Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: I love reviews…hint, hint. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to review my story. Thanks to my beta Midnight Lily and thanks to my muse Drew.
Chapter 35 Could I Have This Dance
Could I
have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner
every night?
When we're together, it feels so right.
Could I
have this dance for the rest of my life?
I'll always remember
that magic moment,
When I held you close to me.
'Cause we
moved together, I knew forever,
You're all I'll ever need
Anne Murray "Could I Have This Dance"
Snape took the cup back and muttered a counter spell to release the sticking spell he had used to keep the ring in the bottom of the cup. He held the ring out to Alexis, "Alexis would you do me the honor of agreeing to become my wife?"
Alexis looked from the ring to the man holding it. Reaching out a trembling hand she took his hand and not the ring, causing Snape a moment of concern until she said, "Who am I to naysay the tealeaves? Her eyes were glistening with tears, "Nothing would make me happier than to become your wife."
Severus let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and slipped the ring onto her left hand, "So may I take it that your answer is yes?" he teased.
The ring had magically adjusted to fit her finger perfectly, "You may."
Alexis admired the ring. There was a large black emerald cut center stone and channel set on either side were emeralds, "What type of stone is the center stone?"
"It is a black diamond and the setting is white gold. If you don't like it we can pick out something else. It belonged to my great-grandmother. My mother told me how much her grandmother loved her grandfather. Theirs had been a love match."
Alexis's eyes met his as she assured him, "I love it."
Snape motioned to the hovering waiter who had been in on the plan, "Do you know what you would like for lunch?"
Alexis was still looking at her ring dreamy eyed and didn't respond.
Snape ordered them both a light lunch of soup and salad.
By the time the food arrived, Alexis was able to pull her eyes off of the beautiful ring.
Snape said, "My attorney keeps the standard Snape betrothal agreements on file. I'll have him owl over a copy to your attorney to look over."
"Betrothal agreements? What all do they entail? Are they like a prenuptial agreement?" Alexis was puzzled.
"Betrothal agreements can contain clauses about what happens if the couple divorces but they are more usually an agreement of certain formalities and conditions. It will contain how much of a dower you bring to the marriage and what bridal settlement I will place upon you."
"Sounds archaic," was Alexis's opinion. After thinking about it she started smiling, "How public are these agreements?"
"They are filed with the ministry of magic and almost anyone can access them. Why?"
"Because I think you are going to get the biggest dowry in recorded history," Alexis's smile was smug as she thought about Lucius Malfoy's reaction to the size of her dowry. His perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth were going to be ground down to nubs.
Snape gave her a disapproving look, "So you want everyone to think I married you for your money?"
"Nope I want everyone to think I married you for your incredible sexiness, but no matter what we do they are going to believe my money at least played a factor in our marriage, so why not make it interesting?"
Snape's Slytherin side began to see the advantages, "I'll have Montague research what the largest dowry recorded was."
Alexis grinned at him and continued to enjoy her salad.
The next day the betrothal agreements came by Owl. Alexis sat down with them and began to read over the clauses. Most of it she could figure out, but there was no way that paragraph twenty subsection b2 meant what it said and subsection c4 was absolutely ridiculous. Taking a quill she began to make notes on a spare bit of parchment. When she had read the agreement twice and double checked her notes she walked over to sit in her favorite spot, Snape's lap.
"Have you signed the agreements already? Here give them to me and I will sign them and send them back to the attorneys," Snape said reaching for the parchment.
Alexis held them just out of reach, "First of all I am not going to wear an abaya. Secondly I am not going to ask your permission before I talk to a member of the opposite sex. Thirdly, I will not agree to these clothing restrictions…although I can handle the lingerie color and you being the only male to see said lingerie. Fourth, I will not agree to never dance with another male. However, I do like the idea of serving you breakfast in bed once a week. If we agree that you will serve me breakfast in bed once a week also."
Snape watched as Alexis gutted the betrothal agreement, turning it into a very boring, standard agreement. Alexis finally got to the last item on her list, "I will agree to always love you and try to never do anything to cause you to doubt that love."
