Author's Note: Thanks to Mary, Green Sea Turtle, Lishel Fracrium, Draco-
Malfoy-Vegeta-luvr, digimon-lover, Tiani Lunaris, AchrenDuaite, roze,
Lissie89, and Ultimate Creed Fan for the wonderful reviews!
~MESSAGES!~
Green Sea Turtle: I know Tonks said that you can only be born a Metamorphmagus, but for the sake of this story just let your imagination go. Goodness knows I'll probably break a few more of the books' rules before all is said and done. I promise not to stray too far from them, though. Thanks for putting me on your favorites!
Tiani Lunaris: I'm not good at keeping up with all the knew lingo out there. What does "KONGE" mean? Thanks for putting me on your favorites!
Draco-Malfoy-Vegeta-luvr: I'm glad it made you laugh at seven in the morning. I usually do most of my best stuff around dawn...But this usually means that I didn't go to bed at all during the night. Please, no comments about the author's insanity, everyone. :) Thanks for adding me to your long list of favorites!
Big hug to my beta, Lissie! Isn't she the best?
Disclaimer: I own nothing; J. K. Rowling owns everything. So what's new?
******************
Chapter 3 - 'Phase Two'
The Gryffindor trio decided to leave Snape alone for a few days after beginning their revenge the past Saturday. When Wednesday dawned sunny, however, Hermione decided that it was the perfect time to begin 'Phase Two.' In other words, it was the perfect time to let Snape know that someone was getting even with him, without revealing their identity of course. The first Quidditch match of the year (between Gryffindor and Slytherin) was going to be played later that evening. Hermione smiled. 'The Slytherins,' she thought, 'are going to get a real shock when they see their head of house at the match tonight. Probably no one will be more shocked than Snape himself, though, when he finds out.' Hermione's smile broadened as she thought of the look Snape would have when he found out. Before getting out of bed, Hermione went over the plan once more in her head. She reminded herself repeatedly that the spell would have to be cast one hour before the match. Snape was going to be surprised to see Hermione in the dungeons when she didn't have to be there. Hermione threw her covers over the side of her four-poster bed, stood, and began to dress.
~
"Professor Snape?" Draco Malfoy said, walking to stand in front of Snape's desk. Snape was bent over, his nose close to the piece of homework parchment he was scribbling on furiously. 'Stupid nitwit,' he thought, scratching out another sentence on the parchment. 'How hard is it to write a comprehensive essay?' Snape was so lost in his task that he didn't hear Malfoy speak.
"Professor?" Malfoy repeated, hopping up and down on the balls of his feet. Snape finally noticed him.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape said on a sigh, throwing the quill to the side and leaning back in his chair.
"I was just wondering if you were going to be at the Quidditch match?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. I will be there. Now you best hurry on and prepare yourself. The match is in-" Snape checked the time, "-one hours time." Draco smiled at his favorite professor.
"We'll get the cup this year, sir. I'm sure of it." Snape had to squash the impulse to roll his eyes.
"Yes," he drawled, but said no more. Malfoy stood before him for another few seconds before getting the hint and backing out the door slowly.
"Well, see you at the match then..." He turned and walked quickly from the room, closing the door behind him. Snape smiled (A/N: yes, I said smiled!) to himself. He sometimes was impressed with his own intimidation abilities; even the student who adored him most was a little afraid of him. The slight smile completely vanished when there was a timid knock at the door. Snape really didn't feel like dealing with anyone else at the moment. A slight pounding had started behind his eyes...The knocking sounded again, louder and more insistent.
"Enter," Snape snarled from between his teeth. 'Well,' he thought, 'at least this day can't get any worse...' He immediately regretted his words when who should walk in? None other than the Gryffindor know-it-all herself, Hermione Granger. Snape had to squash another impulse. This one was telling him to smash his head against his desk repeatedly. Instead, he ground his teeth together harder.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" he finally managed to ask once she had come to a stop in front of his desk.
"Professor I-I believe that I turned in the wrong homework the other day. I think I gave you my Transfiguration assignment instead." Snape quirked an eyebrow at her.
"That is not my problem, Miss Granger."
Hermione's courage began to waver a little, but she still managed to sound composed when she said, "Please Professor. I worked really hard on that assignment." Snape stared at her for a moment before sighing heavily and standing up. He turned to face the cabinet behind his desk that was used to hold papers, graded and ungraded. He had just touched the Advanced Potions homework papers when he heard something that sounded like muffled whispering coming from behind him. He then felt something lightly touch the back of his head. Snape whipped around so fast that he knocked most of the papers off the cabinet, sending them flying in all directions. Snape looked around wildly, trying to spot what had touched him. His gaze finally landed on Hermione, who was the only logical explanation.
"What was that?" he asked, looking her directly in the eye. She still looked slightly awestruck at his reaction.
"What was what?" she asked, regaining her voice. Snape said nothing; he only looked at her. Then he became aware of the mess surrounding his feet. The papers were everywhere. Hermione looked at the papers as well.
