Harry Potter and the Joke that Killed: Chapter Five
A/N: Yay-rah, having readers is FUN! And inspiring! I've got five grand, wonderful readers that flatter me way too much (and a little more wouldn't hurt). To the newbies NightDreamerl1010, I Dunno, KZerina, I love you guys, thank you so much!
Hope you like this chappity-chap-chapter, and remember, ALL THINGS BRITISH ARE COOL! i.e.: Bridget Jones, Monty Python, Harry Potter, scones. need I say more? Avril Lavigne too, even tho she's French Canadian, but that's European-ish, right?? Ugh, who cares, it's summer! (tho not for long. *sniff*)
Note the fact I am poor. Note the fact that I am not receiving millions of truckloads of fan mail. Note that my name is not J.K. Rowling. 'Nuff said. But please do note that I am working pretty hard to produce this plot, so don't copy me! *sings rap song by Missy Elliot. 'copywrited so - don't copy me.'*
* * * * *
All signs of a perhaps lovey-dovey Severus Snape were chased away by Double Potions that Friday, though. That cold Slytherin sarcasm was back full swing, and on poor Neville's first day back he had to deal with his most feared teacher. Needless to say, by the end of class he looked as if he could use another stay in the Hospital Wing.
"This year I am trusting you with more. Hopefully, you have matured enough to handle a bit of responsibility. However," Snape said, giving a special stare at Harry. "I'm quite certain some of you are not."
Opening their new books to a Forcefield Potion, Snape began writing the instructions on the blackboard and class had begun. Taking pity on his trembling classmate, Harry paired himself up with Neville. Giving him a supportive smile, Harry walked him through each step with the patience of a concerned parent.
"Be sure to mince the Mandrake leaves finely, Neville, that's it." Harry coaxed. They then added the green particles to the simmering mixture in their cauldron. "Don't forget to stir exactly thirty-two times, at an increasing speed. I'll crush up the iris of the moonlight calf." Harry ground the gelatinous eye particles, the gummy consistency making his skin crawl. After adding the bluish goo, the concoction turned a translucent white and a thick vapor rose from it.
"I think that's it, besides a particle of whatever the Forcefield Potion is forcefield-ing." Harry said, reading through the recipe once again. But his calculating was interrupted by Professor Callahan's entrance into the dungeon.
"Severus, I need a double-batch of the Forcefield Potion to test on my seventh-years." she said, walking up to Professor Snape's desk. Harry's mouth gaped open; had she really just dared to call him by his first name? Even Dumbledore hardly did that!
"My students are preparing it now, Professor Callahan." the man replied without even a hint of nastiness or scorn, as if it were a normal occurrence for him.
"Oh, good. How about five points to the duo that's gotten it right?" Professor Callahan proposed cheerily, rubbing her hands together. She went by each cauldron, inspecting the simmering mixture in each. "Too thick, too dark, not enough grindylow vertebrate, ah, but this one," she said, stopping in front of Malfoy. Both him and Snape smiled arrogantly at everyone. "I have no idea what you did to make it look this way. It's green, for heaven's sakes, and not even frothing properly! Look, I can even see whole Mandrake leaves at the bottom!" she tutted, stirring up Malfoy's blend. "That should be five points off, Severus, for sloppiness, don't you think?"
Snape looked as if he'd just eaten a persimmon.
(A/N: if you've never eaten a persimmon before, count yourself lucky. They're incredibly bitter, making your whole face pucker and the rotted taste doesn't leave your mouth for days.)
But rather begrudgingly, he agreed. "Five points off for sloppiness, Malfoy. You know better than that." he spat. The Gryffindors couldn't believe their ears! Had Professor Severus Snape actually just taken points from his own house? This was certainly an unprecedented event.
Professor Callahan kept walking along the rows of cauldrons, judging each one's contents. "Why hello Neville, nice to see you well again. Quite a scare you gave everyone." she said, coming to a stop at Neville and Harry's cauldron. Neville blushed and stared at his hands. "Perfect consistency, nicely combined. Severus, I think we have a winner!" she declared excitedly. Picking up the ladle and stirring the mixture with her finger for a moment, she quickly threw her head back and downed the large spoonful.
