Chapter 15
The Great Hall was soon filled with sleeping bags. Some purple and some orange to separate houses. Methos was seated at the Head Table, coffee in one hand, his head in the other. Severus sat next to him, head in his arms, fast asleep. Methos knew he'd hate to know he fell asleep in front of the students, but he let him sleep. HE would deal with his lover' s temper later.
Over in a dark corner Harry and Draco lay snuggled together, away from the prying eyes of the other students. Minerva kept watch on the door. Percy and Oliver were slow dancing in the darkness to music only they could here and would soon come to join Methos and Severus at the table. Sirius and Remus had disappeared earlier to their spot. Hermione and Ginny were curled up together on the floor. Hermione really had become just like an older sister to her. Ron suddenly appeared before Methos, chess set in hand.
"I heard rumor you wanted a rematch."
Methos smirked.
"Bring it on, Mr. Weasley. Bring it on." Ron grinned and set up the board.
"White or Black?"
"Black." Ron looked at him for a bit.
"Why am I not surprised?" Methos simply raised an eyebrow. "You live your life like the black pieces of a chessboard. You are content to live your life, and you only move in reaction to the other players on the board." Methos stared at him.
"Smart lad."
"I try." Methos smirked in amusement. Ron moved his piece. Unlike last time, Methos didn't move right away, carefully thinking over the possibilities. He wouldn't underestimate Ron again. It only took a moment for him to form a plan of attack, but he waited a moment longer. Let Ron underestimate him, this time.
***
The twins slowly walked the path back to Hogsmead, their costumes falling apart, their minds whirling, trying o remember the night.
They both had been hit by the curse and immediately set up a teaparty.
Flashback
"One lump or two, my dear Hare?"
"Two, please." Out came a giant mallet and the Hatter bashed the Hare on the head twice.
"There, now. Honey or lemon?" The Hatter asked.
"How about some nice treacle cakes?" asked the mouse in the teapot. "Or some treacle fudge?"
"Oh quiet, you cursed rodent!" cried the Hare and shut the mouse in the sugarbowl.
"WhaT iS TreAkLe? Is it A fIsH?"
"It's poison."
"It's fudge!" came the muffled voice from inside the sugar bowl." Delirium smiled at them blankly.
"Have a seat, my dear. Have some tea." Delirium sat, her fish swimming about her. "Dissonance or Harmony?" The Hatter asked.
"DiSSonAnCe, PleaSe." The Hatter poured from a neon pink teapot. As the tea, a shocking green, flowed the most awful racket was heard, like nails on the chalkboard and grating brakes and a sour note on a piano all at once. She poured in honey and stirred it.
"We'lL bE beST FrIeNdS! YoU bEloNg tO Me aNYwaY."
The Hatter and the Hare just smiled at her as the flamingoes swam by, capturing her attention.
"PrETTy!" She cried and followed behind.
"And a very happy un-birthday to you!" The Hatter called after her. The Hare waved as he once again shut the mouse in the sugar bowl.
Present
"Forge?"
"Yes Gred?"
"Let's not go to the Halloween ball next year."
"Yes.I think that's a rather good idea." A mouse popped out of the Hatter's Hat.
"Yes. A splendid idea." The twins looked at each other.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
***
Back in the hall Percy and Oliver had finished their dance and now stood wrapped up in each other's arms.
"I must say," Percy said against Oliver's shoulder, "That was the best we've ever danced." Oliver chuckled.
"C'mon. Let's go sit." They joined Methos, Ron, and the still slumbering Severus. The chess match was still on full force.
"Who's winning?" asked Oliver.
"He is," the players commented in unison. Oliver blinked.
"I see." He sat. Percy, totally unconcerned with propriety, sat in his lap. Ron glanced at them.
"Do you two ever stop being so cutesy?"
Percy appeared to think about that. "Nope." Oliver bit back a grin. "Sorry little brother." Ron shook his head and closed his eyes as Methos moved again. He opened them, paused as he studied the board, and moved another piece.
"Check." Methos stared at the board.
"And mate, bloody hell." He held out his hand. "Good game. I'll beat you eventually." Ron smirked.
"You can try." He packed up his chess set and was gone from the table to rejoin his girlfriend and sister. Methos grumbled to himself as Percy and Oliver tried to hide their amusement.
Ron never let on, but when he shook Methos' hand he had a flash of countless others playing the old man in chess, all of them, save one, loosing. He smiled softly to himself, proud to be the first to beat Methos in chess since Darius.
