Disclaimer: Not mine. If it was...I'd be a whole lot richer and a whole lot..er..famouser. Yeah. Anyways, I don't own the Harry Potterverse, that honor belongs to the illustrious J.K. Rowling. I'm just messing around here.
A/N: Alright. Well this chapter was unplanned. I really don't know how it's going to turn out, because I write this author note before I write the actual chapter. The second one is the afterwards. Anyways, I do have to thank Slytherin Queen, for bringing my attention back to Harry and the rest of the characters. Heh, I keep forgetting about them.
And for all of you who -didn't- review, well, get to it. And be grateful I'm an ex-duckie.
And for those of you who were smart and saved their own hides, a big thanks goes out to you. So here you are. Thank you!
MelissaAdams: You know, I hadn't even thought of how Lucius got out of jail. Hm. I need to figure that out. Maybe I'll just blame it on the duckies ::grin::. Nah, seriously, great questions, keep 'em coming. Oh, and your Severus question should be answered in this chapter.
Igraine Lauldin: ::chuckles:: I loved that movie. Oh, and "ouch" and "couch" rhymes. Which gives me ideas for a musical. About Severus. And his night on the couch. ::shakes her head really hard:: Bad evil thoughts! Last time I wrote a musical, it was about pirates, drunken pirates at that, and it was...scary. I got people to preform it though. Small people. As in children. It was rather funny now that I think about it. Wow. I've rambled. P
Danalas the Lady Chaos: You never know. Though I hear the "Baa-baa Black Sheep" warning level is low for the next few days. But you'd better review some more, just to be safe ::grin:: (hmm...baa-baa black sheep sounds oddly familiar. Am I missing something here?)
And on with the fic!
If Snape hadn't known it was impossible, he would have thought that the children in his last class had gotten even worse at potion-making as the year went on. Some of them even made Longbottom look like a seasoned potions master.
Severus Snape pinched the bridge of his nose. Today was just one of those days. Not that he had had a day quite like this before, but there was a first time for everything.
He grabbed a pain relief potion off of a cabinet as soon as his last class had left. He had a ear-splitting headache and his back still ached from his night on the couch.
He still had no clue how he ended up there. One minute they were discussing proper protocal, and the next, Hermione was screaming and locking herself in the bedroom.
Snape groaned inwardly as he noticed two unwelcome faces walk through the door. Potter and Weasley. Oh yes, this was going to be a wonderful day.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Get in your seats!" Snape spat, glaring at the two boys who had stopped in the doorway. Harry looked as if wanted to ask something, but then thought better of it and sat down.
Snape paced slowly in front of the classroom as the last few students trickled in. His eyes narrowed when he noticed an empty seat. "Where is she?" he snapped, turning his gaze onto Ron and Harry.
"I don't know. Isn't it your job to know that?" Harry said, glaring at the potions master as if he had done something.
"Detention, Potter. You will learn to speak to me in a manner that befits a professor." Snape said smoothly, though not without a tinge of apprehension. Where was Hermione anyway?
Harry looked down, away from Snape but Ron's face grew indignant and he opened his mouth to make a remark. Harry stepped on his foot to stop him and Ron took the hint. He contented himself by glaring feebily at Professor Snape.
"Today," Snape said, turning his attention away from the two Griffindors, "You will be preparing the Raffredore Potion. Would anyone care to explain what this potion is?" He continued, raking his gaze over the class. Not a soul moved.
"Anyone?" He said, beginning to get irritated. "You, Longbottom, what is the answer?" Snape moved to stand imposingly over Neville.
"I..that is..er..I don't know, sir." Neville said nervously, shifting in his seat.
"Pathetic." Snape spat. "How you managed to stay in my class for seven years is beyond my comprehension."
Snape moved to pace in front of the class. "The Raffredore potion, which you should all know by now, is the cure for the common cold."
"The directions are up on the board. You have 45 minutes." he said simply, moving back to his desk and sitting in his chair.
At this point, it was futile to hope that things would go easily for him. No, that was simply too much to ask. His life was spiraling downwards into a vortex of darkness and pain. Alright, so maybe that was a little melodramatic. But the whole pregnant child bride business was really putting him out of sorts.
How was he supposed to react to this? As much as he'd like to pretend that he didn't give a damn, he did. And he certainly couldn't walk away from all of this. No, if any man knew his responsibilites, it was Severus Snape.
Hermione was obviously upset. But about what? He had thought that she was much more sensible than to throw that tissy over the simple fact that they were wed. And expecting a child. Isn't it a little early for pregnancy hormones to be kicking in?
Merlin, he hated being so in the dark. What had she said last night? Something about her life going in the wrong direction, and him not knowing how to love? Presumptive girl. She had no idea. How would she though, that annoying little voice in the back of his head so kindly reminded him, you never gave her any reason to believe otherwise.
Snape glanced up at the class. His gaze drifted over to the Slytherins, where Malfoy was snickering about something with Goyle. Snape's eyes narrowed, but he could not discern the reason for it.
He looked over to the Griffindors. Longbottom was, as usual, doing abysmally. His potion, which should have been azure, was a dusky orange and smoking purple. Potter and Weasley, who were working together, kept throwing furitive glares in his direction. He sneered at them in return.
Snape checked the time. 2 minutes until the end of class. "You should be done with your potions by now. Stopper them and put them on my desk for grading. Dismissed."
The class poured their potions into vials and deposited them on his desk. When Harry came up, he looked up from the paper he wasn't grading and said "You will serve your detention with Filch at 8 tonight. I suggest you wear clothes you wouldn't mind becoming soiled."
Harry opened his mouth indignantly, while Snape gave him a challenging glare, daring him to say what was on his mind.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron blurted out, beating Harry to whatever he was going to say.
"I thought it was clear that I didn't know, Mister Weasley." Snape replied, looking at the pair with disdain.
"She wasn't in Transfiguration. Or Charms either." Harry said, throwing Snape a suspicious glance.
"I believe you were dismissed Potter. Leave." Snape snarled, glaring at them.
Harry frowned. "If I find out you've hurt her, there'll be no end to your suffering."
"Remember that while you're in detention." Snape replied, in an almost bored voice.
With a final glare at the Potions Professor, the boys hurriedly left the dungeons.
A/N: Snape's kinda clueless, ain't he? Well...he is a guy...and Hermione wasn't exactly clear. I know this chapter's rather short...it's almost a filler, but it does advance a few things and has some character development.
Raffredore is Italian for 'cold'. Ho un raffredore would mean I have a cold. Yep.
Alright, I know you're all sick of hearing this, but I implore you all who haven't yet to go back and re-read the previous chapters. There've been changes and all that.
Oh, and I started a new fic called "Okay". Kinda dark, I don't expect it to be more than 5 chapters or so. Though HiO is my first priority, so you all don't need to worry. So go check it out and drop a review.
And of course, leave one here. You all should know the consequences of not doing so.
Yes, the duckies will get you.