Chapter Three: Hand In The Snake's Mouth

A/N: After nearly a year of nothing... I give you chapter three! Sorry for the ridiculous wait but I seriously thought that I was going to have to stop writing this story for good. Hopefully, I can write another chapter in less than a year!

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Humnick sat down at her seat for dinner at the staff table in the Great Hall. Just looking at the steak and kidney pie that was on her plate made her feel queasy. She turned away from her meal to be able to think about how to talk with Snape after dinner. Humnick would keep it nice and simple, just discuss Malfoy's punishment for going into the Forbidden Forest, and then leave as quickly as possible, without incident.

Yeah, right. Why don't you just wish for world peace while you're at it because that isn't going to happen either. Humnick's cynical side thought as she tried to calm herself, as dinner ended.

"Severus, I need to talk to you about Draco Malfoy's performance today during my class," Professor Humnick said to the stygian man who was about to leave for his dungeons.

"I feel that there is nothing to discuss, Professor." Snape returned sharply, "The injury that Mr. Malfoy incurred during his little excursion seem to be punishment enough, don't you agree?"

Humnick gulped, that wasn't exactly what she expected him to say but she still wasn't willing to back down, "I feel that he deserves something more so that he knows that he should not cross me, especially when I specifically said not to go into the Forest."

Snape eyed Humnick with such contempt that she almost lost her resolve, "Follow me. We will discuss this in my office."

Humnick made the motion to follow him towards the dungeons, but she got out of her chair too quickly. The result was her stepping on her own robes and tumbling straight into Snape. Snape reacted as if Humnick was trying to intentionally hurt him, "You clumsy oaf!" he shouted in a most vitriolic voice.

Grabbing up her robes so that she wouldn't trip on them again, Humnick apologized profoundly while Snape continued to scowl at her, "Let's go. Now." Was all he said in return as he turned on his heel and headed towards his office, with his robes billowing behind him.

She followed him, trying to keep up the pace that he had set. Humnick tried to refrain from even thinking about the Phantom of the Opera's last scene but it was almost too much, even though was scared. Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair. Down we plunge to the prison of my mind. Down that path into darkness deep as Hell! If Humnick ever survived this she was going to write a letter to Andrew Lloyd Webber saying he was a genius.

They reached Snape's office quickly, even considering the fast pace that they had just taken. Humnick trying to cover the fact that she was panting by breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth but the effort was really futile. Snape glared at her as he got rid of the wards around his office and opened the door, "In." was all he said.

Humnick stepped in and stood by the chair in front of Snape's desk. Snape sat down at his desk but refused to offer the chair to Humnick, forcing her to stand. Fine Humnick thought.

Snape gave Humnick an icy glare, sizing up her up. It was frankly unnerving to her but what else could she do. This whole situation was in his court he made the final decision, it was just Humnick's job to point him in the right direction.

"Professor Humnick, I do not like being told that one of my students from Slytherin is behaving badly during another co-workers class, I assure you that. But to say that Malfoy needs more punishment on top of what happened to him today is preposterous." Snape began, and, instantly, Humnick knew that she was in over her head. There was something in his tone that she didn't like.

"Professor Snape, I am just trying to make a point to Malfoy that I do not tolerate being crossed in my classes. Especially when I give specific instructions." She said trying to control her shaking fists. It wasn't out of anger that she spoke, she was more afraid of saying something stupid to muddle up her chances of proving herself in front of this man.

Snape eyed Humnick again, "What were you thinking Malfoy needs to do in order to realize his punishment?" he asked with a malevolent glint in his eyes.

"A weeks worth of detention and at least 40 points from Slytherin." Professor Humnick puffed out seeing that she was so nervous she could barely speak.

"Absolutely not." Snape replied, "Malfoy would be worse after a weeks worth of detention. He would never listen to your instructions in class again. Also, he's a prefect if he gets House points taken away, it wouldn't look good to Dumbledore now would it."

Humnick's jaw dropped, "It wouldn't look good to Dumbledore? The whole situation doesn't look good to anyone never mind Dumbledore! If Malfoy doesn't get a detention or a punishment of some kind people are going to know that you are covering for him."

At this Humnick realized that she should have kept that last bit to herself. Snape rose swiftly from his seat, giving Humnick a look that made her very glad that looks could not kill. Even from across the room with his wand tucked in his robes, Humnick was terrified that this whole situation was going to get very ugly in a matter of seconds.

