Hello Snapettes! Here is the beginning part of the new collaborative fic. The feedback section is over here and I really hope you’ll go take a peak over there at the structures before adding anything (they’re to keep us all on the right track of where we are in the story). Thank you and enjoy!
____________
______


Snapeweek Fanfic Challenge 2008

Severus Snape found himself enjoying the bleak surroundings of his office on yet another Friday evening. To him, it was no different than any other, but who would expect anything else from the Potions Master; who would expect him to actually care enough to remember his own birthday.

While enjoying the subtle sounds of his mixture of Achrilad Newt tail in a pre-brewed calming draught, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the tranquility. The entire situation – him sitting in silence, basking in the ambience of the end to a day of teaching the endless supply of dunderheads – proved intoxicating in the sense that Severus truly felt at ease.

Unfortunately, the feeling didn’t last long as a knock on the door reached his ears. Sighing heavily, he rose to answer it. Upon opening the door he faced a desolate corridor, minus a single envelope that was set on the ground.

Carefully, he opened the seal and read the contents that lied within. Moments later, the parchment fell to the ground as a look of shock donned Severus’ features. The letter read…
_________
______

Even though it's a collaborative, all authors love feedback!

Dear Professor Snape,

my name is Ronald Weasley and I am convinced that you remember me well from our Potions classes. I am addressing you in this indirect way because I would like to ask you for a help.

Like you may know, my father and brother have important jobs with the Ministry of Magic, and my family does not expect anything less from me. Unfortunately, if one is to be hired on even the most mediocre job there, excellent results in all the subjects are a must. I’m working hard to improve my score in the other subjects, but like you most probably have known by now I am no star as far as Potions go.

Now, I would like to ask you if it was, just by any chance, by the way and incidentally, possible, that you gave me remedial Potions classes at weekends. My mom and dad think it is a great idea. We all know about your helpful ways as far as teaching is concerned.

If you do not mind, we could start this weekend with the first lesson.

Thank you very much for your help, Professor.
My best wishes,
Ronald Weasley.

PS: I would be most appreciative if you sent Pigwidgeon (the tiny owl that is most surely pecking at your ear now) back to me with your reply.

Severus was indeed close to losing consciousness. With his last strengths he got a grip on reality, took Pigwidgeon, who was really already occupying his shoulder pecking on his ear annoyingly, and went in his office to write a reply.

***

I hope I haven't spoiled it much. You can tell me in your feedback.

Mr. Weasley,

I don't know who you take me for, but I am an extremely busy man. Not to mention, I have to deal with silly nonsense on a day-to-day basis from children who can't seem to stir a spoon in a pot of water.

From what I can remember, you couldn't manage to do that, either. I'm surprised you even knew what a cauldron was. I don't know how you expect me to teach you anything when you couldn't pick up a scrap of knowledge after five years of my thorough, well-instructed lessons.

However, I am in a bit of a ... tough spot. There are rumors floating around that the staff is planning a surprise birthday party for me. I absolutely detest parties, almost as much as unteachable students...maybe more. So, in order to avoid such nonsense, I will give you this weekend to see what you can do and find out if there is any reason for me to continue on to another weekend...which I doubt.

I will be there at 8:00 a.m. sharp tomorrow morning. Do NOT leaving me waiting or I will leave and not come back. I detest tardiness and will not tolerate it. Have your cauldron, scales, and any supplies you have ready and waiting. If I have to wait for you to prepare, I will leave and not come back.

Until tomorrow morning,
Professor Snape

Severus rolled up the parchment and attached it to the infuriating owl...if it could even be considered that. As he watched Pig fly out the window, he leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh

Well, trying to teach the Weasley brat potions certainly can't be worse than attending a birthday party, thought Severus. But he knew the Weasley's and how insufferable they could be. Well, the message is already on its way back. He had no choice now but to go. Maybe, thought Severus, he'll be late or won't have his supplies ready in time. A slow smile crept across his face as he closed his eyes.


Feedback here.

Retiring to his personal library, Severus seated himself opposite what was left of a crackling fire in an onyx leather armchair. The chair was his absolute favorite thing in all of his quarters, probably due to the fact that he spent so much time there.

