Revenge Is Sweet
Summary: Snape is treating the Gryffindor trio worse than ever in their final year at Hogwarts. Well, they have had enough! It's time to get a little revenge on the potion's master...
Author's Note: I love dearest Sevvie with all my heart, but I just had to see what would happen if Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided that a little payback was in order. Brace yourself because poor Sev is about to suffer a little humility. WARNING: Things from the 5th book are used in this story. I am also going to bend the rules for some stuff a little.
Big hug to my beta, Lissie! Isn't she the best?
Disclaimer: I own nothing; J. K. Rowling owns everything. So what's new?
********************
Chapter 1
"Why that-that greasy git!" Ron said, crushing the piece of parchment he was holding in one hand. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were exactly one month into their seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All three of them were still, surprisingly, taking potions with Snape. Snape, however, was not too pleased with this, and he let them know every time they were within ten yards of him. The past month of taking his class had been the worst yet! He was constantly taking points off Gryffindor for the most trivial of things (for example, Harry had spilled a teaspoonful of some gooey liquid just the other day which had resulted in a deduction of 20 points), and he made snide remarks about everything from their potion being a shade too dark to one of them having chopped a section of some root bigger than the others. He didn't just vocalize his belittling remarks, however. He also took to writing them on their homework. The latter is what caused Ron to throw a fit one day after a double potions lesson. There were other students in the class besides just Slytherins and Gryffindors (there weren't too many seventh years taking the class anymore), but it was still mostly Slytherins.
"That evil, slimy-" Ron continued, both hands doubled into fists that were shaking at his sides.
"Ron! Would you be quiet?" Hermione began, looking wildly around for anyone who might be listening. "At least wait to gripe about him until we're out of the dungeons."
"I should have quit his class when I had the chance!" Ron was shouting now. Harry, who was walking behind Ron, gave him a bit of a shove to get his attention. Ron was able to catch himself before falling. He turned to face Harry and glared at him.
"Did you not hear Hermione?" Harry asked, completely ignoring the stare and walking past Ron to the stairs leading out of the dungeons. "Gripe about him later." Ron mumbled something unintelligible, but followed them up the stairs and out of the dungeons anyway. Once they were seated at their house table in the Great Hall, Ron began his tirade again.
"I cannot believe him! Doesn't he ever get bored with making our lives miserable?" Ron sat rigid in his seat for a moment before pulling a basket of rolls toward him. His fist was still curled around the piece of parchment.
"Is that your homework?" Harry asked, nodding at the parchment. Ron blinked at Harry before looking at his fist. With the strenuous effort of letting go plainly written on his face, Ron opened his fist and half-heartedly tossed it in Harry's direction. Harry picked it up and smoothed it out before him so he could read it. It was the report on moonstones they had turned in three days ago. Snape had graded them and given them back. Harry and Hermione had stuffed their reports into their bags without looking at them the moment they'd gotten them back. They knew exactly what was going to happen; Snape had, of course, written more sneering remarks on them. If they had read them when they'd been returned, then their tempers would've gotten the better of them. In other words, they didn't do exactly what Ron had done. They had to practically drag Ron out the door to keep him from launching himself at Snape right then and there.
Harry looked down at Ron's paper. In his opinion, the essay was fine. Ron had centered the title perfectly, it was written legibly, and the sentences were complete. The paper also made sense! Snape, however, could find fault with anything. Ron's entire paper was marked with the scrawling writing of Severus Snape. He only marked out one or two sentences in the beginning, maybe a word here and there. As the essay went on, however, he discovered that Snape had even marked out entire paragraphs! At the bottom of the essay were Snape's comments. It said:
Did not organize thoughts well. Gives accurate impression that you did
no research whatsoever.
Right below that was Ron's grade. 'Ouch,' thought Harry. After seeing this, he was a little afraid to look at his own essay. Ron had worked hard on his and, contrary to what Snape had written, Ron had done a good bit of research for it. Harry, however, hadn't worked quite as hard. Harry set Ron's essay next to him again. Ron gave it a disgusted look before shoving it into his bag and returning to his chicken wings. Harry reached under the table into his own bag and pulled out his own essay. It looked similar to Ron's. Sentences were first marked out and then paragraphs. At the bottom was another comment from Snape. It read:
Unoriginal and unexciting. You obviously put no effort into the essay.
