In The Life of Skye Black

By NarnianAslan

Chapter Four

Author's Note: Okay, chapter four: The Ball. Let's see where this leads us, shall we?

Disclaimer: The songs "Vampires will Never Hurt You" and "Our Lady of Sorrows" both belong to My Chemical Romance. Not me. Nor do I own "Basket Case" that's Green Day, people.

XxX

"Curly or straight?" I asked, changing my hair from one to the other.

"Straight," Emily and Katie said at once.

I made it straight. "Red, brown, or black?" I was changing my hair again.

"Red," Emily said.

"Brown," Hermione said.

"Black," Katie said.

"Blonde," Lavender and Parvati giggled.

"That's a no to the blonde," I muttered.

"Red will clash with your gown," Katie said. I shrugged.

"Brown or black?"

"Black," Emily, Katie, Lavender, and Parvati said at once. I made my hair black.

"I wonder who's playing," Emily mused.

"Oooh, maybe The Weird Sisters again!" Parvati squealed.

"The singer was so dreamy!" Lavender giggled.

I rolled my eyes. "I doubt it. Kirley's got a broken wrist. Meghan McCormack was talking about it in an interview with Quidditch Monthly…"

"Who?"

"Meghan McCormack is Kirley's sister. She plays for the Prides."

"Oh. Well who's playing?"

I shrugged. "Dunno."

"We haven't got much time to think on it," Katie muttered. "It's almost time to meet Fred and George downstairs, Skye."

"Yeah, I know…" I'd already put on my dress, but I wondered something. The weird awkwardness that seemed to be around Fred and I during the past few days wouldn't interfere tonight, would it?

XxX

In the Entrance Hall, we saw some Slytherins filing in, Malfoy among them. He'd bought the soap off of Fred and George, and now looked normal (which is a pity).

A chatty Ravenclaw Fourth-Year walked over to us. I recognized her vaguely.

"Annabel Poe," she said, introducing herself, "Actually, I'm Fred's cousin."

"Anna, what are you doing?"

"Telling you something of high importance. Homecoming Havoc is performing tonight. Mum told me. She actually knew them! She didn't have much patience with the drummer though, she said. Anyway, I can't wait for them to come on! I've heard that Gerard Rush's son Matt's going to be here too."

"That's nice, Anna, can we go?"

"Oh, fine!" she grumbled as she walked off.

"She's credible," Fred began, reading my thoughts. "Though she's a horrible gossip, like my Aunt Lizzy. She's a Prewett, not a Weasley," he said, again reading my thoughts, "That's why she hasn't got red hair. Let's go in?"

"Yeah."

The Great Hall looked nothing remotely like it had during the Yule Ball last year. Everything was elegant and summery-looking. It reminded me of pictures I'd seen of Spain.

"Are you Skye Black?" a boy asked me. He had black hair and dark green eyes.

"Er, yeah, I am."

"Matt Rush." He had an American accent.

"Oh. Hi."

"I'm not usually this straightforward with people, you know. My sister would tell you all about that. She calls me anti-social."

"Are you?"

"In a way. I don't like most people, anyway. But both my parents said I'd like you."

"Did they?"

"Yeah. Hey, do you play pranks, by any chance?"

"Yes. Actually Fred and I –This is Fred, by the way –played this prank on this boy Malfoy, turned his skin Gryffindor colors. It was priceless!"

"Great, I've got an idea, are you two in?"

"Sure," I said.

"That would depend," Fred said.

"Basically, my plan is to hex that teacher, Snape, to get up onstage between songs and sing Green Day. Have you heard of them?"

"Not really. We're both purebloods, mostly deprived of the wicked awesome Muggle music and technology."

"Oh. Well the song's called Basket Case and I know it by heart."

"Sounds bloody brilliant," I grinned.

"What's the song about?" Fred asked.

"Just as the title implies. A nutcase."

"Sounds fitting," I muttered. "How do we do it?"

"There's this hex. It's not the Imperius Curse or anything. It hypnotizes the castee."

"What's the incantation?"

"Um… Mentis Tempero, I think. Then you set the specifics. The entire thing would be Mentis Tempero Recito Green Day Carmen Basket Case."

"Would they have to know the song?"

"No, but the caster would. I can cast it. I need distractions."

I smirked, and Fred did the same. "I've got just the thing."

XxX

I could tell Fred was none too happy about helping Matt Rush, but the result would be priceless.

Katie and George had disappeared; Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't coming; Ginny was with Dean; and Emily was with Robert. We were on our own.

"Tell me what we're gonna do…"

"Simple. Hex Malfoy."

"Why would that distract Snape?" Fred asked.

"Because Malfoy's his favorite student."

"As much as Draco wishes that were true…" a haughty voice said. Damn. Regina. "I'm his favorite student. And whatever the hell you're planning… Don't go through with it. The consequences will be severe."

I wasn't intimidated. "Let's see, Regina, I know exactly who your father is and what happened to him. If you act hostile towards me, you'll never know his name, because, trust me, anyone who knows won't tell you."

