Author's Note I was very pleased that several reviews from the last chapter were from people who had not reviewed before! If you were one of them, kudos to you! I know I said this chapter would have the first task and Quidditch try-outs, but it doesn't. I was on a roll with the first task and by the time I got to the end of it I had a good ending, and adding the Quidditch try-outs, I felt, would make the ending flop. I have two lengthy responses to two reviewers coming and if you are not one of them you can bypass them and go straight to the chapter. If you asked a question in a review the replies will be next to them in a list. Thanks guys and enjoy!
Did you get their powers from the show Charmed on the WB? (from –Scp-) Some of the powers were borrowed from the show, yes. I gave Constance M. Burger (the creator of Charmed) credit in the disclaimer at the beginning of last chapter.
Andy isn't an Animagi though right? (from OTHCharmedHPFreak) No, Andy is not an Animagi. Andy is just an accomplice for some of their pranks, as well as a roommate, and good and loyal friend. He does know about Remus being a werewolf but did not become Animagi like the rest of them. He didn't really become friends with them till after James, Sirius, and Peter learned to transform. Andy will not be traipsing over the grounds with the Marauders when the full moon is out, that is strictly for the Marauders. I'm glad you picked the story up this time around, by the way, and I'm glad you like it better than the first.
Will you even be able to do that again with the new rules on about not using song lyrics? (from hpandfriendsruletheworld) I was already planning on changing that particular Christmas chapter a bit, but now I'll be changing the whole thing because of that new (and in my opinion kind of dumb) rule. I am basically changing the whole chapter but I think the new idea that I have planned will be okay and just as enjoyable.
When are L/J and S/R gonna get together? (from IndiChiki90) Not for another couple chapters I'm afraid. As you'll see in this chapter they take a step in the right direction but they still have a little ways to go before I can make them get together. The couplings will not happen at the same time either.
Why did the teachers decide to hold Challenge at the school during the year Voldemort is being such a threat outside? (from kate) Voldemort had been a threat for years before, he's just becoming stronger now as they enter their seventh year, which I'm sure you knew. The professors held the competition to try and bring peace of mind to their students, whom many are still children. They shouldn't all have to feel terror all the time because of Voldermort—because that's what he wants is to create terror among other things including to become immortal. But it's to let the children know that they shouldn't stop living their lives and go live in a cave until it's all done, that good things can still happen, that it's okay to laugh, worry about trivial things like homework, and engage in a 'fun' competition between the houses. It's the same with terrorism if we bend to their wants and become so afraid to do anything because we're too scared we're letting them win. I hope that answered your question.
Chuckmuggins- I'm glad you are enjoying the revised version so far. I remember you were a big reviewer when I first posted this and as such I felt I should respond because you sounded a little disappointed with the way this version began. I actually found it a bit surprising that you liked the first version's beginning so much more in comparison to this one. I'm the exact opposite. I went back and reread several of the beginning chapters and disliked them greatly. Challenge began almost three years ago and when I started it was mindless ideas that I clumped together in chapters at the time and by accident sent one to my then beta in place of another story I was working on. She loved it and told me that if I tweaked it a bit that I should post. I thought about it and did as she suggested, still with no real plot in mind, but as time wore on I started to get ideas and my plotline developed, becoming extremely complex and rather lengthy as I continued to write and post chapters. To this day I am still adding things and finally finished off my 'big bang' yesterday with help from the information we got from HBP. I changed my plot a bit so that was part of the reason for my revision, another was the fact that it wanted it more faithful to the world JKR created, and the other was that my writing style changed drastically, especially in the last year. I had an English teacher who in a rather annoying way (because there were times I wanted to strangle him) helped me and I feel my writing is better off for it. He helped me critique and really improve my style, technique, and my writing as a whole. Like I said before I felt I should respond to you because you sounded disappointed and I hope by explaining things I un-disappointed you. I'm glad to see you liked chapters 2 and 3 way better and yes I know about the new rules put up about song lyrics. That's why the Boys Are Back In Town ones are not in there like they were in the original. I did mention in an author's note that the inspiration for the chapter and its title was the song by Thin Lizzy. At the time I thought one of the boys saying that they were back in town was a bit corny so I didn't put it in. Again I'm glad to see you enjoyed the two later chapters much better and look forward to more feedback from you.
Jenna- I did take your review as constructive criticism, but I also found the need to respond to it. It is in no way harsh or in anger, it is simply a response to your concerns.
