CHAPTER 14: THE STORY WITHIN (PART 4)

INT. THE ARENA NEAR HOGWARTS - AFTERNOON (AUTUMN, 1995)

As Verena took her seat at the far end of the arena, Verena looked over towards the other end of the arena where all the teachers including Severus were sitting and looking on. It didn't take long for Severus to realize that Verena was looking over at him and smiled shrewdly at her. Verena smiled back softly. In the back of Verena's mind, she had the halfway notion of throwing caution to the wind and going over to sit next to Severus, but doing so would have resulted in some suspicious looks and quiet gossiping, which would most certainly lead to questioning Severus as to who Verena was and why she was there. The sight of an unknown Death Eater sitting next to a well-known Death Eater would hardly ever go unnoticed there.

Thus, Verena was forced to see and admire her husband from afar as the first Tri-Wizard champion Cedric Diggory, entered the arena to face his opponent, a Swedish Short-Snout dragon. Before the first task began, Verena took the liberty of finding out the names of the four dragons that were involved in the first task through Severus's dragon Moesdolor. All the dragons were female, nesting mothers with eggs to tend to.

The Swedish Short-Snout's name was Ettryfira, a dragon evergreen and scaly with bright white stripes going down her flanks and large leathery wings. Ettryfira's species had an unusually short snout, half the length of a normal dragon's snout, hence the name, and a long tail that was split into two at the tip and upward to halfway up the tail.

Then the second Tri-Wizard champion, Fleur Delacour, was the next to come out to face her opponent, a Welsh Green that was named Gadrinthalyn. She was also scaly and with large leathery wings, but light emerald green in color and with a smooth forehead. Next to come out was Viktor Krum, the third Tri-Wizard champion, to face a Chinese Firebolt named Lung Huo. She was a black dragon with lines of crimson red spots going down her back, large leathery wings and long spikes coming out of the sides of her head and sweeping back behind it.

Then last but not least, Harry Potter, the fourth Tri-Wizard champion, to face his opponent, a Hungarian Horn-Tail named Uelithera. She was yellowish-tan in color, with large leathery wings, spiky scales and a line of spikes going down her back, with a long spiked tail and a frill of spikes on her head. Uelithera was the gnarliest looking of the four dragons, but no less agile and impressive to look at.

Verena knew all too well about Uelithera, for she was her dead older brother Alistair's dragon, who got sent to Romania sometime after Verena's brother and family were killed. Due to her master having been killed, Uelithera had the urge to take out her frustrations on anyone or anything that stood in her way, expressing her fiery temper and volatile demeanor in the most merciless fashion. However, Uelithera had a gentle, loving and peaceful demeanor when it came to Moesdolor, especially since Moesdolor was her mate and dispite the fact that they were of two different kinds of dragon, which was rather unsual is most cases. Uelithera was also quite friendly with Verena and to those few humans she was friendly to, but still remained a force to be reckoned with.

Though as normally was the case, very few wizards or witches, or humans of any kind for that matter could ever really understand the relationship shared between dragons or really understand dragons in general, as they were often seen by many as dumb beasts that needed to be subdued and controlled, due to their seemingly fowl nature. Though dragons did not talk like humans, they were just as intelligent and understanding as humans and with a sense of justice and the ability to love and be loved, just like humans did. A good example of the true nature of dragons was Snape's own dragon, Moesdolor. Verena also knew that Moesdolor had been courting and mating with Uelithera since they met in Romania a few years ago and had since had three clutches of eggs with her, including the current one. Severus had yet to know of this however, so any true reaction from him on the matter had yet to reveal itself.

As the first three Tri-Wizard champions finished facing their dragons, Harry Potter emerged out into the arena, dressed in the Tri-Wizard champion attire, looking up and around him nervously as everyone, except for Verena and Severus, cheered on Harry's name. Inside the arena, Harry was surrounded by large boulders and rough stony terrain which was surrounded by a high wall and with the bleachers set above them and looping all around him. Unbeknownst to Harry however, this would make it hard for Harry to assess the situation properly, since he couldn't actually get a good look at Uelithera unless she was right on top of him. However, such a terrain made it easy for Uelithera to spot Harry and assess her options and situation properly.

