Summary: Sift through the lives of Hogwarts' slightly deranged students with resident Gryffindor dunderhead, Neville Longbottom.
Disclamer: JK Rowling's. Nothing belongs to me. Except for the boring story line and my dirty yellow socks.
-
Chapter Three…
"Harry Potter, I love you!" Neville was still groggy from his sleep but the unmistakable sound of lips smacking againts another pair of lips assaulted his ears nonetheless.
By now, Harry had regained full conciousness and was startled to find he couldn't move, mainly because of the extra weight in his lap. Neville was still too far off in dreamland and was desperately trying to concentrate on his blurry sorroundings.
When the stars dissapeared and his vision cleared, he finally understood where the war cry had come from. There was a fourth-year Hufflepuff seated snugly in Harry's lap and it didn't look like she was about to get off.
Neville almost screamed. She looked hideous with all that war paint on her face. What Neville didn't know, of course, was the fact that it was 'make up' and that there hadn't been a war cry, it was a squeal. Much like Harry's, except, a deeper tone. When he did realize this, he also realized Harry was grinning like the love-sick fool he was.
Neville smiled, it was obvious his job was done for today.
A giggle. "I know this is sudden but I really really really love you and I was going to confess here in this confession booth. But then, I saw you and it was truly a golden opportunity. Harry, I can't live without you. If you leave me, it'll be like denying air to my lungs and if I don't confess, it'd be like a bird trapped in a cage begging to be free and if you like another person, I'll kill her and if you stop seeing me after today, I'll kill you and if you don't like me, I'll make you and if you don't kiss me now, it'd be denying your heart's true love," Mryan Roswell smiled sweetly and tilted her chin up to receive her true love's kiss.
Harry shrugged and kissed her. Then, he lifted her up. He turned around. "Thank you, I bless your booth and that's a big thing because I am, after all, The-Boy-Who-Lived. Here's 30 galleons and a blessing from me." Harry smiled and turned to Mryan.
She smiled back and turned to the 'listener'. "Here's an extra 30 galleons and a blessing from me and that's a big thing because I'm Harry Potter's future wife. Toodles!" And with that, Harry carried her and headed out of the booth and they dissapeard to Merlin knows where.
Neville grinned and collected the money, slipping them into a pouch. He minimized the stand with his wand (a nifty spell from Hermione) and stuffed it in his pocket and with a quick look around, removed his hooded cloak.
He could say that he was truly happy for Harry but that would be dishonest and Neville was anything but dishonest. However he could and did say he was happy for the sixty galleons clinking merrily in his pocket. He'd tell gran, she'd be so proud. With that thought, he walked back to the Gryffindor dorm.
-
Dean Thomas stirred the contents in his cauldron. Was it suppose to turn purple and finally to electric blue? What's with the smoke? Gosh, the potion really smelt bad but then again, all potions smelled bad. Right?
He'd just visit the saloon and ask Malfoy. Or.. 'cringe'.. Snape. It didn't matter if Snape's hair was washed, the man still barked like a dog. It was no wonder Draco was so pale, he had Snape to look at and confide in as a father figure.
The rivalry between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins had cooled down after the war. In fact, Dean considered Draco and Blaise as best friends. And Hogwarts was like family, a disfunctional family but still a good family. Albus Dumbledore was their 'sugar daddy', literally.
The old man wasn't bad actually, even though Draco being the narcistic blonde he was, had instilled the fear of Dumbledore being a perverted pedophile into Hogwart's population. How else did the old man keep track about everything happening in Hogwarts from the top of the astronomy tower and to dungeon level? Heck, he knew about Draco crying in the bathroom with Moaning Myrtle on tail. That said something, right?
Not that Dean would know, he wasn't exactly a keen observer and he really didn't want to know what Dumbledore did in his free time. Blaise had warned them of Draco's odd behaviour and disturbing ideas.
The dark haired boy was rather quiet but Dean adored his two new best friends. Blaise was really sweet and was the perfect pure-blooded gentleman. Not that Draco wasn't but he was more on the strange side. Both Slytherins were ingenious and it was so much fun to learn about Draco's pranks and Blaise's childhood fantasies.
Dean was generally a very blur and open-minded guy. He was simple, that was all there was to it. He was the Quidditch narrator, he was jovial and fun. Really, he wasn't complicated at all. So when something 'complicated' or something out of the ordinary happens, Dean is most likely left behind.
When Seamus abandoned the usual black school stockings for fishnet stockings and when he prefered high-heeled boots to his normal black leather shoes, Dean was once again, left behind. It didn't help that Seamus took off his school robes whenever he could in favour of leather pants and a sleeveless shirt.
Dean Thomas was a Gryffindor and it didn't matter if he had Slytherins for friends who couldn't be bothered to concoct a potion just to quench their thirst for curiosity. For Gryffindors, it was take action and ask questions later. Slytherins, generally, didn't bother doing anything. Unless it was beneficial. Like studying, sucking up to teachers and in Draco's case, making kebabs.
The Gryffindor strolled down the hallways of Hogwarts and made a stop in front of the striking glittering pink coloured sign, S.S. in fansy cursive wording – Seamus's Saloon. He walked in and Draco's apple scented hair products assaulted his nostrils. Seamus was busy attending to Hagrid's thick hair and greeted Dean with a casual wave and a smile.
