Summary: Sift through the lives of Hogwarts' slightly deranged students with resident Gryffindor dunderhead, Neville Longbottom.
Disclamer: Not mine. JK's world and all. My severe brain tumor though.
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Chapter Five..
Neville truly hated Potions. It was one of those days, the third day of the week. Potions was the first subject and Neville wasn't particularly gleeful. Another day of staring at crushed beetles and lizard's eye was not what he would consider fun. Snape had a positively devilish smirk today. He strode in and didn't duck points from a very mussed up looking Harry with lipstick on his face. He did not utter a word, he didn't even bark, he just smiled. At the rate he was going, Neville very much doubted he would survive today's class.
"Well, class. I must say, today is a beautiful day." The seventh year students shuddered. Severus just laughed.
"Wouldn't you agree, Miss Granger?" He asked conversationally, sitting on her desk.
Hermione's eyes were as wide as saucers and her eyes were glazed from staring unblinkingly. Snape snapped his fingers and Hermione sat up straight abruptly. "Yes.. I… I… guess so.. sir," the brown haired girl stuttered.
The professor grinned, showing white teeth. Come to think of it, the professor looked stunningly handsome today. Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were drooling, eyes as glazed as Hermione's were. Neville himself was forced to admit albeit not loudly and only if forced with verisaterum (even he had his boundaries) that the greasy professor didn't look like the old Snape who looked very much like a … well… old fart.
The clean, silky straight hair was one thing but new robes, a brilliant smile and a clean face could very well bring Snape to the top of Witch Weekly's top ten list of The Hottest Forty Year Old Men.
Even Harry had somewhat forgotten his dear Mryan and was currently wondering about his sexuality and convinced himself the attraction was only a temporary case of brain tumor. Seamus whistled and Draco snorted, looking smug. Dean was confused, Blaise just rolled his eyes. Vince and Greg stared, not quite believing their eyes. Pansy noticeably ajusted her skirt and Hermione flipped her bushy mass of hair, batting her eyelashes. It was truly a disturbing sight.
The dungeon was suddenly becoming very hot indeed.
"Today, my lovely class… we'll be enjoying the sun outside! Out, everyone! Out!" Snape grinned and ushered the flabbergasted students out.
Once everyone was properly seated on Hogwarts grounds, he conjured a hovering blackboard and started listing potion ingredients. After giving assignments i.e. a ten foot essay, Snape plopped himself down on the grass and conjured a blanket. Then, he promptly lay down on it, smiling. A few of the first years who caught sight of this ran for their lives, afraid the 'nasty potions monster' would give them detention for skipping class. They didn't run fast enough though for they were pulled back with a spell.
"And where do you three think you're going? Hmmm?" Snape asked, baring his teeth menancingly and the seventh year students almost sighed in relief. The three first years held their breath.
"Sorry… sir.." The three of them muttered in usion.
"Would you care for some candy?" Snape asked the Hufflepuff girl with pigtails. She shook her head wildly before muttering a polite 'no thank you'. Snape looked offended.
"But you must, child. It's delicious, I can assure you that and if you do, Draco will take turns going out with the three of you. Won't he?" Snape narrowed his black beady eyes at Draco who backed away.
"But sir, please.. no.. I… I can't!" His pale cheeks were tinted light pink. "I'm seeing someone, sir." Draco was an excellent actor. Severus smirked and raised his eyebrow.
"And who would that be, Mr. Malfoy?" His tone booked no argument. The blonde's mind was racing. Anyone would do, just as long as he didn't have to go out with that stupid pudgy girl.
He grabbed the nearest person and prayed that it was somebody single. Harry Potter! You've got to be kidding me! Don't bat your bloody eyelashes! Draco pushed Harry aside and grabbed the person behind the green eyed boy. Hermione Granger. Draco tried not to cringe. Argh... Not her! Permanent hair damage.. Eurgh..
Draco grabbed yet another Gryffindor and lo and behold, it was Seamus Finnagen.
The blonde almost cried out in relief. He pecked Seamus on the cheek and grinned. Hah! Snape's in for it! The Amazing Bouncing Ferret shoots and he scores! Seamus taught him that muggle term and he was particularly proud that he knew so much. Even if it was about muggle things.
"I'm going out with Seamus, sir. We've been seeing each other for months now. You couldn't possibly disrupt our happy relationship. Please, sir. We've worked so hard to settle our differences and he really is amazingly intelligent and fun and handsome. Why, I'd say I'm the happiest man alive! I really really like Seamus, sir. I must say, I can't think of anyone better! He's so charming and incredibly wicked." He was cut off when Snape waved a hand, looking green.
Draco smirked and pulled the bewildered Gryffindor closer to him. He muttered a quick thank you in his ear and watched as Snape turned green, then purple and back to the pale paper white colour he always was.
"Detention for the three of you for almost making me lose my breakfast! You'll make sure that every dirty thing in Hogwarts will get an extra shine! You'll be serving detention for a week! With Filch," Snape barked the last bit as an afterthought whilst Harry inwardly shuddered.
"Get me a cup of hot cocoa on the way to the kitchens," said Snape, baring his gleaming teeth.
"But we didn't…"
"Draco was the one…"
"You're mean and…"
"Keep silent, you insolent children! Off you go! NOW! I don't want to see or hear from you ever again!" Snape half barked.
"Haha! That's it! Leave, stupids! Muahahhahahaha… bow to my whims! Go away, you brats! Don't forget to get me my drink though..." Snape smirked to himself, he handled that very well.
