Disclaimer: We have no claim on Harry Potter nor any characters or locations thereof. We gain only amusement from writing this.

This is a collaboration between Trulywicked and Acherona, it's posted on Acherona's account because we don't have a joined account on this site.

Our story takes place in Harry's 5th year but the age of the student has been changed. Rather than students being 11 in their first year they are 12 and so all fifth years are 16 going on 17. This was done because the age of consent in England is 16 and we wanted this to take place during Harry's 5th year due to the fact that it's Umbridge's detentions that set the events of the fiction in motion.

Severus Snape, being as he was born in 1960 and this takes place in 1996, is 36
Harry is 16

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WARNING: In this chapter, mentions of bloodloss due to the use of a blood quill. Passing out due to anemia.

Blood Quill Consequences

Part One.

Sixteen year old Harry Potter staggered into the Gryffindor common room after curfew, stomach grumbling at being empty, and essentially flopped down into a chair before the fire to rub his temples in a vain attempt to ease the headache he had. The new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher was actually worse than Snape when it came to detention horribleness. In the last several days, since he refused to conform to her version of the truth and instead spoke the reality of what he saw, knew, and had experienced, he could have probably fed more than a few vampires with the amount of blood he'd lost due to her punishments. Everyone else by now had caved in to her truth and were sticking to the 'I'll believe what I believe but I won't say it' tactic to avoid such blood loss. Harry refused. To him that would be disgracing the memories of those who'd lost their lives in this battle with Voldemort and he would swallow lye before he did that.

It interfered badly with his concentration though. He seemed to get more and more lightheaded in classes each day he had a detention, pretty soon he'd probably end up falling asleep in a class if it didn't let up. He didn't have anything to bring before any of the other professors to attempt to get his detention punishment changed though. The cut marks of the words usually never lasted more than a day, healing by magic without leaving only faint scars or other marks, though the last session had been particularly harsh it might actually leave a more visible scar. He half hoped he'd fall asleep in Potions and got detention with Snape. Harry snorted at how incredibly insane that hope was. Actually preferring a Snape detention? The world had officially turned on its head.

He sighed and pulled out his books, parchments, and quills. He had homework to finish before he slept, though his body was begging for rest and perhaps some food to make up for the dinner he ended up skipping when he got Umbridge's detention. Better to be hungry and tired than to get in trouble with all his teachers for not doing his work. It was no big deal as he went without for weeks at a time before when he lived with the Dursleys. It's not like not eating now would have any real consequence right?

~oOo~

Dear gods his head was killing him. First he'd missed dinner, thanks to the detention suffered under Umbridge, and this morning he'd slept through breakfast though he'd be eternally grateful to Ron for waking him before classes started so he didn't miss any. The lack of food seemed to be hitting him harder than it should have, making his headache worse and his lightheadedness increase. Maybe, if he could make it through Potions, he could go to Madam Pomfrey and request something to help, an aspirin or the wizarding equivalent. He didn't want to make a fuss but if he couldn't think through the pounding in his skull he'd never be able to concentrate on what his professors were talking about.

Not that he was concentrating all that well now. It seemed that, no matter how hard he tried to focus on what he was being told to do, he kept making small mistakes that, thankfully, Hermione corrected before he made a disaster. He could feel her concerned gaze on him whenever Snape wasn't looking but he couldn't do or say anything to reassure her under the Potion Master's crooked nose. Even with his back turned Snape had ears like a bat and he'd hear anything said to Hermione and Harry didn't want to get his friend in trouble.

Harry found himself spacing out, staring at the chopping board of his potion station, one hand stretched out for an ingredient that he couldn't for the life of him remember, when a pale hand slammed down on the board, startling him so that he jumped. He raised his head to look into the icy, irritated, black eyes of Severus Snape.

One dark brow winged up and the Potion Master's cultured voice lashed at Harry's clouded senses. "Tell me Mr. Potter, do you think that you're so much better than the other students that you can get away with not paying attention in my class?"

Both the Gryffindors and the Slytherins in the room went quiet, one group in tense dread the other in sadistic glee, waiting for Harry's answer.

The teen shook his head. "No sir."

"Then perhaps you think you, being the Great Boy-Who-Lived, can do better than I?"

"No sir."

"Then why is it, Mr. Potter, that you have yet to do a single thing correctly today without the aide of Miss Granger?"

Hermione winced, not knowing that Snape had seen her helping Harry. The teenager being confronted by the professor felt his headache and dizziness increase under the stress of Snape's scrutiny. "I'm sorry sir. I'm having trouble concentrating today."

