Chapter 14 – The First Detention

Author's Note: I noticed that the story has 57 followers so it's a goal that has been achieved! Thank you for supporting it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Andrew woke up the next morning still feeling downcast. He never had imagined he would've gotten a detention. He was the only of his dorm that had a clean slate until that day. McGonagall had given Jeremiah and Lauren detention two weeks ago because they were found snogging near the Astronomy Tower, which is off limits unless it's for classes, and Gilbert and Joseph were given detention by Snape because they were fooling around and blew up their cauldron last year.

"There goes my chance at Prefecthood…" Andrew sighed. One of Andrew's goals was to be made a Ravenclaw prefect and perhaps Head Boy, but usually Head Boys have been Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs.

He trekked down to the common room, slid off unsuspectingly and went to the Great Hall to have breakfast. Since it was a Friday, he already had packed the Beginner's Transfiguration book since he had only that class today and on the afternoon, he had a reunion with Snape for his extra Potions class and just after dinner, he had the detention with Flitwick.

He served himself a few slices of toast, some eggs and bacon and started eating it while he revised his Transfiguration essay. He had done it early in the week so he could revise the details when the due date was approaching. When he was about to finish and pack up, his owl Odin, had glided and landed on Andrew's shoulder. Odin extended its leg and Andrew unfurled the letter that was tied.

Dear Andrew,

It's nice to know that you're doing so well. We are very proud of you. We hope that your work ethic won't falter this year, since you have impressed Professor Snape in a quite big deal last year. Also, if old Professor Flitwick has personally asked you to join the club, it's a big honor.

It's good that you're expanding your social circle, yet I am worried about your recent escapade with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. Flitwick has sent me a letter explaining me in what circumstances the professors had found you four yesterday. As an Auror's son, I hope you do use your common sense, and as my mentor in the DMLE will say: "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" You should've informed the prefect or a professor and they'll deal with it responsibly.

About your crush on the Granger girl, remember: everything will go as Fate intends to. Don't force anything or you'll just chase her away. I hope you've enjoyed the broomstick I sent you. You shouldn't be surprised since you know I have my own information net. That Zeus Lightning was released in Greece recently and it's quite good, it's nearly on the league of the Nimbus 2000, according to your uncle.

Lastly, about your suspicions, be very observant of the change in behavior of people. Report anything to me or your mother so you kids can be safe. Mum reminds you to tell Potter to open the parcel. It's some clothes and it has a bit of a surprise she had started working on.

Love,

Dad, Mum and Tony

The letter at least lifted his spirits a bit. He finished his breakfast early and since none of his friends were at the Great Hall, he started to walk to the Transfiguration Courtyard upstairs.

He sat on the bench until it was nearing the hour to enter Professor McGonagall's class. A few minutes later, his friends appeared from the hallway.

"Andy, why did you vanish so suddenly?" Joseph asked, with an oddly serious face. "This isn't like you."

"It's nothing, guys. Just not feeling well…" Andrew sighed deeply.

"You sure? I think something happened last night since you came late to the common room and with Professor Flitwick in tow." Cho continued.

The six pair of eyes landed on Andrew, who grew nervous quickly.

"I…I…Um…" Andrew stammered.

"I'm suspecting that Andrew did something wrong and he lost points." Marietta started, using her gossipy-like voice.

"I DID NOT LOSE POINTS! IN FACT, I WON SOME!" Andrew stood up angry. This had surprised the group. Andrew usually didn't rage or screamed at anyone.

Andrew picked up his bag, and trudged up the hallway and went to the Transfiguration classroom and he fully ignored his friends. He saw a space next to a Slytherin boy and decided to sit with him for the moment.

After Transfiguration, he placed the essay on McGonagall's desk and left quickly to the Great Hall to have a quick bite of lunch. Harry, Ron and Hermione came walking to the Gryffindor table, clearly that they came out from Potions class.

"Hermione, your hair still smells slightly singed." Ron pointed out.

"Well, it's not my fault that Dean's cauldron blew up because of Seamus's irresponsibility…" Hermione huffed while sitting down.

Harry started laughing and noticed Andrew was sitting with a very sour face and he pointed him to Ron and Hermione.

"Hi Andrew, how are you feeling?" Harry said.

"Not so good, guys. I've been feeling a bit down and angry. Flitwick gave me detention last night after dropping you three at Gryffindor Tower. It's tonight after dinner."

"But why?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Because I toed out of line after a conversation we had at the beginning of term." Andrew said sadly.

The trio looked at each other worriedly.

"It's okay guys…"

Hermione approached Andrew and hugged him.

"Thanks Andrew, for saving me." Andrew blushed slightly.

"S'fine. That's what friends do." Andrew smiled.

He finished his lunch and said his goodbyes to the trio and went walking to the dungeons, where Snape was waiting for the extra Potions class. He knocked on the door to the classroom and Professor Snape opened it.

"Welcome, Mr. Rivers. Please come in." Snape led Andrew inside, with a quite odd wobbly walk. A cauldron was already prepared, and the ingredients were set on the table.

"I assume that you know what we will be preparing today?" Snape asked.

"For what I see, I'm guessing that we're doing a Wiggenweld Potion." Andrew answered.

"Correct, Mr. Rivers. And as you could see in the Magical Drafts and Potions book, the ingredient preparation method is different to how we will do it today."

Andrew observed his book and read the instructions carefully.

