"Why didn't we go to sleep earlier last night?" Serena felt like she was going to topple into her breakfast. She blinked her eyes several times, trying to stay awake.
"Maybe if you hadn't been out half the night with Mark..."
"Oh come off it Dierna! You wouldn't have gone to bed any earlier."
"True, but it's so much easier to blame it on your nighttime excursions."
Nick entered the Great Hall and smiled as he approached the Gryffindor table, the twins looked awful. "Good morning girls," he said pleasantly as he slid into a seat opposite them. "I hope you're ready for an intense practice this afternoon."
Serena groaned as she buried her face in her arms on the table, "do we really have to have practice today?"
"I can't believe you just asked me that Serena Snape! You're always ready for quidditch practice," Nick tried to frown at her as a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth.
"Well if we had gone to sleep before 3 this morning we might be ready for a long practice." Dierna found enough energy to glare at her best friend.
"I can't believe you girls, not going to bed till after 3. Mum and Dad will not be happy." Kamen wore a look of mock anger as he sat down next to Nick. "What will they say when I tell them," he slowly shook his head.
"Shut up!" Dierna and Serena snapped together.
Kamen turned to Nick and grinned, "Well if they're awake enough to yell at me they must be awake enough for their classes and for quidditch practice."
"You're such a jerk Kamen," Serena glared at her brother.
Kamen laughed at the glares he was getting, "I hope they don't treat you this bad Nick. Although they are vicious little minxes."
"You're going to find yourself at the wrong end of a bludger bat at practice if you keep this up Kamen," Serena growled.
"And that is my cue to leave," Kamen said as he stood up, "don't want to enrage the masses too much or anarchy will ensue."
Nick laughed as Kamen left, and then he turned his attention back to the two girls across from him. "You girls ready for our test this morning?"
"Oy! Don't remind me," Dierna buried her face in her hands.
"You mean to tell me you stayed up till 3 and still didn't study for it?" Nick smiled at the forlorn look on Dierna's face, "come on Dierna, even I studied."
"Well, I guess that means I'm really screwed if Nick took the time to study." Dierna played with the eggs on her plate. She hated mornings, and breakfast wasn't any better. She just couldn't eat this early, especially if she was worrying about a test.
"Don't worry about it hon," Nick dropped the teasing tone and reached for Dierna's hand. "You're doing just fine in that class, you have nothing to worry about."
Dierna sighed, "I know Nick, it's just Dad was threatening to take me off the quidditch team if any more of my grades slipped. You know that Divination has been complete disaster for me the last two years, and it's not looking any better now."
"Well then I'm going to keep on you about your study habits so none of your other grades drop. I can't afford to lose one of the best chasers the team has ever seen."
"Thanks Nick," Dierna smiled at him, "you know, I think if Stefan hadn't already claimed my heart I'd throw myself at you," she winked at him.
"If you two are done flirting yet," Serena rolled her eyes as she teased Nick and Dierna, "we need to head to class if we don't want to be late."
"Fine," Nick quipped as he stood up, "I'm ready to escort you ladies to class, where we are all going to ace our test," he looked at them meaningfully.
"Sure Nick, whatever you say," Serena tossed her head as she took the arm he offered to her.
"Sev, stop! You're going to make me late." Morgan tried to turn around to glare at her husband, but he put his hands on the sides of her head to keep it facing forward.
"I'm not letting you go yet."
"Sev... please let me go."
"Not until I finish this."
"You do realize that this would go so much faster if you would let me brush my own hair."
Severus smiled down at the top of his wife's head, "faster, but much less enjoyable for me."
Morgan sighed as she admitted defeat, not that it was particularly horrible to let her husband win this one argument. She had no idea why he had such a fascination with brushing her hair, but if it kept him happy...
"Ready for the weekend love?"
"Yes, more than ready," Morgan closed her eyes; enjoying the feel of the brush as it Severus gently dragged it through her long hair.
"Has it been that long for you?"
"Mmm... yes."
"You know, for as much fuss as you put up about me brushing your hair I would have to say that you look like you're enjoying yourself Mrs. Snape."
