Note: Here's the next installment. Hugs to those of you who still review *tries not to curse the others who don't*
Ten
The Graduation Ball—Attempted Murder
The night was young, but Severus Snape felt unreasonably old as he told the same two Slytherin seventh years to "cease their activities or enjoy another year at Hogwarts under my close supervision" for the tenth time. The latter threat seemed to have worked—finally—and Snape allowed himself to smile at his power of intimidation.
The Graduation Ball was the one of the few times Severus came out of his cave and into the social scene of Hogwarts. He broke his normal code for several reasons:
A. It would be one final chance to land as many students in detention before their time with him was up.
B. The House-elves went all out for the event, making dinner in his chambers sound utterly drab.
C. On this particular evening, there was a special bonus...
...who was fashionably late.
Severus stuffed a hand in his pocket and reached for a glass of very mollified wine—one of the rights of passage the seventh years earned. It was—of course—nothing to him, yet he relished several long swallows before the doors of the Great Hall crept slowly open and he nearly spat the mouthful of liquid onto the nearest table.
What incurred next was a great wave of silence—starting at the entrance to the Hall, and ending where Severus stood at the front. It was nearly as quiet as when Reign entered the vicinity—nearly dead—so many months ago. The reaction she received this time around, however, was entirely different.
As the doors closed behind her, Reign proceeded tentatively into the area. She cursed herself for taking so long to get ready—being late meant having all eyes on her. Though, in the back of her mind, she couldn't resist thinking that it wasn't just her lack of punctuality that caused nearly everyone to look her way.
She tried so hard to keep her head held high, but the wide smile that played across her lips prevented her from doing so. Of course she was going to savor the moment; she walked slowly, letting the click of her heels keep pace with the beating of her heart. When she finally looked up most of the students had had their fill of her and were back to their previous business. To the left of the staff table a stage was erected, where an invisible orchestra played. Reign watched them for a bit as she walked deeper into the mass, until a touch on her shoulder stopped her.
"Ron," she acknowledged into the very red face of the youngest male Weasley. He laughed nervously and gave her a shy smile, trying not to look directly into her eyes.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said quietly. Reign couldn't help but smile—or notice the warmth spreading across her cheeks. She thanked him, asking where his date was.
"Oh...she's around..." he replied nonchalantly, speaking of Lavender Brown. He leaned in close to the elf and whispered, "She was a last minute date. Not really my type, you know?" Reign nodded, smiling despite herself.
And then she glanced over Ron's shoulder, and her eyes fell upon a shadow standing apart from the crowd, still holding the wine glass in his hand, furrowing his brows as if to burn an enormous hole in the back of Weasley's head.
"If you'll excuse me," Reign started, stepping around the boy. "Save a dance for me, eh?" she said as she darted in and around dancing couples. Ron nodded, letting his smile get the best of him.
"How's the wine?" she asked as she stumbled over to Severus, cursing her choice of footwear.
"Weak," he replied, setting the glass down and clearing his throat.
"You're late."
"An elf is never late," Reign started. "We arrive precisely when we mean to." Severus snorted. The woman raised an eyebrow at him. "Well?" she asked impatiently. The Potions Master looked her in the eye for the first time that night, and was nearly blinded by their brilliance. He tilted his head and waited for an explanation. Reign put her hands on her hips and scowled. "Do try and act as a gentleman would in this situation." Severus narrowed his eyes, to which Reign stood straight and held out her arms to direct his attention to her attire. Picking up another glass of wine, Severus said quietly,
"You look beautiful."
Reign folded her arms, looking disgusted, and then tore the goblet out of his hands and took a drink herself.
"I beg your pardon," Severus started, completely taken by surprise. Reign downed three-quarters of the wine before answering him.
"Is that the best you can do? 'You look beautiful'?" She spat the words at him in a tone louder than necessary, drawing attention to herself and the Potions Master. Severus was quick to take hold of her arm and silence her. Both looked enraged, until Snape's face softened and he looked down at his boots.
