Chapter 34

"Marian, who's Gray?" Leah asked with a cat-that-ate-the-canary smile as they descended the stairs to breakfast on Saturday morning.

Marian grabbed Leah's arm and yanked her into a corridor just outside the Great Hall, aghast at her roommate's query.

"Why? What did you hear?" Marian asked.

"Oh. So you like him."

"Yes," Marian said, letting out a guilty sigh. "Do you know him?"

"No, but I had a dream last night where his name came up. We were getting dressed for a party or function of some kind and I was telling you that he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off of you," Leah said with a raised eyebrow.

"Gray Rushton is a seventh year, Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain," Marian said dreamily. "I've had a crush on him since first year."

"Will you point him out to me? I promise I won't do anything embarrassing."

"Fine, but let's be careful. I've never told anyone."

Leah held up her pinky, and Marian, now blushing scarlet, joined her in the sacred oath.

Tea time with Minerva came quickly, and Leah was grateful. Was it about Divination? Or was it James' "big gun"? Whatever it was, she now suspected that her green dress had something to do with it.

Minerva was once again waiting for Leah in the corridor when she came around the corner.

"New password?" Leah asked.

Minerva nodded and said, "Tango". Leah followed her up to the office and sat down by the fireplace just as before.

"I have something for you." Minerva held a large package wrapped in brown paper. "From James."

"My dress!"

"Did he tell you?" Minerva asked, half suspicious, half surprised.

"No," Leah said shaking her head and smiling calmly. "I dreamed last night that I was wearing it while Marian and I got ready to go to a party."

"Then Sibyll was right!" Minerva said, clutching her chest.

"I hope so." Leah words came out slightly louder than a whisper.

"I am sure you have gathered that I do not think much of Sibyll's abilities. But, Leah, if you are truly a Seer, I would be most pleased to have you here at Hogwarts. Sibyll told me of her vision that you would become her apprentice and eventually take over for her as our Divination Professor. Have you Seen that also?"

"No, but my dreams have a way of coming true. I've always been able to See ahead to the outcomes of certain things, sometimes important things." Her shoes were suddenly intriguing.

When Leah looked up from the floor, Minerva was beaming. She threw her arms around Leah and took her into a hug that seemed to say "Welcome to the family!".

"If this works out, you could stay on here as an apprentice, not a student, for the spring term. Do you understand my meaning?"

"Yes. Severus and I would be colleagues, not teacher and pupil."

"Of course, this is a school, and I could not be a party to any improper activities, at least not any that I hear about," Minerva said, winking at her.

Leah was pleasantly shocked at Minerva's behavior, but, more importantly, she felt alive and burning with possibility.

"So, what's the dress for?" Leah asked with a wicked smile.

"James has suggested that Severus needs to see you in this dress to remind him of what he had and that I should create an opportunity for it to take place." Minerva looked at Leah with an equally wicked smile. "Dearest niece, this year we are going to have a Halloween Ball. I will announce it tomorrow."

Saturday, September 30, 2006

Dearest James,

You did it! You are a genius! This is going to get through to him, I know it!

Minerva's Halloween Ball is going to be the perfect opportunity for me to show him what he's missing. It's too delicious! And I guess I can tell you about my other news now. I am a Seer! At least I think I am. It means that I have the "Inner Eye" to See future events. Professor Trelawney, the Divination professor, told me that she had foreseen my coming here! Can you believe it?

And last night, I had a dream of myself in the green dress that I unwrapped today in Minerva's office. That's right, you can say it. I'm a Goddess!!

I wish you could be here so I could see you and talk to you in person. I miss you so much!

Hope you are smiling,
Leah

Sunday evening before dinner appeared on the tables, Headmistress McGonagall called for everyone's attention.

"As you all know, today is the first of October and an appropriate time to make this announcement. This year, in celebration of Halloween, we will be having a masquerade ball. You are, of course, requested to come in costume. Dress robes, however, will also be acceptable. Should you have any questions about this event, you may speak to your head of house or to me."

Minerva clapped ceremoniously and a sumptuous meal appeared on the tables before everyone. There was a great deal of enthusiastic discussion regarding the Headmistress' announcement over dinner. Leah glanced over at Professor Snape to see if she could detect any reaction, but found him stone-faced as usual. He seemed to be the only one not involved in the excitement.

Later that night in the Gryffindor common room, Leah sat with Marian in front of a crackling fire, completing some of her assignments for the coming week. She thought to herself how much she loved the feel of the room; it reminded her of Tonks' and Remus' house, comfortable and welcoming. Old family attic.

Sunday, October 1, 2006

Dear Tonks and Remus,

I am glad to say that I have some news for you at last! Aunt Minerva announced today that Hogwarts will be hosting a Halloween Masquerade Ball! The idea came from my good friend, James. He thinks that Severus needs to see me in a certain dress I wore at home to remind him of what we had. Not to brag, but it is rather stunning. I wore it at a formal function that was our first "date".

I hope James is right. I am on a roller coaster of emotion, constantly vacillating between hope and despair, and it is starting to wear me out. It's like constant PMS.

