Entry for the „Unusual Ships Challenge" - Rolanda Hooch/Severus Snape
ABBA – Does Your Mother Know. A prompt given by SlenderPanda
Entry for the „Halloween Collection Competition" – prompt: 28. Attending a Halloween themed party
You could see this as a loose continuation to my drabble „What's Another Year" :)
I hope you enjoy it! :)
The pub "The Three Broomsticks" in Hogsmeade was full, just like at any other time of the day. But today, it was as if all the people had to pile up to fit into the taproom. It was Madam Rosmerta's annual Halloween costume party, a event that was highly anticipated by people from the village and from all parts of the country alike.
On this evening, the pub would be decorated with carved pumpkins, spider webs and tombstones.
Among the people attending it nearly every year were some members of the Hogwarts staff and one of these teachers who were rightly euphoric about it was Rolanda Hooch.
The youngest witch of the staff just loved to think of new costumes every year and had yet never missed out a single year since starting to teach at Hogwarts.
Yet again she was making her way through the crowd, dressed in a black cat costume that was revealing a fairly large amount of skin, turning the attention of many wizards towards her. She was holding two glasses of Firewhisky in her hands and carefully carried them towards the table which Aurora Sinistra and she had secured earlier.
"Oh my, finally, I started to fear that I had to die of thirst over here," the Astronomy teacher exclaimed as Rolanda sat down, shoving one glass over the table.
"It's has never been this full before, I was nearly stuck on my way to the bar. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Their glasses clinked against each other and the two witches both took a large gulp from their drink.
"Oi, Ro, don't turn around, but you will never believe me who is here," Aurora suddenly whispered, gripping Rolanda's wrist. "Severus!"
"What?!"
Despite Auroras earlier words, Rolanda turned around because she just could not believe that it could be true – Severus Snape, the king of social isolation, being at a costume party?!
It was unbelievable, but still she saw him there, standing at the bar, talking to Madam Rosmerta.
"We must be dreaming...," she mumbled and blinked a few times, but even after that, Severus was still there.
"What is he doing here?," Aurora wondered and Rolanda grinned:"Let's find it out!"
"What? No, Ro... stay..."
But Rolanda had already left her place at the table and walked through the crowd towards the black-clothed figure of Severus Snape.
Alcohol always made Rolanda a bit reckless and that it was Severus who she was addressing did not bother her at all.
"Hey, Mister Mystery, does your mother know that you're out?," she breathed playfully into the Potions Masters ear and she grinned to herself as he actually jumped by her sudden appearance.
"Would you please take your hand off my backside?!," he asked stiffly, his jaw cracking slightly while he turned his head to look at the Flying Instructor.
"Oh, excuse me, someone pushed me forwards," Rolanda winked, moving her hand away.
"Yes, of course," Severus growled dryly.
"So, what are you doing here? Finally wanting to have some fun?"
"No. I just wanted to refill my Firewhisky store. I will be gone as soon as Rosmerta has my bottles ready."
Severus did not exactly look comfortable in the crowded bar and he actually seemed to be on the edge of his nerves as Rolanda was pushed into him by people passing by.
"Sorry," Rolanda breathed and a shiver was running down her spine as she found herself being surrounded by Severus' body heat – and under his interested stare concerning her costume.
"Like what you see?," she smirked and was delighted how she caught him off guard with her comment.
"I... I should be going...," Severus stuttered, grabbing the bottles that Rosmerta had just put on the counter in front of him and stormed out of the pub.
"Oh my... he is so close to cracking open...," Rolanda muttered to herself with a satisfied grin before she ordered some additional drinks.