THE STAR SEER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE
ElleLarRey
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: The Valentine's Day
The scents of love and romance were obviously everywhere in and out of Hogwarts. The surroundings inside the school were covered with everything red. Decorated with red paper hearts and cut out cupids, red roses, red curtain, and new red carpets. The Headmistress had decided to celebrate the Valentine's day for a night ball party, where the students were allowed to ask a date with their fellow classmates. And what was more hilarious to this was that the teachers and staffs are also included to this foolish celebration. And all should wear a decent party suits and gowns, which was really 'unworthy just for a freaking unreasonable night', thought Severus Snape.
So now he had to stay awake all night because every teachers' presence were required in this stupid party for hopeless romantic people inside Hogwarts. He had to be watchful to every students who would try to snog and sneak out of the school. That was the only thing he found inviting in this party, giving detentions and deducing points to whoever would dare to disobey the school rules.
Severus frowned every time he see a group of flattered girls boasting each of their gifts, a bouquet of flowers, a box full of chocolates and everything they think was nice and sweet. And every time he watched a boy laying his gifts to a girl like an idiot praising a messiah, it made him nauseous. Why does it always have to be the boy who are supposed to spend something for a girl. It downgrades a man. Are girls really that materialistic?
Though, he thought, would he be called a hypocrite if he said that man shouldn't buy something that would please a girl because first and foremost he had given L a butterfly hairpin which he reckoned counted as a gift. And he knew that it pleased her, that simple thing made her blush, and she always wore it since he bought it. The grumpy Professor shook his head every time his mind wandered to L.
A couple of students together with their date headed excitedly toward the venue of the ball party, the Great Hall. Everywhere he looked were grandiose from their glittering dresses and well-tailored suits. He really wondered why would they spend so much time and Galleons just for this unimportant event. Why did they like to celebrate the heart's day? He questioned, if they wanted a party, a dance, or a date, they could had just do it in a normal day, which didn't require any expenses like this one.
They are all idiot. He muttered to himself.
Professor McGonagall was standing outside the Hall, greeting and welcoming all the students. She, too, was in her best dress. Black satin gown, her hair was pulled into a tight bun and her face was colored with make up. She saw the Potion master and motioned him to come on her side.
She scrutinized the man up and down with her glasses off. "Professor Snape, nice attire." She complimented.
He made a face, he wouldn't had bought a new trouser, a black double breasted vest thudded with a series of buttons, partnered with a new frock coat, and a dark green cravat in the first place if it wasn't for this crazy celebration that would waste a lot of his time, and if it wasn't for the Headmistress' mandatory teachers attendance and presentable image, he wouldn't even bother to comb his hair. He knew for himself that he didn't look nice, she just wanted me to stay and be at this pointless ball party, he surmised.
"So do you," he said casually. He put his hands to his pocket and searched around the crowd of students.
"Are you waiting for your date?" She asked, her head tilted.
He scoffed, "A date? Professor McGonagall I don't have a date and I don't need one."
"You didn't asked Miss L?" She asked.
Why would I ask her as my date and why would I want one when I know that I don't have any interest in dancing at a party. Wearing all this clothes is enough way of embarrassing myself and I don't want to add any more burden to my shoulder tonight. He wanted to say it out loud, but decided against it.
He shrugged in non-committal way, "No. Why would I ask her?"
She smiled slyly, "Because she's your—"
Severus interrupted her, "She. Is. Not. My girlfriend." He scowled.
"I was just going to tell you that she's your personal assistant, Professor Snape." She smirked, "You're being too incredibly defensive."
He blatantly said, "Either way, why would I want to spend a Valentine with L. Do I look like I care about this particular day?" And he added, "and I. Am. Not. Defensive."
She shrugged and smiled that say 'who are you lying to?'
They stood there for a while watching the students entered the Great Hall, keeping an order not to go anywhere but inside the Hall.
He was just glaring at Creevy who tried to take a picture of Professor Snape when Professor McGonagall tapped him on his shoulder with her long pointed finger and when he looked to the Headmistress, she said, "She is so beautiful."
