A/N Hey guys! No, I haven't been abducted by aliens. It's been a while, I know, but life's been super busy. Please be patient with this story and my other one, I swear that I'll write more. I hope for my updates to be more frequent. Moving on, drum roll please! Yes, it's the moment you've been waiting for, the moment you've dreaded, it's time for….SNAPES WORST MEMORY! AHHHHH! Yes, I know he hasn't been in the story other than when he gets sorted and when our little cast of characters talk about him, but it's time for his 60 seconds of fame! I also plan to introduce flashbacks involving him. PHEW! Long author's note, prepare for Snape to go all meany-pants, without further ado….CHAPTER 10!
Chapter 10 - Done
Jaqui's POV
We were all tired. Bleary-eyed and dead on our feet, the fifth years of Hogwarts had been studying relentlessly for our OWLS. Just the other day, Lily fell asleep in Potions. Her favorite class. Prefect, in line to be Head of House, Lily Evans, fell asleep in class. And it was Potions! Of course, it's also her best class, and old Sluggy just said "Ahh, studying vigorously for OWLS, are we Miss Evans? As I'd expect, a top-notch student such as yourself." He's more on the soft side anyway, but he's be more…reprimanding, had it been me. And the dreaded exams were fast approaching. In exactly one day's time, we would be starting the week that would contribute to determining the rest of our lives. So we were all as relaxed as…well, I can't think of a good simile, but hopefully you got the sarcasm. The only two people who seemed oblivious to the ever-present tension and anxious anticipation were James and Sirius.
"It'll be a breeze," Sirius said, waving his hands as if that would make the exams go away.
"Yeah, it's not like our lives depend on it," James added, eyes twinkling, then watering very slightly as I punched him in the chest.
"Whoa, whoa, what's up with you?" Sirius asked, while laughing at the wincing James.
"What's up with me? What's up with me? You two don't even care that these exams' outcomes decide whether or not we get to actually have a successful life!"
"Now, Jaqui, I never pictured you as one to be judged by people you don't know and told you can't do something," Fearing another blow (as he should), James ran for it, cackling. Sirius slung his arm over my shoulder, grinning stupidly even as I shrugged him off.
"Oh come on, calm down."
"Fine. I'll calm down. You fail, never get a job, and lose me," I snapped, leaving him a fit of laughter that infuriated me. Remember that whole anti-relaxed and stress thing I mentioned earlier? Yeah, there's your exhibit A.
Over. Worst week of my life: over. Finally. I bombed Care of Magical Creatures, but I was never any good at that anyway. I suppose I didn't realize that Care of Magical Creatures meant actually caring for magical creatures. I'm not good with things that breathe and aren't human. History of Magic, eh. Binns is too boring anyway. Potions I did OK, same with Ancient Runes. Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Herbology, I did slightly better. But in Charms and Transfiguration, I think I'd gotten myself two O's. The fresh spring air out in the grounds gave me some kind of new hope that maybe, just maybe, I'd actually survived O.W.L week. I was surrounded by plenty of giggling, chattering fifth year girls, so finding Lily would be difficult enough. I decided to wait for her by the lake, her favorite spot. I wasn't exactly in the mood to deal with the conceited brainiacs at the moment, even though I saw the three of them ahead of me, Peter with them. I'd much rather stick with the modest brainiac.
"Jacqui!" Lily called out to me as I neared the Black Lake.
"Glad it's over?' I called back to the her as she came to walk beside me.
"Can't imagine a better day for it all to end on. Couldn't take another minute in there, they really should try to keep the place cool for the exams. I mean, we're wearing wool robes!"
"I know," I agreed, also having been annoyed with the high heat in the Great Hall, " and it's so nice out, you'd never imagine it would be that hot inside!" Nodding in agreement, she plopped down on the lake side, her toes in the cool water, myself beside her. I seemed drawn to the old tree where the four boys sat, and Lily followed my gaze.
"Why is it you, the least patient person in the world, can stand those two (I think I could figure out which two she was talking about), but I can barely be in the same room as them?" Lily looked earnestly at me, as though I knew some hidden secret she didn't. Well, I suppose I did, but it wasn't about Sirius or James.
"I don't know, Lily. I guess, they're just so good to Remus, that if he can trust them, and deal with them, so can I."
"But even Remus must get annoyed when they're being stupid," she replied.
"If he knew that, he'd be yelling at them all the time," We giggled at the boys' expense. "Seriously though, I don't know what it is, maybe it's just that I know they have the ability to be nice? I have to at least get along with James, what with him being on the Quidditch team, and Peter's fine, so that's three down and…I guess Sirius just found his way in." She sighed.
"I just wish I didn't hate them sometimes. I think it would make things a whole lot easier…"
"James being an idiot around you and being a jerk to Sev is not easy. Honestly, I'm a bit proud that you've resisted killing him."
"Ha ha. Speak of the devil…" Now I followed her gaze, and the familiar hooked-nose boy folding up a piece of paper came into view…a little too close to the little quad-pod under the tree.