"You came into my office to make a deal, Humnick. Not to insult me. If you would be so kind as to remember that, the both of us will be able to leave this office unscathed." Snape threatened as he sat back down into his chair, still not offering Humnick to sit down.

"Yes, sir." Humnick responded, "What do you propose then?" she asked trying to calm herself.

"One detention and 20 points taken from Slytherin." Snape added seeing the look on Humnick's face, "Take it or leave it."

"What? ONE detention?" she asked with an incredulous air.

"Yes, one." Snape said, "Malfoy is going to hold one detention against you for as long as the both of you are here, mark my words. It would even worse if it was a week."

"Precisely why it should be a week, to straighten out his attitude," Humnick started to argue but was silenced by the deadly look that Snape gave her, "But I suppose that this deal is all that I'm going to get. Thank you for your time."

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Snape said as Humnick turned and all but ran out of his office.

Professor Humnick stepped out into the sepulcher dungeons with her heart pounding. That did not go as well as she hoped but it still wasn't as bad as she thought. For one thing, she was still alive and her soul was still intact. I think. She added as she turned away from Snape's office and walked through the dungeons.

It took Humnick a good ten minutes to realize that she had definitely taken a wrong turn somewhere. She was starting to get nervous, she had no idea how to get out here and she certainly didn't want to go back to Snape's office and ask him for directions.

Much to Humnick's displeasure, she heard footsteps approaching. They were getting louder and louder. In her state of panic, Humnick could only think of one person that would be coming down the dungeons this late. Snape.

She turned on her heel and ran. She didn't get far seeing that the path she chose was a dead end with a picture of a fruit basket. Humnick could still hear the footsteps coming towards her.

Bloody hell! Humnick shouted in her head. Her fists were balled up in nervous tension. She almost took a swing at the basket of fruit that seemed to be mocking her but at the last second, she realized how ridiculous the idea of picture of fruit mocking her was. She unclenched her hand and as if she were apologizing to the painting for even thinking of hurting it, just let her fingers brush over the pear.

It giggled.

Humnick jumped as she realized that a door handle was magically appearing from where she stroked the pear. Hearing the footsteps getting closer, she pulled open the painting and leapt right in without even looking. Anything is better than dealing with that man! She thought as she landed on a cool stone floor on her back with her eyes clamped shut.

"Is mistress okay?" a little voice spoke overhead as she continued to lie on the floor. The little voice continued to ask if she was okay while poking her arm.

"Yes. I'm alright." Humnick managed after being poked several times. She sat up and opened her eyes. She was surrounded by elves, "Where am I?" she thought out loud.

"You're in the kitchens," the elf said as Humnick sat up from her little tumble into the room.

"The kitchens?" Humnick asked as she looked around. Sure enough, there were huge stoves and ovens for cooking large amounts of food. There was a huge teapot to boil water for drinks, "How about that." Her voice filled with wonder as she looked around.

"Is there something I can get you, miss?" the little elf asked at her elbow. Humnick wasn't sure if it was a boy or a girl elf that was talking to her.

Humnick sat back and thought about all kinds of stuff that she wanted. None of them were really edible. Humble pie, crow, poison, anything that matches my mood. Humnick's eyes went wide. There was something that she wanted after all, "Ben & Jerry's ice cream?" she asked waiting for the elves to start laughing at her for liking Muggle-born sweets.

Instead, she heard a shuffling as a few elves got closer to her with a pint of "Everything But The…" They handed over the ice cream with a spoon for her.

"How did you guys know I like this flavor?" she asked completely amazed. Seeing that she was Muggle-born, she never really had the pleasure of dealing with an elf in her home, so this was very surreal to her.

"Dumbledore told us," the first elf said still next to her elbow.

Humnick's faced darkened a little at the mention of the headmaster's name. She was certain that she was going to have to face him sooner or later about this Draco Malfoy matter. But she wouldn't let it bother her too much as she peeled off the top of the pint of ice cream and dug her spoon into its rich layer of chocolate and vanilla swirl.

As she licked her first spoonful clean, she couldn't help but notice that the elves were still watching her sit on the floor and eat. They were waiting as if to make sure she liked what she asked for.

"This is delicious." She said as she looked around the kitchen. All the elves smiled and went back to cleaning. Humnick looked down at the elf at her elbow, "What's your name?" she asked.

"Dobby, miss." He said with a deep sweeping bow and his nose nearly grazed the floor.

"Thank you Dobby." She said, "You know, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

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