Chapter 6: Detention
Nathan woke up earlier than usual on Monday. He had letters to take to the Owlery, and he wanted to be prepared for the detention he was to serve with Professor Snape. He had decided to send one letter to his godfather, Harry Potter, and another to Ronald Weasley. His mother had written on her letter that Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron had got many detentions when they were students. They should be able to tell him what to expect from the Potions master.
As soon as he saw the owls depart with his letters he went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He had just enough time to eat before going to the dungeons for double Potions.
Arriving for the class, he entered the cold classroom and took a seat at the same workbench he did last week, right in front of Professor Snape's desk. Nathan was preparing for the class, taking his book, parchment, quill and bottle of ink from his book-bag when Professor Snape stormed to the front of the classroom and tuned around on his heel to face the class.
Without further word, the Potions master waved his wand and a list of ingredients appeared on the board. Then he addressed the students.
"Today you'll be brewing a simple Calming Draught. Open your books to page twenty-three and follow the instructions."
He bypassed his desk, making for the chair, but stopped in his tracks when he realized the students hadn't started the task and were staring at him. Well, not all the students, he contemplated, rolling his eyes. At least the Granger boy is working. "Didn't you listen to what I said? What are you waiting for? Start working, now!" he admonished.
The class started moving with amazing speed, startling from their trance. Professor Snape finally reached the chair behind his desk and shifted his attention from the frightened students to the pile of seventh-year essays. From time to time he would leave his position to walk around the tables, perusing cauldrons from behind the students' backs, to their utter terror.
"Do you know what a cube is, Miss Parks?" he asked in that cold voice of his.
"Y-Yes, sir," hesitated Josephina.
"Then what part of 'cut the Ginger Roots into cubes' didn't you understand?" he inquired. "Start over, Miss Parks!"
Cauldron after cauldron, student after student, Professor Snape spilled his venom, taking points from Gryffindor. When he reached Nathan's desk, he eyed the potion only to see it was the perfect purple shade. The boy was talented; he could admit it, but not aloud.
"Too thick, Mr. Granger. Next time, do try to stir the correct number of times," he felt himself obliged to say, though the consistency of the potion wasn't that far from expected.
Nathan looked up at this and met Snape's eyes. For a moment they just stared at each other, until the boy rolled his eyes; Professor Snape narrowed his own but said nothing. He finished his frightening round and went back to grading essays.
The students finished their potions and bottled their samples before leaving the dungeon classroom. Nathan was collecting his things when the Potions master called his name from the desk at the front of the room.
"Mr. Granger, meet me in this classroom at seven on Wednesday for your detention," he said and then added, "I won't tolerate tardiness."
"Yes, sir," was his answer, and then Nathan left, trying to catch up with the others who were heading to the Defense class.
The next morning found Nathan in the Great Hall eating breakfast when a number of owls invaded the bewitched ceiling of the room. Two birds descended towards him; they carried the answers from the letters he had sent the day before to Harry and Ron.
He disentangled the parchments from the birds' legs and they left the table, flying away from the hall through the high windows. Nathan started opening the first letter - Ron's. It read:
Hey Nathan,
Good to hear from you. I just hoped it could have been in better circumstances. So, detention with Snape! I can't blame you. I know how much of a bastard he can be. (Don't tell your mother I'm writing such things).
Nathan rolled his eyes at Ron's observation and continued reading…
Now, answering your question, I believe he'll make you clean up nasty cauldrons for the night - without magic! Terrible, I know, but believe me when I say it could be worse. Now, good luck, boy, and do try to avoid getting into trouble around Snape. He can make your life a living hell, just like he did ours.
Have I congratulated you for being a Gryffindor? I think not, so congratulations!
Regards,
Ron Weasley
Clean cauldrons the Muggle way. So, that's it? he contemplated after reading Ron's response. Maybe Uncle Harry has something else to say, he thought, opening the second letter.
Dear Nathan,
It's good to hear from you. I'm happy you're getting along so well with your classmates.
Why did you get detention with Snape? Write, telling me the whole story, will you? If he's being his old nasty self with you, just like he was with your mother and I, let me know, and he'll hear from me.
Why? Does he think I can't handle Professor Snape? he mused at his godfather's words.
Now, if he didn't change his style - and I don't think he would have - he'll probably make you scrub filthy cauldrons until you can see your reflection on their ends. His other favorite sadistic sport is making students prepare nasty ingredients, like extracting pus from Bubotubers or something. I think he'll choose the first one, though, as you're a first-year.
I hope I have been some help. If Snape starts giving you detentions for no reason at all just tell me, okay? He'll answer to me.
Love,
Harry
Well, Bubotuber pus or filthy cauldrons. It's gonna be a delightful evening, Nathan lamented sarcastically.
"Who are the letters from?" he heard Andy ask.
"Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron," he answered.
"A letter from Harry Potter?" asked Kevin, suddenly losing his interest in his breakfast to hear what his friend's famous uncle had to say.
