Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and characters.
A/N: My appologies for taking so long. I had some college interviews and things to attend and it took up most of my time. Sorry all. -smile-
Chapter 21: Flight of the Snowball
The library was not overpopulated today, but it never really was. Draco by my side, we returned the ten books Lockhart the Poptart borrowed. Then, to finish the chore, we took our some more informative novels for him. Hoorah, what a joy it was to do chores and work and work and chores. My mind is redundant when I cannot think. I'd laugh at myself, but I know Draco would give a strange look to me. That is why I will keep on doing as Ol' Master-Poptart asked.
It was a cold winter's day, sitting in my room, after completing the tasks that were once at hand. I was finally done helping Gilderoy, so Draco brought me to my room and left after a fond farewell.
Night approached pretty quickly, and the day wasn't even eventful. Sure I didn't just sit around all day, but I didn't move either. I went to supper with a grin planted on my face. A content mood played around in my mind, causing me to one minute, love the day, and another minute, hate the day. Basically, my emotions were schitzophrenic tonight.
Sitting by Hermione, I began eating my supper in silence. Snape was next to me, and it felt as though he was about to stab me with a fork.. Or worse, a spork. Maybe sporks weren't worse, but they were harsh weapons. . . I have got to get my head checked by a doctor. Seriously.
"Yeah.." I sighed to myself.
Hermione heard my sigh and asked, "What? Are you alright?"
"Just tired, Mione. Just tired."
"Well," She began with a wide smile, "You won't be tomorrow. It's snowing, so maybe we can gather our group after classes and have some fun."
Shrugging, I answered, "Sure, I guess so. It could be fun."
And that was that. Supper continued on with barely any words spoken between Snape, Hermione, or me. We would all encounter the end of the day soon. The moon was very eager to rise in the velvet sky tonight. That was no lie.
0o0o0o0o
Last night's sleep barely existed like the hair on Filch; Able to reach out for it but there's nothing to grab hold of. I scrambled out of bed and to my feet, racing with time to change and enter breakfast early for once.
"Good morning, Miss Maguire." Greeted Snape casually. "You're early today."
Dear Zeus' Lightning, I just sit down and my legs are shaking. My hands are leaves flapping softly in the wind as butterflies play around in my stomach. Oh no, the sickness...The sickness of liking someone has taken me full on today. I must cope.
"Hello, Sir." I managed to choke up.
The stir-fry of burnt bacon and runny eggs was giving me heartburn. I couldn't eat anymore after three minutes of chewing on the sloppy mess.
"Did you have trouble sleeping last night?" Clearly Snape was not finished picking at the topic.
"Yes."
Placing his fork on the table, Snape advised, "You should take sleeping potion. If you have none left, I can supply it to you. I have one new flask already made."
"Show off," I mumbled to my plate as I scooped in one last bite of soupy eggs.
"I do not show off," Snape snapped at me almost playfully, "I just work exceptionally good in what I teach and expert in.."
My strength held back a grin, "You are an expert on sleeping potions. It's a wonder why you didn't fall asleep while teaching then."
Joking was an option between us once more. It felt really odd just randomly jumping into a friendship again, so I stood and left before the situation got weirder or worse. The day was new and fresh, ready to be taken by the horns and directed in any path I chose. Hermione had mentioned gathering our friends together and playing in the snow outside later. I suppose that meant no Hogsmeade for us today?
Correction, there was no Hogsmeade for anyone today. As I walked through the school halls, I heard a few older students saying Filch had gotten a touch of the flu, and was recovering today. Plus, every once in awhile, there would be a week off from Hogsmeade. Dumbledore found a day where the chaperone was sick a perfect day to skip the trip.
My feet wanted to drag me to the library, but then I would most likely be entrapped by novels, thus wasting my whole day. So, I decided to go outside, after obtaining a long coat, and wait until someone came along and talked to me. Besides, how often have I sat outside and relaxed? About none. Maybe once or twice by a huge oak tree, but never during the winter.
Powdered snow crunched lightly beneath my feet as I stepped happily outside. The sun painted warmth across my rosy cheeks while the icy wind bit fiercly at my nose. Only three or four students were outside building snowmen, but they looked about ready to go back inside. I found a bench nearby and brushed the snow off. I sat down, ready to do absolutely nothing.
