Disclaimer: JKR owns all characters in this story.

Power in All Its Glory

Chapter 4: Serving Detention

"Blimey, Mione," Ron exclaimed to Hermione as Harry filled him in on the latest events in Advanced Potion's class. Ron was not in the class since it was not important to his career choice.

"I can't believe you got detention with Snape and Malfoy."

"The worse part," she told him, "is that I didn't even do anything to Malfoy's potion."

The two boys looked at her with obvious doubt in their eyes.

"Yeah, okay," Harry said trying not to smile. He could tell she was getting mad, and he did not want to make it worse.

"I didn't!" She was definitely mad now. "I would tell you guys if I did it."

"But Mione, it would be difficult to fool an entire class and Professor Snape. Who else could have done it?" Harry tried to explain their reasoning.

Hermione thought about this. Who could have done it? Obviously, it wasn't Harry. It was unlikely to be one of the Slytherins. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even realize she hadn't responded to Harry's question.

Neville interrupted her thoughts.

"I don't think I could do it," he told them all, shaking his head. He had been a silent participant to the conversation so far. He was looking at Hermione with awe.

"What?" Hermione asked. She had been following her thoughts. Now that she was brought back into the conversation, she was confused.

Neville shuddered.

"I couldn't have detention with both Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy," he explained.

Everyone knew he was terrified of the Potion's master and intimidated by the blonde Slytherin.

Hermione wondered, not for the first time, how he had ever been sorted into Gryffindor House. Bravery was a Gryffindor characteristic, and Neville seemed to be severely lacking in that area. Although she did recall that in their first year, he had stood up to them all. Still, after seven years he should have a little more backbone.

"Well, it doesn't bother me." Hermione announced this with a shake of her brown, curly hair. "Although," she added, "I don't relish the idea of spending any extra time with Draco Malfoy."

She continued eating as if she was done discussing the topic.

Harry looked over at Ron, who had a puzzled look on his face.

He had noticed it, too.

She had not complained at all about spending extra time with Snape. Were they missing something?

Neville continued eating as if he had not noticed anything. He smiled to himself. This was going to be too easy.

He ignored the pang he felt when he thought of Hermione and Snape together. It had nothing to do with his dislike for the man and everything to do with his feelings for her.

Neville climbed the stairs to Gryffindor tower. Ron and Harry were in the common room playing chess. They did not notice when he left.

No one ever noticed when he left. No one ever questioned where he was at or what he was doing.

There was no one in the boys' dormitory, and he quickly went over Harry's trunk and pulled out the invisibility cloak. He went back down the stairs and out the portrait hole. He donned the cloak and waited.

He knew it would not be long. Hermione would not be late for a detention.

As if on cue, Hermione came through the door and walked toward the dungeons. Neville followed her as closely as he could without alerting her to his presence. He was so close he could smell the scent of her shampoo. It smelled like fresh strawberries.

He thought about what he was going to do to her and the others. Briefly, he wondered if he should abandon his plan. Then he thought about how no one ever took him seriously and he toughened his resolve.

By the end of this year, everyone would realize what a powerful wizard he was.

Hermione followed the steps down to the Potion's classroom. Neville followed Hermione. Once she reached her destination, she knocked on the door.

"Enter." Professor Snape's deep, velvety voice could be heard through the door. Neville saw Hermione shiver at the sound, and he suspected it was not from fear.

As she walked into the classroom, Neville slipped in past her. He moved over to a chair and sat down to watch the scene before him unfold.

Professor Snape looked up as Hermione entered the room.

"Miss Granger, you are early." He addressed her coolly. Although he knew he appeared calm on the outside, inside he was nervous.

He just was not sure what his feelings were toward her. Up until this time, he had been able to avoid giving her a detention. This time he had felt safe knowing that Malfoy would be with them. Too late, he realized his mistake.

Why did she have to be so early?

"Mr. Malfoy will be joining us shortly. Until then just sit down and remain quiet." He indicated where she should sit and then went back to his work.

He tried to concentrate on grading the papers in front of him, but he could feel her eyes on him. He resisted the urge to squirm in his chair. He would not be reduced to a simpering fool. He suddenly stood up and glared at her.

A knock came at the door before he could speak.

"Enter," he growled.

Draco Malfoy walked into the room with a smirk on his face.

