Hogwarts Friends, Hogwarts Enemies

Chapter 3 – Surprise!

Whispers in the corridor travelled down to the listener in the shadows.

"Where will we go?"

"Could do Gryffindor common room."

"Don't be silly. He'll be disappointed if Geoff, Sev and Mandy aren't there…"

"Mandy's not coming?"

"Oh, you know Remus… he's got a soft spot for the loud mouth."

"We'll smuggle them in!"

"Remus has a soft spot for Mandy? When she spends all her time dripping over Severus?"

"Cool it, Siri, cool it. Peter…" A pause. "Yeah… but if McGonagall finds out…"

"Oh yeah, that's coming from the one who let off a Dungbomb in Transfiguration last week…"

Chuckling. "Yeah… that was great. All right, I get your point. We'll get the fat lady to give them a password for a night… McGonagall need never know."

"And it is for Moony."

Three Gryffindors shuffled along the hallway, whispering. One hidden Slytherin shifted off in the opposite direction. Malfoy would be interested.

*

It was Severus's third year at Hogwarts. Trials for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team were just next week, and he was doing better than ever in all his subjects. James was already a Gryffindor Chaser, and one of the most popular people in his house. Unlike Lucius Malfoy, and other popular people he knew, James seemed almost unaware of the universal adoration directed at him. The only bit of attention seeking he did was when he was causing trouble with Sirius Black. He had to admit, he rather admired their cheek. Somehow, he'd never felt quite at home with Sirius though… but despite Geoffrey Cooper being his usual companion in Ravenclaw, he considered James, Remus and Peter to be his three closest friends.

He was alone in the library, studying for a test Professor Bulwark had set. Bulwark seemed particularly jumpy these days… there had been more attacks from… what was his name? Voldemort. He was studying the forbidden curses. James wantd to be an Auror, and though Severus envied his typical Gryffindor courage, he couldn't see himself doing that, despite his passion for Defence Against the Dark Arts. He smiled to himself. It wasn't particularly 'cool' to admit it, but he'd like to be a teacher.

"Severus?" A small but clear voice. Oh, Selina.

He looked up. "Not now, I'm busy."

"What with?" She looked over, and made a face. "You study too much."

She had long black hair, clear blue eyes, and was taller than he was, much to his own annoyance. She was a Gryffindor – he knew she would be, even though he'd secretly hoped she'd be a Ravenclaw. His eleven year old sister had survived Muggle primary school, and had settled cosily into Hogwarts. Lily had helped to get her settled in.

"Anyway, Lily Evans gave me this for you." She held out a small folded piece of parchment. "It's not a love letter," she added. "She said to leave that to Mandy." Selina giggled. Severus strongly doubted the truth of the rumour that Mandy Farrell had a crush on him. Not when boys on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team had won the recent unnofficial competition for the most good looking males in Hogwarts. Of course, none of the staff had found out about that… although Dumbledore had remarked to the organiser, a Ravenclaw prefect called Jeanette Sellers, "What a shame I could not enter…" But he was probably talking about something else.

Lily was a strange one. She was deceptively quiet, and yet unlike most of the third year Gryffindor girls, who fawned over James, she spoke to him without hyperventilating, as an equal. She wasn't shy. And unlike most popular people, James didn't seem to see her lack of hyperventilation as a bad point.

"Have you finished bothering me?"

Selina rolled her eyes. "Severus, it's a lovely day. The sun is shining. You could be practising for your Quidditch trial." She leaned forward. "Read the note."

"OK…" He opened it up and read it. It was in James' handwriting.

Dear Sev,

It's Remus's birthday next week. He's seeing his mother this week, so he won't be seeing her next week. So we're going to have a surprise party for him. It's in the Gryffindor common room, but I know Remus would want you there. I spoke to the Fat Lady, and she says, just for that Saturday night, she'll let in people who use the password 'Honourary Gryff'. Teachers must not know! Bring food.

James, Peter and Sirius.

He grinned. Selina looked pleased, she was bouncing up and down. "Isn't it great? It's a Hogsmeade weekend, so all the prefects and older one who don't know about it won't be there!"

"What about the younger ones?"

"Lily says they're not going to tell most first and second years yet, they reckon someone will tell Remus, accidentally. But you know everyone likes him… And you'd take the risk of getting caught for Remus, wouldn't you? In any case, they're much more likely to listen to James than the older ones."

Remus would want you there. That meant a lot. He'd risk one of Bulwark's detentions for that.