He decided that if he were to teach Weasley the following morning, he should probably settle himself for now. Walking over to the bookshelf, Severus searched for a book that would suit his current need. Of course he had read all of them dozens of times, but that never stopped him from rereading.

Picking out a book, which was actually a piece of Muggle Literature, and flipping through its contents, Severus heard the sound of someone entering his library through the floo.

"I expected you would come after you read my letter. I'm sorry, Minerva, but I refuse to partake in any birthday celebrations. Besides, as I told you, I have previous engagements," Seveus said nonchalantly, not even turning around.

"Excuse me?" came the voice of Lucius Malfoy.

Startled at such an unexpected intruder, Severus turned around and replied, "Excuse you. What are you doing in my library?"

"The Dark Lord sent me. He has news for you and instead of summoning, he sent me," Lucius answered, a look of confusion about his face, making it obvious that he really didn't know why he was there. "It must be important which means we must be off straight away."

Severus wanted so bad to roll his eyes at the thought of him actually getting to sit and read in peace. Then, he grabbed a handful of powder and stepped into the fireplace.

"Oh, Severus, before I forget, Happy Birthday," the smirk on Malfoy's face made it obvious that he was far from sincere.

And then they were off...

Feedback

Three hours later, Severus once again positioned himself in front of the now, non-existent fire in his library. He floated some logs to rest on top of the last vestiges of glowing embers, then with a non-verbal 'incendio' he watched as the dazzling fire sprang to life once again and bathed the room in a peaceful glow.

He laid back to rest his head and close his eyes to recount the meeting he had just regrettably attended. This coming school year was going to be one sour ride!

"The Carrows, my lord?"

"Yes, Severus. That's what I said."

"I don't mean to question your judgement, my lord, but the Carrows will murder every student in school, from the more than incompetent Longbottom, to the most talented Slytherin. They are not the wisest selection, my lord."

"You know I value your opinion, Severus, but the Carrows will be exactly what I need, to help take Hogwarts in the direction I wish it to go."

Severus summoned a bottle of fire whiskey from his cooling chest and popped the cork. He took a long swig to numb his mind and thought, 'Down the toilet, Voldie! That's where the blasted Carrows are going to take this school.'

He downed the rest of the bottle and vanished it with a wave of his wand, as he settled deeper into his armchair.

He picked up his book to read, and wind down for the evening when another knock sounded at his door.

"Confound it! Will this bloody day never end?" he cursed.



Ugh. . . I hope I didn't mutilate it. Feedback goes here!

And yet again, Severus’s moment of tranquility and peace was broken into by another intruder. He sighed exasperatedly, lay the book down, raised from the armchair and turned to open the door. Before he reached it, though, the knock sounded again, only this time more urgently.

“Coming,” Severus murmured under his breath, rolled his eyes, and with a flick of his wand opened the door.

To his utter shock and disbelief, there stood Luna Lovegood. Never ever has any student, other than his own Slytherin or those given detentions, knocked on his door. What is more, at such a ridiculous hour on Friday.

“Yes?” Severus asked in a rather uncertain way.

“Good evening, Sir,” Luna’s soft voice penetrated the otherwise silent dungeons. Saying that, she did not wait for an invitation, but entered Severus’s office and closed the door behind herself.

Despite a severe urge to protest, cast spells and distribute detentions, Severus was so dumfound that he did not find his voice to do any of these.

“Professor,” Luna started, “please, forgive my boldness, but I would like to ask you something.”

And finally, Severus found his voice, “Hmm?”

“You know, we were in the Great Hall yesterday, and I noticed that Ron Weasley, you know which one, don’t you?”

Oh no, not Weasley again. Severus merely nodded.

“So, Ron Weasley was writing a letter that started, Dear Professor Snape. And you know, we started to be worried a little. There's no need to hide it, Ron has never liked you. Never ever ever ever," Luna was shaking her head to add the desired emphasis, "Why would he be writing a letter to you, then? He's been a little weird lately and thus I was sent to ask you directly, what was in the letter. You know, we like Ron and we don't want anything bad to happen to him.”

Severus was starting to be overtaken by a mixture of feelings, ranging from surprise to anger and to a compulsion to give up his teacher’s post and Disapparate.

Nonetheless, he took in a deep breath to answer, but at the same time Luna continued in the disarming fashion only she could muster, “And Happy Birthday, Professor,” pulling a large necklace of butterbeer corks from her bag.

