Disclaimer: The usual. Look into previous chapters to see what's up.
Author's Notes: Yeah, I finally got myself to write the next chapter and with a bit of luck the next one won't take me so long. I've had a very busy month in my RL and therefore very little time to actually concentrate on fanfictions. Sorry for the delay but I'll again say that this (and the following books too) will definitely be finished. No arguing about that.
Anyone ever liked detention? No? I know someone who does ... evilgrin
Review Responses: Look in Chapter 14
Chapter 13 - Apology and Detention or Damned Cat and Brewing Potions
The next day at breakfast Carya did something that brought her respect not only from most students but also from her teachers. She did something that no one would've done voluntarily, let alone a Slytherin.
Everyone had just sat down for breakfast but Carya remained standing. Almost all students were there now. Once the others noticed everyone fell silent. Carya looked at the Gryffindor table whose occupants glared at her. She just ignored the stares.
"I want to apologise to Lavender Brown for cursing her in Herbology yesterday," she said calmly but sincere sounding, nodded towards Lavender, sat down and started breakfast. What was left unsaid was the fact that Carya still thought Lavender had deserved what she'd gotten.
Miss Brown just sat there dumbfounded and no one spoke a word for a few minutes. Some wondered what that was about, others thought Carya was lying but most of the people present thought it was a very brave gesture.
After all the headmaster hadn't done the same thing as he did with Ron and the members of the reserve Quidditch team when they'd pranked Harry. Carya could've just apologised in private or not at all and while Dumbledore had hoped on the former he was genuinely surprised by this.
Despite what he had heard the last evening he still thought that the Potters were quite true Slytherin's and Slytherin's rarely to never apologised for anything. Let alone in public. Doing this showed the adults that she still had a strong character underneath her icy exterior.
It wasn't weakness to do it in front of everyone. It was strength. More than many of them possessed. The students outside Gryffindor forgave her because not one of them would've dared to apologise voluntarily in front of the whole school.
The Gryffindor's didn't forgive her right away but started thinking about the story Lavender had told them. Some realised that she had probably made up things to make her the victim of a dark and cruel Carya Potter. But that didn't meant that they liked the Slytherin girl either.
After finishing their breakfast the three Slytherin friends left the Great Hall and headed towards the dungeons. The had Double Potions that morning. Professor Snape was his usual nasty self and let them make a healing potion.
He assigned the same pairs as he had in their last lesson and this time no one interrupted. Shortly before the end of class the Professor told Carya to stay behind. She sent Harry ahead to tell Professor Flitwick that she might be a bit late.
"Miss Potter, please stay behind after class," Snape said.
/Harry, you should go ahead. Tell Flitwick I'll be most likely a bit late because Snape wanted something, okay?/ she asked her brother.
/Alright but are you sure?/ he wanted to know and went when his sister nodded.
"That was a very clever thing you did at breakfast, Miss Potter," Snape told her in a calculating tone.
"Sir? It wasn't clever, it was the right thing to do, ... this time. But if she makes the same mistake again I'll slap her really hard and don't apologise," Carya said calmly, "Was there something you wanted from me, Professor?"
"Yes, you'll have detention on Saturday with Mister Filch at three p.m. And on Sunday you'll serve detention with me. You'll meet me down here at seven a.m., ... don't be late! I'll decide then what you're going to do. Dismissed," he told her in his usual classroom voice.
"Understood, sir!" Carya replied quickly and left before he could say anything else.
Professor Flitwick didn't say anything when she was late and that day passed without any major problems. Most people had calmed down by now and the rumours were ceasing to spread too. The next day passed in a blur.
Since the weekend was out for studying in the evening the friends did that on Thursday afternoon. As always their work was split up between them to get it done faster. One would write the essay and the others would then use it as reference for their own.
In the evening they continued their animagus practise. Shortly after waking up the next morning Harry realised with a start that it was already Friday. Only three classes that day and the first period was free too. Defence class was first. It was as interesting as always.
Not that most Slytherin's would admit it but they too were impressed by Professor Lupin's skill compared to their last teacher, Professor Quirrell, who was thought of as a fraud but turned out to be a follower of the Dark Lord. Today they were studying grindylows. Their skin was ashen gray.
They were horned water demons and lived in lakes all over Britain and Ireland. They learned that they lived on small fishes and that they attacked wizards and muggles alike. They also heard that while a grindylow had strong hands you could easily break it's grip if you only knew how.
