Monday morning woke me with frozen rain pelting against the windows. I got out of bed and dressed in my robes and brushed out my hair. I looked at myself in a mirror and decided to use a charm that made my hair curl nicely at the ends.

"Oooooh!" Susan said popping up behind me unexpectedly causing me to jump. "Getting all dolled up for Snivellus are we?"

"If you don't stop teasing me about him I'm going to hex you!" I threatened.

"You'd get in trouble." she sing-songed. "But I'll stop anyways because I'm a good friend! Don't ever forget that."

She danced her way to door opening on the steps to the common room.

"What is the matter with you today?" I asked. "You're never this chipper in the morning."

She turned to me her face shining with obvious glee at my question. "Mark kissed me last night!" She swooned. "Last night after you went to bed and I stayed downstairs to add some last minute pieces to my Transfiguration paper, Rob Cranston told me that Mark was outside the portal and wanted to see me. I went out there expecting him to ask me something about the Defense Against the Dark Arts homework, because he always asks me questions at the last minute, he's such a procrastinator. When I saw him he was all pale and sweaty and I thought he was going to be sick. I was about to ask him if he was feeling alright but before I could do anything he grabbed me and just kissed me. After he just looked at me smiled and ran off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower…it was rather odd…but HE KISSED ME, RUBY!"

I let out a squeal to match her excitement. "I told you he liked you!"

She grabbed my hands and jumped up and down. I matched her motions.

She stopped and took a deep breathe. "Okay, be cool, Susan." She told herself. She opened the door. "Breakfast?"

We entered the Great Hall and walked towards our normal spots at the Ravenclaw table. From catching bits and pieces of conversations I could tell that You-Know-Who was still the big topic of the school and from the looks I was getting from people as I passed I could also tell that Melody Waters had spread what I said yesterday through the whole school. But even their harsh glares couldn't shield the happiness that burst open in my chest when I saw that once again Snape's seat at the table was empty. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid were all back but Snape was still missing.

"What if Snape isn't going to be the potions master anymore?" I pondered out loud.

"Then you'd have a new potions master that I'm sure you wouldn't think was as good as Slughorn either." Susan answered distractedly as she smeared marmalade on toast.

"But what if…" I started. "What if Dumbledore is forced to ask Slughorn to come back for the remainder of the year? He couldn't possibly have time to interview more candidates for the position and have them be worthy of the position. I think he made a mistake with Snape and since Snape is gone maybe Dumbledore realizes it too and he has no choice but to beg Slughorn to come back!"

"You know what I think?" Susan sighed while stirring sugar into her tea. "You need to let this whole Slughorn thing go. Sure he was a great professor but he isn't the only person who can teach potions. I—and stay with me here—I think Snape is a pretty good teacher…except for his attitude but if you ignore all that stuff he's knowledgeable and I've learned loads."

My jaw hit the table. "How can you think he's good?" I demanded.

"Here we go." She rolled her eyes.

"He's horrible. I can even ask questions. No one can we're all too scared of him to say anything or even make eye contact. Plus he's…weird. He's just strange I don't need to elaborate I think I've proven my point."

"Everything you don't like about him is because of his attitude. I gave you the benefit of admitting that was off-putting but answer me honestly, is he a bad teacher? Have you ever felt like he didn't do something he could have to make you learn all you could?"

I tried to think of a time when his actual teaching left something to be desired and once I removed the sneers and belittling remarks I couldn't think of anything the matter with him. I sighed defeated and filled a bowl with some porridge.

"That's what I thought." Susan said with a snarky air.

"If I didn't know any better I'd swear you had a thing for Snape." I teased.

"Well then it's good that you know better. I'm just sick of hearing you complain about him all the time. Yes he has a horrible attitude and he scares the students but that's not why you don't like him. You don't like him simply because he isn't Slughorn and that's…well that's just stupid. "

I looked around and the depleting number of students at Breakfast and decided I should eat quickly and head to Charms with Susan.

Susan and I rushed into the classroom and took our normal seats in the second row near the window. Professor Flitwick stood at the front of the classroom on his usual pile of books. When everyone was seated he tapped his wand on his desk to attract attention.

"Today we are going to work on the charm Tergeo which is used to clean liquids from different surfaces including blood and grease from fabrics." He said. "Today however we will not be cleaning up either of those. It is a rather simple charm to utilize but the effectiveness can be hard to master. All you need to do is point your wands at what you want cleaned and say tergeo. Relatively simple, do you have any questions?"

He paused for a moment waiting for any raised hands when no one moved he continued. "Good." He raised his wand to the ceiling and made a small circular motion with his wrist. "Lutum." He said.

A brownish greenish muck began to ooze from the cracks in the ceiling and drip down onto the desks, the floor, and all the occupants of the room. It smelled like compost and rot. Several people let out screams when the oddly warm goo fell onto their heads and a number of students began convulsing.

The ceiling stopped dripping and everyone and everything in the room was spotted with the filth.

"Just point your wand and say Tergeo." Professor Flitwick reminded. He was already spotless and was working on the area around his desk.