After a short tense silence, the arena suddenly erupted with the sounds of violet lashings, roaring, snarling, clawing and hissing. This caused everyone who was watching to exclaim loudly and lean back from the railings as Uelithera began her attack on Harry. Verena's face wrenched slightly as Uelithera sent a blaze a fire towards Harry, mildly in fear of Harry's life. Uelithera was indeed in a state of pure agitation as she continued to attack Harry. And the more volatile the battle became, the more Uelithera wanted to get to Harry.

"You're wand, Harry! You're wand!" cried Hermione from the bleachers above and looking down at Harry anxiously. Harry cried out, pointing his wand up into the sky and waving it above his head, "Accio Firebolt!"

But Uelithera was giving Harry very little time and room to assess the situation as she sent a blaze of fire towards the large rock that Harry was hiding behind. Moments later, Harry's broom appeared on the scene, flying in from above and down into the arena. With one last ditch effort, Harry jumped onto his broom and started flying away. Uelithera ruthlessly followed him, breaking away from the chain which wrapped around her neck.

Harry started flying around inside the arena, trying to find a way to escape Uelithera, who followed closely on the wing in his tracks. They both then flew out of the arena and towards Hogwarts Castle, but not before Uelithera's tail broke through and ripped the tarp roof and the set of bleachers that Snape and the other teachers were sitting at, causing the students who were watching to clap and cheer loudly.

One of Ron's twin brothers yelled out, "Well done, Dragon!"

Upon seeing what had happened where Snape was sitting, Verena's eyes widened as she stood up fast to see what had happened to Snape. Seeing that he was alright, Verena sighed in relief and then shifted her eyes around her before running down the set of stairs behind the arena.

Halfway down the high slope where the area was located, Verena ran over to a cave entrance and shouted into it, "Moesdolor! Come out of there! Your mate is causing havoc again!"

Suddenly, a low growl rose up through the entrance of the cave. The ground around Verena began to tremble underneath her feet as Moesdolor walked out of the cave. He walked up to Verena and stood over her. From where Moesdolor and Verena stood, they could see everything of what Uelithera was doing. They watched as Uelithera landed on the pointed shingled roofs of some of the Hogwarts Castle spires, hissing and growling as she broke and knocked off shingles with her wing claws and walked across them towards Harry and his broom, which were now dangling precariously from a window sill. Uelithera very nearly got a hold of Harry with her snapping jaws until Harry fell away from the window sill with his broom and flew away on it again.

Uelithera flew after him, ever more frustrated and angry. She once again sent a blast of fire towards Harry, causing the end of his broom to smolder and smoke as they flew under one bridge and towards another which looked like a long stone viaduct with a roof. Harry then flew through an opening into the covered viaduct and out the other side, knocking into the viaduct and sending Harry spiraling out of control as Uelithera tried to fly over the viaduct before slamming into its roof, knocking away stone from it as she fell shrieking into the deep chasm below the bridge. Harry was yelling and falling down with her.

Then there was silence. Verena gasped quietly as she looked over at where Harry fell, eyes looking all around for him. She then saw a trail of smoke coming from Harry's broom as he flew back towards the arena. It was clear that Harry had survived, but she couldn't say the same for Uelithera. Mildly relieved that Harry had survived, Verena then sighed and looked up at Moesdolor, "Come along then. Let's go see if your mate is still alive."

And with that, Verena climbed onto Moesdolor's back and grabbed onto the back of his neck. Moesdolor then spread his wings and flew down into the chasm below.

EXT. TO INT. TORVELLOS'S CURIOSITIES AND CURSES SHOP, DIAGON ALLEY - MORNING (SEPT. 1ST, 1992)

The bell on a shop door rang as Draco entered a shop, walking past tables and shelves full of odd trinkets and strange magical items with varying levels of magical abilities and uses. This was Draco's last stop before joining his father Lucius at the book store. Draco walked past a table full of strange and rare potions, most of which came from magical plants that were said to no longer exist in the Wizarding world. Draco walked up to the front counter and rang the bell on the table, "Hello? Isn't there anyone minding the shop?"

"I am, young master Draco," said a small nervous voice coming down from the top of a shelf ladder nearby. It was Grispell, who nervously climbed down the ladder and walked over to jump on the front counter.

"Grispell! Where is your master Torvellos? My father told me to give him this letter and only to him!"

"He is busy in the back room at the moment I think. I can help you with whatever you need, young master Draco. Is that Torvellos's letter?"