Taking his chin in her hand she pressed a firm kiss on his lips before getting up, "Now do you want to send these revisions to the attorneys?"
"Yes dear…are you sure you will not compromise on the clothing issue?" Snape asked hopefully.
"Positive," Alexis stated emphatically.
Alexis had returned to her quarters to get ready for the New Years Eve Ball. She didn't want Snape to see her until she was completely dressed.
Her dress was a dark green figure hugging sheath that flared out at mid thigh and ended with a small train. The bodice dipped in a deep vee-neck with strings of emeralds criss-crossing the vee. Strings of emeralds had been used for straps and trailed along the edge of the fabric in the back. The back of the dress was another deep vee that dipped to an almost scandalous level. Magic kept the dress from shifting and revealing too much.
The only jewelry she wore was her engagement ring and earrings she had found to match it. Her hair was swept up giving her some added height, while tendrils had been curled and allowed to sweep her back and frame her face. Emerald pins held them in place.
She had just finished touching up her makeup when Snape entered the room. Turning to face him she waited for the explosion. Snape motioned for her to turn around so he could see the back of the dress.
"I thought I might need this," Snape held out a box to Alexis.
Puzzled by his seeming acceptance of her dress, Alexis took the box and opened it.
Inside was a green armband in the shape of an asp with ruby eyes. Alexis lifted it from the box and almost dropped it in surprise when it moved and slithered up to twine around her upper arm.
Snape explained, "That is Aniya. If for some reason I am not with you she will keep anyone from offering you any type of impertinence. Don't worry, I always keep some anti-venom with me. Shall we go?"
Alexis stared at him wide eyed and then looked at the asp wrapped around her arm. She jumped when a tiny tongue flickered at her.
Snape walked over to her, "Alexis do you trust me?"
"Of course I do."
"Then you know I would never give you anything that would harm you?"
Alexis relaxed and smiled up at him.
"There are going to be a large number of people at this ball. Some of whom will not respect the fact that you wear my ring or the fact that you do not wish them to take certain liberties. However, they will all respect Aniya."
Alexis wasn't sure if she was reassured by that or not. But she did trust Snape so she allowed him escort her from her room.
They were coming down the main stairs as Harry and Ron were returning to Gryffindor Tower. The two boys stopped to stare at the couple.
Harry smiled at Alexis, "Miss. Draluck, you look amazing." Ron just nodded his head frantically in agreement being unable to do more than blush and mumble inarticulately.
At the sound of Harry's voice, Alexis felt Aniya stir. Harry had noticed the asp and stepped closer, "Sssith heshh haarr." Aniya flickered her tongue at him and then stilled once more.
"Cool armband," Harry grinned before taking Ron's arm and urging him up the stairs.
"I wonder what he said to her?" Alexis asked as Snape helped her into her wrap.
Snape replied, "Aniya says that he told her to take good care of you."
"Why am I not surprised that you can communicate with Aniya?" was Alexis' wry question.
"Because you know how incredibly intelligent I am?" Snape smirked as they stepped out into the cold night.
Pulled up in front of the doors was a large carriage. Snape helped Alexis into a seat and then rapped twice on the ceiling and they were off.
Snape looked down to see Alexis clenching her hands together. He pried her fingers apart and took her hand in his, "I will not let anything happen to you. That is why I gave you Aniya. Do not drink anything unless the stem of the glass touches the shank of your ring. The ring will protect you from poison, aphrodisiacs, drugs and the effects of alcohol. Aniya will be able to sense if there is anything suspicious about the food we are offered. If she tightens on your arm do not eat it. To be polite you will have to accept one dance with our host." Snape could feel her shiver at his words. Once again she surprised him. Alexis took a deep breath and held it for a moment, then slowly released it. Straitening up with a regal tilt to her head, she gave him an arrogant smile, "Naturally darling."
"Remember you are as rich if not richer than everyone at this ball, your blood is as pure and that is what is important to these people."
