Disclaimer: No rights to Harry, except the right to make him a typical mixed up teen in my story, and his little friends too! Does that make me a Wicked Witch? lol Used Pink Ladies & songs from Grease thanks to K8ebug once making a comment about 'the Rizzle' after reading Ch. 15. See how your Reviews inspire me, people? I borrowed the 'Paradox' song from Gilbert and Sullivan's masterpiece, The Pirates of Penzance. Love that Pirate King! lol


Chapter 22- Quidditch Revisited

The three students dubbed- admiringly or otherwise- The Dream Team, sat together on a sofa facing their common room fireplace. Only a small corner lamp and the flickering flames illumined the quiet chamber. Everyone else had gone to bed. It was almost midnight, but each of the dynamic trio remained wide awake, for similar, yet different, reasons.

Harry was trying to keep his mind focused only on the Quidditch match against Slytherin tomorrow, but thoughts more distracting than You-Know-Who kept intruding. Even staring into the fire didn't help. He still wondered how to know who he really liked and how to tell if they liked him too. In the flames, eyes seemed to appear and fade away. First they were brown, then blue, then midnight black. Shaking his head, the troubled boy glanced at the girl beside him. She met his gaze and asked,

"Are you alright, Harry?"

"Yeah, sure..."

Her friend didn't sound very sure, but Hermione didn't want to pry. Harry had a right to keep secrets if he wanted to. Merlin knew she had lots of things she didn't share. Like how hard it was to sit between Ron and Harry and appear calm and relaxed. The black-haired boy wasn't the problem. It was the red-head on her other side. Harry knew that she liked Ron, but he didn't know how much. Hermione couldn't blame him...she hadn't known either until Ron started noticing other girls.

Oh No, I'm staring at him and he's noticed...quick, think of something to cover... "Uh...are you hungry, Ron?"

Ron nodded his head, even though he didn't really want to go raid the kitchen for a midnight snack. He just wanted not to have to sit by Hermione any longer. He knew she wanted him to make a move, Ron just didn't know how. So he did nothing except get whacked upside the head every time 'Mione saw him notice Zabini or any other girl. He felt mental because he really liked how she got all fiery when she was about to smack, elbow, or berate him over something he did or said. He was glad she cared. How pathetic was that. She was smiling at him...did she expect more of a reaction than a head nod? Panic filled him...what should he say?

"How about we go to the kitchen for a snack? I'll go get my Invisibility Cloak."

Hermione barely noticed Harry leaving the room. Her cheeks started to turn pink when Ron shifted again and his thigh pressed against hers. Their eyes kept meeting and glancing away. If only she knew whether he really liked her or not. The slender girl tried not to fidget. How long is it going to take Harry to get that Cloak? Did he stop by the loo? Did he fall in or what?

"Sorry for the wait, I'd stuck it in the bottom of the trunk."

His friends sprang up eagerly, but seemed to hesitate when it came time for all three of them to crowd under the cloak. They silently left Gryffindor House and luckily met no one on the way to the kitchen. Inside, they found Dobby trying to get Winky to put down a bottle and go to bed.

"No wanna sleepy, wanna drinky..."

The inebriated house elf clutched her bottle of butterbeer and snarled at her concerned friend. Dobby sighed, but perked up after seeing his beloved Harry Potter and friends.

"Dobby is conjuring his friends a snack in no time!"

As promised, three mugs of hot cocoa and a tray of assorted biscuits, sandwiches, and fruit appeared before the students sitting around a work table. After finishing their snack, the teens lingered on, listening to Dobby tell them all the elf gossip he'd heard. Suddenly, the elf stopped talking and removed all traces of their midnight snack with a wave of his hand.

"Someone is coming. Harry Potter and friends must be hiding now!"

The three hurriedly gathered under the cloak and stood against the wall. They watched in shock as Lorelei and Tonks stumbled in. The professors were wearing matching black shirts, the ends tied at their midriffs and hip hugging black jeans. Tonks carried two pale pink jackets and carelessly tossed them onto a table. The DA professor with candy floss pink hair asked,

"Pink Ladies...tell me again why we went to the Three Broomsticks dressed like Muggle musical characters?"

Lorelei reached up to free her hair from a ponytail. She smiled,

"It was a valiant effort to keep my spirits up."

Tonks snorted inelegantly,

"Spirits...hehheh...you got that right. I know why I drank." The spiky haired woman made her way toward a table near the invisible students, "'Cause I can handle it- but you, loony siren, should've known better than to listen when Rosmerta told you that bevvy was mostly juice!"

