Many thanks go out to 'Yue Sai' for helping me with a few costumes and plot ideas. Wouldn't have been able to do it without you. ;D
Severus felt a faint tingling sensation as he rejoined the track; a corner before everyone else.
"Sir?" A Slytherin started jogging beside him. "Isn't that, isn't that cheating sir?"
Severus smiled; "Sometimes, you, you gotta learn to- to do things, the easy way." He panted. "Besides, there's no way- that I'll ever, ever beat Minerva without-"
Severus was about to say cheating, but the swish of a short white skirt in front of his silenced him.
"how the cauldron did she get there?" He muttered, then agonisingly sprinted up to talk to her.
He frowned, as he caught up.
"He-hello, Sev'rus." Minerva panted.
"How-what?" Severus was confused. "Why have you, wrote, on your forehead?"
"What?" Minerva slowed down a bit; and Sev smiled. He really wanted his nice, cold, damp, dark dungeons back.
They were just coming to the top of the hill; the last leg of the race in view; the lake.
"What do you mean? What'v I got on my head?" Minerva said, breathless, placing a hand to her forehead gingerly as they walked for a bit.
Irma Pince ran up to them, in a blue chequered dress, with red shiny high-heels. "This is killing me." She said, then bent double, leaning on her knees getting her breath back.
"Nice socks." A Gryffindor remarked- for Irma's socks went above her knees, ending just before her skirt started; with cute little silk bows at the top.
Irma waved a hand distractedly at them.
"Oh I get it! Madam Pince- library-books-plays- 'The Wizard of Oz'! You're 'Dorothy'!" A Ravenclaw remarked.
Severus stared, frowning. "What the Potter are you on about?"He asked; as if the student had spoke Martian; or worse, muggle.
The student was about to respond, when he noticed both Minerva and Severus had marks on their foreheads. In shiny sky-blue ink.
"I... why do you have 'I love Albus' on your heads?" She asked; "no wait, I don't want to know!" She said, then walked off, hands in the air; trying to get rid of a bad mental image.
Minerva looked at Severus; who looked at Minerva, then they both burst out laughing.
"Ah, right. OK- I'll... leave you two to it." Irma said; regaining her breath, and staring the two hysterical teachers; before running off again.
Rolanda rounded the corner; with Albus, Remus, Filius, and a bunch of blue students that were joining in.
"SEVVY!" She yelled; throwing her hands in the air.
"How'd you two, get there?" Albus puffed, pushing back his hat a bit.
The two teachers atop the hill tried to keep a strait face, and hide their cheating 'punishment', but at that point Severus caught sight of another teacher, not too far behind Ro. and gang, and couldn't stop shaking with laughter.
It was Argus Filch, and he pointed him out to Minerva as soon a he spotted him. He was wearing an entire white outfit, with a tail at the back, and paws on his hands. The costume, at Argus's head, had little white cat ears, and a bow.
Minerva stared.
Argus was running in his typical way, knees up, and arms swinging wildly.
Albus reached Severus and Minerva and soon saw what they were looking at. "I think he makes a good Hello Kitty, don't you?" He then took off, following Irma.
Yet more laughs and giggles overtook the staff, including Rolanda, Remus and Filius.
Severus slowly swallowed his laughter, and took off; he simply had to beat Albus- especially now with what was wrote on his...
'Severus nil, Hill one.' Was broadcast in red ribbon for all to see; as Severus tumbled down the slope of the hill, landing neatly at Albus feet.
"Severus?" Albus chuckled, "are you alright?"
Severus woozily went to take Albus's hand to help him up.
"Sucker!" Severus sneered, as he pulled Albus down and ran ahead.
"The little cheat." Albus narrowed his eyes; yet a wide grin on his face gave him away.
The lake was only about a mile away when Minerva caught up with Severus, who was running quite fast, for him.
"hey." She panted, smiling.
"Filch..."Severus smiled, laughing again.
"Tha's takin' the mick something chronic." Minerva narrowed her eyes, thinking about her Animagus form.
Severus laughed again; "You shoulda' shoulda been 'hello kitty'" he laughed.
"Who?" Irma slowed down a tad, coming next to Severus.
"Filch is, is 'hello kitty'." Minerva smiled; the image was too funny!
Irma shook her head. She sighed a few barks of laughter, then stopped as they reached the waters edge.
"Now what?" She asked, watching. "I can't swim in heels."
The pile of folded clothing on a bench did not inspire confidence.
Next, and last chapter, next Thursday! Reviews are very welcome!
..And if you read and don't review- I'll chuck you in the race! :D