Holy crap?! Am I really back?! Yes ladies and gentlemen! TCT is officialy back in the Hogwarts fanmania! I'm sorry about the long...okay INSAINLY LONG WAIT AND MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT MY STORY! ANd that's okay, I deserve it. But because I had another idea for a SS/OC story, my sister forced my to finish up this one before I post the other one. She said she liked this, not sure why...

Anyways, you'll notice that Dusty seems to change her character a little (or a lot) during the next few chapters and this one. My poor attempted at Character depth. She has a couple different layers to her and she tends to act really childish most of the time (if you couldn't tell from the previouse chapters) so she's learning to grow up in a sense. Chapters get darker from here on out (though this one isn't dark) It's the next chpater is dark.

Yes, I have already written the next chapter and am working on the ninth. I want to get this done and, even though I'm rushing, I'm still trying to get everything to make sense and flow right. If Snape is OOC then I did a crapy job and please point it out. I think that with the tips I've gotten from Invaderk he should be pretty much in character if not :shurg: sorry.

ON TO THE STORY YA'LL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!!!


It's Called Unorthodox For A Reason
Chapter Seven:

The Ball and a Dance

The Christmas Ball was upon them! Dusty ogled at the amazing decorations that covered the Gryffindor hall. Giant Christmas tree's where decorated in red and gold. The trees themselves had been enchanted to turn from red to gold as their decorations mirrored the opposite color. If the common room had been decorated so splendidly, she couldn't imagine what the main Hall looked like.

A group of ghosts phased through the wall singing Christmas carols. They where off tune, really off tune. But it was nice to see even the dead people could enjoy the holidays.

Now if only I could get Snape to act more like the ghosts. Dusty blinked. Where on earth had that come from? The dark haired professor hadn't been on her mind since the start of the holidays. So why, of all times, did he push his way to the foreground of her thoughts now?

She shook her head, trying to physically rid herself of her current state of mind. It's time to enjoy being a kid again! I don't need to think about stiff people who couldn't enjoy a good party if it bit them in their pale, skinny butt!

Dusty pushed a piece of hair from her face. She scanned the crowed of Gryffindors for a familiar group of people. After missing them twice, she spotted Harry and Ron- looking quite uncomfortable- standing by a large Christmas tree. She called out to them, waving her arm. Harry looked up and smiled but Ron seemed too- stiff to do anything but stare at his feet.

"Ron, you look like you're about to die. What's wrong?" Dusty couldn't see what was causing the boy to act so- unlike him.

Harry looked at his friend and grinned. "He asked Hermione to be his date."

Ron's face went bright red. "Harry! You promised not to tell!" he hissed.

Dusty grinned. "Ah, so that's what had your stomach in knots. A girlfriend."

Ron groaned. "I knew you would tease me. That's why I didn't want to tell you about it."

Dusty was sad that the boy didn't feel like he could trust her but she didn't blame him. She had a tendency to tease without thinking about the victim's feelings. She put her hand on his shoulder. "Sorry Ron. I do tend to tease don't I? But I wasn't teasing you just then. I had a feeling that something had happened with Hermione, she couldn't stop smiling this whole week."

Ron looked up at her, eyes hopeful. "Really?"

"Yup. She wouldn't tell me why but she would break out in a fit of happy giggles. That's normally a good sign that the girl is looking forward to the date."

"Hey Ron!" Ginny came down the stairs waving at her brother, Hermione right behind her.

Ron stiffened. "Well, here's hoping."

Dusty patted him on the back, grinning like a fool. "Go get 'er handsome."

Ron moved his lead feet towards the girls. Hermione smiled at him and took the arm he offered, leaning her head on his shoulder. Ron's face went bright red but Dusty could see the huge smile on his face.

"They're going to be fine Harry," the woman reassured the teen next to her. Harry looked up at her with a small smile.

"Yeah I know."

"You don't sound too happy."

Harry shrugged. "I'm happy for them but I've been feeling a little drained lately. Just tired I guess."

Dusty frowned. "Has your scar been hurting you?"

Harry stared wide-eyed at her. "How did you know about my scar?"

Whoops. Forgot I'm not supposed to have read those letters intercepted in his fourth year.

"I heard that you had a problem with it back in your fourth year. Rumors you know? But you can never be too careful."

Harry seemed to relax. He shrugged. "It hurts once in a while but not very bad. Just a tingle. I get enough sleep but I'm always tired the next morning."

"You should get a dreamless potion from the Mediwitch. Just to see if that helps."

Harry thought for a second, like he was weighing his options. "Maybe…"

Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville, the latter two had their arms locked together, walked up to them.

