Left With YOU
Chapter Three
By Mrs. Padfoot
Author's Note: I meant to have the red hair issue in here, I really did. I had it all planned – but – no. Just to clear this up, a scavenger hunt is a game in which you receive a list of random objects and you (or your group) have to find them. And no, the story won't have a full published list, but you'll know everything on the list, because Lily and James ARE reading it out loud.
And sorry for the AlexStephness. I know there's a lot :)
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"So what's next?" Alexandra asked Sirius, hanging onto his arm.
Stephanie rolled her eyes and wished for the millionth time that Sirius and James hadn't switched places. Then SHE could be the one hanging on to a guy's arm and Alex could be the one disgusted and annoyed by one too many public displays of affection.
"Mmm – does it matter?" asked Sirius, grinning like an idiot.
"YES," said Stephanie loudly.
Both Alex and Sirius gave her disgruntled looks, so Stephanie swiped the list from Sirius's hands.
"I think," said Stephanie, "that this list is too long for us to do alone. Maybe we should split up."
"REALLY?" said Alex and Sirius.
"Yeah," said Steph, "Alex, you can come with me – "
"WHAT?"
"I said Alex could come with me and Sirius – "
"NO!" said Sirius. "I don't wanna be alone!"
"Fine," said Stephanie, "I'll go with you and Alex – "
"But STEPHANIEEEEEEEE," whined Sirius.
Annoyed, Stephanie grabbed Alex by the elbow and dragged her the other way out of the hall.
"Sorry, Sirius," said Stephanie. "Missed your chance. Look for a strand of red hair, will you?"
"FINE," said Sirius, stalking off.
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"Do you hear that, James?"
"Hear what?"
"I think someone's following us."
"Don't be silly, why would anyone want to follow us?"
"Well, maybe they're LOOKING for us," said Lily.
"Why?"
"Because everybody's – " Lily began.
" – not looking for us. We're not playing Sardines anymore, you know."
"Right," said Lily.
But she still thought someone was following them.
"James?"
"Yeah?"
"What are we looking for?"
"An article of clothing owned by Professor Teasdale," he read off the list.
"A WHAT?"
"Professor Teasdale's clothes," said James.
"Wha – James?"
"What?"
"Why the hell would DUMBLEDORE, who was the one who wrote this list, let me remind you, want us to risk life and limb stealing something from Professor TEASDALE, the arch-nemesis of three-quarters of this school?"
That was actually a good point.
"Uh," said James. "Well. Uh. Dumbledore can have his – uh – you know – insane – er – moments."
"Right," said Lily uncertainly.
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"Steph! Why'd you do that?" asked Alexandra as soon as Sirius was out of earshot.
"BECAUSE you two were acting like lovesick animals and it was absolutely DISGUSTING," said Stephanie.
Alex pouted.
"ANYWAY," said Stephanie, "we now have to get an article of clothing from Professor Flitwick."
"Oh, honestly, he'll practically GIVE his clothes to us."
"No, Alex, he'll practically GIVE his clothes to YOU."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Suuuure you don't," said Stephanie, followed by a cough that sounded very close to teacher's pet.
"I AM NOT!" said Alex.
"Not what?" said Stephanie innocently.
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"Okay – here's the plan," said James, peeking around the corner of the corridor. "I distract Professor Teasdale with the firecrackers, and YOU go in and take the hat."
"Right," said Lily nervously.
"What?" said James.
"I just don't – know how – to – steal ... stuff."
"It's easy," said James dismissively.
Lily made a squeaking noise.
"Really," said James.
"I – eyuuuh," said Lily.
"Okay," said James, "you just stay here and get ready to grab his hat."
"His hat?" said Lily, "I thought we were getting his pants."
"I changed my mind. You're not allowed to touch Professor Teasdale's pants."
"Why? What's wrong with Professor Teasdale's pants?"
"Oh, nothing. You're just not allowed to touch anyone's pants except mine," said James.
"Excuse me?"
"I didn't say anything."
Lily rolled her eyes.
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Alexandra knocked tentatively on Professor Flitwick's door.
"Oh, for Lord's sake, Alex," said Stephanie, pushing her friend aside and knocking loudly on the door.
The door flew open to reveal tiny Professor Flitwick, standing there looking up at them.
Professor Flitwick looked at Stephanie, who looked at Alex, who cleared her throat.
"Er – Professor Flitwick?" said Alex.
"Yes?"
"We're participating in the scavenger hunt – you know, and it says an article of clothing from Professor Flitwick – so, we were wondering if – we could – er, borrow a – pair of socks – or something?"
"Of course," said Professor Flitwick, smiling brightly, "just a moment, please."
Within a few seconds, he was back, bearing a pair of magenta socks, which he handed to Alexandra.
"Thank you," she said politely.
"Yeah, thanks," said Steph, "now COME ON, Alex."
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Professor Teasdale, if nothing else, had impeccable timing.
As soon as the first firework went off, he flung his door open and charged down the hallway, shouting, "POTTER! BLACK! PETTIGREW! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THIS TIME?"
It was almost as though he had been standing by the door WAITING for James (or Sirius) to do something.
Which Lily found rather creepy.
But not nearly as creepy as the thought of going INTO his living quarters and stealing his pants – er, hat.
She didn't want to get James angry.
Er, right.
Anyway.
Aware of the short time she had, Lily dashed into the open door (honestly, how stupid could one teacher get?) and, ignoring the really gross stench (the scent of rotting frog brains and Professor Teasdale were barely bearable ALONE), grabbed the nearest hat and hightailed it out of the room.
Within seconds, James joined her.
Lily didn't even bother to ask how he had escaped Professor Teasdale's wrath.
She wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Dja get it?" asked James.
Lily held up the wizard's hat.
James wrinkled his nose.
"Stench of Professor Teasdale," he groaned.
"Eau du Potions Ingredients."
"And sweat."
"And hair," said Lily.
"Hair doesn't have a smell," said James.
"Yes, it does," said Lily.
"No, it doesn't," said James.
"You were just telling me how my hair smelled like apples!"
"That's different!"
"How?"
"It just is!"
"I – you know what? Nevermind. What's next on the list?" asked Lily.
"Uh – a Filibuster Firework."
"Wow," said Lily, "an easy one."
"Not really," said James.
"What?" asked Lily.
"I just used my last Filibuster."
"I hate you."