Prompt: Cold Heart (#550)

Chapter 21:

Ministry Costume Party

Snape wasn't avoiding her exactly, but as October finally wound to an end, Tracey found herself almost... missing him. Though, she only ever saw him during certain meals, she couldn't help feeling like there was a gaping hole inside her... and she actually almost missed his company.

The few times that they did see one another, she noticed that their conversations were always carefully impersonal. Mostly idle chit chat. Which she supposed she didn't mind so much, except for the fact that idle chit chat was simply something she'd always personally found pointless. And she was quite certain that Snape was of the same mind.

But she supposed, the alternative... could lead to revelations that neither was comfortable with accidentally making.

"So, are you coming to the Ministry costume party?" Harry asked Tracey as they each readied to go home after another long day of work.

Tracey momentarily chewed on her bottom lip as she adjusted her messenger bag with her files, not to mention the many vials of pensieve memories that she was supposed to view and analyze, before making reports on them. Somewhat tedious work, but considering the fact that she hadn't been able to sleep, even with sleeping draughts... she might as well do something useful with her insomnia.

Though, the lack of sleep was making her very grumpy just a bit insane.

"I don't know," Tracey replied. On the one hand, she was so exhausted, she didn't really thing that she was in the mood to attend a party. On the other, she really didn't think she could stand another day at Prince Manor, which still didn't feel anymore like home after two weeks. "Today was kind of rough, but I always loved and did something special for Halloween. That interrogation today was terrible... I suppose the party could help me get my mind off it, but I'm still undecided. Are you going?"

Halloween was always special in her family. Her father's birthday was November 1st, but as a child, her mother and father always started his birthday celebration on Halloween night (that is, before Hogwarts). Tracey always wore a princess dress, in whatever style she could be granted, and at midnight exactly, always got a dance with her daddy.

The memories were, bitter sweet now that her father was gone. And Tracey didn't think she could stand to be alone at home... thinking about all those times...

Her heart couldn't take that.

"Well... I was hoping to have a quiet night with the Weasleys, but Ginny's really looking forward to going," Harry replied, looking somewhat put out but indulgent.

Tracey frowned at this. The more she thought about her partners relationship with the red-head Weaslette, the more she didn't understand why they were together. And frankly, she thought the Weaslette was selfish and thoughtless for forcing Harry out on Halloween. Didn't she think that the man perhaps felt extremely mixed up about the holiday on which his parents had been murdered?

However, it wasn't really Tracey's place to say anything about the state of her partner's relationship. They weren't, after all, that close.

"Well then... maybe I'll see you later?" Tracey said with a shrug, feeling that in spite of her terribly long day, and her extreme fatigue, that she was very likely going to attend. Ministry function or not.

"What are you going to come as?" Harry asked as he fixed his own robes and they started moving together out of the department.

"A princess," Tracey replied with a shrug, to which Harry turned to give her a look. Tracey felt mildly offended at his incredulous look. Was she really that unfeminine that the thought of her dressed as a princess was so unbelievable. "What are you coming as?" Tracey asked after shoving Harry.

Harry groaned. "Ginny got us matching costumes. She wants us to come as Superman and Wonder Woman."

Tracey blinked a few times and looked over at her partner. Though as a half-blood she was aware of some muggle, popular culture, she wondered at Ginny knowing anything from muggles. And briefly, she wondered if anyone that worked at the Ministry would understand what they would be going for.

"So you'll be in spandex?" Tracey asked, wondering whether or not she even wanted to try to imagine that.

"Yeah," Harry replied, turning red all the way to the collar.

"You're going to make it into Witch Weekly. The-boy-who-lived to wear spandex," Tracey teased half-heartedly, earning herself a dirty look.

xXx

Severus blinked for a moment, wondering if his lack of sleep in spite of taking Draught of Living Death was causing him to have waking dreams. Because surely, he was hallucinating the vision before him.

He really couldn't believe that Tracey would be wearing a princess gown, with full and voluminous skirts. An off the shoulder, champagne colored, satin dress with a tight bodice with a split in the front towards her right hip, under which was a skirt of sparkly, champagne gossamer with glittery silver pieces.

Her long, dark red hair was curled and tied back in a half-ponytail with a few strands left loose to frame her face. On her head was a small, but very sparkly tiara.

Though, Severus didn't know why he would be hallucinating Tracey Davis dressed so strangely, he had to admit that in his illusion, she was completely stunning. Of course, Tracey was a beautiful young woman, but it was usually quite unimpressive, due to her wardrobe.

However, no matter how aesthetically pleasing to the eye the present hallucination, Severus was somewhat concerned. He really needed to sleep.

An auditory hallucination too, Severus thought dryly as Tracey turned to regard him.

"Um... I'm going to a costume party at the Ministry. I'm not really sure when I'll get back," Tracey explained, her cheeks turning pink, as if she was embarrassed and annoyed with the fact that she had to explain her whereabouts to anyone.

Severus stared at her blankly for a moment as he sat, cradling a steaming cup of tea. He'd been hoping it would help soothe him enough to let him rest.

For a while, he said nothing as he merely raised a brow at the young woman, wondering why she was informing him and for some odd reason, feeling a tinge of discomfort that she would be at a social event. He'd let go of his belief that he was hallucinating when he realized that though Tracey's face looked a little more shimmery than usual, that she couldn't quite magic away the deep circles around her eyes.