Draco was sitting on a sofa with Blaise, looking at a fashion magazine. Seamus walked towards the sofa and sat next to Draco. Blaise was too absorbed in his Advanced Arithmancy book to notice him. Dean didn't pay him any mind, Blaise was having that pesive expression on his face, it would do no good to disturb his concentration.
Instead, he turned to the blonde who was smiling at him expectantly. Well, he tried at least. It was a cross between a sneer and a cringe. Dean took a deep breath and prayed that he could trust Draco on this one.
"Here's the potion I'm just not sure what colour it's suppose to be More or less." He said in one breath, not pausing for the full stops. He waited for the blonde to taunt him about the lack of his ability to make potions and was surprised to see Draco's eyes light up in astonishment.
Dean studied him carefully, it was hard to tell if it was genuine astonishment or just plain sarcasm. Finally concluding that he could not tell, he laid his trust fully in the blonde. Not without a few prayers to Merlin.
Draco was slack-jawed. He stared at Dean, unblinkingly. How did he do it? Merlin's beard, he had never seen a Verisaterum potion electric blue. Even Neville's concoction was a pale blue (which was a better colour). He was beyond shocked. And then, he smirked to himself.
He knew exactly what this potion was and what it could do.
"Dean, you're amazing. I really didn't have much faith in you when you told me about your little 'experiment'. Now, now… You must tell me what you're planning to do with this piece of work." Dean could almost see the slanted writing in Draco's words. He gulped. And smacked himself inwardly, he really should trust Draco more. What kind of friend would he be if he didn't?
"I was actually planning to use it on Seamus. You know, just to test it," Dean explained. Draco smirked. "You were, now weren't you? Now, my dear Gryffindor friend, just how are you going to administer that potion of yours to our unsuspecting friend?" Another deep breath and a gulp of air. "I…I… haven't really thought of it yet. What do you propose?" Draco's smirk was getting annoying.
"Leave it to me, my dear friend. After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed." The blonde squeased Dean's hand reassuringly and turned back to his magazine, shoving the front page to the Gryffidor's face. He wasn't surprised to see a long article promoting Draco and Seamus's two best sellers and a picture of the two wizards posing.
The rest of the day was spent in the saloon with a packet of Exploding Snap with his best friends, Seamus, Blaise and Draco.
-
Draco tied his hair back with a black silk ribbon that Sunday morning and walked at a leisurely pace. It was a long time since he played a prank. Smelling the sweet air that only pranksters could smell, he headed towards the Great Hall for breakfast. He was looking forward to it the whole night and was famished, for an entirely different reason.
The Amazing Bouncing Ferret is back. And he wants to play. Thought Draco. He snickered. Blaise jabbed him in the ribs and glared at him warningly. Ginny was sitting with them at the Slytherin table. Draco was supposed to behave.
He pouted. Ginny giggled.
Thank Merlin for sweet little women like Ginny. Despite popular belief, Draco was immensely fond of the little Weaselette. She was definitely nicer than her giant brother. Besides, she just saved him from an annoyingly long lecture about best friends, best friends' girlfriends and pure-blooded wizards' etiquettes.
He turned to his right and smiled at Seamus. Then, he winked at Dean. Dean nodded in understanding and involved his best friend in a long conversation of the latest Quidditch match. Draco set to work. He poured one-third of the strange looking potion in Seamus's pumpkin juice discreetly and signalled to Dean.
Draco turned to his lunch nonchalantly, whistled a tune and poured a disgusting ammount of maple syrup on his pancakes. Then, he feasted his eyes on the scene before him. Loving every minute.
Seamus reached out for his glass of pumpkin juice. He gulped the contents down. Ahh.. pumpkin juice…it taste a bit funny though. That was the last of his deductive powers before he slumped forward into his bowl of banana crunch cereal. A few seconds later, he sat up. The brunette grabbed a napkin and started cleaning his milk covered face. Then, he started eating again.
Dean's slightly worried voice flitted across his ears. "Erm.. what is your name?" Seamus stared incredulously at his best mate. "You're pulling my leg, aren't you? I'm Seamus, your best friend. Mate, you okay?" He waved a hand in front of Dean's distant eyes.
He turned to Draco who was wearing a plastic expression. The Slytherin's left eyebrow was twitching and the grey eyes were staring at him pointedly. He took a quick glance around the Great Hall and noticed that everyone was staring at him intently, mouths agape and eyes as wide as saucers.
Draco's eyes were staring at his… chest. Then, he heard the sound of loud laughter. From his left. The blonde was shaking with laughter and he doubled, sprawled on the floor.
Seamus joined Draco in his laugh and smacked him lightly on the side of his head. The blonde stopped laughing immediately. Seamus didn't. He was laughing so hard, he had tears running down his cheeks.
He didn't even notice Dean exiting the hall with a guilty expression on his face.
-
A/N Don't worry, readers. Seamus likes laughing and Dean, well, we're just gonna haf ta find out in the next chapter…. Hope you guyz liked this chappie. It's significantly longer.
Read and Review! It's what keeps me going on, don't abandon the Confession Booth! We need all the galleons and sickles we can get so reviews are very much appreciated. I'm soooo sorry bout the updates… This chappie was written some time ago but… well.. su was away so I couldn't post it up... Don't worry though, the Confession Booth is back with a vengeance!
And no offence meant, Snape. I mean, I love his character and all but unfortunately, I'm mean so I just have to pick on sum1! And Snape's great. Greasy hair, black robes and a weird nose, what more could you ask for?
Chocolate covered laughing Seamus and sniggering Draco to everyone! Cheerio!