Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters. Everything else belongs to J.K Rowling.

A/N: Oh My Merlin I'm happy. This is gonna be so much fun and none of you know exactly what's gonna happen yet. We have this chap, and the next is most likely the Yule Ball, so stick around and read! YAY!

Chapter 17: Finals and Flannels

"Good Morning Freckle-Face, Red-Head, Scar-Boy, and 'Mione!" I shouted as I took my seat at the Great Hall Gryffindor's Table.

Ron looked puzzled, "Why is Hermione the only one with a normal nickname?"

I ignored this as I saw Neville enter the Great Hall, "Good morning Nervous-Nev!"

Reiterating his last question, Ron asked, "Why is Hermione the only one with a normal nickname?"

"Because," I answered sharply, "I haven't made up a weird one yet."

Neville sat next to Seamus who was next to Ron and spoke, "Nervous-Nev? I haven't had a nickname from you yet. What's with the sudden urge to nickname everyone you know?"

"I think my best friends deserve nicknames. You guys are my best friends and I just thought it'd be cool to have some kind of inside thing between us. What better than a nickname for each one of you?" My answer came out a bit jumbled.

'Mione looked me in the eyes, "...and now we are going to figure out a nickname for you."

Neville stepped in again, "How about changing mine a bit? Calling me nervous makes me nervous."

Laughing, I thought of a new nickname, "How about...Nutty-Nev? You are pretty nutty, you know."

"That's better than Nervous-Nev..I'll keep it." Nev smiled as he shook his head.

Seamus stated, "I like my nickname, even though I don't have that many freckles.."

"Manic-Mara..." Hermione surprised me with a strange nickname.

"Manic-Mara?" I questioned.

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "Manic..because you are a little crazy at times, and Mara..because that's part of your name. I like it."

Everyone nodded and agreed with Mione.

I laughed, "Ok Braniac. That's your nickname 'Mione. Either that or Brainy-Mione, but it rhymes too much. I like Braniac better."

For the remainder of breakfast, the six of us joked around and laughed. Then, we came up with a plan for the day to be as relaxing as it could be. First class was Defense Against The Dark Arts, and we all had ten minutes until the bell rang. So we all went to our dorms and changed our clothing..

Entering Defense Class with flannel pajamas on was not only amusing to us, but to Goldilocks the Poptart too. Today was declared Pajama Day by all of the Gryffindors.. Well, most of us. The word passed ear to ear before classes that our plan was to lay back in our pajamas all day. At least we would be comfortable when testing, right?

Lockhart passed out the mid-terms to us, for it was unfortunately time to take them. The test didn't look too hard, but appearances can be misleading. Time sluggishly passed as I answered the first page, and second, and third. Soon I reached the end, but realized it wasn't an end at all, for there was an essay! Grr...

Next class was my Art Of Flying Class, and we had no mid-term. So, I took it upon myself to study for the upcoming Potions test. Madame Hooch stared at me in wonder because of my flannels. I thought pink and sky blue flannels were cute in the Winter! Yes, I even think sarcastically.. The only reason I wore these ugly things was because my other friends were..

If your friends jumped off a bridge...would you?

No, I'd be the one to catch them.

"Settle down!" Snape's voice boomed into the room, following his black ensemble and sneering face.

The class became silent, nervous, and alert. Snakey-Snape continued to lecture us about being quiet during the test, or else we would all be punished severely. What is severe to Snape? He's always threatening us, but never does anything to us but give out detentions or take points away. There's proof that he's all talk. Maybe I should plan a little trick on him. Not for today, of course, because right now, in front of me is a damned test. It screams out Failure! Although, I don't think I will fail. I studied my arse off all week.

Enough thinking about my failing or not, I have to actually take the test.

These questions are damn easy..Simple enough for a child to do. I'm serious!

Wow, even the essay was easy.

"What's wrong with you students?" Snape noticed our flannel invasion once we passed our tests in. Five minutes of class were left, and Snape decided to waste our time by yelling at us.

"Here he goes.." Hermione whispered to me.

