So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 8 New Lessons

Seven O'clock Tuesday came around with Harry leaving Weasley and Granger for his "detention" with Snape. Truthfully Harry was relieved it gave him the chance to get away from Weasley and Granger. Once the shock of their betrayal and his parentage had worn off his hurt feelings had changed to down right hatred of the two he had once trusted with his life. Now his wand itched to hex them whenever they so much as looked at him.

Plus avoiding Dumbledore's eyes repeatedly would get suspicious after a while so he needed to learn how to protect his mind. He had spoken to Dobby when he had returned. Dobby was loyal to him and unbound to any wizard so he could obey the orders that he wished. Harry had explained to the little elf what he had found out and asked Dobby to take charge of his meals because he had to be getting fed potions from somewhere.

Harry still felt the irrational urge of distrust and hatred for both Snape and Draco whenever he saw them. The Potion wouldn't be ready until next Sunday. But now at least he was aware of the potions he was aware that the feelings he felt for Dumbledore, the youngest two Weasleys, Granger, Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy were false.

He realised that him turning down Draco as a friend was all to do with the potions already in his system. Weasley must have slipped him something into the food that they'd shared that day. Harry had been so blissfully happy to have a friend that he didn't care what he ate.

Harry wondered how different things would have been if he had gone into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor. Maybe he would have escaped Dumbledore's web of lies years sooner than he had done. But what was done was done Harry just had to focus on the future.

Harry had begun to realise how much of a set up everything was. Hagrid not giving Harry instructions on how to get onto the platform even though it was mandatory to explain that to Muggle brought up students. Molly Weasley shouting about Muggles and Platform nine and three quarters just as he happened to be there when she'd attended there for seven years and taken her children for Merlin knows how many years. Harry wondered how long she had been standing there shouting about Muggles and the platform before Harry came. She must have looked completely insane to the Muggles. Unless she waited until Harry came and only then left a café or something. It wasn't like she was poor with all the money she was stealing off Harry, Harry thought bitterly.

'Mister Slytherin if I might shake you away from your thoughts,' requested Snape.

'Harry,' Harry interrupted. 'I'm still attempting to get my head around this. Please just call me Harry. It works as a shortened form of Hadrian without having to change.'

'Your name does not define you,' Snape said softly.

'Maybe not but it's just the latest in a long line of changes I've had to get used to,' Harry sighed. 'Thank Merlin for this detention,' Harry muttered darkly. 'I don't think I could have handled one more moment with Weasley and Granger without cursing them into oblivion.

Severus Snape gave him a strange look, 'now you're starting to sound like your father.'