Title: Careers, spouses, babies, and houses.
Author(s): Megan Stack and Caitlin Higgins Copyright June 2003
Disclaimer: The characters you recognize are JK's the ones you don't are original
A/N: As you can see by the copyright date, much of this story was written before HBP and DH. In fact, it was written just around the time of OoTP. Therefore, there are a lot of glaring inaccuracies as revealed by subsequent HP books. We have thusly decided to change around certain characters in order to make it more accurate. There are still certain references/events which may or may not be contradicted by cannon or by JKR. So, please bear with the changes, and accept the fact that we can't go through and change the entire story.
Arabella Figg has been replaced by a one Gwendolyn (Gwen) Humphreys, a fictional character we have created.
Arthur Weasley and Molly Baker have been replaced by Frank Longbottom and Alice Prewett (later to be Longbottom).
AND NOW! We present you with the long-awaited… CHAPTER 6! Along with the ball!
Chapter 6: Fools, Duels, and The Toadstools
It was three in the afternoon and the ball was to begin at eight o'clock sharp. The seventh year girls were busying themselves in their dormitory, making sure everything would be just perfect for tonight. A wireless was playing in the corner, some newscaster was talking about exploding toilets in Berkshire before switching over to a song called, "You Dropped My Heart in a Love Potion" sung by the band Deathly Dungbombs.
"Oh, this song is such crap."
"I quite like it, Alice."
"Sam, I seriously question your sanity."
"As if you were ever totally sure about it."
"Yeah, you are pretty loony."
Sam smiled as she stood up and pulled out her dress robes. She hung them off her four-poster and performed a steaming charm, making sure all the wrinkles were gone and Alice went back to filing her nails.
Lily was in front of her dresser, trying different shades of eye shadow to see how they complimented her dress and Lauren sat on her bed painting her nails cherry red. Gwendolyn walked in, towel drying her hair and Sarah jumped up, grabbing a change of clothes and took the now vacant shower.
"How excited are you girls for the band tonight?" Lily asked wiping off the gold eye shadow and reaching for a green.
Sam smiled, flopping back on her bed, "It will be pretty awesome."
Gwen looked at her like she was insane. "Pretty awesome? It will be amazing! The best day of my life, even! I cannot wait to see Dylan Marbry in person!"
"Just to hear the Toadstools is enough for me!" Lauren giggled across the room.
Alice smiled, almost swooning, "And to hear Archibald Deepjet play those drums!" The rest of the girls fell into fits of giggles at the prospect.
IIIIIIIIIIIII
Meanwhile, the boys were laying around the Common Room, lazily watching the babies and talking about Quidditch, as always.
"My dad's supposed to take me to a match over Christmas, Ballycastle Bats versus the Chuddley Cannons."
"I saw 'em last year, Rem, excellent game. Lasted nearly twelve hours! Simply amazing. 'Course that was when they still had Piddley. Now that he's gone though, they're seriously lacking."
"Come off it, Sirius, you know Button's better than Piddley, the guy practically bathed himself in firewhiskey! Couldn't play worth a damn!"
"James, James, you are delusional."
"Uh, hey James…"
"Hold on, Remus. Padfoot, clearly you are the one who is delusional. You think that the Falcons have a chance over the Arrows!"
"James, you really should…"
"Moony! Give it a rest! I need to tell our good friend Padfoot- though he is quite out of it- that the Arrows shall have the cup another year in a row! Piddley was a dunce, much like you, Sirius, and the Falcons, well, that's just a lost cause, they'll never win it!"
"JAMES, MAURA IS EATING PAPER."
"Oh crap! Lily's gonna kill me!" He jumped up, and grabbed Maura, trying to rip the parchment from her grasp. "Uh, heh, sorry Pete, here's your astronomy homework back."
"Oh great, baby drool. And she bit off part of my diagram!"
"Sorry…" James had the grace to look abashed and sat down, keeping Maura on his lap though she tried to bite and kick him to let her go.
Around 7:30 the boys decide its time to get ready and they head up the stairs begrudgingly, the whole while the girls had frantically readied themselves until the last possible minute.
IIIIIIII 20 Minutes Later IIIIIII
The boys made their way down the stairs nervously, tugging at their dress robes as they waited for the girls to come down. They didn't have to wait long, though it seemed like an eternity to the anxious young men.