"None of your business you creepy fowl git! Bring out Torvellos!" snapped Draco, who was getting more agitated by the second.

"Now, now young Draco," said a man's voice coming from the back room behind the front counter, "Play nice with Grispell. There's no need for you to take it out on my assistant."

A figure walked out from behind a cloth curtain behind the counter. It was Torvellos, carrying a small box out from the back room and sitting it on the table, "I don't have to ask you why you are here. Though frankly how your father ever found out about mine and Grispell's little job with Lady Mapheria is beyond me at the moment."

"My father doesn't have to explain anything to you, Torvellos! He simply wants you to give me what he pays you for and leave Professor Snape alone."

"Oh? And why should I do that young Draco?" said Torvellos calmly, "You know that my Lady Mapheria would certainly kill me if she found out what I was doing. And she would most certainly send her followers after me and Grispell for betraying her. Why is Snape so important to your father? Is it simply because he is an old friend and fellow Death Eater? Or is there something more behind this wanting to save Severus from being killed by me? Perhaps this has something to do with a certain stone that I have in my possession? A certain powerful stone that if brought into the wrong hands, would surely cause destruction and havoc to the Wizarding world? Please, divulge."

"I don't know anything about a stone! My father just wants you to turn over what you owe to him. Then you can go back to scamming money out of your customers with this...place." said Draco, looking on in disgust as he looked around the shop and then back at Torvellos.

"Not so fast, Draco. I need to see the money and the letter first," said Torvellos, reaching out for Draco to give him the money and the letter.

Torvellos had indeed gone into the future with Grispell, as instructed by Mapheria, but instead of going straight to the task at hand, he found it to be an enormous opportunity to start a business of his own in the future, with every intent of never returning to his own time. Grispell on the other hand, was keeping his side of the bargain and keeping in contact with Mapheria. But just like Torvellos, he was being manipulated by his pocket book rather than by his loyalty to Mapheria. Thus, Grispell was lying for Torvellos as well as for himself as to what they were doing.

Draco handed Torvellos the letter and the small purse of money, "Here! Now get on with giving me what I came here for!"

Torvellos opened up the letter and peered down it closely. He then glared over the top of the letter and smiled at Draco mischievously. Soon, Torvellos stuffed the letter in his pocket and emptied out the small purse into the cash register next to him, closing it shut and tapping his fingers on the top of it afterwards. Without saying another word, Torvellos then walked over towards a shelf ladder in the far corner of the shop and began climbing up it. He quickly pushed the shelf ladder on its rails over to the far end of the highest most shelves and began fingering with the items there.

From these high shelves, Torvellos soon pulled out a small round sliver box with strange inscriptions on it and held it in his hand as he looked at it. "You know, young Draco," said Torvellos from the top of the ladder, "You're father has yet to completely convince me to abandon my original goal and purpose. And your father still hasn't paid me enough for all the trouble that I am likely to get into if my Lady Mapheria ever found out. But at least, he has paid me enough for this."

Torvellos climbed down the ladder and slowly walked back over to Draco, holding the round sliver box out in front of him. Draco reached out to grab the box, but it was swiftly pulled away from him by Torvellos, who was looking at Draco closely. Torvellos spoke once more, "I am grateful for your father's efforts in granting me a pardon. I am going to need it if I am to carry out what my Lady Mapheria has instructed me to do. Which I might not, if your father pays me enough...never the less, the pardon would still be useful if I was to be caught for any other sinister crimes in question."

"You blackmailed my father into giving you that pardon! My father would have never thought of giving you a pardon so that you would be free from killing Professor Snape! My father wouldn't think twice about bringing you down if you cause any more trouble for him and my family!"

"Tut, tut dear boy, blackmail is such a strong word," said Torvellos at Draco as Grispell looked on from the front counter nervously, "And your father's petty threats will not sway me into admitting otherwise."

Torvellos leaned in and continued to speak as he got into Draco's face, "But you and your father are up to your necks in it and if you and your father wish to get out of it with your lives and reputations intact, I suggest that you and your father mind their place in the matter. If your father wishes for me not to kill Snape than he'd better hurry up and give me what I ask for before my Lady Mapheria gets suspicious. Now take the box and get out of my sight before I change my mind about giving it to you!"

