Lauralie Black and the Cloak of Destiny (Year 1)
Chapter 12: Slytherin Vs. Gryffindor
"Are you enjoying rearranging your plate?" Lauralie asked, eying Severus keenly. He dropped his fork into his scrambled eggs, looking down at the food in disgust.
"Come on Sev, no worries," Narcissa said, "You'll win just fine."
"That's what you think," Lucius commented, "You didn't see practice yesterday. Everyone was so tired that we couldn't successfully run any of our moves. Our strategies were a mess. The team is useless."
"Come on, you guys are well rested now," Lauralie commented, elbowing Severus congenially, "You'll do wonderfully."
"Glad someone has some confidence in us," he replied, pushing his chair away from the table. "Come on Lucius, lets go ask Professor McGonagall if we missed anything when Ludo pulled us out of Transfiguration yesterday." Lucius nodded and followed him.
Lauralie turned to Ludo to comment on his team's universal feeling of hopelessness. Ludo put up his hand to silence her. "Don't. Just don't. We'll be fine," he said sternly, taking a bite out of his toast. "Once they get up in the air their worries will fade away. I promise you."
Lauralie couldn't really think of anything to say to that. She fell back into her chair and exchanged glances with Narcissa, who merely shrugged.
"Prepared to lose?"
Lauralie turned around in her chair to see Sirius, James, Peter, and Remus gathered behind her seat. "Oh, Brother Dearest, perhaps I should be asking you the same question," she answered coolly.
Nothing phases her anymore. "You wish," he retorted.
"Ooh, good one!" she commented, "Want a round of applause?"
Narcissa's eyes could have tricked her, but she could have sworn that Remus was fighting a smile. Sirius simply narrowed his eyes.
"Must we do this?" Audrina asked, approaching from the Gryffindor table.
"No, but you see, my brother here has a bit of a superiority complex," Lauralie explained.
James started to laugh. "Sir has a superiority complex?" he asked. "So says Lauralie, the queen of the Slytherins, with her magic cloak." He flicked the cloak with his finger for emphasis.
Lauralie took a threatening step forward. The perpetual glow of the cloak seemed to have gotten a couple notches brighter.
"You have to understand Mr. Potter, that there's a difference between having a superiority complex," she took another step forward, "And actually being superior."
"Hey, watch out!" James had backed into the back of one of the Ravenclaws chairs. He glared at Lauralie before fleeing out of the Great Hall. Sirius and Peter followed closely after.
This time there was no mistaking the grin on Remus' face now. "Never know what to expect from you Lauralie," he said. "Good luck at the match. Never know, you may need it." And with that he swept off after his friends.
"I'll tell you who I never know what to expect from: Remus," Narcissa whispered in Lauralie's ear. "He seems to be the exception to the rule."
Lauralie arched up one of her eyebrows. "Perhaps," she reached down and picked up her bag. "Come on, lets get to class. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave."
* * *
"Can you believe that?" James hissed. He took on a high voice. "There's a difference between having a superiority complex and actually being superior. No ego on that one. Not at all. She used to be nice you know."
"She's all talk though," Sirius commented. "My sister isn't brave or outstanding or superior. I've lived with her most of my life."
"Ah, yes, but she's changing isn't she Sirius," Remus said as he slipped into his desk.
"Yes," he grumbled, his head falling into his hands. "Why couldn't she just have been sorted into Gryffindor?" His voice was muffled by his hands making it nearly unintelligible.
"Unless this was all meant to happen," Remus commented.
"Oh not your destiny Hocus Pocus," James laughed.
"I'd like to think the control of my destiny is in my own hands," Sirius declared.
"But what if is isn't. What if your destiny, all our destinies, lie in the hand of Lauralie Black?" Remus asked.
"You're talking giberish," James said, clapping Remus on the back. "Enough of this destiny and fate nonesense, its bringing me down. We're going to beat the Snakes today. That's what is important right now."
Severus and Lucius walked briskly into the room, paying the four Gryffindors no mind as they found their seats. Sirius was tempted to say something about the match to them, but Severus was looking even more murderous than usual. Plus, after James' brush with the wrath of Lauralie that morning, he decided it would be better to leave everyone in that little clique alone for the time being. We'll show them on the Quidditch pitch.
"I just want this day to be over with," Severus hissed under his breath. "I'm tired, and I'm ready for Quidditch practices to be done with."
"Today it'll all be over," Lucius said, "Whoever wins will get the Quidditch cup. And it'll be done with. We're going to win the House Cup anyways, we're over a hundred points ahead of all the other houses."
"Thanks to those twins, Duncan and his insult writing quill and Lindsay dropping the dungbombs in the hallway."
* * *
"I think you made James Potter wet his pants Lauralie," Katia laughed.
"Well if he did he desserved it," Lauralie said. "Lauralie, the queen of Slytherins? Very clever. I wanted to pants him."
