Author's Notes: Okay, a bit about the end of the previous chapter. As a
reader pointed out to me, Snape doesn't really seem like the type to take a
submissive role in the bedroom. I agree, he doesn't. I cannot imagine him
as a submissive in the usual sense. But the game between he and Mira was
just that, a game. I can see him allowing himself to be playfully
dominated for a bit of a novelty experience. The implication is that he
could have simply overpowered her at any moment he wished, and she knew it,
and he knew she knew it and that was part of the excitement of the game.
In this chapter and the next, I'm attempting to describe the cream of the wizarding crop at their finest and provide a dramatic visual image of pure luxurious fantasy. Hogwarts holds a ball. And the party will be crashed by an uninvited guest.
Disclaimers: Nothing you recognize from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 60: The Raven and the Butterfly
Not quite asleep, Mira felt a soft blanket being tucked around her shoulders. She reached out for the professor and her hand came to rest on a bony little arm. She bolted upright in bed and found herself staring at an equally startled house-elf. Realizing she had no clothes on, she snatched the blanket up under her chin. The little elf crawled back to the edge of the bed, apologizing profusely for startling her.
"Where did you come from?"
"Oh, begging your pardon missus, I was bringing fresh towels to your bathroom and there you was, sound asleep under only a thin coverlet. It is horrible cold and icy today missus. You could catch cold and miss the ball! You see missus, I didn't mean to wake you from your nap, I only wanted to make sure you were warm and cozy, I did."
The tiny little elf looked at her with impossibly large and impossibly blue eyes, fringed by the longest lashes Mira had ever seen. Obviously a she- elf, the little creature wore what appeared to be a lace trimmed pillowcase with holes cut for her arms and head to go through. She had a checked tea towel tied around her waist as an apron and a little doily perched atop her head like a maid's cap.
"It's okay. You didn't mean to startle me; and it was very kind of you to bring me a blanket. Thank you."
The little elf blushed and hopped off the bed, pulling the curtains shut.
"Wait! Before you go, could you tell me what time it is?"
"It is a quarter of three, missus. Shall I draw a bath so that you can pretty yourself up for the ball?"
"Oh, no, that won't be necessary. It's not quite time for me to get ready yet."
"Very well, missus. If you should have any need for me, then you just ring."
"Thank you, I will."
The elf nodded her head and scampered on out through the little secret door at the side of the fireplace. Mira waited to make sure she was gone and climbed out of bed. At least the elf was a she-elf. The thought of male elves creeping around her chambers at any time made her decidedly uncomfortable. Finding no sign of Professor Snape in her guest chambers, she pulled her clothes back on and crossed through the passageway into his chambers. There was no sign of him in his private rooms, but saw movement in the small advanced potions laboratory. He was standing over the cauldron of potion she helped him brew earlier, taking notes in a large black leather bound book.
Mira cleared her throat to get his attention.
"I knew you were there Mira. Did you have a nice nap? I'm afraid you missed lunch, but there are some pumpkin scones on my desk. I only wanted some hot tea, but as you know, the elves have a serious problem with having to do too much."
"Yeah, tell me about it. I almost jumped out of my skin a few minutes ago when I woke up to find a little female house-elf hovering over me with a blanket."
"I conjured the coverlet out from under you and made sure you weren't exposed before I left."
"When did you come back to your lab?"
"Right after you fell asleep."
He finished his notes, shut the large potions lab journal, and sat down at his desk. He motioned towards the plate of scones sitting on the edge, next to an empty teacup.
"There's tea in the pot, it's still warm. The school teapots are perpetually warming and refreshing. More of Dumbledore's special little tricks I assume."
Mira sat on the edge of his desk and poured herself a cup of tea and picked up a scone.
"So now what? I take it the potion is finished."
"Yes, and you woke up just in time to help me strain it and bottle it."
Mira finished her snack while the professor used his wand to shift a dozen glass bottles and a tall slender strainer and funnel contraption from the supply cabinets to the workbench in the corner. She brushed the crumbs off of her lap and downed the last of the cup of tea. Together, they carried out the painstaking task of bottling the focusing formula. Snape carefully measured and poured while Mira steadied the straining funnel. The dozen bottles for Pomfrey sealed and labeled, he ladled the dregs of the cauldron into another smaller bottle and labeled it for his private stores.
