Harry walked into the Potions classroom to find Professor Severus Snape staring at him.

"Potter, now, let me ask you this." Snape's voice was fierce. "How late were you today?"

"Sorry, sir," Harry said quietly. "I forgot my books and had to go back."

"You forgot your books," Snape said in a mimicking voice. "Now, I asked you-how many minutes late were you?"

"I don't know!" Harry cried. "I don't have a watch!"

"Ten points from Gryffindor for a smart mouth," Snape said bitterly, his icy cold eyes boring into Harry's.

"Sorry, sir."

"Are you not smart enough, Potter, to know a spell to show the time?"

"Sir, I'm only a third year."

"A third year," Snape said slowly. "And, if you are as 'talented' as people think you are, shouldn't you know how to do a time-showing spell?"

Harry sat silently.

"I asked you a question, Mr. Potter!" Snape said, his voice gradually raising.

"No, sir," Harry responded, his voice quivering slightly.

"Potter, I expect a lot from you," Snape said in an almost purring voice. "A lot, Mr. Potter.  And do you know what you do to me?" He stepped forward, putting his hands on Harry's desk while leaning into Harry's face. "You bother me.   You disappoint me.  Irritate me, Potter!"

"Sorry, sir," Harry mumbled quietly.

"Okay," Snape said loudly to the class. "As I told you before Mr. Potter so casually entered lately, we are making a Truth Potion!  And do you know what this means?"

Hermione Granger's hand shot straight in the air.

Snape ignored it.

Draco Malfoy raised his hand slowly.

Snape looked straight at Harry as he said, "As much as I know I can rely on Mr. Malfoy for accurate, concise answers-" Draco looked smug, Hermione looked like she was going to cry "-I would like to ask Mr. Potter.  But, ten points to Slytherin for an excellent volunteer.  Mr. Potter-"

Before he could ask, Annalise Magenta, a Ravenclaw and one of Hermione's friends, said, "Sir?  H-h-hermione's hand was up first, I saw!"

Snape finally looked away from Harry. "Miss Magenta!"

"Y-yes?"

"Ten points from Ravenclaw.  You see," he said smugly, "as a teacher, I have the right to give out points as I desire." He looked back at Harry. "What do we have to take into consideration when making this potion?"

"T-that we don't spill it," Harry muttered.

Snape sighed. "As much as I would like to critique your response, you are.... sadly correct.  If," he said, "this potion touches someone's skin, or if consumed," he strolled around the room, "they will be telling the truth and nothing but the truth for a day.  This is a very special potion, you see.  It is very complicated, and I have high expectations for this class." He glanced at Harry. "Though, sadly, some students will not meet them."

Harry felt anger flare up inside him.

The students begun making potions when Snape said, "Why don't we have a volunteer to try some of Miss Granger's potion?"

"You think my potion's good?" Hermione asked, beaming.

"Quiet," Snape scoffed. "Miss Granger's potion looks the most... interesting.  Who would like to take some?"

Harry went to scratch his head.

"Potter!" Snape called. "Time for you to take the potion!"

Confused, Harry muttered, "Wha'?"

Snape poured the potion into a goblet, and it shimmered, an unappetizing murky green color.  He handed the goblet to Harry.

"What?" Harry asked, still in disbelief.

"DRINK IT!" Snape roared, and everyone in the class pulled back, scared, surprised, and even slightly confused.

Harry grabbed the goblet nervously. "Sir, I didn't raise-"

"DRINK IT!" Snape screamed.

Harry raised the goblet... and took a sip.

Harry felt the potion go down his throat, trickling down.

"Now," Snape said, holding up a tiny vial. "This is Veritaserum, the one and only, extremely strong truth potion.  What you just drank is is a different sort of truth potion, not as strong."

"Your nose is hooked," Harry blurted out, unable to help it.

"You insolent little-"

"I took a potion, so I'm randomly blurting out the truth."

"Fantastic," Snape grumbled.

