Giddy Brew

Chapter 4: Just Like a Magic Spell

By: The Brat Prince

A/N: Yup, Hogwarts ain't mine, but the characters are, so don't steal. And yes, I know there is a writer on the Sugar Quill using the name Prue Hargrove- yup that's me. And one is using Amethyst Esquiline. That is my friend, Padfoot-chan, whom I gave permission to use the name. Let me tell you, these names were a pain in the ass to think up, so don't make use of them without requesting to first, okay? It's not that hard people! And yeah, this is a short chapter. The most I could do with my limited resources. Sorry. R+R

The days leading up to the Halloween Masquerade and the Ravenclaw/Gryffindor Quidditch match passed quickly, and the amount of assignments the girls received was mounting. In Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Berkeley was teaching them about shape shifters. It was a somewhat intriguing subject, right up until he decided the class should memorize all the different types of shape shifting species. Not including Animagi transformations, werewolves, and vampires, there were two hundred and thirty five different species that they had to memorize. That same day, Professor Snips announced that they would be having an exam that would count for fifteen percent of the first quarter grade. They were required to know how to transfigure a wild animal into a broomstick, a teacup into a chest of treasure, and a ceramic angel into a mermaid. A real mermaid.

None of the other teachers seemed to want to let up either. Herbology professor, Yuhvahnya Singer, wanted them to create miniature modules of the whomping willow for the first term project, and in Charms, a six foot report was due.

"Six feet? What's wrong with Professor Flavian? Six feet?" Prue demanded incredulously. Serendipity shook her head sadly and patted the taller girl on the back.

"Look at it this way, we have Dueling next."

Dueling was an entirely new class. Headed by Rimede Laedere, the Gryffindor head of house, they only had the subject twice a week, every other week. Today was Ravenclaw's sixth years' first go at it. None of them had ever met Professor Laedere, although Frank and Quant had told them that he was 'brilliant fun' and 'a fantastic sport'. Prue, Elanore, and Serendipity didn't trust Frank and Quant's judgment very much. Casey did, however. This was mostly because his older brother, Cerulean, had gained a hundred points for their house because he accidentally pulled off a stunning block that was apparently way about his level on Barnaby Roderick, from Slytherin.

"I bet he's stupid and old, and just a bloody prat."

"You're one to speak, pratboy," Prue shot back immaturely. Even though she disliked six a.m. Quidditch practices immensely, she preferred them to what Whitney was making the team do now. Since Frank and Apollo had stolen their time, Whitney had scheduled practice for four a.m. Although it wasn't really Frank's fault, or any of the others', Prue greatly resented all the Icemen for her lack of sleep.

"Prue, you don't look so hot," Bobby told her, slinging an arm around her shoulder. She shoved it off, and glared at Serendipity.

"We need Quince for January and him?"

Serendipity blushed, "No! I never said I'd go. And, well, it's just…wouldn't it be nice?"

"No," Prue replied, "I don't reckon it would. Not with these idiots."

"Quince?" Bobby asked, "You mean Leonardo, the Hufflepuff seeker? What would you need him for?"

"Leo?" Casey looked surprised, "Isn't he the guy whose been giving professional snogging lessons?"

Bobby looked at Prue and Prue looked at Serendipity pointedly. The redhead glanced at her friends and then at the ground, blushing brighter than her hair. Casey burst out laughing.

"Merlin's beard! Prue, Sere, please tell me you're kidding!" Elanore was sort of giggling into her sleeve. Serendipity cast Prue a look that informed her they would be killing the tiny girl later.

Sylvester sidled up to Serendipity, "You know, you don't need Quince for that. I'd be happy to teach you."

Rather than reply, Serendipity pulled out her wand and put the jelly legs curse on him.

"What's with Ravenclaw girls and violence?" Bobby wondered, not at all moved by the girls' unwilling confession. He grinned at Prue, "So you've never kissed anybody. That increases your charm."

"How do you do that?" Casey wondered. Instead of cursing Bobby for his rather smooth reply, Prue had decided that Casey deserved to be hit. Hard. He was lying on the ground next to Sylvester with a large lump forming near his eye.

"What?" Bobby asked.

"Manage to wiggle your way out of getting in trouble?"

"I wasn't the one who made fun of them for never snogging anybody," Bobby pointed out, "You were. If you could keep your mouth closed for a few seconds, you might learn a few things. Although Prue, I'd rather you didn't go visit Quince. I'd welcome the chance to be your first kiss…"

Prue wasn't listening. Mostly because Elanore had already pulled Prue, Serendipity, and Casey down the hall for Dueling. Enter Professor Rimede. He certainly wasn't what any of them had expected. Clothed in a dark blue muscle tee, khaki shorts, and leather sandals, he could have passed for any college bound muggle. His hair was dirty blonde, sun bleached, and long, tied near his neck, and his eyes matched his shirt. Wire rimmed glasses sat on the tip of his nose, and he held a short white oak wand in his hand, tapping it rhythmically against a chair.

Actually, music filled the classroom. Familiar music, "Hey! It's us!" Casey exclaimed, "No wonder Cer likes this guy, he has good taste." The musical stylings of The Dark Orbit drifted out into the hall where they stood.

"Wow, he's not bad looking," Prue nudged Serendipity, who in turn elbowed her back.

"Geez you two. Stop embarrassing me!" Elanore exclaimed, "I thought I taught you to be more discreet when pointing out a do-able."

"Do-able? You don't mean...eew!" Sylvester put in, glancing back and forth between the girls and Professor Laedere.

Firmly, Prue interjected, "I don't think he's do-able. I think he's a hottie. Definately a hottie."

Serendipity nodded her agreement, "He's hottie material. I wonder if he has a broom?"

"Do you really want us to answer that?" Casey asked with a lecherous grin.

Prue frowned, "You do know that this is why muggle guys get cars. Because everything oblong and cylindrical is mistaken for Casey's teeny tiny-"

Elanore cut in, "Oh, you've seen it Prue? I should tell Reese that those rumors she started were true."

"Hey! If you've seen Casey's nether-regions I'm so fully taking back my invitation to the masquerade," Bobby was laughing, so Prue didn't take him seriously. Still, it was a bit disgusting to think Prue had ever seen Casey in his nuddy-pants.

She had to protect her reputation, "Okay, I've no desire to ever see Casey's...you know. And I can assure you I never have, seen it I mean. Anyway, I would imagine its small, because all the band members wear those tight pants under their robes."

Bobby made a face, "Prue. Stop. You've just admitted that you stare at Casey and his brothers while they're on stage and think about their nether-regions. Please, for the love of Merlin, don't go on."

"Oh shush. Although," a wicked grin graced Prue's face, "I'll admit I'm quite fond of Cerulean. No offense, Bobby."

"Hell's teeth, as long as you don't go around shagging the pretty boy, it's all good. I like my girls to have crushes on pop idols. It's kind of cute. Hey, would you ever dress up as a groupie?"

"No."

Bobby laughed amiably, "Damn. Hargrove, don't look so disappointed. She just doesn't have the hots for you."

"Speaking of hots, and hotties for that matter, Professor Laedere is calling us in."