Helene stood fixing her long brown-black hair in front of a mirror.
"Ninety six... Ninety seven... Ninety eight... Ninety nine... One... Hey!" Helene stopped and turned around when she noticed the dark figure reflected in the mirror. "What are YOU doing in the girls dormitories and how long have you been standing there?"
"Ah hmm hmmm hmm..." Laughed the figure. "Do you really want to know?"
Helene threw her hairbrush at the figure, causing it to protect it's head with its arms, thus leaving the figure's stomach conveniently vulnerable to a well precisioned kick.
"Owww...." Groaned the figure. "What was that for?"
Helene grinned and bent down to look the figure in the eye. "Now Sev." She whispered. "No stupid questions."
Severus stumbled backwards a few steps and sat down heavily on the bed behind him. "I was kidding. I just walked in to see where you were." He grinned sheepishly. "I promise, It was only a few minutes ago."
"Why would you want to find me?" Helene raised an eyebrow, looking warily at Severus.
Severus's mouth hung open as he searched for an answer. "Uhhhh.... That's a good question." He said. "And the answer to that is..."
"Severus!" Severus was cut of by a girls voice. "Severus!" Tiffany, Helene's only Slytherin friend, repeated herself. "What in dragon's fire are you doing in here?"
Tiffany marched straight over to the bed where Severus was sitting.
"What have you got to say for yourself?" She questioned him.
"Ub... umm... I..." Severus spluttered, intimidated by Tiffany. "I... errr.... sorry?"
"Get out before I have to curse you." Growled Tiffany. "And GET OFF MY BED!"
Severus nearly passed out in fear but managed to compose himself.
He stood up, bowed to the girls, "Ladies.", and walked calmly out of the room.
"What a wierdo." Tiffany muttered to herself before turning on Helene. "And YOU, Helene. YOU have absolutely NO IBDEA/B what people would say about you, do you? You just don't care! It's... it's... it's... monstrous... preposterous... Impossible!"
"What?" Helene turned her head to give Tiffany a questioning look. "What do you mean... would say about me?"
"Well.... Let me put it this way Lene," Began Tiffany before suddenly losing her cool. "You ALREADY make friends with," She shuddered, "Gryffindors, You stop for leisurely chats with ghosts... You... you even discuss current events with paintings..."
Tiffany threw her hands in the air, to express the urgency and importance of her message.
"Don't you see Lene?" She stared into Helene's eye's with a sad and broken expression on her face. "People... they think you're a little... you know, in the head? You see? Inviting Severus into the girls dorms to be alone with you is not going to help..." Tiffany sat down on her bed and looked up at Helene. "You have to try to appear more normal Lene... can you do that?"
Helene jumped up and sat on the dresser behind her. "Oh... I see..." she said, "You took those drama lesson during the holidays... didn't you?" Helene paused and drummed her fingers on the dresser, thinking. "I didn't invite him." She said suddenly. "He snuck in."
Tiffany's mouth dropped open. "He was perving on you? Well that give the story a whole new perspective..." Tiffany chuckled. "What a loser... perving on YOU?"
Tiffany had to duck to avoid the paperweight Helene threw at her.
"What...? I'm just stating the truth..." Tiffany shrugged her shoulders then dodged the other paperweight.
"And you really need to stop throwing things at people." Continued Tiffany. "It's a nasty habit."
"Nasty habits are hard to kick." Said Helene as she crumpled up a piece of parchment and hit Tiffany with it, right between the eyes.
"Where do you get all that ammunition?" Asked Tiffany. "You always have things to throw."
"I stockpile." Answered Helene. "Figures though, I'm lousy at darts."
"Yeah, Not to mention quidditch, flying and numerous muggle sports."
"Yeah yeah, rub it in..." Muttered Helene. "*Grumble* Stoopid quidditch captain... *Grumble* ...stuck up... think she's so great... *Grumble*."
"Oh yeah... that right." Said Tiffany. "I have quidditch practice."