Her eyes narrowed. She knew I was right. "I can get it from Poe."

"D'you think she'll tell you anything? She's got dirt on everyone in this school, hasn't she?"

"Yes, but she'll know…" Regina glared at me.

"She won't tell you. Trust me. Her mother and your father were friends, but I'm sure Annabel's mother doesn't talk about it any more than your mother does. And even if she did know, she'd make sure she got everything you were worth before telling you anything."

"If I pretend like I know nothing, you'll tell me something about my father?"

"One thing." I could tell I'd hit her weak point. "Afterwards."

"Fine. Just don't kill anyone," she said, as she walked off.

"Skye, how the hell did you do that?" Fred muttered.

"Her weak point is her father. She'll know nothing about him, given his position."

"Can you stop acting like a Slytherin?" he grinned.

"After this, maybe."

We cast a simple hex on Malfoy: Levicorpus.

The entire non-Slytherin portion of the Great Hall was laughing, and Snape walked onstage to yell at Fred and I (obviously the culprits), when something happened. Matt was muttering something, and Snape began to sing, horribly off-key.

"Do you have the time? To listen to me whine? About nothing and everything, all at once. I am one of those melodramatic fools; neurotic to the bone. No doubt about it… Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up. I think I'm cracking up! Am I just paranoid? Or I'm just stoned." Everyone laughed but he wasn't finished. "I went to a shrink, to analyze my dreams. She says it's lack of sex, that's bringing me down. I went to a whore, he said my life's a bore. So quit my whining cause, It's bringing her down." More laughter erupted, and Dumbledore began paying attention. "Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up. I think I'm cracking up! Am I just paranoid? Am I just stoned?" Dumbledore was laughing! "Grasping to control, So I better hold on. Sometimes I give myself the creeps. Sometimes my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up. I think I'm cracking up. Am I just paranoid? Or I'm just stoned."

The whole Great Hall was laughing, even some Slytherins and all of the staff. Homecoming Havoc came onstage, all of them were laughing.

"I hope all of you enjoyed our opening act!" Gerard Rush began. "I've got a feeling who's at fault, but, hey! Tonight's for partying! I'm sure more than half of you will have hangovers in the morning, anyway!"

Almost everyone was laughing.

"Now, if Severus would be so kind as to vacate the stage?"

Snape, coming to his senses, stormed off stage, muttering to himself.

"Time for the boring speech. When I went here, things weren't much different. I was Gryffindor, but I had friends in Ravenclaw, and I got along with quite a few Hufflepuffs." I had a feeling what he meant, and Fred laughed. "And, oddly enough, I got along with some Slytherins. But that might have been because I'm brilliant at Potions. My best mates, though were Gryffindors. All of us were completely different, but we got along brilliantly. Now, mind you, this band formed after I'd graduated Hogwarts. During Hogwarts, my mates and I were popular. We had the most popular athlete, the ladies' man, the studious cynic, the ego-booster, and me. I was, wow, the mostly-popular guy who kept everyone together. We had a lot of fun, a lot of crazy plans, and a lot of admirers. But, sometimes things happen. Two of those mates are gone, now, and I can't stress how important our time at Hogwarts was together. So enjoy it here, unless you're as lucky as Severus," he smirked, "You're probably not going to come back here. Now we get to perform."

Matt had found his way to us, and he was laughing. "Mom's gonna kill me! But it was so worth it!"

"Who was your dad mates with?" I asked.

"Same as your dad, prolly. Why?"

"Just wondering…"

"We're going to be starting off with a personal favorite of mine–"

"Mine too!" the guitarist yelled, causing more laughs.

"Jaret's too, Vampires Will Never Hurt You."

The music started up. "And if they get me and the sun, goes down into the ground. And if they get me take this spike to my heart and, and if they get me and the sun, goes down. And if they get me, take this spike, and, you put this spike in my heart! And if the sun comes up, will it tear the skin right off our bones? And then, as razor-sharp white teeth rip out or necks, I saw you there. Someone get me to the doctor, someone get me to a church, where they can pump this venom gaping hole. And you must keep your soul, like a secret in your throat, and if they come and get me. Well if- you put this spike in my heart! And if they get me and the sun, goes down. And if they get me, take this spike, and- come on! Can you take this spike? Will it fill our hearts with thoughts of endless night-time-sky? Can you take this spike? Will it wash away this jet-black feeling? And now, the nightclub, sets the stage, for this, they come in pairs. She said, we'll shoot back holy water, like cheap whiskey, they're always there. Someone get me to the doctor, and someone call the nurse, and someone buy me roses, and someone burned the church, we're hanging out with corpses, and driving in this hearse, and someone save my soul, tonight, please save my soul! Can you take this spike? Will it fill our hearts with thoughts of endless night-time-sky? Can you take this spike? Will it wash away the jet-black, now? Let's go! Come on! And as these days watch over time, and as these days watch over time, and as these days watch over us, tonight. And as these days watch over time, and as these days watch over time, and as these days watch over us, tonight. I'll never let them, I'll never let them, I'll never let them hurt you now, tonight. I'll never let them, I can't forget them. I'll never let them hurt you, I promise! Struck down, before, our prime. Before, you get off the floor. Can you stake my heart? Can you stake my hea-ar-art? Can you stake my heart? Can you stake my hea-ar-art? Can you steak my heart? Can you stake my hea-ar-art? Can you- stake me- before- the sun- goes down?"