"You forgot one very important thing for me to remember," Alexis smirked.
"What is that?"
"That I am the betrothed of the marvelous, sexy, potent Potions master, Severus Snape," Alexis purred.
Snape's eyes lit with a fire that would have burned a lesser woman: however, Alexis just reveled in the answering flame that was ignited, sweeping a heady desire through her body. Burning away her fear and insecurity and leaving behind a feeling of power and assurance.
The carriage stopped in front of a brightly lit mansion. The door was opened by a house elf wearing a pillow slip. Snape stepped down and offered his hand to assist Alexis from the carriage.
Placing her hand on the crook of his arm, Snape led her to the double marble staircase that swept up on either side of a large fountain. In the center of the fountain water sprayed up before falling back in a shower of sparkling drops. As Alexis watched the water changed color and now the drops were the color of blood.
Hoping that was not a portent for the night, Alexis and Snape started up the right hand staircase. There was a short line at the top of the stairs as house elves took wraps from the guests and then directed them to the receiving line.
Snape handed his cloak to a waiting elf and then removed Alexis' wrap. As Alexis' robes were revealed, Snape heard several gasps and then an excited murmuring. He couldn't help but feel a spurt of pride as she twinkled up at him enjoying the stir she was causing.
He felt a tug on the cloak he was still holding and relinquished it to the impatiently waiting house elf. Placing a possessive hand on her bare back he steered her to where the receiving line was slowly moving into the ballroom. Alexis took comfort from the feel of Snape's fingers on her skin, until he started to caress it with just the tips of his fingers. Comfort changed to desire. By the time they had reached Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco Alexis had a becoming flush to her cheeks and a look in her eyes that immediately aroused Lucius. Until he realized that the look was caused by the dark man at her side and was not a reaction to his pale perfection.
"How nice of you to join us, Miss. Draluck, Severus I hope you both enjoy the ball," Lucius took Alexis' hand and raised it to his lips and came eye to eye with a hissing Aniya. Dropping her hand immediately, he turned to Snape, and with barely controlled ire, "Severus I thought you had gotten rid of that little pest."
"Now Lucius, I explained that it was just a little nip of warning. You are not going to hold that one bite against her forever. She did apologize and I administered the antidote almost immediately," Snape's emotionless façade was firmly in place.
Lucius gave the little asp a look of hatred before slipping once more into his polite host mask and handing the couple over to Narcissa.
Narcissa smiled at Snape and ignored Alexis, other than to give her a look of disdainful disapproval, "Severus it has been entirely too long since we have had the pleasure of your company. You mustn't be such a stranger." With a last look down her nose at Alexis she turned to greet the next arrivals. Alexis was trying not to laugh at Narcissa's behavior. She was amused to find that Narcissa was wearing a robe of similar design to the high-necked one Alexis had rejected.
Turning her attention to Draco, she held out her hand to him. Draco took it with a bow and was able to place a light kiss on it without Aniya so much as blinking, "Miss. Draluck may I say you are looking particularly lovely tonight? Perhaps you would do me the honor of saving me a dance?"
"Thank you Draco, I would be delighted to save you a dance. I remember your skill on the dance floor from our classes."
Draco's face flushed with teen hormones at these words from the sexy woman, turning to greet his head of house all the blood drained from his face at the look Snape gave him, "Professor thank you for coming." Only years of training had enabled Draco to get those words out.
"Thank you for inviting us Draco," Snape swept Alexis out onto the dance floor and into a waltz that had just started.
"You know you just terrified that boy," Alexis chided gently.
"He was ogling you," Snape sneered.
"He is a thirteen year old boy; he is going to ogle every woman or girl that comes his way. Or don't you remember what it was like at that age?"
"It is because I remember exactly the thoughts that go through a thirteen year old boy's mind at the attention of a beautiful woman that I nipped it in the bud: I don't want to be constantly tripping over him and enduring him sending you longing glances. Also having him daydream about you would not help his grades."
"I see," Alexis gave herself up the pleasure of dancing with Snape. It was like the first time they had danced, her body responded instantly to the slightest direction from his.
