Chapter 23: Peculiar Plan 

"There you are!" 

Lucy, Matt and Dean all spun around to see Mr Filch thundering towards them. They hadn't long been in the castle despite their short trek up to it. They had just talked so much they'd lost track of time and where they were going.

Filch ignored the presence of Lucy and Dean, instead he grabbed hold of the collar on Matt's coat. Filch looked at him in disgust. 

"You've got a detention with Professor Snape tonight, arranged by me, young man," Filch hissed in his face, or just about. Matt could possibly be the tallest student in the school. Matt flinched away, Filch's breath was vile. "It's just as well I saw you here, isn't it? Otherwise you would have been tardy." 

"No I wasn't, I was just heading there now," Matt lied as Mrs Norris circled him like he was her prey. 

"Well considering you're heading in the direction of the dungeons, I don't think you are. Now hurry up, we don't want to keep Professor Snape waiting." 

Filch dragged Matt away, Matt turned around to face Lucy. "You'll meet me up there?" 

"Of course," Lucy nodded, she and Dean tagged slowly behind while Filch dragged Matt up to Snape's classroom. 

They were there in no time at all and so they were not noticed, Lucy and Dean hid in a nearby cupboard. They would enter shortly after Matt had, after all, they couldn't make it too obvious to Snape about Lucy being with Matt. 

"Here's your latest student for detention!" Lucy heard Filch announce proudly to Snape as he entered the classroom with a miserable looking Matt. 

"Another one? So glad he could join us but I fear I haven't got enough company today," Snape sighed as he looked up at Shona who was the only other person to have a detention today. 

"Who'd want to keep you company?" Shona snorted. 

"Nobody asked for your opinion, McGuire," Snape groaned then turned back to Filch. "Sit him down, before he writes lines we have to discuss why he's here." 

"He's the stubborn type, Professor," Filch warned but Snape's mouth just twisted into a crooked grin. 

"Do you really think a stubborn teenage boy bothers me, Mr Filch?" 

"Of course not," Filch did a small bow before running out with Mrs Norris who stuck her tail up in the air proudly. 

Snape set down the quill he had been writing with and then paid full attention to Matt. "Mr Jarvin, yes?" 

Matt nodded. 

Snape stood up and walked around his desk with a small smile. "I thought I'd be hearing your name a bit more often than usual, after all, you are supposed to be the biggest trouble maker in the school," Snape's smile dropped. He slammed his hand down on the desk in front of him. "Not anymore." 

"Sir?" Matt wondered in confusion. 

"I am fed up of you being an ignorant boy who thinks it's his God given right to parade the halls of Hogwarts, causing some kind of trouble wherever he goes! It is in no way accepted or tolerated here at Hogwarts!" 

"What have I done here that makes you say that?" 

"Many things, too many to list." 

Matt was starting to get annoyed. "Go on then, list them. I've got all night." 

"We both know what you've done, why state the obvious?" Snape then darted forward and placed his hands on Matt's desk. "And if it carries on, Jarvin, I will personally have you expelled from this school!" 

"No, Professor, I want an example." 

"Like that time you told my daughter females were weak." 

Matt's smile dropped and he suddenly felt a wave of guilt and desperately tried to remind himself that that was the old Matt, the new Matt would never dare say anything like that again. 

"Dad!" Lucy smiled as she walked in with Dean holding her hand. 

"Lucy," Snape stood up, greeting his daughter, forgetting for almost a moment he had Matt to deal with. 

"What are you doing?" Lucy asked as she and Dean sat down by Snape's desk to look at the photos Matt had mostly taken earlier on. 

"Dealing with the unfortunates in detention, is that enough for you?"

"It's good enough for me." 

Snape then turned back to Matt. "And how did you land yourself in this detention?" 

"I was hiding in a broom cupboard," Matt admitted. 

"I'm sorry?" 

"I was hiding in a broom cupboard!" Matt repeated and threw his hands up in the air. "That's what Filch gave me a detention for, because I was hiding in his precious broom cupboard." 

