Harry and his Friends are not mine. I've just taken them down of the shelf to play with for a while, but I promise to put them back, good as new when I'm done! Jimi Richardson is mine and I quite enjoy her.
A/n: I know you all hate me by now! I'm so sorry, but it wasn't all my fault! Here are my excuses and they are all real, Princess Emma can verify them! 1) I'm failing english 12 cause my teacher's a silly woman who decides that because she's pregnant, we won't do any work in her class except on days I'm absent. 2) One of the cashiers I worked with hurt himself. I had to cover his shifts until I quit last Wensday 3) Something is painfully wrong with my left arm. I'm having surgery soon, wish me luck and 4) Someone tried to blow up my school three times in a row! Damn bomb threats! So as you can see I've been a busy girl, so forgive my lateness. If you feel anybetter knowing this, I haven't been able to have a real social life either.
The Succubus Club
Jimi slipped on the silver cross that had belonged to her mother, letting it hang above her heart. Her golden hoops were replaced with silver crescent moons and her bright warm makeup replaced by darker, cooler tones as she readied herself for the night's Halloween feast. A sly smile crossed her face as she examined the dress robe she had been forced to make to it. Truely, it wasn't her fault Hermione was smaller than her, she decided, looking at the slits that crept up to mid thigh on her. Her smile turned into a grin as she tried to picture Professer McGonagall's face when she showed up that night. A knock on the door drew her back to reality as Ginny Weasley banged on the door.
" Come on Jimi, It's time for the feast!" The red head yelled, poking her grinning face in the door. Slipping into a pair of stilletos, Jimi sent a nervous glance out the window at the faintest trace of a new moon before dashing out the door.
" Jimi!" George shouted, as his brother greeted her with a wolf whistle. Taking her cue, the girl paused on the stairs, spinning around slowly and striking a pose, one leg peeking from beneath the slit in the robe.
" No time for this now though, I'm feeling a little dizzy, so we gotta eat." Taking the steps like they were nothing in her four inch heels, she linked arms with the boys and followed the others down to the great hall.
The Hall was decorated even more lavishly than normal. Perpetually color-changing flames lept up inside Hagrid's infamous man sized pumpkins and several small bats streaked through the air, one even pausing to light on Jimi shoulder affectionately, making her giggle. The new moon of the enchanted ceiling making the stars glow espically bright. Taking their usual seats near the head of the Gryffindor table, Jimi let out a low, impressed whistle.
" Nice digs." She murmured, evoking laughter from her comrades. With the same startling suddeness as always, the food appeared, lining the tables. To her left George started in on the sweet potaotes, reaching for a large steak as well.
As always the food remained on the table until everyone had eaten as much as they could. As the food dissapeared, Everyone turned their attention to Dumbledore, who rose.
" I had intended for a dance to follow the feast tonight, bringing back the 'Weird sisters'." Here, the room broke into applause from the older student who we're at the Yule ball the year before. " Unfortunately..." The room quieted suddenly. " The sisters were unable to attend tonight."
" So? Easy to fix. Rig up a stero with some speakers." The hall turned to see Jimi standing at the Gryffindor table. Professer Tenniel flashed her a cold smile.
" And where, Ms.Richardson, would we get a muggle contraption like that here at Hogwarts? Much less a working one?" He scoffed. The girl grinned at the thought of one upping the snide teacher.
" Why, my room...of course."
*
Everyone stared openly at the stero. Professer Tenniel smirked until Jimi removed her wand.
" Okay kidlets, pay attention to professer McGonagall and one day you'll learn some fun party tricks too. Gargantuium!" She cried, executing a semi deficult wand movement that enlarged one speaker to six feet tall. " Hagrid, could you move this one to that corner over there?" With a nod, the man lifted the giant speaker, moving it to it's desiginated spot while Jimi repeted the process with it's mate and finally the player itself. " There we go." She announced after Hagrid had repositioned the other speaker and lifted the three foot tall player onto the dias the teachers table sat on. " This should fill the hall quite nicely." The grin she wore grew widely as professer Tenniel grew noticably sullen. " Hey Dean, you wanna DJ?" Handing the tall black boy her thick cd case, she put the first five cds in the player and with great flourish, pushed the ramdom command.
