Old Tricks

Old Tricks - Chapter One

Neacie Ruck carefully managed to balance a stack of books in her arms as she made her way through the aisles of the library toward a table that was empty, except for a book bag laying over a chair and a young man sitting in the chair. Neacie stopped to take in the sight; he sat rigidly posed one hand on his chin, the other holding a quill ready to write anything that interested him. His chin length black hair brushed the top of his hand gently as his intense brown eyes made their way down the page and quickly on to the next. He bit his lip as though he had been reading a suspense scene in a novel. He had removed his class robes and was wearing the school uniform, a gray vest with a white shirt underneath and dark gray pants and his green and silver tie was untied loosely, hanging around his neck. She began to smile as she neared the table and as she got closer the boy grew suddenly aware of Neacie's approach. He turned his head to the side and saw her and returned the smile. As she continued her approach, he quickly thought of how much he needed to warn her, the things he needed to say.

As she set her books down, she spoke, "So, Severus, find anything interesting?" Her long dark brown hair began to twist and bounce as she sat down, her hazel eyes filled with eagerness as she waited for his reply.

"Well, there is a bit about some survivors of an ancient dark wizard in Athens but nothing more then that." Severus looked at her. Noticing a piece of hair that had fallen across her face, he raised his hand, gently pushed it out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.

Blushing, Neacie nodded. "Thanks." She slumped back into her chair and sighed. "It's hopeless, you know that. We've scoured almost every book about dark magic users and defenses used against them and the survivors have either gone mad from the spells that the dark wizards have put on them or they've died."

"It's not hopeless, honey. Professor Brackett wouldn't have assigned us the homework if it was impossible."

"One two-foot scroll, that is understandable. Most of us could find that. But two two-foot scrolls... You have to admit that it is a little extreme." Neacie sighed and began to play with a bit of her hair, rolling it between her fingers.

"At least it isn't about vampires." Severus looked at her and smiled; sitting next to her he felt invincible.

"Well, I am sure that Sirius and James wouldn't have made any snide comments, Severus." She smiled again looking at him.

Even though he could tell that the comment was from her heart he couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Darling, you give them too much credit. Every chance they get they embarrass me. After the O.W.L.S. I'm surprised that you even said 'yes' to a weekend in Hogsmeade with me."

* * * * * *

"You mean to tell me that she actually said 'Yes' to Snivellus?" Sirius Black's normally handsome face was in a scowl as he stared at Remus Lupin.

"Yeah," Remus hadn't taken his eyes off his book to look at Sirius as he spoke, "she is spending the holiday with the Snape family."

"What the hell does she see in him? I am everything that he is, in a much better package. I have the family name if that is what she is after."

"I don't think she exactly wants the Black family name, mate. I mean, even you don't want it. Not that Snape is such a terrific name, look deeper." Remus waved his hand for Sirius to go on and kept reading, his red and yellow tie hanging loosely around his neck.

A feminine laugh came from behind them. "For claiming to be a brilliant wizard, you certainly lack the brilliant part of the equation." Turning, Sirius could see Lily Evans standing behind him and, hearing most of the conversation, had resorted to laughing.

"Could it be pity? A charity case that she is working on?" As Sirius spoke each word his voice was filled with distain.

"My God, you all are pathetic," Lily laughed. Remus snorted and she corrected herself. "All of you but Remus; he is not pathetic." As she turned to leave Sirius alone with Remus she shook her head.

"Can you believe the nerve of her, coming over here and telling us off like that?" Sirius stood and looked at Remus.

Remus looked up for the first time since Sirius had arrived at the table, "She told you off, Padfoot. She excluded me from it all, remember?"

Sirius let out a frustrated growl and stormed out of the Great Hall.

* * * * * *

Neacie walked down the corridor towards Defense Against Dark Arts class, until she saw a young Slytherin boy running past her, crying. As he passed by she heard the unmistakable laugh of Sirius Black and James Potter as they terrorized another person walking down the halls. The laughter died down as she heard the hurried steps of one of the bullies.

"Ruck, wait up," Sirius' voice called out. A fourth year Gryffindor girl gave Neacie a dirty look and continued down the corridor.

Neacie slowed her pace and frowned. "Sirius, I can walk to class fine by myself and if you even start an argument about the treacherous trash that could be lurking around the corner to attack an unsuspecting witch such as myself, you are preaching to the choir."

"Aw, c'mon, it's a valid concern for your safety," Sirius smiled.

"You're the only trash in this corridor, Sirius, you and Potter." Neacie turned away and began to walk at a faster pace.

Just as Sirius continued to follow her, Severus rounded the corner at the end of the hallway. "It seems, Ruck, that Potter and I are no longer the only pieces of trash in this corridor." As he spoke he gestured to Severus.

Looking at Severus, she smiled and turned back to Sirius. "No, you're still the only trash I see. And if you follow me or do any sort of mean thing to him, I will put a hex on you."

"As you wish milady." Sirius moved his arms to usher her away.

"I'll never be your lady!" Neacie called back, continuing towards the waiting Severus; his eyes darted from Neacie to James and Sirius.

"We'll see. We will see," Sirius said under his breath as he waited for James to catch up.

"Why do you even go after her, Padfoot? If you haven't noticed, you could have almost any girl at this school."

"Except Neacie Ruck, Prongs. It's like the candy that your mother always told you to stay away from; it makes it ten times more delightful to sneak about late at night to get." The smile on Sirius' face as he spoke was that of a cat once it realized that the mouse couldn't get away.

"She's not playing hard to get, Sirius, she isn't playing at all." James speaking Sirius' name grabbed Sirius' attention.

"Mark my words, Prongs. After graduation, she will be kissing me and not the sniveling little greasy haired git, Severus." Sirius began to walk towards Defense Against Dark Arts.