***
Harry and Draco lay there in a joined sleeping bag, Draco snuggled into Harry's side. When the shadow fell upon them, Harry opened his eyes first. He nudged Draco, who slowly blinked his eyes open, but jumped when he saw who created the shadow.
The shadow was Crabbe and Goyle.
"Um." Draco became very articulate when faced with certain death.including death by mortification. Crabbe smiled at him.
"So this is why you left. Congradulations, Draco." Draco, overcoming his embarrassment, smirked at them.
"You two escape Pansy?" Goyle nodded.
"Not that hard. She's making eyes at Robert."
"Robert's never go for her. He has taste."
"And he's dating a rather pretty Ravenclaw, but she's not going to let that stop her."
By this time Harry was lost, but he let his boyfriend take control, confident that he'd explain later.
"We have a message," Crabbe stated. "The 7th year Slytherins want you back definitely. Bad enough for an open confrontation (a decidedly un-Slytherin thing). The first years are a bit mixed. They've never had anything but Pansy as their Princess, but some are swayed by older siblings or stories from the upperclassmen. By Christmas, all of Slytherin will be behind you."
"Good, Draco said. "Tell the others to avoid confrontation. Be patient. When the time is right I will return and Pansy will be dealt with." Crabbe and Goyle nodded.
"We await your return, my Prince." Crabbe smirked. Draco glared, only half serious.
"Oh, get out of here before Pansy gets suspicious." The giant boys nodded and left. Harry hugged Draco.
"What was that all about?"
"The social pecking order in Slytherin is like a royal court. Snape is the king, and is concerned with kingly affairs. Stuff more than the well-being of every student. While concerned, Snape can't be there all the time for everybody. So the next in command is a student. The most powerful student, elected by the others. He or she is the Prince or Princess. His friends become the court. Acquaintances/year-mates are the working class. Everybody else are serfs. Crabbe always teased me about being a Prince. Said I carried the royalty thing too far. He was joking, of course. Pansy, is really doing that.
"When Pansy became the Princess she gained a lot of enemies. Many were scared of my father, but they did like how I handled things. The Slytherins want a return to the way things were. They were comfortable. Now, they are- "
"Returning the Prince to his throne?"
"Yep."
"I like that." Draco raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm dating royalty," Harry explained. Draco rolled his eyes and playfully hit Harry's chest. They were quiet for a while.
"Was your father a Prince?" Draco shook his head.
"No. I think that still irks, him. My father, though he hides it well, is a follower, and will always be a follower. He doesn't have what it takes to lead. He fails if left in power for too long. No, Severus was the Prince from Father's third year. It was a girl, the future Mrs. Lestrange, who was Princess. When she graduates Severus was entering his first year. He said the right thing at the right time and had presence. You know, he's the only Slythiern in history to be in that position since his first year?"
"Kind of like me being the youngest seeker in a century?" Draco nodded.
"Yes, kind of." Draco stared at the sleeping potions master. "It's strange to see him like this, a normal guy. He was Prince, and I know he held a special place in Voldemort's inner circle. Now, he's a teacher to a bunch of upstart teenagers." Harry snorted.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
"It's all your fault, you know." Draco said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. You caused the downfall of two great men, evil, but great." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, Draco. I need that on my conscience."
"No problem."
Grumble grumble.
"Go to sleep Draco."
"Night Harry."
"Night, love."
They were asleep in minutes.
***
Remus and Sirius lay on the big bed in their room more as friends would, than lovers, facing opposite directions and staring at the ceiling.
"Why couldn't we do that back when we were students? Do you realize the chaos we could have caused?"
"Yes, which is why I'm sure the professors did everything in their power to keep the idea firmly out of our heads." He paused, "I doubt we would have survived very long afterwards, anyway. Snape would be the main target, correct?" Sirius nodded. "Well, Slytherins don't like things happening to the royalty that they like. You would have been killed."
"Been dead before, didn't bother me." Remus rolled over and glared, very vividly remembering the time when, posing as muggles, the two nearly drowned escaping some rather nasty bank robbers they came across. Sirius, though he was revived, stopped breathing for a minute, and scared Remus half to death.
"Don't joke like that." Sirius looked contrite.
"Sorry, Remus." Remus glared for a minute longer, then the expression softened into a smile.
"I know. Come here."
Wrapped securely in each other's arms the two remaining Marauders fell to sleep and dreamed of their prankster days.
