The Switch (or The Switcharoo)

Sorry for making you all wait for this chapter and the following chapters.


THE GAME & PART OF THE SOLUTION - chapter 7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Severus was surrounded by all the Weasleys and the Gryffindors because they insisted that they sit in the middle of the box to cheer. Hermione had told him it was okay to cheer when a score was made otherwise it wasn’t needed, and he thanked her and Merlin for her rarely cheering.

Madam Hooch threw the quaffle and bludgers up into the air after she let the snitch go, and the game started. Everyone in the stadium let at a loud cheer.

The first six goals were scored by Gryffindor and each time Minerva looked contentedly at Hermione, like she was going to win. Hermione just glared back at her.

Each point was met with an announcement of “Gryffindor is leading by 10 points” and every time a goal was scored, it would increase. The statements: “Where has Slytherin been? Shagging instead of practicing?” and “They’re getting beat by the Gryffindors!” and “I bet Professor Snape isn’t too happy!” were all said along with some teases and jokes to spice up the time.

Severus wasn’t happy that he had to scream “woo” and “Go! Gryffindor Go!” for every point that was made. His throat was already getting sore. The Gryffindors had 150 points already.

Gryffindor was going in for another goal, after two hours, when Harry caught the snitch. He hadn’t even seen it as he flew around. The snitch landed right in his hand as he was waving, and a loud cheer came from all the Slytherin team supporters.

Harry just looked at Draco and then at Hermione. He caught Snape’s look of smugness, when he went to land.

Hermione looked and smirked at McGonagall. “I hope we can do this next time Minerva.” Hermione stood up and McGonagall handed her the galleons.

“That was set up somehow, Severus.” Minerva was mad, but it only showed in her eyes.

“No Minerva, that was called strategy. If Potter can’t compete with Draco, then he needs to practice more.” Hermione knew Harry and Draco had planned the win. They had talked about it earlier as they left the owlery.

Minerva just got up and walked down the stairs with Dumbledore, “That was a very close game. I loved it!”

Hermione just waited for everyone to leave the box to walk down by herself. Dinner was going to be served around 8 and Hermione wanted to walk the grounds for an hour or so. As she headed out though, Draco, Harry, and Snape caught up with her.

“Well, how’d we do? We have to get those galleons, so we can pay off the rest of the team. So can we get them? We owe everyone 5 galleons, from both of us, they just think it’s me, though, since I look like Draco.” Harry explained there plan. “They didn’t even flinch, when I said we needed to tie. They just asked me why. They just nodded and accepted ‘Snape’ as an answer.” I wish Gryffindor would do that once in a while.”

“Potter, Gryffindors are known to be trustworthy and all that. So why would they cheat?” Draco replied back. “They were happy to score all those points though. When I went into the locker rooms they weren’t too happy, because I didn’t catch the snitch, though. McGonagall wasn’t too happy either. She’s making us... me... practice as much as possible.”

“Well, I’m going to Hogsmeade. You all need to change for Dinner. I need to see about the ingredients for the polyjuice potion.” Hermione said, walking toward the front gates.

“Miss Granger! Check with Rosmerta, she may have some extra potion vials for me. It may help us.” Snape called out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione did as Snape had said and had gotten a crate of vials. A few were polyjuice, and the others had different names she didn’t really recognize. She also got asked for a date soon from the woman bartender, but heard Severus scream ‘No!’ in her head. “No, Rosmerta, I’m busy with the school and potions.” Hermione replied after the third advance. She left after that and went to buy and order what she would need for the polyjuice potion, in case she had to make more later. She was glad she had a few extra galleons for a few butter beers, that she ordered to go for after they had figured their situation out.

She was walking back up to the school, with her packages in hand. She nearly dropped everything, when Harry ran up to her from what seemed like no where.

“Hermione, Snape said he would meet you in the potions classroom. He wanted to see if he had any polyjuice left over, and he had! We’re all going to be back into ourselves until we figure how to change ourselves back again from that damned disaster!!” Harry grabbed the vials and started running for the front door. “Come on!”

Hermione ran to the door, opened it, and started to walk to the dungeons when she saw that other students were around.