And with that, Draco grabbed the box from Torvellos's hands. He then narrowed his eyes and snarled at Torvellos as Torvellos smiled wickedly back at him. Draco then turned around and went out the door, saying nothing as he left. Torvellos walked up to the front door of his shop and spoke to Draco as he left, "And don't even think about opening that box before your father does or you will regret it!"

Naturally, Draco has always had a problem with following the orders of his superiors, with exception to his parents and perhaps Snape himself. Furthermore, Draco was a known trouble maker and an incredibly curious child, which often lead him into mischief along with his never-far-away Slytherin cronies, Crabb and Goyle.

Once Draco was far enough away from Torvellos's shop, he attempted to open up the box to see what was in it. But the lid was steadfast onto the box and refused to be pried open. In his frustration to open the box, Draco soon noticed what he was doing wrong. Prior to going to the Dragon Hearth Inn earlier that morning, Lucius had been bringing Draco to The Dragon Hearth Inn on various occasions and allowing him to wander around inside it as Lucius and the inn owner Aldrik would talk to one another.

After nosing around in Aldrik's private study on those various occasions during the summer months away from school, Draco had managed to learn how to read much of the Aeyuel Language in secret, unbeknownst to his father. Though Draco didn't know all the words to the Aeyuel Language, Draco knew enough to read the box and figure out how to open it. As Draco held the small box in his palm, he quietly spoke a certain set of words that were inscribed upon it.

Though it took Draco a couple tries to speak the words properly, he did finally manage to get the box open and take out what was inside it. He held within his hand a small eye-shaped amber colored stone which glittered brightly in the light of the morning sun. He had only held the stone for a few seconds until the stone began to feel scolding hot to the touch, making a hissing sound as Draco gasped and flinched, dropping the stone near his feet.

Near Draco's feet was a copy of the Daily Prophet which had been left to rot near the foot of a nearby doorway. At the very moment the stone was dropped upon the newspaper, the newspaper burst into flames almost instantly, causing Draco to jump back and stare down at it. Realizing what the stone could do, Draco used a leather glove he had in his pocket to pick up the stone and placed it back into the box, closing the lid over it. He then stuffed the whole box and the glove into his right robe pocket, hiding it there for safe keeping.

'What kind of a stone is this?' Draco thought to himself as he walked towards the direction of The Dragon Hearth Inn. Draco soon found his father Lucius in a nearby alley, only getting a brief glance of Verena confronting Lucius before she ran off into the crowd on Diagon Alley and vanished. Draco then went to the bookstore with Lucius, where then Lucius met Harry Potter for the first time. Draco was keeping hold of the strange eye-shaped stone for now.

INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, THE GREAT HALL (1995)

Note: Extended from a scene in 'Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire'

Every winter during the time of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, a grand and elaborate ball known as the Yull Ball would take place. For one night in the year, all the students, visitors and teachers would come together in the Great Hall and dance in celebration of the winter holiday and the Tri-Wizard Tournament. All the students, including Harry and his friends, were trying to find partners to go to the Yull Ball with, though with little results. The dungeons were being used as temporary storage areas during this time, forcing Snape to use the Great Hall to teach his potions class whenever the Great Hall wasn't being used in the morning for breakfast and in the evening for dinner.

On this particular day however, Snape was teaching two classes at once, which quietly irritated Snape and the students to no end. The teacher that usually taught one of these classes, Professor Dunhavar, had taken ill and was now in the hospital wing being treated by Madame Pomfrey. Severus was not use to teaching another teacher's class, though Snape was assured by Dumbledore that he would only have to teach Professor Dunhavar's class for one day.

"Seeing Snape in two classes in one day is too much for me and it's right after breakfast to." said Ron over his plate of bacon and eggs as he poked at a piece of bacon with his fork.

"At least it isn't potions class first today," said Harry, taking his fork and plucking a piece of honey glazed sausage off of a plate of it in front of him and eating it. "...But still, Spell Writing class. Like we need to have a reminder on how to write up magic spells. Spell Writing class is such a bore and having Snape there will just be torture."

"I know. Why couldn't one of the other professors teach this class?" said Ron scowling in disagreement. "We only ever have Spell Writing class one week a month. Surely they could have found someone better than Snape to teach it."

"They tried finding a substitute, but no one wants to teach Spell Writing class for only a day. It's too boring," said Harry as he gnawed on a piece of bacon on his plate.