"Class dismissed. Oh, and Mr. Finnagen, if you hurt Draco, you can very well say goodbye to your beloved collection of fishnet stockings. I know where you sleep…." Snape's evil and dramatic laugh could put the Dark Lord to shame. His scary beedy black eyes glittered with somehing akin to humour. Dark humour, that is. Draco shuddered, giving Seamus a pitying look. Seamus just grabbed Draco's arm and hauled him out of Snape's range.
The seventh year students filtered out, glad to get away from the new 'I-Am-Demented-And-Insane-And-I-Enjoy-Making-You-Whimper-When-I-Smile Snape. Neville knew though, that by the end of the day, rumour about Draco and Seamus's relationship would spread like wildfire.
He could practically hear a million hearts of Hogwarts population of both girls and boys breaking at the news of the newest confession yet.
Neville smiled. At least he didn't have to brew a potion and he overheard Hermione telling Ron that there was strawberry pudding up for grabs in The Great Hall for tea today. That was something to look forward to. Forgetting Snape and his queer behaviour, he raced his way out, heading for Herbology.
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The empty Divinations classroom was occupied by nothing else but a few dusty desks and the dusty floor. Today, a young witch occupied the room and she was holding a jelly like substance that would hold its purpose for later use.
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Neville was in the library, trying his very best to study. He couldn't concentrate, there was a group of fifth year Ravenclaws discussing numerology in what they presumed was quiet. Madam Pince was having a manicure and even a blind person could tell Harry and Mryan were having one of their snog sessions. The library happened to be a favorite rendezvous for the young couple who thought they were being as quiet and discreet as the Ravenclaws were which in truth, wasn't very quiet at all.
The young man sighed and exited the library.
He was walking when a slender figure ran into him. He tried catching her before she could fall but ended up tumbling anyway with her on top of him in a heap on the floor, laughing. It was Luna Lovegood. Neville could never see why people thought she was weird, she was a lovely girl with a creative mind and an interest in Herbology. Hence, the radish jewellery.
Neville and Luna were quite close. They were study partners since his sixth year and had developed a steady friedship since then. The two were fond of each other but the thought of being more than friends never crossed their minds. Not to Neville, at least.
She helped him up to his feet and proposed a study date in the library after the Charms class he had the day after. Neville agreed and bid her farewell. He walked to his dorm, thinking about different coloured bunnies until he replayed the scene with Luna over in his head and realized he forgot when the study date was due.
He decided to owl her after some rest to recover from his ever gnawing fatigue. He dozed off into a faraway dream.
Hogwarts grounds were deserted at that time of the day. It was midnight and for some unknown reason, Neville was having a quiet walk by the lake, hearing slight snores from the trees.
He then headed towards the dungeons and walked passed Slytherins' dorm, pausing in front of the potions master's room. Somehow, his dream permitted him to see what was going on in the room without opening the door. He stared in mortified horror at Snape, in a tub. There were bubbles everywhere and he thanked Merlin for the foam covering his Professor.
The older man was singing 'I Will Survive' but with altered lyrics, something about surviving a potions class of some sort. Nevile wouldn't know, the first and only time he heard of that song was when Harry was singing in the shower and everyone had to exit the dorm for fear of losing their ears.
Neville had approached Harry after that and inquired politely if it was a muggle song.
He decided he didn't quite like the song that much after all.
Feeling sick, Dream Neville floated out and walked pass a few abandoned classrooms. There was one room with a silhouette figure of a women in a darkened coner of the room, cackling over something. Neville didn't venture through the other class but heard purring sounds regardless of his brain screaming at him not to approach that particualar class. Wisely, Neville followed his instincts..
Suddenly, he was transferred to the Confession Booth and for some reason, there was a nervous fluttering feel in the pit of his stomach. He donned his cloak and and spelled his voice as customary. He then turned to the person confessing.
At first sight, his heart leaped.
It was Luna, her pretty face screwed up in a weak smile. She confessed her undying love for one Neville Longbottom and he could feel his heart beat faster at the thought. He was about to reveal himself when there was a sudden change.
Luna screamed and in her place, stood Lord Voldemort.
He was grinning at him in a frightening manner and laughed maniacally. That was when poor Neville's dream took a queer turn. The young Gryffindor laughed too and hugged Voldemort's disembodied figure. He didn't know how but his arms went around the apparition, pulling the other man in a tight hug.
Dream Neville was thrilled for some reason. Concious Neville was gagging.
Neville awoke with a start, beads of sweet making wet spots on his shirt. He had the worst dream ever. Poor Luna, he wondered if Dream Luna was okay and was startled to find that he had actually dreamed of her. Liking him. And he had liked her back.
He shrugged off his weird dream, blamed it on Snape and checked the time. It was only five in the evening. No one was in the dorm, they were presumably at the saloon or eating kebabs. He got out of bed and headed to the washroom, intent on freshening up. The Gryffindor splashed sink water on his weary face and smiled as the water worked it's magic on him. He was up and ready to go.
He chose a new pair of clean raiments and went to the great hall for some late tea, already forgetting his peculiar dream.
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A/N : Hmmm… What's with the mysterious dream? Eh, you'll just have to keep reading to find out! Newayz, I hope you guyz liked this chapter. Read and Review!
Tell you what, readers... If you review, perhaps you can make a confession as well. That way, I'll give you some advice in return. Not without a sickle of course.
Fogetful Neville is kicking in... Sorry if you guyz no likey Luna but I think she's somewhat suitable for Nev, they're both weird. I mean, Ginny? And Neville? Get real! No offence meant, of course. I respect shippers of any kind. Okie then, once again… thank you reviewers! You hold the reins to my heart and my happiness…
Chocolate covered Neville and Trevor to eveyone! Adieu! Muaxxiezz - Aly