When they were done, the professor cleaned the cauldron while Mira sat and watched. He first used a cleansing charm to do most of the work, and then used a damp cloth to meticulously wipe the inside completely clean of any residue. Satisfied the cauldron was clean, he repeated the process on all the other utensils used for the potion before returning them to their place on the special supply shelf behind his desk.
"So, where is this robe I'm supposed to be wearing this evening? Let's have a look. And for your sake, it had better be as understated as you promised or I will curse a wart onto your chin that you won't be able to get off before the ball."
Mira laughed and motioned for him to follow her through the passageway back to her chambers. He sat in one of the armchairs in the sitting area, arms folded over his chest. Mira carried the large box to the other chair and unfolded the robe from the crinkly tissue paper it was wrapped in. She held it up so that he could get a good look.
"Hmmm. It'll do. I'm not going to lie to you and say I love it, because I find the whole notion of fancy dress balls for adults to be completely inane. However, I do appreciate the fact that you ensured I won't be dressed like a fop or a dandy this evening. I shudder to think what I would be saddled with if Dumbledore had chosen the robe for me."
Mira folded it back up and put it back in the box. She handed it to him and sat on the other chair.
"Well, it's close to five, and I really would like to have plenty of time to get ready. You know how us females are. Hours to prepare for a big party."
Snape rolled his eyes, made a flippant snorting noise at her and rose from the chair. He bent down, kissed her on the forehead, and swept out of the room. Mira sat back before the fire and reached for the house-elf bell.
Following a decadently long soak in a tub full of scented bubbles, Mira found all the items she had requested from the dainty little house-elf laid out for her on the dressing table. There was a manicure kit, a selection of hair grooming potions, and some assorted wizarding brand cosmetics. Where a house-elf found those kinds of things in a school she didn't really want to know. She hoped she wasn't about to avail herself of the things some poor student accidentally left behind over the Christmas holidays. Her robe was also freshly pressed of any wrinkles, hanging on the outside of the wardrobe for her.
After liberal amounts of Sleekeezy's hair tonic and a run through with a curious comb which gave off tiny sparks as it passed through her hair, Mira's wild curls were tamed into soft glossy spiraling ringlets. Too pretty to pin up, she decided to wear it down for the evening. She buffed her fingernails and smoothed the edges to half-ovals. The robe was really two separate robes. There was a very form fitting heavier foundation robe; meant to be worn under the more delicate bead encrusted butterfly robe. Mira pulled on a pair of stockings, and squeezed herself into the under- robe. After taking a quick breather, she finished primping before the mirror, applying the special scar concealing makeup around her mouth, to cover the last of the marks on her face. Her arms still had some faint bruising, but they would be covered by the robe's full hanging sleeves.
She dabbed perfume behind her ears, in her cleavage, and on the backs of her knees. Satisfied with her toilette, she carefully unzipped the heavy formal robe and stepped into it. After pulling the sleeves on, she stood straight, reached for her wand on the dressing table and muttered a little incantation. The zipper closed itself and magically blended away into the pattern of beading on the back of the dress. She twisted the front pieces of her hair back off of her face and anchored them with the fancy jeweled butterfly antennae diadem. She spotted her diamond brooch on the back of the dressing table. Having been cleaned of her attacker's blood, she pinned it to a piece of black silk ribbon and tied it around her neck. Dressed in her finery, she stepped into her black dance slippers, and took a moment to admire herself in the wardrobe mirror.
In the subterranean dungeons, Professor Snape completed his much more abbreviated grooming routine. After a quick bath, he dried and combed his hair, cleaned the remaining potion lab residue from under his fingernails and put on his usual trousers and shirt. He admired the luxurious fabric of the robe's cuffs and collar. He pulled it on and clasped it shut. He turned in front of the mirror and allowed himself a quick smirk of vanity. Noticing that his hair was catching in the lush collar of the robe, he rummaged in his wardrobe and unearthed a strip of black silk ribbon. He combed his hair back off of his face and tied it in a loose ponytail with the ribbon. Satisfied with his appearance, he tucked his wand into the hidden pocket of the robe and headed out of the potions wing. As he was locking and securing the door to the potions classroom, he heard movement coming from around the corner.