" Well then." Dumbledore said, smiling widely. " Let's continue."
*
" Say there ain't no Party like a Hogwarts party cause a Hogwarts party don't...stop!" Dean yelled from atop a chair. " Hands in the air everybody! Say Hey! Ho! Hey! Ho!" Jimi laughed delightedly as almost the entire school followed along with the tall impromptu DJ's enthuastic cry.. There was almost two hours of Halloween left and almost everyone was dancing, Hell, half the Slythrin house was in the middle of the dance floor. Even the teachers were enjoying the dance.
" Is it a bet Severus?" Professer McGonnagall asked with a smirk. Snape frowned.
" Certianly Minerva, if you can provide me with acceptable music and partnership." His scowl deepened as McGannagall's expression grew triumphant.
" Jimi, come here dear!" Nodding, the girl excused herself from where she spoke with Hagrid and ran over.
" Yes?" She asked, her face flushed and her grin wide on her face.
" Jimi, do you recall the conversation we had before the term began? When you brought up your love of music?" The girl nodded. " You said you like swing music. Do you have any?" Curious, Jimi nodded again. " I only have one more question, can you dance to it?" Hesitantly, Jimi nodded a third time, her jaw dropping as Professer McGonagall laughed triumphantly. " She's all yours Severus."
" Wait! what's going on?!" With a sigh, Snape explained the bet to the young woman. Jimi made a thoughtfull face. " Aren't you even going to offer me a bribe?"
" Three points to Gryffindor?" He offered. She emphatically shook her head.
" You insult me good sir. You'll lay off Nevile Longbottom for three classes. No scary "I'm-gonna-melt-you-with-my-eye-lasers" glares, or screaming, or insults." Snape sighed and looked over at where McGonagall was looking particularly insufferable.
" Deal." The woman's jaw dropped As he extanded his hand to Jimi, who took it with a smile. " I'll be back in a few moments Minervia."
" Oy, Dean!" Jimi called as they approached him. " Dig in the back of the book and dig out a cd called 'The Cherry poppin Daddies!' You wanna put it on Zoot Suit Riot!" The boy nodded and opened the book.
" What a vulgar name." The man beside her commented. Jimi laughed.
" Of course!" She grinned up at him as the opening strains of the song began. " Ready?" Nodding reluctanly, he followed her as she ran into the middle of the cleared floor.
*
Ron wasn't sure whether to faint or burst into hysterical laughter. He decided after a moment to just stand there and stare. The other two options might make him miss something and he wanted this to stay emblazoned in his mind forever.
Snape was dancing.
Swing dancing.
Around him, students had gathered in a large circle, enclosing the pair and sending up cat calls and wolf whistles. George and Fred stood off to his left, looking as if Christmas had been promised once a month for the next decade. Ron guessed Snape would have an... intresting welcome to class on Monday.
Beside him, Harry stood with a similar disbeliving look as his least favorite teacher spun his friend around like a top before snatching her against him at the blaring end of the song amid a round of racous applause.
"I...am scarred for life." Ron stammered as Jimi bounced over, fanning herself rapidly, bright eyed and gigglely.
" Oh. My. God! He is so good!" She squealed as the teacher in question pushed his way through the crowd to collect his money.
"D-don't, don't say that. Don't." Rolling her eyes, Jimi fanned herself and sighed.
" Really Ron! Hey, is it really hot in here to you two?" The boys shook their heads. " Maybe it's just from dancing so much..."
" Jimi, that was amazing!" Hermione cried excitedly, running over to her friend's sides. " Where'd you learn to dance like that?!"
" I've been a rabid fan of 'Swing kids" since I was fourteen. Are you hot?" Hermione shook her head as Jimi tugged at the neckline of her robe. " Damn! Well, I am, so I'm gonna try and get Hagrid to give me some of his drink and sit down for a while. I'll see you guys later," Tossing her black hair back from her face, the girl began weaving her way through the crowd.
" Excellent job Jimi." The girl stiffened as Professer Tenniel walked up behind her, bending his head to her ear. " But I think you would have felt more at home on a runway with a pole, am I right?"