TBC
The Great Hall was soon filled with sleeping bags. Some purple and some orange to separate houses. Methos was seated at the Head Table, coffee in one hand, his head in the other. Severus sat next to him, head in his arms, fast asleep. Methos knew he'd hate to know he fell asleep in front of the students, but he let him sleep. HE would deal with his lover' s temper later.
Over in a dark corner Harry and Draco lay snuggled together, away from the prying eyes of the other students. Minerva kept watch on the door. Percy and Oliver were slow dancing in the darkness to music only they could here and would soon come to join Methos and Severus at the table. Sirius and Remus had disappeared earlier to their spot. Hermione and Ginny were curled up together on the floor. Hermione really had become just like an older sister to her. Ron suddenly appeared before Methos, chess set in hand.
"I heard rumor you wanted a rematch."
Methos smirked.
"Bring it on, Mr. Weasley. Bring it on." Ron grinned and set up the board.
"White or Black?"
"Black." Ron looked at him for a bit.
"Why am I not surprised?" Methos simply raised an eyebrow. "You live your life like the black pieces of a chessboard. You are content to live your life, and you only move in reaction to the other players on the board." Methos stared at him.
"Smart lad."
"I try." Methos smirked in amusement. Ron moved his piece. Unlike last time, Methos didn't move right away, carefully thinking over the possibilities. He wouldn't underestimate Ron again. It only took a moment for him to form a plan of attack, but he waited a moment longer. Let Ron underestimate him, this time.
***
The twins slowly walked the path back to Hogsmead, their costumes falling apart, their minds whirling, trying o remember the night.
They both had been hit by the curse and immediately set up a teaparty.
Flashback
"One lump or two, my dear Hare?"
"Two, please." Out came a giant mallet and the Hatter bashed the Hare on the head twice.
"There, now. Honey or lemon?" The Hatter asked.
"How about some nice treacle cakes?" asked the mouse in the teapot. "Or some treacle fudge?"
"Oh quiet, you cursed rodent!" cried the Hare and shut the mouse in the sugarbowl.
"WhaT iS TreAkLe? Is it A fIsH?"
"It's poison."
"It's fudge!" came the muffled voice from inside the sugar bowl." Delirium smiled at them blankly.
"Have a seat, my dear. Have some tea." Delirium sat, her fish swimming about her. "Dissonance or Harmony?" The Hatter asked.
"DiSSonAnCe, PleaSe." The Hatter poured from a neon pink teapot. As the tea, a shocking green, flowed the most awful racket was heard, like nails on the chalkboard and grating brakes and a sour note on a piano all at once. She poured in honey and stirred it.
"We'lL bE beST FrIeNdS! YoU bEloNg tO Me aNYwaY."
The Hatter and the Hare just smiled at her as the flamingoes swam by, capturing her attention.
"PrETTy!" She cried and followed behind.
"And a very happy un-birthday to you!" The Hatter called after her. The Hare waved as he once again shut the mouse in the sugar bowl.
Present
"Forge?"
"Yes Gred?"
"Let's not go to the Halloween ball next year."
"Yes.I think that's a rather good idea." A mouse popped out of the Hatter's Hat.
"Yes. A splendid idea." The twins looked at each other.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
***
Back in the hall Percy and Oliver had finished their dance and now stood wrapped up in each other's arms.
"I must say," Percy said against Oliver's shoulder, "That was the best we've ever danced." Oliver chuckled.
"C'mon. Let's go sit." They joined Methos, Ron, and the still slumbering Severus. The chess match was still on full force.
"Who's winning?" asked Oliver.
"He is," the players commented in unison. Oliver blinked.
"I see." He sat. Percy, totally unconcerned with propriety, sat in his lap. Ron glanced at them.
"Do you two ever stop being so cutesy?"
Percy appeared to think about that. "Nope." Oliver bit back a grin. "Sorry little brother." Ron shook his head and closed his eyes as Methos moved again. He opened them, paused as he studied the board, and moved another piece.
"Check." Methos stared at the board.
"And mate, bloody hell." He held out his hand. "Good game. I'll beat you eventually." Ron smirked.
"You can try." He packed up his chess set and was gone from the table to rejoin his girlfriend and sister. Methos grumbled to himself as Percy and Oliver tried to hide their amusement.
Ron never let on, but when he shook Methos' hand he had a flash of countless others playing the old man in chess, all of them, save one, loosing. He smiled softly to himself, proud to be the first to beat Methos in chess since Darius.
