The Great Hall was alive with the sound of students and teachers, talking and laughing. The resident ghosts were all there too, floating occasionally through the students, making them jump. Banners, which flashed the words 'Happy 50th anniversary Dumbledore' decorated the walls. The red green and gold decorations, had now been turned blue and white and tiny sparkling lights darted about the room. Also someone had decided to put up old photos of Dumbledore all around too, the only real difference being that his hair and beard were darker!
On the stage at the end of the room, a band was busy setting up. Kriss recognised them as the 'Weird sisters', who'd played at the previous Yule ball. She scanned the room looking to see who was there and of course, what they were wearing. All the houses seemed at the moment to be sticking together, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were standing close to each other. But the Slytheryns were standing as far away from the Gryffendors as possible. The latest Quidditch match between these two houses had resulted in a big loss for Slytheryn. Kriss observed their star player and team captain Harry Potter talking and laughing with his usual crowd. She secretly hoped they kept on beating Slytheryn, as anything that annoyed Caecius was worth it.
For a while she stood with her friends talking, but with her eyes roving around the room. Then her heart leapt, as she spotted Professor Snape. He was standing on the other end of the room from her, talking to Madame Pomfrey. Kriss was craning her neck over the crowd, for a better view, when she felt a gentle tap on her arm. She looked around to see her 'date' trying to get her attention.
"Erm, do you want to go and get some food or...something?" Gideon asked blushing slightly and biting his lip.
"What? Oh.., yes, if you like" replied Kriss absently. She said "See you later" to her friends then followed Gideon to the snack table. As she walked forward, though, she kept looking behind her at the Professor. BUMP! Kriss felt herself collide with someone, so hard she almost sent them both flying.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" A very pretty girl with long red hair said irritably
Kriss apologised and carried on following Gideon to the food. Lucinda was already there with Carl, laughing flirtatiously. She looked at Kriss, smiled and gave her a quick wave before carrying on her conversation. Claudette and Xanthe were soon there too with their dates. Kriss looked at the food, it looked delicious, but she really didn't feel that hungry. But when Gideon politely passed her a plate, she chose a few items. Kriss was too focused on the task ahead to think about food. She waited until Gideon had loaded up his plate, which was like a small mountain, before they moved off. They went to find a seat at one of the tables set up around the edge of the room.
Gideon pulled out a chair for her. "Thankyou" said Kriss, touched by his good manners. They were sadly absent in most Slythern boys she knew. As they began to eat, Kriss watched Gideon in incredulity, he ate as though he was starving, cramming in huge mouthfuls at once. When he saw her looking at him, he blushed and swallowed awkwardly.
"Sorry, I always get hungry when I'm nervous" He explained
"I'm surprised you're not as big as Kate Cramphorn then!" laughed Kriss, Kate was well known at the school, as you couldn't really miss her.
"I'm not usually this bad you know, it's you. The girls I usually go out with are a little less..well" he said trying to find the right word.
"Attractive?" Kriss ventured, teasingly
"Yes, I mean no, I mean so intimidating" Gideon said looking at his plate
"Me - intimidating?" Kriss was shocked at this statement; she had only wanted to scare him a little. Just to let him know she wasn't going to be messed with, not terrify him. "Look, I'm sorry if I acted that way. I just wanted to go the ball with someone who wasn't going try it on with me. You just looked like a nice, quiet kind of guy" Kriss explained, smiling kindly at him.
"Don't apologise, you wouldn't believe how my status has gone up since you asked me out." Gideon said, relaxing a little "All my friends are asking me what I did, they're sure I used some kind of love potion or luring spell, or something. I couldn't believe my luck, that someone as gorgeous as you would ask me to the ball" said Gideon blushing again.
"Thankyou, that's very sweet of you" Kriss answered, flattered. She felt quite sorry for him, as she hadn't planned on staying with him all night. She hoped his friends wouldn't tease him too much, when she disappeared. When they finished eating their food, they talked a little more, Kriss discovered he also had an interest in potions. They were deep in conversation when all of a sudden a shout for silence went up.
Dumbledore had got up on the stage to make a speech. Everyone stood up and moved in closer to hear him. "Welcome all, on this very special night for me." He began, smiling and holding out his hands. "This school means a great deal to me, but it is the students, who mean the most. I have seen many come through this Great hall over the years, but I never forgotten a single one. All of you arrive here as nervous first years, all wondering if you have enough talent, or whether or not you will fit in or make friends. Then I see you all blossom and grow and go on to make your own life choices, hopefully the right ones. But I know, everyone takes a little bit of Hogwarts with them and carries it always in their heart." He paused, looking around and smiling. "To finish, I just want to say, how very much I've enjoyed being both teacher and headmaster here and intend to carry on as long as I am able and wanted! Well, now the boring speech is over with, (giggles arose from the attentive crowd) so let the dancing begin!" He stepped off the stage to rapturous applause.
