Hum of the Hufflepuff

By LezaLovegood

Disclaimer:This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

~*~*~*~

"I've got it!" Melinda squealed upon pushing open the circular door to the common room. "Elixir to Induce Euphoria! Couldn't find any peppermint, though. You'd think it would be the easiest ingredient."

Susan grinned, "No problem. I don't like mint and Zach is allergic."

"Zacharias? Prat. Of course he's allergic," Melinda scoffed. "I'll get some from the kitchens later."

"Ah, but there'll be singing without peppermint," Susan bounced a bit in excitement, "And he's not a prat."

"Oh, fine, he's a git, then. Ruins the fun."

"Nah, he's not. He's just got a- a problem. Something on his mind…"

"Whatever. He's... unpleasant," Melinda amended. "Why are we inviting him?"

"Ohhh, I'm very interested to see him with his… inhibitions lowered."

Melinda eyed her with a suspicious look. "Planning to take advantage?" she smirked, waggling her eyebrows.

Susan gaped. "Wha- Oh, no, course not."

"No one ever suspects the Hufflepuff, you know," Melinda elbowed Susan, teasingly.

"No," she laughed, "definitely not like that."

"Hmm," Melinda eyed her again incredulously. "Well… anyway," she plopped down on the cheery-yellow couch by the black marble fireplace. "Why on earth would you want them to sing? Surely last Christmas was enough to tell you that that is not a good idea."

Susan snickered at the memory. "Drunken singing is generally a little off-key, so that's not fair to say. Have you spoken to that new fifth year yet?"

"Um, no. Why?"

"She's the daughter of Myron Wagtail."

" Myron Wagtail? The Myron Wagtail?? Of the Weird Sisters?"

"That's the one." Susan wondered how many 'Wagtails' Melinda knew of. "I asked her if she played anything. She sings."

"Hmm. So is that why we're doing this? Smith and . . . what's her name."

"Michelle."

"Yeah. You want to schmooze with the new girl and get Smith pissed on potion?"

"We're Hufflepuffs. Not Slytherins," Susan reminded her.

"Then why? What's this about?"

"You know, we are allowed to have fun every once in a while."

"Oh, come off it. You've never been one to elicit these kinds of things. I had to force you to stay up for the Christmas party last year."

"If Umbridge had caught us--" Susan began, sternly.

"Yeah, yeah. But why --"

"'Cause. It'll be fun," Susan smirked and looked Melinda in the eye, "No ulterior motives. I promise."

Melinda looked at Susan appraisingly, waiting for one too many blinks to betray a lie. Susan stared back calmly.

"You're right," she said finally. "We could use some fun."