"I'm thinkin' this the furst time I've had a whole class for detention," Hagrid scratched his head somewhat bemusedly. "And yer all furst years." He lifted his lantern a little higher to count each student. Yup, this was the entire first year class of Slytherins and Gryffindors. For some reason all of the Gryffindors sparkled a bit… a lot.

"Can we hurry up? It's cold," a pug nosed girl sniffed snootily. She pulled her cloak closer to her body but stood with a rigidly straight back and her eyes, though dark in color glowed with a fierce brightness. She was like a proud hippogriff that was being subjected to foolishness and was not one ounce happy about it. He decided that he very much like this prickly girl even though she was no doubt one of the Slytherins seeing as she was not sparkling.

"O' course we can. The greenhouse need some saplings that only come out at night. So many youngins should make this detention go by fast," he smiled down at the mostly miserable students. He handed out the little pouches that they would need along with gardening gloves to keep little hands clean. He gave Fang, abnormally quiet and quite a bit away from the group, a quick look. He's never seen his cowardly dog so far away from the safety of light but something seemed to be throwing him off. Hagrid pushed that away and gestured the students to follow as he started into the Forbidden Forest.

"Stay close to me!"

"I can't believe we all got detention! All of us!" Hermione threw up her hands in righteous anger.

"So exciting, isn't it muggleborn?" Blaise grinned, throwing a casual arm over her shoulder, unfazed by the sparkling glitter getting on his clothes.

"No! This could go on our permanent record!" Hermione hissed, shrugging him off and walking slightly faster to get out of arm throwing range. The dark skinned boy laughed loudly and dropped back to the group of suspiciously clean Slytherins. Nestled between the prickly Pansy and uptight Draco was just the redhead he was looking for.

"Oh tereso, the Gryffindors have no sense of humor. Class was explosive!" Blaise crowed excitedly.

"I suppose you could call it that," Severus agreed dryly but Blaise could see the small smile tilting his lips. But it fell when his eyes landed on his glitter covered twin. Oh yes. There was much tension between the boys today which might explain why Harry was still covered in glitter.

—Several Hours Ago+

"Can anyone tell me what is the capabilities of the potion we are working on today?" Professor Lupin inquired. Although it was only the second class there was already a tone set that two students would always raise their hands. Unfortunately another tone was set that only one of those two would be picked. "Ms. Granger?"

"Marie Medic is used to delay internal bleeding, heal if the damage is small enough."

"Five points to Gryffindor, that's correct! I'm going to write the ingredients and instructions on the board and we're all going to follow along. Step by step," Golden eyes looked all around the class but Severus noted that they skipped over him specifically. He rolled his eyes. For a Gryffindor the man was sure a coward and an idiot if he thought he was being subtle. He smiled when the man's gaze darted towards him and immediately raised his hand. How Lupin responded would determine how he'd take his revenge.

The professor promptly ignored him.

Oh goodie. Severus smiled even wider and waited until the ingredients were passed out, taking them from Neville almost immediately. Oh this was even better. All the ingredients were still subpar and a deep breath gave him the scent of pesticides. Great. Beautiful. If he didn't think it would bring suspicion he would have cackled at that very moment. As it were he simply pulled their ingredients out and laid them neatly out.

"These don't look too nice," Longbottom whispered, poking at the mostly brown petals and the mangled beetles. Severus hummed in agreement, barely looking at the boy. He needed to time this perfectly or all his hard work would go to waste. "Ummm… are you going to change stuff?"

"The professor said we have to follow the directions," Severus reminded his partner. He gripped the wand within his sleeve and readied himself.

"But… you… your potion was right and…" Longbottom trailed off. Severus paused and looked over at the brown haired boy. Longbottom was doing his usual nervous tic of chewing on his lip and looking everywhere but at the person he was talking to which meant that Severus had the fun pleasure of watching the boy's eyes dart all over the room and never quite land on him.

