I realize now the mistake I made in chapter 6. Cedric is not a champion, at least, in this story, but I was consulting the book to get the facts rights and ended up messing the whole thing up.

If you haven't already read my bio, please do. I need feedback on something.  Sorry for the delay with this chapter, but my computer died and had to be defibrillated back to life.

I now have Windows 95…

If the changing font gets annoying, tell me and I'll fix it.

 I've just realized that I'm writing this story as if it was happening now, in the year 2003, instead of sometime in the 80's, which is when the story is reputed to have been set originally.

There are a few expletives contained in the following chapter. If you are hyper conservative, and don't like words like shit or bitch, I would advise you not to read this or any following chapters. There are, of course, some really mild sexual references, because I'm crap at writing smut. I tried once. Never again….

The hospital wing was cordoned off from the prying eyes of the school. The curtains were up at the windows and the screen was around Daniel's bed. After she was hit with the dragons tail, Daniel had went flying into the cement wall of the enclosure, breaking, according to Madame Pomfrey, both shoulder blades, her right kneecap, her left forearm and the majority of her ribs. Her bones had been mended, of course, but she lapsed into a deep unconsciousness after Severus had slapped her jovially on the back of her head and said cheerfully,

"There! You're all right now aren't you!"  Which she responded to by slumping back onto the hospital bed.

"Her breathings gone funny again."

"I think you'd be breathing funny if all of your ribs were broken."

"Shut up dog boy."

Krum was lying in a bed at the other end of the Hospital Wing, one half of his face stinging from a serious burn.

Every champion had got hurt in one way or another. Fleur had half her hair burned off, and managed to break her hand somehow. Harry, apparently, had a broomstick involved in the whole thing, and fell off it in an attempt at the golden egg.

"Make me."

"Why are you here anyway? It's not as if you care."

"Oh yeah, and you were always there for her."

"You know the circumstances."

"Doesn't matter. Family should stick up for each other."

"It was her decision."

"You didn't have to go along with it. You could have confessed."

"What? And have the both of us stuck in Azkaban? That would've been really clever now, wouldn't it?"

"I think you'd have liked Azkaban. I mean, apart from the Dementors, and the food, it wasn't really that bad."

"What about the psychological trauma?"

"Well there's that."

"There is."

Both parties had run out of things to say. They couldn't argue. It didn't feel right in the presence of an unconscious loved one.

Madam Pomfrey caused a temporary disturbance by peeling the orange goo off of Krum's face, and replacing it with fresh goo.

"She was really lonely in there, you know. Sent you piles of letters. And you still never bothered to confess."

"She said in the letters that she didn't want me to confess."

"Doesn't matter. She's your family. You should stick together."

"Yeah. You two stuck together all right though, didn't you?"

"We were lonely. You've no idea what it was like being stuck in the same room all day every day for thirteen years!"

"So did it start off as a way to pass the time?"

"Shut it!"

The curtains flew open with a whoosh.

"If you two don't care enough about poor Daniel to keep your voices down I shall have to remove you!" hissed Madam Pomfrey menacingly.

The arch nemeses' stood up respectfully when Dumbledore appeared at Madame Pomfrey's shoulder.

"How is she Polly?" he asked concernedly.

"She'll be alright Professor. It's Krum I'm worried about. He's not so good. All she needs is some rest." she finished scathingly, staring at Daniel's visitors with a meaningful glare. Walking off, she muttered something about dragons and dementors and what the world was coming to before she slammed her office door. (Quite the hypocrite)

"You can sit down now." Dumbledore said kindly, looking worriedly at Sirius and Severus, both of who looked anxious and tired. "You heard what Polly said. She'll be fine."

Sirius' head drooped.

Snape was worried, of course. But he didn't show it.

Both were stung from what they had been accused of.

"Severus, I think maybe you should go and sleep for a few hours. You too Sirius. I hope to see you soon." Snape got up and strode out the door, slamming it behind him.

"He's really worried." Sirius said unnecessarily, before transfiguring into the huge black dog and leaving the Hospital Wing.

Getting up, Dumbledore drew the curtains again.

"You can get up now." he said kindly to the uncomfortable form of Daniel Snape. Sitting up stiffly, she poked at the bandage around her head.

"They go on for a bit don't they?" she hissed angrily. Listening to the two most important men in her life argue over her while she was supposedly at deaths door hadn't put her in the best of moods. 