Gasps resounded throughout the room, was she actually foolish enough to drink something Neville made? Immediately afterwards the woman stood there, perfectly normal and unaffected. But a second later a white mist surrounded her, and her image became a bit fuzzy around the edges.
"Go ahead Severus, try and hex me." she challenged, her voice ringing and bell-like. Everyone thought that was a big mistake, knowing their Potions Master he'd probably do the worst one imaginable. And what if the forcefield wasn't strong enough, and Harry and Neville's potion failed? The whole room held it's breath as Snape raised his wand, smiling as he said "Sai Pronungrum." The spell penetrated the mist and slowed to a snail's pace, before dropping to the floor and disappearing altogether.
"A Distortion Hex, Professor. I thought you were the type to go for the throat." she said teasingly. Then she adressed Harry and Neville. "Nice job, you two. Five points, I assume, are in order Severus." Again the persimmon appeared on Snape's lips before he spoke.
"Of course. Potter, Longbottom, five points for Gryffindor." he stated, making Professor Callahan beam appreciatively at him.
"Thank you for humoring my little game, Severus. I'll just take this potion here and be on my way. My deepest gratitude." said Professor Callahan, pointing at the mixture with her wand and making it immediately leap into a jar in her hand. "Goodbye." she said, before walking out the door. Harry noticed Snape's eyes linger over the place where she stood for a moment longer than necessary, but then he whipped around to the blackboard and began wiping it vigorously.
"Did you see how Snape was acting in class today? Weird! I'm willing to bet that Professor Callahan is some sort of veela, or controlling him with the Imperious Curse." Ron remarked on the events of that afternoon while they walked to dinner.
"Personally I think not getting the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again this year made the poor man finally crack." Hermione estimated.
"I don't know, I have the sneaking feeling that he fancies her." Harry put out, earning some baffled looks from Ron and Hermione.
"Don't be daft, Harry, Snape hasn't got enough heart to have feelings. And besides, Professor Callahan stole his job. He's got to hate her." Ron replied, only halfway convincing Harry.
"Hey, psst, Harry." Fred whispered to Harry from across the table. "Surprise party tonight for Neville, in the common room. Pass it on." Breaking into a broad smile, Harry told the news to Ron and Hermione.
"How nice of them! Oh, Neville'll be so happy." Hermione commented happily. Indeed, the excited looks spread across the Gryffindor House table like wildfire.
It was Harry's job to keep Neville out of the common room until the party was ready that night, so he told Neville that he was going to visit Professor Callahan. "Why don't you come with me, I'm just going to see how our potion did." Harry asked, hoping Neville agreed. Thankfully he did, and they were off down the broad corridors towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
Tentatively, Harry knocked on the intricately carved door. It had a cornucopia overflowing with succulent fruit on it, and it whether by an optical illusion or a magical illusion, the fruit seemed in motion, cascading down the front of the door. She was really quite girly for being 'tough as nails with a backbone of steel.'
"Who is it?" the voice of Professor Callahan called from the other side of the door.
"Harry and Neville." Harry answered to a particularly tasty looking pear.
"Oh, come on in." she said, and the door creaked on it's hinges as it opened. "Do you need help with anything, boys?" She was dressed in a pink terrycloth robe with stars and moons on it, with pink fuzzy bunny slippers that wiggled their ears up at Harry and Neville. Her office was quite feminine also, with big comfy chairs and flowery wallpaper.
"No, we were just wondering how our Forcefield Potion worked out." Neville answered.
"Quite nicely, thank you very much. You did a fabulous job." she complimented.
"Right back at you, Professor Callahan," Harry replied. "How on earth did you get Professor Snape to give us points, not to mention take some away from his own house? Ususally he's steadfastly biased."
