"Mister Snape, what on earth is going on here".
Before Severus could come up with a suitable answer -the worm, otherwise known as Adrian Pucey- answered for the both of them.
"He, attabed me!"
Severus narrowed his eye's at Pucey, he felt the instant need to tell the boy to shut his fucking mouth, but there was no need. Apparently Potter hadn't appreciate Pucey's interruption any more than Severus had and sent the bleeding student a quelling look.
"I asked Mister Snape what is going on here, not you Mister Pucey".
Unfortunately for Severus this meant that Potters unwavering attention was once more directed at himself.
"Well, mister Snape".
Severus knew that Potter was expecting an answer, after all any professor would, but what could he say?. He didn't want to repeat what that bastard had said, even less so to her father, and even if he was willing to repeat the vile filth, the mere act of repeating it would being going against every unwritten rule about house solidarity that existed for the slytherins.
Fair enough Pucey had been quick to try and sell him out for attacking him, but there were two differences with that. He hadn't said what the problem was and Pucey was well .. Pucey. As much as it pained Severus to admit it, if Pucey was caught breaking the unwritten rule, he'd be in less hot water than Severus would. The fact that Pucey would have broken the rule against Severus would likely be a point in Pucey's favour.
Unable to see a viable option, Severus chose to keep his mouth shut and send a murderous glare at Pucey instead, he hoped it conveyed his feelings that the git needed to keep his gob shut.
Severus knew that this course of action would test Potter's none-existent patience where Severus was concerned, after all there was no love lost between himself and Potter, but at the moment all he could do was grit his teeth and hope that the punishment wouldn't be to severe.
"If you don't tell me why you have attacked a fellow student Snape, you will be in serious trouble with your head of house and I will be forced to make you leave the ball early and go back to your dorm".
Severus turned his murderous glare to the floor and he felt his mouth tighten at Potter's ultimatum, he couldn't let the man see that his words had, had an effect on Severus.
Severus had known there would be consequences for his lack of response to Potters question. Leaving the ball early hadn't even crossed his mind and he wondered why he'd been such a idiot not to think that, that would be the most likely response to his actions.
Merlin he hoped that Harmony understood why he was having to leave before the night had come to a natural end. Hopefully he could find her and explain the situation before he was forced to leave. Or perhaps Potter might explain for him if he was forced to leave before he could, Severus knew he didn't like him, but explaining things was more for Harmony's benefit than Severus's. Potter wouldn't deny him the ability to make sure his daughter was hurt, surely?.
The obvious option was to just give Potter what he wanted, but there wasn't a guarantee that he still wouldn't be asked to leave, all he'd gain would be the ire of his house mates, currently his best option was to keep quiet and hope like hell that Harmony understood.
Potter's grating voice cut through his ever tumbling thoughts.
"I'm quite sure that your date wouldn't appreciate you cutting their evening short. And with her not currently being present to know you've been ordered to leave she may just think you've ditched her".
Bastard, Bastard, Bastard
Severus peeked out from behind his hair, his face giving away nothing of his internal thoughts, he had a horrid feeling that he knew what Potter was about to say and he couldn't believe that the man was callous enough to sacrifice his daughters happiness just to get back at him. At the same time he wasn't the least bit surprised, he had a feeling he knew exactly what the man was trying to achieve, through his words.
"After all, I'm a busy professor, it might just slip my mind to tell her why your not here any more; and if she thinks you've just left her at the ball; with out even saying goodnight? i'm sure that would upset her, wouldn't you agree Mister Snape? Where is your date anyway? Since she'd clearly not been here to witness you acting like your thug of a father".
Severus couldn't supress the automatic wince at the mention of his filthy, evil, muggle father.
I am not a thug damn it, I might have hit that fucking wanker, but I'd never lay a fucking finger on Harmony. I am not my father Potter, what ever you night be trying to imply.
By telling Severus that he wouldn't tell Harmony, where he'd gone, as Severus feared that Potter might, he was trying to force his hand and make him spill the beans. And fucking hell it was likely to work too. After what had transpired between them outside, there was no way in hell that Harmony would be receptive to him for some time, if he was suddenly to disappear in to the night with out a word. He didn't fear her ultimatum about Severing ties with him, he was positive that she wouldn't do so, if he could explain himself another day, but he was likely to be treated to the cold shoulder treatment for some time even then.
Potter was essentially making him pick between his house, or his girlfriend. He knew which one would win, but perhaps there was a way of giving Potter more or less what he wanted, while keeping his house loyalties intact. He had to try.