Severus could not bear it any more and losing consciousness he slowly collapsed to the floor.

***

If you feel like it, feedback, please. Thank you.

Severus became aware of people surrounding him as the fog of unconsciousness gradually lifted. His eyes refused to open, so he lay there using his other senses to assess the situation.

". . . What's wrong with him?" squeaked a frightened female on one side of him as he felt a sharp poke in his obliques on the other.

"I think he's dead," diagnosed the culprit with the poker.

"He must be full of wrackspurts," guessed Luna. "When I pulled the wrackspurt repelling necklace from my bag as a birthday gift, he immediately collapsed. It's happened before, you know. Daddy told me that he knew this fellow who was always possessed by them. He would collapse every time he saw a cork. It was terrible, really."

Severus could almost hear the eyes of those around him as they rolled in their sockets. 'If I pretend to be asleep, or better yet, dead, perhaps they'll all leave, and I can finally get some rest,' he thought.

No such luck. . . A bucket full of ice cold water hit him directly in the face.

He bellowed and jumped up as freezing liquid chilled him.

The group of students, all of whom were first years, except for Luna, screamed and scattered out of sight.

He scrambled to his feet and made his way back to his private quarters. "What was Lovegood thinking, pulling me into the hallway?" he grumbled under his breath.

As he opened his door and crossed his thresh hold he ran headlong into Ron.

"Weasley!" he screeched. "What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing here?"

Ron looked at his feet as he scuffed his boots against the cold floor. "I didn't want to take the chance of being late, Professor."

Severus looked at his watch. "It's only two in the morning. Surely it doesn't take you six bloody hours to prepare?"

Ron shrugged as he continued the study of his own shuffling feet.

Severus looked up at the ceiling, crying to himself, 'I want my mum!'



Ohh, poor Snape! I think he needs a hug. What a day he's had. Hopefully the sun will come out tomorrow.

Feedback goes here.

-Dayna-

Ron smirked when he saw Snape's desperate look..."Good" He thought "The Plan is going on order"...but Severus evidently wasn't very Happy "WHO IN THE NAME OF MERLIN DO YOU THINK YOU ARE WEASLEY...COULDN'T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN A CAULDRON AND A TOILET AND U[YOU] COME TO DISTURB OTHERS WHO ARE NOT LAZY MEDIOCRATIC PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND THAT IRRITATING LOVEGOOD..." he roared
Ron showed all the intentions to protest but Severus cut him short "No weasley...I have a good mind to cancel our appointment but i won't do that...and no would i teach you even one minute before eight so get that into your thick mind" and with that severus walked away his hands by his side....
And when he turned around the corner Ron collapsed on the corridor bursting with giggles,chuckles and cackles...

Meanwhile Severus walked away cursing under his breath..and to add to his anger when he reached his study door it was blocked by none other than the Hogwarts poltergeist Peeves...
"Professy Snapy walking panky
with a strut sanky
cursing nasty
but peevsie knows
Snapy is a...."

But nobody found what peeves knew about Snape because with a single flick of his wand Severus has blasted Peeves out of the way....
Swearing more nastily and ferociously Snape stood infront of his study door and turned the door knob and entered his study and the scene that awaited him made him swear with horror and anger

Mod Edit: Forum rules still apply in fan fics. Net speak is not permitted. Thanks

His beautiful library was in shambles. Books thrown from shelves, tables over turned, and what's this? An invisible trip wire? He looked around the room to find the prank. He looked straight overhead and saw a bucket suspended in mid air.

"Tacky," he muttered. Then with a wave of his wand and a mental command, the room righted itself in an instant. He was sure he knew who the guilty party was.

"Sorry, Weasley. You'll never be even half as creative or talented as your brothers, or your sister for that matter!"

He retired to his bedchamber, determined to accept no more interruptions for the night, or morning, as it now was. "I'll show that Weasley! He's playing with the big boys now," he chuckled. "Perhaps these potion lessons will be more entertaining than I originally believed."

With a wave of his wand, he put charms in place to assure he would not be disturbed for the remainder of the night. He then extinguished the lamps and settled in for a long awaited, much deserved, peaceful, night sleep.

