Bonus Chapter - Snape and the Hogwarts Faculty

Severus Snape sat in the staff room, not exactly loving life, but for the moment not hating it, either. He was engaged in one of his favorite activities - failing several Gryffindor students for their poorly conceived essays. It wasn't as if they didn't merit the failures. He demanded excellence from all his students, and these had clearly not lived up to his expectations. But he could not deny that there was something unspeakably satisfying about writing a large red zero at the top of a student's essay, particularly when that student was named Neville Longbottom.

His solitude was interrupted by the entrance of Minerva McGonagall, though he was enjoying himself far too much to notice the interruption. He did not look up until the deputy headmistress addressed him with, "Hello, Severus. Have you heard the latest gossip? It seems Cedric Diggory will be taking Cho Chang to the Yule Ball."

"I don't care in the least," Snape replied, rounding out another zero with a flourish before turning to another essay, "And I don't see why you should either."

"Don't be such a spoilsport! They make a handsome couple! Incidentally, who will Potter be taking to the ball?"

"I don't know, and I really don't care."

McGonagall let out a gasp of shock, "Severus! Don't you realize Potter has to open the ball?"

"Ah… It must have slipped my mind."

McGonagall assumed an expression that was all too familiar to the Potions Master. He recalled seeing it often during his years as a student at Hogwarts, though he had been used to seeing it directed at James Potter and his cronies rather than himself.

"As his head of house, it is your responsibility to prepare Potter for his role as champion," she said sternly, "That includes warning him about opening the dance!"

Snape realized that he would not get out of this conversation by continuing to ignore it. He relented with a grimace.

"Fine, I'll tell him… Right before the opening dance."

McGonagall began scolding him again, telling him in no uncertain terms that he had to ensure that Harry Potter was prepared before the night of the ball. She was in the middle of her tirade when Professor Flitwick walked in and overheard this lecture.

"What's this?" he asked, "Potter still hasn't found a date? But I thought he was taking Miss Bulstrode!"

Professor McGonagall broke off mid-sentence to sputter at Flitwick in surprise, "Bulstrode? Of course not! It's obvious Potter is interested in Hermione Granger! From my house!"

Flitwick demurred, "Now Minerva, favoritism will get you nowhere. Potter and Bulstrode are always together! Plus, there was that article…"

"Rita Skeeter is a lying insect!" McGonagall declared, "Potter is just as likely to take Blaise Zabini to the ball as Millicent Bullstrode!"

Professor Sprout chose that moment to enter the staff room. Catching McGonagall's last statement, she broke into a cheerful grin and said, "So they've finally made it official, have they? Good for them! That Blaise can be a handful, but Harry's a good influence on him, I think."

There was a bit of confusion as McGonagall and Flitwick both tried to explain that Harry and Blaise were not together. Snape looked on impassively, stunned that the trio of professors could take such an interest in the personal lives of their students.

"I was just explaining to Filius that it's ridiculous to think that Harry and Millicent are going to the ball together, just because they're friends."

"I don't think so," Professor Sprout argued, "The best relationships start with a strong friendship. Though I still think Harry and Blaise would make a better match."

"Blaise's standards are too high," Flitwick argued.

"Too high for the Boy Who Lived? Don't make me laugh!"

"Are we taking bets on who Potter is going to take to the Yule Ball?" said a gruff voice from the doorway. Alastor Moody shuffled into the room, his magical eye fixed on Snape while his natural one remained attentive to the three arguing professors. "Because I'll put my galleons on Draco Malfoy."

"Oh, come on!" Snape objected, unable to stay silent any longer, "They can't stand one another!"

"I disagree," Moody said with a crooked grin, "I've seen the way Malfoy stares at Potter when he thinks no one else is looking. The boy is obsessed."

Things were starting to get out of hand. The staff room grew ever more crowded as more and more faculty members joined the conversation. Eventually, someone conjured a chalkboard and began taking bets. Snape could see incomprehensible words being written out - words like Harmony, Haphne, and Drarry. Snape did not want to consider what unholy abomination was being considered when "Nevarry" joined the list. He quickly began packing his things to leave.

The disappointment Snape felt in his fellow teachers was immeasurable, and his day was ruined. He beat a hasty retreat from the staff room, seeking the comfort of his own dungeon office. In the chaos of the betting pool, Professor McGonagall did not see him leave, and thus could not remind him to tell Harry about needing a date to the ball.