Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Detention with Snape
The boys walked through the empty corridors towards the dungeons. Somehow they managed to keep themselves alive on the way, though Harry had to admit that this was a very good chance to get rid of Malfoy. If he killed Malfoy in the dark, there would be less witnesses. Draco knocked on the heavy door of Snape's office.
''Come in.'' A cold voice spoke and the boys entered the dim office. They both were surprised to see professor McGonagall standing by the desk. She usually never came down in the dungeons.
''Good evening.'' Boys greeted as politely as their rage let them.
''Good evening.'' Minerva harshly replied. Harry could see that she wasn't very thrilled at the fact that he got his first detention from his father. That meant that he really did something wrong. Severus didn't respond, he stood up and walked towards them.
''I'm tired of you two fighting every time I turn my back. Not even taking points from your houses works anymore, so I figured we'll just have to try a different solution.'' Severus smirked at them. Harry rebelliously looked at the floor the whole time.
''I ran out on an ingredient that exists only in the Forbidden forest. You two dunderheads are going to get that ingredient and due to the fact that it grows only in one area of the forest, you'll have to look for it together. I expect you'll be back till morning.'' Severus said with a silky tone.
''But professor! You can't do that!'' Draco protested.
''I can and I believe I just did.'' Severus replied calmly. ''You could use spending some time alone with Potter, maybe you will work out your differences.'' He sneered. ''You better get that plant on time or else there will be hell to pay.''
''Fine. Let's get this over with already.'' Harry coldly replied and turned to leave the office.
''Not so fast, Potter. I need to have a word with you.'' Severus said with a tone that usually meant trouble. He shoved a parchment and a bag in Draco's hands. ''Here. This is a photograph of the plant you have to find. Minerva, can you please escort Mr. Malfoy outside?'' Severus asked. Minerva nodded formally. Harry noticed that she was relieved for leaving the gloomy dungeons. She opened the door and walked out with Draco following her reluctantly. Severus flicked his wand and the door shut behind the young Slytherin. When Harry made sure that Minerva and Draco were far enough, he said
''Dunderhead?''
''Sorry about that, it has grown into a habbit by now.'' Severus shrugged his shoulders. ''Harry, I don't want you to get in trouble with Slytherins, especially with Draco Malfoy.'' Potions Master said, his voice was now quite different.
''I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself. Besides, he was the one who started it!'' Harry defended himself.
''He's doing that only to annoy you, you should be smarter then to fall for his childish tricks.''
''If you think I'm going to stay silent while he's offending my godfather, you're wrong.''
''I know that you cared about... Sirius, but next time just ignore it. I don't want to give you more detentions.''
''That's a first.'' Harry muttered remembering how previous years Snape gave him detentions every time he gave him a wrong look.
''Don't be sarcastic, I didn't know then that you were my son.'' Severus sighed tiredly.
''Fine, maybe I deserved it this time.'' Harry smirked.
''Here's a photograph of the plant.'' Severus gave him a piece of parchment and a small bag.
''Can't you just tell me where I can find it?'' Harry sighed looking at the smudged picture of a purple plant.
''No, then it wouldn't be a proper detention, now would it?'' Severus smiled to his son mischievously.
''Okay, I have a question; would you mind if you lose one of your Slytherins in the forest? We can say it was a testral...''
''Harry! Be careful.'' Severus interrupted him. ''It grows near the maple tree in the left part of the forest.''
Harry said his thanks and left the office folding the photo of the plant. When he walked out of the castle it was already dark and Minerva and Draco were near the entrance to the forest so he hurried up. Finally, he arrived and Minerva spoke
''I will be waiting here for you to return, if you encounter any problems just send red flares with your wands into the air. And please, try not to kill each other.'' She pleaded. ''One more thing; you might want to mark your way so you can come back. We don't want to lose any more students.'' She gave Harry a look, he immediately thought of Hermione.
''Alright, let's go already. I don't intend to wander the forest the whole night with... this.'' Harry threw a disgusted look in Malfoy's direction.
''Move it, Potter.'' Malfoy hissed heading into the woods.
''Harry, don't do anything stupid.'' Minerva quietly warned him before he walked into the pitched dark forest.
It's a scary thing, to walk in the dark alone, but even scarier when you're walking in the dark with an enemy. Draco refused to walk in front of Harry in fear that he might hex him or something. So they walked one next to the other. They both agreed on having their wands in the air. That way they won't be able to do any spells while their wands are producing light.
''This is all your fault, you know?'' Draco hissed.
''Oh, really? I don't remember me being the one who started it.''
''Well, I can't help the fact that you annoy me.'' Draco spat.
''Shut up, Malfoy.'' Harry scoffed at him. He marked another tree with a spell that Hermione used to mark the doors in the Ministry.
''How are we supposed to find that stupid plant in the dark? I can't even see the photo.'' Draco stared blankly at the parchment.
''Let's go this way.'' Harry suggested remembering where Severus told him the plant grows.
''No, let's go this way.'' Draco protested.
''No, it's this way. Come on.'' Harry assured him.
''How the bloody hell you know where it grows? I don't remember you knowing anything about Potions, for Merlin's sake last year you even had to attend extra hours with Snape because your potions sucked.'' Draco sneered.
''Why do you always have to such an idiot? I know for a fact that it grows near the maple trees, and that's in this direction.'' Harry pointed his wand left.
''Fine, you go your way, I'll go mine.'' Draco turned away.
