My Name's Severus!

Chapter 4: Dumbledore teaches potions

Headmaster Dumbledore was slightly worried about this lesson. Monday hadn't gone too well. He had had problems finding the right ingredients (Why, oh why, didn't Snape order them alphabetically?) and his potions hadn't all worked out as he'd planned. He knew enough about potions to be allowed to teach the subject, but it wasn't his area of expertise. He didn't understand the theories behind the potions he was teaching the way Snape did and often found himself unable to answer pupil's questions.

And now he'd have to teach Severus who knew practically everything there was to know about them. He just couldn't afford anything to go wrong during this lesson. Dumbledore had spent half of the night preparing for it. He had everything planned out. Now where were the ingredients he needed for his demonstration?

He went into Snape's office to look for them. There was just enough time to get everything ready before...

Suddenly there was a clattering sound from the hallway, then an angry scream followed by loud screeching.

Albus Dumbledore raced out of Snape's office, unlocked the classroom as fast as he could and stepped into the hallway.

Lavender Brown and Pansy Parkinson were rolling on the floor amidst scattered quills, books and parchments trying to tear each other's hair out, while the other Gryffindor and Slytherin girls were pelting each other with potion ingredients. The boys had formed a near circle around them and were loudly cheering for their respective houses.

"What is going on out here?" the headmaster yelled in his most intimidating voice.

Some of the boys glanced at him uncertainly and the cheering died away slowly. But most of the girls continued unimpressed.

Dumbledore had to admit to himself that he wasn't exactly good at being stern. He obviously lacked the respect that kept these students from getting out of hand when Snape taught them.

It took several minor spells and taking fifty points off of both houses to reestablish order.

He sent the pupils into the room assigning them seats as they went in, in order to get those most likely to start trouble to sit beside the most peaceful. That was a difficult task especially where the Slytherins were concerned. He just didn't know which ones got along and which ones were likely to encourage each other to pick on his Gryffindors. Then he remembered that he was currently supposed to be head of Slytherin. And he didn't even understand the inner workings of 'his' new house.

Once the whole class was seated he turned his attention back to Pansy and Lavender. Lavender had been assigned to sit beside her best friend Parvati at one end of the class, while he'd placed Pansy at the other end with Draco.

The later pairing didn't seem to have been such a good idea since Draco looked very annoyed. 'Odd.' Albus thought to himself, 'I thought he liked her.' He had hoped their interest in each other would keep them from causing trouble, but it seemed he had misjudged their relationship. He'd have to make better arrangements next time. Could he ask Severus how to best pair the Slytherins? Where was Severus anyway? It was two past nine in the meantime.

"Miss Brown and Miss Parkinson, could you please explain what this was all about!" he said as sternly as he could.

"Pug-face upturned my bag!" screeched Lavender.

"I fell over it accidentally!" claimed Pansy shaking her fist at Lavender.

Dumbledore sighed and quickly stepped between the two despite the fact that they were separated by a whole classroom. How did Snape manage to keep control of things?

"Well, in that case Miss Parkinson I suggest you go out there and pick up Miss Brown's things for her as a sign of your good will." he ordered.

Pansy glared at him and muttered something under her breath, but walked out to get the stuff anyway.

The moment the door had closed behind her it opened again and Harry Potter raced in.

"Sorry!" he gasped. "I forgot my book in the tower and had to go back for it."

Dumbledore barely suppressed a moan. He had paired up the whole class not even considering that there might be any latecomers. Now Harry'd have to work with Severus and he'd have to punish both of them for being late. (He'd have spared Harry, but then he'd have to go easy on Severus as well and that would just encourage him to behave even worse.)

"That will be two points off Gryffindor, Mr. Potter." he announced. "Please sit down over there." He indicated an empty worktable right behind Ron and Hermione. There Harry would at least have the help of his friends if Severus gave him any trouble. Severus however would be surrounded by Gryffindors since Neville and Dean were seated to their right. Well, keeping him away from the other Slytherins might not be such a bad idea considering their fight of the day before.