Snape unfortunately continued, "Pajamas are to be worn at night when getting ready for bed. They are not to be worn during your mid-terms, where everyone is supposed to be serious about there work. What would happen if big business leaders suddenly went to work in pajamas? The world would be unkempt and no one would take anything or anyone seriously!"

"Actually," I said quietly to 'Mione, "If they went to work in their pj's, they would probably get more work done because attention would be focused on work instead of what the new girl is wearing."

Hermione let out a giggle, and Snape gave me a dirty look.

"Do we have something to say, Maguire?" Of course he wanted to start with me. When doesn't he?

"No," I said assuringly and calmly.

"What were you saying to Miss Granger?"

I looked straight in his eyes, "Actually, I said I can't wait to see how I did on the test. See, I really studied for this test, so I'm pretty eager to know."

Snape's icy stare grew colder, "You may see what you got at detention tonight. Six o'clock sharp."

The class, mostly the Slytherins, oohed as though Snape just dissed me terribly.

I calmly replied, "Alright, Professor."

Hermione told me, while we were walking to Charms, that she was proud of how I handled the Snape situation. She said that it was the first time she hadn't seen me freak out at Snape all year.

The remainder of the day went by pretty peachy. I flowed through each final as carefree as a child. The mid-terms were not something to fear this year. My studying payed off, hopefully, in a positive way. Detention with Snape...Six o'clock.

"Miss Maguire, there is something going on.." Snape interrogated me as soon as I walked into the classroom.

My reply was, "Not that I know of. Why?"

"Well, you were extremely quiescent and layed back today. You are never calm or quiet at the same time.. Especially when you are in my class. You always raise your voice or give me an attitude while you are in this room, so what's going on?" Snape seemed really concerned, but I knew not to fall for his uncanny sense.

"Professor Snape," I began to speak my mind, "in all honesty, I've been an utter witch this year. Of course you know I'm meaning witch with a B. Anywho, Hermione and Ron, being my closest friends, pointed out what I was blind to see. They pointed out that I have taken way too many things to heart, and I'm way too overdramatic. So, I'm not only appologizing to you for acting the way I did, but I'm promising to try extra hard not to fight with you anymore. I know we will still have our quarrels because that's something that just happens between us, but this doesn't mean I'm going to look for fights like I have before. I know you probably don't care, and this is all a bunch of crap, but I am sorry. You are my Professor, and I need to respect you."

Either one of two things happened to Snape after and while I spoke: He was dumbfounded by my bluntness, or he was speechless at my attempt to mend the broken ties between student and teacher. I mean, here I was, standing in my flannels still, talking in a sophisticated way to my Professor, even though he is still a snake, trying to appologize for everything. Shouldn't he be appologizing too?

"Miss Maguire, I am appalled at your maturity. In a way, I cannot believe my ears, which you should understand. Yet, in a way, I accept your appology. I understand that you have had your eventful year, with Draco and all, but you have to understand from my point of view. You can't just pick fights over little things. I know I don't have to tell you this, because apparently you know that already.." Snape took a breath and looked under a pile of papers for something.

Now I was the one who was dumbfounded. Why did he bring Draco into the conversation? You know, I don't even want to bother asking why. He most likely just felt a tiny bit of sympathy when Draco The Ferret Boy Wonder killed my already dead heart. I know...I just overreacted in my own thoughts. Damn, I can't get this calm side to stick.

"Thank you for accepting my appology, Professor Snape." I had nothing more to say as I stood in front of Snape's desk.

He pulled out a paper with my name on it.. It wasn't just a paper, it was a packet..My test!

"Miss Maguire...one-hundred percent correct. You have an A." Snape spoke, but my ears couldn't believe it.

I gasped, "Oh My God! Yes! Thank you, thank you, Professor!"

"You shouldn't be thanking me, Maguire.." He took a breath and sighed, "Thank yourself for studying excelently. Great job."

Even though he said great job like it was nothing, it meant a lot to hear from the Snake that he was satisfied with my results. Snape let me leave detention, and happily, I skipped to the Gryffindor Common Room to share my awesome news.