"Listen," he said quietly, bringing his eyes back to hers, taking notice of her dress. It seemed to have a life all its own—the way it flowed and shimmered in the dimly lit space. Not entirely form-fitting, the slate blue dress opened into an A shape near the bottom, ending in a unique hemline—slight folds that exposed her legs from the middle of the calf down.
Reign had taken special care with the neckline; she didn't much care for exposing herself to the male population of Hogwarts—not even Severus—so she created a one-shouldered, non-exposing-of-the-chest upper portion of the outfit, leaving two yards of fabric that draped over the covered shoulder and down to the floor.
Her glistening white hair she had let down and attempted to curl.
Severus noticed that her tattoos were still present, but her scars were not, and above her right eye was a small painting of a star, much like the compass-like ones that completed the tattoo on her left shoulder. He didn't know what she used on her skin, but it too glowed with a light all its own. "There are no words to describe your beauty this night," he said quietly, not letting go of her arm and thankful that she didn't attempt to break free. Reign smiled.
"Well, coming from a man with such a large vocabulary, I am most flattered," she teased, taking another sip of wine. A hint of a smirk formed on the Potions Master's thin lips.
"How did you manage to hide your scars?" he asked cautiously.
"Minerva. Transfiguration works wonders on changing scar tissue into new skin." She rubbed her wrists lightly. "Though it doesn't last long. Only for the night." She gave a weak smile.
They stood near the wine table for a while, conversing about the night's events—Severus complaining about not catching Potter and Co. in the act yet, and Reign laughing at his determination. Finally, after finishing her fourth glass of wine, she decided that she had waited patiently long enough.
"And may I ask when, my dear sir, were you planning on asking me to dance?" Severus nearly choked on his drink.
"We professors are merely here to keep the students in line. We are not here to dance," he hissed. Reign snorted, looking out to where the Headmaster twirled with Madam Hooch.
"Is that so?" she said, dragging his chin to where they danced. She felt his jaw clench above her touch. "Well I suppose I shall just ask one of the students to dance instead..." She walked away from Severus, toward a tall redhead. The Potions Master watched her ask Ron to dance—he very willing to oblige.
"Enjoying tonight's festivities, are you?" she asked as Ron half-clumsily whirled her around the floor.
"Very much, now that I can say I had the pleasure of dancing with you." Reign couldn't help but blush. They danced in silence for a while, Ron never taking his eyes off of the elf, while she tried to avoid his stare by taking quick glances at the rigid Potions Master and winking at him.
"Reign," Ron said, snapping the elf back to attention, "do you think, maybe...you and I..." Reign had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she registered his reference.
"Oh Ron," she said in a tone that rivaled his mother's, "in all honesty, I am not your type. Nor are you mine." The young man smirked.
"More of the tall, dark, and greasy type, eh?" Reign hit him playfully on the shoulder.
"He is not greasy." Ron shrugged.
"Suit yourself." He seemed much more relaxed after he got that off of his chest, even if he was rejected. Reign looked over to where Hermoine stood watching them.
"Though I think Hermoine is exactly your type." Ron nearly tripped over her feet.
"What? Hermoine?" Ron stole a glance over at the girl, who quickly looked away. "My type?" he hissed at the elf. Reign laughed.
"She's been watching you all evening." The music stopped; the song was over. Reign lowered her hands and stepped away from Ron. "Why don't you ask her to dance? Just one," she said, pushing the young man toward the girl. He looked back at her, giving a weak smile, before she turned and headed back to the wine table.
"Enjoying yourself over here?" she asked. Severus scowled.
"Not as thoroughly as you seem to be," he sneered. Before lifting his most recent glass of wine, Reign took it and placed it on the table. The music started up again. She took hold of his hands and half-dragged him out onto the floor. "Come on," she urged. "You owe me." She laughed as Severus raised his eyebrows and stood fast.
