Woot! Here is another chapter.
You all *points to all of you* so rock my world. I love you all.
To everyone who has bothered reading, THANK YOU so very much. I'd give individual thanks, but you all know how very much I love you. *wink*
Just a few thoughts: I've most of this story planned out in my head, it's only a matter of coming up with the little things like convo's and ways to get from one point to another, so if your ever confused on something—Just wait. =) But I'll be glad to answer any questions if you have them.
Also—It seems that my props out to Liz wasn't enough in the last A/N? LoL. Then I must give her credit where credit is due— she's been a major inspiration in my writing this, helping me come up with ideas, letting go of the crappy ones and keeping on my butt to actually write it. So a major warm and fuzzy out to Liz.
And an extra hug and cookie to everyone who's reviewed. YOU give me warm and fuzzies. =)
On with the show~
Chapter Four Fall-1976
"Finding Your Place"
The tall solitude young man walked close to the wall as he made his way from the library back to the dungeons. His long, greasy looking black hair bounced around his chin annoyingly, but he neither the time nor patience to deal with it.
He hadn't really been done in the library, but, by no choice of his, was forced to leave. Had he stayed much longer, no doubt would he have received detention. And his record for his sixth year was already tarnished no thanks to those four meddlesome Gryffindors.
Even thinking of them angered the Slytherin. His robes swished around his feet as he hurriedly made his way to the common room. He thought back to the second morning back at school and cringed. Some day he'd get back at the Marauders; simply for being alive to pester him.
~flashback~
Severus had just sat down at the large Slytherin table as the morning post was arriving. He looked for his family owl to fly in, but was surprised to find two other owls dropping items at his plate instead.
Severus picked the first package up. It was in plain brown wrapping with no writing on it at all. A few of his fellow housemates looked at him with curiosity but said nothing, expecting the rude comment he would be bound to make to them.
He began to unwrap it; pausing when laughter erupted from the Gryffindor table. Severus glanced over; not surprised to see the Marauders and their end of the table in fits of laughter. Severus also noticed that Lily Evans was missing from the group.
He continued to unwrap his package, confused when he found that it was an unmarked box full of chocolates.
Severus wasn't much for sweets, but did enjoy the occasional treat.
Curious as to whom they were from; he opened the second parchment, hoping it would be some explanation.
The letter simply stated: Enjoy your sweet treats! And don't let anything bite you in the arse this year!
Confused, Severus folded the letter back up and put it in his pocket. He had an odd feeling that something wasn't right with the gift, but none the less, the chocolate did look inviting, even early in the morning.
"Say, what do you have there, Severus?" Bellatrix Black asked him, peering over at his chocolate.
"Who sent you that, Snape?" Rodolphus Lestrange asked him.
Severus shrugged, "I'm not quite sure, it seems to be a surprise. Care for a piece?"
Not normally one for being generous, Severus felt that if this was some sort of trick, at least others could go down with him.
Both Bellatrix and Rodolphus accepted and the three all took a piece of the chocolate.
The next thing Severus knew, he was up on his feet, hopping around, kicking his feet into his behind, as were Bellatrix and Rodolphus.
~end of flashback~
That had only been the beginning. In the last two weeks, Severus had been the recipient of many Marauders' pranks; most of them being nothing more than Potter and Black picking on him in some matter. The one time Severus was able to react fast enough to fight back; the three had gotten caught, lost House points and ordered detentions.
Severus loathed the Marauders with a passion.
"Severus." Came a feminine voice from the dark passageways of the dungeons
.
"May I request for the face of the voice be seen rather than cowering in the shadows," Severus sighed, expecting another prank.
A dark haired vixen with golden eyes stepped from a corner. Severus recognized her as a Gryffindor in his year. Her name was Pandora Mair.
She smiled as she walked closer to him and circled around him, "You look uptight, Sevy."
"My name is Severus," he simply replied back.
She smiled her gorgeous smile and faced him, "If you insist."
"What are you doing down here and what do you want with me?" Severus asked her, annoyed with what she seemed to think were acts of flirtation.