"I'm looking forward to Spell Writing class actually, despite Professor Snape teaching it," said Hermione, looking over at Ron and sitting next to him on his right side. "But we have to rail against our boredom and put up with Snape. Afterall, he is a Hogwarts teacher and he's doing Professor Dunhavar a favor."

"I'd rather put up with him less, the brooding, sneering turnip head...What a nightmare." mumbled Ron quietly as Harry grinned at him and Hermione smiled.

Soon, the remaining food and plates were cleared from the student tables. Books, parchment, quill pens and ink wells are then passed out for Spell Writing class.

Ron opened up his book and peered down its pages. He soon realized that the book was filled with spells and incantations he had never seen before. Hermione's eyes suddenly lit up with glee and surprise while Harry didn't know what to think. Sitting at the Gryffindor student table across from Ron, Harry and Hermione was Ron's older brothers Fred and George, who looked at the spells in their books and stared mischievously.

Another fellow Gryffindor student and friend of Harry, Neville Longbottom, was sitting to the left of George and pondering how he was going to memorize so many new spells. While all this was going on, Snape was busy near the doors to the Great Hall talking with Verena, who had once again snuck into Hogwarts and was now chatting with Snape on whether or not she could take Professor Dunhavar's class off Snape's hands. Unlike most wizards and witches, Severus and Verena found Spell Writing to be a fascinating subject to read and learn about.

After a couple minutes talking with Verena in the corner, Snape nodded at Verena and turned away, once again walking slowly between the student tables. Verena smiled and vanished into the hallway beyond the Great Hall again. She would come back later in the afternoon to take over Spell Writing class.

After a few minutes reading and writing from the books, Ron looked over his shoulder and saw Ravenclaw student Petunia Banshaw flirting with another Ravenclaw student, Jeremy Twizel. Thinking about the Yull Ball that was fast approaching, Ron glared for a moment and spoke, loud enough so that Harry could hear, "This is mad. At this rate will be the only ones in the school without dates."

Unbeknownst to Ron however, Snape was slowly walking down between the student tables behind Ron, looking over everyone's shoulders. Snape gave one cool glance over, stepped over to Ron and brutishly turned Ron's head back around and walked on, saying nothing. Ron moaned quietly in distress as Harry smiled sympathetically at him and went back to this book. Ron then leaned over to Harry and smiled, still thinking about the Yull Ball, "...I say Neville."

Harry responded humorously, "Yeah, but then he can take himself."

Ron and Harry laughed quietly. Hermione then looked over and spoke, "It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone."

Ron moaned quietly and began to look melancholic, "Now I'm really depressed."

Fred then glanced over cautiously and tossed a piece of paper over to Ron as Harry looked behind himself nervously at Snape then back again at Ron. All too aware of the ever looming presence of Snape, Ron looked around him cautiously before he picked up the piece of paper and read it, with Harry glancing between Ron and Snape cautiously.

Ron read it, then tossed it back to Fred and spoke quietly, "Who you go with then?"

Fred smiled and glanced mischievously as he balled up the piece of paper before tossing it towards another Gryffindor student, Angelina Johnson, "Psst! Angeline?" Fred whispered. Angeline glared over and looked at him puzzlingly.

Fred then began mouthing words and using body language to ask Angeline if she would go to the ball with him. As Fred was doing this, his brother George and friend Neville were looking on and grinning, while Snape was nearby with his nose buried in a Spell Writing book, paying no attention to what was going on. Angeline then grinned and whispered at Fred, "To the ball? Yeah."

Quiet giggling and a wink towards Ron from Fred followed after. Ron then looked over and spoke to Hermione as Harry kept one eye on Ron and one eye on Snape. "Well Hermione, you're a girl."

"Oh, well spotted," replied Hermione, sounding mildly defensive. Looking on and saying nothing, Harry glanced behind Ron and began pulling on Ron's sleeve frantically; trying to tell Ron that Snape was coming up behind him. But instead of paying attention to Harry's warning, Ron gestured a waltz movement at Hermione and spoke to her once more, "Can you go with us?"

Then - wack! - Ron moaned quietly in distress as Harry cringed and braced himself for a - wack!. Hermione ducked and shifted her eyes nervously as Severus smacked Ron and Harry on the back of their heads with the book he was reading before opening it again, once more walking away and saying nothing. Some of the Slytherin students nearby giggled quietly in amusement. Ron went back to looking and talking to Hermione, "It's alright for a bloke to show up alone, but for a girl it's just sad."