They'd already covered boggarts, red caps, kappas, imps and werewolves (thanks to Snape) that year and now added another creature to their list. Their next class was History of Magic but they weren't really paying attention because Professor Binns was the most boring teacher one could find.
They'd again noted the days topic and would research it later on when they did their homework for this class. The kids had found out that such a behaviour was far more productive then falling asleep in Binns class and knowing nothing afterwards. So they always did something else in History classes.
For them it was only important that they had the knowledge about his topics in their heads when the exams were due. Their last class on Friday was Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was as strict as always and only awarded points if the work really was perfect.
They were still revising the topics from the beginning of last term and the twins were quite bored but paid attention nonetheless. After this class the three friends met up with Hermione in the Hogwarts library to do the remaining homework.
They were just finished when it was time for dinner. The rumours had completely stopped by now and Harry, Ginny and Carya had a relaxed meal. This year they were the lucky ones - no classes on Saturday. Almost every Slytherin slept in for once.
After lunch Carya got ready to meet with Mister Filch for her detention. Harry and her friends wished her good luck because with Filch you never knew what would happen during detention. She met Filch and his cat in the entrance hall - together with Lavender.
'Bloody wonderful. Now I have to put up with her even in detention,' Carya thought.
"You two will scrub the floor in the entrance hall. Without magic! I will come back in two hours," Mister Filch said gruffly and showed them the buckets and brushes they'd have to use for this after confiscating their wands.
Lavender gave hers rather hesitant while Carya knew he wouldn't do anything to or with her wand. The Hogwarts caretaker might be a bitter squib but he was not stupid. Tempering with a students wand would cost him his job. Lavender looked as if she'd rather die than clean the floor by hand.
Carya didn't like this either but Aunt Petunia thankfully had shown her once how to do this properly without getting too many aches and loosing too much time or getting too dirty yourself. The two girls started and they were lucky that the weather was dry.
This way the students didn't bring in too much mud when they went to the Great Hall or their respective Common Rooms. An hour later Lavender was already groaning and moaning how horrible she felt and that she couldn't do this any more.
Carya ignored her. Her back started to feel like on fire too since she wasn't used to this but 'her' side was already half cleaned. Lavender didn't have even one third finished. The next moment Mrs. Norris came traipsing through the main doors.
She was soaking wet and dirt clung to her fur. The cat had nothing better to do than running directly through Lavenders part of the hall. The Gryffindor girl threw a sponge after her and three minutes later an angry Filch appeared near them.
A still wet and dirty cat trailing behind him. She was miaowing miserably. A patch of fur on her side was flattened like something had hit her - Lavender's brush was still missing.
"You, how dare you throw things after my precious. I bet it was you who tried to drown her, wasn't it? I'll report this and you'll get another detention," he howled and yelled at Lavender. Carya only continued scrubbing the floor while Lavender got another detention with Filch.
The Gryffindor was fuming now but she knew that the other girl wouldn't have said anything even if that Herbology class had never happened. What neither Filch nor anyone knew was that Mrs. Norris had made friends with four certain animagi.
She had recognised them in their human form too and never got them into trouble now. Thirty minutes later Professor McGonagall came down the stairs. She took a quick look over the room and saw that Carya was really working while Lavender's mouth did more work than her hands.
She watched the two girls for a few minutes. They were doing this the Muggle way. Mister Filch had confiscated their wands. She knew that because she had them now. The caretaker had given them to her and was currently in his rooms tending to his cat.
Because of that it was simply not possible for Carya Potter to have done this by magic.
"Miss Brown, I would advise you to try as much as Miss Potter. She has already cleaned one half of the side she's working on but you ..." the Professor didn't continue.
"But Professor, I'm not used to this ... "Lavender whined.
"Me neither ... but at least I know how to and actually try," mumbled Carya quietly but the Professor and the other girl had heard her nonetheless.
"Care to explain Miss Potter?" McGonagall inquired.
"I've never done this either but my Aunt has explained to me how to do this properly and with most effect, so ..." she trailed of, shrugged and got back to work.
The Head of Gryffindor stood watching a bit more and then said that Carya could go.
"Your detention is over, Miss Potter. You may go back to your Common Room now," she told her and handed out the wand.
