Hey again all! or should I say Kendra… I certainly hope I have other readers than just Kendra. However only she reviewed last time….And ahh, I don't own any of it! And thankssssss to you my lovely betareader Sherry! And Kendra, I certainly do my best to get it all through! Im not about to give up like that, not at least as long as people still review me.. I'm not too big review magnet it seems…..

I have to say it again…. WE ARE THE WINNER OF THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST! HARD ROCK HALLELUJAH! ME MADE OURSELVES TO THE WORLD MAP AT ONCEEEEEEEEEE!

Ahh, now feels better!

Chapter 8

However he didn't go to great hall. He knew better than think that he could eat anything just now. He wouldn't have had too much time to eat either so he just went back to his own room for his books. They would have Potion next and he was looking forward to it. The only bad point was that he would have to see those stupid prats once again. Well, they shouldn't have too much of a chance to do anything in class.

Once in class he took his usual seat in the back alone. Some took sat at the tables together but he enjoyed having a table just for himself. This was the way he liked to work with anything. He looked around and realized for the first time that Lily was here too. He smiled shyly at Lily and got a small smile back. What he didn't see was the angry glances given him by a couple of Gryffindors right after he smiled.

Black and Potter were sitting together when Snape got to class. What surprised them was that sly dared to smile at one of their classmate, though she was annoying, but still a Gryffindor. Moreover she answered his smile. That made them so mad and aggravated their vindictiveness went so far that they decided to act at once. This was actually a pretty easy place to try something as long as nobody saw. All the needed material was already on tap. It might also be best to warn that hussy about whom she could associate with.

Finally Professor Nichols came in and the class started. As soon as Severus heard that they were going to brew a mild bruise reducing ointment it aroused his interest. This would be what he needed for his own bruises. All he needed to do was to bottle some of it for himself...without anyone seeing naturally. Content with the advantage this potion would give him, he got up and went for his ingredients. He couldn't pass up this chance so better make it good. Then he read the instructions through slowly and it didn't seem to be too hard a concoction. At some point he noticed that he had not taken enough belladonna so he back for more.

When Severus left his table Potter used the chance to strike after making sure everybody else was concentrating on their own potions and that the teacher helping a slytherin in correcting his potion. They were supposed to use lizard's tail liquid but he changed the watery looking ingredient to water with a simple spell. This time sly wouldn't be getting his potion right and nobody would guess who was at fault. Content with himself he gave a sidelong glance at the now happily brewing sly and grinned cheekily.

When Severus got back to his table he was unfortunately unaware of what had happened and just kept going with his potion. He got engrossed with his brewing and when Joe came to check on his Potion he startled when man called his name. Being surprised he looked up and met the horrified look on his teacher's face and he blinked his eyes and asked.

"Oh, is there something wrong with it? I think I followed the instructions just right…" He then looked at his ingredients and noticed something startling, his lizard's tail liquid didn't smell as it should anymore. He got frightened and started to babble. "I-I-I don't' understand how that happened. I took it from the ingredient shelf at the beginning of the class. Or maybe I did mess it up somehow…"

Joe raised his hand and Severus stopped his babbling at once. He was already thinking that it was his fault in some odd way. The before-mentioned ingredient started to smell like it should. And his potion turned to the right shade of blue as it should be. Severus checked his instructions and it was exactly the right color, he got so excited but he really wondered what the problem was in the first place. He glanced at his teacher with a puzzled expression on his face hoping he knew what had happened. What surprised him was that his teacher turned to glare at the other students as he slanted his eyes. Then finally he told Severus what the problem was.

"It just so happens that someone turned your lizard's tail liquid to water. Fortunately this person's transfiguration abilities aren't too good and the transfiguration didn't last too long. Severus, do you know who might have done it?" Getting only silence and Severus' crimson red face as an answer he turned to look at other students lividly. "I shall tell you that if this prank had gone one a little bit longer there might have been an explosion and the one responsible would have been in a great deal of trouble. I can only thank this dunderhead's poor transfiguration abilities that nothing worse happen. If anybody knows who was responsible I wish to know for the proper punishment."