My fic is AU, as are most, if not all the fics on the boards because we all would like to see different things happen in the world JKR created, or change past events, or are interpreting her ideas thus far with ideas of our own. We can be as accurate as possible when it comes to writing fanfiction, but there's no way for any of us to be entirely accurate because we all come up with our own plots and none of us are JKR herself so we can never be entirely correct in our stories (and some aren't trying to be correct they are simply writing a story that takes place in her world that they want to see happen). I plan on remaining faithful to the things we have learned in the books thus far, with my own plot thrown in. My plot is extremely lengthy and complex and hasn't even begun to really appear. My plot has grown over time, and with the new information from HPHBP, was changed to be accurate to the new information and still remain centered on my plot with JKR's as well.
Andy is NOT a Marauder! I made it clear that he was a roommate, good and supportive friend, as well as an accomplice or silent partner in several of the Marauder's pranks. I don't feel that it takes away from Peter's character because Peter IS a Marauder and we've been told several times that he wasn't as bright or gifted as James, Sirius, or Remus and was basically a tag along, who latched onto three bigger friends who would protect him at any cost, because of their friendship. I have never taken Peter for an overly brave or very gifted wizard but he will be just as important in this story as he was in JKR's books when I get to that point. Andy was not added so that 'I could have another hot guy to work with so I could give Lily's good-looking friends boyfriends', as you put it. (In my mind he looks a bit like Chad Michael Murray actually and he's good-looking but not drop dead, oh-my-god gorgeous and neither is Andy. Andy is actually a very important part to my plot at the end of this story, into the sequel, and as a whole (as is his twin Rachel.)
I don't believe that I said any of my characters are perfect in any way. James and Sirius may have girls hanging off them but that's the impression I get from the books. I have always pictured Lily to be very pretty (as many have if the stories on these boards are anything to go by). When Rachel's character formed she was as well, but as I mentioned in chapter 1, Rachel is more outgoing and speaks her mind to anyone, where Lily is fiery, especially around James but always has her nose in the books. Alyssa is the tall rebel and like Rachel also speaks her mind and Izzy is the sweet, chubby but kind faced girl, who always is playing peacemaker. Remus is the most responsible one of the group and carries the burden of being a werewolf. I gave my description of Peter above and I also explained Andy a bit. All of them have flaws and faults, have I mentioned them all yet? No. Writing all their flaws in the first chapter or even the first few is like going up to someone and saying 'Hi my name is so-and-so and I suck at math, have a horrible temper, I spit when I talk, and I have bad breath in the morning. JKR has never mentioned all of her characters faults all at one time (Harry's temper really only flared in book 5). And yes in her descriptions Ron has a long nose and big hands and feet, and Hermione has bushy hair and big front teeth. Those are flaws yes, but they weren't exactly put in the movies accurately and she was okay with it. I don't feel that my characters are 100 perfect nor the same (but I suppose everyone sees them differently and won't obviously see them how I do since we don't share brains) more flaws and faults will come into play as I continue to write.
The powers may not be overly Harry Potterish but let me ask you this. Aren't some of the powers they have the same as some JKR has used herself? Reducto blasts things apart, so does the power Particle Manipulation, it's the same power, without a wand. (There are others but this is an example.) You may think their strange and random now but believe me when I say they are in the story for a reason. They have a purpose and were not simply put there for me to fill up space. Not everything I put in will be explained right away, but in time, will be. JKR does it, why can't I? I'm also still on the third chapter, I have a ways to go. I'm guessing that you did not read the first version, as this is a rewrite, and are unaware of how the powers come into play later on. I promise they aren't random. Some powers are more important than others and some will play major roles down the road.
Lastly, I'm not sure how you can say my story is predictable when you have no idea what will happen or when and where. Since, I'm guessing, you didn't read the first version, you are still a new reader reading the beginning chapters of a story. And while I'm glad the revised version is attracting new readers I ask that they and you not judge hastily. Challenge is the beginning of showing the students that not everything in life must be feared and that they can continue to laugh and have fun even with Voldemort gaining power outside the castle walls. It is also my idea on how Lily and James got together (and how other couples will get together for my plot). The plot twists are still coming and I think I may surprise you if you were to give it a chance. Like I said I'm just getting ready to post chapter 4, it's still early.
Thank you for your review and your constructive criticism and for reading my (lengthy) response. I hope you can take my reply constructively as well. In no way was I trying to be malicious or harsh and I don't think I came across as such, I was simply responding to your comments and concerns and explaining some of them as well. In no way was I angry when writing this out or when reading your review. Again thank you for your constructive criticism and I hope you continue to read should you choose to.
Challenge
Chapter 4: A Strange Turn of Events
"They didn't exactly give us enough notice so the task can't be too difficult can't it?" Alyssa observed aloud to Lily, Rachel, and Izzy on their way to breakfast the morning of the first task.
"And they did say that wands weren't required. Just to bring our brains," Izzy added.
