'This is stupid,' Harry thought as he walked down the empty corridor towards the dungeons. 'This is very, very stupid.'

Harry sidled along the walls, creeping around corners and always checking his breathing as he made his journey. Really there was no point to sidle and creep; he knew perfectly well that he was invisible. But Harry had a hard time getting used the idea that he could walk freely around the castle at night without being seen.

He walked behind suits of armor and tiptoed around patrolling prefects until he made it to his final destination: Snape's classroom. Harry entered the room that smelled overwhelmingly of formaldehyde and pickling juices and had to swallow a very painful cough that had jumped to his chest.

The classroom looked different at night without any students or cauldrons. A very ominous kind of different; Harry felt almost certain that something knew he was there. Then again, he also thought he had a right to feel nervous; the door had been unlocked. He took another step into the classroom and heard the door creak and felt something tug on the end of his cloak. He inhaled sharply and spun around beneath the fabric to look eye to eye with…the door. The cloak had snagged between the door and the floor. Harry almost sighed in relief, but caught himself in time; he had to be more careful about how much noise he was making. There was no telling if Snape was in his office.

Harry tiptoed up the slight staircase at the back of the classroom and saw that the door was just enough ajar to allow him to slip in. All the candles were out, and the room was so completely dark that Harry couldn't tell if anybody was inside. His worries about Snape being in the office, however, were quickly ebbed and replaced by a more fatalistic fear as he heard footsteps in the classroom and the sweep of a cloak; he had forgotten to shut the classroom door.

Harry quickly hurried into a corner behind and tall, wobbly shelf bedecked with hundreds of dead things in jars and obscure potions ingredients. The glasses rocked a little as he squatted down into the corner, but, thankfully, they didn't make any noise.

Harry cursed his treacherous hiding place as a tall figure entered the room with a stalking grace that could only be attributed to his potions' master. Snape flicked his wand with a powerful jerk and all the candles were lit. The room became bathed with an impossibly bright firelight and Harry had to fight to keep from flinching as his eyes panged against the adjustment. Snape, however, didn't seem to have any trouble with the light. He immediately began checking under his desk and shelves and in cupboards in chests, looking in all possible places for the trespasser. Harry faced one breathless, terrifying moment when the professor suck his large, hooked nose behind the shelf, just inches from Harry's knee.

Once the professor had checked all possible and impossible places he sniffed and stood upright. "Show yourself!" he hissed loudly.

Harry sat completely still and silent.

Snape cast his eyes once more across the room before he was satisfied that it was empty. "Damn students...if they think I won't find out who they are…with only 10 of them left in the school for the holiday, no less!"

Harry's stomach churned as he heard the odds toss against him. Snape was going to find out it was him unless he got out of there fast. Where better to check for the culprit than in the dorm room of your most hated student?

But, to Harry's surprise, Snape did not leave to run to the room to discover Harry's absence. Snape sat down at his desk and pulled out a quill and piece of parchment and began scribbling for a very long time.

Harry fought sleep as Snape wrote on for what seemed like hours. His legs were cramping, his back and neck ached and throbbed, and he fought off yawns constantly, feeling lightheaded from his shallow breaths.

Harry cursed his plan even more now. What exactly had he expected? Was Snape supposed to leave some incredibly incriminating evidence out on his desk? Was he supposed to start a soliloquy to his empty office about his evil plans to destroy Harry Potter?

'If I get caught I deserve it,' thought Harry.

And no sooner than the thought entered his head than Snape got up from his desk and walked right over to Harry…

And, of course, took down a jar. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid!' Harry's mind screamed at him as his heart thumped hard enough that it should be rattling the shelves.

Harry heard the jar pop open and some more scratching…and then silence. A confusing silence. He risked turning his neck around just far enough to watch Snape get up from his desk, parchment in hand, and leave the room. Harry listened hard until he heard the professor's footsteps diminish entirely.

Harry stood from his cramped position. His legs almost gave out beneath him as he moved out of the corner, pressed flat against the wall. Harry readjusted his cloak, made sure he was completely covered, and crept out of the office.

The door, thankfully, was still open. Snape hadn't bothered closing it. Harry hurried to the door, thrilled to be free at last.

He hurried over the threshold, but as he stepped through he felt a liquid cold wash over him. "Hello," said a malevolent voice.

Harry turned and saw Snape.

The professor reached forward straight towards Harry's nose and felt him there. He also felt the slippery fabric of the cloak and pulled.

Harry felt the cover sliver off him, and he stood, completely visible in front of Snape.

Snape had never looked happier. He almost smiled. Harry watched Snape in horror. 'How'd he know I was there? How? What do I do now!' Harry's thoughts screamed at him.

As if reading his thoughts, Snape glanced up at the top of the doorway with an amused glint in his eyes. Harry followed his look and saw a piece of parchment attached to the frame with archaic looking symbols glowing blue.

"I knew you were there," said Snape.

And Harry swallowed hard.

His fate no rested entirely on Snape's good will.

He didn't like his odds.