Love Makes the World Go Round by Sinbad

Love Makes the World Go Round by Sinbad

Many thanks to Beaweasley, my dear friend Beth and Phoenix for whipping this chapter into shape.

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Robin's two other cards turned yellow. She studied them with a feeling of dread. The ominous yellow pierced her brain like the imagery of a train out of control bearing down on her. Of course, she mused, most of the student body would not be able to relate to that feeling. At least not in the way it was dreamed up by her.

Breakfast was uneventful and less than inspiring for her next prank. Some of the other girls grinned at her and silently wished her well. Her food tasted like sawdust in her mouth.

She ran into Margarite and Bernise as she left the Great Hall. "Hon, you don't look well. Are you feeling well?"

Robin showed them her glowing cards. "Wicked," Margarite said, grinning.

"I'm glad you think so," Robin said while frowning. "I'm not familiar with this potion."

"Oh, I do! I'll be happy to brew it for you. It is a bit tricky," Margarite said, smiling at her.

"Thanks," Robin said, visibly relaxing. "That would be very helpful, and I really appreciate your help. That's one worry solved..."

"It will be fine; if you need help just ask," Bernise said.

Waving bye, Robin thanked her friends and headed for the stairs.

First period today was Transfiguration. She listened to McGonagall's lecture on human transfiguration and allowed her mind to drift. Inspiration struck with the speed of a lightning bolt, and a slow smile appeared on her lips. Good thing for her that her next period was a free one. Perhaps she wouldn't get a gods-awful consequence from playing that stupid game after all.

When class dismissed for the day, she scurried to her room and found her old teddy bear in her trunk. The toy had seen better days long ago, and she really didn't know why she still kept it. As a young child she slept with it and told it her most private secrets. She suspected it would end up blasted to bits. That wouldn't do either though. She was loathe to admit that she still was fond of the toy. Well, it can be fixed. She thought about the incantations she needed to do, and she swished and flicked her wand.

Clutching the well-loved toy of her youth (she suspected Severus would kill her by this evening and that made her feel old), she went to the dungeons. Lucky for her the Potions class was empty. Luck was on her side. She spelled a quill to take dictation and had it write a note. It read: To the least understood teacher, a bit of love and affection. Be kind to this teddy and it will be kind to you.

She left the room to catch up with her friends. She may have Potions next, but she didn't want to be caught early in this room. This prank should go over well, was her last thought as she covered her tracks.

Robin saw Vera and Margarite, smiled and winked. She felt confident this time around, perhaps because this part of the prank was anonymous.

"Robin," called Margarite. "That potion will be done for lunch and cool enough to drink by dinner."

"Thanks, Margarite. I figured out the first half of my prank, and the show will begin when we go to N.E.W.T.s Potions. Thanks for brewing that for me. I'm glad you had the first period free." The Singing Potion had to be used fresh; if it sat overnight, it wouldn't work.

Austrina had an almost maniacal gleam in her eye. She was done with her prank, so she could afford to enjoy the show with no fear of her head being on the proverbial chopping block. "So what's in store for our dear teacher?"

Robin, starting to feel guilty again, replied, "I'm spreading the love around." She saw that the hallway was filling up with students again, a sure sign to head for class. They'd better get going.

Snape billowed into his classroom. He started to tell the class to shut up and open their books when he saw what was lying on his desk. He stared for a moment. A small, brown stuffed bear with patches, a faded ribbon and glass brown eyes was sitting in the middle of the desk with a piece of parchment propped up on it.

Severus, in his usual display of temperament, hexed the bear. That was a mistake as the bear jumped up and immediately screeched at him. For those who had heard Molly Weasley's voice from Howlers that she'd sent to her sons over the years, the voice was recognizable. "Severus Snape! What would your mother say?" Then it started throwing dung bombs at him. The room stunk to high heaven in moments. Poor Snape was trying to avoid being pelted and was doing an odd dance-like movement trying to avoid being hit. Needless to say, it didn't work. The bear then started making sobbing noises and cried, "I need a hug," before commencing to chase Snape around the room until it caught up with him. The bear jumped into his arms and said, "No one loves you except me," and quieted down while clinging to Snape's neck.