Appears to have been thrown together carelessly.
Harry looked below that to his grade. It was worse than Ron's. Harry heard a sharp intake of breath from Hermione. Harry looked at her. She was staring down at a piece of parchment, eyes wide. It was her essay on moonstones. There weren't nearly as many marks on her paper, but Snape's comment was pretty long. Harry was beginning to read it when Hermione crumpled up the essay in both hands. Harry looked up at her face. She was bright red as she began sputtering with rage.
"That-that horrible, ugly old-" Hermione seemed to be at a loss for what to say at this point. There were so many good insults running through her head. How could she pick just one? She opened her mouth to speak again when a silky voice spoke from behind them.
"Would you care to finish that sentence, Miss Granger?" Hermione stopped crushing her homework between her fists at the sound of Professor Snape speaking. Harry looked across the table at Ron. He had stopped eating at the sight of Snape; his mouth went a little slack as his eyes grew wide. Harry groaned inwardly and turned around to face Snape. Hermione was also facing him. It was obvious she was trying very hard to not say the things that had gone through her mind seconds before. It was obvious to Snape as well. There was an amused smirk playing across his pale lips as he looked at Hermione.
"Well, Miss Granger?"
"No sir," Hermione said forcefully.
"Very well then." He inclined his head a little at them before continuing to the head table. Ron went back to his food, and Harry pulled a bowl of soup toward him. Hermione, however, remained exactly as she was, staring daggers at the potions master.
"Somehow, I am going to make that man pay!" she muttered under her breath, unbeknownst to Harry and Ron.
~
Through the rest of the day, Hermione had trouble concentrating during classes. McGonagall had to go as far as saying Hermione's name twice and shouting it shrilly once to get her attention. 'Mione couldn't help it, though. Her thoughts kept drifting to one word: revenge. She wanted it so bad she could taste it. So, just before dinner, Hermione began writing "The List."
~
After dinner, the Gryffindor trio could be found sitting in the common room. Ron and Harry were playing a game of wizard chess. Hermione was sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs not too far from them, but she wasn't paying them any attention nor was her nose stuck in a book like it usually was. She was just sitting there, staring at the wall with a blank expression on her face. Harry and Ron had noticed how strange Hermione was acting. They also knew that it had started after lunch. To be more precise, it started after the encounter with Snape. They were finding it difficult to stay focused on the game in front of them with 'Mione just sitting there, staring at the wall across the room. They shot her worried glances for twenty minutes before Harry finally spoke to her.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
"Yeah Harry, I'm fine," she said, still staring at that blasted wall. Harry narrowed his eyes and was about to speak again when, abruptly, Hermione stood. She looked at Harry and Ron, made a 'follow me' motion, and walked out of the portrait hole. Ron looked at Harry, shrugged, and got up to follow her. They walked along several different corridors, none of them speaking. Ron had tried to ask what was up, but was immediately hushed by Hermione. They were walking toward one particular corridor when Hermione stopped suddenly. A look of great concentration came over her face before she continued walking again. After walking ten feet, she stopped again and turned around to walk in the other direction. Harry and Ron stopped in their tracks when they saw this. Hermione had just walked past them for the second time when Harry realized what she was doing. His confusion grew. 'But why...?' he just started thinking when the door to the Room of Requirement appeared. Hermione grinned broadly before walking through it, beckoning for the others to follow. The first thing Harry noticed was the small round table in the middle of the room. The second thing he noticed was that the entire room was dark, except for the table which was bathed in light. On the table was a small stack of parchment, along with three quills and three bottles of ink. Sitting around the table were three straight- backed chairs positioned at even intervals. Ron turned to face Hermione as Harry continued to look around the room.
"Okay, Hermione. We're here. Now, are you going to tell us what's going on, or what?"
"I brought you here," she began, walking to the table and sitting in one of the chairs, "to discuss something. Sit down, you two." She gestured at the other chairs. Ron sent Harry a worried look before they both obediently sat. Hermione was quiet for a moment before beginning.
"Have you noticed how Snape has been acting this year?"
"Well," Harry said, "he doesn't seem to be acting any different to me; just as horrible as ever."
