Disclaimer: Harry Potter, his friends, enemies and all respective items and characters (beasts or beings) from the novels and novellas of J. K. Rowling are hers by moral right and legal copyright. All new creations are my own fictions by moral right.
Authors Note: Please, Please, Please, Review!!!
Neville "Romeo" Longbottom
Chapter 5 - Over the Line
Neville had a very strange day. He was completely surrounded by girls in every lesson and the girls spent the entire lessons just staring at him with the same strange look he got at breakfast. He didn't know how much more he could take. The only thing that worried him more was the fact that his next lesson was potions with the Slytherins.
Neville hurried so as not to be late, something that would give Professor Snape an excuse to pick on him from the very start. If he could just manage not to melt his caldron today, he might be all right. It was a wish he made before every potions lesson, usually in vain. He made it just in time. He hurried to the last available seat at the back of the room. He had no sooner reached it, when Snape swept in.
Snape's eyes looked over the class as if searching for something. Neville was startled when his stare reached him and stopped cold. "Oh No!" Neville thought to himself.
"Well, if it isn't the school's new Romeo, otherwise known as Neville Longbottom" Snape sneered to the class. "All this time I thought you were just clumsy but you were exhausted from all that love making."
Neville sighed to himself knowing the signs of the start of one of Snape's vicious monologues.
"Before we start chopping up our ingredients for today's potion, which funnily enough is a love potion, something Romeo here obviously has no need of." Snape continued to the amusement of the Slytherins and the annoyance of the Gryffindors. "Perhaps the great lover will share his secrets with the class."
Neville was horrified as the entire class turned to watch his reaction. He just sat there tongue-tied.
"No, well then begin chopping the ingredients listed here on the blackboard beginning with the ginger roots." Snape said turning to the blackboard and underlining the first ingredient on the list. "You too Longbottom, you can't always rely on some little slut just looking for a good time."
The entire class was stunned by the last comment. Harry, Ron and Hermoine opened their mouths to shout at Snape but never got to utter a sound. A blur flashed past them and struck the blackboard, just missing Snape's head. A knife quivered in the blackboard as Snape spun around, drawing his wand. The class froze. Snape's eyes narrowed to mere slits as he held his wand ready, pointing in their direction.
"Who threw the knife?" Snape hissed dangerously.
No one moved.
"Perhaps someone should get the headmaster, Professor!" Azrael said from the back of the class and not waiting for a reply continued, "Harry, you know the way to the Headmasters Office, be quick!"
Harry got up and moved to the door slowly, his every movement tracked by Snape's wand.
Tense minutes followed as no one dared move. Snape still held his wand pointed at them without saying a word. His eyes though were moving from one student to the next. Potter's face had shown to much surprise just now. It clearly wasn't him. Ron was next and although Ron certainly looked angry enough, he was sitting at an angle that made it impossible for him to have thrown the knife. Hermoine, Dean, Shamus, Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, and so on eliminating each in turn as the culprit. Yes, Snape considered even the students of his own house. Many of their families had not forgotten his betrayal. Snape's eyes, at last, came to Neville Longbottom. "How odd" Snape thought to himself, "Longbottom is not cowering from my stare." The boy stared straight back at the Potion's Master with a level cold gaze. Could it have possibly been…
Just then, the door to the dungeon opened and in strode Dumbledore and Harry.
"Severus, I don't believe that is necessary now." Dumbledore said indicating Snape's wand. Snape lowered it reluctantly as Dumbledore continued. "This is a very serious matter. Who threw the knife?"
"Headmaster" Azrael said jumping up so suddenly he fell almost on top of Neville in the next seat. Regaining his feet he continued "I believe that as the student involved will be certainly expelled from Hogwarts, they should not be obliged to incriminate themselves. That's all I have to say." And Azrael sat down, ignoring Dumbledore's furious stare.
"Very well" Dumbledore replied angrier than Harry had ever seen him. "Would everyone please hold up their knives."
One by one the students held their potion knives up. Harry held his, Ron, Hermoine, Azrael, Neville, Dean, Goyle, Crabbe, and so on around the room until there was only one student who had not held up their knife. "But Professor, Headmaster, I didn't throw it. Someone must have taken my knife!" Malfoy's voice wailed from the back of the class.
"Headmaster, I don't believe Mr Malfoy is the culprit." Snape told Dumbledore.
"No Severus, neither do I." Dumbledore said whilst still regarding the class.
"Headmaster" Harry said getting to his feet. "I believe Professor Snape's fowl comment about Ginny Weasley is responsible for this."
Ron now in full fury again leaped up and yelled, "My sister is not a slut you…" Luckily the rest of Ron's words were drowned out as all the other Gryffindors joined in shouting their outrage.
"QUIET!" Dumbledore shouted silencing the students. "Severus is this true?"
"I made no such comment Headmaster." Snape said avoiding looking into the headmaster's eyes.
"LIAR!" Ron shouted but was silenced from further comment by an icy look from Dumbledore.
"I see. Well it would seem we will not uncover the guilty party today. But let me warn you I will not tolerate this sort of behaviour." Everyone got Dumbledore's message. "I believe it is best to call this lesson off for today. To let feelings calm down. Class dismissed. Azrael a word with you before you go."
The students got their things together and left the dungeon, still shocked at the turn of events. Once the students were out in the hall, vigorous conversations started speculating on who had thrown the knife at Snape. Most thought Ron must have done it but several students who had been sitting close to Ron and Harry swore that they could not have done it. Some students still suspected Draco, as he was the only student not to have a knife to hold up. Perhaps Azrael some said, he was sitting in the back row and that was where some had thought the knife came from. Dean asked Neville if he had seen anything. Neville, however, didn't reply but just kept walking.
Harry had forgotten his potions book and returning to the dungeon door heard Azrael shouting. "Detention but that's not fair. I didn't throw the bloody thing." Dumbledore's voice answered in return. "This was all a result of your recklessness. Time and time again I have warned you to let things be!"
Azrael stormed out of the door almost knocking Harry over. Harry was about to enter again when he heard Dumbledore's voice say "Severus, do you know who threw the knife?"
"I am not sure Headmaster. It may have been Longbottom." Snape's voice replied.
"And what would make the meekest student in the school throw a knife at the Potions Master, Severus?" Dumbledore continued.
No reply came from Snape that Harry could hear.
Dumbledore spoke again, "I have given you latitude to run your class as you see fit but you went too far today, Severus. I believe Professor McGonagall will be discussing this with you further and she will be even less satisfied with denials and evasions than I am."
Harry smiled at the thought of what Professor McGonagall would do to Snape when she heard what he had said. He decided now would be the best time enter the dungeon.
"Sorry Headmaster, Professor Snape, I forgot my potions book.
Dumbledore said cheerfully. "That's alright, Harry. I have finished here… for now." And he walked out the door.
Harry got his book but just before leaving again caught Snape's eye and smiled at him. A knowing smile telling Snape he deserved all that he was about to get. Snape eyes followed him with a calculating look.
"Potter, be at my office at 7:00PM tonight sharp and don't be late." Snape said with that twisted sardonic smile.
Harry's smile vanished. Perhaps, he thought to himself he went too far, in taunting Snape.