The duel was intense, a testament to sweat and testosterone, but at the end of 4 or 5 hours, Sirius seemed to flagging. He staggered slightly as he tried to avoid Fudge's newest curse, but tripped over a plant root (a remnant from a previous spell) and fell flat on his face. Fudge laughed triumphantly. "Expelliarmus!" The inevitable command came, disarming the helpless wizard on the ground. The battle was over. The referee lifted Fudge's hand in the air, declaring him as the winner, as the audience burst out with frantic cheers, lifting the bemused and ecstatic victor off his feet and into the adjoining bar, where flirtatious harlots in skimpy bathing suits offered to buy him drinks, sickly smiles plastered on their pretty faces. Only Minerva and Severus were left behind, both angry, one with the mob, and one with the unfortunate loser who was now sitting pathetically in front of them. Severus turned with a haughty smile to the Transfiguration Mistress. "I hope that swim suit is ready!" Minerva growled at him with so much fury that he backed off hurriedly, and went to offer Black a hand. "I hope you are well!"
"Shut up, Snape!" he growled, swatting away Severus' hand. "I can't believe I lost to that dolt."
"I can. In fact, I am very happy. You won me a very, very unsafe bet. Minerva is going to be dancing around Hogwarts in a green and silver swimsuit tomorrow, while I drink to you and your stupidity. Would you like to come and witness the, well, more positive effects of your otherwise humiliating loss?"
"Snape, you're pushing it!" This came from both Minerva and Sirius, who were staring at him as if he were the Dark Lord.
"What? Don't look at me like I'm Voldemort, Black. I was just inviting you to come have a friendly drink with me tomorrow, and that's the way you thank me?"
"You'll wish you were Voldemort in a minute, Snape, when I get my hands on you. At least he's dead, not in pain!" Sirius was furious.
"Hands, Black? I thought you only had paws." He ducked, barely avoiding contact with Sirius' very solid fist. Laughing he apparated to Hogsmeade, and made his way to school slowly, still chuckling.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Snape woke in high spirits, giggling even as he opened his eyes. His cheerfulness was dampened slightly when he realized he was once again in bed alone. He sighed. It had been so long since he had anyone to love, anyone who loved him. 'I must be getting singularly unattractive,' he thought sadly. He brightened considerably at the thought of seeing Minerva in a green swim suit, and suddenly found the energy to take a shower and get dressed. Severus made his way to breakfast in a hurried manner, skipping. Skipping. SKIPPING. Severus Snape was SKIPPING. Even that humiliating gait was insufficient to contain his glee. He took his seat at the high table, looking around for Minerva. "Where is she?" he asked his equally mirthful colleagues. He was hoping she hadn't chickened out. The other staff members said they didn't know, all of them trying in vain to hide their huge smiles under small hands. Dumbledore wasn't even trying to keep a straight face. It seemed that Remus had made a rather humorous drawing of the woman, and Dumbledore, under the effects o too many lemon drops, could not help but laugh. "Shhh," said someone. "Here she comes." They all looked expectantly at the doorway, but when she walked in, they gasped. She was-
"Shut up, Snape!" he growled, swatting away Severus' hand. "I can't believe I lost to that dolt."
"I can. In fact, I am very happy. You won me a very, very unsafe bet. Minerva is going to be dancing around Hogwarts in a green and silver swimsuit tomorrow, while I drink to you and your stupidity. Would you like to come and witness the, well, more positive effects of your otherwise humiliating loss?"
"Snape, you're pushing it!" This came from both Minerva and Sirius, who were staring at him as if he were the Dark Lord.
"What? Don't look at me like I'm Voldemort, Black. I was just inviting you to come have a friendly drink with me tomorrow, and that's the way you thank me?"
"You'll wish you were Voldemort in a minute, Snape, when I get my hands on you. At least he's dead, not in pain!" Sirius was furious.
"Hands, Black? I thought you only had paws." He ducked, barely avoiding contact with Sirius' very solid fist. Laughing he apparated to Hogsmeade, and made his way to school slowly, still chuckling.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Snape woke in high spirits, giggling even as he opened his eyes. His cheerfulness was dampened slightly when he realized he was once again in bed alone. He sighed. It had been so long since he had anyone to love, anyone who loved him. 'I must be getting singularly unattractive,' he thought sadly. He brightened considerably at the thought of seeing Minerva in a green swim suit, and suddenly found the energy to take a shower and get dressed. Severus made his way to breakfast in a hurried manner, skipping. Skipping. SKIPPING. Severus Snape was SKIPPING. Even that humiliating gait was insufficient to contain his glee. He took his seat at the high table, looking around for Minerva. "Where is she?" he asked his equally mirthful colleagues. He was hoping she hadn't chickened out. The other staff members said they didn't know, all of them trying in vain to hide their huge smiles under small hands. Dumbledore wasn't even trying to keep a straight face. It seemed that Remus had made a rather humorous drawing of the woman, and Dumbledore, under the effects o too many lemon drops, could not help but laugh. "Shhh," said someone. "Here she comes." They all looked expectantly at the doorway, but when she walked in, they gasped. She was-