Happy New Year to all! Sorry about the delay in posting a new chapter. Uncharacteristic of me I know, but hopefully now that the holidays are over I'll have more time again to write.

You'll hopefully forgive me if the chapters are a little further apart since I've recently started seeing someone after a year away from the dating scene. (No, I don't mean Severus.) He's tall, cute, has amazing hazel-green eyes, and is an absolute gentleman. He hasn't read Harry Potter, but don't you fret - if I can make Snape fans out of Gryffindors, I can make an HP fan out of someone that already likes children's books! I'll keep you guys posted. ;)









Fred the Marauder ~*~





The night of the party at Hogwarts was a dark one, as the moon was waning close to its lowest point, and deep clouds that threatened rain were moving across the sky.

Inside the castle, students and staff alike were getting ready to make their way to the great hall where everything had been put in place for the evening's festivities.

Hermione looked quite natural in the jeans and green t-shirt that she chose to wear for the event, and she smiled as she saw Harry and Ron come down from the boys dormitory, dressed for the occasion. It wasn't so odd seeing Harry dressed the way he was, but Ron? She smiled to herself as she looked him over. He was wearing jeans and a muggle t-shirt that read 'Who are you, and why are you reading my shirt?'

His brothers followed not long after, both wearing outrageous tie-dye shirts that clashed with their red hair. They looked like the cat that had eaten the proverbial canary, and Hermione knew that they intended to go through with whatever mischief they intended to manage tonight.

Harry approached her as Ron stopped to huddle in the corner with his two older siblings for a moment. "You look nice," he commented reading her shirt. He smiled as he read the Latin across the front. 'Quot Libros. Quam Breve Tempus.'

"Thanks." She said, knowing that this shade of green agreed with her coloring. "So do you." She said wryly.

Harry grinned and looked down at his attire. He wore jeans and an old t-shirt that Hermione had helped him to come up with. It was red with a large yellow lightening bolt down the center. He didn't have any trouble poking a little fun at himself, and he was sure that it was going to be a good one for irritating the likes of Malfoy and Snape.

Ron joined them. "They're going through with it tonight." He announced with a backwards glance at Fred and George. "Hey, 'Mione. You look great. Just like a muggle in fact." Ron grinned.

"I consider that a compliment." She said, but smiled back at her friend. "Shall we go?" She asked her male companions. They nodded and she walked out of the common room arm in arm with each of them. This was going to be an interesting evening, she was sure.





As the three of them neared the great hall along with many of the other students, muffled music could be heard, and Hermione heard it suddenly blare louder as they opened the doors and walked into the large room. Half of the staff and student body were already there and she busied herself looking around to see what everyone was wearing.

The students were amusing in their attempts at muggle dress, but it was Professor McGonagall that caught Hermione's eye first, and she tugged on Ron's sleeve and nodded toward their head of house. "Look at McGonagall!" She whispered.

Ron looked where she had indicated and had all he could do not to let his mouth fall open. The Deputy headmistress had left behind her heavy robes and traditional witch's hat and was wearing a simple red linen dress that came to just below her knees. She was wearing heels, and her hair was in a soft elegant updo that was a wide departure form the bun she customarily wore under her hat. The only telltale remnant left of her witch's wardrobe was the lion-crested brooch that she now wore on the dress.

"She's wearing make up!" Hermione whispered.

"She actually looks great." Harry commented, just as surprised as the other two.

"It's not polite to stare." An amused female voice whispered, just behind Harry and Hermione. They turned to see who had spoken, and their eyes went even wider when they realized the woman in the cowboy hat was the Nemorosi healer. She was wearing dark gray suede - a mini skirt and fringed vest that matched the color of the hat, and low boots. "Professor McGonagall looks lovely, don't you think?" Lorien asked.

"Unexpectedly so." Hermione answered as she started to smile. "It's not what I would have pictured her in." She said pointedly, looking at Lorien's attire.

Lorien took her meaning and shrugged. She smiled. "It's boring being predictable, don't you agree, Miss Granger?"

Hermione returned the smile.







A short distance away, George Weasley was trying to steady his brother after Fred, who still had a crush on the medical witch, had seen the length of the skirt she was wearing. It wasn't that it was inappropriately short, it was just that it was such a departure from traditional witch's long robes.