Hermione spoke up, "He missed dinner and breakfast professor."

Snape's baleful stare turned briefly to Hermione. "I am not asking you Miss Granger. Ten points from Gryffindor for interrupting."

The Gryffindors in the room grimaced as Snape turned his attention back to Harry. "And as for you Mr. Potter I would suggest you..."

Snape's voice seemed to fade from the room as Harry's vision dulled and narrowed to where he could only watch Snape's mouth move. A surprisingly well formed mouth for such a bad tempered man was Harry's last thought before his vision blacked out and he slid to the floor in an unconscious slump that managed to startle the professor.

The greasy haired man blinked down at Harry's form briefly before moving around to crouch and place his fingers at the pulse in Harry's throat. He frowned as he noted that it was slightly off. He cast his stone gaze back at the Slytherin students snickering at the unconscious teenager. "I would suggest you concentrate on your work." He rose and pulled out his wand. "I am taking Mr. Potter to the infirmary. Work on your potions until I return. Mobilcorpus." He used the spell to walk Harry's unconscious form to the infirmary and deposit him into Madam Pomfrey's hands before returning to his class in a swirl of black robes. He was mildly curious about what would make Potter pass out like that since even he had to admit that the teen was far too stubborn to do so just from a few skipped meals. It was strange but considering the grapevine in Hogwarts he had no doubt he'd hear about the cause soon, likely before dinner truth be told.

He flicked the curiosity off like water and returned to the classroom fully intending to continue ruining students' days.

~oOo~

Snape was grading reports from his Advanced Potions classes when a house elf appeared at his elbow to deliver the message that the Headmaster wished to see him. He inclined his head to the elf and got to his feet. His boots clacked smartly down the halls, up through the castle, to Dumbledore's office. He gave the password to the stone statues guarding the entrance and lifted his brows at the 'argument' taking place within. Minerva McGonagall was very nearly snarling at Dolores Umbridge, looking more angrily flustered than when Malfoy had been turned into a ferret by the disguised Barty Crouch. Dumbledore sat behind his desk as usual, eyes on the confrontation, and instead of the perpetual good humor that was well known to his face, there was a stern, almost angry expression on the old wizard's face and it was directed squarely at Dolores Umbridge.

Those clever blue eyes turned to him and the Headmaster stood. "Ah Severus thank you for coming so quickly."

"Of course. What can I do for you Headmaster?"

"I'm afraid I need to request a truth serum from you. Nothing so strong as Veritaserum. You see we have a bit of a...conflict regarding Dolores' detention methods."

McGonagall stiffened even further, her accent heavier than usual. "It's outrageous! Intentional harm is never to be inflicted upon a student Albus and we've received conformation from several students already. She should be dismissed!"

Umbridge opened her mouth to retort but was cut off smoothly by Dumbledore. "Now Minerva I understand your concern and indeed I share it but we can not go dismissing a professor willy nilly based on a few students' accusations."

Snape's brow twitched in intrigue when he saw how much effort the Gryffindor Head of House had to exert over herself to keep from saying anything further. "If I may ask what this is about?"

Dumbledore nodded. "You recall Harry fainting in your class earlier today?"

"Yes."

"Harry is apparently extremely anemic at the moment, something that has never come up before and a few students have come forward blaming the anemia on Professor Umbridge's detentions. According to the students they write a particular phrase with blood quills. Dolores insists that all the quills do is sting, that they do not draw blood. I am rather anxious to get this cleared up as you can surmise Severus. A simple truth serum should do so easily and if she's telling the truth I'm certain that Dolores will have no problem at all with taking it to confirm her side of the story?"

The Ministry sent woman puffed up a bit like a frog but nodded. "As insulted as I am, yes. The sooner we clear this up the better and I can get back to my classes."

Snape had caught the clear message Dumbledore's stress on the word simple. As the old wizard never stressed words in such a way he knew that it meant the strongest, most complicated serum he had. While he wasn't what you'd call a Potter fan, he was a professor and agreed with Minerva. It was the professors' responsibilities to protect and guide the irritating creatures known as students, even if you hated them, not to cause them injury. Of course accidental injuries did sometimes happen and the occasional whack with a ruler was permissible but drawing blood? It was incredibly unacceptable. He nodded. "Yes Headmaster. I will return soon." He turned and left the office to retrieve a disguised vial of Veritaserum. He wouldn't put it past Umbridge to try and circumvent the effects of a lesser potion.

