Disclaimer: I am not nor will I ever be JK, I am simply playing with her wonderful characters and not nearly doing them enough justice.
Chapter 10 You have to take me to the ball twice…
December 17th 10:45am
"Don't you want to stay for the holidays Michael?"
Michael rolled his eyes, "What is the point the ball is only open to those in fourth year or above unless they invite a younger student, I would rather be away from here and the craziness."
"But everyone else is staying."
"Not everyone, look I will see you when the holidays are over," Michael picked up this trunk heading out of the dorm room.
The trip down to the train in the carriages was short there were only a few students who were not staying at the school, the majority of the third years were hanging out in hope that they would be asked to the ball so staying behind and it was only a few students from fourth year and above that were chosen not to attend the ball and head home for Christmas instead.
Sitting in the empty compartment Michael stretched out though he smirked when the door opened and Natalie, Mark and Samantha stepped in closing the door and placing a ward in Samantha's case, "I thought you were staying?" Michael sat up slightly for Samantha to sit down.
"I did not want to attend the bloody thing twice," Samantha laughed softly, "Anyway a prefect needed to be on board and I am the only one."
Natalie giggled resting her head against the window as the train pulled away from the station, "At least this makes our lives a little bit easier."
"true we don't need to sneak around or out to get to our own Christmas party tomorrow night," Mark laughed pulling out a deck of cards.
"nor do we need to sneak out for the two we are due to attend tonight…"
Kings cross Station 5:30pm.
As the train pulled into the station the group packed away their belongings all still with smiles on their faces, their parents were all waiting standing close together or in the case of Michael Sirius was waiting for him smirking, "how was your term?"
Michael rolled his eyes at the question, "Boring really."
Sirius smirked nodding to the other parents before leading his young charge away, "Boring really, well we may have to just change that then."
"Maybe a trip away," Michael smirked softly taking hold of the out stretched arm, "You know see something different... Too bad harry could not join us."
"Maybe I should take you to Stockholm," Sirius smirked before turning on the spot, "And I believe my godson has other things on his mind, speaking of which do you know who he is taking to the ball?
The hall of the manor was devoid of any of the usual suspects Michael letting go of his guardian arm and looking around, "Bloody strange being here without them all and in answer to your question no I don't Natalie might have a better idea though, ask her."
"They will be here soon enough you are all leaving from here this evening," Sirius banished his trunk up to the bedroom, "You have an hour I would go get yourself ready Milord."
"Worried about the firing thing Sirius?" Michael laughed softly.
"Go get ready brat you are running out of time."
Hogwarts Slytherin Common Room, 6:45pm.
"Would you go to the ball with me?"
Kayleigh swung around at the voice finding one of the 7th years watching her having just asked the question, "Sorry?"
"I asked Rosier if you would go to the ball with me as my date?"
"Sorry I can't," Kayleigh spoke quickly, "I am already going with someone…"
"Who?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes it does, who are you going with?"
"Look I have detention we can talk about this later and you need to find someone else, like I said I am already going with someone," Kayleigh shook her head picking up her cloak from a nearby chair.
"Who are you going with Rosier, tell whoever it is you cannot go with them you are going with me."
"You want me not to go with my boyfriend?" Kayleigh raised an eyebrow, "Surely you realise I am seeing Eike unless you are blind as well as deaf and stupid?"
"Kay?" Eike stepped into the room his cloak already in his hand, "We have detention."
A snort met their ears, "Sure you do, Vanderwild Rosier cannot go with you, she is going with me to the ball."
"For the last time Voltner I am going with Eike," Kayleigh snapped barging past him and out the common room door.
"And just who do you have detention with?" Voltner sneered as Eike went to follow her out of the common room.
"Professor Snape, did you want to go check with him?" Eike returned the sneer seeing the boy follow him.
Severus looked up as three of his students entered the classroom where he was waiting and had been waiting for the last five minutes, "Mr Voltner is there any reason you are here?"