Rachel rolled her eyes sitting beside Alyssa at the Gryffindor table, "Like we'd forget those." She grimaced when Peter tripped dumping orange juice from a pitcher he'd been carrying into the laps of two third year girls. They looked thoroughly annoyed. "Well, maybe some of us can."
"Ooh, I really think we should have prepared for this somehow," Lily said walking beside Rachel following the rest of the school down the sloping lawns to the Quidditch Pitch.
"And how would you have had us do that?" Rachel asked exasperatedly, "Find some way of opening the tops of our heads and clearing away the cobwebs and dust?"
Lily smacked Rachel in the arm making her laugh. "No, but, well we don't really have a technique or anything now do we?"
Rachel was about to say that they didn't know what kind of technique they would need but thought better of it, "I'm sure we'll be fine," she said giving the always-wanting-to-be-prepared Lily a reassuring smile.
"Well, you my dear, are definitely—" Sirius started but Rachel interrupted him.
"Don't start," she warned.
Sirius shrugged his shoulders sheepishly and James rolled his eyes at Sirius. "Like you said I'm sure we'll be fine," James said confidently, having obviously overheard the conversation.
"That's right," Sirius added, "Because you have us."
Rachel sighed heavily, "That's right. I almost forgot we were paired with you."
"Ouch," James said under his breath with a wince. Rachel and Lily rolled their eyes at each other, linked arms, and picked up their pace. "Hey!" James yelped. "You can't go in there without us!"
"Do try and keep up then!" Lily called smartly over her shoulder.
-
The Quidditch pitch looked relatively the same except for four small platforms levitating a few feet off the ground in the center of the field. The stands were half full and students were still clambering about trying to get good seats. There were thirty-six giant buckets suspended twelve or so feet in the air and several teams were already gathered beneath them (each team under a separate bucket).
"What do you suppose is in there?" Lily asked as she, Rachel, James, and Sirius stepped under a bucket not claimed by another team.
"Dunno," James replied looking up at it.
They were only waiting a few minutes when Luke McBride's voice echoed across the pitch over the noise of the students in the stands. Luke was a friend of Matt Rabb's, also a fifth year, but had been given a choice of competing or commentating. He chose commentating because it was one of his passions and he was quite good. He wanted to be a commentator for the professional Quidditch league after school, as he told anyone who would listen, mostly girls.
"Welcome ladies, gentlemen, competitors, and those not old enough to compete to the first task of Challenge!" He paused as the crowd roared its approval clapping and whistling for their house teams down on the field below them. "It's a fine day to have a task today if you ask me. It's warm but I'm liking the cooler breeze and it's sunny but not too bright—"
"Would you get on with it?" McGonagall growled, "We are more than capable of deducing the weather conditions on our own and don't need a weather report that will only take up time so—"
"Right you are, Professor," Luke interrupted, "As I said welcome to today's task. Here's Professor McGonagall with the rules."
McGonagall pursed her lips into a thin line but said nothing to the sandy blonde boy grinning down at her, "Today's task will not require the use of wands. This task is instead testing the knowledge you have stored, your ability to communicate with your newly formed teams, and your wit. Today's task: Trivial Pursuit." She paused to let what she had said sink in for a minute. She noticed that several teams were looking a bit scared with the task now revealed and that several groups were looking very confident including several Ravenclaw and Slytherin teams.
"You will be asked a series of questions both of which pertain to the magical and muggle worlds. For those of you taking Muggle Studies I suggest you rack your brains. Questions could range from short answer to brainteasers that we could throw in to catch you off guard. You will have exactly three minutes to discuss each question within your group at which time you must either give an answer or forfeit the round. For every correct answer you will be given a point. For every wrong answer the bucket above you will tip one inch. If and when your bucket overturns you are no longer able to participate in this task, and will be dropped to the lower end of the ranks according to how many correct answers you gave, which will determine where you fall. Should you fall in the last five ranked slots you will lose one chance. There is no need to fret for you still have two chances and will be able to compete in at least two more tasks and if you are careful this could last you to the end of the competition. When five groups remain we will call an end to the questions and tally up the number of correct answers you gave. The team with the biggest number will be given the top slot in the rankings and so on, all the way down to the teams whose buckets overturned. All points for all teams will be tallied to give you a rank number among the teams.
Furthermore, discussion of an answer is to be done in your group and your group alone. If you are caught conversing with another team or non-participating student in the stands, your team will immediately be disqualified, not only from this task, but from the entire competition. So, do keep that in mind. Remember you will have exactly three minutes to discuss each question and come up with an answer. This is an adequate amount of time to come up with an answer and at least give it a try. The four heads of houses will be your question readers, Mr. McBride will be commentating, but we've asked that he keep the noise level down to a minimum in order for you to concentrate, and Professor Dumbledore will be tallying the scores. Are there any questions?" She looked around at the groups and when no one made mention that they had a question she continued, "Then good luck. We'll begin in two minutes."