"Actually, Professor Snape, I just remembered that we turned in the assignment I'm thinking of last week. Sorry for disturbing you." The pounding behind Snape's eyes intensified as Hermione turned and practically ran from the room. He sighed again as he drew out his wand. He gave a flick of his wrist, and the papers flew back into the correct order and back onto the cabinet. Snape sat back in his seat, regretting that he had to make an appearance at the approaching match. If the beginnings of the headache were any indication as to the strength the headache would be once full blown, then he was in for a rough evening.
~
Outside the potions classroom, Hermione was rubbing her hands together evilly and there was a mad glint in her eyes. Yes, everything was going well. Exactly the way she planned...
~
It was almost time for the Quidditch match to start. Severus stood from where he had been sitting behind his desk, straightened his robes, and walked out of his classroom and up the stairs leading out of the dungeons. There were students still walking out of the Entrance Hall and heading toward the Quidditch Pitch. Snape saw from the corner of his eye that some of them stopped mid-step to stare openly at him. He didn't even spare them the time it took to shoot a menacing glare in their direction. He continued walking toward where the game would be held. Along the way, many more students stopped walking and stared at him. Snape was slightly worried by the time he reached his seat with the other professors. It wasn't uncommon for him to get stares from whoever was around him, but those stares usually held great distaste or slight fear. The stares he'd seen while walking here had been ones of...great surprise. Especially the ones from Slytherin and Gryffindor students alike.
The stares didn't stop once he reached his place with the others. In fact, the looks from the different professors were much more intense than the ones from the students. He sent them a look and most turned away, except for Minerva and Albus. They continued to stare, eyes a little wide. Snape sat between them, looking from one to the other.
"What is it?" he asked, eyes landing on McGonagall, who looked very mad.
"Are you mocking me, Severus?" She was beyond mad, she was absolutely livid.
"What would make you think I'm mocking you, Minerva?" She looked at him like she didn't believe him. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but her words were lost when there was a great roaring sound from the Gryffindor side as the members of the team were called out. The sound had barely died away when the Slytherins did the same for their team. Severus clapped politely. Albus and Minerva looked at him again.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?!" This time, Dumbledore opened his mouth to respond, but was also drowned out by the roar of the crowd when the match began. The score was thirty-twenty in Slytherin's favor when Albus leaned over and whispered in Snape's ear.
"Severus, when was the last time you looked in a mirror?" Snape felt sure that Dumbledore must be joking. He turned to face the headmaster and found complete seriousness in his eyes. The witty response on the tip of Snape's tongue died.
"I do not know, Headmaster. Probably this morning. Why?" Albus smiled slightly, his eyes losing some of that seriousness.
"I assume that you secretly hope Slytherin will take the Quidditch Cup this year?" Severus nodded slightly. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly.
"Well," Albus said, leaning closer to Snape to be heard above the roar of the crowd. Gryffindor just scored, tying the game. "I believe you are the victim of a practical joke." Snape's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Your hair, Severus," Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Your hair has changed from it's usual black to red and gold. Gryffindor colors, I believe." Snape's eyes widened with shock. Red and gold? RED AND GOLD?! How had his hair been turned to GRYFFINDOR COLORS?! Snape closed his mouth, which had opened with the shock of it all. He felt very lightheaded suddenly...He excused himself from the match and hurried as fast as he could to the school. Once in his private rooms (decorated in Slytherin colors, of course) Snape hurried into the bathroom to look in the mirror. Dumbledore hadn't lied. His hair was, indeed, red and gold. It wasn't just a few streaks of color here and there, either. His ENTIRE head was red and gold! Snape felt like he was going to pass out...or be sick. Whichever came first.
~
Hermione was sitting in the midst of the Gryffindor pupils during the Quidditch match. Her attention wasn't on the match, however. It had been focused entirely on a certain Potions Master with red and gold hair. Hermione was laughing so hard her sides hurt. It was a pity Ron and Harry hadn't been able to see that. They were, of course, up in the air on their brooms. Harry was still Seeker and Ron was Keeper. They knew what Hermione's plans had been, and they promised that they were going to fly over the section where the professors were sitting to get a look at Snape's hair. 'Mione wasn't sure whether or not they had; she had been intently watching Snape with her magical binoculars as his eyes widened and his mouth hung open after Dumbledore had leaned over the whisper in his ear, no doubt telling Snape about the new color of his hair. It didn't really matter if they flew over the teachers to look at Snape because the spell would last for a good twenty-four hours, and tomorrow they had their double potions lesson. Hermione broke down into a fit of giggles once again. 'Man, this revenge stuff is fun!' she thought as Harry caught the Snitch to win the game for Gryffindor.
~
Snape was, once again, the main topic of conversation at dinner. No one could believe that they had seen the Gryffindor colors within ten yards of Severus Snape, let alone in his hair. Hermione assumed that he was in the dungeons trying to get the colors out when he didn't show up in the Great Hall that night. It became obvious that whatever he had tried the night before didn't work when the trio walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. Snape was sitting in his usual seat at the head table, scowl set in place, but it looked very funny on a man with painfully bright red and gold hair. In fact, it looked as if Snape's entire head was glowing a little.