"I was looking for you and what I want with you," Pandora took another step closer, and began to play with his tie. "Is something you'll just have to wait to find out."
Severus, swallowing a big gulp of air, steadied his self, "I've no interest in playing games."
Pandora grinned, "Who said anything about playing games?"
"Is this Potter or Black's idea of a funny prank?" Severus regained his composure.
Pandora chuckled, "Potter and Black have no idea I'm down here. It just seems to me, Sevy-" She almost cooed his name. "That you just don't get enough of the good kind of attention."
Severus cleared his throat and grabbed his tie out of her hands, "I'm quite content with what attention I do receive. Now if you'll excuse me."
Severus brushed passed the foxy Gryffindor and pursued his path to his common room once again. This time he was stopped by familiar bouncing red hair coming down the hallway in front of him.
"Evans, what are you doing down here?" Severus barked at her.
"Looking for you, actually," Lily told him, with an equally strong voice.
Pandora passed the two with a snicker, "Isn't that sweet? Outcasts in their own respective ways and friends. I've my eye on you, Sevy."
Lily's eyes almost bulged out. She turned to watch Pandora leave the hallway, and then looked back at a slightly red Severus.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing that concerns you, Evans. Now, what did you want?"
"I had some questions on some homework that I was hoping you could help me clear up. I didn't see you in the library," Lily explained.
"And you thought it wise to look for me in the dungeons? You're a foolish girl, Evans. What are you questions?"
Lily looked at Severus for a moment, "First, can I ask you something off the record?"
"I believe that is un-necessary. It would be wiser to keep your question pertaining to the school work at hand," Severus told her as he saw two fellow Slytherins exit the Common room and head down the hall.
Lily rolled her emerald eyes, "Severus, why can't you just…never mind. If I'm bothering you, I'll just continue working on it myself."
"No, what is it?" Severus asked her.
Lily pulled out her Potions book and flipped through some pages, "I'm having problems understanding some of these harder potions. If you added Erumpent to this, wouldn't it explode?"
"And what did you receive on your OWLs for this class?" Snape sighed. "Although Erumpent is a key ingredient to explosive potions, just a slight amount mixed before hand with some dittany won't cause this potion to explode."
Lily still looked confused, "Do you have time to help me?"
"I was actually on my way back to the dorms-" Severus hated to have to say no to Lily, but refused to go back to the library.
Lily nodded, "I understand, I've bothered you enough already."
Lily closed her book and backed away, giving Severus a smile, "Thanks."
Severus nodded as the red-head left the dungeons.
Why the one woman that caught his attention had to be muggle born was just another twist in the evil plot life had against him, he thought as he headed for his dorm room.
* * * * *
Lily was searching the shelves for any Potions book that would help her with her report. She was also looking for a Transfiguration book. They were her two worst classes, even though she hardly did bad in either of them.
She was so focused in looking for the books that she didn't notice the scruffy looking man with glasses waving a book above her.
"Potter! Don't scare me like that!" Lily fumed at him, as she stood up. "Hey, I've been looking for that book."
James smiled at her, "So I figured. Go out with me and it's yours. In fact, anything you want is yours."
Lily sighed, "I think I can find other ways to get the answers than go out with you."
He pretended to flip through the book with a grin, "Looks like a good book, and besides, I'm much more fun than any other way to get the answers."
Lily started to walk down the aisle, "Leave me alone, Potter. I'm trying to study."
"Now how can you study when I have what you need?" James followed her.
"That isn't the only book on Transfiguration. And I heard rumors that you were smart."
James laughed, "If you only knew, Evans. Come on; let me help you, no strings attached. I'm awesome in Transfiguration. I'll help you out."
It was Lily's turn to laugh, "Hah, no strings attached. I'm sure the only reason your good in that class, Potter, is because you kiss up to McGonagall like she's the queen. I don't need your help."
"You're really stubborn, Lily."
"And your really annoying, James," Lily sneered. "Now if you'll kindly excuse me."
Lily walked back to her table where Audrey seemed to be in a day dream, rather than studying.
