Fireworks of Hell and Classes with Demons

"Annabella," Valentine and Lily whispered to their friend with blonde hair. It was truly too early to get up, but somehow the girls managed as they got into their robes and gather their books and accessories. Also a hair session was done as Lily's hair was put into a French braid and Valentine had not charmed her curly hair straight. They had seemed too fragile to be in the house of the brave. They chastised louder, "Annabella!"

Their friend-with her heavenly ash blonde hair that fell past her shoulders in curls that made her hazel eyes gleam with stark emotion- lied there on her bed with a relaxed calmness about her. Her eyes snapped open in silent annoyance, but nonetheless the girl rose from her bed and headed off to shower and change. She came back minutes later with a smile on her face and her eyes glinting in the soft light of candles. It was past five o'clock in the morning when they gathered their things and went down stairs.

When they came to the common room, they noticed that Remus was seated in a chair reading one of their course books. He looked up to see them and smiled warmly at all and then went back to reading his book. Annabel was between blushing and trying to distract him with flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder, but this hadn't worked as well as she planned. She only received a long stare from both her friends and decided to go sit down and look over her astronomy book.

"Remus, why up so early?" Lily asked worriedly as Valentine started up the boy's staircase.

"I awoke from a dream and decided I might as well get ready for today," he answered with a monotone voice.

"Well would you like to see something funny?" Came Valentine's question as the girl reappeared on the stairs. "You'll love the surprise I have in store." He looked up curiously and rose from his chair and followed the girls up the stairs to his dorm room.

"You're going to have an early birthday present today," Lily whispered with a wicked tone.

"What have you two done?" he asked with a reprimand in his words.

"Well that's the surprise," Valentine laughed ever so softly as she grabbed two items. "You'll have to see what happens." She let them off with a huge 'bang'.

From what Remus could tell, she let off those kinds of wizarding fireworks. He laughed as Valentine and Lily fell onto his bed in hysterics as a sleepy James and Sirius shot out of their beds with wands drawn and confused. Peter had come out of his bed squealing in a maniac sort of way and made all three laughs harder than before. The boys hadn't noticed them until they caught sight of fireworks whizzing above their heads and then came back to reality. They looked at Remus, but ignored him when they saw the two girls fighting back their laughter and tears of hysterics.

"You," Sirius roared with anger as he pointed at Valentine who was smiling innocently back.

"Me?" she replied with mock irritation.

"You, how dare you!"

"Dare I do what, luv?" She fluttered her eyelashes in doe like eyes.

"You know damn well what you've done." She looked innocently confused.

"What do you mean I know what I've damn well done?"

"Stop doing that!"

"Stop doing what, luv?"

"Why you bloody snake!"

"Who's a bloody snake? Surely, not me."

"Valentine..." She flashed a small grin.

"Valentine what, dearest?" He let out a snarl and lunged as she was walking toward him with confusion of such mock ness that it pissed him off.

He tackled her and both landed on the ground wrestling with each other. James was looking on this display of childish behavior with a smirk and looked up to find Lily clicking her tongue in annoyance. With a sigh, Remus sat beside her on his bed and was looking on in calm boredom. Sirius had finally pinned the struggling girl and smirked as she let out a hiss of anger.

"I'm the best," he whispered lightly. "You'll never beat me, my fair crucifix."

"Whatever," she growled, and then added as an after thought. "Dog breath."

"Why you..."

"No," Lily growled. "No more for right now. Breakfast is surely out and we're heading off." Lily had shoved him over in a playful manner and helped her friend up and left hurriedly.

"Traitor," Sirius growled at Remus as he chased after the girls after flashing a wolfish grin over his shoulder.

"Come on," James sighed wearily. "We might as well get up and moving to head off to breakfast. I wonder what Matti is doing right now?"

Back in the common room, the four first years left through the portrait hole and hurried down the stairs to the Great Hall. Remus was the first through the door, but stopped suddenly at the sight of Matti and Clayton up and walking to their table next to Griffindor. He rushed down to sit on his house's side and laughed at seeing his friend fall asleep when sitting down. The girls had come over to where they were and laughed at their Hufflepuff friend's predicament.

"Now ain't that a bitch," Annabel laughed as she sat down beside Remus.

