall, for lunch.

"Bloody greasy git!" Ron exclaimed. "I'm glad I didn't have to take his class!

"What did McGonagall say?" Hermione asked.

"She said there was nothing to do except waiting for the response of the Academy," Harry grumbled.

"She didn't look very happy," Neville continued, "but she said that only Snape could make that decision.

"I never thought I would have fought Snape to take one of his classes," Harry said. "This year will be hell!"

"Don't worry, Harry," Hermione uttered. "I'm sure it will be all right! You know Snape! You didn't expect him to be kind to you?"

"No," Harry responded, "but I thought he would have yelled at us because of Potions, not because of our good marks!"

"Don't worry, mate," Ron said. "We have our first Defence Against the Dark Arts class with Professor Burns this afternoon. You're the best in it!"

"Oh no!" Neville exclaimed. He gulped. "I had forgotten! Well... Bye, everybody!"

***

It was the first time Burns taught. The students went in silently, anxious about the lesson. Professor Snape was already seated at his desk. It was placed near the wall, to the right of the main teacher's desk.

"What's he doing here?" Harry whispered, still angry. Seeing Snape once per day was really enough.

Neville didn't look very well, but when he saw that Snape was present, he almost fainted.

"They're going to kill me," he repeated endlessly to Hermione.

"Well," Seamus said to Harry, "Neville's not wrong. Snape alone is dangerous, but Snape with Burns... Neville will be dead by the end of the class!"

The bell rang. After a few seconds, Professor Burns came in. She was still wearing her dark-green cloak and her black, leather gloves.

"Good morning, class," she uttered. "Today, we will talk about the program and I'll ask you many things about your previous teachers. This year, we will perform difficult spells and I want you to succeed. There will be no losers here."

Harry noticed that Neville was very ill at ease.

"Professor Burns," Snape interrupted, "I should warn you that this class contains Neville Longbottom. He is particularly clumsy and dangero--"

"So, I think the best way to start and explain what we will perform is by asking questions," Professor Burns continued, ignoring Snape's remark. "I'm not an academic teacher, and my methods are different from those who have taught before me. So... any questions? Yes, Master?"

"Seamus Finnigan, Professor. Why is Professor Snape here?"

"Ten points from Gryffindor!" Snape said sharply.

"Ten points to Gryffindor," Burns replied quietly without looking at Snape.

"This is an interesting question," she continued. "You see, Master Finnigan, Professor Snape's presence is linked to a new decree of the Ministry of Magic. It says that each Defence Against The Dark Arts class has to have at least one stupid git, you know, a sort of village idiot. And Professor Snape has generously volunteered to carry out this function. And for the moment, he's very good at it."

The students were completely astounded. No one had ever dared to say something like that to the Potions Master. Ever. Snape, himself, lost his voice, too puzzled to reply. Burns obviously didn't like him.

"Other questions?" Burns asked. "Yes, Master?"

"Malfoy, Professor. Draco Malfoy. Are you married?" Draco asked with a snigger.

He hadn't been there at the Sorting Hat Ceremony and hadn't heard Professor Burns' speech. Everyone took a deep breath. Burns' eyes suddenly flashed. She brought out a sharp dagger from her cloak, and threw it. The dagger embedded in the wall to her right. Malfoy's snigger changed into an expression of fear.

"Well," Burns uttered. "It seems that we have a lot of village idiots in this class! Explain yourself, Master Malfoy. Are you interested in me?" she replied ironically. "God, I could be your mother. In fact, it would have been better for you. Perhaps my genes would have prevented you from having that strange hair thing." She made a grimace of disdain. "What colour is this, anyway? Orange? Pink? Or a kind of blond? So old-fashioned! Be in! Dye your hair red, Master Malfoy! Wait a minute..." she said thoughtfully, "Malfoy... Malfoy... I remember this name... Is your father Blondie Malfoy? The same Blondie Malfoy that married Narcissa? They were so alike that everyone thought that Blondie was Narcissa and Narcissa was Blondie. Thinking of it..." she laughed, "it's not very strange that they ended up together... With such a name, Narcissa, it was fate! They fell in love with their mirror image!"

Draco was completely humiliated. The Gryffindors laughed hard and the Slytherins were shocked.

"You don't have the right to talk to him like that!" Snape barked, getting up. "You can't speak about his paren--"

He suddenly fell silent. For the first time, Professor Burns had looked in his direction with a deep, frozen look. Obviously, she had decided to pay attention to his presence, but it wasn't a good sign. He sat down again, looking uncomfortable. Burns approached his desk, rested her hands upon it, leaned forward, and looked Snape right in the eye.

"Professor Snape," she said very distinctly. Then she stood up, a light, cold smile on her face. "Do you know Shania Twain?"

She used her wand. A little box, a Wizard version of CD player, appeared on the desk. She put a purple card in it.

"She is a Muggle singer," she continued. "I think that you might be interested in hearing her. A wise person..."

