Mismatched Identities

Chapter 1 of the Lydia Lye Series

by Lucathia

Part 4/7: Detention and Something Else

I could picture Remus agreeing. I could feel the three of them leave. I could feel myself losing this battle.

And I know...

Remus is lost to me.

Forever.

I walked sullenly along the damp corridors, feeling my way along the wall. What did I do wrong? It's not my fault that I switched bodies with him...why did he have to embarrass me in front of Remus? I mean, uh! Who would want to kiss themselves? That is just sick.

I lowered my head and glanced at the slip in my hands. I was supposed to report to Professor Katme at 5 p.m. Well, not really...if I was still Lydia, then I was supposed to report to Professor Ursula at 9. Since I'm not Lydia in the physical shape, I'm supposed to see the Potions Master. But...

It's a bit too late for that. I mean, it's already 8 p.m.! It's way past the time Professor Katme set for him. Well, I don't care if Snape gets punished for not going to detention. I only care that he's going to get me in more trouble for not seeing Professor Ursula. I have no intention of getting into more trouble!

That's why I have to confront Snape about this delicate subject. We walked together towards the Potions dungeons. I guess that's the closest to an understanding we'll ever have with each other. I was just about to go and find him and drag him with me to Katme, but I guess he already knew what I was going to do. So, he just saved me a bit of trouble.

I approached that gnarled door that led to the dungeons. Snape pulled it open and we both went in. And, man, was Professor Katme furious at us.

"Snape! Do you know what time it is? It's 8:00! You were supposed to be here at 5!" He towered over me, his usually brown eyes swirling with red. I don't think I've ever been this scared of him. I can tell we really set him off.

He turned his attention away from me to face Snape. Thank goodness he's not looking at me anymore! "And you, Miss Lye. You're supposed to go to Professor Ursula, not come here!"

The girl smiled. "Professor, can I have my detention with you? Professor Ursula already has half the school in detention with her." Geez, Snape, you really sound like a girl. You sound more like a girl than I do! Why's he playing my part anyway? Is he enjoying this change now?

Katme seemed to see Snape's words as a compliment for him. His reddish eyes dimmed somewhat and he said with a slightly less mean voice, "Sure, I don't see why not. Here." He magicked a broom and a brush from the forgotten closet in the back. "Why don't you two clean this room a bit. I haven't cleaned it for, oh, like ten years." His lips curled up at his own remark.

Oh. No wonder it's so dusty and dirty. I wrinkled my nose in distaste, wanting to retort back to the teacher but not courageous enough to do so.

"Snape, is that a look of contempt I see on your face?" I immediately shook my head.

"Then what is it?" Professor Katme seems really angry with me today, in either form.

Snape came over and stepped on my foot. Hurry up and tell him no!

I blinked as I heard his voice in my head. I opened my mouth and said no. Professor Katme seemed satisfied and left the room to us.

Why did I hear your voice in my head?

He shrugged and grabbed the broom. He swept over to the corner and started sweeping. I gazed confusedly at him for a moment before grabbing the brush and starting on my part of the bargain.

We stayed silent for the rest of the time. I scrubbed and scrubbed while he just swept and swept. We stayed out of each other's ways until I backed into him.

"Watch where you're going, Snape!" That was what he yelled at me.

Immediately, I froze in my steps and turned around icily. "What did you call me?" Why did he call me Snape?

He propped the broom up next to the closet and dusted his hands off. "What's wrong? You want me to call you Severus?" He smiled a wry grin.

I glared at him and turned away. Throwing the scrub into the closet and slamming the door shut, I stormed out of the room. I seriously hope he's not going to carry out his plan.

To my immense displeasure, he was executing his plan. He followed me out of the classroom and grabbed my arm.

Well, since he wants to play at this, I don't see why not. Although it's quite sick to be dating yourself. I pulled him away from the dungeons and spoke to him. "Lydia, care to go to the library?"