With his thoughts in free fall and completely unsure what to do to put Potter off, Severus pasted his patented sneer in place and answered the one question that he could answer truthfully with out doing any harm.
"she's gone to the bathroom", 'bastard', "sir". 'So fuck you'.
Severus knew his tone was barely respectful, if he'd been talking to Mcgonagall like this he'd already have been frog marched out of the hall and would be half way to the dungeons by now.
So that begged the question, why wasn't Potter- who clearly despised his very existence- doing what any of the others professors would have already done. There were two options that Severus could think of and neither of them would have good out comes from him. Either Potter was that desperate to pin something on him that he was willing to wait him out, disrespect an all, or he was desperate for information that would prove to Harmony just how unsuitable he was for her to acquainted with.
With these thoughts in mind, he very carefully answered the man in front of him, and only permitted Potter to see the emotions that he wanted the man to see.
"I was getting us both a drink when Pucey and I had a.. disagreement"
His tone wasn't even bordering on respectful anymore, even he could hear the why don't you go fuck yourself undertone that his words held, but he didn't care, he was going to be punished whatever happened. He wasn't going to kowtow to the likes of Potter, or Pucey. He'd felt the dicks eyes on him when he'd given Potter his carefully worded answer and he turned a fire filled glare on the bastard.
Having to label what that filthy bastard said about Harmony as a mere disagreement, had made him feel dirty and not a little disrespectful to his girlfriend. But it was the only way he could think to word it without out right saying anything to Potter. He hoped his glare got across the fact that that Pucey was going to pay for this once they were back in the dorms.
But even a dunderhead like Potter wasn't going to put up with his tone for long -no matter how much he might want to pin something on him- and Severus saw his eyes glint with displeasure.
"I would recommend that you answer me with out the tone Mister Snape, 10 points from Slytherin for being disrespectful when talking to a professor".
Removing his glare from Pucey, Severus clenched his jaw and told himself it wouldn't be worth the extra punishment, if he were to tell Potter exactly what he thought about showing a bully like him respect.
Apparently satisfied that he'd been put in his place by the minor reduction of point, Potter continued his questioning.
"A disagreement?,what type of disagreement warrants this severity of attack?".
Potter gestured his head towards Pucey. Severus looked back at the prick and could see that he looked truly pathetic right now. Potters questioning about exactly what the disagreement had been about, had left Pucey looking ghostly pale and apparently uncaring that blood was now dribbling freely on to his expensive robes from between his suddenly lax fingers.
Severus felt truly disgusted with himself for what he was about to do, because it would protect that disgusting bastard from punishment if Potter accepted it, but if he didn't at least attempt to get Potter to accept his explanations on these terms, he didn't stand a chance of being able to live peacefully in his dorms again.
If Potter kept pushing, which he had a feeling he might. Severus could at least claim that he tried to adhere to the houses code and that the Gryffindor hadn't been willing to play ball.
Teeth still clenched, he uttered words that made him feel like he was eating glass.
"With all due respect sir, disagreements between slytherins are supposed to remain between slytherins".
Out of the corner of his eye he watched as the disgusting little worms colour returned and his shoulders slumped in relief. Of course the slimy coward would be relieved, he wouldn't want Potter finding out what he'd implied about his daughter, never mind about the fact that Severus felt like he'd shredded his own tongue in the process of achieving the dicks relief.
Severus could see Pucey starting to nod in agreement with his statement, even if he did look like he was in hell at the thought of having to agree with someone as lowly as Severus apparently was.
Severus was ninety percent sure that the statement wasn't going to fly with Potter and the look he got on his face proved Severus right, Pucey the naïve fool didn't seem to notice this and was still nodding his head in some sort of hopeful gormless fashion.
Potter looked a second away from strangling the both of them, but apparently he decided to settle for a glare that would have made the Headmistress proud instead.
"If you wanted it to remain a slytherin matter, you shouldn't have attacked him in front of a hall full of people. You should have waited till you were in your dorm. So either you tell me, what caused this altercation right now or I'll be forced to make you apologise to Mister Pucey for the damage to his face"
Severus could feel himself turning red from the sheer anger that this statement provoked, there was no way in hell he was going to apologise to that rat faced scum. He could see the smug git look on the pretty boys face at the mention of an apology, and had the strong urge to punch him in the face again. Or hex his fucking nose off. But apparently Potter wasn't done.
"...ake you serve two weeks detention for not giving an adequate explanation to a Professor when asked. I will also have to hand you over to your head of house, for any other punishment she deems fit for attacking a fellow student with out provocation, do I make my self clear?"
