Your 'last Sunday of the month' chapter. As last chapter was, this is a shortie. We're a little less than halfway through the year. The second task is two chapters away.
Slimy Things are Slimy Things
Mid-January, 1995
Sixth Year
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It came to be routine that while Jo was busy in detention with Snape for blowing up yet another cauldron, Marcus would be forced to spend the time with Leilani. He generally liked Leilani, so normally this was an acceptable arrangement, but he did not like her boyfriend who just so happenedto also be spending time with Leilani today.
"What are you glaring at me for?" Leili asked.
Marcus said nothing.
"It's because Jo's not here, isn't it?" Again he said nothing. Leili rolled her eyes and returned to her book while Marcus continued to glower ominously at her.
"Would you stop glaring at me?! It is not my fault Jo's cauldron went kablooie! I told her lizard eyes and newt eyes were not the same thing! But she says 'slimy things are slimy things'! It's a wonder she can tell between you and a basilisk!" She huffed.
Marcus' eyes narrowed and he stood, storming off down the hall.
"Oooh, nice." Oliver commented under his breath. A small, pleased smile snuck across Leili's face.
"Hush you," she returned to her book but the smile remained.
It just so happened that on this day after Jo's detention she and Marcus had a date.
It was not a good date.
"Leili, what did you say to Marcus?" Jo asked when she came back to the dorm.
"What did Marcus say I said?" she asked carefully.
"He didn't say anything, just glared for the whole hour," Jo told her.
Leili grimaced, "Um… 'Slimy things are slimy things'?"
"Marcus isn't slimy," Jo said un-amused.
"I'm sorry! He kept glaring at me! And I… let my temper get the better of me."
"That Wood is a bad influence on you," Jo muttered as she walked away. "And if you ever hurt Marcus' feelings again…"
Leili looked at her expectantly.
"I'll use your cauldron to attempt to make a boil cure."
Leili shuddered, "Got it! Message received!"
Jo walked out and Leili double-checked the protection spells on her supplies. She loved Jo, but letting her use her potions supplies would just be torture on the supplies.
Having come to the conclusion that she really shouldn't have called him a basilisk, Leili sought out Marcus and apologized for what she'd said. She hung out in the corridor outside Slytherin house for an hour informing all Slytherins who went in that she was looking for Flint. Finally, he came out. He crossed his arms and raised one jet-black eyebrow, waiting.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said about you, I really didn't meant it. You don't remind me of a basilisk, you're nothing like basilisks. It was rude. I lost my temper. Normally I'm really good about not saying that sort of thing… I don't know why I even thought it to be honest. Don't take it out on Jo, it's not her fault," she was babbling but his face hadn't changed since she'd started this, she didn't know where she stood.
Did he want more? Did he want her to go away? Did he want her to get down on her knees and beg his forgiveness?
She blinked hard at that last thought; it's something Oliver would have wanted...
"Maybe Oliver is a bad influence..." she whispered to herself.