Lily alighted the stairs first, looking radiant in emerald green dress robes. As she reached the bottom she grinned broadly in James' direction. He smiled back goofily, as he was so bowled over by her appearance he rather convinced himself she was his date. He extended his arm as she came closer and was about to say something when she walked right past him. He was very affronted before he realized that she was, of course, smiling and moving toward Eamon, who was sadly her boyfriend and date for the ball instead of James.
He was spared at least some embarrassment because Lauren was right behind her. "Hey, James!" She exclaimed in that annoying voice of hers.
"Oh, er…right. Hi." She batted her eyes, waiting for some sort of compliment, while James was too busy watching Eamon escort Lily through the portrait hole to notice.
"Shall we be off, then?" he asked distractedly and they set out.
Peter had left after James to meet his date Melinda Miser, a Hufflepuff, in the Great Hall. Remus smiled as Gwen walked down the stairs. She really did look quite good. They were both grinning shyly at each other when her foot caught on her robes, which were a bit too long for her short frame. She tumbled own the last few stairs straight into Remus and he caught her quickly. As she stood up, her face was bright red from embarrassment but he didn't seem to mind. He helped her up and they walked out of the common room, chuckling to themselves.
Alice met Frank by the fireside and they, too, made their way to the ball. Sam was the last to leave the dormitory as she had a problem with her shoes. She tried to make them more comfortable but had only succeeded in turning them orange, which looked hideous with her blue robes and she couldn't change them back. She was still swearing loudly at her uncomfortable and now obnoxiously colored shoes as she started down the staircase. Once in view of Sirius, she yelled, "I am NOT going!" Sirius was still admiring her despite her red face and mismatched shoes as she started stomping back up to her room.
"Oh, you're going Potter," he called loftily after her.
She turned around angrily and yelled, "No I am NOT! My shoes are GROSS! I can't change them back!"
"Well then, allow me." He deftly changed them back to blue (after turning them puke green, at which point Sam had almost taken one off and chucked it at him).
Grinning, he offered her his arm. "Right then, shall we?"
IIIIIIIIII
To the left of the great hall was a space that was set aside for tonight as the "nursery". Students were dropping off their charges as Professor McKinley would take off the animation spell and set them off to the side where later in the night, at the conclusion of the dance, they would be reanimated and given back to their parents.
The Great Hall was dimly lit by thousands of Jack O'Lanterns, some of which were floating in midair. The stage was set up in the front of the room where the staff table normally sat. There were some small round tables set up throughout the Great Hall with a space cleared in the middle as a dance floor. Teachers were standing around the edges of the room surveying as students were milling about, meeting up with friends from other houses. A table was set up to one side with light refreshments and snacks.
James entered the Great Hall with Lauren dithering on about some nonsense while she clung to his arm. He hardly took in the decorations or the Toadstools setting up in the corner, as he was too preoccupied trying to find Lily in the crowded room. Remus, Gwendolyn, Sam, and Sirius came up from behind him.
"Shall we find a table then, mate?"
James craned his neck to see over Baxter Poutin, that dastardly tall Ravenclaw.
"Prongsie? Table, mate?"
"Oh, wha?"
"You know, James, place to sit down?"
Sirius cocked an eyebrow at him. "You feelin' alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, fine, Padfoot. Shall we?"
"Uh, right then, off we are."
As the others walked towards an empty table, Sam punched her brother in the arm, whispering and gesturing over her right shoulder, "Oy, Piddle Pants, Reds is over thatta way."
"Sam!" he hissed, "I told you not to call me Piddle Pants at school!"
"Well, you never yell at mom for calling you that," she pointed out with a shrug.
"Just shut it. And I was NOT looking for 'Reds'."
"Yeah, sure, you were just trying to see what the top of Baxter Poutin's head looks like. Good luck with that; he's only two feet taller than you." With that she grabbed her seat next to Sirius, and James stalked around to the only two empty chairs and plopped down.
"Oh, come off it James, don't look so cross."
"I am NOT cross, Remus. I am FINE."