"Is that part of the spell?" Harry asked Hermione, nodding at Snape. Instead of sitting toward the middle like they usually did, the trio sat at the end of the table, closest to the Great Hall doors. The rest of the Gryffindors were sitting a little farther down. This gave them time to talk without much of a chance of being overheard.
"Actually, it is. The spell intensifies before wearing off completely. By the end of the day, his hair will be as black as ever." The boys looked toward Snape who was glaring at the Ravenclaw table. There were two first year girls laughing and trying to point discreetly toward Snape.
"So his hair is going to get brighter?" Ron asked, sounding a little awed.
"Yep. It should be at its brightest for our potions lesson."
"We'll be so blinded by that light that we won't be able to see anything!" said Harry, reaching for toast. Hermione just smiled. She began eating. She was lost in thought as she chewed on her food, looking at Snape every so often. After a minute, Hermione got one of those "Eureka!" looks and snapped her fingers, pulling the boys out of their own thoughts.
"That will be the perfect time to do something else I've been working on! Snape will have a hard time seeing because of the brightness; it will be our best opportunity to pull it off!"
"Pull what off?" Ron asked. Both he and Harry were looking at her a little confused.
"It's a potion I've been working on. Don't worry about what it does right now. I still need one thing for it to work..." she said, looking hopefully at Harry.
"What?! Why me?" he shouted, backing away from Hermione.
"Because Ron distracted him last time. It's your turn." Hermione said, looking intently at him.
"But...but," Harry stuttered. He leaned in closer to her and whispered, "Hermione, I was a WOMAN the last time. I think that would get me out of distracting Snape a couple more times."
"But Harry, he didn't know that was you. He knew it was Ron who kept him from breakfast and me in the dungeons. It's your turn," she repeated firmly. Harry looked between her and Ron, crestfallen.
"What 'exactly' do I have to do?" he asked, putting extra emphasis on "exactly".
"I need some of Snape's hairs." Harry's mouth dropped.
"How am I supposed to get those? Just go up and ask to borrow a couple?"
"You could get them off his robes. That means you're going to have to touch him, Harry, and he'll have to know about it. Just walking behind him and trying to grab some won't work, considering the fact he walks too fast. You'll have to find some excuse to pat him on the back or something." Harry's mouth dropped again and Ron nearly choked to death from inhaling his cereal. Harry felt sick as breakfast came to a close around them.
"You'll have to do it now, Harry, before Snape reaches the dungeons." Hermione grabbed Harry's bag for him as she and Ron started off toward their first class. Harry swallowed and followed Snape as he walked out the doors and headed in the direction of the dungeons. Then Harry got an idea...Snape didn't have to know it was him. He was a Metamorphmagus, after all. Harry ducked into a dark corner. When he emerged, he looked like a boy with the same height and a similar build, but his hair was a much lighter color. Harry mentally counted to three and...ran right at Snape!
Harry yelled, "Nice hair, Professor!" just before grabbing a handful of Snape's robes and jerking downward. Harry got a few hairs before letting Snape go and taking off again. The force Harry had put into grabbing the Potions Master had left Snape sitting on his rear in the middle of the Entrance Hall, amidst a chorus of laughter. When Harry reached the next empty corridor, he transformed again and ducked into a girl's washroom. The door had just closed behind him when Harry heard loud shouting.
"GET BACK HERE YOU INSOLENT, LITTLE-" the rest of Snape's words, however, were lost as Snape went flying past the girl's washroom, trying to find the boy who had knocked him over. Harry looked down at his fist. He had managed to grab six of Snape's hairs, mostly red from the looks of it. 'This better be enough for Hermione, because I don't think we'll be able to get anymore,' he thought, looking around the washroom. He was alone. Good. Harry stepped out carefully and headed for the Transfiguration classroom.
~
"Harry, why won't you tell us how you got the hairs?" Ron asked Harry again as they walked into the potions classroom.
"Shut up, Ron!" both Harry and Hermione said out of the corner of their mouths. Ron pouted a little, but remained quiet as they took their seats.
"Where is he?" Hermione asked, looking around. Harry didn't have a chance to answer, because Snape came storming in at that moment. Hermione had been right; Snape's head was very bright now. So bright in fact that everyone had to keep their eyes averted from his face. Harry looked at Malfoy instead. The platinum-blonde Slytherin looked like he had been force-fed poison. Draco had seen Snape for the first time at breakfast that morning. He had gone deathly pale at the sight before walking slowly to the Slytherin table and not eating much breakfast. Harry smiled at the memory.
"Just because you cannot look directly at me is no excuse to not pay attention!" Snape interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Your instructions are on the board," Snape waved his wand at the board in the corner. "You have the entire period. Begin." Everyone went to their respective cauldrons to begin the assignment. Then, one by one, they went to the student cupboard to get the ingredients. Hermione also got the necessary items, Harry noticed, but along with a few other things as well. When she began mixing the ingredients, Harry saw that she was also doing that differently. After about an hour, Hermione added Snape's hair strand by strand to the cauldron. Hermione had been right, apparently. With Snape's head being of an almost blinding quality, he couldn't stalk around the room like he usually did, breathing down people's necks. Instead, he stood leaning against the wall in the corner across from the board. Harry thought that he was still watching people carefully, but he couldn't be sure since he couldn't see his eyes. He wasn't even sure Snape could still see them at all!