"Would you spit it out?" Severus growled, dragging his gaze back to Lupin. The man was luckily still arranging his ingredients and muttering under his breath. Perhaps Severus should invest some effort into reading lips but on more interesting people of course.

"It's just… if you have a way of making potions the best way because you understand them that well then you should continue to brew them in your way. Bad work shouldn't be praised because it's right…" Longbottom shifted restlessly in his seat in a way that annoyed Severus to the highest degree but he found himself once more looking st the chubby boy and was shocked to see him returning his gaze and intensely.

"You truly believe that?" Severus tilted his head. Neville nodded earnestly, almost hard enough to slam their heads together. Bad work shouldn't be praised because it's right. Neville believed in him, believed in his methods of brewing and was actively encouraging him to disobey a professor if only because the professor was wrong. Severus didn't know much about Longbottom except that he wanted to do well in school and that he was a complete and utter hazard in every class but he had a feeling that this boy encouraging someone to disobey was a big deal. It was certainly interesting, almost interesting enough for Severus to give up his plot for revenge.

Almost.

"Okay! Let's get started, class!" Professor Lupin clapped his hands. He enchanted the chalk to start writing at the same time that Severus activated his revenge.

"Does anyone have an extra inky thingy?" Severus asked loudly, inwardly cringing at his choice of words.

"You can share mine…" Longbottom pushed his ink pot into the middle, facing turning a slight pink when Severus shot him a small smile. The boy was kind so he was a bit regretful that his revenge would have to involve him. Especially after he showed such faith in him.

Tendrils of smoke started to curl out of the professor's desk and the distinct smell of something burning trickled through the air. Severus waited for the man to whirl around, face warped with emotion but he didn't even seem to notice, humming under his breath. How odd. Just last night the man smelled him from down and around a corner now he couldn't smell a fire literally a few steps behind him. How. Odd. The smoke developed into visible flames that no one seemed to—

"Professor, there's a fire!" Brown shrieked with much more hysteria than Severus thought necessary. The Professor whirled around, eyes wide and wand out. Pettigrew came running as well, causing Severus's plan to fall nicely into place. Severus focused solely on the chalk still slowly writing out the ingredients being used and slid his wand just barely out of his sleeve. Silently he waved it and sent the new recipe at the chalk, his magic a nearly invisible beam that hit its target true. He held his breath, trying to not agitate the developing headache and hoping that this would work. He had practiced over and over to use silent magic and… the chalk kept on writing but he knew that it was working. Severus bit on his cheek to stop himself from crowing in victory. There was still an explosive finish yet to happen.

"I apologize class. Please… let's continue our potion," Professor Lupin panted as he made his way back to the front of the class. The class fell into comfortable silence, students watching then following the instructions given.

"Um… Professor?" Granger raised her hand, brows furrowed. There was no doubt that she noticed that the instructions didn't match those in the book and planned to ruin his hard work. How could he stop her? Before he could start to formulate a mild confounding spell to use, Pettigrew practically appeared at her side, between her and Pansy. He pressed so close to Hermione that she had to nearly scoot from her chair to get away from him.

"What's the problem, child?" He smiled but it was different from the too eager smile he had given Harry. This smile was… icky. Yes, that was the word he would settle on. Pettigrew leaned forward and she leaned back, only a hand on the table keeping her in her seat.

"Um, we—the. Never mind!" She blurted loudly, turning her head away from the man until Severus could see her almost wide eyed panic. Her brown face was practically drained of color and it appeared as though she were having a hard time breathing. Severus frowned and slowly dropped his wand into his hand. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to hex the man especially on behalf of some girl but he would do it. Pettigrew proceeded to get even closer (Severus started up a boil hex) thus drawing the attention of Pansy. The girl's head snapped over and Severus could see the sneer that twisted her face.

"Back. Away. Now!" She spat with enough venom that Severus nearly backed away though her attention was not on him. Her dark eyes burned with a hateful fury even as her hands gently stirred their potion. Pettigrew flinched violently and practically tripped over himself to get away from the girls.