"Mr Filch to you," Snape pointed out, he then placed a roll of parchment on Matt's desk. "I want you to write — " 

Matt snorted. "I will not hide in broom cupboards? You know, I've had some pretty long detentions after doing some really bad things but writing lines because I hid in a broom cupboard? This has got to be the most pointless detention ever." 

Shona turned to face Matt. "It's alright, I say that every time I'm in here." 

*      *      * 

The next day was Sunday and the snow seemed to refuse to cease falling. Everyone was still wrapped up in their coats and some were even taking an advantage of the weather and having a countless amount of snowball fights. Lucy, Shona and Dean, however, preferred to spend their day just walking around Hogwarts and avoiding all the commotion. 

"You know what," Shona annouced as she shoved her hands in her coat pockets in a rage. "I am sick of being the outcast." 

Lucy shook her head. "You're not an outcast, you're quite the contrary." 

"No, I mean we can't exactly join in these snowball fights or whatever because we're so famous. If we went out there and joined them they'd all have their mouths wide open staring at us. I'm absolutely sick of being treated like I'm not human." 

"Don't you think I am too?" 

"Of course..." 

Dean smiled at them both. "I think it's nice we all have each other though, we can have our own snowball fight if we wanted." 

Lucy remembered what had happened yesterday. "Well you can be on my team, you're unbeatable at snowball fights." 

Dean's cheeks flushed red. "Oh! Thank you so much." 

Suddenly a stream of students walked past the three. 

"How are your boys doing, Lucy?" 

"Are you just spending a day with one of them?" 

"Where's your other lover?" 

"You know it's acceptable to only date one person at a time in today's society..." 

Those were the comments directed at Lucy from various members of the crowd and those who didn't talk just gave her strange looks. Lucy had no idea what they were going on about and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. Obviously whatever rumor had struck up about her this time couldn't be good. 

"What the hell are they on about?" Shona asked as Lucy continued to receive strange looks from those who weren't brave enough to speak about this rumor to her face. 

"Who knows? But it's undoubtedly the newest rumor about me," Lucy shrugged, not thinking too much of it. She couldn't be doing with anymore rumors, she had other things on her mind. 

"Why would someone do this to you, Lucy?" Dean whispered sadly as the crowd cleared. "It's completely wrong and really mean, it shouldn't be tolerated." 

"Unfortunately, I have to tolerate it as there's nothing I nor anyone else can do." 

They rounded a corner and saw a large group of people standing there impatiently. They were obviously waiting for something as there was lots of shouting going on. Lucy couldn't understand what would be so important to cause a crowd like the one in front of her. 

"Are there free Honeydukes sweets being given out?" Shona wondered excitedly. 

"Probably not," Lucy shook her head. 

"Well in that case, get your purse out! These people want money in exchange for a big, delicious, hand crafted bar of chocolate!" Shona drooled, imagining a rather large chocolate bar in her hands. 

Dean observed the crowd. "They're not giving out anything at all with the Honeydukes label on." 

Shona's dreams faded all of a sudden. "What are they giving out then?" 

"The Quick Quills magazine at it's usual price...but whatever is on the front remains a mystery. But it will tell us the rumor that's going around about Lucy." 

Lucy, Dean and Shona craned their necks to see what was on the latest issue of the Quick Quills. But there was no need to bother because Ellen had just arrived and was going to shout out all the gossip to her hungry crowd of readers. 

"Get the latest issue of the Quick Quills! Full of the secrets about anyone and everyone you wanted to know and didn't know you wanted to know! In this issue you'll find out about Lucy's very special boys she was spotted hanging out with yesterday afternoon! Exclusive to the Quick Quills magazine!" 

Lucy's jaw dropped and she was suddenly disgusted at the amount of people shoving each other, trying to get the latest issue of the Quick Quills magazine. It shocked her that people were so desperate to buy a magazine that made fun of her. 