*

Severus had never felt better. His new blue Ravenclaw Team Quidditch robes were in his wardrobe, 'SEEKER SNAPE' embroidered on the back in yellow. His hands were full of items he'd been graciously given by the house elves, his present to Remus tucked inside his pocket. His trip to the Gryffindor tower had been uneventful – he'd adeptly found his way through the many staircases.

"Honourary Gryff," he whispered.

The Fat Lady winked. "And congratulations on becoming Seeker, Mr. Snape."

"Thanks!" He was allowed in.

The first thing that struck him about the Gryffindor common room was that it was tidy. It was expected of Ravenclaw to have the tidiest common room – in truth, theirs was littered with wrappers and open books, and rolls of parchment, and various jokeshop items collected from Hogsmeade. It was practically impossible to walk in the Ravenclaw common room. There were various theories as to why this was, but the most widely accepted one was that all those Ravenclaw brains overflowed to the surroundings, resulting in a clutter of information all over the floor.

Lily, another Gryffindor girl, Peter and James were busy covering the place with banners. One which read Happy Birthday Remus one minute would suddenly shimmer and change to Lupin is the best the next.

"Hi Severus! Put some streamers up, won't you?" Severus complied, carefully standing on a chair to pin some up.

"Where is everyone?"

"In Hogsmeade with Remus. We managed to leave them there. Don't want Remus to get suspicious. Geoff and Mandy haven't arrived yet… Have you seen Geoff?"

"No… I haven't really stopped since the Quidditch trials this morning."

James perked up. "How did you do?"

"I'm Seeker." He tried to say it nonchalantly, but his pleasure at the news was obvious.

"Great!" James exclaimed.

"Yeah, well done," Peter said.

Soon, the decorations were finished. The place looked great. First and second years had begun to turn up, and stare at them in awe.

James got up to make an announcement. "The plan is, Sirius and Remus are going for a butterbeer whilst all the people invited sneak back here. We're all going to hide – behind chairs and things. Keep really quiet. And then the girl on the cake will start singing." The girl was an ornament, but she giggled when you tickled her and would sing 'Happy Birthday' on request. As James finished, his fellow third years arrived, all bearing Honeyduke's merchandise. "Great, that's all the Gryffindors… where on earth are Mandy and Geoff? Remus will be here in ten minutes!"

It was funny to see James panicking, whilst all the others urged him to calm down, or at least shut up. Geoff arrived a few minutes late, panting. "Sorry, I forgot the butterbeer!"

Two minutes left, and still Mandy Farrell had not showed. Thirty agonising seconds later, she too burst through into the common room.

"I'm here! I got so lost… Wow, this place looks great." The Gryffindors either chuckled or groaned, and James frantically told her to get down out of sight. He and Peter were the last left standing… and then suddenly they seemed to mysteriously vanish.

A voice was in the distance. "Really, Moony, you should visit Madame Malkins more often…"

Remus's voice, hushed. "What's going on?"

The ornament began to sing, beautifully and clearly. "Happy birthday to you… happy birthday to you…" James and Peter softly joined in. "Happy birthday, dear Remus…" The others took the cue. "Happy birthday to YOU!!" They ended it yelling, and all burst out from their hiding places.

Remus looked overwhelmed. Sirius chuckled. "Happy Fourteenth, Remus."

Remus sounded choked. "You guys are the best…" As soon as he could sit down, he was showered with presents. A group of first years, including Selina Snape, had bought him a mug with his name on and a heating charm to keep his hot drinks warm, that could switch to a cooling charm should he wish to drink something colder. Peter had bought him a pocket sneakoscope, which had immediately started to ring. For a second, they were all embarrassed, and looked at each other suspiciously, until at last James said, "All right, I admit it, I got the cake ornament from my cake last year…" Everyone breathed out at the same time, whilst Remus muffled the present under some cushions.

Sirius and James jointly gave him Great Werewolves of History which looked interesting, and also raised a few eyebrows. Severus had given him the dancing figurines of Remus's favourite wizard band, the Broken Broomsticks, singing their latest album, 'Sergeant Merlin's Lonely Hag's Club Band'.

"Thanks Sev! They're great!" Severus smiled as he did, and the tiny band sung their latest hit single. Although they seemed a little put off with several second years yelling "Play the Potion Girls!" and "The Bristol Banshees are so much better!" Mandy bought him acid pops and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. "Sorry," she apologised. "I'm rubbish with presents…"

Even so, Remus seemed overwhelmingly pleased with even acid pops. Peter lit his candles, and some of the other third years started calling for a speech. "All right then!" Remus said at last.

He looked around nervously at all the people gathered around. And then stood up, shuffling nervously. "I'd just like to thank everyone for this… I think this is the best day of my life…" (A few people said "Aaaw" as he continued) "When I first came to Hogwarts, I was really afraid I wouldn't make friends with anyone. You're all the best friends anyone could have…" ("You're welcome!" someone yelled)

"Thanks. I'll never forget today." Then he went rather red as he brushed away tears. Sirius laughed. "Come on cry baby, have a bit of cake."

The party soon got going… the Broken Broomsticks playing their cover of the Diagon Alley Preachers' 'If You Transfigure This, Then Your Children Will Be Frogs', Remus still emotional, but just about willing to dance with most of the girls who dragged him out to the specially cleared floor. Most of the others stood and watched or danced alone, as first Lily, and then Mandy both successfully managed to embarrass the birthday boy.

The party had been going on about an hour when suddenly everything went black. Everyone were silent for a few seconds, when suddenly a bluish green light appeared in the middle of them, and shifted smoothly, becoming human-shaped.

"What do you mean… by sssssselebrating here?" The voice was eerie, inhuman, ghostly. Severus heard Lily whimper.

"Ssssssertain doom must come upon you… else you must ssssuffer to give up your ssssouls for my pleassure…"

"Never." It was James. Typical James, being brave. Severus felt Mandy clinging to him… he gripped her tightly back. Icy breezes ran over them, sparkles danced in the air. There was an odd, swishing sound.

"Fool!"

Lily was crying… Remus was breathing hoarsely.

The figure shook angrily. "You have dared to awaken me from my ssssleep…"

Severus's heart was pounding – he and Mandy were practically squeezing the breath from each other… Mandy's hands felt clammy.

There was a silence of hours, it seemed. And then…

"WHAT is going on in here?" It was a prefect, Molly Jacobs. All of a sudden, the room was lit up, the fires burning again, and the Hogwarts pupils clinging to each other with fright gradually unhanded each other. The green figure was still there, but faded in the light, and obviously attached to the wand of Lucius Malfoy, and several other Slytherins.

Malfoy started to snigger, observing who was clutching who. Molly looked livid. "Would you care to explain how you got into the Gryffindor common room, Mr. Malfoy?"

Malfoy smirked. "I used the password, Ms. Jacobs. Just like those two Ravenclaws and that Hufflepuff girl."

Molly looked at Severus, Geoffrey and Mandy. She said, softly and dangerously, "How did non-Gryffindors get our password?"

James jumped up. "I can explain… It's Remus's birthday. We got the Fat Lady to accept anyone who used the password 'Honourary Gryff'… But we only told Sev, Geoff and Mandy…"

A look of horror overcame him. How had Malfoy known? He and Sirius looked at each other, and then at their three friends.

"And you decided to do this on a day when Prefects would not be around? How could you be so careless, James? You can come with me, along with Remus, Severus, Geoffrey, Mandy, and you, Mr. Malfoy, and your little fan club. Professor McGonagall will know of this…"

Bewildered and depressed, the five friends and the Slytherins trudged along behind the red haired prefect down the long way to McGonagall's office. Their head of house variated between fury at Malfoy's behaviour, and fury at James's carelessness. Remus was let off, as it was true that he'd had nothing to do with it, but James was put in detention, although he refused to name Sirius and Peter as culprits too, even though McGonagall suspected them. Ten points were taken from Gryffindor, ten from Ravenclaw, ten from Hufflepuff, and forty from Slytherin, not that Malfoy seemed to care. All points aside, Severus, Geoffrey and Mandy were all in detention too, along with the Slytherins.

"You'll be each assigned to help a member of staff with their morning chores. Furthermore, Mr. Potter, I appreciate that you wanted your friends present but why on earth didn't you ask me, instead of doing things dangerously in secret? I'm disappointed in you."

*

As the friends walked back together, there was an air of despondency. "I'm sorry, Remus," James said softly, at last. "I didn't know this would happen."

"It's OK. You know wanted things to turn out for the best."

"I just can't work out how Malfoy found out."

"Maybe he overheard someone talking about it… or was spying on us when we went in," Geoffrey suggested.

"Yeah, probably," James said.

That probably was indeed the truth. But when James and Remus returned to the Gryffindor tower, and they got the room cleared up, and settled down to play Exploding Snap, Sirius was struck by a horrible thought.

"Maybe someone told him…"

***

A/N Thanks to Angel without wings, for thinking up the band names 'The Broken Broomsticks' and 'The Potion Girls'. You're a babe, honey :-)

A/N 2 Read and review. Because only one person has :-(