Chapter 4 ~ Halloween
Muriel watched, amused, as Marisa fluttered around the dorm room, her hair plaited with ribbon that trailed almost to the hem of her pale blue robes. She looked lovely, and Mur was a little jealous that she'd been asked to the ball. Severus hadn't mentioned it once since she'd left him in the library.
Marisa, feeling her friend's discontent, spun around sharply. She couldn't find her left shoe, but it could wait. "Mur, isn't there anyone you could come with? What about Kyle?"
Muriel snorted. "Accio shoe," she said lazily. The missing shoe came whizzing out of the bathroom. "When did you take it in there?" she asked bemusedly.
"I mean it," Marisa exclaimed, catching the shoe as Mur tossed it to her. "Kyle would take you."
"I heard him asking Vanessa earlier. Forget it, Marisa, I'm a spinster for the night." She fell back dramatically on her bed, arms straight out.
Marisa laughed and shook her head. "There are other boys in the world besides Severus, you know," she said. This only served to make Muriel sit up and look at her with a solemn expression.
It wasn't long, however, before that expression turned into a sly grin. "No, there aren't other boys. But there IS someone I could ask. I wonder if he would get here in time?" She was gazing off into space thoughtfully.
Marisa narrowed her eyes and plopped down on the bed, pulling her shoe on. "I recognize that look. It's the same look you had on your face when you threatened to go to London while we're all in Hogsmeade next weekend," she said disapprovingly.
"I will, too," Mur said suddenly, making up her mind. Marisa watched her grab a piece of parchment and a quill and trot down the stairs, wondering if she meant the trip to London or inviting this boy to the ball, or both.
"Kyle? Can I borrow your owl?" Mur asked quickly as she ran through the common room. She heard him holler, "Sure!" after her as she vaulted out the portrait hole and up to the owlery.
* * * * * * *
She waited outside the castle. The air was chill and the wind was blowing, but she was sure that he would at least answer. She wasn't disappointed. It was only twenty minutes later when she saw a short, slight man silhouetted against a silvery glow at the edge of the forest and ran toward him.
"You got my owl!" she said breathlessly. "What do you think?"
"I THINK I'm being used to get your young Mr. Snape's attention." He grinned. She had once had quite a crush on him, but he could see that it had passed. He knew exactly what she was doing. But why should he mind? He thought of her more as a little sister than anything else, especially since he was nearly 12 years older than she. It wouldn't hurt him any to help her out and be her date for a ball. Besides, it had been a long time since he'd been around other humans.
Muriel had the good grace to blush and look away as Maverick put a hand on her shoulder. "If I admit it will you dance with me anyway?" she asked shyly.
Maverick laughed. "That's why I'm here isn't it?" He offered her his arm, and threw a look over his shoulder at the unicorn. "See Adella, I told you she didn't mean anything by it." Muriel was startled to hear the beast snort in response, almost as if she were laughing.
When they entered the Great Hall, Maverick couldn't help but smile. The place looked just like he remembered it. Pumpkins with candles in them were suspended above them, and bats could be seen against the charmed night's sky overhead. He led her directly to the dance floor, choosing a place near Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagal, who seemed to be too preoccupied to notice.
Muriel grinned at the looks the Slytherins were giving her. Malfoy's mouth was hanging open as he gaped over Narcissa's shoulder. She winked at him just for fun. Who would have thought that the handsome Head Boy could look so imbecilic?
"So, who's dancing with the headmaster?" Maverick whispered to her.
"That's Professor McGonagal, Transfiguration and head of Gryffindor house," Mur said quietly. "She's really strict." She made a face.
"I'm sure you deserved every detention she's given you," he replied mildly. It was her turn to laugh. Soon the song ended, and Maverick caught Dumbledore's eye. The two embraced like old friends while Mur raised an eyebrow. She still didn't like Dumbledore very well.
The bearded old man was eyeing her curiously, and she was becoming nervous. It wouldn't be good if he asked how she and Maverick had met. Fortunately a faster song had begun, and her date put an arm around her waist and took her hand. "If you'll excuse me, Professor?" he inquired politely before he swept her off to the other end of the dance floor and back again.
"Where did you learn to dance?" she asked breathlessly. At 14, she felt hopelessly uncoordinated next to his casual grace. She wasn't aware that to the watching students, she looked every bit as elegant as he did. At the last minute, Marisa had majicked her hair into a fashionable knot of curls on top of her head, charming it in place, and summoning flowers from the greenhouses to their open window to weave through her hair. Already several wisps had started to fall, as they danced, but it only added to the charm of her flushed cheeks and bright smile.