-
Those two minutes were the shortest of James' life. Before he knew it Professor Flitwick was giving them their first question. "Why was witch burning pointless in the 18th century? And name one famous witch who used a tactic in various disguises," he squeaked to them form his platform.
Sirius, Rachel, and James froze looking dumbfounded. They never paid attention in History of Magic! They were practically in a coma of boredom thanks to Binns, who was exciting as chalk dust. All three of them turned to look at Lily who gave them a look of utter exasperation. "Honestly! Am I the only one who pays attention in History of Magic?" she exclaimed looking rather cross.
That was only partly true. She, like the rest of the class, sometimes fell into a stupor in Binns' class too, but thanks to her love of reading she was always able to catch up. She found the reading a bit more entertaining then listening to Binns' relive it all through his notes. "I should give him the wrong answer just to piss you off," Lily grumbled sounding really annoyed.
"Now do you really think that's necessary?" James asked stiffly. He didn't really want to argue now.
Lily scoffed and gave him a cold look. Sirius looked down at his watch, "Time's ticking," he said through slightly gritted teeth.
"Lil, just give the answer, would you, please?" Rachel asked giving her a friend an apologetic look and pulling puppy dog eyes.
'Damn,' Sirius thought, 'that look should be illegal. It's too cute."
Lily rolled her eyes but finally relented and looked up at the small man, "Witches would use a simple Flame Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek in pain while actually enjoying a tickling sensation. Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much, that she let herself be caught forty-seven times."
"Correct," Professor Flitwick said and Lily saw a gold tick mark appear next to their team on a large bulletin board beside Dumbledore.
-
"What Scotsman discovered Penicillin?" Professor Slughorn asked a seventh year Slytherin group. Lucius, Bellatrix, Snape, and Sophia (another seventh year girl) discussed this quietly for a moment.
"What the hell is Penisilly?" Sirius asked loudly.
"Penicillin," Lily corrected, "It's a Muggle drug that helps kill bacteria in the body."
"Alexander Fleming," Snape replied smoothly only a minute and a half into their time limit.
Professor Slughorn beamed, "Correct."
Sirius scoffed, "Of course he would know the answer to that. He probably wanks off to his books nightly since he can't get a girl to do it for him." Snape gave Sirius an extremely murderous glare and his hand twitched for the pocket of his pants where his wand rested, but no doubt thought better of it with the teachers right in front of him. James was rather red from silent laughter; he didn't think McGonagall or any of the teachers would be too pleased to be interrupted by a shout of laughter, especially from a Marauder. Both Lily and Rachel were trying desperately to not show their amusement for Sirius' statement and tried covering up slight smiles with disapproving looks to which Sirius replied, "What?"
-
Some time later Professor Sprout posed a riddle to Remus, Andy, Alyssa, and Izzy: "If a plane crashes between the border of the United States and Canada, where do you bury the survivors?"
The group looked at each other thinking hard for several long moments. "The United States?" Izzy suggested.
"Well, why couldn't it be Canada?" Remus and Andy argued at the same time.
Izzy shrugged blushing, "I don't know it was just a suggestion. And you don't need to snap at me," she added crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sorry," the two boys muttered looking apologetically at her.
"Wait a minute shouldn't the next of kin or whatever decide where they should be buried not the government?" Andy asked wrinkling his eyebrows together in thought.
Remus shrugged, "I suppose so but if they were all on the plane with them—"
"That's reaching a bit, isn't it?" Izzy interrupted.
Alyssa looked at each of them like they were crazy, "You are all a bunch of idiots!" She exclaimed making all three of them stare at her. She turned to Professor Sprout, "You don't bury survivors."
Professor Sprout smiled, "That is correct." A gold tick mark appeared next to their name and Alyssa smiled smugly at the others.
"Oh, come off it." Andy said defensively, "We would have gotten there eventually." He said chuckling a bit as he realized how incredibly stupid they—minus Alyssa—must have looked trying to figure out where to bury 'survivors'. They could have figured it out a whole lot faster by simply repeating the riddle like Alyssa must have done.
Alyssa nodded but didn't look entirely convinced, "Eventually being the key word there." She said and Andy crossed his arms over his chest as Remus and Izzy made faces at each other over the playful banter between the couple. Alyssa grinned and kissed his cheek making him smile.
-
A half hour later no group had been taken from the task and they were no closer to figuring out what was in the buckets hanging above all their heads. Although some groups were very close to finding out, including Sirius' group. Professor Slughorn faced their team and read a question off a piece of parchment, "What star is the second only to the sun in brightness as seen from earth?"