"Harry, I'm going to blow the cauldron in about ten minutes," Hermione whispered to him. "We all three need to be in the blast like the rest of the class so it doesn't look suspicious. Tell Ron." Harry gave a slight nod of compliance before telling Ron.
"What is it going to do to us?" Ron asked, slightly worried.
"I have no idea, but just trust Hermione. Okay?" Ron nodded. Ten minutes later, Hermione looked at Harry and nodded. Harry then looked at Ron and nodded. They were ready. Hermione put in the tiny drop of dragon's blood needed to make the potion explode. While dragon's blood didn't usually make things explode, Hermione had added a few ingredients to the potion that would react violently with the blood. It only took a few seconds for the potion to begin whistling dangerously. Snape straightened away from the wall.
"What the-" was all he was able to get out before the potion exploded. It took a couple of minutes before everything settled enough for anyone to see. The entire classroom was drenched in the gooey green liquid, including everyone in the classroom. Except Snape, who was out of range. They began to wipe the goo out of their eyes when Snape spoke again.
"Who did-" but he was cut off again. This time, it was because of the spell cast on his hair. Snape closed his eyes tight as it turned its brightest yet, blinding everyone for a moment. Then, it disappeared. The brilliant light was gone, and Snape's hair was back to normal. Snape sighed and opened his eyes. Then he jumped back in shock, his shoulder smacking the wall painfully. What he was looking at was...himself! Snape stared for a moment at what appeared to be an image of himself. No, that can't be right...The image was shorter, younger looking somehow. Snape took a deep breath and pushed off the wall, rubbing his shoulder tenderly. He walked over to the image and took a closer look. No, it couldn't be...
"Professor? What happened?" Snape jumped back in shock again. It was MALFOY!
"Malfoy?" Snape said aloud. Draco nodded. Hair identical to Snape's swung in his face. Malfoy saw it for the first time, got a horrified look on his face, and looked around at the other students. Snape looked around as well. Every one of them looked just like Snape. 'No, not just like,' he thought, taking a closer look. Looking just like him would've taken something like the Polyjuice Potion. But there were others that would allow someone to take on the similar physical characteristics of another. That is what happened, Snape decided. Everyone in the class had Snape's long hair and pale complexion, but other than that, they were still the same. However, brewing something like that potion would've required some of the person they were going to change into. That's when Snape remembered the incident in the Entrance Hall...Some of his hairs could've been pulled then, but was that boy in the room now? If not, how did the potion get brewed right under his nose? Normally, Snape would've made everyone else help with cleaning the classroom, but he flicked his wrist and did it himself instead.
"Who's potion was that?!" Snape roared once everything was cleaned up and back in place. It was rather strange to be yelling at a room full of people who looked just like him...
"Well? Who's was it?" he asked again, looking around at everyone. "I have ways of finding out..." Still, no one moved. It had been a bluff. The potion spreading like it did would make it difficult to tell who's it was. He could try, though...
"Very well. You will all be spending a week in detention. I will talk with Filch and the other professors to work out where you will all go. We will try the original assignment again tomorrow. Dismissed."
"You mean we have to stay like this?" wailed one of the Hufflepuffs. Snape scowled at her. "It should wear off in a couple of days, but yes, you do have to stay like that for now." The Hufflepuff looked near tears.
~
"Okay, Hermione. What was the point of the potion?" Ron asked. They were back inside the Room of Requirement. They couldn't talk in the common room because they kept getting disturbed by other students asking about what happened. They had been like this for barely three hours, and everyone who looked like Snape now had a nickname: Mini-Snape! You could hear it being yelled all throughout the corridors.
"What do you mean 'what was the point'?" Hermione yelled at him. "The point was to get it through Snape's skull that these things are happening for a reason. I think he's beginning to figure it out. He didn't react quite as badly as I thought he would." Hermione looked over at Harry. He was playing with his new hair again.
"Harry, would you please stop that? It's very distracting." Harry looked over at her, a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Sorry, 'Mione," he said.
"Okay," she said, looking back down at "The List." "What we're going to do next is-"
"What?!" yelled Ron. "We're still doing more?"
"Yes, Ron. I believe it has now turned into a race to see if Snape can figure out who we are either before we strike again or before the year is over. I don't intend to lose." Harry and Ron stared at her, the long hair falling in their eyes.
"Please, guys. Don't back out on me now." Harry and Ron looked at each other before looking back at Hermione and nodding. Hermione grinned. 'Okay Snape,' Hermione thought, 'if it's a race you want then a race you shall have...'
********************
That was the longest chapter I have ever written for anything. I hope it was a good enough follow up for the brilliance of Chapter 2. :) Please review and let me know!
