"Not again, you won't!" Terry growled, rolling out of the way and firing a hex back at Harry, who easily avoided it.
"True." Harry said, smirking. "There are much more interesting ways to handle you. Argentum Incendia!"
A burst of silver light erupted from Harry's wand. Terry tried to put up a shield charm to stop it, but it broke through and connected with the boy's shoulder, which lit up in white flames. Terry yelped and immediately doused the fire with a water spell, but his shoulder had taken a good burning.
"Umbra Contero!" Terry bellowed, bringing his wand down in an arc.
"Don't you try using shadows on me! UMBRA MURUS!" Harry spat, aiming for the ground. A dark wall burst up from it, interrupting the equally dark-colored spell Terry had used. Harry quickly banished the wall, glaring at Terry, Harry murmured, "I'll make sure you don't get back into the Tower in one piece. Assaulting two girls in my House? Not wise at all, Boot."
"All talk, no action. Everyone else may fawn over you, but I don't give a damn how famous you are or why!" Terry hissed.
"All the better you didn't. Umbra Subsisto!" Harry yelled, trying the same spell he used against Draco Malfoy last year.
Terry, who had been there for the match, quickly evaded the spell, slinging back a few of his own, which Harry avoided.
"Dammit, stop moving! I oughta nail you to the bloody floor, you stupid sod!" Harry ground out. And then, out of nowhere, inspiration hit. "Let's see how you like being assaulted and not being able to get away."
"Make sense, Potter!"
Aiming down at Terry's feet, Harry jerked his wand in a pair of matching, quick motions as he yelled, "TELUM CONICIO!"
Two spike-shaped bursts of grey light flew from Harry's wand. Terry tried moving backwards, but only succeeded in avoiding one of the beams, which smashed into the ground and solidifed with a burst of smoke and a hiss. The other beam of light crashed into and through Terry's foot, where it too solidified. The hiss of this one was drowned out by a scream of agony from Terry.
Harry rushed forward, Accio-ed the avoided bolt out of the ground, and drove the flat end of it into Terry's face. There was a sharp CRACK that came from his nose, which caused the boy to howl even louder. He was quickly silenced as Harry clocked him in the temple with the heavy, metal object. Terry sank to the ground, out cold.
Harry quickly vanished the twin bolts, did what little he could to heal the gaping wound in Terry's right foot, and cast a spell to levitate the boy into the air. With a smile on his face, Harry happily announced to no one in particular, "Off to Dumbledore's office we go!"
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Enter." Came the voice of the old headmaster.
Harry did so, poking his head into Dumbledore's office. "Sir?"
Dumbledore blinked. "Harry! To what do I owe this visit? Come in, come in."
"Business, I'm afraid. And I would, but I dunno if you want blood all over your office flood." Harry replied.
"Blood? Are you injured, Harry?" Asked Dumbledore.
"No, but this hefty load is." Harry barked, pushing the door all the way open and toting Terry's body in behind him. Tiny droplets of blood occasionally dripped from one of his shoes.
Dumbledore's eyebrows disappeared into his hair. "My goodness. What has happened here?"
Harry gave a recount of what had happened, including his usage of the Bolt Thrower spell. He also included the fact that Terry had done the same thing to Tonks once in the past.Dumbledore sighed as he looked at Terry. "I'm afraid that's not, in fact, the second time this has taken place."
"Sir?"
"Mr. Boot seems to have made it a habit of stalking girls about. Two Hufflepuff girls and a Gryffindor have reported to me that they had been... handled improperly... by Mr. Boot."
"Why hasn't he been expelled?" Harry cried, disbelief in his voice.
"The reports all came very close together." Dumbledore said. "I summoned Mr. Boot to my
office and we had a... discussion, of sorts... about his behavior. He had promised me that
he would change his ways. It would appear he has not. I take it Ms. Lovegood and Mr.
Reinhardt are well?"
"Dunno. Haven't been to the hospital wing yet. Knocked out this idiot and brought him here first thing." Harry said.
"While I do not approve of your methods, I do thank you for bringing this to my attention. Come, I will escort you to the hospital wing. I am afraid Poppy might have a fit if I did not." Dumbledore said, getting to his feet and motioning for Harry to follow him.
Harry did so, still levitating Terry's body behind him. As they walked, Dumbledore said casually, "I believe... two weeks worth of detentions for using such force would do the job, don't you?"
"Yes, sir." Harry said. In all honesty, Harry thought he was getting off pretty light, given he'd put a dirty great hole in a Housemate's foot. "Uh, sir... what about the blood?I'm not good with healing charms, but I did the best I could."