Potter had clearly picked up on the suspiciously smug look on Pucey's face, because he looked more than a little disconcerted by the sudden bloody smile that the boy had released at the mention of an apology.
But Severus couldn't care less about whether Potter suddenly had enough brain cells to pick up on how distorted this situation was, because all Severus could think about were the three words that were flitting about his brain, two weeks detention.
If he had two weeks detention then he'd have to break the promise he'd made to Harmony about their first date. He was sure that she'd understand if he could explain, and if he could catch her before he had to leave the ball. But to break a promise he made to her barely and hour after making it, was a horrid thing to do, particularly after what he'd already put her through by being a dick.
Salazar this is a mess.
"But sir I prom.." dear lord he was stuttering, "promised Harmony that we could-"
Apparently his lack of answers had pushed Potter to far, because he cut him off before Severus could even get the words out.
"I couldn't care what you've promised Harmony; at the moment I am your Professor and not your dates father. So either tell me what caused you to attack this student or you'll be leaving the ball right now with out a goodbye to your date and no free time for at least a fortnight".
Severus had known it was going to come down to this in the end, but it didn't stop his conscience from arguing with it's self.
You've got to tell him what the wanker said
If you do you'll be ousted from slytherin proper they'll never accept you in any way again
Harmony already accepts us, is it really worth hurting her to curry favour with people who already don't give a rats ass.
He'd come to the conclusion earlier, and his resolve had only strengthened, he'd tried to keep house loyalty intact, but it in the end Harmony was more important, and he'd be damned if he was going to break a promise to her, to keep house loyalties that he couldn't give a damn about, he'd only been willing to even try and keep them in the first place in the hopes that his life would remain bearable, if worse came to worse he'd just have to bed down in Gryffindor tower, he'd done it before.
His resolve to give Potter the answers he sought, must have shown on his face because Pucey had gone the colour of milk, and looked like he was heading straight for the noose, it was a similar feeling to what Severus had. Knowing it was the right thing to do didn't stop him dreading the out come any less.
However fully resigned he was to ratting out Pucey and taking on his houses displeasure, he still didn't want to regurgitate the vile words that Pucey had spewed about Harmony, so the information he gave Potter was still very evasively worded.
"The disagreement was about my date sir, Pucey made certain Suggestions about what I could do with her; suggestions that I took issue with. When he wouldn't stop I felt he needed more than words to shut him up.. sir".
Hearing a small chocked off squeak coming from where Pucey was stood, Severus once more thought that the boy was just as cowardly as he was pompous, how he'd become the unofficial leader of all that was slytherin he'd never know. Pucey's personality traits would be a horrid mix in any person, the fact that he also had money to burn just made them worse. Severus knew that some people might say this was the pot calling the kettle black, and Severus knew that he was far from being the ideal human, but he'd rather be the way he was than try and imitate the scum that Pucey had grown from.
A look of understanding settled on Potters face, and Severus was pleased to note that Pucey had lost whatever colour he'd had left and was now an unappealing chine clay white, but that wasn't the best bit as far as Severus was concerned other student's gallows look had intensified, and he now looked as if he was staring death himself in the face.
If Severus was being honest with himself, there was a good chance he possibly was, there wasn't a thing in this world that Potter valued more than his daughter, even Pucey knew that.
It might teach him not to go insulting people, just because he thinks they're below him… who am I kidding of course it won't.
Potter turned his back on Severus so that he could face Pucey head on, this meant that Severus couldn't see whatever Potters expression was, but it must have held promise of serious pain and/or retribution, because he could see Pucey's adams apple bobbing away, as he repeatedly gulped down his nerves.
The fact that he couldn't see Potter's face meant that Severus had to rely on his auditory sense's to gauge what the man was thinking while talking to Pucey, although his voice sounded as calm and measured as it might during any normal class with him, Severus was able to discern a definite edge of; I am a pissed off father and you're in Serious shit.
"Exactly what suggestions, did, you make about his date Mister Pucey?"
"I..I..it wasn't amything wearly sir, Snape's exaderating I dust made a corment how.. how nite her dress was, that's all"
As Pucey tried to worm his way out of the situation with his half garbled speech, Severus felt his anger growing from the bastards bold faced lie. He reigned in most of his temper, he was rather adept at that particular skill, but he couldn't quite contain the angry noise of protest that passed through his tight lips. He opened his mouth to counter the dickheads ludicrous statement, but Potter sent Severus a look that made him think he might be better off not speaking quite yet.