McGonagall continued to hover close to Umbridge as if worried that the toadlike woman would jump up and attack them all at any moment. She hoped that Snape would return quickly and that they would get the truth out of the horrible woman. Minerva never spoke ill of her fellow professors or the staff at Hogwarts but in this case she found it very difficult to hold her tongue. She trusted the students' words far beyond Umbridge's and she would love for nothing more then to find a reason for Dumbledore to send the woman packing, Minister's favorite or not.

The tension was thick in the room and Dumbledore watched his 'guest' with sharp blue eyes behind the lenses of his glasses. "Snape shouldn't be but a moment longer, I apologize for the wait." There was no harm in stroking the woman's feathers if it would get her to relax, if even minutely so.

Umbridge puffed up again, irritated that she'd let her eagerness to silence the Potter boy endanger her mission here. If it was proven that she had indeed deliberately injured the boy and drawn blood then even Cornelius wouldn't be able to keep her at Hogwarts to direct the next generation of voters and it would land a big blow to their plans. Damn that boy's weakness for revealing her detention method. The only grace was that it wouldn't be Veritaserum and she could throw off all other lesser truth serums. "This is entirely unnecessary and insulting. The Minister himself chose me and now you are accusing me of essentially attacking The-Boy-Who-Lived!"

Just as she finished her sentence, Snape reappeared and lifted a brow. "Indeed, such an accusation would bring a great deal of suspicion on Minister Fudge should it be proven. The school's board of Governors and the Wizengamot would be incredibly put out as well I would imagine." He exchanged a look with Dumbledore and nodded ever so slightly as the toad of a woman spluttered.

"Now, now Severus, no reason to get ahead of ourselves and imagine the worst." Dumbledore said in a soothing voice as it looked like as if Umbridge was ready to explode. The smoother they could handle this whole business the better. He gave Severus a look and then looked over at the large mirror across the room. "Minerva, would you be as kind as to fetch Dolores here a cup of tea? No reason to make the aftertaste of the potion more unpleasant than it needs to be." Dumbledore knew that Snape was a master in what he was doing and that there would be no aftertaste what so ever but he still tried to keep things calm.

McGonagall nodded and poured some tea in a blue tea cup and placed it on the table in front of Umbridge and Snape.

Umbridge huffed a bit more before taking up her cup. She took a surprisingly delicate sip of tea. "So precisely how are we to be going about this?"

"Severus here will add the potion to the tea and we'll ask you a few questions to get this whole thing over and done with." Dumbledore gave a tight lipped smile. "Just to make sure that there are no wrong doings going on, the Wizengamot and our governors will watch the entire thing through my mirror over there." He pointed a long, weather worn finger at the large mirror.

Umbridge's eyes widened and she shrieked, "What?"

Snape took a drink of his own tea. "Madam please, it is quite routine for this kind of inquiry there is no need to destroy our eardrums," he paused meaningfully, "unless of course you have something to hide?" The question was accompanied by a lift of a dark eyebrow.

The woman snapped her mouth shut and shook her head. "Of course I have nothing to hide," she snapped, "I was simply surprised." She set her teacup down with a clatter. "Well let's just get this over with!" Her brisk tone brooked no refusal.

The Potions professor hid a smirk and slid a look towards Dumbledore. "We all do have much to do Headmaster, shall we?"

"Yes, yes, let's." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he raised his wand and muttered a spell under his breath to activate the mirror. "I'll leave the potion in your capable hands Severus, if you'd add it please."

The dark, greasy haired man nodded. He held the vial of truth serum up to the mirror so that the observers could verify the label and appearance of the potion before he applied it. He dribbled just enough into Umbridge's cup to make it seem like a lesser potion's dose yet not cause Veritaserum overdose. "Professor Umbridge if you would please drain your cup?" His tone was subtly sarcastic on the title of professor. This woman was no professor and was painfully pathetic at teaching and Snape had no patience with incompetent morons, that was well documented, so he was deriving some sadistic amusement out of this.

Umbridge sneered at the cup and drained it swiftly, no truth serum tasted good and she had no desire to let it linger on her tongue. Perhaps if she had she'd have noticed the tell-tale flavor of Veritaserum but as it was no one would be able to prove that the serum was anything other than what it's label proclaimed.

McGonagall had trouble keeping the smile off her face as she watched Snape. It was true that she and the head of Slytherin were often at odds but she had to admit that no one could give a tongue lashing quite like Snape. It was rather amusing when you weren't on the receiving end of it.

