Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the stuff J.K. Rowling created.

Chapter Twenty

Detention Sentence with the House-elves

"Can you please change me before we go to dinner?" Sirius asked me while we were doing homework in the Common Room.

"That's a Lily question," I replied, finishing the rest of my potions homework.

"You know what she'll say even if I gave her the right answer." He mimicked Lily's voice, "Oh, Potter helped you because you're too stupid to figure it out on our own. So you learned absolutely nothing."

I laughed quietly. "I'd keep my voice down if I were you. Lily's right over there."

Sirius shrugged. "I don't care!" He looked at Lily and James who were watching Remus get his butt kicked in Wizards Chess against Tonks. "James is such a kiss-ass."

"You know you'd be doing the same thing if it worked for you," I said as I watched one of Remus' knights get clobbered.

"But it doesn't, so…" He pulled my wand out of my pocket and held it out to me. "Please?"

Sighing, I took it from him. "In a way, you're even more annoying than James was. Jeesh, I'm becoming such a softy."

"You? A softy?" Sirius laughed. "Yeah, when I become a Slytherin, you are."

"Careful what you wish for Black."

"Careful? I don't know the meaning."

"That I know."

"Good. Glad that's established." I rolled my eyes at him and changed him back into the guy Sirius.

He grinned. "Yes! I'm Sirius Black again!" he yelled.

Lily and James glanced over.

"Took you long enough mate," James said.

"I was beginning to think you'd be a girl for the rest of your life," Lily agreed.

"I'm known for surprising people," Sirius said. "I owe you one Nik. Thanks."

"Uh-huh. I'll remember that."

"Is that a good or a bad thing?"

"You should be afraid."

"I'm always afraid of you."

"Thank you. I pride myself on scaring people."

"That really doesn't surprise me."

There came cheering from the others' direction. We looked over to see Tonks beaming and Remus smiling, as if he had planned his defeat.

"Now there's a softy if I've ever seen one," Sirius muttered to me under his breath.

"Aye Padfoot!" James called. "Moony actually lost!"

"You're losing your touch," Sirius told Remus.

Remus' grin got even wider. "And you think you could do any better?"

"No. I know I can," Sirius said.

Tonks took the challenge. "Come on then Black. Let's see what you've got, or, what you haven't got." Sirius and I walked over to where they were and Sirius sat on the floor across from Tonks and I sat on the couch and leaned against Remus, who said,

"Sirius is going to get put in his place here." And he was right. Thirty minutes later Tonks had concurred him, and she was grinning from ear to ear while Sirius was trying to brush the game off, saying he'd let her win, but next time she wouldn't be so lucky. It was actually Tonks who'd been going easy. I could see it in her actions, as could Remus.

"Whatever!" Tonks said. "You couldn't beat me even if I was playing in my sleep!"

"Could too! I'm awesome at this game!" Sirius argued.

"I'd stick with Quidditch if I were you," James told his brother. "You actually have skill there."

"You want to play Nike?" Tonks asked.

"Don't know how," I said.

"Oh, it's easy! Come on, Remus and I'll teach you!" she persisted.

"Then you can beat the crap outta Sirius at this too," Remus added.

"However tempting that may sound," Sirius cut in. "We've got to go see McGonagall. Maybe some other time."

"Good excuse Black," Lily said. "Good luck Nik. At least when McGonagall gives you detention she'll be lenient."

"Huh?" Sirius said.

Lily rolled her eyes at him and James, with a satisfied look, said,

"It means she'll be merciful or, to put it in a way you'll understand, she'll go easy on you."

"Why didn't you just say that?" Sirius asked.

"Well unlike you, some of us are actually smart enough to have a big vocabulary," Lily said.

"You mean—"

"Come on Sirius before you get hurt," I said, grabbing his hand and dragging him away.

"This isn't over!" he yelled back at her. Lily just grinned while Tonks and James started to play against each other.

"What's detention normally like?" I asked him as we made our way to the Transfiguration classroom.

"Ah, nothing too bad. Scrubbing floors, polishing trophies and metals and stuff, going into the Forbidden Forest to track down evil beasts, writing lines with quills that use your blood in the place of ink—"

"Is that all?" I asked.

"No."

"What kind of a quill uses your blood? That's crazy!"

Sirius held out his left hand for me to see, and carved there I saw the words I will not commit to mischief. It looked like a scar, but it was still red even though the edges around the words had skin starting to cover over it. "'S what it looks like about a few months later. It'll be gone in a few more months."

"When did that…?"

"Last school year, right before the summer. All four of us have it."

"What's the point of that?"

"Supposedly it's supposed to get the message through to you, but do you really think we Marauders let this set us back?"

"No…but still, that's horrible."

"It only stung a lot, like something was ripping your skin open—"

"Okay! So you think we're gonna do that?"

"No. I've never gotten detention from McGonagall before, but she's not cruel like Professor Damnit and the Headmaster. You're lucky actually that she's giving you the punishment and not Damnit." He knocked on Professor McGonagall's door, and we entered when we heard her.

"Good evening to you two," she said, looking up from her work.