Alexis was disappointed when the song ended. But instead of leaving the floor, Snape expertly started leading her in the tango that had started at the end of the waltz.
Now not only were they garnering attention because of Alexis' gown, but their skill and grace on the dance floor caused people to just stop and watch. When the tango ended, Snape led her over to the edge of the dance floor. They were quickly surrounded by people.
Usually at these types of affairs, Snape had stood against the wall and observed. Very few people had dared to approach the icy wizard. He had overheard at one party the comment that people were afraid to approach him due to the risk of frost bite.
Now, with Alexis on his arm, he was near the center of attention. He watched Alexis as she greeted the cream of wizarding society. She was coolly polite and distant. Making appropriate small talk but not allowing a chance for a more familiar dialogue to develop.
Most of the men were keeping a carefully polite distance. Either from fear of Snape or fear of Aniya: Snape really didn't care which it was as long as it continued to work.
It was Rita Skeeter who finally noticed Alexis' ring, "Miss. Draluck, is there an announcement you and Professor Snape would like to make?"
"I don't believe that it would be polite to make a personal announcement at Lucius and Narcissa's ball," Alexis began.
Lucius interrupted her, "Nonsense my dear, we would be delighted to have such an important event occur at our little soirée." With a gesture to the band, the music stopped and all eyes turned to Lucius.
With a sonorous charm, everyone could soon hear him, "Dear friends, thank you for making time in your busy holiday schedule to attend our party. I have the pleasure and the honor of making an announcement at this time. Let us all lift our glasses in a toast for the happiness of this newly engaged couple, Professor Severus Snape and Miss. Alexis Draluck."
Sudden silence greeted the announcement and then everyone lifted their glass and toasted the couple. Lucius had returned his voice to normal and everyone else had started to gossip about the announcement. Draco approached and offered his congratulations and invited Alexis to dance.
Smiling at the young man, Alexis took his hand and led him to the floor. Soon they were gracefully dancing to another waltz.
Lucius glanced at the couple on the floor and then looked over at Severus, "Well old friend, it looks as if you have taken my advice. Don't forget the other part of our discussion. If we united our three families there would be nothing we couldn't do." With that last statement Lucius excused himself to mingle with his other guests.
At the end of the dance, Draco returned Alexis to Snape and after thanking her for the dance bowed and left. He was wishing that he was just a little older or his father had acted a little faster and then maybe he could have been the man standing beside Alexis. Just then he saw Blaise Zabini talking with a lovely young girl who resembled him. Draco realized that she must be his younger sister who would be starting Hogwarts next year. There were other pureblood fish in the sea after all. Giving her his best Malfoy smirk he asked the young girl to dance. Giggling the girl accepted and they joined the crowd on the floor.
It was only about thirty minutes to midnight. Alexis had danced several more time with Snape and once more with Draco. Surprisingly Lucius had not asked her for a dance. She had politely declined all the other invitations she had received. With Snape to glare at them and Aniya's occasional hiss, no one had seen fit to press their invitation.
Although Alexis had been sparing in what she ate or drank she desperately needed to find a restroom. Whispering her problem to Snape he told her where to find the facilities and escorted her to the appropriate hall and pointed out the door she needed. He would wait for her a short way down the hall: wizards who lurked outside the ladies loo got bad reputations.
She gave a small smile to a pretty blonde witch who had just exited the ladies and hurried in to take care of freshening up. Feeling much better she headed back to where Snape was waiting for her. Alexis felt a slight squeeze on her arm. Looking down at the asp Alexis saw Aniya pointed toward a barely open door. Creeping closer Alexis could hear the muffled sounds of a struggle, "Stop it. How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?"
Alexis reached down and lifted her skirt to remove her wand from where she had attached it to her calf. Easing the door open Alexis found the young woman she had passed earlier in the hallway trying to free her arm from the grip of a very large, very ugly man. "You are hurting me," the woman was frantically twisting her arm as the man pulled her closer.