The four teens looked at each other for a moment. They'd gotten several questions wrong and Rachel's eyes hovered warily on the bucket above their heads for a moment before returning her attention back to the question.
Lily smacked her forehead with the heel of her hand so hard that James knew a red mark would appear, "Shoot! We had to find that on last year's Astronomy exam!" She exclaimed not seeming to care about the pain that she no doubt felt in her head.
"That's where I remember that question from!" Rachel exclaimed comprehension dawning on her.
James looked at her, "Did you get it right?" Rachel nodded looking pretty confident about the memory. "Do you remember what you put?" he asked sounding hopeful.
"No," Rachel replied a bit stiffly and James groaned. "What? Like you really remember what you put down or if you even got it right?" she snapped. "I'm surprised you can remember what you had for breakfast let alone the name of the last girl you snogged."
James flushed, "Not that it's any of your business but that was completely uncalled for." He said, the irritation in his voice very apparent.
Lily and Sirius looked surprisingly at the two of them who normally didn't fight as much as Lily and James or Rachel and Sirius did. "That was out of line, Rachel," Sirius said evenly, sticking up for his best mate.
Rachel glanced at Sirius out of the corner of her eye and sighed, "You're right. I'm sorry." She said looking at James who nodded accepting her apology. They were all a bit edgy with how they were faring in the task, which wasn't well. They basically fought for two minutes over each question before someone would call a stop and they'd try coming up with an answer, whether it was right or wrong, to give.
"Besides," Sirius said shaking his head, "It's the dog star, Sirius." He said and noticed an ironic look on James' face. Sirius thought it was rather ironic too, that his first name was Sirius, which meant scorching in Greek, was after the second brightest star in the sky, the Dog Star. His Animagus form was a dog, a great hairy black one.
"Are you serious?" Lily asked, amazed that he remembered something that she didn't, from a class no less, and then realized how stupid her remark was and added, "No pun intended."
Sirius chuckled mildly, "I'm positive. It's part of the constellation Canis Major also know as The Great Dog. And its companion is a white dwarf called Pup." James, Lily, and Rachel stared at him. "What?" he asked defensively. "I do pay attention sometimes. I remember Sinistra telling us about it and I guess it stuck with me because it's my name and I thought it was cool," he shrugged.
"Well, then say it mate," James encouraged. Lily and Rachel exchanged a brief glance and all four of them looked up at the bucket hanging over them. For all they knew it was filled with stinksap.
Sirius turned to Professor Slughorn, "It's the star Sirius found in the constellation Canis Major."
Slughorn looked mildly surprised at Sirius, as did everyone else including McGonagall. Professor Sinistra was beaming from her seat in the stands, thankful that he had in fact been listening in her lessons and hadn't always been taking peeks at Rachel's arse, and that he'd remembered and regurgitated it now no less. Bellatrix looked as though she'd swallowed a blowfish and James fought back a laugh.
"That is correct," Slughorn replied.
Sirius, Rachel, Lily, and James all seemed to breathe a bit easier. "Merlin, if you weren't such a wanker I'd have kissed you," Rachel muttered under her breath. A big goofy grin appeared on Sirius' face.
-
It had only been five minutes since Sirius' incredible regurgitation of information that all questions about what was inside the buckets were answered. A Hufflepuff group failed to remember that the Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus were two of the Seven Wonders of the World. Professor McGonagall shook her head sadly as she replied, "I'm sorry that answer is incorrect."
The four Hufflepuff fifth years looked up at the bucket and took deep breaths, preparing themselves for whatever was about to rain down upon them. It happened altogether very fast. For one instant the Hufflepuffs were waiting with baited breath, and the next they were covered head to foot in a very blue, thick, and awful smelling goo. Everyone was shocked for a moment and tried to hide their laughter as the Hufflepuffs tried to remain on their feet—the liquid, whatever it was, was obviously very slippery under foot.
As the Hufflepuffs slipped and slid off the field to a tent set up a few meters from the pitch to get cleaned up questioning immediately resumed. One team faded from the bulletin board beside Dumbledore as Rachel, Sirius, Lily, and James exchanged grim looks.
-
Another forty-five minutes passed and groups were dropping like flies. Nine teams had dropped so that only twenty-seven remained. Their points were tallied as they faded from Dumbledore's bulletin board and ranked according to the number of points they accumulated. As more teams lost, the teams already having been drenched in the awful blue liquid, could either move up or down according to their number of points compared to the other teams'.
"Name a common foul committed by beaters," Professor Sprout asked Andy's team.
"Isn't it Blatching?" Izzy asked.