The song started:

"I've known a few guys who thought they were pretty smart

But you've got being right down to an art

You think you're a genius - you drive me up the wall

You're a regular original, a know-it-all

Oh-oo-oh, you think you're special

Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else

Okay, so you're a Potions Master

That don't impress me much

So you got the brains but have you got the touch

Don't get me wrong, yeah I think you're alright

But that won't keep me warm in the middle of the night

That don't impress me much..."

Professor Burns stopped the music. The students were stunned once again. The Gryffindors repressed their laughter, because they knew Snape would take revenge during Potions Class.

Burns was obviously not afraid of him. And he was obviously not used to being provoked like that.

"You know, Professor Snape," Burns said, "I think I'll give this disc to you. A very wise person, this Shania Twain. You should listen to her more often," she added teasingly.

"How dare you?" Snape whispered under his breath.

He jumped to his feet. He looked furious. His jaws were clenched; his fists squeezed the edge of his desk. And his face had turned a deep, red colour.

"You don't have the right to..." Snape said, his voice rising. But Professor Burns interrupted him once again.

"What? Did I hurt you? Boohoo... That's so sad... Bad, bad Professor Burns... She won't have dessert tonight..." she added sarcastically, while turning back to the students.

"HOW--" Snape barked.

"Sit down!" Burns ordered sharply without looking at him. She held her wand in her left hand and casually moved it.

Snape lost his balance and fell brutally on his chair. Harry saw that he didn't know how to react. Professor Burns was treating him like a student, even though he was supposed to be watching her. Harry was delighted. After all, he had been expelled from the Potions class that morning for unfair reasons. He had felt helpless, exactly like Snape seemed to feel at that very moment.

Moreover, Burns was making fun of the Potions Master in front of his students, which made him lose all his credibility as a teacher. Harry realised that their humiliations looked strangely similar. After all, Snape had asserted that morning that Harry and Neville hadn't deserved their 'Outstanding' marks. They had lost their credibility as Potions students in front of the whole class.

Snape was beyond anger, now. He stared at Burns, his jaws still clenched. But something strange happened. A secretive expression passed over his face. Harry couldn't decode it. Was it fear? Was it pain? Or was it something else? Snape stayed calm, bent his head, and took notes silently. Why didn't he react? Maybe he was afraid of being much more ridiculous than he was at that very moment.

"The Headmaster will hear about this," the Potions Master muttered under his breath.

"Yeah! I'm sure he'll give me detention!" Burns exclaimed. She laughed. "Now," she continued, speaking to the pupils and ignoring Snape's presence, as if he didn't exist anymore. "Tell me the names of your previous Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers." Burns glanced at the students who sat in the first row. "You," she said finally, designating Hermione. "Miss?"

"Hermione Granger, Professor," Hermione replied quickly. "We had Professor Quirrell, Professor Lockhart, Professor Lupin, Professor... Professor Moody, and Professor Umbridge."

"Let me see..." Burns uttered. "Quirrell... Ah, yes, the one with Voldemort on his head."

The pupils flinched.

"What?" Burns remarked. "Are you afraid of Voldemort?"

They flinched again.

"Voldemort, Voldemort, Voldemort..." she said. "Each time, you flinch! It's amusing!!!" She laughed. "Second year... Gilderoy Lockhart... This name reminds me of something, but I can't remember..." she said thoughtfully, a finger on her mouth. "Oh, yeah!" she exclaimed finally. "A strange self-absorbed guy dressed in lilac clothes, proud of himself without any reason? Who wrote Magical me, me, me...?" she emphasised the 'me' with a shrill sound. "A laureate for Most-Charming-Smile Award in Witch Weekly?" she said with an accentuated smile just as Gilderoy Lockhart used to do. "Oh, God, I'm sure he didn't write all his books. I met him twice. If that guy has ever approached Banshees or Vampires, I'm the Queen of England!" she exclaimed. "Year three... Professor Lupin... Well, you have had at least one competent teacher. I don't understand why he quitted the post. Yes, Miss?"

"Pancy Parkinson, Professor. He was dismissed because he was a werewolf."

"And what?" Burns replied. "I am a dangerous killer, Professor Trelawney is an incompetent, insane old woman, Mr. Filch is a poor, sadistic git, who has sex with his cat--"

"YOU CAN'T...!" Snape interrupted loudly. He had raised his head from his parchment, unable to stay calm. He fidgeted on his chair, but he didn't stand up.

"... and Professor Snape is a ridiculous bastard who lives in a cave, tortures students just for fun, and hates the music of Shania Twain..."

"YOU..." he replied furiously.

"All that to say that dismissing Professor Lupin was stupid and irresponsible," Burns continued.

"IT WAS STUPID AND IRRESPONSIBLE TO HIRE HIM," Snape barked, "NOT TO SEND HIM AWAY! WEREWOLVES ARE DANGEROUS! THEY SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING IN FRONT OF A CLASSROOM OF YOUNG STUDENTS!!!"

Harry had never seen the Potions Master that angry. He had jumped to his feet again and banged his desk violently. His face was redder than ever, his eyes flashed. He leaned over his desk and his fingers were pressed very hard on it.

"Yeah, I see..." Burns retorted. "So... It's just like Death Eaters, no?"