"All well Dolores? Are you ready to start with the questioning?" Dumbledore took a sip of tea, nabbing a biscuit from the plate as he watched Umbridge with mock concern.

"Yes, yes, let's get this over with already!" She waved a hand, completely unaware that the spell she'd cast on herself before coming to the Headmaster's office was useless.

"Very well then, let's start off softly then." Dumbledore brushed the biscuit crumbs out of his long white beard. "How do you like living here at Hogwarts, taking care of the young minds of the wizarding world?"

McGonagall listened intently, wondering if Umbridge would trip herself up already with the first question. She had no doubt what so ever that Harry spoke the truth and she just waited for Umbridge to seal her own fate.

Umbridge opened her mouth to give the rehearsed answer of 'It's such an honor and the children are wonderful' but instead her tongue and lips formed the words, "It's disgusting, the noisy little Doxies can't sit still for the life of them and are so bloody cheeky." Her eyes widened and a squeak of distress came from her. "I-I mean that the school is a throwback that should be dismantled."

Snape had to turn to the window to conceal the utterly evil grin that tried to lift his lips as Umbridge tried to correct herself but just dug her hole deeper.

McGonagall almost choked on her tea but she couldn't help the wave of triumph that coursed through her at Umbridge's slip up.

"I see, well that's an unfortunate mindset for a teacher." Dumbledore furrowed his bushy brows. "And the question of detention and punishment...Do you feel that you have the right to punish students that have displeased you as you see fit instead of following the schools guidelines in such matters?"

Eyes wide and looking ever more like a toad in the grip of a hungry snake Umbridge tried to stop herself from answering but the compulsion of the potion had her mouth falling open once more. "The school guidelines are weak and far far too lenient to those irritating little buggers. They need hard discipline if they are to become useful members of wizard society and not empty headed, optimistic dreamers like yourself Dumbledore."

The shocked gasps of several members of the Wizengamot could be heard even on their side and McGonagall was woman enough to admit that she did take pleasure in watching Umbridge's downfall. The fact that every word came right out of the toad's own mouth only made it all the better.

"Is that so?" Dumbledore's voice was dry. "And what kind of hard discipline are you using against our children?"

She tried, she strained to answer that with a falsehood but the truth once more fell from her lips. "They are to write lines with a blood quill."

"A blood quill Ms. Umbridge?" Dumbledore wasn't even pretending with the use of professor anymore. "Are you aware that they are illegal as well as extremely harmful to the user after long exposure?"

"I am a Ministry official, I have the right and permission to apply the blood quill if I deem it necessary. The only harm from long exposure is visited upon the weak who can not handle it. The little fiends broke the rules and must be punished so they do not do so again."

"Are you implying that you are punishing and permanently scarring the children of this school with the Minister's good will? That it is okay that one of those students is now lying in the infirmary, severely anemic and suffering from exhaustion after your detentions?" Dumbledore was done tiptoeing around the real question.

Snape watched in secret glee as Umbridge actually twitched and tried to bite her tongue but the truth once more was forced out.

"I was told only to be certain that the children would not listen to or believe the ridiculous claims that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned. The boy would not be where he is had he simply held his tongue about that belief."

The silence hung heavy on both sides of the mirror. McGonagall was happy she wasn't the Minister right now, plenty of the Wizengamot and governors had children of their own or children they knew attending Hogwarts.

"So Harry Potter was punished for speaking his mind, for telling what he believes is the truth? What's next? Punishment for wearing the wrong color of socks? Having the wrong parents? I am very unpleasantly reminded of an age not too far away by your way of thinking Ms. Umbridge." Dumbledore's voice was stern and unwavering.

Umbridge had by now realized that nothing she could do would keep the truth from her lips and so she drew herself up and almost spat the next words at Dumbledore. "Potter is a disruptive influence. If he spreads his insane tale then the whole of the school might get the mad idea to become just as bold and disruptive as him. It is much better if they do not question as he does."

"Mindless drones who won't think for themselves much less ask questions...Yes that sound much better for the future of the country." Dumbledore's eyebrow twitched. "I think we've heard quite enough, I would like the Governor's and the Wizengamot's opinion on how to proceed."

The mirror glowed and the split image of the Board of Governors and the Wizengamot appeared, every face scowling heavily at Umbridge, who shrunk back and tried to look as small as she possibly could, not an easy task considering her size. The head of the Governors turned his gaze to Dumbledore. "Obviously she is to be immediately dismissed from her post as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, I realize that will put you in the difficult position of finding a replacement Albus but I'm certain we can agree that she absolutely cannot remain."