"It will be taken care of." Said Dumbledore.
When they arrived in the hospital wing, it was to see Madam Pomfrey fussing over a shirtless Solieyu. His injured arm had been bandaged up, but he looked like chilled-over hell.
"Hey, Tonks!" Harry called out, smiling pleasantly, as if he wasn't bouncing a bleeding body behind him.
"Hey, Harry!" Tonks called back. "Ooh, what'd ya do to him?"
Madam Pomfrey glanced over and let out a sort of odd squawk. "WHAT INDEED!" She cried, storming over. At this point, Dumbledore stepped in front of Harry and drew his wand, taking hover-the-idiot duties away from Harry, who quickly slipped over to his friends so the headmaster could deal with the angry matron.
"Bolt Thrower right through the foot." Harry whispered, grinning widely. "Tried to get both of 'em, but one missed, so I plucked it and broke his nose then knocked him out with it instead."
"Points for using the missed spike." Tonks said, raising her eyebrows. "What'd ya get for it?"
"Two weeks." Harry said. Then, turning to look at Solieyu, he stated, "You look awful."
"Thanks." Solieyu replied, dryly.
"Where's Luna?" Harry asked.
"Pomfrey sent her back to Ravenclaw Tower." Tonks said. "Gave her a little talk, said if anything was bothering her, she could come talk to her. Was the sweetest I've ever seen Pomfrey being."
"A rare sight indeed. What're you looking so haggard over, anyway?" Harry asked, looking at Solieyu again. "Only nicked your arm and triggered your bloodlust, didn't it?"
"Quiet!" Solieyu hissed, glancing over to the other group, which was standing near a bed that now held Terry Boot. Madam Pomfrey had one of the boy's shoes off and was making wild gestures with her arms. "...It's been awhile since my last potion. Next dosage is in a few days. The surge of anger that stemmed from him hurting Luna like that combined with everything else... I feel like crap."
"Enough to swear slightly, I see." Harry said, grinning. "Man, you guys should've seen the look on Dumbledore's face when I bounced Terry in."
"You managed to surprise Dumbledore. That'll be one you can tell the grandchildren!" Tonks said, snickering.
"Urgh, that's too much thinking of the future. Besides, I hate kids." Harry said, firmly.
"But Harry," Solieyu said, voice dry again, "Tonks does seem eager to have little ones bouncing ar--OUCH!"
Tonks had clocked Solieyu in his scratched arm, glaring at him and blushing. "That's enough outta you, Count Dracula."
"Don't call me that." Solieyu said, pouting as he rubbed his arm. "Merlin above, she's got an arm on her. How do your arms survive getting hit so often, Harry?"
"Built up an immunit--OUCH! Dammit, woman!" Harry cried, rubbing one of his arms now and glaring daggers at a smug-looking Tonks.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Shortly after a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas, (Most of the students had gone home - Harry, Tonks, Solieyu and, surprisingly, Luna had stayed behind) another Hogsmeade trip was due. Harry, sick of being cooped up inside Hogwarts' walls, had decided to join his friends in town. They had decided to meet up near the Shrieking Shack, which was supposed to be extremely haunted.
"I can't wait!" Harry said, stretched out on the couch in the Nest.
Tonks, who was sitting sideways in the chair opposite Harry, rolled her eyes. "Honestly, it's not as if you've never been outside the castle before."
"No, but this time I'm not just nicking some Sugar Quills." Harry said, grinning over at his friend.
"You're acting like a little kid." Tonks said.
"Am not!" Harry said, sticking out his tongue.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, really!"
Tonks gave Harry the evil eye, swinging her legs around so she was sitting in the chair properly. "Anyway, get this - Solieyu popped up earlier while you were in Arithmancy and asked if we could bring someone else with us."
"Someone else?" Harry repeated. "...Oooh, don't tell me..."
"Yup!" Tonks said, eyes gleaming. "Heeee's going with Luna into town. I dunno how he convinced Dumbledore to let her come along!"
"Must trust that she'll be safe with Leon. And us." Harry said, smirking. "Maybe this'll make him less nocturnal and irritable."
"Leon's never irritable." Tonks said. "You're thinking of yourself, mate."
"Hey! I'm not irritable either!" Harry grumped.
"I believe you just showed that you are." Tonks pointed out.
"Wh... Hey! Don't try screwing with my brain! I'm distracted." Harry declared, crossing his arms.
"Heee... you're gonna be more distracted in about five seconds." Tonks said in a singsong voice.