"I most certainly do not." Reign sighed and approached him, placing her hands on his chest.
"One dance, Severus. That's all I ask." She took his right hand in her left and placed his left upon her hip. "Drop the facade for one dance, won't you?" She began to move, taking the tall man with her. Snape looked nervously around him as they danced, Reign moving ever closer to him.
"People are watching, Reign," he said quietly. She retaliated by placing her head on his chest.
"Let them watch." She felt the great sigh that escaped his chest as they floated over the dance floor. Reign was pleasantly surprised at his ability to dance; after all, he didn't much seem the type. Soon, it seemed, Severus forgot entirely who he was, what he stood for in the eyes of his students, and was enjoying himself as thoroughly as Reign was.
Until the touch of a gloved hand to his shoulder made him cringe.
"Mind if I cut in?" came a lavish voice from behind him. Reign's head snapped up, and both pairs of feet stopped in their tracks. Severus spun around to face Lucius Malfoy, who wore a look of such arrogance that Reign was tempted to take her dagger and remove it permanently. "Come now, Severus. You mustn't keep this beauty to yourself all night." Snape held fast to Reign's hand as Lucius took his previous position, arm wrapped tightly around the elf. Her eyes widened, but she let go of the Potions Master's hand, communicating a look that told him she could handle herself. He took a few steps backward, until he bumped into the wine table, and proceeded to down another wineglass.
"How dare you show your face here," Reign sneered as they twirled, Lucius being a more forceful leader than Severus.
"It's good to see you, also," he replied, squeezing Reign's side. She gasped and purposely stepped on his toe—which made him hold her even tighter.
"How are you and Caelan getting along?" she asked, noticing the distant look of the girl's from across the room. Lucius quickly spun them out of view.
"I shouldn't have ever—"
"You're damned right about that," Reign spat.
"Not that I didn't enjoy it when it first started," he said, licking his lips. "It was a welcome change for me."
"What? Robbing the cradle?"
"If that's how you want to think of it," he said quickly. "I rather enjoyed the youthful sprite. It was when she began to have—" he cringed, "—feelings—" Reign snorted. "—for me, that I knew it was over."
"You're disgusting," Reign sneered.
"But I am handsome," he replied. "Remember? You said it yourself. Don't deny it." Reign couldn't help it; his now playful disposition made her smile. Damn him. He pulled her even closer as they whirled passed Severus, and whispered into her ear. "I miss you, Reign." His lips grazed her ear, sending familiar shivers down her spine. That's when, if he had been looking in her eyes, he would have seen them begin to swirl.
That's when she stopped Time.
Tearing herself away from him, she stepped back, breathing hard with an intense loathing of the man that stood before her—the man who helped murder her father. She reached down and pulled up her dress, retrieving her dagger from her thigh. Angry tears dotted the corners of her eyes as she walked stealthily toward him, blade raised and ready to plunge into his black chest.
"Reign?" The elf froze. Eyes darting back and forth in their sockets, they halted upon sight of Caelan, who approached her slowly from the right. "What are you doing?" It was not a question that needed to be answered; her intentions were obvious.
"Avenging my father's death," she replied through clenched teeth.
"But I thought it was the Dark Lord who—" Reign spun around on her.
"How do you know that?" she demanded. Caelan jumped back, then rolled up the sleeve of her dress, exposing her Dark Mark.
"I'm his instrument to be used against you, remember?" She replaced her sleeve and ducked around the elf to stand between her and Lucius. "Don't think that he hasn't told me all about you."
"What are you doing?" Reign asked. "You had better not be trying to save the life of this—" Caelan raised a hand to silence her.
"I'm not trying to defend him; Lord knows he deserves what's coming to him." She turned her back to Reign, letting her eyes flow over her former lover. Then, rotating back, said, "but I would very much rather see him cognizant of his demise." Reign lowered her dagger, surprised at the young woman's statement.
