Disclaimers: Thank you very much for reading my story and hoped I can keep you interested. Little warning, this story is a short story. Any questions may be answer through a review. Ideas are welcome as well.
The Prince of Tennis
Chapter 2: The Popper and the Prince Part 1
"My name is Horance Slughorn and I am your new Head of House and potion Master". A thick man with a curly mustache with over confidence intrudes himself. He started to walk around the common room observing them. The look he gave them was the same a miner would look at a mine full of gold. Severus did not like the look but decided to ignore it.
"I am on the second floor if you need me, your schedules will be given, tomorrow morning." He informed them plainly and with no good night the Professor left the thirteen year olds alone. "What was that?'' "I was expecting a more welcoming first day."
"I heard from my brother he chooses favorites base on looks and skills. If you are no good on anything you are ignore by him." Everyone who was listening shock their heads in disbelieves. They wonder if the other head of houses were like this.
Lily looked at Severus with annoyance. "Did you see the way he looked at us, I, think he is a pedophile." She finished seriously with her nodding. Severus wanted to laugh at this Lily was always over dramatic and will always think of the worst case scenarios. "Lily I think you are exaggerating a bit, the Headmaster wouldn't hired someone like that. "Lily simply gave him a blank look. "Have you seen the way our headmaster is dress?" He sigh, why would she make everything so complicated. Yet, he could not stop himself from agreeing with her about their headmaster wardrobe. The man looked like a rainbow.
"We will talk about it tomorrow, when we can think more clearly, alright?" He reassured her while giving her a good night kiss on the cheek. She smile and travel to her dorm to get some needed rest. The night was serene and in no time the morning had reach the towers of Hogwarts.
Severus woke up very early, last night he had met his roommates and though they were nothing special. They were mostly rich kids who brag about their families' fortune. When he came to introduce himself he contained everything about his mother family history. If they ever found out he was heir to such rich family they would take advantage of him.
He got out of the dark room full of sleeping teenager and head to their spacious common room. There he sat on a soft velvet green chair and waited for Lily to show up. It did not take long as Lily show up in her jogging gear; a green t-shirt and short and the slytherin crest on the left side of her chest. "Ready to go to breakfast Severus?" she whisper behind his. This action made the young boy jump ten feet and blushed deep red. "Don't do that Lily you know how I don't like people sneaking behind me." He told her annoyed. "I know but you look so cute when you jump." He blushed once more as his face turned redder by the minute at this statement but kept his comment. "Let's go then." She nodded as she followed him to the Great Hall. They found a seat close to the teachers table. "I am really hungry I wish I could eat anything at this moment." Comment Lily as a plate of oatmeal was place in front of her.
Severus simply nodded as the same dish was place in front of him too. "Say, Severus, how much candy do we still have left?"
"Half. Why?"
"No reason at all" Severus did not believe her but decided to ignore her and continue with his meal. Not soon enough they were outside under the sun with their classmates waiting for their instructor. It was nine a.m. in the morning and the first years were dossing off on the cool morning grass. It was one of Hogwarts rules to exercise every other day. Luckily for them today was that day. It was not something extreme, only one lap of running or walking around the pitch.
"Severus is too early for you to wear a cap, morning Sun is good for you. It has vitamin-D." Order Lily as she saw her childhood friend place the cap on and walk under one of the sitting towers shade.
"I swear you must be related to Vampires your so pallor Severus." She complained with a hint of humor on it as she followed his lead.
"Lily. You and I both know I am not a morning person" replied Severus with a yawn.
"True but when it comes to tennis you-"
"Wow really! You were trained by tennis pro." Many gasp and murmurs were heard at comment. The boy with brown hair and glasses simply smile and nodded enjoying the attention.
Both children under the shade dimply frown. "Seems, he enjoy it too much." Comment Lily as he saw James Potter talk about the summer training he received. She did not like people who like to show up. That was why he liked Severus, even though he has a father for a Pro-Tennis player he never bragged about it. She ignored him and turned her attention to the ants under her feet.
"Quiet down! Quiet down!"
In an instant all first years quiet down as a young man dress in a white t-shirt and shorts with red hair appear. "My name is Author Weasley. I'll be your Physical structure today. Do you have any question?"
"Are you not a student?" asked a young girl with the Gryffindor crest on her red t-shirt.