But before Harry could ask what she meant, she had pounced onto him - quite literally - and began tickling him for all she was worth. Harry let out a hoarse wheeze as he laughed, trying to shove the girl off of him. But he only succeeded in leaving himself open to more tickling. It only ended when he managed to choke out, "Can't... breathe!"
Tonks stopped tickling, but sat back and grinned as Harry tried catching his breath. "See? Toldja."
"You... are an evil... wench!" Harry gasped, giving Tonks a half-hearted glare.
"Awww, is ickle Harrikins mad that he was caught off-guaaaaard?" Tonks asked, leaning over and patting Harry on the head.
Swatting Tonks' hand away, Harry growled, "Stifle it, NYMMY."
"Don't call me Nymmy!" Tonks shouted.
"'Ny' then?" Harry offered.
"'Ny'?"
"Sorry. Not myself today, I guess." Harry said. He thought for a moment, then shrugged, grinned, and asked, "Nymphadora, then?"
"Do you wanna get tickled again?" Asked Tonks, glaring down at him.
"Ack! No ma'am! Heck no at all!" Harry said quickly, raising his arms in front of him.
"Good! Now apologize!"
"I'm terribly sorry you can't take a joke, Nymm--gwahhh!" Harry began, only to get cut off as Tonks launched a second assault on him. He let out a surprised yelp, trying to roll out from under Tonks this time. Unfortunately, the couch wasn't wide enough to complete such a maneuver. What happened instead was Tonks crying out as she toppled off the couch, only to get landed on as Harry trailed helplessly after.
"Oomph! Geroff! What've you been eating? Depleted uranium?" Tonks asked, swatting Harry about the head until he pushed himself up and off of her.
"Sorry!" Harry panted, looking down at the girl under him. "You okay? Didn't hit your head on the ground or anything, did you?"
"I'm fine." Tonks huffed. "Wind knocked out of me from you landing on me, but fine otherwise."
"Sorry, Nymmy." Harry murmured, leaning his head down and kissing the girl on the forehead.
Tonks started to tell Harry off for calling her Nymmy again when she got kissed. She then let out a quiet squeak and blushed, looking off to one side.
Harry smiled, shifting his weight to the right and flopping down next to the girl so that she was looking at him. "Wotcher. Something interesting over here?"
"Just you." Tonks said, poking Harry in the chest.
"What's so interesting about me? Aside that I seem to be a magnet for lunatics." Harry asked.
Tonks rolled her eyes again. "Life would be right boring without you, you know that?"
"Guess you'll just hafta keep me close, then." Harry said.
Tonks grinned. "How close?"
"I dunno." Harry said. "How close do you want me to be?"
Tonks let out a giggle and scooted closer, giving Harry a kiss on the forehead in return. "Close enough to do that?"
"Your aim was a little high, wasn't it?" Murmured Harry, gazing into Tonks' eyes, which were currently an icy blue.
"Yours wasn't any better." Tonks replied, her voice soft.
"I can try again if you'd like." Harry said, grinning crookedly.
"By all means." Tonks said, feeling her cheeks light up. Her eyes slipped shut moments later.
Harry swallowed hard, his own cheeks feeling rather warm. He leaned forward, closing the distance between them. He licked his lips, which had become incredibly dry at some point, and took a deep breath.
Just before his lips made contact with Tonks', the trap door flew open and in walked Solieyu. And he wasn't alone. Harry jerked his head to the side, Tonks' eyes snapped open and she did the same. Solieyu and Luna Lovegood stared down at the two, both of them wide-eyed.
"If we interrupted something..." Solieyu began slowly.
"Nothing!" Tonks squeaked, sitting up quickly.
"Yeah! Nothing!" Harry said, nodding and getting into the chair just as quickly.
"...Riiight. Uh... anyway..." Solieyu began, stepping all the way into the Nest and indicating Luna to follow. Once she had, he closed the trap door behind them. "I was thinking... I hope you two don't mind, but I thought we could let Luna into our little group. Besides, she uh... she caught me walking through the false wall and followed."
"Sure!" Tonks said, grinning at Luna. "It'd be nice having another girl to talk to."
Luna tilted her head and looked around the sparsely decorated tower, then sat down on the couch and smiled at Tonks. "I'd like that, Nymphadora."
"Don't call me--" Tonks began, but Solieyu raised a hand.
"She uses my full name, too. It's impossible to get her not to. Best save your breath." Solieyu said, glancing aside at Luna.