"When they don't know what to say to each other, they fight." Dumbledore explained.

"But arguing about me when I'm in the room! That's a new low for both of them."

"They're worried about you. And they thought you were unconscious."

"There's no need. I'm alright."  She stated unconvincingly, as a door slammed and pain ricocheted around her skull. The curtains flew open again and a worried looking Minister Fudge waddled up to Dumbledore. 

"Dumbledore, I'm rather concerned about the relations with the foreign schools after this little, um, unfortunate incident."

"Cornelius, I have spoken at length with Madame Maxime and Ivor and they both understand that this is all part of the Tournament and Hogwarts nor the Minsitry is in any way responsible." Dumbledore explained slowly.

"Oh. Well. That's good then." he stuttered quickly. "Daniel," he chirped, "You have no misgivings, do you?"

"No…I'm perfectly alright with this excruciating pain thank you very much." She snarled, clutching her head.

"Oh. O.k. Afternoon Dumbledore!" he said happily, letting the sarcasm run over his head.

"Malfoy you little shite! Where have you put my Golden Egg!?"

"I haven't touched your stupid egg!" the blonde screeched back, emerging from the showers with a strange look on his face. Stalking up to him, Daniel dug her nails into his side.

"If you don't tell me where you put my egg I'll do this," she dug her nails in further "on the one place you really wouldn't want this done."

"I don't think you'd do that." He sneered happily. "In fact, I don't think you could do that."

"Really? You don't?" she growled, plunging her hand down his towel. Something clunked. Pulling her egg out of his groin wasn't the highlight of her day. Neither was pulling little blond hairs from the groove encircling it.

The next few days passed with little excitement. The work was piled on again as a sort of punishment for a day's activity.

One afternoon, freezing to death in double potions, working on a Pepper-Up Potion (oh the irony) and having to decide whether your eyes being burnt out by the steam or your fingers falling off from frostbite was more painful, Severus Snape made a little announcement.

"Harry Potter and Daniel Snape stay behind after class."

Harry and Daniel shot each other curious looks. They hadn't misbehaved. Their homework was in on time, and their potions were functioning properly.

Standing in front of Snape's desk, Harry and Daniel were racking their brains trying to think of why they were kept behind. Snape rose from his chair and went into the storeroom to get something.

"Maybe he's going to congratulate us for our brilliant performance in the First Task." Said Harry jokingly.

"I doubt that Potter. Sit down" drawled Snape, emerging from the storeroom with a sheet of parchment. Two chairs appeared behind them, and Daniel and Harry sat down cautiously.  Snape looked a bit odd. He was paler than normal and was looking a bit uncomfortable.

"Professor Dumbledore has asked me to tell you both this. I can't think why, but…" he looked incredibly nervous. He looked as if he was going to launch into an explanation of "The Birds and the Bees". He was fidgeting with his quill and shifting uncomfortably in his chair.  "You are aware of the festivities at Christmas. The Yule Ball?"

"Yes sir." They answered in unison.

"Right. Well. The Champions have to open the dance."

"What do you mean 'Open the dance?'" Harry interrupted.

"I mean, Potter, that the champions have to get a partner to dance with." He finished very quickly and busied himself with some papers.

"Does everyone going to dance have to have partners?" asked Daniel.

"Yes." He answered curtly.

"Take it you're not going then." She snapped back.

He looked up with an expression of pure poison.

"Meaning?" he queried, steepling his fingers under his chin. Harry was intrigued. They looked almost identical. Daniel leant forward and planted her elbows firmly on the polished mahogany.

"You haven't had a date since 1987." She stated happily. Snape blanched.

"That's enough Daniel!" he said rather loudly. Glancing at Harry, who was making serious mental notes, he hissed, "I don't want you talking about this in front of him!" Harry didn't seem to notice, he was too busy trying not to think of Snape on a date.

"So you're going to the dance then?" she asked innocently.

"Yes." He said through gritted teeth.

"And you have a date then?"

"I do, as a matter of fact." He looked triumphant.

"Anyone we know?" quipped Harry, joining the conversation.

"It is none of your business Potter." He snapped.

"So it is someone we know then." Grinned Daniel.

"Oh just get out the both of you." He snarled, standing up and walking quickly into the safety of the storeroom.

"Sir! I have a question!" Harry yelled through the keyhole.

"What is it now?" he screeched, swinging the door open.

