ch9

Valentines Day, the most loathed holiday for Stacey. She didn't want to get up and out of bed; this was the one holiday that put her in the worst mood. The last thing she needed was to go and face "Happy" people and the love struck atmosphere of the students. "Bhlack" she said at the thought of how the school was going to be decorated. Last night at the staff meeting Lockheart made it very clear that he would be doing the decorating for the school and this gave Stacey the sensation of wanting to puke up all her food from the dinner she had. Snape didn't look any better.

After she got dressed she hesitated at the door knob. Did she really want to find out what was beyond the safety of her door? 'no'....But she knew that sooner or later she would have to make an appearance at the Great Hall for breakfast. Slowly she turned the door knob, closed her eyes, stepped out of her room and shut the door behind her. When she found the courage to open her eyes she was horror struck. "What the fuck happened to the school?!" she spat. Everything was pink. From head to toe and there were floating hearts everywhere. But nothing was as bad as what she saw next. Flying cherubs. Yes ladies and gentleman, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was now home to the evil flying cherub things! Oh the horror of it all. For Stacey this was like stepping into your worst nightmare and not being able to wake up from it. Shacking her head in disgust she ran back in her room, grabbed her tennis racket and walked to the great hall just waiting for one of those stupid little winged babies to get in her way for her to slaughter on sight. *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* After coming across and disposing of two cherubs, Stacey finally made it to the great hall only too discover a more horrid sight then what she had already came across. Pink smoke covered the floor and more of those Stupid miniature cupid things were flying around delivering valentines. The enchanted ceiling was raining hearts that disappeared before they hit the floor. It smelled like candy and flowers. 'Oh my god..I've died and gone to hell!' She thought. What made it even worse was that the children seemed to be enjoying the little make over job that the school had received. 'There all demented...every last one of them.' She was in the land of the idiots and there, at the head table, sat their leader. Dressed in pink robes and surrounded by 50 or so valentines. As she made her way to her seat she could hear students mumbling and felt them cringe as she walked by. They could tell that today was not a good day to mess with the blood thirsty muggel studies teacher.

Reaching her seat she plopped down and dropped her racket next to her. If one more of those stupid cherubs comes near me again I'll be all to glad to get my hands around Gilidory throat and just... She was cut off by her train of though by a very worried and somewhat scared Minerva staring at her.

"WHAT!" spat Stacey. Minerva jumped a little but didn't lose her composure

"Stacey, do you think you could possible calm down a little. After all it is Valati...." Stacey growled (Literally) at Minerva, who by this point moved her chair a little further away from her for fear that Stacey might blow up or self combust.

"Minerva, I do not need a reminder as to what holiday it is. After all..." She gestured to one of the cherubs that flew over head. "How could you not know?" Minerva just stared at her for a short wile and turned to the head master and started to talk to him. Stacey was about to turn toward her food and eat but had suddenly lost her appetite. Even her food was decorated in festive colors of pink and red. It's times like this when she wished she was color blind. Pushing her food away she glanced at Severus's plate only to find that his food was in normal color.

"Severus mind me asking why your food isn't tainted by the evil that has been unleashed in Hogwarts." Severus couldn't help but give a little smile. It was the first time he had ever come across a person who hated Valentines Day almost as much as he did. "What did you do? Threaten the house elves?"

"Indeed" he looked at the tennis racket and then back at her. "And what, may I ask, is that?"

"Oh this" She picked up the racket." Well for right now, it's a giant cherub swatter." She had set it back down and signaled a house elf that had just passed by. "Hey ummm...Dobby was it?" the scared little elf made his was over to her, he didn't forget the last encounter he had with her. It wasn't pleasant.

"Yes Miss, What can Dobby do for Miss Stacey."

"Could you possibly take away this food and bring out a few fire whiskies." The house elf nodded and with a 'pop' he was gone, taking the food with him.

"Isn't it a little early to become even more senseless then you already are?" Stacey glared at him

"That's the point!" Suddenly there was another 'pop' and dobby had placed two fire whiskies in front of her and left again She picked up the first one and downed it in one gulp. "Unlike you, I don't have a dungeon to lock myself away in while a plague of cherubs infests the school."

"I do not lock myself away in the dungeons! Like you I too must suffer the company of the inept students."

"It's not the students that bother me."

"Oh and what pray tell does?" As if on cue a happy cherub with a heart in its hand, landed in front of Stacey and did a little dance. Her face grew cold and irate. With lighting reflexes she grabbed the tennis racket with her left hand and smacked it on the table where the cherub once stood. The noise ran threw the grate hall and everyone stopped to stare at the teacher's table. All eyes were on her; Feeling stupid she slowly removed the racket from the table took another shot of fire whiskey and left threw the back door.