Tonks pouted. "Oh, fine..."
Harry grinned up at Solieyu. "Sooo... Nymphadora here--" Tonks gave Harry a death glare - "was just telling me. Got a date this Hogsmeade trip, do ya?"
"He does." Luna replied, smiling peacefully and looking just off to the left of where Harry was sitting.
"Uh... Yeah, uh... I guess I have..." Solieyu said. And, for the first time Harry could remember, the long-haired boy blushed.
Harry and Tonks exchanged a glance. And, after an initial blush had passed between them, they grinned. They were never going to let Solieyu hear the end of this one!
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"I heard it's really a pack of Groaning Glumbumbles..."
"Say what?"
Luna turned to look at Tonks and, in a voice one would normally use to explain something very simple to a child, repeated, "The Shrieking Shack. It's infested with Groaning Glumbumbles. It shouldn't be called the 'Shrieking' Shack at all."
"Well what would you suggest it be called?" Tonks asked.
Luna thought for a moment, then smiled and replied, "Why not call it the House of Horrible Hissing?"
Tonks nearly fell over on the spot. "Wait, what? Why hissing?"
"Because Glumbumbles don't like being prodded, of course." Said Luna, as if it were the most obvious thing ever.
"Right..." Tonks said slowly. And then, quietly in an aside to Solieyu, muttered, "Your girlfriend's off her nut."
"Hey!" Came Solieyu's indignant reply.
"Where's Harry, anyway?" Tonks asked, crossing her arms. "It's bleedin' cold out here!"
A soft voice then murmured, right next to Tonks' left ear, "I can offer to warm you up if you'd li--ACKK!"
Tonks squeaked, starting down at the crumpled form poking out from under an invisibility cloak. "Oh, Harry! I'm so sorry! Dammit, but don't sneak up on me like that!"
Harry groaned, pulling himself back to his feet and hiding back under the cloak properly. "Sorry... But the offer stands. Want under here with me? I cast a warming charm on the cloak. Dunno why you haven't done the same with your coat and stuff, but..."
Tonks blinked. "Oh yeah. That mighta helped a bit..."
"Mighta." Harry agreed.
"It's a good thing I can't see you, else you'd get a good left hook to the arm." Tonks scowled.
"Talking to yourself, dear cousin?" Came a drawling voice.
Tonks twitched, twirling around to glare at Draco Malfoy, who was flanked by his usual pair of cronies. "Oh goodie, Malfoy is here. What do you want? Looking to be hexed?"
"As if you could hex me." Malfoy replied, smirking.
Tonks felt something nudge her in the arm. She blinked and looked off to the side, but didn't see anything. Grinning, she looked back to Malfoy and said, "If you'd like us to bury you in the snow, we'd be all too happy to do that!"
Malfoy's eye twitched slightly, but he quickly slid a mask of indifference on before speaking again. Looking at Luna, he said, "I see you've replaced Potty. Honestly, could you lot get any worse a taste in companions? What do they call you again? Loopy?"
"Loony, actually." Replied Luna with a vague smile.
"Yes, Loony. You'd have to be Loony to hang around with that lot, though, I suppose..." Draco said, looking thoughtful.
Solieyu stomped towards Malfoy, only to have his path blocked by Crabbe and Goyle, who stepped out in front of the blonde. The long-haired boy smiled. "I'm not the one you should be worried about."
"What are you talking abo-- what the!" Malfoy said, getting pelted in the back of the head by a very large snowball. Whirling around and seeing no one, the blonde called out, "Who's there?"
"They say the Shrieking Shack is the most haunted building around." Solieyu said, smiling pleasantly. "I wouldn't be surprised if the ghosts came out to play."
"Don't be stupid, you-- HEY!" Once more, Malfoy was cut off by a large snowball colliding with him. It was quickly followed by a few more off to one side. Malfoy pulled his wand and aimed randomly, eyes darting back and forth as if trying to find his assailant. "Come out, damn you! I know there aren't any ghosts out here!"
And just then, from directly to Malfoy's right, a horrible, distorted voice said, "How do yooooou know thaaaaat?"
Malfoy let out a shriek to make even the most obnoxious little girl jealous and, leaving Crabbe and Goyle in his wake, tore off back towards Hogsmeade. The bulkier duo were soon on his heels. Once they were out of sight, Harry twirled off his cloak in a flourish and grinned, making a X-shaped motion across his neck.
"Ooh, what was that, Harry?" Tonks asked, hopping over.
"Just a stupid little party trick the twins taught me. Said they used it to make Ron think a ghost wanted to boil him one year." Harry said, grinning.