"Crabbe! Goyle! Show yourselves immediately!"
The two boys stepped out from around the corner.
"No need to even try explaining yourselves. You both know that all students are confined to their house dormitories this evening."
"But professor. How are we gonna get our supper if we're stuck in the dormitory?"
"Not that skipping a meal wouldn't be a fitting punishment for slinking around the corridors, but had you been paying attention at breakfast, you would have heard the headmaster explain that supper will be served to the students in their house common room."
Both boys nodded their head in understanding and turned to head back to the dorm.
"Not so fast boys. You are still out of bounds, and I'm afraid you will have to be punished. The rest of your classmates return on Monday, so your punishment will be to dust all the wardrobes and bedside tables in the Slytherin dormitories. Without using any magic."
The boys sighed with disgust and acknowledged the professor. After being dismissed to their common room, they turned the corner, and the professor could hear them grumbling all the way down the hall.
"Bloody big-nosed bastard! Who does he think he is punishing us all the time? If Malfoy was still here, he'd have his dad straighten old Snape out right quick."
"Yeah, sure would. And did you get a load of that robe he's got on? Looked like something Dumbledore's great, great, great grandfather would have worn."
The professor snarled under his breath and finished securing his door. He then cast a barricade charm on the Slytherin dormitory door to make sure that the boys weren't able to prowl the dungeons during the ball. Hoping to encounter Peeves, just for an excuse to cast a curse on something, Professor Snape made his way out of the dungeons and through the main corridors to the guest suite.
Some of the guests were beginning to arrive. Those with flying carriages pulled by enchanted animals touched down at the main entrance of the school. Those with portcarriages or arriving by apparition arrived at a spot just outside the school gates, where they were ferried to the front door in the school carriages. The professor heard the sounds of a small orchestra tuning up in the great hall. An incredibly long red silk carpet stretched through the corridors, leading from the front door to the hall.
He passed several couples, all who had on velvet traveling cloaks, on their way to the ball. Hagrid, dressed as the Old Man of the Forest, met him coming down the hallway and nodded a greeting.
"Just nippin' out ter see if I've got some spare fairy eggs in the magical creatures supply shed. Dumbledore spotted a bowtruckle hiding out in the ball of mistletoe he had me hang in the hall. I could'a sworn there t'weren't no bowtruckles in that tree before I cut the stuff down. But if Dumbledore says there's a bowtruckle in the mistletoe, then a bowtruckle in the mistletoe there is."
Professor Snape smiled weakly at him and turned down the little side corridor leading to Mira's guest quarters. He raised his hand to knock at the door, and changed his mind. He smoothed his hair back off of his forehead and straightened the front of his robes. And then he knocked on the heavy wooden door.
Mira heard the knock and snatched up a little beaded handbag, stuffing her wand and a few miscellaneous odds and ends from the dressing table into it. She gave herself one last look in the mirror, and straightened the front of her robe before answering the door. The professor opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated, his lips slightly parted.
"Mira, love."
He took her hand and guided her out into the torchlight. He stood and looked her up and down, reaching out to stroke the back of his hand down her hair.
"I'm at a loss for words. You are exquisite."
She blushed and looked down at her feet. He tilted her head up gently by her chin and kissed her softly on the lips. After she locked her door, he held out his arm to escort her to the great hall. As they approached the main corridor, he leaned over to whisper to her.
"You will be the object of envy for many a witch this evening; and the object of desire for many a wizard."
She blushed again and squeezed his forearm as they made the journey from the guest suite to the great hall. Upon arrival, a house-elf in fancy brocade drapery motioned for them to turn down a side corridor.
"Good evening professor sir, and missus. You will be entering through the back entrance to the head table."
Snape nodded acknowledgement and led Mira down the narrow side corridor to the entrance of the head of the hall. He helped her up the steps to the platform where the head table was situated. This evening, the configuration was much different. The head table formed a squared off upside down U shape with Dumbledore in the center. To his side was Deputy Headmistress McGonagall. There were seats for twelve on each side. Snape motioned towards the closest of the short side tables, which formed the wide U. There were three seats. Little Professor Flitwick was already seated on the end closest to the back of the room. Snape guided Mira to her seat, between the two wizards. Flitwick jumped to his feet as Mira was seated. Snape gave a quick glance around the room, noticing that only half of the attendees had arrived, and settled himself into his own chair at the end of the table.