Baffled at who was she talking about, she pointed upstairs. And he saw her. He stiffened.
It seemed like Severus' world stopped, the clock paused, the roaming students faded away from the background. All the lights turned toward her. She made the whole place bright and slow. Miss L was standing at the top steps of the stairs, wearing a long emerald off leg gown. Her black hair was curled to one side and a butterfly hairpin was gleaming on it, like a real butterfly it was fluttering in her head. She was wearing a black strap heeled sandals. She wore a single jewelry, a simple silver choker around her neck that looked like a snake.
He didn't notice right away that his mouth was slightly open when Professor McGonagall interrupted his sudden trance. "I see that you two agreed to wear the same color." She said pertaining to Severus' dark green cravat and L's emerald gown.
"We didn't talk about this," he retorted.
They were both looking at L, enthralled by her beauty. McGonagall smiled at him, "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Yeah," he murmured. "I guess she wants all the attention again." He said dryly. His eyes were glued to her. A group of students took a picture with her.
"Maybe she wants only one attention." She whispered to no one.
He didn't want to know what she had meant about that. He furrowed his brow, did she invited Fred? So what if she did?
He looked back to Miss L, she stood there alone, she waved at Severus or he guessed, at them. L stepped down the red carpeted staircase gracefully. The tail of her long gown billowed as she move. Her slit long gown shows off her flawless leg up to her thigh. This small scene beguiled the stoned heart professor, he almost forgot to breath.
He couldn't resist taking off his eyes at her, he looked up to her head down to her black painted toe-nails. Dazed at her elegance, Severus found himself smiling at her and she was smiling too, careless at her steps.
Six steps and then five more steps, accidentally she plunked down at the very last step and she fell awkwardly face first on the floor.
He blinked for a two seconds, replaying what had just happened. Oh right! She fell. And she was still on the floor.
"Oh! For god sake! Severus, be a gentleman for once in your life." McGonagall blurted out.
Instantly, he was beside L, he bent over to check if she was okay. "Are you hurt?" he said worriedly.
She pushed herself up and he helped her. "Damn it." She cursed.
"Are you okay?" he asked again holding L's arm.
"Severus, I just fell and rolled over the stairs and you're asking if I'm okay?" She brushed off the dirt on her dress. "I'm fine though. Thanks."
He fixed her fallen strands of hair by tucking it behind her ear. "I told you not to wear something like that," he saw that the other pair of her shoes was missing.
He searched for the missing one. He saw and grabbed it. Severus bent over in front of L and transfigured the high heeled shoes to a flat one. "That is more safer for you." He commanded.
She looked down and examined the shoes. She huffed. "It doesn't look good with my dre—"
"You will wear that until this party is done." He said in authoritative tone.
She rolled her eyes on his dominance toward her and said quietly, "Gosh, that was embarrassing."
In fact it was, everybody saw her fell and rolled, and Creevy had taken a picture of it. And the way she stumbled down the stairs was very disastrous and remarkably awkward. Severus would love to see that moving photo soon. Damn! He would probably gave a Galleon to Creevy for that picture so he would have something to laugh at. Wicked, but he was still concern at her.
He checked her arms for bruises and luckily there was nothing.
Professor McGonagall came in front of the two, "L are you okay?"
L smiled, "Yup, I'm fine. Nothing serious. I didn't fell from the tower." She smiled and added, "You're beautiful tonight Professor."
"You too." She replied.
L and Severus walked together toward the Great Hall. "By the way, butterfly and snake is not a good combination," he said in lowered voice. She playfully punched him.
Inside the Great Hall, the windows were adorned with red curtain, a vases of red roses lined the walkway. There was a glittering pixies hanging on the wall. There was a lot of lit scented candle floating above. The hall wafted with sweet and rose fragrance. The usual straight tables were now changed into a round tables covered in white fabric. At the very center was a huge vacant space as the dance floor. To the left side was the band singing melodramatically something about love. The teachers and staff were sitting to their usual place, in front facing the students.