He stayed silent for a while. I think he was shocked that I was playing along with him. Finally, he opened his mouth and replied back. "Sure. I don't see why not."

And then, I heard his voice in my head again.

I'll see what you're up to.

I grimaced and pulled him towards the library. When we entered the silent room, a few of the other students looked up. I immediately noticed their looks of surprise at a Snape holding hands with a Lye. Oh, poor me! When I switch back bodies with Snape, I'm going to kill him! I also spotted my three best friends huddled in the corner. Please don't let them look up!

Snape seemed happy that people thought we were together. When he noticed my friends in the corner, he started walking over. Oh no you don't! I pulled him towards one of the shelves with information about the mind.

"Don't you dare speak a word about this to my friends!" I hissed when we were out of sight of the other people.

Snape had a look of utter boredom as he tuned out my words. He picked at the books on the shelf and ignored me completely. I sighed and turned around to search through the titles.

By the time I heard my friends' chatter, I knew it was too late to hide.

"Do you think Lydia's okay? She's been in the hospital wing for the whole day." My friend Shina Trevelyan asked in a concern voice.

Oh no! Don't let them come any closer!

Another voice started speaking. This was my other friend, Miella Ellitt. "I heard she was hurt in Potions."

And last of all, my best friend, Chai Grey spoke in that soft voice of hers. "Let's go visit her." Her statement ruled the group. Whatever she said was the thing we had to follow.

They were coming closer! I took a random book and pulled Snape away from the bookshelf. I opened the book and tried to hide both of our faces from my friends.

My friends rounded the corner without stopping. Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Chai stopped in her tracks and looked over right at where we were standing. Oh no...

She placed a hand on Shina and Miella's shoulders to stop them. Then, she walked over slowly and took the book away. Of course she saw Snape and me.

Her eyes widened slightly when she saw me. "Hello Snape...and Lydia."

Oh no! I forgot about Snape! He's still next to me...this is not good!

"What are you two doing huddled together next to this bookshelf? I thought you two were in the hospital wing." Her eyes narrowed a bit in suspicion. She glanced at our entwined hands with indifference, waiting for us to give her an answer.

"It's not what it looks like!" I quickly stood up to my own defense and let go of Snape's hands. Please believe me and don't ask any more questions.

"What's not what it looks like?" Shina looked at Snape, hurt and betrayal in her eyes. "Lydia, how can you betray us?" She looked away right after she said this and went to stand behind Miella.

Snape, say something to help this situation!

My mental thought brushed Snape's mind furiously, yet he gave no sign of acknowledging my telepathy. He ran a hand through his long hair and tucked a stray strand behind his ear. He remained calm and composed even though this was no time to act so impassionate. Chai was still standing there, waiting for who she thought was Lydia to answer her question.

"Well, Lydia?" Miella said with a hint of annoyance. "Why aren't you talking?"

Snape shrugged. "It's every bit what it looks like. Not much to talk about." He paused to grab my arm. "Come on, Severus. Let's go somewhere where there's no one around to bother us."

My friends' eyes widened in disbelief as their beloved Lydia held a man they scorned so dearly. "Lydia!"

I pulled away immediately when Snape touched my arm. "Don't do it!" Why can't he just let it be? Just stop torturing me. I don't want my friends to hate me. They might hate you, but they don't hate me. Just don't make them hate me too!

"Why, Severus, bored of me already?" When he said these words, I glared at him with deep hatred. How dare he insult me like that! I would never throw myself at any man's feet like what he was doing right now!

Chai looked accusingly at Snape, who was gushing all over me like a love-sick person. She then looked at me and looked back, trying to decide something. It seemed that she finally came to her decision.

"Come on, Shina and Miella. We're not wanted here." She turned around to leave, her school robes a flurry of black whirling around her. Shina and Miella sputtered in protest, but at the look of command in Grey's expression, they left without any protest, yet they still looked at Snape with hurt in their eyes.