Peter came bumbling over with Melinda, usually an average looking Hufflepuff. Tonight, however her brown hair was done up as if birds had made a nest in it. It was rather frizzy and she had a hideous shade of plum eyeshadow smeared all the way up to her over-arched eyebrows. She obviously fancied herself quite the fashion plate. She was smacking her gum, and seemed to be much more interested in Sirius than Peter.
"Uh, Hey, guys. No more seats?"
"Hey Pete, just grab two from that table, we can bunch up."
"How very nice of you, Mr. Black." Melinda's voice sounded like nails scraping a chalkboard and she punctuated the end of her sentences with a horrid nervous giggle. Every other word preceded a smack of her gum, a habit the Gryffindors seemed none too fond of.
He dragged two chairs over with some difficulty, knocking one over in the process. A group of Slytherins turned around at the noise and eyed him with disgust, making him flush deep red at the incident. Melinda looked like she wanted to sink into the floor, embarrassed to be his date.
"Uh, heh, whoops." He hurried righted the chair, pulled it up to the table and sat down in it as low as he could.
"Pete, you look like you're being swallowed by the table. No big deal, mate. Just shake it off."
"Right, right."
"Pete," smack, "you gonna like," smack, "introduce me to your friends, then?" Smack.
"Oh, yeah, yeah. You guys remember Melinda? Mel, this is Sirius."
"Enchanté."
She giggled.
"Uh, this is Sam."
"Yeah, yeah, real charmed. Sirius go get me a punch. NOT A REAL PUNCH, DOOFUS!" And she whacked him upside the head. He promptly got up and walked over to the refreshments.
"Right, then we have Remus-"
"Hello, Melinda."
"Gwendolyn-"
"Hi."
"Lauren-"
"Oh, hey, Melinda! I just adore your dress! Did you know that that plum really brings out that wonderful grey in your eyes? And your nails, you know, I recently-"
"Right, then. This is James."
"Hi, James."
"James! You dolt say Hello!"
"Sam, Shut up! I wasn't looking—Oh, right, hey Melinda."
"Right then, take a seat Melinda." Remus gave James a knowing look. James merely scowled back.
Sirius returned hurriedly with a glass of punch lest Sam smack him again. Melinda leaned over Sam to talk to Sirius in that hideous voice of hers.
"So, Sirius," smack, "I hear like," smack, "you guys are like," smack, "really ready to," smack, "take the cup this year."
Sam stood up quickly, "Oh look, Sirius, the band's about done setting up. We're dancing." She yanked him up out of his seat and started dragging him over to the middle of the room.
"Uh, but uh, what about your punch?"
"I'm not thirsty. Let's GO."
Remus and Gwen started laughing to themselves, Peter and Melinda looked quite confused, Lauren looked offended, and James wasn't looking at anything but his shoes and it quite seemed as if they were very offensive to him.
"All righ' ladies an' gents 'a Hogwarts! We are tha Toadstools!" There was a good deal of squealing heard 'round the hall as many of the girls rushed towards the stage. "'Ere's a crowd favorite- I Was Nauseous and Tingly All Over (I Was Either In Love or I had Spattergroit). Grab yer date an' git up here ta dance!"
"Oh, Remus, please, let's get up and dance! I love this song!"
"Alright, alright, but don't blame me if I step on your feet. I'm not very good at the whole dancing thing."
"I don't care!" Gwen practically knocked Remus off his feet in an attempt to make it to the already crowded dance floor.
"Uh, Melinda, say, you want to dance?"
"Yeah," smack, "sure, I guess. Ta ta, Jamesie."
"So, James."
No response from the other Potter.
"James, are we going to dance or something or are you going to be a toad all night?"
"What?"
"You're not even listening to me!"
"I was, er, just couldn't hear you over the music. Say, wanna get out there?"
"Thought you'd never ask."
IIIIIIIIII
As the gang was dancing to "My Other Car's A Broom", Malfoy slammed into James and Snape into Sirius.
"Oh, whoops, sorry there, Potter, maybe you should watch your back."
"Maybe you should sod off, Malfoy."
"Ew, James, I got greaseball all over me."
"You shut your mouth, Black. You'll be sorry."
"Yeah, yeah, Snape, so sure you'll make us pay good. Too bad you can't even figure how to work a shower."
"I'm warning you and your Marauder friends. Watch your back."
