Once everyone had settled comfortably into their rooms, they came together again and joined the staff for dinner in the Great Hall. Some of the professors had already left. More would leave tomorrow, but a fair number were planning to remain for the wedding. So the Hall was full of happy chatting people, with a school year behind them and a celebration ahead.
Evangeline was kept busy introducing her friends to everyone. Like herself, her friends were, of course, acquainted with Dumbledore and McGonagall, but many of the other professors were new to them. Margie seemed to have recovered from her quietness and spent most of the evening chatting happily with anyone who would listen for more than five minutes, while her husband poked at his food and remained silent. Eleanor spent quite a lot of time talking to Flitwick and McGonagall, and Ariantha held court for any male who wanted to buzz around her…and a few who didn't. And then there was Sirius Black…now known as…
"James Evans. I'm so pleased to meet you!" he said as he bowed deeply and kissed Ariantha's hand.
Black had really outdone himself on the disguise. His own mother would truly have been hard pressed to recognize him. Hair of wavy spun gold adorned his head along with a large luxuriant mustache, which he was already in the habit of stroking thoughtfully. His eyes were now a sparkling turquoise, and he wore elegant red robes trimmed with gold. A splashy peacock among the much more drably attired company, he really gave Ariantha a run for her money in the attention grabbing department.
There was some unpleasant association with the name he'd chosen though, at least for Snape, who'd glowered darkly when Black introduced himself with a smug smile. Evangeline didn't know what was up. She'd have to remember to ask…later.
Lupin didn't look too happy, either, now that the flashy "James" was monopolizing Ariantha's time. Trying to find openings to reinsert himself into their conversation was rapidly becoming a very frustrating and futile exercise. His worst fears were coming to pass, it seemed. Why couldn't things ever go his way?
Actually, Evangeline thought that Sirius and Ariantha would make a good match. If she could only find a way to redirect Remus' attention back to Eleanor, then everyone would be happy. Remus seemed to be totally focused on a goal that was rapidly eluding him, however. Openings for social meddling didn't seem to be coming her way with any rapidity, and Evangeline was slightly frustrated in her attempts to properly match up her friends.
As she was observing everyone's mingling and thinking hard, Snape bent and whispered in her ear, "You're plotting something, I can tell by your expression."
Amused at his perceptiveness, she smiled up at him. "I swear you read minds."
He shook his head and caressed her warmly with his eyes. "Only yours. Is the anti-nausea potion working for you? I've been meaning to ask."
"Yes, thank you. I feel so much better. It's a relief, too. I don't really want to announce the pregnancy if I don't have to. One occasion at a time."
He nodded in thoughtful agreement. "Now, what are you plotting?" he asked dryly.
"I'd like to get Remus to stop mooning over Ariantha long enough to get to know Eleanor. I think they'd hit it off, if he gave her a chance. Ariantha is too much of a prima donna to ever take Remus seriously. She's much better off with Sirius. They both have about the same level of superficiality."
Snape snorted in amusement. "I'm sure your assessment of his personality would thrill Black no end."
"You won't tell him I said that will you?" Her brow furrowed slightly as she looked up at him.
"I'll admit it's tempting, but no, I won't betray your confidence."
She smiled. "Thank you. Now, while we have a moment. Tell me, what's up with that name Black chose?"
A dark scowl took possession of Snape's face. ""James" Potter and Lily "Evans"…Potter's parents."
"Oh, I see. You think it was a little dig?"
He shrugged still looking annoyed. "I've given up trying to understand Black. It's never worth the trouble."
The evening went quite well, over all. Although everyone appeared to have a good time, most did retired early. When Severus and Evangeline left, both Remus and "James" were still dancing attendance on Ariantha, and she was lapping up all the attention that both men had to give.
*************************************************************************************
Severus and Evangeline walked down to the dungeon together, enjoying the quiet after the rather noisy evening. As much as she had enjoyed seeing her friends again, it was always a pleasure to be alone with her fiancé.
