It was a very busy time, to say the least at Hogwarts. End of the year exams had just ended luckily for Alexis, so she was packing some of her things to be shipped back to the manor early. Even though seventh year exams were done, and they could now relax before the graduation ceremonies, the rest of the school was still bustling with exam activity. Alexis was thankful she was about to leave, but hated that she had to go to the manor to prepare for another ball. Eve was already there and waiting for her, no doubt to rush her off to begin reviewing things before letting her rest before the second round began the next night. So with a last look around her now seemingly more empty quarters, Alexis grabbed her small suitcase and flooed to her house.
"Ah, there you are!" Alexis groaned as she stepped from the fireplace. Eve stood off to the side, obviously waiting for Alexis to return.
"What is it now?" Alexis asked, striding out of the room, hearing Eve follow her.
"Just greeting you in. You have some time to yourself this afternoon, Alexis, I'm taking care of the last minute details. Just relax. I believe the horses are itching for a gallop along the grounds?" Alexis didn't see Eve's sly glance in the shadows, instead going into her room and setting the suitcase on her bed.
"I think that's a good idea, actually," Alexis replied, staring outside her window at the grounds. "It's been a while since I've ridden."
"Lovely. Now, Father is out with some associates, and I'll be in the office if you need me," Eve said, grinning at her before waving lazily and turning to leave the room.
As Eve closed the door behind her she rushed back to the Floo room in time to see a familiar dark figure step out.
"Is there a reason I had to come early?" Severus asked dryly, glaring at the woman. Eve gave him a wide smile and crossed her arms.
"I thought you'd like some one on one time with Alexis before the ball."
"Favoritism, Miss Cullen?"
"Merely hedging my bets, Mr. Snape. There's nothing in the marriage clause stating I can't do that. She'll be riding the horses in a bit, so I suggest you get yourself settled."
"I have no doubt you'd have been in Slytherin had you gone to Hogwarts."
"I take it as a compliment, then."
--
It was a lovely breezy day on the grounds of Cullen Manor, and Alexis was currently in the stables, readying her horse for an afternoon ride. She was unaware of the figure who stood in the doorway watching her however. She hummed to herself as she finished hooking up the saddle and taking the reins, began to lead her horse from its stall. She jumped however when she heard a low, soft "Good afternoon" from behind her. Turning she smiled shyly when she saw who it was.
"Good afternoon Professor."
Quirking an eyebrow at her, he murmured,
"I believe we are past the point of you calling me 'professor' Alexis."
Flushing, she laughed,
"I suppose you're right. I was just about to go for a ride, would you care to join me?"
"Yes, thank you, I would." Alexis watched as Severus elegantly readied another horse before she realized something.
"I thought the Ball wasn't until tomorrow." The dark eyed man glanced up at her as he tightened the saddle gently.
"I have finished proctoring exams for the week, and your cousin had invited me to stay since the Floo here is sometimes strenuous."
Alexis flushed slightly before clearing her throat. She watched him unabashedly as Severus lead the horse outside where she was and mounted the horse in a fluid motion. Alexis mounted her own horse and the two began a slow canter around the grounds.
At first the silence between the two seemed awkward, both Alexis and Severus avoiding each other's gaze. Until it was broken with a quiet statement from Severus.
"I suppose you must find me somewhat likable since I was sent an invitation once again."
Turning her head, Alexis met Severus' gaze seeing his smirk. He had obviously meant it as a joke. Well wouldn't he be surprised?
"Actually, yes Severus I like you very much. You are an intriguing and interesting man."
That was obviously not the answer he expected. Smirking when he flushed a little and when his eyes widened, Alexis asked
"So, how about a race?"
"Wha-?"
Severus was cut off as Alexis spurred her horse, speeding off. Quirking a smile, Severus followed suite, not far behind. Oh, it was on.
--
"Well that was very cunning of you."
Eve jumped with a squeak and nearly fell off her chair when she heard a voice from the door way. Turning toward the source she saw her cousin with one eyebrow raised, mouth quirked in a smirk.
"Why I have no idea what you are referring to dear cousin," Eve replied before laughing as a pillow smacked her.
"Don't give me that! You know exactly what I'm talking about, you inviting Severus early. Very smooth."
"Why thank you," Eve smirked. "You don't seem very mad."
"That's because, fortunately for you I'm not."
"What does that mean?"
"Goodbye Eve. See you at dinner!"
--
By the time Severus had arrived at the Dining Hall at dinnertime, he was the last to arrive. Instead of the multitude of tables he'd seen previously from the first ball were gone, instead a medium sized wooden square table was in the center of the room. Eve sat next to her father, and Alexis sat across Eve's father. There was an empty chair next to Alexis, and he slipped in, ignoring the smirk Eve gave him as he placed his napkin on his lap.
"Father, this is Severus Snape, a suitor," Eve said to her father as they began to place things on their plates. "Severus, this is my father Nicolas Cullen."
Severus gave him a polite nod in greeting. Nicolas' reply was a quirk of his eyebrow to his daughter. Severus mentally frowned in confusion as Eve seemed to know what that eyebrow quirk was.
"The floo from Scotland is very tiring, Pater, you know that."
Nicolas merely nodded before tucking in to his dinner. Severus glanced to his side and saw that Alexis was already starting to eat, stealing glances at everyone. Eve seemed to be oblivious to the silence as she smiled.