"They have detention with you Sir?"
Severus saw Kayleigh's hand clench into a fist knowing there had to be a story behind this, "They do, even given the holidays starting so unless you want to find yourself scrubbing cauldrons along side of them I suggest you return to the common room," Severus snapped coldly seeing the boy take his leave before the door was closed wards falling into place, "Would either one you like to tell me what that was about?"
"The idiot cannot take no for an answer," Kayleigh hissed, "Eike you are taking me to the ball… twice."
"Twice?" Severus looked between the two.
"Someone needs to escort me in twice don't they? So either Eike gets the job of the second time around or you do," Kayleigh smirked seeing the startled faces, "Now," she dropped the glamour over her clothing and hair revealing she was ready to go as she took the potion sitting on the desk, "Can we please just get tonight over and done with?"
December 18th 7:30pm, Oakroom, London.
"How many people actually work for us?" Natalie asked quietly hearing the multitude of voices behind the closed doors.
"Last count was 45 including the new trainees," Remus answered seeing the stunned expressions making him laugh softly, "We also informed them they could invite their families, your 'guards' are also present though surprisingly they did not invite their families and nor are they included in the count of employees you currently have."
"How did you get them all out of the school?" Samantha asked brushing away a non-existent piece of lint from her dress.
"They are all still at school like these two are still at school," Remus answered the questions seeing the nervousness of the group making him smile, "Everyone out there is here for one reason to have a good time, just enjoy yourselves tonight."
"Fine let's get this over and done with," Kayleigh sighed, "I still have a detention to serve."
"It's holidays," Samantha looked curiously at her.
"Apparently hexing another student still lands you in detention during the holidays," Kayleigh answered smirking ignoring the growl that fell from Severus' mouth as he joined the group from a side door.
"Why did you…"
"Later," Kayleigh grinned as the doors were opened silence falling over the room as they made their way inside smiling, "Merry Christmas everyone," she addressed her employees.
..
There was laughter through the room as the Alliance made an effort to stop at each table speaking to various employees most of which had never been in the room with them before, waving away the constant bows – honestly it did start to get on their nerves especially from people they were paying to do the jobs that they did. But once the hush of their arrival had past the music had started back up along with the conversations all those present seeming to be having a good time.
"Walk with me," Samantha linked her arm through Kayleigh's as they walked slowly around the room their voices soft, "So why is he so pissed at you?"
Kayleigh laughed softly her eyes glancing over to where Severus was standing speaking with various new trainees, most of who had only just finished school the year before though of course they had no idea that they were speaking with their pervious potions master, when Severus became Lord Proclotect his whole demeanour changed not just his appearance. "I hexed the shit out of a 7th year when he would not take no for an answer," Kayleigh smirked softly.
"From which house?" Samantha paused turning to face Kayleigh slightly her voice still soft.
"Mine," Kayleigh grinned picking up a glass of champagne from a tray close by, "In the middle of the great hall."
Samantha paused her eyes going wide before soft chuckles fell from her lips, "I am sure that went down well and when did this take place?"
"Lunch," Kayleigh grinned sipping from the flute, "Voltner is currently in the hospital wing where apparently he will be for the next few days."
Samantha laughed shaking her head, "I am sad I missed that."
"I am pretty sure I can show you the memory later but at the moment I think it best that I make a quick escape," Kayleigh handed her the glass of champagne unlinking her arm and quickly slipping away as Severus reached Samantha.
Samantha smiled softly at her professor taking a sip out of the glass seeing his eyes narrow slightly but not willing to make a scene before he plucked the glass out of her hand giving it to a passing waiter, "I don't think you have given me the honour of a dance yet Claudius," her voice was soft and filled with laughter as the mans eyes narrowed more watching the retreating back of the high lady.
"Of course Patrice," Severus bowed taking her hand and leading her onto the dance floor.
..
