Revenge of the Hufflepuffs
Chapter 8: All's well that ends well.
Professor McGonagall sat sipping her tea. She picked up her May issue of Transfiguration Today. Severus Snape threw open the door. The heavy oak door hit the wall with a bang and slammed shut.
"Bloody Hufflepuffs." Snape muttered taking a seat in a high-backed chair across from his collogue. He was in a particularly sour mood. "They've turned the world upside-down. In only a matter of weeks an angst-ridden eleven year old and his enchanted badger reversed the entire social structure of this institution. And now, on top of everything that's happened, Dumbledore decides to bend to the will of the little cretins."
"It's only a talent show Severus." Professor McGonagall said never taking her eyes off the latest article "So you're an Animagus. Now what?" by Ambrose Malone. "I for one am looking forward to it. It's a way to relieve tension in these dark times. Mr. DeLacy merely made a suggestion. Filius also recommended it and Professor Dumbledore agrees that it's a fine idea."
"The lack of life boats on the Titanic also seemed like a fine idea." Snape said.
Professor McGonagall sighed heavily. "Then I can safely assume that you won't participate in the faculty's rendition of the music of Grease, a lovely Muggle musical.
"I would rather go out for a pint with Sirius Black than humiliate myself before the entire student population."
"Severus? Could you, for one time in your life, let yourself be laughed at? Yes I remember, you were teased horribly during your own school days. Forget all of that. You may be laughed at, but you'll laugh at other students and you may even laugh at yourself. More importantly, you'll have fun. You do know what fun is don't you?"
Snape frowned slightly. "Something tells me that you want me to take part in this No-Talent Show?"
"Yes"
"Will there be choreography involved?"
"Yes."
"And solos?"
"I believe so."
"I'll sing then," he said. Snape walked over to the door. Pausing, he looked back at Professor McGonagall. "But only if I can be Danny."
****
Some time later…
The events at the show varied from the traditional to the down right odd. Many students had signed up, having never experienced anything like it before. There was karaoke (the most celebrated performance was "Summer Nights" featuring Professors Snape and Sinistra). Hagrid had a great success with his trained Chimera, Pookie. The main attraction would be the Hufflepuffs lead by Leo. They all gathered in the Entrance Hall, each student dressed in a yellow T-shirt and black pants. Leo cleared his throat, in an attempt to quiet his Housemates, but to know avail. He tried repeatedly until someone asked him if he was coughing up a fur ball.
"PROFESSOR SEVERUS SNAPE IS A SEX GOD!"
You could hear a pin drop in the deadly silence that filled the Entrance Hall (Actually only the students nearest the pin-dropper could hear it…but I digress.). "Alright," said Leo, "I'm not one to give long, drawn out pep talks that no one really cares about."
The Hufflepuffs applauded.
"As I was saying, I'm not going to try to build up your self-esteem because, frankly, if you don't believe you can do this than I'm not going to waste my bloody time trying to convince you otherwise. Let's go out there and show them what we've got." There were a few snickers. "No! That's not what I meant! Honestly, you all need to get your minds out of the gutter."
The Hufflepuffs ran into Great Hall, perfectly synchronized. Pleased by their success in break-dancing, Leo had incorporated a dance routine into the show. The Puffies were flawless, performing an impressive gymnastics routine. Then came the break-dancing…
It was unlike anything ever seen at Hogwarts. The routine had an almost hypnotic rhythm. Many of the students saw that hard work and dedication had paid off and could somehow see past the stereotypes of Hufflepuffs and see that they were truly brilliant and creative. At the end the Hall burst into deafening applause, even Professor Snape managed to smile in satisfaction
Invisible to the celebrating students Helga Hufflepuff looked on. Marty, Tuttle to some, waddled over and sat at her feet, looking quizzically up at her. She scooped him up in her arms. "It was no what I had originally anticipated Marty, but it did the trick. My students, the humble and meek, the fair and the honest, are now on equal footing with their schoolmates for the first time in many years. I wish that Godric, Rowena, and Salazar were here...so I could rub it in their faces!" She laughed at the thought. "All's well that ends well Marty."
"So that's it? This is the end?" Marty asked.
"It looks that way, doesn't it?
"Yes." Marty replied, suppressing a sob.
"Marty, are you crying?"
"No." he said in a muffled voice.
"Aww…yes you are."
"Am not."
"Yes you are. Somebody needs a hug! A big badger hug!"
FIN
A/N: Yep. That's all she wrote. I threw this project away for a while, convinced that I would never finish it. Well, here it is in all its Hufflepuffian glory. Thank to all my reviewers and those of you who told me to get off my duff and finish this story (you know who you are…hopefully)J
Please Read and Review. Check out more stories and ficlets by the Evil Yellow Day Moon.
~Amanda