"Your hair is as greasy as the chicken served in the Great Hall."

"YOU LITTLE..." Snape was about to burst with anger.

"I can't help it.  I took the potion.  It works really well and you shouldn't be so hard on Hermione."

"Insulting me like that..." Snape clenched his fists. "OKAY, I KNOW YOU CAN'T HELP IT!" he cried. "But go insult someone else!"

"Draco Malfoy is stupid and mean," Harry couldn't help but say.

He couldn't help it, though, when he blurted out to a 6th year Slytherin, "Your hair looks like a dead small mammal."

Later that evening, after numerous insults (though, some compliments... especially to Cho Chang), Snape found Harry sulking in his dormitory.

Harry looked up in surprise. "You're not allowed in here!"

"Quiet, Potter!  I'm allowed in if I want to come in, for I am a teacher and you are a mere, lowly student." He spat the word "student", glaring at Harry.

"But you're not a Gryffindor teacher!"

"QUIET, you...."

Suddenly, Minerva McGonagall walked in. "Severus?" she asked, confused.

"Yes." Snape nodded sharply at her.

"Why are you up here?"

"To tell Harry about all of the students he's insulted!" Snape said.

"Insulted?" McGonagall looked at Harry, cocking her head slightly.

"Professor McGonagall," Harry said sweetly, "I took a truth potion which allows me to only uncontrollably blurt out the truth.  Professor Snape made me take it!  Also, I have to say your hair looks very nice that way."

"Thank you!" McGonagall said, flattered, which was strange for her. "Severus, you made him take a potion.  Why should he be in trouble?"

*** Later that Evening***

Though blurting out the truth was sometimes good, it really hurt Ron when Harry said, "Your hair is the color of a carrot."

Ron walked away, even though he knew Harry had taken a truth potion.

"Ron!"

Snape found Harry, his lips curling into a smug smile. "Potter... even insulting his own friends.  How... entertaining."

"Sorry, sir."

"No, you're not.  Five points from Gryffindor for telling a big... fat... lie!"

"Sir, I can't say anything but the truth!"

"Another lie."

"Sir, I took a truth potion, for goodness' sake!"

Snape sighed. "I suppose you did, but for yelling at a teacher... ten points from Gryffindor."

"SIR!  I can't choose whether or not I yell at a teacher.  This potion is controlling every single thing I say!  I try to talk about Quidditch and I end up saying that Oliver Wood had a pimple on his forehead!  It's awful, sir!"

Snape actually laughed, though coldly. "I bet Mr. Wood does not know you took a potion."

"He's mad, Snape.  And your robe is sideways... doesn't look very professional for a teacher."

"POTTER!"

"I can't control what I'm saying!"

"I KNOW YOU CAN'T, but.... just go!" Snape waved his hand away. "Go somewhere!"

Harry went into the Gryffindor common room, then into the bathroom.  He locked himself in a toilet stall and just stood there.

Suddenly, he heard giggling.

"I see boys' shoes underneath the one door," came one girl voice.

"Oh my gosh!  Me too!" came another girl's voice.

"He's in the wrong restroom!" the first girl giggled.

"Hey!  Are you in there?" The second girl actually had the nerve to knock on the stall door.

"He's not saying anything," the first girl said. "C'mon, Carrie.  Let's bust this door."

"Yeah," Carrie said.  Harry heard her yell, "REDUCTO!"  The door smashed down, leaving Harry standing there, face to face with Carrie, a very pretty Gryffindor girl.  Her hair was auburn, long, and shimmering, her eyes jade green and clever.  She was petite and curvy.

"Harry... Potter?" Carrie asked.

"You're so pretty," Harry blurted out.  He clapped his hands over his mouth.

Carrie giggled, and the second girl came into Harry's view.  She was also pretty. Her hair was short, layered, and blond, her eyes warm brown.  She was tall.

"You're so pretty." Harry told the second girl.

"You jerk!" Carrie yelled.