Susan looked mortified as she studied her hands and the sleeves of her robes. She lifted a hand to her hair and let out a small scream. "Do you think this will ever come out?" She squealed.

"Probably, Flitwick looks pretty clean." I said more concerned with something other than the mess. "Do you think I'll have potions today or do you think it will take a day or two for Slughorn to come back?"

"Are you serious, Ruby?" She asked in disbelief. "You're covered from head to toe in who knows what and you're wondering about Potions? Tergeo!" She pointed her wand at her left hand and a small spot of the liquid disappeared.

"Well this could be the happiest event of Seventh year!" I tried to convince her.

"Tergeo!" she screamed impatiently and pointed her wand at her left sleeve. "I think the happiest event would be getting this off!" She started jabbing her wand at the offending goo.

I let out a sigh. I could tell I wasn't going to get anything from Susan until she was cleaned off. "Tergeo." I muttered and Susan, I, and the space immediately around us were spotless.

"Well done, Miss Winston." Flitwick said excitedly. "Ten points to Ravenclaw."

I turned to Susan who was flipping her hands around to see if they truly were clean. "So back to Slughorn." I began.

"Ruby, I know you think he's coming back but I don't want you to get your hopes up too high." She placed her hand on my shoulder as if to steady me. "He could have had it arranged with Dumbledore to have leave this weekend to visit family or something. We don't know."

I shut my eyes and shook my head. "No, Snape has to be gone. He just has to be."

Susan only shrugged.

The period finished and we left the classroom. Some students were still spotted with the ick. Susan and I waved our goodbyes and I headed to the dungeons for Potions, anticipated bounced around my gut.

I sat in my normal place in the back of the room. Everyone was quiet doing their normal nervous glances around the room. Only the Slytherins were comfortable enough to talk amongst themselves. Snape certainly had his favorites and they were all Slytherins. I took out my books and set up my cauldron and scales and folded my hands in front of myself and waited for Slughorn to enter.

The office door opened and my heart flung itself into my feet. Snape entered the room with his greasy black hair falling into his face. He threw himself into the chair behind his desk and waved his wand above his head. The instructions for the Elixir of Enchantment up to the curing point appeared on the board. But something was wrong.

I raised my hand but Professor Snape didn't seem to notice.

"P-professor." I started meekly. "Professor, the Elixir of Enchantment is supposed to give the taker a sense of euphoria, but if you add the wormwood where you have it and in that quantity you're going to end up with the Draught of Endless Peril and well that potion is…"

Snape looked up at me, his eyes bloodshot and the skin around them pink and puffy. "Detention, Miss Winstion, and ten points from Ravenclaw."

My throat went dry. "Detention?" I choked. "But I was only…"

"Two nights detention." Snape quipped.

"But I was just…I didn't mean…"

"Do we want to try for three nights detention?"

I pursed my lips and clenched my jaw. "No sir, but I was…"

"Then I suggest you stop talking, Miss Winston."

I looked down at my desk. I could feel everyone staring at me and my cheeks burned red.

"Good." Snape said.

I looked up in time to see him wave his wand again and the addition of the wormwood changed places and the amount changed as well.

I wasn't sure why I had even spoken up. If I were to guess I would say it was left over confidence from Charms when my spell worked so well. I read through the corrected instructions a couple of times and then collected my ingredients. We were only doing the first part of the potion today and the other part tomorrow because it needed to cure for twenty-four hours.

My potion was a perfect robin's egg blue and all I needed to do was add my powdered root of Asphodel and it was ready for curing. I reached for my scales to measure my asphodel and when I turned back my cauldron was empty and my perfect potion was gone. I looked frantically as if I was going to somehow find the missing liquid. I looked up at Snape who was bringing his wand to rest on his desk.

I balled my hands into fists I was so angry. I cleared my throat and willed myself to speak without emotion.

"Professor, did you clean out my cauldron?" I asked as evenly as I could. My hands shook with the force it took.

"There was no way you were going to finish it on time." He droned without looking at me.

"There are ten minutes left of class." I barely whispered trying to remain emotionless. "I have my Powdered Root of Asphodel measured all I needed to do was add it." I bit my bottom lip, I was beginning to shout.

"Four nights detention beginning tomorrow, Miss Winston." He said looking up with a smirk. "Perhaps you will learn not to argue with your teachers."

My breathing was erratic and my fists were shaking. My eyes went to a cloud of billowing yellow smoke rising from the corner closest to Snape's office door.

"Sir, Peter hasn't even added his honeywater yet not to mention that he used…"

"Enough!" Snape shouted. "Three weeks of detention, beginning tonight, for not keeping your eyes on your own work."

"Three weeks?" I spat. "But that's not fair!"

"You're quite right, Miss Winston." He said coolly. "Let's make it a solid four weeks instead."

"But…" I protested.

"Sit down or I shall add another month." He said through clenched teeth.

I didn't remember standing. I forced myself back into my chair and my throat throbbed from holding back tears of frustration.

I spent the remaining time stealing angry glances when he wasn't looking. Maybe if I willed it enough his hair would burst into flame.