Once Potter's attention left him and he turned back to Pucey, he thought that Potter glare must have kicked up a notch (or ten) because Pucey looked like he was about ready to faint... or have an accident.
It was a shame that Severus couldn't enjoy Pucey's fear more, but with so much at stake, it just wasn't something he could bring himself to do right now.
"Really Mister Pucey?, I find that hard to believe. What could you have possibly said to Snape, about how nice my daughters dress is; that he felt the need to hex you in the face for it?"
Severus rolled his eyes at the Potters back.
Fucking idiot you can clearly see I've fucking well punched him, not hexed him!, what type of professor are you exactly that you can't tell the fucking difference.
Severus was sending looks of pure loathing towards Pucey, and although he didn't realise it, he was clenching and unclenching his fists where they were resting at his sides, all the while mumbling his thoughts about Potter incompetence. His mumbling must have been louder than he realised it was, because it caused the man's attention to focus back on him again.
"What was that?"
Fucking Shit.
"I said I didn't hex him sir. I hit him"
Clearly Potter wasn't expecting his answer, because his eyebrows rose up to meet his hairline in surprise.
"You hit him?. As in with your fist?"
Severus gritted out a brief "yes sir", though what he really wanted to say was.
'Just how thick are you, of course me hitting him means I did it with my fist, do I look like I could lift a fucking table!"
The gritted Yes sir, was apparently enough for Potter to turn his astonished attention back to Pucey, leaving Severus to stew in peace once more.
"So you mean to tell me Mister Pucey. That what you said about my daughter dress was totally innocuous, and that Mister Snape punched you in the face completely unprovoked, for no reason, what so ever. Is that the gist of what you're saying Mister Pucey".
Severus's hadn't thought it possible but his loathing for the worm up another few notched when once more began to nod his head in a gormless manner(he was nodding his head so vigorously that he was sending little droplets of blood flying with each movement).
He obviously thought that the quicker and the more enthusiastically he could agree with Potter statement, the more likely it was that the Professor would believe him.
"Yes, Sirb I didn't say amything to the iserbale ittle half blood, he's ust touchy".
Severus was positive that people outside must have heard his last shred of restraint snap, before he was even aware of what he was doing he was throwing himself at his sorry excuse for a house mate. Consequences be damned.
Unfortunately Severus never made contact with Pucey, Potter managed to grab him before he could. He struggled in Potters restraining hold, not thinking of the Professor or seeing that he was drawing the attention of an increasing crowd of students. All he could think about was Pucey's in his smug git face, and all he could see was the red haze that seemed to have veiled his vision.
All his thought's and emotions were focused on one singular linear point, he wanted to pound the disgusting chauvinistic blood purist bully in to the stone floor of the hall, until there was nothing left but some over shiny teeth and a set of obnoxiously expensive dress robes.
"Fuckingarseshittingmotherfuckingcuntfacedbasta"
Severus wasn't aware that he was letting out a litany of abuse as he continued to struggle, or that it was loud enough to be heard by not only Potter and Pucey, but the vast majority of the students who'd stopped dancing to watch the altercation.
Sirius wasn't far from where Pucey was stood, trying to hustle students away from the spectacle that was taking place, from the corner of his eye he noticed Pucey's aggressive movements towards the swearing snake, and with Auror trained reflexes grabbed hold of the boy before he could get to close to James and the still struggling swearing student in his arms.
If Sirius was being honest with himself he could've stepped in before now to give prongs a hand, but he'd been having to much fun watching from the side lines as prongs pulled his metaphorical hair out. Poor sod wasn't cut out to be an authoritarian, and Sirius was having a whale of time watching him try. McGonagall would have had the two boys begging for mercy, long before now.
The boy that Sirius had grabbed was cursing up a storm of his own, having no other outlet for his anger, and both Sirius and James were having a hell of a time keeping hold of the teenagers.
I shouldn't be feeling this winded from trying to retrain a bloody teenager!, I'm a big badass Auror for fuck sakes. I am not going to be bested by a sixteen year old twig!. At least Prongs isn't looking any better, red and strained is not a good look for him.
"That is enough, both of you!. What are you both! sixteen or six?!"
Sirius retracted his early thought that Jamie wasn't cut out to be an authoritarian, his voice cut above the swearing and the two teenagers stopped struggling so quickly that you'd have thought that their string had been cut. Both Students had the good sense to look shame faced when they realised the spectacle they were creating and the gawking crowd that they'd attracted.
Well done prongs you're still no Minnie but maybe you'll get there one day.