Other than that minor issue, everything else is going really well, except for Potions. My potion abilities are almost non-existent. Fortunately, I have found a partner in class who is much better than I am. My savior is an 11-year-old named Charlie Montgomery!

Love To You Both,
Leah

"Well, I guess we know what night Gray won't be able to take his eyes off of you," Leah said as Marian put on her nightgown.

"Do you really think so?"

"Yup. I wonder when he'll ask you."

"Hey! I almost forgot. How's the bet coming?" Marian asked, climbing into bed with an evil grin.

"Not so great. Maybe I can win it at the Halloween Ball. What would you say if I actually got him to dance? I think that would be just as good as a smile, maybe even better."

"Are you kidding me? You'll never get him on the dance floor! He probably wouldn't even come to the Ball."

"We'll just see about that," Leah replied, narrowing her gaze as she schemed.

Severus entered the staff room on Monday to relax with a book before lunch and discovered a notice on the bulletin board.

All Professors are requested to attend the Halloween Ball in costume. –Headmistress McGonagall

Reading this, Severus' lip curled in annoyance. He loathed the idea of having to not only attend, but attend in costume; he was not a child and was not interested in looking like one.

Before he could stop them, Severus found his thoughts straying to what type of costume Leah would like.

'Stop it! Just stop!' he told himself. 'She is not yours, nor can you pursue her while she is your student.' Severus paused for a moment, looking out the window at the Quidditch pitch in the distance. 'But it would be satisfying to put her on the defensive for a change.'

Severus knew instantly what he would be wearing to the Halloween Ball, and with a twisted grin, he settled down into a brown, leather armchair with his book.

Leah thought to herself how much she loved Fall as she walked through the front doors and out onto the grounds in her running gear. If she was going to fit into her green dress perfectly at the end of the month, she needed to work off some of the rich, English food she was now eating.

Passing Hagrid's hut and hitting her endorphin rush, she noticed Kingsley a short distance ahead out for a run as well. Dismissing her reservations about getting too friendly with him, Leah sprinted and caught up to him along the edge of the forbidden forest.

"Oi!" she yelled.

"Leah…we must…be starting to…rub off on you…," Kingsley panted as he slowed down to talk with her.

"Just a bit…you don't have to stop…I just…thought we could run…together if you want…," Leah said, wiping a bead of sweat trickling near her eye.

"Sure…it would be nice to have a partner…I usually only run around to the gates though…and then I walk back…"

"Fine with me…I'm not sure I…can make it that far…I'll try…," she said, smiling.

He nodded and they began to run again, making their way to the main gate. It was a cloudy, cool October day, and Leah was enjoying the weather; it was still in the 80s at home this time of year. But at Hogwarts, the leaves were all turning brilliant shades of red, orange and gold, and Leah enjoyed how the trees blazed when the sun would look out from behind the clouds.

"I…wasn't sure…I was going to…make it," Leah panted when they stopped at the gate. "I'm way…out of shape."

Kingsley gave her a skeptical look. "You made it…just as far as…I did."

They caught their breath and stretched for a minute before beginning the walk back to the castle. Leah and Kingsley were quiet for the first few minutes they walked, the crunch of fallen leaves the only sound they made.

"So, do you run every Saturday?" Kingsley asked.

"I do now, with the Ball coming up, I mean. Gotta fit into my dress."

"Hmmm. What are you going as?" he asked.

"I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you. It's a surprise."

"Have it your way. I like surprises, but have you told your date what you're going as?"

"Yeah, right!" Leah said, laughing. "I'm going stag, or I guess it would be doe in my case. I don't think there is anyone here who would make an appropriate date for me. They're all either too young…or they're professors."

"You're probably right. It would be frowned upon, but if you're in need of a partner, I'd be happy to dance with you, Leah. I think that's allowed."

"Thanks, I'd hate to be a wallflower. I really appreciate it, Kings—I mean Professor Shacklebolt."

"I thought we agreed that you would call me Kingsley when we're not around other students."

"I know, but it's easier for me to keep things straight if I stick to official titles. I don't want to look like I'm getting any special treatment."

"Are you?"

Leah looked at him with a shocked and somewhat wounded expression.

"What I meant was, is anyone giving you a hard time?" he asked gently.

"Oh! Sorry. No, not really. I'm just remarkably bad at Potions is all, but I have a secret weapon," she replied, looking mischievous.

Kingsley questioned her with a raised eyebrow.

"Charlie Montgomery. He's my Potions partner, and he's always helping me out when Professor Snape isn't looking over my shoulder, which, by the way, makes me really nervous."

"I warned you that he could be difficult," Kingsley said in an I-told-you-so voice.

'You have no idea,' Leah thought.

When they reached the castle, Kingsley turned to her. "So, same time next week?"

Leah didn't see any harm in just being friends with him, and perhaps Minerva was right – maybe a little jealousy would do Severus good.

"Deal. Have a good afternoon, Professor."

Author's Note: Just a quick reminder - I will not be able to post any chapters next week, but I'll be back in full force with three chapters the following week. Hope you liked this one...lots of good stuff to come! I'm curious. What do you think about Kingsley? Leave me a review and let me know. I'm kind of sweet on him myself. -MinnKota