After the end of the first week's final Potions class, Severus Snape is cleaning up when he hears a student approach. Turning around, his lip curls in distaste when he sees Lily's eyes in James' face.

"Um, Pr-Professor Snape?" The boy asks hesitantly.

"Yes, Mister Potter?" Severus drawls.

"Um, it's just...I mean, I was wondering..." He looks over his shoulder, and Severus sees the bushy hair of that know-it-all, then faces the older man again. "If I could...ask for some...tutoring."

"Tutoring," Snape draws out the word, enjoying that his very presence can make the boy nervous. Oh, if only he could have handled James this way... "Mister Potter, It has barely been a week. I have taught some truly stupid children in my tenure, and though I do not have high hopes for your success in my class, I refuse to believe you are that incapable."

"Well, sir," Harry continues, and Snape feels a grudging respect for the boy; he's clearly intimidated, but has decided to press on. "Um, I was raised by Muggles, my aunt's family."

He quails a bit as Snape's face hardens, not realizing this particular spate of anger isn't directed at him. Dumbledore gave him to that bitch? Snape thinks. What was the fool thinking?! Schooling his expression back into just slight aggression, he nods for the boy to continue.

"They...didn't really like me that much," he murmurs. "I mean, I never even had glasses until they could get them for me for free from the school. And I was talking to my friend Hermione, and she's Muggle-born, and she listened to me, and --" Snape is just about to interrupt the ramble when Harry pauses, before his next words come. " -- She says I have something called 'dyslexia'. It's where letters and numbers seem to be in the wrong order -- "

"Mister Potter, I am well-versed in the Muggle world," Severus holds up a hand to stop his description. "I am familiar with the condition." Very familiar, in fact. For the first time, the -- by his own admission, illogical -- resentment he feels toward the boy begins to waver. Standing across from him, the boy is nearly quivering with nerves at the silence.

"Were you aware, Mister Potter..." Snape takes a breath. "That I knew your parents?" Those eyes widen and Snape feels that twinge once more. "In fact, not only were we schoolmates, but your mother..." He speaks the words aloud for the first time in more than a decade. "Your mother was my best friend."

"You -- you did? She was? Can you -- can you tell me about them? Aunt Petunia never told me anything -- "

Severus holds up a hand again, once more bringing the boy's words to a halt. Damn you, Petunia, Snape thinks. I knew you hated Lily and I, but this is a bridge too far even for you. "Your mother...also suffered from this ailment, Mister Potter. Luckily, there are ways to correct it, given time. Until then..." Unconsciously, he drummed his fingers on the desk. "Let us make a bargain. Miss Granger," he raises his voice to be heard at the door, "I am giving you permission to relay my written instructions to Mister Potter verbally." He looks down again and sees the glimmer of hope in those eyes.

The resentment crumbles away. The freedom from his anger is such a shock that Snape can hardly keep his gruff demeanor intact.

"Here is the bargain, Mister Potter," he growls, causing the boy to flinch. Too much, he chides himself. "Listen to Miss Granger, apply yourself over the next week, and not only will I prepare the treatment for you, I will tell you about your parents." He holds out a hand. "Deal?"

Gobsmacked by this outcome, it takes Harry a few seconds to respond to the gesture. "...D-deal! Thank you, sir!"

"Off you go, both of you," Snape waves dismissively, and within seconds, he's alone once more. A flick of his wand and the door locks, then he sits heavily on the desk, not moving for several minutes. At length, he stands and walks to the fireplace on the wall, grabbing a handful of silvery dust and tossing it into the flames. "Albus, are you free?"

After only a moment, a voice echoes back. "Of course, Severus. Please, come through."

Gladly, Snape seethes. You and I are going to have words, old man.