A/N: Still not mine, malheureusement … only my idiotic self sheepish grin.
Not yet complete, but trying to give you all a little (admittedly belated) Christmas present - Merry Christmas!
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Chapter Three
The wait until my detention made the next 32 or so hours seem intolerably long.
You know, only you would actually look forward to detention, Serena.
After a few minor adjustments to my hair at the end of the day (styling spells having always been my forte), I left the Slytherin Common Room at precisely five minutes to 9. Poorly attempting to suppress the spring in my step, I walked carefully through the familiar corridors. (Carefully, so as to avoid a repeat performance of my last spectacular trip in Snape's presence …)
Of course, given the proximity of the Slytherin quarters to the Potions classroom, at two minutes to 9 I was hovering outside the door. I didn't dare be late, but I suspected that being early would be an equally unwise move. Having detention with Snape was simply too good to be true - I couldn't mess it up - not this time!
Breathe, breathe … it generally helps … ok, calmly now …
As my emerald-encrusted watch struck the hour, I knocked on the heavy oaken door.
"Yes?" barked an irritable voice from within.
"Professor Snape, sir? I'm here for my detention. I hope I'm not late," I prattled, nervously hovering in the doorway.
"No, Miss Aylward, I think a brief consultation of your watch would confirm that you are exactly on time," he snapped back.
Oh great. He's in a bad mood. Just my luck!
"Sit down," he said, indicating the front middle desk. I obeyed, noting the variety of Potions ingredients arrayed before me, including some rather unpleasant-looking … things.
"You will chop these mandrakes, skin the Shrivelfigs, cube all these roots and dissect the Flobberworms."
Eurgh. I should have known.
"When you have completed this, you will store each ingredient correctly in the students' supply cupboard and collect your next assignment - "
What can he have planned which is worse than that?
" - an essay on the prudence of holding one's tongue, with particular reference to charms and potions which may be of use in the attainment of this ideal", he continued with a sneer. "I expect both tasks to have been completed to my satisfaction by midnight. I also expect complete silence - unless you run into potentially fatal difficulties. I have better things to do than clean up after an indiscreet sixth-year student," he concluded, indicating a large pile of marking on his desk.
How fatal can dead Flobberworms be?
I mutely obeyed, moving to my seat. Arranging my equipment before me, I carefully placed a spare tin tray at the right angle to show me Snape's reflection - allowing me to surreptitiously watch him whilst doing my work!
Genius, Serena! I surprise myself sometimes …
***
A short hour later, I had finished preparing the ingredients. With a sigh, I moved those, the life-enhancing tray and the other (far more lowly) equipment to the store cupboard. Snape's watchful and wary eyes followed me.
Remember to walk seductively … but not too obviously seductively … help! How am I supposed to know how much is too much without a mirror?
I returned to my desk and drew out my parchment and Black Swan Quill ("Guaranteed to make him notice your notes!") to begin the essay. His eyes returned to his work, methodically dealing out good marks to his Slytherins, fair ones to the Ravenclaws (grudgingly respected for their intelligence) and Hufflepuffs (generally useless anyway), and low grades to Gryffindors with startlingly rapid efficiency.
"Is there a problem, Miss Aylward?" he enquired in a dangerously low voice.
Busted …
I had clearly been observing him too openly - and had been caught red-handed. Back to work on this essay then, before he gets too suspicious - only an hour and a half left! I tried very hard to concentrate on the task in hand, rather than the fleeting glimpses of his busy hands which kept distracting me.