" I don't know what you're talking about." She muttered. She tried not to shiver as she felt his cruel smile.
" You stripped for a company called the 'Glass Slipper' in London." He said silkily. " I knew as soon as Ms. Granger walked in with you that you looked familar. You did a bachlor party for a muggle friend of mine last year. We rented the entire place out for the night. You were dressed as an Angel..."
" What the fuck do you want?" She whispered shakily, her face pale.
" Just for you to know that I know you're not what you say you are." Unsteadily, Jimi stalked away from the man, towards the doors where she slipped out into the cooler corridor. Leaning against a wall, she blinked against the odd sensation of vertigo.
" Jimi, are you okay?" She slowly lifted her head and met Draco's eyes as he stood in front of her.
" Yeah." She lied. " It was just kinda stuffy in there. I was on my way up to bed." Draco frowned slightly.
" I had wanted to dance with you tonight." He admitted. Jimi shot a hesitant look into the great hall, taking a shallow breath. " We could always dance here." He said swiftly, sensing her hesitance.
" Alright." She agreed quietly. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Jimi rested her head on his shoulder as he led her away from the wall. Closing her eyes and swaying gracefully with the music, she sang quietly along as he spun her around the hallway.
" What are you singing?" Draco murmured above her head.
" The song. Kiss From a Rose. It's so beautifully dark." She whispered. " You must admit, muggles do produce wonderful music."
" Humph." The blond's response was noncommital. Silence over took them for several moments. " You know... I like you." Draco hesitantly whispered after a moment. " I really like you."
" I like you too Draco."
" Go out with me?"
" Yes." The two stopped where they stood, realizing belatedly that the song had long since ended.
" None of our friends will like this." He warned her gently. " A Gryffindor and a Slythrin generally wouldn't spit on each other." His voice was appolegetic.
" I don't see this as anyone's concern but ours. If people can't even feign happiness for us, they weren't real friends to begin with." With a relived sort of chuckle, Draco brushed a light kiss across Jimi's temple. His forehead creased in a frown.
" Why are you so hot?"
" I don't know. I thought it was the room." Draco wrapped an arm around her waist.
" Come on, I'll walk you up to your common room."
*
Jimi kissed Draco at the portriat hole and stumbled in through it, sinking to the ground in exaustion as it closed behind her.
" Hello Dear." Startled, she looked up to see Sir Nick floating beside her.
" Hi Sir Nick." She she muttered. " Happy Death Day." Feeling twice as exausted, she levered herself up and staggered towards the dorms. Walking slowly up the stairs, she barely made it into the doorway of her room before she fainted.
*
Hermione cursed as she she stumbled over something quite large in the doorway.
" Hermione!" Parvati exclaimed in shock. Lavender glared.
" What's the problem?"
" There's something blocking the doorway. Luminous!" The three girls blinked against the bright light before gasping in unison as they looked at Jimi's still form, sprawled on the floor, her back barely rising beneath her robes. Dropping to her knees, Hermione grasped Jimi's wrist, gasping at the light, thready pulse she felt. " Quick, someone go and get Percy and warn Madame Pomfry that we're sending someone up!" Spinning on her heels, Lavender dashed out of the door, while Parvati sank onto her bed, one hand over her mouth.
" Is she...dead? She's dead, isn't she!? Oh my god, she died in our room!!!" Parvati's voice was rising hysterically.
" Don't be stupid!" Hermione snapped. " She's not dead!" Feeling someome behind her, Hermione looked up to see Percy in his dressing gown, frowning as he looked down.
" Not again." His voice was a low murmur as he knelt and scooped up the girl. " Ms. Patil, please get a hold on yourself! Jimi will be fine by the morning I'm sure! Now go to bed, all of you!" He ordered, striding quickly out the door. Reluctantly the girls undressed for bed, Parvati and Lavender whispering fearfully about what new troubles this year might bring to cause a perfectly healthy student to collapse. Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance as she sliped into her bed clothes, planning on visiting Jimi in the morning.
Jimi had yet to awaken by the next morning.
*
Hermione looked up as the infirmary door opened and Draco Malfory slipped silently in. Closing the door softly, he turned and met Hermione's eyes.