"What did I do?" Harry asked.

"You gave her a compliment!" Carrie cried.

"I can't help it!  I took a truth potion which makes me blurt the truth and nothing but!" Harry explained.

"So you don't actually like me." Carrie's eyes filled with tears, and she and the second girl ran out of the restroom.

"Wait!" Harry ran after them, going out the door.  Yeah, he'd been in the girls' restroom.

He left Gryffindor Tower to find Snape.

"Hello, Potter.  And... what, may I ask, are you doing here?"

"Sir, I'm only roaming the empty parts of the castle as not to insult anyone else."

"It's past curfew.  Get to your House, Potter."

Harry was nervous... the Gryffindor common room was sure to be packed with people.

Snape glared at him. "Unless you'd rather... sleep in a classroom or in the hallway."

Harry perked up at this idea. "Yes, I would!"

Snape looked surprised. "Fine.  But I can't trust you, Potter, even if you do tell the truth.  I have some potions to brew for tomorrow's lessons.  I'll be in my classroom all night.  You can join me."

"Wha'?"

"You heard me right, Potter.  You can sleep on the floor of the Potions classroom."

Harry sighed.

Harry shifted in the sleeping bag, which was on the hard, stone floor of the Potions classroom. 

At his desk, Snape was bent over a cauldron, putting in ingredients.  His breathing was slow and he muttered to himself.

"Could you stop talking?" Harry blurted out, then covered his mouth.

"Potter!  I'm trying to brew the Draught of Living Death and if you don't shut your mouth, I might want to use it on you."

"Sir, you just tried out the truth potion we made earlier on me..."

"Potter!"

"Sorry, I can't help it."

"I know you can't," Snape growled, "but at least try to not blurt out the truth!"

Harry sighed.

"What was that, Potter?"

"A sigh," he blurted out.

"A sigh," Snape repeated. "Potter, if-"

Suddenly, Dumbledore entered the room.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," said Snape, inclining his head slightly and removing the scowl from his face.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, "I have heard you gave Harry here truth potion, did you not?"

"Yes, I did," Snape said, the trace of a sigh recognizable in his voice.

"Severus, why?  You have corrupted Potter's 'social life' by doing this," Dumbledore said.

Harry listened, pretending to be asleep.

Snape replied, "He raised his hand."

Harry suddenly sat up. "No, I didn't!  I scratched my head!"

"Well," Dumbledore said, "It seems as if Harry is awake, then.  Now, if he really has taken this potion, it appears that he only scratched his head."

"Perhaps."

"Severus, why are you being so harsh on him?"

"Professor, I have never been harsh to Harry."

Dumbledore looked at Harry. "Harry, tell me the truth, for it is all you can do.  Has Professor Snape here been harsh on you?"

"Oh, yes," Harry said, "All the time."

"Ridiculous," spat Snape. "He is lying!"

"Severus!" Dumbledore said slowly, yet with a slight edge to his voice. "Harry cannot lie.  I will make sure I tell everyone in the castle that Harry cannot help but blurt out the truth."

Snape glared at Harry, then looked back at Dumbledore. "You will not tell them it was I who gave him the potion?"

"No, but I would not like this to happen again." Dumbledore's voice was calm.

Harry had spent the whole next day sitting in his dormitory, reading.  He finally felt the potion wear off.

"Hey, Dean," Harry said as Dean Thomas entered the dormitory.  Harry was happy that he didn't blurt out something uncontrollably.

Dean said with a grin, "You got a whole day with no work.. and no work to make up for missing lessons today, either.  Lucky!"

Harry grinned. "Yeah, but I had to blurt out the truth and nothing but.  I couldn't control it.  It was awful."

Dean grimaced. "Ugh..."

"Hey," Harry said, "I'm going to go into the hall and find Snape." He went out of Gryffindor Tower, finding Snape pacing.

"Potter," Snape grumbled.

Harry walked into the Potions classroom to find Professor Severus Snape staring at him.