"I won't be going alone because believe or not someone asked me!" snarled Hermione at Ron as she angrily closed her Spell Writing book, walked away from the Gryffindor table and handed in her Spell Writing book to Snape. Looking on coolly and saying nothing, Snape brought the book down that he was reading and snatched Hermione's Spell Writing book from her hand before Hermione turned around and angrily walked back to gather up her books and parchment from the table, barking angrily towards Ron, "...and I said yes!"

Hermione then stormed away and left. Ron then turned back to Harry and continued talking to him, unaware that Snape was walking up behind them. Saying nothing, Snape glanced over coolly as he sat down the book he was reading on the table next to him.

Snape then turned to face the back of Harry and Ron and ominously pulled back the cuffs of his sleeves and waited with a subtle look of glee in his eyes. Ron continued, "Look, we just got to grit are teeth and do it. Tonight when get back to the Common Room, we'll both have partners. Agreed?"

"Agreed," nodded Harry to Ron. Saying nothing, Snape placed a hand on the back of Harry's and Ron's head and shoved their heads down hard towards their Spell Writing books. Both Harry and Ron moaned in distress. Snape was clearly trying to get his point across without ever uttering a single word.

EXT. THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO HOGWARTS - EVENING (WINTER, 1995)

A few weeks had passed since the first task of the Tri-Wizard tournament. Now the Great Hall was decked out like a wizard's winter wonderland. All around the Great Hall was shades of white and sliver, snow covered Christmas trees, ice icicles and the illusion of snow falling into the Great Hall through the enchanted ceiling above. Just outside the main entrance to Hogwarts, Verena stood next to Severus, watching students pass by and go towards the Great Hall. It was clear that some of the students remembered her as the substitute teacher from Spell Writing class a few weeks ago and narrowed their eyes and stared coolly at her as they passed. But then they looked over at Snape, who had noticed them staring coldly at Verena.

The look on Severus's face made it clear that he was not at all amused by the way they were staring at Verena, sneering at them. Verena quickly followed suit and gave an equally cold glance back at the students who were staring at her and then smiled wickedly at them. The eyes of the staring students widened briefly, then their faces began to wrench in fear as they walked away almost cowering into the Great Hall. It was clear to the students that staring coldly at Verena or Severus would lead to nothing but the loss of house points and detention.

Verena then looked over at Severus and smiled softly, "Oh, Severus. This ball is most delightful. I'm almost halfway tempted to come into the Great Hall with you and dance."

"I'd love you to, since I'm not going to be at the Ball for very long." said Severus, standing with his hands behind his back and staring over at Verena.

"Well, why ever for?"

"Dumbledore put me in charge of guarding the carriages. He wants me to make sure that all the students keep in line and don't run off to the carriages for some naughty interludes."

Verena giggled quietly as Severus raised an eyebrow briefly, "My dear husband, I bet you'll delight in that. Ruining the evening for young lovers who sneak away for a bit of a snog and a shag. It seems we both relish in making the lives of students miserable. But it's all for their own good in the end..."

"Indeed. But who's to say we can't have a little bit of fun ourselves in the carriage yard?" said Severus as he smiled mischievously at Verena and Verena smiled mischievously back.

Suddenly, Verena began to look sadly at Severus, than looked away. Severus looked over at Verena with a withering stare and with mild concern as he spoke softly, "What is it? Why have you suddenly gone quiet?"

Verena sighed and then looked back at Severus, speaking softly, "Oh, Severus. I wish you would change your mind about the Resurrection Potion. I hate the idea of letting you die after all the work I put into it." – Verena turned towards Severus as Severus's face turned melancholic and then looked away.

Verena continued, "I love you Severus and I want you to be with me always. Lily has James to watch over her and you already know how she feels about you, if you remember that day in Spinner's End when she visited you. I don't want you to die and leave me here to live alone away from you. If only you would reconsider."

Severus sighed and then looked back at Verena with a withering stare as he spoke, "You're right, of course. Lily does have Potter to watch over her."

Verena looked on sadly as Severus continued, "But I can't help but still love her despite what was said on that day in Spinner's End."

Severus turned to face Verena and continued once more, "But I also can't help but to love you to and I only want to make you happy in every way. And I do loath the idea of leaving you here without no one to love you and protect you. But you of all people must realize that the first to have my heart was Lily and my memories if her are never very far away. But as you said, just before we married, that although you can't fill the same place in my heart that Lily does, if given the chance, you would love me and make me happy."

