Third period was Potions (as always), this time for the Fifth Years. As usual, the Weasley twins scampered into the room, tossing something that defied the Potion Master's rather voluminous imagination... was that a pigskin, attached to a pygmy puff? And were they both attached to three squawling pixies? And was this levitating monstrosity about to knock over one of the cauldrons? Apparently not, Snape thought, as he saw the hideously warped thing dive into the cauldron, hiding instinctively from the hungry grins of the twins.

The Hufflepuffs came in next, each one quieter than the next - were they really still afraid of him? Snape wondered. Maybe they were just naturally respectful, he thought with a snort. The rest of the Gryffindors traipsed in last, a hubub that threatened to knock three separate ingredients off the shelf in the back.

"Class! Your potion is on the board. Get brewing." With a wave of his hand, Snape allowed the words to be visible (it was a simple trigger to a precast spell but it never ceased to amaze those who hadn't known the trick. And since Filius preferred to focus on ever more elaborate Charms... few indeed learned it at all.)

The class got to work, and Severus' eyes softened in satisfaction. Stepping back into his office, he pulled out some of the Twins' Ventriloquism drops - that he had "happened" to confiscate from a young lad who hadn't had the sense to not use them in the Slytherin Common Room. Either he'd learn or he wouldn't, Severus thought with a shrug. Snape then opened his door, and -still half-shadowed in the near-darkness - whispered out to the twins, "Break something... I dare you." They looked up, trying to figure out who had said that, and as their gaze traveled the room twice, Snape stepped out, his mouth half-quirked in a frowny smile that didn't reach his sparkling eyes. The twins shared a glance, and then began whispering together... undoubtedly coming up with something creative. There were few people that Snape would trust with breaking something in his classrom - most mistakes were destructive enough! Professor Snape outlined in his head the three safer directions he might take to break this particular potion, each one threading in its particular color. He'd choose the one that would turn the potion into a mudgolem, crawling out of there and attempting to ooze over people, turning them into mudmen. Dangerous, if it found you while sleeping, but otherwise relatively harmless.

As was usual, the twins had found a different effect - their potion sparkled green, and Snape had only a mere moment to grunt in surprise, before with a wave of his wand, he pushed everyone (except the twins, who had already hit the deck) to the floor. "WEASLEYS!" Snape roared, "Detention, Tonight! Directly after dinner. As I eat early, I suggest you do as well - it would not do for you to be late." The twins broad grins wouldn't be shook off their faces, even as they tried to act chagrined. Snape shook his head, as he called time for the rest of the class (the twins had already failed this particular lesson). They could act innocent, could act angry - literally anything, except act chagrined. A pity that.

[a/n: what IS Snape setting up? Like many kids, they're just glad to be invited to the party...

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