Albus told the pupils to read page 362 in their book which described the potion they were going to make. He'd decided to do another, easier healing potion than the one that had caused the disaster the week before. He had two very good reasons for that: The first which he told the pupils was that he feared Neville might end up with the youth-potion once again and turn himself or one of his classmates into a baby with it. The second which he wisely kept to himself was that he didn't trust his own skills enough to teach the difficult version.

Once everybody had opened their book and was busy reading he returned to the office to finally get those ingredients he needed.

He found most of what he needed quickly enough and was reaching for the last jar when he once again heard shouting and screaming.

Quickly he grabbed the ingredients, adding a few he didn't even need in his hurry, and raced back into the classroom where the Slytherins and Gryffindors were throwing their potion ingredients at each other and screaming insults.

It seemed Pansy had returned with Lavender's stuff and set off their rivalry once again.

Dumbledore dropped everything onto his desk and began separating pupils and steering them back to their seats. Unluckily most of them jumped back up and rejoined the fight as soon as he turned his back on them.

What was he to do? The situation was totally out of control. Why had he ever permitted Slytherin and Gryffindor to have classes together? He knew they didn't get along. This was impossible. The combination just couldn't be taught.

Suddenly the door opened behind him and silence fell over the room. Within one heartbeat, it seemed, all pupils were back sitting quietly at their worktables. Dumbledore was left standing alone in the middle of the classroom surrounded by a mess of spilled potion ingredients.

Slowly he turned around to see what miracle had restored the class to order.

"Having trouble teaching my class?" asked Severus nonchalantly as he strolled into the room carrying a large cage of the sort one would use for a rabbit. In it sat the little green hedgehog.

For a moment Dumbledore just stared at him. Then he remembered that he had to punish him.

"Why are you late?" he demanded sternly.

"I had to see Mr. Filch to get a cage for my hedgehog." answered Severus calmly. "Did I miss anything important or just a good fight?"

"Five points off Slytherin for being late Severus." Dumbledore announced. "And I don't care if what you missed was important or not. You are supposed to be here at nine. Now sit down! You'll be working with Mr. Potter."

Severus glanced at the seat Dumbledore was pointing at and then gave him another one of his cute little pouts. (A/N - This one's for you Sphinx.)

"You can't make me sit with the Gryffindors, Albus!" he complained.

Albus Dumbledore felt his heart melt. Oh, Severus was such a sweet kid! And how could he make his friend work with the very boy he disliked the most. 'Wait a minute! That little rat's doing it again! He's trying to trick me into not punishing him by acting innocent. Well, I'll show him!'

"Yes I can!" said Dumbledore firmly and without a trace of his usual humour. "Now sit down and don't call me Albus in class!"

"Yes, ... Albus." grinned Severus as he trudged over to his seat.

Harry greeted him with a distrustful look and moved his chair away from him as best he could while still remaining seated at the table.

"I said don't call me Albus!" repeated Dumbledore getting angry.

"Then don't call me Severus again." answered Severus calmly as he set down the cage by the table, opened it, lifted out the hedgehog and gently set it on the table where it immediately began sniffing around curiously.

"And there will be another twenty points taken off Slytherin for starting a fight in my class." Dumbledore declared deciding to ignore Severus' comment.

"But that's not fair!" exclaimed Draco. "The Gryffindors were fighting, too."

"I can't blame them for fighting back." explained Dumbledore.

"How could you know who started it? You weren't even in the room." argued Draco.

"No I didn't see it, but I know what you Slytherins are like. Now get back to work before I take any more points off you." ordered Dumbledore.

"You're supposed to be our head of house." complained Draco softly as he bent his head over his book obediently. "You're supposed to be on our side."

Dumbledore pretended he hadn't heard that. But secretly he had to agree. He really wasn't doing a good job as head of Slytherin. He couldn't bring himself to like that house. He felt Severus' angry glare on his back as he walked to the front of the room to start his demonstration, but didn't turn around. Right now he didn't want to look Severus in the eyes.

Instead he plunged into the demonstration without even putting his ingredients in order first. 'I ought to have everything here on the table anyway. I'll find it. No problem.' he thought.

He lit the fire, poured water into the cauldron and was just searching for the frog's teeth when Severus jumped up, walked up to the teacher's desk and peered into the cauldron.