The next morning at precisely seven a.m., he was roused by his alarm.

He rose and dressed as he pondered on the happenings of the night before. He offered a silent prayer, 'Please, Lord, let this day run smoother than the last.'

And with that, he headed to the Great Hall for a quick bite to eat before his lesson with Weasley.



If you guys get sick of my posts, just let me know. I promise I won't be offended.

If you have a spare minute, feedback goes here!

-Dayna-

Severus hoped for deserted dungeon corridors, yet his wishes came out unfulfilled. There he was again, the Weasley boy. And again he was not alone. Only this time the one keeping him company was none other than his fellow Gryffindor, the insufferable know-it-all Granger. But still better than Lovegood and her butterbeer corks, a memory of the last night passed through Severus’s mind.

Ron winced as the door to Severus’s study opened, obviously remembering the last night and fearing the consequences that would undoubtedly materialize in their upcoming lesson together.

Severus realized that Weasley did not deserve as much as a glance from him. At least not until it was eight o’clock and their lesson started. He swept by Ron and Hermione, his onyx robes billowing, as if the two were nothing more than thin air to him.

Still, he couldn’t help overhearing the voice that was always so annoying in the lessons, but which now sounded so … different. To say the least. “Don’t worry, Ron, everything … fine … Snape … ok.” Severus merely shook his head to get rid of the unexpected transient thought. Sleep. More sleep, that’s what you need, Severus.

The one idea vanished but others kept coming as he was leaving the dungeons. So the Weasley boy does really mean it. He wants to penetrate to the art of Potion making. But he looks rather scared. And needs a girl to comfort him. A girl. Well. Ms. Granger is not a girl any more, but still. Yeah, where is Weasley's Gryffindor lion heart now? Severus remembered how malice he can sometimes become at his students and smirked at that.

But he was already entering the half-empty Great Hall and all his ideas were obliterated by a sudden flashback. Voldemort. The Carrows. Try as he might, Severus couldn’t visualize the two ever becoming the Hogwarts staff.

With a sudden uneasiness he sat by the staff table and pretended to enjoy his breakfast. The memory of the Carrows deprived him of taste or hunger.

“Morning, Minerva,” Severus said as Professor McGonagall was heading for her breakfast too.

“Good morning, Severus. Merlin’s beard, Severus, you look pale today!” she exclaimed when she looked properly to where Severus was sitting. “Are you ill? I suggest, you--”

But before Professor McGonagall could finish her advice that would certainly include hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey and a horrible tasting potion he would have to brew himself for himself, “Bad night, Minerva,” Severus muttered under his breath. Immediately, he put on a face indicating that he did not want to elaborate any further. At this Professor McGonagall knew that her company was less than welcome.

Left once again to his own thoughts, Severus’s eyes traveled to the Gryffindor table. Like the rest of the Hall it, too, was half-empty. His eyes fell on the place where Hermione usually sat and to Severus’s utter astonishment, he realized that this place was the one that Lily used to occupy so many years ago, too. How she used to laugh there. And the looks she used to gave me from there. At least before she met Potter.

The memory of James Potter brought Severus back to reality. Potter. Like father like son. Both, bossy and intolerable. And their friends likewise. Which reminds me. Remedial Potions, Severus. Get up and off to the dungeons.

Severus commanded himself, got up and set off to leave the Great Hall. Though he was tired and slightly worried his movements were as graceful as ever.

While descending the stairs, Severus caught himself hoping that maybe Ms. Granger hasn’t left yet. Maybe Weasley is too scared to be there alone with me.

He did not know how much disappointed he would be at seeing Ron all by himself in the corridors. Sighing inwardly, Severus uttered merely, “Ready, Mr. Weasley?” at which Ron winced slightly yet again.

***
And it’s done. Please, let me know here whether it is a complete disaster or not. Many thanks.

Hermione Granger walked around the corner with her nose in a book. “Ron, I found this book, it might be helpful. It. . .Oh. . . Good morning, Professor.” she said as she looked up at the two men standing in front of her.