Ben suddenly came whizzing past. He accidentally knocked into Lucy, he spun around. "I'm so sorry, Lucy." 

"It's fine," Lucy smiled as Shona stared in awe at her crush. "What are you in a rush for?" 

"I need to talk to Ellen, what she's doing is absolutely terrible. The way she's making fun of you like this is disgusting. I won't let this carry on. I mean, how could she mistake you for going out with someone as horrible as Matt!" 

Lucy grinned falsely. "Oh! I-I mean how stupid of her! I would never in my life do something like that!" 

Shona muttered in her ear. "Yes you would." 

Lucy stood on her friends foot. "Shut up." 

Luckily Ben didn't seem to notice any of this as he was already heading over to Ellen. Lucy, Shona and Dean watched closely as Ben approached Ellen. They watched as Ellen stepped down from her ledge from where she had been shouting, she flipped her hair and tried to kiss Ben. 

"No, not now," Ben shook his head. 

Ellen looked offended. "Well why not? Everyone knows we're dating!" 

"That's as maybe but you can't do this!" 

"Do what?" 

"Single out Lucy like this! It's absolutely disgusting! What did she ever do to you?" 

"I'm sure she must have said something to me in the past, everyone does. But then I put them in my newspaper and make them re-think their actions. Wonderful solution, isn't it?" 

"No, Ellen, it's not. You need to stop this, it's cruel." 

Lucy turned to Shona. "Ellen said I was hanging out with two boys last night, who are t — " Lucy paused. "Oh no." 

"What?" Shona turned in her friends direction. 

"I was with Dean and Matt for most of yesterday, if Ellen has a picture of me and Matt, I'm done for. Oh goodness, lets just hope there is no photographic evidence..." Lucy cringed as Ben continued to argue with Ellen. 

Dean suddenly noticed a first year boy walking in their direction. A Quick Quills magazine was clutched in his hands, he had obviously waited a long time for the magazine and was no doubt dying to read it as he had queued a long time to get it. 

Dean had a plan. 

He lunged forward towards the boy just as he approached them. Dean snatched the magazine from the boy without hesitation. Dean held it in his hands happily, the excited first years smile dropped. 

"Thank you!" Dean grinned. 

"Hey!" The first year yelled as he tried to get his magazine back. Dean held it above his head making the boy jump for it. "I paid good money for that!" 

"Too bad, it's mine now." 

The boy growled. "Give it back." 

Dean beared his teeth and growled, trying to make himself look scary. The boy didn't say anything, he just stood on Dean's foot then walked off. Dean yelped out in pain and hopped up and down on one foot as he tried to support the foot that had been injured. 

"I think you need to work on your scary face," Shona admitted as Dean stood on two feet again, he then looked at the front of the Quick Quills magazine.

"Lucy," Dean said, his face expressionless. 

"Yes?" Lucy replied, trying to decode Dean's face. 

Dean turned the magazine so Lucy could see the front page of it. Lucy looked and saw a picture of Lucy with her arms around both Dean and Matt. The heading read 'Lucy's brand new boy(s)' Lucy looked up at Dean in shock. 

Dean shook his head. "You're done for." 

"Oh no..." Lucy panicked. "If dad sees this he'll go absolutely mental." 

Shona looked up and cringed. "Speaking of the Devil." 

They all turned to see Snape heading in their direction with Jessica. Lucy began panicking even more than she had been before. Her breathing quickened and she decided her only option now was to tell Snape the truth, that she was dating Matthew Jarvin. 

"Lucy," Matt gasped as he came out of no where. He took hold of her hand and held it tightly. He had his sleeves rolled up on his plaid shirt, odd pieces of his hair had fallen out of place from where he gelled it and he looked a bit flustered. 

"Matt," Lucy looked at their interlocked hands. "Considering what's in the Quick Quills magazine right now, do you really think this is a good idea? Holding hands, I mean." 

"Yes," Matt nodded. "It's all part of the plan." 

