20 Detention

[AN: This is my last chapter for this week as I have to prepare for my thesis defense. So see you when I see you.]

Professor McGonagall had brought us to her office – a cozy room surrounded by tall shelves filled with countless books and other ornaments of various shapes and sizes.

In the middle, a stylish table with parchments and books on top of it and an old looking chair which serves as her throne.

We stand side-by-side before her.

I stand with Silvanus in the left side while Tom is meekly standing in the right-most corner with Lestrange and Avery right in the middle.

(Silvanus)(Alfred)(Lestrange)(Avery)(Tom)

On our way here, we were scolded by professor McGonagall and even now, she's still not done reprimanding us.

"Dueling unsupervised by a teacher is dangerous and not promoted by the school. You might get injured if one of the spells malfunctioned. Let me tell you once again, dueling must be done in a proper place and with the consent of one of the teachers." She reprimanded, "What year were you? First year? And yet, you already dare to break the school rules. If this matter goes unpunished, who know what rules you will break in the future."

We remained silent without making eye contact with her. Giving us the image of obedient children.

"Mr. Riddle, all this matter is your doing. What are you going to say about it?" She scolded Tom.

"I didn't mean to." Tom timidly replied.

"Just because you learned many spells will you bully other students. It's not the way of wizardry! I hope you won't do it again."

"Yes, professor."

"And you Mr. Stanford…" She called me which made my body to shake a bit. "Why did you transfigured Mr. Riddle's nose?"

Looking at Tom, his nose was already fixed done personally by professor McGonagall.

At first, she showed a surprised face seeing my work. It should be because, it was a third year spell.

"Using a third year transfiguration spell on a person, especially first year like you is against the rules. It is very dangerous and can get you expelled. You shouldn't be reckless!"

"I was wrong, professor." I humbly admitted.

"I am warning you, Mr. Stanford."

"Yes, professor."

"That goes for the rest of you. I won't hesitate to expel you. Specially you, Tom…" She glared at Tom, "I am very disappointed with your behavior."

"We won't do it again, professor." We said in unison.

"Now, for your punishment. I will leave it to your house head, professor Slugghorn."

Just as she finished her sentence, the door swung open and came professor Slugghorn.

"Ah, I apologized for being late." He said sincerely.

"Not at all, professor." Professor McGonagall replied.

"So, the matter here is?" He asked.

"These children started a fight outside the castle. It was instigated by Tom. And to what I gathered, they used third year spells."

"Third year spells? Oh, they really are promising children, aren't they professor?"

"They broke school rules." Professor McGonagall firmly stated.

"Well, sometimes it is inevitable that children fight. I too have some fair share of troubles when I first came at Hogwarts. I remember, one of my classmates back in the day threw a jinx at me and I send him flying. Haha. Good ole days." Professor Slugghorn awkwardly said.

Professor McGonagall gave him a death glare that made him flustered, "Forgive me professor, about their punishment… right, their punishment would be… hmm… I will think about it. Let's see…"

I knew professor Slugghorn is a lax person. Specially, knowing that two promising Slytherin is involved. He should be unwilling to punish us and his intention is already known by professor McGonagall.

Unable to bear professor Slugghorn's indecisiveness, professor McGonagall interjected, "They will be sent in the dungeon to help the house-elves. I hope that by the end of the day they will reflect on their action."

"Ah, right… right."

"But, professor… aren't dungeons dangerous too?" Silvanus asked.

"You think I will send you to the deeper part of the castle? You will only be going to the kitchen and storage room." She then redirected her attention to face professor Slugghorn, "It sounds feasible right, professor?"

"Ah, right… I agree." Professor Slugghorn waveringly agreed.

"Very well, your punishment will start right after this and ends before dinner."

"Yes, professor." We responded.

---

We left the office together with professor Slugghorn. He is personally accompanying us to the dungeon.

"Bloody hell! Professor McGonagall is a monster. Seeing how she glares, I almost peed on my pants." Silvanus whispered.

"You bet." I readily agreed.

"It's all your fault, Tom! And don't give me with that smug look of yours."

"Whatever." Tom nonchalantly responded.

"Hmmp! I will beat your face one of these days."

"I can give you a beating any day."

"Hmmp!"

Just then, professor Slugghorn slowly spoke, "Now, now… no more fighting." He then changed his attention towards me and Tom, "Is it true, you already learned advance spells?"

"Ah, yes professor." Tom and I said in unison.

"Good, good… and you find it difficult?"

"With some proper guidance with a teacher, I was able to learn it." I said.

"And you Mr. Riddle?"

"I spent the rest of my time in the library."

"It's good that you two works hard in your study. How do you find potioneering?"

"Exciting!" We both exclaimed.

Well, in trying to get professor's tutelage, Tom and I where on the same page. It should be known that he came from a very prominent pureblood family – the so called 'Sacred Twenty-Eight'.

He already gave me a lot of benefits, like potion materials, books and even avoid curfew. And as long as I shock him with my 'talent', I would benefit more in the future.

Speaking of talent, I realized that indeed I became one of the so called 'genius'. Since, I was able to memorized things pretty fast and can retain it in the long term. Back in my previous life, I wasn't as intelligent. In fact, I have an average IQ.