"I had an unexpected encounter with a fairy," he said. She looked at him incredulously. "No, really! My older brother shrank me once by mistake and a fairy found me. She taught me to dance, and sing, and play an instrument that I don't remember the name of. It hardly matters, since fairy instruments can't be magically engorged. The one I learned on was much too small, once my parents found me and returned me to the correct size."
Muriel was full of questions. It had been two years since she'd seen Maverick, and she was no longer infatuated with him, so her shyness had disappeared. They'd sent owls sporadically, but hadn't really ever talked about much, since the day she'd visited him to ask about learning to cast illusion charms at the end of her second year.
"When did you finish going to school here?" Mur asked as they clapped at the end of a song and headed to the refreshment table.
"Let's see.I guess I took my N.E.W.T.s eight years ago. Merlin, but I'm getting old! It's hard to keep track of the time living in the forest."
Muriel looked up to see Marisa sipping her drink quietly and watching them approach. She introduced her dorm mate to Maverick, then waited with her friend as he went to get them drinks.
"You didn't mention that he was so good looking," Marisa said appreciatively. "Are you sure he's in his twenties? He hardly looks that old."
"He's at least 26, Marisa," Mur said, rolling her eyes. "It was really nice of him to come with me. He knew I was only asking him to get back at Sev, of course, but he came anyway."
"Only?" Marisa asked knowingly.
"Well, he really is a fantastic dancer," Muriel admitted. Truthfully, she had to acknowledge that she was probably having more fun than she would have had with Severus, only because he would have sat near the wall and watched while everyone else danced.
"Where's Black?" she asked Marisa as Maverick handed her a cup of pumpkin juice.
She shrugged. "Disappeared after that last song."
Muriel looked thoughtfully at her drink and her eyes narrowed. The marauders had been blessedly quiet so far this year. She'd only been to the Harmless Hex ward 3 times. Perhaps they were overdue for some mischief. She sniffed the drink carefully, then set it down. "Maverick?" she asked, turning, "Did you drink -" She blinked at him a few times as laughter broke out around her. She had her answer.
Maverick had sprouted a very impressive headdress of peacock feathers, and was reaching up behind his head with one hand. His eyes were straining to see whatever it was that he felt fluttering above him. Mur couldn't help but laugh at the expression on his face. She took him up to Madam Kinnison, who had been on standby all night, knowing that SOMETHING was sure to happen while everyone was in such high spirits.
When his feathers were gone, Maverick said goodnight grumpily. Muriel, however, was grinning. Maybe she should have warned him that their feud was in full swing again. She walked him down to the castle door. "Tell Adella I'm sorry for keeping you away so long, and thank her for lending you to me," she said as he stepped outside.
"It was really fun," she added as he stared at her in surprise. He hadn't wanted anyone to know about his feelings for the unicorn. He wondered if Mur had ever seen Adella in human form.
"Any time," he said, trying to hide his sudden worry. He flashed her a smile before heading off with long strides toward the forest. Mur watched as a glow approached from the other direction, then went back inside. She had intended to go upstairs, but Kyle was beckoning her from the hall.
"What is it?" Mur asked. She still thought he was rather annoying, but remembered that he might just be next year's Quiddich captain.
"Vanessa ditched me, want to dance?" he asked nervously. Muriel wasn't sure she was going to be a very good dancer without Maverick, but she smiled anyway.
"Sure," she replied, letting him lead her back into the hall. By the time she was ready to make her way back upstairs, she'd danced with Macnair, Goyle, and at least two Hufflepuff boys whose names she couldn't remember. She'd been impressed that Macnair had had the guts to ask her at all. Though their parents were friends, they had never been close. Still, he wasn't so bad, when you kept him away from Malfoy. Not like Avery, who was rotten all on his own. She was glad that Avery hadn't asked her to dance. She would have had to hex him.
"Well, Marisa, did you have a good time?" Mur asked sleepily as she let her hair down, laying the flowers carefully on her dresser.
"It was amazing! He was so sweet. Well, except that potion in the punch."
Muriel laughed. "You must have known he'd pull something like that, they never go very long without a prank. Really, I think we got off easy."
"It didn't look like Maverick thought so!" Marisa was laughing now too. She threw her robes over the back of the desk chair and vaulted into bed.
"Oh, he didn't care that much. He just gets grumpy. He's not used to being around people. I'm sure he's already forgotten all about it," she said, climbing into her own bed and pulling the curtains around. "Thanks again for doing my hair. You'll have to write those charms down for me!" Marisa didn't answer, and Mur wasn't surprised. She was exhausted too. She fell asleep moments later, trying to plan what she would do to Black for slipping potion to her date.