"Lils, it's too nice of a day to be stuck in the library. Let's take our stuff and head outdoors. We can go sit by the lake and work," Audrey suggested.
"That does sound inviting. But I have a problem, Potter has the book I need for Transfiguration," Lily sighed, plopping down in her seat.
Audrey laughed, "So take it from him. I'm sure all he wants is a little Lily action."
"Lily action?"
Audrey looked past Lily to see that James had sat at a table with his fellow Marauders. He was leaning back in his chair twirling the book-in-need boredly. Sirius, looking just as bored as James, was absent-mindedly sifting through a book. Across the table, Remus actually looked to be studying while Peter seemed to be doing his best to copy Remus' work.
Audrey smiled, "Watch and learn, my dear Lily-flower."
Lily rolled her eyes as she watched her best friend walk to the Marauder's table. She was out of ear-shot to hear what was said, but watched as Audrey walked up to Sirius and leaned down towards his ear in a sultry like way.
Lily watched as James and Remus both looked up while Sirius's expression changed for bored to curious. Audrey, still whispering in Sirius' ear, closed the book he was looking at and grabbed his hand to pull him up. She pulled on his tie and with one last smile, bounced back over to Lily.
"Come on," Audrey grabbed her bag and pulled Lily by the arm, out the door of the library.
"What did you say to him?" Lily asked laughing as Audrey refused to slow down their pace.
Audrey giggled, "Just a little something to get him…excited and wanting to perhaps come outside."
"And why would we want the Marauder's to come outside?"
"Because James is checking out that book you need and bringing it to you," Audrey told Lily with a triumphant smile.
Lily nodded as the two walked out the doors to the grounds and headed towards their favorite spot near the lake.
"Wait," Lily looked at her best friend. "What's the catch?"
"What catch? You get the book," Audrey said, dropping her stuff on the ground and plopping down next to it.
"No, Sirius doesn't just command James to give me a book because of something you said," Lily eyed Audrey. "What did you say?"
"Okay, first I told Sirius that he looked extra sinful today and I liked it. Then I told him to make James check out that book for you and to meet us outside. It just may be the best day of the month, and James' too. And see, I did this all in that sexy whisper that Dora always seems to use on boys."
Lily started to laugh uncontrollably, "The best day of the month? Audrey! You tricked them!"
Audrey's smile seemed to grow, "I did! I tricked the Marauders!"
The two girls were still laughing as the Marauders walked out of the castle.
Sirius stretched, taking in the still warm sunlight as James ran a hand through his thick black hair. Remus nodded towards the lake.
"They're sitting over there."
James eyed Sirius, "Are you sure this isn't some kind of trick? Lily Evans doesn't just decide that James is going to have the best day of his month."
Sirius shrugged, "Yeah, but Sirius well deserves a best day of the month."
"And how is Sirius so sure that Audrey was…serious?" Peter asked, grinning at his own joke.
Remus rolled his eyes, "Pete's got a point. It's not like Audrey and Lily really ever have anything to do with us. Why so suddenly? And right after Lily did her usual yelling at Prongs?"
James nodded, agreeing with Remus and Peter, "Yeah, Sirius, I think it's just a ploy. Lily wants this book and neither one of them have been very social lately."
Sirius looked at the two girls by the lake, "So you think to get back in good with their friends, they'd attempt to make fools of the Marauders?"
"Not that it's too hard to do on some of us," Remus sighed. James smirked.
"Well, I never," Sirius seemed dumbfounded at this thought.
Peter, munching on a chocolate frog, kicked his foot around in the dirt, "I say we get them back. Good."
"I say that Wormtail has a right idea for once," Sirius agreed, slapping his arm around Peter's neck. "What do you say, Prongs? Moony?"
Remus sighed, "I say we just leave them alone and find something else to do."
James shrugged, "What else is there to do?"
Sirius smiled and waved at someone, "There's something else to do. Prongs, we'll walk past the two and you can drop the book at Lily's feet as we walk on by."
"And how is that funny?" James asked.
"Because we'll be walking past them, to go and sit under that tree with those four lovely witches," Sirius pointed towards the rest of the sixth year Gryffindors.
