Useful Things

Professor McGonagall sat behind her study desk and peered over the top of her wire rimmed spectacles at the students gathered before her, her face set in hard lines and vexation. The fact that it was 1.30 in the morning and bloody freezing didn’t help her mood either . She drew the shawl tighter around her shoulders whilst waiting for an explanation from the errant students.
In clipped tones she said “well who’s going to explain themselves first?”

Her gaze fell on the gangly dark haired youth. She had to resist the impulse to dampen down that unruly mop of hair. As the deputy head mistress she may be stern when riled, but had a maternal streak towards the students in her care.

“I am waiting gentleman. Why were you out after curfew and clearly out of bounds? Potter?”

The boy shifted his weight from one foot to the other and gave a small shrug of his shoulders. Although he didn’t answer he did have the presence of mind to shift his gaze lower and stare fixatedly at the ink well on the desk. McGonagall gave an irritated tsk then turned her attention to the other boy from her house. “Mr Longbottom perhaps you can enlighten me”

Snape, who had been standing off to one side sneered and muttered something unintelligible but derogatory under his breath about the state of Longbottom's intelligence. He then gave a long sideways glance across the room and could see Potter's hackles rising. If he played this well he could pay out enough rope for the dammed arrogant little shit to hang himself with. Mr bloody Gryffindor golden boy Potter not so smart now he was caught good and proper. He punctuated the thought with an up turning of his lips which was more of a smirk than a smile. The tension in the room went up a notch as the Gryffindor turned to square off with the dark haired Slytherin in defence of one of his friends.
“Don’t you dare insult him you greasy haired git of a bastard”.

Yep that was the noose being tightened and all he had to do was stand there with that crooked toothed sneer and say nothing. The atmosphere in the room was as tense as a strung bow


Then the thud of a heavy book being slammed down with force on the worn surface of Professor McGonagall desk brought everyone’s attention back to the woman who by this time was getting extremely ticked off. Her eyes narrowed as she tersely said “Ten points from Gryffindor for your Language young man and an apology please.”

Out of a subconscious habit Potter pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose . In the middle of apologising to the professor he realised that she had meant for him to say sorry to that greasy bastard Snape to . who incidentally was staring at him with a gloating expression and an air of anticipation.

“But Professor he started it why should I...?” The question was out of Potters mouth before he could help himself

He was cut of with a sharp look and a jagged clearing of the throat.

“But me no buts young man. Twenty points for your cheek and it will be a further twenty if you carry on with this insolence.”

Minerva McGonagall was beside herself with anger she did not tolerate profanity and bad manners never mind direct disobedience. She had had enough and wished to be back in bed where they should all be at this time of night.
The ground out half apology that Snape received wasn’t wholly satisfactory but it would do. Unlike Potter he knows when not to push his luck.

Malfoy, who up to this point had not been asked to give an account of tonight’s events, stifled a yawn and flicked his eyes to the clock on the wall with a bored expression, as though seeing the head of Gryffindor take points from her own house was not entertaining.

Rather than wait all night for a cock and bull explanation of everyone’s exploits Professor McGonagall decided to give a blanket punishment to both houses.

“Since I have a wish to be better rested before I have to see you all in class tomorrow boys, the wheres and why fors can wait for another day. Mr Potter, Mr Longbottom?” The two boys stood up straighter to hear the verdict. “Thirty points each for being out after curfew, and a Saturday detention with Mr Filch for being out of bounds.”

Snape and Malfoy looked like the cats that had eaten the cream. It was a Slitherin v Gryffindor match on Saturday and McGonagall had just grounded her star player

Potter looked at her stern face and knew not to argue. If you counted up all the school rules he and his friends had broken it was a wonder she had not expelled them by now.

The professor then turned her gaze to the other side of the room and said sharply, “And you can wipe that smile of your face boy the same applies to Slytherin as well.”

Malfoy's cultured features took on a momentary frown, which he instantly suppressed. As mother so rightly pointed out, if it became habitual it would mar his looks.
Unfortunately the sour expression on Severus' face was not so quickly masked. Points lost and a detention for his house he would seek recompense for this. Potions were the first class of the morning; Potter and his cohorts better watch their step. The only reason the others hadn’t been caught is because they took to their heels faster than Longbottom, who had inadvertently tripped and twisted his ankle. Potter being the ever constant hero had stopped to help him up, thus being the only reason the Head Boy had managed to nab them . It was a sorry excuse for a slytherin being caught though.

There was a brief moment between Malfoy and Snape where the communication was quite clear. The flint like expression spoke of further consequences for the dint in the total of green gems in the Slitherin house hourglass

Professor McGonagall was bone weary of the animosity between the 2 houses and now wanted them all out of her sight.

“Potter go straight back to your dormitory. No dawdling and definitely no detours. Mr Longbottom I shall floo you to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can have a look at that leg of yours.”

Both boys complied with their head of house.

