Bedknobs and Broomsticks [HP fanfic; BNB Book 1]

Rivalry

Kurt smiled to himself, feeling the chink of six newly-won Galleons in his moneybag. He looked across the table at Severus, who glanced up.

"Don't look so smug, Kurt, McKinnon must've fallen off his broom three times."

"Yes, but you should've never bet against the Nimbus," said Kurt wisely. He yawned. "When was it we turned in last night?"

"About two in the morning was when Emilie finished her most recent tirade," said Severus with a controlled voice.

"That's right," mused Kurt, toying with his food. "Very outspoken, isn't she?" Severus glowered at him.

"Quite."

Kurt looked up towards the entrance and sighed as he saw the subject of their conversation storming between the tables towards them, the seemingly permanent look of discontent in place. "Brace yourself."

Emilie reached them shortly, dropping her bag onto the table and taking the seat next to Severus. "I can't believe him! Rosier is such an asshole! He tried to jinx me on my way down here!" Kurt and Severus glanced up from their food briefly in mild concern. Emilie went on. "Right as I was coming up the stairs from the dungeons, I tripped and I swear I felt a spell go right over my head! Then when I got up there I could see him running in here!"

"Oh no. Sev, pass the jam," said Kurt, pointing. Emilie shook her head, looking down at her smileyface pancakes, livid. Severus and Kurt glanced at her tentatively after a few minutes, wary of her silence. They looked at each other.

Emilie slammed her fist on the table, making both Severus and Kurt jump and go back to their food. "HE JUST DOESN'T GET IT!"

"You done, Sev?" asked Kurt.

"Yeah, let's go."

The two of them rose and started for the entrance, Emilie following behind them, still seething. They walked in silence, save for Emilie muttering to herself every few minutes, up the Spiral Staircase, turning down a corridor and heading up a few more floors.

"Binns shouldn't give us another essay, we just finished the last one," said Kurt.

"That's never stopped him before," replied Severus.

"Fuck, if Rosier tries to get anywhere near me, I'll--" Kurt cut her off with a hand, stopping her at the corner and putting a finger to his lips. She opened her mouth to retort, but then heard voices.

"...has gotten out of control, Sirius."

"What did you expect me to do, James, she's walking right into their--"

"Trap, yes I know what you think. But what if it isn't?"

The three of them pressed closer to the wall, listening intently.

"How could it not be? She was in that book they were looking for! Her and Mansfield! Now who are the only two Gryffindors in any way involved with Slytherin?"

"Besides you?"

"Don't even, James. At least I tried to talk her out of--"

"Sirius, do you remember anything?"

"Yes... maybe!"

"You called her a traitorous whore after chasing her the first half of the night, forced her to snog you again, and then went off to snog Gwenog and Corvenia for the second half. If anything, you've driven her further away. You were supposed to apologize."

"Yeah, well she wouldn't have listened if I had. She sees what she wants!"

"Remus said something about you telling her that you were only after getting into her knickers. Is that true?"

"Yeah."

"...Really? I thought you liked her?"

"I mean, yeah, I told her that."

"Why the hell did you tell her that?"

"Well... I... Where were you during all of this, James? Last I saw of you last night, you looked like you were trying to suck Lily's organs out with the power of your suckerfish kiss."

There was a laugh, and Kurt felt Severus shift beside him.

"Hah, yeah... but that's not the point. The point is, you need to stop torturing her."

"She's the one fraternizing with the enemy," said Sirius. "Think about it, James, there has to be a reason they want her. Mansfield's parents are dead so maybe they're trying to finish him off... and there's probably something like that in store for Mari--"

Kurt stepped out from behind the wall, drawing his wand. James and Sirius went for their wands, but Kurt reached Sirius before he had drawn his, pushing him up against the wall with his wand to his throat. He spoke slowly, tawny eyes locked with Sirius's grey in a threatening stare.

"If you ever talk to her like that again, talk about her like that again, touch her again..."

"Put him down, Lovell," warned James, his wand drawn.

"...or hurt her like that again, I swear I'll find you..."

"I said put him down!" said James again. Kurt took his wand away from the boy's throat, still glaring fiercely. Sirius returned the look, moving closer to James and drawing his wand.

"Speak for yourself, you slimy bastard. Mariah might not be able to see you for what you are, but I can, and I'll be waiting for the day you show your true colors and I can finally get my hands on you," he growled. Kurt backed up a few steps, wrenching his sleeve up, and thrust out his forearm.

"There! See that!" he snapped. "There's your Dark Mark! Oh wait, it doesn't seem to be there!" He tugged his sleeve back down, glaring darkly. "Shows how much you really know." He turned and walked away. James looked from his retreating back to Sirius, and his eyes widened.

"Sirius, no!"

A jet of light shot towards Kurt, but he whirled around and deflected it, shooting his own spell back with a few choice words. It hit Sirius squarely in the chest, sending him flying back into the wall behind him, where he slumped to the ground. James crouched beside him as Kurt rounded the corner.

"Are you alright?"

"Jamessthn." Sirius's facial features were sliding down from their original positions, giving him a rather drooping appearance. One of his eyes surpassed his nose and mouth and fell off of his chin, rolling across the floor. It looked up at James as he grabbed it quickly and supported his friend down the hallway, Sirius with one hand against his face to keep the rest of his features in tact.

Around the corner, Kurt strode past Emilie and Severus without a word. Emilie turned to follow him, but Severus caught her, shaking his head, and they slowly continued their way to Binns's class.