Christmas was approaching for Harry Potter's fourth year at Hogwarts, and so was the Yule Ball. It was all anybody could talk about—including the teachers, sometimes. Normally, Professor Snape wouldn't want anything to do with something like this, but there was one factor this year that changed everything. And one morning, a few days before Christmas, it couldn't have been clearer for him.
Snape was sitting near the other Heads of House, but his black eyes were focused on the new History of Magic teacher, Professor Lucy Marsh, a.k.a. the reason boys finally paid attention in that class. She had been an Auror before coming to teach at the school to teach, and as a former Ravenclaw, she was plenty smart. She was best friends with Professor Flitwick (eagles have to stick together, after all), but she found Snape a little creepy.
Some of the teachers already had dates—Flitwick was going with Sprout, McGonagall with Dumbledore, Mad-Eye with Grubbly-Plank. Snape didn't have a date, though, and he wanted to ask Professor Marsh.
…
Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sitting together at the Gryffindor table, watching the teachers. Everyone could see Snape watching Professor Marsh.
"I bet you Snape's going to ask Professor Marsh to the Yule Ball," said Ginny.
"Of course he is," said Hermione. "But I don't think she'll say yes."
"Who are you going to ask, Harry?" Ginny asked, and grinned.
"You," said Harry, giving her a kiss on the cheek. The two of them had been going out from the beginning of fourth year. Ginny was happy Harry was taking her, because otherwise she wouldn't get to go. Ron was taking Hermione, because they were dating too.
"Once she turns him down, I bet he'll take it out on us students," Ron continued.
"Let's hope she doesn't, then." Ginny shrugged.
…
The next day, Snape caught Professor Marsh on her way to lunch in the Great Hall. She turned around, her deep blue eyes full of curiosity.
"What is it, Professor Snape?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"I-I…" Snape leaned down and put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "Would you…would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Professor Marsh pursed her lips and looked down. She let out a deep sigh, then said, "I…I never knew you felt that way about me."
"Well, I do, and it's time I did something about it," Snape told her. "Would you like to be my date?"
"I'm sorry, Severus, I really am," said Professor Marsh, not looking in his direction. "But I think it would be best if we just stayed friends. Do you know what I mean?"
"No," said Snape, because he very well knew they weren't friends. Why did he even bother? Professor Marsh thought he was creepy—like an overgrown bat, as Quirrell had put it…
"I'm sorry," Professor Marsh whispered, and with a swish of blue witch's robes, she was gone.