Severus then sighed and looked towards the ground as tears began to well up in Verena's eyes. After a short silence, Severus looked up and continued once more, "I will consider it, Verena, but you must give me more time to think it over properly."

Verena's face suddenly lit up as she started to cry and embrace Severus. Severus looked around him, making sure that no one was watching. He then looked back at Verena and closing his eyes, wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I love you, Verena. I will forever love you..." said Severus softly.

Verena stared up at Severus and smiled softly, with tears welled up in her eyes, "I love you to, Severus...forever."

They then smiled at one another softly and began embracing each other closely once more as a light cold breeze blew through their hair, moving their hair around in the air.

INT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, THE GREAT HALL, YULL BALL - EVENING (WINTER, 1995)

Inside, the last of the students entered the Great Hall. Then the champions of the Tri-Wizard tournament assembled with their dates by the arm and entered the Great Hall. All around them, fanfare sounded in the air as the students all around them clapped and cheered. As was tradition in the Yull Ball, the champions of the Tri-Wizard tournament were the first to dance and start the ball. Harry looked around him nervously as he walked into the Great Hall on the arm of his date, a fellow Gryffindor student and Asian girl, whose last name was Patella.

Standing along the edge of the dance floor next to Dumbledore, Snape brooded a moment and then glanced over towards Verena, who was standing just inside the side door to the Great Hall and looking on coolly. Noticing Snape staring at her, Verena looked over at him and smiled. Severus quickly smiled back before turning his attention back onto the festivities, his hands once again behind his back. Verena then turned her attention back at the students and the dance that followed.

Severus looked on quietly and clapped briefly as the dance commenced. Dumbledore and Minerva then stepped out onto the dance floor hand to hand and began dancing with each other, making Snape glittery in the eyes and smile ever so slightly, staring as if he was secretly enjoying himself and content with just standing and watching silently.

Though in truth, he would have been much happier if Verena was standing next to him. Of course, if Verena had stood with him, he would have more than likely asked her to dance, despite the reputation he had with the students and the teachers around him. And like in previous encounters, Severus's and Verena's presence together would have been suspicious, since the teachers and the students hardily knew Verena and of her intentions, only knowing of her from that one time teaching Spell Writing class weeks ago.

However, seeing Snape dance with anyone would have most certainly been a sight, most especially with the students since they had yet to see the gentle side of Snape's demeanor but also because they believed that Snape wouldn't dare engage himself in such a happy and cheerful affair such as a ball. Of course, Snape thought of nothing but sneaking away and joining Verena in the carriage yard and so did after the first couple dances.

EXT. HOGWARTS CASTLE, THE CARRIAGE YARD - EVENING (WINTER 1995)

In a hidden away corner of the carriage yard, Severus and Verena embraced one another and began passionately kissing and fondling each other as snow fell all around them. The ground around them was covered with a thick blanket of snow and the air was cold, catching the hot breath from Severus and Verena in clouds all around them. Verena started to pull at Severus's pants, clearly telling Severus what Verena was intending to do. Severus braced himself against the wall behind him, "No we shouldn't, not out here...They will see..." said Severus breathlessly.

"I don't care, Severus. I want you now! Kiss me! Have me! Here, now!" said Verena as she and Snape grabbed onto one another and began snogging each other passionately once more, first on the lips and then on the side of the neck, letting out short cries of pleasure. This went on for a few moments more.

Then, just as they were about to engage in something a little more lustrous, a voice rang out over the carriage yard, "Snape? Where are you? Snape?"

Verena pulled herself off of Snape as Snape looked around the corner into the carriage yard. Standing and looking around for Snape, was Igor Karkaroff, the High Master of Durmstrang School. Karkaroff was a tall, light skinned man with long dark hair and with a well-trimmed goatee which didn't completely cover his weak chin and ended in a curl. Normally, Karkaroff had an unctuously cheerful demeanor but his smile would never reach his eyes, remaining cold and unmoving. This of course made him slightly unnerving. Though he was ruthless, he was not at all a brave or loyal man. He also had a thick accent, like someone who came from the far north of Europe, somewhere like Russia or Czechoslovakia.

