Geminus

Chapter 23

As much as the Dream Team were looking forward to Lupin's lesson they couldn't help but be slightly fidgety - they were aching for the evening to come so they could set up their prank. As they took their seats in the class Hermione shot them all filthy looks.

"Will you calm down? You're making it obvious you are up to something."

Jenna turned to retort but fortunately Lupin arrived followed by Oliver (who easily distracted Jenna).

"Hey."

"Hey hun, you going to be free tonight?"

Jenna rolled her eyes - 'typical, he's only free when I'm not.'

"No I'm sorry. I've ... er ... got stuff to do tonight."

Oliver shrugged regretfully and headed to the front of the class after Lupin.

"Welcome all - I hope you had a nice Christmas. I have a few notices before we get down to work. It has been decided that we will hold a debate next week on the first war with Voldermort...."

Lupin frowned slightly at the shocked gasps from some of the students at hearing Voldemort's name.

"Oh get over it - it's just a name."

Everyone turned to Kara who had just spoken. Jenna chuckled.

"It's not even a good name."

With that she started to repeat the name 'Voldemort' over and over again until Lupin interrupted.

"Thank you Miss Geminus, but I think that is enough. Anyway, as I was saying, there will be a debate next week so please try to have some questions. The week after that there will be a review of the work you have completed on your project - this will gives those of you will charms to practise them. Now unless there are any questions let's get on with the lesson."

The hours after dinner that evening seemed to drag for the Dream Team. Ron and Harry attempted to play wizarding chess but they kept forgetting whose turn it was. Jenna and Kara were playing poker with matchsticks but they couldn't help stopping and grinning at each other. When half nine rolled around the gang exchanged looks and Harry went upstairs to fetch the invisibility cloak and Marauder's Map. They then quietly sneaked down to Snape's classroom - all hidden under the cloak and checking the map for any sign of Filch or Mrs Norris. They managed to reach the classroom without any mishap. Harry and Kara decided to stay under the cloak and be on guard while Jenna, who was the expert in charms, and Ron slipped in to the classroom.. Kara breathed a sigh of relief once they shut the door.

"That was almost too easy."

"That's the benefit of the cloak and map you see."

Harry shifted under the cloak and leaned lazily against the wall forcing Kara to move closer to remain hidden as well. Harry glanced down at the map but Snape was still in the other side of the dungeons and Filch was on the fifth floor.

"So what we going to do to pass the time?"

Kara smirked at Harry's attempt at an innocent look.

"I don't know Mr Potter, any ideas?"

"Just one."

Harry put his arm around Kara's waist and moved her towards him. As the kiss grew more passionate neither of them noticed the invisibility cloak slip off them onto the floor. The map soon followed as Harry needed the use of his other hand. If Kara and Harry had been checking the map they would have seen two dots marked Dumbledore and Wood move towards them.

"... I'm sure Professor Snape would agree that...."

Dumbledore paused as he and Oliver turned the corner and spotted Kara and Harry. He cleared his throat loudly causing the two, very flustered, students to jump apart guiltily.

"Oh Professor ...hi."

"Hello you two. May I ask why you are ... erm ... occupying these corridors?"

"Standing guard."

Harry answered without thinking. Kara groaned and nudged him quickly.

"... I mean waiting for Ron and Jenna."

Kara groaned again as she saw the suspicious look on Oliver's face. Before she could attempt to save the situation Jenna and Ron's voices carried from inside the potions classroom.

"For God's sake Ron! Not there, move left a bit."

"Sorry, is that better?"

"Much. Boy is Hermione going to be pissed when she finds out!"

Outside Kara and Harry were struggling to keep straight faces but one look at Oliver's face broke Kara's resolve and she burst out laughing.

"It's not what ... I mean ... they are...."

Before Kara could complete a sentence Jenna and Ron walked out of the classroom, giggling to each other and looking slightly red-faced.

"It's all done ... oh Professor Dumbledore, Oliver, hi. We didn't realise you were down here too."

Jenna shot a filthy look at Kara and Harry. She attempted to avoid Oliver's gaze who answered furiously.

"So this was the other stuff you had to do?"

Ron quickly spoke up before Jenna could reply.

"So why are you down here anyway?"

"That's what I would like to know."

Everyone turned to see Snape standing sneering at the group. His sneer fell when he saw Dumbledore. Kara thought quickly.