"Five points from Slytherin," he muttered and slunked away. Severus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and slipped his wand back up his sleeve.

"Don't talk to him, idiot. He's obviously a Vanderbilt," Pansy seemed to scold. Severus wasn't sure what that meant but her obvious distaste informed him that he didn't quite want to know.

"A Vanderbilt? Wait—!" Hermione reached for the girl's hand as she picked up the last ingredient much as the rest of the class had done and dropped it into their brew. One after the other explosions sounded throughout the class, potions bursting from their cauldrons and painting everything in its wake. Severus closed his eyes just as his potion exploded as well, allowing the surprisingly cool liquid to drench him head to toe. Children screamed, Lupin shouted and Pettigrew made an odd noise that Severus could only describe as a squeal. Once it was all over Severus opened his eyes and saw the horrible green slime that covered everything—absolutely everything.

"Oh my—my hair!" Brown shrieked, sobbing and jumping up and down.

"It's in my underwear!" Weasley complained.

"What is it? What is it!? Is it poison? It's in my mouth!" Bulstrode really seemed to be panicking, potion covered hand wiping at her tongue. She let out a wail of despair as she realized she was only succeeding in getting more of the potion in her mouth.

"Everyone calm down! Settle down," Professor Lupin called out firmly but calmly. The class settled, some still wiping at the concoction while others like those directly around him remained calm. Once he was sure that no one would have a complete breakdown his golden eyes took in the scene. "Now, who is responsible for this big mess? It was very irresponsible and dangerous."

Severus raised his slime covered hand and practically beamed when the man turned his attention to him. He pointed to the only thing clean in the room: the board still displaying the faulty recipe.

"Sir, I was merely following directions." The man blinked rapidly, looking from the board, his book and back to Severus. Slowly, the realization sunk in and, of Severus wasn't a student and a child, he was sure the man would have hexed him right then and there. Instead he took a deep breath through his nose and spoke softly.

"Detention. For a week."

"Why? I didn't do anything but follow directions." Severus felt his smile get wider and his eyes become so big with innocence there was no doubt that he was guilty.

"Because—yes, Mr. Longbottom?" Professor Lupin jabbed his finger towards the boy. Severus turned as well, confusion warping his face. What could Longbottom possibly have to say?

"Um… well, sir. I um, I was following directions as well," Longbottom forced out, placing a hand on Severus's shoulder. Severus blinked in surprise, so much surprise that he didn't immediately throw the boy's hand off of him.

"Detention."

"Professor, I believe I was following your terrible directions as well," Pansy sneered.

"Detention."

"Me too!" A little voice that Severus thought might be Daphne's sounded.

"How else would I be covered in this…" Blaise let out an intelligible sound, trying in vain to at least wipe it out of his closely shorn hair.

"I just did what the board said!" Goyle.

"Professor?" Draco called out, a slender hand raised in the air.

"What?" The man practically growled, a slight tremble of rage shaking him.

"I followed directions."

"That's it. Entire class. Detention. Tonight!"

Severus believed that he was rather shell shocked. It wasn't part of his plan for his fellow Slytherins and Neville to repeat after him and receive detention. Well, he had expected someone else to say something. , Severus looked over his shoulder to his twin to see the boy frowning and quite blatantly ignoring his gaze. Lupin dismissed class shortly after, angry and quivering but Severus was quite sure he'd be foaming at the mouth once he attempted to clean the slime. Speaking of cleaning.

"I know it was you." Pansy planted herself like a wall in front of him. Her arms were crossed and her face was twisted in an unflattering strained smile. "Tell me, Severus, what happens when we wash this crap off?"

"Oh, tell me it's something deadly," Blaise sighed, appearing like a mist at his side.

"Why would—shut up, you jester!" Draco swiped at the boy. Severus vaguely noted that he was surrounded by his Slytherin classmates but a large part of him was aware that they were not quite stupid enough to attack him. Especially not after showing such public solidarity.