She held the book out for Ron, but it was intercepted by the infamous Potions Master. He raised an eyebrow as he read the title. “The Less than Competent Wizard’s Guide to Understanding the Infinitely Vast World of Potion Making, by Gertrude Flabbernackie?” He cast a sidelong glance at Ms. Granger, then looked back to Ron, with a mocking smirk clearly written on his face. “It seems as though Ms. Granger, here, has more confidence in you than I. I, myself would have recommended ‘The Hopeless Wizard’s Guide to Basic Potion Making, by Herkemer Humberger’. Some of the words in this book may be a little too difficult for your minuscule brain to comprehend.”

He shoved the book at Ron’s chest and turned to enter his office. Leaving a very nervous and self-conscious Ron in his wake.

Ron looked back to Hermione and winced as he followed Snape to his impending doom. He had his head hung low as he closed the door behind him.

Snape was behind his desk shuffling through some papers, completely ignoring Ron’s presence.

Ron made his way slowly to where he had his cauldron and ingredients set up. He stood as silent and still as a statue for five minutes. When it became clear to him that he was going to have to make the first move, he cleared his throat. He felt compelled to apologize for last night’s cleverness. “I’m sorry for messing up your library last night, Sir.”

Snape waved a hand in acknowledgment and said, with a cool, inscrutable expression on his face, “It took mere seconds to set it right. Anyone with half a brain would have known to put some sort of charm in place to make it a little more difficult to straighten. All you really did, Weasley, is to remind me why I should never have stopped putting student repelling charms around my quarters. I hadn’t needed them since your brother’s made their legendary departure, until now.” He glanced at the Weasley’s potion station. “Sit.”

Ron quickly obeyed.

Snape continued with the lecture, “Turn to page ten of ‘The Imbecile’s Guide to Making Ridiculously Simple Potions, by Ellouise Munchbaum.’ You will be brewing me a sample of the pepper-upper potion, listed there. I have yet to find a simpler potion to create. Surely, even one such as yourself can manage it. When you are finished, you will drink a flask, if you live and are ‘peppier,’ you will know it was brewed correctly. If you die, or are transfigured, you will have nothing to blame but your own ignorance. Now, begin.”

Severus casually walked back to his desk and sat down, while laughing quietly to himself. ‘Poor Mr. Weasley will walk out of here looking like a disfigured walrus.’ He pulled out a book identical, at least is was, before he transfigured it, to the one the Weasley brat was now using, ‘Potion Pranks So Simple, Even My Little Brother Could Make Them, by Fred and George Weasley.’ He chuckled to himself once again, ‘Thank Merlin for those infernal twin’s owl order service. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that shop of theirs. Hopefully, their confidence in their brother’s potion abilities wasn’t misgiven. I suppose only time will tell.’



Well, there it is. Let me know if I completely destroyed it by leaving feedback here.

Thanks for reading,
Dayna

Severus settled back into his chair. His dark robes flowed around him like some pestilent fog. Ignoring the pile of unread owl posts heaped on his desk he focused his attentions on his recalcitrant student, Ronald Weasley. Although Ron had his back to him, Severus could see a new flush of nervousness. Ron’s hands seemed less sure, his movement, less cocky. Ingredients escaped from his bag, equipment fled before him. His dented, well used scales twisted themselves into a Gordian knot. Severus fought the twisted smile fighting to break across his face so that when Ron sought a quick peek, narrowed eyes and pursed lips glared back at him. This sent a fresh wave of dread over Weasley who promptly backed into his cauldron. Its ominous gong resounded throughout the dungeon. Ron looked up apologetically and Severus forced his brows even closer. He doubted if a more awkward pupil existed, except for maybe Longbottom.

No Miss Granger to help you now, he sneered as Ron wrested the cauldron back into its place.

Mr. Weasely’s actions quickly bored him. Weasley had no more competency in setting up a cauldron than in any other wizarding undertaking. Amusing though he might be, this detention would easily fill his evening. and Severus hated wasting time. He eyed the pile of owl posts again. Sighing to himself, his hands reached towards the mound: requests, pleas, reminders, more requests, more pleas. Flipping through them, they scattered like little mice. Caging a few that threatened to disappear under his desk, Severus began sorting them, expensive parchment, exquisite calligraphy into one pile, desperate penmanship on the odd sheet into another. His jaw tightened. Was he to become some intercessor for the Dark Lord? Out of the corner of his eye, Severus caught Ron casting furtive little glances over his shoulder and Severus’s jaw tightened again. This detention might easily continue until midnight

“Mr. Weasley,“ Severus drawled. “I expect this assignment completed within the next hour of your wretched existence. Or,” and here Severus paused, letting the full weight of his menace sink into the three feet of concrete that he believed must be exist in Weasley’s brain. “Or do you feel you need more time?“ Severus watched Ron’s face blanch.