"You have to add more water, Albus! This won't work otherwise."

"That's it!" shouted Dumbledore. "I've lost my last little bit of patience with this class! The next person who speaks without raising their hand first will loose their house ten points. Severus, sit back down at once! I mean it! I'm the one who is teaching this class and I know exactly what I'm doing! - Oh and one more thing: DON'T CALL ME ALBUS!"

Severus gave him a quizzical look and decided it was probably better to comply considering the fact that he'd never even seen Albus Dumbledore this angry before in his life (and he had known him for quite some time). He cast one last doubtful look at the cauldron, shrugged and returned to his seat.

For a while the class barely dared to breathe. Then Hermione tentatively raised her hand. Dumbledore who had finally found the frog's teeth and was just throwing them into the boiling water acknowledged her with a nod.

"Ahm, professor." Hermione ventured carefully, "Don't you think you really should add some more water? According to the textbook..."

"No, I don't!" Dumbledore cut her off briskly. "I know exactly what I'm doing!"

Hermione quickly shut up and sat back down shaking her head in confusion. What was wrong with Dumbledore?

"Sure you do!" mumbled Severus unluckily just loud enough for Dumbledore to hear.

"Another ten points off Slytherin!" was the prompt reaction.

Severus just sighed and buried his face in his arms. Draco rolled his eyes at him, but of course Severus couldn't see him.

Nobody said a word as Dumbledore continued his demonstration, but nobody took any notes either. Instead they shot quick glances over at Severus every once in a while trying to tell from the look on his face if Dumbledore was doing something right or not. Severus however sat stone faced staring at a point just above Dumbledore's head.

'He might just be waiting for the big bang.' thought Draco uneasily. 'Or maybe only for the bell?'

At that moment Dumbledore realised that he didn't have everything he needed. He looked up from the potion ingredients on his desk and gave the class an appraising look. Nobody was even moving.

"It seems I forgot to prepare the beetle eyes." he told them. "Don't you dare make any sound at all while I go and get them!"

He turned and walked into the office.

"What's wrong with him?" Ron asked into the quiet room as soon as he'd gone.

"Oh he's just a bit overworked." declared Severus calmly. "Nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?" asked Hermione. "It's rather dangerous mixing up potions if he doesn't follow the recipe. Maybe we should add some water while he isn't looking?"

"Could he blow up the school with this one, Severus?" asked Draco eying the bubbling and smoking cauldron.

"No, he's just gonna burn the potion if he doesn't come back soon. Somebody in the first row'd better extinguish the fire if the smoke turns black and it starts smelling burnt, though." Severus recommended.

"Ok, I'll do that." promised Vincent who was closest to Dumbledore's desk.

The sound of shattering glass could be heard from the office, then Dumbledore cursing softly.

"M..maybe we ought to give him some beetle eyes out of the student's supplies, before he hurts himself." suggested Neville timidly.

"Albus, the beetle eyes are right next to the door!" shouted Severus worried about the safety of his precious ingredients. "Third shelf down, second jar from the left!"

"Got them! - And don't call me Albus!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Dumbledore returned to the classroom a small jar in his hands.

He tried to open it, but the lid wouldn't move. He tried to pull harder, wiped his hands on his robes and tried again. Nothing. Dumbledore pulled out his wand and tapped it against the jar. Nothing.

"You have to push it in and turn at the same time." Severus remarked calmly. "That one's been a bit tricky ever since I lost the original lid and had to replace it with one from another jar that had broken."

Dumbledore glared at him angrily but tried anyway. Still nothing. He reached for his wand once more.

Severus sighed and got up.

"You can't open this one magically. Here let me do it." he said and pulled the jar out of Dumbledore's hands ignoring the headmaster's angry glare. "Here you go, Albus!"

"Get. Back. To. Your. Seat. And. Don't. Call. Me. Albus." growled Dumbledore as he took the open jar and added the beetle eyes to his potion. "And another ten points off Slytherin for your repeated disobedience."

"Hey, I'm just trying to help you!" screamed Severus.

