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"Potter, are you listening?"

Harry's eyes snapped up as he looked at Professor Snape's black eyes directly. They were like a viper's and he was half expecting venom to seep from the corners of his mouth. Ron looked at him with wide eyes in caution, unsure of what the Potions Professor might sentence as punishment.

"Yes, Professor, my apologies."

Snape was still inches from his face, the hand he slapped down on the desk still poised. He didn't even flinch, and Harry found it difficult to meet his intimidating eye contact. The entire classroom was quiet, every student looking at Snape and Harry's standoff. Finally, Snape broke eye contact by forcefully shoving his textbook against his chest.

"Follow along, Potter, one more interruption because of you and I'm sending you to the Headmaster."

Harry almost wanted that to happen. Anything to get away from Professor Snape. But, he didn't want to be sent to Dumbledore's office like an impudent child scolded in grade school.

"Of course, Professor."

"Points deducted from Gryffindor's house!" he shouted to the classroom as he turned away, black robes billowing. He heard the groans and felt the malicious glares thrown at him as Snape continued the lesson.

Hermione reached out and quickly brushed his arm. He looked at her and her eyes were sympathetic. Ron was giving Snape a hard glare, probably trying to decide what potions were good enough to use against the Professor. He should ask his older brothers on that one, they were the experts.

"Nice going, Potter," he heard a sneer behind him.

Already, he knew who that irritable tone was from.

"Shut it, Malfoy," Ron turned around in his chair and shot back.

"Ron," Harry shook his head to discourage his best friend. It wasn't worth it, not another scolding from Snape.

"What're you gonna do about it, Weasley?" Draco smiled evilly, happy he was able to elicit a reaction from Ron.

Hermione was nervously looking from Snape writing on the board to the argument going on behind her.

"Harry," she warned and nodded towards the Professor. She was trying to tell him that one more strike from Snape and it was game over for all of them.

"Ron, enough," he dared to whisper to him, "The Professor-"

"Potter!"

He snapped his head to the front of the room where the fuming Professor Snape was looking at him like a raging bull.

"Did I not just tell you to pay attention!"

He could hear Draco snickering behind him.

"Yes, Professor-"

"Do not interrupt me!"

He cut off before he could apologize.

"Your impudence will not be tolerated here, Mr. Potter. Detention after dinner, my office, and make haste."

He felt a groan rise up within him. Detention with Snape? He'd rather spend a night in the Slytherin common room than do that! But, there was no getting out of this, though. He would have to stick it out just for the night and he would be done.

Draco whispered into his ear, "Good luck with the devil himself tonight, Potter."

"Malfoy!"

Draco was slippery, his eyes shot up with fearful eyes as Snape's wrath targeted him.

"What are you doing?" Snape stressed each syllable with care and force.

"No, Professor, I was just-" He stuttered fearfully.

"Do not talk back to me!"

Malfoy snapped his jaw shut.

"After I just castigated Mr. Potter for disrupting the class, you follow in his disrespectful footsteps and have the temerity to believe you have the absolute right to interrupt my classroom even further?" He scolded Draco.

"No, Professor."

"Did I permit speech?!"

"No, Prof-" Draco cut off, looking up with wide eyes at Snape.

"You will accompany Mr. Potter in punishment. This classroom after the dinner bell rings, on the dot."

Harry trudged through dinner, butterflies fluttering in his stomach, accompanied with his anxiety. He couldn't believe he was spending the evening in Snape's classroom, but now with Draco? That was a nightmare! Hermione was trying to console him, but Ron proved no help as he just patted Harry roughly on the shoulder and said (encouragingly), "Good luck, mate."

He was finished with his food and he didn't want to avoid the confrontation any longer. Harry gathered his plate and wiped his rope as he prepared to walk the halls all the way to Snape's classroom. He walked quickly not wanting to be late, but he also wanted to avoid Lucius Malfoy's son as soon as possible. But life was never easy for Harry, so of course Draco caught up with him on the way.

"Potter!" his tone wasn't taunting, but rather furious.

He sighed and stopped in his tracks, Draco's footsteps angrily approaching. A rough hand grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.

"Listen here, Potter!" Draco spat, a finger stuck in Harry's face, "I'm in this mess because of you, and if Snape so much as blinks at me tonight I am holding you personally accountable!"

"Let me go, Draco," Harry's tone wasn't malicious, just one of warning,

They had a stare-down, both of them not wanting to turn away until Harry decided it would be even worse and more humiliating to face Professor Snape if he was a few minutes late due to an intense staring contest. Oh, he could just imagine the punishment he would receive then.

So, without turning away, Harry directly spoke to Malfoy, "We can keep up this charade, Draco, or both of us could go to Snape's office and get this over with so we go back to hating each other."

Draco sneered at him for a second, looking at him with suspicious eyes as he contemplated both options. He obviously followed his better judgement as he pushed passed Harry with a rough shoulder and stalked off down the hall. Harry sighed in relief before following, lingering behind to avoid anymore trouble. He followed Draco's shadow through the halls, most students retiring to their quarters, but the boys' punishment kept them awake and busy tonight.

Draco stopped at Snape's door, waiting for Harry without looking him in the eye. Malfoy, tough as he was, would even wait for Harry Potter to not face Severus Snape alone.

"Knock," Malfoy ordered, nodding at the door.

Harry sighed irritatedly, but did it anyway.