Severus stopped outside his classroom. "I still have work to do tonight, Evangeline."
"Inventory, tonight?"
He shook his head. "No, I need to make Lupin's Wolfsbane Potion."
"Oh my yes, I forgot…full moon tomorrow. Can I help you?"
"I've prepared most of my ingredients in advance, so it shouldn't take too long. You're always welcome to come and stay with me while I work."
The two of them went into the classroom, and Severus got started on the potion. Evangeline settled herself on a nearby stool to watch him. She always enjoyed watching him work. His elegant hands were almost as much of a pleasure to watch, as they were to feel on her skin…almost. Watching Severus prepare a potion always reminded her of her childhood, too, when she'd often sat just like this and watched her father work.
"I'm glad this full moon will only affect Remus for one night, I'd have hated for him to miss the wedding," she mused thoughtfully.
Snape nodded and glanced quickly at her. "Yes, it would have been unfortunate…especially since I asked him to stand up with me."
Surprise raised her eyebrows. "You did?"
He nodded, but didn't lift his eyes from his potion ingredients. "I didn't really have an abundance of choices. The only person I truly consider to be a friend is Albus, who, of course, will be officiating. Remus seemed to be the best choice under the circumstances. I really didn't expect him to accept. Indeed, he didn't exactly jump at the chance. I wasn't sure at first that he was going to agree, he looked so shocked to be asked. He hesitated for a long time, but in the end he did say yes."
Evangeline took his hand and forced him to look at her.
"Oh, of course he'd agree. How could you doubt that?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Given our past history…easily."
She sighed and squeezed his hand before releasing it. "Well, I'm sure his hesitation was merely surprise. I imagine he never expected to be asked, but I'm proud of you for asking and proud of Remus for accepting."
"Yes, well, I have to admit, I was relieved. For the life of me I couldn't come up with anyone else to ask." A mischievous grin flitted across his face. "I suppose I could've asked Black, just for the sheer enjoyment of watching him drop dead of shock. The expression on his face would have been worth it alone."
While Severus continued with his potion making, Evangeline sat there watching him and thinking. It really must have been very difficult for him to ask Remus to stand up with him. Severus isn't good at asking favors of anyone, and his relationship with Remus is still rather fragile. This was a good step for him. She couldn't help but think how difficult it must have been for Remus, too. Feeling about her the way that he did. She knew he'd been trying really hard to get over his feelings for her, but still, it wouldn't be easy for him to stand up in front of everyone and watch her marry Severus.
As time crawled on, she began to yawn and squirm a bit uncomfortably on her stool.
Severus noted her weariness and commented, "Evangeline, if you're tired you should go to bed."
She shook her head. "I'd rather wait for you. Going to bed alone really isn't much fun."
He frowned at her, ignoring her attempt at humor. "Fun isn't really the point, Evangeline. You need to take care of yourself. I don't want you to get overtired."
She smiled. "I'm fine, Severus. I don't want you to turn into a worrier. This pregnancy has a long way to go, and I don't want my strong, independent husband to turn into a mother hen!"
He opened his mouth to protest, and thought better of it. "What do you plan to do, with your guests, over the next two days?"
"I don't really have any set plans. I just want to visit with them…get to know them again. It's been a long time since I've seen any of them. A lot has happened to me over the last year, I imagine the same is true for them. I hope to use the next two days to get reacquainted."
She watched Severus work for a few minutes more, then her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "So now that you've met everyone. What do you think of my friends?"
A trapped expression flashed across Snape's face, and he almost cut himself with the sharp knife in his hand. He looked up reluctantly to meet her questioning eyes.
Seeing no way out of it, he ventured, "Do you want an honest answer or a polite one?"
She laughed. "I take that to mean that you don't particularly like them."