I muttered a reply while Sirius said, "It's a pleasure to see you on this fine evening my dear professor." He bowed to her, and I pushed him over, saying,

"Don't oversell it Padfoot."

Professor McGonagall chuckled. "Get up off the floor Mr. Black. Nike, be nicer to him." Sirius snorted and I just stared at her. "It was only a suggestion," she said with a slight smile.

"Oh, okay," Sirius said. "'Cause if she wasn't 'mean' to me, I think I'd be lost."

"I have informed the House-elves that they will be receiving some extra help in the kitchens for quite awhile."

"We have to cook?" Sirius demanded. "I'd take writing with a blood-fueled quill any day over that!"

"I don't know how…well, not the stuff you cook here," I said.

"You won't be cooking. You'll be cleaning the dishes without magic." She had an amused expression.

"How do we do that?" Sirius and I asked at the same time.

"The House-elves will show you. Think of this as a favor, when you're adults and have your own home, you'll both have experience in housework."

"That's when you use magic!" Sirius argued.

"Oh quit being lazy Sirius," I snapped.

"I'm not. I'm being highly reasonable!"

"Highly unreasonable you mean."

"And," Professor McGonagall interrupted. "It will be the perfect opportunity for you two to see how well you work together."

"Work together?" I asked.

"With her?" he asked. "It's a good thing that I have it for only one day and not the whole time she does."

I grinned. "Seems to me you owe me one, Black. From now on whatever detention I get, you have to share with me."

"But—"

"A deal is a deal Black," I said. "Am I right professor?"

"I should think so. A good man never goes back on his word, especially if he gave it to a woman," she said.

"But he's not good or a man," I said.

"And she ain't no woman," Sirius said. I raised an eyebrow at him, giving him a look that said, 'How do you know?' He just shrugged, smiling arrogantly.

"Do you want me to help you win this argument or not?" she asked me, ignoring Sirius' comment.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

"Report to the kitchens after supper. I can't wait to hear the House-elves' report."

"Shubrook is very pleased to see two young wizards!" a frail, three foot tall almost greenish/grayish skinned House-elf said in an extremely low voice. His eyes were the size of tennis balls and were a dark orange color. He wore dirty rags (or was it a toga?) and he held this type of white fabric in his long, skinny hands. He was beaming, showing off small, yellow teeth.

"Shubrook not only has master, Shubrook is master while Sirius and Nike Black are here!" Jeesh. Think his name was Shubrook?

"Wait! Hold on! Sirius and Nike Black?" I exclaimed.

"You're our master?" Sirius asked, thinking that was a more important question, like the other one he could deal with for the time being.

"Shubrook was told he was master of Sirius and Nike and he was told to instruct them," Shubrook said, nodding his head vigorously. He thrust something at us; the fabric. "Wizards are House-elves at night, therefore wizards must dress as a House-elf." Was it just me, or did this tiny House-elf look smug?

"What? There's absolutely no way I am getting in another dress after I just got myself out of one! It's not happening!" Sirius exploded. I think he kind of despised these creatures, the way he was looking around him in disgust.

"You have a problem undressing yourself?" Shubrook asked, eyes narrowed in confusion. I burst out laughing, which made Sirius turn red.

"There's no way," he repeated.

Shubrook's eyes narrowed, this time in anger. "Shubrook is master. Wizards will listen or else."

"Ooo, I'm scared!" Sirius mocked. "Forget this."

"Very well Sirius Black," Shubrook said. He snapped his long, brittle fingers and Sirius flew back into a wall and hit it hard, knocking some shelves over on top of him. Ouch.

I thought he'd gotten knocked out, but apparently he was tougher than I'd thought. Sirius rose and approached the House-elf, fuming.

"What right do you have to use magic against a wizard?" he demanded.

The House-elf met his smoldering glare. "All the right in the world Sirius Black. When Sirius Black is in Hogwarts' kitchens, Shubrook is Sirius Black's master." Other House-elves paused their eating and drinking, watching in awe as the spectacle took place. I don't think a House-elves fought or argued with wizards much.

"There is no way you slimy little—" Sirius started to growl.

Shubrook held up his hand and said, "If Sirius Black refuses to listen, Shubrook has no choice but to punish."

"You're so lucky I can't do magic—"

"Would not make a difference to Shubrook. Shubrook seems to have no choice…" He went to snap his fingers, but found he couldn't move. "Shubrook is frozen like stone!" he shrieked. "What magic is this?" The House-elves started to chatter.

Sirius smiled cruelly. "What's wrong? So weak you've only got one spell in you?"

"Sirius!"

"What?" he snapped at me. Realizing it was me he was talking to, his features softened and his voice wasn't quite as hard. "I'm sorry Nik. These evil things are just power-hungry. If you don't watch your back, they'll kill you if they're told to."

"I'm sure not all of them are like that Sirius. But if you hate these creatures so much, just do as they say and we'll be done soon and be out of here. Okay? I won't let them use any magic against you if you just keep your mouth shut and listen."

It clicked in his slow working mind. "That's you that froze his magic."