"You suppose me a coward? For not facing my enemies when they are aware of my intentions?"
"Not in the slightest," Caelan replied, ignoring the smoke fuming from the elf's ears. "But if you would just stop and think about what you were about to do...if you do kill him, how are you going to explain yourself when you start Time again?" She crossed her arms and awaited a response. Reign's body relaxed.
"Hadn't thought of that," she said to herself. Caelan nodded.
"Didn't think so." Reign lifted her head and looked at the girl; she was not the same person she had cradled in her arms the previous night.
"Very well," she started, replacing her dagger, "I shall heed your advice." Caelan smiled. Both women nodded to each other, before Caelan returned to her position and Reign to hers.
"I promise," Reign whispered as Time resumed back in the arms of Malfoy, "on my father's grave," she paused as Lucius stiffened against her, "that you will pay for all the evil deeds that you have performed in this world." She threw Lucius off of her, who laughed off her threat.
"I have heard that too many times to count, Reign. What makes you think your threat is any different than the countless others I have received?"
"Because you underestimate me, Lucius. You underestimate my powers, my passion, and my intense loathing of you." Composing herself as best she could, she walked straight passed Severus, away from a laughing Malfoy Sr., muttering, "I'm done...I've had enough."
Before the Potions Master could follow her out, however, Professor Dumbledore intervened. "Severus, let her go," he soothed as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Right now we have other business to take care of." He looked toward Lucius. "We have an uninvited—and unwelcome—guest here tonight."
The two men proceeded across the dance floor, black robes mingling with vibrant cerulean ones, paces matched perfectly. Albus disarmed Lucius as Severus stupefied him. Ignoring the protests of Draco and his gang of Slytherins, the Head of House opened the nearest window as Dumbledore levitated a frozen governor out into the night.
"I don't ever want to see you in my school again," Albus hissed into Malfoy's ear, knowing full well that he could hear him. Severus had seen the Headmaster this angry on but a few occasions, and he was reminded how powerful and intimidating that wizard really was. Yelling down below to Malfoy's carriage, he lowered the man to the ground, commanding his servant to take him back to his household. When the carriage took off and Severus closed the window, Albus clasped him on the back and smiled as if he had just won a bet.
Little did he know, however, that his spell wore off halfway down the path leading to the castle, and just before the coach was through the entrance, its owner demanded that it stopped, explaining that he was not going to give up so easily.
***
"Sad-lu nahysa (Curse him)." Reign paced the length of the top of the astronomy tower, holding her cloak close to her body to shield her skin from the unusually chilled night air. "Sad-lu nahysa," she said again, this time stopping against the ledge. Her eyes pierced the darkness like she would have liked her dagger to pierce Malfoy's heart. She stood rigid, her jaw clenched and her eyes unblinking.
Soon a soft hand landed on her shoulder. Reign closed her eyes and spoke softly.
"Severus." She breathed a sigh of relief at the comfort of the man behind her. He wrapped his arms abnormally tight around her torso. "I just don't know what to do about him anymore," she said, as if she were referring to a small dog. Severus lowered his head against her neck and kissed it gently, remaining silent. Reign moaned softly against his silky hair, not turning to face him, enjoying the moment too much for that.
"I almost killed him tonight," she continued, slightly disappointed that her interruption paused his affection. "I stopped Time. I pulled out my dagger..." she paused, her green eyes glazed over as she looked up at the moon. "Thank Kor Caelan was there to talk me out of it." She smiled to herself. "The girl is stronger than we give her credit for. I hate to say it, but I'm almost glad she was created...otherwise, who knows what I would have done tonight..."
"Yes," came the reply in a voice that was definitely not Severus's, "after all, what would the world be like without Lucius Malfoy?" Reign spun around, knocking the man away from her.
"Lucius!" she acknowledged. "What do you think you're doing?" Lucius collected himself and walked slowly toward her.
