Disclaimer:
Snape: Mistress, it's now time for my bath
Kalasin: Go take a bath yourself! I don't OWN YOU!!!
Black: *mutters* Though you need a bath badly, Sev.
Lupin: Oh yeah…
Snape: DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME SEV! ONLY MY IMAGINARY FWEND CAN CALL ME THAT!
James: Who, me? *fingers Invisibility Cloak* I don't remember calling you that...
LOL
A/N: Thanks again to the people who reviewed!!! I'm glad you people like it so far ^_^
To Karadawn: Thankies! @_@
Here comes chapter 7! I'm not satisfied with it, though—it ain't that…well-written. My apologies :)
Chapter Seven: James' One Man Fashion Show
Severus was about to take a bite when Lucius' voice rang out again. Turning to his left, he watched as Malfoy walked towards him, a mischievous smile on his face. "What now?" He asked, as Lucius sat down beside him at the Slytherin table.
"They're looking for new members." His friend's eyes twinkled evilly again, his voice low, even though most of the students were filing out the Great Hall, having only a few more minutes until the next class. "Who?" Snape asked. "You mean…" Lucius smirked an affirmative.
Snape took a breath. This was the chance of a lifetime….if 'they' were really looking for people; well, he was free. Unlike most of his classmates, he had finished all their major projects; he didn't need to start arranging his things, as he definitely had no plans of coming home for the hols. He had nothing to worry about, except…
'That good for nothing debt…' "Well?" Lucius asked impatiently, as he drummed his fingers on the table. "I'll think about it—and don't make it seem as if I don't want to get in as much as you do."
He stood up and started to gather his things, heading out of the Great Hall, and leaving Malfoy with a triumphant smile on his face.
***@***
The atmosphere in the Potions dungeon was overwhelming. Cold sweat ran down everyone's faces as they nervously worked on a particularly tough concoction. Lily braced herself, as she carefully made her way to the nearest table, carrying a cauldron half-filled with thick, steaming black liquid. As soon as she had a good flame going, she once again tried to settle her cauldron onto the fire.
She quickly apologized, as she accidentally bumped into the person next to her, as she lowered her cauldron onto the table. "It's all right," The voice was smooth, but the statement had been let out quite curtly.
Severus Snape ignored her, as she began to stir her potion beside him while he busied himself with chopping his ingredients. He almost chopped off the tip of his own finger, though, when Lily made a small, surprised noise beside him.
"Good grief, Evans, do you mind?" he snapped angrily, suddenly looking at her. The Gryffindor looked at him sincerely. "Sorry, Snape," she told him, holding on to her hand and wincing a bit. Severus frowned. "What's wrong with you?''
Lily shrugged. "It's nothing. I just spilled some of the potion on myself and got a bit scalded." Severus rolled his eyes. "Of course you did, your flames are way too high; this potion only needs to simmer, not boil." He pointed out to her cauldron, which was now filled with a foamy substance.
Lily looked at it with dismay. She never really liked Potions, and did not have a passion for it. She passed it all the time, of course, though she did not earn as much points in it as in her other subjects.
Severus sighed. "Here, for heaven's sake," He stepped between her and the cauldron, lowering the fire underneath with his wand, and adding a pinch of yellow powder into the liquid.
Lily grinned. "Thanks." He shrugged. "You probably would have burnt your cauldron if I hadn't done that, anyway; and that would have caused a chain reaction—it was for my own good too, mind you."
He turned his back on her, and began concentrating on his potion again.
***@***
James felt his eyes widen in awe as he looked around the Great Hall. Thousands of white, red, and green trimmings filled the columns of the room, and around ten more Christmas Trees had been added to the scenery, each one having a twinkling, gold star on top, with matching fairies dancing around.
Every now and then he would spot mistletoe, hidden underneath all the colourful streamers. He had just come from his last class, which was Potions, and after making that particularly tough potion, he had decided to take a good look at how his schoolmates were doing in helping to decorate the Great Hall for the upcoming dance.
It seemed, though, as if his schoolmates shared mixed emotions about the ups and downs of contributing different spells to the decorations. Not far off, James spotted a couple of Slytherins arguing with some Ravenclaws and Gryffindors about how to brighten up the Teachers' Table in the Great Hall. Next to them were a handful of girls, who looked just about ready to start a catfight in trying to decide which charm they should use in spicing the walls up.
Aside from that, though, every one else seemed contented, laughing merrily and pointing out to the colourful streamers around them. Making his way to the Gryffindor table, James found himself mildly surprised in seeing Lily trying to help another girl arrange the streamers around the room with their magic.
Lily had just finished waving her wand and adding a few extra glittering lights to the decoration, when James gave out a low, appreciative whistle, averting Lily's attention. She smiled. "How does it look?" James grinned. "Absolutely perfect. Any plans on…Interior designing?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Yeah right. Don't worry, I'll decorate your ward in the asylum soon enough. Should I make that neon green or shocking pink?" James lifted his head to the ceiling, trying to look as though he was deep in thought. "I think I'll take the shocking pink, Evans, with little care bears painted on the ceiling to watch over me while I sleep."
