Amare Leporum

by LadyClassical

When Snape can't find a date for the Yule Ball, he puts a spell called a Romance Charm on a new teacher. Just for that one night...but to his shock, his date declares that they must be married, igniting an unpredictable chain of events which just might end up with Snape finding true love, no spells needed...but not the way he expected! (GOF AU, SnapexOC, SiriusxOC, Hinny, Romione)

2. Vrack the Violent vs Nargl the Nosy

The next afternoon, Harry and his two best friends were chatting casually about—what else?—the Yule Ball on their way to History of Magic class. As they approached the classroom, Harry and Ron no longer felt the dread they had experienced while Professor Binns was the teacher. It wasn't just that they both kind of had little crushes on Professor Marsh—she also made the class fun.

When they opened the door, most of the students were already there. Professor Marsh was sitting behind her desk, shuffling papers absentmindedly. Something told them that Snape had asked her…and she had rejected him. After all, he had looked even surlier than usual at breakfast that morning.

"She doesn't have to go with anyone she doesn't like, but she should probably find a date for this thing soon," Hermione was saying. "She's going to feel so left out."

"Well, who's she going to go with? Flitwick?" said Ron.

"They're just friends," said Harry.

"Maybe she can go solo," Hermione said. "I mean, it's not against the law. It's not like we're required to bring dates."

"I am," Harry reminded her. "It works out, though, because Ginny wouldn't be able to go at all otherwise."

"All right, everyone, listen up," Professor Marsh said brightly, cutting their conversation short. She tucked one strand of shoulder-length blonde hair behind her ear and smiled. "Today we're going to be studying giant wars."

The class groaned collectively, remembering what it was like to listen to Professor Binns tell them about it.

"But!" Professor Marsh winked. "First I will need two volunteers."

"Um, I'll be a volunteer," said Harry, raising his hand.

"Me too," said Ron, probably only because Harry was doing it.

"Wonderful," said Professor Marsh, and she handed each of them a Styrofoam club. "Harry, you'll be Vrack the Violent; Ron, you'll be Nargl the Nosy. Now duel, just as the giants would have done!"

Harry and Ron had fun hitting each other with the Styrofoam clubs, and the whole class was laughing, even Hermione. When class was over, their assignment was one roll of parchment on giant wars, to be handed in within a week. Everyone was in a good mood when they left class.

"Thank God," said Ron, "for Professor Marsh."