"Yes, it is a tradition in Hogwarts for the upper class to train the first years." He replied as he puffed his chest and smile at the first year. It appeared that for him this was a great achievement. "Only those with outstanding scores and impeccable attitude can achieve this position." He explained.
"But I think is simply age, you Know what I mean." He whispered this part to them with a smile. They all agreed with a grin on their faces for they knew their teachers could not survive such Physical class at their old age.
"Any more, questions?"
"Yeah, why do we have to run?" Complain Potter.
"Well you see many years ago the health department in the Ministry complain about too many student been out of form. So, to improve the health of Hogwarts' pupils we decided to bring diets and exercise into to the curriculum."
"Why? There is nothing wrong with thick people" came a complained from a girl with blue jogging gear. "My sister is thick with a pretty successful career."
"There is nothing wrong about thick people but we do this because our school had never had any physical activities to improve the children health. You guys are young and need to be moving but you also need to study and spending 9 hours sitting and eat and sleep is not a good schedule to follow." He stops allowing this to sink in and continue. "We are just trying to make you healthy enough so you won't receive decease for too much excess of fat or sugar accumulation in your body."
"Alright?" The girl nodded satisfied with this answer. After all she was a ravenclaw.
"Alright then I want one lap! Come on!"
This was received with many groans and verbal complains. "And not slacking off I will be behind all of you to make sure." With no more to say all students began to run or walked, Potter and his little group up on front. Severus and Lily took it slow at first warming up to later speed up.
"Severus let's make a bet."
"What?"
"Whoever wins gets the rest of the candy." She answers with an evil grin. Severus was not too fond of candy but when it came to competition it was all game. He was not going to allowed Lily to get away from this one at all. "Alright then, we start as soon we reach as the Ravenclaw stand we begin. Game? "
Lily nodded at this; she could not make words because of the excitement feeling her in. Both steady their pace and concentrated on the stand ahead. As they kept going they slow down until finally their feet touch the shade of the stand. From there their speed made a 180 turn as they spring the rest of the way. Many gasp and wows were heard as the kids past them with as peed compare to a train.
Soon enough they were all sweating and gasping for air and happy the morning exercise was over. The race's winner was left unknown because they had no to tell them who won. Many retreat to their common room to shower and some decided to stay behind to explore the grounds. Severus automatically walked to the tennis court Lily right behind him, where it was occupied by few students.
In the entrance they were met by two young elves that extended their hands to them. Lily and Severus simply looked confuse at them. "Your wands please young master and mistress."
"Why do you need our wands?" Ask Lily curiously.
"No student or teacher is allowed inside the court with a wand. This prevents the player and fanatics to cheat in the game and keep fair and square." Explain the elf in perfect English which was a good enough answer for Severus and Lily.
"We do not have our wands we left them in our dorms." Explain Lily showing her empty hands to the young elves. The elves expected their hands their eyes narrowing a bit absorbing every detail.
"Even so we have to check you truly." They explain with an aurora of authority. Both children nodded as they expanded their arms allowing the young elves to expect them. Once they were declare clear they were allow in.
Lily instantly went to the racket section and got a racket for her and Severus. Severus simply sigh it was too sunny in the court the sun hit exactly where he was standing. Looking a round he started to look for shade but instead was met face to face with James Potter.
"What do you think you are doing here?" Complain James with annoyance. "We were here first." James was annoyed at the boy in front of him. During the run he and a red hair had pass them. He was supposed to have been the first one not this boy in front of him. Severus simply ignored and continued to look for shade as he walked away from Potter. "Hey, I am talking to you." Complained James and when he saw he was not gaining no one bit of attention from the dark hair boy he decided he will force him. He forcefully took Sirius rackets and Remus ball and placed himself in a position to serve the ball aiming at the young man's head.
With a strong hit the ball was released and reached its target with no complication sending the young man to the floor in an instant. Sadly for them a young girl with red hair saw this and wasted no time in rewarding them the same way.
"That will show you not to turn your back on us." All four boys started to laugh as the young man rob the back of his head wincing at his touch. "James I think y-" Sirius was shut by a tennis ball hitting him directly in the face breaking his nose and throwing him on his back. Without missing a bit Lily went to aid her best friend. "Severus, Severus are you alright?" She asked panicking as she knelt in front of him.
Severus had fallen face fist hitting the ground ending unconscious. "What were you thinking? He has a concoction?"
"I did nothing he started" Shouted James back. "You layer. You did on purpose."
Before he could answer he was interrupted by deeper voice.
"What is going on here?"