"Come on Harry, it can't be that bad." she said, but at the sincere looks on their faces she relented. "Well, I have to admit, sometimes he plays favorites a bit, but I'm sure it's involuntary."
"Involuntary my foot!" Neville exclaimed, no doubt past scenes of torment and ridicule coming to mind.
"He's just as nasty as his pack of Slytherins." Harry put in.
"Now you two, just because someone's in Slytherin doesn't automatically mean they're a horrendous Death Eater." she said, reading their underlying thoughts. "Being in Slytherin means you have high goals and a desire for power, not unlike a child wanting to be a movie star. I know some malevolent qualities tend to pop up mostly in that house, but every house has their bullies." At this suggestion Harry realized that she was right. Seamus Finnigan was awfully cruel an awful lot, but since he was in Harry's house he hadn't noticed it before. And Ernie MacMillian of Hufflepuff had always been very judgmental in starting rumors and promoting them. This information was challenging to the very way that Harry thought about everyone.
"I see your point, but you have to admit, Professor, that Snape is unfair a lot." Harry said, after much thought.
"Harry, do you know why Severus is the way that he is?" she asked. Harry shook his head, it had never occurred to him that there was a reason. He passed it off as natural ability. "Then you can't say it's unfair. After all, it's unfair the way all Slytherin's are thought of as inherent Death Eaters. And it's also unfair that Severus cannot escape the demon's he's suffered for past actions. He's been trying to right his life for twenty years now, and one stubborn opinion keeps holding him back." She looked at Harry meaningfully and he understood that she meant his past as a Death Eater. Of course he's probably been trying to prove that he's loyal to the light side and the light side alone, but because of appearance and stereotype he'd been misunderstood.
"Professor Callahan, you lost me back at 'inherent.'" Neville said, not processing the implications of her lecture.
"Don't worry about it Neville, basically looks can be deceiving. Make your own opinions about people, that's what she's saying." Harry explained to his confused friend.
"Yes it is, Harry. I'm glad you understand." she said, smiling at them both.
Suddenly Harry's wand began to vibrate, which was the signal that the party was ready. Fred was buzzing him from the Common Room with a spell equaling the wizarding version of a pager.
"Well, it was nice talking to you Professor Callahan, Neville and I better get going. After all, Dumbledore said no wandering around the school at night. Goodbye, and thanks for your discussion." Harry said.
"Yeah, bye Professor Callahan. See you next class." Neville said, before departing out the door with Harry.
Walking quickly down the hallways and through pictures containing hidden passageways, it took ten minutes to get to the Common Room.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked, raising her sleeping mask to look scornfully at the two boys.
"Ziconium." Harry answered, and the portrait swung open.
"SURPRISE!!!" the entire common room shouted as Neville stepped through the portrait hole, followed by Harry.
"Welcome back, Neville!" Hermione said, coming up to the stunned Gryffindor and giving him a hug.
"What in the.?" was all Neville could muster, but he was clearly elated. His face sported a genuine smile, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. "I've never had a surprise party before!" he stated excitedly after a second, and he was whisked away by Fred and George to the overflowing buffet table.
Harry was pleased to see that there were three tables in the center of the room, piled to the maximum with cards, gifts, and flowers. Harry guessed that it was partly due to Professor Callahan's explanation to everyone, making them feel guilty enough to make it up to Neville. She was such an influential speaker, no wonder she'd gone into Defense Against the Dark Arts. She could probably talk a Dark Wizard over onto the light side without even knowing what hit him.
The party was filled with chatting and music and food and too much merriment, and everyone was having a blast. "I can't believe you all did this for me." Neville thanked after opening all his gifts and reading all his cards.
"And we can't believe you and Harry weaseled five points out of Snape!" George said, clapping Neville on the back. "That's why we made you this." And out from behind his back George pulled a plaque that said "NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM AND HARRY POTTER: A REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN POTION MAKING AND THE FIRST TO SQUEEZE FIVE POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR HOUSE OUT OF PROFESSOR SNAPE." Everyone got a good laugh out of that, and the plaque was placed in the Gryffindor trophy cabinet in the common room.