"Severus is pissed at you," Remus caught Kayleigh arm as she went to pass leading her onto the dance floor so she could not escape his voice barely above a whisper, "Care to tell me why?"
"What are your feelings on hexing an idiot who does not understand the word 'no'?" Kayleigh asked resting her hand on his shoulder.
Remus stiffened slightly his eyes quickly glancing over her, "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"Not what you are thinking and no I am not hurt," Kayleigh sighed feeling his arms relax slightly as they continued with the dance, "a 7th year in my house would not take the answer no to myself attending the ball with him, even after it was explained I was going with someone else and with my boyfriend."
Remus gave her a curious look, "Your what?"
Kayleigh laughed softly as she was twirled around before Remus pulled her close again, her voice still barely above a whisper, "My house is under the assumption that given Eike and I disappear regularly we are together my year does nothing to dispel that rumour, nor do we ourselves attempt to dispel it."
"But you're not…"
"Remus, do you really want to speak about this?" Kayleigh smiled brightly her eyes sparkling.
"No I believe that is one area of your life I did not need to give advice on nor is it one area I wish to give advice on," Remus shook his head before sighing softly, "So you said no then what happened?"
"After I had repeatedly said no and after not as much sleep last night as I would have liked I snapped," Kayleigh sighed, "But I believe he got the message, and Severus is just pissed as I snapped in the Great Hall in front of the student population and professors, not a place where we could cover it up but my nerves were frayed it is becoming a long yule season."
Remus snorted softly seeing the man in question moving their way, "You will have to tell me the rest later, Milady," he bowed slightly, "Milord."
"You have no problems if I cut in Remus?" Severus smirked his grip tightening slightly on the shoulder of the 'woman' before him.
"None at all Milord, Milady thank you for the dance," Remus smiled stepping away nodding once to both of them.
"Say one word," Kayleigh hissed as she was elegantly spun around, "And you will find out exactly what hexes I used."
"You are letting your temper get the better of you these days," Severus ignored the threat, "I have managed to get your detention moved to myself count yourself lucky."
"So I can what scrub your cauldrons, how about you do that yourself…"
"Beatrice…" Severus growled in warning as they passed another couple dancing on the floor, "Remember where you are."
"I know exactly where I am Claudius," Kayleigh returned the growl.
"I believe it is time we left," Severus held in his next growl.
Kayleigh went to argue but nodded instead, "I believe you are right."
"I did not mean all of us," Severus spun her once more coming to the close of the dance.
Kayleigh nodded again as they broke away from each other lowering her head slightly, "I will go say my goodbyes."
"Do I shall be waiting by the doors," Severus nodded once moving across the dance floor.
December 24th Hogwarts.
It felt like a herd of hippogriffs had run through her mouth as Kayleigh slowly opened her eyes finding herself face down on her own bed in the dorm room, the other curtains were still drawn around the beds. The Alliance Yule Tide Ball had been the night before once again with close to 750 guests attending the manor, though it was not the ball that had her feeling like death warmed up it was the party that had ensued after the guests had left potions taken leaving a group of students wanting to party and party they had. Kayleigh had vague memories of Severus informing them as the sky started to lighten that they were all required to return to the castle, flicking her wand for the time she sighed seeing it was only 11am.
-J.A.S.Y.-
The great hall was filled with a multitude of voices from across the years though each 6th year who managed to attend breakfast if anyone had looked closely would have noticed a few of them were drunk, lunch held a few more 6th years all of whom seemed to be dead on their feet most nursing sore heads. Severus smirked from his seat, they had warned the group the night before a few times it would be better to return and go to bed but of course their 'high lady' aka one 6th year who was currently supporting her head at the Slytherin table had actually overruled him.
A small owl landed before him as he went to start his lunch, the morning post had already arrived so this surprised him slightly taking the offered scroll he watched the bird fly off before opening the missive after checking it quickly for any curses or charms.