Matt grinned. "Awesome, huh?"

"Oh my God, yes!"

"You wanna meet them? After they're done obviously."

"I can do that?"

"Sure. Hey, do you know that girl over there?"

A girl with blood-red hair was standing apart from the crowd.

"No. She's not in my year or my house."

"Oh, that's Lilith McAllister!" I heard a cheerful voice announce. "She's cruel, vindictive, pessimistic, anti-social, and she should have been in Slytherin. Her brother is."

"I know him… he's in sixth year, right? Brown hair and beautiful blue eyes?"

"Yep!"

"Skye, you don't fancy a Slytherin, do you?" Fred asked.

"No. But it's true."

"McAllister?" he sighed. "Well, most of the girls in my year fancy him, anyway."

"I don't. It's possible to find someone attractive and not fancy them."

"It is," Annabel said. "Like I find a certain Gryffindor fourth-year exceedingly attractive, but by no means do I fancy him."

Fred rolled his eyes. "Let's drop this?"

I shrugged. Annabel rolled her eyes. "I've got to find Colin Creevey and Kali Benson. Bye!"

"You don't reckon she was talking about Colin Creevey?"

I shrugged. "Dunno. I wonder if those third-years did plant that mistletoe?"

"Damn it! I am not kissing him!"

"I think that's a 'yes'," Fred muttered.

"That Montague?" I asked.

"I think. Want to go see?"

I grinned.

Matt asked, "So what's going on?"

"Oh, some third-years were planning on planting magical mistletoe all over the place."

"But it's summer."

"I said the same thing."

It was Regina. And she was under the mistletoe with Lee Jordan.

"Oi! Lee! Tough luck!" Fred laughed.

"Easy for you to say! I can't move!"

"Maybe I should market some of that stuff…"

"Fred and his twin brother George run a joke-shop business."

"Ah," Matt said, understanding it now. "Maybe we should try and leave this place?"

"Good idea," Fred muttered. I got the distinct feeling that he didn't like Matt at all.

We left the Great Hall, clear of mistletoe. I could hear Our Lady of Sorrows now.

"What I don't get is how the third-years got in…" I wondered. "This is for fourth-years and up."

"Probably while everything was getting set up," Fred muttered. "Poor Lee… Regina Montague." He made a face.

"I found her weak point," I grinned. "Her dad."

"Her dad?" Fred and Matt asked at the same time.

"She's got no idea who he is, I do. He died before she was born, and no one will tell her anything. So I can blackmail her with that."

"Nice," Matt grinned. Fred rolled his eyes.

"If you're not a Slytherin…"

Matt shrugged. "From what I hear, I'll be a Ravenclaw."

"Ravenclaws aren't that bad," Fred allowed.

I rolled my eyes. "Just don't try out for the Quidditch team. Fred and George'll have no mercy."

"No problem. I hate heights. Love Quidditch, hate heights."

"Favorite team?" I asked.

"Ballycastle Bats. You?"

"Pride of Portree."

"No way," we both whispered at the same time.

"Am I missing something?" Fred asked as Matt and I began to laugh.

"Remember when I was almost seven?"

"Yeah…"

"And Dad grounded me for a month because I–"

"Got into a fight over Quidditch teams."

"Yeah, I know, and you and that kid didn't get to go to Ginny's party…"

"That was Matt I got into that fight with!"

Matt grinned. "Yeah, and my dad grounded me, too…"

"Sorry ′bout that," I said.

"It was my fault anyway."

"Skye!" Emily made her way towards us. "Isn't this bloody wicked? I wonder, though, could he be part vampire?"

Matt laughed. "I don't think so."

"Really? Because most vampires have a definite singing ability. Part-vampires don't have that bloodlust, though."

I rolled my eyes. "This is Emily. She's obsessed with vampires."

"At least it's not Zombies! Though, granted, Inferi could count as Zombies, maybe that's why…"

Matt laughed.

"This is Matt."

"Hi. I wouldn't be willing to use such Dark magic, anyway. But he fits the description of a part-vampire…"

"Oh, don't worry, I don't drink blood or anything of the sort."

XxX

Author's Note: this was getting a bit lengthy and I was only half-way done, so chapter four ends with this. Basket Case really is an awesome song (even though I had Snape singing it) and Our Lady of Sorrows and Vampires will Never Hurt You are off of MCR's I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love album, which is really wicked awesome. I think they're on the playlist that's linked to on my profile. So just go on there and click on the playlist link (it's with all the rest of the links)

So, Fred would like me to tell you that he wants at least five reviews

Or else I can't update

If I don't update, he might not make it.