Muriel watched, amused, as Marisa fluttered around the dorm room, her hair plaited with ribbon that trailed almost to the hem of her pale blue robes. She looked lovely, and Mur was a little jealous that she'd been asked to the ball. Severus hadn't mentioned it once since she'd left him in the library.
Marisa, feeling her friend's discontent, spun around sharply. She couldn't find her left shoe, but it could wait. "Mur, isn't there anyone you could come with? What about Kyle?"
Muriel snorted. "Accio shoe," she said lazily. The missing shoe came whizzing out of the bathroom. "When did you take it in there?" she asked bemusedly.
"I mean it," Marisa exclaimed, catching the shoe as Mur tossed it to her. "Kyle would take you."
"I heard him asking Vanessa earlier. Forget it, Marisa, I'm a spinster for the night." She fell back dramatically on her bed, arms straight out.
Marisa laughed and shook her head. "There are other boys in the world besides Severus, you know," she said. This only served to make Muriel sit up and look at her with a solemn expression.
It wasn't long, however, before that expression turned into a sly grin. "No, there aren't other boys. But there IS someone I could ask. I wonder if he would get here in time?" She was gazing off into space thoughtfully.
Marisa narrowed her eyes and plopped down on the bed, pulling her shoe on. "I recognize that look. It's the same look you had on your face when you threatened to go to London while we're all in Hogsmeade next weekend," she said disapprovingly.
"I will, too," Mur said suddenly, making up her mind. Marisa watched her grab a piece of parchment and a quill and trot down the stairs, wondering if she meant the trip to London or inviting this boy to the ball, or both.
"Kyle? Can I borrow your owl?" Mur asked quickly as she ran through the common room. She heard him holler, "Sure!" after her as she vaulted out the portrait hole and up to the owlery.
* * * * * * *
She waited outside the castle. The air was chill and the wind was blowing, but she was sure that he would at least answer. She wasn't disappointed. It was only twenty minutes later when she saw a short, slight man silhouetted against a silvery glow at the edge of the forest and ran toward him.
"You got my owl!" she said breathlessly. "What do you think?"
"I THINK I'm being used to get your young Mr. Snape's attention." He grinned. She had once had quite a crush on him, but he could see that it had passed. He knew exactly what she was doing. But why should he mind? He thought of her more as a little sister than anything else, especially since he was nearly 12 years older than she. It wouldn't hurt him any to help her out and be her date for a ball. Besides, it had been a long time since he'd been around other humans.
Muriel had the good grace to blush and look away as Maverick put a hand on her shoulder. "If I admit it will you dance with me anyway?" she asked shyly.
Maverick laughed. "That's why I'm here isn't it?" He offered her his arm, and threw a look over his shoulder at the unicorn. "See Adella, I told you she didn't mean anything by it." Muriel was startled to hear the beast snort in response, almost as if she were laughing.
When they entered the Great Hall, Maverick couldn't help but smile. The place looked just like he remembered it. Pumpkins with candles in them were suspended above them, and bats could be seen against the charmed night's sky overhead. He led her directly to the dance floor, choosing a place near Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagal, who seemed to be too preoccupied to notice.
Muriel grinned at the looks the Slytherins were giving her. Malfoy's mouth was hanging open as he gaped over Narcissa's shoulder. She winked at him just for fun. Who would have thought that the handsome Head Boy could look so imbecilic?
"So, who's dancing with the headmaster?" Maverick whispered to her.
"That's Professor McGonagal, Transfiguration and head of Gryffindor house," Mur said quietly. "She's really strict." She made a face.
"I'm sure you deserved every detention she's given you," he replied mildly. It was her turn to laugh. Soon the song ended, and Maverick caught Dumbledore's eye. The two embraced like old friends while Mur raised an eyebrow. She still didn't like Dumbledore very well.
The bearded old man was eyeing her curiously, and she was becoming nervous. It wouldn't be good if he asked how she and Maverick had met. Fortunately a faster song had begun, and her date put an arm around her waist and took her hand. "If you'll excuse me, Professor?" he inquired politely before he swept her off to the other end of the dance floor and back again.
"Where did you learn to dance?" she asked breathlessly. At 14, she felt hopelessly uncoordinated next to his casual grace. She wasn't aware that to the watching students, she looked every bit as elegant as he did. At the last minute, Marisa had majicked her hair into a fashionable knot of curls on top of her head, charming it in place, and summoning flowers from the greenhouses to their open window to weave through her hair. Already several wisps had started to fall, as they danced, but it only added to the charm of her flushed cheeks and bright smile.
