Chapter Fifteen: Martin gets a dare.
The next morning on my way to breakfast I remembered something: Martin had been wrong about Jenny not finding out who Merlin was (although we still didn't know very much!) therefore he owed me a dare.
"I thought you might forget that." Martin said when I mentioned it. "But I'm game for anything-what do I have to do?"
I sighed. "Well I've just got to fine tune a few things, but more than likely the dare will have something to do with Snape." I explained.
Martin frowned, but then shrugged, wanting to act like the whole thing didn't bother him in the least.
"That's crazy." Jenny whispered to me overhearing. "Snape's not the sort of person you want to mess about with Sam-especially when he doesn't like you already."
"Relax Jenny, he won't have a clue." I said to her, biting into my sausage with relish.
"Nonetheless I wish you'd reconsider-playing a dare on Snape is like waving a red flag in front of a bull." She said unhappily.
Greg overheard this last bit. "Who's playing a trick on Snape?" He demanded.
"Weren't you?" Martin asked eagerly.
"I was.." Greg said, with a sigh. "But something went wrong, and it's on hold for a bit. But you're getting me off the topic-who's playing a trick on Snape?"
"Nobody." Jenny said.
I sighed. "Nobody." I agreed. But privately I wasn't agreeing at all. I was actually imagining the look on Snape's face when Martin did his thing.
*****
During the History of Magic I tuned out from the lecture on how the Plague muggles believe was an illness was really something cooked up by a wizard named Derrick the Dastardly to get revenge for the fact that the muggles had imprisoned his wife for being a witch. Instead I thought about the plan I had for Martin's dare. I noticed that Jenny was eyeing me thoughtfully, and pretended to be listening to the lecture. My plan was for Martin to disrupt Snape's exam in DADA later that week, but for Snape not to know that it was him (I didn't want to get him into too much trouble!).
As we were walking to DADA Jenny said to me "Sam, I hope you're really not considering some stupid dare. Martin could get into a lot of trouble."
"He won't!" I assured her. "Relax, it'll be fun-that's all."
Martin listened to all this with a grin. "Listen Jenny, I'm the one who's doing it, and I'm not scared, so there's no reason for you to be scared."
"I'm not scared." Jenny snapped. "I just wish for once you two would use your brains!" And she stalked off in front of us.
"Have you worked it all out yet Sam?" Alex asked eagerly.
"Not quite-I've got some of the details to go, but that's okay. I'll let you know tonight after dinner." I said.
We got to the DADA classroom before the Slytherin's did. Jenny suddenly remembered Alforth's bruise. "I wonder.." She said.
"He probably had a fight with his brother or something." I said.
"Or he ran into a door or fell down a flight of stairs hey Sam?" Jenny asked sarcastically. I was about to tell her that it was possible but the Slytherins arrived then. We all looked at Alforth. On his cheek was a faded bruise. He sensed us looking at him and glared our way.
"What the hell are you staring at?" He snapped.
"What happened to you?" Martin asked. "Mummy or Daddy get mad at ickle bitty Alforth?"
"Simms I am going to kill you." Alforth snarled, and he drew his wand out from his pocket.
"What on earth is going on here?" A voice asked from the doorway.
Alforth put his wand back into his pocket. "Nothing sir." He said sulkily.
"Hmmm." Snape replied, striding to the front of the room. "Maybe you're not too young for a duelling club after all..."
"A what sir?" One of the Slytherin girls asked.
"Nevermind. If we have one you'll know what it is." Snape said. "Now I believe you've all got essays to hand in to me."
*****
As we were walking out of the class Alforth grabbed Martin's arm and hissed, "I won't forget what you said back there Simms. You'll pay for that."
Martin snorted. "Oh no, Don't scare me Malfoy!"
Alforth shook his arm. "You think you're so damn tough, but I know you'll crack."
"Crack?" Martin repeated, and he shook his arm loose. "Make like a hockey game and get the puck out of here Malfoy."
Alforth shrugged, and moved away. "But mark my words Simms, I'll pay you back for this, if it's the last thing I do."
"Great," I muttered as Alforth and his friends walked off. "Jenny's got Patty for an enemy, and you've got Alforth. Honestly!"
"Well you've got Snape?" Martin offered. "Feel better now?"
"Yeah much better thanks." I replied sarcastically.
*****
"Well Sam, are you going to spill it or not?" Martin demanded that night. He, Alex, Henry, Jenny, Alana, Katy, Amanda and Michelle and I were seated in a corner of the common room.
"Okay," I announced as grandly as I could. "Your dare, should you chose to accept it Martin Simms-"
"-You know damn well I will!" Martin interrupted and everyone laughed.
"You're dare," I said again. "In two days time we're having a test in DADA correct?"
Nods all round.
"Well you're dare is to get us out of that test." I explained.
