Potion Mishaps and Secrets Revealed

Disclaimer: I own it all!!! *random person smacks aloveablegimp over the head* Owie... Ok so I lied. I own nothing! I own the potion Veritas-Aequitas and that's it. Everything else is JKR's not mine!! Please don't sue me!

Another lazy morning fell on the students of Hogwarts as they filed into the dungeon for t another of double Potions class. There was a big difference in this morning activities though. Instead of the normal fear filled atmosphere due to spending time with Snape in the dungeons, the room was buzzing with excitement with talk of the upcoming holiday break.

Gray eyes closed easily as he stifled the yawn that tried to escape his lips. Yawning would suggest that he is tired and that would be showing weakness, which is something that would go against his father's beliefs. No matter how tired Draco was he would fight off the yawn for fear of his father's wrath. For that is by far something he does not want to encounter when he returns home.

Slowly opening his eyes he lazily glanced around the room until his eyes settled on his target. Apparently his prey was never taught such things as he yawned loudly before rejoining his friends as they eagerly discussed the “surprise” Professor Snape hinted at in the last class. Draco had never seen his godfather so excited before as he told the class that next class there would be a special “surprise”. He finally received permission from Headmaster Dumbledore for the addition to his syllabus. Having spent most of his childhood and much of last summer with his godfather, it sent shivers up and down his spine to remember his smile. He had only seen Snape smile once or twice before and most certainly never in public. Not that his godfather had a bad smile it was just something that one would not expect from the distant Potions Master. Nonetheless there he was vividly clear in Draco's memory, smiling as he shared with the class this piece of news before he assigned a two-foot essay on the uses or Veritaserum and then dismissing them.

“Oi! Harry! What do you think Snape’s surprise is for us? I bet you he is going to try to have something really dangerous don’t you think?” Seamus asked eagerly bouncing over to the tired raven-haired boy.

“I don’t know Seamus. For all I know he finally got permission to hex us if we mess up our potions. Did you see the glint in that man's eyes as he told us that we would have a surprise.” Neville swallowed thickly before Harry quickly added with a laugh, “Mate, I was just kidding. I do not think Dumbledore would let him have that much power.”

Neville simply shook his head and replied, “I didn’t think so either. I wouldn’t be that thick.” After seeing how relieved Neville looked Draco was disappointed he did not get the chance to tease him about his “Gryffindor pride” as Snape strode in the door.

“Settle down and take to your seats. Ten points from Gryffindor for being out of your seat Mr. Finnegan.” Snape drawled with a slight hint of humor in his voice as the young man glared at him and sat down. “Today we will be working on making a slightly different form of the Veritaserum potion.” With a chorus of groans he added, “In partners” he paused gauging the reactions as the whole class filled with slight buzzing of excitement as the class tried to call out to each other for picking partners.

Seeing this he smiled yet again as the whole class quickly silenced and stared at the professor, “Oh I’m sorry am I interrupting something?” seeing that no one answered, he continued, “as I was saying, today we will be working on the different form of the Veritaserum potion in partners, that I will be choosing.” No one dared to protest as the man slicked his hand through his greasy hair. He could not contain his excitement, he had been waiting all semester for this potion to be approved by Dumbledore.

Flash Back:

Despite his hatred for the man Snape kept his anger and feelings in check as he went to ask Dumbledore for permission.

“Severus, my dear boy! Would you like a lemon drop?” Snape tried his best not to sneer at the lemon drop obsessed old man, as he simply opted to shake his head. “No? Oh well,” as he helped himself to one, he causally looked upon Snape as he added, “So what is it that you need of me?” his blue eyes twinkling in delight as he smiled gently.

That old man is going to be the death of me someday… Snape thought in disgust as he fought the urge to reach out and smack that stupid smile off Dumbledore’s face. He was fully aware that the twinkle in that man's eye meant that he knew exactly what brought him there but as always he never wanted to show his hand so Snape stated, “I would like permission to add a potion to my syllabus. The Veritas-Aequitas potion.”

After Snape's request was made Dumbledore’s smile faltered. Why did he want to add that potion? Times like these where information is sacred to have such a strong truth serum. Not just any truth serum but Veritas Aequitas. That potion made the victim’s most guarded secrets be revealed. Also the one administering the potion would be able to peer into that person’s mind and find whatever they liked. When the potion's effects ended the victim will not remember revealing anything to the person. It is by far too risky for children. Then again… if Snape administers the potion to the children then he can find out what the children’s Death Eater parents are up to! Oh my, what a brilliant plan. Now how am I going to convince Severus of this? Dumbledore pondered while gazing at the nervous man in front of him.

