Snape walked into dinner with a spring in his step and a small, satisfied smile on his face. As he headed across the hall to the head table, Remus Lupin leaned back in his chair, watched Snape's approach, and smiled to himself. This should be fun, he thought.
Snape sat down next to Lupin and nodded pleasantly at him. "Lupin, how are you this evening?"
"I'm fine, Severus, thank you for asking. How are you? I haven't laid eyes on you all day. What have you been up to?" He was careful to keep his tone light, and his face impassive.
Snape shot him a sharp glance. "Nothing in particular. Since I don't have any classes on Thursday, I normally spend the day conducting my own research."
"Research, huh?" Lupin nodded solemnly. "Have you seen, Evangeline today? I watched her animate a painting yesterday. It was a remarkable experience. Have you seen her bring things to life, Severus?"
Snape blushed faintly and fidgeted with his fork. "Yes, I saw her earlier. I...uh…have no doubts about Evangeline's abilities. She's very talented."
Lupin continued to smile pleasantly. "Yes, I'm sure she is."
Snape paused sensing an undercurrent to Lupin's conversation, but he wasn't sure just what to make of it. His eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to decide just how to respond to him, decided it was safer to say nothing, and continued to eat.
All was silent between them for a while. Then, just as Snape was taking a drink from his coffee cup, Lupin remarked in a very mild voice, "I understand you've been having trouble with the house elves delivering your clothes to the wrong room, Severus."
Snape began to choke on his coffee. Lupin immediately began to pound him on the back. Then he leaned back and smiled innocently at Snape, who was extremely red in the face.
"Do you need a drink of water, Severus?"
"No!" Snape snarled as he glared daggers at Lupin.
Then Flitwick piped up from Snape's other side. "Where did the house elves send your errant laundry, Severus? They've always done a beautiful job for me."
Snape got control of himself with some difficulty. Then turned to Flitwick and said, "It was just a minor misunderstanding, Flitwick. I took no notice of the matter, and neither should you."
Then he turned back to Lupin with a murderous glare and a voice that dripped icicles. "If you will excuse me." He stood up.
"But you haven't touched your pudding, Severus," complained Lupin with a smile.
"Feel free to take it away with you, Lupin. You'll require a doggy bag anyway, I presume," he snapped.
"Oh, not tonight, Snuffles is dining with Angel this evening." As Lupin watched, Snape turned red then white in rapid succession, threw down his napkin, and stalked out of the dining hall.
Lupin leaned back and chuckled to himself. Yes, Severus, you're as easy as ever!
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Upstairs Evangeline was buttoning her blouse, and wondering if she'd ever waited until evening to get dressed before. No similar situation sprang to mind. Recalling the reason for her delay caused her to break out in a smile. She couldn't think when she'd spent a more pleasant day.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Better prepared now than she'd been that morning, she approached the door and opened it.
"Sirius," she said with a smile. "Come in."
"Thank you, Angel. You look lovely, as always, maybe particularly lovely this evening. What's put that extra sparkle in your eye?"
She smiled at him and closed the door. "Still charming as always, Sir Gryffindor," she said, as she gestured him over to the table.
He took his seat and looked searchingly at her, as he dished out food.
"I'm not kidding. You look radiant this evening. I've never seen you look this happy. What's up?"
She smiled. "Well, thank you. I am happy. I'm alive, and safe, and things are going well at the moment. Also, Christmas is coming. It's always been one of my very favorite holidays!"
He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth. "All this sparkle for Christmas?"
"Of course! The students will be gone, and I can spend more time out of my rooms."
He nodded. "Well, some of the students will still be here, but I guess we will be able to move more freely than we do now."
He studied her thoughtfully. "You know, I have seen that blissful expression on your face before." He scowled darkly. "When you were dancing with Snape on Halloween."
She blushed and looked down.
"Have you two been dancing again?"
"In a manner of speaking." She grinned and blushed even more furiously.
Black sighed and a tic jumped in his cheek as he grimaced and looked away. "He'll only hurt you, Angel."
She put a hand on his. "You don't know that, Sirius. Actually, if the past is any indication, I think it's more likely that I'll hurt him."
He opened his mouth and leaned forward, but before he could say a word, she put her hand over his mouth. "Remember our ground rules, Sir Gryffindor." She looked at him pleadingly. "I love him, Sirius. If you can't be happy for him, be happy for me… please."
He looked down and sighed. "I'll try, Angel. I hope I'm wrong, and that you are happy together."
She smiled at him. "We will be, for as long as we're allowed to be."