With the boy in his arms no longer struggling, Sirius eased up his hold.
"What the fuck is all this about James?".
His friend still looked a little red in the face from exertion, and his words came out with a puff of annoyance.
"That's what I'm trying to find out, but neither of them has given me anything much to go on other than, that comments were made about a dress".
The look James sent him told Sirius that that should be enough for him to know what this was about, Sirius might be slow sometimes but he wasn't thick and the look Prongs gave him and the comment, coupled with the fact of exactly who one of the students was that was fighting; and it was enough for Sirius to get the general idea of what had gone off here.
The little bastard in his arms had likely said something offensive about prongslet, something that he'd said to the Snape kid, who'd likely retaliated on his dates behalf.
Sirius's face hardened and he sent James a subtle look of understanding, before deliberately tightening his arms more around the boy that he was still holding in place. Sirius was more than a little pleased that the little bastard squeaked as Sirius gave him a good hard squeeze.
You'll be getting a damn sight more than that from me, if you've been being vulgar about my goddaughter.
Severus had witnessed the silent conversation that Black and Potter had seemed to have before his eyes, he saw the dawning look of understanding on the idiot Black's face before he'd started to squeeze Pucey like he was a stress ball. Severus knew that a less than pleasant smirk settled on his lips when he heard Pucey squeak, but he didn't care.
Potters arms suddenly fell away from him and he found himself free of the professors hold. The man in question looked moved so that he was facing him, before he gave Severus a look that could almost be regarded as soft and understanding and perhaps even a mite of sympathy.
In all the time that he'd known the man he'd never received a look like this before. If he was honest it filled him with more dread than it had a right too, what the hell was Potter trying to pull?.
"Look I know you and I don't get on very well, but I need you to cool your temper and just give me the facts. You're only hurting yourself by staying quiet, and Mister Pucey's clearly had no such thoughts as yours when it comes to house loyalty. If you don't tell me exactly what he said you'll end up being punished for something that I think probably isn't your fault. Do you want that?"
So that's what he want's, who'd have thought that an idiot like Potter would pick up on the fact that he was only getting half the truth. well I'm not going to give it to him, I'll be damned to hell if I'm was going to repeat that shit verbatim, even if it will get Pucey detention for the rest of his life.
Severus was about to open his mouth and tell Potter that he didn't care what he thought or what he wanted he wasn't going to sully himself by repeating what that worm had, and the chances were that he'd get punished for hitting Pucey regardless of the why. So why should he repeat those vile words just to sate Potters curiosity. But he never got the chance, because his name was being called from somewhere across the hall.
As Harmony entered the great hall she could see that the crowds had thinned out even more than they had before she's gone in to bathrooms with Hermione. Not that this made the crowd less rowdy, if anything it was probably more so because the once that remained were in fine fettle and appeared to be in no hurry for the evening to end.
She could see Fred doing a rather sultry dance with Angelina despite the music not matching to the moves one jot. George was at one of the table near her, chatting up a Hufflepuff who most definitely wasn't the one he'd come with. Neville and Luna were still going as strongly as they had been when they'd nearly sent Hermione flying, and Harmony felt honest surprise at this. She really hadn't thought that the normally timid boy had it in him to continue making such a deliberate spectacle of himself in front of a crowd. Perhaps it was Luna bringing his hidden nature out to play, or perhaps he was so enamoured of his date he just hadn't realised the way he looked. Whatever the reason the couple looked happy to be in each other's company and appeared to be completely oblivious to the people that they kept sending flying with their ostentatious dance moves.
The song suddenly changed to one that was a little slower (though it had no impact on Neville and Luna), Harmony got the feeling that the festivities were starting to wind down for the night. A quick wandless Tempus showed that it was already 11:22 meaning that there was little more than half an hour of the ball left before the teachers (or in her case her parent's) would be herding the students up to bed. No wonder the ball was half empty, most were probably already in their respective beds for the night, or giving it one last effort to sneak in to their dates.
Deciding that she'd rather spend the last half an hour dancing than getting something to drink, she looked around for Severus.
A quick glance in the direction of the refreshments showed him to be more or less where she'd left him. Having eyes only for her date she failed to notice the odd crowd that was surrounding him as she called his name across the hall.
"Severus!"
Hope you enjoyed your new chapter lovelies.
I know the dialog is identical to chapter 4 of when snakes fall do lions stand aside.
But I wanted to keep the integrity of the original story line, while giving you access to Severus's thoughts and feelings about the episode. Hopefully this gave you something new to get your teeth in to.
See Y'all soon Pink X (^^)