"Yeah."

The House-elf's eyes widened, but he said nothing.

"I didn't know you could do that," Sirius mused.

"Don't underestimate me, Black," I said, leaning against a counter. "Do we have a deal here, or am I not going to protect you from the big bad House-elf?"

The Hose-elf swelled with pride, thinking I'd just complimented him. Sirius, on the other hand, didn't like my comment one bit. "I don't need you to protect me from anything. I do just fine on my own."

"Okay, fine. Didn't mean to hurt your pride or anything," I grumbled. I looked at the lead House-elf, Shubrook. "Come on then! I don't want to be here all night. Show us what we have to do." I released my hold on his magic.

"Yes ma'm! Shubrook is sorry if he has offended your greatness!" The little House-elf bowed to me, shot a glare at Sirius, and turned to the others. "You heard the master! Get to it!"

"Kiss-ass," Sirius grumbled. "I hate these things."

So we got to work scrubbing dish after dish after dish. For awhile we worked in silence because Sirius was "mad at me", like usual when he knew I was right. But he soon got bored.

"The Hogsmeade visits start this weekend. Do you get to go?"

"No. Nobody can sign the permission slip or whatever."

"Oh. That sucks. You'll just have to use the Marauder's Map then, won't you." It wasn't a question. He was telling me I had to go.

"Yeah. You get to explain to Lily what I'm doing out of the school though."

"Fine." He sighed.

"Good."

He held up his pruned hands, examined them, and then plunged them back into the dishwater.

"What about the Quidditch game on Friday?"

"What about it?"

"Well, since we already beat one House pretty badly, how do you think Slytherin's going to react or take in that information?"

"Do I think they're going to cheat? Yes. Yes I do. Do I think they're going to win? No. No I don't."

"Good. I can guarantee that you, and probably James, will be the hot topics though." I raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean, you two will be their main targets, so you'll need to watch out," he said hastily.

"Am I hearing concern coming out of you?"

"No, caution. Quidditch is everything."

"I see," I said, frowning.

"Oh gods. That came out wrong. I meant—"

"It's fine, Sirius. Peoples' priorities are set differently."

"I really didn't mean it like that. I'm not that much of a prat."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

"Well thanks for being honest with me for once."

He opened his mouth to say something when we heard a door open and then close. I turned around and saw…

"Doughboy?" I whispered, puzzled.

Sirius turned around and his eyes hardened.

"Regulus," he snapped. "What in the bloody hell are you doing here?"

Regulus jumped and turned startled eyes towards us. The House-elves just watched from the places they'd quickly hidden themselves in.

"What are you doing here, brother?" he shot back. He nodded his head at me. "Good evening Nike."

"You make me sick," Sirius spat.

"As you I, brother," Regulus replied shortly. "I see you're still with the wrong sort Nike."

"Says who exactly?" I demanded. "A dough-eating cookie monster?"

"Sirius and Potter sure have corrupted your brain, haven't they?"

"No one can do that," I replied.

"Yeah," Sirius agreed. "She'd have to have a brain before we could corrupt it."

"He's right—Hey!" I yelled, shoving him over some, and he landed in some bubbles, sending them skyward.

"Hi," he replied, smirking, waving a soapy hand at me.

I rolled my eyes at him. "So, Doughboy. You ready to get your ass kicked on Friday?"

He smiled arrogantly, reminding me way too much of Sirius, except Sirius' arrogant smile was cuter. Oh crap. I did not just think that. I refuse to, I told myself.

"We'll see about that. Now I should be going." He moved towards the door. Sirius made way to go stop him and probably give him hell, but I held out a hand, stopping him.

"Oh, and Doughboy?" I called.

He froze, his hand on the doorknob and his back to us.

"Yes?"

"Hope you enjoyed your last visit for cookie dough."

A/N: Boring chapter? Maybe. I liked it though. It might have been a time-waster to get on to the next chapter…but I enjoyed writing it. I like the House-elves, especially the way they talk. It makes me laugh.

As usual for chapters like these…I don't have much to say. Oh! Except is anybody else as excited about the whole story cover thing as I am? I have tons of ideas for mine...just no idea how to create them. Heh... *embarassed look*

Next chapter: Who do you think will win the Quidditch game: Gryffindor or Slytherin? What will be the costs? Who will die? Nah, just kidding! *said in a dark voice* Nobody will die…yet.

Alright, so my thank you's:

What's A Kammel-Monkey: Well, first let me say, what a nice name! Haha how in the world did you think of that? =) Thank you very much! I like to hear that this story pleases! And, yes, as a matter of fact, there will be more books after this one, probably about four or five more. There's also a prequel to this one, called "The Healing Touch" that's a HP/Tangled crossover. You'll see one of my main characters in that one back in the book following this one.

R&R even though it wasn't much of a chapter! Just let me know about whatever you thought over this! And notice that I'm on fanfiction much more often, so as soon as you post a review, expect an update REAL soon, as in maybe within an hour or later that day or quite possibly the next day AT THE LATEST! Haha I'm loving this... =D

Thank you!

Nike