Mira looked around the hall, in complete awe of the beauty surrounding her. Instead of the usual floating candles, there were hundreds, no thousands of shimmering glowing crystal bowls holding candles. The entire ceiling looked like one gigantic chandelier. The enormous Christmas trees were decorated with crystal and gold and silver ornaments, and twinkling enchanted lights. The middle of the floor was clear of tables, presumably for dancing, and opposite the head table was a raised platform with what appeared to be an entire orchestra. Some with familiar muggle instruments, some with instruments which looked like they came from a fairytale.
And speaking of fairytales, Mira's eyes grew wide at the array of veritable eye-candy costumes and allegorical theme robes worn by the attendees seated at the long tables running the length of the sides of the hall. Elaborate headdresses; some floating over perfectly coiffed heads, some with moving parts. Professor Flitwick was wearing a fairly simple robe, an approximation of a Venetian scholar's robe. She thought that he looked like a miniature version of a character from a Shakespearean play. Dumbledore had on a robe embroidered in glimmering gold and red threads, depicting the feathers of a phoenix. A stylized crest of feathers trembled above his short squat cap. McGonagall looked regal in her taffeta tartan robe, her hair caught up in a fancy knot, held with a gold and silver thistle ornament. A sash across her chest was emblazoned with thistles, which shimmered from gold to silver and back again.
A few of the attendees were in complete costume, including elaborate masquerade masks, which looked like the ones sold in the very expensive boutiques during Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. She recognized a few of the attendees in the crowd. Two of the women who were friends of Narcissa Malfoy, openly stared at her and whispered behind carved ivory fans, undoubtedly trying to figure out who she was. House elves in rich brocade drapery stood at the main entrance to the great hall, greeting guests, and showing them around the bandstand to their tables.
Mira looked down at the table at the golden plates and silver goblets and eating utensils. A parchment with very pretty calligraphy listed the menu for the evening. Five courses of gourmet wizarding food. The name of the musical troupe was the "London Wizarding Philharmonic". Beneath the crystal candle-bowls were enormous ropes of holly and ivy, anchored at the edges of the dance floor and converging at an enormous globe of red ribbons and mistletoe. Hagrid discreetly approached the centerpiece with a box. He opened it and raised it as high above his head as he could. A little creature zoomed from the greenery into the box. He quickly clamped the lid shut and exited the hall.
As the last of the guests arrived, Hagrid entered through the entrance to the head table with Professor Sprout on his arm. The rosy-cheeked witch was dressed in a dark green robe with thick bands of jeweled flowers, which opened and shut at random intervals. She wore a beautiful flower shaped tiara atop her head, the petals reaching skyward like points on a crown. They seated themselves on the short table directly across from she and the professors. Mira noticed that most of the guests of honor, the school governing board and their partners, arrived last, to make a dramatic entrance. If the robes in the lower tables were eye candy, the robes worn by the men and women sitting at the sides of the headmaster and his deputy were visual feasts. Men wearing robes of fabric, which cost more per ounce than gold. Most depicting themes of animals from the highborn family crests. Women in themed robes, depicting everything from historical dress to allegorical themes, to historical figures. A woman seated close to Professor McGonagall had on a mask, which was covered in colored gemstones, set to perfectly mirror her facial features. From a distance, it merely looked as if her face were sparkling. Mira guessed that it was an older witch, presenting the face of her youth. Judging from the woman's hands, it seemed the most likely explanation.
While she was busy trying to steal good glances at the other attendees and not be rude as to stare outright, Mira felt the weight of many pairs of eyes on herself. As she looked around, she noticed some quickly look away. And a few blatantly meet her own. She remembered what the professor had said to her in the hallway. He was right. She felt both envy and desire in the eyes, which bore down on her from many directions. However, she felt a distinctly creepy twisting sensation in her stomach when she caught the eye of a man in a full masquerade mask staring boldly at her. Dismissing the queasiness as a result of having skipped two meals that day, she looked at her place setting, hoping that dinner would be served soon.