"Oh, you should have Laur," Anastasia said. "It would have been bloody hilarious."
"Nah, I probably damaged his ego more by making him run away like a scared little puppy dog."
They were all laughing as the took their seats in Transfiguration.
"Seriously though, how do you think our boys will do in the match this after noon?" Narcissa asked.
"I don't know," Lauralie answered, "Never seen them so discouraged."
"You'd think after how hard Ludo'd been working them they would be pretty secure in their game," Katia commented.
"Ah, but there's a difference between working hard and overworking completely."
"We ought to do something, to cheer them up you know, get them pumped," Narcissa said.
Lauralie tapped her fingers aimlessly on the desk. "I think I have an idea."
* * *
When the girls arrived at lunch they found Lucius and Severus once again playing with their food more than eating it.
"I see we are back to this whole plate rearranging deal," Lauralie said, taking her usual seat next to Severus. He glared at her, and she had to admit she felt herself shrink back a little. A glare from Severus Snape was no laughing matter. They were usually reserved for the Gryffindors. Lauralie proceeded to eat quietly.
Narcissa however went into an impression of the guys. "I think I'll put my mashed potatoes here, no no, here," she cooed, "My chicken there. My broccoli there. No this isn't right, I'll switch the broccoli and the—"
Lucius cracked a smile.
"Look look, is that a smile I see," Narcissa exclaimed. "I won."
"And we'll win today." Lauralie said. "Just stop being so down and out. If you think you'll lose, you'll lose. So don't expect failure."
"I hear you had a little… run in shall we say, with James Potter after we left this morning," Severus commented, clearly and deliberately changing the subject.
"Word travels fast," Lauralie laughed.
"When it comes to you, word always travels fast," Lucius pointed out.
"Only because she seems to have a habit of doing things worth spreading around," Narcissa laughed. "But seriously, you two should have seen it! Potter ran like a scared child."
"I'm actually quite sorry I missed that," Severus said, giving the closest thing to a smile Severus Snape ever gave. It was better describes as a slight upturning of the edges of his lips. "Always knew James was all bark and no bite."
"Ah, he's OK really," Lauralie said, "Hung out at my house a lot over the summer. It's that Peter Pettigrew that gives me a nasty feeling inside."
"Pettigrew is harmless."
Lauralie shrugged, "If you say so." She glanced over her shoulder to the Gryffindor table and was srprised to see Remus Lupin looking back at her. His eyes darted quickly away. That boy really is the exception to the rule… every rule.
* * *
"Wow, looks like the whole school came out today," Anastasia said as they strolled towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Well, it is the determining match," Lauralie replied. "Whoever wins today gets the cup. But still, You'd wonder what the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs would care. Since they already lost and all."
"We're never going to find a seat," Narcissa said.
"Nah, look up there, there's some seats up there by Lupin and that Audrina girl," Katia said, pointing up to nearly the top of the stands.
"Why must we always find ourselves sitting with Gryffindors?"
"Oh can it Cissa," Lauralie said as she made her way up the stands. "It'll be nice to see the looks on their faces when they lose." A couple nearby Gryffindors glared at her when she passed.
"Afternoon Remus, Audrina, Lilly," she said, taking the first available seat next to Remus.
Max Jordan was already on the magic megaphone. "Good afternoon ladies, gentlemen, teachers and gouls and welcome to the most anticipated Quidditch match of the year," the crowds cheered. "Today one team will leave this field with the Quidditch cup, while the other team will leave empty handed."
"Today we welcome the two finest house teams of the year. First, the Gryffindor team: Gilderoy Lockhart, Alvin Bell, Sirius Black, Joseph Martinez, Marty Johnson, Tim Wood, and James Potter!" There were loud cheers from all the red and gold clad supporters (and some subdued "boo's" from the Slytherins) as sever red players marched onto the field. "Now, the Slytherin team: Simon Goyle, Martin Bulstrode, Patrick Parkinson, Ludovic Bagman, Marcus Crabbe, Severus Snape, and Lucius Malfoy!"
Lauralie seized her wand and pointed it to the sky. The crowd fell silent as a huge fountain of silver sparks shot from her wand, forming quickly into the shapes of a Gryffindor lion, and a Slytherin serpent. Suddenly, the shimmering snake darted forward, attacking the lion and easily killing it.
"That is in aproppriate," Professor McGonagall bellowed, but she was drowned out by the cheers of the Slytherin supporters in the stands.
The snake and lion faded away and were replaced by large silver lettering that read: "SNAKES FOR THE CUP!". Lauralie lowered her wand and the words hovered like a shimmering cloud over the stands.
Severus and Lucius couldn't help but laugh at the surprised looks on the Gryffindors faces. Ludo was positively beaming. "How about that?" he laughed.