Fred wasn't the only one that had seen what Lorien was wearing, and it was only a moment before Sirius and Remus made their way over to speak with her. Sirius was wearing black jeans and the shirt that Kaneene gave him, and Lorien and the three teenage Gryffindors began to laugh as they read the words. Remus was wearing faded jeans and a red shirt with large white flowers on it.

"That shirt is perfect, Sirius." Lorien commented.

He grinned. "K made it for me with a little help from Remus here."

"Is she coming to the party?" Lorien asked.

"Later, when she gets off duty." Sirius replied.

Remus spoke up with a gleam in his eye. "Nice hat."

Lorien pouted playfully.

"Actually, you look great," he said, and she smiled in thanks at him.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Professor." Hermione said impishly. "You've got a bit of a Magnum, PI thing going on there." She said appreciatively, looking at the Hawaiian shirt he was wearing.

"A what?" He asked.

"Nevermind." She said, rolling her eyes a little.

Remus spotted Marlina, and excused himself from the group, and both Hermione and Lorien noted as he walked away that the jeans he was wearing didn't look all that bad on his recently burned anatomy.







Marlina was looking around the room that was rapidly becoming full as more students arrived, and she finally saw Remus approaching her from where he had left Sirius and Lorien. She smiled shyly at him from under her favorite hat, wondering what he would think about what she was wearing. In addition to the safari hat she usually wore, Marlie was wearing khaki as usual, but a lot less of it. She wore a camp shirt and khaki shorts with short wool socks and boots, looking like she just stepped out of an old Tarzan movie.

Remus looked her over as he neared, and swallowing hard, decided that if she was going to spend very much time dressed like that around him, he was going to have to send her to the library to read a back issue of JAMWW. "You look fantastic." He said, placing a hand on her arm as he stepped close.

"Thanks. You look pretty good too." She was blushing a little as she noticed the way he was looking at her. Not that she minded.







Sirius had put Colin and Seamus in charge of the music, and it wasn't long before groups of students, especially the sixth and seventh years were out dancing in the middle of the room. Sirius looked past them and noted that a large Slytherin contingent had arrived with Draco Malfoy, many of them wearing black t-shirts with muggle heavy metal band insignia on them. He picked Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy out of the group and made a mental note to keep track of them. He didn't want them causing any trouble at the party.

Sirius also had reminded himself to try to keep track of Fred and George tonight. If he were in their place, this would be the perfect night to pull some sort of stunt. He smiled at a few humorous memories and turned back to Lorien, who was watching the door to the room. "Come on, Nature Girl." He said, taking the hat off her head and placing it on his own. He took her by the hand and led her through the students.

"What are we doing?" She asked.

"You're going to dance with me." He said, smiling impishly, and noted the look of reluctance she was wearing. "Oh, come on. You're staff, and you need to set a good example for the students." He teased her.

She sighed. "Alright, if you insist, Jailbird." She laughed when he made a face at her and then joined him in the group of dancing students.









Snape walked rapidly down the corridor toward the great hall, muttering under his breath the whole way. "Can't believe this....absolutely absurd....what I have to go through.....never should have agreed...."

He opened the door to the great hall and was assaulted by the loud music and sounds of conversation and laughter. He took a deep breath and stepped into the room, and surveyed the scene before him. Students were mingling everywhere, eating pizza, talking and dancing. He spotted Dumbledore part way across the room and squinted a bit to determine who he was talking to. Damn. Was that Minerva? He didn't think she would actually do it. By the way she was looking at him while he walked up to where she was speaking with the headmaster, she evidently was thinking the same thing about him.

"Albus. Minerva." He acknowledged the pair. Dumbledore was wearing khakis and a red polo shirt with the Hogwarts crest embroidered on one side.

"Ah, Severus." Said the headmaster. "So glad you've joined the festivities."

"I wouldn't miss it." Snape replied facetiously.

McGonagall was obviously amused as she looked him over. "Severus, obsidian instead of ebony tonight?"

Snape frowned at her. She was making light of the fact that he was wearing black? What did she expect? Fuschia?

McGonagall continued. "Seriously Severus. You look very muggle. Very.... chic."