Remus and James just looked at one another and rolled their eyes as they followed Sirius and Peter towards the lake.
As they closed in on Audrey and Lily, Sirius started strutting his stuff like he knew the girls liked. Behind him, James and Remus found this quite amusing and had a hard time stifling their laughter.
"Aw, look who's joining us," Audrey beamed.
"Actually we've been giving a better offer elsewhere," Peter winked at Audrey, and the two 'strutting' continued on their way.
Remus and James could no longer hold it in. They stopped next to Audrey and Lily and burst out into laughter.
"Does he always look that…that…" James started.
Lily looked up, un-amused, "Stupid? Yes."
Audrey, hurt that Sirius had passed up her offer, sulked, "He does not look stupid."
Remus shook his head, "And what does Peter think he's doing?"
James, trying to stop laughing, just shrugged, "That was the most amusing thing I've seen in a while. Here, Evans."
James handed her the book and the two Marauders walked off to follow their friends.
Lily, still holding the book in the air, looked at Audrey confused.
"Why would he just give me the book with no strings attached?"
Audrey shrugged, "Who cares, you got your damn book."
The blond rolled onto her stomach and started picking at the grass while Lily opened the Transfiguration book and began to read.
James and Remus were still smirking as they approached the rest of the sixth years.
Sirius was obviously enjoying the attention he was getting from Calista and Greta while Peter had started an on-going debate with Pandora on Wizarding musical bands.
James and Remus joined the six and sat under the shade tree. James lay back with his head propped up by his arms. He sighed and looked to the sky.
"Why'd you give in so easy, Prongs?" Remus asked.
James shrugged, "Do think she still hates me?"
Remus laughed, "Now when did anyone ever say that she hates you?"
James closed his eyes as if to remember, "And I quote, '…you're an arrogant, bullying toerag…I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid…I have a fat head and I make her sick…and then I do believe that you, my wonderful mates, explained to me that she thinks I'm conceited."
Remus nodded, remembering Prongs' last Lily experience during O.W.L.'s at the end of last year.
"Well, she hasn't really been that…mean to you this year yet," Remus offered.
Isadora, realizing the conversation between the two, leaned in their direction, "Are we talking about the ever-dazzling red head named Lily Evans over here?"
Remus winked, "Who else?"
James let his hand slap his face, as he covered his eyes and groaned. Remus and Isadora simply laughed at him.
"Ah, come on James, seriously, this year the worst I've heard her say about is just that…you're a zealous, inconsiderate prat. Oh, and your mean."
James looked at his friends, "Oh, yes, I see. By Halloween I'll have her in my bag."
Isadora shrugged, "Have you ever thought…to be…nice around her James?"
"I am nice to her!" James sat up.
Isadora smiled, "Admit it Potter, you're a prat. She's got you on that one."
"So you're saying in order to get Evans to like me I'd have to…"
"Change who you are?" Pandora joined in the conversation. "Absolutely not. If you have to change for anyone, then it's not worth it."
"Are we talking Evans again?" Sirius sighed, obviously bored at the conversation.
"Merlin, if you all are tired of hearing about it, quit bringing it up with me," James snapped and stood. He didn't bother to look at anyone as he walked off.
"Well, now you've gone and done it Padfoot," Peter sighed.
Sirius shrugged, "He'll be fine. So, Calista…"
The others rolled their eyes as Calista and Sirius began to flirt away. Peter, Greta and Pandora started back on the conversation on musical groups as Remus pulled out a book to read.
"What are you reading, Remus?" Isadora asked him. Her curly, yellow-ish blond hair blowing in her eyes as she propped her self up near him on the ground.
"Just a book on…creatures," Remus shut the book and stuffed it in his bag.
Isadora smiled at him, "You study too much. I suppose that's how you got this even though you're with them all the time." She played with the Prefect badge he wore on his robe.
Remus swallowed nervously. He wasn't used to being the one to get the attention from the girls. He wasn't the eye candy. Sirius was the good looking one. James was the one with the personality. Peter and himself were just along for the ride. The Marauders. The Misfits. Remus sometimes wondered had they met under different circumstances, would the four have become friends? He was sure that James and Sirius would have, but he and Peter just didn't really fit as well.