"The potion we made was a general, topical healing potion but it expands when it finishes so having a full cauldron caused it to explode. The only downside to this healing potion is…" Severus whispered a water spell and washed some of the potion off revealing a hand covered in glitter.

"Sparkles!?" Crabbe squawked, flapping his arms like a bird.

"I will—." Pansy started, her smile even more strained and her eyes gaining a gleam that actually caused a bit of a stir in Severus's gut.

"I, of course, made a glitter remover that is safe for human skin and hair," Severus pulled a jug from his expanded bag. He handed it to Pansy then another to Draco. "You will have to share but it's enough for everyone. Now. If you all would excuse me." Severus broke out of the group and quickly followed the sound of Gryffindors loudly complaining and some laughing. He had made a single bottle for his brother and one for himself.

"Harry!" He called out as he spotted the boy walking shoulder to shoulder with the redhead. Neither boy turned. Oh, well, the Gryffindors were rather loud. Severus pushed his way through the crowd until he was able to slap his hand onto Harry's shoulder and bring him to a stop. "Harry."

"Yeah?" Harry muttered. Severus frowned a little at the tone that the boy held. It was almost… cold.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Severus asked, looking his twin over. There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him, no bruises or signs of magical attacks. His eyes were clear and focused. His scar still red from the scratching.

"Nothing is wrong. Great prank, by the way. Did you tell Draco all about it?" Harry crossed his arms over his chest. Severus opened his mouth to speak but stopped as he realized that a certain redhead was hovering directly over Harry's shoulder.

"Can we get a bit of privacy?" Severus hissed, glaring at the boy. Weasley flinched and started to back off but Harry whipped around and grabbed the boy's arm and pulled him even closer.

"No, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my best mate."

Ouch. Severus wasn't sure why those words hurt so much but he definitely felt a bit of pain from them. He shoved away the feeling (and the urge to verbally discuss it with Harry) and plunged his hand into his bag, pulling out the personal bottle of soap.

"Here, you need a special soap to completely wash off the potion." Severus held it out. Harry didn't take it, didn't even look at it.

"No, it's fine. We're fine. Thanks."

Then he just walked away.

—+

"I didn't even say anything," Hermione half warbled, bringing Severus out of the hurt he felt.

"Because the Hat isn't always right, obviously. Shouldn't be in Gryffindor if you're just a stuck up little Know It All that would rather save your own skin," Brown rolled her eyes which was odd as Neville was the only Gryffindor to jump to his defense and only the man's anger caused his to assign everyone detention. But still, Granger winced and moved away from her fellow Gryffindor until she just so happened to be closer to Pansy. Severus sighed and looked back to—

"Where is Harry?"

Harry couldn't stand being in the group any longer, not one more second. It wasn't fair, it wasn't right. Severus was keeping secrets after promising not to and he was pulling pranks—pranks! And he didn't even tell Harry about it first. Harry bet Severus told that stuck up little pompous weasel about it! He bet Severus told him and they just laughed and giggled and just couldn't wait to blow up all the cauldrons. Bet they shared a bed too! Harry kicked a tree. Then did it again. And again.

He was being so stupid!

Not Severus! Him! Harry! Harry kicked the tree until hot, angry tears burned his cheeks. He knew that Severus would rather die than replace him. He knew that Severus didn't purposely keep secrets. He knew that if Severus hadn't told him then he hadn't told anyone about his plan to get back at Lupin. He knew that Severus probably didn't even stay in the dorms much less share a bed with Draco. He knew all of that so why. Was. He. So. Angry? Harry let out a frustrated growl and continued his assault on the innocent tree until some of the strange anger cleared from his brain. He didn't get it. He never got angry at Severus, not really and yet he… Harry bit down on his lip before another wave of anger could cloud his thoughts. He… Harry had probably hurt his brother's feelings. He had never seen such a look on Severus's face. And now he was sparkling like an idiot and he wandered away from the group like a bigger idiot! Harry pulled at his hair and looked around.

