A/N- Another Chapter, done! I don't know how I'm going to fit everything in. I hope I don't end up writing a monster or anything that's like three thousand chapters long! I kid; I lack the patience for such a thing. Well, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I own only Snape's family. The rest is J.K. Rowling's.

Colin's POV

Everyone's gone now. And Dad's staring at me so I guess I can't put it off much longer. I walk towards his desk.

"You wanted to see me, Sir?"

"Yes. Have a seat, Colin." I sit down and he does the same on the opposite side. Dad starts to grade papers. I know this tactic. It's the whole "I'm slowly tormenting you by being quiet and then when you've let your guard down I'm gonna GETCHA!" thing. He hasn't done it in a long time, but I still know what he's doing. Two can play at this game. He won't talk until I panic and I'm not panicking until he talks. So there. Who's the smarty pants now?

We sit in silence; Me, twiddling my thumbs and him occasionally marking a paper.

"You know I don't have all day. This may be a free period, but I do want to get started on my homework." I chided him.

He looks up from his desk and sighs. To someone else, this might look like he doesn't LIKE punishing his students. And surprise surprise! He doesn't.

I asked him once. And he said no. He doesn't like to give detentions or send students to the Headmaster. That's why he's so keen on taking away points. It punishes them, but not too 'harshly'. Shocker, right?

"Why'd you do it, Colin? You've embarrassed me in front of my students." Huh. Straight to the point.

"Because you weren't being fair. And that's not right. Teachers shouldn't favor students. Especially because of something silly like the House they're in."

"You're right." Say what?

"I am?"

"Yes. You are." Well I'll be damned.

"About time!" He narrows his eyes at my remark, but doesn't seem too mad.

"But that doesn't mean that you can disrespect me, as a teacher or a parent. Don't question my authority, Colin; It's on me whether you stay or go. Remember that. And for causing a disruption I'm taking ten points from Gryffindor." He smirks.

"But now we have less points than before you caved and gave five to Hermione!"

"If you had kept your mouth firmly shut, then we wouldn't be in this predicament now would we?" Sneaky bastard!

"That.. That was a dirty trick." I'm shaking my head. "When were you ever that devious?"

He gets up to examine some jars of god-knows-what's on a shelf.

"I think I started being devious after my 4th encounter with the 'Marauders'. I had to be." He says with malice.

"The Marauders? Who're they?" Sounds like a cool band name.

Dad turns around lightning fast and his eyes are wide open.

"You mean I never told you about the Marauders?"

"Nope, guess not." I shrug. I don't get what's so important about these people (possibly band members of some sort).

"I've told Justin millions of stories about them… Are you sure I never mentioned them?"

"Oh of course you've told him. " I say.

You remember me telling you about how Justin's his favorite, yeah? Well, as stupid as it sounds; I'm jealous. This is terribly cliché, but I just want my Dad to look at me and say "Colin, you did good." and not "Colin, what the hell am I going to do with you?" Granted, that question has been left unanswered by both of us for years. But still. I think every kid wants to make their Dad proud. And right now, thinking about it, it makes me kind of frustrated. He never tells me anything about his childhood. No stories, no pictures, no nothing! It's always Justin. And he doesn't even notice.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" He arches one eyebrow.

"How could you not know? It's plain as day, Dad!"

"What are you implying?" Is he honestly this dense? Or is he just playing dumb.

"You know what? Nothing. I'm leaving."

"Colin, wait for just-"

"No. Bye, Professor."

I make sure to slam the door on my way out.

I walk into the common room in a huff. I have a bad way of getting angry. I'll get mad, I'll cool down, then I get sad. The therapist I went to compared my mood swings to those of a pregnant lady. I told him it was better than those of a pregnant man. He was confused.

"Hey man, what's wrong?" It's Ron. He's being civil so I guess he heard about my potions escapade.

"Nothing's wrong, Ron. Everything's just peachy! Like a peach freaking cobbler!"

"You don't sound very peachy.."

"Ooh, smarty pants, huh? Next thing you know you'll be belting out algebraic equations!" I say sarcastically.

"Oi, no need for that!" He replies.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I was just kind of mad. So, uh, I'll go head upstairs before I take out the sad on the rest of you Sharks, eh?"

"Take out the what on the rest of us What's?"

"Never mind." I'm heading for the stairs. The RIGHT stairs. I've learned my lesson.

"Um, alright. See you at dinner then?"

"Yeah, sure!" I call back.

I race up the staircase to find Harry's in the room. Lovely. Can a man get no privacy around here?

"Hey." He says.

"Hi Harry."

God, this sucks. I don't wanna be rude, but this is a bad time.

"Are you okay?" Harry says.

"Why do you ask?" I start biting my lips. Bad habit, I know. But it makes me feel less nervous.

"Well, you kind of barged in here and then you got this sad look on your face is all."

I don't feel like talking. I'm not a talker. I'm a winker.

"Why Harry! You're concerned? That's so sweeeeeeeet!" I do my thing and wink to try & lighten things up before I rush to the bathroom to lock myself in. I walk towards the tub and take a seat inside.

No, I'm not gonna take a bath. If I were I'd be stripping down by now, wouldn't I?

This is just what I always do when I get mad. I squeeze my eyes shut and dig my nails into my palms.

And I start thinking.

Why did I blow up like that? It's not my place to harass Dad. Well he deserved it.

…

I'm a terrible son. It's not like he's 1 Dad either, no matter how many coffee mugs he has that say he is.

…

It's my own fault that Justin's the favorite. …

…

If I'd just been normal everything would be fine. If I were born normal, I'd be just that, Normal. And being like everyone else just doesn't suit me.

…

Mom wouldn't worry, Dad would be proud, and Justin wouldn't-

"Colin! Colin, Neville's gotta go! If you're done wanking then PLEASE let him in!" Harry called from outside the door.

"Right.. Sorry." I get out of the dry tub and head for the door. As soon as I'm out, Neville rushes in.

"Gosh, what took so long?" Harry asks.

"I was debating on whether I should take a shower before or after dinner." I say.

"Uh huh. You should steer clear of thinking too hard." Harry says playfully.

"Yeah, my brain already feels all fuzzy." I grin, feeling a tad bit better. My moods are drastic and all, but they're over fast.

God, I need to stop acting like such a pregnant man.

"Dinner's soon. We should head for the Great Hall." Harry suggests. Good idea. All that self-pity made me hungry.

"Yeah, let's go."

A/N- So? How'd it turn out? I thought I'd show a little more emotion in Colin this time 'round. Not everything is playful banter and eyebrow wiggling, you know. :P

But seriously, was it good?

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. And please review! I'm saddened by the fact that they've steadily decreased.