The animation that had taken Snape suddenly faded. He turned livid as quick as he had turned red. He looked shocked, and swallowed. Then he sat down again, speechless.

"Fourth year... Mad-Eye Moody?" Burns continued, detached. "Ah, yes, I already know... The false Mad-Eye... Ok... Fifth year... Who did you say you had?"

"Professor Umbridge," Hermione replied.

"You had... Umbridge as a teacher?!" she smirked. "This awful frog? Oh God, I'd rather kiss a Dementor than study with her! Really... That's not a human thing to do! Umbridge... Brrr, a nightmare on feet!"

"Professor Burns!" Snape interrupted. There was a little less aggression in his voice. "Your personal feelings must not be expressed in this class!" Now, the Potions Master was sweating and looked exhausted. He sponged his forehead with his sleeve.

"Oh, I'm sorry Professor Snape," Burns retorted. "You had a crush on her, eh?"

"You are kidding me!" Snape replied. "I won't let you make a fool of me in front of my pupils!" he replied in a half-angered, half-plaintive voice. He sponged his forehead again.

"Me?" She responded with a laugh. "You don't need me to do that! You can do that all by yourself; this is your job, isn't it?"

"You are so... evil...!" he said with an effort. He was visibly tormented and he seemed to have no strength anymore. Harry had never seen him that disturbed.

"Yeah, Right. That's what I am. Pure evil," she said quietly. "That's what I am!" she uttered very loud for the whole class to hear. She looked at them. "And that's why you have to respect me! All of you! I don't have power, I am power! I can kill whatever or whoever I want! I decide! I am strong!" Then she turned back to Snape. "And you should always remember this before speaking to me!"

The tables, the chairs, all the objects which were in the classroom, began to shake. The students looked at each other, alarmed. They didn't know what to do. Of course, escaping was a solution. But what would Burns do to a student, if he tried to leave her class? Everyone felt panic, but that was nothing compared to Snape. Harry detected fear in his eyes.

"Never forget Who I Am!!!" Burns continued with a freezing look.

Then, she extracted a little bottle out of her robes and took a gulp. The agitation ceased.

"Now," she added in a softer voice. "Tell me, class... do you have any questions to ask about me?" She smiled slightly.

The students remained quiet, without a word. Some of them were terrified, especially Neville.

"Listen," Burns said finally, "I'm here to prepare you for a fight. You can ask me whatever you want, if it's related to Defence Against the Dark Arts, if it concerns school or my life as an Auror. Anything like that. I won't shout at you for that. I'm here to protect you, so I won't kill you, except if you are insolent, like Master Malfoy. So, any questions?"

After several long, awkward seconds, Harry finally raised his hand.

"Yes? Master?" Burns said encouragingly.

"Potter, Harry Potter, Professor," Harry replied. If Burns had recognised him, she didn't show any sign. Harry was always ill at ease when people stared at his scar, and Professor Burns had not even paid attention to it. "Well..." he uttered, "er... Could you tell us why you are called Captain?"

Professor Burns laughed. "That, Master Potter, I can't tell you right now, but you'll all know soon. Another question?"

Ron eventually raised his hand.

"Yes?" She asked. "Master?"

"Ronald Weasley, Professor. I wonder... You are amazing when you fly... Where have you studied these techniques? I suppose you were on a Quidditch team?"

"No, I wasn't," she responded. "When I was your age, Master Weasley, I was afraid of flying, and I was very bad at it. Madam Hooch said I was a real catastrophe. I wasn't athletic at all, and it was an awful spectacle to see me crashing on the floor with my poor broken broomstick."

"Whaw!" Ron replied. "You couldn't fly? But yesterday--"

"I've worked a lot since," Burns retorted. "It was hard, discouraging, and it seemed impossible, but I finally succeeded by making efforts."

Hermione raised her hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Professor Burns asked.

"You mentioned Madam Hooch," Hermione said. "So, you were in Hogwarts?"

"Absolutely, Miss Granger," Burns responded.

"But ... which house were you in?" Hermione asked.

"I was in Gryffindor," Professor Burns replied.

A long murmur was heard among the students.

"I know what you think," Burns continued. "With such a temper, she should be in Slytherin! She's powerful and she won't hesitate to kill people. It's just what the Slytherins would do!"

A murmur of protestation came from the Slytherins.

"Professor Burns," Snape said, angry. "You deliberately attack the Slytherin House! As the head of this house, I can't accept this!"

"So what?" she replied. "Aren't the Slytherins the biggest liars and traitors in the world?"

Snape looked embarrassed. He blanched again, didn't reply, and turned back to his parchment.

Burns laughed ironically.

"I guess they are not," she added. "I mean, I guess there are many hidden Slytherins in the other Houses. Gryffindor, incarnation of courage... Pity! I know many bastards chosen to be in Gryffindor who acted without courage; some who betrayed... like Slytherins! Awful bloody rats..." she continued to herself. "See," she said to the class, "I don't care if you're in Gryffindor or in Slytherin. It doesn't matter. All this system of Houses is stupid! You should know about the truth... You can be betrayed by one member of your own House, maybe one of your best friends! Any other questions?"

***