A couple of lonesome minutes squirmed by unnoticed. Pretty soon, I found myself spacing out. I didn't really notice anyone or anything around me. Just stared at the blinding light reflecting off the snow, which should have killed my eyes.
My eyes fixed upon a flying snowball...Flying, flying, and landing in front of my feet. I frantically looked around, trying to find the source. Sure enough, Draco and Gwen were approaching me with huge grins of happiness plastered on there face as if any other emotion was not possible.
"You almost hit me," I said while standing up.
Gwen giggled, "I was aiming for the empty seat next to you."
Hermione was now visible as well, along with Ron, who was already covered from head to toe in snow.
"What happened to him?" I questioned as the group was now together.
Ron scowled and grunted, "Draco decided to push me in the snow bank while I wasn't looking."
"Also called," Gwen informed us, "a white wash."
I smirked and bent down to grab a handful of snow. "Are we going to play now?"
While slowly backing away, Hermione answered, "I suppose we should now that we're all here."
"Wait," The white pile dropped from my hand, "I have an idea. Why don't we play snow-tag. Whoever is it has to hit the others while we run away. Once someone else is hit, it'll be there turn to be it."
"Even better," Draco suggested, "once someone else is hit, they sit and can only be back in the game if someone running taps them on the shoulder."
"So...Snow-Dodgeball?" Ron chuckled.
We all nodded to one another and were ready to play. I screamed, "1, 2, 3...not it!"
"Not it.." called Mione.
Draco yelped, "Not it..not it!"
Before Gwen could speak, Ron shouted, "I'm not it!"
Gwen was it, and everyone who wasn't began running around the field, hiding behind mounds of shoveled snow. I dove behind the bench I sat at earlier, near the door, and made as many snowballs as I could. It was a silent rule that we could still try and hit the person who was it. Gwen wasn't running towards me, so I knew I was safe for now. Draco came over to me and started talking of a plan to get Gwen. I didn't register a word he said at first, but nodded anyways.
"No!" I heard Ron squeal like a little girl. He had obbviously gotten hit.
Draco ran into view of Gwen, who chased after him like a wild animal on the hunt for prey. I rolled out of my hiding place and felt a cold lump hit my head. The rules were to stay where you were hit, so I sat upright to see where Gwen was. When I sat up, I saw Gwen laughing at me. She had somehow hit everyone, and was declared winnner. What a short game!
"Everyone out from where they are!" Gwen shouted as we all crowded around her.
"Who's it next?" Ron asked, hoping it was not him.
In a short breath, Gwen answered, "I think if the person who is it wins and hits everyone, they should be entitled to choose who is next."
Agreeing, we nodded our heads simutaneously.
"Therefore," concluded Gwen, "I choose you, Manic-Mara."
My mouth agape, I felt like I had no time to think of a strategy. Everyone scuttled from my sight, leaving me in the middle of my own thoughts. First target: Gwen. She would pay for picking me to be next.
Grabbing some snow woke my hands up. I ran near a mountainous snow pile, glancing to see if Gwen was nearby. She was giggling, which made it easier to track her down. I shot the first ball of white at her back, but missed. She saw me and began to ran. I chased after her quickly and soon enough hit her in the back of the leg. One down, three to go.
My aim wasn't very good. I hit Ron easily though, for he did not see me crawling up to his side. The last two waiting to be hit were Hermione and Draco. Unfortunately, I was too slow to catch Draco freeing Gwen. I needed to stop for a minute to breathe. The cold air stung at my lungs, but did not hault my playing. My new plan was to throw snowballs everywhere and see where they landed. I stayed far enough away from draco so that he couldn't see me, but close to have an acceptable hitting range. My snowball flew high in the air...near Draco...falling..falling...hitting perfectly on his shoulder.
Gwen somehow teamed up with Hermione. They started to throw snowballs near me and freed Draco and Ron. Now I had to start all over again. But I wasn't complaining. The game was fun, entertaining, and helpful to my health. Gwen threw some snow at my head, but it landed near that bench. That stupid bench that was in my way. Draco was covering it like a guard, making it impossible to have any safe ground.
I picked a large pile of snow up and mumbled, "No more Miss Nice Girl."
The huge ball whizzed at Draco, forcefully pushing him onto the ground. Ron ran to his side, ready to tag him, when another one of my snow bullets flew towards his arm. The ball missed, ultimately shocking me where it landed.
