A Little Help from a Snake // Tomarry

Part 46

Ron's jaw dropped. "You're going to bring Snape into this?!"

"Why not?" George said, sharing a look with Harry.

"You two go ahead," Ron said, not wishing to have Snape's wrath on him any more than necessary.

"Don't worry, Ron," Harry said, patting his shoulder. "You get front-row seats. Let's go, George."

Remus saw the two sneaking up and quickly backed up to get away. Severus turned, about to demand what he was doing now when something cold hit the back of his head. He whipped around and glared at Harry, who let out a whoop and high-fived George.

Hearing a stifled laugh beside him, Severus slowly turned back to face Remus. With a discreet flick of his wand, he summoned a wall of snow toward them.

Remus swore as it hit him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Take it easy!" Harry shouted, hands covering George's ears. "You're a werewolf, not a—"

"Don't."

"— swearwolf. Honestly, Remus, think of the children." He gestured toward George.

"Yeah, think of little old me," George said, even though he was quite taller than Harry.

Remus looked up toward the sky and mouthed, Why me? He glared at a smirking Severus and smacked a handful of snow onto his face before taking off. Severus spluttered and raced after him, swearing vengeance.

Harry looked around and laughed at the stunned faces of the other students. Even Professor McGonagall was openly gaping, having never seen Severus like this before, let alone with a Marauder.

"Where are you going?" Ron asked Hermione as she stood up.

"I have to get ready for the ball," she said as if it was obvious.

"What, you need three hours? Who're you going with?" Ron yelled after her, but she just waved and disappeared up the stone steps into the castle.

Pretty soon, even those that hadn't gone up early couldn't continue the game. Students and staff alike went to get ready for the ball.

Harry looked at himself in the mirror, wondering if Tom would approve if he were here. He himself thought he looked nice, and given he didn't think he was the most attractive bloke he figured Tom wouldn't think too badly of him.

He looked at his dormmates. "You all look great," he said.

"Thanks," Theo said. Blaise and Draco preened at the praise.

They headed out to the common room. The girls were all there, unsurprisingly, and they greeted the boys warmly.

Harry smiled at Tracey, who wore robes of light violet that stood out against her brown skin. "If you looked stunningly pretty before, you're bloody gorgeous now."

Tracey rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut it, you." But her cheeks had flushed slightly. "You look rather dashing yourself."

"Shall we?" Harry said, extending his arm, which she took.

The other Slytherins fell in line behind them as they exited the dungeon.

The Gryffindors had just arrived by the looks of it. Ron had managed to get rid of the snow from his hair. He looked very nice, even if the ends of his robes were a bit frayed. He stood with the Ravenclaw, Padma Patil, who wore bright turquoise robes. She didn't seem overly enthusiastic about Ron being her date.

"Champions over here, please!" Professor McGonagall called.

Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies stepped up nearest the door. Cedric and Cho stood behind them. To the surprise of many, the girl that was Krum's date was none other than Hermione Granger, who looked very different with her hair in an elegant knot at the back of her head as opposed to its usual bushiness.