Chapter 6
Harry headed back upstairs with Hermione and Ron, he used the bathroom before heading back to Ron’s room, Ginny stopped in front of him and he knew what she was going to ask.
‘Um, about when we broke up, I thought, well, I hoped now it’s over we might get back together.’
‘I was going to mention this to you Ginny but I won’t have time for anything apart from learning potions. When I return to Hogwarts I need to work hard to get my O in potions, in all my N.E.W.T.s actually, then after that it’s long days including weekends to learn what is needed to pass my first lot of test before they will even consider me for training as a master. So you see, my life is going to be hectic without hardly any time to myself. I think it would be best if you date someone that you would see, me, you’d never seen me, maybe once a month if you were lucky.’
‘Why do you want such a restricted life where you can’t have any type of fun or relationships?’
‘It’s what I want to do, I want to help people and the potions that masters come up with do so much good. After seeing years of death, seeing so many suffering like the Longbottom’s, I want to dedicate my life to helping those people. I always knew I was different to most other boys, this is just another way. You see, most potions masters are single and always remain that way because this is what they want for their life, potions. I was studying up on some of the great potions masters and only two were married and they weren’t as good as the others, I want to be good, I want to be one of those great potions masters. So for the next ten years of my life is going to be dedicated to learning everything I can.’
‘Ten years, with no relationships, no sex, nothing?’
‘I’ve never thought of sex like the other boys do, so yeah, no sex, no nothing, just potions,’ Harry wasn’t ready to explain his sexuality so this was a good way to discourage any girls that might take an interest. He could tell Ginny wasn’t happy with him by the way she turned and stormed away, he sighed and stepped into Ron’s room and knew straight away they had heard his conversation with Ginny.
‘Bill told me all Ginny did while we were away was talk about you and hoping you might start dating again,’ Ron shrugged.
‘I had a feeling she would and I like Ginny don’t get me wrong, but she wouldn’t have any type of life with me. I’m serious about becoming a potions master which means not a lot of time for anything else. This is how serious I am, when we return to Hogwarts I’m not even going to play quidditch, I’m going to spend as much of my spare time studying potions, everything to do with potions.’
‘You must be serious to give up playing quidditch for the last time. So if I play I will have a new captain.’
‘Unless aunt Mini makes you captain, but since it’s your last year she might go with someone that has a couple of years to go. So you still want to be an auror, what about you Hermione, work on laws for house elves?’
‘I’m still deciding and since I have to do my last year, I have time to decide.’
‘Do something that you enjoy not just because you’re the smartest witch around. All of us could have died so many times over the last few years, it makes you appreciate things more. That’s why I changed my mind about being an auror, I know I could do a good job but it wouldn’t make me happy.’
‘Your right Harry, you more than most were in danger for years and could have died so many times. We lived, we came out of this better than we hoped, so yeah, I’m still going to be an auror because I’m excited about that. You wouldn’t do as good a job if you weren’t passionate about it and the way you spoke about potions, that is your passion.’
‘It is, hard to believe. I just hope I can get a master to take me on as an apprentice.’
‘I don’t see you having a problem mate.’
‘But that’s just it Ron, I don’t want them to because of who I am, I want them to take me on because they can tell I’m dedicated and could learn what I need. They should be smart enough to know that taking anyone on reflects back on them once their apprentice starts work. If I wasn’t any good then the master would get a bad name.’
‘I never thought of it that way, but you’re right. It’s like healers, the healers that teach have to know you have got the talent or it will reflect back on them if the trainee healer stuffs up.’
‘I don’t want to get personal Harry, but about what you said?’ Hermione asked tentatively.
‘You mean about sex, it’s true though. I never have thought about it even though I overheard the older boys talking about it in the dorm rooms or bathrooms. I know now it’s settled down that might change but I really want to concentrate on learning everything there is to know about potions. I wonder what Snape will say when he hears.’
‘Have you spoken to him since he was found alive?’ Ron asked.
‘No, I’ve seen him during breakfast and dinner. I know I want to thank him, but I think I’ve used up all my courage.’
‘Surely he’s different, he gave you that memory which showed his relationship with your mother.’
‘Oh don’t say that Hermione, that makes it sound like they were sleeping together or something,’ Harry shuddered, ‘Imagine if my mother felt the same way about him as he did for her, he’d be my father,’ Harry shuddered again, Ron laughed, ‘Yeah, don’t say it Ron, imagine, Snape as my old man, ah.’
‘It wouldn’t be like that if he really was your father,’ Hermione smiled as she shook her head at her friend and boyfriend. It wouldn’t matter what she said or how Snape acted, Harry and Ron will never like him, not after the way he treated everyone but more so how he treated Harry.