Unless you want us to arrive at the Ball tonight and make utter idiots out of ourselves, we will all be waiting for you in the ROR for not only pepper up but also a hangover cure, deny us this and I will make your life a living hell.
B.K.
Severus read the letter a few times before looking back to his house table seeing one set of eyes on his that were slightly blood shot, he nodded once to the request seeing the head lower again though the mouth mumbled something to the person next to her. She had been right in one respect this group would not last the night without the help of potions.
Tri-wizard tournament Yule Tide Ball, Hogwarts Great Hall.
"Do we arrive before or after them?" Kayleigh yawned as they waited in the entrance way for the doors to open, various students meeting up with their partners.
"Huh?" Eike opened his eyes, "I am in no condition to do this twice…"
"Take this," a disillusioned voice hissed behind them, the cold voice of their head of house as he slipped something into Eike's pocket, "Without being seen."
"What is it?" Eike yawned softly.
"Triple strength pepper up potion," Severus answered, "Now before the rest of you make fools of yourself, I need to give this to you all and Mr Vanderwild, Miss Rosier, Detention every night for the rest of the holidays."
"whatever," Kayleigh muttered slipping her arm through Eike's leading him away from the waiting students and into a nearby empty classroom surprised to find the younger members of the Alliance waiting for them though they were already aged up, "What time?" Kayleigh whined as Eike fished out the two potions handing her one.
"The Ball runs until midnight so unless you two sneak off before the end…"
"That can be arranged," Eike smirked, "very easily."
"Just do not do anything that will make Severus want to kill you both and you need to pass the message onto him…"
"He already knows," Claudius spoke from behind them his eyes narrowed at the two sixth years, "Make that detention for the first 3 weeks of term as well."
"What the hell did we do?" Eike looked bewildered.
"You will know when you do it."
"Claudius stop," Beatrice's voice sounded as she entered the room from the far door with Edward by her side looking slightly amused.
"My brain cannot handle this…" Kayleigh shook her head looking at 'herself', "Why do you look alive yet I feel dead…"
"The potion has not kicked in yet," Beatrice answered softly, "You two need to leave now before Albus comes in here."
"How do you know…"
"Kay come on, don't argue with yourself it becomes confusing enough," Eike shook his head leading her out of the room and back down the corridor as the Headmaster turned the corner looking over them both, "Sir."
Hogwarts great Hall Yule Ball 9:58pm.
If it was not for the potions that the potion master had handed out the majority of the 6th years would have dropped like flies by now, even with the extra strength potion in their veins a few were passed out quietly in corners where it seemed the Alliance 'guards' quietly escorted them back to their dorms placing them into bed.
Severus patrolled the garden that was lit up deducting various points from various students and threatening others quietly literally to hex them if they did not stop what they were doing immediately. Hormone ravaged teenagers who had somehow managed to sneak alcohol into the ball did not bode well for a good night, he was surprised therefore when he saw the Alliance stepping out onto the ground their cloaks wrapped back around them while their guards moved forward carriages appearing before the group disappeared. Turning the next corner of the garden his eyes narrowed as he took in the couple before him, "Just what the hell do you think you are both doing," his voiced hissed.
"Something you are interrupting," Kayleigh turned her head slightly from her position backed up against the wall with Eike's body pinned against her own.
"are you two insane?" Severus hissed coming forward, "You are…"
"Oh for fuck sake Severus we are not having sex!" Kayleigh hissed.
"Miss Rosier you dare address a professor by their given name?" Professor McGonagall's voice spoke before she came into sight.
"We are about to both say something that will make him want to kill us both aren't we?"
"Something that will score us three weeks of detention," Kayleigh nodded.
"On the count of three? Eike whispered as the two professors closed in on them.
"One… Two… Three…"
"Well it's not our fucking fault if Severus likes to watch us especially considering that we are…."