"Truly," Lily giggled as she patted Matti's back in sympathy. "Clayton, is this your doing? Getting our poor boy up so early?"

"Yes," the blonde boy replied while pushing a strand of hair out of his face. "Poor sleepy boy forgot to hear about early rising last night."

"Oh," Lily cooed softly. "Poor dear!"

"Let's get him something to eat," Valentine sighed dramatically. "Should wake him up a bit."

She pulled Matti to sit up and started filling his plate with assortments of food and finished by filling a glass with pumpkin juice. She then started with Clayton and moved onto Remus' as she piled the same amount of food on each plate. Matti was staring drowsily at his food with a dreamy expression and almost immediately began eating like a starved animal. Valentine had just finished filling the girl's plates as well as her own when she began eating quickly. Matti had soon finished his plate, moaning in pure happiness of the food.

"What in great Merlin possessed you to do such a task?" Clayton asked while chewing his food thoughtfully.

"Like you wouldn't for your friends," she growled after taking a swig of pumpkin juice.

"Not at all," Lily giggled. "You're god sent."

"More than god sent," Matti moaned with a Cheshire cat smile. "You're the man himself in disguise of a woman. A wonderful woman, I might add."

"Keep that up," Valentine laughed. "You might find a plate of cake that you like for lunch."

"Oh dear Odin," he moaned in delight making Annabel, Clayton, and Remus snort.

"If that is so," Remus laughed. "Then you might find yourself a stalker."

"I'd like that," she groaned. "But I've already several in Slytherin."

"Well you're going to find a lot more," Matti giggled loudly.

"Thanks for pointing that out," she growled playfully. "Thank goodness you're all right to look at or else I'd kill myself at the thought of you stalking me."

"You don't look half bad yourself," he replied with a mimicking tone.

"Don't push it," she growled.

"Push what?"

"Me!"

"You?"

"Yes, me!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure!"

"What was that?"

"Don't you ever listen?"

"Why yes, I do as a matter of fact."

"Great, I've a prankster as a stalker."

"You do, don't you?"

"Yes, why would I say that and not mean it?"

"Dunno, really I've no idea."

"Matti!"

"Yes, crucifix beauty?"

"Why you..."

"Why I what?"

"Badger."

"Me? A badger? Surely not."

"Yes you!"

"Will you both quit already?" Remus snapped. "You're both bloody annoying."

"Badger..." Matti thought out loud with a smile. "Surely, you mean Remus, not me?"

"Matti!" she snarled.

"What luv?" he asked with a smirk.

"Don't call me that!"

"Call you what?" They were both smiling at each other while the others watched in exasperation.

"Luv!"

"Why ever not, my little bird?"

"Bird? Oh, forget that. Stop calling me these pet names!"

"Pet names? What pet names, my kitten?"

"Why you..."

"We've already been over this. Why I what?"

"Badger of a rotten snake!"

"Why that is harsh, luv."

"Grrr!" They both snorted and started laughing at her last choice of dramatic action and ended up causing the others to shake their heads in amusement.

"Hey guys!" Sirius called as he entered the Great Hall with James and Peter trailing after him.

"Bloody hell," Valentine hissed to Lily. "Look at what the cat dragged in."

Lily snorted and then replied softly, "Not a cat, a dog perhaps. Never a cat."

"You're right," Annabel laughed lightly. "We're lions, but look at that mangy mutt."

"Ha-ha," Sirius growled as he sat opposite of Valentine as she filled his plate. "I'm as devilish a mutt as they come. Don't you agree, Remus?" Remus snorted his food and looked up with a beat red face.

"Sirius," Valentine whined as put an arm around Remus' shoulders, making the boy blush redder. "Stop embarrassing the poor boy." She leaned in to kiss his cheek and pulled back giggling. "We love you no matter what Remus."

"Yeah, more ways than one," Matti followed quickly making his best friend turn to glare at him. "What did I do?"

"Oh do shut up," Lily growled while standing up and patting Remus on the head. "Remus, don't listen to them. They can't get girls to fawn over them as you do." The boy smirked slightly and bowed his head making his fawn hair fall into his face and hiding his next expression.

"Hey Lupin," James growled. "Lily's mine."