“On one condition,” Severus jumped in surprise when the old man spoke. He had been silent for a while now and it was making him nervous. “You must be the one to administer the potion to the children. No child may do so. You can ask whatever questions you wish, no matter how um, interesting they may be. However, you must ask the children whose parents are known Death Eaters if they know anything of Voldemort’s conditions.”

Snape inwardly groaned. How did I not see that coming? Oh wait I did! Fumbling old man, I knew you would request this and do not worry I shall ask whatever you wish. He looked at the headmaster before nodding his head with his assurance and swept out of the room as quickly as possible to avoid more questions.

Present:

“When I call out your name go sit next to your partner and get started,” with a wave of his wand he added, “The directions are on the board you are to finish by the end of the period and each you and your partner will bring up a sample and be tested by me. Blaise Zabini and Pansy Parkinson, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter…” as Snape finished up his list he glanced around the room at his handy work. He then settled into his chair comfortably and watched them start their potions.

Draco inwardly groaned as he heard Potter’s name follow his. Why is it that I have to suffer for his incompetence, with a glare to his godfather he added, He better know what he is bloody doing to my grade and not fail me because of this git. Just then Potter plopped down next to him with the ingredients for the potion.

“Okay Potter lets make this real easy on ourselves. To avoid failure why don’t I make the potion and you copy down what you see.” He sneered while double-checking that all of the potion ingredients were there.

“In case you didn’t notice on the board, Malfoy, Snape said that we both had to contribute to making the potion or we both fail.” With that he started grind up the spine of lionfish.

After that they decided to put their differences aside while they worked on the potion in absolute silence. Draco heard Potter mumble about adding the unicorn blood to him while he was recording. That puzzled Draco as he glanced up at the board to double-check that. Realizing why it sounded wrong he attempted to shout out, “Stop Potter! You will kill us! It's not unicorn blood its Dragon…” before he could finish an explosion came from their cauldron and threw both boys across the room covering them with their potion.

Professor Snape was already moving when he heard his godson try to stop Potter from adding the wrong ingredient. Realizing that both boys were unconscious he dismissed class and quickly had the boys levitate out of the classroom to the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey was furious to say the least as Professor Snape brought her most seen patient in unconscious. “What in Merlin’s name is going on here Severus? Why are the boys unconscious?” She spat out while running over their vitals. Pleased to see nothing but a few bumps and bruises she went to her cupboard to get out a healing potion for them.

“They are here due to Potter’s lack of intelligence in mastering potions. He added unicorn blood instead of dragon blood to their Veritas Aequitas potion.” Snape pointed out; waiting for it. Three, two, one…

“WHAT! Dumbledore actually gave you permission to administer such a potion to children? What was that man thinking? What were you thinking? Were you not watching your students?” She rounded Snape as she fired off her questions.

Before Snape could reply Harry started to move on the bed causing Madam Pomfrey to shift her attention to the boy. “Be careful my dear. We do not know what has happened to you. Here take this for your pain” she explained while handing Harry the potion.

“Thank god for this. Severus can you please tell me why I am here in the infirmary?” Harry questioned. Wait… this is not my voice. I sound like Potter! Oh Merlin! With a sudden jolt of fear he asked, “Where is Potter?” Before anyone could regain composure to respond the heard another groan.

Everyone’s attention snapped toward the source of the groan as the patient got up and walked towards him. Piercing gray eyes locked onto the emerald green eyes. “Nice to see that you’re awake Malfoy. To answer your question you do sound like me because you are in my body for some reason. In case you haven't pieced that together yet.” Harry pointed out to his now inhibited body.

"Who's fault would that be? Not mine! I tried to warn you before adding the unicorn blood." Draco venomously spat at the now shifting form of himself. Oh for Merlin's sake! I wish he would stop shifting like that with my body. Malfoys do not do that. he thought with a groan.

"Uh... Oops?" Harry offered as a reply and stopped moving.

Wait… I never said that out loud... Draco thought cautiously.

Well, I heard you nonetheless didn’t I? Harry returned with heavy sarcasm.

“You never opened your mouth Potter but I still heard you!” Draco exclaimed. Just then both boys jolted when they heard their Headmaster speak behind ‘Draco’.

“Well isn’t this unfortunate.” he commented amusedly.

There is that bloody twinkle again, thought Snape in the room as everyone looked to their Headmaster for an explanation as to why the boys changed how they did.

A/N: Okay there was the first chapter! Please Review and let me know what you think. I know I have the story set for NC-17 and to that I say all in good times. Please be patient with me this is my first fic! No flames but please review!! Also I let my story open to head in any direction that I want it to. Although I have an idea of where I want it to go you are my readers so let me know if you have any suggestions.
Love and a Peace,
~*~ Kates~*~