"Well don't! I'd be long done with this demonstration if you didn't interrupt me all the time. So sit down and don't try to do anything productive!" ordered Dumbledore.

"Yes, Sir!" said Severus sarcastically and a little grin appeared on his face as he returned to his seat. 'Don't do anything productive, huh?' Well he could be very unproductive indeed. Now where did he put those fire crackers he'd stolen from Gregory?

Dumbledore continued his demonstration in comfortable silence. (Well comfortable for him. Everybody else was very tense.)

The potion turned into a dark, thick, sticky goo. It was so dense Dumbledore couldn't even stir it anymore. Instead the whole cauldron started to turn every time he tried.

"Are you going to add some water, now?" Draco asked Dumbledore trying hard to keep his face neutral.

"Alright, alright. Maybe I should have used a little more water." conceded Dumbledore.

"Yeah, maybe." mumbled Severus. "Maybe you should have listened to the expert in the first place, too."

If Dumbledore had heard him he didn't react. He poured water into his potion until its consistency returned to normal and then told the pupils to try and make the potion themselves.

Remembering Dumbledore's problem with the beetle eyes Harry, like most of his classmates, decided to start by writing a list of ingredients they would need. Severus proved to be a real asset as he didn't even need to look into any book or notes to list the ingredients. 'Guess I should have just sent him to get the stuff and we wouldn't have needed the list.' Harry thought. 'If I could have convinced him to get it, that is.'

Surprisingly Severus didn't even have to be convinced to join him when he went over to the student's supplies cupboard to get the ingredients. They had to stop when they passed the teacher's desk, because everybody else was heading the same way as them and there was no room to move on.

Severus took one of the jars on the desk and looked at it curiously.

"What's that?" Harry asked mildly interested. He didn't remember seeing that one before.

"Everglow." said Severus. "It's a sort of magic paint that glows in neon colours and is nearly impossible to remove."

"What's that doing here? It isn't part of our potion. Or is it?" Harry asked confused.

"No, it's not. Albus's got some ingredients here that he definitely doesn't need." shrugged Severus toying with the lid of the jar. "I wonder why he brought them."

(Actually he was referring to the stuff Dumbledore had accidentally brought along when the fight had broken out in the classroom, but he couldn't know of course since he had arrived after that.)

Once the way was clear Severus put the everglow back onto the desk and they got their supplies. Harry noted that Severus slipped a small vial into his pocket that they didn't need, but he decided not to comment. Severus no doubt knew what the thing was for. Maybe he was working on a little project of his own. 'Trying to change himself back, most likely. I guess that would be good. Dumbledore might not take so many points off Gryffindor, but at least Snape isn't likely to blow up the whole school by accident.'

They set up their ingredients in a neat line in exactly the order in which they would be used. No way would they be as disorganised as Dumbledore. Though Harry remembered that Snape often worked with a disorganised hype of ingredients on his desk. He never did have to look for anything the way Dumbledore had done, though.

As he set up the cauldron and filled it with water Harry noticed that Severus pulled a piece of cloth over his hedgehog, slipped out his wand and gently tipped it against the wall.

ZOOM! A Filibuster fire cracker went of inside the closed jar of everglow. The jar broke and neon pink liquid sprayed the whole room.

Harry looked around in amazement. Everything was covered in pink dots. They had even reached up to the ceiling, where they looked almost like a pink star chart on the black paint. Ron's red hair looked terrible with pink dots and one of the Slytherin girls was desperately rubbing away at her glasses with the sleeve of her black and pink robe trying to get the everglow off before it dried.

Harry realised how lucky he had been that he'd been looking at Severus and therefore away from the teacher's desk when the jar had exploded. If the stuff had hit his glasses they'd have been ruined.

"Don't worry, the spots on your hair and hands will wear off after a couple of days." grinned Severus.

"A couple of DAYS!" shouted Harry. "We'll have to run around looking like this for days!"

"Hey, so will I. What's the big deal?" answered Severus still grinning as he uncovered the little green hedgehog and carefully inspected it for any damage.