Snape's eyes glittered dangerously as he considered McGonagall's comments. Compliment or insult? Probably both knowing Minerva. He was about to offer up a scathing retort and then decided to change tactics. "Thank you." He said graciously, moving to stand close to the older witch. "And you, Minerva. You look lovely tonight in that muggle dress. I honestly didn't know you had it in you."

He'd excused himself by the time McGonagall started to wonder if he'd meant that he didn't know she had it in her to dress muggle or to look lovely. She frowned as she realized she'd probably have to give that round to Severus.

Ignoring the way students kept glancing at him as he passed, Snape found a vantage point that he could survey most of the room from, and started down his mental checklist of 'People To Keep Track Of' for the evening. Potter, Granger, Weasley, Weasley, Weasley, Weasley, Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle...he ticked each one off in his head as he noted their whereabouts.

When he was satisfied that he'd accounted for all the students he needed to, he set about searching for the staff members that he wanted to keep an eye on. Well, staff member. He found her and then did a double take and frowned. He didn't like what he saw at all. Not only was Lorien wearing something that revealed a lot more than her normal witch's robes did, (not that in private he'd mind) but Sirius Black had his hands on her hips as she danced with him, and he could see she was obviously enjoying herself as she moved with Black in a way that caused Snape to grit his teeth.

'Friends.....they're just friends.' Snape reminded himself. He knew it to be so, and besides, didn't Black have his eye on that auror? He had to make a conscious effort to stop drumming his fingers against his elbow when he'd folded his arms.







The music changed and Lorien finished dancing with Sirius. She was laughing with him when she finally saw that Severus had arrived in the great hall, and she smiled, trying to hide her surprise at seeing him dressed in other than his favored black robes. He was wearing black from head to toe of course, but tonight it was tailored Armani and Lorien amusedly thought to herself that even when it came to muggle clothes, the man had expensive taste.

She excused herself from the dance floor. "I'll catch up with you later." She said, leaning close to Sirius so that he could hear her.

Sirius looked momentarily puzzled and then followed Lorien's gaze to where Snape was standing near the wall. It amused him to catch the displeased expression the Head of Slytherin was wearing for a moment, and he shook his head as he thought to himself for the thousandth time that his Nemorosi friend had the oddest taste in male companions. He watched Snape watch Lorien intently as she walked toward him and then decided grudgingly that the man didn't look half bad in those clothes. He shrugged and decided to make sure he knew where the Weasley twins were.







Lorien made it through the throng and stood next to Snape, speaking to him but not looking at him as they kept an eye on the student body. "I see you finally made it." She said.

"Of course." He said from where he was standing next to her, also not looking at her as he noted where Potter and Weasley were.

She smiled to herself. "Severus, you look very....."

"If you say chic, Lorien, you're dead." He said as he bristled.

She smiled without looking at him again, and leaned sideways to speak quietly to him. "I was about to say 'cool'." She informed him.

"Oh." He said quietly, and relaxed visibly. He spotted Malfoy across the room, and then spoke to her again. "Do you think that skirt is short enough?" He asked, scanning the room until he found the Weasley twins.

She moved just enough to the side to brush against him and spoke softly. "I suppose the real question is, 'do you?'" She looked his way.

He finally looked at her, and although his expression remained neutral, she could hear the amusement in his voice. "Not by half." He answered as his eyes locked on hers. "That is, if you weren't parading around in the great hall."

She rolled her eyes. "I am not parading, Professor."

"If you say so."

"Look, if you'd rather not be seen with me." She teased.

"Stop being ridiculous." He scolded softly.

"Fine, then ask me to dance." She issued it as a challenge.

Snape faced her and stepped so close that Lorien swore he was going to kiss her there in the crowded room. He spoke in a low voice. "What I would like to do, and what I will do this evening, are entirely two different things, Lorien. Is that clear?"

"Perfectly." She looked away, a little hurt.

"Besides," Snape continued, "you apparently already have a dance partner."

Lorien groaned inwardly. Was he really going to start all that Sirius Black nonsense again? "Severus, Sirius was only.." She stopped when she saw him shake his head and look past her again, indicating she should look as well. Did he find something funny? She turned in time to see a very determined looking Fred Weasley walking her way. Lorien looked quickly back at Severus and gave him a panicked look.