"Someone's got to attempt to keep them in line," Remus laughed.
Isadora glanced at his bag and then looked straight into his pale blue eyes, "Do you know what my name means, Remus?"
"Uh…no," Remus stuttered, unusual for the level headed Marauder.
Isadora rose to her feet and smiled, "It means a gift from the moon."
As Remus' expression of shock froze on his face, Isadora grabbed her bag and walked away from the tree. The other four, hardly noticing what was going on, paid no attention when Remus grabbed his things and stood as well.
He started to walk towards the lake, thinking of a nice walk around it to clear his mind. What had she meant by that? She emphasized that she was a gift. Did she know? Had she figured it out? Remus had begun to think that Sirius and James were truly the smartest people in Hogwarts to have been the only ones to figure it out in just over six years.
But if she did know, she wasn't afraid of him? She wasn't concerned for her safety? Remus was confused. Why didn't she just come out and tell him then? Was she playing a game with him? Isadora wasn't the type to play games. She was a sweet person. Lily had often teased her and called her some Muggle actress' name, Shirley Temple. Lily said Izzy had the wild blond curls and the quirky temperament.
He was so lost in his own thoughts that he hadn't noticed when he came upon a certain red head on the other side of the lake. Lily seemed to be practicing some of her Transfiguration. And she was alone.
"Lily," Remus announced his presence.
"Oh, Remus, hey," Lily smiled. She looked past him, as if wondering where the other three were.
He laughed, "I'm alone. No need to keep your defenses up. Having troubles in Transfiguration?"
"Yeah," Lily shook her head. "I just can't seem to make it come easy to me. Izzy actually used to help me…but…"
Remus nodded, "I would have thought with your birthday having been last week, you all would have made up."
Lily sat on a rock near the edge of the lake. She started to fiddle with her fingers as Remus joined her on the rock.
"I guess I just took to heart what they had to say about me. I never knew that was how they felt. I'm as bad as I say Potter is," Lily sighed.
Remus laughed, "For knowing Prongs the way I do, Lily, you aren't that bad. Besides, James isn't as…bad as you think he is either. It's just his way of dealing with things."
Lily nodded, "I'm so sorry, again, Remus. I didn't know…"
Remus gave her a weak smile, "It's alright. I have my ways of dealing with things."
"Yeah, but you don't take things out on other people," Lily defended him. "Potter and Black are always so cruel to others. I don't understand why Dumbledore loves them so much. Or why half the school does. They're practically the school bullies, just as much as any of the Slytherins."
Remus chuckled, "But theirs a difference, Lily. The only people they're truly mean to are Slytherins, and trust me; they both have more reason to be mean to them than you think. Not that it's their battle to fight, but they think it is. And the fact that they hold nothing back when it comes to Slytherins, the rest of the school admires them for their bravery. James and Sirius could care less about getting detentions if it means that they won a victory in the eyes of the war against the Slytherins. And their quite amusing as well. You have to admit that. Even I don't agree with everything they do or say, Lily."
"But why this 'war on Slytherins'? I mean, I know the house histories, but aren't they taking it too far? Why do they assume that every Slytherin is slime? I know people in other houses that I loathe more than some Slytherins. And Remus, you have to admit that half the things they do are only for attention. I'm sorry, but it doesn't look as if they're bravely fighting some war," Lily argued.
Remus nodded, "I'm sure attention is one thing they desire. Neither receives much elsewhere. For a Muggle born witch who's smarter than half the pure bloods in England, you really don't know all that's going on right now, do you?"
Lily looked at him confused, "First, neither receives much attention elsewhere? I thought both families were rich and prosperous. And second…WHAT is going on then? And why don't I know?"
Remus looked out across the lake. He saw that over in the Quidditch pitch, James was flying around. Under the tree, still sat Sirius, milking the attention he was getting from Calista. Peter and Greta sat talking, while Pandora had disappeared as well.