"We're ready!" Ginny announced.

Dusty and Harry followed the two couples out of the Gryffindor common room and into the brightly decorated hall. Dusty glanced at Harry. His hair was even messier than usual and his eyes where a brighter, richer green. Probably because of the green shirt he wore under his black robes.

Dusty tussled his hair. "You're looking really handsome as well Harry."

The boy's face flushed and he mumbled a thank you. She couldn't stop herself- he was just too cute! She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek.

"You're sweet too. Don't worry about tonight either, I'm sure you'll have fun!"

Harry gave her a genuine smile, hand resting lightly on where she had kissed him.

XXXXXXX

The music turned from upbeat down to a slow, dance song. Dusty watched Ron lead Hermione out on the floor and Neville pull Ginny off her seat to follow them. She couldn't help but admire her work on their dresses.

Hermione was in a soft blue dress that barely kissed the floor, letting her cream colored heels peek from under it. A long slit went from the floor to the middle of her thigh and a light cream sash wrapped loosely around her waist and fell to where the slit stopped. Her neckline was under her collarbone and the tops of her shoulders were visible. See-through material was hung off the back of her shoulders like a long, shinny cape. Hermione had enchanted her hair to stay in a tight bun with ringlets hanging down.

The girl looked wonderful dancing next to the red head in a black tux, light blue shirt and no tie. Dusty wondered how long it would take the boy to find out his ugly yellow shirt and tie had been changed. Dusty gave herself two points in the stealth department. Though the lack of observation on Ron's part was probably due to the beauty he danced with.

Ginny looked just as beautiful. Her dress was a dark maroon dress, emphasis on the black sparkles that were splashed here and there. Her neckline dipped into a low V and her long sleeves where loose and followed her movements like they where designed to. She didn't want a slit but the top layer of her dress, which was made of an almost net like material, was very flexible and flashed its black sparkles every time she walked. Her long hair was down, the very top pulled into a loose bun.

Neville's eyes hadn't left her once since they started dancing. Dusty couldn't help but smile at how hard the two boys had falling for their dates. It was wonderful to watch. Harry, on the other hand, just sat quietly beside her, watching his friends have fun.

"Why don't you go see if you can find a girl to dance with Harry?"

Harry's eyes snapped to her, like she had startled him. "Huh? Sorry, I wasn't listening."

That's odd, she thought but dismissed it. "I asked if you where going to go find someone to dance with?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I'm fine sitting here."

An idea popped into her mind and she grinned. "Hey, Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to dance with me?"

"With you?" The woman pouted and Harry quickly tried to save himself. "I mean, why would you want to dance with me? I'm sure Professor Lupin wouldn't mind dancing with you."

So that's his game is it? Dusty was sort of amused that he was attempting to get her to go with the professor. Not that she wouldn't mind, but she wasn't the type to go asking the man to dance with her. She was too proud to do that.

"You don't want to dance with me?" she asked again, pushing the boy's resolve. Harry's eyes ran over her, making her crack a smirk. What was going through his teenaged mind, she didn't want to know but it was cute to watch his face turn the shade of the Gryffindor flag.

"T-that's not it, it's just, err," he looked away, running his hand through his hair.

"Just so you know, 'err' isn't an answer."

"Okay. Sure. I'll dance with you." He refused to look at her, which caused her smirk to widen. Ah the joys of flirting with ones younger then you.

When the next song came on, Harry stood up and held his hand out to her. She took it with a smile and let him lead her out onto the floor.

Harry was actually a very good dancer. Dusty wasn't sure what to expect but the boy was rather good at leading and she followed his steps with ease. At the end of the song, Harry spun her out un-expectantly and pulled her into him causing her to laugh.

"That was a very bold move," she commented as they made it back to their seats.

Harry smirked. "But it was worth it."

She cocked a brow and smiled at him. "Would you like to dance again sir?" She held out her hand.

Harry grinned and was about to take her hand when someone else grabbed it. Dusty looked up and grinned at Dumbledore.

"Well hello Headmaster!"

Dumbledore smiled at her and turned to the boy next to him. "Harry, would you mind giving up your dance partner for a few songs?"

Harry shrugged then bowed to Dusty. "See you in a little while Miss Dusty."

She laughed and curtsied. "Of course Sir Harry. I shall be back."

Harry ginned. "I shall await your return."

Dumbledore led Dusty through the crowed, gently weaving his way through. "Your dress if very beautiful tonight," he commented.

Dusty looked down at the sleek black material. "Thank you. Hermione and Ginny helped me pick it out."