I can only think that, probably, this is the benefit of being sent to another world.

Professor Slugghorn's eyes shined brightly, "Then would you like to join my Slug Club? You will learn many things about potioneering."

"Please let me join, professor." Tom hurriedly replied.

"I too wish to join the club, professor." I responded.

"Then, it is settled. Tomorrow, after dinner, the Slug Club will convene. I will introduce you before the others, so come in the right time."

"Yes, professor."

---

We then reached our destination – third level below the castle, in the castles dungeons.

The place is dark without proper illuminations, in fact, only when professor Slugghorn used [Lumos] that we're able to see. Only to realized that there are no doors but strange lines that arched in the wall.

We saw three house-elves passing in those walls.

"I will divide you into two group." Professor Slugghorn said, "Mr. Tom and Mr. Alfred will help the house-elves in the storage room while the rest will help in the kitchen."

Upon receiving his instruction, we bade him farewell and proceeded to our respected designation individually passing through the wall.

Inside the storage room, a long line of crates was stacked together. We saw various house elves doing their thing – cleaning, moving the boxes, checking inventory, etc.

One of them came before us and lead us in a corner. He said that he was already informed of the punishment, so he will give us work. And since house elves are a submissive creature, therefore, he humbly ordered us to clean and stack a row of boxes.

He then magically vanished.

One of the mysteries that puzzled me is that house elves were able to apparate in the castle. It should be known that the school has strong enchantment that stops people from apparating at will.

I went to the nearest box and started working.

"You work over there while I work here." I said.

"What makes you think you can order me around?"

"I defeated you remember?"

"But that doesn't mean you can command me. I am not your slave. We don't have such agreement!"

I looked at him with a serious expression to intimidate him.

And it worked. He begrudgingly gritted his teeth but eventually went through it.

That's more like it. Crushing his self-confident whenever he is around me is a desirable result.

"[Wingardium Leviosa]" I chanted, lifting one of the boxes.

An hour had passed and we still have a long way to finish.

After that, we will have to clean this part of the room. And I estimate, it will take us three hours to finish our task, that's about the time before dinner.

I checked out Tom and he is doing fine. He is eating an apple while stacking boxes.

Obviously, he stole it and may get him to be reprimanded again. However, I am not obliged to watch and report him.

Well, eating one apple will not make him a criminal. And I too am tempted to eat a sausage.

However, one of the working house elves came to him.

It meekly said, "G-good sir, y-you are not allowed to eat the food in these crates."

"Don't disturb me. Go away!" Tom shouted.

"B-but sir, h-headmaster's orders."

Seeing the house-elf not leaving, Tom hit him and pushed him.

"I said go away!"

This time, I approached them. Since, I can't stand how he treated the elf.

"You should stop, Tom. You shouldn't mistreat lesser creatures."

"Huh, these creature's loves getting beaten. I always beat one every morning."

He must be talking about the house-elves in the Slytherin's common room.

Those house elves are loyal to Slytherin.

They helped first years cleaning themselves since they do not know how to use [Body Cleaning] spell. They would find a house-elf and with a snap of them, the student is freshly cleaned.

However, since they think of us as muggles and refused to help us clean our body.

So, during my first month at Hogwarts, I used the conventional method of bathing. But now that I learn the spell, I no longer need a house-elf to do it for me. Still, I prefer bathing like ordinary muggle.

"But that's not how you treat a house-elf!"

"What do you know? Every house-elf should obey when commanded."

"And he already has orders given to him. You shouldn't conflict with it."

"Mind your own business, Alfred. You're too nosy!"

"Just give the apple, Tom! And all will be settled."

"Stop ordering me around! I am not yours to command."

"I am warning you, Tom. I know you hated being punished, but it didn't matter to me. I wouldn't mind spending another day in this dungeon."

He gritted his teeth, "One day, I will make up for this humiliation." He looked at the elf in disdain, "Here is your rotten apple, stupid elf!"

He then left and went in the far end corner of the room.

Upon receiving the apple, the elf showed his gratitude. It then magically restored the apple before returning it in the box.

"T-thank y-you good sir."

"Don't mind it. I know how important a command for house elves."

"Y-yes, master's order is our law."

"Do you have a name?"

"Y-yes, t-this humble servants name is Reed."

"Reed is it? I am Alfred. Nice meeting you."

But then, I noticed his appearance is not normal when compared to other house-elves. It apparently had skin problems, as the house-elf had developed a terrible case of boils.

"I can see you have a very terrible boils."

"Y-yes, but it is not fatal for house-elf, sir. I can still perform my work without problem."

"That's not what I mean. You see, I brew potions."

"Y-you're a potion master! B-but, you're young."

"No, not yet. But I have a book that can help us."

I then took out the Book of Potions. But before that, I made sure Tom was not around.

Then, I explained to the book what happened.

It then exclaimed, "And what luck! We have the ideal guinea pig, I mean, a poor soul who needs our potioneering expertise. A few drops of my brew should vanish those boils."

"Shh…" I made him shut.

I said to the elf, "I can cure you. However, this is a secret between us, okay."

"Reed will not say to anyone. Reed is an obedient house-elf."