Sorry it took so long! I totally forgot! I know it's not my usual standard; but I feel rushed off my broomstick at the moment! Still; enjoy!
Severus warily picked up an article of clothing.
An unimpressed eyebrow was raised, as a nametag was on it.
Smirking slightly, he handed over the red, backless swimming costume to Irma, and a white tankini top and shorts to Minerva.
"Seems we're swimming now." He tried not to laugh, pulling off his trousers as he wore his own speedo's underneath.
Minerva frowned; but charmed the swimming gear to swap places with her tennis outfit.
Gingerly the three teachers (once Irma had changed with much grumbling) dipped their toes in the water.
Minerva, not liking water much anyway; rolled back her shoulders, and cast an engorgio charm on herself, till she was twice as tall as Snape.
"Um... Minerva?" Irma asked whilst Severus watched on.
Minerva smiled, quite an eerie sight, then tranformed into her animagus form.
A tabby cat the size of a tiger then bounded into the water; thoroughly splashing both teachers.
"THATS CHEATING!" Rolanda yelled, running down the slope to join them at the waters edge. "Hey Snape." She added, giving his backside a slap.
Without a fuss Rolanda charmed her top to switch with a pink bikini top, and already had bikini bum's on underneath.
Severus looked away as Albus found his swimming gear. Baaad mental image.
He raised his eyebrows at Irma quickly, in a sarcastic this-is-going-to-be-fun way, then waded into the water.
Wandlessly, he held out an arm. "Accio water potion" He commanded. Irma raised an eyebrow as the man downed bright blue sparkling liquid.
Severus squirmed slightly, his hands on his neck. "Same effect as Gillyweed." He rasped, before diving under the waves; determined not to let Minerva beat him.
Irma rolled her eyes; then with a last look at her red costume; that hardly had a stomach, just a red strip of fabric and a golden buckle-type thing for decoration; she started swimming breast stroke. She had no hope in hell. She knew it.
Back in shore, Remus and Filius gave each other a high five, or in their case, a low five as they walked past everyone else who was complaining at their costumes; and waded in, starting to swim in their baggies immediately.
Filch looked unimpressed when he was told by a grinning Dumbledore that his outfit was waterproof; so perfectly able to swim in. He then waved a hand at the "old coot." And jogged into the water, muttering to himself.
Pomona was talking excitedly to Hagrid; shades atop her head. Hagrid had a somewhat outdated swim-suit on; red with white stripes, beret still atop his head. Pomona had a similar thing except green with plants on it. This was somewhat less embarrassing.
Nodding atheistically, Hagrid held out a hand, and took the Gillyweed offered. "Yeh can pop round fer a slice o' cake anytime." He smiled, then stomped off into the water, splashing almost everyone.
Out in the deeper parts of the lake, the Giant Squid waved excitedly.
Dumbledore waved back from shore. He had traded in his bright hot-pants, for a Borat style mankini. Pink, of course.
The students would be talking about this for months. He smiled to himself.
Casting a bubble-head charm, he wondered how far along the people in first were. Ah well, it's just a swim along the length of the school, then onto the shore the other side.
Giving an alarmingly cheerful smile to Sinestra, he waded in, and started swimming.
Up front; Minerva was doggy-(or should that be kitty) paddling her way to victory. Nothing could stop her-
Oh. Severus. She noticed his form under the water. Damn. Pomona. The witch was also under the water. The two seemed to be kicking and punching each other out the way, pushing off each other as they bypassed.
Minerva stopped paddling for a second and looked behind. Rolanda and Remus were close.
Severus chuckled as he passed Pomona for the hundredth time. She all but sat on his back and tickled him under the arms, pushing off his back with her feet to try and get some distance between them.
So naturally he pulled her back by the foot infront of his face, stole her glasses from the top of her head; and damn paddled for his life.
Only to be pulled back again by his pony-tail. This isn't as boring as I thought it would be. He thought; slapping the Herbology teacher round the face with a passing fish. And there are no students here to see...
Above the water; now behind Minerva but just infront of Rolanda and Remus floated an image, Pomona being backhanded round the face by a fish. Several Slytherins on the shore cheered, as they saw their Head of House holding the fish. 'Pomona nil- -Severus- fish one.'Ribbony writing announced.
A few drops of rain began to fall as clouds rolled in.
Dumbledore frowned as members of staff glared at him. "Wasn't me!"
Rolanda screeched. "Ahh! I'm getting wet!"As rain fell on her.
Beside her Lupin stopped swimming; giving her a 'look'.