I had never had detention before. I wonder what detention at Hogwarts would even be like. I know my brother, Louis, had detention at his school and they made him write lines. Surely detention at a wizard school would be different, especially with a professor like Snape.

I imagined him taking my wand from me and shoving me into a room with sharp spike lined walls. The room would be dimly lit and I squint to see through the darkness. I notice a dark mass on the floor not far away. I take another step but I still can't see clearly so I take another step forward. The room seems to brighten a bit and I can see auburn hair. My heart plummets into my stomach and I rush forward. There on the floor is my youngest brother, Sean. His eyes look up at me glossy and vacant. He lies in a puddle of dark liquid that I realize with a sickening pang in my belly is his blood. His edges morph and form into my brother Louis and his edges morph into my mother and finally stopping in the form of my father; all dead with glossy eyes in a puddle of blood. My hands are shaking as I take a step back. It's a Boggart. Professor Snape locked me in a room with a Boggart and there is nothing I can do because he took my wand. I look down at my father and his edges begin to soften and morph into a new form. This time it takes the shape of a figure standing. Long black robes and a pale hairless head with slits for a nose stands before me. Lord Voldemort lifts his wand and takes a step towards me. I take a step away. We continue the motion of him taking a step forward and me taking a step back until I feel a sharp pain in my back. I've hit the spike wall. Voldemort takes another step forward and I can feel his wand tip touch my face as the spikes dig deeper into my flesh.

"Miss Winston. Miss Winston. Ruby!" I was jolted out of my thoughts by professor Sprout's voice as she rushed over to my station. "You're trimming off all of the blossoms off of your mistletoe, Miss Winston. You'll never get any berries if you do that. Trim only the dead leaves."

I nodded my head and clipped off a few dead leaves until she wandered off again.

Hogwarts wouldn't allow a student to be locked in a room with a Boggart as detention and I doubt there is a room with spike lined walls. But what if he made me brew the Draught of Living Death and made me drink it. And gave me the Wiggenweld potion only after the N.E.W.T's and told me that I would have to remain at Hogwarts with him as a teacher for another year.

"MISS WINSTON!" Professor Sprout shrieked.

I looked down at my station to see a pile of severed mistletoe vines and blossoms on the table.

"Miss Winston." Professor Sprout began. "You have ruined your mistletoe. Are you feeling alright?" She asked as she placed a plump hand on my forehead.

I stole another glance at the mistletoe trimmings on the table and cursed myself for letting Professor Snape get to me so much.

"You don't feel warm but I'm still releasing you early and advising you to go to the Hospital Wing. You've never strayed this far from my instructions before. It's as if you didn't even hear them."

She rushed me out of the greenhouse and into the nippy November air.

I skipped the Hospital wing and walked straight to the Ravenclaw common room where I intended to finish some homework before my night was taken over by detention with Snape.

I didn't have any charms homework since Flitwick excused me from it for my use of the spell in class today but Professor Sprout assigned me an extra twelve inches of parchment on proper care of mistletoe. And in his satisfaction of assigning me detention Snape forgot to give the class homework. I grabbed a herbology book I borrowed from the library and began on my extra mistletoe assignment.

It felt like I had just gotten into the rhythm of writing when Susan told me it was time for dinner. We walked together in silence. I was mostly trying to think of a good way to tell Susan that I had detention every day for a month.

As soon as we entered the Great Hall my eyes darted to the staff table. Professor Snape was already watching me, as if he had been starting at the entrance waiting for me.

"Mark asked me to go for a walk with him around the grounds tonight." Susan blurted as soon as we sat down.

"That's great!" I said enthusiastically. "What time?"

"Around seven." She said. "I'm not sure I'm ready to be alone with him yet and I was wondering if it wouldn't be completely just weird for you if you would go with me?"

"I would if I could." I answered.

"Why can't you?"

I took a deep breath. "I have detention…for the next month."

Susan's eyes bugged out of her head. "Who would give you detention?" She asked but as soon as the question left her lips she turned to look at Snape who was now in the middle of a conversation with Professor Flitwick.

"He wrote down incorrect instructions and I corrected him." I explained.

"And he gave you a month's worth of detention for that?" She asked incredulously.

"He gave me a month after he made my potion disappear."

Susan gave me a questioning glare.

"I sort of…got angry at him when he said I wouldn't have finished on time when I only had one ingredient left and ten minutes of class. Then I sort of…pointed out that Peter Gregorian of Slytherin hadn't added his honeywater yet…that's what got me the four weeks. He did it just to get to me. Peter's potion is unusable but he got to keep it. He used woodworm instead of wormwood. The only thing that potion is going to do in the next twenty-four hours is congeal and rot."

Susan shook her head and ate a forkful of mash.

I glanced up at the staff table and saw that Snape was gone. "I think that's my hint to leave." I said.

"I'll walk with you to the dungeon door." Susan offered.

We walked together without talking. I opened the door but turned back to Susan.

"You don't think professors can use Boggarts as a form of punishment, do you?" I asked.