This was clearly the proudest day of Neville Longbottom's life.
As you would expect, somehow a few Weasley Wizard Wheezes products 'accidentally' got mixed in with the buffet table food, and there were sneezes, poppings, screamings, and canaries cropping up all over the place along with riotous laughter.
A first year, Nancy Freeston, cautiously picked up a red lollipop from the candy dish and unwrapped it. "I hope it's not cherry, because I hate cherry. It's always so annoying that cherry, watermelon, and strawberry end up looking exactly the same." she remarked, cautiously unwrapping the sucker.
"Oh-my-gosh, I so know what you mean! That's a pet peeve of mine." answered Lavender Brown prissily. Harry and Ron looked at each other and tried not to laugh. But a second later their mood drastically changed.
Timidly, Nancy stuck her tongue out and licked the sucker, testing out what flavor it was. Instantly she let out a bloodcurdling scream that caused the whole room to go silent. Her tongue was swiftly turning black and smoking, ashes falling onto the floor.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Holy -"
"She's burning!"
Worried comments flew about the room, panic rising with Nancy's pitch. The blackness had consumed her tongue and was traveling down her windpipe, and her screams became choked and hoarse.
"Somebody help her, please!" Lavender shrieked.
But no help was coming.
* * * * *
A/N: Muah-ah-ahh, the dreaded cliffhanger strikes again! My my, I am devious, aren't I? *readers nod vigorously while sharpening their weapons* Don't sacrifice me yet, I do intend to continue the story and curb your hunger for more relatively soon. SIGH, but I start my s'more year TOMORROW, so you gotta check for updates every Saturday. Please forgive me, but my life is being stolen away by the evil minions of the Public School system!
Love from, Saranimal HaloGal5@aol.com
P.S. I just bought the Wayne's World Soundtrack, and Bohemian Rhapsody is the best song ever! "I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scallamoush, Scallamoush, can you do the Fan-Dang-o." spelling's a little sketchy, sorry. ;)
A/N: Yay-rah, having readers is FUN! And inspiring! I've got five grand, wonderful readers that flatter me way too much (and a little more wouldn't hurt). To the newbies NightDreamerl1010, I Dunno, KZerina, I love you guys, thank you so much!
Hope you like this chappity-chap-chapter, and remember, ALL THINGS BRITISH ARE COOL! i.e.: Bridget Jones, Monty Python, Harry Potter, scones. need I say more? Avril Lavigne too, even tho she's French Canadian, but that's European-ish, right?? Ugh, who cares, it's summer! (tho not for long. *sniff*)
Note the fact I am poor. Note the fact that I am not receiving millions of truckloads of fan mail. Note that my name is not J.K. Rowling. 'Nuff said. But please do note that I am working pretty hard to produce this plot, so don't copy me! *sings rap song by Missy Elliot. 'copywrited so - don't copy me.'*
* * * * *
All signs of a perhaps lovey-dovey Severus Snape were chased away by Double Potions that Friday, though. That cold Slytherin sarcasm was back full swing, and on poor Neville's first day back he had to deal with his most feared teacher. Needless to say, by the end of class he looked as if he could use another stay in the Hospital Wing.
"This year I am trusting you with more. Hopefully, you have matured enough to handle a bit of responsibility. However," Snape said, giving a special stare at Harry. "I'm quite certain some of you are not."
Opening their new books to a Forcefield Potion, Snape began writing the instructions on the blackboard and class had begun. Taking pity on his trembling classmate, Harry paired himself up with Neville. Giving him a supportive smile, Harry walked him through each step with the patience of a concerned parent.
"Be sure to mince the Mandrake leaves finely, Neville, that's it." Harry coaxed. They then added the green particles to the simmering mixture in their cauldron. "Don't forget to stir exactly thirty-two times, at an increasing speed. I'll crush up the iris of the moonlight calf." Harry ground the gelatinous eye particles, the gummy consistency making his skin crawl. After adding the bluish goo, the concoction turned a translucent white and a thick vapor rose from it.