Well then.

It turned out he was lost.

Just. Bloody. Great.

"Lumos!" Harry summoned light to his wand. Was the forest always so dark? Which direction had he come from? A snap. Something hitting the ground. And… he didn't even know how to describe the next sound. Harry wanted to call out, maybe it was his classmates or maybe it was like a helpful forest dweller. After all, there were helpful forest dwellers, right? Harry followed the strange, strange noise until he was at a clearing highlighted by the full moon. His scar itched, itched so bad that it almost burned. And he was angry and scared. And… and… just what was that and what was it doing to that unicorn? Harry stumbled backwards, stepping on a twig and drawing the attention of what he could only describe as a horrible monster. It was at least ten feet tall and shrouded in darkness and the noise it made, rattling bones and a shrieking wind that sounded like… like his name!

"Haaaarrrrryyyyy!" It reached its impossibly long hand to him, fingers grotesque and bent and his scar it felt like his head was going to explode. He should scream or say a spell or run or just move. But he couldn't. He could only stare. He was going to die. Right here in this forest. Never to play Quidditch. Or finish school. Or learn amazing magic. Or make up with Severus. Oh no, Severus.

"Harrrrr—!"

"Incendio!" Fire, bright and hot shot from somewhere to their left and slammed right into the monster. It let out a horrible hiss and threw itself away from Harry and the flame. The fire followed the creature, persistent and strong. Harry watched with wide eyes as his twin quickly made his way in front of him, wand still up and shooting out the hot flames as the creature attempted to escape.

"I think not!" Severus hissed. "Ignis vincula!" The fire turned into a ball that surrounded the creature. It let out a painful shriek that echoed in Harry's chest and rippled his brain something terrible. He stumbled forward, pressing his forehead between Severus's shoulder blades.

His head hurt.

It hurt.

It hurt.

"Harry? Harry!" When did he lay down? When did it become daytime? The trees were all brightly lit, vivid leaves of reds and oranges that felt so warm. It was very warm. Harry rather liked it warm. He blinked and suddenly he was looking up at Severus, long hair tickling his face until Harry was giggling. But Severus wasn't. He looked so concerned, scared really. He hadn't seen that look in a really long time. Like since they were seven. Harry didn't like that look.

"Hey Sev…" Harry reached up and tried to gently put his hand on his twin's pale cheek but ended up slamming it much too rough but Severus didn't mind, of course Severus didn't mind. He was Severus. His twin. His rock. The person who loved him most in the world. Why was his vision so blurry? Oh he was crying. "I'm sorry Sev. I'm really sorry. I don't know why I was so mad. It was stupid. I'm stupid."

"Stop that foolishness," Severus rolled his eyes but a slight smile started to pull at his lips. Harry smiled back, and, just like that, Harry knew they were on good terms again. Silence fell over them but not for long. Harry felt light. A little empty if he was being honest. Like something in his head had shrunk so that gave more room for his real thoughts. And a really cool, awesome and logical thought surfaced in the wake of the extra space.

"Hey Sev… we should throw a Halloween party."

—+

"Hm, he's kind of tiny to be a Gryffindor isn't he?" One lanky, red haired boy commented as he circled the small student. Severus adjusted his hold on his magically lightened books just in case he'd need to drop them and knock some sense in the beaters.

"Quite right, Quite right you are but I think he's also too green to be a Gryffindor." The other lanky, red haired boy pointed (wisely not touching) at Severus's tie.

"Ooh, is it not okay that he's here? He's my twin!" Harry shouted from his place high in the sky. He loved being on the broom, it was like being free except he was freer than free. It was so hard to describe. It was enough to make him not think about that horrible monster from the forest, the one who had escaped the prison of fire Severus had created before they could prove it real to anyone else. It was enough that he didn't mind that he had another detention because Hagrid had to give one to Severus for technically setting fire to the Forbidden Forest (which took the half giant nearly an hour to put out) but that led for Harry kindly asking to join his twin and Hagrid (teary eyed) giving him one. But that was in the past. Now he was a hundred feet off the ground and Severus had showed up for his first practice.

