A/N: Wow this ended up being longer than I expected, very glad I did it in two part now. Anway here comes all the action of the 'Yule Ball' hope you enjoy. Thanks very much for all of your R&R's I really appreciate the support xx Happy Valentines day!
Christmas Gifts
Eva practically floated down the stairs from the Ravenclaw tower, heading for the Great Hall. Her small and reasonably civil encounter with Cole had left her in rather a good mood, surprisingly seeing as she was still a little put out about having to endure the ball alone but at least he believed it was purely out of choice and not simply necessity. And come on anyway Eva, you wouldn't have said yes if anybody did ask you. You know who you want to be there with really.
She pouted at her thoughts, why did her own brain always seem to have a way of sabotaging her happy moods. But she could look at it logically, she would be there, he would have to be there too. They could easily talk, nothing strange about that in a teacher/student relationship, and then they'd see just how good his control really was. Eva wasn't usually filled with that much confidence, but she was pretty sure that Severus would adore her in that dress, managing to be both sexy and classy at the same time would just have to appeal to him.
The buzz of noise from the Great Hall signalled to Eva that the ball must already be getting into the swing of things. A low hum of music could just be heard beneath all of the excited voices and as Eva rounded on the door she could see the swirls of many coloured dresses and robes as people danced around the floor. Wow they really are keen, dancing already it's only just started.
Eva peered around the Hall a little anxiously before she finally stepped inside, taking in the scene and also wondering if Severus was already there or not. He was, she eventually spied him sitting amongst many of the other staff members at one of the large circular tables that were dotted around the edges of the hall. His face was a careful blank mask but Eva noticed the sourness that curled the corners of his lips, he really didn't want to be their either.
One thing that could be said for him however was that he did look exceedingly handsome in his dress robes. Black of course, since when would he wear anything but, smart and perfectly tailored right down to the many buttons that adorned the military style front and high collar. It suited him perfectly and took Eva's breath away just how perfect a different set of clothes could make him appear, now she'd seen him looking like that perhaps it would not be his control that would be tested but hers that would be ripped to the very point of breaking.
Realising suddenly that she was standing and starring, goggle eyed but thankfully with her mouth closed, Eva straightened herself up, took a deep breath and finally ventured inside the large wooden doors. She skirted around the edges of the dance floor, weaving around the tables. There was a refreshments table near the back of the hall and that would be her intended destination, but not before she'd strolled past the staff tables of course.
Walking carefully in the heels she was so not used to wearing, Eva approached the large table around which a number of her Professors were sat including of course Snape. But it was her Head of House, Professor Flitwick, who noticed her first. Bouncing up off of his seat, looking like an excitable and jolly imp, he beamed at her as she passed grasping her hand and shaking it in delight.
"Ahh Eva my dear how good it is to see you here." He chimed brightly. He'd always been an excitable little man but Eva couldn't help but feel that he'd been at a little too much of the mulled wine. "But all alone, Cole not with you this evening?"
At those words Eva's face fell, did she really need to be reminded of the fact that she was alone and how could he not have heard about what happened with Cole had Severus not informed him why the boy had a months worth of detention to serve? "Thank you Professor," She managed to smile, "And um, no I'm here by myself." Short and simple did she really need to explain any more.
"Oh, well never mind. Hope your in the spirit of the season and in for an enjoyable evening." He added hastily, nodding a little too quickly as he went back to his seat.
"Yes, of course." She nodded, for the first time looking up and catching Severus's eye. Just how long had he been staring at her with that hungry look on his face?
It had been a while, she'd been too distracted with Flitwick to notice his reaction when he first realised who it was standing there. His dark eyes had widened in surprise, when she'd said she had the most wonderful dress she hadn't been kidding, far more grown up looking than most of the frilly things the other girls had chosen to dress in. And the colour, that deep, emerald green…it was the colour of hereyes. It couldn't have been any more perfect and the gift that he had brought for her would complete it.
Eva grinned and nodded at the table in general before she swirled away and headed towards the refreshments table. "Are you quite alright Severus? You look rather uncomfortable." McGonagall's voice chimed from beside him as he watched Eva wander away.
"What?" He frowned, dragging his eyes away from her form in that dress and forcing himself to look to the woman beside him. "Yes I'm fine Minerva, formal occasions have never particularly suited me." He forced a contemptible smile to his lips just before he stood to leave the table. "Think I will get a drink, excuse me." He didn't wait for a reply as he turned and headed in the direction that Eva had gone, he just couldn't help himself.