Greenie blinked a little at the sudden return of light, sniffed at Severus and set of to explore one of the strange pink dots that had suddenly appeared on the table. He seemed absolutely fine and thanks to the covering cloth hadn't even suffered a single pink spot on his Slytherin green body.

Dumbledore stared at the remains of the fire cracker that lay on his table among the shards left by the explosion of the jar. Somehow that thing seemed familiar. What prankster had used a fire cracker to douse everybody in some kind of liquid before?

"Another ten points off Slytherin." he announced weakly. "Are you hoping for some kind of award when you reach -1000, Severus?"

"Who? Me?" Severus looked absolutely confused and innocent. "Why?"

'Oh no, not his angle face again! I can't resist him when he looks at me like that. He's just too cute.' thought Dumbledore. "Just get back to work everybody!" he ordered.

Slowly the class calmed down again and returned to brewing their potions. Severus let Harry do most of the work only commenting whenever he was about to make a mistake. Harry was feeling exploited, but on the other hand he could be sure that his potion would be absolutely perfect.

While Harry was stirring his potion Severus strolled over to where Neville and Dean were working, slipped the vial out of his pocket and poured the ingredients into Neville's cauldron. Then he raced back to his own desk ducking under it without explanation to Harry.

Harry however was clever enough to immediately follow suit.

Before the enraged Dean could reach Severus in his hiding place the second explosion of the day shook the classroom and blood red mist rose from Neville's cauldron. Neville who had been covered with his own potion by the explosion shrieked in terror as his body started emitting red smoke.

In the confined place under the table Severus grinned triumphantly at Harry.

Dumbledore who feared that Neville might be in serious pain raced over to him, but discovered that he hadn't suffered any damage at all. He hadn't even been burned for the potion had been turned surprisingly cold by whatever it was that Severus had added to it. And Dumbledore didn't have the slightest idea whatever might cause a simple healing potion to dissolve into red smoke. But that was exactly what Neville and Dean's potion did. Within two minutes every trace of both the potion and the smoke had disappeared as if they had never been.

"Another ten points off Slytherin!" announced Dumbledore. 'Am I beginning to repeat myself like some broken muggle record?' he thought. It seemed that taking points off Slytherin had lost all it's effect on the pupils, but how else could he possibly punish Severus? Detention! He'd have to start giving some detentions.

As he walked through the room observing the efforts of his pupils Dumbledore wondered why he was making them brew a healing potion that could cure wounds when all he needed was something against headaches. He'd have to go up to the hospital wing right after the lesson. Madam Pomfrey would sure have something to cure his head. Maybe he ought to ask her for some kind of nerve calming potion as well?

The noise outside had died down. Greenie cautiously stuck his nose out. Nothing smelled suspicious. He decided to risk uncurling far enough to stick out his entire face. No more red mist. He unrolled himself completely and set of again.

The pink dots had become boring after a while. They all looked and smelled the same. They didn't move or make any kind of sound and they didn't have any kind of taste either.

The hedgehog was looking for something else that might be more entertaining.

There! Something smelled good. He new that smell. A delicious fat snail. One of his favourite meals.

Greenie followed the smell and soon found the snail. Mmmmmh! With a happy smacking sound he grabbed the treat and started chewing.

"Aah! Get away from my potion ingredients you little green monster!" shouted Harry and pushed the hedgehog away from the snails stinging his hand badly in the process.

He sucked at the injury glaring down at the curled up green hedgehog. Why couldn't Severus turn the stupid thing into an ashtray. Oh right, he wasn't able to perform the spell. But why didn't he just throw the ugly animal out. 'It belongs in the forest where the werewolves can eat it.' he thought.

Greenie not really shocked at being handled anymore uncurled again and found to his joy that though the snail had disappeared he was sitting in front of a jar full of nice tasty beetles instead. He didn't waste any more time mourning the lost snail and dug right in.

Harry saw the hedgehog eating even more of his potion supplies and took out his wand. Enough was enough. He'd take matters into his own hands now and finally turn the spiky little monster into a nice harmless ashtray.

Harry pointed his wand at the hedgehog and started to say the spell.