"Potter, now, let me ask you this." Snape's voice was fierce. "How late were you today?"

"Sorry, sir," Harry said quietly. "I forgot my books and had to go back."

"You forgot your books," Snape said in a mimicking voice. "Now, I asked you-how many minutes late were you?"

"I don't know!" Harry cried. "I don't have a watch!"

"Ten points from Gryffindor for a smart mouth," Snape said bitterly, his icy cold eyes boring into Harry's.

"Sorry, sir."

"Are you not smart enough, Potter, to know a spell to show the time?"

"Sir, I'm only a third year."

"A third year," Snape said slowly. "And, if you are as 'talented' as people think you are, shouldn't you know how to do a time-showing spell?"

Harry sat silently.

"I asked you a question, Mr. Potter!" Snape said, his voice gradually raising.

"No, sir," Harry responded, his voice quivering slightly.

"Potter, I expect a lot from you," Snape said in an almost purring voice. "A lot, Mr. Potter.  And do you know what you do to me?" He stepped forward, putting his hands on Harry's desk while leaning into Harry's face. "You bother me.   You disappoint me.  Irritate me, Potter!"

"Sorry, sir," Harry mumbled quietly.

"Okay," Snape said loudly to the class. "As I told you before Mr. Potter so casually entered lately, we are making a Truth Potion!  And do you know what this means?"

Hermione Granger's hand shot straight in the air.

Snape ignored it.

Draco Malfoy raised his hand slowly.

Snape looked straight at Harry as he said, "As much as I know I can rely on Mr. Malfoy for accurate, concise answers-" Draco looked smug, Hermione looked like she was going to cry "-I would like to ask Mr. Potter.  But, ten points to Slytherin for an excellent volunteer.  Mr. Potter-"

Before he could ask, Annalise Magenta, a Ravenclaw and one of Hermione's friends, said, "Sir?  H-h-hermione's hand was up first, I saw!"

Snape finally looked away from Harry. "Miss Magenta!"

"Y-yes?"

"Ten points from Ravenclaw.  You see," he said smugly, "as a teacher, I have the right to give out points as I desire." He looked back at Harry. "What do we have to take into consideration when making this potion?"

"T-that we don't spill it," Harry muttered.

Snape sighed. "As much as I would like to critique your response, you are.... sadly correct.  If," he said, "this potion touches someone's skin, or if consumed," he strolled around the room, "they will be telling the truth and nothing but the truth for a day.  This is a very special potion, you see.  It is very complicated, and I have high expectations for this class." He glanced at Harry. "Though, sadly, some students will not meet them."

Harry felt anger flare up inside him.

The students begun making potions when Snape said, "Why don't we have a volunteer to try some of Miss Granger's potion?"

"You think my potion's good?" Hermione asked, beaming.

"Quiet," Snape scoffed. "Miss Granger's potion looks the most... interesting.  Who would like to take some?"

Harry went to scratch his head.

"Potter!" Snape called. "Time for you to take the potion!"

Confused, Harry muttered, "Wha'?"

Snape poured the potion into a goblet, and it shimmered, an unappetizing murky green color.  He handed the goblet to Harry.

"What?" Harry asked, still in disbelief.

"DRINK IT!" Snape roared, and everyone in the class pulled back, scared, surprised, and even slightly confused.

Harry grabbed the goblet nervously. "Sir, I didn't raise-"

"DRINK IT!" Snape screamed.

Harry raised the goblet... and took a sip.  Harry felt the potion go down his throat, trickling down.

"Now," Snape said, holding up a tiny vial. "This is Veritaserum, the one and only, extremely strong truth potion.  What you just drank is is a different sort of truth potion, not as strong."

"Your nose is hooked," Harry blurted out, unable to help it.

"You insolent little-"

"I took a potion, so I'm randomly blurting out the truth."

"Fantastic," Snape grumbled.

"Your hair is as greasy as the chicken served in the Great Hall."

