Author's Note: I think this is an okay story. There is always room for improvement though. SO anywho, same as all the other chapter... do not own Harry Potter or any part of it... I hope you enjoy this chapter. Severus makes another appearance! Whee!

And a special Thank You to my beta reader- Jessica! standing ovation

Yep! Thanks Jess!

Nicknames and Potions

The week went by slow, for Courtney anyway. Classes were becoming harder, which was to be expected. Also, she had to help the rest of the Marauders with their homework. Sirius kept on telling her not to worry and loosen up a bit.

"You're seriously going to make yourself ill if you keep going at this pace. You need to relax! Take a breather!" Of course, it was easy for him to say that. He did care about his studies, just not as much.

Remus, also seeing the stress building up on her, came up with the bright idea to... "I know! Why don't we visit Hogsmeade? That ought to help you."

Courtney frowned, "Remus, it's a wonderful idea, but if you haven't noticed the next visit isn't for another few weeks."

"Who says we have to go with the school? We have the secret passageway. May as well get use of it."

Before she could protest, Courtney was seized by the wrist and yanked from the common room. The five Marauders walked towards the third floor, bundling up for the cold passageway.

"You're going to love it, Court! Loads of candy and other junk. Of course, there are things there that are for vampires. Like the blood flavored suckers, you don't want those. But the chocolate-"

Sirius, who had been leading the way, froze.

Courtney bumped into his back, "Hey! What are-"

Remus clamped a hand over her mouth. "Be quiet. Someone's over there!"

There was a group of students conversing next to the statue. They did not seem to notice the marauders had arrived. Their backs were turned towards them, leaving them at the mercy of Sirius and James. Which wasn't likely.

Sirius grinned, pulling out his wand. James did the same, slowly approaching the students. Courtney could now see that they were Slytherins, she also retrieved her wand.

"Well, look what we have here! Scum, running freely around the castle," Sirius said loudly. He waved his wand lazily around, threatening to hex anyone who moved.

The Slytherins, wands already out, spun around to face the advancing troublemakers. It, unfortunately, was the same group they had had problems with before.

James smiled, "We can't have that. Can we, Padfoot?"

Sirius stopped and faced James, who was at his side. "I think you're right, Prongs. Time to fix this problem!"

There were several flashes of light sent at the Slytherin group. Severus ducked a spell, Malfoy blocked one with a charm, and Regulus jumped backwards. Malfoy muttered a spell and sent it at James. James ducked, leaving a hole for the spell to get through, it went straight for Courtney.

"Ricocheta!" Courtney shouted. A blue flash of light collided with the spell, sending it back to its producer. Malfoy was knocked off his feet, hitting the ground hard.

"It's a professor! Run!" Remus shouted at James and Sirius.

"Going at this rate, we're never going to be able to show you Hogsmead." James said pocketing his wand. "Let's just go outside and take a break."

It was a sunny day out. A light, cool breeze wiped around the grounds, ruffling the student's cloaks. Finding nothing better to do, the five of them sat beneath a tree next to the lake. Remus sat down and pulled out a small book and started to read. Courtney threw several small rocks into the lake, accidentally hitting the giant squid on its large head.

"You know," Sirius said breaking the silence, "We all have names for each other. That is everyone except you." He stared at Courtney, who plopped a rock on the ground.

"Well, I'm not going to fuss over it, you know. I don't mind if you-"

James shook his head, "Nope, you are a Marauder. You have to have a special name. Hmm, let's see. What is your animagus form?"

Courtney struck a pose, "A Frisian." They gave her blank stares that indicated they had no idea what it was. "You know, the big, black horses! The really pretty ones!" Still receiving blank stars, she gave up and slumped to the ground. "Aw, forget it." She wrapped her cloak into a ball and used it for a pillow, resting her eyes.

Sirius pick a leaf off the ground and twirled it around by its stem. "Well, since we can't figure out a name by your animagus form we can do something else." He gently sat the leaf on her nose. He laughed when she tried blowing it off but it went in her mouth.

"Not to be rude or anything, but you are a little shorter than most." James said playfully. "So we could call you shortie!"

"Hey! I take offense to that!"

Remus lifted his eyes from his book, "Or we could call you Elf." Everyone starred at the brown haired man. "What? It was just a suggestion."

"No, it was a good one. I like it, Elf. Courtney, you are now Elf." Sirius announced waving a hand into the air.

"I guess I don't get a say in this do I?"

"Nope, but you get another leaf." Sirius put another leaf on her nose, smirking at her struggle to remove it once more.

The next day they had Potions first thing. Of course they were not looking forward to this. Last potions class had landed Gryffindor with twenty points less then before the class started, and turning in a 'very important essay'. They filed in and took the seats in the back row.

The two fifth year Slytherins, that they had a brawl with, were several rows ahead of them. Malfoy turned around to glare at the Marauders and threaten to curse them. Severus, having enough, elbowed his companion without a word. Malfoy scowled and turned to face the front.

"Good evening class. I was some what disappointed by the results of the essays that you turned in to me." Professor Regal said. He swiftly began to pass back the essays to their owners.

James smiled when he got his back, "Look Elf, I got a grade higher! I didn't completely fail it!"

Sirius let out a moan and stuffed his in his book. Remus, who was good at potions, smiled at his paper and its grade.

Courtney realized that she had not gotten hers back. "Um, Professor. I think you forgot mine, I didn't get it back." At this Severus turned around and glanced at her, he hadn't gotten his back either.

