Brilliance

Chapter Two: Benzen

Chapter summary: language gets cruder as Sirius is faced with slimy Slytherins, ill werewolves, and a blushing? McGonagall - read more to find out!

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Don't you agree? If not, well, then that's too bad because I think it is. I mean, it doesn't matter when you eat it, right? If it did than I'd have to say that lunch is the most important meal of the day. I always eat breakfast around noon - at least during the holidays and on the weekends. But since it doesn't matter, I repeat myself: breakfast is the most important meal. Even on school days when you have to get up earlier than any normal human being. I'd even say *especially* then. Why? Simple. It's the time when we can reap what we have sown, prank-wise.

We can't actually see the fruits of our (mis)deeds - or receive the detentions for it (if they can actually proof that it was us) -, though, when we haven't done anything. Like on that day. As I told you we had been having a heated debate the night before. That's why it did not only surprise all our classmates but us as well when McGonagall and Benzen, the current Head of Slytherin House - he really did speak those capital letters when introducing himself - asked to have a word with us. I said 'asked' but it was actually an order. I stared longingly at my bacon and eggs for a few moments. I was hungry and we had only just started after all. Peter voiced exactly this but the teachers wouldn't have any of it. They didn't even tell us what was going on when James asked, just repeated that we should come along. All of us, except Mr. Lupin. My heart went into my boots. They couldn't have already found out about the Animagus thing now, could they? McGonagall grew more impatient by the second so we complied to their demands. We exited the Great Hall among many whispers - and a self-satisfied smirk. Snape. He couldn't possibly have known and told about our secret ambition. I knew if someone had looked at me at that moment my brows would have been creased. Something fishy was going on.

I chanced a look at my two friends to see if they had noticed, too. They hadn't. James was as white as a sheet. It seemed he - like I did earlier - was considering the Animagus theory. Peter just looked baffled. Benzen watched us from the corner of his left eye. That man really loathed us. One good thing, though, was that he'd hopefully be gone soon - he was looking forward to retirement; though, if I had been Head of Slytherin I would have been eagerly anticipating it, too, come to think of it. The other was that he taught Herbology. A subject which you can't possibly fail if you learn hard enough. Of course, having a knack for handling plant and herbs is useful, as well, but not necessary.

Anyroad, we walked along the main corridor of Hogwarts. Paintings left and right waved cheerily at us and I couldn't resist to smile as Violet - the Fat Lady's best friend - winked. I shouldn't have. "Think it's fun, don't you?" Benzen growled. "Elmar," McGonagall murmured in reply, "we'll talk about this in my office." The old man sent a ferocious glare in my direction but let it go. I was too relieved to care, anyway. We weren't taken to Dumbledore's office which meant that we were at least not going to be expelled for whatever it was that this was all about. Some colour promptly returned to James' cheeks.

Finally we arrived at McGonagall's office. With a simple nod of the head she motioned us to enter, shutting the door after Benzen had stomped in, too. Neither asked us to sit. Our Head of House positioned herself behind her desk and "Elmar" - what a ridiculous name! - leaned against it. "So," he said sneering. I wanted to answer 'So what?' but decided against doing so. It wouldn't go over too well. "So," he repeated. I glanced at McGonagall. She didn't seem to want to explain what was going on. They probably had agreed that Benzen would handle 'this' - whatever 'this' was. "This time you have gone too far." He had a most gleeful expression on his face. I bet he wouldn't show it if he hadn't turned his back towards the deputy Headmistress. I raised an eyebrow just as James asked "With what?".

"Don't play dumb! It was you," he growled. "Mr Snape has seen - and felt - you emptying that bottle over his head!"

"What bottle?"

"That git!"

"We didn't do anything."

"What bottle?"

"That slimy Slytherin git!"

I forgot who said what but in the end didn't really matter. "Silence!" We closed our mouths immediately, McGonagall was towering right over of us by now. She looked formidable and frightening. "Am I correct in assuming that you claim you had nothing to do with - with this dilemma?" I nodded. James and Peter must have given their affirmations, as well, but I didn't pay attention to them. I was too occupied with the wonder before my very eyes.

Was McGonagall really blushing?

"Well, as we can't prove it was them -" She had caught herself again. I'd ask the guys if they had seen it, too, though.

"Minerva!" Typical. As soon as McGonagall let us off the hook Benzen had to open his humungous mouth. "Mr. Snape will have to suffer from this as long as he lives and you want to let the culprits escape without punishment?"

"We have no evidence that it was them except Mr. Snape's testimony, Elmar." She stared hard at us. "And it doesn't look like they'd confess in the near future."

"That's because we haven't done it," Peter put in. Benzen snarled. McGonagall continued unabashed. "There is no other choice." Seeing he had lost this fight the Head of Slytherin glared and snapped at us to leave. With a decidedly cheery good-bye to our own Head of House and a curt nod to Benzen we did so happily.

"I can't believe it," Peter breathed as soon as we were out of earshot.