His voice changed to calm tone and he spoke to Severus who just stared at him wordlessly.

"You are extremely lucky that your potion is still all-right, not thanks to that prankster. Actually it seems to me that you are again doing the best potion in this class if there arn't any more chances, but it is unlikely when taking into account how little time we have still left." After a last smile at Severus Joe retreated to check on the other potions.

When Severus first realized that his potion was somehow wrong he instinctively thought that he was at fault though he couldn't think how he did it wrong. He tried to explain it desperately until the teacher stop his explaination. First he thought that teacher was angry with him for his failure but a moment later one of his ingredients changed its odor and that confirmed what went wrong. True enough his potion turned to right looking color, after checking he was sure it was the right color. Slowly his embracement started to wear off. Just a bit too quickly though. At next moment Joe was asking him for a possible delinquent. That really set him off for a moment. He had an idea who might have done it but he wasn't about to tell. He had his own way to pay back the coulpret but it wouldn't be with the teacher's help.

However he couldn't resist succumbing to his usual reaction. The information that he got caught being pranked on was something embarrassing to every time. He redden because of the prank and how he showed his emotions. That was making him even more embarrassed, which perpetrated an annoying circle. His teacher yelling at others didn't help much either. He hated to be the center of so much attention. He was very tempted just to run away but he kept his nerves and stayed there to take every bit of embarrassment as calmly as he could.

However something helped even if just a bit. Just now and then Joe commented on his potion and even after his earlier embarrassment it warmed his heart a lot. It felt good to be the best actually. To succeed better than those idiots who were undoubtedly responsible for the prank. Another good thing was that their prank didn't go so well and his potion was still all right and he could still use it on himself later. The only thing needed was to bottle some of the potion and hide it so that nobody saw. He didn't want people to wonder why he would need such a potion as bruise reducing ointment. Perhaps then if he could make his bruises go away he could even convince Lucius how wrong he was with his assumption. Perhaps he didn't see too much…

At the end of the class he prepared his potion happily and everything went as it should. It turned out that other potions were at least slightly wrong and his was only one perfect. He got some of it for his own use without anyone noticing. He did his best to forget as people shot glances at him as he waited for the others to finish their own potions. The small bottle in his pocket was yelling to be used and he was actually pretty much daydreaming through the rest of the class.

At lunch he took something small and went left quickly so he could use his first batch of the ointment. He found his way to the bathroom, which he knew to be, avoided. Yeah, Moaning Myrtle was there floating in the air once again. He didn't really enjoy her company but didn't want to avoid her either. Most of her comments were too enlightening and he could guess what kind her life she had. This was only the third time he entered this bathroom but he already pitied the poor ghost. She was condemned to live here with her memories. Everything he had heard about Myrtle showed that people thought her to be a little crazy or something. Honestly there was nothing wrong with her, she just reacted as she thought people were going to tease her all the time. This thought made him shiver as he remembred that particular information. However Myrtle seemed to be trustworthy enough so he could do it here.

He greeted the sad ghost and placed the ointment in front of his eyes. He looked at its creamy surface carefully. At the last moment he glanced at Myrtle one more time before he took his ropes and shirt off. Myrtle was looking extremely sad and bewailed when she saw his bruises. He tried to explain that it had been just an accident but Myrtle just kept looking at him sadly and sympathetically. After vainily trying to explain he gave up and just made Myrtle swear that she wouldn't tell anyone about this. The ghost was a little too understanding about it and it actually annoyed Severus more than her bewailing.

He spread the ointment on his body and at first it made him feel somewhat numb; that was a welcome. He didn't know how quickly it would help but he hoped that it was soon, then he wouldn't have to worry about this any longer. It seemed to be too hard to keep things like that hidden in this school. He wasn't really happy about it but it was a fact.