"What plan? I didn't know we had a — " 

Matt put a finger on her lips. "Shhh...Matt has it all covered, all you have to do is ask me to that party of Slughorn's in front of everyone." 

"What!?" Lucy shrieked. 

"Trust me! It'll work," Matt winked but before Lucy could protest about her father being near, Matt had already started this 'plan' and there was no going back now. "ATTENTION EVERYONE." 

The group of people trying to get the Quick Quills magazine stopped fighting to get a copy, Ellen and Ben stopped arguing and Snape as well as Jessica faced Lucy and Matt who's hands were still interlocked which caused a few murmurs. 

"What you have read and heard in the Quick Quills is true," Matt announced. "Lucy and I are dating." 

There were more murmurs from the crowd, they all stared at Matt and Lucy in confusion and excitement. Reading it in the Quick Quills was believable enough for them but hearing it from the mouths of the people the news was about made it official. Lucy tried to ignore Snape's disgusted face and Ben's gobsmacked face. 

"But Ellen got it wrong," Matt continued. "She thought Lucy was dating me and Dean. But she only got the first part right. Dean is not dating Lucy, he is just her bodyguard. I'm the one she's going out with." 

Despite the fact he didn't have time to explain, Lucy understood what Matt was getting at. Matt was announcing that they were dating to steer Ellen away from talking about 'Lucy and Dean', 'Lucy's private life' and 'Lucy and Lord Zuc.' He was doing her a favour and this was what she would tell her father, she was dating Matt for the press. This also meant she wouldn't have to be as careful, she could be with Matt whenever she wanted. 

"Matt," Lucy asked all of a sudden, loud enough for everyone to hear. They faced each other. "Please come to the Slug club Christmas party with me." 

Matt smiled at her as if she were asking him without all of the attention. "Of course." He hugged her tight, everyone watched in awe and applauded them, except for Snape. He was extremely suspicious and wanted answers from Lucy instantly. He wanted to know why she was dating the boy who was trying to destroy the school, the boy who persistently landed himself in detentions, the boy Snape hated with a burning passion. 

Matt held onto Lucy's hand again as the two walked down the corridor happily, while people applauded them, towards Snape and Jessica. When they had approached Snape, the look of fury on his face had increased. 

"You two. My classroom. Now," Snape growled. 

"It's alright, I need to talk to you as well," Lucy said rather calmly as Dean and Shona caught up with them. 

Snape and Jessica led the way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom with Matt, Lucy, Dean and Shona following. As soon as they reached the classroom, Jessica led them all in before Snape furiously slammed the door behind them. 

Snape stalked towards Matt. "You, stay away from my daughter!" Snape hissed. "After what you said to her about females being weak I told her to steer clear of you completely and now you force her into this relationship?!" Snape grabbed hold of his shirt. "YOU'RE AN IDIOT AND I WANT YOU WELL AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!" 

"DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER!" Shona yelled in the deepest voice she could manage, Lucy laughed a little remembering Snape's iconic line and the way Shona always impersonated him. 

"Lucy!" Snape rounded on his daughter. "How could you be so stupid! Dating — " Snape pointed to Matt. "That? What were you thinking?" 

"Dad — " Lucy tried to speak calmly. 

"You could do so much better!" 

"Dad — " 

"I told you to befriend Slytherin's but not him! Why him?" 

"Dad — !" 

"He's the worst boy in the school and you pick him! Why him?! Anyone but him!" 

"DAD!" Lucy yelled, finally getting her fathers attention. 

"Thanks for the kind comments, Professor," Matt smiled, giving him a thumbs up. "I speak so highly of you too." 

Lucy smiled at Matt before facing her father again. "Me and Matt...aren't really dating." 

Snape frowned. "What? But you've just announced it!" 

Matt stepped in. "That's a lie. I told everyone I'm dating Lucy because that way Ellen can write about us two rather than writing hurtful things, she'll have enough stories for the end of the year. Plus, that way Lucy won't get accused of dating Dean anymore. I'm just clearing up a lot of accusations for her, sorry if it riled you that much." 