"SAM!" Jenny said. "You can't do that-I've studied hard for that test."
That got a few laughs, but I was determined. "Sorry Jenny." I said.
"No problems." Martin said confidently. "Um just one question though: how?"
"That's the dare you twit." I replied. "You've got to work out how to do it- and preferably without getting caught."
Martin's face fell. "Geez Sam, could you make it any harder?" He asked angrily.
"It's not that hard." I said surprised.
"Right." Martin muttered. "Excuse me people-I've got some things to do."
And he left the room, leaving us looking puzzled.
"I thought he'd love that dare." Alex said looking confused.
"Well," said Michelle quietly. "It was a pretty hard dare wasn't it? How's he going to get us all out of the test without getting caught?"
"Michelle's right Sam." Jenny agreed. "I don't think it's possible."
I frowned, a bit annoyed. "Well let Martin work that out why don't we?" I asked.
*****
The next day at breakfast I noticed that Martin wasn't speaking to me. Maybe my dare had been a bit over the top? "A BIT?" Jenny asked, not able to keep her voice down when I questioned her.
"Shh!" I hissed at her. "I was just thinking that's all. But he said he'd do anything, so this is his chance to prove it."
"Honestly Sam, you can be so pathetic sometimes." Jenny said, and she too turned away from me.
I drank my orange juice silently wondering where all the taste from the food had gone that morning. I decided to speak to Martin on the way out to the greenhouse where Herbology would be taught, but as I was leaving the Great Hall Paul got hold of me, and wanted to know how I was enjoying Hogwarts. "Are they piling on the work yet?" He asked. "Although being first year students I guess they wouldn't too much would they?"
"No, they haven't." I said, anxious to leave.
But Paul was just as anxious to talk. "I promised my family I'd keep an eye on you and Jenny, but I have to confess I've neglected my duty a bit so far, haven't I?"
"No, you've been fine. We're fine." I said, wishing he'd finish.
He sighed. "Well, if you need anything you know you can come to me don't you? Just because I'm a prefect doesn't mean I'm not human! Although Greg might disagree." He smiled at his little joke, and I smiled too.
"Will do Paul." I said. "But at the moment I've got to run. I don't want to be late for Herbology."
When I got to the greenhouse Martin was already seated between Alex and Henry and he didn't glance my way. 'Darn!' I thought unhappily. 'He's really annoyed with me about this dare thing. As soon as I get the chance to speak to him I better call it off!'
"Good morning class!" Professor Horring said happily as he strode into the room.
I felt myself groan. Not him!
"You know I've always wanted to teach Herbology. I've had many experiences with herbs. I used to work in a magic herb shop years ago when I was only a young wizard. I was working on my Masters of Magic and I needed something to help support me. The witch I was working for was a cranky old thing-she claimed that I put the wrong dates on herbs and nearly killed people, but I knew the truth-she was jealous because I knew more than her."
I glanced over at Martin-normally the two of us would be having trouble keeping from laughing at this point, but he was staring straight ahead.
Jenny however was writing busily on her parchment.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Was she really taking notes on this dribble? But then she passed the parchment over to me and I read it: HE was responsible for the students getting sick here-not Sprout! It all fits in when you think about it! And if we're going to be honest he doesn't exactly have many brains does he?
I wrote back: I never thought I'd see you critisicng him, and I sure never thought I'd see you write notes in class! But yes, you could have a point there. Do we tell anyone? I mean, it's awfully unfair for Sprout to be off "sick" over it when it wasn't her fault at all, isn't it?
She considered what I wrote and then wrote back: I'll have to think about it. P.S Make up with Martin-the two of you are miserable.
I frowned, and didn't reply to that one, but I had made up my mind to speak to Martin anyway. I got my chance after Herbology as we walked to Charms (MORE Horring!). He was reluctant to speak to me, but I ignored his reluctance.
"Listen Martin I know you're mad at me about that dare, and I'm sorry-maybe I did get carried away with it, so if you don't want to do it I won't think you're a-"
"-I admit I was a bit annoyed about it last night Sam." Martin interrupted. "However during the lecture on how Horring is an expert on pretty much everything I had an idea. Tomorrow's DADA class is going to be the most interesting one all year!"
My eyes lit up. "It is? What are you planning?" I asked.
"You're going to have to wait and see." Martin replied mysteriously. "But let's just say I can promise you fireworks Sam. But anyway, I want you to know I'm not mad at you now."
"Great." I said relieved as we walked up the hill back towards the castle. And I couldn't wait until tomorrow and DADA. It sounded like the class was going to be a lot of fun.
As we walked into charms Jenny whispered to me "Glad you two are talking again. Especially considering we've got to get back into the library to work out who Merlin is soon."
I groaned. "Honestly Jenny you're amazing." I said.
She laughed. "I'm taking that as a compliment Sam." She said.