Professor Lucchesi was refereeing the match. She walked out onto the field in the black and white ref's robes.
"OK, play clean. I don't want any dirty strategies in my game," she said over the rumble of the crowd. "Shake hands."
Looking down from the stands, the girls watched as Gilderoy Lockhart swaggered up to Ludo. Ludo's face looked stoney as they shook hands. The teams took to the air as Professor Lucchesi released the balls.
Goyle seized the Quaffle and raced off towards the Gryffindor goal posts. "Slytherin in possession. Goyle to Martin Bulstrode. Martin ducks a Bludger, a beater, a Slytherin, and SCORES! Slytherin in the lead, 10 to 0."
"Gryffindor in possession. Lockhart to Black. Sirius Black, a new addition to the team this year, passes to Bell. Bell back to Black. Black shoots and… BLOCKED by Slytherin Keeper Severus Snape!"
More cheers errupted from the Slytherins. Patrick Parkinson seized the Quaffle and pelted away again. Lucuis floated far above the game, his eyes scanning the game below him for the snitch. He was mildly aware of James Potter marking him, though lagging quite a few feet behind. Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Parkinson scores! Slythering winning 20 to 0! Black grabs the Quaffle, Gryffindor in posession."
Sirius dodged through the multitude of players on the pitch, nearly running over Marcus Crabbe in the process. He passed to Lockhart, who threw the Quaffle full speed towards the middle goal post. Severus caught it easily and passed it to Bulstrode, shooting a victorious smile at Sirius.
Most of the eyes in the crowd were focused on Goyle and Bulstrode as they scored yet another goal for Slytherin. Lauralie, however, was watching her brother, who had paused next to Marty Johnson, one of the Gryffindor Beaters.
She elbowed Narcissa. "Ow.. what?"
"What do you reckon he's up to?" Lauralie asked, nodding towards Sirius. He finished speaking to the Beater before flying off. Johnson gestured for Martinez, and seemed to be relaying whatever Sirius had said to his fellow beater.
Narcissa narrowed her eyes. "I don't know, but I don't like it."
Sirius and Bell were now zooming down the pitch, passing the ball between themselves. Suddenly, both Gryffindor beaters hit Bludgers at Severus. He managed to dodge one, but the second hit him square in the chest, unseating him.
"Severus!" shouted the girls in unison.
Black slowed down and threw the ball towards the goal, but just before it went through the hoop, Severus miraculously managed to remount his broom and flew directly into the Quaffles path. As Parkinson caught the Quaffle and flew off towards the Gryffindor goal posts, Severus slumped forward on his broom, his breath ragged, his hand pressed against the spot on his chest where the bludger had struck him.
His long hair was tousled, some of it falling in front of his face. He glared through the black locks at Sirius Black, who merely frowned and flew away.
"An amazing save by Snape! Slytherin still in the lead 30 to 0. Can Gryffindor catch up?" Jordan's voice rang out over the stands.
"Oh I hope he's ok," Narcissa said.
Lauralie was squinting to see. "He looks OK, though a bit angry…" she said. Probably a hugse understatement. "I guess Sirius figured they couldn't get past him, so he tried to get rid of him."
"Such admirable tactics.""
Ludo called a time out, gathering the Slytherin team.
"Why didn't she call a foul?" Lucius asked.
"The Quaffle had just made it into the scoring zone, so they didn't technically break any rules," Ludo explained, the team groaned. "But we're still ahead. "You OK, Sev?"
Severus ran his fingers through his hair to get it out of his face. "I'm find, though I can't say the same will be true about Black once I get my hands on him."
"But you can go on?" Ludo asked.
"Oh hell yes, I wouldn't dream of quitting now," Severus said. "That would be what he wanted to begin with.
"You are on hell of a team player Severus," Ludo said, clapping him on the back. "OK team, we're beating the crap out of them. They can't get anything past us. But the key to winning is the snitch. Lucius, you see it, you go after it. Crabbe, its up to you and me to disable Potter before he even has a chance. Got it?"
The team nodded.
"Lets go then."
The teams took to the air once more and proceeded with the most strenuous game of the season. Slytherin scored goal after goal, while Gryffindor managed to get two balls past Severus. Then, a flash of gold, THE SNITCH!
Lucius and James simultaneously dove towards the Snitch that had appeared in the center of the O in "SNAKES FOR THE CUP!" that still hovered weightlessly over the stands. Behind them Ludo swung full force at the nearest Bludger, and it went pelting away towards James' back.
Most of the crowd watched in silence. Lauralie had a bad feeling that if that Bludger hit James it would do far more damage than needed. She got to her feet. "James, look out!"
James looked over his shoulder in time to see the Bludger and swerve out of the way. The tactic however had achieved its goal. Moments later Lucius Malfoy snatched the golden Snitch out of the air to secure Slytherin the Quidditch Cup.