Chapter 12: Evening

My mother had sent a dress in the mail for the final night of the guests' stay. Everyone was excited, but in all honesty I was still in shock. I couldn't tell my mother about what I had found out. Ginny told me it would be too much of a risk to send through owl. All I could write was about how stressed I was with school, average stuff for other kids.

The dress was a navy blue and smooth like water. This reminded me of the time I had gone to my first muggle dance with a friend. Of course I was an awkward little girl hardly developed, and the dance was separated with one end having all the girls, and the other having all the boys, each group too nervous to talk to the other.

As I slipped the dress over my head, I spotted a tube of lipstick falling out of the bodice of the dress. I opened it and crammed into the cap, rolled up, was a note.

Dear Heidi,

This dress was worn by myself, your mother and is now for you to keep. Put it to good use sweetheart and keep strong. I'll come get you when I can.

-Love Gran

If her signature hadn't stated, I would've recognized her by the handwriting. It had an elegant lilt and contrasted her strong personality. Her short letter had made my eyes water. I quickly folded up the letter and stuffed it under my mattress.

Soon everyone was in the room, showing each other their dresses, and bewitching their hair. I stood awkwardly. Social outings were not my forte.

With my hair straight and dress on, I finally decided to walk up to Snape's office, where the party was held. I hadn't realized until now that I hadn't gotten my hair cut since the beginning of the summer, and now my hair reached the bottom of my shoulder blades.

I made sure my dress wouldn't slip down, and walked alone to the headmaster's office.

I had gone walking around the school alone before, but never quite at night. It must be eight o'clock by now. Ginny had left long ago with the rest of the girls in our year, and I was sort of thankful, because now I was left to my thoughts. They consisted of how I would act around Snape and the Carrow's. Even though I knew none of them could see me, I still had the strangest sensation I was about to jump off of a cliff whenever Snape came to mind. His demeanour had that effect on me. Even more so after the close encounter earlier.

I approached the statue, which slid aside as I spoke the password softly, "Evening dance." I thought I was an odd thing to call a password, but must have been so blatantly evident that it would be hard to guess. It must be for the occasion.

Up the winding stairs, a doorman greeted me, and ushered me through. The place was richly decorated tastefully, but it certainly did not remind me of the Snape flair. Obviously he had no choice in the décor. I spotted him standing in slightly less drab robes than usual, in the small balcony overlooking the rest of his office. His expression made me giggle. It was a cross between annoyance and an ugly staged smile. Snape should never smile again, in my opinion.

I found Ginny sipping from a small champagne glass, speaking to none other than Victor Krum. Still elated from the last time I met Krum, I stood for a moment wide eyed, not quite sure what to do.

"And who is this?" A voice asked suggestively, and a hand wrapped itself around my hip.

"What the hell?" I said rather loudly. I turned to see Clive. He looked just as surprised as me, and took an immediate step back.

"Heidi? You're not supposed to look so… so…" He was at a loss for words and kept trying to look at me. He appeared to be looking past me, maybe to find some of his goons to support him.

"Nice?" I supported this imbecile with an answer.

"Well, not that you don't look nice, its just—" before he could finish, I turned around and stood in the group with Ginny, not at all eager to hear what he had to say. She nodded to me, and continued to speak to Gwenog and Krum.

"Well I am considering going to the try out, but then again I'm not sure of what else is out there."

"Whatever's good for you, Ginny," Gwenog said supportively, "But I will always leave you a spot to try out."

"Ginny, there is no need to associate yourself with that league. You have potential to make it to worlds." Krum said, lightly teasing Gwenog's status.

"And what about you, Heidi?" Gwenog asked me while elbowing Victor hard on his arm.

"Well, I haven't gotten any real offers." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"I know worlds does not have very many women, but many do try out. Take Bulgaria for example. Not very many women are strong enough to compete at such a high level."

"Is that a challenge?" I asked with a tad annoyed. Ginny and Gwen looked at him to hear his answer.

"I—" he obviously did not know what he just did: insulting the skills of three women at once.

I quirked my eyebrow at him, but smirked at his embarrassment. He looked out of his element.

"And you didn't even pick up a drink yet." Ginny said clapping my shoulder amiably.

"Ha, I'm not allowed to drink, but just wait til I do." I promised her, and winked.

The rest of the night continued on pleasantly, with very few furtive glances in Snape's direction. He seemed to be preoccupied with something else anyways. His eyes were trained on Neville's group. I wondered why.

I joined another conversation with Neville and Seamus. They were hushed and jumped when I approached.

"So, no news on Dean?" Seamus whispered, but I could hear from this short distance.

"Who's Dean?"

"Heidi! Don't sneak up on my like that!" Seamus said to me.

"Quit acting like you've got something to hide." I quipped back and fully took in the group. They were standing with a slightly older man, the curse breaker, Weasley.

"You're Ginny's uncle, right? Or relative? She's a good friend of mine." I asked equally as hushed as this group was beforehand.

"Brother, actually." The man said after a sip of his drink. "Bill Weasley." He extended his hand and I took it.

I nodded in acknowledgement. "Now may I ask why you have Snape's undivided attention?" I asked. The group froze as if this statement was a big surprise. Which to them, I guess it was. None of them wanted to draw more attention by looking at him, and instead lowered their gazes.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Weasley." I said loud enough for anyone to hear. I had to make sure this seemed normal.