"YOU LITTLE..." Snape was about to burst with anger.

"I can't help it.  I took the potion.  It works really well and you shouldn't be so hard on Hermione."

"Insulting me like that..." Snape clenched his fists. "OKAY, I KNOW YOU CAN'T HELP IT!" he cried. "But go insult someone else!"

"Draco Malfoy is stupid and mean," Harry couldn't help but say.

***After Class***

Harry had his hands over his mouth as he ran through the entrance hall, trying not to say anything. He couldn't help it, though, when he blurted out to a 6th year Slytherin, "Your hair looks like a dead small mammal." Later that evening, after numerous insults (though, some compliments... especially to Cho Chang), Snape found Harry sulking in his dormitory.

Harry looked up in surprise. "You're not allowed in here!"

"Quiet, Potter!  I'm allowed in if I want to come in, for I am a teacher and you are a mere, lowly student." He spat the word "student", glaring at Harry.

"But you're not a Gryffindor teacher!"

"QUIET, you...."

Suddenly, Minerva McGonagall walked in. "Severus?" she asked, confused.

"Yes." Snape nodded sharply at her.

"Why are you up here?"

"To tell Harry about all of the students he's insulted!" Snape said.

"Insulted?" McGonagall looked at Harry, cocking her head slightly.

"Professor McGonagall," Harry said sweetly, "I took a truth potion which allows me to only uncontrollably blurt out the truth.  Professor Snape made me take it!  Also, I have to say your hair looks very nice that way."

"Thank you!" McGonagall said, flattered, which was strange for her. "Severus, you made him take a potion.  Why should he be in trouble?"

*** Later that Evening***

Though blurting out the truth was sometimes good, it really hurt Ron when Harry said, "Your hair is the color of a carrot."

Ron walked away, even though he knew Harry had taken a truth potion."Ron!"

Snape found Harry, his lips curling into a smug smile. "Potter... even insulting his own friends.  How... entertaining."

"Sorry, sir.""No, you're not.  Five points from Gryffindor for telling a big... fat... lie!"

"Sir, I can't say anything but the truth!"

"Another lie."

"Sir, I took a truth potion, for goodness' sake!"

Snape sighed. "I suppose you did, but for yelling at a teacher... ten points from Gryffindor."

"SIR!  I can't choose whether or not I yell at a teacher.  This potion is controlling every single thing I say!  I try to talk about Quidditch and I end up saying that Oliver Wood had a pimple on his forehead!  It's awful, sir!"

Snape actually laughed, though coldly. "I bet Mr. Wood does not know you took a potion."

"He's mad, Snape.  And your robe is sideways... doesn't look very professional for a teacher."

"POTTER!"

"I can't control what I'm saying!"

"I KNOW YOU CAN'T, but.... just go!" Snape waved his hand away. "Go somewhere!"

Harry went into the Gryffindor common room, then into the bathroom.  He locked himself in a toilet stall and just stood there.

Suddenly, he heard giggling.

"I see boys' shoes underneath the one door," came one girl voice.

"Oh my gosh!  Me too!" came another girl's voice.

"He's in the wrong restroom!" the first girl giggled.

"Hey!  Are you in there?" The second girl actually had the nerve to knock on the stall door.

"He's not saying anything," the first girl said. "C'mon, Carrie.  Let's bust this door."

"Yeah," Carrie said.  Harry heard her yell, "REDUCTO!"  The door smashed down, leaving Harry standing there, face to face with Carrie, a very pretty Gryffindor girl.  Her hair was auburn, long, and shimmering, her eyes jade green and clever.  She was petite and curvy.

"Harry... Potter?" Carrie asked.

"You're so pretty," Harry blurted out.  He clapped his hands over his mouth.

Carrie giggled, and the second girl came into Harry's view.  She was also pretty. Her hair was short, layered, and blond, her eyes warm brown.  She was tall.

"You're so pretty." Harry told the second girl.

"You jerk!" Carrie yelled.

