Beta: FlyingLovegood123


Snape glared at the retreating back of the three boys who were exiting the dungeon with a lingering sense of disdain, the raven-haired pairs more so than the red-head, who simply happened to be in the same line of vision. Due to that damn meeting with Dumbledore, Snape had had an irresistible urge to pay special attention (in another word, terrorize) to Thompson from the moment he laid his eyes on the boy when he walked into class. He purposefully paired Thompson up with Longbottom because he had secretly hoped for some kinds of accident to punish the boy with, which, coincidentally, really did happen. But even if that cauldron hadn't tipped over, Thompson would still have found himself with a detention over another charge. Within his own mind, Snape knew perfectly well that the boy had done absolutely nothing that deserved his wrath (neither did Potter, really, but that was another matter entirely) but he needed to vent his frustration on something, and Thompson was the ideal target. Snape was a rational man. He could reign in his feeling completely and work alongside his worst enemies without betraying even the slightest trace of emotion on his face if the situation called for it. He was always aware of what needed to be done and that sometimes detaching his personal thought and his actions was a must. However, in these relatively peaceful days when the dark lord's existence was reduced to only rumors (though Snape still felt the weight of the threat of his return very real hanging over his head like an ominous shadow), there was no need to control himself to that extreme degree. Besides, teachers taking their anger out on students because of problems in their own personal lives weren't something so rare, even more so if that particular teacher's name happened to be Severus Snape. He was annoyed at Dumbledore. Sometimes, he wondered how someone as powerful, brilliant and calculative as the Headmaster could take the most reckless steps. He had observed the boy carefully today, and his opinion of him had not changed so far. Thompson didn't stand out in any visible ways. However, Snape was well aware from his experience that appearances could be deceiving, and good judgments demanded more than the first impression, especially for someone with such a questionable background. From what he had seen, Potter and Thompson had become quite close. If Thompson was a regular student, that fact would be none of his concern; but what if he turned out to be a threat? Didn't Dumbledore think of the danger he would be putting Potter in if that was the case? Letting them stay in the same Muggle house. Snape just couldn't comprehend the way Dumbledore's mind work. And to think that the old wizard just nonchalantly shoved the boy onto him like that. So, simply speaking, Dumbledore's order irritated Snape, and Thompson received the brunt of Snape's ire. Of course, what unpleasant feelings Snape had towards the boy were nothing compared to the hatred and resentment boiling in the pit of his stomach that he had never quite managed to quell down whenever he looked at Potter, but they were still there. Snape sighed. He needed one more inspection before constructing the general idea of what to do with Thompson, namely the detention that was going to take place that evening.


Edward trudged as slowly as possible without actually stopping towards the place known as Snape's office with about the same amount of enthusiasm as someone heading to the gallows. Watching the wooden door looming closer and closer with dread, he took a deep breath as he was finally a foot away from it and tentatively knocked the door three times.

"Enter." answered a monotone voice.

Edward grabbed the doorknob, turning it and entered the room. He involuntarily shivered. The inside of Snape's office was little different from the dungeon that he taught in: damp, chilly, like in an underground cave. The only source of warmth and light came from the flame in the fireplace, and even that was feeble, casting an eerie glow over the place, creating a spooky atmosphere. The orange light reflected off the many glass jar lined on the wooden shelves, illuminating their shriveled, pickled content. It was a disturbing sight, or at least, it should have been, but somehow Edward didn't find himself minding those things much. It was like back at the Apothecary in Diagon Alley. They had some pretty gross stuffs that should give most people nausea, but Edward was only mildly fascinated. In fact, as odd as it was, the unusual smell and the sight of the ingredients gave him a feeling that could only be described as comforting. He didn't understand it, but there it was. No-Edward tore his gaze from the shelves-nothing could be more unnerving to him right now than the dark figure of Professor Snape with his icy stare standing in the middle of the room. Said man took a step towards Edward, looked him in the eyes briefly before turning to the desk.

"Let's not waste time. I have many more important duties to tend to than staying here and babysit some first-year brat for a whole night."

Snape's tone was as emotionless as it came, but listen to the words coming out of Snape's mouth and Edward couldn't help but wonder if he was being secretly laughed at (if Snape could even laugh, that was. A laughing Snape would be even creepier than his already creepy normal self). A retort unconsciously formed at the back of his mind and was crawling halfway to his throat before Edward's brain fully comprehended its content.

"You should add washing your hair to those priorities."

Had that sentence been said out loud, Edward had no doubt that he might as well just have dug his own grave. Fortunately for him, though, his lips had only parted a thirds of the way before he managed to clap his hands over his own mouth, muffling the words and forcing it back down. Snape noticed none of this, as his attention was still on the desk and the sheets of parchment that lay on it. Sighing in relief, Edward wondered just what came over him. As unfair as all of this was, Snape was still a teacher, thus deserving respect. He put his hands down and sighed, waiting for Snape to announce the verdict.