Tiffany ducked as a golf ball went whizzing past her ear.
"See?" Said Helene. "That's why you're a beater, not a seeker."
"Speaking of which..." Started Tiffany. "Have you ever thought of trying for a chaser position?"
"Huh?" Helene nearly fell of the dresser.
"With a little broom practice and some positive effort... You could be just the person I need to fill our empty position."
"Really?" *Thudd* This time, Helene DID fall off the dresser. "Owww... Well that little experiment I just conveniently performed proves that the bludgers can't do any more damage. I'll go for it."
"Cool." Said Tiffany. "That's sure to boost your schoolwide sanity points."
"Thanks Tiff." Said Helene. "I knew there was an alterior motive."
"Oh always Lene." Said Tiffany. "Now I have practice to go to."
Tiffany waltzed from the room, mumbling curses to use on Severus the next time she saw him.
"Now where was I?" Helene asked. "Hmmnnn... talking to myself. Not gonna look good on the schoolwide sanity tally."
Laughing quietly, she walked over to where her hairbrush had landed before and picked it up.
"One hundred." Helene said to herself as she finished the last stroke. She flipped the hairbrush in her hand, a neat little trick muggles did, and set it down on the dresser. Smoothing the creases out of her buttercup yellow dress she walked out of the dorms and into the common room. Severus was waiting for her there.
"You again?" Complained Helene. "Why are you bugging me?"
"You know the answer to that one." Severus grinned. "I like you."
"Yeah, and Gringgots goblins fly." Said Helene. "No really, why are you bugging me?"
"Repeat: I like you." Severus sat down on the side of an armchair. "And I'm not going to stop bugging you until you agree to go out with me."
Helene smiled, this could be fun. "Why, on earth, should I believe you?" She said.
Severus replied, fishing out a small bottle from his robes. "Well remember the truth potion our head of house gave us to use on the Gryffindors?"
"No..." Helene stifled a laugh.
"Yes." Severus said. "This is that potion." And upon finishing that sentence he flicked the lid off of the bottle and took an extremely large mouthful from it, shuddering as he swallowed it, large enough anyway to keep him telling the truth for the rest of the semester.
"Helene Jane Black, I L... L... L..." Severus looked like he was choking. "L... li... li...l... love you."
Helene was lost for words.
"Uh..." Severus said. "I guess that was a bit TOO truthful... You haven't got the antidote by any chance, have you?"
"It's just on that shelf there." Helene said, pointing to a large bottle of green stuff with the consistency of treacle.
[from a treacle well of course]
"The head of house thought something like this would happen. He gave us enough to cure an army. You should have..."Helene frowned, trying to remember. "... two.. two teaspoons, yes that's it. Half a cup should be adequate to cure you."
Severus looked at the bottle and blanched. "Half a cup of that stuff? It probably won't taste as foul as it looks but the though of it is still horrifying."
Helene chuckled and defty tossed him the bottle. "Here. You NEED it."
"Yes." Said Severus. "Anything for the cause." And he measured out two teaspoons and downed it, gagging.
"So.. um... do you want to go out?" Severus asked again after he was finished choking on the vile mixture.
"As flattered as I am..." Helene continued. "I'm not interested at the moment. You're my friend. It'd be too wierd."
Severus's face fell, all of the confidence he had previously posessed dissapearing. "Oh... well... It's your choice..." He looked up when Helene snorted. "What's so funny?"
Helene could barely talk, she was having to fight back burts of laughter. "I'm... sorry..." She said. "It... it's just that... you look so funny... Sev... I was joking!"
Severus looked puzzled. "I don't get it..."
"Well..." Said Helene. "Put it like this. I was joking. I like you too."
"Huh?" Severus's solemn face broke into a grin. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Said Helene. "Of course I'll go out with you."
"Hmmm." A smug look appeared on Severus's face. "I knew you couldn't resist me."
"Right." Said Helene. "And the mental illness starts."
"Yep. I'm crazy about you Lene." Said Severus. "So.. what did Tiffany want?"