"Shut up and keep brushing."
Severus chuckled lightly, "I'm not going to do this if you start getting demanding."
Morgan opened her eyes a little bit and muttered a few choice words when she saw how late it was. "We both need to leave now darling, otherwise we're going to be late for our own classes." Morgan turned around and embraced her husband quickly, pulling him down to her level for a quick kiss.
Severus watched as his wife quickly made her way to the door, "I love you," he softly called after her.
Morgan turned in the doorway to look back at him, "and I love you darling," she blew him a kiss before she turned and left.
Severus stood there for a moment, staring at the spot his wife had just vacated. Gods, but he loved her more now than he had when they were first married. A small smile played at his lips as he thought about how incredible she was. Morgan was his life.
Severus shook his head as he recollected himself. He schooled his features as he moved into the mindset of a strict potions master. He had a class of first years he needed to go terrorize.
Dierna glanced down at her test in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was one of the very few written tests they would be doing, as most of the tests would be practical. And it was actually a lot easier than she was expecting. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Dierna worked her way through the test quickly. It was mainly simple definitions and basic descriptions of the methods needed to deal with certain curses and magical creatures should you come in contact with them.
It was a really fascinating subject, a million times better than Divination, though now where near as intriguing as Double Potions. Dierna finished and glanced over her answers quickly, no point in letting any stupid mistakes get through.
Most of the class finished at about the same time, and all of the tests were handed in with 20 minutes of class left. "Well, since you all sped through that I guess I can jump ahead into next week's lesson plan," Remus tried to fight a smile as he was met with a chorus of groans. He held up a hand as he motioned for silence, "or..." he waited till he had everyone's attention, "or, I could let you out early."
That suggestion was met with a much more favorable response as the whole class vocalized exactly which option they were in favor of. Remus laughed at the exuberance of his students. "Fine, class is dismissed."
There was a mad rush for the door as everyone wanted to make the most of their few extra minutes of spare time. "One moment Dierna," Remus stopped the red head before she made it to the door.
Dierna fought back a sigh of frustration, she had been so close. And she had really been hoping that Professor Lupin would have forgotten about the incident with Connor from earlier in the week.
"Remember that your detention is tonight, be here at 8."
Dierna frowned, "but I have quidditch practice till 8:30."
"Then I guess you'll have to miss the last part of it."
Dierna scowled.
"I'm not trying to hurt the Gryffindor team Dierna, and you know that. Plus, that might give you something to think about the next time you decide to attack a fellow student, no matter how much they may deserve it."
"Yes sir. Can I go now?"
"Yes, I'll see you tonight, and please be on time."
"Don't get up girl, I'm not done with you yet," Draco snapped at the muggle woman at his side as she reached for a blanket. "Now what is it that you want Macnair that couldn't wait till I was indisposed?"
Macnair let his eyes barely skim over the naked woman at Malfoy's side, who was still fully clothed himself. "Some of our scouts have reported that the Ministry is starting to get suspicious. They are going to start doing random checks on Ministry employees."
"You fool! You interrupted me for that?!"
"Yes sir, I thought it would be important..."
Draco cut off the older man with a sharp downward slash of his hand, "there is a reason that our members have infiltrated nearly every level of the Ministry! It is so we don't have to worry about any security measures the Ministry may decide to take."
"Of course sir, I just thought that you should be informed."
"Wait till I'm not busy next time," Draco turned his attention back to the woman at his side as he grabbed her roughly.
"Is that all sir?"
"Yes, now get out you damnable fool!" Draco didn't watch Macnair leave; he had more 'important' matters to attend to.
"How are you feeling now hon?" Nick frowned slightly as Dierna turned away from him to cough. She had complained about a sore throat earlier and she was starting to sound pretty hoarse.
"About the same, I slept through History of Magic and that helped a little." Dierna took a drink of pumpkin juice but ignored the rest of her lunch, food just didn't look appealing at the moment.
"You should eat something," Nick looked concerned. He knew that Dierna would try to convince everyone that she was fine and just end up running herself further into the ground."
"No, I'm fine."
"Serena, tell her to eat something."