"I know Miss Kipley. I would like to congratulate our top scorers. Mr. Snape and Miss. Kipley. You did a fine job, the both of you."

James, Sirius and Remus were gaping like fish. Courtney, throughly embarrassed, hit her head on her desk.

"Well, at least you did good." Sirius whispered to her, patting her back. She moaned in reply.

"Today we will we brewing a pretty advanced healing potion. Here are the instructions to follow," he pointed his wand at the chalkboard. The directions appeared in white letters. "And the things you will need are in the cupboard. Please find a partner and get started."

Sirius slyly wrapped an arm around Courtney, "Care to be my partner?" Courtney giggled when he winked at her.

"Oh no you don't, she was my partner first!" James said. He grabbed her arm and pulled her towards himself, almost making her fall.

While James and Sirius fought, Remus pulled Courtney towards his desk. "You can work with me! Forget them!"

"What is going on here?!" Professor Regal shouted annoyed. "James, you work with Sirius. Remus, you work with Peter. Miss. Kipley, you may work with... ah, Severus."

Severus, who had been abandoned by Malfoy, sat alone working on his potion. He spun around when the professor addressed him. "Yes, sir?"

Professor Regal led Courtney to his desk. "You will be working with Miss. Kipley. Get started."

Severus waited for the professor to turn his back until he gave her a disgusted look. She gave him an unsure smile. He turn his back on her, returning to his potion. Courtney felt really awkward. This was her godfather, mini style. He was never, usually, this bitter to her. He did not ignore her and he certainly never gave her that look.

"Alrighty then. How far have you gotten Severus?" She maneuvered around the desk so she could see his face and the caldron.

Bent over the potion, he only lifted his eyes to look up at her from the cauldron. She wore a friendly smile, her grey eyes sparkling. He had only had one person who was truly nice to him while he was at school. Of course he had a crush on that person, even though she would never have feelings for him.

He straightened, an ingredient in his left hand. "I just added the chopped roots, or perhaps you did not have the brains to notice." A smirk was on his face, but in all honesty he had no idea why he was mean to her. Other then the fact that she was in Gryffindor, hung out with the idiots, and tried to fry him in a duel. He rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the potion. He carefully sliced some plant petals to add to the mixture.

"Actually, you are supposed to slice them the vertical way." She pointed to the petals he was slicing. He looked at the petals, then the directions, then to her face. She still had a friendly look about her, not mocking in any way.

"Why, would you do that?" He asked ceasing to cut the plant.

"Well if you cut horizontally then the juices wont get to boil in the water the right way. Therefore, the potion will have lack of acids and will not be as affective. Just thought you should know." She tucked a stray piece of white-blonde hair behind her ear.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "I see. Well, you can cut them then." He pushed some new petals towards her and handed her a knife. He watched as she went to work, carefully cutting them in proportion. "Where did you learn so much about potions?"

Courtney almost laughed, "My godfather. He is awesome at potions."

Severus nodded, "Where did you go to school?"

"A school in America. Really nice one, too." She did not remove her gaze from the petals as she spoke. "Ah, there. All done." She scooped them up and sprinkled them in the potion.

"Is it that much different from your other school?"

"Nope, not really. I think I like it here better. Although I do miss my friends." She shrugged, "You going to put that in yet?" She pointed to the powdered shells that were to go in after the petals.

"Oh, right. Got sidetracked." They finished their potion after adding the rest of the ingredients and letting it simmer. Courtney took up the sample while Severus cleaned up their area. James and Sirius handed in a very thick, purple colored potion. Remus and Peter handed in a green colored potion, like Courtney, except it smelt funny.

"Alright class, do the assignment on page 322 and it is to be handed in next class. Don't forget and do try to put more effort into it."

Courtney made it back to her work area and started to pack her supplies into her bag. Severus had already gotten his things and was waiting for the bell to ring. Courtney got everything in just as the bell rang.

"Bye Courtney, hope to speak with you again." Severus said softly as he walked by with a slight smile.

"See you, Severus!" She said happily, waving a goodbye.

James and Sirius glared at Snape as he walked past them. Severus glared back just as venomously.

"Bugger off, Snivellus!" James spat at him.

The Marauders walked towards the Great Hall, all excited.

"You should have made it blow up on him, Elf! He deserves it!" James said with a smirk.

"You guys! He isn't half as bad as you make him out to be. My word."

Sirius and James gaped at her as if she had sprouted three other heads and a tail. She rolled her eyes at them.

"Oh, bless her soul she's been possessed by some evil demon that loves Slytherins! Someone help! There might be a chance to save her still!" Sirius shouted falling to his knees. James wiped away a fake tear, sniffling. Remus crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

"Now, seriously, you are being completely ridiculous. I am me, honestly." She tried to pull Sirius up by the arms but he was too heavy. Sirius slowly looked up at her, an evil smile on his face. Courtney let out a yelp as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, dropping her bag.

"Alright, I'm convinced. To lunch!" He made slow progress with the shouting Courtney that insisted on being put down. Remus laughed and grabbed her bag, following the rest to the Great Hall.


So? Did you enjoy it or not? Review if you see fit... in other words: You better do it or I will send the evil plot bunnies on you! Actually, no I wouldn't do that but I would appreciate a review!

Also, the spell Courtney cast, Ricocheta, is a spell thatmakes another spell bounceoff and return to the original person. Don't know if J.K has come up with one (sure she has) but yep. That's my creative little spell!

I love you all!