After the last of the guests were seated and given time to settle themselves, Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat and made a short speech. He welcomed his guests and explained that the Twelfth Night Masquerade Ball was held as a special way of honoring the school governing board for all of their hard work and support. As well as a chance to come together and enjoy each other's finery and company. He gestured towards the orchestra, and they began to play softly. Elegant background music for a feast of wizarding nobility. With a clap of his hands, the plates and goblets at the tables filled with the first course.
In this chapter and the next, I'm attempting to describe the cream of the wizarding crop at their finest and provide a dramatic visual image of pure luxurious fantasy. Hogwarts holds a ball. And the party will be crashed by an uninvited guest.
Disclaimers: Nothing you recognize from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 60: The Raven and the Butterfly
Not quite asleep, Mira felt a soft blanket being tucked around her shoulders. She reached out for the professor and her hand came to rest on a bony little arm. She bolted upright in bed and found herself staring at an equally startled house-elf. Realizing she had no clothes on, she snatched the blanket up under her chin. The little elf crawled back to the edge of the bed, apologizing profusely for startling her.
"Where did you come from?"
"Oh, begging your pardon missus, I was bringing fresh towels to your bathroom and there you was, sound asleep under only a thin coverlet. It is horrible cold and icy today missus. You could catch cold and miss the ball! You see missus, I didn't mean to wake you from your nap, I only wanted to make sure you were warm and cozy, I did."
The tiny little elf looked at her with impossibly large and impossibly blue eyes, fringed by the longest lashes Mira had ever seen. Obviously a she- elf, the little creature wore what appeared to be a lace trimmed pillowcase with holes cut for her arms and head to go through. She had a checked tea towel tied around her waist as an apron and a little doily perched atop her head like a maid's cap.
"It's okay. You didn't mean to startle me; and it was very kind of you to bring me a blanket. Thank you."
The little elf blushed and hopped off the bed, pulling the curtains shut.
"Wait! Before you go, could you tell me what time it is?"
"It is a quarter of three, missus. Shall I draw a bath so that you can pretty yourself up for the ball?"
"Oh, no, that won't be necessary. It's not quite time for me to get ready yet."
"Very well, missus. If you should have any need for me, then you just ring."
"Thank you, I will."
The elf nodded her head and scampered on out through the little secret door at the side of the fireplace. Mira waited to make sure she was gone and climbed out of bed. At least the elf was a she-elf. The thought of male elves creeping around her chambers at any time made her decidedly uncomfortable. Finding no sign of Professor Snape in her guest chambers, she pulled her clothes back on and crossed through the passageway into his chambers. There was no sign of him in his private rooms, but saw movement in the small advanced potions laboratory. He was standing over the cauldron of potion she helped him brew earlier, taking notes in a large black leather bound book.
Mira cleared her throat to get his attention.
"I knew you were there Mira. Did you have a nice nap? I'm afraid you missed lunch, but there are some pumpkin scones on my desk. I only wanted some hot tea, but as you know, the elves have a serious problem with having to do too much."
"Yeah, tell me about it. I almost jumped out of my skin a few minutes ago when I woke up to find a little female house-elf hovering over me with a blanket."
"I conjured the coverlet out from under you and made sure you weren't exposed before I left."
"When did you come back to your lab?"
"Right after you fell asleep."
He finished his notes, shut the large potions lab journal, and sat down at his desk. He motioned towards the plate of scones sitting on the edge, next to an empty teacup.
"There's tea in the pot, it's still warm. The school teapots are perpetually warming and refreshing. More of Dumbledore's special little tricks I assume."
Mira sat on the edge of his desk and poured herself a cup of tea and picked up a scone.
"So now what? I take it the potion is finished."
"Yes, and you woke up just in time to help me strain it and bottle it."
Mira finished her snack while the professor used his wand to shift a dozen glass bottles and a tall slender strainer and funnel contraption from the supply cabinets to the workbench in the corner. She brushed the crumbs off of her lap and downed the last of the cup of tea. Together, they carried out the painstaking task of bottling the focusing formula. Snape carefully measured and poured while Mira steadied the straining funnel. The dozen bottles for Pomfrey sealed and labeled, he ladled the dregs of the cauldron into another smaller bottle and labeled it for his private stores.
When they were done, the professor cleaned the cauldron while Mira sat and watched. He first used a cleansing charm to do most of the work, and then used a damp cloth to meticulously wipe the inside completely clean of any residue. Satisfied the cauldron was clean, he repeated the process on all the other utensils used for the potion before returning them to their place on the special supply shelf behind his desk.
