"Compelling reason. I dislike you Potter."
"That was obvious. For your information when you asked me that question today I didn't stand as a means of showing off and getting every eye on me. At my last school it was the practice to stand when being questioned verbally by the teachers. It was done for three reasons: one, it is easier to project your voice while standing, two, people scrutinize leaders, Stuart-Cavanaugh was all about training its students to become leaders, scrutiny is inevitable so the attitude was get used to it, and finally it was a sign of respect for the teachers. I was merely giving you respect, sir. Not that you've done anything to deserve it. If you prefer it, I happily won't do it again."
Severus Snape was taken aback. "What is there to stop me from getting you expelled the second I'm released?"
"Simple Professor, the last I knew it was illegal to legilimens someone without a court order, or a determination it is medically necessary. As a registered occlumens with training taken under George Takei. I am completely within my rights to keep you here until you understand the errors of your ways. International law guarantees that right. Given that I am a minor and you didn't have parental permission… that's what, a two year stint in low security at Azkaban? I very much doubt you wish to ever return there or is that a mistaken impression?"
"No. Very well, Potter. I, Severus Tobais Snape, swear on my magic that I will modify my behavior such that I treat the Houses equally in terms of points and rule enforcement from this time forward. I will refrain from insulting all my students while in my classroom and I will refrain altogether from insulting the family of Harry James Potter. Satisfied?
"Enough." Harry had one last lesson to deliver to the Potion Master/ spy. He allowed the walls of the oubliette to fall away leaving his normal mindscape rather than the projected one he'd used earlier. He was used to the sideways buildings and never feared falling but the one time he had shown George his normal mindscape the man had been very quick to retreat, he hadn't like the sensation that he could fall from a great height at any second.
Snape reacted predictably. He flung himself flat against one of the windows and tried to find a handhold. Harry grasped him by the collar . "This view of my minscape is just a brief glimpse to show you that I do know loss. My world was rocked sideways when Mum died. Time to go Professor Snape."
A small twist of his magic and Harry had himself and Snape back in the classroom. Harry glanced at his watch he had ten minutes until curfew. "Is there anything else professor?"
"Why? You had me at your mercy and I would have done anything, sworn anything. Why so little?"
"Just because you are a miserable, pathetic, human being that would take advantage of such a situation, doesn't mean I have to be. Goodnight, Professor."
It was only later in his quarters that it occurred to Snape that while Harry Potter hadn't taken advantage of him in a time of emotional distress, Dumbledore had. As he thought of all the years he had trusted Dumbledore despite what the man had done to him as a student and he wondered why he'd never noticed just how dark the Leader of the Light was.
.....
Severus Snape wasn't seen that first weekend of Hogwarts' new term.
Minerva wondered why. She had hoped to get him to agree to divide the time watching the first years little experiment in inner House unity, but then again with his inclination for unfair point distribution perhaps it was just as well. She had taken the parchment written by the students and had cheerfully reproduced it adding decorative swirls in bright colors to the edges to draw attention to them. She was very hopeful that this idea would work. She wasn't familiar with the room they were using but she figured it must be one the marauders had found that Sirius had told Harry about. She looked forward to observing the students hoping that this would truly bridge the gaps between the houses.
Saturday Harry and Neville waited in the Entrance Hall for Jarrod Moran and Catherine Parker. Minerva McGongall was escorting them up from the gates of Hogwarts.
Jarrod was speaking to McGongall as they entered, "This is a very lovely setting to have a school in Professor McGonagall."
"I agree. Mr. Moran. Here are your students. Mr. Moran, Miss Parker. This is Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom."
"But I thought-" Jarrod began.
"Mr. Morran," Harry quickly stepped forward to shake the other wizard's hand, "I know you thought I would be your only student. But I found out yesterday that Neville here, is also an elemental wizard. I figured, what the heck… I don't mind sharing my lessons, and if it's a matter of money… I can take care of that too."
"Well, alright then. Harry this is Catherine Parker."
Harry quickly extended his hand, "Miss Parker I must say this is a genuine pleasure, I read your recent article in Magical Theorist Today and it was fascinating. But it raised a question for me…"
Jarrod looked at the stout boy standing next to him. "Neville is it?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'm curious why does Harry say you're an elemental wizard?"
"Well, you see yesterday Harry guided myself and some other kids through what he called a guided meditation to teach us how to draw up our magic. Things went as he expected for everyone but me. When he had us… ground was what I think he called it. It felt weird and since then it's like I have this spring of magical energy inside me that I can't control.. I've done more accidental magic in the last twenty four hours than I did my whole life before I came to Hogwarts sir. It's kinda scary. Harry keeps telling me to ground but I-"
"Since that is what set this off you're afraid to. Relax. If a grounding exercise charged you up you are most likely an earth elemental. Which means you're lucky, earth elementals are the easiest to train. Water is next, then air, then fire."
"Which are you?"