*12*

The only good thing which came from being on duty in Hogsmeade was that you weren't on duty the following Sunday. Severus slept in comfortably and for once he remained undisturbed. Around eleven, he stretched luxuriously and informed a house elf that he wished to take brunch in his quarters in a half hour.

Once the small creature was gone, he went to the bathroom to have a nice long shower. His mirror informed the potions master that he looked very well rested and happy and gave a small sigh of relief when it wasn't cursed for the comment. When the potions master came out of the shower the cheeky mirror tried its luck by pointing out that it was a pity that Severus didn't allow the view to a nice witch. The potions master threatened the mirror with his tooth brush but ignored it otherwise.

Some nice elf had laid out his clothes for him on his bed. Severus allowed himself an appreciative smile since nobody was there to witness it. He quickly slid into his robes and then treated himself to a lengthy and delicious meal. The kitchen elves knew by now what he liked and there were small bowls and plates with all of his favourites. The highlight of the meal was a sinfully big piece of chocolate cake. Severus nearly purred when he tasted the first morsel.

He finished the meal just in time to walk to the office and meet Granger for the advent calendar issue. The skull was blinking red and Severus was a bit worried what it might do to the Golden Trio but it couldn't be helped and so he touched it with his wand tip without hesitation.

Since so far always Granger and Potter had been the victims, Severus nearly missed the effect. Weasley's face had turned green.

"But I am a pureblood!" spluttered the boy when Severus returned the favour of handing him a mirror.

"You are a blood traitor," the potions master corrected him. He sent Potter to fetch the headmaster.

"Is that wise?" asked Granger. "If Ron counts as a blood traitor, so does Dumbledore."

Severus shrugged. "I don't think Albus minds going green." The assessment turned out to be accurate. Not only did the headmaster not mind his new skin colour, he was excited about it. It was Weasley who insisted they find a cure for it.

"There is a potion which may work," Severus suggested. "It can be brewed within an hour, so if you don't have any better ideas, Albus…"

The headmaster agreed and the group went to the potions classroom. Severus had no intention of letting a bunch of Gryffindors into his private laboratory.

No sooner had they started to brew that Draco Malfoy arrived. "Sir, I'm supposed to give you this at once," he held out a hair brush.

"How charming," cried Dumbledore. "An early Christmas present! From whom is it, Severus."

The potions master knew exactly who had sent it but didn't answer. Instead, he steeled himself for the tugging feeling behind his navel and took the portkey.

"Severus," cried the Dark Lord in his hoarse voice, "I have to ask you a small favour! I was alerted that you got the blood traitor detecting charm today. Please, greet my servants, one by one!" The Malfoys' ballroom was nearly bursting with people.

The potions master's heart dropped. When he walked down the line of assembled deatheaters, he was going to expose any of them who had doubts about the Dark Lord's blood status ideology. He doubted that any deatheater who turned green would survive the meeting.

Hiding his fear to the best of his abilities, Severus started to walk down the long row of witches and wizards. They all stood proud, some even glared at him defiantly as if the Dark Lord's mistrust was his personal fault. After some steps, the Dark Lord stopped him. He wanted to have a good view of what happened and that was easier when Severus stood beside him and the deatheaters came to them.

Severus took his assigned position and the deatheaters filed past him in a long queue. Nobody changed colour. The potions master was relieved although that meant there was not a single potential ally among the deatheaters.

"Wonderful!" cried the Dark Lord. "It's good to know that you are all faithful! That deserves a reward!" The dark wizard clapped his hands and an old-fashioned gramophone appeared in a corner of the room. "Let's dance!" He hurried to ask Bellatrix for the first dance himself.

The witch bowed and soon waltzed through the room with the darkest wizard of all times, a beatific smile on her face. The others hurried to follow their lord's lead. Most had to send word to their wives at home but within ten minutes the ballroom of Malfoy Manor was used to its original purpose.

Severus danced with Hillary Crabbe and Hecate Mulciber – sister not wife to his childhood friend – and finally with Narcissa Malfoy who beat her sister to the potions master when the ladies were allowed to choose their partners.

"How is Draco?" asked the blonde witch as the potions master whirled her around at a speed he didn't think he could hold for more than a minute. Who had chosen that song?

"He's well; still spending a lot of time with the Parkinson girl," Severus replied.

"She's from a good wizarding family," panted Narcissa. "Has a long blood line to look back on."

The potions master agreed. The length of her bloodline didn't make the girl a nicer person in his book but as long Narcissa was content, who was he to contradict her.

After the ball, Severus returned to his lab. Seemingly the headmaster had tried to finish the potion on his own. There were lots of dirty tools and dishes. With a sigh, Severus cleaned away the mess. On the teacher's desk he found a note 'We decided to wait for it to wear off'.

Good; he was too tired to brew anyway. Humming under his breath happily, Severus withdrew to his quarters to spend the evening with a good book.