"I am happy that you are in agreement with me." Dumbledore bowed his head towards the mirror. "Umbridge will be packed and escorted of the grounds before the night is over." He gave a sharp eyed glare at the cowering woman. "Regarding the empty position I do have some ideas but I need to discuss them with my faculty before any decisions are made."

"Of course Albus. You have my apology as well, for bowing to Fudge and allowing that creature into your school."

Severus stifled a thrill of hope, he knew Albus well and knew that no matter how much he wished to teach the Defense Against The Dark Arts class he likely would be shunted by once more as Dumbledore still feared he would cross back over to the dark side. In addition it would be even harder to find a new Potions professor than a DADA professor. Regardless he still intended to apply, as he did every year, eventually the old bastard would cave.

"Thank you, I'll be in touch." Dumbledore waved his hand and the mirror became blank once again. "Minerva, would you be as kind as to escort Umbridge to her quarters and make sure she's all packed up and ready to leave as soon as possible?"

McGonagall nodded and prodded the distraught woman to get a move on, the sooner she was out of the castle the happier Minerva would be.

"Thank you kindly for your help with this Severus, as always your knowledge and handling of potions is nothing short of masterful." Dumbledore turned to the tall dark haired man.

Snape scoffed, though the regular thrill of pride felt at those words warmed him. "You know I can not abide incompetence Albus. That woman was even worse than Lockhart, which is saying something."

"Mm, this was more serious than incompetence though Severus, she could have caused the students here great harm." Dumbledore rested his elbows on his desk and leaned his chin on his fingers. "Things are about to change here at Hogwarts, I'm not certain you will approve of all the changes but I need to know that I have you behind me Severus."

A dark brow rose. "Albus you have had me behind you for the last sixteen years, what more must I do to assure you of my intention to see HIM brought down no matter what I must do?"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow. "How about working together with Mr. Potter? The students still need to learn DADA and who better to teach them than one of their own with practical experience? You would be there for him, as a support and as someone to go to for help." He leaned back and waited for the explosion.

The Potion Master twitched in mild distaste. Work with Potter? Assist him and accept assistance from him? This would not end well, they'd likely hex each other into oblivion before the first class ended considering how much they clashed in Potions class. He was about to snarl at Dumbledore before he realized that the old man was essentially offering him the post he'd hungered for, for years. He narrowed his eyes at the old wizard. "You manipulative old bastard, are you sure you went to Gryffindor?"

A small smile played over Dumbledore's features. "You Slytherins don't have monopoly on being devious Severus." His eyes twinkled in amusement. "So what do you say, will you accept?"

If looks could kill then Dumbledore would be down. "You know I will. However, what is the entire plan? That I preside over both Potions and DADA? Potter, for all his experience, doesn't know everything the others need to learn."

"Basically you will be the professor for both classes, Mr. Potter will be your student teacher when it comes to DADA and you will have another one for potions, lessening your workload so you can work both classes. Each class will have a student teacher. I think it will bring the students closer together and give them a head start about what is coming." Dumbledore reached up and scratched an eyebrow. "The times are changing and I think we need to change too, trouble is coming and even the students need to be prepared."

"And is there anyone in particular you have in mind for the Potions' student teacher or is that to be assigned at my discretion?"

"I leave that decision in your capable hands Severus, no one knows your students better than you."

The potion master nodded. His first thought, galling though it was, was to consider Miss Granger as she was most certainly one of the most consistently accurate and clever students in the entire school but when better examined she'd be a very ill fit. Granger was an academic who nearly always went by the book, so yes she could make an adequate and effective potion, but she wouldn't be able to grasp, much less teach, what makes an exceptional potion. He'd have to think longer on this. "Very well then. Will that be all Albus?"

Dumbledore nodded towards his potion master. "Yes, that will be all. I won't keep you from your duties any longer, thank you kindly for helping me with this rather delicate situation. Without your expertise things would have been much more difficult." Dumbledore got up from behind his desk. "Goodnight Severus, I should go and check with Madame Pomfrey on how young Mr. Potter is doing."

Snape bowed shortly. "I'll inform you of who I choose for Potions by tomorrow morning. Goodnight Headmaster." With his rather trademark bat-like swoop the spy then turned and exited the office to head down to his dungeon to puzzle out who he wished to assist him in teaching the little dunderheads potions.

To be continued…

AN – There you have the first chapter, we hope you liked it. This will be a long story of 37 chapters. Please if you have the time, we would absolutely love to hear what you think. See you next chapter.