"No, Harry. He's been worse. A lot worse. He didn't used to jump down our throats if we did something like put the bottle of newt's eyes too far to the right when we put it back on the shelf. And now he's started writing those nasty comments on our homework papers. I got a look at Malfoy's essay today," she said, looking from Ron to Harry and back. "There weren't any comments on it. He's only doing it to us."
"Oh come on, 'Mione!" Harry said, sitting straighter in his chair. "Do you really expect him to write comments on Malfoy's homework? Draco's been kissing Snape's butt for years now!" Ron nodded his agreement.
"Harry, when I say that he's only doing it to us, I mean it. I got a look at a couple of the Ravenclaw's papers. There weren't any comments on them, either." Harry sat back in his chair, looking at her. Her eyes were pleading with him to just go along with what she was saying. Harry sighed heavily.
"So what if Snape is treating us worse? What are we going to do about it?" Hermione's eyes brightened.
"Have you guys ever heard the saying 'revenge is sweet?'" Ron and Harry nodded slowly. "That's exactly what we're going to do!" she said, slapping the table. Harry's eyes widened with understanding, but Ron's brow furrowed with confusion.
"What are we going to do?" Ron asked. Harry looked over at him, feeling a little shocked.
"We're going to get revenge on Snape," Harry told him. It was Ron's turn to widen his eyes in surprise.
"And how, may I ask," Ron looked back at Hermione, "are we going to do that?" Hermione smiled.
"I'm glad you asked." She stood up and pulled a roll of parchment from her robes. She unfolded it and laid it down in the middle of the table. Harry and Ron stood up to get a better look at it. The title on the page was "The List." Underneath the title, the paper was divided into two sections. One section was titled 'spells' and the other 'potions.' Under the subtitles were bulleted lists that went on for at least a foot of parchment. Ron's and Harry's mouths dropped open a little before looking up at Hermione. She smiled at the two of them.
"Are you in?" They both nodded. "Okay, here's what we're going to do..."
*****************
Please review and tell me what you think so far. I'm planning on making the second chapter longer and funnier, but only if I get reviews! Thanks!
Summary: Snape is treating the Gryffindor trio worse than ever in their final year at Hogwarts. Well, they have had enough! It's time to get a little revenge on the potion's master...
Author's Note: I love dearest Sevvie with all my heart, but I just had to see what would happen if Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided that a little payback was in order. Brace yourself because poor Sev is about to suffer a little humility. WARNING: Things from the 5th book are used in this story. I am also going to bend the rules for some stuff a little.
Big hug to my beta, Lissie! Isn't she the best?
Disclaimer: I own nothing; J. K. Rowling owns everything. So what's new?
********************
Chapter 1
"Why that-that greasy git!" Ron said, crushing the piece of parchment he was holding in one hand. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were exactly one month into their seventh and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. All three of them were still, surprisingly, taking potions with Snape. Snape, however, was not too pleased with this, and he let them know every time they were within ten yards of him. The past month of taking his class had been the worst yet! He was constantly taking points off Gryffindor for the most trivial of things (for example, Harry had spilled a teaspoonful of some gooey liquid just the other day which had resulted in a deduction of 20 points), and he made snide remarks about everything from their potion being a shade too dark to one of them having chopped a section of some root bigger than the others. He didn't just vocalize his belittling remarks, however. He also took to writing them on their homework. The latter is what caused Ron to throw a fit one day after a double potions lesson. There were other students in the class besides just Slytherins and Gryffindors (there weren't too many seventh years taking the class anymore), but it was still mostly Slytherins.
"That evil, slimy-" Ron continued, both hands doubled into fists that were shaking at his sides.
"Ron! Would you be quiet?" Hermione began, looking wildly around for anyone who might be listening. "At least wait to gripe about him until we're out of the dungeons."
"I should have quit his class when I had the chance!" Ron was shouting now. Harry, who was walking behind Ron, gave him a bit of a shove to get his attention. Ron was able to catch himself before falling. He turned to face Harry and glared at him.
"Did you not hear Hermione?" Harry asked, completely ignoring the stare and walking past Ron to the stairs leading out of the dungeons. "Gripe about him later." Ron mumbled something unintelligible, but followed them up the stairs and out of the dungeons anyway. Once they were seated at their house table in the Great Hall, Ron began his tirade again.
