Just before lessons were about to begin, the corridors of Hogwarts were full of swarming students, all excitedly chattering about the 'incident' in the Great Hall at breakfast. Among said students were one Harry Potter, one Hermione Granger and one Ronald Weasley, also found discussing the earlier events.
"That was crazy." Hermione declared, shaking her head, sending her wild curls bouncing madly.
Ron nodded. "I know. Do you reckon it'll happen again?"
Just then, the trio walked past a rather large portrait, in which all the subjects had taken to linking arms and kicking their legs up in the air, in sync, doing a dance that looked suspiciously like the can-can. Then two of the people in the portrait begun harmonizing in song.
"Oh, you all walk past everyday
But never pay attention to us
Are we that forgettable?"
Then they each did a little solo line, and it appeared, that despite how agreeable they seemed, what with singing and dancing together and all, they really weren't terribly fond off each other. In fact, they appeared to be rivals.
"I've fought great wars in my day
- While I know a multitude of curses -
Of course you do, you're evil!
Oh, is that what you really think of me
- after all this time of living together?
Yes, its true, I can't stand you, honestly
You're a goddamn awful wanker!
Well at least I -"
He began to spew out a whole lot of very interesting words and descriptions that made a Hufflepuff girl nearby blush bright red, squeal, and run off. However, Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't seem to notice anything amiss at all, and kept on walking and talking amongst themselves.
"I guess so," Harry was saying, in an answer to Ron's question earlier. "I think it'll probably be going on for quite a while, based on what Dumbledore said."
"Probably," Hermione agreed. "Now, come on, we're going to be late for Potions."
"And we wouldn't want that," Harry said wryly, exchanging a look with Ron, who chuckled before a wide smirk crossed his face. "What is it?" he asked.
Ron's smirk widened. "I wonder if Snape'll start singing in class. It should be good for blackmailing purposes, I'd think."
He and Harry grinned identical wicked grins of delight.
"Somehow I rather doubt that you actually do, but if that's what it'll take to get you to Potions on time, then so be it. Let's hurry!" Hermione cut in, giving them a look to silence them from plotting further before they ran down to the dungeons.
It was only at the entrance to class that Ron spun to face Hermione. "Wait a minute, were you implying earlier that I don't think?"
"Took you long enough," Hermione gave him a sweet smile as Harry snorted, and they walked into the class, with Ron trailing behind, his face slightly pink. He looked like he might say something, but Snape was already in the front of the class, and he kept his mouth shut.
However, it appeared he was one of the few who did, for a large group of students were still speculating about the "breakfast incident", ignoring Professor Snape's murderous glares. That is, until;
"Silence!" he barked. The entire class obeyed immediately, and the offending students stared at him nervously. "Five points each from everyone involved." There was a brief murmur of protest, but the expression on Snape's face quieted them. "Now, if I hear even one syllable about this morning's events, it will be twenty points. Your partners, and the potion you are to prepare today is on the board. You will do this in complete silence; I do not want to risk another impromptu performance. If any of you do, or say, anything, and I mean anything, that might spark off one, it will be a week's detention with Filch!"
The entire class stared at him. He glared back. "Well, what are you waiting for? Begin!"
They begun.
Hermione and Ron let out a sigh of relief at being paired up together. Dean stifled a groan as he moved to sit with Neville. Seamus and Blaise exchanged appraising looks, before both concluding that hey, it could have been worse and sitting together. Crabbe and Goyle shrugged as they respectively moved to Pansy and Milicent.
Which of course, left Draco and Harry to eye each other warily before setting up their equipment.
The entire class moved in complete silence, as instructed, and began to prepare the ingredients for the potion – ironically enough, a Silencing Solution. The only sounds that were heard in the dungeons were knives slicing through mandrake roots and the clinking of glass vials.
Of course, the whole time, they were all holding their breath slightly, hoping, just a little, that maybe, just maybe, someone – Neville, perhaps – would do something that would cause a repeat of the morning's events. Everyone so wanted to see Snape sing.
And, if possible, dance.
A week's detention with Filch was about as bad as it could get, really.
But maybe, just maybe, wouldn't it be worth it?
With that thought, and a rather cheeky 'besides, I'm his favorite student' in mind, it was none other than one Draco Malfoy who shifted in his seat and nudged Harry surreptitiously. The raven-haired boy eyed him suspiciously, but Draco simply tilted his head ever-so-slightly at their teacher, and gave Harry a pointed look. Harry frowned for a moment, then a smirk crossed his lips, and he nodded.
Harry honestly had no idea what Draco wanted when he felt a sharp elbow in his side, but the blonde had indicated the Potions Master would be involved, and when Harry had seen the look on Draco's face – must be what Slytherins look like when they plot, he mused – he found himself unable to resist the idea of watching their frigid professor bursting into song, detention be damned. And so, much to his own surprise, really, he had found himself nodding conspiratorially with Draco Malfoy.
With assurance of cooperation from Harry, Draco raised a hand and, with a wink he didn't quite know why he was giving, "accidentally" knocked over an entire jar full of bobotuber extract. Half of the contents spilt into their cauldron, and the other half was dangerously close to splattering on Lavender and Parvati, had it not been for Snape, who had looked up at the noise, and quickly yelled out a freezing charm. The extract froze in place, before falling to the floor and shattering upon impact.
"Dra - Mr. Malfoy!" Snape snapped. Draco looked up with what he hoped was an innocently-guilty expression. Snape glowered at him, and briefly at Harry. He seemed to want to yell at the pair, but caught himself right as he opened his mouth. He stole a quick glance around, trying to calculate if he would be unfortunate enough to have to sing, if he simply said just a quick "After class."
He was.
At the mention of those two words, a light guitar-and-piano tune was struck, accompanied by a rhythmic drumbeat. It was a very soulful sort of R&B track, and the class all had to suppress grins and laughter as Snape adjusted his grip on his wand so that he was now holding it like a microphone.
And then Snape began to sing.
AN: Oh, I know. I am horridly wicked for leaving it at that. (snicker) I couldn't help it, I'm sorry. But review anyway? If you're mad at me for cliffhanging, you can yell at me there. If you want me to get my ass in gear and get the next chapter out, well, you can bug me there too. Oh, I know. I'm a shameless review whore. (more snickering) Oblige me anyway? Review!
Many many thanks go out to my reviewers, hydrangea, KatFay, unregistered person, MaliciousMisery, LyddieIt, Jeffrey Granger, yayness, jess and dugong (Shut up. It was not.), for the nice reviews - they make me happy. And happy me equals happy muse, and you guys can guess where that leads. Yep, more madness. Anyhoo. Love and cookies to you all!