Alexis stepped into the room, "Darling there you are. I was wondering what had become of you. Severus is waiting for us so if you have finished your conversation with this nice young man; we need to get back to the party."
The man turned to glare at Alexis, "This is a private conversation. Leave."
Alexis gave him a small smirk, "So sorry to interrupt but we have a prior engagement. So if you will just release her arm we can go."
While the ugly troll of a man was distracted by Alexis, the girl seized her chance and kicked him as hard as she could in the groin. He dropped her arm to grab himself with both hands and fall to his knees.
Pulling a wand from his pocket, the girl hurried over to Alexis and grabbing her hand they both fled the room. Alexis looked at the girl in admiration, "That was quick thinking."
"Thanks for the distraction, he surprised me and pulled me into that room and had my wand before I could stop him. Narcissa promised me that he wouldn't be here tonight so I wasn't on my guard. By the way I'm Amber Doff."
"I'm Alexis Draluck and this is my fiancé Severus Snape," Alexis completed the introductions as Snape was hurrying up.
"What happened? Aniya called me," Snape asked with a curious glance at the blonde witch standing hand in hand with Alexis.
"Aniya pointed to a room, when I looked into it I saw Amber here trying to free herself from a large troll. I distracted him and Amber kicked him in his bits and we ran for it," Alexis was grinning like a mad woman. The adrenaline rush was kicking in.
"A troll? What on earth is a troll doing in Malfoy manner?" Snape was confused and getting angry.
"This troll had an invitation," Amber continued with the story, "his name is Sebastian Goyle."
"Vincent Goyle's older brother?"
"Yes he fancies himself in love with me," Amber shuddered at the thought, "he has been following me trying to get me to agree to marry him."
Snape heard a noise coming from the direction the ladies had just fled, "Perhaps we should continue this conversation in the ballroom? Before Mr. Goyle decides to join us,"
Snape offered an arm to both witches and hurried them to the relative safety of the ballroom. He had no doubt he could handle Sebastian: but he also had no doubt that Lucius would not appreciate a scene at his ball.
They entered the ballroom with fifteen minutes to go before the countdown to midnight. Snape escorted Alexis and Amber to a corner near the balcony. Snape could feel the weight of many eyes on him. Never before had he attended a ball or party with one woman, now he was standing with two of the loveliest witches attending.
He knew of Amber Doff, as he knew of most Pureblood families. Her father was highly placed in the Ministry of Magic: something to do with Muggle relations. Her mother was French and had insisted that Amber attend Beauxbatons.
"Miss. Doff, are you still working at St. Mungos?" Snape inquired politely.
Amber smiled up, "Yes I have finished my basic healer training and have now started training in my specialty. And please call me Amber."
Snape nodded his head and offered her the use of his first name.
Alexis and Amber started an animated conversation. Alexis asking questions about Amber's training and Amber asking questions about Alexis' recovery. She had been one of the healers at the hospital the day Alexis had awoken. They made arrangements to meet for lunch in Hogsmeade on Saturday. Alexis asked where Amber had gotten her robes. She looked like a medieval princess in a velvet burgundy gown with a black underdress. Her blonde hair was arranged in curls caught up at the top of her head. Pearls were looped through her tresses and she wore pearls in her ears.
Alexis found that she had really missed having someone her own age to talk with. Minerva and Rolanda were both marvelous friends but there was a generation gap.
Amber was enjoying talking with Alexis. She had left most of her school friends in France when she graduated and healer training had not left her with much free time to make new ones.
A bell started chiming announcing that the countdown to midnight was starting. With the final shouted one, confetti and tinsel started raining from the ceiling. Snape gave Alexis a brief kiss full of promise for the New Year and for later that night. To his surprise, Amber tugged his head down and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.
Clearing his throat and hoping he wasn't blushing, "We can make our excuses and leave now if you like Alexis. Amber do you have an escort home?"
Alexis smiled at the other witch and offered to take Amber home.
Amber happily agreed and the threesome went to find their hosts, collect their wraps and make their way home.