"James and Sirius don't have the most enjoyable lives at home as everyone might think. And Lily, you really must indulge in learning more about the current war being raged by this Voldemort fellow."
Lily gulped at hearing this name-the evil Dark Lord they called him. She knew of him and his powers and his army of followers. Nothing had hit close to home for her; therefore she still dazzled in thinking it was like a movie. It wasn't real. Obviously, she was wrong.
"That's why your uncle died?" Lily asked quietly.
Remus nodded, "Yes. He was an on-scene reporter. Did a lot of the paperwork to explain things on the frontlines for the Ministry."
"And James has lost a lot of his family?"
Remus nodded, glancing towards the Pitch again, "Yeah, the Potter's are a pretty well-known family in the Wizarding World, Lils. A long line of Aurors and such. They're a pure blood family but they've always been known to have a soft side. They believe in equality and living peacefully. And they approve of change. Those values go against everything Voldemort wants. So his family is one of the first in line that's fighting against him, putting them as a target."
"And Sirius?"
"He's a bit different. The Blacks, they're a Pure Blood family, one that can be associated with the Dark Arts. Padfoot's different somehow. He never did fit in with his family for the most part. Third person in his family to have not been sorted into Slytherin."
Lily nodded, "That still doesn't give either of them reason to be prats."
Remus sighed, "No, but maybe it'll help you understand why they are."
"And what about you?"
"Why am I a prat?" Remus looked offended. He might be best mates with the two biggest prats Hogwarts had seen, but he didn't much see himself as one.
Lily laughed, "No, but why are you so close to them? You and Peter just…don't seem like them."
Remus smiled, thinking of all the good times the four have had. Sure, they disagreed on a lot. And yes, sometimes, Remus and Peter got pulled along and yanked into ideas. But they all played a part in each others lives. They were all a reason for the other one to have gotten by so far in their young lives.
"We just…they're really great mates, Lily. I can't possibly explain and due our friendships justice."
Lily smiled, "That's a very sweet thing to say."
"Now, back to you. You aren't the usual Lily Evans I know. Why can't you girls seem to fix things?"
Sighing, Lily leaned back on the rock and stretched her legs out, "I think we've all started our year out questioning our friendships. The four of you, no doubt your all friends. And it's no worry about Kingsley or Benjy, they're best mates anyway, but all six of you get along. Us, it seems that we're only friends because…we have to be."
"No one has to be friends with anyone. Hardly any of you are that close to Pandora."
"Exactly. And that's what Izzy pointed out. And got me to thinking that what if that's the only reason Audrey and I talk with any of them?"
"Lily, you're a brighter person than this. Why are you doubting yourself?"
Lily let a small smile creep out, "Well…Pandora…five years of living with her and I still don't understand her. And Calista's the closest to her, yet she's…sometimes she seems like a person that I can talk to and other times she's more like Dora. Izzy and Greta…they're fun girls, they really are. But they hold it against me that I dislike James."
Remus laughed, "And why's that?"
"They think I should give him a chance."
"And what do you think?"
"I think that…maybe I don't know him very well," Lily sighed. "But that doesn't mean that if I did get to know him, that'd I'd like him. We're all just a mess. The six of us girls."
Remus laughed. He wondered if he could say something to Lily about what Isadora had said to him. But he was too afraid of the outcome. What if Lily knew too?
"You're birthday…"
"Yeah, it was nothing. Audrey and I…we hung out. My parent's owled me. Even my sister sent me a birthday card. That was an unexpected surprise. So what? I'm sixteen now, nothing more than I was at fifteen."
"Our second day back, Dumbledore called the four of us to his office," Remus started.
Lily snickered, "Because you four were behind the chocolate that Severus received?"
Remus laughed, "I have to admit that was rather humorous. We weren't expecting Bellatrix and Rodolphus to eat some too. No, he wanted to just have a chat with us."
Lily nodded, letting Remus know he could go on.
"He told us that he hoped nothing would change for us this year. That we'd go on doing the things we do the best way we knew how. Meaning for James and Sirius to go on having fun, and for Peter to…well, follow their lead and for me to…be at ends with them all the time. He said that we were going into a trying time this year, he can tell already. What with Voldemort and all…and the lot of us all coming of age. He doesn't want the younger ones to…be afraid or to be worried. We're all here to learn and that's what he wants us to do."