On his way to the door Potter passed the two slimy snakes he so wanted to the punch Snape right on that over sized conk of a nose. The Gryffindor kept his fists tightly clenched by his sides just in case temper over rode commonsense.

The deputy headmistress stepped in to the fire place after Longbottom so she could floo to the hospital wing too. Noticing Malfoy still standing before her desk she dismissed the young aristo with “And please remember to turn in your homework tomorrow Mr Malfoy; its two days overdue as it is.”

With that she threw the powder in the hearth and vanished in a haze of green flames

The blond grey eyed chap turned, and realised that he was the only one left standing in the office. Snape had already stepped out.
As Malfoy peered down the corridor he saw the sweep of Snape’s robes trailing on the flag stones heading down the stairs to the dungeon. With long quick strides he made up the distance between them. - Before Severus could even turn and throw a comment over his shoulder Malfoy caught up and spun him round on the stairwell. The crack as an open palm met his face practically reverberated off the walls .To stop from falling over Snaps reflexes took hold and he grabbed for the banister behind him, the adrenalin pumpt through his body in reaction to the fight or flight stimulus as he reached to defend himself .
Malfoy stepped closer and grabbed a handful of the overly long robes and hissed out “Don’t you even think of drawing your wand on me again do you hear boy?”

Severus closed his eyes and reholsterd his wand. The tears were stinging and threatening to spill down his cheeks. He wasn’t going to cry even if his cheek did sting like hell .The echo of past taunts and 'snivellus' filled his memory and churned at the sick fear in the pit of his stomach . He mumbled out a soft apology and cast his head low so the crack in his voice would not be heard by the other. Instead of receiving another slap for his weakness Malfoy let go of his robs and muttered “O for Merlin's sake here.” When he opened his red rimmed eyes he found he was being presented with a silk handkerchief. The startled second year looked up at the Head Boy. He had expected to see more anger in those steel grey eyes .Malfoy and the other Slitherin prefects had punished him before and by rights he was expecting worse for yet again losing points for their house .

Lucius Malfoy shook his head and thought that it was far too late and cold to be stood here. He wanted a few hours sleep himself so his brain would function he did have that infernal transfiguration essay to finish before breakfast ; because if he didn’t hand it in tomorrow he was sure McGonagall would stop him from playing in Saturday’s game too. He forced the hanky into the younger boy's grasp and lazily drawled out “Wipe your eyes and blow your nose, you look a state.”
When he lifted his hand to the younger boy's face he noted with satisfaction the slight flinch of fear .
He was just glad that the wizards duel that Severus had challenged Potter to have happened on his patrol.
Black the unscrupulous little toed had jumped in making the odds two on one. Lupin and the other whatever his name was hadn’t joined in, but they didn’t stop it ether. Lucius hadn’t needed to do anything but stride up to the group of second years and call out a counter jinx to nullify the stray spell heading his way .
He proceeded to marched them up through the castle grounds, insulting the Gryffindor's on their shoddy technique, pushing Potter and Longbottom before him. Longbottom favouring his left leg after the fall tried not to stumble. Severus had trailed behind with that constant sour expression on his face, the boy really needed to hide his thoughts better . Bloody shame the others had scampered like that . Also a bloody travesty that they were met at the front door by the deputy head mistress .There was no way Lucius could down play Snape's involvement . McGonagall hadn’t allowed him to speak his bias opinion .

He regarded the scrawny pale boy in front of him and wondered to himself why he had taken the fellow under his wing . Oh that’s right he was a Slitherin and they looked after their own . Realising he still had hold of the boy’s chin he turned it to the left to examine the bruise now blooming along the cheek and jaw line . Damn he had struck him hard .
Severus twisted the scrap of material in a nervous fashion as he apologized again, his voice now stronger if not completely confident. He did regret losing house point because of his feud with those no nothing show off Gryffindors.

“Lucius do you think Professor Slughorne will send a letter home to my father?” Severus voice almost cracked again as he mentioned Snape sr .

“No I shouldn’t think so . I will have a word with him when I make my report.”
Lucius didn’t indulge in over sentimentality but could give a complement when it was due. “That was first class duelling back there by the way. You were turning out 5th year hexes like no tomorrow. I am impressed. Come on let's get some kip .“He thought for a moment then added graciously ‘Come by my room in the morning I may have a salve that will help that face of yours.”

The 12 year old Severus was stunned that his hurt was going to be healed. That’s something his father never allowed his mother to do after a beating . He was grateful for the small offer of sympathy from the older boy.

As they both walked back to their dormitories Lucius was planning he would mentor the boy and bring on his skill and foster a friendship, because one day he could be put to good use. It wasn’t only Slughorn who could spot potential.

A/n it’s just a pity that I had to put this under a sub heading. It probably does not give the plot twist any impact. This could be a one shot but could also be turned in to a longer story framed round key interactions with Severus a d Lucius. Please let me know what you think.