"So, where is this robe I'm supposed to be wearing this evening? Let's have a look. And for your sake, it had better be as understated as you promised or I will curse a wart onto your chin that you won't be able to get off before the ball."
Mira laughed and motioned for him to follow her through the passageway back to her chambers. He sat in one of the armchairs in the sitting area, arms folded over his chest. Mira carried the large box to the other chair and unfolded the robe from the crinkly tissue paper it was wrapped in. She held it up so that he could get a good look.
"Hmmm. It'll do. I'm not going to lie to you and say I love it, because I find the whole notion of fancy dress balls for adults to be completely inane. However, I do appreciate the fact that you ensured I won't be dressed like a fop or a dandy this evening. I shudder to think what I would be saddled with if Dumbledore had chosen the robe for me."
Mira folded it back up and put it back in the box. She handed it to him and sat on the other chair.
"Well, it's close to five, and I really would like to have plenty of time to get ready. You know how us females are. Hours to prepare for a big party."
Snape rolled his eyes, made a flippant snorting noise at her and rose from the chair. He bent down, kissed her on the forehead, and swept out of the room. Mira sat back before the fire and reached for the house-elf bell.
Following a decadently long soak in a tub full of scented bubbles, Mira found all the items she had requested from the dainty little house-elf laid out for her on the dressing table. There was a manicure kit, a selection of hair grooming potions, and some assorted wizarding brand cosmetics. Where a house-elf found those kinds of things in a school she didn't really want to know. She hoped she wasn't about to avail herself of the things some poor student accidentally left behind over the Christmas holidays. Her robe was also freshly pressed of any wrinkles, hanging on the outside of the wardrobe for her.
After liberal amounts of Sleekeezy's hair tonic and a run through with a curious comb which gave off tiny sparks as it passed through her hair, Mira's wild curls were tamed into soft glossy spiraling ringlets. Too pretty to pin up, she decided to wear it down for the evening. She buffed her fingernails and smoothed the edges to half-ovals. The robe was really two separate robes. There was a very form fitting heavier foundation robe; meant to be worn under the more delicate bead encrusted butterfly robe. Mira pulled on a pair of stockings, and squeezed herself into the under- robe. After taking a quick breather, she finished primping before the mirror, applying the special scar concealing makeup around her mouth, to cover the last of the marks on her face. Her arms still had some faint bruising, but they would be covered by the robe's full hanging sleeves.
She dabbed perfume behind her ears, in her cleavage, and on the backs of her knees. Satisfied with her toilette, she carefully unzipped the heavy formal robe and stepped into it. After pulling the sleeves on, she stood straight, reached for her wand on the dressing table and muttered a little incantation. The zipper closed itself and magically blended away into the pattern of beading on the back of the dress. She twisted the front pieces of her hair back off of her face and anchored them with the fancy jeweled butterfly antennae diadem. She spotted her diamond brooch on the back of the dressing table. Having been cleaned of her attacker's blood, she pinned it to a piece of black silk ribbon and tied it around her neck. Dressed in her finery, she stepped into her black dance slippers, and took a moment to admire herself in the wardrobe mirror.
In the subterranean dungeons, Professor Snape completed his much more abbreviated grooming routine. After a quick bath, he dried and combed his hair, cleaned the remaining potion lab residue from under his fingernails and put on his usual trousers and shirt. He admired the luxurious fabric of the robe's cuffs and collar. He pulled it on and clasped it shut. He turned in front of the mirror and allowed himself a quick smirk of vanity. Noticing that his hair was catching in the lush collar of the robe, he rummaged in his wardrobe and unearthed a strip of black silk ribbon. He combed his hair back off of his face and tied it in a loose ponytail with the ribbon. Satisfied with his appearance, he tucked his wand into the hidden pocket of the robe and headed out of the potions wing. As he was locking and securing the door to the potions classroom, he heard movement coming from around the corner.
"Crabbe! Goyle! Show yourselves immediately!"
The two boys stepped out from around the corner.
"No need to even try explaining yourselves. You both know that all students are confined to their house dormitories this evening."
"But professor. How are we gonna get our supper if we're stuck in the dormitory?"
