"I think integration is inevitable. Are we ready for it? Not necessarily, but it will happen." Hermione finished her statement with fervor.
"I'm not saying that it won't happen, but if it ever does, you can bet your grandmothers wand that it won't be welcomed warmly." He sniffed. "The chances of it happening in our lifetime are slim to none. Our Ministry won't allow for it. The other governments aren't exactly encouraging of our kind, let alone hospitable." He groaned when he finished. Hermione had asked his opinion of an article she had read, one that suggested combining Muggles and the Wizarding World. A pipe dream, but there were still too many wizards wary of non-magical folk, and too many Muggles who'd feel their race as superior, consider the magical folk freaks, and begin a world of hate all over again. The conversation had lasted a better part of an hour, Severus realizing that her tongue could be just as sharp and as quick as his. "They don't spend enough time with us to even know what we're like! We hear of our Minister visiting on occasion, but have they ever once shown interest in stepping through our floo?"
"You hold a valid point." Hermione agreed. Severus sighed and pushed his chair back. She looked at him curiously as he stood.
"I'll make a round for you." He would have gladly continued the conversation, but he had caught the worried eye of Minerva for the third time in the past five minutes being aimed at them. He was glad to leave the ball; the laughter of the students beginning to sear his ears, and when he found himself wandering a staircase he noticed that his thoughts had blindly remained on Hermione. He had to admit to himself that he had come to respect her more since the start of the day, though she had still proven to be an insufferable know-it-all through their last conversation. Still, it didn't seem to annoy him as much as it should have. She did have an addicting smile, a warm one that when aimed at him, felt genuine. There were times he found it easy to feel like it had just been the two of them sitting there, not surrounded by juveniles and loud music. The night was turning out to be pleasant and maybe this bet was not that bad at all.
There were voices, angry ones that hit him as he opened a door to travel outside. Two boys were fighting, a girl in tears standing beside them, clapping her hands and demanding them to stop. Severus marched right up to the two who had taken to wrestling on the floor, and pulled on the first robe he could. Yanking him back, Severus glared into a freckle faced red-head wearing a maroon and yellow tie under his dress robes. The other boy, a brown haired boy wearing simple dress robes, scuttled to his feet, reaching out for the one in Severus's fist, but he stepped between them.
"Stop this nonsense immediately." He ordered. All three children looked at him curiously. Severus lifted his chin, eyed each one over his crooked nose, and turned, keeping a tight hold on the one he had grabbed.
"He started it." The boys said.
"It is no interest of mine who started it. Taking you straight to McGonagal where she can sort it out."
The faint whizzing sound of a spell happened before Severus could stop it, and he felt himself zapped. His grip tightened on the boy's robes and he turned, revealing his teeth. The boy looked startled, shocked even, and his skin turned even paler under Severus' eye.
"I...I..." The boy began, but Severus didn't let him finish.
"All of you. With me."
...
He carried the boy, lifting him up so he was barely walking on his tiptoes and entered the great hall. The students all paused in dancing and talking only to look at the group, a few of them laughed loudly, while others sniggered behind their hands. Fingers were pointed, elbows were nudged into neighbors, until the place fell silent, save for the music. Severus marched through, not paying them any attention until he reached the table where Minerva sat, holding the boy at arms length. She was busy looking at food on a plate in front of her, and looked up, smiling, only to have it falter into shock, looking from Severus to the boy, back to Severus. She nearly choked on the bite she was chewing, and rose from her seat, dabbing at the corners of her mouth with a napkin.
"These two boys were found fighting in an upper corridor." He explained.
"We didn't mean to!" The boy in his hand protested.
"I definitely didn't mean to." The boy behind added solemnly.
"Fighting in the-". Minerva had worked her way around the table, and Severus dropped the boy to his feet beside her. He shot him one warning glance, the boy staring in shock back at him. He raised an eyebrow, turning his head back to Minerva, who had put a hand to his face. He raised a hand to swipe it away, but she grabbed it, studying it closely and then looked at the brown haired boy.
"I-I'm sorry." He began shaking, slinking back to escape, but Severus reached out a hand to stop him, grabbed him by his shoulder and dragged him to stand closer.
"I was aiming for Troy, and this man stepped in the way. It wasn't supposed to hit him, honest."
The quietness that had fallen was soon broken when one giggle gave way to many bellowing laughs, and Severus could do nothing more but stand there.
"What is going on?" He asked, growing aggravated up until Minerva grabbed his hand and held it up in front of his face. Then...well then he just became angry. The natural pink of his skin was no more. His hand, fingers, and even his fingernails had looked to be painted a lilac and purple plaid. His other hand was the same, and he found it stuck on him when he attempted rubbing it off. He glanced up and around again, the student body now freely showing their amusement at his cost, he didn't need to ask if the skin on his face suffered the same treatment. He turned, pushing aside those who stood in his path as he made his way to the doors.
"Severus! Severus, wait!" Minerva called from behind him, but he didn't slow. The only thing that stopped him was catching his reflection in a window. Still aged, the thick purple plaid lines traced the few wrinkles around his eyes, the lilac color making him look sickly. He grabbed at his face, knowing very well rubbing wouldn't take it off, but tried anyway.
"Severus." Minerva was nearly at him now, something Severus did not want. He much pined to be alone, away from anyone. Yet, she reached him and turned him around to face her.
"What?" He snapped. She only jumped back a little, pressing her lips together hard enough that it was evident she was hiding a grin. At this he drew himself up, hovering over the Headmistress and narrowed his eyes.
"Go ahead." He said through gritted teeth. "Laugh, I'll give you five seconds to get it out of your system."
"Ridiculing you is the furthest thing from my mind."
Severus rolled his eyes, certain she was fibbing.
"I'm certain Poppy has a remedy." She said. "Why don't we make our way to the infirmary?"
"I'm sure she has." Severus glanced around the hallway. "And I'm certain those idiots will be severely punished, however, I'd much rather heal in the comfort of my own home."
"It'll only take a minute." She said, now frowning as he raised a hand and began to walk away.
"What about Miss Granger?" She asked after him. This made him pause, his stomach sunk at her name. The night had been going so well yet he feared to face the girl as he was. Even after his skin would be cleared, he was positive he saw and how could he remain in good spirits knowing that? Whirling around, Severus took a few long strides back to Minerva, both arms raised.
"What about her?" He asked. He knew very well that Hermione had better sense than to point out the obvious flaw he had developed, but pride had bested him. There was no way he'd be able to let her see him like this, let alone finish the night if he was stuffed in some murky old infirmary.
"She'll be wondering where you are." Minerva clasped her hands together, resting them comfortably on her hip. "Just come to the infirmary, we'll set you right, and you can continue your evening."
"I doubt she's even noticed my absence." He stated soundly. Minerva sighed.
"With an exit like yours, it would have been hard to miss."
Severus, flustered, turned once more and began toward the exit. Minerva gasped, the sounds of her dress robes swishing as she raced to catch up.
"Severus!" She called after him, chuckling. "All in good jest, Severus. I didn't mean it. Severus? Severus!"
He didn't let her stop him this time. In fact, he had half a mind to turn his wand on her, give her and give her the same time, but it would have only kept him there longer.