I didn't tell her that it actually was a compliment.
The next morning on my way to breakfast I remembered something: Martin had been wrong about Jenny not finding out who Merlin was (although we still didn't know very much!) therefore he owed me a dare.
"I thought you might forget that." Martin said when I mentioned it. "But I'm game for anything-what do I have to do?"
I sighed. "Well I've just got to fine tune a few things, but more than likely the dare will have something to do with Snape." I explained.
Martin frowned, but then shrugged, wanting to act like the whole thing didn't bother him in the least.
"That's crazy." Jenny whispered to me overhearing. "Snape's not the sort of person you want to mess about with Sam-especially when he doesn't like you already."
"Relax Jenny, he won't have a clue." I said to her, biting into my sausage with relish.
"Nonetheless I wish you'd reconsider-playing a dare on Snape is like waving a red flag in front of a bull." She said unhappily.
Greg overheard this last bit. "Who's playing a trick on Snape?" He demanded.
"Weren't you?" Martin asked eagerly.
"I was.." Greg said, with a sigh. "But something went wrong, and it's on hold for a bit. But you're getting me off the topic-who's playing a trick on Snape?"
"Nobody." Jenny said.
I sighed. "Nobody." I agreed. But privately I wasn't agreeing at all. I was actually imagining the look on Snape's face when Martin did his thing.
*****
During the History of Magic I tuned out from the lecture on how the Plague muggles believe was an illness was really something cooked up by a wizard named Derrick the Dastardly to get revenge for the fact that the muggles had imprisoned his wife for being a witch. Instead I thought about the plan I had for Martin's dare. I noticed that Jenny was eyeing me thoughtfully, and pretended to be listening to the lecture. My plan was for Martin to disrupt Snape's exam in DADA later that week, but for Snape not to know that it was him (I didn't want to get him into too much trouble!).
As we were walking to DADA Jenny said to me "Sam, I hope you're really not considering some stupid dare. Martin could get into a lot of trouble."
"He won't!" I assured her. "Relax, it'll be fun-that's all."
Martin listened to all this with a grin. "Listen Jenny, I'm the one who's doing it, and I'm not scared, so there's no reason for you to be scared."
"I'm not scared." Jenny snapped. "I just wish for once you two would use your brains!" And she stalked off in front of us.
"Have you worked it all out yet Sam?" Alex asked eagerly.
"Not quite-I've got some of the details to go, but that's okay. I'll let you know tonight after dinner." I said.
We got to the DADA classroom before the Slytherin's did. Jenny suddenly remembered Alforth's bruise. "I wonder.." She said.
"He probably had a fight with his brother or something." I said.
"Or he ran into a door or fell down a flight of stairs hey Sam?" Jenny asked sarcastically. I was about to tell her that it was possible but the Slytherins arrived then. We all looked at Alforth. On his cheek was a faded bruise. He sensed us looking at him and glared our way.
"What the hell are you staring at?" He snapped.
"What happened to you?" Martin asked. "Mummy or Daddy get mad at ickle bitty Alforth?"
"Simms I am going to kill you." Alforth snarled, and he drew his wand out from his pocket.
"What on earth is going on here?" A voice asked from the doorway.
Alforth put his wand back into his pocket. "Nothing sir." He said sulkily.
"Hmmm." Snape replied, striding to the front of the room. "Maybe you're not too young for a duelling club after all..."
"A what sir?" One of the Slytherin girls asked.
"Nevermind. If we have one you'll know what it is." Snape said. "Now I believe you've all got essays to hand in to me."
*****
As we were walking out of the class Alforth grabbed Martin's arm and hissed, "I won't forget what you said back there Simms. You'll pay for that."
Martin snorted. "Oh no, Don't scare me Malfoy!"
Alforth shook his arm. "You think you're so damn tough, but I know you'll crack."
"Crack?" Martin repeated, and he shook his arm loose. "Make like a hockey game and get the puck out of here Malfoy."
Alforth shrugged, and moved away. "But mark my words Simms, I'll pay you back for this, if it's the last thing I do."
"Great," I muttered as Alforth and his friends walked off. "Jenny's got Patty for an enemy, and you've got Alforth. Honestly!"
"Well you've got Snape?" Martin offered. "Feel better now?"
"Yeah much better thanks." I replied sarcastically.
*****
"Well Sam, are you going to spill it or not?" Martin demanded that night. He, Alex, Henry, Jenny, Alana, Katy, Amanda and Michelle and I were seated in a corner of the common room.
"Okay," I announced as grandly as I could. "Your dare, should you chose to accept it Martin Simms-"
"-You know damn well I will!" Martin interrupted and everyone laughed.
"You're dare," I said again. "In two days time we're having a test in DADA correct?"
Nods all round.
"Well you're dare is to get us out of that test." I explained.
"SAM!" Jenny said. "You can't do that-I've studied hard for that test."