Carya fled as soon as possible. Lavender wasn't that lucky. Her detention was stopped too but McGonagall had a little talk about responsibilities with the girl in her office. Three heads shot up as something burst into the Library.
Harry, Hermione and Ginny were startled when someone sat down beside them. It was Carya. She told them about the detention and as soon as Mrs. Norris - or Norri as the four called her - made her appearance they burst into laughter.
The friends left the books behind and went outside. It was a cold but clear day and they wanted to have a small snowball fight before Harry had to go to Quidditch training. At dinner Lavender was again scowling at Carya and even Ron couldn't cheer his best friend up this time.
Before the kids went to bed Carya remembered that she would have detention next morning with Professor Snape. And at seven a.m. too, she really hated mornings. Luckily this night was indeed restful and she woke up at six.
Her night had been pretty good in fact and the dreams for once had been really pleasant which put her into a rather cheerful mood. Once she had dressed she left the dorm and Common Room without waking anyone.
Carya proceeded down to the kitchens to grab something to eat since breakfast would be when she was still serving detention. At the same time Severus Snape was already up and working. He had to make some potions for the infirmary and the Wolfsbane Potion for Lupin.
He was experimenting on an improvement of the potion and Lupin had agreed to play his guinea-pig for that. One minute before seven he heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," he said knowing who would be on the other side of his door.
The Potter girl walked into his office and waited for her Professor to tell her what she had to do. He was concentrating on his cauldron right now and Carya, although you'd not get her to admit that in public, thought that she liked watching him while making potions.
He looked completely different from class and you could clearly see that his only passion was potion-making. He seemed completely at ease with nothing but cauldrons and ingredients surrounding him and no students anywhere near to mess something up.
"You will clean those cauldrons over there without magic. Necessary items are in the cupboard on the right," Snape said without even looking up.
His tone was cold but Carya didn't really mind since he always was like this. She just nodded and got to work quietly as not to disturb him. The girl hated cleaning cauldrons just like everyone else but it was necessary with potions so she worked as quick as possible without being sloppy.
She didn't notice her Professor watching from the corner of his eyes. Carya grimaced like everyone else did when she started on a slime covered cauldron but tried to get that done as quickly as possible.
Normally the students in his detentions needed three or four hours to properly clean half of the cauldrons but the girl was already done with all of them after two hours. She didn't think that he would let her go this early so she waited for another assignment.
"You're done? Fine, on the table on your left are a few potions. They need to be relabelled and sorted into the shelf in the right order. I trust you know how to?" he inquired and Carya nodded.
She knew exactly how to order the potions. Most people would just sort them alphabetically but you had to sort them by type, effect and durability and it was important to know if they needed constant cooling or had to be stored in any special way.
Sirius had told her about it although he sucked at Potions in general. And she didn't even need to remember everything. The book on the table with the vials would tell her everything she needed to know if she knew how to use it properly.
The girl started sorting the potions first and put them on the table in the right order. After that she took vial after vial and replaced the old almost faded labels with new ones. She also tried to keep her writing as neat and readable as possible.
By half past ten she was almost finished with that too. Carya had only those potions left on the desk which needed constant cooling and she asked her professor where to put them.
"Professor? Where do you put the potions that need constant cooling?" she wanted to know.
Snape just pointed his head over to something that looked like a very old refrigerator and went back to work. Carya raised an eyebrow but wisely didn't say anything. She just stored away the potions and again waited for a reaction from her teacher.
"Already finished? Well, you can help me with those healing and sleeping draughts I have to make for the infirmary. Clean out the vials on the work table and cut the shrivelfigs. Same size for the pieces if you don't mind," he told her gruffly and turned his attention to the cauldron in front of him.
"After that you can crush those snake fangs and set up a cauldron with water for boiling. Do you remember the healing draught we made earlier this year?" he asked and the girl just nodded.
"Good, you'll make it then. And don't botch it!" the professor said sternly.
Carya knew this should be meant as a punishment but she too enjoyed making potions and was quite happy about this type of 'punishment'. Yes, she really did like this detention better than the last even if it did take up her whole Sunday.
Both were working really concentrated and the next thing that interrupted them was Carya's stomach when it rumbled quite loudly demanding attention. Snape glanced at the clock and discovered that it was already past lunch.
"Do you need to eat something now?" he asked without his usual coldness which surprised Carya.