"But that itty bitty pink umbrella was so cute..." The smiling woman plopped herself down on the bench opposite her friend. She giggled infectiously.

Hermione had to cover her nose and mouth to stifle a giggle of her own. Observing two grown women acting like schoolgirls was quite amusing. She glanced sideways at Harry. He was smiling. She angled her head to look back into Ron's face. Bad move. He was much too close, and his smile made her lips twitch with the urge to do something rash- like kiss him.

She turned her attention to the women. Amber eyes narrowed. The teachers were behaving very unprofessionally, and the girl had just noticed that standing as they were, the trio had an excellent view of cleavage. Looking back at Ron, she glared. He smiled innocently back. If they didn't have to remain silent, she'd smack him so hard...

"Thanks for being a good mate, Tonks...we were supposed to be Frenchie and Rizzo, but I'm a bloody Sandy..." Lorelei sighed deeply.

"Aw, c'mon, mate...wasn't that bad...the warlocks liked those songs you sang...Except that Hopelessly Deluded one...horrid, that was."

"It's Hopelessly Devoted, you twit...an' I am..."

The red-haired observer hoped Lorelei wasn't going to cry. He didn't trust his mate not to do something stupid like try to comfort her - and he didn't mean Hermione. The girl whose brown hair was always so fluffy and soft and smelly good was giving him an approving glance for not gawking during a private moment. He smiled at her. She smiled at him. He felt so odd. Like his head was really heavy and falling forward. Harry's elbow halted his unthinking movement. Ron closed and opened his eyes like he'd been about to fall asleep. His mate's doubt filled look caused him to quickly glance away.

"Dobby is bringing coffee for Lorelei and Tonks. Please be drinking it."

The house elf's appearance beside the table distracted everyone, seen and unseen, from their disturbing thoughts. Tonks eagerly gulped her mug, waving her thanks to the elf departing to carry a passed out Winky to bed, but Lorelei took a sip and said,

"Eeuwww...how can you like that...it's...yucky!"

"Caffeine, mate...hopelessly addicted I am." The metamorphmagus and her friend laughed merrily over the feeble joke. Tonks sat up and placed both elbows on the table,

"I just thought of something...you remember how I told you I found that list in my class today..."

"The one where the girls named the boys they'd like to go with...yeah, why?"

"Well, I just thought about you not goin' to school normal like...you never got to do silly stuff like that...that's sad..."

"Hmmm, yes, I really missed out..."

Taking another fortifying gulp of caffeine, Tonks looked around and lowered her voice,

"We could do it now, just for fun."

The raven-haired woman stared,

"Are you mad? I'm not sixteen, and I'm no Manny Randy Hands, using Muggle Studies to get those Slytherin girls to cheer and shake their pom-poms."

The pink 'lady' sniggered,

"Is that his real name? Manny Randy Hands...it's so him."

The women laughed so hard that they didn't notice the extra sounds of amusement that joined their own. Tonks wiped her eyes and smiled,

"That's not what I was trying to say. I meant pretend you're sixteen, say, and list the...three...guys you'd go with...if you were sixteen." The pink haired professor smiled persuasively,

Lorelei said, "Oh. Alright. Pretending doesn't sound as bad...hmmmm...okay. You go first. Number 3...who is it and why."

Bright blue eyes twinkled,

"Wesley Roberts...Ravenclaw...'cause he's charming and fun...now you..."

Lorelei put her head in her hands and moaned,

"I can't believe I'm regressing like this...alright, if I must...Terry Boot...Ravenclaw...always had a thing for Tarzan."

"No way!"

"Way"

"Weird"

"Am I? Stop stalling and spill...number 2..."

Tonks blushed slightly, and said menacingly,

"Pinky promise never to tell anyone...?"

The Potions Professor held up a pinky. They shook fingers solemnly, and then laughed.

"Fine...Ronald Weasley...Gryffindor, duh...there's something about that Weasley red hair...makes my fingers twitch to touch it."

Lorelei's jaw dropped. She smiled,

"Thank Merlin, it's not just me! I touched both Fred and George's hair during our dance."

"What's it like?"

"Indescribable...you'll just have to feel for yourself one day."

"Witch."

"Aren't I?"

"Your turn to confess...who's number 2 on your list?"

Her eyes briefly squeezed shut as the woman admitted,

"Draco Malfoy...Slytherin, duh...I thought he was a prat at first, but now I really think he's a Gothic guy who needs the love of a good girl...don't look at me that way...you know I'm a sucker for adorable smirks!"