"I cannot believe him! Doesn't he ever get bored with making our lives miserable?" Ron sat rigid in his seat for a moment before pulling a basket of rolls toward him. His fist was still curled around the piece of parchment.
"Is that your homework?" Harry asked, nodding at the parchment. Ron blinked at Harry before looking at his fist. With the strenuous effort of letting go plainly written on his face, Ron opened his fist and half-heartedly tossed it in Harry's direction. Harry picked it up and smoothed it out before him so he could read it. It was the report on moonstones they had turned in three days ago. Snape had graded them and given them back. Harry and Hermione had stuffed their reports into their bags without looking at them the moment they'd gotten them back. They knew exactly what was going to happen; Snape had, of course, written more sneering remarks on them. If they had read them when they'd been returned, then their tempers would've gotten the better of them. In other words, they didn't do exactly what Ron had done. They had to practically drag Ron out the door to keep him from launching himself at Snape right then and there.
Harry looked down at Ron's paper. In his opinion, the essay was fine. Ron had centered the title perfectly, it was written legibly, and the sentences were complete. The paper also made sense! Snape, however, could find fault with anything. Ron's entire paper was marked with the scrawling writing of Severus Snape. He only marked out one or two sentences in the beginning, maybe a word here and there. As the essay went on, however, he discovered that Snape had even marked out entire paragraphs! At the bottom of the essay were Snape's comments. It said:
Did not organize thoughts well. Gives accurate impression that you did
no research whatsoever.
Right below that was Ron's grade. 'Ouch,' thought Harry. After seeing this, he was a little afraid to look at his own essay. Ron had worked hard on his and, contrary to what Snape had written, Ron had done a good bit of research for it. Harry, however, hadn't worked quite as hard. Harry set Ron's essay next to him again. Ron gave it a disgusted look before shoving it into his bag and returning to his chicken wings. Harry reached under the table into his own bag and pulled out his own essay. It looked similar to Ron's. Sentences were first marked out and then paragraphs. At the bottom was another comment from Snape. It read:
Unoriginal and unexciting. You obviously put no effort into the essay.
Appears to have been thrown together carelessly.
Harry looked below that to his grade. It was worse than Ron's. Harry heard a sharp intake of breath from Hermione. Harry looked at her. She was staring down at a piece of parchment, eyes wide. It was her essay on moonstones. There weren't nearly as many marks on her paper, but Snape's comment was pretty long. Harry was beginning to read it when Hermione crumpled up the essay in both hands. Harry looked up at her face. She was bright red as she began sputtering with rage.
"That-that horrible, ugly old-" Hermione seemed to be at a loss for what to say at this point. There were so many good insults running through her head. How could she pick just one? She opened her mouth to speak again when a silky voice spoke from behind them.
"Would you care to finish that sentence, Miss Granger?" Hermione stopped crushing her homework between her fists at the sound of Professor Snape speaking. Harry looked across the table at Ron. He had stopped eating at the sight of Snape; his mouth went a little slack as his eyes grew wide. Harry groaned inwardly and turned around to face Snape. Hermione was also facing him. It was obvious she was trying very hard to not say the things that had gone through her mind seconds before. It was obvious to Snape as well. There was an amused smirk playing across his pale lips as he looked at Hermione.
"Well, Miss Granger?"
"No sir," Hermione said forcefully.
"Very well then." He inclined his head a little at them before continuing to the head table. Ron went back to his food, and Harry pulled a bowl of soup toward him. Hermione, however, remained exactly as she was, staring daggers at the potions master.
"Somehow, I am going to make that man pay!" she muttered under her breath, unbeknownst to Harry and Ron.
~
Through the rest of the day, Hermione had trouble concentrating during classes. McGonagall had to go as far as saying Hermione's name twice and shouting it shrilly once to get her attention. 'Mione couldn't help it, though. Her thoughts kept drifting to one word: revenge. She wanted it so bad she could taste it. So, just before dinner, Hermione began writing "The List."