Lily looked a bit confused, "He basically told you all to remain trouble makers?"
Remus winked, "The point is, Lily, that what you're going through is no different than any other sixth year or seventh year. Our generation seems to have a lot falling on us. And he just doesn't want us to grow up too fast."
Lily nodded, looking out across the lake. Remus followed her gaze to find that James had found Sirius and the two, with Peter following, were heading into the castle. It was just about dinner time. The girls were picking up their things to head in as well.
"Never fails, when food calls, the two are always best mates again," Remus laughed.
"We should head in," Lily stood to gather her own things.
"Things will be alright, you know," Remus told her as they began their walk.
Lily smiled, "I know, Lupin."
"See you around, Evans," Remus winked at her and quickened his pace to catch up with his mates.
* * * * *
"POTTER, BLACK! What in Merlin's name is going on here?"
The sound of McGonagall was threatening and angry as the hallway silenced.
"Evening, Minerva," Sirius tipped his head in her direction, his dark hair falling into his eyes.
Professor McGonagall sighed, "Where is your house Prefect?"
"Uh, well, he'd be cleaning up another mess, Professor," James cleared his throat, feeling guilty already.
"I see, and the Slytherin Prefect?"
"That'd be the other mess, ma'am," Sirius winked.
"Excuse me, Professor, could these hexes be stopped or do we have to wait for them to finish sucking up?" Bellatrix asked with a glare toward the Gryffindors.
"I will do the deciding around here, Black," McGonagall snapped. She surveyed the hallway and put a hand to her temples. Every gray hair she had was due to the two Marauders standing before her.
The hallway leading to the library had been charmed. It was obvious that only where the Slytherins had stepped had turned to a hot pink gooky substance, entrapping their feet so they couldn't move. Once they were stationed in one spot, a fuzzy pink cloud had situated itself over top their heads, raining down electric blue feathers.
From what the Professor could see, once the Slytherins had attempted to shoo away the feathers by touching them, the gooky substance formed on their hands, acting like a glue.
Rodolphus had a hand stuck on his robes, no doubt attempting to reach for his wand, while the other was stuck to the floor. Most all the Slytherins had fallen to the floor upon getting stuck. Walden Macnair had a hand stuck to his nose, and a feather sticking from his hand. Evan Rosier apparently had tried to grab Igor Karkaroff as he fell and the two were stuck together.
Regulus Black, who had apparently been behind the rest of the Slytherins, caught himself from joining them in the gook, but never-less had managed to get his self hexed and was now dangling from a statue, his wand a few feet away from him. Peeves was enjoying the show quite splendidly, blowing the feathers at the Slytherins faces.
"I want the counter-curses done immediately. The two of you can then march yourselves straight to the Headmaster's office. Peter, go find the house Prefects involved in this situation and join these two. I will find Professor Ridge and be there," Professor McGonagall ordered. "NOW."
James, Sirius and Peter obliged while the Professor shooed the rest of the on-lookers away. Professor Flitwick, mindlessly wondering the halls, had come across the situation and admired the handiwork.
As he helped the counter-cursing and sending the Slytherins off before more damage could be done, they could here him muttering under his breath if only the students could work this diligently in his class and why couldn't everyone manage difficult charms such as this…
* * * * *
Pandora Mair was awaiting a certain Slytherin in the dark dungeon halls. She clicked her tongue and stepped out in front of him as he approached the shadows she was hiding in.
"It's a wonder that you weren't put into our house," the Slytherin sneered at her.
"I posses far more worthy traits than the bunch of you. I see that you either got out of or avoided a sticky situation," she purred.
"What's it to you?" He snapped.
Pandora smiled, "It's not what it is to me so much as what it will be to you."
She disappeared as quickly as she had surprised the Slytherin, leaving him to wonder just what the Gryffindors were up to.
Enjoy! More to come soon! As the drama…only begins…
*huggles and cookies*
~Missers~