This was the day; the day Harry had been looking forward to for almost ten hours.  He couldn't believe he was switching places with a professor (never mind it was Professor Snape) for a whole day.  But how was Dumbledore going to do it.  After the announcement, he tried to question Damon out in the hall, but all he got was a basic overlay until they had to split off to their respective dormitories. 

Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, was rooted in an old custom where masters of the household and their servants switched places for a day.  Soon, it engulfed the military, to boost morale and such, and the officers were switching with the soldiers.  Shrugging, he figured he may as well look the part.  He grabbed his school robes (he guessed wearing Gryffindor robes while "being" Snape wasn't a good idea) and pulled out his wand.

"Velious."  The Hogwarts shield shimmered, then faded, leaving a completely black robe.  He opted not to get Hermione's make-up and lighten his complexion, and slipped on a pair of black boots Draco had loaned him.  He spent the next few minutes practicing making his robes billow out behind him as he walked, and experimented by altering his robe length and such.  Finally, he got it, and giggled to himself.  Mike came out of the bathroom dressed in one of Remus' robes (shrunk to fit him) and a goofy grin.

"What's up, Harry?"

"Look at this."  He proceeded to stalk around the room, then unexpectedly turn and storm away, his robes billowing out behind him.

"Bloody hell!  How do you do that?"

"It's an art, my friend……..an art."  The two boys laughed all the way down to the Great Hall, where most of the students and teachers were already assembled.  Snape came in last, sending Mike and Harry into giggling fits again.  If Snape noticed Harry's attire, he didn't acknowledge it.  Dumbledore did, and twinkled at Harry as he stood.

"Good morning everyone.  I trust everyone slept restfully?  I do hope so, for this day will prove to be trying indeed," he threw a small smile Snape's way, who merely sneered back.  "In order to accomplish this switch, I have devised a little charm that will allow the partners to switch minds.  Harry, Severus, will you please step forward."  Harry's eyes widened, and Snape groaned.

"Why do I always have to be the guinea pig?"  He rose with every ounce of dignity he could muster and strode over to the Headmaster.  Harry scurried along behind him.

"Now, hold still you two."  Dumbledore waved his wand, and spoke in a very clear voice.  "Verto Mensa dum Merinox."  Harry felt himself floating above his body, and ventured to look down.  He saw the top of his head and his stomach lurched.  He looked around and noticed Snape doing the same thing.  They started floating toward each other, and then passed through one another.  It was the strangest thing Harry had ever felt.  He began to descend, not into his own body, but into Snape's.  This was certainly going to be an interesting day.

Once settled in his new body, he looked around.  Merlin, he was tall!  The perspective from Snape's height was really much different than his own.  He tested his legs, and thankfully didn't stumble.  He still had Snape's reputation to uphold.  Snape, on the other hand, was not happy.

"Hey, you could be stuck in Jennifer's body.  Think how that would be."  Harry whispered to himself (that was going to take some getting used to).  But his voice wasn't the kid's voice that he usually heard.  Instead, it was silky and precise.

"You had just better behave yourself Potter," Snape snarled.  A snarl didn't look very good on his face, Harry decided.  His voice was also different than he expected.  It sounded strange in someone else's ears.

"Well, that went well.  Who's next?"  The two newly found transferors made their way out of the Great Hall and stopped.  Harry decided to take a good look at himself, and almost tripped on the stairs.

"Careful, Potter!  I don't want to be injured when I get back over there!"

"S-sorry, Professor.  It's just that I've never really seen myself fully before, I mean, other than mirrors and such.  I didn't think I looked that bad."  Harry/Snape's voice was quiet and distant.

"Well, this is how you've looked most of your time here.  Though, you do tend to look better toward the end of the school years," Snape/Harry said.  "By the way, where are we going?"

"Well, I did have that potions homework you, um, I assigned, and I planned on doing it today.  I was going to let you into the tower so you could get started on it," Harry/Snape said smiling.

"Don't count on it, Potter.  I'm going back to my dungeons."  Snape/Harry turned and strode off, pausing to take in to account the billowing robes.  Harry/Snape stifled a laugh and continued up to the tower.

The Fat Lady saw him and almost shrieked.  "Calm down, it's me, Harry.  This is all part of some weird Boxing Day ceremony."