"Oh... nothing really..." Said Helene, before a revelation dawned upon her face. "Wait... there was... something..."
"What?" Asked Severus, eager to hear the news. "What did she say?"
"I'm going to be a Slytherin chaser!" Helene squealed and then suprised Severus by gripping him in a bear hug and dancing around the room, dragging him with her. "Oh my god Sev, I'm so happy! I'm gonna be a chaser! I'm gonna be a chaser! Laa laa la la laaa!"
"Geez Lene. That's great!" Exclaimed Severus.
"Yeah... and it's all thanks to you!" Said Helene.
"What?" Asked Severus. What did I do?"
"Well I wouldn't be this accurate at ditching stuff at people if I didn't have someone to practice on."
"Oh, great." Said Severus. "And I suppose you still need some poor victim to practice on?"
"Oh Severus, you're so helpful." Said Helene, hugging him again. "Now BI/B have to go."
"What? Where?"
"Duh...! It's Hogsmeade day! I'm going with some Gryffindor friends."
"Ugh, Gryffindors." Severus shuddered. "I don't know why you don't just stick with Slytherin."
"You Slytherin all say the same thinks don't you? 'stick with slytherin, stick with slytherin, stick with slytherin... Blah blah blah!" Helene mocked Severus. "I'm going to go mix with other houses before we all die of incest."
"Alright." Said Severus, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "But next time you're going with me."
Helene touched her cheek in surprise. "What was that for?"
"I thought you might want a kiss from the person who is one day going to be the most powerful wizard in the world." Severus answered. "It'll give you something to talk about when you're older."
"Ewww..." Helene pretended to be disgusted. "Yuk, why would anyone want to talk about being kissed by you? (except in therapy of course)."
"Don't tease." Said Severus. "Now go have fun with your 'Gryffindor' friends."
"Okay, buh-bye Sev." Helene called as she exited the common room. "See ya later!."
And Helene was gone.
"Losers..." Severus muttered under his breath. "Those Gryffindors, losers... all of them."
"Ninety six... Ninety seven... Ninety eight... Ninety nine... One... Hey!" Helene stopped and turned around when she noticed the dark figure reflected in the mirror. "What are YOU doing in the girls dormitories and how long have you been standing there?"
"Ah hmm hmmm hmm..." Laughed the figure. "Do you really want to know?"
Helene threw her hairbrush at the figure, causing it to protect it's head with its arms, thus leaving the figure's stomach conveniently vulnerable to a well precisioned kick.
"Owww...." Groaned the figure. "What was that for?"
Helene grinned and bent down to look the figure in the eye. "Now Sev." She whispered. "No stupid questions."
Severus stumbled backwards a few steps and sat down heavily on the bed behind him. "I was kidding. I just walked in to see where you were." He grinned sheepishly. "I promise, It was only a few minutes ago."
"Why would you want to find me?" Helene raised an eyebrow, looking warily at Severus.
Severus's mouth hung open as he searched for an answer. "Uhhhh.... That's a good question." He said. "And the answer to that is..."
"Severus!" Severus was cut of by a girls voice. "Severus!" Tiffany, Helene's only Slytherin friend, repeated herself. "What in dragon's fire are you doing in here?"
Tiffany marched straight over to the bed where Severus was sitting.
"What have you got to say for yourself?" She questioned him.
"Ub... umm... I..." Severus spluttered, intimidated by Tiffany. "I... errr.... sorry?"
"Get out before I have to curse you." Growled Tiffany. "And GET OFF MY BED!"
Severus nearly passed out in fear but managed to compose himself.
He stood up, bowed to the girls, "Ladies.", and walked calmly out of the room.
"What a wierdo." Tiffany muttered to herself before turning on Helene. "And YOU, Helene. YOU have absolutely NO IBDEA/B what people would say about you, do you? You just don't care! It's... it's... it's... monstrous... preposterous... Impossible!"
"What?" Helene turned her head to give Tiffany a questioning look. "What do you mean... would say about me?"