"Is everything prepared for tomorrow, Eve?" Nicolas finally spoke. For some odd reason, Severus' spy instincts were on alert whenever he saw Eve's father, but pushed it down and filed it away for further contemplation.
"The grounds are immaculate and the menus for tomorrow are ready. It won't be as pompous as the last one, Pater. More intimate. There's only about fifteen men left," Eve answered, smirking at Alexis from across the table. Alexis answered with a warning glance and turned to wink at Severus. Which surprised the hell out of him, considering she did it in front of her uncle. Dinner after that seemed to pass in a comfortable situation, small discussions of current events popping up. But for some reason Severus couldn't relax himself fully with Nicolas there.
--
THANK GOD. Finally that stupid second ball was over. The dress Alexis had chosen to wear had at the time, been perfect. Not until she had walked into the ballroom that night did she realize her mistake. The dress showed her curves and only caused her to be looked at like a piece of meat by those who weren't already doing just that. Once again Severus had been the only good part of the experience, and this time they danced more than once and had a nice conversation. It was strange, but Alexis was beginning to very much enjoy being with her teacher outside of the classroom. Now the only problem was that she had to once more make a cut for the third ball. The only good thing was that this was the last cut and then….then she would have to pick a future spouse.
Days later, ensconced on her bed, Alexis had finally managed to whittle down the list until a group of four men were left. A witty scholar named Ammon Upton from Egypt was working with the Wizengamot as a consultant. He was a very learned man that made her laugh. The second one was an alumni from Hogwarts three years ago, Brad Chambers, a Ravenclaw, who did spell-work for a private business. He was on the Quidditch team in his years and Alexis shared many a discussion over the professional teams' chances during the ongoing season. The next suitor actually was a year above Eve at Beauxbatons, Henri Laurent, and the Frenchman had a quiet calming factor on Alexis. He managed to calm her down after one of the more promiscuous suitors attempted to grope her in the first ball.
Which then brought Alexis' thoughts to the final man on her list. Severus Snape. He seemed to be an amalgam of the other three suitors in one man. He was no doubt an intelligent and witty man, with a thorough repertoire of various different subjects. Alexis then remembered the times he was able to comfort her, both after her parents' deaths and the panic attack she had at the first ball. This was a different side to her Potions Master that she saw, a side she didn't see her first six years. With a sigh, she glanced down at the four names on the list. Her heart was a confusing organ. But then again, she was in this weird situation and no option other to find her best match in an allotted time.
An hour later, Alexis was leaving her rooms with the final list for her cousin when she saw a familiar flash of blonde hair. The Cullen heir paused. It couldn't be Draco, the hair was too long. It was when Alexis heard Eve's small chuckle that she realized it with a smirk. She snuck along the wall, tip-toeing closer to spy Lucius Malfoy standing peculiarly close to her cousin.
"It wasn't that funny," she could hear Lucius mutter. Alexis frowned, she couldn't see anything but the back of Lucius' head, however she could see her cousin's face. Eve gave the man a sympathetic grin.
"Of course not," Eve said back. The two stood there for a moment, and Alexis wondered if they would start making out. She was sorely disappointed, though, when the blonde man merely cupped Eve's cheek for a moment. But from the look in her cousin's eyes, Alexis knew that Lucius Malfoy did something right. Without a word Lucius departed down the hall, out of the Manor.
Alexis watched Eve stare after the blonde man, before smirking and stepping into view. "Got ya."
Eve stiffened and glared at Alexis, which in turn made Alexis cackle in delight. "I don't know what you're talking about," Eve said crisply.
A wide smirk bloomed on Alexis' face as she waved the paper she still held at her face like a fan.
"He only touched your face and you stare after him like a lovesick Gryffindor," Alexis murmured throatily, the smirk turning into a toothy grin when Eve refused to comment.
"I take it that's the final list?" Eve said, pointedly changing the subject. Alexis sighed and pouted. Fine. She would drop it, but she wouldn't forget this little interaction for later.
"Yes. I've got it down to four," Alexis answered, handing Eve the paper. She watched as Eve looked at the list, and Alexis could tell when she reached Severus' name, when hazel eyes twinkled. Alexis decided not to mention that the twinkle scarily reminded her of Dumbledore.
"Please tell me I can personally deliver Severus' invitation, Alexis," Eve said as she glanced up. Alexis chuckled as she threw an arm around Eve's shoulders.
"As long as I can rib you about your Victorian era-like courtship with Lucius," Alexis replied, watching as Eve blushed and protested weakly.
--
The knock on Severus' door was quite annoying, as it was a random staccato knocking on his door. With a growl Severus opened the door, catching Eve with her hand in the air, mid-knock.
"What do you want?" he growled. He didn't like the smirk she gave him. He was confused when she didn't breeze past him into his quarters like usual.
"I'm playing owl today," Eve said brightly. The growing suspicion in the back of Severus' mind alerted him. She couldn't be delivering what he thought she was delivering.
"You play owl everyday, with all that annoying chirping and nipping," Severus retorted, smirking at Eve's glare.
"Congratulations Severus Snape," Eve said, thrusting an envelope at the Potions Master. "You're in the final stretch!"
"Where did you learn that disgusting muggle saying?" He growled, snatching the envelope and breaking the seal.
"Pater and I went to America for a summer. I found it interesting," She replied, inspecting her nails as he read through the invitation. "You do know what this means, right Severus?"
Dread filled his being when Severus glanced back up at the Lumieux heiress. "What?"
The smirk made him cringe. "More shopping."