"Making amends," he stated simply. Reign crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Lucius made to embrace her, but the elf was quick to step away, pulling her dagger out simultaneously.
"I will not tolerate your games tonight, Lucius," she warned. The man laughed hideously.
"Ah, that's what I love about you, Reign. No games." He stood still, his arms hanging by his side. "Come now, I'm being honest. I've been—"
"An ass," Reign finished. Lucius shifted in his spot and cleared his throat.
"Yes...an ass. I'm tired of the quarrels between us, Reign." The elf lowered her weapon as Malfoy took a step toward her. "I want to apologize...for everything." He was now inches from her, the pause in conversation almost unbearable for the elf.
"I'm waiting," she said, looking into his pale gray eyes. Lucius smiled, took one last step and—before she knew it—had his arms wrapped around her in a stiff embrace.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear. Reign shivered. "Sad-lu nahysa," she cursed softly as Lucius tilted his head to kiss her. His lips were cold and hard, his tongue like ice against hers. But she had missed the passion with which he kissed—Severus was gentle, shy...while Lucius...
He pulled away, still smiling.
"How quickly and disturbingly often we change our opinion about one another," Reign said, more to herself than to the man holding her. Lucius laughed against her, raising a hand to stroke her cheek. Looking up, she noticed the remnants of the scar she had given him so long ago.
"I do not underestimate your power, Reign," he started. "I think it is you who underestimate it."
"What?" she asked, tilting her head. Lucius stepped back and took her hands in his.
"You could be more powerful than you ever imagined." Reign was beginning to see where this new conversation was going, and she quickly tore her hands away.
"With the help of Voldemort, I suppose?" Her tone straightened Malfoy's spine.
"You are bound to him, Reign. You cannot escape him." His voice sounded more crazed with every syllable he spoke. "You are destined to be with him." Reign threw her arms in the air.
"I am destined," she spat, "to determine my own destiny. And as of now, Lord Voldemort is not part of it." She saw Lucius clench his fists, while she herself lowered her hand, ready to retrieve her dagger.
And then footsteps reached her ears, and she turned.
"Severus!" she cried, walking backward toward him. Snape took her outstretched hand and followed her gaze to Lucius.
"Malfoy?" he said, obviously surprised. He reached for his wand and almost had it, until Lucius put up a hand.
"I'm not here to cause trouble, Severus." He walked toward the couple with a slight twitch in his nose. "I merely came to say goodbye." He looked straight at Reign, who narrowed her eyes and glowered at him.
"Goodbye, then," she said. Lucius inhaled sharply before speaking to Snape.
"Goodbye to you also, Severus. Until the next meeting," he said. Severus nodded, his hands now squeezing the elf's shoulders. Both turned to watch Lucius as he descended on the stairs. When he was sure that he was gone, Severus spun Reign around in his grasp.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked impatiently, scanning her over for any sign of injury.
"No," Reign replied sharply, taking his hand and pulling him down the steps.
Her pace was quick, her grip on Severus tight. She led him passed the Great Hall—where the dance was still going strong—through the Entrance Hall, and into the bowels of the castle. Once they reached his rooms, Reign tore off her cloak and scrubbed her face nearly raw over the bathroom sink, trying to rid it of Malfoy's scent and touch.
"And I was so looking forward to tonight, too," she said sarcastically, emerging from the bathroom. Severus was sitting by the fire, fully clothed, with a small bottle of rum in his hand. Reign stopped beside his chair.
"He kissed you, didn't he?" Reign's smile faded.
"Yes," she replied, stepping over Snape's outstretched legs to take a seat next to him. She jumped as Severus hurled the bottle into the fire and plunged his face into his hands. The elf sat frozen in her seat, not sure how to react. Finally, he straightened and looked into her eyes.
"What does he have that I don't?" Reign was taken back by his question; in fact, she laughed at it. Sliding onto the floor, she moved in front of his chair and placed her hands on his knees.