Alyssa shook her head, "No, that's flying with the intention of colliding."
"Wait, what's Cobbing again?" Andy asked. He played Quidditch with his siblings over the holidays but since there were only four of them, two of them usually played keeper and two played chaser. It was all scoring and fun, they didn't really play by all the rules.
"Excessive use of elbows," Remus replied.
Andy frowned, "Oh, right. Damn!"
"What about Stooging?" Remus asked.
Alyssa shook her head again and replied in an annoyed tone, "No, that's when more than one Chaser enters the scoring area."
Remus bristled, "Well, do you know?" Alyssa looked at her shoes sheepishly. "You're on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team!"
Now Alyssa bristled, "Yes, but I'm a Chaser. I don't worry about fouls concerning the other players when I play, just the ones that are for my position."
"Okay," Izzy said holding her hands up, hoping to be peacemaker, "Let's just think about this calmly for a moment."
They were quiet for a moment when it seemed a light bulb went off in Andy's head, "Wait, a minute, isn't bumphing a beater foul?"
"Yes!" Alyssa exclaimed, "That's it."
Andy turned and gave their answer to Professor Sprout who smiled at hearing the correct reply.
-
"What does our Latin, Hogwarts motto translate into?" Professor McGonagall asked Bellatrix, Sophia, Snape, and Lucius.
The four discussed this for a very short amount of time before Bellatrix replied silkily, "Never tickle a sleeping dragon," she gave Sirius a triumphant sneer.
Sirius glared coldly back and then mimicked her before adding, "Who in their bloody right mind would tickle a sleeping dragon anyway?"
"Dunno," James replied with a shrug. "But I wouldn't tickle one if it was sleeping or not."
"They'd have to be pretty daft," Lily agreed with James for probably the first time ever.
"It would probably sneeze fire on you in its sleep or something," Rachel said wrinkling her nose at the thought of flaming bogeys.
-
"Answer this riddle: There is a word in the English language where the first two letters indicate a male, the last three indicate a female, the first four indicate a great man, and the whole word is a great woman," Professor Slughorn read aloud from his sheet of parchment to a seventh year Ravenclaw group, "What is the word?"
The Ravenclaws took up their entire time limit to think through and discuss the riddle.
"Your time is up. Do you have an answer?"
The tallest boy of the group, a rather good-looking bloke with black hair cleared his throat, "Yes. Heroine," Nathan Drew replied.
"Very good," Slughorn replied looking impressed.
-
"What is a two-headed serpent called?" Professor McGonagall asked Rachel's team.
Sirius, Lily, James, and Rachel stared at her. "Please tell me someone has read something on what a two-headed serpent is called?" James asked hopefully.
"I haven't," Rachel replied quietly.
Sirius shook his head, "Neither have I mate."
"Lily?" Rachel asked looking at her friend.
Lily shook her head, "I don't ever remember reading anything about two-headed serpents."
"You?" Sirius asked shocked, "You, Lily Evans, who has read probably every book in the entire school and maybe in the world can't remember reading anything on two-headed serpents?" he continued sounding as though he was having a hard time believing this.
"There is no need to jump down my throat just because I don't know! You don't know either let me remind you!" Lily replied angrily.
"O—ho! Are you finally admitting that you don't know everything?" Lily glared icily at him.
"Hey!" Rachel exclaimed giving Sirius a very dirty look, "She is the smartest witch in our year unlike you who doesn't know anything at all!"
Sirius snapped his head around to look at her, "Now, wait just a minute if it weren't for me we never would have gotten that question about the second brightest star right."
"Oooohhh," Rachel said mockingly, "And if it weren't for me we wouldn't have gotten the question about the cabin on a mountainside with three dead bodies correct either. We all helped to find the answers for all the questions we've gotten right so far! Get your big head out of the clouds Black! The world doesn't revolve around you!"
"And what you think it revolves around you instead?" Sirius snarled back.
"No, she does not," Lily replied stubbornly, "She's the most selfless person I know, unlike the two of you."
Now it was James' turn to get angry, "Hold on there, don't go making assumptions like that when you know nothing about us!"
Lily rounded on him, "I know enough to know that you're a half-witted, prank-pulling, egotistical, think you're the best thing to walk the planet, prat!"
"Hey, who are you calling half-witted?" Sirius all but shouted.
"It's kind of a toss up between the two of you isn't it?" Rachel replied coolly, her eyes flashing.
It was like watching a tennis match, back and forth the insults came and went, and as time wore on Professor McGonagall was looking more and more furious. They were seventh years for goodness sake, they were supposed to be setting an example, and the only example they were setting was a use of quick-thinking insults. Furthermore, they were in her house and to display this kind of behavior in front of the entire school was unacceptable. "QUIET!" She barked.