~
After dinner, the Gryffindor trio could be found sitting in the common room. Ron and Harry were playing a game of wizard chess. Hermione was sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs not too far from them, but she wasn't paying them any attention nor was her nose stuck in a book like it usually was. She was just sitting there, staring at the wall with a blank expression on her face. Harry and Ron had noticed how strange Hermione was acting. They also knew that it had started after lunch. To be more precise, it started after the encounter with Snape. They were finding it difficult to stay focused on the game in front of them with 'Mione just sitting there, staring at the wall across the room. They shot her worried glances for twenty minutes before Harry finally spoke to her.
"Hermione, are you okay?"
"Yeah Harry, I'm fine," she said, still staring at that blasted wall. Harry narrowed his eyes and was about to speak again when, abruptly, Hermione stood. She looked at Harry and Ron, made a 'follow me' motion, and walked out of the portrait hole. Ron looked at Harry, shrugged, and got up to follow her. They walked along several different corridors, none of them speaking. Ron had tried to ask what was up, but was immediately hushed by Hermione. They were walking toward one particular corridor when Hermione stopped suddenly. A look of great concentration came over her face before she continued walking again. After walking ten feet, she stopped again and turned around to walk in the other direction. Harry and Ron stopped in their tracks when they saw this. Hermione had just walked past them for the second time when Harry realized what she was doing. His confusion grew. 'But why...?' he just started thinking when the door to the Room of Requirement appeared. Hermione grinned broadly before walking through it, beckoning for the others to follow. The first thing Harry noticed was the small round table in the middle of the room. The second thing he noticed was that the entire room was dark, except for the table which was bathed in light. On the table was a small stack of parchment, along with three quills and three bottles of ink. Sitting around the table were three straight- backed chairs positioned at even intervals. Ron turned to face Hermione as Harry continued to look around the room.
"Okay, Hermione. We're here. Now, are you going to tell us what's going on, or what?"
"I brought you here," she began, walking to the table and sitting in one of the chairs, "to discuss something. Sit down, you two." She gestured at the other chairs. Ron sent Harry a worried look before they both obediently sat. Hermione was quiet for a moment before beginning.
"Have you noticed how Snape has been acting this year?"
"Well," Harry said, "he doesn't seem to be acting any different to me; just as horrible as ever."
"No, Harry. He's been worse. A lot worse. He didn't used to jump down our throats if we did something like put the bottle of newt's eyes too far to the right when we put it back on the shelf. And now he's started writing those nasty comments on our homework papers. I got a look at Malfoy's essay today," she said, looking from Ron to Harry and back. "There weren't any comments on it. He's only doing it to us."
"Oh come on, 'Mione!" Harry said, sitting straighter in his chair. "Do you really expect him to write comments on Malfoy's homework? Draco's been kissing Snape's butt for years now!" Ron nodded his agreement.
"Harry, when I say that he's only doing it to us, I mean it. I got a look at a couple of the Ravenclaw's papers. There weren't any comments on them, either." Harry sat back in his chair, looking at her. Her eyes were pleading with him to just go along with what she was saying. Harry sighed heavily.
"So what if Snape is treating us worse? What are we going to do about it?" Hermione's eyes brightened.
"Have you guys ever heard the saying 'revenge is sweet?'" Ron and Harry nodded slowly. "That's exactly what we're going to do!" she said, slapping the table. Harry's eyes widened with understanding, but Ron's brow furrowed with confusion.
"What are we going to do?" Ron asked. Harry looked over at him, feeling a little shocked.
"We're going to get revenge on Snape," Harry told him. It was Ron's turn to widen his eyes in surprise.
"And how, may I ask," Ron looked back at Hermione, "are we going to do that?" Hermione smiled.
"I'm glad you asked." She stood up and pulled a roll of parchment from her robes. She unfolded it and laid it down in the middle of the table. Harry and Ron stood up to get a better look at it. The title on the page was "The List." Underneath the title, the paper was divided into two sections. One section was titled 'spells' and the other 'potions.' Under the subtitles were bulleted lists that went on for at least a foot of parchment. Ron's and Harry's mouths dropped open a little before looking up at Hermione. She smiled at the two of them.
"Are you in?" They both nodded. "Okay, here's what we're going to do..."
*****************
Please review and tell me what you think so far. I'm planning on making the second chapter longer and funnier, but only if I get reviews! Thanks!