At the moment though, Karkaroff was acting as though he was frightened of something. Verena looked at Severus and Severus looked at Verena. Severus then looked back at Karkaroff and said softly towards Verena, "I'll have to deal with him. Looks like I will have to see you later...Tonight in my study perhaps?"

Verena smiled gently and nodded. Severus then straightened up his clothes and walked out to meet Karkaroff. Verena then walked off back towards the Great Hall, mildly peeved, but all too aware that she would continue her moment with Severus later.

After a while and wanting to get a breather from all the dancing and partying inside the Great Hall, Harry came outside and walked out onto the carriage yard and away from the Yull Ball, walking past couple after couple who were busy doing more than just talking. After being snubbed off by one couple, Harry walked past the carriages, going past one carriage that was rocking back and forth on its wheels as well as hearing giggling from inside it. Harry didn't have to ask himself as to what was going on in there.

As Harry looked around him and turned a corner going into a narrow outdoor corridor, Harry heard Karkaroff ranting in the middle of the carriage yard. Harry looked and saw that Karkaroff was talking to Snape, surrounded by rows of carriages. Snow continued to fall all around, further blanketing the carriage yard and everything else around it in snow and ice. Harry hid himself behind a pillar of the corridor and watched closely.

By this time, Harry was already aware that Karkaroff was a reformed Death Eater like Snape and wondered what they were talking about.

"It's happening again, like before! And soon neither you or anyone else will be able to deny it!" hissed Karkaroff at Snape as Snape opened a door to one of the carriages and then closed it.

Severus responded in his usual cold, calm and bitter manner, "Till you're ready Igor, I see no reason to discuss it!"

With wand in hand, Severus than noticed a movement from one of the carriages in front of him. Karkaroff looked on as Snape suddenly galloped across the snow covered yard towards the suspicious carriage. Snape then came up next to the carriage, pointed his wand towards the window of the carriage and said "Lumos!" which caused a light to shine from the tip of his wand and brought down the window of the carriage, startling those inside.

He then flung open the carriage door, revealing a pair of students, a boy and a girl, inside it. Silently gesturing at them to come out of the carriage, Snape began waving his wand up and down in front of the pair as they climbed out of the carriage. Severus then spoke, "10 points from Hufflepuff Fawcett and the same for Ravenclaw Stebbins!"

The intimate pair then scurried off towards the castle as Snape slammed the carriage door behind them. The less they had to deal with Snape the better. It was quite clear, though unknowing to them, that if Snape couldn't kiss and fondle with Verena in the carriage yard, no one else in the carriage yard would, so he was setting himself to stop as many students as possible from being naughty in the carriage yard. Severus than turned around, only to see Karkaroff in his face again.

"It's a sign, Severus! You know it is!" hissed Karkaroff at Snape once more.

"Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," said Severus coolly as he walked around Karkaroff and went on to inspect the carriage next to the other, opening its door and then closing it.

"Really? Then perhaps you wouldn't mind rolling up your sleeve, heh?" said Karkaroff as he reached out to pull at Snape's left sleeve. But Snape quickly turned around and quickly flattened himself against the carriage he had just looked over, pulling his left arm up over his head and away from Karkaroff's reach. Snape than slowly brought his left arm down, glaring on and saying nothing.

Snape knew exactly what Karkaroff was ranting on about, but he wasn't about to discuss on about Karkaroff's point in the matter just because Karkaroff was frightened about it.

Karkaroff smiled at Severus and spoke once more, "You don't fool me, Severus! You are scared! Admit it!"

Severus pulled himself off the carriage and stood with his arms to his sides, looking on coolly and acting not at all frightened or hesitant, "I have nothing to be scared of, Igor. Can you say the same?"

Karkaroff, as if overpowered by an unseen force around Snape, then stared at Snape nervously and then stumbled away backwards in fear before running out of the carriage yard and vanishing. Severus however stayed steadfast in place as Karkaroff left.

Unbeknownst to Karkaroff however, when Snape said he had nothing to be scared of, Snape meant that quite literally since Snape knew that his fate was assured and that he truly had nothing to be scared of, not even death itself.

With wand still in hand, Severus sneered and hesitated a moment before he turned and walked around the carriages, leaving the carriage yard and vanishing from Harry's sight. Harry then went back into the castle to join Ron and go back to the Gryffindor Common Room, but only after Hermione yelled at them for ruining her evening at the ball.

CONTINUED…CHAPTER 15…