Snape scowled at him. "Mr. Malfoy. So good of you to join us."

"I have decided that the two of you need to learn to get along," Snape addressed the both of them. They looked at him in alarm. "So for your detention I am giving you a task that will take cooperation from the both of you to complete."

He stared at them, willing them to protest so that he could take out some of his frustration.

Hermione started to complain but noticed the look in his eyes and quickly shut her mouth. He raised one dark eyebrow at her and then looked at Malfoy. For once, the boy decided to keep his thoughts to himself. He had also noticed the mood of his head of house. He knew that mood, and what it could mean. He wanted no part of it.

"I have received a new supply of Bulgarian Beetles and I need them shelled. As you should know, if you have paid attention in class, it takes two people to do this task. One person has to hold the beetle down while the other gently pulls off the shell. Even though they are not alive, they still move around. This is what makes them more potent in potions that any other beetle."

"But, sir," Malfoy questioned him. "Couldn't we just use magic to hold them down?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at his question. He obviously did not read the chapter on beetles very closely.

"No, Mr. Malfoy," Snape replied impatiently. "The use of magic could destroy the potency."

Hermione resisted the urge to say "Duh!" She enjoyed the fact that Malfoy was making himself look incompetent in front of Snape.

"The necessary tools are in the supply room. Are there any questions?" He stared at them both, daring them to ask anything else.

"No, sir," they both answered and went to the supply room to get the necessary materials.

Professor Snape returned to his desk and continued his work. Hermione and Malfoy positioned themselves at one of the tables and started their task.

Unable to concentrate, the Potion's master shifted his gaze to his students. As Malfoy held on to the shaking beetle, Hermione carefully removed the delicate covering with small forceps. He could tell she was trying hard not to touch Malfoy during this process. Whenever their hands touched, she flinched and Malfoy smirked. The Slytherin boy was obviously enjoying himself. Malfoy then whispered something to her, and she glared furiously at him.

Little prat. Snape tried to ignore them but the thought of Malfoy touching her was driving him crazy. Obviously, this was not one of his better ideas. At the time, he thought it would keep him from having to be alone with her.

Several times, he thought about interrupting them and then decided against it. She could handle Malfoy. Snape needed to get a handle on his own feelings.

Professor Snape returned to grading his second year papers and ignored the working students.

Occasionally he could not resist and would look over at them. He noticed Hermione had a habit of biting her bottom lip when she was concentrating. He watched her for a while. He had no fear that she would look over at him. He knew Malfoy would not hesitate to take advantage of the situation if she became distracted. There was no way she would let that happen.

They were in between beetles when Malfoy took hold of her hand and started stroking it. She tried to pull away, but he would not let go. He smirked at her furious look.

"I think that is enough for tonight." Draco jumped at the sound of the deep voice right behind him. The Potion's master looked down at him with a scowl on his face.

"Mr. Malfoy, please take the supplies back to the store room."

Malfoy nervously collected the materials and headed for the supply room.

Unnoticed, another figure silently followed the Slytherin.

Professor Snape continued standing by the table watching Hermione as she cleaned up the work area. When she finished she walked around the table until she was directly in front of him.

"Professor," she began. "I hope that you are not angry with me."

He gazed intently at her. "Why would I be angry with you, Miss Granger?"

She blushed. "Well, I mean," she stammered. He raised an eyebrow at her. Hermione took a deep breath. "Because I told you that I loved you," she finished quietly, not looking at him.

"I don't believe you had a choice."

She looked up startled at his statement.

"You were under the effects of the Veritaserum. I asked you a question. You could not lie." He said this very calmly, and Hermione found her temper flaring. He acted as if he were talking about the weather and not her love for him.

Damn him, anyway.

"If you are not angry," she asked, "then why have you been avoiding me?"

He had a quick retort ready for her, but when he looked into her eyes, he found he could no longer remember it. It would be so easy to get lost in those beautiful brown eyes, he thought. Professor Snape suddenly turned away from her.

"I wonder what is keeping Mr. Malfoy." He did not try to hide the impatience in his voice. "He has been in there a long …"

The sound of a thud interrupted him, and he turned to see Hermione lying helplessly on the ground.

"What the hell?" Snape moved toward her and then he felt the spell hit him. As he lost consciousness, his only thought was for her safety.