"Not really, sir. I'd rather finish this first," the girl answered honestly and he nodded curtly before they got back to work.
It was three in the afternoon when they had completed the work on the potions for the infirmary. The Professor dismissed her and again wondered where she got her talent from. Carya went straight to the kitchens and grabbed an apple and a few sandwiches.
She then searched for her friends. She found them in their secret rooms. And was instantly assaulted with question about the last eight hours.
"Carya! There you are. Where have you been all those hours? Don't tell me Snape kept you all the time," Hermione began and Carya smirked at her.
"Exactly, Hermione, all the time and I didn't even realise it," she told her friend grinning happily.
"You had detention with Snape for eight bloody hours? What the hell did he make you do?" Ginny asked exasperated.
"Not much, really. At first, well, for two hours I was just cleaning dirty cauldrons. Then for the next one and a half hour I relabelled potions vials and stored them in the right order and place. After that I had to prepare some ingredients for the sleeping potions he had to make for the infirmary.
And finally I was told to make a huge batch of the simple healing draught we learnt earlier this year. Oh come on, it was perfect. He checked it and said it was good work, really!" Carya explained, "It was the best detention ever, I think. Well, if you leave out the first part that is."
When they sat down at the Slytherin table for dinner, her friends were still looking as if she'd gone crazy. Her friends and brother were only staring at her dumbfounded. Here stood a girl that had just finished eight hours of detention and was actually happy about it.
Carya only smirked at them. Snape might not exactly like them but he was never truly unfair towards any Slytherin. The three kids still looked oddly at Carya and she continuously shook her head at their antics. It was really funny but she also could understand their confusion.
The teachers did notice too and wondered what had happened to make the four of them behave like that. When Carya repeatedly rolled her eyes and started grinning after Harry had said something. Albus Dumbledore asked the Potions Professor if he knew what was going on.
"Severus, do you know what this is about? Three of them are your students after all," he asked.
"I don't know Albus. I haven't met Miss Weasley, Miss Granger or Mister Potter today. I also haven't seen Miss Potter since she left my office after her detention. And that was at three this afternoon," he explained the headmaster.
"If you don't mind, when did her detention start?" Albus inquired curiously.
"Seven this morning," Snape replied gruffly and went back to his plate.
The Headmaster raised an eyebrow at that. It was curious. The girl had served eight hours detention. That wasn't so unusual with his young colleague but she behaved different from most who had served such a penalty.
He also knew that Severus wouldn't have made it too easy. He just wasn't the type to pamper his students in any way. The old Professor decided to ask him later what exactly Carya had done during that time. Meanwhile the Potter girl desperately tried to get her friends back to normal.
"Would you just stop it? I told you it wasn't that bad this time. It was long but I don't mind, really! It's better than cleaning the entrance hall, don't you think?" she said and again Ginny and Harry only stared at her with their mouths hanging open,
"You two are impossible. Perhaps I should take a photo and show Dudley next summer? He would love to see your faces right now," Carya continued grinning madly.
The name caught Blaise Zabini's and Alex Moon's attention. Although they normally didn't talk to the Potters their curiosity was too great now. Dudley was an unusual name for wizards and so they asked.
"Who's Dudley?" Blaise asked.
"Huh? Oh, Dudley? He's our cousin. A muggle but one of our best friends. You can always rely on him if you need back up for a story or help with something like a prank," Carya said grinning at their disbelieving looks.
They were children of purebloods or 'pureblood-supporters' and that made it difficult for them to believe anything good about muggles. When they didn't reply and all of those who had heard just stared the twins in utter disbelief. Ginny started laughing and her friends joined in a second later.
Suddenly the attention of the whole Great Hall was at the Slytherin table where three students were laughing loudly. No one understood and they wouldn't know what this was about either. The three friends got up, looked at Hermione and she left the Hall together with them.
The teachers were confused too. Not only did they behave oddly at dinner, no they had started to laugh in a way the Professors wouldn't have thought Slytherin's capable of and in front of the whole school at that.
It was a heartfelt, honest laughter, something you rarely got with a student from the 'Snake House'. The headmaster found out about Carya's detention after dinner when the students were long gone. He was just as clueless as everyone else.
Normally after such a detention the students, even Slytherin's, would keep glaring at the Potions Master not grinning like they'd won a prize as Carya had done the whole time.
Please Read AND Review.
Thx ,
Carya
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