It's not my fault...but why didn't I tell them the truth? Why haven't I told them what happened? Why is it? I looked down at my right hand that Snape held and tugged at it.

"Let go of me." I said it barely above a whisper.

Snape let go reluctantly after hearing my soft voice.

I continued in a quiet voice, feeling extremely hurt. "I'll find a way for you to switch back, okay? Happy? Now, just go to the Ravenclaw common room and just stay there for the night. Please don't peek at my friends." I turned away, wanting to just get this day over with. I started walking towards the hallway to head towards the Slytherin common room.

Are you leaving me here?

I ignored his voice and continued walking away. I headed towards the Great Serpent, wishing for a good night's sleep. Of course, I'm not going to take a shower today. I don't intend to, either. Maybe...maybe I just might wash this greasy hair that I have right now.

When I finally got in front of the Great Serpent, I whispered the password that the other guy had given me before and headed in. The only problem was...I didn't know where Snape's bed is! So...I just headed towards the fourth year boys' dorms, intending to find the one bed that at least looked like his.

Where are you right now?

I continued to ignore him for awhile, marveling at the difference of the Slytherins and the Ravenclaws' rooms. Slytherins decorated everything with my two absolute favorite colors--silver and green. I was so entranced by the way the beds were decorated with light green mattresses and silver lined blankets and pillows. The lights emitted a soft green color when anyone added in a bit of magic for fuel. The ceilings of the dormitories danced with legends of green dragons and silver phoenixes. All in all, I loved the place.

I breathed in the scents of the room. It smelled like boys. Well, of course it smelled like boys, since this was the boys' rooms. But there's also a sweet smell under the sweat of those musky boy scents...there was this clear, forest tint to the air that I enjoyed. It was the smell of nature.

Hm...maybe I'll grow accustomed to living with the Slytherins. At least their taste in furniture, color, and air fresheners suit my taste. I grinned and finally opened up to Snape's demanding presence in my brain.

I'm in the Slytherin boy dorms right now.

No answer.

Snape?

SNAPE?

Silence.

I'm getting really angry right now...

I think I'll go take a shower

Hey, don't you dare go take a shower!

I felt like laughing because his voice sounded so funny! But I didn't want to look stupid, so I remained silent as I walked over to one of the silver rocking chairs next to the brightly burning fireplace.

Why didn't you answer me at once? I sat down on the rocking chair, intent on finishing this conversation with Snape without standing in the doorway looking like some stupid person.

I fell asleep, waiting for all high and mighty YOU to answer me.

Well, haven't I answered you now? I'm in the Slytherin common room right now. Which one is your bed?

Damn it! Why are you in there? How'd you get in there anyway? You don't even know the password!

I'm in here cause I'm pretending to be you, dear Severus. You wanted to act this way, fine. You pretend to be Lydia, I'll pretend to be you. After a week, we can switch back.

What do you mean, after a week??

Well, you seemed to be enjoying yourself being me. You scared all of my friends away!

Whatever. What's the Ravenclaw password?

Promise not to tell anyone else and don't peek at anyone?

Promise ME you won't peek at me first!

Whatever. I won't so promise me.

Okay.

Well, the password is, or it was before the accident today, 'Wisdom, Wits, and Wistfulness.' Better memorize it. If the painting of hunted birds doesn't collapse, then that means they changed it. Then you'd have to ask one of the prefects. You're on your own now. Don't embarrass me.

With that, I stopped talking to him and headed towards the showers. After all, I did want to clean this mop of greasy hair. Even if I don't take off his robes, I can still clean this dirty self off with some magic.

I grinned and set off to work.

What are you doing right now?

Cleaning your hair.

WHAT??

My grin got even wider as I peered into the mirror and pointed my wand at my hair (for now) and watched as the magic started sifting through the strands gently. Boy, will Snape's outer appearance look so different tomorrow!

end part 4