"Oh, this is strange.  Who's switched with who, so I'll know."

"Umm…Mike switched with Moony, so don't be all freaked if Professor Lupin comes up as well," he ignored the Fat Lady's giggles, "and McGonagall switched with Damon, so he, uh, she may show.  Jennifer switched with Trelawney and Draco with Dumbledore.  I know, this is strange, but can I just give you the password and go?"

"Very well, but it is rather disconcerting to hear Snape use the word 'freaked.'"

Harry/Snape sighed, "Lions for the Cup."  The portrait swung open and he sauntered in.  He went to his chambers and sat at the desk, staring at the homework.  He began scribbling down the answers as if his hand had a mind of its own.

"What the --?" Harry/Snape muttered.  There must be some traces of Snape's mind in there somewhere, helping him on his homework.  Not that he cared, mind you, it was just weird.

Snape/Harry stalked down to the dungeons and slammed the door open.  Vyeros jumped and hissed.

~Bloody humansssss~  Snape/Harry blinked.  He understood that. He glided over to the counter and knelt down (he didn't have to go far).

~Can you undersssstand me?~

~Of courssssse.  Have you losssst your mind?~  Snape/Harry snorted, then laughed.  ~I guessss ssssso~

~Harry and I sssswitched mindssssss.  I am Professsssor Ssssnape~

~Who came up with that brilliant ssssstrategy?~

~Ssssonati~

~I thought Ravenclawssss were ssssupposssssed to be sssssmart~

~Asssss did I.  But if Potter and I sssswitched mindsssss, then why can I undersssstand you?~

~Tracessssss sssshould ssstill remain, assss tracessss of you remain in your brain~

~Oh no~

~What isssss it?~

~Potter was going to do hissssssss Potionssss homework~

~Sssssmart lad~

~Too ssssmart for hisss own good.  Goodbye~

~Lovely chatting with you~

Snape/Harry raced through the halls, tearing for Gryffindor Tower.

"Five points from Gryffindor for running through the halls."  Snape/Harry stopped and whirled, coming face to beard with Draco/Dumbledore. 

"What did you say, Mr. Malfoy?"

"Ah ah, it's Headmaster to you, Mr. Potter."  He waggled a long finger at the man/boy. 

"You cannot take points from houses, Headmaster.  This is only temporary."

"Yes, he can," drawled a voice from behind Draco/Dumbledore.  The blonde-haired boy stepped out.  "Just before we switched, I gave all the newly found teachers all rights, for one day.  The points lost and gained will stick, as long as they are justified," droned Dumbledore/Draco. 

"Yes, well then.  Sorry, Headmaster, it won't happen again."  He turned and walked to Gryffindor tower, mentally cursing everything he could think of.  When he got to the portrait, the Fat Lady smiled at him.

"Hello Professor, or should I say Mr. Potter?"

"Just shut up and let me in."

"What's the password?"

"I don't need one……..I'm a professor."

"Not today you're not.  If you don't give the password, I can't let you in."

"Bloody portraits!" he began pounding on her, and she gave loud protests.  "Open up Potter!  You'll regret it when I get my body back!"

"Can I help you, Harry?"  He turned to face Mike/Lupin.

"Erm, yes Professor.  Pott—I mean Professor Snape is in there and I need to speak with him."

"Well, I'll go retrieve him for you."

"Can you just let me in?"

"Well, I suppose.  Lions for the Cup."  The portrait swung open and Snape/Harry stormed in, looking around for his counterpart.  Mike/Lupin laughed.  It was actually quite funny to see Harry storming about.

"Where is he?"

"Probably in his room," he walked over to a tapestry of a golden lion.  "Through there are the prefects' rooms."  Snape/Harry pulled back the curtains, but there was only wall.

"How do you get through?"

"Uhh….I really don't think I'm supposed to know.  But it's like the platform at King's Cross."  He looked down guiltily. 

Snape/Harry nodded his thanks and walked through it, coming into a very lush hallway.  There were five doors, each with a gold-engraved nameplate.  He found Potter's and knocked rather harshly.

As the knock came, Harry was putting the finishing touches on his homework.  He waved his hand.

"Intromus," the door opened and Snape/Harry burst in.  Harry/Snape turned just after he signed his name, and set his eagle feather quill down on the desk.

"Ah, Mr. Potter?  What can I do for you?"

"You've already finished?" he groaned, not even noticing what he'd been called. 

"Of course.  What did you need?"

"Er, nothing.  Just realized I can talk to snakes now."

"Really?  That's weird.  I guess a little bit of me was left in there somewhere."  Harry/Snape's glance flickered over to the parchment, but returned to Snape/Harry just as quickly. 

Snape/Harry turned, then winced a little.  "What is that pain in your, uh, my ribs?"

"Oh," Harry/Snape's face fell, "Uh, that was when one of my ribs broke, but it was near the beginning of the summer, so it didn't heal right."

"How long have you lived with this pain?"

"Hmmm," Harry/Snape's face scrunched up in thought, "It was the summer after my third year.  That was the worst summer there, because the previous year, Fred and George busted me out of my room using their dad's car."

"You said you lived in the cupboard?"

"Yeah, well, once they found out who my godfather was, they started being a little nicer to me."  Harry/Snape's head dropped as he remembered his godfather, and what had happened to him.  An uncomfortable silence passed between them, and Snape/Harry stirred.

"Yes, well, I believe it is time for lunch."

Harry/Snape drew himself up to his full height (which was slightly more than his old one) and walked out with Snape/Harry to the Great Hall.

When they arrived, everyone was discussing events with their counterparts, and the two slipped into their seats.  Dumbledore/Draco stood.

"How as everyone been faring in their new positions?" the Slytherin's voice drawled.    Harry/Snape scrutinized the boy for a moment, and saw the familiar twinkle in Draco's grey-blue eyes.  He decided grinning and twinkling was not a good look for Draco. 

"Well, I, for one, have enjoyed it," Harry/Snape said.

"That's because you did your potions homework with some of my knowledge.  That's akin to cheating."

"Now, now," Dumbledore/Draco waggled a finger, "I can't boot someone completely out of their own head.  They wouldn't be able to get back in.  So I had to leave a little bit of everyone inside themselves."

"This is all getting bloody confusing," Remus/Mike stated. 

Snape/Harry looked at the watch, "Well, we only have to wait another eleven hours.  I think I'm going to sleep it all away."

"Sorry, Mr. Potter," Jennifer/Trelawney smirked (definitely not a good look for Trelawney), "That would be defeating the purpose of this day.  You're supposed to be finding out what it's like as the other person.  I really don't know how Trelawney stays up there all day."

"Then I suggest Professor Snape gets down to the dungeons and not in Gryffindor Tower."

Harry/Snape hung his head, caught.  He picked at his food, then left with Snape/Harry to the dungeons.

"Why are you coming down here?  I never come to the dungeons."

"Unless you need to think?"  Harry/Snape stopped in his tracks and stood, mouth agape.  "Close your mouth, you still have my image to uphold."  He did as he was told, but didn't move.

"How?"

"The same connection you have with Voldemort."  Harry/Snape's hand reflexively shot to his forehead, then remembered he wasn't in his own body.  "The Mark I once had and your scar are faintly connected.  It tingled every time you were near."

"Why didn't you say anything?  I thought you'd have yelled at me or something.  At least taken points from Gryffindor."  By this time, they had continued their trek down to the dungeons.

"You obviously wanted to get away from everyone, and there I could keep an eye on you, so to speak.  As long as the Mark tingled, I knew you weren't off getting yourself killed or worse."

"You and Herm…" Harry/Snape chuckled a little, which broke out into laughter at Snape/Harry's confused look.  "I'll tell you some other time, when things aren't so…awkward.  I can't believe I'm talking to myself."

"Not funny."  Harry/Snape was just about to open the door of the potions classroom, when something creaked on the other side.  "Wait!" Snape/Harry whispered. 

"What?  This place is old, and shifts.  It makes noises all the time."

"Yes, but we are underground.  This castle wouldn't do too well if the foundation were to shift would it?  Something's not right."  Before they could back off, the door flew open, and two Death Eaters they both recognized glided out.

"Ah, Mr. Potter and the traitor.  What a pleasant surprise.  Well, I suppose this will save us a trip up to Gryffindor Tower."  Harry and Snape, in each other's bodies, had no clue where the other kept their wands, so they were left defenseless as the two shouted a spell, and they were both stunned.

The last thing Harry/Snape saw was Parkinson's smiling face.