"Er ... Professor - we had better head back to the tower before we miss curfew"

With that Harry scooped up the cloak and map and the Dream Team fled back to the common room.

When they arrived back in the common room they all collapsed on the sofas in a fit of giggles. Kara turned to Jenna, wiping tears from her face.

"Oooh, you in trouble!"

Jenna grinned.

"I can't believe Oliver thinks I'm having a fling with Ron."

"Hey!"

"Sorry Ron, if I was going to have a fling with anyone it would have to be Malfoy."

"Ergh!"

Ron and Harry looked at Jenna in disgust. She glanced at her sister seeing if she would get a rise out of her then shrugged.

"Oh come on - good or bad the guy is hot."

Ron pulled a face and turned to Kara who was looking at Jenna in amusement.

"It must be a girl thing - what do you reckon Kara?"

Kara looked startled at Ron, very aware of Harry's gaze on her.

"He's not bad I guess - if you like the whole bad boy thing."

Ron raised his eyebrows and inclined his head towards Harry.

"So what does that make Harry? Some kind of saint?"

"Nah, just my boyfriend."

Jenna and Ron made retching noises before they all burst out laughing again.

"Can I ask why you two neglected to warn us that Dumbledore and Oliver were outside before?"

"Well, we didn't notice at first either...."

"What?"

Harry looked away from Jenna, blushing slightly.

"We were ... erm ... preoccupied."

Jenna rolled her eyes in amusement

"Next time you two are not on guard duty."

With that they all headed to bed, eager to get to potions class the next day.

On Friday morning the Dream Team walked into Snape's potion class all trying to hide grins. Jenna and Ron had neglected to mention to Harry and Kara what exactly they had charmed the blackboard to say but Kara had a pretty good idea. They had just taken their seats when Snape glided in to the classroom.

"Right class, we will be making the potion we discussed at the end of last week - so let's see who was paying attention...."

Snape sneered at the Gryffindors before sitting down and waving his wand at the board.

"... Here are the methods and ingredients, you know what to do."

Snape then started to grade some work until he noticed that none of the students had moved. He strode to the front of the class, glaring at everyone.

"Well, what are you all waiting for?"

No-one answered and Snape noticed they all seem transfixed with the blackboard, each student sharing a look of amusement and horror. He spun round, his glare being replaced by a look of shock when he saw the words on the board.

'Professor Snape is an ugly git.'

With a look of fury etched on his face, Snape attempted to wipe the words of the board but a fresh insult replaced them.

'Hogwarts does not know how an idiot like that ever became a Professor.'

Jenna and Ron were currently hiding their grins behind their hands. Kara, who was managing to keep a straight face, discreetly elbowed Harry who was struggling not to laugh. Snape glared at the class, looking for a guilty face, before trying to clear the board again to no avail.

'Professor Snape needs to wash his hair, the slimeball.'

A few gasps of horror came from the Slytherin side and a look of recollection appeared on Snape's face as he recognised the insults. He flicked his wand again which caused the insult to change once more.

'Professor Snape needs to keep his abnormally large nose out of the students' business.'

Harry couldn't contain himself any longer and let out a loud snort of laughter which set Ron, Jenna and the rest of the Gryffindors off in fits of laughter - only Kara, Hermione and the Slytherins were managing to keep a straight face. Snape stormed over to the Dream Team's desk in a rage.

"HOW DARE YOU! You five stay here, the rest of you out now."

Hermione gaped in shock as the rest of the class bolted outside.

"But I didn't even know what they were planning to do."

She clapped her hand over her mouth trying to cover her slip up.

"Hermione!"

"Cheers Hermione, drop us right in it."

Snape rounded on Jenna.

"As I suspected, it was you four who were the instigators of this prank - I did wonder why you were down in the dungeons yesterday. Detention all of you and 50 house points each from Gryffindor."

"50? Each?"

"Yes Mr Weasley and I would keep quiet before you make matters worse."

Run shut up quickly with a look of sheer disgust.

"Now you five are to go and explain to Professor McGonagall why you have lost Gryffindor so many points."

With a look of dread the five Gryffindors left the potions classroom and headed to the transfiguration class. As they passed the points hourglass a group of seventh year Slytherins pointed at them and jeered.

"Cheers you lot. Looks like it will be Slytherin for the house cup."