"Hm… you going to report back to your House?" Oliver Wood approached Severus, towering over him and giving him a hard stare. Severus returned the look with utter boredom.

"I won't even be watching." Harry snickered a bit, not surprised. "I have studying to do." Severus shifted the very noticeable pile of books in his hands. Oliver stared for a few more seconds then nodded firmly.

"The Slytherin can stay," he announced. Severus turned his gaze to Harry which prompted the boy to fly to his level.

"Hop on. I'll take you to the stands!" Harry offered. Severus let out a sigh that could only be described as exasperated but he climbed aboard and only squeezed Harry half to death with his books stabbing into his back. "Don't you trust me to fly safely?" Harry grinned as the other boy jumped off at his destination, carefully lowering his books.

"Only as far as I can throw you," Severus retorted.

"Oh ha, ha. What're you going to be studying anyway?" Harry rolled his broom until he was upside down, held just by the strength of his legs and his youthful abandon. Severus pulled out a… well Harry supposed he'd call it a pretty red rock. "What's that?"

"If I knew that then I wouldn't have so many books to go through." Harry stuck out his tongue. For all he knew Severus had a pretty good guess what the rock was because if anyone knew something then Severus would. "Well where did you find it?" Speaking of finding things, he still needed to figure out the mystery that the teachers were guarding. He would tell Severus about his plans but only after he had a full team for his twin to give his opinion on.

"In a room with a strange mirror. I have books on enchanted mirrors as well." Severus picked up a nameless book, showing it to him. Harry started to ask another question but a voice cut through the brisk air, reminding him that he had Quidditch to practice. Quidditch!

"Hey! Potter, get your arse over here. Our first game is in a week and I need to see what you're made of!"

"Aye, Aye Captain!"

Severus snorted. Harry was an absolute fool. He rather wished he didn't have such an unshakeable fear of flying, one much worse than his fear of parseltongue. That way he could be actual competition for the boy as he had no doubt that Harry would be an amazing seeker, perhaps the best there ever was.

Someone was approaching.

"H-hey um, Sev."

Oh.

It was Longbottom.

Severus slid his wand back up his sleeve and gave the sparkling boy a slight glare, "No one calls me Sev."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just… well, you know. I heard I'm, it's just that I heard Harry call you that and I just thought…" the boy tripped over his tongue and his shoelaces. Severus quickly shot a cushioning charm on as big as he could and where he thought the boy would fall. Then he watched as he fell face first into the now pillow soft stairs. Longbottom laid there, silent and still until Severus started to question whether or not he had actually made the wood and metal soft. When the boy remained there Severus simply shrugged and cracked open his book.

Enchanted mirrors.

"Thank you…" a tiny voice murmured.

"Hm." Severus hm'd.

"You know, for catching me and um, for not laughing. People usually laugh."

"Hm." Severus hm'd again. Silence fell between them and Severus vaguely noted that he could hear turning of pages not coming from him. Longbottom had a book as well. Good. He wasn't sure how he felt of someone sitting there watching him pour over books.

An hour and a half passed.

Or at least he was sure that amount of time had passed because otherwise why would Harry be hovering directly in front of him, nose to nose when Severus picked his head up.

"It's almost time for dinner," Harry grinned. Oh. Severus blinked his suddenly heavy eyes. More time went by then he thought. It explained why it was so dark. The redhead looked over to see that Longbottom had fallen asleep and apparently lost his cloak as he was shivering in the nearly night air. How does one lose their cloak when they never moved? Severus scoffed and began to pack his bag.

"Did you manipulate Neville into giving you his cloak?" Harry shook his head. Severus opened his mouth to object to such a statement but he did feel extremely warm. Looking down he was quite embarrassed to note the too large cloak around his shoulders. Oh. Severus rubbed his eyes. He was really in need of a nap if he hadn't noticed that.