" What do you want Malfory?" She accused. For a moment he was silent. " Well?"
" I'm here to see Jimi." He admitted, talking a seat beside the bed. oppisite Hermione. " Not that it's any of your damn buissness of course." He added smoothly, taking Jimi's hand in his. " She's friggin freezing. You think they could at least keep her warm!" He scowled, reaching behind himself to snatch a blanket from the bed behind him, tucking it around Jimi's body carefully. Hermione's eyes widened in shock.
" Oh my god. You're in love with her, aren't you?" Draco was suddenly very intrested in Jimi's hands.
" We were going to tell our friends one or two at a time. I suppose she told you last night?" Hermione laughed softly.
" Jimi fainted in our doorway before anyone came up. You're the one who just told me." Draco blushed lightly and looked out the window.
" Well, now you know Granger." He snapped gruffly. " And if you're really her friend, you'll wait until she's at least awake before you run off and tell the school." Hermione frowned.
" I wouldn't do that." She said, offense lacing her voice. Draco met her eyes gratefully for a breif second before they were intrupted by a sleepless looking Snape as he entered the infirmary.
" What are you two doing here?" His voice was cold. " It's breakfast time."
" Just checking on Jimi sir. Seeing if she was truely here." Draco said smoothly. Snape nodded.
" Well, both of you need to leave." Belatedly, they noticed the steaming goblet in his hand. " Perhaps Ms. Richardson will be up to reciving visitors at lunch." The finality in his voice sent the two quickly out of the room. Sharing a thought, the two paused outside the door and silently peered back inside in time to see Madame Pomfrey help Snape sit Jimi up and pour the potion down her throat.
" Are you going to be here at lunch?" Hermione whispered.
" Give me ten minuites before you bring up the 'fanclub'"
The two parted ways.
*
Draco brushed a stray lock of hair from Jimi's palid face, his eyes flitting down to where her hands were drapped across her chest. Shaking his head, he repositioned them at her sides.
" Why do they do that? You look dead.." He looked up sharply as a noise from the hallway carried towards him. Dropping a quick kiss on her cheek, Draco ducked out of the room and around the corner just before Harry and the others came around the corner.
" Are you sure that she'll be okay?" Ginny fretted. Hermione nodded.
" I'm not exactly sure what Snape was bringing her, but he said she should be up around lunch time." She said, opening the door.
" Shock and surprise, the old git was wrong." George said in disgust. Everyone looked over at where Jimi lay in the bed.
" Maybe she's just sleeping?" Ron suggested faintly. " Jimi?"
" Maybe this is what she was talking about." Hermione muttered. The others looked at her uncomprehendingly. " You know, the reason that she took the Succubus Draught in the first place. I bet if you read her aura she'd look half-dead."
" Actually Ms. Granger, she'd look more accuretely like a coma patiant." They turned to see Dumbledore standing in the doorway of Madame Pomfry's office. " However she's luckier in a few respects. Jimi's body only produces a set amount of energy per month. Towards the end when she begins to run out, she goes into a semi catatonic state to produce enough to get her through the next month."
" You knew this would happen?!" Harry exclaimed.
" So did Ms. Richardson, although I doubt this is how she would have chosen to tell you."
" So, when will she be okay again?" Ginny asked hesitantly. Dumbledore frowned.
" We aren't sure. Within a week is our guess, perhaps sooner if Severus' potion takes affect soon. For now though, I must ask you all to leave. Her last visitor was here for almost an hour with no reults. I don't belive you'll fare much better."
The group watched as the Headmaster swept from the rom, double concern imprinted on their faces.
" Poor Professer Dumbledore." Hermione whispered. " It must be growing worse" They all knew what 'it' she meant. Although the staff tried, there was no denying the underlying air of stress caused as the new reports of Voldemort crept and grew. Absently, Harry raised a hand and began to rub at his scar, staring at Jimi and trying to ignore the nagging voice in his head.
Was anyone else just the least bit wary of this girl who just turned up one day, given the new circumstances and all?
Shaking his head, Harry became aware of his hand and moved it, chiding himself. Truely, he was getting to be as bad as Moody.