Severus seemed to be happy with the damage she did; on the table lay the remains of the cherub although it didn't look too much like a cherub anymore. Gilidory on the other hand seemed torn between pissed and upset. How dare she destroy one of his creations, he would have to speak to Albus about her behavior later In the mean time it might be best to remove the end trails from the table.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Stacey power walked to her classroom, she had to get away from all the festivity that came with Valentines day. Just try and let somebody stop her, she'd spit fire. And if another one of those blasted winged bastards came within 2 feet of her she would march up to Lockheart and express her gratitude for his design to the school. She had 7th year Griffindor and Ravenclaw for her 1st class of the day. She shouldn't have to much of a problem as long as they kept their mouths shut and didn't move for the entire period. She was planning a free period today since she didn't trust herself to teach, not on this day anyway. In a hurry to get to class she didn't notice the person walking in the opposite direction coming toward her. Stacey walked into someone and had landed backwards on the ground. What the....who the hell hit me! She though. Looking straight ahead, she saw exactly who it was.

"Watch were your going Trelawney." she leered at her. Sibyll ignored her rudeness and promptly got up and looked down at Stacey.

"Stacey I must speak to you. Would it be possible if sometime later today you could stop by my classroom?" Rolling her eyes she stood up and gave a sigh. It probably had something to do with the door that was blown up.

"If I must."

"Good, see you later then" Stacey gave her a sweetly evil smile and nodded her head. The older woman ignored her and continued on her way.

"Bitch" spat Stacey in a low muffled voice. She didn't like that quack pot at all. Trelawney had been acting strange for the past few weeks. Stacey had to cover her class several times because she would mysteriously "disappear", and rarely showed up at dinner. In the muggel world she would probably fit in with those 1-800-dial a physic.

Finally, she made it to her classroom and was happy to see it wasn't touched by the "evil" that had infected the rest of the school. Quickly she made her way over to her desk and sat down to relax. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Stacey gave a moan. 'Now what?' she plowed her head aginst the top of the desk.

"If you don't have wings or an arrow you may come in." the door slowly opened to reveal a brightly smiling Laurelle

"You know you risk having your teeth removed if you keep smiling like that." She walked in and closed the door behind her.

"Gee aren't we in a bad mood today?"

"Oh, what ever gave you that idea?"

"Humm lets see. Could it be the little black cloud that seems to be hovering above you or the fact that nearly half of the cherubs have somehow mysteriously vanished. Oh and lets not forget the little stunt you pulled this morning at breakfast." Laurelle began to laugh.

"I find those stupid things to be annoying and the fact that I ran into the divination teacher didn't help to raise my spirits any." She put her feet up on the table "Hopefully I won't have a disaster in class today. Something tells me that something bad is going to happen and I don't like it."

"The only thing bad that could happen on a day like this is if someone were to give you a Valentine." Stacey glared at her and Laurelle shook her head "Isn't there the slightest chance you could ever like Valentines day?"

"Yea, sure. When the harvest moon is out in the daytime and I see a purple bunny dancing the Irish jig with a yellow dragon while watching the dancers from river dance do a tap number on one of the great hall tables." she gave a small smirk

"Look there goes one now!" Stacey eyed Laurelle and Laurelle gives a sigh "I'll take that as a no."

"Smart girl, 50 points to Griffindor."

"For what?"

"Come back and ask me that again when I'm a bit more sober."

The bell rang and five minutes later the students started to come into class. Laurelle took her seat up in the front and put her feet on the desk. Stacey waited for everyone to be seated before she got up and stared at her class with an evil look plastered on her face. No one moved, they had never seen anyone like this before (Well except for Snape, but he was like that all the time.) and it scared them. Stacey could feel the tension in the room and it made her smile even more.

"I expect 'No one' to interrupt this class. I am not in the mood for silly games. I don't want to see Valentines, hearts, candy, the color red, or any cuddling "Just then rob stands up and hugs Laurelle. Stacey smacks her hand on the desk and takes of 50 points from Ravenclaw. Rob then sits back down with a scowl on his face "If I see someone crying 300 points will be taken from your house. Personally I don't give a dame ladies if your boyfriend dumped you or gentlemen if your lady found another. This is not a guidance office and I am not here to deal with your problems. And if I see any of those pixy things come into my room to deliver a poem or whatever the person who it came for will be receiving detention with Filch. GOT IT!" Everyone gave a nod, their eyes wide in shock. "Good, now this is a free period, so do homework or something, one word from any of you and I'll be all to glad to kick you out of the class. literally." They all stared at her. "Well GET STARTED!" The class jumped and as quickly as they could got out some parchment and began to do work. Stacey made her way back to her seat and thought to herself 'Severus Snape eat your heart out.'