"Whatever Potter," Lily growled fiercely as she hugged Remus from behind making the boy look up and smile wickedly.

"No fair," Clayton groaned. "Why does Remus get all the girls?"

"Well look at the boy," Annabel giggled while hugging the boy too. "He's incredibly hot for a master mind at chess. We're using him against his will." The boy growled playfully as all girls pulled back laughing and stopped immediately when seeing McGonagall heading their way.

"May I ask what is going on here ladies?" the stern looking professor asked with a slight smile.

"Just fawning over the man of our dreams," Valentine answered with a fake wistful expression.

"Mr. Lupin is this correct?" the woman asked the blushing boy.

"I think so Professor." Several snorts followed this statement. "According to them though, they're using me to figure out certain things for chess, but that could be an understatement."

All the girls blushed laughing at the same time, "Meow!"

"Well let's keep these displays of affection in the common rooms please," the Professor growled as she stared at the laughing girls and then handed out their schedules and left.

"Well we have Potions first," Valentine laughed lightly. "With the Slytherin I might be tempted to add."

"Oh no!" Sirius exclaimed. "The teacher that teaches this pairs everyone up and they stay that way throughout the year!"

"Oh no, indeed!" James snarled. "We might be separated. You know, Griffindor, Slytherin; Griffindor, Slytherin."

"Oh cripes!" Remus laughed irritated already.

"This is so not good," Valentine groaned as she finished filling plates up for James and Peter.

"Not good at all," Annabel followed with a distressed sigh.

"If that is a way to get houses to unify than that's the wrong way to go," James growled.

"Agree," Lily laughed at their obvious distress. "They can always start a club or a game like tournament." Remus and Matti looked at each other for a second.

"BATTLESHIP!" They shouted at the top of their lungs making everyone in the Great Hall look at them, for all the muggleborns and halfbloods that looked at them for a quick second began laughing.

"Battleship wasn't exactly what I was thinking, but all right." Lily laughed.

"You sunk my bloody battleship!" Someone called making all the people that heard and understood laugh all the more harder as Lily shook her head in hopelessness and amusement.

"I'm not going to ask," Valentine sighed.

"Don't," Clayton laughed as the two stood and started to bow and play an imaginary game.

"A5," Remus said laughing.

"H6," Matti replied with a smirk.

They ended up doing this for the better part of twenty minutes as people settled in and watched in confusion as the two counted off. With a grin, Matti announced one and made Remus laughed mischievously. Both stared into each others eyes for a mere few seconds and laughed maniacally. Causing everyone to look confused as Remus announced his last move. This resulted in Matti's features to turn bright red in fake anger.

"You sunk my bloody battleship!" he shouted furiously, making the Great Hall to rear up in laughter again.

"May I ask you gentlemen to calm down about your imaginary game there?" Called the Headmaster's voice in amusement, making both boys look up with sheepish grins.

"Sorry Professor, but he sank my battleship," Matti called back in reply making Lily snort.

"That's not all he sank, I'm sure," Sirius snickered.

"Sirius!" Valentine gasped while blushing and smacking the back of his head. "That's not right!"

"Whatever is my luv," he replied sheepishly while grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"I call a rematch!" Matti exclaimed in fake opposition.

"I won fair and square!" Remus argued playfully.

"You cheated, I know you did!"

"I've too much dignity to sink that low!"

"See what I mean," Sirius whispered to his friends who started to snicker.

"Sirius," Valentine snarled.

"I still call a rematch!"

"There'll be no rematches!" Lily exclaimed over their bickering.

"What?" They both shouted incredulously.

"No more playing that game!" This caused everyone in the Great Hall to laugh again.

"Children!" The Headmaster shouted with a wide smile.

"Yes," they called back innocently while blushing.

"Let's keep the dramatics down for the morning, shall we?"

"All right, Headmaster!" They sat down laughing with everyone else and noticed the time quickly.

"It's too early," Matti whined. "You should have left me in bed."

"But we wouldn't have had much fun without you," James laughed.

"Oh sure," the blonde replied drowsily. "You realize there are you, Remus, Sirius, and Valentine to act out just for a good laugh from everyone."

