Once ¾ of his body was submerged in the bone-chilling water, Severus murmured a quiet warming spell. Choosing to ignore the grinning girls behind him, and face them later, he took a deep breath of air, and pulled his head of greasy, black hair under the water.

On land, Artimis and Alexis exchanged giddy remarks which resulted in Alexis transfiguring herself into her wolf-form and running towards the school. Artimis watched her retreating form for a few minutes, occasionally hearing Severus break the surface of the lake for a fresh breath of air.

'Where has that insufferable friend of yours got to?' he barked on his third return trip to the surface.

Artimis turned her attention to her teacher, and tried to straighten the sudden quirk in her lip, as it threatened to smirk at Snapes sopping wet hair.

'She was needed by one of the Professors,' Artimis lied quickly. She wasn't put into Slytherin for nothing. Severus nodded before diving back into the blackness beneath him.

Letting out the giggles which had threatened to break her composure, Artimis sat on the sloping grass and continued to watch the rather athletic performance of her Professor.

Alexis had her paws planted firmly into the ornate rug lining Lupins' office floor, whilst said person was trying desperately to free his robes from the playful wolfs strong jaws.

'Now really Alexis, I need that Grindylow, I cannot spend time running into another one of your tricks.' The wolf paused in her head shaking and let go of her Professors' robes, before regretfully transforming back to her human form and grabbing his other, less salivated sleeve.

'Quick Professor! You've got to see this! COME ON!' Alexis yanked Lupin towards the door, but still he hesitated.

'Alexis,' he chastised lightly, 'Tell me first.'

Deciding that it was the quickest way to get her Professor to the Lake, she replied, 'Professor Snape's gone swimming!' The look on Lupins' face was priceless. He gaped at her for a few seconds before barrelling out of the door, the short Gryffindor following him.

Artimis sighed with relief as she saw the near-white hair of her friend reflecting the sunlight, accompanying a rather anxious looking Lupin. This was gonna be good…

'Where's Severus?' He panted once he'd reached her.

Artimis pointed towards the lake, snorting as Lupin whimpered.

'W-Why?' he stammered.

Alexis waltzed over to her friends' side-they shrugged in unison.

'But-' Lupin paused as bubbles began to appear on the Lakes' surface and a large pink tentacle burst into the air, ripping a branch off the Oak, taking it back into the water, to it's owner.

The three onlookers waited, and, a moment later, were rewarded with Severus Snape jumping to the surface, his face obscured by something which looked like miniscule tentacles.

'OO! Do we have baby squids now?'

'How? We only have one? Muttered Artimis.

'Maybe it's A-sexual…ya know…like some frogs…' replied Alexis.

Severus squealed as more tentacles wrapped themselves around his head. He swam blindly into shallower water, and staggered ashore. Now his whole torso was visible, and what the girls saw made them gawp like they'd seen a manticore.

The Potions Master was covered from head to toe in baby Grindylows, whilst twigs and leaves stuck out of any visible orifices. Obviously the Giant Squid had tried to help.

And the author wanted to make Snape's situation worse…hehe

Lupin was the first to act. He strode forwards and hexed the creatures off Snape, paralysing one of them to take back to his class, while Artimis and Alexis rolled around helplessly on the ground, in fits of uncontrollable laughter, at the sight of Snape, sopping wet, assaulted by Grindylows, and bearing the signs of an overly protective Squid.

'50 points each,' he snapped savagely as he passed them, charming his clothes to follow him, as he squelched up to the castle, with what little dignity he had left. Although, he did manage to do something which made him feel a little better. Alexis now had green hair, whilst Artimis had quickly growing front teeth…

Yet again, Happy B-day Ecko!