"I guess we have to take him with us now," Severus sighed. He couldn't leave the good deed unrewarded. Not with Harry grinning right at him.

—+

"So, did you solve your mystery?" Harry asked around a mouthful of spaghetti.

"What mystery?" Granger inquired from his right, leaning in close.

"Her nose is always somewhere it doesn't belong." Brown commented just loud enough for the girl and Severus to hear. Granger flinched, ducking her head though it did little to hide the red blush overtaking her face.

"Yeah it's like her teeth in that way. Just out there." A girl perhaps a year above commented. Granger flinched again but it was followed by her getting up and running quickly from the table. Severus wondered if Pansy were correct? Did Granger really care about some silly girls and their silly opinions? He didn't even bother looking at the giggling bullies, quite uninterested and, instead, glanced at the teacher's table.

"Where's Professor Quirrell?" Severus pondered. "Lupin and Pettigrew are both missing as well."

"Who cares? They're teachers doing teacher stuff," Harry waved vaguely in the air.

"As for my mysteries yes, I solved them. The mirror I saw was the Mirror of Erised. It shows you your deepest desires. I have to interpret it though as mine did not make sense. The stone," Severus dug it from his pocket and handed it to his brother. "Is a philosopher's stone."

"Wow! I real philosopher's stone?" Longbottom gasped from the space once occupied by Granger. Oh it seemed that he awakened from his nap.

"What do you know of—."

"Mr. Potter!" A voice called out. Smoothly Severus allowed the stone to slid up his sleeve as though it were never there just in time for his Head of House to approach them.

"Yes ma'am?" He and Harry tilted their head in practiced unison. The girl paused, a smile twitching at her lips but it disappeared as quickly as they saw it and was replaced with a slightly disapproving frown.

"My Mr. Potter, the Slytherin," Hinojosa clarified, "You cannot be over here during meals as this is not your house. Come along back to where you belong."

"I had breakfast with you guys!" Harry protested.

"Hm, I wonder why that was allowed," the girl's voice dry enough to make all their throats parched. Severus almost protested as well because Harry did have breakfast with the Slytherins but he was quite aware that the other Houses and his did not follow the same rules. So he gave his frowning brother a hug grabbed his dinner and followed his Head of House to the correct table. Hinojosa leaned in close. "I do apologize for having to do that." Then the older girl left, positioning herself beside the Head Boy and eating her own meal.

"So, I heard you were at Gryffindor practice, first year," Flint grinned in a way that Severus decidedly didn't like. He remained silent, eyes fixed on the Quidditch Captain. "What's their play?"

"To catch some of the balls, to throw other ones and avoid bodily injury," Severus deadpanned then he turned to Blaise, "Where is Draco?"

"Oh tereso, you know—."

"Severus!" Ah, there was Draco. The boy looked absolutely dreadful, even paler than when the class found Harry and him surrounded by fire and a dead unicorn (whose body was harvested by Severus while Hagrid bravely saved the forest) and he seemed to be drenched in sweat. The boy skidded to a stop and practically shoved Daphne out of her seat beside Severus. "Severus you have to quit—you have to find a way to forfeit the Challenge."

"Draco, not—."

"You don't understand! Snyder doesn't want to duel you with magic. He wants a physical fight with fists!" Draco hissed, bringing his face close as possible. Severus frowned and leaned around the blond to see Snyder very close to the end of the table. He was a very large, very muscle bound teenager. Very. Very. Large. There probably wouldn't be weapons allowed. If the fight was physical he wouldn't be allowed his wand and perhaps screened for potions. Hm.

"Very well."

—

TBC

Sorry I've been gone so long! I was a sad sad lump of stress! Now I'm an okay lump of stress! I hope you enjoyed this double feature. Severus got to bodily harm Quirrelmort! With FIRE! And he and Harry made up! Also I want to rewrite the last chapter. It's ugly lol! But not right now. I'll let y'all know if I ever do.