The yelling between the four competitors stopped immediately as they looked over at her. She was extremely red in the face and looked absolutely furious. Sirius, Rachel, Lily, and James were all standing within inches of one another and all were breathing heavily, their faces flushed from yelling.
"I have half a mind to dump that bucket over your heads to cool you off!" she growled, her eyes flashing behind her square spectacles. "This kind of behavior will not be tolerated. As such, I will not be dumping the bucket over you unless you get this question wrong, but I am taking ten points from Gryffindor each for your behavior just now." Her nostrils flared, "Do you have an answer?"
The four refused to look at each other and instead stared down at their shoes feeling ridiculously stupid and embarrassed. They had gotten so caught up in fighting with and insulting each other that they completely forgot about the question. "No," James said heavily, "We don't have an answer." They already knew their fate. They were about to be the seventeenth group out of the task, dropping them to the bottom half of the ranks, and losing them one of their chances.
"Do you forfeit the question?" she asked still looking very cross. The four nodded still staring at their feet. "That is your last incorrect answer." She informed them as she pulled out her wand, flicked it once, and the bucket overturned.
Sirius being the tallest was the first to be doused in the blue goo, followed by James, and then the girls who weren't that different in height. They all made faces as the thick, slimy liquid succeeded in covering them from head to foot. Rachel, however, was the first to fall. She'd lifted a hand to wipe the gunk from her eyes when her feet come out from underneath her and she landed smack on her ass, successfully knocking Sirius, who'd been standing behind her, off his feet as well.
-
Slipping and sliding the four trooped off the field making their way to the tent they'd seen teams go to previously, followed by jeers from the Slytherins. "Well, that was bloody brilliant," Rachel muttered slipping again and grabbing onto the only thing she could at the time, Sirius' arm, to steady herself. This proved to be pointless because he was just as unsteady as she was and they both wound up sprawled on the grass.
"Ow!" Rachel moaned shoving Sirius' arm from her stomach.
"Well, it's your own fault," Sirius snapped, "If you hadn't of grabbed onto me I wouldn't have fallen and walloped you in the stomach!"
"And you'd have rather had me fall on my own instead?" she yelled back.
"Well, you still landed on your ass didn't you?" Sirius snarled.
"ENOUGH!" Lily and James shouted at the same time.
Sirius and Rachel blinked up at them. James sighed, "Fighting is what got us in this mess in the first place."
"Yes, now let's just get you two up and get all of us into the tent before we kill each other and get cleaned off," Lily added and she and James carefully helped pull their friend to their feet.
In the tent Rachel shook a glob of gunk from her arm, "This is the most outrageous—"
"—disgusting," Lily added.
"—embarrassing," James sighed trying to wipe his glasses clean but only smeared more blue goo across the lenses.
"—and foul smelling event of my life." Sirius finished.
"Go' out too eh?" Hagrid asked coming over to them carrying a large wooden bucket under one arm, "Well, here yeh go, you lot," he said and before any of them could say a word he'd tossed a bucket full of ice cold water onto them.
"Thanks Hagrid," Lily said as her shoulders stiffened against the cold and the blue gunk began to slide off.
The task ended an hour before dinner giving all the competitors who were doused in the blue gunk time to shower. The rankings would be finalized that night and posted on all house bulletin boards the following morning. Perhaps that was the reason for James, Rachel, Sirius, and Lily's very quiet return to Gryffindor tower. Or perhaps it was the fact that they were still angry with those of the opposite sex, or they were thoroughly embarrassed, or just plain cold from Hagrid's dousing of cold water to get the goo off.
Lily and James didn't speak after James gave the password to get into their common room and they split to their separate rooms without a word. The unfortunate thing about the Heads dormitory was the bathroom they had to share. James at first thought this idea was bloody brilliant because he could accidentally walk in on Lily while in the shower. Although, after he made the promise to earn her trust by being her friend he'd nixed the idea. 'Way to go Prongs,' he thought to himself bitterly, 'earn her trust by becoming her friend. Yeah. Insulting her and yelling at her doesn't gain me points.'
Lily was just as miserable as James was, although for different reasons. The argument had just been silly and pointless not to mention completely embarrassing. She was Head Girl for crying out loud, she was supposed to set an example for younger students, and the only thing she'd done was help to further infuriate McGonagall. She had never seen McGonagall that angry and on top of it, she'd gone and lost ten points from Gryffindor. 'Brilliant Evans, just bloody brilliant,' she thought to herself yanking the bathroom door open and coming face to face with James.
"Oh," she said quietly blushing furiously.