"I think that's it, besides a particle of whatever the Forcefield Potion is forcefield-ing." Harry said, reading through the recipe once again. But his calculating was interrupted by Professor Callahan's entrance into the dungeon.
"Severus, I need a double-batch of the Forcefield Potion to test on my seventh-years." she said, walking up to Professor Snape's desk. Harry's mouth gaped open; had she really just dared to call him by his first name? Even Dumbledore hardly did that!
"My students are preparing it now, Professor Callahan." the man replied without even a hint of nastiness or scorn, as if it were a normal occurrence for him.
"Oh, good. How about five points to the duo that's gotten it right?" Professor Callahan proposed cheerily, rubbing her hands together. She went by each cauldron, inspecting the simmering mixture in each. "Too thick, too dark, not enough grindylow vertebrate, ah, but this one," she said, stopping in front of Malfoy. Both him and Snape smiled arrogantly at everyone. "I have no idea what you did to make it look this way. It's green, for heaven's sakes, and not even frothing properly! Look, I can even see whole Mandrake leaves at the bottom!" she tutted, stirring up Malfoy's blend. "That should be five points off, Severus, for sloppiness, don't you think?"
Snape looked as if he'd just eaten a persimmon.
(A/N: if you've never eaten a persimmon before, count yourself lucky. They're incredibly bitter, making your whole face pucker and the rotted taste doesn't leave your mouth for days.)
But rather begrudgingly, he agreed. "Five points off for sloppiness, Malfoy. You know better than that." he spat. The Gryffindors couldn't believe their ears! Had Professor Severus Snape actually just taken points from his own house? This was certainly an unprecedented event.
Professor Callahan kept walking along the rows of cauldrons, judging each one's contents. "Why hello Neville, nice to see you well again. Quite a scare you gave everyone." she said, coming to a stop at Neville and Harry's cauldron. Neville blushed and stared at his hands. "Perfect consistency, nicely combined. Severus, I think we have a winner!" she declared excitedly. Picking up the ladle and stirring the mixture with her finger for a moment, she quickly threw her head back and downed the large spoonful.
Gasps resounded throughout the room, was she actually foolish enough to drink something Neville made? Immediately afterwards the woman stood there, perfectly normal and unaffected. But a second later a white mist surrounded her, and her image became a bit fuzzy around the edges.
"Go ahead Severus, try and hex me." she challenged, her voice ringing and bell-like. Everyone thought that was a big mistake, knowing their Potions Master he'd probably do the worst one imaginable. And what if the forcefield wasn't strong enough, and Harry and Neville's potion failed? The whole room held it's breath as Snape raised his wand, smiling as he said "Sai Pronungrum." The spell penetrated the mist and slowed to a snail's pace, before dropping to the floor and disappearing altogether.
"A Distortion Hex, Professor. I thought you were the type to go for the throat." she said teasingly. Then she adressed Harry and Neville. "Nice job, you two. Five points, I assume, are in order Severus." Again the persimmon appeared on Snape's lips before he spoke.
"Of course. Potter, Longbottom, five points for Gryffindor." he stated, making Professor Callahan beam appreciatively at him.
"Thank you for humoring my little game, Severus. I'll just take this potion here and be on my way. My deepest gratitude." said Professor Callahan, pointing at the mixture with her wand and making it immediately leap into a jar in her hand. "Goodbye." she said, before walking out the door. Harry noticed Snape's eyes linger over the place where she stood for a moment longer than necessary, but then he whipped around to the blackboard and began wiping it vigorously.
"Did you see how Snape was acting in class today? Weird! I'm willing to bet that Professor Callahan is some sort of veela, or controlling him with the Imperious Curse." Ron remarked on the events of that afternoon while they walked to dinner.
"Personally I think not getting the Defense Against the Dark Arts job again this year made the poor man finally crack." Hermione estimated.
"I don't know, I have the sneaking feeling that he fancies her." Harry put out, earning some baffled looks from Ron and Hermione.