"Ooh, that was mean of them."
"Yeah, but I figured if anyone deserves being spooked, it's Malfoy. Shame we don't have any photographic proof of him screaming and tearing off like that." Harry said, sighing dramatically. "Anyway, how was your trip, guys?"
"Oh, we've had a wonderful time." Luna said, walking over to Solieyu and latching onto one of his arms. "Solieyu offered to buy me some Blood Pops, but I had to decline because they're made with the endangered Jumping Beezleflump's blood."
"I see..." Harry said, cocking an eyebrow as his amused gaze went from Luna to Solieyu, who scowled in return. "Well, I made a quick sweep of the town after I got in - Honeydukes was packed. Took forever to get out - so I'm ready to head on back whenever you three are."
"Yeah, I think we've all got about ten minutes left before the group's rounded up. Meet ya up in the Nest?" Tonks said.
"Sure thing. Seeya later, Nymmy." Harry said, winking as he vanished under his cloak again.
Tonks couldn't help but make a face as she felt her cheeks warm up.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
"Mmm, Sugar Quills restocked." Harry said to himself, happily heading through the underground path that lead back into Hogwarts. It had been rather tricky to get through all the stores he wanted to visit without being seen - especially with Dementors lurking about. Thankfully, they kept themselves to around the edges of town. Harry had had to make a wide arc to meet and head away from his friends, but at least he hadn't passed out under his cloak. That one would've been an interesting dilemma to explain.
Once he was nearly at the Hogwarts end of the tunnel, he pulled out the Marauder's Map and activated it. Lighting up the tip of his wand, he examined it for signs of anyone around. Snape seemed to be a few corridors away, but Harry wouldn't have any trouble getting out into the hall before he got there.
Taking off his cloak and stuffing it into his robes, Harry then started pocketing the sweets he had picked up. He didn't want to carry around a bag of items that might incriminate him. Thankfully, he had purchased just enough to properly fill his pockets. He had spent a good while going over his buying plan. He hadn't quite worked out how to magically enlarge the space inside his pockets, else he wouldn't have any problems at all.
When the statue slid aside, Harry squeezed through and out into the hall, glancing once more down at the map. Snape was still a couple halls over. Smiling, Harry stepped away from the statue. Unfortunately, he didn't get very far. He had taken too much time after stepping through and the statue had shut behind him. It had also caught the back part of his robes between it and the wall.
"Crap." Harry said, trying to reactivate the statue to get it to move aside. But the statue refused to move, having become quite irritable with doing so too often - or at least, that was what Harry assumed it was. It probably led a nice, stationary existance before he got the Map from the twins. They had said they didn't use the tunnel that much. On the other hand, he made fairly regular trips out of the castle.
"This is no time to seek vengenace, you bloody..." Harry muttered, trying now to simply tug his robes from between the statue and the wall. It took him a minute of careful tugging, but he eventually got free. Scowling, he grumbled, "I hate statues."
"I am sure they aren't very fond of you, either." Came a silky voice from behind Harry.
Harry froze, quickly tapping the Map and whispering "Mischief Managed" almost inaudibly before spinning around. "Hullo, Professor!" He tried greeting innocently.
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Hello indeed. Why would you seem to be standing in a very empty corridor, apparently having a tug of war with an inanimate object, praytell?"
"Snagged my robes on it, that was all." Harry said, shrugging. It wasn't a lie. Not technically.
"Really?" Snape said, in a voice that outwardly showed he didn't believe the story a bit. He glanced at the parchment in Harry's hand. "And what might that be?"
Scowling at the fact that he would never have been fast enough to stow the Map away before Snape saw it, Harry shrugged. "Bit of parchment. Was heading to the library to take some notes."
"Come now, Potter." Snape said. "Is that really the best you can do?"
"I have no idea what you mean, sir." Said Harry, meeting the man's accusing gaze.
"Then you won't mind if I inspect this!" Snape said, quickly snatching the blank Map out of Harry's hand before he could protest.
Snape gazed at one side of the parchment, then the other, narrowing his eyes. "Now what have we here..."
"Look, it's nothing but--" Harry began, but Snape cast him a glare that stopped him from continuing.
Snape drew his wand and pointed it at the map. He quickly murmured a few things under his breath that Harry couldn't catch. A few seconds later and the man was glaring sharply at the Map, then up at Harry. "What is the meaning of this, Potter?" He hissed.
"Meaning of what?" Harry asked, genuinely confused.
