Second chance a new choice

Spinner Spins

At breakfast, Severus' nerves frayed as he waited for Lily's reaction to Penelope's idea. Will she say no? Hesitate?

Lily clapped and beamed, excited. "Oh, Sev, what a wonderful idea!"

"You think so?" Can't say I'm completely sure about it myself.

"Of course, I do! We should ask Remus if he wants to come. He loves to help people with schoolwork, and he'd hate me forever if I didn't tell him about an opportunity like this."

"Opportunity like what?" said Severus.

"To help people get along, of course." Lily bobbed up and down in enthusiasm, and her chair uttered a soft rattle. "We should ask him right now. Look. There he is!" She pointed toward the Gryffindor table where Lupin laughed with his friends.

"Couldn't we wait until Ancient Runes?" And avoid the Marauders.

"That's tomorrow, silly," she said.

Potter eyed him and Lily. Black whispered in Potter's ear and earned a smirk. Pettigrew giggled, and Lupin wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"I suppose I could ask him later in the common room," Lily muttered.

After breakfast, as Severus and Lily entered Defence Against the Dark Arts, all four Marauders were already in the classroom.

Severus approached his usual seat, snagged the concealed stink bomb and tossed it at Potter. "I believe this is yours."

Potter caught it. Two seconds later, the bomb burst, and slime covered his face. "Wha?!"

Black tried to hide a smile, and Lupin did his best to choke back a laugh. Even the little rat chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?" Potter growled as he wiped slime from his eyes.

Lupin laughed so hard he clutched his stomach. "You sure had that coming!"

Potter shot Lupin a scowl, but his lip quirked as the situation's comedy registered.

Even Lily joined them with her sweet, light laughter.

"It's not funny." Potter fought a laugh, but when he noticed Severus laughing at his expense, his smile vanished. "It's really not."

"But you'd have thought it hilarious if I'd been the victim as intended," said Severus. "That is not a good sense of humor, Potter. Not at all."

"Shut up," Potter hissed.

"In fact, I believe it's equivalent to being a bully." Severus ignored Potter.

"I told you to shut it."

Severus' smirk grew dangerous. "An immature, spoiled, inconsiderate prat."

"Scourgify!" Potter bellowed as he whipped out his wand.

Severus threw a Protego with ease, and Potter's spell disappeared.

"Wow," said Black. "I didn't even know he had his wand out."

"It's rude to talk like I'm not here," Severus sneered.

Black's eyes burned with hate. "Like you're one to teach manners," he spat and drew his wand, ready for a fight.

Severus stood still, wand loose in hand. "I doubt you'd listen even if I tried."

Lupin tensed and took a step away from Potter.

"Expelliarmus!" Potter lit into the fight.

Severus cast another Protego with a bare flick of his wand.

"Immobulus!" Black added without effect.