"Not that skipping a meal wouldn't be a fitting punishment for slinking around the corridors, but had you been paying attention at breakfast, you would have heard the headmaster explain that supper will be served to the students in their house common room."
Both boys nodded their head in understanding and turned to head back to the dorm.
"Not so fast boys. You are still out of bounds, and I'm afraid you will have to be punished. The rest of your classmates return on Monday, so your punishment will be to dust all the wardrobes and bedside tables in the Slytherin dormitories. Without using any magic."
The boys sighed with disgust and acknowledged the professor. After being dismissed to their common room, they turned the corner, and the professor could hear them grumbling all the way down the hall.
"Bloody big-nosed bastard! Who does he think he is punishing us all the time? If Malfoy was still here, he'd have his dad straighten old Snape out right quick."
"Yeah, sure would. And did you get a load of that robe he's got on? Looked like something Dumbledore's great, great, great grandfather would have worn."
The professor snarled under his breath and finished securing his door. He then cast a barricade charm on the Slytherin dormitory door to make sure that the boys weren't able to prowl the dungeons during the ball. Hoping to encounter Peeves, just for an excuse to cast a curse on something, Professor Snape made his way out of the dungeons and through the main corridors to the guest suite.
Some of the guests were beginning to arrive. Those with flying carriages pulled by enchanted animals touched down at the main entrance of the school. Those with portcarriages or arriving by apparition arrived at a spot just outside the school gates, where they were ferried to the front door in the school carriages. The professor heard the sounds of a small orchestra tuning up in the great hall. An incredibly long red silk carpet stretched through the corridors, leading from the front door to the hall.
He passed several couples, all who had on velvet traveling cloaks, on their way to the ball. Hagrid, dressed as the Old Man of the Forest, met him coming down the hallway and nodded a greeting.
"Just nippin' out ter see if I've got some spare fairy eggs in the magical creatures supply shed. Dumbledore spotted a bowtruckle hiding out in the ball of mistletoe he had me hang in the hall. I could'a sworn there t'weren't no bowtruckles in that tree before I cut the stuff down. But if Dumbledore says there's a bowtruckle in the mistletoe, then a bowtruckle in the mistletoe there is."
Professor Snape smiled weakly at him and turned down the little side corridor leading to Mira's guest quarters. He raised his hand to knock at the door, and changed his mind. He smoothed his hair back off of his forehead and straightened the front of his robes. And then he knocked on the heavy wooden door.
Mira heard the knock and snatched up a little beaded handbag, stuffing her wand and a few miscellaneous odds and ends from the dressing table into it. She gave herself one last look in the mirror, and straightened the front of her robe before answering the door. The professor opened his mouth to say something, but hesitated, his lips slightly parted.
"Mira, love."
He took her hand and guided her out into the torchlight. He stood and looked her up and down, reaching out to stroke the back of his hand down her hair.
"I'm at a loss for words. You are exquisite."
She blushed and looked down at her feet. He tilted her head up gently by her chin and kissed her softly on the lips. After she locked her door, he held out his arm to escort her to the great hall. As they approached the main corridor, he leaned over to whisper to her.
"You will be the object of envy for many a witch this evening; and the object of desire for many a wizard."
She blushed again and squeezed his forearm as they made the journey from the guest suite to the great hall. Upon arrival, a house-elf in fancy brocade drapery motioned for them to turn down a side corridor.
"Good evening professor sir, and missus. You will be entering through the back entrance to the head table."
Snape nodded acknowledgement and led Mira down the narrow side corridor to the entrance of the head of the hall. He helped her up the steps to the platform where the head table was situated. This evening, the configuration was much different. The head table formed a squared off upside down U shape with Dumbledore in the center. To his side was Deputy Headmistress McGonagall. There were seats for twelve on each side. Snape motioned towards the closest of the short side tables, which formed the wide U. There were three seats. Little Professor Flitwick was already seated on the end closest to the back of the room. Snape guided Mira to her seat, between the two wizards. Flitwick jumped to his feet as Mira was seated. Snape gave a quick glance around the room, noticing that only half of the attendees had arrived, and settled himself into his own chair at the end of the table.