"Lily, are you…?"
"I'll let him be. He can fight his own battles." Clearly, something was bothering her.
"Are you two ok?" She looked surprised to see me there.
"Me and Sev? Fine, I just….well, he's no saint either. Plus…I sometimes get the feeling it embarrasses him, when I help him. If anything bad happens, I'll be right there with him, though."
"So will I," I smiled at her, "because I don't think you can handle them alone."
"And you can?"
Lily's POV
"Of course not," Jaqui responded. "But together, we're an unstoppable force! Dynamic duo!"
"Only you, Jaqui," I laughed openly at her rare show of optimism when it came to controlling The Idiots, my favorite nick name for the gang of, well, idiots. As we laughed, however, we turned at the same time to spot the commotion going on just over the hill, by the tree where the four boys were. But now Sirius and Potter were on there feet, and Sev looked embarrassed and he was so alone..
"Oh no…" Jaqui whispered. Because a crowd was gathering and Severus fell and got back up and was insulted and I had to help I had to step in he was my friend. So I did. Leaping from the ground I stormed over to the herd of onlookers and pushed my way to the front. Jaqui was on my tail but I was done. Done. This had to end. Right here, right now. I cringed at the sight of Sev, gagging and chocking before I spit out at the boys.
"Leave him ALONE!" Potter grinned, his ugly mug practically sneering.
"All right, Evans?" Several girls looked on the verge of swooning. I was on the verge of throwing up.
"Leave him alone. What's he done to you?" I hissed angrily, trying to make to help my friend.
"Well," he stated as though it was obvious, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean," Funny, I feel the same about you I felt like saying. I bit my tongue.
"You think you're funny, but you're just an arrogant, bullying toe rag, Potter. Leave him alone." Ok, so I didn't really bite my tongue.
"I will if you go out with me, Evans," said Potter quickly. "Go on ... go out with me and I'll never lay a wand on old Snivelly again,"
" "I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid," I laughed harshly.. "Bad luck, Prongs," said Sirius briskly, and turned back to Severus. "OI!'" But too late; Sev had directed his wand straight at James; there was a flash of light and a gash appeared on the side of James's face, splattering his robes with blood. James whirled about: a second flash of light later, Sev was hanging upside-down in the air, his robes falling over his head to reveal skinny, pallid legs and a pair of graying underpants. Many students in the small crowd cheered; Sirius, Potter, and Peter roared with laughter. Someone tried to get to Sirius but he pushed them away. I couldn't see who it was.
"Furious but biting back an involuntary laugh, I shouted "Let him down!" "Certainly," said Potter and he jerked his wand upwards; Sev fell into a crumpled heap on the ground. Disentangling himself from his robes he got quickly to his feet, wand up, but Sirius said, 'Petrificus Totalus!' and Sev keeled over again, rigid as a board. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" I screamed. I had my own wand out now. Potter and Sirius eyed it warily. "Ah, Evans, don't make me hex you," said Potter earnestly. "Take the curse off him, then!" Potter sighed deeply, then turned to Sev and muttered the counter-curse.
"There you go," he said, as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus- " "I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"
I blinked. Blinked away tear. My head spun. I felt the silence pound in on me, and the eyes stare at me, and I thought I might keel over and the world spun. But I pulled myself together. Even if for just a few moments. I doubted how long I could hold it together. "Fine," I said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
"Apologize to Evans!' James roared at Snape, his wand pointed threateningly at him.
"I don't want you to make him apologize,' I roared, rounding on Potter, enraged. "You're as bad as he is."
"What?" yelped Potter. "I'd NEVER call you a-you-know-what!"
"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can-I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK." I turned and hurried away. I couldn't be here. Where was Jaqui? I needed help, support, I'd lost one of my best friends. It was like I'd lost a part of me. Oh Severus…how could he? "Evans!" Potter shouted after me.
"Hey, EVANS!" Just do me a favor and leave me alone. I didn't look back.
"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" But I just didn't care anymore.
Jaqui's POV
He shoved me to the ground. He didn't even look at me. He hurt me. Sirius. What have you all done? And Snape, that monster, and James that git, and Peter that bumbling idiot, and Remus. Oh Remus. You just sat there. You sat there and watched. I needed Lily, and she needed me. I was done playing Mommy. This was the final straw. It all went too far this time, and now Lily and I had gotten hurt, physically and emotionally. I was done.
Done taking care of their mistakes.
Done pretending it was just simple pranks. Sirius's actions when I tried to stop him proved that. He didn't care apparently. Even if he didn't know it was me.
I was done with those boys, but one in particular.
I am done with Sirius Black.
A/N OOOOOOH! I know it's been a while, but look! It's finished guys! Sorry if it's a little confusing, tell me what you think though! Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and The Last Aribender forever, for the win!
Quote of the Day
Me: AHH!
Sister: What?
Me: I almost stepped in the bucket of water again.
Sister: You mean you almost stepped in it before?
Me: No, I stepped in it before and my foot got all wet. I almost did it again.
Sister: -facepalm-