Chapter 10

Tuesday came quick and everyone made there way down towards the stadium for the first task. Brianna sat next to Draco like always and they waited for it to start. Brianna glanced around the arena and saw Snape and Moody sitting in the teachers box right in her line of vision. She waved and Snape who nodded back she also got a wink from Moody. She smiled slightly back to him and noticed Snape glaring at him he saw the wink.

Finally the task started and Cedric Diggory was up first. He transfigured a rock into a dog to distract the dragon. It worked up until he grabbed the egg and got burned trying to escape the dragon. Fleur was next she dodged flames for a while till she got a good shot and charmed the dragon to sleep. It worked till she got her skirt caught on fire when it woke back up. Krum was next and hit the dragon with a hex. It work long enough for him to get the egg but it smashed the other eggs in the nest and they took points off for that. Then last but not lest was Harry Potter.

He came out and had to face the meanest dragon of all. He spent a long time dodging it's tail and flames getting tossed around on the rocks. Finally he was able to summon his broom stick and used it to fly around confusing the dragon until he swooped down and grabbed the egg. In the end Potter and Krum tied for first place.

December crept on everyone quickly and the weather was bitterly cold. Care of Magical creatures one day turned crazy. Everyone was standing in the pumpkin patch shivering there asses off when Hagrid brought the 10 Skrewts that were left out that were now 6 feet long along with a bunch of crates lined with pillows and blankets.

"I'm not sure whether they hibernate or not. Thought we'd jus' try and see if they fancied a kip….we'll just settle em down in these boxes." Hagrid said.

"We'll just lead em in here and put the lids on and we'll see what happens." he told everyone.

"He freaking crazy." Brianna said looking at the ugly creatures she'd like nothing better than to kill all of them with a well placed killing curse.

They all tried to get the creatures in the boxes but apparently they did not like the idea of being nailed into a box lined with fluffy pillow. They soon turned mean and rampaged through the pumpkin patch blasting everyone. Hagrid was yelling for everyone not to panic but it was too late for that.

Draco grabbed Brianna and hauled ass into his cabin with everyone else and locked the door watching as the golden trio and Hagrid tired to calm down the viscous creatures. The Slytherins laughed as the stupid Gryffindor's got burned and stung as the robed all but one and put them in the boxes.

"Merlin this class is a danger to my health." Brianna said and everyone agreed even the other Gryffindor's that took refuge with them.

Some ugly women with horrid glasses interrupted them just as they got the last Skrewts in the box and started talking to Hagrid.

"Who the hell is that." Brianna ask.

"Rita Skeeter. She's the one that's been writing all those stories in the paper." Draco told her as they looked out the window.

"Let's go this place stinks." Brianna said and everyone followed her back outside and back to the castle.

That night Snape dropped the bomb on everyone. He came into the common room after dinner where everyone was sitting and called order.

"Everyone quite down." he said and everyone immediately shut up. Brianna and Draco where sitting on there couch with Nyx wrapped around Brianna's neck and a book in her lap. She looked up when Snape called attention.

"On Christmas eve as a part of the tradition for the Tri wizard tournament Hogwarts will host the Yule Ball." he said. Some girls cheered most of the guys along with Brianna groaned in horror.

"Yes I know very exciting. Now dress robes must be worn and tomorrow we will gather for dancing lessons. As representatives of Slytherin house I want all of you on your best behavior doing your house proud. Lessons will be after dinner in the great hall don't be late." he said then turned and left. Brianna went back to her book.

"What do you think about the ball." Draco ask after a few minutes of silence.

"I really don't care about it." she waved him off.

"Who do you want to go with." He ask.

"No one." She told him and he laughed.

"Who are you going to ask." Brianna ask him. He shrugged.

"Probably Pansy I know she'll say yes even though I really don't want to spend the entire evening with her hanging off me." he said wrinkling his nose.

"You could always ask Granger." Brianna joked then fled to her room when he aimed a hex at her.

The next day all the fourth years sat in the great hall on one table leaving a huge area for practicing. McGonagall, Snape and Filch were there to teach them. McGonagall gave a speech about dancing is like breathing that everyone made fun of. She called on Ron Weasley to demonstrate which caused the Slytherins to snicker.

"I don't want anyone laughing. Everyone will get up and dance before this is over. Severus perhaps you should choose one of your students to demonstrate as well." McGonagall said. Snape look like he rather kill her first for calling him out before he ask Brianna to join him. She rolled her eyes but complied. She wasn't scared she knew how to dance better that most people thought.

She stood in front of Snape and put on hand in his and one on his shoulder while he put his other around her waist. Filch started the music and they began to move. Snape was a great dancer and they spun around the room like pros dancing circles around Ron and McGonagall.

"Your a great dancer Brianna." Snape told her after dipping her down then back up.

"Thanks you too." she told him as they finished. Everyone clapped for them and McGonagall had them split into partners. Brianna and Draco partnered up quick not wanting to be stuck with someone with two left feet. After that the weeks leading up to the ball were pissing Brianna off. Everyone from all four houses and even the other school was asking her to the dance and she turned them all down. She only wanted to go with one man but that was impossible so she decided she wouldn't go with anyone and just dance with whoever she felt like.

She was coming out of Potions one day when Marcus Flint decided to try a go at asking her.

"Brianna can I talk to you for a minute." he ask when she was the last out the door.

"Sure." she said.

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to the ball with me." he ask like she should be proud he ask her and she was already annoyed with this question.

"Actually Marcus I'm not going with anyone. I just want to be able to dance with whoever I want. Thanks for asking though." she said smiling.

"Ok sure save me a dance though." he said before walking off. Once he was gone she groaned out loud in annoyance. She heard someone chuckling behind and she turned to see Snape standing in his doorway.