The band was now all set up ready to play and the stage was now lit up again. The lead singer stepped forward and spoke "Hey, man you always was the coolest teacher ever, you caught me and the guys up to no good a few times!" Sniggers arose from the crowd, then he shouted out "Three cheers for Dumbledore!" Everyone cheered enthusiastically. The table's dissapeared, to be replaced by squashy seating and the tiny lights sparkled once again over the now darkened dance floor.
The 'Weird sisters' began to play a song that got everyone moving. Kriss and her date began to dance and it soon became apparent that he had two left feet. She couldn't help but giggle at his efforts, but he didn't hear her, he was engrossed in the music. The band played a few more 'rocky' tunes then launched into a slow melodic song, about a lost love. Couples started to pull close to each other as they heard the change in music. Kriss saw that Gideon was looking indecisively at her, waiting for a signal. She put him out of his misery.
"Can we go and get a drink? I'm thirsty " She asked "Yes, I'll get it, what would you like?" He said, obviously relieved. "Oh, anything will be fine, I'm not fussy" Kriss said not looking at him, but scanning the room again for Professor Snape. Gideon nodded and disappeared into the crowd to head for the drinks table. Kriss retreated to the edge of the floor a little, as to get out of the way of the dancing couples. She decided to walk around to carry on looking. Suddenly she spotted the professor, standing alone at the far side of the room. Kriss made her way over to him, trying to avoid bumping into the dancing couples. She stopped just a few yards away, unsure of herself for a moment, just watching him. He looked his usuual expressionless, haughty self. His hands were behind his back and he stood stock still like one of the statues. Kriss's stomach turned to butterflies as she approached.
"Hello, remember me?" Kriss asked nervously, trying to catch his gaze.
"Good evening Miss Firestone, don't you have a partner for the night?" He said formally, still seeming not to look at her. But Kriss noticed his eyes flit her up and down and shift his position slightly.
"Yes, he's over there getting me a drink" Kriss indicated with a flick of her hand
"Then I suggest you go and join him, before he misses you" His tone sounded unnecessarily cold
"Look, you can't avoid me forever, you know. I still have feelings for you and I'm pretty sure you still feel something too, so why have you have been giving me the cold shoulder treatment? It's like you're pretending I don't exist anymore. All I want to do is talk to you about what happened" Kriss had lowered her voice now, and moved in closer, so as not be overheard.
"What happened, was a mistake, a stupid reckless act, made in the heat of the moment." Snape looked down at Kriss now, his brow creasing slightly." I hoped you would forget about it and move on. I have only been trying to make it clear, that there could be more nothing between us than student and teacher"
"I can't forget about it, that's the trouble, believe me I've tried. But I just can't stop thinking about you, that kiss has stayed in my thoughts ever since. I have had a crush on you for nearly as long as I have been at this school. But since you kissed me that night, I realised my feelings have grown stronger. I have never felt like this before about anyone. I turned eighteen at the end of October, so I'm not a little girl anymore. I'm a woman now and I know what I want. I think you want it too, you're just frightened of what people would think." Kriss said this last sentence quite harshly, hoping she would get a more emotional response.
"Please Kriss, people are starting to notice us talking, you'll have to go now" Professor Snape said, looking anxiously at curious glances in their direction.
"I don't care, let them" Kriss said sullenly, moving in even closer.
"Look, if you're going to be difficult, then I suppose I have no choice. Be waiting for me outside my office at eleven o'clock. We can talk in there" said Snape a hushed voice.
Hope flared in Kriss's heart then, at last, he was going to talk to her! She looked up at him smiling, then Kriss noticed something very different about the potions master.
"Wow, have you washed your hair! I can't believe it!" Kriss said in surprise "And you smell really nice too" She said sniffing him appreciatively. "If this is your new look, it's great. Not that I don't like you just as you were, it's just well, you look so - different!"
"It was a special occasion, so I smartened myself up a little that's all." Snape retorted, sounding embarrassed "Now look, you've got what you wanted, I've agreed to meet you to talk, so now go and find your date, he will be missing you by now" Kriss did as she was told but as she walked away she looked back and smiled. Then, knowing that it would unnerve him, she waved too. The wave had the desired effect.
She made her way across the dance floor. A faster song was now playing and Kriss kept getting bumped and shoved as she walked. But Kriss didn't care she felt so happy, she couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She was just wondering how she would explain her absence to her friends. They had relaxed their 'guard duties' a little for the night, as they felt she would be safe with Gideon. Hopefully they wouldn't notice her going and question her. A tap on the back made Kriss turn round suddenly.
"Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere!" Gideon said. A slight irritation in his voice "I got the drinks, but I was waiting that long I drank both of them!"
"Oh I'm so sorry, a friend called me over to talk and I forgot the time" Apologised Kriss
"It's okay, I understand, I'm just too boring for you aren't I?" Gideon said sadly
"No, I don't think you're boring. In fact I think you're very interesting and I like you, as a friend of course" Kriss said truthfully
"Thanks, I'd like it if we could be friends" He said looking much happier.
"Look, I have to leave the ball at eleven, I'm going to meet someone. But I've got ages yet, so do you want to dance?" Kriss said, indicating to the dance floor with her head. The music suddenly changed to a slower number, Gideon hesitated, but Kriss took his hand and led the way. He looked extremely nervous, as he put his hands on her waist. Then even more so when she put her hands on his shoulders. Standing at a distance from him made her arms ache, so she pulled in closer, so that their bodies were touching. Gideon had started to sweat now and his face had gone red. Kriss leaned her head on his shoulder absently, thinking of her meeting with Snape. Suddenly she felt something digging in to her and looked up at her date, raising her eyebrows.
"I'm.. I'm sorry, I can't help it, you're erm ..pushing against me and it .. well it's got a mind of it's own. It's that dress, it really shows off your erm ...figure. I was just trying to think of Professor MacGonogal instead, but it doesn't seem to have worked! Kriss giggled at this
"It's okay, just as long as you don't try to make a move on me! Look I'll make it easy on you, lets just sit over there and talk" They went to sit down on the squashy chairs; squeezing in, in-between the kissing couples. Kriss talked happily with Gideon, checking the time on his watch now and again. It was nearly Eleven o'clock and it was time to go. In spite of the circumstances of the purpose of their date, Kriss had enjoyed herself with Gideon. He stood up with her, assuring her he would be fine and would go and hang around with his friends. It occured to Kriss that he should have a parting gift for being so nice.
"Where are your friends?" She asked.
Gideon looked around for a while then spotted them "They're over there" he said, indicating with his finger at some lads hanging around the drinks table. "Why do you want to know?"
"Come on, you can introduce me!" Kriss replied, as she held him by the hand and led him over to them
"Erm hi guys, this is Kriss" Gideon said looking slightly uncomfortable. His friend's all greeted her with nods and smiles or suggestive smirks. "Kriss, this is Steve, Caleb and Tom" Gideon revealed
"Nice to meet you" Kriss said, smiling round at them all. They all looked at her, their eyes lingering at bust level."Well I'm sorry, but I have to go now, I've got to be up early tommorrow!" After she said this she turned to Gideon and suddenly grabbed each side of his head in her hands then gave him a lingering kiss on the mouth. When she let go, his face was a picture, then broke into a big grin. Kriss said goodbye and made her way over to the doors. She had got halfway across the dance floor when she felt hands grab her round the waist.
"You're not going already are you? You haven't danced with me yet!" The words were friendly, but the tone was definitely not. The voice sent a shiver up Kriss's spine, triggering her memory.
"Oh 'Merlin', Caecius!" Kriss thought, panicking. She had thought he was fully occupied with a 5th year Slytheryn girl, she'd seen him with. The girl and him had been all over each other on the dance floor. She had seen Professor MacGonagal telling them off. Caecius's hands slid further round Kriss's waist, then he deftly span her round to face him. He smirked and pulled her close, looking into her eyes. As he stared at her, she felt transfixed. The band started to play a lilting melody and the singer sang a song about friendship turning to love. Someone knocked into them and Caecius turned momentarily. All of a sudden Kriss's brain kicked in "Hands off Caecius! I don't want to dance, not with you!" She tried to pull out of his embrace, but his arms pulled tighter around her.
"Oh Kriss don't be like that, I just want one dance. Where's the harm in that?" Caecius's voice was calm, but he was unsmiling.
He tried to fix her with his gaze again, pulling her head forward, but Kriss resisted. Without his pale blue/grey eyes looking at her, Kriss felt more able to fight back. She really wished she had her wand with her right now. Students were banned from bringing wands to balls. It was felt it would make for a more relaxed atmosphere. She brought her stiletto heel down on his foot, but was surprised, as he didn't react.
"Ha, ha, nice try, but you can't hurt me Kriss, I've got a protection charm on me tonight. It should be good for another couple of hours." Caecius said laughing. "Kriss continued to twist, struggle and swear. Still trying not to meet his eyes with hers.
"Excuse me, but, I don't think she wants to dance with you" A calm but firm voice said. Caecius' head span round to look at the speaker. He had loosened his grip a little, so Kriss managed to yank herself free. Only for him to look back at her for a second, then grab her again. She craned round to see who was speaking and couldn't believe her eyes.