Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.

There was a buzz all around the school about the Graduate Ball. Even the first years were talking about it, even though they probably had no chance of going. Clea was sick of girls coming up to her asking her how they can get Sirius to ask them. Like she knew how to romantically talk to her own brother; "Ugh," was all she would say to them.

She had her own problems.

After dropping her books off in her dorm, Clea was all set to go to lunch. Lunch used to be her favorite time. She and Lily had got permission from the headmaster Dumbledore, during their second year, to allow them to sit together during the lunch period only. And since Lily wasn't welcome at the Slytherin table, they always sat with Gryffindor; giving Clea time to chat with Remus. But she didn't feel like going today.

As she slinked through the Slytherin Common Room, she couldn't help dragging her feet.

"Cleopatra?" As soon as she heard her name, she wished she could snap back into her usual state and skip across the Common Room and out the door in fifteen seconds. But she couldn't be mean; or maybe she just couldn't get her body to do a happy movement like skipping.

"Yes Severus?" Clea answered turning slowly towards the voice, and trying hard not to make eye contact.

"Do you, er," Snape started. He looked like he was ready to hurl. "Do you want to sit with me at lunch? You know, because,"

But before he could finish, Clea stepped closer to him and he was silenced by her mere up close presence. "Severus, I promised Lily I would sit with her today. She needs to talk to me about something." The slight twitch of Snape's mouth gave Clea the impression that he was disappointed and she instantly felt horrible. "But I'll sit with you at dinner, of course." She added, forcing a sweet smile.

As she pulled open the door to the Great Hall, her eyes floated to the ceiling. It was bewitched to look like snow was falling. Clea couldn't believe that it had been four months all ready. Four months since the bulletin.

Clea walked over to Lily who was sitting in the very last chair at the Gryffindor table. This was unusual because they normally sat up near the front. But, nevertheless, Clea was happy to not have to sit near the boys.

"Hi." Clea squeaked at Lily, who was constantly stirring her bowl of pudding, instead of eating it.

Lily looked at Clea and nodded.

"Is something wrong Lil? You seemed fine this morning."

Lily sighed and dropped her spoon into her bowl splattering pudding all over the table. Clea instinctively wiped it up. "James tried to ask me to go to the ball with him. But I ran before he could finish."

Clea fought down the urge to laugh. "Lily, why did you run?"

"I don't know!" Lily shouted. "I don't want to go with him, but I couldn't get myself to reject him."

"That's because you want to go with him." Clea said flatly, as she grabbed a sandwich.

Lily opened her mouth to say something, but Clea jumped ahead of her. "I don't want to go with him, I know." Clea began, imitating Lily's voice. "But you do. You know you do. He's changed Lily, you said it yourself. So stop fighting it!"

"I know he's different now. He isn't as arrogant as he used to be, and he's stopped making fun of Snape, but...I don't know." Lily let her head fall into her arm.

"Lily, you're in denial." Clea saw Lily's hair rumble a little indicating she was shaking her head. "Listen," Clea began again, and Lily raised her head slightly to look at her. "Just because you go to the dance with him, doesn't mean you're his girlfriend."

Lily picked her head up completely and a look of realization came on her face. "Why didn't I think of that?" She said half disappointed in herself.

"Not as wise as me, I suppose." Clea said, stuffing a piece of sandwich in her mouth and smiling for real, something she hadn't done so far all day.

Lily laughed and than her face went serious. "But you won't be there."

Clea took a deep breath. "I won't be there with Remus....but I'll be there."

Lily furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, and then let out a horrible squeal. "Clea! You can't go with Snape!"

Lily's voice echoed throughout the entire Hall. Clea stood up and started to walk out of the room, when someone grabbed her arm in a tight clench. She spun around and was face to face with Sirius. Clea glared at Lily who was biting her lower lip.

"I'm not sure," Sirius started out in his low arrogant tone. "But I think I just heard the words, Clea, Go and Snape, in the same sentence. And I'm hoping that it ends with to dinner tonight and not with,"

"Ball." Clea said, finishing Sirius' sentence. He let go of her arm and sat down in the chair next to her, prompting Clea to sit back down as well.

"Clea, he's my sworn enemy. We hate each other. How could you go with him?" Sirius voice changed from arrogant to whiney in a matter of minutes, but both were equally annoying. Sirius and Snape have hated each other ever since they first met. Clea often wondered why Snape even spoke to her, and she never thought he would be romantically interested in her, because of her brother. Starting with their first year at Hogwarts, (one year before Clea came), Sirius amused himself and his friends by constantly poking fun at Snape and a mutual hatred began.

"Well, dear brother," Clea began narrowing her eyes at Sirius. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you forced Remus to be so mean to me and,"

"Clea, I didn't force Remus to do anything. He has his own reasons for not wanting to go with you or anyone."

"Then why did he say you told him not to say anything to me?" Clea asked looking aggravated. Sirius shrugged his shoulders and looked over towards his friends. Why would Remus lie to her? What would be the reason? Clea looked at Lily who tore her eyes away from her friend immediately.

"Clea," she began in her softest voice. But the bell to end lunch ended their conversation.

A/N: Thanks for the review Obbsesive! Also, I know its kind of a stretch to let a Slytherin sit at the Gryffindor table, but it made for a cute scene, I think.