~MESSAGES!~
Green Sea Turtle: I know Tonks said that you can only be born a Metamorphmagus, but for the sake of this story just let your imagination go. Goodness knows I'll probably break a few more of the books' rules before all is said and done. I promise not to stray too far from them, though. Thanks for putting me on your favorites!
Tiani Lunaris: I'm not good at keeping up with all the knew lingo out there. What does "KONGE" mean? Thanks for putting me on your favorites!
Draco-Malfoy-Vegeta-luvr: I'm glad it made you laugh at seven in the morning. I usually do most of my best stuff around dawn...But this usually means that I didn't go to bed at all during the night. Please, no comments about the author's insanity, everyone. :) Thanks for adding me to your long list of favorites!
Big hug to my beta, Lissie! Isn't she the best?
Disclaimer: I own nothing; J. K. Rowling owns everything. So what's new?
******************
Chapter 3 - 'Phase Two'
The Gryffindor trio decided to leave Snape alone for a few days after beginning their revenge the past Saturday. When Wednesday dawned sunny, however, Hermione decided that it was the perfect time to begin 'Phase Two.' In other words, it was the perfect time to let Snape know that someone was getting even with him, without revealing their identity of course. The first Quidditch match of the year (between Gryffindor and Slytherin) was going to be played later that evening. Hermione smiled. 'The Slytherins,' she thought, 'are going to get a real shock when they see their head of house at the match tonight. Probably no one will be more shocked than Snape himself, though, when he finds out.' Hermione's smile broadened as she thought of the look Snape would have when he found out. Before getting out of bed, Hermione went over the plan once more in her head. She reminded herself repeatedly that the spell would have to be cast one hour before the match. Snape was going to be surprised to see Hermione in the dungeons when she didn't have to be there. Hermione threw her covers over the side of her four-poster bed, stood, and began to dress.
~
"Professor Snape?" Draco Malfoy said, walking to stand in front of Snape's desk. Snape was bent over, his nose close to the piece of homework parchment he was scribbling on furiously. 'Stupid nitwit,' he thought, scratching out another sentence on the parchment. 'How hard is it to write a comprehensive essay?' Snape was so lost in his task that he didn't hear Malfoy speak.
"Professor?" Malfoy repeated, hopping up and down on the balls of his feet. Snape finally noticed him.
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?" Snape said on a sigh, throwing the quill to the side and leaning back in his chair.
"I was just wondering if you were going to be at the Quidditch match?"
"Yes, Mr. Malfoy. I will be there. Now you best hurry on and prepare yourself. The match is in-" Snape checked the time, "-one hours time." Draco smiled at his favorite professor.
"We'll get the cup this year, sir. I'm sure of it." Snape had to squash the impulse to roll his eyes.
"Yes," he drawled, but said no more. Malfoy stood before him for another few seconds before getting the hint and backing out the door slowly.
"Well, see you at the match then..." He turned and walked quickly from the room, closing the door behind him. Snape smiled (A/N: yes, I said smiled!) to himself. He sometimes was impressed with his own intimidation abilities; even the student who adored him most was a little afraid of him. The slight smile completely vanished when there was a timid knock at the door. Snape really didn't feel like dealing with anyone else at the moment. A slight pounding had started behind his eyes...The knocking sounded again, louder and more insistent.
"Enter," Snape snarled from between his teeth. 'Well,' he thought, 'at least this day can't get any worse...' He immediately regretted his words when who should walk in? None other than the Gryffindor know-it-all herself, Hermione Granger. Snape had to squash another impulse. This one was telling him to smash his head against his desk repeatedly. Instead, he ground his teeth together harder.
"Yes, Miss Granger?" he finally managed to ask once she had come to a stop in front of his desk.
"Professor I-I believe that I turned in the wrong homework the other day. I think I gave you my Transfiguration assignment instead." Snape quirked an eyebrow at her.
"That is not my problem, Miss Granger."
Hermione's courage began to waver a little, but she still managed to sound composed when she said, "Please Professor. I worked really hard on that assignment." Snape stared at her for a moment before sighing heavily and standing up. He turned to face the cabinet behind his desk that was used to hold papers, graded and ungraded. He had just touched the Advanced Potions homework papers when he heard something that sounded like muffled whispering coming from behind him. He then felt something lightly touch the back of his head. Snape whipped around so fast that he knocked most of the papers off the cabinet, sending them flying in all directions. Snape looked around wildly, trying to spot what had touched him. His gaze finally landed on Hermione, who was the only logical explanation.
"What was that?" he asked, looking her directly in the eye. She still looked slightly awestruck at his reaction.
"What was what?" she asked, regaining her voice. Snape said nothing; he only looked at her. Then he became aware of the mess surrounding his feet. The papers were everywhere. Hermione looked at the papers as well.