Eva had perused the drinks and decided she would brave the punch. She ladled herself out a cup full and raised it to her lips, the smell caught her first and wrinkled her nose the strength of the alcohol fumes were surprising. But she should have known, someone always spiked the punch.
"That dress must have cost a pretty penny." She heard Severus suddenly purr in her ear. She'd never even heard him sneak up behind her. His breath ghosted across her bare neck and back causing her to shiver and goose flesh to rise on her skin and she was sure neither was from the cold.
But she composed herself and smiled up at him, even in her heels he was taller than she was. "You like it?"
Severus smirked as he stepped to stand beside her and made a show of pouring himself a drink. "Rather a redundant question don't you think?"
At this Eva frowned, a strange reply but she should have known she wouldn't get a straight answer from him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, does it really make any difference? What would you do if I said no?"
"Yes it does make a difference." Eva said a little haughtily, she didn't like the way he was responding to her very simple question, especially as she had brought the dress with him in mind. "If you said no? Well then I'd just have to take it off I suppose." She shrugged, replying airily but failing to hide the mischievous smirk that came to her lips.
Severus closed his eyes for a brief second willing himself not to picture that scene as he raised his drink to his lips. He took a deep swallow from his glass before replying, "Really? Well then you'll be happy to know that yes, I do like it." He smiled one of his very rare and genuine smiles as he took in her appearance once again. How that colour was perfect for her, setting off the red of her hair and matching…but no, the trail his eyes made up her body stopped at her face at the bright green eyes that were wrong. He felt terrible for thinking that way and Merlin knew that after all their time together he did care something for Eva herself but it was almost shameful to think that had it not been for her resemblance to Lilly those thoughts would never have even crossed his mind.
Still he was not sure how much of the feelings he had were for Eva or were for what her image represented to him. This was something he was going to have to figure out and soon, because anymore nights like this and he just may not be able to stop himself from stepping over that line.
"Good, I am glad," Eva smiled at his eventual admittance to liking her dress. "Because I brought it with you in mind."
She was considering his feelings and his approval when shopping for that dress? See that is something Lilly never would have done, she'd never have cared enough to consider your feelings in something like that. Those thoughts were telling Severus that he really needed to get to grips and deal with this problem he was having, she deserved far better than what he was offering her so far and he knew that he just could not allow things to go any further until he knew if it was really Eva that he cared about.
Just about to open his mouth and reply to her they were interrupted by Flitwick, still squeaking excitedly but apparently unable to remain in his seat anymore. Now he was buzzing around forcing couples onto the dance floor just as the band struck up a slow dance.
"Come along now Eva time to get into the spirit of things, onto the dance floor with you." He said tugging her arm and trying to throw her into the crowd of swirling bodies. But his small stature made it somewhat difficult as Eva resisted him.
She laughed slightly at his insistence but shook her head. "But Professor I've got nobody to dance with, I'll look peculiar trying to slow dance on my own."
"Oh, umm right you are." He said a little stumped for a moment, looking around frantically for someone with whom he could force Eva to dance with when suddenly his eyes fell on a slightly amused looking Professor Snape. "Ahh well here we go, Professor Snape will dance with you." He said making an effort to shove Eva towards him, "Can't have a lady going without a partner now can we Severus." He beamed.
Snape's face quickly flicked back to horrified, though he would certainly love to take Eva in his arms a) it was surely a bad idea and b) he didn't dance. "Now Filius I'm not sure it would be appropriate." He began to protest but little Professor Flitwick was having none of it.
"Nonsense, now off you go. All in the spirit of the holiday." With supreme effort he managed to jostle Eva and Severus onto the dance floor where they were swept up in the flow of other dancers, having to move just to keep from being trampled on.
With a sigh Severus took her hand and placed his other sedately on her waist, hers rested upon his shoulder. The gap between the two of them was huge, perhaps both compensating a little too much in wanting to keep some propriety and to resist the urge to step in any closer. They twirled around the dance floor, neither seeming to have nearly as much fun as the other oblivious couples around them were having. Would that song ever end?
"This is like slow torture." Eva muttered softly.
Severus was inclined to agree but he was intrigued to know just why she felt like that? "Why? Is dancing with me so awful?"
"To dance like this is." She replied, needing no more explanation to tell him just what she meant. The gap between them that a bus could fit down just begged to be closed and to touch him and yet not feel him was almost too much to stand.
After what felt like an age the song finally ended. Everybody stopped dancing and clapped for the band, Eva and Severus stopped along with them, their hands falling back to their sides but two pairs of eyes locked with such longing. Eva felt it become a struggle to breathe, a reaction he had on her so often and yet never before had it felt quite so difficult as it did at that moment. "I…I've gotta get a drink." She muttered quickly turning away and stalking back towards the table where they had started.
