"Remember your detention Potter!" McGonagall mentioned jovially as she walked back to her classroom. "And warn the Weasleys I have something particularly unpleasant planned for them this evening."
"Yes Professor."
Harry walked to Care of Magical creatures in a daze. Last time he had done something like that, he had got an earful from Snape. So why had Snape just walked off like that? He had been fully in control of the situation, then…
"Then I mentioned the fight with the Weasleys…" Harry muttered.
Hagrid had already started class by the time he got there.
"Alrigh' class!" Settle down!" Hagrid boomed. "'Allo Harry."
Harry dodged Malfoy's casually stuck out leg as he went to join Ron and Hermione. They were sitting on the grass next to a tray of what looked like six overgrown maggots writhing around in some loose soil.
"Today, we're gonna be lookin' at some Flobberworms. Give 'em some lettuce an' cabbage an' er… Write down which they like best!" Hagrid smiled at the class. "Any questions? Off ya go then!"
"Where have you been?" Hermione hissed as she poked one of the the squishy flobberworms with a lettuce leaf. "Class started five minutes before you arrived!"
"Snape and McGonagall ranted at me for a bit, then McGonagall put me on the Quidditch team." Harry said conversationally. Ron gave Harry an odd look.
"But first years never make the team. We aren't even allowed our own brooms at school!" Ron argued. Harry shrugged.
"McGonagall said my dad was a quidditch player too." Harry grinned.
"Guess it's hereditary." Ron smiled and almost poked Hermione's eye out with a chunk of cabbage.
That evening, Harry met up with Fred and George in the common room. It wasn't difficult. Fred was holding up a sign that read 'Detentionees this way!'
"Afternoon Harry!" said George jovially. "Ready for an evening of detention?"
"Just about." Harry smiled. "Will it be that bad?"
"Depends on McGonagall's attitude," started Fred
"To her new seeker." finished George.
"Right." Harry gulped.
Very soon, they were standing outside McGonagall's office.
"Should I knock?" asked Harry nervously.
"Be my guest!" Fred pushed Harry forwards slightly; Harry knocked.
"Come in!" The trio shuffled into the dimly lit room. Harry could see Snape standing near Professor McGonagall, accompanied by Argus Filch, the school caretaker.
"Weasleys, with Professor Snape please. Harry, follow Mr Filch to his office." McGonagall barely looked up from her parchment.
Harry walked glumly behind Filch towards the caretaker's dinghy cramped office. It was rather awkward trying to edge into the tiny room past Filch and his desk... And Harry couldn't help but notice the manacles hanging from the walls behind the grey chunky filing cabinet.
"Miscreant: Harry Potter, Crime: Fighting in the common room, punishment: polishing medals in the trophy room." Filch grinned. "An appropriate punishment I think... How i miss the old days, hanging kids up by the ankles from the walls..."
Filch continued his nostalgia all the way to the trophy room. Harry was beginning to wish he was helping Professor Snape and the Weasleys until he caught sight of a girl leaning against the Trophy Room. She gave off the air of someone who was already in trouble but couldn't care less.
"Oi clear off!" Filch snarled. "I'll be reporting you to your head of house!"
"I'm here for detention ." The girl lifted her head giving Harry view of a dark blue tie emblazoned with an eagle. "Flitwick sent me."