"Nooo!" screamed Severus and threw himself at Harry just in time. A blue flash hit the desk right beside Greenie who immediately curled back up in fear. Where was that nice human who always carried him around and gave him delicious potatoes? He could really use his help now. He could carry him anywhere even back into that horrible drawer if he just took him away from here.

Severus and Harry were rolling on the floor kicking and hitting and, in Severus' case, scratching and biting at each other.

Draco jumped up. "Go Severus! Show the Gryffindors!"

Vincent and Gregory grinned at each other. "Yay! Fight!"

They looked around for some Gryffindors, grabbed Dean and Seamus and started hitting away at them.

Hermione shrieked: "Oh no! Harry!"

Ron was jumping up and down beside his desk shouting: "Harry! Harry! Harry! ..."

Dumbledore had to stupefy both Vincent and Gregory before he could reach the two smaller boys and tear them apart. Both were struggling hard to shake him off and get at each other again and he barely managed to keep them apart.

"Detention for all of you!" he announced.

"What the entire class?" exclaimed Parvaty who hadn't done anything at all.

"No, all the Slytherins!" clarified Dumbledore. "And Harry if you don't return to your seat right now I'll have to take five points off Gryffindor and I'd hate to do that."

"But Harry started it all!" protested Severus. "He attacked Greenie!"

"Severus, I don't want to hear any more of your Slytherin lies! Return to your seats and finish your potions! You will serve your detentions right here after dinner today and anybody who shows up late will get an extra detention with Mr. Filch. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, Sir!" hissed Severus as he returned to his desk.

He put Greenie back into his cage, sat down and didn't move for the rest of the lesson except to glare coldly at anybody who asked him to get out of the way. They all just had to work around him.

Hermione leaned over to Ron and whispered: "I don't like this. Dumbledore is behaving just as unfairly as Snape."

"So what?" Ron grinned back at her. "He's giving some back to the Slytherins. I love this."

"But that's not right, Ron. He's supposed to be their head of house and they already don't trust him because he was in Gryffindor. What are they going to do when they find they have nobody to turn to with their problems?"

"Oh come on, Hermione. That's their problem, not ours. And it's only gonna last for a few days anyway. As soon as Snape is back we're gonna wish Dumbledore was still here to punish them for all their pranks and taunting. Let's enjoy it while it lasts."

"Well, I guess you're right." Hermione conceded. "But he should have punished Harry, too. He was fighting just as much as Severus was."

"What? Hermione, do you really want Harry to get punished?"

"Well, no. Of course not. Harry is my friend and I don't want him to get into trouble. But can't Dumbledore see what he's doing to Severus? It's got to be horrible for a teacher to be a pupil in his own class. He knows more about this stuff than Dumbledore, but Dumbledore won't let him help. I bet he's just starting all this trouble because he's so frustrated about it he doesn't know what to do. And Dumbledore reacts by putting down his house, which will only serve to make him even angrier."

"So what?" Ron said again. "That's Snape we're talking about. Let him suffer."

"But... It's just not right, Ron." Hermione didn't know how to explain.

Harry saw his friends talking and leaned over to them.

"What's the matter?" he asked when he noticed that they were quarrelling.

"Hermione's feeling sorry for Snape." Ron explained.

"Sorry? For Snape?" Harry asked confused. "Why? He's getting everybody in trouble with his pranks and has nothing but fun. He can't get bad marks. He can't be expelled. He can do whatever he likes and everybody is trying to be nice to him."

"It's all just an act, Harry." said Hermione. "None of the kids like him so he acts tough so they won't realise how lonely and vulnerable he is. All the teachers are worried about him so he acts like he's having fun."

"Oh no!" said Ron rolling his eyes. "Last year it was 'Save the house elves!'. This year it's 'Save Snape!' What will you want us to do for next year's campaign? 'Save the death eaters!'?"

Hermione glared angrily at Ron, turned away from him and since the lesson had just ended collected her books and stormed out of the room.

Harry and Ron shrugged at each other and decided to give her some time alone to cool of. They packed their stuff and walked out more slowly.

As they passed the door they saw the Slytherin boys stand in the hall a few paces from the door.

"Can I copy your transfigurations homework, Draco?" they heard Severus say.