Soon enough, the music playing became louder, and people started to pair up. I smiled to myself as I saw Ginny in Victor Krum's arms. I found Bill a little to the side, and subtly came to lean against the stone wall beside him, mimicking his position.

He quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head in my direction. "Care to dance?" He asked finally.

"I would love to." I said, knowing I won that little stare down.

"So how's the family?" I asked.

"Good. Ginny talked about you in her letters home." Bill reminded me thoroughly of his younger twin brothers. They had the same impishly good looks, but obviously Bill had a certain sense of propriety.

"Really? How much?" It was always nice to hear that you were spoken of.

"Bits here and there. You're good at Quidditch and you like to procrastinate."

"My reputation precedes me." I said. I suddenly had a thought. "How's the order?"

"Shh!" He said. He continued in a much lower tone. "Ginny's not supposed to talk about it. How much do you—" He was cut off.

"Can I cut in?" A one Victor Krum asked.

Bill backed off, but I was worried when he headed in Ginny's general direction.

For a few moments it was awkward, especially when Victor stared intensely.

"So how is Quidditch?" I asked, eager to break the silence.

"Quite good. We have a really good shot at the title this year." He smiled and twirled me. He made me look like a good dancer.

"You know, one day you'll see me on the pitch at the World Championships, and then you'll wish you'd never made fun of me earlier."

"I'd like to see that." He said, laughing. It wasn't condescending, but rather jovial, like he was hoping it would come to pass.

"Just wait til I graduate." I said determined.

"I was drafted to the Bulgarian team when I was in my sixth year and played in the World Championships in the same year."

"I know. Your face was all over Witch Weekly." I said it stupidly, without thinking. I ended up blushing while he appeared nonchalant.

"That must've been a lot of pressure." I muttered, reconsidering.

"It was nothing. Just play the game." He said, and he grinned widely, continuing our dance in content silence. When the song ended, he bowed out, and said he had to share with the other girls. I had to laugh at that.

I left for the sidelines of the dance and took a drink from the pumpkin juice fountain.

"You clean up good, Brand." I heard Clive say from beside me.

"Don't you have some innocent fourth year to fuck over?" I asked, turning my gaze away from him.

"Hey, that was low." He came closer to my side.

"Yeah, it was." I said coldly and I definitely wasn't denying.

"So I saw you dancing with Krum. You haven't got a chance." He hid his expression following that by drinking from his glass.

"What's it to you? Of course I know I don't." I said, rolling my eyes. Victor Krum was an international super star and I was a kid in school. There was no way and we both knew it. Clive was just trying to get to me by emphasizing my unimportance.

"You know what? I take my earlier comment back. There's no way even a Slytherin would sleep with you." I walked away, to find Ginny to say I was going back to the common room. I looked at the time on the clock, and it was eleven. This was earlier than usual than when I would go to bed, but I would prefer curling up in my bed for a bit. Ginny waved me away, and continued dancing with a boy from Ravenclaw in her own year.

I gave one last glance at Snape, who returned the stare and sneered in response, and left his office. It was a shame. Clive ruined my night after having a very good time.

I took off my heels, and walked down the corridors, the pads of my feet slapping the stone floors.

Behind me, I could hear someone's footsteps. I quickened my pace. I quickly noticed that the sound that once was following me had stopped. I turned to see Clive, drunkenly walking in my direction.

"you know Brand, you think you're so tough. Just—" he paused to hiccough, "just wait until he gets the school."

"He?" I asked, approaching him. Clive was speaking absolute gibberish.

Clive ignored what I said, and leaned into my shoulder humming something all the while. He had one too many to drink obviously. I rolled my eyes and pushed him off of me with ease.

"Hey!" He slurred drunkenly, but he still stumbled back.

"Clive what are you talking about?" I asked.

"Nope, not without a kiss." He winked, and lurched closer.

"How about I promise you one?" I asked, knowing for sure he wouldn't remember a thing of this.

He nodded, and stabilized himself by holding his arms out wide. "The school won't be safe for you mudbloods anymore."

"I'm a halfblood." I added quickly, just to remind him.

"Oh, right!" He was actually very funny when he was smash-faced, "Well Vol…" He quieted and trailed off, as he fell to the floor, curling up into a ball.

"What did you do to him this time, Brand?" I looked far down the corridor to see a contrastingly sober Malfoy, waltzing towards me with a slightly concerned face for his friend.

"Nothing, your boy just couldn't hold his alcohol." I nudged Clive's sleeping face with my bare foot.

"He's making a proper mess of himself over you." Malfoy said, by this time he was standing on the other side of Clive.

"So I've noticed… Well it is way past my bedtime. Hopefully I don't have the pleasure of talking to you again."

"Likewise," Malfoy replied, unimpressed.

I could hear Malfoy mumbling something about having to fetch Crabbe and Goyle. Heaven knows I wouldn't want to pick up Clive by myself. I sort of envied he had henchmen, in the least sadistic sense possible.

Yeah, so i thought i would be able to pump out like thirty chapters this entire MB but unfortunately not. Sorry bout thaat folks. Hopefully 2 will suffice. anyways, please review this wonderful chapter. and i will post Heidi's dress on my profile, for those of you who enjoy visual aids ;)

-Sage94