Kara grabbed Jenna who had spun round to retaliate.

"Come one, we are in enough trouble as it is."

When they reached the transfiguration classroom Hermione knocked on the door and they all entered.

"Yes Miss Granger?"

McGonagall frowned as she noticed the others behind Hermione.

"What has happened now?"

Hermione glanced at the curious faces of the transfiguration class.

"We ... er ... that is Professor Snape has deducted 250 points from Gryffindor."

McGonagall pursed her lips, her mouth now an impossibly thin line.

"And why did he do that?"

Hermione swallowed nervously and looked to the other for help - Jenna stepped up.

"The rest of us, not Hermione, did a prank on Snape and we got caught."

McGonagall strode towards them, ignoring the whispers from her class, and led the five of them outside. Once she shut the classroom door she turned to them furiously.

"Yet again you get into trouble. I expected more from you Miss Geminus with the leeway that Professor Dumbledore is giving you."

"I...."

Kara quickly cut across Jenna before her comment could get them in further trouble.

"We are sorry Professor and we will try to make the points back up next Quidditch match."

McGonagall's nostrils flared but her stern gaze softened slightly.

"Yes, well, I suggest you return to your class and try to behave this time."

The five Gryffindors nodded quietly and headed back down to the dungeons..

By the weekend every Hogwarts student had heard about the Dream Team's prank. The reaction was a mixture of disgust from the Gryffindors for losing so many points to amusement from the other houses for daring to pull such a stunt. Despite the many congratulations, Jenna was quite down. Oliver hadn't appeared at the Quidditch practise that morning and she was too much of a wimp to seek him out despite her sister's nagging.

"Why don't you just go and find him?"

Jenna looked up from her chess game with Ron to glare at Kara (who was currently doing homework with Harry and Hermione).

"Because he was the one who thought I was up to something with Ron."

"Yes but you are the one that has been sulking all day."

Harry and Ron chuckled, each earning a glare from Jenna before she turned back to the chess game. Grinning at Harry, Kara ran up to the girls dorm and scribbled a note to Oliver.

'Please stop being an idiot and come talk to my sister - she is missing you.'

After sending Tamos off with the note, Kara rejoined the others downstairs.

When it reached the evening with no sign of Oliver Kara started to worry.. The gang were all sitting in the common room after dinner when Oliver appeared looking slightly sheepish.

"Hey guys."

Jenna looked up, relief flooding her face. She quickly masked it with anger when Oliver met her gaze.

"Jenna, can we talk?"

Jenna stubbornly folded her arms and remained in her seat.

"Whatever you have to say you can say in front of the others."

Sighing Oliver sat down in front of her, leaning forward to take hold of her hands.

"I'm sorry about the other day - I heard about the prank so I know what you and Ron were really up to."

"That's nice for you - shame you don't trust me though."

"I do ... I guess I was having an idiot moment."

Oliver glanced at Kara quickly as he spoke who grinned at him earning a glare from Jenna before she turned back to Oliver.

"A real idiot moment. I wouldn't cheat on you with anyone."

Ron opened his mouth but Kara threw a cushion at him before he could say anything. Oliver glanced curiously at Ron but chose to ignore him.

"I know, I know. I promise I'll make it up to you."

Oliver grinned cheekily at Jenna who sighed - bad boys may be Kara's but cheeky grins were Jenna's weakness.

"Well in that case I guess I should forgive you!"

The gang spent all day Sunday chilling in the common room. Oliver had joined them to spend more time with Jenna. It was around lunchtime when they heard the portrait hole open - they looked curiously at Professor Lupin as he headed over to them.

"May I have a word?"

The six of them nodded, looking at each other nervously.

"Now this doesn't concern either you Oliver nor, from what I've heard, you Hermione but I wish to talk to you about Friday's incident...."

"... Now as a Professor I must advise you that such stunts are not welcomed and should not be repeated...."

The Dream Team looked at each other, worrying they might get into more trouble. Those fears were dispersed when Lupin grinned slightly.

"... But as the last remaining Marauder I must congratulate you but ask that next time you use your own insults so I do not get Snape on my back again!"

They all stared at Lupin in shock before bursting out laughing.

"So come on sir, our prank surely must rate up there with any of the Marauder's stunts?"

Lupin grinned at Kara before enthralling all of them with stories of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.