"Oh yeah." She giggled, splashing him. "I forgot."
Lupin shook his head, "women." He muttered.
Rolanda rolled her eyes. "Were-wolves." She giggled again as Remus growled, mockingly.
After what seemed like an eternity of pushing and shoving, Severus was finally ahead of Pomona, good thing to- because he'd run out of fish to slap her with.
She'd found plenty of weeds to decorate his hair with though..
He came up as his potion began to wear off, neck and neck with Minerva.
"You don't mind if I just-" With a powerful kick or two in front crawl, Severus overtook Minerva as the ribbon in the sea came into view, bobbing in the waves; announcing the finish line.
The lion sized Minerva growled, swatting Severus's splashing legs with a paw.
She transformed back into a normal sized person as her spell wore off; and a gasp behind her announced Pomona's charm had wore off too.
It was clear that although the teachers and staff had been spread out running; they were all clumped swimming.
Minerva and Severus at the front; Pomona, then Remus and Rolanda, Filius and Albus... right at the back was a sad little white kitty with a bow on her... his head.
Remus pushed forward between the two at the front, only to be slightly disheartened when they upped the pace for the final length.
It was almost impossible to tell who was winning, then Rolanda came crashing through the middle; basically climbing on everyone till Minerva rolled over dunking the unamused flight-mistress.
Loud cheers and whoops came from the shore, as a little way out to see three or four witches and wizards approached the line at the same time.
A stunned silence ensued as the ribbon wrapped around the being that had won.
Smugly, the victorious member of staff came back to shore; the others dragging themselves in trough the waves.
Some disheartened, some chuckling, Severus fuming, Albus in danger of passing out as he laughed silently; forgetting to breath.
A bubble appeared atop the croud, replaying in slow motion the final moments of the race.
Rolanda splashing into the water; Minerva shoving Severus out the way; Remus unable to keep up; Severus about to break through the line; and Cuthbert Binns casually floating above everyone else, above the water crossing the line.
The smug ghost held himself tall, "I, of course, had no doubts I would win." He announced, his voice low and monotonus; much like in class, but full of a pride and... life(?) unheard of before. "After all, I am the greatest wizard that ever lived... er.. died..." He said in relation to his costume.
He wore a false beard, white, like Dumbledore's; and low flowing midnight blue robes. A tall pointy hat graced his see-through head. Anyone from a wizarding heritage would recognise him as Merlin.
Minerva chuckled. The students followed her, seeing Severus, unamused; soaked; wearing nothing but Speedos; glaring at the ghost.
"Oh Merlin." He cursed, much to the amusement of many.
Some students noticed, later in the day; Minerva's i-love-albus mark on her head, and wondered whether she, like Severus, had cheated.
"Oh no." She replied, "No, I simply voiced my opinions for the Headmaster's hot pants." She smiled, then whispered to the students.
Her forehead then adorned itself with little hearts, and although they washed off the next day, the 'I heart AD' on the back of her hand did not.
The next morning, as usual, donations were given in; the student body largely returned to normal; the odd blue person to be seen.
Halfway through breakfast, Albus stood up beaming. "I would like to draw your attention to a wonderful new contraption." He beamed. "Outside the hall, we have a new noticeboard. Please feel free to take a look; there will be information about lessons, trips, charity events, and of course," Albus smiled down at his staff then looked back up to the student body, "pictures of the last ones."
Twittering teachers mumbled amongst themselves, whilst the students remained silent, knowing more was to come.
"Pictures can be purchased for a galleon each." The headmaster announced.
Contrary to the norm, it was not the students who rushed out their seats to inspect the pictures; it was the adults themselves.
By far the best few 'stills' (unmoving pictures) were Rolanda; a close up on her face as she fell backwards into the water, waves all about her face; Pomona, being slapped around the face with a fish; and Severus, laughing, tears flying out of his eyes and he bent double, Minerva behind him resting a hand on his shoulder, tears also flying from her laughing face. Both had declarations of their love for Albus upon their heads.
"A galleon a picture?" Squeaked Filius, "Bargin!" He signed his name on the almost-already-full list for a copy of each.
Severus simply shook his head, enraptured by the moving pictures of him falling; 'trees one, Severus nil' and so forth.
Minerva started horrified at a moving picture of her, running forward; in her tennis outfit; then how she turned around, jogging backwards to wink at the 'camera'.
Remus behind her smiled, "You were winking at Severus, correct?"
He yelped as Minerva started slapping him.
Albus smiled from the doorframe. Yes... another charity event in about a month; maybe a halloween party or something...