Harry Potter and the Power of Emotions

Chapter 10: With a little help from Snape?

Harry noticed that Hermione and Ginny seemed to have grown closer. Perhaps it was because Hermione was dating Ron, or perhaps they were discussing girl business. Harry didn't worry to much about it. He was too busy worrying what he should teach in his first real Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. He went to see Professor Lupin in his office and talked about it.

"You could teach them some curses, and I'll teach them about the creatures," proposed Lupin. "That's easier and safer, because then you wouldn't have to get into my office to get the creature while I'm a wolf."

"Yeah, that would be a lot safer. But what spells should I teach the students higher than me? Most of them and lower I already taught last year," said Harry.

"Again you can do Patronuses. That's N.E.W.T. standard, I believe. Em, you could also tell something about the creatures you came upon in the maze two years ago," said Lupin.

"Can I talk about the Sphinx?" Harry asked eagerly. That was something he knew about, that he hadn't taught the DA members.

"Sure, you can. But back to the spells. I would suggest also suggest you teach them about Occlumency and Leglimency. For you are not the only one that is vulnerable there. Maybe you can enlist Professor Snape to help you with it," said Lupin.

"I'll try, but I don't think he'll help me. He still loathes me. I'll ask Dumbledore first if it's a good idea," said Harry. "I'll see you later, Professor Lupin."

Harry looked in his Defence Against the Dark Arts books, looking things up about Sphinxes. He was going to do Sphinxes first. He couldn't think Voldemort would send a Sphinx after him, but maybe he could send a Sphinx after Voldemort. At the end of the afternoon he went to the stone Gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's Office. Harry gave the password and it sprung to life. The Gargoyle revealed the now familiar stone, spiral staircase. At the top of the staircase, Harry knocked upon the door.

"Hi Harry, Professor Lupin already informed me you would come to see me. Let's hear what you want to do in your classes," said Dumbledore surveying Harry over his half-moon spectacles.

"Well, for my first lesson, I've prepared Sphinxes. And after that Patronuses and maybe let them know about Leglimency and Occlumency. Lupin thought I wasn't the only one that could be thus watched over. Lupin also suggested enlisting Snape... sorry Professor Snape to demonstrate what it's all about. Or maybe you'd like to do it yourself?" added Harry hopefully. He'd rather work with Dumbledore than with Snape.

"I'm too busy," said Dumbledore, "but I do think Severus will like to help you. It's a way he can have his wish of teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts, but I don't think he will like you more for the chance you give him. He will like you less, since he will be more indebted to you. You may not have saved his life, but your father has, and Severus is a man of honour."

Harry knew from the tone in Dumbledore's voice, the conversation was over. He turned to the door. He looked over his shoulder a last time. Dumbledore was staring at the Pensieve. Harry didn't dare to ask the question that was in his mind, so he opened the door and walked back to the Common Room.

He found Ron lying on a rug, doing his homework. Hermione sat next to him in her usual chair.

"So, what did Dumbledore say?" asked Hermione.

"He agreed with my plans for the lessons I have to give. I have to go by Snape in a few weeks, to ask him something," said Harry.

"Snape? What do you need him for? Except have him teach us how to brew potions," asked Ron.

"I need him to assist in one of my lessons that I've got planned for you. Neville will not like it, but Dumbledore would do it. So I have to use Snape," said Harry in a depressing sort of voice.

"You sound so ominous," said Hermione.

"I'd rather work with Voldemort than with Snape," said Harry. "With Voldemort I know what he's up to. With Snape I don't!"

"He's got a point there, Hermione!"said Ron without looking up from his Transfiguration essay.

That Monday morning he resolved to ask Snape about helping him with his Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson as he already had Double Potions to look forward to.

"Ehm Professor? Can I ask you something?"

"I say you can, Potter!" snarled Snape.

"Well, as you know I will give a Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson soon, and I hoped you could help me with the lesson?" asked Harry, trying not to get his hopes up. "It's going to be a lesson about Occlumency and Leglimency."

"And why would you teach that to the students?" asked Snape.

"Well, I'm not the only one that HE can thus spy on. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Lupin agreed with me. I asked if Professor Dumbledore if he could assist me, but you know as well as me that he has no time for it. So since I only know two others that could teach them and the one is not an option..." concluded Harry. Snape must realise that the third person he knew that knew Occlumency was Voldemort himself.

"All right, let's say I do it. Why would I help you?"

"Well," began Harry, "you can tell me how badly I teach? You can teach some lessons of what you always wanted to teach: Defence Against the Dark Arts!"

"I'll do it,"said Snape, "you probably know what my motivations are anyways. But tonight you have remedial Potions again, Mr. Potter!"

"I'll be there," said Harry with a smile.

That evening Hermione ran up the stairs to the Room of Requirement. When she got in, she saw that Malfoy was already waiting for her.

"Hi," Hermione said.

"Hi, I've missed you," Draco said simply, "you haven't brought any more friends of yours along have you?"

"No, I checked. They don't know that we are here!" said Hermione in a hurried voice. She wished he would kiss her again. She wanted to know who she liked better, Draco or Ron. Ron still had the emotional range of a teabag. A considerable improvement to a teaspoon. But Draco... she hated him so much, that she started to love him for it. Draco quickly planted a kiss on her lips. Hermione swung her arms around Draco's neck, and she got completely absorbed in that kiss.

Meanwhile Harry and Luna where taking a walk, up to the Owlery. Luna wanted to send something to her father, and Harry had said that she could borrow Hedwig.

"She's just an adorable owl," said Luna. After she said Hedwig off, Luna took Harry's hand in hers and kissed him. Harry now knew what he had to do. He wrapped his arms around Luna and held her tight. This felt better than the time he had kissed Cho. With a shock Harry losened himself from Luna, and looked out over the grounds. How could he think of Cho, when he was kissing Luna. He now had an idea how Cho had felt, when she had kissed him. At least he didn't act like a human hosepipe.