"You can't believe what, pipsqueak?" He didn't like being called that, so naturally I did it as often as I could. It fit him, too. Anyway, he ignored the jibe and continued. "I can't believe they called us away from breakfast just to tell us that they can't prove that we did whatever Snape told them that we did", he squeaked in that high squeaky voice of his. Like I said, 'Pipsqueak' fit him. My stomach growled its agreement but I ignored it for now. "Probably just Benzen being his horrible self." I couldn't help but wear an expression of pure delight. This was a most joyous event and I could ignore my stomach for its sake. James wanted to know why I had a goofy smile on my face. "Don't you see it?" They shook their heads. "Well, whatever happened to Snape. It's embarrassing and - "

"Why is it embarrassing?" So much for hoping they had seen old McGonagall blush. They didn't believe me at first, either. "What have you been looking at the whole time?!" I finally exclaimed, exasperatedly. "Benzen's book," they stated in unison, then looked at each other. "What about it," I snapped. I really wanted to tell them why I was in such a good mood. "The one on the mating habits of pets." Peter answered and James stopped short. I almost ran into him. He stared straight ahead. I followed his gaze but couldn't see anything interesting. Just a coat of armour, the door to an old Charms classroom, lots of walls. "What is it?" I whispered. I don't know why I whispered. He slowly turned and grinned at me. A malicious grin. I prayed I wasn't at the receiving end of whatever he had cooked up. For I was certain he had - there was the Gleam in his eyes.

But real life has a way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it. Just as James opened his mouth to announce his most ingenious thingy, plan, idea, whatever, the tardy bell rang. I cursed and we sped down to the Great Hall to get our bags which we had so *conveniently* forgotten. And I groaned as I remembered what we had first thing this morning. Herbology.

I should have known that something like this would happen. I should have prevented it. I should have done a lot of things which I didn't and shouldn't have done things I did. Like staring at that Hufflepuff's arse the whole time. I might have only been twelve, well almost thirteen actually, but I was far ahead in certain aspects - and far behind in others but I digress (just love that word!). Starting at the beginning would be a grand idea I think. Alright, as James and Peter and me crossed the entrance hall Remus stopped us with a shout. We turned and saw him standing near the great doors, our bags by his feet, wearing a big smile. "Remus, you're brilliant!" I was in the mood to give compliments, somehow. He just kept grinning and said that he'd guessed we would be a bit late. We set off to Greenhouse Two immediately and would still have arrived in time if, well if our class *had* been at number Two. Only, they weren't.

We must have looked pretty dumb gazing at the building, mouths wide open. "Where in hell are they?" I muttered. We looked around but none of us could find any trace, except for -

"There! Look!" Remus pointed towards Greenhouse Three. I immediately saw it; there was the red head of Lily Evans disappearing into it. We raced towards number Three in record time, skidded to a halt and opened the door at exactly - 9:00:10 a.m. How we knew? Well Benzen informed us of this fact with a definitely false smile and the deduction of 30 house-points before he waved us in and began talking.

"As I said before I was interrupted," - a glare in our direction - "we'll have a surprise test now. I assume you have read up on the plants I told you to. If you have you will have no problem recognising these and describing them as well as their properties." He waited a bit for the groans to subside. We didn't groan. We hadn't a reason to since we always studied hard for Herbology on account of the fact that we didn't want to give Benzen the satisfaction of being able to fail us.

"Since I know that it is very hard to contain oneself and not look at one's neighbour's sheet each one of you will be getting a different plant. I will direct you to your species." I raised my eyes heavenwards. Paranoid git. I was one of the first to be "directed to my species". I almost sighed. Yes, make fun of my name if it pleases thee. Dogwood, really! I turned my head around to learn what the others had got but they were still standing by the entrance. Benzen went alphabetically, it seemed. Across from me I saw that Hufflepuff I told you about. Something Chesterton. Muggleborn. Quite a cute arse though.

Or maybe he didn't, Remus was still waiting even as Benzen placed James and Peter to my left and right side. Strange that. Afterwards I knew why, of course. Anyway, a few seconds later Benzen told us if still had our books open now we'd have done him a great favour because he wouldn't have to correct our test, meaning he'd fail us. Well, anyhow, the test. I was finished within fifteen minutes. We had half an hour and so I put my quill down and looked around for a bit. The attractive Hufflepuff wore a look of deep concentration. It kinda looked like pouting. Peter chewed his fingernails while scribbling away furiously and James checked his grammar and spelling. Nothing of interest. I turned - and blanched. That *idiot*! I'm not sure who I meant, Remus or Benzen.

The latter was watching the former like a hawk - no, actually more like a vulture. And for good reason, too. Remus resembled the Grey Lady in all aspects but his gender and solidity. This was about to change, though, and I don't mean the gender. He was working with freshly - and I emphasise FRESHLY - cut *monkshood*. I was frozen to the spot. Remus' nose was swollen red and he was constantly rubbing his eyes. He was having trouble breathing, too. How could I have missed that constant sniffle earlier? I was just about to give Benzen a piece of my mind - Housecup be damned! - when something happened that I would never forget in my whole life.

You know, I wish I could say that the something was me remembering that no one was supposed to know about his condition or Benzen having a heart attack or even me having a heart attack but it wasn't. It was Remus going down to the floor. My heart did really stop for a moment then before I jumped into action and over the tables ignoring the protest of my fellow classmates. I didn't care about their tests results and they shouldn't either. Hadn't they noticed what had happened?

"Mr. Black! Mr. Black!" I ignored Benzen as well and lifted Remus - that boy was way too thin! (gods, I sound like my mother) - and, one arm around his waist, dragged him through the crowd. Tried to at least. Without the help of James and Peter who had somehow appeared out of thin air beside me I wouldn't have got through. Everyone was standing around, gaping like bloody idiots. I swear I'd have killed them if I hadn't had my hands full. As it was my two friends pushed them out of the way. The only obstacle left was Benzen.

"Mr. Black, return to your place. Mr. Lupin will be fine."

"Like hell, he will!" I snapped and tried to side-step him. He was faster.

"50 points from - "

"Oh fuck you!" I shouted and pushed passed the git. There was no time for this. I slung Remus over my shoulder and ran towards the castle, James in hot pursuit. We hadn't got really far when I heard the famous word - 'expelled'. I didn't give a damn.

TBC...