The class was so shocked you could hear a pin drop, until someone in the back row giggled. It was followed with someone else's snort, and then the whole room exploded into laughter.

Severus Snape, the world's meanest teacher, was being hugged by a stuffed toy. His face blanched fish-white as he told the room to shut up. The teddy bear admonished him and said, "Sev, be nice." It was enough to make the class laugh again. He tried to pull the bear off of him. His eyes were watering from the fumes as the bear simpered, "Don't cry. I love you."

He tried several spells to destroy the bear attached to his neck, but nothing worked. And when the bear did let go of the Potion master's neck it was to chase him and throw dung bombs at him, for Snape hexed the bear whenever he could. In a tired and almost defeated voice, he dismissed the class with the admonishment that they could expect a test on the missed material. "I love you, Severus," was stated by the bear as the class escaped, leaving Snape sitting at his desk in a state of panicked dismay.

The rest of the day went quickly, with rumors about the Potion master being molested by a stuffed toy flying about like Cornish pixies. It seems that the bear was a companion for the rest of the day's classes.

About fifteen minutes before dinner, Margarite caught up with Robin. "Here's the potion. The teddy bear was funny. Great job!" Robin nodded mutely. "You better drink this now and try not to talk until you are ready. This won't last long once you open your mouth."

The Great Hall was filled. As soon as everyone, including the teachers, was seated, dinner began. Robin was too nervous to eat; her stomach was rolling from nerves. There was only one song she knew all the words to. Merlin help her. She stood up, walked to the head table, shaking all the way. Severus glared at her while the headmaster smiled slightly. The teddy bear was sitting on the Potion master's lap, quiet for the moment and ignored by Severus. Most of the teachers were trying to hide their amusement. The teddy bear was the talk of the staff, any one of whom would have tried to help, but Snape was so furious no one wanted to offer. Quaking in her boots, Robin walked up and stood in front of Professor Snape, cringing slightly at the disapproving glare she was graced with. The headmaster asked if Robin needed something. This was her cue...

"Sir, did you know you were my hero? Everything I'd like to be?..." Robin sang. Her arms dramatically folded over her chest. She looked like she was a star singer in a play, arms waving, singing her heart out.

Severus looked like he would explode. His nostrils flared, fists clenched, breathing rapid. Robin continued singing Wind Beneath My Wings. The whole hall fell silent. Not one of the other students had ever witnessed someone signing their own death warrant before, especially by singing it.

Robin's voice cracked slightly when she tried to hit the high note for 'fly so high, touched the sky...' The other teachers stared at her like she had lost her mind. She ended on bended knee on the last line "Thank you, thank you, thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings."

By this time Severus Snape's jaw was clenched so tightly he was grinding his teeth when the headmaster interjected, "Severus, I told you that you made a difference in the students' lives."

That was when all hell broke loose. Severus yelled, and the teddy bear jumped into action, screaming at him to be nice, tugging at the teacher's hair before jumping to the floor to beat on his ankles. Snape loomed over Robin, no doubt ready to kill her when the teddy bear started to chase him again. Shocked, everyone looked on as the bear made throwing motions. Apparently it had run out of dung bombs, but was still trying to throw them. It kept screaming to be nice and chased the abused teacher out of the hall, demanding, screaming for a hug. You could hear the Potion master yell, "One hundred points from Ravenclaw," just over the toy's admonishment to be nice.

Vera gave Robin a 'thumbs up,' signaling her card had turned green. Fern, on the other hand, was ash white with her hand covering her mouth and her eyes huge with shock.

At the Slytherin table, Emma and Carlie were laughing, Margaret had her hands pressed together against her lips, trying to smother her laughter, and Jemima was staring at her with a look of total terror in her eyes as she mouthed, 'I'm next.'

Robin, for the first time, and hopefully last time, of her life, fainted.

And the fun continues...

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Author's Notes: