[A/N. I still sometimes don't particularly like this story, but it's mostly because of something I wrote in it earlier. I might change it if I get the chance, but it would be a lot of work, so it's more likely I'll keep writing it and finish it. There will be about 21 chapters in this, the same as in the other ones. And then I'll write the fourth Samuel Potter book.]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Playing detective.

"Mr. Potter that doesn't look like your Defence Against the Dark Arts book to me." Snape said as he came to my desk.

I quickly closed the book I'd been reading and went to open my textbook, but Snape had grabbed the other book and was reading the title out loud to the class. "Secrets of the seeker: a step to step guide for beginners."

I felt the eyes of the class on me as Snape looked at the book with a smile on his face. "Let me guess Potter, you think now Jenny's missing you can be seeker instead of keeper. It's a bit of a coincidence isn't it?"

"Sorry sir?" I asked confused. "What is?"

"That your Dad was a seeker and you wanted to be a seeker too, but instead you got put as keeper and Jenny as seeker. And then Jenny just happens to disappear." Snape replied coldly.

I gaped at him in shock. Was he suggesting I had something to do with Jenny's disappearance?

"Just a coincidence..that's all." Snape said smoothly and he handed me back my book. I snatched it off him and put it under my other books.

"It is not a coincidence." I snapped angrily. "I don't know where Jenny is, or who took her, but if there's anyone in this room who might know..well it's not me."

Snape's eyes widened, and I felt Martin hit me under the table. But I was too angry to care. "What exactly do you mean by that Potter?" Snape spat out, leaning over my table. The entire class had stopped doing their work and were looking at us curiously.

"Nothing." I said sullenly, aware of the look of horror on Martin's face, but it was too late- the damage was done.

"Detention tomorrow, and no playing Quidditch this weekend." Snape snapped angrily.

I was shocked. "But sir-"

"No buts Potter. You should think about what you say before you say it." Snape replied coldly.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Alforth smirking. I glared at him wondering why he was so happy- he was on detention already.

"SIR!" Alex Thomas was yelling. "That's not fair. We've already got Jenny missing, and we can't play without a seeker and a keeper."

"Well that's not my fault is it?" Snape asked, his lips curved in a cruel smile. "I'd be looking at someone else if I were you. Gryffindor's can thank Potter here for making them forfeit the game."

"But Sir-" Henry began nervously.

"ENOUGH!" Snape roared. "I've had enough. Everyone get on with their work. Potter come here, I'm sending you to see the headmistress with a note about your misbehavior."

I gathered my things up not trusting myself to speak. I was furious with Snape, and I knew that Johnson was going to be equally furious, but more likely with me than Snape. Snape finished writing the note and he handed it to me. Without a word I took it and stormed out of the classroom.

Outside in the corridor I paused to take a deep breath. Before I could start towards the headmistress' office I saw Francine on her way down the corridor. She looked as though she were in a world of her own, and it took her a moment to realise I was standing there. Her hazy eyes cleared. "Sam, why aren't you in class?"

I sighed, and with extreme trepidation I told her about what had just happened in Snape's class, leaving out the fact that I had virtually accused him of being the one responsible for Jenny's disappearance. Francine's eyes narrowed. "He can't do that." She declared.

"He has." I said numbly. What if my father came up to watch the match like he had the last one and I had to explain to him why I was sitting in the stands with the others watching whoever they'd gotten to take my place make a mess of things?

"I'm sure the headmistress will reverse the decision- she won't let you miss the game. Snape's just doing that so that Gryffindor won't finish on top. The slimy git." Francine assured me.

*****

Unfortunately the headmistress wasn't as annoyed at Snape as Francine had been, and she chose not to reverse the decision, despite my pleas. "Listen Sam," She said putting the note aside on her desk. "I understand what you and the Weasley's are going through, but it doesn't give you the right to speak to teachers like that."

"But Professor McGonagall, he was insinuating I was responsible for Jenny's disappearance." I argued.

The headmistress raised an eyebrow. "I don't think that a teacher would do that Sam. Perhaps you just misunderstood him?" She suggested.

I took a deep breath. "Professor, how come Michael is here under a false name?" I asked.

The headmistress sighed. "Are you still on about this Sam?" She asked, not unkindly.

"Professor, someone is responsible for my cousin- well we think of each other as cousins- someone is responsible for her disappearance and I'd like to find out who it is." I explained.

The headmistress made a temple out of her hands and rested her chin on them surveying me thoughtfully. "Okay Sam, but this is between you and me- and I'm assuming Martin." She said, a slight smile on her face. "Michael is here under a false name as you and your friends already discovered, and yes Professor Snape does know him. In fact Professor Snape taught him when he was a student here. But the promise they were referring to was nothing sinister at all."

"What was it?" I asked.

The headmistress looked annoyed. "I don't like to talk about people's private business, but in this case I'm going to make an exception. The last thing Michael needs is you suspecting him of plotting or something. Michael is an alcoholic, a muggle affliction but he is part muggle. What it means is he is a bit too fond of say mulled mead. Professor Snape is developing a potion which would cure this, and he is testing it on Michael, who understandably, is somewhat nervous about the whole thing." She sighed and pushed her glasses up on her nose. "I'd appreciate you not going around talking about this Sam."

"Of course not." I assured her. My mind was in turmoil- did this mean neither Snape nor Michael were the ones to take Jenny? If that was the case it only left me with one suspect- Alforth. It was going to be interesting in detention tomorrow night with him.

"Sam, and this is also under the strictest confidence, we're making some headway with finding Jenny, but that's all I can tell you at the moment." The headmistress said.

I looked at her in shock. "Really?" I asked.

"Really." She confirmed.

"What..who-" I began but she interrupted me.

"I can't tell you anymore than that Sam, it could be dangerous. But do me a favor- please don't even think about going searching for the Serpent of Slytherin." The headmistress asked me anxiously.

"So the Serpent exists?" I asked. "Is this like the chamber and the basilisk?"

"It's got nothing to do with either." The headmistress said curtly. "You don't miss a trick do you Sam. But trust me on this one- leave this up to the experts."

*****

"Sam." Georgia hissed and she grabbed at my arm. "Come here a moment."

I allowed her to pull me into an empty classroom instead of going down to tea. "What?" I asked.

"I've been thinking about Jenny's disappearance, and I think I've worked something out." Georgia said.

"Do you remember me telling you I didn't know whose voice I heard in the girls' bathroom?" Georgia asked.

"Yes." I said, my heart skipping a beat.

"I've worked out who it was." Georgia said. "It was Alforth Malfoy. I'm sure of it."