"Actually, Professor Snape, I just remembered that we turned in the assignment I'm thinking of last week. Sorry for disturbing you." The pounding behind Snape's eyes intensified as Hermione turned and practically ran from the room. He sighed again as he drew out his wand. He gave a flick of his wrist, and the papers flew back into the correct order and back onto the cabinet. Snape sat back in his seat, regretting that he had to make an appearance at the approaching match. If the beginnings of the headache were any indication as to the strength the headache would be once full blown, then he was in for a rough evening.
~
Outside the potions classroom, Hermione was rubbing her hands together evilly and there was a mad glint in her eyes. Yes, everything was going well. Exactly the way she planned...
~
It was almost time for the Quidditch match to start. Severus stood from where he had been sitting behind his desk, straightened his robes, and walked out of his classroom and up the stairs leading out of the dungeons. There were students still walking out of the Entrance Hall and heading toward the Quidditch Pitch. Snape saw from the corner of his eye that some of them stopped mid-step to stare openly at him. He didn't even spare them the time it took to shoot a menacing glare in their direction. He continued walking toward where the game would be held. Along the way, many more students stopped walking and stared at him. Snape was slightly worried by the time he reached his seat with the other professors. It wasn't uncommon for him to get stares from whoever was around him, but those stares usually held great distaste or slight fear. The stares he'd seen while walking here had been ones of...great surprise. Especially the ones from Slytherin and Gryffindor students alike.
The stares didn't stop once he reached his place with the others. In fact, the looks from the different professors were much more intense than the ones from the students. He sent them a look and most turned away, except for Minerva and Albus. They continued to stare, eyes a little wide. Snape sat between them, looking from one to the other.
"What is it?" he asked, eyes landing on McGonagall, who looked very mad.
"Are you mocking me, Severus?" She was beyond mad, she was absolutely livid.
"What would make you think I'm mocking you, Minerva?" She looked at him like she didn't believe him. She opened her mouth to tell him so, but her words were lost when there was a great roaring sound from the Gryffindor side as the members of the team were called out. The sound had barely died away when the Slytherins did the same for their team. Severus clapped politely. Albus and Minerva looked at him again.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?!" This time, Dumbledore opened his mouth to respond, but was also drowned out by the roar of the crowd when the match began. The score was thirty-twenty in Slytherin's favor when Albus leaned over and whispered in Snape's ear.
"Severus, when was the last time you looked in a mirror?" Snape felt sure that Dumbledore must be joking. He turned to face the headmaster and found complete seriousness in his eyes. The witty response on the tip of Snape's tongue died.
"I do not know, Headmaster. Probably this morning. Why?" Albus smiled slightly, his eyes losing some of that seriousness.
"I assume that you secretly hope Slytherin will take the Quidditch Cup this year?" Severus nodded slightly. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled brightly.
"Well," Albus said, leaning closer to Snape to be heard above the roar of the crowd. Gryffindor just scored, tying the game. "I believe you are the victim of a practical joke." Snape's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Your hair, Severus," Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Your hair has changed from it's usual black to red and gold. Gryffindor colors, I believe." Snape's eyes widened with shock. Red and gold? RED AND GOLD?! How had his hair been turned to GRYFFINDOR COLORS?! Snape closed his mouth, which had opened with the shock of it all. He felt very lightheaded suddenly...He excused himself from the match and hurried as fast as he could to the school. Once in his private rooms (decorated in Slytherin colors, of course) Snape hurried into the bathroom to look in the mirror. Dumbledore hadn't lied. His hair was, indeed, red and gold. It wasn't just a few streaks of color here and there, either. His ENTIRE head was red and gold! Snape felt like he was going to pass out...or be sick. Whichever came first.
~
Hermione was sitting in the midst of the Gryffindor pupils during the Quidditch match. Her attention wasn't on the match, however. It had been focused entirely on a certain Potions Master with red and gold hair. Hermione was laughing so hard her sides hurt. It was a pity Ron and Harry hadn't been able to see that. They were, of course, up in the air on their brooms. Harry was still Seeker and Ron was Keeper. They knew what Hermione's plans had been, and they promised that they were going to fly over the section where the professors were sitting to get a look at Snape's hair. 'Mione wasn't sure whether or not they had; she had been intently watching Snape with her magical binoculars as his eyes widened and his mouth hung open after Dumbledore had leaned over the whisper in his ear, no doubt telling Snape about the new color of his hair. It didn't really matter if they flew over the teachers to look at Snape because the spell would last for a good twenty-four hours, and tomorrow they had their double potions lesson. Hermione broke down into a fit of giggles once again. 'Man, this revenge stuff is fun!' she thought as Harry caught the Snitch to win the game for Gryffindor.
~
Snape was, once again, the main topic of conversation at dinner. No one could believe that they had seen the Gryffindor colors within ten yards of Severus Snape, let alone in his hair. Hermione assumed that he was in the dungeons trying to get the colors out when he didn't show up in the Great Hall that night. It became obvious that whatever he had tried the night before didn't work when the trio walked into the Great Hall for breakfast. Snape was sitting in his usual seat at the head table, scowl set in place, but it looked very funny on a man with painfully bright red and gold hair. In fact, it looked as if Snape's entire head was glowing a little.
