Red Strokes

Harry was sitting on his four poster, the curtains drawn tight around him. He had a blank bit of parchment on his lap and a quill loaded with ink. Snape might have asked them to write an essay on the uses of Dragon's blood but Harry knew he was being asked to do otherwise. It was a small task for seventh years, in fact, Harry remembered writing the same essay in his second year. When someone had pointed that out in class they were rewarded with a good telling off and Snape had said the words that Hermione had chirped in the library. "REVIEW IS ESSENTIAL."

Harry thought about it. He had loads of questions that he wanted to ask and get the honest answers to. He grinned, that was perfect. Finally, after a quarter of an hours debate, his quill scratched across the parchment.

When Snape glided into the room during their next Potions class, he wasted no time at all.

"Homework now," he spat.

The entire class made a lot of rustling and scraping noises as they placed their rolls of parchment on their desktops. With a flick of the Potions Masters wand, the scrolls went soaring towards his desk and settled themselves into a neat pile. Harry had the urge to reach out and grab his before it left the sanctity of his desk. He had very suddenly realized how silly it was to think that Snape would answer his questions or not give him the rest of the year in detention. Harry shuddered but realized very quickly that there was nothing to be done now. Snape had his essay and he couldn't get it back without causing a great uproar.

The rest of the class was spent brewing a baldness potion which, when rubbed on any one area, would remove any hair from that spot. Neville had accidentally balded his own head twice and had done something to his potion to cause his cauldron to grow a rather large grey beard. Hermione was tutting about how menial this task was and Ron was counting his stirs with his tongue between his teeth. Harry was starring into his cauldron and hoping not to catch Snapes eye. Then, of course, fate stepped in.

Neville's cauldron gave a great burp and sent a blob of some muddy looking brown substance (the potion was supposed to have been pink and watery by now) towards Harry and Ron's desk. The blob soared right over their heads and landed with a splash into Harry's cauldron. Ron had been drenched in Harry's potion quite thoroughly. Hermione cried out first as the hair on Ron's head started to fall our rather quickly. Harry had only a second to gasp before his cauldron gave a great whinning noise and burst into brilliant blue flames.

The looming potions master had not wasted anytime. Before any further damage was incurred he had swept to the table, put out the fire and had drenched Ron in water from his wand tip. Neville was told to take Ron to the hospital wing, 15 points were taken from Gryffindor for his idiocy and Harry was given a detention for some unknown reason. Then Snape called for everything to be packed up, Harry would of course recieve no marks for the day as his potion had been utterly destroyed in the blue flames. Then the bell rang and they all left, Harry feeling quite down trodden because he would now have a detention the very evening that Professor Snape would read his essay.

*~*~*~*~*

Severus Snape flung his cloak onto the back of his chair in his office and poured a large scotch for himself. The 7th year essays were neatly piled on the left hand corner of his desk. He gave a great sigh as he sat down and reached for the pile. It took him all of two minutes to find Potter's untidy scroll. He opened it and had to look twice. There were just a list of numbered questions and room below each for a response. Severus didn't expect Potter to be so brazen as to not even pretend to write an essay but he read never the less. He was half amused and half anxious at what he read. Severus picked up his nicest quill, unstopped his red ink and answered the questions.

1. Do You Want to Touch Me?

Yes, I would like to wrap my hands around your neck and squeeze. Often I fantasize about slapping you but then remember the wrath of Albus Dumbledore and return to my senses.

2. Is Your Hair That Greasy?

Shampoo is evil. I would tell you why but there isn't enough space on this parchment. Just beware the shampoo Potter.

3. If I Kissed You Would You Let Me?

If you kissed me I wouldn't have a choice of letting you because you would have already done it. I believe you wanted to ask if I would kiss back.

4. Do You Want to Fuck Me?

Severus stared at the last one for quite some time. He'd already had three scotches and was working on his fourth when he realized the time and that Potter would be at his doorstep in less than 10 minutes. God this boy was brazen as hell, writing that on an essay. Well, Severus did want to 'fuck him' as Harry had put it but he wasn't certain whether or not he should answer that question.

The longer he thought on it the more minutes clicked away on the clock. Finally, there was a knock on his office door. Snape rolled up the scroll quickly and stopped up his ink well. "Enter," he called.

Harry opened the door looking sullen faced and hanging his head. "I'm here for my detention sir," he said in a crackling voice.

"So you are," said Snape without looking up. He was pretending to read the other essays. "Sit down Potter."

Harry strolled toward the desk and sat in the chair opposite Snape. Snape handed him the scroll that was his essay and stood. "Here, I've already marked it. You can read over it while I go to the store room. Don't go anywhere, I won't be long." With that he swept from the room and left Harry there, starring blankly at the red ink that adorned his list.