''Whatever, don't blame it on me if something happens to you.'' Harry rolled his eyes.
''What could possibly happen to me?''
''You're heading the way where Ron and me encountered gigantic spiders on second year.'' Harry said calmly like enormous spiders are the most common thing in the world.
''You're lying.'' Draco said trying to look as brave as possible what by the way didn't work. ''What the hell did you and Weasley do in the forest anyway?''
''Trust me, you don't want to know.''
After that Draco followed Harry although he tried to convince him that he's wrong. Despite the light coming from their wands, they were still tripping over rocks and roots. Soon they found the place where the plant was growing. Harry gently picked up as much flowers as possible puting it in his bag unlike Draco who quickly grabbed a few flowers and carelessly shoved them in the bag.
''I told you we'll find it here.'' Hary said while he stood up from the ground.
''Yeah, right. It was just a lucky guess.''
''You just can't admit that you were wrong?''
''That's because I'm usually right.'' Draco said decidedly. ''I was right when I said that mudbloods won't stay at Hogwarts for much more time. It's a matter of days when the rest of your kind will have their children out of our school, just like the Grangers did.''
''Don't you ever call Hermione a mudblood again.'' Harry threatened. His voice echoed the forest.
''It's the truth, isn't it? Just accept the fact that mudbloods don't belong in Hogwarts.They can never mount to anything great like...''
''Like Voldemort? I'm afraid I'll have to dissapoint you, but your Lord was a mudblood too.'' Harry enjoyed that stunned expresion on his face.
''Shut up! That's not true, you're just saying that...''
''...because it's the truth? My God, your father obviously didn't teach you well.'' He acted surprised.
''I'll ask my father and then you'll see who was right!''
''You do that and let me know what he tells you. But I woudn't be surprised if he doesn't know the truth either. I mean, I told him that the last time we met, but he was occupied with the Prophecy so maybe he didn't get me seriously.'' Harry said and continued his way out of the forest.
Draco was fuming. He wanted so badly to strangle his company, but decided to wait until they exit the forest before he does anything. Harry was walking away, thinking Draco was behind him following. After a while, he turned around and realised he wasn't.
''Oi! Malfoy!'' He yelled. ''Where the hell are you, you stupid git?'' Harry muttered to himself.
For a minute he thought about simply leaving the forest and Malfoy in it, but then he would have to explain why he lost him on the way and might earn more detentions. So he reluctantly turned back and went looking for his Slytherin collegue. It wasn't long before he noticed his blonde hair and the creature moving towards him. Draco was walking backwards in fear of the centaur who was coming closer to him every second.
''Firenze!'' Harry called. The features turned towards him.
''Young Harry, what are you doing here alone?'' Firenze kindly asked.
''Oh, one of the professors sent me to get an ingredient. Actually, I'm not alone.'' Harry responded glaring at Draco who was now leaning agaist a tree.
''You're not? Is this young man before me your friend?'' Firenze gestured towards the frightened boy. Harry smirked at him. Draco pleaded him with his dark eyes to save him. He remembered what this creatures did to Umbridge and he didn't want to have the same happen to him.
''No, he's not my friend. I'd love to stay and talk but I have to go now, I got what I needed. Bye Firenze.'' Harry coldly said and turned away.
''Potter! What are you doing?'' Draco panicked, his eyes filled with fear. Harry didn't show that he heard him as he was slowly geting further away. ''Potter, come back! Don't leave me with him, he's going to kill me!''
''And why should I help you?'' Harry stoped walking. ''Because you insult my friends and me? Because you don't miss a chance to get me in trouble? Or because now I'm stuck here with you because of a fight you started?''
''Look, I'm sorry.'' Draco silently muttered with an effort.
''Yes?''
''Okay, I won't insult you or any of your friends anymore.''
''Go on.'' Harry barely suspended laughter.
''I'll try not to get you in trouble or fight with you...''
''...and you are going to apologize to Hermione when she comes back or I'll have the entire school know that I, a Gryffindor, saved your unworthy life.'' Harry finished coming closer again.
Draco was about to say that Hermione will never come back and that he would never ever apologize to a mudblood but he stayed silent considering the position he was in. He reluctantly nodded carefully eyeing the centaur who was quite amused with the happenings.
''Good. Can you please step aside, Firenze?'' Harry asked with a smile. The centaur winked while he moved backwards. Draco swiftly ran away as quickly as he could without a second look at the centaur.
''Thanks, Firenze. I believe that after this he'll stay out of the forest for a while.'' Harry laughed and trailed off.
When he reached the end of the Forbidden forest he saw Draco still running all the way to the lake. Professor McGonagall worriedly ran after him and stoped him before he reached the water. Harry hurried towards them.
''What did you do to him?'' Minerva spat at him as soon as he came close enough to hear her.
''Me? Nothing.'' Harry looked at her innocently. She shook her head in disbelief and headed to the castle with Draco walking behind her.
''Hey, Malfoy. I should probably tell you that Firenze would never harm anyone. But I still expect you to do all those things you said while you were 'in danger' or else you know what will happen.'' Harry tapped him friendly on the shoulder and hurried up. Malfoy glared at him viciously not believeing that a Gryffindor had just outsmarted him.
A/N: Forgive me for the delay in updating, I've been very busy with school and I just didn't have time to write. I hope to finish the next chapter sooner, but I need your help for that. Will Ron find out that Severus is Harry's father ( one way or another )? Should I have Hermione back in Hogwarts before Christmas?
Please review and help me,
Lily
