The rest of the weekend passed without much action. I stayed as far away from the library as I could. Even though that meant being regaled with Quidditch information all day Sunday, it was certainly better than running into Snape.
Snape. I had tried not to think much about the detention, but as Monday rolled around, it was all I could think about. Partly because, being a NEWT-level, the potions class met every day and I couldn't help but see him that day. I found myself bottling and cleaning extra slowly out of habit, but I decided to get a little payback for the detention by not bestowing Professor Snape with my usual smile. I scurried out of the room even faster than Draco and Pansy (who feared their Head of House more than the other sixth years), not waiting to see whether Snape even noticed my lack of greeting.
As I was eating my last meal before the dreaded detention, I had a sudden epiphany. Instead of viewing this as the end of my little project, I could use this punishment as time to get to know Professor Snape. Oh, yeah, and to make sure he realized that I did not have an inappropriate interest in him. I formulated my plan…no matter what task he gave me to do, whether dissecting innocent bunny rabbits or carving words into my flesh a la Umbridge, I was going to talk to him. I, Hermione Granger, was going to have a conversation with Professor Severus Snape.
I whipped a sheet of parchment and a quill from my bag, performed a neat charm to slice the parchment in two, and began writing:
Book of bad poems
Potions – techniques, methods, et cetera
Rare magical herbs for use in potions
Literature, both Muggle and Magical
History of Slytherin House
Eyeing my list of conversation topics with a smile, I folded the parchment and slid it into a pocket. Now I had all the ammunition I needed for the detention. I made sure to brush my (now even) teeth, straighten my robes, et cetera, before I headed for the Potions classroom.
Snape was waiting for me, but did not speak to me when I entered. I stood there for a moment, expecting him to immediately tell me what I was to do as punishment.
"Sit down and stop acting like you've never been here before. I am well aware that you do, in fact, have a class in this classroom every day, Miss Granger."
I blushed. He was referring to the comment I had made that had got me this detention in the first place. I slid into my usual seat in the front row of tables and continued to wait. Snape, after that first comment, remained silent and bent over a stack of essays.
I waited very patiently for about two minutes (hey, everyone has their limits), but I had to speak up.
"Professor Snape, sir, was there something you were wanting me to do today?"
"Miss Granger, I was under the impression that you were doing something. Namely, serving detention."
"But, sir, weren't there any frog's eyes for me to bottle or potions to help you brew?" Snape gave a harsh laugh at that.
"Miss Granger, do I need to repeat that this is a detention? A punishment? Surely you don't think I would let you enjoy it by having you brew potions."
"So…there aren't any chores to be done? I could…clean cauldrons!"
"Your punishment is to sit there. Quietly. And do nothing until I say you can leave!" He made several slashing marks through parts of the topmost essay on the stack. I sensed that I should probably do what he wanted. I crossed my ankles, set my hands flat on the table and sat very still. I closed my eyes, but then I started to doze off, so I opened them and fixed them straight ahead.
Soon I started to fidget. My ankles uncrossed themselves, my left leg started its nervous habit of jiggling up and down, my fingers began to drum on the table. I saw Professor Snape sigh and lay down his quill, and he raised his eyes up to meet mine.
"You just can't do nothing, can you?" he asked, not unkindly. I shook my head no, hoping that he would give me some chore or something to do!
"Well…" he pondered for a moment. I perked up, ready and willing to do whatever nasty, unappealing job he could throw at me.
"TRY HARDER!"
Hmm…hadn't been expecting that. I gave it my best effort short of Petrificus Totalus, but I just couldn't keep still. I had visions of all the homework I could be doing if I were only back up in the dorms. Finally, I reached into my pocket and quietly withdrew my list of conversation topics. I smoothed out the parchment and shot a stealthy look at Snape. He seemed engrossed in an essay, so I managed to get the list onto my lap without him seeing.
"Professor Snape?" I asked tentatively.
"What is it, Miss Granger?" I cleared my throat, ready for a thrilling, exciting, intellectual discussion.
"I was wondering if you could tell me exactly what that book of poems was in the library the other day?"
"I certainly could, Miss Granger…" I waited, full of anticipation. My idea was working!
"…If you were not in the middle of SERVING DETENTION!!" Oh. Well. Never mind that idea, then.
I put my head down on the table, finally cowed. I glanced down at my wristwatch, which had been a birthday gift from my mother. I had only been in detention for fifteen minutes. Who knew how long Snape would keep me in there?
I managed to keep my eyes open and on Professor Snape. Every so often he would raise his eyes just slightly to make sure I was awake. Finally, finally, after 45 minutes of torture and silence, he set aside his essays.
"Miss Granger, your detention is finished."
"Thank you, Professor Snape."
"Miss Granger, it has recently come to my attention that you are interested in doing some type of extracurricular project in Potions." Oh, so that's what McGonagall had said to him! I felt extreme relief wash over my body, but came to my senses enough to nod and squeak out a "yes, sir."
"I do have a list of potions that I was unable to include on the NEWT syllabus this year. If you would like to work on them, I believe we could come to some sort of arrangement."
"Yes, sir! That would be wonderful!" Even though I hadn't discussed this with McGonagall, I wasn't upset with her for getting me into extra work. In fact, I was thrilled. Now I would be totally prepared for whatever the NEWT examiners could throw my way, and I would have time to work on Project Snape!
"Speak with me after class tomorrow. Now off to Gryffindor Tower before I give you another detention for being out after curfew." He turned his attention back toward his essays and I almost skipped out of the classroom. When I got to the door, though, I stopped and turned around.
"Have a good night, Professor Snape," I said, and flashed him a joyful grin. I turned to go, thinking that I had got the upper hand after all, but Snape surprised me.
"You too, Miss Granger."