"D'you want to come to the dance with me?"

The news of Snape's celibacy, of sorts, spread quickly through the school. Every potions lesson was twisting the proverbial thumbscrews tighter. Students occasionally raised their hands to ask a question, and ended up with a detention for asking him if would like to accompany them to the dance. None of this was Daniel's doing, of course. Harry was solely to blame for this little calamity. Snape didn't seem openly angry towards Harry, but every time his name was mentioned or Potter walked into the classroom, he went very white and his fists opened and closed threateningly. Rumors were also buzzing about who he going to the dance with. In the Slytherin Common Room, there was a chart showing all the eligible female teachers in the school and the odds of Snape going to the dance with them.

"I hate you." He announced dramatically. Daniel was sitting on his desk, watching him clean up one of Neville's little accidents.

(Yes I know how that sounds)

It was stuck to the floor like superglue and no amount of magic or swearing could get it off.

"No you don't." she answered quietly, eating a packet of Skittles.

(For anyone who doesn't know what Skittles are, they're small fruity sweets about the same size as Smarties. If you don't know what Smarties are, get out more.)

"Y'want one?" she gestured, offering him the packet.

"No." he answered sulkily. He remained quiet for a while, before stopping the frantic scrubbing he was doing. "I mean, just because I haven't had a date in a while…"

"Since 1987."

"Doesn't mean I haven't got any."

"Got any what?"

"You're not that naïve." He groaned, managing to stick his hand to the floor and be sarcastic at the same time.

"When did you 'get some', then?" she asked, interested now.

"None of your business."

"Aww come on, I'm interested now."

"Well I'm not saying anything."

"You're lying."

"No I'm not."

"Of course you are, you're a virgin."

He spluttered a bit at that.

"I am not a virgin!" he turned around to look at her, just to check if she was being serious.

"No. Of course not. You're a 35 year old virgin."

"I am not a virgin!"

"Prove it."

"How do you expect me to prove it?" He said, incredulous.

"Send your lover an owl."

"No. I don't know where they live, or if they've got married or whatever."

His scrubbing returned with new vigor. The packet finished, Daniel dropped on the floor of him. He paused. He went to get his wand, but saw Daniel had it stuck behind her ear like a cigarette. She transfigured the packet into a little white mouse. As it scurried off to find a hole to crawl into, he leaned back against the desk. She sat on the floor beside him.

"Have you got a dance partner yet?" he asked, staring at his feet.

"No. Malfoy's been acting a bit queer. He keeps starting up conversations with me then just walking off."

"He wants to ask you to the Yule Ball."

"I figured that out."

"Oh."

"Who're you going with Severus? Come on. I won't tell anyone, I swear." He looked at her. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it again and returned to staring at his feet.

"We drew straws in the staff room. It was Flitwick's idea. Just because he knew he wouldn't get to go with anyone."

"Is that not how you got your date?"

"No! I asked him ages ago." He smiled slightly.

"Have you been seeing him before this?" Daniel was intrigued.

"Sort of. He's not a teacher, but you'll know him." He said shyly, blushing slightly. "Lives in Hogsmeade."

"What's his name?"

"I don't know if I'll bring him to the dance. Pansy Parkinson's head would probably explode. He won't want to anyway. Roomful of nosey strangers, it would be so awkward."

"Come on now! Who could resist spending an evening with you?!"

He gave her a look.

"Stop humoring me." He stood up sharply.

"I'm serious! Come on Severus. I can name you 5 positive things about you like that." She clicked her fingers for emphasis.

"Go ahead." He said smiling, sitting on the corner of his desk.

"Alright. Number one. You have your own house. In a beautiful location."

"A house that cost a fortune that I'm only in for about 4 months a year."

"Number two. You're really rich."

"The family's rich Daniel." He quipped, granting her a small smile.

"Number three. You've got a reliable, well-paid job."

"Surrounded by horny little teenagers."

"You were a horny little teenager once, you know."

"Now I'm a horny little 35 year old." He said, giggling slightly.

"Number four. You have a car and a motorbike. Both of which are top of the range."

"You don't expect me to drive around in a little Lada type thing do you?"

"Course not. Number five. You don't look half bad in those motorbike leathers." She grinned, savoring the look on his face.

"That's disturbing."

Hee hee. Because of length problems, this is chapter seven. This and chapter 8 were once one, but sadly, they have since been surgically separated.