“No, sir,” he stammered. Then whipping around he began scattering ingredients and equipment. Anger and impatience replaced any amusement Severus felt. How long would this now take?

“Hurry up, Weasley,” he hissed. “Or it’s detention for the remainder of the month, with Filch,” he added hastily not wanting to have to spend whatever free moments he might have with Ronald Weasley.

Severus’ eyes wandered back to his posts. His mouth pulled into an ugly pout and then disgusted, he shoved the pile back. The little parchment slips skittered towards the desk’s edge, yet Severus made no attempt at stopping them. His eyes returned to Weasley. Clouds of pale blue smoke were issuing from his cauldron rather than the expected green. Obviously, Weasely hadn’t read the instruction too carefully. Obviously, he never opened his potions book at all or he would know that any type of smoke issuing from his cauldron at this stage indicated a transfiguring potion.

Practical jokes, he grimaced, at school he’d never been very good at them. Potter and his infernal mate, Black had pulled off loads and everyone thought they were hysterical. Mulciber played one on Mary MacDonald and Lily had been furious with him. He, hadn’t done anything to her, hadn’t lifted a wand, hadn’t even been there, but Lily never spoke to him after that. Evil, she accused him. The word still stung. Crumbling the parchment he’d been holding he tossed it on his desk with the others. They could wait. Lifting his eyes he turned his attention to his lone student. Even though Ron had his back to him, he flinched when Severus’ eyes bore into him. His attempts became overly cautious, almost timid. Watching as Ron repeatedly checked and rechecked his book, Severus grew impatient then disgusted. Reliance on a reference, he fumed is the hallmark of a novice and a coward. Where is the Gryffindor lion now, he questioned.

He’d been brave, his thoughts returning to Lily. He’d stood outside the Gryffindor common room. Suffering through the jibes and insults of his fellow Slytherins, he’d apologized to her. It didn’t matter. She thought him evil. It had taken him years to discover what she meant and by then it was too late. Shuddering, he pushed the memory along with the pile away from him. Flattening the parchment in front of him he recognized Bellatrix Lestrange’s stabbing scribble. The Dark Lord has her taking dictation, he mused. How appropriate.

Alecto Carrow, he read. Rolling his eyes upward, Severus stared at the ceiling. There was no point in continuing, he knew what was coming. The Dark Lord wanted more pure bloods teaching at Hogwarts, although even he agreed that anything that Alecto Carrow might be able to teach, no reasonable witch or wizard would want to learn. The Dark Lord did not consider Muggle Studies a serious course of study and so anyone or anything, as he had put it, could teach the subject. Even Defense Against the Dark Arts was a pointless course of study unless the Dark Lord taught it. Only the Dark Arts should be taught, and no one but the Dark Lord himself could teach them, he had seen to that years ago. Severus glanced at the parchment again, hoping for a reprieve, but no such offering existed. Voldemort was demanding to know why Alecto had not been installed as an instructor. Severus fixed his eyes on the gurgling fountains at the very back of the class. He’d promised Albus, promised him on his deathbed that he would protect the students at Hogwarts.

“How Albus?” he mouthed. “How can I do that with the Callows here?”

His eye drifting towards his wayward pupil, Severus did a double take. His lip twitched into a smirk but only for a moment. He knew the potion was not the pepper-upper potion, but rather a badly disguised engorgement charm. But Ron looked neither peppier nor engorged, instead he appeared to be melting.

“Weasley,” he snapped. “What have you done?”

An odd cross between a moan and a whimper escaped from Ron’s sagging mouth, the remains of a bright blue potion dribbling down his chin. Snatching the flask from rubbery fingers Severus took a quick sniff. His heart constricted. Grabbing Ron’s book, he looked at the instructions, crossed out ingredients littered the page. He recognized Granger’s tiny handwriting as well as Potter‘s lazy chicken scratch. With dawning horror he realized what happened. Potter and Granger had given Weasley hints on brewing a successful pepper upper potion, which Weasley had used. Unfortunately, Weasley couldn’t tell the difference between the Elixir of Life and roof tar. Any fourth year would have recognized the ingredients, but not Weasley. Instead of brewing and ingesting an engorgement potion, he brewed a badly concocted dissolving potion, which though poorly made, was dissolving Weasley’s bones!

