By the time that the school express had arrived at Hogwarts nearly every student had heard that Harry Potter - the boy-who-lived - had fought off dementors with a patronus charm. So by the time Harry and his friends had gotten out of the train they had nearly every eye on them.
"Why is everyone looking at us?" Jet asked. "Have they finally recognized our brilliance?"
"Seems like it." Harry said in a dry voice as they walked towards the thestral pulled carriages. Harry had looked up as much information as he could find on the creatures the very second he was able to.
The Thestral is a breed of winged horse with a skeletal body, face with reptilian features, and wide, leathery wings that resemble a bat's. They are native to the British Isles and Ireland, though they have been spotted in parts of other countries like France, they are very rare, and are considered dangerous by the British Ministry of Magic. Thestrals are, undeservedly in Harry's opinion, known as omens of misfortune and aggression by many wizards because they are visible only to those who have witnessed death at least once or due to their somewhat grim, gaunt and ghostly appearance. Harry was always able to see them, mostly because he had seen death many, many times just from watching Jet eat.
Astoria bid the group goodbye before she went with the rest of the first years to cross the lake by boat, Harry knew that it was tradition for all the first years to cross the lake but Harry along with many others really wished that they would just hurry things up so everyone can start eating. Harry was just glad that he was able to get his hunger and animal behavior under control in time for school.
Eventually Harry and his friends were able to arrive at the entrance to the castle, they had only taken a few steps forwards when Professor McGonagall and an irritated looking Professor Snape arrived in front of them.
"Mr Potter, please come with us." Professor McGonagall ordered.
"May I ask why?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow. "As far as I am aware I have broken no rules, in fact I had just gotten here. And if I am being quite honest I would rather not miss the feast after spending hours and hours on a train."
"Quite Potter," Snape said as he looked at him with an irritated expression. "cease your whining, we are not here to pander to your each and every desire." Harry stared back at the potions master, while wondering 'what in the ever lasting fuck is this guy's problem?'. Harry knew that the potions mater apparently had some problem with Harry's father but Harry had thought that the man would have bloody well gotten over it by now. Harry's father was dead, everyone knew that.
"I am merely asking why I am being held back, that is all." Harry calmly replied.
"Severus," Professor McGonagall interrupted when it looked like Snape was about to open his mouth again. "for Merlin's sake, show some control!" She hissed before turning to Harry and speaking in a much calmer voice. "Mr Potter, Professor Lupin has informed us about your close exposure to a dementor, we wish to simply take you to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey may check you over."
"Ah," Harry nodded in understanding. "I appreciate that Professor but I am fine, truly, I have not been exposed to the dementor anymore than anyone else."
"Perhaps not Mr Potter but you were far closer to one than anybody else, and I insist that you visit the hospital wing to make sure there are no long term negative side effects from your brief exposure." Professor McGonagall replied.
"Very well," Harry said with a small sigh as he turned to his friends. "guys, I'll see you later, save me a seat."
"Will do, mate." Blaise nodded to him before he turned and walked off along with the girls who all said goodbye.
"Professor," Harry said to Professor McGonagall. "is it truly necessary for you both to be here? I am perfectly capable of heading towards the hospital wing on my own."
"That's a maybe but I would rather at least one person be with you." Professor McGonagall replied.
"Well, in that case, might I suggest that Professor Snape leave and go enjoy himself in the great hall, after all we do not want to interrupt his busy schedule." Harry said, keeping his voice as polite as he could. The hardest part was keeping the sarcasm out of the his voice when he said the last two words. Snape sneered at him but gladly took the opportunity to storm away. Professor McGonagall said some things under her breath, things that Harry was sure she did not ever want a student to hear her say.
"Come with me, Mr Potter." Professor McGonagall said eventually, she turned and began walking to the hospital wing with Harry following after her.
"Professor," Harry spoke as they walked. "do forgive my bluntness but what in the seven hells is Professor Snape's problem with me? From what I understand it has something to do with my father."
"I...before I answer, may I ask what has brought this on? By that I am asking if there is a reason beyond his recent behavior." Professor McGonagall replied.
"Ever since I've came to this school I have been aware that Professor Snape does not like me," Harry began explaining. "he always looks at me like he hates me, you may recall during our meeting to discuss Jet that he mentioned my father. Whenever I am near him I always get the impression that if I was not a Slytherin then he would not be bothering to hide his dislike for me. Plus over the years he has made some 'very subtle' comments towards or about me, and he gets angry quite easily in my presence."
"Mr Potter," Professor McGonagall sighed. "Professor Snape and your father were in the same year, from what I understand they both detested each other to the extreme," Professor McGonagall said, she was tempted to mention the fact that the two competed over Lily Evans but refrained from doing so as she was not yet fully sure about how that would affect the relationship between Snape and young Harry. "Professor Snape would claim that your father and his friends were bullying him while your father and friends would claim that Professor Snape was the instigator and that he was the one to blame.
There were quite a few confrontations between them, I cannot claim to know about all of them, and there are a few that I will not mention but needless to say Professor Snape has never gotten over it."
"Okay...but...that is unbelievably stupid." Harry said after a few moments of silence.
"Mr Potter?" Professor McGonagall blinked.
"Forgive me but that is stupid on so many levels." Harry continued speaking. "First of all, you are aware that Mr Weasley and I do not get along?"
"Yes, I am." Professor McGonagall nodded, wondering where he was going with this.
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