"Don't say another word. I'm becoming ill." The heart shaped face under pink hair grimaced and then brightened. "Hey, let's count 1,2,3 and say our number one together." After the other woman smilingly nodded her agreement, they said simultaneously,

"One...two...three...Harry Potter!"

They both stared. Lorelei asked,

"Why Potter?"

"Because he's The Famous Harry Potter, and when I was sixteen I would've thought him the bravest, coolest boy ever. That's why...and you?

"Because it has to be so hard to be The Famous Harry Potter, and if I was sixteen, I'd want him to have someone who cared about him, and not some heroic image. Make him laugh, think about girl/boy stuff instead of You-Know-Who."

"Wow...you were that deep at sixteen? I was shallow. I would've just seen emerald eyes and a cool reputation."

Sighing, Lorelei said,

"I'm not sixteen, but I do wish Harry would find somebody to really care about him...I've wondered about a couple of girls...I hope one of them makes him happy."

"You sound almost as fond of him as Remus."

"Don't tell Severus...he and Harry are oil and water and that's all there is to say about it...and speaking of all there is to say...on pain of death, never mention this trip down girly lane again. Tonight's been fun, but I think I'd better take myself off to bed." Lorelei pushed herself up off the bench and stretched. Covering a yawn, she waited for her friend to grab their jackets before leaving the kitchen- both women were walking more steadily. The moment they left, the Invisibility Cloak was removed, and the three who had been trapped into becoming eavesdroppers stretched to alleviate their cramped muscles.

"We need to promise never to mention hearing their conversation as well. They'd be mortified if they knew...we knew...about their silly pretend list. Agreed?"

Hermione's look was even more convincing than her words. Harry wasn't about to argue with her. He nodded. Ron did too, and then grumbled about his back when he had to hunch over again to get cloaked for the trip back to Gryffindor House. Harry's eyes were thoughtful when he and Ron went upstairs.

Lying in bed, he grinned. Two gorgeous women had said if they were sixteen, they'd want to go with him the most. He moved restlessly and threw off the covers, uncomfortably hot when he thought about how Lorelei said she would've cared about him and not his image. Someone to make him laugh...think about girl/boy stuff... Harry hadn't known that was what he really wanted in a girlfriend until he heard her say it…in that sincere voice, with those lips, and those eyes, and that face...


Lorelei murmured the password to Severus' quarters and airily waved to the couple frowning at her from the portrait. For illicit lovers, they were quite judgmental...the pair of painted hypocrites. Accidentally knocking over a stack of books, the woman bent to pick them up. Something was poking in her jeans pocket. It was a brushing/flossing mint. Good idea...she popped it into her mouth and forgot about the books.

Bumping into a side table, she irritably wondered why Severus had re-arranged the furniture. She didn't remember that being there. Rubbing her hip, she strolled through the lounge without further mishap and made her way into the bedroom, lighting a few magicked candles with a wave of her wand. Snape did love black. Black velvet bed hangings, and black bed linens.

Humming the 'horrid' song about being devoted, not deluded, she disrobed. After a quick shower, Lorelei hopped onto the bed and took her half in the middle. The Potions Master's mysterious extra-curricular activities had taken him away this evening, which was why she'd gone with Tonks to Hogsmeade. It had kept her from moping around worrying about trifling things like risks to life and limb. Hugging his pillow, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, the woman felt as though imps from the blackest pit of Hades were trying to pound their way into her skull by performing Riverdance on it- in stiletto heels. She moaned piteously.

"Here. Take this...and now this...better?"

By the time her coolly amused lover said 'better', he didn't sound as if he were shouting anymore, "Much...what were those potions?"

"Morning After and Nauseous No More...if you're going to become a drinker, I'll have to stock up."

She sat up and pushed hair out of her face, "Ha-Ha...I won't be doing that again...soon."

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Lorelei made herself sway when she stood so he would steady her. Leaning against his chest, she slid her hands up to his shoulders- to balance herself. Gazing up into his smiling eyes, she tried to look as innocent and helpless as possible. His lips curved, but Severus was a true gentleman. He asked,

"Are you not fully recovered?"

"I'm sure I'll be fine after a shower. It's just that I feel a little...dizzy, still."

The curve became more pronounced,

"Do you need assistance, to make sure you don't get dizzy and fall?"

"Yes, please, I am feeling light-headed." He was walking her backwards toward the bath, and his dark voice was indeed making her head spin. She smiled in expectation, "How good you are to me."

He assured her,

"Goodness has nothing to do with it."