Class was going well, no one dared to make a sound or even bothered to raise a hand to go to the bathroom. Stacey sat at her desk watching and waiting for the bell to ring. The sooner this class was over the better , but all period, she couldn't help that something was wrong. A Ravenclaw named Russell Simpsion had kept staring at the door then at Laurelle then at stacey and finally back at the door. Not to mention the bothering smile that was stretching from ear to ear.

"Mr. Simpsion, what may I ask is so interesting about that door and Miss. Wallach that you must continue to stare from one to the other, Hummmm? " she tapped her fingers on the desk boardly.

"Umm well you see Professor Vitale I....Ummm I..." Before he could finish the door slammed open and in flew a cherub. For some reason this cherub didn't look right. It looked a little crazy and infected. Its eyes looked like swirls of black, almost like it was demented. Stacey stood up, panic struck threw her as it took out a bow and arrow. 'Wait a minute...the cherubs don't have bows and arrows!? This doesn't look good!' The cherub took off flying around the room and bouncing off the walls. The class was ducking under the desks and some were even trying to catch the little bugger. They knew what would happen if it shot an arrow at somebody. Suddenly the cherub stopped and pointed a red arrow at Laurelle.

"Laurelle duck!" Laurelle took cover under the table just as the cherub shot the arrow, hitting Russell instead. The sight would have been funny if the cherub didn't turn on her and start shooting a different type of arrow. These arrows were black and contained an explosive. Stacey knew that it was aiming directly at her because no matter where she moved it seemed to follow. She had to do something; the students were all trying to get out the door at once. Well almost everybody. Laurelle was standing there blushing while rob and Russell were fighting on the ground. While Stacey was dodging the onslaught of explosives she managed to get her racked and hurl herself at the infected cherub. With one quick swing it was destroyed leaving black smoke in it's remains.

"EVERYBODY SIT DOWN AND SHUTUP!" the students at the door were silent and had stopped moving, Rob had stopped pummeling Russell but was still on top of him grabbing his collar. Laurelle had moved to Stacey's side to help her up. "Mr. Mayor I suggest you remove yourself from Mr. Simpsion." Rob nodded his head and got off Russell. Stacey made her way over to him and lifted the little brat off the floor. "Mr. Simpsion, you have a lot of explaining to do!"

"But Professor Vitale I didn't..."

"SHUTUP!" Russell's eyes grew wide and he gave a nod. "Laurelle, please watch the class while I escort Mr. Simpsion to the hospital wing."

"Ok" while she was making her way to the door Russell got down on his knees again and was professing his undying love for Laurelle.

"Oh my sweet, your eyes are purer then the purest river. Ah how do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." rolling her eyes, Stacey walked up to Russell again and literally dragged him from the classroom while one of Rob's friends was trying to hold him back. In the hall way Stacey noticed she was bleeding badly. 'I'm sure it's nothing poppy can't take care of.'

"Mind telling me Mr. Simpsion why you decided to bring one of those...things...in my classroom?"

"Yes"

"Yes what?"

"Yes, I mind telling you." Stacey gripped his shoulder harder making him wince

"That was not the right answer Mr. Simpsion. Care to try again?"

"No"

"Fine, then you can answer to Professor Dumbledor as to why you decided to almost kill a teacher" he gave a hard and evil look while Stacey just rolled her eyes again. "And do one more thing. Cut the evil crap. It doesn't suit you." *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "POPPY!" Poppy was startled by the entrance that Stacey had made. She had burst threw the door with a very angry Russell dragging behind her. Poppy took one look at Russell's broken nose and shook her head.

"Fighting again were we Mr.Simpsion?" Russell gave something between a snort and a growl. Stacey was about to leave but suddenly felt very light headed and had fell into a chair. Poppy took one look at Stacey's bleeding leg and had gotten her into a bed while calling Albus threw the fireplace.

"Look Poppy I.." ignoring her poppy continued to call Albus.

"Albus come quick! I think you need to see this!" Two seconds later Albus came from the fire place while Stacey was attempting to make an exit threw the door. Tip toeing, she quietly got about half way across the room but all to soon her feet were glued to the ground and she couldn't move. Clutching her fists she whirled around to face a very impatient looking poppy and a bemused looking Albus.