Snape turned the Map around so that Harry could see the front. On it, a number of rather less than flattering greetings were written. Apparently, whoever these Marauders were, they decided to make the Map insult anyone who tried to figure out its secrets.
"Look, I'm telling you, I honestly don't know what that's about." Harry said in all truthfulness. "I just--"
"You're lying!" Snape spat.
"And what, may I ask, is going on here?" Came a soft voice from behind Snape.
Remus Lupin was nearing, glancing with his head tilted slightly at the object in Snape's hands. "Taking parchment from the students, Severus?" He asked, smiling good naturedly.
"Quiet, Lupin!" Snape growled. "I was just about to hand out detention to Potter for rigging this... this..."
"I didn't do anything!" Harry said, raising his voice.
Clearing his throat, Lupin reached out to take the parchment from Snape, who reluctantly let it go. After examining the front of it, he chuckled. "Severus, this is obviously just some parchment charmed to insult whoever tries to use it. It's a bit advanced for a third year to make, wouldn't you say?"
"Yeah!" Harry said, earning him another glare from Snape. The greasy-haired professor
then turned
to Lupin, opened his mouth to say something, then apparently decided against
it. He turned and stalked off, growling under his breath. Lupin watched him walk off,
raising his eyebrows at one point.
"I don't think Albus would approve of him using that kind of language in front of the students." Lupin muttered to himself before turning to Harry. "Now then... would you care to tell me where you got this, Harry?"
"Uh..." Harry said, looking away from the Defense professor. "I can't. I promised."
Lupin nodded slowly before folding the Map up and pocketing it. "Very well. But you realize I won't be able to give this back, correct?"
"Why not?"
Lupin smiled. "Severus might not know the intricacies of something like this, but I do. At the very least, I'd like to show it to Professor Flitwick and get his thoughts on it.It does take a bit of advanced magic to make such an item, you know. I'm not sure if something like this should be in the hands of a student."
"But it's just... just a bit of parchment that insults people." Harry said, catching himself before he said anything stupid.
"Perhaps. And if it is, I shall give it back." Lupin said, smiling. "You can never be too sure these days. I'm sure you understand."
"Yeah. I don't ruddy like it but I understand." Harry said, making a sour face.
Lupin chuckled again, patting Harry on the shoulder. Before turning to leave, he looked over his shoulder and said, "Tell Fred and George Weasley I said hello, would you?"
Harry gaped, staring at the man as he walked off. Now what did that mean? Did he know that Fred and George gave the Map to him? Or had he caught them with it? What if he knew what the Map really did? But then... why did he lie to Snape's face? It might explain the real reason why he took it.
Scowling, Harry made his way towards the Nest. The students who went to Hogsmeade the proper way would be arriving any minute. And Harry wanted at least a few minutes alone to sit and think over what had just happened.
It was a good thing that Harry bought so many Sugar Quills. For some reason, staring off into space and sucking on the tip of one always helped focus his thinking. And he had a feeling he was going to need a bit of focus to try and unwrap what he had just witnessed.
oOoOoOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: I've been rereading a certain fic by Saerry Snape this week! Hence the blatant sort-of reference! Man, I've been churning out chapters pretty quick lately, haven't I? Blame the Valentine's Day Emorama. Urgh. Trouble is, I'm IN love... IIII'm just too big a chicken to actually SAY anything to the party in question. Hurf.
Ah well. I figured you guys might like some Honks padding, seeing as how it's around Valentine's. Heee... I allllmost let them kiii-isssss... Okay, enough singsong teasing from me. Still, -I- thought the scene was fun. Especially when Leon and Luna burst in randomly. I'm such a jerk. :D
I'm not sure if I'll keep the Leon x Luna connection, as I think shacking up original characters with canon characters is a bit out there. But they do bounce off each other well, don't you think? Leon really needs someone to loosen him up a bit, I'd say. And who better to do so than Luna? In any case, they're just sort of enjoying each other's company for now. I've got plans for everyone come Goblet Relit, so anything that happens here might not make it far THERE.
So what's up next? Well, we get some fun in the air as the Quidditch Final for the year takes place - yeah, I'm jumping forward a bit again. Plus we get a surprising visit from ol' rummy Trelawney! I dunno how long I'll keep this fast-chapter-writing thing going, but at least I didn't leave you lot for a month with that cliffhanger, now did I?
Happy Valentine's Day to all of those who have a special someone in your lives. And to those of us who are single - I wish you the best of luck. Me, I'm gonna try keeping busy today so I don't think about it to much. Until next time!