"So that's the gist of it," Tom Riddle said nonchalantly, one leg crossed over the other as he slumped in his chair, sipping tea. He briefly summarized the situation for Severus Snape, who remained fixedly staring at Harry Potter, making her insides clench all over again.
"So, you gave her the potion, and that's why she's...like this?" Snape asked, his eyes still glued to Harry. Despite his fixation, he had managed to grasp the essentials of Tom's explanation. While he might have liked to criticize Tom for experimenting with potions on people, the outcome was ultimately beneficial (for him), and besides, he knew better than to pick a fight he couldn't win. Thus, Snape chose not to voice his objections, but he was still doubtful. "You created the potion. Surely, you can create an antidote?" Snape refused to believe that Tom was incapable.
As the saying went: There are only people who say Tom Riddle is bad; never people who say he's incompetent. Snape was confident that his own potion-making skills were only marginally better than Tom's (the Voldemort Snape remembered).
"That is beside the point. I have other matters to attend to." Tom brushed him off with a perfunctory reply. Snape understood and didn't dare pry any further. The Dark Lord's problems were best left to Dumbledore, he thought.
So Snape dropped the subject, turning his undivided attention back to Harry, staring at her intently for a long moment.
"Ahem...could I, perhaps, examine the potion recipe?" Snape felt a twinge of guilt, avoiding Tom's gaze. "You see, having the recipe would greatly facilitate the development of an antidote."
"Heh..."
Tom's soft chuckle startled Snape, who briefly wondered if his little scheme had been detected. Just as Snape was starting to squirm, a voice whispered in his ear, "Of course. No problem."
Looking up, Snape saw Tom Riddle draw a roll of parchment from his robes. With a flick of his wrist, the parchment floated onto the table in front of Snape. "Very well. Harry is in your capable hands now," Tom Riddle said as he stood and headed for the door. "I shall take my leave."
tonic! He left the tonic alone with this greasy-haired bat-man! The way he looked at me was weird! Harry watched Tom's retreating form with reluctant eyes, only turning away when he had completely disappeared.
Harry braced herself for Snape's usual merciless contempt and cutting remarks, but instead…
Snape stood up somewhat nervously and approached Harry. "Um...why don't you sit down for a bit? I'll fetch you some tea."
"Huh? Uh...okay," Harry replied, nodding blankly as she settled into the comfortable recliner Tom Riddle had just vacated.
Snape handed Harry the tea before returning to his own seat, where he began to study the potion recipe Tom Riddle had provided.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of Hogwarts...
Malfoy, who had been inexplicably summoned by Tom Riddle for tea, returned to his dormitory to find his best friend missing. "Huh? Where's Harry?" Malfoy scratched the back of his head in confusion. He felt like everyone around him was acting strangely today. The Godfather was inexplicably targeting Harry Potter; Harry Potter had inexplicably become brave, and now Harry Potter was inexplicably disappearing. Even Professor Tom was acting strangely, inexplicably inviting him for tea.
Sigh...I guess I'm the only normal person in this school, thought the arrogant and snobbish Malfoy.
...
As dusk fell, Snape remained in his office studying potion recipes, and Harry remained in his office drinking tea.
"Hmm…"
Studying the potion recipe in his hand, Snape's face grew dark, his brow furrowed deeply, and he made a noise that sounded vaguely like constipation. After spending the entire afternoon poring over the recipe, the Potions Professor in him had finally recognized a crucial detail: This potion had a time limit! In other words, before long, adorable Harry would revert back to that annoying Potter!
Would this do?
Of course not!
Snape rubbed his forehead; a headache was brewing. He couldn't whip up a permanent version of the potion anytime soon. (Obviously, Snape had forgotten that he was originally supposed to be researching an antidote.) This thought made Snape's eyes widen suddenly, gleaming with a new idea.
How about...refilling Harry's cup?
Snape stroked his chin, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Harry with barely concealed intent.
"…"
What's with that look? Harry stared back at Snape.
Snape realized that this wouldn't work. If Harry discovered his ulterior motives, things would get messy. "Um...Harry, are you perchance thirsty? I'll get you another cup of tea."
"I've already drunk over twenty cups," she replied, feeling incredibly bloated. If only she knew how girls dealt with that kind of thing…
"…"
"It's alright. Drinking more is good for your health." With that, Snape got up and left.
About ten minutes later...
"The tea's here," Snape announced as he re-entered the room.
"Professor, this tea...the color is off," Harry said, eyeing the beverage suspiciously.
"…"
"And the taste is off too."
"…"
Seeing Harry's distrustful expression, Snape, without missing a beat, said seriously, "This is a different kind of tea."
"…"
Couldn't he come up with a more convincing excuse? Harry was now almost certain that the tea was poisoned! It's probably because Snape doesn't like me and drugged me! Heh…finally decided to get rid of me? You greasy-haired bat!
Seeing Harry's reaction, Snape frowned, feeling the urge to scold her, but seeing her expression, he couldn't bring himself to be too harsh. He could only coax her gently, "Drink it; this tea is good for you."
Hearing Snape's insistence, Harry became even more convinced that there was something very wrong with the "tea."
Just as the two were locked in a standoff...
Click.
"Professor, have you seen Ha...?" Malfoy pushed open the door and saw his professor holding something, approaching a girl about his age.
And that girl...wow! So beautiful?! Draco Malfoy was instantly and intensely smitten. Then he noticed that the girl was backing away, looking utterly repulsed, tears welling up in her eyes.
This can't be real!! Malfoy thought. He immediately activated his "forgetting his roots" skill and triggered his "traitorous" buff, rushing in and yelling, "Snape, you old bastard, stop right there! Let go of that girl!"
Slap!
"Sorry, Professor."
Sigh...she's quiet now.