"Well.... Let me put it this way Lene," Began Tiffany before suddenly losing her cool. "You ALREADY make friends with," She shuddered, "Gryffindors, You stop for leisurely chats with ghosts... You... you even discuss current events with paintings..."
Tiffany threw her hands in the air, to express the urgency and importance of her message.
"Don't you see Lene?" She stared into Helene's eye's with a sad and broken expression on her face. "People... they think you're a little... you know, in the head? You see? Inviting Severus into the girls dorms to be alone with you is not going to help..." Tiffany sat down on her bed and looked up at Helene. "You have to try to appear more normal Lene... can you do that?"
Helene jumped up and sat on the dresser behind her. "Oh... I see..." she said, "You took those drama lesson during the holidays... didn't you?" Helene paused and drummed her fingers on the dresser, thinking. "I didn't invite him." She said suddenly. "He snuck in."
Tiffany's mouth dropped open. "He was perving on you? Well that give the story a whole new perspective..." Tiffany chuckled. "What a loser... perving on YOU?"
Tiffany had to duck to avoid the paperweight Helene threw at her.
"What...? I'm just stating the truth..." Tiffany shrugged her shoulders then dodged the other paperweight.
"And you really need to stop throwing things at people." Continued Tiffany. "It's a nasty habit."
"Nasty habits are hard to kick." Said Helene as she crumpled up a piece of parchment and hit Tiffany with it, right between the eyes.
"Where do you get all that ammunition?" Asked Tiffany. "You always have things to throw."
"I stockpile." Answered Helene. "Figures though, I'm lousy at darts."
"Yeah, Not to mention quidditch, flying and numerous muggle sports."
"Yeah yeah, rub it in..." Muttered Helene. "*Grumble* Stoopid quidditch captain... *Grumble* ...stuck up... think she's so great... *Grumble*."
"Oh yeah... that right." Said Tiffany. "I have quidditch practice."
Tiffany ducked as a golf ball went whizzing past her ear.
"See?" Said Helene. "That's why you're a beater, not a seeker."
"Speaking of which..." Started Tiffany. "Have you ever thought of trying for a chaser position?"
"Huh?" Helene nearly fell of the dresser.
"With a little broom practice and some positive effort... You could be just the person I need to fill our empty position."
"Really?" *Thudd* This time, Helene DID fall off the dresser. "Owww... Well that little experiment I just conveniently performed proves that the bludgers can't do any more damage. I'll go for it."
"Cool." Said Tiffany. "That's sure to boost your schoolwide sanity points."
"Thanks Tiff." Said Helene. "I knew there was an alterior motive."
"Oh always Lene." Said Tiffany. "Now I have practice to go to."
Tiffany waltzed from the room, mumbling curses to use on Severus the next time she saw him.
"Now where was I?" Helene asked. "Hmmnnn... talking to myself. Not gonna look good on the schoolwide sanity tally."
Laughing quietly, she walked over to where her hairbrush had landed before and picked it up.
"One hundred." Helene said to herself as she finished the last stroke. She flipped the hairbrush in her hand, a neat little trick muggles did, and set it down on the dresser. Smoothing the creases out of her buttercup yellow dress she walked out of the dorms and into the common room. Severus was waiting for her there.
"You again?" Complained Helene. "Why are you bugging me?"
"You know the answer to that one." Severus grinned. "I like you."
"Yeah, and Gringgots goblins fly." Said Helene. "No really, why are you bugging me?"
"Repeat: I like you." Severus sat down on the side of an armchair. "And I'm not going to stop bugging you until you agree to go out with me."
Helene smiled, this could be fun. "Why, on earth, should I believe you?" She said.
Severus replied, fishing out a small bottle from his robes. "Well remember the truth potion our head of house gave us to use on the Gryffindors?"
"No..." Helene stifled a laugh.
"Yes." Severus said. "This is that potion." And upon finishing that sentence he flicked the lid off of the bottle and took an extremely large mouthful from it, shuddering as he swallowed it, large enough anyway to keep him telling the truth for the rest of the semester.