After a few more minutes, all were gathered inside the Great Hall. The Headmistress stepped on the podium and she gave a speech.
"Good evening to every students and teachers that are gathered inside the Great Hall to celebrate the most romantic day of the year, the Valentine's Day. . ."
She continued speaking, he wasn't really listening to every words she was saying. His eyes were focused outside, waiting for the end of the night. He yawned, he was already bored and sleepy. He sensed that L was looking at him.
"What?" He shot her a dangerous look.
She shook her head. "Nothing."
He rolled his eyes and looked at his watch impatiently.
"May this night be the most memorably one to each of you. Let us start the party with this appetizing dinner." McGonagall ended her speech. She waved her hands and the food appeared in front of every tables. The students cheered and clapped. The band started to play a slow song.
L was clapping too, but not at the headmistress' speech, but toward the black forest cake in front of her. She picked all the cherries at the top of the cake and munched it all the way down.
"Slow down. Miss L," he hissed beside her.
She stopped midway, her mouth hanged open. She looked at the big chunk of cake in her spoon. She ignored him and ate it anyway.
He huffed shaking his head at her childish behavior.
"Why are you not eating?" She asked looking at Severus' untouched food.
It's because I need to reduce some weight. Miss L I still remember that you told me that I am fat. He shrugged, "I'm not hungry."
As if she read his mind, which wasn't impossible, she asked, "Are you on a diet?" She smirked.
He arched his brow and watched her speak.
"Is it because I told you that you're. . ." She didn't finish what she was going to say.
He stifled a smile, stopping himself from reacting.
L noticed it, "What? Why are you laughing?" She asked curiously.
He sipped a red wine, "Nothing."
"Is there something wrong in my face?" She guessed. L fumbled at her black pouch clutch for her mirror. She gasped when she saw her reflection. She bumped him in the shoulder. "You stop grinning like an idiot."
Severus grabbed her chin and he wiped her mouth with his table napkin.
"Stop. You're ruining my lipstick." She shove his hands away.
I'm just helping her and she wants me to stop because she's afraid that her lipstick might smudge? What's wrong with this woman! In annoyance he threw the tissue on her face. "You fix yourself then."
Severus saw that his students were watching them, their mouths were hang open like they just seen a ghost. The teachers too were looking at them, smiling at him. Damn it! He cringed at the thought that they would probably talk about how their Professor Snape advancing on his personal assistant. They would probably think that he gone too soft. He balled his fist.
"I never seen Professor Snape like that. It's sinister." He heard a senior student from Gryffindor.
Slytherin students whistled and cheered, "Professor got his Valentine."
He glared to them.
Finally, the dinner was finished and the dance party started. A clad of boys invited their partner for a dance. And it was distinguishable who was the looser and who was the cool one, by looking at them. The one who remained on their seat and the one who was dancing a waltz with a pretty girl.
But that doesn't mean that I am a loser. Severus remained in his sit because it was his choice. And he wasn't born with a special ability to dance.
Beside him, L was surrounded by a group of Slytherin boys. The first boy who danced with her was Terrence Higgs, Slytherin's seeker. On his position, he watched them dance. The boy swirled L, her dress followed her every moves. And it was so perfect, it seemed that this moment was made for her.
He watched her being transferred in the hands of some random boys. His hands balled into fist beneath the table, his possessive alpha ego was kicking in. He watched them impatiently. He miserably cursing himself from sitting here like a misplaced creature who was not supposed to be here at all.
Then, it was Professor Slughorn, holding his hand out for L. They danced. He gulped his red wine. He saw Professor Slughorn whispered something in L's ear which made her laugh. His hand was on her waist. He restrained himself from hitting his colleague with his own Sectum Sempra curse. His jaw locked as he watched L's body so close to someone else. He heard his internal self, And I thought you don't care?Why are you fuming on your seat. If you want her, then just go and ask her!
He saw Professor McGonagall observing him quietly.
He gave her a questioning look.
