Snape merely glared, seeming to take her interference as an insult as much as Black, and Lydia looked ready to pounce.
"Well?" she asked. "Everything's all right? No one hurt?"
Lydia nodded grudgingly as Snape turned back to his books without comment. Black Snorted, fingering his wand eagerly.
Lana turned back to him.
"Go," she commanded, pushing his chest.
Sirius heaved a great sigh, but complied, casting Lana a wink as he turned away and left the compartment, only to be hit in the back by a stunning spell, sprawled face first on the floor in the corridor.
"Never turn your back on an angry Slytherin." Lydia hissed, slamming the door shut.
"That was uncalled for!" Lana shouted at the closed door, as Lupin muttered the counter curse.
"So was what he did. we're even." Lydia spat in return.
Lana rolled her eyes, looking back at the group with an annoyed expression.
Lydia muttered a spell that caused the door to glow blue and swell to fill the frame so no one could enter and flopped down into her seat, seething.
"You're all right then?" Severus asked, eyeing the door.
"Fine…thank you, by the way." She murmured, casting her gaze downward slightly.
"Don't mention it." He replied in a tone that clearly said 'really, don't mention it EVER'.
She offered a weak smile but fell silent, wishing for the train to hurry up and get to the Hogsmeade station.
"We should be there soon," Snape observed, looking out the window.
She nodded, rising to her feet and peering into the corridor.
It was surprisingly empty, most students in their own compartments probably changing into their school robes.
Lydia sat back down, already in her robes, and tucked her book away again. Cautiously she regarded Snape, wondering why she had never spoken with him before..
"What are you looking at?" He asked sharply, dark eyes boring into her.
Her cheeks colored slightly and she shrugged, averting her gaze, grateful for the screeching pistons as the train drew to a halt.
He sighed, being taunted by the Marauders always annoying and embarrassing him more than he would choose to admit.
"Maybe I'll see you around."
She nodded, grabbing her Owl's cage and lifting the spell she had cast on the door.
"See you." She said softly, and surprisingly enough, she hoped she would.
He nodded slightly though hadn't moved, waiting to be the last person off... or one of them at least.
She moved silently into the corridor again, lagging behind the crowd as she approached the Thestral-Drawn carriages, her barn owl hooting softly.
The trip to the castle gates was relatively uneventful, second years seeming eager to start their new term as non-first-years and people happy all around to be back with friends.
Lydia watched them all as though she were part of the wall, seated apart from even other slytherins as the feast continued. She spotted the gryffindor girl and the marauders laughing and enjoying the feast.
Lana caught Lydia's eye and offered a friendly smile,though she expected the girl to still be upset.
She lifted her glass slightly, though her face remained expressionless.
Lana sighed, giving the slightest nod. This year would certainly prove interesting.
"Double potions with the gryffindors...great." Lydia muttered as she entered the dungeons. Professor Slughorn, the fat, walrus-like potions master was already waiting, beaming at her and Severus as the Slytherins and Gryffindors filed into the class.
The group of Gryffindor fifth years seemed overly excited about something as they moved to the back of the class. Lydia caught a glimpse of James and Sirius whispering excitedly, but the moment she turned to see what was going on, they fell silent, their faces mask like.
Lydia noted this with some concern as Slughorn went on about the potion they were brewing and dropping little compliments to his favorites. As head of Slytherin house he was generally unliked by most, despite his fairness and genial manner. He liked to surround himself with the best and the brightest, and came off as self serving . Lydia saw Snape eyeing the Gryffindors warily as well and was glad to know she was not imagining things. He was on to them as well… Of course HE was. He was their most popular target, everyone knew that. She hoped nothing happened this time. It was growing old very fast.
Potter and Black seemed to be snickering under their breath as they watched the professor. It seemed as though they were having trouble trying to restrain their laughter.
she narrowed her eyes, tense and wary. Something was going to happen at a Slytherin's expense once again. Of this there was no doubt.
Finally they were set about the tasks of actually making the potion. Sirius and James quickly raised their hands once more.
"Professor?"
l Slughorn turned his gaze on the young Gryffindor his big belly bouncing as his mustache wuffled.
"yes, Mr. Black? What is it?"
Sirius coughed, trying to keep his face straight.
"You've made sure to check the ingredients that you've handed out this time?" He asked innocently, grey eyes dancing with merriment.
Slughorn scowled, glaring at the youth.
"I have Mr. Black, and unless someone switched them while I blinked ,everything should be fine." he grumbled.
James sniggered as Lydia eyed them carefully, her hand faltering as she saw the looks on Sirius and James' faces.
"Cause we wouldn't want another OWL test gone wrong, would we, Prongs?" he asked, turning to James with a mock serious face.
"course not, Sirius." James agreed as Petigrew tried not to laugh to loudly. Lydia scowled and looked away, trying instead to focus on her potion. they were all talk...
Remus sighed, shaking his head, though he offered the professor an almost apologetic look. Sirius continued.
"Just wanted to check before we had an accident, Professor," he said with a grin.
And with a loud BANG Lydia was thrown across the room and slammed hard against the wall, slumping in a sitting position on the floor, smoke rising lazily from her robes. Instantly she regretted not hexing the marauders into oblivian on the train. She should have known better than to fall for their little prank…
As soon as that happened, Sirius and James burst into a hysterical laughing fit, nearly falling out of their seats at the sight of the expression on the Slyhterin girl's face as she sat there, stunned and embarrassed. Peter chuckled stupidly as the rest of the Gryffindors joined in the joke. Humiliating Slytherins was always great fun.
Lydia gave a soft groan and struggled to her feet, favoring one arm and bearing a bloody nose, glaring balefully at the laughing Gryffindors.
Professor Slughorn moved to her quickly, his great walrus face creased with genuine worry
. "Go to the hospital wing, if you please Miss Halliwell, and have that taken care of..." He looked around the room, avoiding looking at Potter and Black. His eyes landed on... "Mr. Snape, please accompany her." And at that a new fresh wave of laughter filled the room.
Lydia nodded and tried to stem the flow of blood from her nose as Snape silently approached her. She cast one last look at the Gryffindors to see if Lana was in on the joke, and to see who all needed to be hexed when their backs were turned.
Lana was shaking her head, looking rather like she wanted to disappear. That mixed with wanting to beat Sirius with a broom, though she seemed to be restraining herself well.
Squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin, Lydia strode from the room, confident the Marauders would at least get detention. Slughorn, head of Slytherin, would not let the affront to one of his favorite students go unpunished.