Ron’s face sagged towards the floor. One eye shot upwards in an attitude of helplessness the other followed the rest of his face downward. Ron began taking on the appearance of a six foot slug.

“Pull yourself together, Weasley,” Severus ordered sharply, but Ron-slug continued puddling before his cauldron.



Comments, ideas, thought, the all go here. Thanks for reading!

Severus was pacing in his office. It had been four hours since Weasley's disastrous encounter with a dissolving potion. Snape couldn't help but feel nervous about Weasley's condition. No matter how much he loathed him, he didn't want him dead. He had given him a potion to slow down and hopefully stop the dissolution of his bones and now Madame Pomphrey was tending to him. There was nothing else Severus could do. After twenty minutes or so of nonstop pacing, he walked over to his desk and sat down, pulling up his left sleeve, he took a deep breath and concentrated, for he had only done this once before.

The Dark Lord made it known that this method of communication was only for dire emergencies and this was one of them. Severus was about to communicate directly to the Dark Lord through the Dark Mark's on their arms. He pressed his forefinger to the mark and thoguht the exact phrasing he wanted to say:

It is in my opinion that the Carrows not be sent to Hogwarts any time soon. Earlier this evening Ron Weasley escaped a near death experience, and although we both would not miss him, many here would. THey have tightened security and are seeking out a reason to inspect into my personal affairs since I was the one with him at the time of the incident.

Severus then withdrew his finger and tapped the mark with his wand, a burning sensation, and then the message was sent. Just then a note appeared on his desk from madame Pomphrey.

Severus-

Ron will be fine. He has taken Skele-Grow and will need to stay in the hospital wing for the next two weeks, but will come out with no lasting scars or injuries. He is awake for the time being if you would like to see him.

Madame Pomphrey

Severus immediately left his chair and began the trek to the hospital wing. When he was one landing below, his left forearm seared with hot pain and a message appeared in his thoughts:

I am very disappointed in you Severus. You are one of my most trusted and this is how you repay my trust. I will not send the Carrows as to avoid possible complications, but you will be punished for this foolishness

Dreading the punishment that lay ahead, Severus forged on towards the hospital wing.

Upon arriving, he saw Weasley surrounded by his two best friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, who happened to be holding Weasley's hand.

"Out," Snape said, indicating for Harry and Hermione to go.

"But Professor..." began Hermione, with a pleading tone in her voice.

"I said leave Miss Granger," hissed Snape. "Or did you put a Permanent Sticking Charm between your and Weasley's hand?"

Snape smirked as he watched Hermione's cheeks flood with color and her gaze drop down to the floor, along with both of her hands.

"Come Hermione, let's get out of here," whispered harry, getting up to leave.

"Smartest idea that I've seen from you yet Potter," replied Snape, smirking even more.

Harry and Hermione left the hospital wing, glancing back as they reached the door. Snape circled around the bed and sat down next to Weasley.

"Professor I.." began Ron but Snape held up a hand to silence him.

"I will be brief and I want no interruptions for I do not want to be here as much as you," replied Snape icily. "You once again managed to turn the simplest of tasks into a possibly deadly situation. I did not see any improvement and no reason to have you continue remedial potions, because you obviously lack any focus to improve."

"But Professor, what about our deal?" asked Ron.

"The deal is off. Besides, Minerva just informed me she has been so busy she forgot all about the party."

And with that, Snape stood up and left Ron to sit there in his thoughts and pain.



THE END



------------------------------------



To all readers:

I apologize for the possible sloppiness or rushed feeling in this chapter. We (SOSS) needed to end this fanfic so that we can begin our newest collaborative effort on a Severus Snape fanfic. I urge you all to leave any feedback for this fic. Also, I would like to remind you all to keep an eye out for the next SOSS fanfic which should begin very soon. Thank you for reading!


-Nick
HJP
SOSS Fanfic Coordinator


Feedback here