"A lack of respect for others, a distorted view of reality, and a fierce temper." Severus raised his eyebrow at her. "No, scratch that. The latter you two have in common." She pulled herself up and kissed his forehead. "If you are so worried about me running off with him, would you care to explain why I am here with you, instead of marching out hand-in-hand with him tonight?" She grabbed hold of his hands and pulled him up against her. "Hmm?" Severus ran his hand through her white locks, smoothing out the spots that Lucius had ruffled during their embrace.
"That's just it, Reign," he said, tearing away from her and walking around the chair. "Why me?" The elf could have punched him, slapped him, kneed him in the ribs...this was the umpteenth time they had gone over this. Walking over to the bed, she sat on the edge, and motioned for Severus to join her. Then she got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his waist as he approached.
"Because we need each other," she answered, relaying another reason why she was so in love with the man she held. He opened his mouth, but Reign was quick to continue. "I need you to keep me safe, to remind me that there are times when it is necessary to act my age..." She kissed his cheek. "And you need me to remind you that you are not alone in your struggle between the sides of good and evil." She kissed him deeply, enjoying his gentle touch. When they pulled apart, Reign looked into his dark eyes and took a deep breath.
"Severus...I love you."
Snape didn't have time to reply as Reign's concentration on his eyes was broken. They strayed to his chest, where a dull green light penetrated his clothing. Reign looked up to him, her eyes their brightest.
"When did you start wearing that again?" she asked as he let go of her and pulled the necklace out of its resting place. He dropped the glowing emerald in her hand, squinting against its luminosity.
"This morning, actually," he said, watching her closely as she turned the jewel over in her hands. "When I knew I loved you." Reign's head remained lowered, but Severus still caught a glimpse of her smile. When she looked up to him, he was quick to capture her lips with his own. He had never felt this way—even 18 years ago, when Reign had first told him she loved him. His stomach lurched, his head felt light, and he finally felt like this was the moment. Reaching to untie her dress, Reign grabbed his hand.
"No," she breathed, pulling his hand from her. The moment was henceforth ruined. Severus turned around, looking for something to hit.
"Why the hell not, Reign?" he demanded, turning back to her. "And I demand a straight answer this time." The elf bit her lip and sank back onto the mattress. She avoided his glare, wrapping her arms around her knees.
"You could try, of course, if you really wanted to." Severus stepped toward her as she looked up at him. "You know that promise that humans make? About saving themselves for marriage?" The Potions Master nodded. "Well," she continued, looking down once more, "elves take the same oath. Only, there really is no way to break it until we marry." Severus narrowed his eyes.
"What are you going on about, Reign?" She looked up at him, into his very soul.
"If you try to make love to me tonight, both of us will pay for it. I've heard stories of elves who broke the code, who became pregnant, who gave birth to deformed children, who became infertile, who contracted diseases, and perished..." There, she had said it. Severus shook his head and snorted.
"What?"
"Elves take their oaths very seriously, Severus." He sat down next to her.
"You mean, if we try...we'll die?" Reign nodded. "Because of some elvish code? Some powerful magic that a wizard cannot possibly comprehend?"
"I don't even understand how it works, Severus. It just...does." Snape fell back onto the mattress, rubbing his temples. Reign patted his knee. He could only see one way out of this. Lifting himself up to a sitting position, he spoke.
"I suppose we should marry then," he said quietly. Reign laughed—Severus glared.
"You're not serious?"
"What? Wouldn't you like to marry me?" Reign punched his shoulder.
"Of course. But not if it is just so you can say you robbed me of my innocence!" Severus groaned; it did seem like that was what he was after...
"I'm sorry, Reign," he said with his head in his hands. "It's just...been so long..." Reign wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"I know," she said, kissing his ebony locks. "One day...but not yet." After they kissed they climbed into bed, holding each other close, and let the world carry on without them.
***
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