Sitting beside her sardonic sweetie on the sofa later, Lorelei spent many pleasant minutes just looking at him. Arresting, Magnetic, Intriguing...she didn't mind not being able to look out a window since the view inside was so riveting

"Are you going to read that section?"

She handed over the untouched Arts Section of the Daily Prophet. It couldn't hold her interest this morning. She smiled when a satiric brow winged upwards.

"Didn't your mother tell you that it's rude to stare?"

"You don't mind."

He snapped the newspaper open to conceal his face. She knew he was hiding a grin. What a contradiction Snape was. Always trying to project an aloof facade of self-sufficiency outside intimate situations while inside... No wonder she loved him. He was an eternal paradox, so she sang the song from an Operetta that came to mind- smiling over the word 'ingenious'.

"I assume that's another one of your Muggle tunes...what's the paradox?"

"You're the paradox."

"Humph...am I supposed to be flattered?"

"Well, I do think you're ingenious..."

His hands suddenly grasped her arms and pulled her across his lap. She gasped, startled, and thrilled. He smiled meaningfully,

"I'm going to show you exactly how...ingenious...I can be- after the Quidditch match."

"Quidditch"

"The match starts in an hour. Slytherin plays Gryffindor. I have to support my House. Don't you want to support your little orphan boy?"

"If you're referring to Potter, you know I don't care who wins- it's just a game."

"You'll be the only one in the stands who feels that way."

She rolled her eyes, "It's raining and damp and cold and I'll be miserable. Why should I go? Give me one good reason."

"I'll be there."

Lorelei jumped to her feet and ran for her quarters. Yep. That was a good reason.


Inside the teacher's box, Severus' water repelling charm kept him dry...although he did wonder how a match could be played in such weather. Surely the visibility would be extremely poor. His thin lips stretched upwards. Good. Anything Slytherin House could use to its advantage, it would. Malfoy becoming the new Captain of the Quiddich team was surprising and...suspicious. The professor had talked to Montague, and the boy's sudden change of heart was hard to believe. The bully had been running the team into the ground, so Snape felt no guilt for letting whatever magic the Seeker had worked on the Chaser slide.

"Goodness Gracious! Has that woman no sense of...of..."

"Style, Minerva? I quite like her outfit."

"You would, Albus."

The Potions Master liked Lorelei's outfit too. Instead of performing a Water Repelling Charm, she had left her hair loose and covered it with a bright yellow rain bonnet. A matching raincoat covered her to a few inches above her knees. Her legs were bare between the coat and calf-high yellow rain boots she wore. With a smile as sunny as her rain gear, she refused several invitations to sit by other professors and blithely sat beside him.

Covertly, he glanced over. She was tilting her head to the side to look at him. She grinned and slid her hand down between them. He felt an impudent finger poke his thigh. Pressing his lips together, Snape pretended not to notice.

"How do you think the weather will affect the game, Professor Snape? Your Seeker isn't as fast as Potter in the best of weather."

Every time the rivals played one another, Minerva McGonagall pretended to hold an 'amicable discussion' before the game began. The Gryffindor Head of House could term it whatever she liked, but Severus knew Muggles would call it 'Talking Trash'- or was it 'Smack'? He was rather good at it himself. Smirking, he replied,

"Malfoy's eyesight is far superior, and in this rain, seeing is winning."

"We'll see."

"I believe I just said that."

McGonagall turned around with a huff. Soft laughter drew his attention.

"Catty isn't she?"

The hand on the seat between them playfully clawed his leg. It seemed he would have to take measures to curtail the predacious assault upon his person. Looking straight ahead, he slipped his hand down and held the siren's. His thumb stroked her skin. The two teams flying across the pitch were barely visible. A Gryffindor sideswiped a Slytherin. Through his omnioculars, Severus watched Malfoy choose to rescue the other player over catching the snitch.

"Look, they've landed safely...and Potter's caught the snitch! Bet he'll wish he'd saved the girl instead. Malfoy's a hero. Gryffindors will hate that."

Wishing he could kiss Lorelei's hand for saying just the right thing to make the disappointment palatable, the saturnine professor merely squeezed and released it. Standing, he informed the Headmaster that he would verify that Malfoy and the Weasley girl were unharmed. He heard Minerva say skeptically,

"You enjoyed the Quidditch match, Professor Lorelei?"

He didn't have to turn around to know she was smiling. It shone in her voice like a rain cloud's silver lining.

"I loved it."

Quickly making his way down the stadium steps, Snape smiled too.


A/N: Did you like the trio's POV? The Quidditch Revisited? Let me know in a Review!