A/N: Chapter beta read by Forty-Two Dreams. All remaining mistakes are mine.

CHAPTER 11
REVENGE

Snape spent the first half of the night very grumpy. Surprisingly enough he still hadn't managed to take any points from any House. It seemed all students were quietly resting in their dorms as they should be, since he hadn't managed to catch any out yet.

"Severus?" a voice echoed behind him. Snape turned to face McGonagall. "Unable to sleep?" she queried.

"Actually I'm replacing Professor Wilson for her night watch," he replied.

McGonagall stared at him for a few seconds. "And how in Merlin's name did you get yourself in this situation?" she asked with amusement, as if she knew he would never have volunteered. Confronted with his stubborn silence she didn't insist. "All right, this is none of my business."

Before Snape could go on his way the Transfiguration teacher went on: "Maybe we can split the school areas so we can cover everything, like we usually do. What about I take the North and West wings, and you take care of the South and East wings?"

"Fine," Snape answered with a shrug. After all these years teaching at Hogwarts, he and McGonagall had developed a routine when on night watches together.

Snape walked past the entrance to Gryffindor tower while heading towards the East wing. His sixth sense suddenly warned him of a presence nearby. All his senses on the alert, he looked around him but saw nothing in the darkness. Still suspicious, Snape kept examining his surroundings cautiously, until he felt some kind of draught in his back, as if someone had just swept past him.

Snape swirled round swiftly and extended his arm to catch a potential intruder, but his hand remained empty. He hadn't dreamt it. It was still close; he could sense it. Snape kept looking around until he heard a sound. The sound of the portrait in front of the entrance to Gryffindor tower being opened.

Snape turned round and rushed back towards the Gryffindor tower, but it was already too late. The portrait was back in its place. The Fat Lady arched an eyebrow when Snape arrived in front of her.

"Who just entered?" he asked adamantly.

"I am not allowed to give that kind of information to you," the Fat Lady replied flatly.

"I am a Professor on a night watch," Snape retorted rather animatedly. "If you refuse to tell me who just entered then let me in!"

"You have no authority to enter the Gryffindor tower. You are no Head of Gryffindor nor Headmaster."

Snape pursed his lips with annoyance. "Very well," he concluded, upset, before walking away. He didn't need to get in to find out who had been sneaking out.

Potter and his friends, of course. Ever since they had entered Hogwarts, they had been breaking rules, oblivious to the dangers they might put themselves in.

Snape strode over the East wing's corridors and levels, hoping to catch a few trespassing students to pass his frustration on. Unfortunately he found none - what was with them all tonight? - until he reached the junction between East and South wings, and the entrance to Ravenclaw tower. And what was happening there puzzled him greatly.

There was an indecent amount of noise coming from the Ravenclaw tower, which was very unlike these usually studious students, especially so late at night. They were probably still celebrating their victory over Slytherin on the Quidditch pitch.

Snape briefly considered talking the Ravenclaw portrait into letting him in - which was bound to fail - before a vicious plan slowly took shape in his mind. A wicked smile appeared on his lips.

Snape walked back a few yards into the East wing, climbed a flight of stairs, and walked to the door opposite the landing. Then he knocked and waited patiently. When no answer came he knocked again, more firmly. And again a few seconds later, quite loudly this time.

Snape heard some rummaging inside at last, and shortly after Professor Wilson opened the door. He had obviously woken her up - something he had honestly not intended to do - if the thick woollen dressing gown she was wearing was any indication.

The witch looked up at him with sleepy eyes as she lazily rested a shoulder on the doorframe.

"What's going on?" she whispered flatly, until her eyes suddenly widened. "Did something happen? Was there any attack?" she queried worriedly, her eyes darting left and right in the hallway as if she was expecting to find something unusual. "I didn't hear anything."

"No, there was no attack," Snape confirmed. "Though I'm surprised you didn't hear anything considering the great deal of noise coming from the Ravenclaw tower."

Wilson stared at him, looking bewildered. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean it seems you have trouble keeping the students of your House under control," Snape replied with condescendence, "for they are still noisily celebrating their victory in their common room."

The Charms teacher crossed her arms over her chest with a very stubborn expression on her face. "As a Professor in charge of the night watch, it's your responsibility to take care of any kind of misbehaviour."

"Absolutely," Snape answered, his voice as smooth as silk. "However, I have no authority over what happens in the common room of a House other than my own."

Wilson silently glared at him during long seconds, looking as if she was trying to figure out whether he was making fun of her or not. Snape decided to drive it home.

"So unless you feel you are unable to exert enough authority on the students of your House, I suggest you go and take care of the situation quickly."

The witch glared at him some more, clearly upset. After a few moments she slammed the door behind her and strode away without adding a single word.

Snape instantly noticed she hadn't bothered to lock her door. Big mistake. He usually didn't indulge in childish behaviour, but had he had the time he would probably had gotten inside and set some… surprises for the Charms teacher. However, the Ravenclaw tower was very close and she was likely to be back in a few minutes. He would have to resort to much simpler tricks.

With a quick flick of his wand and a muttered incantation, Snape locked the door. He didn't use the usual Alohomora spell though, but a more complicated and secure one. Wilson would probably figure it out quickly, but considering how sleepy she looked it might take her some entertaining moments.

Snape moved away and hid in a dark corner at some distance, not wanting his presence to spoil the surprise.

A few minutes later Wilson came back, muttering something under her breath. She looked disconcerted when the door to her rooms refused to open. Snape's lips twitched up sadistically. The witch tried to open the door a couple more times before she started searching her pockets for her wand. And found none.