"That's harsh," Lily growled playfully. "You forgot to mention me as well."

"You're a sweetheart, though!" he laughed tiredly and then yawned.

"Oh, I see how it is," she said with a frown. "You want to hear want happened to Sirius and the other boys this morning?" Sirius covered her mouth quickly and James covered Valentine's as well, while Peter looked at Remus with uncertainty.

"Well let's just say they all have quick reactions," Remus chuckled as Peter edged toward James after sending a warning growl at the boy.

"Really now, is that true?" Matti asked with a small smirk.

"I'll have to tell you later," Remus replied with a small smile as he stood up and grabbed his bag. "I'm off to Potions." The Griffindor first years quickly said their goodbyes and went to catch up leaving Matti and Clayton to get their own things and go to Charms.

Trekking down into the dungeons, the group of first years went into a room where some of the Slytherin people were piling into without care. They found themselves grouped into the back and laughed as they noticed the Slytherin Head of House, Professor Dickens (A/N: Like it or not, I'm going to have fun with that.), whom was a middle aged man with wavy black hair that fell into his dark cerulean eyes and a bit over his ears and pale skin that glistened rather attractively. Surprisingly, he wore a pair of dark jeans and a black turtle neck sweater and dark brown boots. Pulling out their books and accessories, their Professor smiled warmly and then turned to start writing on the blackboard when the bell rang.

"Good Morning class," came the silky voice of the Professor.

"Good Morning Professor," they said to their teacher, except Annabel who seemed to be studying their Professor until Lily had elbowed her to get her attention.

Annabel smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."

"Now I'm going to start with something easy for all of you, but first a seating arrangement."

All groans answered to this as he started pairing Slytherin with Griffindor and how it turned out was rather cruel of the teacher. Bellatrix Black sat next to Annabel as Lily was paired with Snape. Valentine had the pleasure of seating with Joshua Dickens (the Professor's son) while Sirius paired with Ariadne Archangelo and James sat with Sean Jenks. Peter sat with Alibina Alfonso as Remus paired with Nathanial Cortez. (A/N: Do not ask where in the world I came up with Cortez and Jenks as surnames.)

They started on a simple potion of what name, they couldn't exactly decipher on the board as they started making it. Lily and Snape were discussing things as they made their potion, either one not knowing the other's heritage. Joshua was snickering as Valentine started to make subtle jokes that couldn't be heard, but between her and her partner. All the others were practically concentrating on their potions and were twitching with nervousness at every little sound coming from the others. Suddenly, as the Professor hovered behind Peter and Alibina, a loud explosion took place with Remus and Nathanial, covering both boys in a bright pink substance that started to turn them blue. Lily started giggling at her friend's predicament; Remus didn't look good with blue skin.

"Oh Remy," Valentine cooed. "You look so blue."

"Blue?" he asked with a laugh, his eyes sparkling in mirth.

"Yeah mate," Sirius barked. "Very blue."

"Bluer than the sea," James added with a small smile.

"Bluer than the Professor's eyes," Annabel mumbled as laughs were made at the statement.

"Bluer than the sky," Lily added thoughtfully.

"Bluer than Ravenclaw," Nathanial growled as he looked at their predicament. "Which Slytherin does not do?"

"Rhyming is a sure sign of insanity people," Joshua as he looked over to the other Slytherin students laughing hysterically, yet Snape looking on with a blank expression.

"Okay kids," the Professor called over the laughs. "Mr. Lupin and Mr. Cortez go to the Hospital Wing and we'll discuss what happened later over detentions for disrupting class." The Professor had a hard look in his eyes that made the laughter stop immediately and got everyone back to work.

It was after the class that James looked angrily at the Professor. He hadn't been fair with Remus nor Nathanial over the whole incident. He was probably expecting better, but they had just started potions without explanations. It was terribly unfair and he felt the need to stand up and tell the man what he thought, but Sirius gave him a hard look and he backed down, growling. Joshua had to snarl at Valentine who looked beyond livid, but calmed her down after a few lectures about authority. Lily on the other hand had Snape badgering her about getting everything just right, but she just smiled acidly and nodded at his behavior. Peter had just stayed quiet the entire time and was blankly doing things. Annabel just waved it off, saying it maybe wasn't fair, but it wasn't her place to be violent in her dislike.