"Very becoming. I do believe he will love the colors," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"And which 'he' would this be?"

Dumbledore ignored her question.

She noticed he was leading her up to the Head table where the professors where sitting. Her curiosity peeked. The only male professors that where sitting where Flitwick- hopefully he wasn't who the old man was talking about- Hagrid and Snape. Hagrid would crush her if she dance with him and, though he was nice, wasn't at all her type and Snape—he would probably kill her if Dumbledore tried to get him to dance with her.

To her dismay, Dumbledore veered towards the end of the table, right where Snape was sitting.

Please don't do this to me, she begged. Dumbledore looked back at her, smiled and gave her hand a light squeeze, like he was reassuring her.

Snape noticed their progression and narrowed his eyes. Dusty felt the heat radiating from his gaze and she looked at her feet. How did Dumbledore expect her to- wait, maybe he just wanted them to talk? Yes! That was it! Dumbledore just brought her all the way over here to talk with him…while slow, dancing songs where playing…

Talk, yeah right, get over it Dusty, yer doomed.

"Severus! Just the man I wanted to see!" Dumbledore said cheerfully as he stopped in front of said man.

Snape gave a curt nod, glaring eyes never leaving Dusty. "Dumbledore."

"Severus, would you mind dancing with Miss Ellard for a few songs. I think it would do both of you some good."

Dusty swore her heart stopped. Please say no, please say no, please. Say. No!

For the first time, Snape's eyes looked at the old man. "I do not think that it would be wise."

Dumbledore smiled. "And why would that be?"

Snape looked back at Dusty and she had to ask herself just exactly why it wouldn't be a good idea. She wasn't good enough? Probably, if the way he's looking at me is any indication.

"She is a student."

Dusty almost laughed out loud. It was because she was a student? Yeah, a twenty-nine year old student. How very studently like!

Dumbledore must have thought the same thing because he shook his head and 'tisked'. "Now Severus, how very unlike you. In all the years I have known you, you have never made an excuse."

Why did she suddenly get the feeling that Dumbledore was manipulating him? And why did she just know that she wouldn't get out of this even if she begged?

Snape stood up and rounded the table. He looked at her a moment before holding his hand out to her. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and, since he was still holding her hand, placed hers into Snape's. Next thing she knew, she was being gently led out onto the dance floor.

Her breath caught in her throat when he turned to her and bowed. She curtsied and held out her hand. Snape took it and put his other hand on her waist. She instinctively put her hand on his shoulder, noticing that it was rather well built.

Who would have known with that cape he wears all the time?

Dusty couldn't help but marvel at how easily Snape led her in the dance. This was nothing like the dances back in America where you stayed in one spot and swayed. He was actually leading her in a ballroom dance. She never took him as the type who would go out to the type of parties that required ballroom dancing.

"Where did you learn to dance?" she asked, giving him a puzzled look.

"I do not think that is your concern," he replied coolly.

Dusty looked down. "No. You're right. Sorry."

After pondering a few moments, she recalled being briefed on the Professors that she would meet. Snape was…didn't they say he had been suspected of being a Death Eater? Without meaning to, her eyes flickered over to his left arm. She wondered what was under the black material covering his forearm.

Strange, for being a supposed Death Eater, he's really gentle. Her face became warm. Why the heck am I blushing?!

"Did you do this to slander my reputation?"

It took her a moment to realize what he was insinuating. "Why would I want to slander the powerful Severus Snape's reputation?" She couldn't believe she was using sarcasm on him! What the heck was wrong with her brain?!

"And that prank you pulled was…?"

He had her there. Why did she do that? She couldn't even remember why it had seemed like a good idea… "…Slanderous? And by 'this' you meant dancing? Don't put this on me. Dumbledore was the one who dragged me over here."

"You do not sound too pleased," Snape said gruffly.

"Neither do you," she retorted, "But I don't think I mind it that much anymore."

Her eyes grew wide and she looked down. Why did she just say that? Did she even mean that?

Oh yeah, a nasty little voice in her head responded, you're loving it. You like the way his hands feel and the way his shoulder-

She quickly shut the voice off. That was the last thing she needed. Her own mind going against her.

Snape had grown quiet. Curious, Dusty looked at his face and gasped when she met his eyes. They where staring at her intently like he was searching her for something.

The music died and a fast song started to play. She looked into his eyes a moment longer, searching him just as he had, until he broke their contact. He pulled away and bowed slightly to her.

"Good night Miss Ellard." Then he walked away, leaving Dusty in her black and green dress behind.