"Yeah, put another record on Malfoy, this one's getting old. Why don't you prance on over there, and take your girlfriend Snape with you."
IIIIIIIII
"Whew, I'm tired, wanna grab a seat for a bit?"
"Oh no, Jamsie," Lauren whined, "I wanna keep dancing!"
"Well, I just want a quick rest, I promise."
"Would you mind if I stayed out here?"
"Knock yourself out."
James disentangled himself from the group of sweaty, dancing seventh years and headed back to the table, but not before grabbing a cup of punch. He sighed and took a sip. He really liked to dance, but Lauren was horrible at it. She had nearly whacked him in the face with her elbows twice, and his feet were throbbing from her high heels. He was casting an eye about for Lily. He hadn't seen her at all since they left the common room.
"Guess she's having a fabulous time with Eamon, the prick," He muttered into his cup.
"Hey James," called a familiar voice from behind him.
He jumped up as if the seat of his pants were on fire and turned to face Lily. He moved so quickly, however, that the slammed right into her and the punch he was holding spilled all over the front of her dress robes.
"Nice going, Potter." Eamon's barking laugh sounded throughout the hall, but it was deafening to James. He just stared at the front of Lily's dress, hardly believing his eyes.
Lily finally looked up, "James, it's-" He didn't stay to hear whatever scathing words she had to say. He yelled his apologies and fled from the ball, cursing himself the whole time. She tried to call out after him, "It's not ruined!" but it was lost over the music.
Eamon was still laughing, which only served to make Lily angry. "Scourgify!Shut UP, Eamon! God, you are so immature!" She stalked away from him and into the girl's bathroom.
Just then, Sirius, Sam, Remus, and Gwen appeared.
"Hey, what happened to James?"
"Klutz knocked punch all over Lily's dress. Now she's all tiffed and went to the bathroom."
Sirius groaned and went out after James. Gwen excused herself and made her way to the ladies' room.
"Hey! Lauren, babe. Care for a dance?"
"Sure, Eamon, get on out here!"
Sam rolled her eyes. "I don't know who's more of a doofus, Eamon or my brother."
"Ah," said Remus, "The world may never know."
Just then a slower ballad, "Love Potion (Just Drink It)" came on. Looking about him, Remus realized they were the only two left.
"Shall we, then?"
Sam laughed, "Why the heck not!"
IIIIIIIII
"James! James! Now, just wait up, will you, mate!?"
James turned around quickly. "What IS it, Sirius?"
"I heard you spilled punch over Lily."
"Yeah, come to ream me out, too?"
"No, dude, I just wanted the whole story. That, and to convince you to come back in."
"The whole story? The story is I'm clumsy. I turned around, she was right there, bam! Instant reason for Lily to hate me."
"James, I'm sure she doesn't hate you."
"Yeah, I only ruined her dress."
"I'm sure it's nothing Scourgify won't cure."
"Still. She probably thinks I'm a loser."
"Well you won't know until you get out there and face the music."
"Can't I just hide forever? Besides, looks like she's having a grand old time with Eamon."
"Come now, us Marauders don't hide from conflict and chaos, we embrace it! In we go, then!"
IIIIIIIII
"Lily, you in here?"
"Yeah, Gwen, third stall."
"You okay?"
"Yeah, Hold on." She emerged from the stall, her eyeliner smeared a bit.
"You really that upset about your dress? Looks like you fixed it well. James was just a little clumsy."
"No, no, I just feel bad, you know? Eamon needs to stop being such an idiot. I wasn't mad at James at all, but Eamon made him feel like he did something totally wrong and he just left before I could tell him that it wasn't ruined."
"You know, Lil, the rest of us don't see why you're still with him."
"I dunno, Gwen. He's not all THAT bad."
"Come on, Lily, he can be a downright jerk, especially to your friends."
"Yeah, well, I don't much fancy having this conversation right now."
"Well then, why don't you come out and maybe apologize to James for Eamon's behavior?"
"Yeah, I guess. If I can even find him, that is."
"Let's go."
IIIIIIIII
James and Sirius reentered the Great Hall. There, right in front of them, was Sam and Remus dancing together. Sam was laughing at something Remus had said just before he twirled her.