The Griffindor soon met up with Remus in Transfiguration where they sat with Clayton and Matti who were discussing their Charm lesson which seemed quite fun. Professor McGonagall was nowhere to be seen as they sat down and took out their texts and parchments and quills. James was sitting with Sirius, both deciding which prank they should do to start off the year... meaning trouble was around the corner. Then a cat appeared out of nowhere and transfigured into the Professor that now looked down at both ebon haired boys with a frown.

"For your sakes," she began with a deeper frown. "Those better not be done at anytime this year or the next six unless you want more detentions than anyone on earth." Both sat speechless and then smiled, making it known this was their favorite teacher in the entire school.

After this class, they found themselves seated in the library during the break and were found to have a very funny time there. That is until James and Sirius started skipping through the transfiguration section and got kicked out for 'being way too loud'. Remus was currently practicing a spell of laughter, which effectively got Annabel and Peter get kicked out, leaving Matti, Lily, Valentine, and himself to their own devices. This was currently shaking with silent laughter as they learned some defense and dueling spells.

"I can't believe you did that," Valentine snickered silently while folding her arms and burying her face while still shaking.

"Me either," Remus replied while looking up from his book with a deviant smile.

"They're going to kill you, you know that right?" Matti chuckled with glinting eyes.

"While that may be, we've just got three spells down in a fifteen minutes worth of time," Lily said with a smile. "This is great guys!"

"Yippee for us," Valentine snickered, and then finally calmed down. "Okay, now we need to learn this one. I believe we also need to learn heating charms, I hear winter is a very cold time."

"I agree," Matti said. "I won't stand for freezing my arsh off every winter because I'm naïve enough not to know what the charm is."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," Lily giggled silently. "So are you ready for herbology next?"

"Yeah, yeah," Matti sighed while running a hand through his hair. "You're my partner though."

"Great," Valentine muttered, "Remus, luv, you're mine."

"Joy," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "We're never going to get anything done."

"Oh, quiet you," she said with a smile. "Or I'll turn you into a serving penguin."

"Try it and die," he growled playfully with a broad smile.

"So what did the matron say when she saw how blue you were?" she laughed lightly.

"Oh, she was very unimpressed," he sighed.

"Really, that doesn't sound very reassuring."

"She almost didn't give us the antidote because of Nathanial's big mouth."

"Are you serious?" Lily asked with a smile.

"No, Sirius got kicked out of the library, remember?" Matti muttered, but found himself being glared at, to which he winced.

"Quiet you," she growled.

"And yes, I'm serious," Remus added in before Lily gave a reassuring smile to Matti.

"Well, we haven't the whole time in here," Valentine laughed. "I'm heading off to the lake after I check these books out. Hasta luego."

"What?" All three cried out in little understanding.

"I meant 'see you later'," she laughed as she picked up her things and left.

It was later that evening after dinner had ended that their Head of House made an appearance while Valentine and Lily were berating Remus to go see the matron because he had gotten sickly pale and looked ready to vomit, but he refused and was being completely stubborn. Both girls were glad to see their Professor and quickly ran to her in hopes of her getting the boy down to the wing. Though the Professor did just that and both left almost immediately, leaving both girls worrying, but Valentine was the one to notice something completely strange.

"I don't understand why you're getting further worked up than already," Lily growled as Valentine dragged her up into their dorms and threw open the window and pointed to the moon which was full.

"Remember in Diagon Alley that Remus was looking like he was getting over something," she growled impatiently.

"Yeah, what about it?" Lily asked, but her eyes widened. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Yes, exactly what I'm saying," Valentine pointed to a calendar on Lily's bed. "We're going to be doing a little counting." Lily gave her a devious smile.

"Why would we be doing such a thing?" she said and went to her bed with a broader grin.

"Because it's a hypothesis," Valentine answered with a queer look.

"Oh, but of course," Lily laughed as she marked the dates and then noticed the significance again and looked up to her friend's frown. "What if it is true?"

"Then we'll have to confront him."

A/N: Okay, I own none of these characters except the OCs. But that doesn't include Matti because he belongs to Cindy. So Until later. Have fun with this one.