Chapter Four: Classes
Professor Flitwick was pretty sure Langlock was a new incantation, so he talked to the boy soon after the duel to find out where he had learned it. He was impressed, but not particularly surprised to find that the somber Slytherin had invented it himself. Flitwick's best students usually started composing or modifying spells by their third year, but he had never seen a first year already capable of creating an original spell. He began to give Severus different assignments than the others in Charms class, and took to assigning him to help students who were having trouble learning the spells.
The first year Slytherins had Charms class with Gryffindor. After the duel, it had become the most unsettling class Severus had. He was very pleased with the extra attention and recognition he was getting from Professor Flitwick. He had not known that most wizards did not invent new spells, and that those who did usually didn't begin as young as he had. However, Flitwick also expected him to help other students, despite the fact that he was now one of Malfoy's enforcers, and the professor seemed to have no sense for status or house differences.
Fortunately, both Potter and the Gryffindor Black were sufficiently skilled at Charms. But he was frequently called on to help Pettigrew, as well as his Slytherin classmates Macnair and Bagman. Left to himself, he would have stayed next to Rosier, who was competent if not exceptional at Charms, looked for opportunities to help Yaxley and Bagman, and completely ignored everyone else, especially the Gryffindors.
Macnair was a problem initially. He had delighted in calling Snape over to help him with spells in class. Severus was damned if he'd be seen waiting on Macnair in Charms class, and had convinced Professor Flitwick that it would more effective if he tutored the other Slytherin outside of class. It was astonishing how focused the other half-blood became during his weekly one-on-one tutoring session with the Slytherin enforcer. Unfortunately for Macnair, he really needed the extra tutoring, and Severus really did manage to improve his Charms work.
Ludo was no problem at all. Severus regretted spending more time on Bagman than Rosier, but it couldn't be helped, and at least it was not beneath him.
Pettigrew was a special case. The Gryffindor was quite aware of the Slytherin's new role, and had found the factory boy's rough manners rather alarming even before that. Now he was simply terrified of Snape. On the one hand, Severus wanted to please Professor Flitwick, and was inclined to be at least respectfully deferential to the middle-class half-blood boy with no Muggle parents. But Pettigrew was a Gryffindor, and there was absolutely no chance of payback.
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James, Sirius and Peter were talking about the latest Quidditch match as they made their way to Charms. Or at least James and Sirius were talking. Sirius was in constant motion, now walking backwards in front of James, now to one side, now to the other. Peter was walking next to James, listening to the both of them and occassionally throwing in an appreciative "uh-huh" or "that's for sure" or "you don't say?"
Remus was a curious distance behind them, not exactly close enough to seem part of the group, but close enough to listen to their chatter. He was trying to get up the nerve to take an extra step and actually say something. Sirius was oblivious to the quiet boy. James had lately begun to notice him, and had been wondering if he ought to make the first step to include their overly studious dorm-mate, or whether it would be better to let the other boy work up his courage on his own. Peter had been quite aware of Lupin's interest from the very beginning, and just wanted him to go away. He had nothing against the other boy per se, but felt he had scored a major coup by getting in with the two popular boys, and was not inclined to share, especially with a boy who was better looking and cleverer.
Peter instinctively slowed down as they approached the classroom door. He would be there, and Peter was still having trouble with his Levitation Charms. He could get things to rise, but he had no control over which direction they went from there. Flitwick would ask him to help.
Severus was already in the classroom and could hear the Gryffindor boys coming a mile away. He scowled. Bagman was squared away, and he could deal with Macnair later, but he just knew that Pettigrew kid would still be having trouble with his Levitation Charms. The boy was so terrified of him that he couldn't concentrate on where he wanted the things to go once they had risen. What on earth was he supposed to do? Pat the boy on the shoulder and say "there, there" as if he were the Gryffindor's mum?
As predicted, once everyone was settled and the class had begun, Pettigrew began having trouble, and Flitwick sent Snape over to help. But as Severus was making his way over to Pettigrew's table, Lupin surprised everyone by speaking up. "Sir, I think I might be able to help Peter."
Severus stopped still, and arched an eyebrow. This was a promising development, but he wasn't sure how it would affect his "best Charms student" status.
Remus saw the eyebrow, and immediately knew just what the Slytherin's concern was. "I don't see why we have to keep bothering Snape with this. I know I'm nowhere near as good as he is, but after all, Peter's in my house, and I'm doing okay."
The Slytherin turned black eyes on the Gryffindor, but they were approving, not glaring, and Lupin swore he could see the barest shadow of a smile for a fraction of a second, before it changed to the more characteristic smirk. "I would be agreeable to the substitution, Professor," Severus said coolly, and turned to Flitwick, inclining his head slightly.
"Very well, carry on, carry on," the wizard clucked.
Severus returned to his seat, with an uncomfortable feeling that he was now somewhat in the quiet Gryffindor's debt, but mainly with an intense sense of relief. Peter's Charms skills improved dramatically, and he was so glad to be free of Snape that he invited Lupin to join their next study session in the dorm. Remus became an inseparable addition to the little group, and the Gryffindor quartet was complete.
Posted by Madmaxime at May 12, 2006 05:13 AM