"Your work tonight is on the table." Snape said curtly "Try to write something readable or you'll start over from the beginning. Finish it quickly, there's cleaning for you to do afterwards."

Edward trudged towards the desk, picked up the parchment and settled in the chair, while Snape conjured up another chair and sat in it. There were neat words on the parchment written in black ink: Write "I will stop fooling around in the class" three hundred times.

His mouth was faster than his limbs this time as Edward cried out indignantly.

"I didn't do anything today!"

Snape's expression remain unchanged.

"You just doubled your punishment. Now complete it in silence or you'll earn yourself a week worth of lines."

Edward picked up the quilt and started writing, fuming all the while. Unknown to both him and Snape, for now at least, a tray holding some roots on the shelf right behind him had its content shriveled up and burnt into ash.


Snape observed the boy, careful not to leave out any unusual detail. Thompson's background was questionable, if not downright suspicious. Amnesia might be a believable excuse, but not being in the Ministry record despite having magic was inconceivable. They had no name to research with, but there was no report of any missing magical child that fit the boy description. Snape searched the boy's features. An aging potion, perhaps? Maybe they were supposed to be looking for an adult? A glamour charm? Polyjuice potion? No. Dumbledore wouldn't be Dumbledore if he hadn't already checked the boy for those kinds of deception before letting him live with his precious Boy-Who-Lived. The Headmaster might make some unexpected and inexplicable moves every now and then, but none of them would be without calculation. Perhaps he really was just dealing with an ordinary first year who was left out by the Ministry by some mistakes? Thompson certainly hadn't displayed anything unusual so far. Maybe Snape wouldn't need to keep as close of an eye on him as he had initially thought. Perhaps, just a peek inside the boy's mind…


Edward struggled to move his totally numb right hands to finish the last three lines. Taking a moment to admire his work, he put the quilt down.

"Professor, I'm done."

Snape took the parchment.

"Barely passable, but I suppose this's the best you can do. Follow me. And hurry up if you don't want to come back here tomorrow."

Snape led Edward to one of the classroom, where a considerably high stack of cauldrons stood waiting. They had content of various color stick to the bottom like glue.

"Clean these." Snape pointed to the cauldron pile.

"Can I use magic, sir?" Edward asked and watched as Snape's eyes narrowed. There was silence for a few moment.

"If you believe yourself competent enough to accomplish that without blowing up this classroom, then go ahead."

Edward was surprised at Snape's permission. He had been fully expecting a no. Ron had told him about this kind of sentence, which was cleaning without magic, and how Fred and George had to scrub the whole second floor with rags and a bucket of water for detention. Of course, when you can use magic, it didn't count as punishment anymore, so it puzzled him that Snape of all people would allow such a thing. Well, maybe Snape just wanted to get rid of him quickly. Edward certainly wasn't complaining. He turned to the cauldrons and with a wave of his hand, they were all spotless. He missed the startled look that flashed momentarily on Snape's face, though.

"Which spell did you use?" Snape demanded.

Edward looked up at Snape in genuine confusion.

"Why would I need a spell to clean, sir?" He had seen Snape clean up the mess Neville made in class. The man didn't say any spell then either.

Snape's expression betrayed nothing of millions of questions running through his head at that moment.

"Forget it. Put them away and return to your room."

Edward didn't need to wave his hand this time. He didn't even need to look at the cauldrons. They simply rose into the air and flew back to their intended place.

"Goodnight, Professor."

With that, Edward rushed pass Snape, eagle to get away.


"He did magic without a wand or even a spell."

Dumbledore listened with interest as Snape recounted the event.

"It sounds like instinctual magic." commented the Headmaster.

"It isn't instinctual magic if he's in full control." Snape countered "Commanding magic freely without the aid of the wand is something even powerful grown wizard could hardly manage."

"What are you suggesting, Severus?"

"Only someone of the Dark Lord's level could…"

Dumbledore cut him off.

"You're saying that he's somehow involved with Voldemort?" said the Headmaster, ignoring Snape's flinch at the mention of the name.

"He came out of nowhere, right when the Dark Lord's rumored to have been sighted and came here, where the Philosopher Stone's being kept. You don't think that's a cause for concern?"

"If he's indeed planning something, I don't think he would have carelessly showed you his ability like that. You took a glimpse into his mind didn't you?" asked Dumbledore with a knowing look in his eyes.

Snape nodded.

"His mind felt like it's been wiped out. But it could be some kind of method he'd found to counter Legilimency. It's dangerous to continue to let him stay so close to Potter."

"We mustn't make assumption yet, Severus. He could simply be a student with a lot of potential. I made all the precautions that are needed, but this could work to our advantages. Nevertheless, our priority right now is still Harry. Voldemort will surely comeback, sooner or later. We can only hope for the best."