"Right, then, Padfoot, let's get this over with. … Padfoot? … Mate? Why are you looking so… murderous? .. Sirius?"
Sirius didn't reply and instead stalked straight ahead, marching towards the dancing couple as Lauren made a beeline for James and practically knocked him flat.
"Oh, hey, Padfoot. How's James?"
"Sirius, what are you doing? Let go!"
"Come on, Sam, let's get a punch."
"I'm going to get you a punch real quick if you don't stop gripping my arm like you're trying to tear it off!"
He pulled her towards the refreshment table, leaving Remus quite baffled.
The angry couple pushed past James and he was left staring after them, quite confused himself. Just as he turned around to find Lily, he found that Lauren had attached herself to his arm.
"Hey Jamesie! I didn't know where you got off to! Thought you were just having a small rest. Well, anyway, let's get some punch, I'm parched, yeah?"
James allowed himself to be swept away, without much time to protest.
Remus approached Lily and Gwen as they were emerging from the bathroom. "Hey, Gwen! Want to get some fresh air?"
"Sure, Rem. 'Scuse me, Lily."
"Yeah, yeah, go ahead. Hey, Remus, you seen James?"
"Yeah, he headed over to the drink table, I think."
"Oh, alright, thanks. Enjoy your walk!"
Lily was intercepted by Eamon. "Hey, babe, care for a make-out session in the broom closet?"
"Urgh, Eamon, shove off!"
"Ah, come on, I know you don't mean it."
"Just, just leave me alone for one minute, okay?"
"Sure, babe, sure, I'll wait in the closet."
"You do that, Eamon." Lily shook her head and stalked towards the refreshments.
She didn't see James anywhere near there nor did she see him at his table. Where had he gotten to? She cast about the room, trying to find him, when she spotted him in a dimly lit corner not too far away. It seemed as if he had sprouted an extra pair of arms and legs before Lily realized he was entangled with Lauren in a passionate, er, embrace. Her eyes widened, and at the threat of tears she stalked out of the Hall and up to the Common Room.
"Ergh! Lauren! Gerroff! What do you think you're doing?"
"James, it's just a kiss."
"That, that was not just a kiss! But seriously, no! I don't like you like that!"
"You don't?"
"No, Lauren, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings but I don't!"
"Well that doesn't mean that we still can't make out!" She took a step towards him.
"Er, yeah, yes it does! Generally you kiss people you like! Sorry, but I was looking for someone."
She deflated a little. "Yeah, Lily, right?"
"Well, no, not exactly, I mean…"
"James, come off it. I'm not stupid."
James looked like he wanted to refute that, but he thought better of himself.
"Anyway, I can tell you like her, known it for a while. But she's got Eamon and they're happy together. So you might as well forget it and just snog me."
"As great as your logic is, I'm going to have to pass on that last part. Listen, I'm going to go find Sirius. I'll catch you later."
"Whatever." And she marched off into the crowd. "Hey Eamon! Where are you?"
James sighed to himself. "Well, this is turning out to be a wonderful evening."
"JAMES!"
Oh gods, he thought to himself. What now? He turned to face a furious Sam.
"Why, yes, sister dear, how on earth may I help you?"
"Don't you take that tone with me, James Harold Potter."
"Sam…"
"No, you listen here. I don't know what the heck is going on in that pea-sized brain of your best friend, but I don't like it! Get your butt over there, and FIX IT!"
"But Sam, clearly, as his date, and his wife, surely you would-"
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't test me, Piddle Pants."
"Right, then, I think I'll go see what's up with Sirius, yeah?"
"Good idea." And she stalked off.
Merlin, he thought, I wonder if it's too late to transfer. Maybe I should just be a hermit… He spotted Sirius sulking at the table and steeled himself before going over.
"So, Padfoot," he said sitting down on the chair next to him, "I was just told by a very enraged Potter to come over here and "fix it." So then, mate, what's it that needs fixing?"
"She came over here and told you that? URGH! That woman! Why, I don't know why I don't just… Oh, she just thinks she… and I don't see why… It's not like I…"
"English, mate. It's usually a good idea to use it. Well, unless of course you're in a foreign country, or maybe you're FROM a foreign country. But, you know, most of the world is learning English as second language, so it's not as if… Oh, what am I saying?! Just spit it out, Sirius."