"What are you laughing at." she ask him scowling.

"He looked so put out." he told her.

"Yeah well I'm starting to think about skipping this whole ball thing and stay in bed. I have turned down I don't know how many people and it's pissing me off. I have no idea why they all want to go with me so bad." she said stomping her foot.

"Probably because your new and beautiful." he told her. She snorted at him.

"Right. Well bye." she said rolling her eyes. He started at her retreating back wondering how the hell she doesn't know how beautiful she really is.

Getting ready for the ball everyone in the castle was excited. Brianna was more excited about going home the next day. They were waking up on Christmas and meeting there parents in Hogsmead to apperate back home for the reminder of the holiday.

Brianna dressed in a little black dress that her aunt had bought her. Brianna wore a lot of black more than any other color. She had on black heels and her hair half put up and half following down to her waist. She had her necklace on that she never takes off along with a diamond bracelet and ring to match and her eyes were Smokey like always. With one last look in the mirror she was ready to go.

"Wow you look great Cuz." Draco told her when she met him Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle in the common room.

"Thanks lets get this over with." she said and they walked into the great hall together and took a seat at an empty table. After eating the tables disappeared and the champions started out the dance. After they made there way around the floor a few times Dumbledore and McGonagall went out to let everyone know they could dance as well. Slowly people started filling the dance floor. Brianna moved out of the way and watch everyone dance.

"You look beautiful tonight Brianna." she heard a silky smooth voice behind her. She turned to see Snape behind her in nice dress robes.

"You do as well." she told him before turning to watch everyone dance again. She noticed Karkaroff watching her from the other side of the room. She tensed when he made his way over.

"Dance with me Severus." Brianna ask.

"Why." he ask her. She nodded towards Karkaroff and he took the hint and lead her on the floor. They stood close together and moved in perfect harmony around the floor. Brianna loved the feel of being in his arms and he felt the same but neither ready to admit that. After the song was over they parted ways and Brianna spent the next several hours dancing with a lot of people. Several boys Draco pulled apart from her when there hands began to wonder. When her feet started hurting she decided to take a walk outside.

She started down the bridge to the garden when she heard Snape's voice.

"I don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor." she heard Snape say and he sounded really annoyed.

"Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening! It's been getting clearer and clearer for months. I am becoming seriously concerned, I cant deny it." Karkaroff said anxiously.

"Then flee, flee. I will make your excuses. I, however am remaining at Hogwarts." Snape said curtly.

Snape was blasting away rosebushes apart with his wand and kids were running and squealing.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw, Fawcett!" Snape snarled as a girl ran off with a boy running behind her. " And ten points from Hufflepuff, too, Stebbins. What are you two doing?" she heard Snape say. She crept around the pillar to watch as he glared at Potter and Weasley with Karkaroff behind him.

"We're walking. Not against the law, is it?" Ron said shortly.

"Keep walking than." Snape snapped at them and they all but fled away. Once they were gone Karkaroff started up again.

"What are we going to do." Karkaroff ask.

"Do what ever you want but I don't know what your on about." Snape said opening a black carriage to look inside.

"Really then you wouldn't mind rolling up your sleeve then." Karkaroff said reaching to grab Snape but he pulled away wand aiming at him.

"You are scared Severus and don't you dare they to deny it." Karkaroff told him. Snape stepped forward mincing it sent shivers down Brianna's spine.

"I have nothing to be scared of Igor. Can you say the same." Snape said coldly. Karkaroff turned bright red and Brianna thought it best to step in.

"Is everything alright gentlemen." she said coming out of the shadows walking up towards them. They both turned to look at her. Snape lowered his wand.

"No of course not Brianna." Snape said to her. Brianna raised an eye brow to Karkaroff waiting for an answer.

"This isn't over Snape." Karkaroff said before stomping off.

"What's his problem." Brianna ask Snape as they started to walk down the garden together Snape still blasting bushes.

"He's scared because the dark mark is growing darker. He wants to flee." Snape said rubbing his left arm.

"Can I see it." she ask him and he stopped to look at her.

"Why." he ask.

"I just wanted to see if it was the same as Barty's." she told him. He sighed for a minute before pulling her behind a large tree lighting his wand and rolling up his sleeve. She got a good look at it and it was beautiful. A skull with a snake tongue. It wasn't black yet but grey. She ran her fingers over it lightly. He jerked at first but didn't pull away. She looked up and saw his eyes closed as she lightly stroked it.

"It's beautiful." she whispered taking her hand away. He opened his eyes and looked at it too.

"Yes I always thought so as well." he replied pulling down his sleeve.

"Last dance everyone." they heard Dumbledore's voice over the speakers.

"Guess we should be heading back." Snape said and she nodded following him back towards the great hall parting ways at the door. Brianna ended up dancing with some 7th year from Ravenclaw she never seen till tonight. He was wearing the strangest cologne she had ever smelt and he was really touchy feely it made her uncomfortable.

When the dance was over and she escaped the Ravenclaw boy and made her way to the bathroom before heading towards the common room. When she tried to take a short cut she ended up in a deserted corridor near the kitchens. She turned right and headed back down the right direction when someone put a hand around her mouth and another around her waist and drug her into the classroom. She was defenseless without her wand. She left it in her room tonight not thinking she would need it. She trashed around and tried to scream put he was too strong for her. She noticed the smell of the weird cologne and knew who it was. The idiot Ravenclaw.

"You teased me all night and now I'm going to punish you for that." he said into her ear. She got flashbacks of her adopt father saying things to her like that too before he would touch her and make her touch him. Tears started falling down her cheek wishing to god that someone would save her.