"Is that part of the spell?" Harry asked Hermione, nodding at Snape. Instead of sitting toward the middle like they usually did, the trio sat at the end of the table, closest to the Great Hall doors. The rest of the Gryffindors were sitting a little farther down. This gave them time to talk without much of a chance of being overheard.
"Actually, it is. The spell intensifies before wearing off completely. By the end of the day, his hair will be as black as ever." The boys looked toward Snape who was glaring at the Ravenclaw table. There were two first year girls laughing and trying to point discreetly toward Snape.
"So his hair is going to get brighter?" Ron asked, sounding a little awed.
"Yep. It should be at its brightest for our potions lesson."
"We'll be so blinded by that light that we won't be able to see anything!" said Harry, reaching for toast. Hermione just smiled. She began eating. She was lost in thought as she chewed on her food, looking at Snape every so often. After a minute, Hermione got one of those "Eureka!" looks and snapped her fingers, pulling the boys out of their own thoughts.
"That will be the perfect time to do something else I've been working on! Snape will have a hard time seeing because of the brightness; it will be our best opportunity to pull it off!"
"Pull what off?" Ron asked. Both he and Harry were looking at her a little confused.
"It's a potion I've been working on. Don't worry about what it does right now. I still need one thing for it to work..." she said, looking hopefully at Harry.
"What?! Why me?" he shouted, backing away from Hermione.
"Because Ron distracted him last time. It's your turn." Hermione said, looking intently at him.
"But...but," Harry stuttered. He leaned in closer to her and whispered, "Hermione, I was a WOMAN the last time. I think that would get me out of distracting Snape a couple more times."
"But Harry, he didn't know that was you. He knew it was Ron who kept him from breakfast and me in the dungeons. It's your turn," she repeated firmly. Harry looked between her and Ron, crestfallen.
"What 'exactly' do I have to do?" he asked, putting extra emphasis on "exactly".
"I need some of Snape's hairs." Harry's mouth dropped.
"How am I supposed to get those? Just go up and ask to borrow a couple?"
"You could get them off his robes. That means you're going to have to touch him, Harry, and he'll have to know about it. Just walking behind him and trying to grab some won't work, considering the fact he walks too fast. You'll have to find some excuse to pat him on the back or something." Harry's mouth dropped again and Ron nearly choked to death from inhaling his cereal. Harry felt sick as breakfast came to a close around them.
"You'll have to do it now, Harry, before Snape reaches the dungeons." Hermione grabbed Harry's bag for him as she and Ron started off toward their first class. Harry swallowed and followed Snape as he walked out the doors and headed in the direction of the dungeons. Then Harry got an idea...Snape didn't have to know it was him. He was a Metamorphmagus, after all. Harry ducked into a dark corner. When he emerged, he looked like a boy with the same height and a similar build, but his hair was a much lighter color. Harry mentally counted to three and...ran right at Snape!
Harry yelled, "Nice hair, Professor!" just before grabbing a handful of Snape's robes and jerking downward. Harry got a few hairs before letting Snape go and taking off again. The force Harry had put into grabbing the Potions Master had left Snape sitting on his rear in the middle of the Entrance Hall, amidst a chorus of laughter. When Harry reached the next empty corridor, he transformed again and ducked into a girl's washroom. The door had just closed behind him when Harry heard loud shouting.
"GET BACK HERE YOU INSOLENT, LITTLE-" the rest of Snape's words, however, were lost as Snape went flying past the girl's washroom, trying to find the boy who had knocked him over. Harry looked down at his fist. He had managed to grab six of Snape's hairs, mostly red from the looks of it. 'This better be enough for Hermione, because I don't think we'll be able to get anymore,' he thought, looking around the washroom. He was alone. Good. Harry stepped out carefully and headed for the Transfiguration classroom.
~
"Harry, why won't you tell us how you got the hairs?" Ron asked Harry again as they walked into the potions classroom.
"Shut up, Ron!" both Harry and Hermione said out of the corner of their mouths. Ron pouted a little, but remained quiet as they took their seats.
"Where is he?" Hermione asked, looking around. Harry didn't have a chance to answer, because Snape came storming in at that moment. Hermione had been right; Snape's head was very bright now. So bright in fact that everyone had to keep their eyes averted from his face. Harry looked at Malfoy instead. The platinum-blonde Slytherin looked like he had been force-fed poison. Draco had seen Snape for the first time at breakfast that morning. He had gone deathly pale at the sight before walking slowly to the Slytherin table and not eating much breakfast. Harry smiled at the memory.
"Just because you cannot look directly at me is no excuse to not pay attention!" Snape interrupted Harry's thoughts. "Your instructions are on the board," Snape waved his wand at the board in the corner. "You have the entire period. Begin." Everyone went to their respective cauldrons to begin the assignment. Then, one by one, they went to the student cupboard to get the ingredients. Hermione also got the necessary items, Harry noticed, but along with a few other things as well. When she began mixing the ingredients, Harry saw that she was also doing that differently. After about an hour, Hermione added Snape's hair strand by strand to the cauldron. Hermione had been right, apparently. With Snape's head being of an almost blinding quality, he couldn't stalk around the room like he usually did, breathing down people's necks. Instead, he stood leaning against the wall in the corner across from the board. Harry thought that he was still watching people carefully, but he couldn't be sure since he couldn't see his eyes. He wasn't even sure Snape could still see them at all!