Snape raised his eyebrows. "Well...when you put it that way it seems a lot less harmless." 

"I'll still be here to protect Lucy!" Dean called from where he was sat on one of the desks. "I promise I'll always look after her, Sir!" 

"I think it's a good idea," Jessica smiled. "Anything that Lucy can do to protect herself from the press is a bonus and she's not doing anyone any harm." 

"It wasn't my idea, it was Matt's," Lucy admitted. "After he apologised for that comment a while ago he promised he'd make it up to me and so he did. He's promised to help me out with the press and that's what he's done." 

"Now if you'll excuse us," Matt grinned, taking hold of Lucy's hand. "We have some dating to be getting on with." 

Lucy and Matt left, leaving Dean, Shona, Jessica and Snape. 

"Young love!" Shona said dramatically. 

"They grow up so fast!" Dean wiped a fake tear from his eye. 

Snape and Jessica looked at each other in unison before sitting down at Snape's desk to go through a stack of marking. 

*      *      * 

Lucy walked down to the Hogwarts grounds that night, Matt had told her to meet him in the place where him and his friends battled and so she had agreed. With Matt's hoodie keeping her warm and the excitement of seeing Matt again, made her feel for once relaxed. She had no fear of getting caught and now her and Matt could be together whenever they wanted. 

"Hey!" Matt called, Lucy turned and saw him sitting on a patch of grass quite near where the two had first kissed. Lucy noticed he was holding a guitar, it looked very familiar...

Lucy walked over to him. "I forgot to bring my glasses, I'm sorry." 

"No worries, I got them for you," Matt reached into his pocket and then handed them to her. Lucy put them on and saw her surroundings better. "I also borrowed your guitar...if that's OK with you?" 

"Well it'll have to be now, won't it?" Lucy laughed as she sat down next to him. She then looked up. "The stars are out." 

Matt followed her gaze. "So they are. I think they came out just for you, you know." 

"And for you." 

Matt smiled. "Don't be silly, they wouldn't do anything for me. Nobody wants to after the horrible person I've been for practically all of my life." 

"Don't be silly, I'd do things for you." 

"Like what?" Matt asked curiously, he looked at her. 

"I don't know...whatever made you happy because you've made me happy." 

"That's sweet," Matt nodded. "That really is, thank you, Lucy." 

"You seem extremely grateful for a few words. Why?" 

"I didn't think anyone would promise anything as big as that to me again, I completely wrote of promises until I met you." 

"OK, Romeo, that's enough," Lucy joked. 

"It's true!" Matt grinned. "I really did, I didn't think there was any point making promises because I knew I break them all. But when I met you I found hope again. You know? Like you were my second chance at everything I'd ever messed up." 

Lucy laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. "Shut up." 

"The one time I open up to a person and she just pushes it away," Matt snorted and messed up Lucy's hair. 

"Do you mind?" 

"Not really. I've been trying to write you a song but I can't think of anything." 

"Have you played guitar before?" Lucy asked. 

"Of course, I used to play it a lot but then I got too wrapped up in keeping my reputation going." 

"That's a shame," Lucy looked at her feet. "I didn't know you were a fan of music." 

"I'm a big fan of music, I'm guessing you are too judging by this guitar." 

"My dad gave it to me, apparently it's been passed down for generations in my family." 

Matt suddenly put the guitar down safely. "Sorry, I didn't realise — " 

"It's alright," Lucy picked it up and put it on Matt's lap again. "You can play it if you want." 

Lucy rested her head on Matt's shoulder again as he played. He could have played for days and Lucy would never get bored as she stared up at the stars. In fact days could have passed for all Lucy could have known before she came back to her senses. 

She could smell that odd smell again, she had come across it every now and then for a long time. It was really starting to bother her as to what it was, it was like nostalgia because it kept coming back for more. Lucy leant back towards Matt again and sniffed his shirt collar. Matt looked at her and stopped playing the guitar. 