Lily nodded. "Good choice, Potter; I'm sure the care bears would be happy to serve you." She told him sarcastically, not at all surprised of his knowledge about muggle things. He had, after all, taken up Muggle Studies last year.
James shot her a look of pure, feigned innocence. "Weally? That's so vewy nice of yoooooo! I was afwaid that you wouldn't decowate my pwetty little woom!" Lily pretended to pat him on his head, but ended up whacking him instead.
She looked at him with puppy eyes. "Afraid?" she asked teasingly. "I never knew James Potter was afraid of anything…being the incredibly Brave, but Stupid freak that he is…" They laughed heartily and Lily made her excuses for having to leave and go to the library for some extra research.
James sighed as she walked away and muttered to himself. "Well, I'm afraid of asking you to the Ball…"
***@***
Snape couldn't believe his ears as he happened to pass by Potter. He was afraid of what?! Well, he always knew James was an idiot. And now he had proof. He shrugged. Like he cared about James' love life.
***@***
Lily found herself smiling broadly as she opened her Charms book to a particular page. She had just finished talking to a seemingly very happy James Potter, and couldn't help but be amused at his jokes.
It had been a hectic day, and it was really good to hear someone fool around; especially when it was James.
The thought made her stop scanning her book. She felt herself redden. Come to think of it, James was always there to cheer her up. She liked those kinds of people. 'I wonder who he's taking to the Christmas Ball…'
Realizing what she had just thought, she quickly tried her best to go back to reading, but to no avail. For not the first time, a certain four-eyed someone had succeeded in lightening her up. And she was glad it was him who had done so.
***@***
"James?"
Remus asked quite incredulously as he watched his friend take one robe after another, and putting it in front of him as he checked himself out in the mirror. "Why the sudden fashion show? Any special occasion?"
James smiled at him sheepishly, after throwing another robe onto his bed after taking a good look at it. "I'm trying to decide what to wear to the ball. Funny, I don't even have anyone to go with."
Remus frowned. 'Huh?' "But you will, right?" He urged. James shrugged. "Maybe." Remus was confused. What about Lily? He flopped himself on James bed as his friend continued to practically search his entire wardrobe. "Uh, okay…" He picked up a pair of old socks and put it in the far corner of the bed, just the right distance away from him.
"So Lily turned you down?" James blushed. "Down?" He laughed nervously. "Well…technically a girl can't turn someone down for a dance if that certain someone hasn't asked, right?"
Remus raised his eyebrows. "Wow…you haven't asked? But the ball's next week, James. Aren't you being a little too laid back?" He asked kindly. His friend smiled. "Do you really think I have a chance?"
Remus took a deep breath. He of course believed with all his heart that the two were made for each other, but could he really tell James that? He really wasn't the lovey-dovey type. No way…
"I don't see why you shouldn't ask her." Remus assured him, trying to act casual. "I bet Lily would really like it if you were her escort." James smiled again. "Thanks a lot, Remus. I needed that." Perking up and trying to change the topic, he pushed two robes into Remus' face. "So which one should I wear? Do you think I should pick something that will bring out my eyes?"
Remus shrugged, and smiled half shyly, and half mischievously. Marauder instincts were taking over.
"That depends. Which pair of eyes are you talking about?"
***@***
Piles of parchment lay neatly on the desk. Test papers, letters, projects, notices…name it, and Minerva had it all. It didn't matter at all that it was almost Christmas: being a teacher still made her as busy as ever.
She sighed as she read through her lesson plan. Her lesson on Advanced Forms of Animagus was still far from being accomplished, and to save time (not to mention herself), she was brainstorming on how to speed things up a bit before the exams.
She frowned thoughtfully, as she saw the list she had made of the pairings she had last made with her class of Gryffindors and Slytherins.
Malfoy: Thomas
Snape: Potter…
The list went on and on. Minerva's frown deepened. Perhaps…yes, that was it. Two heads were better than one, they say. A project consisting of one Slytherin and one Gryffindor sounded good; plus, there was no need to assign the students to their partners—why, she had already managed to do that!
Minerva sighed in relief. Not only was she making it easier for herself, she was sure the students would find it easier if they had a partner to work with. Not for the second pair on her list, though.
***@***
A/N: PLS. READ
YippEEEEEEEE!!
I'M DONE WITH CHAPTER SEVEN!!
I feel just like McGonagall now ^_^
Bad news, though, school's starting soon so I don't know if I can still update as much. I still remember how busy last school year was! *SIGH* Just one more thing we people have to deal with. *winces*
Wish me luck!!!
Although…
"Daughter," Said the Hermit, "I have now lived a hundred and nine winters in this world and have never yet met any such thing as Luck. There is something about all this that I do not understand: but if we need to know it, you may be sure that we shall."
--C.S. Lewis
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy
Chapter Ten: The Hermit of the Southern March
To Whom It May Concern, and if you've read my bio: Told you I was a sucker for quotes.
@_@