"Poppy this isn't funny. I'm fine it's just a little scratch now can I please go back to my classroom."

"A little scratch? Stacey you have a laceration that cuts to the bone. And if you do not sit down this instant Albus and I will be forced to use a full body bind on you." Oh yea that's all she needed was to be bound and forced to lie on a bed while she gets her leg poked at. Thinking that meaby it might be a better idea to sit instead of being bound she walked (hobbeled) to the bed and plopped herself down while Poppy ran her wand over the deep wound.

"Stacey how did you receive such a wound?" Asked Albus.

"You can thank Mr. Simpsion for that. It seems that he though it might be funny to 'blow me up' and get a girl friend in the process. Oh and Mr. Simpsion that will be 100 points from Ravenclaw for fighting and another 300 for that stunt you pulled. Nice job by the way to bad it was ineffective because as soon as I'm feeling better you will be serving detention for the rest of the year!" Russell was mumbling something but it was to low for anyone to hear. Stacey unaware that Poppy was still examineing her leg and gave a yelp of pain when she put a special ointment on her cut. "Ouch! Watch it. That burns."

"I'm sorry. Stacey, you will have to spend a few days here. It seems that you have lost a lot of blood and I don't trust you to go out on your own."

"What! there is no way I'm staying here while......" Poppy raised her hand to silence her.

"Not one more word. If you sit down and behave I might let you out by tomorrow. If you don't behave then I will keep you here for a week. Pick your choice." Crossing her arms she leered at Poppy. "Good, that's what I though." Albus walked over to Stacey and put a warm hand on her shoulder.

"Stacey when you get out of the Hospital wing I would like you to do me something."

"Sure, what."

"I would like you to take a look at the letter your dad sent you." She was a bit confused. What would her dad's letter have anything to do with this? Well best not to question the man that seemed to know everything.

"Sure uhhh ok." Satisfied with her answer Albus made his way over to the fire place and stepped into the green flames to disappear once more.

"Here take this." Stacey turned her head to look at the very iterated Poppy that was standing behind her holding a bottle of blue liquid.

"What is that?" she said pointing a finger at the bottle.

"Dreamless sleep potion."

"Dreamless what what?"

"Dreamless sleep potion. I will have no arguments out of you young lady. Either you take it or I find someone to force you to take it." Humm what ever happened to the kind and loving school nurse. This woman was practically like a over protective mother. Poppy pulled out the stopper from the vile and Stacey held her nose in distaste. The potion smelled like old gym socks and was so potent that it could be smelled even from where she was sitting. If Poppy though for one milla second that she was going to take that potion then she was sadly mistaken.

"There is no way in hell I'm taking that. It smells rancid."

"Like I said before. A one week stay. Make your pick Stacey."

"I rather stay here for a week then down that hellish liquid." Stacey could have swarn she heard Poppy mutter something that sounded strangely like' The blasted girl is worst then Severus' and who was it that walked threw the door that very instant. Well none other than (dun dun dun duuun) Severus Snape himself. Carrying what looked like to be a box of small bottles that resembled the one that was in poppy's hand. Poppy's smile grew 10 fold as she approached Severus. The woman was scheming aginst her no doubt in her mind.

"Ah, Severus, there you are. I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

"Poppy I'm fairly busy with other more important things and I have no time too...."

"This will only take a second. You see I'm having a problem here coaxing Stacey to take the Dreamless sleep drought and..." Without another word he quickly grabbed the bottle from Poppy's hand and gracefully made his way over to Stacey's bed.

"Open!" he barked, but she simply crossed her arms to her chest and shook her head. She knew she looked like a child, but what did she care. There was no way she was taking that crap. Rolling his eyes in exasperation he took his free hand and pinched her nose so she couldn't breathe. It was now a waiting game. Severus knew that she would eventually have to breathe, but obviously someone forgot to tell Stacey that. He had to wait a little over a minute until finally she could stand the pain in her lungs no longer and had opened her mouth to breathe. She was relieved when the breath took the pressure off her lungs but it was only a momentary comfort. For as soon as her mouth opened the bottle was jabbed in and she had no choice but to drink the contents.

"Oh my god it's worst then I though!" She said coughing, but was soon overcome with the erge to sleep and soon drifted off to la la land.

A.N: ah yes the long awaited chapter.. I am fully pleased to announce that these are my real feelings toward that blasted holiday...yuck...ok hope you enjoyed...and yes now there is a plot..gasp!