Before his fist descended for the second knock, the door cracked open with an eerie creak. Draco and Harry looked at each other. Malfoy gulped. Harry went in first, not expecting the Slytherin student to suddenly feel a surge of selflessness. Inside was dark and his eyes had trouble adjusting to the dim, cave-like quarters. A creepy turquoise light glared off the walls and drips could be heard from moist rocks in the cavern.

Draco nudged Harry with his elbow.

"Hello?" Harry called out, his voice echoing, "Professor?"

There was silence for a moment before Potter looked at Malfoy and shrugged. Draco scoffed and rolled his eyes as he took a deep breath and shouted a bit louder, "Professor Snape? Anybody in here?"

"Close the door."

Both boys jumped. Snape was nowhere to be found, but yet his sinister voice echoed off the walls and reverberated back to them. Harry nodded quickly and shut the door before taking his place by Draco's side once again, awaiting instructions.

His eyes tried scanning the office for Snape, but still he was invisible. He wondered if the Professor was utilizing a spell to mask himself, but it seemed unlikely.

"One of you, step forward."

Harry looked at Draco who gave a small shake of his head. He exhaled nervously but took one step forward as ordered.

"Potter," the spitting reply reached his ears. From the corner, as if emancipating from the shadows, Professor Snape emerged. His black robes billowed around his like smoke and perfectly melded in the dark around him. After all, the dark was his protection, his comfort, his safety.

"Yes, Professor," he dipped his head, "We-we're here as you asked."

"Yes," Snape circled him, his eyes never leaving Harry's as he surrounded him, "I hope there will be no more further disrespectful intrusions from you two, correct?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Absolutely, Professor Snape."

"Good," he bit back, "but both you still need to be educated. I predict a night in my office would do nicely to mimic such a course."

A night in the office? All night? Was Snape being serious?!

Snape could see the hesitation on Harry's face, could sense it, he practically fed on it. The Professor descended like a vulture and came nose to nose with Harry.

"Will that be a problem, Potter?"

"Of-of course not, Professor."

Snape studied him for a few seconds more, dark eyes searching James' son's before he pulled away slowly.

"Both of you, follow me," Snape turned his back and started speeding down the steps.

"Nice going, Potter," Draco snickered in his ear as he brushed past his shoulder roughly and followed the Potions Professor.

This was going to be a long night.

"This is my private offices. Feel obliged to express admiration that you two impudent children are of a rare select few who have laid eyes upon my personal collection of potions," Snape paced in front of the two boys who were standing still as statues, "There are more than 2,300 vials in this room. For your first assignment, I expect every one of those vials to be wiped clean, polished, and put away neatly, understand?"

"Yes, Professor," Draco and Harry responded simultaneously

"Good," Snape was merciless, "and make sure all 2,300 vials are properly stored. I will count. If one vials so much as has a scratch on it so help me, both of you will be wishing you were skinned compared to the punishment I have in store for you."

Harry gulped.

"I will return in 90 minutes. Begin." Severus threw his arm up as his robes trailed behind him as he stomped up the stairs and slammed the heavy wooden door shut. Harry let out a tight breath he didn't know he was keeping. 2,300 vials in 90 minutes? And that was just the first assignment!

"Well," Harry rubbed the back of his neck, "I guess we'd better get started. I can take half to wash, then you dry-"

"Shut it, Potter, I'm not doing any cleaning," Draco growled.

Harry narrowed his eyes, "Malfoy, now isn't the time for arguing, Snape will be back and if those vials are not all clean then who knows what he's got in store."

"I've got a better idea, Potter, one that doesn't include your ridiculous fantasy that I will be doing any cleaning tonight."

"Okay, then what are you suggesting?"

"We go to Hogwarts, a school built for magic, witchcraft, and wizards! What? Do you think we carry these wands around for show? No! Use your head, Potter, we're going to use magic!" He laughed darkly.

"Absolutely not! Malfoy, you know that's a bad idea. We can't use magic-"

"Who cares, Potter, school hours aren't in session. I say let loose and do it. Two is faster than one. Look, 90 minutes is a ridiculously impossible time frame, I bet the old Professor was just challenging us to see if we would use magic!"

"Draco, I don't know-"

"Fine, Potter, sit there like a child," he growled back, as he pulled out his wand, "I for one will refuse to stay here all night. Sooner we do this, the sooner I can get out of here."

Draco growled an enchantment and flicked his wand. The vials started levitate as he followed them with his wand. In the corner, Harry had already set up a barrel of soapy water and Draco began to dunk the vials in them by a group and lay them out on a table.

"Look at me," Draco mumbled, "doing all the work again. I swear, Potter, when Snape comes back and I've cleaned all 2,300-"

"Watch out!"

Harry whipped out his wand and quickly spewed a spell as Draco's wavering concentration almost caused one of the vials to crash to the floor. Harry caught it, fortunately, mid air as his quick spell was able to salvage the vial.

Draco let out a shaky breath once he was sure Potter had caught it and they both were in the clear. Harry gingerly levitated the vial until he safely deposited onto a desk.

"Careful," Harry hissed under his breath, not wanting to alert Snape.

"Then help me!" Draco retorted.

"Fine!" he conceded, brushing his hands on his robe as he felt his mind tell him it was wrong, but there was no stopping Draco. At least he'd be there to supervise.

They worked as a team, for once in their lives. Malfoy would dunk the vials in the barrel and Harry would dry and stack them away on the shelves neatly. And, as Snape promised, he appeared 90 minutes later as they just tucked away the last vial. Snape scrutinized both boys with narrowed eyes, patrolling his shelves as he made sure each vial was properly cleaned and dried.

"Next assignment," the Professor announced, no "well done" or "good job" for their work, "upstairs."