"What did I do?" Harry asked.

"You gave her a compliment!" Carrie cried.

"I can't help it!  I took a truth potion which makes me blurt the truth and nothing but!" Harry explained.

"So you don't actually like me." Carrie's eyes filled with tears, and she and the second girl ran out of the restroom.

"Wait!" Harry ran after them, going out the door.  Yeah, he'd been in the girls' restroom.

He left Gryffindor Tower to find Snape.

"Hello, Potter.  And... what, may I ask, are you doing here?"

"Sir, I'm only roaming the empty parts of the castle as not to insult anyone else."

"It's past curfew.  Get to your House, Potter."

Harry was nervous... the Gryffindor common room was sure to be packed with people.

Snape glared at him. "Unless you'd rather... sleep in a classroom or in the hallway."

Harry perked up at this idea. "Yes, I would!"

Snape looked surprised. "Fine.  But I can't trust you, Potter, even if you do tell the truth.  I have some potions to brew for tomorrow's lessons.  I'll be in my classroom all night.  You can join me."

"Wha'?"

"You heard me right, Potter.  You can sleep on the floor of the Potions classroom."

Harry sighed.

***Later that Evening***

Harry shifted in the sleeping bag, which was on the hard, stone floor of the Potions classroom.  At his desk, Snape was bent over a cauldron, putting in ingredients.  His breathing was slow and he muttered to himself.

"Could you stop talking?" Harry blurted out, then covered his mouth.

"Potter!  I'm trying to brew the Draught of Living Death and if you don't shut your mouth, I might want to use it on you."

"Sir, you just tried out the truth potion we made earlier on me..."

"Potter!"

"Sorry, I can't help it."

"I know you can't," Snape growled, "but at least try to not blurt out the truth!"

Harry sighed.

"What was that, Potter?"

"A sigh," he blurted out.

"A sigh," Snape repeated. "Potter, if-"

Suddenly, Dumbledore entered the room.

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," said Snape, inclining his head slightly and removing the scowl from his face.

"Severus," Dumbledore said, "I have heard you gave Harry here truth potion, did you not?"

"Yes, I did," Snape said, the trace of a sigh recognizable in his voice.

"Severus, why?  You have corrupted Potter's 'social life' by doing this," Dumbledore said.

Harry listened, pretending to be asleep.

Snape replied, "He raised his hand."

Harry suddenly sat up. "No, I didn't!  I scratched my head!"

"Well," Dumbledore said, "It seems as if Harry is awake, then.  Now, if he really has taken this potion, it appears that he only scratched his head."

"Perhaps."

"Severus, why are you being so harsh on him?"

"Professor, I have never been harsh to Harry."

Dumbledore looked at Harry. "Harry, tell me the truth, for it is all you can do.  Has Professor Snape here been harsh on you?"

"Oh, yes," Harry said, "All the time."

"Ridiculous," spat Snape. "He is lying!"

"Severus!" Dumbledore said slowly, yet with a slight edge to his voice. "Harry cannot lie.  I will make sure I tell everyone in the castle that Harry cannot help but blurt out the truth."

Snape glared at Harry, then looked back at Dumbledore. "You will not tell them it was I who gave him the potion?"

"No, but I would not like this to happen again." Dumbledore's voice was calm.

***The Next Day***

Harry had spent the whole next day sitting in his dormitory, reading.  He finally felt the potion wear off.

"Hey, Dean," Harry said as Dean Thomas entered the dormitory.  Harry was happy that he didn't blurt out something uncontrollably.

Dean said with a grin, "You got a whole day with no work.. and no work to make up for missing lessons today, either.  Lucky!"

Harry grinned. "Yeah, but I had to blurt out the truth and nothing but.  I couldn't control it.  It was awful."

Dean grimaced. "Ugh..."

"Hey," Harry said, "I'm going to go into the hall and find Snape." He went out of Gryffindor Tower, finding Snape pacing.

"Potter," Snape grumbled.