James swallowed. Her hair was a mess, she was still wearing some of the blue gunk, and she was blushing furiously, but he thought she looked absolutely beautiful. He'd certainly gotten an eyeful after Hagrid had soaked them and even though he was furious at her—and himself—at the time he couldn't help but send a silent thank you to whoever had come up with white t-shirts. "Uh," he said stupidly.
"I-I'll just—you can take a shower first—I'll um wait," she stuttered looking anywhere but at him.
James cleared his throat, "No-no. That's not right. You take yours first and I'll—and I'll wait."
"Oh, er thanks," she said quietly and finally looked at him. Even if it was for only a second, it was a start.
He gave her a half smile that he knew she saw out of the corner of her eye, "Well, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't let the lady have a shower first?" he said genuinely. Lily looked at him for a long minute and he wondered for a moment if she was going to haul off on him again but she didn't.
Lily looked at him as though she were seeing something about him she'd never seen before. She was shocked that he'd said that sentence without sounding even the least bit cocky. "Maybe I don't know everything about you," she called softly as he was closing the connecting door to his room.
James didn't turn back to look at her or reply to her statement but she knew he'd heard her. He simply closed the door and leaned back against it. He heard the shower turn on and a small smile appeared on his lips. Maybe he'd just redeemed himself, if even a little, in her eyes.
After James had showered he dressed quickly and hurried over to Gryffindor tower to talk to Sirius. He collided with him as he entered the common room; Sirius was obviously on his way down to dinner.
Sirius grinned, "Took me forever to get that gunk out of my hair," he said as they headed out of the portrait hole together.
James laughed, "Me too. It acted like gel for me." Sirius chuckled and they fell into silence for a minute.
"We really need to apologize," they said at the same time and then laughed.
"Yeah, the whole fight was stupid really, not to mention embarrassing," said Sirius.
James nodded, "And even if they don't come to us I think it'll be good for us to go to them and offer a peace offering of some sort. Yeah?"
"What like chocolate?" Sirius asked teasingly.
James rolled his eyes, "No, but apologizing I think will be a good start. And I think that if we want to make this work and move up in the rankings that we're going to need to come to an understanding and that isn't by ripping each other's heads off. And who knows, maybe we'll get new friendships out of the deal," James added.
Sirius nodded. He knew that the way to win Rachel's heart wasn't by insulting her or yelling at her or making lewd comments about how the two of them should sneak off to the nearest broom closet. No, he had to be her friend and gain her trust first.
-
Rachel and Lily appeared in the Great Hall not long after Sirius and James arrived, but the two boys waited until they'd all finished eating before approaching them. "Hi." James said as he and Sirius walked over. Rachel and Lily looked up at them. "We just want to talk and apologize for earlier today," he paused, "Can we sit down?"
Lily gave Rachel a sidelong glance and then nodded. "We're both sorry about what happened today during the task. The whole thing was completely ridiculous and should never have gotten that far out of hand," Sirius began after he and James sat down opposite the girls.
"You shouldn't go taking all the blame, it was half our fault," Rachel sighed, "We're sorry too."
James and Sirius nodded before James continued, "We did a real number out there today and god knows where we landed in the rankings."
Lily wrinkled her nose, "It was pretty crappy wasn't it?" The four shared a brief chuckle.
"Yeah, and if we have any hopes of winning this thing, or coming out somewhere near the top instead of at the bottom," Sirius picked up, "Then we need to work together."
Rachel and Lily looked at each other then back at the two boys. "Agreed," Lily replied for her and Rachel.
"So we propose a truce," Sirius finished.
"A truce?" Rachel questioned, wanting to make sure she'd heard correctly.
"Yes, a truce," James reiterated, "And maybe we can even become friends," he said this second part more slowly.
The girls looked thoughtfully at the two boys, much to their relief. They all were silent for a minute, the boys hoping the girls would give them a chance, and the girls processing everything the boys had proposed. Rachel finally broke the silence and looked straight at Sirius, "You ask me to follow you into another broom closet, I'll hex you; you make a lewd comment, I'll hex you; I catch you staring at my ass, I'll hex you; and you touch me, I'll hex you." She said looking only half serious.
"So, if you fall I'm allowed to at least try and stop you from hitting the floor?" Sirius asked trying to be sure he got all of that.
Rachel smiled at him, the first smile Sirius could ever remember from her, "I'll take it into consideration."
Sirius smiled back, "Okay."
"Okay," she said.
James looked at Lily, "And what about you?"
Lily nodded her head, "Okay."
James held his hand out for Lily to shake and Sirius did the same to Rachel, "Deal?"
"Deal," the girls repeated and they shook on it.
As I said before I was very pleased with the amount of reviews I received for last chapter! Don't fail me now! Next chapter is coming along very well and be up Wednesday. Thanks guys!