"Harry, I'm going to blow the cauldron in about ten minutes," Hermione whispered to him. "We all three need to be in the blast like the rest of the class so it doesn't look suspicious. Tell Ron." Harry gave a slight nod of compliance before telling Ron.
"What is it going to do to us?" Ron asked, slightly worried.
"I have no idea, but just trust Hermione. Okay?" Ron nodded. Ten minutes later, Hermione looked at Harry and nodded. Harry then looked at Ron and nodded. They were ready. Hermione put in the tiny drop of dragon's blood needed to make the potion explode. While dragon's blood didn't usually make things explode, Hermione had added a few ingredients to the potion that would react violently with the blood. It only took a few seconds for the potion to begin whistling dangerously. Snape straightened away from the wall.
"What the-" was all he was able to get out before the potion exploded. It took a couple of minutes before everything settled enough for anyone to see. The entire classroom was drenched in the gooey green liquid, including everyone in the classroom. Except Snape, who was out of range. They began to wipe the goo out of their eyes when Snape spoke again.
"Who did-" but he was cut off again. This time, it was because of the spell cast on his hair. Snape closed his eyes tight as it turned its brightest yet, blinding everyone for a moment. Then, it disappeared. The brilliant light was gone, and Snape's hair was back to normal. Snape sighed and opened his eyes. Then he jumped back in shock, his shoulder smacking the wall painfully. What he was looking at was...himself! Snape stared for a moment at what appeared to be an image of himself. No, that can't be right...The image was shorter, younger looking somehow. Snape took a deep breath and pushed off the wall, rubbing his shoulder tenderly. He walked over to the image and took a closer look. No, it couldn't be...
"Professor? What happened?" Snape jumped back in shock again. It was MALFOY!
"Malfoy?" Snape said aloud. Draco nodded. Hair identical to Snape's swung in his face. Malfoy saw it for the first time, got a horrified look on his face, and looked around at the other students. Snape looked around as well. Every one of them looked just like Snape. 'No, not just like,' he thought, taking a closer look. Looking just like him would've taken something like the Polyjuice Potion. But there were others that would allow someone to take on the similar physical characteristics of another. That is what happened, Snape decided. Everyone in the class had Snape's long hair and pale complexion, but other than that, they were still the same. However, brewing something like that potion would've required some of the person they were going to change into. That's when Snape remembered the incident in the Entrance Hall...Some of his hairs could've been pulled then, but was that boy in the room now? If not, how did the potion get brewed right under his nose? Normally, Snape would've made everyone else help with cleaning the classroom, but he flicked his wrist and did it himself instead.
"Who's potion was that?!" Snape roared once everything was cleaned up and back in place. It was rather strange to be yelling at a room full of people who looked just like him...
"Well? Who's was it?" he asked again, looking around at everyone. "I have ways of finding out..." Still, no one moved. It had been a bluff. The potion spreading like it did would make it difficult to tell who's it was. He could try, though...
"Very well. You will all be spending a week in detention. I will talk with Filch and the other professors to work out where you will all go. We will try the original assignment again tomorrow. Dismissed."
"You mean we have to stay like this?" wailed one of the Hufflepuffs. Snape scowled at her. "It should wear off in a couple of days, but yes, you do have to stay like that for now." The Hufflepuff looked near tears.
~
"Okay, Hermione. What was the point of the potion?" Ron asked. They were back inside the Room of Requirement. They couldn't talk in the common room because they kept getting disturbed by other students asking about what happened. They had been like this for barely three hours, and everyone who looked like Snape now had a nickname: Mini-Snape! You could hear it being yelled all throughout the corridors.
"What do you mean 'what was the point'?" Hermione yelled at him. "The point was to get it through Snape's skull that these things are happening for a reason. I think he's beginning to figure it out. He didn't react quite as badly as I thought he would." Hermione looked over at Harry. He was playing with his new hair again.
"Harry, would you please stop that? It's very distracting." Harry looked over at her, a slight blush on his cheeks.
"Sorry, 'Mione," he said.
"Okay," she said, looking back down at "The List." "What we're going to do next is-"
"What?!" yelled Ron. "We're still doing more?"
"Yes, Ron. I believe it has now turned into a race to see if Snape can figure out who we are either before we strike again or before the year is over. I don't intend to lose." Harry and Ron stared at her, the long hair falling in their eyes.
"Please, guys. Don't back out on me now." Harry and Ron looked at each other before looking back at Hermione and nodding. Hermione grinned. 'Okay Snape,' Hermione thought, 'if it's a race you want then a race you shall have...'
********************
That was the longest chapter I have ever written for anything. I hope it was a good enough follow up for the brilliance of Chapter 2. :) Please review and let me know!