"I suggest you accept Mr. Weasley's invitation." He said with amusement. "He should be rewarded for that Gryffindor courage of his, don't you think?" Severus said wryly. He knew that it was known in Potter's circle of friends that the Nemorosi witch was....well, his.

"Excuse me, Mistress Lorien?" Fred had arrived. "Would you care to dance?" He glanced a little nervously at Snape, who feigned indifference and went back to his surveillance.

She smiled warmly at the red haired teenager. "Of course, Fred." She took his proffered arm, and Snape watched them go to the dance floor.







Across the room, Sirius and Remus were amusing themselves watching the younger Gryffindor walk up to Lorien right in front of Snape and take her to the dance floor.

"Kid's got guts." Sirius commented.

"I'll say." Said Remus.

They watched for a few moments to see if Snape reacted, but apparently the black clad Slytherin was as amused as they were.







Lorien placed one hand on Fred's shoulder and felt his hand close tentatively on her other. His free hand he put on her waist, and she swore that the boy's hand was shaking. "There's no need to be nervous." She whispered kindly. "You're doing fine."

"Really?" He asked.

"Definitely. She said.

Fred smiled at her and confidently pulled her closer, not shaking in the least. "I'm glad you think so." He said, and Lorien thought she heard a bit of mischief in his voice.

"You weren't really nervous at all, were you?" She asked, accusing him with a smile.

"Nah. Just thought I ought to make it look good in front of Mr. Suave Slytherin over there." He quipped.

Lorien snickered and then rapidly composed herself. "Fred, please, a little respect. He's your professor." She said, trying to scold him a little as they danced.

"Ok. Professor Suave Slytherin it is." He agreed.

Lorien couldn't help but laugh again as Fred swept her around the floor.









George, Harry and Ron had made it out of the great hall and were heading to the rendezvous point where they would meet Fred in a few minutes not far from the Astronomy tower.

George shook his head as he ran. "Can't believe he pulled it off."

"Who, Fred?" Ron asked his brother.

"Yeah. She actually agreed to dance with him, can you believe it?" George asked.

"You knew she would." Harry huffed alongside as they ran.

"Yeah, I did. So did Fred. He's a bloody genius for coming up with that diversion. Had Snape's and Black's attention just long enough." George snickered appreciatively at his brother's manipulation of the situation.

"Just long enough for us to get by them." Ron agreed, slightly in awe of his older brother's audacity. He grinned at Harry, who grinned back.









By the time Lorien was thanking Fred for the dance, Sirius was looking around in a more determined fashion for George Weasley. He didn't see him anywhere.

At the same time, across the room, Severus had found that he'd lost track of Harry and Ron, and he became more concerned when he saw the way Black was obviously scanning the crowd. He strode quickly through the heart of the party and up to Black. "Who's missing?" He asked quickly.

"Can't find George Weasley." Sirius replied.

"Potter and the younger Weasley are missing as well." Snape informed him, awaiting his reaction.

"It's probably nothing." Sirius said. "Fred is still here, and they wouldn't.." He stopped what he was saying and looked around. Now he'd lost Fred. "Not good." He said, shaking his head.

Snape thought it over for a moment. How did they both lose track of four people? Then it dawned on him as it apparently dawned on Black. The Weasleys had created a subtle diversion. He decided to check up on Malfoy once more, and felt relieved when he saw Crabbe and Goyle out of the corner of his eye. He turned to Black. "Shall we split up and look for them before they....." Snape whirled around again, realizing that he'd only seen Crabbe and Goyle. Sure enough, there was no sigh of Malfoy.

"Damn!" Snape swore as he faced Black. "Malfoy is missing as well."











A/N: For those of you who aren't fluent in Latin, Hermione's shirt says 'So many books, so little time.' And of course, Harry's shirt is like those old Captain Marvel t-shirts that used to be around. (Shazam!)

For those of you that are Ginny/Harry shippers, I recommend a little WIP by JennaMae. It's called Miss Hogwarts, and in it the Gryffs talk Harry into entering a beauty contest in drag to raise money for an orphanage. It's cute and funny and her take on Ginny is very good. http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=1106424&chapter=1

Next chapter we liven things up a little...or maybe a lot.