"Helene Jane Black, I L... L... L..." Severus looked like he was choking. "L... li... li...l... love you."
Helene was lost for words.
"Uh..." Severus said. "I guess that was a bit TOO truthful... You haven't got the antidote by any chance, have you?"
"It's just on that shelf there." Helene said, pointing to a large bottle of green stuff with the consistency of treacle.
[from a treacle well of course]
"The head of house thought something like this would happen. He gave us enough to cure an army. You should have..."Helene frowned, trying to remember. "... two.. two teaspoons, yes that's it. Half a cup should be adequate to cure you."
Severus looked at the bottle and blanched. "Half a cup of that stuff? It probably won't taste as foul as it looks but the though of it is still horrifying."
Helene chuckled and defty tossed him the bottle. "Here. You NEED it."
"Yes." Said Severus. "Anything for the cause." And he measured out two teaspoons and downed it, gagging.
"So.. um... do you want to go out?" Severus asked again after he was finished choking on the vile mixture.
"As flattered as I am..." Helene continued. "I'm not interested at the moment. You're my friend. It'd be too wierd."
Severus's face fell, all of the confidence he had previously posessed dissapearing. "Oh... well... It's your choice..." He looked up when Helene snorted. "What's so funny?"
Helene could barely talk, she was having to fight back burts of laughter. "I'm... sorry..." She said. "It... it's just that... you look so funny... Sev... I was joking!"
Severus looked puzzled. "I don't get it..."
"Well..." Said Helene. "Put it like this. I was joking. I like you too."
"Huh?" Severus's solemn face broke into a grin. "Really?"
"Yeah!" Said Helene. "Of course I'll go out with you."
"Hmmm." A smug look appeared on Severus's face. "I knew you couldn't resist me."
"Right." Said Helene. "And the mental illness starts."
"Yep. I'm crazy about you Lene." Said Severus. "So.. what did Tiffany want?"
"Oh... nothing really..." Said Helene, before a revelation dawned upon her face. "Wait... there was... something..."
"What?" Asked Severus, eager to hear the news. "What did she say?"
"I'm going to be a Slytherin chaser!" Helene squealed and then suprised Severus by gripping him in a bear hug and dancing around the room, dragging him with her. "Oh my god Sev, I'm so happy! I'm gonna be a chaser! I'm gonna be a chaser! Laa laa la la laaa!"
"Geez Lene. That's great!" Exclaimed Severus.
"Yeah... and it's all thanks to you!" Said Helene.
"What?" Asked Severus. What did I do?"
"Well I wouldn't be this accurate at ditching stuff at people if I didn't have someone to practice on."
"Oh, great." Said Severus. "And I suppose you still need some poor victim to practice on?"
"Oh Severus, you're so helpful." Said Helene, hugging him again. "Now BI/B have to go."
"What? Where?"
"Duh...! It's Hogsmeade day! I'm going with some Gryffindor friends."
"Ugh, Gryffindors." Severus shuddered. "I don't know why you don't just stick with Slytherin."
"You Slytherin all say the same thinks don't you? 'stick with slytherin, stick with slytherin, stick with slytherin... Blah blah blah!" Helene mocked Severus. "I'm going to go mix with other houses before we all die of incest."
"Alright." Said Severus, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "But next time you're going with me."
Helene touched her cheek in surprise. "What was that for?"
"I thought you might want a kiss from the person who is one day going to be the most powerful wizard in the world." Severus answered. "It'll give you something to talk about when you're older."
"Ewww..." Helene pretended to be disgusted. "Yuk, why would anyone want to talk about being kissed by you? (except in therapy of course)."
"Don't tease." Said Severus. "Now go have fun with your 'Gryffindor' friends."
"Okay, buh-bye Sev." Helene called as she exited the common room. "See ya later!."
And Helene was gone.
"Losers..." Severus muttered under his breath. "Those Gryffindors, losers... all of them."