Down & Dirty

DOWN AND DIRTY

PART 1


It was the Saturday of spring break and Hogswart was quiet, resting in the glorious spring day, as most of the students and staff had left for a time of fun and frolic. Sirius Black, professor of Care of Magical Creatures, newly appointed since Hagrid was busy with the giants in the north and Remus Lupin, returning DADA professor, sat around a small table in Remus' office pouring over a list. If anyone had ventured to walk by his office at that moment, they would have felt the hair on their neck stand up. Those two were up to something, something very dastardly.

"Well, this seems to be all the professors staying over the holidays."

"Read them through once more," Sirius said grinning mischievously.

"Minerva McGonagall."

"Of course."

"Freyda Hooch, March Flitwick."

"That would be interesting."

"Sirius," Remus said shivering, "please don't go there."

"Sybil Trelawney." It was Sirius' turn to shiver. "And of course Severus Snape."

Remus didn't like the glint in Sirius' eyes.

"Damn small lot if you ask me." Then his eyes widened and the grin grew on his face. "How about students?"

"Students?" Remus said shocked. "Now that's where I draw the line Sirius."

"Don't get your knickers in a wad, Moony old boy, I only mean are there any of age students staying over."

Remus pulled out a list and ran over it. "Lets see there is a boy from Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Slytherin girl, Pansy Parkinson."

"Ouch, the one that looks like a female Goyle?"

Remus grinned. "And a—no Sirius."

"Go on."

"Hermione Granger from Gryffindor."

"Perfect!" Sirius said absolutely beaming.

"Sirius, think about it, Hermione, Harry will disown you."

"If Harry and Ron had stayed they would have been invited too," he laughed, giving Remus a devil may care look.

Sighing, Remus took up the list and added the students' names.

*****

Because Hogswart was almost deserted, there was only one table in the Great Hall tonight that the professors and a handful of students gathered around eating. If the small group around the table had been aware of what was in store for them later, they would have ran into the Forbidden Forest in terror. Alas, the unsuspecting sat pleasantly eating their dinner of roasted lamb and spring potatoes.

"I say," said Sirius, innocently, "that was a very nice meal."

"Agreed," said tiny Professor Flitwick, pushing his plate back and giving a small burp.

"A good stroll around the lake is in order, I do believe," stated Professor Hooch as she stood.

"Just a moment Freyda, if you please," said Remus. "And everyone," he added as Professor Snape had also started to rise.

The staff and students looked at him waiting.

"Well, er, if you would be so kind as to lift up your plates."

Curious, the table raised their plates in unison. Underneath was a small card addressed to each of them.

It read:

Your presence is requested in the teacher's lounge at 9pm this evening. This has been authorized by Headmaster Dumbledore. Thank you for you cooperation.

As they read their cards, the students directed questioning glances at Remus, while the staff simply voiced their questions.

"What is this all about, Remus?" asked Professor McGonagall.

"Yes, do tell," said Snape's silky voice, perturbed that Dumbledore had used Lupin to request the meeting. "I was under the impression that the Headmaster left yesterday to as he put it 'unwind' after all the mess with Voldemort finally being over."

Sirius' eyes twinkled at them. "You will just have to come to find out."

"The students also, Black?" Severus asked dangerously.

"This will be beneficial for them too." Sirius said standing, giving Hermione a wink.

For some reason, Snape couldn't help but think he was being summoned to a hanging.