"What are you doing?" Matt frowned. "You're not a dog, stop sniffing me. It's creeping me out." 

"Do you use perfume?" Lucy asked him suddenly. 

"No, I don't use perfume." 

"Deodorant?" 

"Only when I smell really bad." 

"Are you wearing it now?" 

"No." 

"That's disgusting by the way." 

"OK." 

Lucy shook her head and tried to think so desperately where that smell was coming from. She sniffed the hoodie Matt had given her and she could smell that strange smell on the garment slightly.  

"Is it this?" Matt pointed to his cheek. Lucy leant in and felt rather awkward as she sniffed his cheek. 

"That's exactly it. What is it?" 

"My new aftershave. Well, I say new. I started using it as soon as I joined Hogwarts. Anyway, is it unpleasant?" 

"No, I like it. It's nice," Lucy nodded and then she realised something. Back on her first day of Sixth year Slughorn had asked her what she smelt in the love potion. 

"I smell...lavender, new books, apple and — "

"Yes?" 

"Nothing else." 

"Are you certain?" 

"Yes, Sir." 

The fourth smell was now clear to her. It was Matt's aftershave. But why had she smelt it on that day? Perhaps she didn't know it but she already had feelings for Matt despite his stupid attitude. 

"You alright?" Matt asked as he placed the guitar next to him. 

"Splendid. Have you heard of love Potion?" As Lucy presumed Matt shook his head and so Lucy explained to him. He soon understood. "I smelt lavender, new books, apple and your aftershave. This was on the first day of sixth year. Is that strange?" 

"A little but, hey, maybe you liked it even then?" Matt suggested. "We had met twice before then." 

"We had," Lucy nodded before lying down to look at the stars. "Look at the stars, Matt, they've come out for you." 

"No, they've come out for you." 

"You liked them long before me."

Matt didn't say anything as he held out his arm. Lucy moved closer and he put his arm around her. They gazed up at the sky in silence. Lucy suddenly remembered Zuc paying her a 'visit' yesterday morning and she panicked. 

"Matt?" Lucy asked suddenly. 

"Yes?" He turned to face her. 

"Remember I told you I was worried we wouldn't be together long?" 

"I told you — " 

"I know but I saw Zuc yesterday and he told me that he was going to kill you." 

"Lucy," Matt placed a hand on her cheek. "I told you before, I won't let anyone separate us. Not even Lord Zuc. Nobody can no matter what. I won't let anyone do that to spoil our happiness, this is our decision and nobody can change it." 

Lucy's voice turned quiet. "But what if the unthinkable happened?" 

Matt held her close and stroked her hair. "Shhh, it won't happen." 

"Matt?" She squeaked. 

"Nothing will happen to me, I promise you. I wouldn't leave you like that." 

"You promise?" 

"I promise," Matt whispered and kissed her on the lips. 

"You make everything sound OK." 

"Because it is OK. If you don't think about your worries, everything is OK. Stop worrying." 

"Thank you," Lucy sniffed and allowed Matt to enclose her in his warm embrace. 

"Besides, Zuc couldn't kill me," Matt grinned. "He couldn't handle all of this." 

Lucy sighed. "Believe me...he could." 

"Oh come on! What's he got on me?" 

"He's more than 6ft, he's hobby is killing people, his best friend is a vampire psychopath and he's probably designed more than 100 ways to kill me." 

Matt remained silent for a moment. "Lets steer clear of this guy." 

"Good idea, Sherlock," Lucy muttered before looking up at the sky again, hoping like Dean had that this moment could last forever. 

"You know we're not actually dating, right?" Matt winked. 

"Of course we're not," Lucy sat up, Matt copied her. 

"If that's the case then I'm leaving," Lucy pretended she was about to get up when Matt grabbed hold of her. 

"JUST KIDDING!" Matt laughed and kissed her again, the two truly were inseparable. 

And no matter what happened, they would be together.