Defying All Odds
Chapter 4: Sorting Feast
DISCLAIMER: We do not own J.K. Rowling's work.
A/N 1: Sorry for such a long wait! Hope you enjoy the chapter! PLEASE REVIEW! Thanks to all who did! Jessie
A/N 2: Ok, so here's our next chapter. I hope you enjoy, and that you laugh A LOT because we worked very hard to think of stuff to write about. It's really hard to think, in case you haven't noticed. My mom says that thinking takes up a lot of energy…probably more than if you're running for the same time, so as appreciation to our hard thinking, please review! Thanks. Sally
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The students arrived at Hogwarts in the usual horseless carriages, chattering amiably. They were escorted through the giant doors, and sat down to listen to the Sorting – or in the Marauders' case, putting their heads together to pull off their annual prank (the Marauders had performed the counter-curse on James, so he was looking like normal).
"So, got any ideas, guys?" asked Peter, his nose quivering with excitement.
"Well, Moony here invented a spell over the summer holidays, and we were thinking it would be perfect for what we had in mind," responded James with a wicked grin on his face.
"Here's the plan…" said Sirius, bending forward to whisper said plan in Peter's ear.
From "Abkif, Sally" to "Zieden, Jessica", the Marauders were waiting impatiently for the Sorting to be over so they could pull off their marvelous prank. At last, Dumbledore stood up to give his usual speech.
"Before we become too befuddled by this excellent feast, I have a few words to say. First, I look to our new Head Boy and Girl to lead this school responsibly. Let us give a hand to Lily Evans and James Potter, our new Heads!"
The school responded accordingly, clapping and cheering. Meanwhile, James had sunken low into his seat, and the rest of the Marauders were staring at his crimson forehead incredulously.
"Prongs, mate! Why didn't you tell us?" asked Sirius, clapping his friend on the back.
"Really, James! It's nothing to be ashamed of," said Remus. Then, with a mischievous grin, he added, "Though it does give me the opportunity to pay you back for when I was made Prefect…"
James only groaned in response.
After the clapping died away, Dumbledore continued his speech.
"Now, as usual, the rules stand thus: no student is allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest, which some of our more audacious students would be wise to adhere to. Also, the list of banned objects has stretched to 320 objects, a list that can be viewed in our caretaker Apollyon Pringle's office. After the feast, I would like to see our new Head Boy and Girl. That will be all. Enjoy the food!"
At the Gryffindor Table
Back at the Gryffindor table, the Marauders were relieved that the speech was over.
"Finally!" exhaled Sirius. "Okay, guys, let's go."
They split up into groups. James and Remus got into striking position near the double doors, which were coincidentally located near the Slytherin table. They crouched there, waiting in the shadows from the signal from Sirius and Peter. They didn't have to wait long.
At the front of the Great Hall
Sirius stood on a conjured platform, his voice magically enhanced so that it could be heard over all the noise. Peter stood by, using his wand to conduct a spotlight, which was currently shining on Sirius.
"Ladies and gentlemen! I am very pleased to announce that the seventh year Slytherins have gladly volunteered to become our evening entertainment for the occasion. Let's give them a hand!" Sirius shouted, in an announcer's voice. He gestured toward the Slytherin table, where Peter had moved the spotlight to.
Near the Entrance doors
"All right. Let's go," James whispered to Remus. Remus grinned in response.
"Do you remember the incantation?"
"Erm… no," James admitted, grinning sheepishly.
"Why don't I say the spell, then?" Remus suggested. James nodded in agreement.
"Maleo momentos!" he whispered, pointing his wand carefully at the Slytherins.
At the front of the Great Hall
Sirius grinned in anticipation as he saw Remus say the incantation. A/N2: It almost rhymes! Nearby, Peter looked up to see what he was doing and pasted the expression on his own face.
The Slytherins were glaring daggers at Sirius and Peter; Sirius smiled sweetly back, while Peter quivered and hid behind him.
Suddenly, Snape, Malfoy, and Lestrange (the only male seventh-year Slytherins) felt a strange change AN2: Oh my gosh, another rhyme! gasp coming over them, and rose to their feet. To the rest of the Great Hall however (who were watching eagerly), they seemed in a peculiar daze.
Then, the spotlight roved to where Malfoy was standing, while Sirius announced.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Lucius Malfoy has graciously volunteered to be the first to amuse us tonight! Let's give it up for Malfoy!" The Great Hall's ceiling was raised with cheers and laughter.
Malfoy got to his feet and skipped to the middle of the Great Hall. Suddenly, he was clothed in a long cape and flowing attire. He opened his mouth… and out came the sound of a lovely soprano opera singer. The Hall echoed with the high music, and the students were falling out of their seats, laughing. As Malfoy's music crescendoed, the music became higher in pitch, until it finished with a trill during which Malfoy's voice broke and a high squeak was emitted from his throat. Malfoy skipped back to his seat with a dazed expression on his face.
"Rodolphus Lestrange is up next on our agenda tonight. He looks rather shy tonight, so let's cheer for him really loud!" Sirius shouted.
Indeed, Lestrange had a very sour look on his face; judging by his expression, he was able to fight the spell better than the others, but not enough to throw it off completely. As a result, he began to dance the polka with jerky movements, stopping every once in a while. Music was provided by Peter's wand, and Lestrange danced around the perimeter of the Great Hall, students following his every move. Lestrange sat down at the Slytherin table and immediately scowled. But the audience wasn't paying attention to him anymore. They had moved their eyes eagerly to Snape, the only one left.
"Severus Snape has eagerly volunteered to be our closing act for this evening. And what a spectacular ending to our performances! Let's hear it for Sevvie!"
Snape jumped on top of the table with great agility, knocking goblets of pumpkin juice over and sending dishes of food skidding across the table in either direction. He put on an expression of sappy adoration and knelt to an invisible person. He started professing his undying love to the invisible lady (who was mentioned as Stacey Selkdof, his girlfriend) with plenty of flowery words and expressions, while the students howled in laughter, clutching their sides.
"What a marvelous finish to our evening entertainment! Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a hand to our three wonderful performers! Thank you!" Sirius grinned and with a flourish, stepped off the miniature podium. The Marauders all met in the middle of the Great Hall and bowed together, grinning madly at the success of their prank. James lifted his wand in the air and a banner of multicolored sparks proclaimed: Brought to you by your resident Marauders!
Malfoy, Snape, and Lestrange sat down with confused expressions, since the spell obviously wore off. Snape looked around at the students who were still laughing, confused as to the source of humor. Some fellow Slytherins told him what had happened, and Snape's face reddened as he glared at the Marauders. The four Gryffindors smiled cheekily back.
Up at the staff table, Professor Dumbledore was chuckling appreciatively, but Professor McGonagall swooped down on them and gave them each detentions for a week while trying to control the tell-tale twitch of her lips.
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A/N (both): Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW! We hope to get the next chapter up a little faster than this one. Love from The Manders!
