Mischief Managed: Ch. 2

What happens when your boyfriend's 'spare bit of parchment' takes you and your arch-nemesis twenty years back in time? With the Marauders involved, things can get pretty interesting. ..

The Hotel Marriott Marble Arch, Muggle London

6:45 PM

"Bloody Hell!" Ron said as he entered the revolving glass door of their hotel, generously made possible by Mr. Weasley's connections at the Department of Magical Transport.

He had realized over the last six weeks that his Dad was really cool—fixing them up with their own hotel room and box seats for the Weird Sisters concert—Mr. Weasley's only orders had been to have fun, stay out of trouble, and don't tell your mother—a very cool Dad indeed.

"See if you can find us some grub Harry—I've got to go check in—'Mione, I need some help with money—"

Just like that they were gone—holding hands no less—this new Ron was slightly disconcerting—so was being alone with his sister.

"How are you doing Harry—" Ginny said gently, "—I mean with Sirius and everything?"

"I'm fine," he lied easily, used to holding pain inside by now.

"Oh, okay—" she said softly, "I just thought you might want to talk to someone sometime—and I'd be happy to listen—if you need to talk that is."

"Thanks Ginny," he said softly, "—wait—Ginny—" she whirled around and gave him a sweet smile, "—you look really nice tonight."

"Thank you Harry," she grinned, blushing slightly, "so do you."

"Ginny?" Harry said, drawing closer to her.

"Yes Harry?"

"Err—I'm not really good at this—but—err—Ginny?"

"Yes Harry?"

"I really lick you."

"Excuse me?" she laughed as his face flushed crimson.

"I mean like you—I—I—"

She cut him off with a kiss—a kiss unlike any that Harry had ever experienced before, even though he only had one other to judge it against.

"I really like you too—I have since my first year if you didn't notice."

"Are you two about done?" Ron chuckled as Harry backed away from Ginny guiltily, "I got the room keys—and I'm starving!"

"Where's Hermione—did she leave you already?" Ginny snapped, thoroughly irritated that her brother had ruined the moment.

"Geez—keep your shirt on Gin—she went to the restaurant across the street to grab us a table—if you two hurry up we can get some food before the show."

1 hour later

Dinner had been delicious and entertaining—especially the part when Ron had asked the waiter if he had change for a Galleon. It was even more amusing for Harry watching Ron decipher the bill—

"So that's a twenty pound note?" he asked, obviously befuddled by the concept of change.

"Yea," Harry said glancing in the direction of the restroom, where the girls had disappeared ages ago, "Ron, why do girls find it necessary to go to the loo together? I bet you 10 Galleons they're talking about us."

"Piss it, I'll never figure this out," Ron groaned as he slammed the check down on the table.

At that moment, the girls rushed over to the table, doubled over in laughter.

"You will not believe who's here," Ginny said with a huge grin on her face.

"Take one guess—" Hermione giggled, leaning on Ginny for support.

Ron and Harry exchanged glances at each other. The Weird Sisters were a popular group—half of the wizard population of Britain was due to go to their concert—it could have been any one of their classmates—maybe even a Weird Sister.

"I bet its Snape," Ron grinned, "—yeah Snape probably vowed to give up Potions forever and become the new bass player for the Weird Sisters."

Harry laughed at the absurdity of the idea. "Out of sheer, morbid curiosity—I wonder what Snape's doing right now?"

The girls were now laughing hysterically.

"Now you're scaring me—" Ron looked at the normally dead serious Hermione with concern as she buried her face in her hands, overcome by a fit of laughter.

Ginny was the first to catch her breath, "—that's just it Harry—he's right over there—and he's staring at us right now."

Meanwhile, Across the Room

All he had wanted was a nice, quiet dinner date, followed by a loud rock concert where he wasn't required to say anything. Severus Snape hadn't been on a date in quite some time, due to some rather traumatic experiences with the opposite sex back in his school days. Satine Sinistra was a glorious creature—the astronomy witch was his ideal woman in every way—what with those deep obsidian eyes, guarded lashes, and clingy black dress that showed just enough skin as was proper for a lady of forty. Yes, Severus was enamored, though he'd never admit it to anyone—even to himself! This time was going to be different than in primer school—he was not going to mess it up. What could go wrong? Satine shared his fondness for classical music, elegant hotels, and even knew a thing or two about the exact arts of Potion-making. However, just as Severus was delivering the carefully memorized punch line to his Japanese golfer joke, his sensitive ears detected a familiar sound. A solitary chuckle—of a girl—a familiar girl. Severus whirled around toward the direction of the seal-like noise. Just as he was ready to give the offender a small piece of his mind, a look of horror came over his ashy white face—for it was none other than that insufferable know-it-all Hermione Granger and the female Weasley.

"Severus," his date said in a seductive tone of voice, "are you all right?"

Severus froze—where there were Grangers and Weasleys there were bound to be Potters—and Potter Jr. was the last person on earth he wanted to see.

"Severus," Satine said a little less gently than before, "—are you ready to go?"

He could do this—he had nothing to fear from these godforsaken children—his therapist had been over this many times. Potter was not his bloody father and Granger was not the reincarnation of that prim, perfect little Evans—though he still wasn't sure about the latter. Stop it—he lectured himself. The children—that's what they are—will all be rushing to the mosh pit with their freaky little friends—getting 'jiggy' with it, as he'd heard Draco term these modern day 'dances'. He had spent quite a few Galleons getting his hands on box seats—coincidentally those formerly held by Lucius Malfoy, who was unfortunately enjoying a little stay in Azkaban. So he was safe—for the moment—if only the pesky memories would desist—Severus watched as Potter's group exited, briefly amusing himself watching Weasley, who followed Potter in the exact way Black had so faithfully tailed the Almighty James. But Black was gone—as was Potter Sr.—never to bother or torment him again. That thought kept Severus going as he reached for his black overcoat, at long last ready.