"Professor Snape. What's the use of our waltz practice if you won't ask anyone for a dance?" She asked.
He frowned. Please don't invite me to dance, not again. That dance session practice was a humiliating part of my life. Don't you dare put me in that situation again.
"Come on, Severus. Dance with me. Let see if you learned something from our practice?" She said and he knew it was an order not an invitation. Damn old woman! He cursed.
How could he resist, she was the Headmistress. He stood in front of her and he led her to the center, just beside L and Professor Slughorn. McGonagall and Severus bowed to each other then he put his hand gently to her side and he held her hand stiffly.
"Professor Snape, head up and relax." She instructed.
They followed the slow beats of the music, step right, step left. Stop and whirled her around carefully. Professor McGongall winced every time his foot landed on hers. After four minutes of waltzing and stepping into her toe, finally the music ended. Before he could let go of her grasp, Professor Slughorn came to their side.
"Professor Snape, would you want to exchange partners?" He offered eagerly.
McGonagall answered for Snape, "Of course." The two old smiled mischievously as they left him and L alone and they started to dance.
So, I see. An intentional set up for me, he thought. Then the whisper in his head came again, I know you want it, so just chill and enjoy. The truth was, he would enjoy it if there was no other people present around.
The band started to play another one. The guitars and piano played itself a harmoniously and romantic music. The lead singer sang, "Take me to your heart, Show me where to start, Let me play the part of your first love. . ."
Severus looked at her face turned to red and she smiled at him consciously, "That is my favorite song. By David Pomeranz." She informed.
He stepped closer to her. He grabbed her in her hip and ran hand to her back, pulling her closer to his body. His other hand was holding her small smooth palm firmly, like there was no letting go now. He could feel that she was uncomfortable at his touch. He thrust her more closer to him, embracing her tightly. She gasped and looked at him nervously. He could see it in her eyes that she felt his swollen sex. She stared up at him.
"Lily Lei. Breath," he whispered in her ear.
She shivered when his lips brushed her ear lobes. She leaned her head to his chest, as if listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat. Her other hand hanged around his neck, her thumb rubbed his nape. He felt her breathing became more deeper and unstable.
They danced together in rhythm, this moment belonged to them. He swallowed a multiple times every seconds she pushed herself between his legs. Their body merged together, begging for more than that. He smelled her sweet hair and savor the moment.
Severus heard her hymn with the music, singing against his chest.
She sang:
"Got to believe in magic
Tell me how two people find each other
In a world that's full of strangers
You've got to believe in magic
Somethin' stronger than the moon above."
Then slowly she looked up to him, "'Cause it's magic when two people fall in love."
Evey thing snapped on him, making him awake when he heard her last word. His smile dissolved in to a scorn at the mention of that four letter word. The moment crumbled into darkness. He stared at her, but he was no longer looking at L, it was Lily. The Lily with red hair and blue eyes.
Lily stood in front of him telling Severus over and over again that he deserve someone else and he belong to someone who would love him back.
He woke up to his reality and found himself surrounded by his students.
"Severus I. . ." L started.
No. No. Don't tell me that. This is not love. My heart is already buried with my first love a long time ago. "No." He held out a hand. "Please, don't say it." He stomped out of the Great Hall, away from them. Away from the noise. He left L standing at the center of the dance floor. What is wrong with me.
He was at the tower standing and watching the forest and the lake and the massive expanse of black velvet sky. He pondered at what just happened lately. It's me who have an issue. He knew that because he was still trapped in the past and as long as he was like this he wouldn't be able to love again like he did for Lily. He didn't wan to hurt L and she deserve better than me. He thought this was the consequence he got from being as a Death Eater, as a murderer. To be denied of happiness. To be plagued by his own darkness.
A tears flowed down on his face, he wiped it away immediately.
Then something caught his eyes, down below, L was walking to the path toward the lake. Then she was gone out of his sight.
This was the time to put a stop on what was going on between them. Whatever it was, there was no chance that it would work no matter how much effort he extend.