“Mr. Malfoy. Stop running.” she said, so Harry would notice everyone that he had forgotten in his excitement.

Harry faltered. “Sorry, Her... Professor.” He stammered, almost saying her name in front of other people.

They walked and ran, when no one could see them, all the way down to the dungeons. When they got to the door, they stopped to catch their breath. They opened the door and were nearly knocked over when Snape was right at the door, in his own body.

“Well, at least you were fast, Potter. Now, give me the case of vials and we’ll get this started. Everyone will get one vial to last the week, if you drink anymore then that you’ll regret it later. When you don’t need the potion, like going to bed or you’re in the dorm, don’t take the potion, even if someone visits. Just pretend like we have been doing already. Hermione, I’ve had Dumbledore set up rooms for you down here, because he thinks you want to work on a potion for your after Hogwarts education.” Snape paused to see if she was going to object, which she didn’t. “He said to take as long as you wanted, so we have plenty of time to work now. I just want this done before Christmas break is over. I don’t need or want to be disturbed then.”

“Then we should get going, Professor. As much as I like being your twin, I would like it more to be myself again. I’ve had enough of Slytherins for two days.” Hermione said sarcastically, almost like Severus.

“Well, Miss Granger, I will need you in here whenever I call, so we can work on this reversal. I don’t want you two,” he looked at Draco and Harry, “To be interrupting unless ABSOLUTELY necessary.”

Severus gave them each a vial and started to explain how they where to take every dose. “It’s strong, so take a mouthful before breakfast and make sure you eat, because it should make the transformation last longer. It shouldn’t be until after dinner that it wears off. So be in your rooms by then. Harry, you are going to be staying in Hermione’s old room. Hermione, your stuff has been moved to a room down the hall from my own. It’s a teachers set of rooms, so you’ll get more space to yourself.” Snape looked at Hermione as he addressed her and watched as her face turned to taking information in to surprised. “Dumbledore wanted to give you space to work.”

Hermione just nodded her head and waited to see her rooms.

Snape finished telling them that after this week they would have to wait about three to four more after that to get more polyjuice potion, because they had to make a new batch. Harry and Draco groaned and made sour faces, because they wouldn’t be able to be themselves for weeks.

When Snape had told them everything, they added the hairs to their potions and tested he potions out. They looked at each other and Harry laughed. “You’re not a cat!”

Hermione started to laugh after a moment, too, because she got that he was referring to their second year.

Snape and Draco just looked at them like they were crazy, until Hermione started to laugh harder at their faces. She tried to explain, but just laughed harder, “Second...” laugh, “Year,” more laughing, “Me, a cat!”

Snape finally made the connection and glared at the two of them. “Okay, enough laughter.” He said as menacingly as he could, which stopped Harry and Hermione. “You boys need to go to the Head dorm. Hermione, follow me to your rooms.” Severus waited for the everyone to walk out the door and locked and warded it. “Go on!” he shouted to the boys, then paused, ”Hermione, this way.”

Hermione followed him halfway down the hall to a door he indicated on the right. “Only your touch can open this door, so you shouldn’t get any one coming in. Unless you want a password that works for you, you need to ask for a portrait. ” Snape informed her, then left her alone.

Hermione whispered “Thanks,” to his back and opened the door to find a wide living room with a roaring fire place and two big, comfy looking chairs and a couch. The whole room was accented with soft reds and golds.

She walked to the door on her left and found the bathroom, which was almost as big as the living room. The bathroom had a large, what looked like a hot tub, bath and a separate shower with a large counter and mirror, the size of what remained of the 6 by 10 wall, with a sink. Everything were different shades of blue and green. It kind of reminded her of another bathroom, but she left the thought there.

When she walked back outside and across the living room to the door right of the entrance, she found her bedroom. There was a large queen sized bed with silk comforters and pillows, and a another large fireplace. Their were two large, floor to ceiling, windows that were charmed to look out on the grounds and the lake. This room was mainly black with accents of more red.

Hermione went through her wardrobe and drawers and found everything she had had up in her other rooms. She took out a pair of shorts and a tank, the same Snape had worn, changed, and went to bed.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell me whatcha think.