"YOU TWO INSIDE NOW!" Severus roared cutting them off before they could finish yanking them both towards the doors.
"I think we know why now…" Eike spoke quietly as they walked quietly in front of their head of house, "Sir it is time to go backwards."
Severus' glare intensified, "What did you just say Mr Vanderwild."
"See you three hours ago," Eike smirked softly the two breaking off into a run down the hallway.
Three hours previously.
Kayleigh and Eike listened to the conversation going on in the room just before them while they downed their potions each with a small smirk on their face, they heard the threat fall from Severus' mouth before they made their entrance, "Claudius enough," she spoke entering the room with Eike seeing the eyes narrow and glare at her, yes this would be a fun evening to say the least.
"My brain cannot handle this…" Kayleigh shook her head looking at 'herself', "Why do you look alive yet I feel dead…"
"The potion has not kicked in yet," Beatrice answered softly her eyes once again glancing to the irate potions master, "You two need to leave now before Albus comes in here."
"How do you know…"
"Kay come on, don't argue with yourself it becomes confusing enough," Eike younger version spoke before leading her out of the room.
"I want a word with you two…" Severus growled moving forward.
"No time for that," Kayleigh dismissed him easily enough, "Headmaster thank you for the invite to this great event."
Yule Ball Dinner.
"You're only picking at your meal," Michael spoke softly nudging Eike's arm.
"We ate before," Eike growled softly, "And the potion is wearing off."
"Why does Severus want to kill you both suddenly?"
"For something we are going to do in just under two hours," Eike laughed softly picking up his goblet of wine.
"What did you do?"
"we played into the rumours," Eike smirked standing up and excusing himself from the table leaving wide sets of eyes behind him while 'Claudius' looked murderess.
An hour later.
There was too much dancing this night, the first round and now the second round they had to play through once more. The potion was truly wearing off some of them, Claudius was softly directing various guards to lead certain students back to their dorms and put them tobed, meanwhile if anyone had been paying attention they would have noticed the number of guards had dwindled slightly with the asleep students, they had done the turn in two shifts so some were now enjoying well attempting to enjoy if they had not fallen asleep the ball as their younger selves while others were running around as the Alliance guards but their energy was starting to wane now.
"You look wrecked," a voice spoke softly in Kayleigh's ear as she took a seat her head turning slightly to see Harry.
"This is my 7 hour here Harry," Kayleigh spoke softly making sure they were not overheard.
"Would you offer a school Champion a dance?" Harry grinned.
"Planning on stepping on my feet again?"
"I'll try not to," Harry stood up offering his hand ignoring the looks they were getting as he led Beatrice onto the dance floor.
"Next news article headline, 'The-Boy-Who-Lived sweeps our high lady off her feet'."
Harry scowled seeing the laughter in her eyes, "Place nice or I will turn you over to someone who wants a dance off you."
"So have you told anyone about figuring out the clue yet?"
Harry shook his head, "They all think I am still trying to figure it out they would think it is cheating if they knew I already knew…" his voice was the barest whisper.
Kayleigh nodded glancing up at the clock, "That's my cue to go," she spoke softly breaking away from the dance as Harry bowed.
"Thank you Milady for the honour."
Kayleigh nodded, "enjoy your night Champion Potter," her voice carried before she turned walking back across the room the rest of the Alliance falling in behind her, Severus playing catch up slightly as they walked outside her eyes casting a quick glance over to the garden, "We'll take you all back then come back by then we have gone."
"Then we shall be having a talk," Severus growled as they stepped into the carriages which took off for the gates.
"Then I shall be going to sleep," Kayleigh glared taking the antidote to her potion, "And sir do not try to fight me on this otherwise the castle will come to my defence."
"We shall speak," Severus hissed taking his own potion.
"Maybe but not today."
Severus narrowed his eyes as the tension in the carriage was turned up, "There will be no maybe about it Miss Rosier."
"As there will be no possible way we will speak about it today, Sir."