CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: Triple Trouble Part Three
Severus sighed. It was really beginning to wear on his nerves. Could the boy not keep himself out of trouble for even one day? Severus thought darkly as he walked slowly back to his quarters. He had just had to issue yet another detention due to the boy's nighttime wanderings. This time he'd caught the boy in the library after curfew. If he didn't know any better he'd say the boy was looking for a book in the Restricted Section. Severus by this point was getting to his wits end with the child. How many more detention could the boy get in a week? Sighing in exasperation Severus made his way back to his room to get some much needed sleep before the group of children showed up for detention.
Saturday dawned bright and early. Not that Severus could see that from his windowless chambers down in the dungeons. Rising at around six am the dour potions master got ready for his day and headed up to the Great Hall. Knowing that Theodore was indeed going to show up for detention as he'd been sent a missive last night by Severus himself when he'd gone to the Slytherin Common Room in order to see if anyone needed any help with something.
Striding smoothly into the Great Hall he looked at his Slytherin table noting who was already up, pleased to see Draco and Theo eating breakfast already. Seeing as they were expected in his office at 8am this was a good thing. He made his way up to the staff table. Sliding into his seat next to Albus.
"I got your note last night my boy, will you meet me at Hagrid's before the lunch hour?" Albus asked him.
"I cannot headmaster I have detention to administer. I could meet you tomorrow morning at Hagrid's if that would be agreeable?" Severus stated.
"Yes I think that would work well," Albus replied cheerfully going back to eating. Severus sighed and resumed eating. Wondering when he'd have time to finish all that was still required of him. He had so much work left to do. His headache was starting to return again.
Severus finished eating his meal and rose again excusing himself to head down to his office to get a little bit of work done before the four students entered for detention. A half hour later found Severus still finishing up the last of his essay stack when Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy walked into his office. Severus looked up at them and waited until they came to stand before him.
"I presume you are all aware why you are here?" Severus stated bluntly. His narrowed gaze scanning each face. He received a series of nods and a few mumbled yes sirs. "Good then follow me, you will be spending the day here and probably a good portion of the evening." Severus stated darkly as he rose and led them through to his classroom. Indicating that they should sit themselves sat the desk before his desk.
"For the morning you will read through the chapter on Dragon and their uses in potions found on page 436 of these books here," Severus lectured in his usual teaching voice making the books fly over to their desk and land one before each child. "I expect a two foot essay on what you read by lunch," Severus said and turned to gather what he would need to work on the antidote to the Dark Lord's potion. Which would be a very stable potion making the best use of his time here. He'd finished the formula yesterday. Setting the paper down on his desk and starting to quickly and smoothly chop the roots silence fell over his classroom as the children began to read.
Several hours later Severus had a simmering brew on his desk and noticed Granger had her hand in the air. "Yes Miss. Granger?" Severus said.
"I'm finished with my essay sir," Hermione said. Severus set a charm around his cauldron that would alert him when it had simmered for thirty minutes, before stalking down to her desk. He picked up her parchment and read it. Frowning. "It's hardly more then the textbook regurgitated but it is adequate I suppose," Severus drawled putting the paper back down on her desk. "Clean up and take out your potions kit. I will have you preparing a few ingredients that I may brew another batch of anti-venom."
"Yes sir," Hermione said taking her essay and tucking it into her bag. She took out her knife and scales. Meanwhile Severus had gone to retrieve the ingredients he wanted her to prepare. Setting them down with three vials he instructed, "you will need to dice these roots until you have one ounce of them. You will then need to crush these berries until you have a full vial. Then you will cut into very fine slices these leaves here until you have exactly two ounces of them. Am I understood?" Severus asked. Hermione who'd been writing down everything he said replied softly.
"Yes sir," Hermione said before taking the roots and starting her dicing under his narrowed gaze. Satisfied that she was doing decently he walked over to Theodore who'd just raised his hand.
"Finished with your essay Mr. Nott?" Severus inquired.
"Yes sir," Theodore said handing him the parchment. Severus read it frowning slightly.
"Acceptable, clear your spot and open that book to page 506. It will list how you are peel and slice the Newt Tails," Severus instructed as he retrieved the next set of ingredients that the children would be preparing. Setting out two different one's before Nott. "The salamander hearts are to be prepared as per page 296."
Severus watched as Theodore began before going over to Draco and Harry who were both finishing up their essays. A little while later he read over them and nodded satisfied. He retrieved another small pile of ingredients giving instructions for dicing, page numbers for certain more complex preparations and weight required. Nodding in satisfaction he returned to his potion. Decanted it and set it to cool before he began cleaning his equipment. Preparing for brewing the anti-venom.