Mira looked around the hall, in complete awe of the beauty surrounding her. Instead of the usual floating candles, there were hundreds, no thousands of shimmering glowing crystal bowls holding candles. The entire ceiling looked like one gigantic chandelier. The enormous Christmas trees were decorated with crystal and gold and silver ornaments, and twinkling enchanted lights. The middle of the floor was clear of tables, presumably for dancing, and opposite the head table was a raised platform with what appeared to be an entire orchestra. Some with familiar muggle instruments, some with instruments which looked like they came from a fairytale.
And speaking of fairytales, Mira's eyes grew wide at the array of veritable eye-candy costumes and allegorical theme robes worn by the attendees seated at the long tables running the length of the sides of the hall. Elaborate headdresses; some floating over perfectly coiffed heads, some with moving parts. Professor Flitwick was wearing a fairly simple robe, an approximation of a Venetian scholar's robe. She thought that he looked like a miniature version of a character from a Shakespearean play. Dumbledore had on a robe embroidered in glimmering gold and red threads, depicting the feathers of a phoenix. A stylized crest of feathers trembled above his short squat cap. McGonagall looked regal in her taffeta tartan robe, her hair caught up in a fancy knot, held with a gold and silver thistle ornament. A sash across her chest was emblazoned with thistles, which shimmered from gold to silver and back again.
A few of the attendees were in complete costume, including elaborate masquerade masks, which looked like the ones sold in the very expensive boutiques during Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. She recognized a few of the attendees in the crowd. Two of the women who were friends of Narcissa Malfoy, openly stared at her and whispered behind carved ivory fans, undoubtedly trying to figure out who she was. House elves in rich brocade drapery stood at the main entrance to the great hall, greeting guests, and showing them around the bandstand to their tables.
Mira looked down at the table at the golden plates and silver goblets and eating utensils. A parchment with very pretty calligraphy listed the menu for the evening. Five courses of gourmet wizarding food. The name of the musical troupe was the "London Wizarding Philharmonic". Beneath the crystal candle-bowls were enormous ropes of holly and ivy, anchored at the edges of the dance floor and converging at an enormous globe of red ribbons and mistletoe. Hagrid discreetly approached the centerpiece with a box. He opened it and raised it as high above his head as he could. A little creature zoomed from the greenery into the box. He quickly clamped the lid shut and exited the hall.
As the last of the guests arrived, Hagrid entered through the entrance to the head table with Professor Sprout on his arm. The rosy-cheeked witch was dressed in a dark green robe with thick bands of jeweled flowers, which opened and shut at random intervals. She wore a beautiful flower shaped tiara atop her head, the petals reaching skyward like points on a crown. They seated themselves on the short table directly across from she and the professors. Mira noticed that most of the guests of honor, the school governing board and their partners, arrived last, to make a dramatic entrance. If the robes in the lower tables were eye candy, the robes worn by the men and women sitting at the sides of the headmaster and his deputy were visual feasts. Men wearing robes of fabric, which cost more per ounce than gold. Most depicting themes of animals from the highborn family crests. Women in themed robes, depicting everything from historical dress to allegorical themes, to historical figures. A woman seated close to Professor McGonagall had on a mask, which was covered in colored gemstones, set to perfectly mirror her facial features. From a distance, it merely looked as if her face were sparkling. Mira guessed that it was an older witch, presenting the face of her youth. Judging from the woman's hands, it seemed the most likely explanation.
While she was busy trying to steal good glances at the other attendees and not be rude as to stare outright, Mira felt the weight of many pairs of eyes on herself. As she looked around, she noticed some quickly look away. And a few blatantly meet her own. She remembered what the professor had said to her in the hallway. He was right. She felt both envy and desire in the eyes, which bore down on her from many directions. However, she felt a distinctly creepy twisting sensation in her stomach when she caught the eye of a man in a full masquerade mask staring boldly at her. Dismissing the queasiness as a result of having skipped two meals that day, she looked at her place setting, hoping that dinner would be served soon.
After the last of the guests were seated and given time to settle themselves, Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat and made a short speech. He welcomed his guests and explained that the Twelfth Night Masquerade Ball was held as a special way of honoring the school governing board for all of their hard work and support. As well as a chance to come together and enjoy each other's finery and company. He gestured towards the orchestra, and they began to play softly. Elegant background music for a feast of wizarding nobility. With a clap of his hands, the plates and goblets at the tables filled with the first course.