"It's nothing James, nothing's wrong at all."
"Right, mate, nothing's wrong, Sam's just off her rocker."
"That she is."
"Well, I'm sure there's a reason she's pissed and you're over here sulking."
"I am NOT sulking, I'm…. sulking."
"Care to tell me why?"
"Not particularly."
"Sirius…"
"Nope, I'm keeping mum on this one. Sam wants it fixed; well she's doing the fixing. I don't care if it takes the whole year for her to come and fix it."
"Right then…" James whistled nervously and stared at his hands. "So, want to hear about my night?"
"Yeah, whatcha got?"
"Lauren practically swallowed me whole."
"She kissed you?"
"Yeah."
"Well, what'd you do?"
"I told her I didn't like her like that. And then she said that didn't mean we couldn't snog."
"You know, I don't necessarily snog girls I like, like."
"Yeah, that's because the only girl you like, like will punch you in the face if you try anything."
"Point taken. So was she upset?"
"Not very. Just hopped off to find Eamon. Chicks are weird."
"Amen to that."
"Hey, gents, how's it hanging?"
"Oh, you know, Rem, just a regular fantastic ole ball! Sirius, where you going?"
"I, uh, have to go."
"Where to?"
"Just, somewhere. Bye JAMES."
"What is going on with everyone tonight? Is there something in the punch?"
"I dunno, Moony."
"What is with him? He came in earlier, after he went to get you and just stomped up to Sam and I while we were dancing. He didn't really even say anything, just grabbed her and stalked off."
"Did he?"
"Yep. Just hauled Sam right out of there, no explanation. Can't say she was happy with it, of course."
"It can't be… Merlin, is he really?"
"James, you must be talking to yourself because you're not making any sense to me."
"Remus, I do believe Padfoot is, for whatever very insecure reason, jealous."
"Of what?"
"Of you!"
"Jealous of me? Look, if he wants to sprout hair once a month and uncontrollably howl at the moon, he's welcome to it."
"He does that once a month anyway. Point is, I think he's jealous of you and Sam."
"Me and Sam? Whyever would he be jealous of us?"
"'Cause you two get along so famously. God, I'm a prat. Why didn't I see that sooner?"
"He's the prat if he thinks there's something to be jealous about. I'm going to talk to him."
"I'll come with."
The two Marauders set out to find Sirius. They had spotted him near the door talking to Peter. As they approached they could hear snatches of the conversation over the quieter parts of the song playing.
"Why are you mad at her anyway, Padfoot?"
"Wormtail, it's not that I'm mad at her."
"Well, then what is it? Cause I can't see it any other way."
"I don't know, I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh, look, here's James and Remus."
"I'm leaving then."
"Sirius, wait up, man."
"You know, I don't really feel like speaking with you right now, Moony, I've somewhere to be."
"Just wait one minute, Padfoot, and let me have a say."
Sirius' color and anger was rising. "No, you listen, Lupin. I don't want to hear from you, or look at you right now."
"Well, well, well, seems we have a lover's quarrel here, Snape. What do you think?"
Snape drawled, "Sure seems like it to me, Lucius."
"Oh shove off. No one wants to hear it, Snivy."
"Black, I've told you not to call me that."
"Oh, yeah, you may have mentioned that once or twice, but you know, I think Snivellus fits you much better, Snape."
James started in, "Just do us all a favor and get out of here. I'm sure everyone would enjoy their evening much more."
"Yes, Potter, see, our purpose is to make sure you don't enjoy yours."
"Oh, and what's that supposed to mean, Malfoy?"
"Oh, you'll quite find out, EXPELLIARMUS!" Malfoy caught all four wands with a dexterity only seen from a Chaser. "Snape, why don't you show Potter here that new curse you've been dying to try out."
"With pleasure, Lucius." He raised his wand and pointed it squarely at James' chest. "SECTUMSEMPRA!"
"JAMES! DUCK!" Remus went flying at James, grabbing him 'round the middle, just as Snape fired his curse. It missed his intended target but served only to hit Remus directly in the abdomen. Both Remus and James fell to the floor with a sickening thud, as Remus proceeded to bleed as if Snape has thrust a sword straight through him.