Before he'd realised just where she had gone to the band had started up again and Severus had to fight his way though swiftly dancing bodies all moving in time to the faster song that was then being played, and by the time he reached Eva again she had already downed two cups of the alcohol laced punch and was starting on her third.
Getting drunk is a bad idea Eva. That little voice in her head that always seemed to talk so much sense told her, too bad she very rarely would listen to it and this was one of those times that it was ignored. Bad idea or not drunkenness was looking very appealing right at that moment.
"Eva you have a nasty habit of running away from me." He muttered over her shoulder making her jump and spill her drink.
"Shit." She exclaimed as the sticky drink ran down her arm. She fumbled for her wand to clean up the mess and then poured herself another drink. "Yes, I seem also to have a habit of landing myself in sticky situations at all the wrong moments." She replied, chuckling slightly at the sticky comment. Hmm maybe the alcohol in the punch was stronger than she thought.
She tipped the drink down her throat and then reached to pour herself another but Snape snatched the cup out of her hands. Nobody just downed fruit juices like that, suspiciously he raised the cup to his nose and instantly caught the smell of alcohol and something else, a potion perhaps to speed along the drunkenness, fun little concoctions for parties that would make the drink go further but in the hands of a room full of teenagers. And it would certainly explain Flitwick's strange behaviour.
Eva pouted as he snatched the cup from her hands, "Hey… that was mine." She said, her words rapidly becoming slurred.
"Eva, you are drunk." He said sternly, "Go outside and get some air, now." Severus demanded, turning her and pushing her off in the direction of the doors.
"Drunk, no way I only had three…can't be drunk this quick…is just not possible."
"Go!" He commanded and she obliged, slinking away muttering something that sounded like, 'bossy boots!"
Snape then sighed, he should have known something like this would have happened, it always did but this was the first time he was in any position to need to stop it. Taking out his wand he cast a nice little vanishing spell over the punch bowl and replaced it with a new, alcohol and potion free one. Now if there were someway to catch the one responsible for that little trick.
Outside the hall Eva had headed towards the tunnels around the courtyard, they were open on one side but covered enough to protect you from the elements. But not from the cold. The blast of December air hit her hard as she stepped outside if anything making her feel drunker still. Her vision blurred slightly and she had to sit down for fear of falling flat on her face.
"Whoa maybe this was a bad idea." She muttered starting to feel rather worse for wear. What in the hell had been in that punch?
A sudden inane giggling caught her attention and Eva slowly turned her head in time to grimace and Cole and his bimbo strolled down the tunnel. Just who she didn't want to see.
"Hey Eva, saw you dancing with the Professor back in there. So desperate you've got to take pity offers now?" He cackled, stopping to leer down at her. "What you thought I believed your? little act that you were going alone out of choice? Spoke to a few people, heard nobody had even asked you." Cole sneered nastily down at her and Eva just could not find the words to throw back at him.
To make matters worse his new girlfriend looked Eva over, a look on her face like she'd stepped in something unpleasant. "You know you look terrible, maybe you should go to the hospital wing." She chimed in her high pitched voice.
"I'm fine." Eva scowled at the pair of them. "And I did choose to come alone." Futile and wasted retorts but it was the best she could come up with, her head was beginning to pound.
"Right, whatever you say Eva," Cole shook his head, "Don't feel bad, just because nobody wants my cast offs at the moment doesn't mean they never will. Who knows, someone might get desperate."
Eva had no reply, she dared not even open her mouth because she could feel the tears pressing at her eyes and knew that nothing but a sob would escape her lips. How could she have gone from feeling so good about herself to like a pile of refuse in such a short period of time.
"Was there something you needed Mr Gilmore?" A cold voice suddenly startled them all.
Cole looked up into Snape's face with a look of utter contempt, "No Sir, I've said all I need to say." He sneered down at Eva before throwing an arm around his dates shoulders and leading her away.
Once they were out of earshot Eva finally allowed the tears to flow, the sobs were no longer present though, given over to moans of frustration. "God I feel like shit."
"Yes, the alcohol was laced with a potion. Can make you drunker faster but will also make the drinker sick. Here." He explained in a very blank and to the point manner and then handed her another cup of something. "It's a slight antidote, will at least stop the sickness."
Eva took it without a word, she had been ready to refuse it the idea of another drink making her want to vomit, but something that would help stop that feeling was a blessing. She downed the cup in one, it tasted foul, but then most potions that were good for you did, and instantly began to feel some alleviation in her headache. Now if only it could work on her self-esteem like that.
