MetaFic

6 Sep 1991

“You're not letting him get away with that, are you?”

Seamus' question after the disaster of Potions was important and caused Harry to stop in the Entrance Hall. There were pros and cons to the situation, and he was having a hard time deciding what, precisely, would be an appropriate reaction. Every teacher he had met had – to some extent – acted as a teacher. They all had quirks - some quite large such as being a ghost and dreadfully boring - but they at least tried to teach. Moreover, none had done a single thing that could be construed as an abuse of power.

“Harry?” Neville asked as he joined their impromptu meeting while students streamed around them into the Great Hall for lunch. Ron Weasley, Neville's partner from Potions, stopped with them. “What's going on?”

Harry focused on the redhead next to his friend. “Ron, what did you mean when you said you'd heard Snape can 'turn very nasty' at times?”

Ron was seemingly an okay bloke, though he tended to be a bit too focused on Harry for comfort. Still, at least Ron was getting over the idea of Harry Potter and was acting more normal, which was a good bit beyond what could be said for quite a few others.

“My brothers,” he said quickly, “Fred and George. They've told me a lot of horror stories about Snape unloading on students, almost always those that aren't Slytherins. They said he's really biased and mean, insulting everyone.”

“It's not because it's your brothers, is it?” Neville asked after a moment. “I heard they're the prime sources of mischief among the students.”

“Well, maybe for them,” Ron admitted, flushing a bit. “They do get in a lot of trouble. But that doesn't explain him going off on others, does it?”

“No,” Harry murmured. If Ron was correct, even accounting for inflated stories, then Snape's behavior in class was probably typical. That meant that either no one was willing to stand up about it or that no one in charge was willing to do anything about it. He could almost hear his Foster Mum's words from just a week ago. “I reckon we'll try it your Mum's way first, Seamus,” he said before walking briskly into the Great Hall.

“Harry?” Seamus called out as the other three boys caught up to him. “What're you thinking?”

Harry waved at him to be quiet as he strode straight to the Head Table and then walked down its length to stand in front of Professor McGonagall. “Professor?” he asked as respectfully as he could.

She seemed surprised to find the boys in front of her, and Harry noted that the Headmaster looked over from her left to observe. “Yes, Mr Potter?”

Taking a deep breath, Harry laid it out flat. “I would like to formally report abuse by another professor.”

Silence rapidly filled the immediate area around Harry. He felt Seamus' hand on his shoulder in support as the rest of the students in the Great Hall carried on, unaware of the moment.

“That is a very serious charge, Mr Potter.” Professor McGonagall had put her silverware down and was focused very closely on Harry. “Please explain yourself.”

As quickly and objectively as he could, Harry described the Potions class. From the introductory grilling and flagrant bias, through teaching methods, and then the disaster at the end and the resulting accusations and disdain. He then mentioned the hints from Ron's brothers before concluding, “Even if you account for exaggeration from his brothers, you have to admit that his name-calling and such after Lavender's cauldron exploded was just plain wrong. In the public Muggle schools, he'd be fired and facing an investigation for that alone. He might even be jailed.”

McGonagall and the Headmaster exchanged a long look in silence before she turned back to Harry and his friends. “And you would all agree with Mr Potters' version of events?”

Seamus spoke up immediately. “I would, Professor. And the girls, Padma and Parvati? They took Lavender straight to the Hospital Wing.We haven't seen them since class let out. You could ask them, too, or any of the other students that were there.”

McGonagall accepted this information with an arched eyebrow before looking at Neville and Ron. “And you, Mr Longbottom? Mr Weasley?”

Harry heard their murmurs of assent but kept his eyes on the Headmaster. Somehow, he felt that the man was judging all of them on the truth of their statements in a way that Harry could not recall having experienced before. A few brief flashes of the class played back as he thought about it again, and then the Headmaster nodded once to him.

“A most serious charge,” he agreed quietly.

“What about the stories of others?” Harry asked, wanting to be sure that he had brought the matter to the responsible parties fully.

“That, too, Mr Potter,” the Headmaster replied. “I apologize on behalf of the school that your lesson was so troublesome. We shall look into this. Now, please, go eat, and try to enjoy your afternoon off.”

Recognizing the dismissal for what it was, Harry nodded and led the others to their customary seats at the far end of the Gryffindor table. Dean was already sitting there, watching them somewhat warily.

“I'm surprised at you, Harry,” Seamus said as soon as they sat down. “I didn't think you'd try that.”

“Well,” Harry said as he loaded his plate with food, “I'm just doing what your mum asked. She told us not to do anything before seeing if someone more responsible was. Remember?”

Seamus nodded slowly. “That was when Percy was being a git to his sister at the station, right?”

“Wait,” Ron said around a mouthful of food. “Are you the one that did that to Percy? Over Ginny? Fred and George swear they didn't do anything.”

Harry grinned a bit in return. “I don't recall doing anything that day but enjoying a few different desserts.”

“Right,” Seamus agreed blandly. “So what about that git?”

“Well,” Harry temporised, “we'll see what they can do. And then, if we need to, we'll see what we can do.”

Neville groaned faintly. “I do not want another Howler, Harry, all right?”