"I had an unexpected encounter with a fairy," he said. She looked at him incredulously. "No, really! My older brother shrank me once by mistake and a fairy found me. She taught me to dance, and sing, and play an instrument that I don't remember the name of. It hardly matters, since fairy instruments can't be magically engorged. The one I learned on was much too small, once my parents found me and returned me to the correct size."
Muriel was full of questions. It had been two years since she'd seen Maverick, and she was no longer infatuated with him, so her shyness had disappeared. They'd sent owls sporadically, but hadn't really ever talked about much, since the day she'd visited him to ask about learning to cast illusion charms at the end of her second year.
"When did you finish going to school here?" Mur asked as they clapped at the end of a song and headed to the refreshment table.
"Let's see.I guess I took my N.E.W.T.s eight years ago. Merlin, but I'm getting old! It's hard to keep track of the time living in the forest."
Muriel looked up to see Marisa sipping her drink quietly and watching them approach. She introduced her dorm mate to Maverick, then waited with her friend as he went to get them drinks.
"You didn't mention that he was so good looking," Marisa said appreciatively. "Are you sure he's in his twenties? He hardly looks that old."
"He's at least 26, Marisa," Mur said, rolling her eyes. "It was really nice of him to come with me. He knew I was only asking him to get back at Sev, of course, but he came anyway."
"Only?" Marisa asked knowingly.
"Well, he really is a fantastic dancer," Muriel admitted. Truthfully, she had to acknowledge that she was probably having more fun than she would have had with Severus, only because he would have sat near the wall and watched while everyone else danced.
"Where's Black?" she asked Marisa as Maverick handed her a cup of pumpkin juice.
She shrugged. "Disappeared after that last song."
Muriel looked thoughtfully at her drink and her eyes narrowed. The marauders had been blessedly quiet so far this year. She'd only been to the Harmless Hex ward 3 times. Perhaps they were overdue for some mischief. She sniffed the drink carefully, then set it down. "Maverick?" she asked, turning, "Did you drink -" She blinked at him a few times as laughter broke out around her. She had her answer.
Maverick had sprouted a very impressive headdress of peacock feathers, and was reaching up behind his head with one hand. His eyes were straining to see whatever it was that he felt fluttering above him. Mur couldn't help but laugh at the expression on his face. She took him up to Madam Kinnison, who had been on standby all night, knowing that SOMETHING was sure to happen while everyone was in such high spirits.
When his feathers were gone, Maverick said goodnight grumpily. Muriel, however, was grinning. Maybe she should have warned him that their feud was in full swing again. She walked him down to the castle door. "Tell Adella I'm sorry for keeping you away so long, and thank her for lending you to me," she said as he stepped outside.
"It was really fun," she added as he stared at her in surprise. He hadn't wanted anyone to know about his feelings for the unicorn. He wondered if Mur had ever seen Adella in human form.
"Any time," he said, trying to hide his sudden worry. He flashed her a smile before heading off with long strides toward the forest. Mur watched as a glow approached from the other direction, then went back inside. She had intended to go upstairs, but Kyle was beckoning her from the hall.
"What is it?" Mur asked. She still thought he was rather annoying, but remembered that he might just be next year's Quiddich captain.
"Vanessa ditched me, want to dance?" he asked nervously. Muriel wasn't sure she was going to be a very good dancer without Maverick, but she smiled anyway.
"Sure," she replied, letting him lead her back into the hall. By the time she was ready to make her way back upstairs, she'd danced with Macnair, Goyle, and at least two Hufflepuff boys whose names she couldn't remember. She'd been impressed that Macnair had had the guts to ask her at all. Though their parents were friends, they had never been close. Still, he wasn't so bad, when you kept him away from Malfoy. Not like Avery, who was rotten all on his own. She was glad that Avery hadn't asked her to dance. She would have had to hex him.
"Well, Marisa, did you have a good time?" Mur asked sleepily as she let her hair down, laying the flowers carefully on her dresser.
"It was amazing! He was so sweet. Well, except that potion in the punch."
Muriel laughed. "You must have known he'd pull something like that, they never go very long without a prank. Really, I think we got off easy."
"It didn't look like Maverick thought so!" Marisa was laughing now too. She threw her robes over the back of the desk chair and vaulted into bed.
"Oh, he didn't care that much. He just gets grumpy. He's not used to being around people. I'm sure he's already forgotten all about it," she said, climbing into her own bed and pulling the curtains around. "Thanks again for doing my hair. You'll have to write those charms down for me!" Marisa didn't answer, and Mur wasn't surprised. She was exhausted too. She fell asleep moments later, trying to plan what she would do to Black for slipping potion to her date.