"Feel better?"
"Well, I don't feel sick anymore at least." She said with a sigh, slumping against the wall of the tunnel.
Severus frowned, there was something more wrong with her than simply what she had been feeling earlier in the hall and he was pretty sure he knew who the culprit of that feeling was. "What did he say to you?"
Eva shook her head, "Nothing I haven't heard before, guess I just assumed he'd have given it up by now. But he seems to be back on it with a vengeance." She sighed and tried to sniff back the tears, she was sick of crying because of Cole he was so not worth it.
Severus felt strangely protective of Eva as she sat there looking so forlorn and vulnerable. "Want me to give him another months worth of detention?" He asked, hoping to coax a smile back to her face.
She did smile, it was certainly a nice thing to offer and though she was tempted to say yes Eva eventually shook her head. "No, I don't expect it would do much good. I think only a personality transplant could possible save him now." He could perhaps help her to boost her self esteem though.
She looked up into his deep, dark eyes, her own wide with hope and sparkling with the remnants of tears. "Just tell me you think I'm pretty." She said. It was perhaps a stupid and childish request and perhaps it was the alcohol that was still raging in her bloodstream talking, but to simply know that he thought she was pretty could somehow make it all seem far more bearable.
Such a simple request it caused a low chuckle to come to Severus's lips. He sat down beside her and, checking that there was nobody else wandering around the tunnel at that moment, pulled her hand into his and grazed a kiss across her knuckles. "I don't think you are pretty Eva, I think you are beautiful. A concept I could never expect an immature little boy like Cole to ever grasp."
His words brought renewed tears to her eyes, nobody had ever said anything so beautiful to her in her life. She leaned across to kiss him, taking no care to see if there was anyone around who might see them and he let her, for a moment. But he knew the danger that they could be in and quickly pulled away from her.
"Eva we cannot to do this here."
"I know I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself."
Severus stood back up again and motioned for her to follow him. "I have a gift for you, I intended to save it for Christmas but I think it would rather complete your outfit."
***
"Albus did you see that?"
"Yes Minerva I did." Dumbledore smiled jovially at his colleagues horrified tone.
"Well, what do you intend to do about it?"
"Do Minerva? Why nothing of course, what is there that I can do?"
"But Albus she is a student, this sort of thing cannot go on. If the governors were to find out why there would be hell to pay. He would lose his job for certain and if they found out that you knew about it well…"
"Please do stop worrying Minerva, a student she may be but she is 'of age' and I don't for a second believe that anything untoward has gone on between them." Dumbledore replied in his soft voice that held years of knowledge and insight.
"Maybe not yet but where exactly do you think they are going? And that girl, well she is drunk hardly in her right mind."
"And that is precisely what causes me not to worry." He nodded.
McGonagall frowned at the Headmaster, "I'm sorry Albus but I am sure that I don't follow."
"I would trust Severus with my life. Young though he is still in age in worldly experience he is not, unlike many men his age I do not believe for a second he would wish to take advantage of drunken young lady." Dumbledore said proudly as he watched the couple return to the castle, "Selfishness has never been a trait of his. Besides after all of the hardships he has faced he could do with a little happiness."
Dumbledore turned his glinting eyes towards his Deputy Headmistress, she was still frowning and looking disgruntled at the situation. Yes it was rather a taboo subject and would not normally be tolerated, but under those circumstances he was willing to let it slide. Besides as he had said, he was almost certain nothing much more than the fleeting kiss they had seen Eva give to Severus had happened. He knew just how careful Severus was being these days, the prospects of finding another job should he lose this one were slim.
"Oh alright Minerva, if it bothers you that much I shall speak with them about it. But not tonight, don't want to dampen the Christmas spirit now do we."
"Hmm." Was the simple reply that McGonagall offered. She still did not like it, but then when had she ever known the Headmaster to be wrong? If he said he would speak to them then she knew he would, and if he trusted them both to not do anything stupid and ruin both of their futures, well then so would she. For that night at least. "I do hope you're right Albus."
***
Eva followed Severus back through the castle, down the winding staircase to the dungeons and along the familiar corridors that she knew led to his office. Though her mood had certainly sobered she felt very much that she hadn't, she had to walk slowly and carefully down the stairs. She stumbled and number of times and in the end Severus gave up and took her arm to support her as she walked.
He unlocked and opened up the door to his office and guided her inside, lighting the lamps around the walls with a flick of his wand. Eva stumbled across the floor and landed in one of the chairs beside his desk, mentally she blamed her shoes but in truth she knew that it was the drink.