An hour later Severus noticed that it was a little past twelve o'clock and thus he called a stop escorting the children to the great hall with a stern warning to return straight to the classroom after the meal. Severus ate his lunch rather quickly and was back in his classroom before any of the students had returned. He prepped the base that would need to simmer for an hour before anything else could be done.
The students came back as Severus was just adding the last ingredient to the base and started to stir it counter-clockwise. Pausing every couple of stir. He looked up briefly to insure they returned to work, which they all did in silence. Knowing better then to speak least they get points removed on top of this detention. Once he had the base simmering he walked around checking the ingredients and gathering up those that were completed setting them on his desk in a very specific order.
"Once you are done with what remains I expect you to clean up your desks and set up a cauldron. You will all be working together to brew a strong sleeping draught," Severus told them as he noticed Hermione getting close to done along with Draco.
Severus finished grading the last of his essay stack by the time all of the ingredients were finished and the desk the children worked at was clean with one cauldron set up for them to work at. He waved his wand at the blackboard and the instructions appeared on the board for the potion they were to make.
"I expect you four to work together," Severus instructed before rising and going about working on his own potion which had reached the deep red it was suppose to be to go to the next stage. The rest of the day went by rather quickly to Severus. It was soon seven o'clock and all their potions were ready. He was pouring out the thick black anti-venom while Draco was pouring out the sleeping drought. When the vial was set on his desk Severus dismissed the four children with a warning that they better not be out next Saturday while he and Minerva took the dragon to Charlie's friend or they would be in detention until the end of term!
The next few days were rather uneventful and Severus was quite pleased. He was finally caught up on Potions for everyone he owed them too. Including the ones he'd had via request from the Ministry of Magic and was in a more relaxed mood. It was a beautiful Wednesday evening and he was walking the halls after dinner when he came across a scene that both startled and infuriated him. Instantly irradiating the good mood he had been in.
Standing in the hallway between the Charms classroom and Transfiguration classroom Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were facing off. Severus's eyebrows rose as hexes flew. His gliding walk took him across the space in an instant he stopped just short of grabbing Potter by the scruff of his neck when Ron fell to the floor.
"What in Merlin's name are you two miscreants doing?" Severus thundered. Both pair of startled eyes looked at him. "Wands away NOW! 50 points from Gryffindor." Severus began. At their gaping mouthed looks and the stammered.
"That's not fair," Ron growled.
"Each," Severus continued as if he hadn't heard Ron who wisely shut up. "You shall both receive detention of this! Get up. Both of you are going to see Professor McGonagall," Severus thundered far to angry to say anything more as he grabbed Ron's shirt and took a hold of Harry's elbow. Leading both boys in his furious wake as he almost dragged them along the corridor stopping at Minerva's office and pushing them through the door.
"Minerva, I caught these two dunderheads having a duel outside the charms corridor. I presume you can handle this?" Severus demanded of the startled witch who stared at them.
"Yes I can thank you Severus, I presume you already removed points and asigned detention?" Minerva inquired politely while glaring darkly at the boys.
"I did," Severus stated. Without another word he left the office fuming. Of all the stupid thing those two imbeciles could have done. Trying to hex each other. Idiots. He could hear Minerva's tirade from outside the closed door and he smirked. As much as he would have liked to have been the boy's Head of House to really lay it into them for this he knew Minerva was strict and would set a strong punishment. Satisfied he headed back to his dungeons.
Saturday came quickly and Severus was reluctant to face what awaited him. With narrowed eyes he walked to Minerva's quarters and knocked. She stepped out and met him with a curt nod that he returned. The two of them set off towards Hagrid's hut.
Guest: Do not worry. This is NOT a romance fic. Severus will NOT be going out with Aelea she's going to become a friend, but nothing more. Again for the same reasons that he doesn't take Harry in himself. He is a spy, until the war is done he cannot settle down. That being said for this story his heart still very much belongs to Lily and he hasn't moved on from her. Don't worry Severus is safe from the Romance circle. Though I do enjoy partnering him in some stories I write like in A Family Matter and It Leads to A Family Matter. In Black Phoenix Severus will remain single. Just as he will remain single in The Lies We Tell and In Darkest Night and Heart of Darkness. I very rarely write Romances unless it is a small theme in a MUCH larger plot. In Black Phoenix there is no reason for there to be romance. So your safe from seeing Sev/Aelea romance.