Serena arched an eyebrow at Nick, "do you honestly think she'll listen to me. Remember, she's the impossible twin, I'm the sweet compliant one."
Nick made a sound of disgust at that pronouncement, "neither of you two is sweet and compliant." He turned back to Dierna, "come on hon, eat something. Or better yet, go to the hospital ward and skip class this afternoon," he winked at her.
Dierna laughed, "I'm not that sick Nick. Besides, I would have to have a much better excuse for missing potions."
"Fine, I'll concede to that point. But you're not staying up late tonight, right after quidditch practice you're going to bed."
"Oh Nick, I almost forgot. I have to miss the end of practice tonight for my detention with Lupin."
"What?!" Nick looked furious, "he can't do that to his own house team! I'll be right back," Nick got up and stormed up to the staff table at the front of the Great Hall.
Serena and Dierna watched in interest as Nick approached Professor Lupin and a one-sided argument ensued. Nick was arguing very animatedly and was attracting attention, especially from those students towards the front of the great hall. Dierna and Serena both giggled as Nick finally admitted defeat and trudged back to his spot next to them at the Gryffindor table.
"Well, that attempt failed." Nick scowled down at his plate, "some people just don't understand the importance of a quidditch practice."
"Don't worry about it Nick, with the way I'm feeling I probably won't be much use at practice anyways."
Nick frowned, "you have the tendency to get sick at the most inconvenient times Dierna, go to the hospital wing now and get something for it!"
Dierna tried to stifle a giggle at the serious expression on Nick's face, "really Nick, I'm not that bad yet. I'll probably feel much better this evening."
Morgan looked at her plate intently, not daring to meet her husband's eye. She slid her hand to his leg, undercover of the long table cloth. She traced her fingers along the inside of his thigh and continued to focus on her lunch.
Severus frowned as he felt his wife's touch. This was highly inappropriate. "Morgan..." he kept his voice low, but there was a distinct warning in it.
"What is it darling?"
"If you don't stop that now..."
"Yes?" Morgan moved her hand in small circles on his leg.
"Not here."
"Why not?"
"Morgan..." Severus growled, he frowned down at her and found that he was lost in her deep brown eyes. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her up and out of the Great Hall.
"Where are we going Sev?" Morgan looked at the fierce look on her husband's face.
"To your office, I intend to use the last few minutes of the lunch break to my benefit."
Morgan laughed and let herself be pulled along, this promised to be a very rewarding experience.
"You have to promise me you'll take care of yourself hon. I promised Stefan I'd look after you and if he came back right now I would get blasted for not doing my job right."
Dierna smiled, "you're doing an excellent job looking after me Nick. Besides, Stefan would understand that it was my own stubborn nature and not your fault."
"Well you're right about the stubborn part. I think I'm going to have to have a little talk with Stefan when he gets back, I have a couple of suggestions for him."
"And what would those suggestions be Nick?" Dierna eyed him warily, she didn't like the way this conversation was going.
Nick leaned back a little bit, trying to get a little further out of her reach before he continued, "well, for one, you're far too stubborn for your own good. I think a trip over Stefan's knee might just fix that."
Dierna looked at Nick in shock for a moment as what he had suggested registered. She couldn't believe he would say something like that! She narrowed her eyes, "you're going to pay for that one Nick," she growled at him.
"Really?" Nick leaned in so that his nose was touching Dierna's, "I somehow doubt that, besides, I have a feeling Stefan might just put that idea to use, it would probably improve your attitude."
Dierna howled in outrage as she pushed Nick back, "you are such a jerk sometimes Nick!"
"Well, I think you'll find it in your heart to forgive me pretty soon if you want me to escort you down to the dungeons for potions. And we better leave soon if you don't want to be late."
Serena was doubled up laughing; the look on Dierna's face at Nick's suggestion had been priceless. And now it looked like Dierna was probably going to lynch Nick.
Dierna pouted slightly, "I'm not going to forgive you for that comment yet Nick, but I will let you escort me to class."
"You'll forgive me eventually, you always do," Nick took Dierna's hand in his own and smiled down at her, even though she was still glaring at him.