That got a few laughs, but I was determined. "Sorry Jenny." I said.
"No problems." Martin said confidently. "Um just one question though: how?"
"That's the dare you twit." I replied. "You've got to work out how to do it- and preferably without getting caught."
Martin's face fell. "Geez Sam, could you make it any harder?" He asked angrily.
"It's not that hard." I said surprised.
"Right." Martin muttered. "Excuse me people-I've got some things to do."
And he left the room, leaving us looking puzzled.
"I thought he'd love that dare." Alex said looking confused.
"Well," said Michelle quietly. "It was a pretty hard dare wasn't it? How's he going to get us all out of the test without getting caught?"
"Michelle's right Sam." Jenny agreed. "I don't think it's possible."
I frowned, a bit annoyed. "Well let Martin work that out why don't we?" I asked.
*****
The next day at breakfast I noticed that Martin wasn't speaking to me. Maybe my dare had been a bit over the top? "A BIT?" Jenny asked, not able to keep her voice down when I questioned her.
"Shh!" I hissed at her. "I was just thinking that's all. But he said he'd do anything, so this is his chance to prove it."
"Honestly Sam, you can be so pathetic sometimes." Jenny said, and she too turned away from me.
I drank my orange juice silently wondering where all the taste from the food had gone that morning. I decided to speak to Martin on the way out to the greenhouse where Herbology would be taught, but as I was leaving the Great Hall Paul got hold of me, and wanted to know how I was enjoying Hogwarts. "Are they piling on the work yet?" He asked. "Although being first year students I guess they wouldn't too much would they?"
"No, they haven't." I said, anxious to leave.
But Paul was just as anxious to talk. "I promised my family I'd keep an eye on you and Jenny, but I have to confess I've neglected my duty a bit so far, haven't I?"
"No, you've been fine. We're fine." I said, wishing he'd finish.
He sighed. "Well, if you need anything you know you can come to me don't you? Just because I'm a prefect doesn't mean I'm not human! Although Greg might disagree." He smiled at his little joke, and I smiled too.
"Will do Paul." I said. "But at the moment I've got to run. I don't want to be late for Herbology."
When I got to the greenhouse Martin was already seated between Alex and Henry and he didn't glance my way. 'Darn!' I thought unhappily. 'He's really annoyed with me about this dare thing. As soon as I get the chance to speak to him I better call it off!'
"Good morning class!" Professor Horring said happily as he strode into the room.
I felt myself groan. Not him!
"You know I've always wanted to teach Herbology. I've had many experiences with herbs. I used to work in a magic herb shop years ago when I was only a young wizard. I was working on my Masters of Magic and I needed something to help support me. The witch I was working for was a cranky old thing-she claimed that I put the wrong dates on herbs and nearly killed people, but I knew the truth-she was jealous because I knew more than her."
I glanced over at Martin-normally the two of us would be having trouble keeping from laughing at this point, but he was staring straight ahead.
Jenny however was writing busily on her parchment.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Was she really taking notes on this dribble? But then she passed the parchment over to me and I read it: HE was responsible for the students getting sick here-not Sprout! It all fits in when you think about it! And if we're going to be honest he doesn't exactly have many brains does he?
I wrote back: I never thought I'd see you critisicng him, and I sure never thought I'd see you write notes in class! But yes, you could have a point there. Do we tell anyone? I mean, it's awfully unfair for Sprout to be off "sick" over it when it wasn't her fault at all, isn't it?
She considered what I wrote and then wrote back: I'll have to think about it. P.S Make up with Martin-the two of you are miserable.
I frowned, and didn't reply to that one, but I had made up my mind to speak to Martin anyway. I got my chance after Herbology as we walked to Charms (MORE Horring!). He was reluctant to speak to me, but I ignored his reluctance.
"Listen Martin I know you're mad at me about that dare, and I'm sorry-maybe I did get carried away with it, so if you don't want to do it I won't think you're a-"
"-I admit I was a bit annoyed about it last night Sam." Martin interrupted. "However during the lecture on how Horring is an expert on pretty much everything I had an idea. Tomorrow's DADA class is going to be the most interesting one all year!"
My eyes lit up. "It is? What are you planning?" I asked.
"You're going to have to wait and see." Martin replied mysteriously. "But let's just say I can promise you fireworks Sam. But anyway, I want you to know I'm not mad at you now."
"Great." I said relieved as we walked up the hill back towards the castle. And I couldn't wait until tomorrow and DADA. It sounded like the class was going to be a lot of fun.
As we walked into charms Jenny whispered to me "Glad you two are talking again. Especially considering we've got to get back into the library to work out who Merlin is soon."
I groaned. "Honestly Jenny you're amazing." I said.
She laughed. "I'm taking that as a compliment Sam." She said.
I didn't tell her that it actually was a compliment.
