Weasley Twins - A Fate You Can't Escape

Chapter 17 - Detention Deficit

I head down to the dungeons for detention with Snape.  I run into the twins on the way and we walk the rest of the way together.

"Have you ever had detention with Snapey before?"  Fred nudges me with his elbow.

"Nope.  I generally go pretty unnoticed.  Until this year at least."  I shrug, stuffing my hands into my pockets.  "I've actually only ever had detention one other time.  It was just two hours of sorting paperwork for McGonagall."

"Sound like you got off easy."  George says enviously.  "She seems to have it in for us every time."

"Maybe she's just tired of seeing you."  I tease the boys as we enter the potions classroom.  Snape is already there, sitting behind the desk.  He looks up from the book he is ready and stares coldly at us.

"What a surprise.  The Weasley boys in detention."  His voice drips with sarcasm, and I bite my lip in an effort to keep a straight face.  "Now you, on the other hand."  He stops, narrowing his eyes at me.  "most unusual."

"Umbridge is a quill enthusiast.  I am not.  Our differences go the better of us."  I shake my head solemnly.  The twins both start a coughing fit.

"Unfortunate for you."  He blinks lazily, not caring about the squabble between Umbridge and I.  "Fortunately for me, I now have someone to scrub cauldrons.  The first years are incompetent."

All three of us flinch, knowing what lies ahead.  Burnt potions, sticky substances, and foul smells.  I remember ruining a couple of cauldrons when I was in first year.

"The cauldrons are over there."  He gestures to a table stacked full.  "And cleaning supplies are over there.  No magic."  He goes back to his book and I head over to get my supplies.  Grabbing an armful, I drop them on an empty table and survey the cauldrons.  The boys come over and stand behind me.

"We're going to be here forever."  Fred mutters gloomily.

"Never to see the light of day again."  George agrees with him.

"Shut it."  I snap, not wanting to get discouraged.  "Divide it three ways.  First one done gets a favor from the losers."

"A favor?"  Fred ponders the deal.

"Yep.  Anything."  I realize this might not be the best idea for me, but it's too late to back down now.

"You're on."  George starts grabbing cauldrons and the rest of us quickly follow suit.  We each end up with eight and get to work.  The room is silent except for the sound of brushes on metal.  My hands are already hurting halfway through the first one.  I can feel myself beginning to sweat and I really hope I remembered deodorant this morning.  I glance at the boys to see that they're still on their first ones as well.   

I try to separate my mind and body and let my thoughts wander to Celeste.  Being with her has been so amazing.  She's so amazingly sweet and thoughtful.  Her confidence in every situation is incredibly sexy.  She always smells perfectly of strawberries and something else.  I try to identify the second smell.  Pomegranate?  I'm not completely sure, but that sounds right.

I work my way through the cauldrons, planning how I'm going to ask her to be my girlfriend.  Different options and outcomes flit through my head, played out in vivid detail.  I could of times I catch myself taking it a bit too far, and have to redirect myself.  I worry that someone the others in the room would be able to tell what I am thinking.

Somehow each scenario ends up with me gently caressing her soft curves as her raspberry flavored lips kiss mine.

I don't notice I'm on the last cauldron until I reach for a new one and find there are none.  I reign in my thoughts back to the present and take in the sight before me.  All eight of my cauldrons are gleaming in the harsh dungeon light.  I look over at the boys' tables.  Fred still has one left, and George has two.

"Professor Snape?"  I break the silence, causing everyone in the room to jump.

"Yes?"  He draws out the word in typical Snape fashion.

"I'm done with my portion of the cauldrons.  Do you need to check them?"

"Obviously."  He frowns and stands, gliding over to my table.  "They appear... adequate."

"Thank you professor.  Should I put these in the storage closet?"  I offer, picking one up.  He raises his eyebrows, surprised.

"Preferably."  He turns on his heal and marches back to my desk.  I carry the cauldrons two at a time to the closet and carefully store them.

"Is there anything else I need to do, Sir?"  I stop by his desk before I leave.

"Try not to get into trouble again, Miss Taylor.  I would hate for it to interfere with your homework for my class."  With that, he holds up his book, covering his face.  I take that as permission to go and head for the door.  As I pass the twins I send the a wink letting them know that they owe me now.

"Good night, boys."  I whisper, and slip into the corridor.

I head back to my dorms to do homework.  The time in detention gave me plenty of time to plan the details of tomorrow night.  Now I just have to survive all my classes until then.  Easier said than done.

***

The next day I make sure I'm on my best behavior in Dumbridge's class.  I leave all my pens and notebooks in the dorms as well as all my sugar quills.  As much as I hated this woman and all her rules, I also really don't want detention again.  Especially tonight.  Tonight is the night.  I can't wait to sweep her into my arms and kiss her.  To feel her warm lips against my own and her soft skin against my fingertips.

It is taking every bit of willpower in me to get through classes.  Each one seems more tedious than the last.  Divination is a bit odd though.  When turning in my homework on the connections between astrology and divination, Professor Trelawney stops me.

"Miss Taylor?  A moment please."  She gestures for me to step aside as other students come to turn in their work.  I follow her over to the corner of the classroom.

"I had a feeling of intuition about you this morning."  Her voice is soft and calm, unlike most of the time when she discusses divination.  "This evening.  I'm not sure what is going on, or what you're expecting.  It's not going to go as planned.  But it doesn't have to be a bad thing.  I strongly believe that this is going to open some unexpected doors for you."

She pats my shoulder in an awkward attempt to comfort me, before returning to the front of the class.  Bewildered, I take my usual seat.  Is she talking about my plans for tonight with Celeste?  Were things going to go wrong?  Perhaps she was talking about something regarding Quidditch practice?  That way before dinner.  So that could also be a possibility. 

I try to reassure myself that everything is going to be fine.  Trelawney's divinings were usually very vague and cryptic.  It could be about anything from dinner to homework.  No use worrying about something that is most likely nothing.

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