Prepare a mixture of 1 pint of Horklump juice, 7 whole Chizpurfle fangs which will be grounded with a pestle, 1 sprig of mint (finely cut), Billywig sting slime, a whole stewed Mandrake, 15 Moondew drops, Sloth Brain mucus, a Unicorn horn (finely granulated) and Wolfsbane (diced). After the base potion is prepared, the following instructions are to be followed:

1. Add salamander blood until the potion turns red.

2. Stir until the potion turns orange.

3. Add more salamander blood, this time until it turns yellow.

4. Stir until the potion turns green.

5. Add more salamander blood, until the potion turns turquoise.

6. Heat until it turns indigo.

7. Add more salamander blood, until the potion turns pink.

8. Heat until the potion turns red.

9. Add five lionfish spines.

10. Heat until the potion turns yellow.

11. Add five more lionfish spines.

12. Add flobberworm mucus, until the potion turns purple.

13. Stir until it turns red.

14. Add more flobberworm mucus, this time until it turns orange

15. Stir until it turns yellow.

16. Add honey water until it turns back to a turquoise color.

17. Add a few drops of boom berry juice.

18. Stir the potion again, and then let it simmer for thirty minutes.

19. Take the potion away from the heat and allow it to cool, when it is cool it is ready to use.

"What are the modifications we are going to do, Professor?"

"The modifications will be mostly in the second part of the recipe. We can shorten the process if we adjust the instances where the flobberworm mucus and the salamander blood are deposited in the cauldron. Since I was informed that you have a detention later, I already made an ample batch of the first part. I want you to determine in which order you should put the mucus and the changes."

Andrew proceeded to prepare the different variation methods in his usual methodically meticulous way. He made four different runs and left parchment rolls near the cauldrons with the annotations made. While the test potions were left to simmer for thirty minutes, Professor Snape was at his desk looking at him searchingly.

"Mr. Rivers, come here for a second." Snape said, beckoning him with his hand.

"Is something wrong?" Andrew asked dubiously.

"I wanted to ask about the events that transpired last night." Snape looked at Andrew questioningly. "Miss Granger's story is more than a half truth. Tell me why you, Granger, Potter and Weasley were there instead going to your respective common rooms."

Andrew knew that he couldn't lie to Snape. He couldn't lose his trust of his favorite professor. He thoroughly explained what happened that night that led them to the encounter with the troll.

"So, knowing that there was a troll on the loose, you didn't notify a prefect or a teacher that Miss Granger was missing. Am I right?" Andrew nodded meekly. Snape sighed. "If you were in my house, Mr. Rivers, you'd be having two weeks of detention instead of one day as Professor Flitwick assigned. You are a second year and also my best student. You should be the one reigning Potter and Weasley's antics. I am very disappointed, Mr. Rivers."

Andrew bowed his head in shame.

"Alright, let's finish for the now. I have the Gryffindor-Slytherin fifth years in twenty minutes. Observe the test cauldrons and write down the changes and if they're finished, pour in a vial and leave it on the desk. If it hasn't finished, apply a Stasis charm and tomorrow, you'll revise it. After collecting the data, write me a two feet essay about the effects of the modifications. You may leave after cleaning your station."

Snape went to his desk and grabbed the essays that he was marking during the time and hobbled carefully outside.

"That's odd…" though Andrew, his brow furrowed. He cleaned thoroughly and stoppered 3 out of the 4 potions. He applied the stasis charm to the cauldron and left the room. Exiting the dungeons, he was pinned by Gilbert and Joseph.

"Finally found you, Andy!" exclaimed Gilbert.

"What is going on with you? You ran out on us like a territorial Erumpent and didn't speak to us all day!" Joseph continued.

"It's a bit of a trouble I am having and such." Andrew answered, without looking at any of the two's eyes.

"C'mon mate, we're friends! And friends are supposed to help each other!" Joseph sighed.

"I got a detention with Flitwick tonight." Andrew said, while he sighed in defeat.

"That's what's having you with your knickers in a knot?" Gilbert guffawed. Andrew bonked him on his head with his Transfiguration book.

"YES, that's it. Any problems?!" Andrew proclaimed in clear alteration.

"Calm down, mate. It was bound to happen someday!" Joseph replied while starting to walk to the Great Hall. It was still early so they decided to start their Astronomy charts.

After a plentiful dinner, Andrew left his friends and walked to the third floor to Flitwick's office, until he saw someone walking towards the Forbidden Corridor. He went into the unused classroom next to Flitwick's Charms classroom and peeked to see who was. A hooded figure was skulking around, and checked the door but scampered towards the second floor after hearing some steps.

Professor Flitwick was coming down from the fourth floor. He exited the classroom and waited him next to the office door.

"Ah, Mr. Rivers, glad that you're on time. Please enter."

Andrew entered Flitwick's office and was marveled at the massive quantity of books and items he had. A silver trophy captured his eye and walked towards it in awe and saw the engraving in the base:

Filius Flitwick

Champion - 135th British Dueling Circuit

Year: 1965

"I see that you're impressed by the trophy, Mr. Rivers." Flitwick said smiling. "That was my last trophy in the Dueling Circuit before I started in Hogwarts as the Charms master."

"How many circuits you had won, Professor?" Andrew asked in unmasked curiosity, sitting down in the bench near the desk.

"That was my 17th one. Alas, I'll tell you the story another time. We have a detention to do. For today, you will write 150 lines reading: "I will not act unless I tell a superior." The parchment is there, you will use your quill. Begin." Andrew began writing carefully the lines and after two hours, he had finished the lines. Professor Flitwick was satisfied and escorted Andrew back to Ravenclaw Tower, where he promptly fell asleep, and his uniform still on.