He had to hurry to his next class and it was so much eaiser to move now that his upper body was feeling numb instead of painful. What was good was that they had History so it was a good time contemplate what to do next. He knew that he should decide what to do about Lucius but he couldn't get himself to think logically just now. Lucius had seen them undoubtedly, there was no denying that. It was more that he wanted to make sure that he wouldn't tell anyone about them and if the evidences was already taken care of at least he would have no proof. He played with idea of going up there and speak with Lucius but he came up with the dilemma of what to say him. The truth was he wanted just deny everything but that was already impossible. Not once had he had to at any time explain to anyone any of this and now… if was really bad that Lucius knew.

Eventually the class ended and it was lunchtime. He wasn't feeling particulary hungry but still it was better to go and get something to eat. He forced himself to eat something though it was a reluctant act and halfway through he saw something that caused him lose the last bit of his appetite that he still possessed. Black and Potter were walking to the door casting angry looks at him He figured it was because of their unsuccessful pran. Not to mention getting called dunderheads with poor transfiguration abilities might have something to do with it. Taking it into account, he should go to the library and check out some useful spells for those dunderheads. However, first classes and (sighing) detention. Why on the earth did he succeeded in getting detention for the first week? Yup, these same dunderheads were again responsible. Now, Lucius could have been able to help, he already offered to tell me some good spells just a few days ago…. Although the situation was little different then… Asking Lucius to help would mean having to tell him something.

All this thinking had give him a headache so he just gave up thinking and went to his next class, Dark Arts. They had to read about trolls for the t half of hour of class and then the next hour and half was reserved for writing down the answers to the questions Mrs. Longbottom asked them. At the end of the class she collected all the papers and checked them writing a few words of comments quickly. When Severus got his own parchment back he found the comments "Perfect answers! Keep up good work!" , he smiled to himself.

There was only one class left for today but unfortunately it happened to be Charms. He crawled to the class reluctantly and took his place in the corner. He was determined to stay unnoticeable this time, especially after the last fieascal. They were to spell the sparrows they were given to silence. Although he found the spell far too easy which meant he wasn't able to keep his promise to stay in the background once again. This was beginning to be habit for him, getting noticed in class. He was looking at the very silent sparrow in front of him when Flitwick caught him finally.

"Ohhh, Mr. Snape! I'm so happy you succeeded to do it first again! You are a really gifted young wizard I might say! Five points for a well-done incantation and for being quicker than five minutes. I would be so happy to see more successful incantations everyone. As you see it isn't so hard!"

The unwanted attention got Severus shrinking back once again. He just pretended to read for rest of the lesson. For once hardly anybody else got the incantation right and most of the students were to write a two foot essay on the 'Silencio' Charm. As he left the class he heard someone whisper "As easy as pie. Like if everyone of us would be as smart-assed as some people"

There wasn't much chance to whom this person meant he thought. He remained behind as everyone else headed to the great hall and once everyone was out of site, he slid down the wall. He had no idea what he wanted to do now. His own classmates were thinking he was some proud smart-ass. Only a few people came talk to him and two of them hardly ever. He wouldn't hope for Lily to come to him like that again, to cunning sly who was only paltering around; or so most non-slytherins were thinking. Antonio wasn't really his friend, he just happened to speak to him that one time even it was for a stupid mistake. On top of all Lucius… that was another matter. He didn't know if he wanted anything to do with him any longer at least as long as he needed to explain this stupid matter to him. Well, now he forgot two people, the dunderheads.

And talking of the devil… there they were in front of him.

Now, really big thanks to you Kendra the hyper one, I'm happy that even you reviewed. However, how come not one another review? Look guys, I need my gas too, so please review! You give me power to write with your reviws so don't be afraid even say just couple of words! Make me eager to write more with your reviews!