"Yes, I wrote to them to ask about Professor Snape's detention."
"And what did they say?" asked Andy.
"Well, they think I'll have to scrub filthy cauldrons the whole night," Nathan sighed.
"Scrub? Like, without magic?" asked an outraged Kevin.
"That's what they say," Nathan confirmed, resignation in his voice.
"Well, do remind me never to get in trouble with Professor Snape, will you?" the boy commented and went back to his plate.
Nathan sighed again and resumed his meal as well. By tomorrow night he would be prepared for his detention.
Wednesday at seven, Professor Snape heard a tap on his classroom door.
"Enter," he said.
"Good evening, professor," the boy entering the room greeted. He didn't bother to acknowledge, instead pointing with a sharp incline of his head to two filthy cauldrons on a workbench near his desk, where he sat with a book in his hands.
"Clean them until you can see your reflection," he said with his velvet voice. With a smirk, he added, "without magic."
Nathan said nothing, just reached for the brush and started scrubbing. The boy remained quiet while he cleaned the first cauldron. When he was starting the second, he spoke. "Why did you assign me detention, sir?"
Why did I assign him detention? What kind of question is that? he thought. "I thought you were smarter than that," he answered. The boy was still looking at him so he rolled his eyes and added, "You were attempting to hex another student, Mr. Granger. You even admitted the intention. Now, go back to work! I don't have the whole night."
But the boy didn't comply. Wasn't I clear? Snape thought.
"Why didn't you assign detention to the other boys, too? They were threatening the Hufflepuff," Nathan said.
He furrowed his eyebrows together at this. Is he questioning my judgment?
"Five points from Gryffindor for disrespect, Mr. Granger. Now, go back to work! I won't tell you again," he said between gritted teeth.
"I will, sir," defied Nathan. "I just want to understand why you're always picking on Gryffindors and never on Slytherins. Why don't you ever take points from them?"
That did it. Snape was on his feet and, in two long steps, was mere inches from Nathan, towering over him. The boy didn't flinch and met the professor's glare with an inquiring eyebrow. This made Professor Snape growl.
"I won't tolerate this, boy. You show no respect! You're here to scrub cauldrons because you deserved it. Now, stop testing my patience and start cleaning this cauldron. NOW!"
This time the boy obeyed, and Snape went back to his book. Nathan cleaned the second cauldron in silence. When he finished, Nathan approached the professor's desk. Without taking his eyes from the book, the Potions master said, "Out!"
The boy didn't move. Snape ignored him for a while and then sighed heavily. What does the boy want now? He's even worst than his mother! Lifting his head, he glared at the boy and said with more force, "Are you deaf? I said out!"
"Professor," Nathan started, "I didn't mean to disrespect you with my questions. I'm sorry."
He's… apologizing? he thought, though his expression showed no surprise at Nathan's words.
"My mother told me you had to favor the Slytherins back when she was a student because of the war," the boy continued. "I was just trying to understand why you do so now as well," he finished. "I'm sorry, anyway."
The mention of Miss Granger annoyed him. He remembered the boy's words in the library about him being honorable and it just served to irritate him more. I'll stop this nonsense right now! he thought.
"I don't know what your mother told you about me, but I assure you she doesn't know me as well as she may think. I don't have to explain my actions now or then to anyone. Not to you, not to your mother, not to anyone!" He was livid. "Now, get out of my classroom!" he growled.
Staring at the angry Potions master for a moment, Nathan could do nothing but obey. He turned on his heel and went to the door that led to the dungeon corridor. He never answered my question, he mused. Maybe if I really earnt house points he would award me with them. Maybe I'm not doing enough to earn them. Mum was right! Professor Snape is a difficult man to please
Reaching the door, he turned and glanced the man's way. With the challenge of proving he was worthy of his teachers praise, Nathan said, "Good night, Professor Snape," and left for Gryffindor Tower. He didn't want to believe the Potions master was unfair, favoring his own house above the others. He just had to prove it!
The man left alone inside the classroom had now lost his interest in the book he was reading. Severus was deep in thought over the things the boy had said. Why am I still favoring the Slytherins above all others? It's not like I need to anymore. Why do I do it, then? he thought before regaining control of his own mind. Because that's how it is! Because you are Professor Snape, the greasy git Head of Slytherin and that's what you do! he countered, frowning at himself.
Snape sighed. He hadn't been concerned with these matters since… ever. Why I am doing it now? he mused. "Granger," he said between gritted teeth. He closed the book with force, stood up, and left the classroom heading for his quarters.
Even as Snape strode the corridors, he couldn't stop thinking about Nathan's questions. Try as he might, he couldn't see reason in his actions. He'd never before felt the need to justify his unequal treatment of his own House, - even to Dumbledore, who turned a blind eye, knowing his precarious position. Now, though... he had no answer for his continued bias beyond, that's what I do because that's what I've always done. Somehow, that didn't seem adequate reason anymore.