Harry had been feeling something was off lately. Very off. Nine parts out of ten off.
Snape had actually stopped tormenting him in class and even guided him through brewing potions in a gentle voice. It gave Harry goosebumps all over, making him want to pull out his magic wand and shout, "You're not Snape! Who are you really? Reveal your true form at once, demon!"
"Miss Potter, five points to Gryffindor for paying attention in class."
"???" The Gryffindor and Slytherin students stared wide-eyed at Snape in disbelief. They had no idea why he was calling Harry Miss Potter, but this was absolutely not like Snape.
"Scarhead, what did you do to our Head of House? You'd better confess honestly, or you'll be sorry later," Malfoy said to Harry across the aisle to his left.
"Malfoy, do not be disrespectful to Miss Potter. Five points from Slytherin," Snape said sternly.
The entire classroom erupted. Everyone knew the biased Snape never deducted points from his own House, yet now he had actually deducted Slytherin points for Harry's sake.
Hermione poked Horatio beside her, who was watching the scene with great interest, and asked, "Did you do something to Snape? Why is he acting so strange?"
"No. Maybe he wanted to be Harry's father," Horatio said, recalling how Snape had begged him a few days ago to think of a solution. He truly could not stand seeing Harry's face.
Horatio and Snape had signed a contract stating that all future Potions class assignments would be handled by Snape, under the grand excuse of self-production and self-sales.
Afterward, Horatio had brewed a pair of Harry's feminizing contact lenses for Snape. Now, whenever Snape looked at Harry, he saw Lily as she had been in childhood.
After class, Hermione dragged Horatio to the