"A lesson perhaps that drinking is bad for you?" Severus said as he closed the door and looked her over scrutinising her giggling form, now slightly dishevelled but still just as beautiful. It made him think that, to see her like that and still have the same pangs of attraction and desire for her, the feeling he did have must be, at least in some part, for Eva herself and not just the image of her.
"Yes indeed, a lesson I should pay dear attention to." She said with serious look on her face. "And yet one that I shall probably never learn."
Severus simply shook his head. "Maybe I should not have given you that antidote and let you experience the hangover that comes with it, wouldn't be nearly so appealing then."
Eva pouted, "And you could stand to see me in such pain?" She said, fluttering her eyelashes in his direction.
"Yes, because you would have brought it on yourself and could teach you something." He said in his stern, authoritarian voice. "But as it is, I'd rather not have you vomiting all over my office floor, so in that light giving you the antidote was favourable."
Eva frowned as she tired to take in everything he was saying to her, but from the heat inside the castle her head was growing fuzzier again and it took a while for his words to sink in. She wasn't even sure she'd understood them all entirely, but they hadn't exactly been complimentary and so she pouted again.
Away from her gaze, Severus pulled a small, black leather bound box out of his desk drawer and headed over towards Eva. "And what have I told you about pouting?" He said angling her chin up and leaning down to kiss her quickly. "Here, an early Christmas present. I hope you like it."
She took the box that he offered her in slightly shaking hands and opened the lid. Her eyes went wide in surprise and delight at what she saw inside. A delicate sliver chain lay on a cushion of black velvet, at the end was a chunk of roughly cut emerald with an ornate silver serpent winding it's way around the stone. Eva didn't know what to say, everything that came to mind seemed trite and not nearly good enough to describe just how wonderful it was and how much she adored it.
"It's beautiful," She breathed, "I love it, I can't believe you would buy me something like this." Rambling, she had started rambling.
Severus simply smiled and with deft fingers pulled the necklace from the box and placed it around her neck. "Think nothing of it."
"But it's so…You can't have spent this much money on me." Eva said pressing the emerald against her chest as she felt his fingers do up he clasp. "And now I feel bad because I've nothing to give you."
Frowning slightly Severus stepped back around to face Eva, to see his gift placed around her neck, he was right it went perfectly with her dress. "I didn't buy it for you to get something in return."
"No that's not what I meant, I mean…well it just feels uncomfortable to accept something so beautiful and expensive and have absolutely nothing to give to you. I know that isn't why you brought it, but I feel selfish." Eva shrugged, standing to go to him. "But I do want to make sure I thank you properly."
Severus arched one eyebrow suspiciously as she approached him but allowed her to wrap him in her arms and kiss him deeply. She tasted like sweets laced with alcohol, it was not altogether unpleasant but it was a reminder of her current state and help to stop him from losing himself in the feel of her lips.
As Eva kissed him a sudden spark of inspiration came to her, maybe she did have something to give him after all. She inched back a little, allowing a sliver of light to be seen between them, and slid her hands round from his shoulders and began to run them down his chest.
As he felt her hands begin their trail Severus pulled his lips from hers, "Eva…" He began, but she cut across him with her own words.
"I just thought that, perhaps, I do have one thing I could give to you." She said softly, her words a little unsure, but her hands seemed almost certain as the continued to trail downwards, across his stomach and towards the waistline of his trousers.
Feeling her touch trail to there Severus hissed and stepped back away from her. "Do not tempt me Eva."
"Why, is it really so bad a thought?"
"No and we have been over this many times before. No matter what we both want we cannot, too much is at stake."
Eva groaned and rolled her eyes, yes they'd been over the same thing so many time that she was almost sick of it and at that moment just wanted to say 'fuck it all, lets just do it!' But she knew she wouldn't.
"Besides," Severus continued, "I could never say yes to you in this state."
"In what? I'm…do I really look that bad," Eva suddenly ranted, horrified at his words. "Oh god I really am his cast off, you would have to be desperate to want me."
Severus clutched the hand that she had raised to rake through her still reasonably neat hair. He pulled her back towards him, "That is not what I meant." He purred, "Eva you are drunk, I would not want you to wake up tomorrow and regret your decision. There will be a time when it might be right, but it's not now."
Eva nodded, finally understanding. He really could talk so much sense and must think she was amazingly neurotic for all of the drama she went through. "You're right, I'm sorry that I keep on." She sighed, laying her head against his shoulder. "Thank you for my beautiful present."
"You're welcome." He purred.