"And you're going as a princess?" Snape asked, because if he'd ever thought of Tracey wearing any costume at all, it was not something quite so feminine and childish as a princess. Did grown women really still desire being princesses?

It was simply a look he found far more congruent for the likes of Pansy Parkinson or even Astoria Greengrass.

Tracey flushed red, but her eyes narrowed in what was clear vexation at the judgement of her choice.

"It's tradition... as a child I was always a princess," Tracey replied defensively before continuing. "My father dressed as a knight, or prince... and he always reserved the first dance for me."

Severus felt the pulse of grief that he knew not to be his own, and frowned. He regretted instantly his tone of mocking. He knew that though the information was likely not voluntary, he found himself needing to somehow make amends.

"I rather loathe Halloween myself," Severus admitted, looking away. As much as he would have liked it, he was very aware of the date of the Holiday.

Tracey chewed on her lip at this, and Severus focused his gaze on her as he attempted to stay cold and aloof. Elaboration was not required on the reason why... he was sure that Tracey was bright enough to understand.

"I'm only going so I don't have to remember... if you'd like-" Tracey began to offer uncertainly, her cheeks turning pink.

"Though I appreciate the sentiment," Severus stated, rising to his feet and setting down his mug, knowing just where Tracey was intending to take her statement. "I loathe crowds even more. And I'm afraid that my status as recluse would be revoked if I put in an appearance and cause a bit of a stir."

"I guess I'll see you then?" Tracey asked, to which Severus gave a somewhat reluctant nod. For whatever reason, he felt his stomach fill with nervous energy of the thought of Tracey flitting around and socializing when she looked quite so lovely and even vulnerable. However, he shook himself of the thought, telling himself that the damnable binding was affecting him more than he wanted to admit.

xXx

Tracey almost felt disappointed that Snape hadn't agreed to come along. Though the regret that he did not accompany her seemed far more prevalent since her arrival to the Ministry. It had quickly become very irritating to be asked by every acquaintance and co-worker she came across, as to the whereabouts of her husband.

The only one who had refrained from commenting were a very red Harry (who was indeed wearing very form-fitting spandex with a red cape and his hair styled), and Kingsley (who was dressed in an all black tuxedo and claimed to be dressed as smuggle spy).

The atrium had been completely decorated for Halloween, with large jackolanterns hanging overhead to light the black-marble room and with large carved pumpkins placed strategically around. Tracey was almost reminded of Hogwarts, except for the atmosphere was anything but warm and relaxed.

The only thing that kept Tracey from pulling her wand from where it was discreetly tucked into a hidden wand sleeve on the bodice of her dress, was the flutes of alcohol she kept picking off the large floating trays under which House Elves were cleverly hidden.

Pansy Parkinson, who was dressed much to Tracey's chagrin as an emerald-green princess gown somewhat smaller in grandeur than Tracey's, had been particularly trying on Tracey's nerves.

"Twat," Tracey muttered under her breath as Pansy walked away, while draining her champagne glass.

"I think you make a much better princess," a voice suddenly piped up from her side and Tracey turned to look at Luna Lovegood who suddenly appeared beside her as Pansy pranced away to chat with what looked like to be Rita Skeeter dressed in a horrendous, leathery, olive green dress that looked very constrictive. She reminded Tracey of a crocodile.

"Thank you," Tracey replied as she tried to smile kindly at Luna, who was wearing a form-fitting, shimmery gown of seaglass green with beads of crystal trailing throughout. Along the bottom hem and the collar was a fluffy white, slightly see through material that made Tracey think of soap suds. Her long, blonde hair was braided and piled at the back of her head, tucked into a small, white top-hat from which sprouted a veil of white, see-through cloth and draped over her back and her shoulders. "What are you supposed to be?" Tracey asked, trying to keep her tone polite and curious, though she was sure she sounded puzzled.

"Sea foam," Luna replied simply with a dotty smile as she twirled a long, hot-pink crazy straw in her drink. Tracey tried not to wonder where luna had gotten the crazy straw, refusing to believe that the shorter and younger girl, carried a crazy straw on her person at all times.

"Ah," Tracey replied, unsure what else to say and glad when Harry suddenly appeared.

"Have either of you seen Ginny?" he asked before turning to look at Luna and smiling fondly. "You look great by the way, Luna."

Tracey raised a brow at this as she watched Luna's smile expand and her eyes light up with joy.

"Thank you," Luna replied and Tracey wondered if perhaps it was the first time she'd been complimented on her costume. "You looked handsome too, Harry."

"I haven't see her," Tracey replied with a shrug of her shoulders, turning around, wondering how her partner had lost his girlfriend and not missing the way Harry flushed red at Luna's compliment. Her search came to a stop as she looked across the fountain and found her eyes clashing with a set of grey eyes hidden behind a silver mask.

Tracey felt the hair on her body stand on end as she stared at the mysterious man in robes of dark grey silk attached to the tall, pale and slender figure. She felt her heart rate speed up as he continued to stare directly at her intensely. Though the face was obscured by a mask and the mousy-brown hair was slicked back, Tracey couldn't shake the feeling that the man was Theodore.

However, her view of him was interrupted as Harry shifted on his feet and covered her view momentarily. By the time she had looked around, the apparition in grey had disappeared from her view, leaving Tracey feeling cold down to her bones and seeping into her heart.

TBC...