"What? No way! Do it yourself!"

"I'll do your potions homework for you." Severus promised. "And I won't copy it exactly. I'll add some mistakes. McGonagall won't notice a thing. And even if she does who do you think she'll suspect? She knows I suck at transfigurations."

"I said no, Severus!" Draco shot back. "And I'm definitely not stupid enough to let you do any of my homework. You'd get me an F just for a laugh."

"No I wouldn't!" insisted Severus. "I wouldn't do that. Not to you. And especially not if we made a deal."

"Yeah, sure." laughed Draco. "Even Dumbledore knows what a liar you are."

That hurt more than Severus wanted to admit even to himself. He turned to Blaise.

"How about you? Can I copy your homework?"

"No!" said Blaise and turned away from him.

"Vincent?"

"Not a chance!"

"Gregory?"

'Wow, he must really be desperate to ask Gregory!' thought Draco. 'He has to know Gregory's the most stupid kid in this school.'

"No!" said Gregory.

'Well, maybe he isn't all that stupid after all.' thought Draco.

McGonagall once again was at her post near the Slytherin table at lunchtime. The situation had calmed down, though. They still didn't like Severus, but they had begun to accept the fact that he was there and had mostly turned their attention towards other things.

Most of the Gryffindors arrived late for some unknown reason and Draco happened to look up as Harry's clique finally walked in.

Ginny Weasly wore her long red hair open that day with only a yellow ribbon to hold it out of her face. It fell in slight curls over her shoulders that bounced around with every movement. Harry said something to Hermione and Ginny laughed. and brushed her hair back behind her shoulders with both hands.

What a sweet laugh she had. Why hadn't he ever noticed that before?

"Maybe we could sneak out after detention if it doesn't take too long and go flying." suggested Gregory.

"Yeah that'd be nice. But I think there's little chance Dumbledore will let us out early. What do you think Draco?" asked Vincent.

"Hmm? Sure." mumbled Draco still staring at Ginny.

"Huh? Hey, Draco!" called Gregory. "We're talking to you!"

"Mmm, yes, I hear you."

Severus stopped eating an regarded Draco closely.

"What are you looking at?" he asked him after a while.

"Ginny." answered Draco absentmindedly.

"Ah, yes." Severus looked over to the Gryffindor table then back at Draco. "I understand."

"Huh?" said Gregory once again.

"Understand what? What are you on about Severus?" asked Vincent.

"Ginny." stated Severus as if that explained everything.

"Ginny?" asked Blaise getting interested. "What about Ginny?"

"She's pretty." mumbled Draco still not taking his eyes off of her. Blaise began to wonder if Draco really realised he had said anything at all.

"So what." said Vincent. "She's still just another poor, muggle loving Weasley."

"Mmm-hmm." hummed Draco.

"Your father wouldn't like that, you know." remarked Severus giggling.

"Mmm-hmm."

Vincent grabbed Draco by the shoulders and shook him.

"Hey Draco! Wake up!" he jelled.

"Wha.. Stop shaking me, will you!" Draco shoved Vincent away.

"Did she hypnotise you or something?" wondered Blaise.

"Huh? What? Who?" stammered Draco. What had they been talking about? Why had Vincent shaken him? Well, obviously because they'd noticed that he hadn't been paying attention. And what was Severus giggling about?

Draco looked from one face to the next. They were all looking back at him with those odd expressions.

"Well, at least he's looking at us again." stated Vincent in a satisfied tone.

Severus laughed even harder.

Draco turned to him. He seemed to be fighting a really bad laughing attack.

"What's so funny?" Draco asked. Maybe that'd clear things up a bit.

"You are." giggled Severus.

Draco looked down at himself. He still had some pink spots from the everglow incident. They all did. But that couldn't be what Severus was laughing about. Or could it? Draco turned back towards Vincent, Gregory and Blaise.

"What's with him?" he asked indicating Severus.

Vincent and Blaise exchanged a blank look. Gregory just looked at Draco. He was used to not having a clue about what was going on around him.

"We have no idea." answered Vincent for all of them.

Draco sighed and returned to his meal. He had to find a way to talk to Ginny.