Snape's smile broadened until it became a large grin, while Wilson began to curse audibly. This was getting better and better: she had left her wand inside and was now locked outside.

Wilson left hurriedly an instant later, after giving a quick furious kick in the door. Snape waited a few moments before leaving as well, resuming his night watch to investigate the South wing.

As he walked past the Ravenclaw tower he noticed no more noise could be heard. It also came as no surprise to him when he found no trespasser all the way through the South wing - obviously all students had agreed to make his night as dull as possible - until he reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room.

It sounded surprisingly quiet. He had better get inside and make sure everything was fine. As Snape was about to pronounce the password he heard two sets of steps coming his way. He turned and saw Filch and Wilson.

At that moment, Filch probably said something the Charms teacher didn't appreciate, for Wilson suddenly stopped dead in her tracks while Filch continued walking.

"I did not lock myself out!" she exclaimed rather loudly and clearly indignant. Snape smirked.

"Right…" Filch muttered and rolled his eyes. As the caretaker walked past Snape he nodded at him. "Good night Professor Snape."

Snape nodded back. When Wilson walked past him, she cast Snape a long death glare, as though she knew the locked door was his doings.

As soon as they were both far enough, Snape pronounced the password and entered the Slytherin common room. The place was depressingly quiet. Very unusual. Generally, Snape would find at least a couple of students preparing some wicked plan, he would reprimand them boldly, and then give a subtle hint as to how they could improve their plan - so subtle that unfortunately they usually didn't get it. That was how things were meant to be. But not tonight obviously.

Tonight, the Slytherins were too disappointed by the Quidditch results to stay up late at night. Pity. Snape examined the common room a few more minutes until he spotted an offending item.

It was a miniature adult woman with long blonde hair and abnormal anatomic proportions. Probably a Muggle object, Snape concluded while cautiously picking up the aberration - such a thing had nothing to do in his House's common room - keeping it at a secure arm-length and eyeing it suspiciously.

The thing extended its arms towards him. "I love you mommy!" it said with a creaky voice.

Snape instantly dropped the thing and aimed his wand at it, ready to destroy it.

"Let's go kill all these Mudbloods!" it went on.

Snape frowned.

"Dumbledore sucks!" it exclaimed.

Snape smiled. Some Slytherins had probably stolen this object from another House's student and enchanted it to have it make some insightful remarks. He pocketed his wand and left.

During the next hour he strode over the South and East wings a couple more times, still empty-handed. But at least he eventually spotted a small silhouette that promptly retreated in a corner at his approach. It turned out to be a first year Ravenclaw, looking utterly lost.

Snape towered the child menacingly, enjoying the sight of fright in the young student's eyes. The child babbled a couple of incoherent syllables, but quickly gave up trying to say anything when Snape smirked evilly.

"Follow me," he ordered coldly. Then he left swiftly without looking over his shoulder to check the Ravenclaw was obeying - he undoubtedly was.

A few minutes later he was on the step of Wilson's rooms once more, the first year in tow. He knocked. Oh was she going to hate him for waking her up again, Snape anticipated almost enthusiastically before knocking once more.

The door was opened abruptly by a very angry-looking Charms teacher.

"What do you want again?" she spat between gritted teeth.

"I believe this student belongs to your House," Snape replied, tilting his head towards the cowering first year.

Wilson only took a brief look at the child. "And?"

"I found him wandering through the corridors. Which is strictly forbidden, as you might know."

Wilson turned to the student. "Kane, you're a first year, right?"

The student nodded uneasily.

"What were you doing outside the Ravenclaw tower in the middle of the night?" she asked.

"I… I got lost, Professor," the student replied sheepishly.

Wilson turned back to Snape. "He got lost," she repeated, as if it was supposed to solve the matter.

"Which is why I took him to his Head of House," Snape retorted.

Wilson stared at him blankly during a long moment. "Professor Snape," she eventually said, her voice surprisingly calm, "you do know how close the Ravenclaw tower is from here, don't you?"

"Certainly," Snape confirmed.

"Do you think you could have possibly taken this student directly back to the Ravenclaw tower where he belongs?" she asked, her voice getting less and less calm by the instant.

"I have to admit this didn't occur to me. I will try to keep this brilliant idea in mind for the next time."

The more Snape arched his eyebrows innocently, the more Wilson narrowed her eyes angrily. The expression on her face was priceless. If it hadn't been up to then, war was now officially declared between the two of them.

Wilson abruptly closed the door, locked it conscientiously while sending him a nasty look. "Professor Snape," she eventually spat, "forget about our bet. I'll take care of my next night watches as was scheduled."

Snape only nodded - he had expected no less. Wilson began to walk away, froze suddenly and turned round.

"Kane, what are you waiting for?" she called rudely.

The first year shivered with fear before trotting behind his Head of House as she disappeared down the stairs.

Was this witch a moody little thing when woken up in the middle of the night, Snape thought with the barest hint of a satisfied smile on his lips. Very far from her usual annoyingly kind and smiling self. Actually she had almost sounded like him on a good day when calling that student.

Snape decided he had fulfilled his night watch duties and returned to his rooms to rest.

The next morning, when Wilson arrived in the Great Hall late for breakfast, her eyes red and puffy with exhaustion, and when she noticed the only free seat at the teachers' table was next to Snape, she cast him a disgusted look before turning round and leaving.


Coming Next: Before the Storm