- When it comes to the Dark Arts, I believe in a practical approach. The Ministry thinks you're too young to study this stuff, I think different. You need to be prepared, you need to be vigilant, you need to find a better place to hide your shewing gum than an underside of your desk, Mr. Potter.
Harry laughed heartily with the rest of the class, he liked their new professor so far.
For once his hopes were high for this year curriculum and the first month of classes had not disappointed him. Moody seemed to be open to discussion and always repeated his demonstration for Harry if needed. When Harry had been chosen for the Triwizard Tournament he was a rare person to show him support. They even had tea once. Moody advised Harry to be careful with foreign students, which in such a competitive climate seemed to Harry to be a good idea.
Today Harry's mood improved when he was greeted in the corridor by a radiant smile of his D. A. professor. But he got distracted and ran into Zabini.
- Hey, watch it, lunatic! - spat the other.
- Well, sorry! - Harry shouted back, turning around with a frown: he already was several steps away. The Malfoy crowd followed Zabini closely behind.
- Get lost! Bet you wouldn't apologize on your own!
- Not so aggressive, Mr Zabini. Or I'll have to deal with this situation. - growled Moody in a threateningly polite tone.
- Potter started it. He crashed into me and didn't even want to apologize.
- I apologized! - said Harry, Moody by his side.
- After I called you out. - he said loudly.
- Adjust your temper, lad, this behavior is calling for expulsion. - Moody advised to Zabini who smirked indignantly.
- Why are you protecting P(p)recious P(p)otter, Professor? - asked Malfoy with a vibrant contempt.
Before Moody could retort, another quiet but firm voice interrupted:
- I'll tell you why. Apparently, some people perceive others as more aggressive just because of their origin. It's called racism, Draco.
Moody leered with a derisive condescension.
- Get out of it, Snape. I'd say you mean well, if I didn't know better. It's defamation. You love breaking decorum, too, aren't you? Your babbling French bile?
Snape's unmoved face reflected pure fury, and, though Harry didn't like them much, he felt very uncomfortable, Moody's remark was an unexpected blow. Now he thought about it, Zabini really got in a lot of trouble just on account of him being a Vampire and a Black trans guy, never to mention Snape. In fact, Harry now wanted to vanish on the spot as the teacher clearly dragged him into this too, friendly patting him on the shoulder.
- You have no right to adress me, or the students in such a way.
- Someone should speak sense here, Snape. Not all of us are Dark Lord's lapdogs. Now, get a move on, you're blocking the passage.
Students indeed gathered all around them and as the next class was about to start, Snape ushered Slytherins away, bringing up the rear withe the billow of their black cloak.
When Harry regained control over himself, he was standing alone in front of the classroom door, apparently he absentmindedly followed the crowd. He was clearly late for Arithmancy and lost in the Castle. Great! After a fair amount of time loitering up and down an unfamiliar looking corridors, Harry was pleased to hear footsteps. But the sight of the person to whom they belonged, when they emerged from the nearby passageway, brought all the shame of the previous interaction straight to his face.
- Potter. Did you happen to have a free period? It seemed you were in a hurry.
Harry didn't know whether other's sarcasm or the disappointment he felt hurt more.
- I wanted to say something, but I didn't know what, I'm sorry.
- Surprisingly, this is not about you, Potter.