"Don't be daft, Harry, Snape hasn't got enough heart to have feelings. And besides, Professor Callahan stole his job. He's got to hate her." Ron replied, only halfway convincing Harry.
"Hey, psst, Harry." Fred whispered to Harry from across the table. "Surprise party tonight for Neville, in the common room. Pass it on." Breaking into a broad smile, Harry told the news to Ron and Hermione.
"How nice of them! Oh, Neville'll be so happy." Hermione commented happily. Indeed, the excited looks spread across the Gryffindor House table like wildfire.
It was Harry's job to keep Neville out of the common room until the party was ready that night, so he told Neville that he was going to visit Professor Callahan. "Why don't you come with me, I'm just going to see how our potion did." Harry asked, hoping Neville agreed. Thankfully he did, and they were off down the broad corridors towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
Tentatively, Harry knocked on the intricately carved door. It had a cornucopia overflowing with succulent fruit on it, and it whether by an optical illusion or a magical illusion, the fruit seemed in motion, cascading down the front of the door. She was really quite girly for being 'tough as nails with a backbone of steel.'
"Who is it?" the voice of Professor Callahan called from the other side of the door.
"Harry and Neville." Harry answered to a particularly tasty looking pear.
"Oh, come on in." she said, and the door creaked on it's hinges as it opened. "Do you need help with anything, boys?" She was dressed in a pink terrycloth robe with stars and moons on it, with pink fuzzy bunny slippers that wiggled their ears up at Harry and Neville. Her office was quite feminine also, with big comfy chairs and flowery wallpaper.
"No, we were just wondering how our Forcefield Potion worked out." Neville answered.
"Quite nicely, thank you very much. You did a fabulous job." she complimented.
"Right back at you, Professor Callahan," Harry replied. "How on earth did you get Professor Snape to give us points, not to mention take some away from his own house? Ususally he's steadfastly biased."
"Come on Harry, it can't be that bad." she said, but at the sincere looks on their faces she relented. "Well, I have to admit, sometimes he plays favorites a bit, but I'm sure it's involuntary."
"Involuntary my foot!" Neville exclaimed, no doubt past scenes of torment and ridicule coming to mind.
"He's just as nasty as his pack of Slytherins." Harry put in.
"Now you two, just because someone's in Slytherin doesn't automatically mean they're a horrendous Death Eater." she said, reading their underlying thoughts. "Being in Slytherin means you have high goals and a desire for power, not unlike a child wanting to be a movie star. I know some malevolent qualities tend to pop up mostly in that house, but every house has their bullies." At this suggestion Harry realized that she was right. Seamus Finnigan was awfully cruel an awful lot, but since he was in Harry's house he hadn't noticed it before. And Ernie MacMillian of Hufflepuff had always been very judgmental in starting rumors and promoting them. This information was challenging to the very way that Harry thought about everyone.
"I see your point, but you have to admit, Professor, that Snape is unfair a lot." Harry said, after much thought.
"Harry, do you know why Severus is the way that he is?" she asked. Harry shook his head, it had never occurred to him that there was a reason. He passed it off as natural ability. "Then you can't say it's unfair. After all, it's unfair the way all Slytherin's are thought of as inherent Death Eaters. And it's also unfair that Severus cannot escape the demon's he's suffered for past actions. He's been trying to right his life for twenty years now, and one stubborn opinion keeps holding him back." She looked at Harry meaningfully and he understood that she meant his past as a Death Eater. Of course he's probably been trying to prove that he's loyal to the light side and the light side alone, but because of appearance and stereotype he'd been misunderstood.
"Professor Callahan, you lost me back at 'inherent.'" Neville said, not processing the implications of her lecture.
"Don't worry about it Neville, basically looks can be deceiving. Make your own opinions about people, that's what she's saying." Harry explained to his confused friend.
"Yes it is, Harry. I'm glad you understand." she said, smiling at them both.