It seemed as if time stood still while James stared uncomprehendingly at the blood which was flowing onto his robes. At first, he thought he had been hit, and found it strange to feel no other sensation than a throbbing in his head from where he smacked the floor, but he soon realized that Remus had taken the whole of the curse for him. James glared up at Malfoy who was laughing to himself and Snape, who seemed to have gone a little paler than normal.
Sirius lunged at Snape and grabbed the front of his robes, lifting the smaller boy off the floor. "You do the counter-curse right now! NOW!"
Snape stuttered, "I.. I… don't know one… yet… I don't… know."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW! YOU FIX HIM, FIX HIM NOW!"
Snape continued to splutter at the enraged Sirius. Sam, who had seen the whole thing, had rushed to Remus' side.
"Remus, Remus, does it hurt? PETER, go get Dumbledore. NOW, move it, you fool!"
Peter hurried off.
"James, James, what about you, have you been hit? Oh, God, it's so much blood!"
"No, no, it's all Remus. I, I…" James was clearly just as shocked as the rest of the room. The music had finally stopped as people began to realize what had happened.
Dumbledore came rushing over, followed by McGonagall. "Minerva, clear the way, get Poppy." He conjured a stretcher for Remus and as he rushed him from the hall, he tried any number of counter-curses he could think of. Sam jumped up and rushed after them, crimson stains all over her blue dress robes. James weakly stood, helped up by Peter.
"Sirius, put him down, now's the time to go support Remus. Leave it."
Sirius turned back to James, deciding he was right, but not before he sneered in Snape's face. "This is NOT over, by the gods, I swear you will pay, Snape." And he rushed out of the hall followed by Peter and James. He stopped. "Wait, where's Sam?"
"She followed Remus up to the Hospital Wing."
Sirius cursed under his breath.
Peter piped up nervously, "You think he'll be okay, James?"
James sighed, "Honestly, I don't know. We just better hope Dumbledore's as good as they say he is." And the three boys continued in silence to the Hospital Wing.
What seemed as an eternity later, but was really only about a half an hour, Dumbledore finally emerged from the confines of the Hospital Wing. The three youths jumped up and met him with a barrage of questions.
"Sir, is Remus okay? Is he still alive?"
"Is Sam in there with him?"
"Snape and Malfoy will be expelled, won't they Sir, for a stunt like this?"
The wizened old man held up his hands as if to stop the flow of questions. "Now, now. Mister Lupin is still very much alive, though quite weak, and he will make a full recovery. Yes, Samantha is in there, aiding Madam Pomfrey in her work, she's a gifted healer, you know. And the fates of Mister Snape and Mister Malfoy remain to be seen. Peter, I would like you to go fetch Professor McKinley for me, and have her deliver Severus and Lucius to my office."
"Yes, yes, sir." And Peter scurried off to do as he was told.
"Sir, surely you can't mean you're considering letting Snape and Malfoy finish out the year?"
"Master Potter, as I've said, I've yet to make a firm decision. Trial by jury, James, do not forget."
James decided it was not in his best interests to argue further. "May we go see him, Sir? Remus, I mean."
"Madam Pomfrey has decreed he is not to have visitors until the morning, gentlemen."
"But Sir, if Sam's in there, can't we-"
"As I have said, Mister Black, Samantha is helping in the healing process. I am not one to argue with Poppy when the situation needs close monitoring."
"But Professor Dumbledore, you said that he should be fine. He really will be fine, won't he?"
"James, as I'm sure you know, Remus has been through a great deal before. Thankfully this has come at a moment when he is not at his weakest. But blood loss can do a great deal to physical strength, and he certainly will need to recover all that he can before the end of the month, when other conditions… arise."
James and Sirius bowed their heads. "Yes, sir, we understand. Come on James, let's wait for Pete and then head back to the Common Room for the night. The ball's practically over anyway."
"Ah, Mister Black, do not forget your charges before you leave."
"Oh right." Then, under his breath he added, "Stupid babies."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as if he had heard the sentiment, but without commenting he turned and walked to his office.
A/N: The title of one of the Toadstool songs is inspired by a quote from Woody Allen, adapted, of course, to make it more Hogwartian.
Hopefully we'll be working on Chapter 7 with a little more speed than with this one. R/R! Thanks for your patience!