***
Harry and Draco lay there in a joined sleeping bag, Draco snuggled into Harry's side. When the shadow fell upon them, Harry opened his eyes first. He nudged Draco, who slowly blinked his eyes open, but jumped when he saw who created the shadow.
The shadow was Crabbe and Goyle.
"Um." Draco became very articulate when faced with certain death.including death by mortification. Crabbe smiled at him.
"So this is why you left. Congradulations, Draco." Draco, overcoming his embarrassment, smirked at them.
"You two escape Pansy?" Goyle nodded.
"Not that hard. She's making eyes at Robert."
"Robert's never go for her. He has taste."
"And he's dating a rather pretty Ravenclaw, but she's not going to let that stop her."
By this time Harry was lost, but he let his boyfriend take control, confident that he'd explain later.
"We have a message," Crabbe stated. "The 7th year Slytherins want you back definitely. Bad enough for an open confrontation (a decidedly un-Slytherin thing). The first years are a bit mixed. They've never had anything but Pansy as their Princess, but some are swayed by older siblings or stories from the upperclassmen. By Christmas, all of Slytherin will be behind you."
"Good, Draco said. "Tell the others to avoid confrontation. Be patient. When the time is right I will return and Pansy will be dealt with." Crabbe and Goyle nodded.
"We await your return, my Prince." Crabbe smirked. Draco glared, only half serious.
"Oh, get out of here before Pansy gets suspicious." The giant boys nodded and left. Harry hugged Draco.
"What was that all about?"
"The social pecking order in Slytherin is like a royal court. Snape is the king, and is concerned with kingly affairs. Stuff more than the well-being of every student. While concerned, Snape can't be there all the time for everybody. So the next in command is a student. The most powerful student, elected by the others. He or she is the Prince or Princess. His friends become the court. Acquaintances/year-mates are the working class. Everybody else are serfs. Crabbe always teased me about being a Prince. Said I carried the royalty thing too far. He was joking, of course. Pansy, is really doing that.
"When Pansy became the Princess she gained a lot of enemies. Many were scared of my father, but they did like how I handled things. The Slytherins want a return to the way things were. They were comfortable. Now, they are- "
"Returning the Prince to his throne?"
"Yep."
"I like that." Draco raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm dating royalty," Harry explained. Draco rolled his eyes and playfully hit Harry's chest. They were quiet for a while.
"Was your father a Prince?" Draco shook his head.
"No. I think that still irks, him. My father, though he hides it well, is a follower, and will always be a follower. He doesn't have what it takes to lead. He fails if left in power for too long. No, Severus was the Prince from Father's third year. It was a girl, the future Mrs. Lestrange, who was Princess. When she graduates Severus was entering his first year. He said the right thing at the right time and had presence. You know, he's the only Slythiern in history to be in that position since his first year?"
"Kind of like me being the youngest seeker in a century?" Draco nodded.
"Yes, kind of." Draco stared at the sleeping potions master. "It's strange to see him like this, a normal guy. He was Prince, and I know he held a special place in Voldemort's inner circle. Now, he's a teacher to a bunch of upstart teenagers." Harry snorted.
"Oh, how the mighty have fallen."
"It's all your fault, you know." Draco said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. You caused the downfall of two great men, evil, but great." Harry rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, Draco. I need that on my conscience."
"No problem."
Grumble grumble.
"Go to sleep Draco."
"Night Harry."
"Night, love."
They were asleep in minutes.
***
Remus and Sirius lay on the big bed in their room more as friends would, than lovers, facing opposite directions and staring at the ceiling.
"Why couldn't we do that back when we were students? Do you realize the chaos we could have caused?"
"Yes, which is why I'm sure the professors did everything in their power to keep the idea firmly out of our heads." He paused, "I doubt we would have survived very long afterwards, anyway. Snape would be the main target, correct?" Sirius nodded. "Well, Slytherins don't like things happening to the royalty that they like. You would have been killed."
"Been dead before, didn't bother me." Remus rolled over and glared, very vividly remembering the time when, posing as muggles, the two nearly drowned escaping some rather nasty bank robbers they came across. Sirius, though he was revived, stopped breathing for a minute, and scared Remus half to death.
"Don't joke like that." Sirius looked contrite.
"Sorry, Remus." Remus glared for a minute longer, then the expression softened into a smile.
"I know. Come here."
Wrapped securely in each other's arms the two remaining Marauders fell to sleep and dreamed of their prankster days.
TBC