He frowned trying to see a way out of this hole he'd inadvertently stumbled into. "That's not exactly true, Evangeline. I think Eleanor Hamilton is a bright, charming, pleasantly attractive woman. I can certainly see why the two of you are friends. You both have many of the same qualities."
Evangeline nodded. "Okay. That takes care of Eleanor. What about the others?"
He rolled his eyes. "You aren't going to make this easy on me, are you?"
She grinned mischievously. "I don't know what you mean, Severus?"
He snorted and returned to making his potion. "Oh, no, of course not. Your Slytherin side comes through at the oddest times, Evangeline."
She grinned and readjusted her position on the stool. "Okay, let's start there. What do you think of Ariantha? She's certainly a big hit with Sirius and Remus."
Snape glanced sideways at her and smirked. "Well, that should tell you something, considering how easily amused they both are."
"Severus," she admonished gently.
He shrugged. "Well, neither of them had the wit to make a serious play for you…someone obviously superior to Miss Collins in every conceivable way. It simply stands to reason that their appreciation of women leaves much to be desired."
Touched by his compliment, she smiled at him happily for a moment, then a playful grin once more tugged at the corners of her mouth. "How do you know that neither of them ever made a serious play for me?"
He turned and gaped at her. "I just assumed…I mean, why would you cho…I mean…did they?"
She sighed. "Oh, Severus…you can't think that I chose you simply because I didn't have a better offer, can you? Neither Sirius nor Remus could ever hold a candle to you in my heart. I love you. You do believe that don't you?"
He sighed, too. "Of course, I believe that you love me, Evangeline. It's simply that most people would find it difficult to believe that someone as lovely and talented as you would prefer me to either Black or Lupin. I've often marveled at that fact myself. It's not the way things usually have gone in the past. Our engagement was quite the topic of school gossip for awhile, with most of the gossipers quite convinced that you had lost your mind, you know."
She got up and put her arms around him, caressing his cheek softly. "That's because those foolish people don't know you like I do." She gently pulled his head down to hers and gave him a tender kiss, savoring the taste of his mouth on hers. When they'd pulled apart again and were gazing fondly at one another, she said, "That doesn't get you off the hook, you know. I still want to hear your opinions on Margie and Ariantha."
He grimaced and released her abruptly from his embrace, answering her with a hint of pique in his voice. "Oh, very well. Ariantha strikes me as totally self-absorbed. I fail to see why you and she would ever have become friends in the first place. I wouldn't think that friendship was something that she was truly capable of. As for Margie Sharp…if you hadn't told me that she was a Hufflepuff, I'd have had no trouble discerning it after a scant two minutes of acquaintance. Her incessant chatter this evening set my teeth on edge. Her husband seems incapable of stringing two coherent sentences together, although to be fair, I doubt if she ever allows him the time to think, much less express himself."
"Well, gee, Severus, don't hold back now. Tell me what you really think."
He snorted and returned to his potion making. "You asked for my opinion, Evangeline. Do not be perturbed if it doesn't match your own. If you recall, I did ask you if you wanted me to be honest or polite."
She settled herself on her stool again. "Yes, you're quite right. Since I didn't specifically request the polite…read, false…opinion. I have no right to complain about your honest assessment. I did so hope that you'd like them, though, at least a little."
He finished up with the potion and set the cauldron to simmer on the hearth. Then he turned to her with a sigh as he swept her off her stool and back into his arms. "They're your friends, Evangeline. I promise that I will do my best to get along with them for your sake. I simply can not promise you any more than that."
She smiled up at him. "I know, Severus. I really do appreciate how tolerant you've been so far. In fact, I'd already decided that you deserved a reward for your patience."
He raised an eyebrow as he gazed down at her nestled comfortably against him. "Oh, really. And what reward would that be?"
She took his hand and pulled him out of the classroom and down the hall towards their rooms. "I'd much rather show you than tell you, Severus."
Quite willing to be shown, Snape let his bride-to-be pull him off down the hall towards the privacy of their own bedroom.