Suddenly Harry's wand began to vibrate, which was the signal that the party was ready. Fred was buzzing him from the Common Room with a spell equaling the wizarding version of a pager.
"Well, it was nice talking to you Professor Callahan, Neville and I better get going. After all, Dumbledore said no wandering around the school at night. Goodbye, and thanks for your discussion." Harry said.
"Yeah, bye Professor Callahan. See you next class." Neville said, before departing out the door with Harry.
Walking quickly down the hallways and through pictures containing hidden passageways, it took ten minutes to get to the Common Room.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked, raising her sleeping mask to look scornfully at the two boys.
"Ziconium." Harry answered, and the portrait swung open.
"SURPRISE!!!" the entire common room shouted as Neville stepped through the portrait hole, followed by Harry.
"Welcome back, Neville!" Hermione said, coming up to the stunned Gryffindor and giving him a hug.
"What in the.?" was all Neville could muster, but he was clearly elated. His face sported a genuine smile, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. "I've never had a surprise party before!" he stated excitedly after a second, and he was whisked away by Fred and George to the overflowing buffet table.
Harry was pleased to see that there were three tables in the center of the room, piled to the maximum with cards, gifts, and flowers. Harry guessed that it was partly due to Professor Callahan's explanation to everyone, making them feel guilty enough to make it up to Neville. She was such an influential speaker, no wonder she'd gone into Defense Against the Dark Arts. She could probably talk a Dark Wizard over onto the light side without even knowing what hit him.
The party was filled with chatting and music and food and too much merriment, and everyone was having a blast. "I can't believe you all did this for me." Neville thanked after opening all his gifts and reading all his cards.
"And we can't believe you and Harry weaseled five points out of Snape!" George said, clapping Neville on the back. "That's why we made you this." And out from behind his back George pulled a plaque that said "NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM AND HARRY POTTER: A REWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN POTION MAKING AND THE FIRST TO SQUEEZE FIVE POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR HOUSE OUT OF PROFESSOR SNAPE." Everyone got a good laugh out of that, and the plaque was placed in the Gryffindor trophy cabinet in the common room.
This was clearly the proudest day of Neville Longbottom's life.
As you would expect, somehow a few Weasley Wizard Wheezes products 'accidentally' got mixed in with the buffet table food, and there were sneezes, poppings, screamings, and canaries cropping up all over the place along with riotous laughter.
A first year, Nancy Freeston, cautiously picked up a red lollipop from the candy dish and unwrapped it. "I hope it's not cherry, because I hate cherry. It's always so annoying that cherry, watermelon, and strawberry end up looking exactly the same." she remarked, cautiously unwrapping the sucker.
"Oh-my-gosh, I so know what you mean! That's a pet peeve of mine." answered Lavender Brown prissily. Harry and Ron looked at each other and tried not to laugh. But a second later their mood drastically changed.
Timidly, Nancy stuck her tongue out and licked the sucker, testing out what flavor it was. Instantly she let out a bloodcurdling scream that caused the whole room to go silent. Her tongue was swiftly turning black and smoking, ashes falling onto the floor.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Holy -"
"She's burning!"
Worried comments flew about the room, panic rising with Nancy's pitch. The blackness had consumed her tongue and was traveling down her windpipe, and her screams became choked and hoarse.
"Somebody help her, please!" Lavender shrieked.
But no help was coming.
* * * * *
A/N: Muah-ah-ahh, the dreaded cliffhanger strikes again! My my, I am devious, aren't I? *readers nod vigorously while sharpening their weapons* Don't sacrifice me yet, I do intend to continue the story and curb your hunger for more relatively soon. SIGH, but I start my s'more year TOMORROW, so you gotta check for updates every Saturday. Please forgive me, but my life is being stolen away by the evil minions of the Public School system!
Love from, Saranimal HaloGal5@aol.com
P.S. I just bought the Wayne's World Soundtrack, and Bohemian Rhapsody is the best song ever! "I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scallamoush, Scallamoush, can you do the Fan-Dang-o." spelling's a little sketchy, sorry. ;)