Ministry Fundraiser – Snape's POV
It was best to avoid father when you heard him begin to rant. However I heard "Nightshade" and I just had to know. Lovely thing about Snape Manor the walls were thin enough to encourage eavesdropping. For my safety I entered the next room and listened to him.
"That Muggle-lover." Father yelled. "He not only had the gall to break his wedding vows to a pure-blood witch to marry a filthy muggle. He is trying to force the rest of us to be nice to them."
"It'll never pass." Sounded like Malfoy senior. I cringed that meant that Lucius was here somewhere. "He doesn't have enough support for that."
"He'll likely use the fundraiser to try and rally support bringing that . . . wife of his," definite sneer there I knew. "Maybe even that mutt girl. How could she be let into Hogwarts?" It took a moment to realize that father had to mean Lenore. I couldn't help but smile. Lenore would be at the Ministry fundraiser! Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad.
"What are you doing?" Lucius' voice made me jump a little. I tried to recover without admitting to the truth, or at least the whole truth.
"I was listening to the talk of the new bill." I replied, truthful statement.
"Can you believe, a Muggle Protection Act?" Lucius sneered. "At least the Ministry is starting to see them for what they really are... animals. Like useless ones, they should be killed."
"Muggle Protection Act? That's absurd!" I replied. "Why should they even bother to table such a ridiculous motion?" My reasons for disagreeing to the bill were far different from Malfoy's. I mean sure they were weaker, but it wasn't like they were helpless children ... mostly.
"Father believes that Nightshade, is blackmailing the chair." Lucius replied.
"Not likely." I replied calmly. "That would be too obvious."
I spent most of that day socializing with Lucius. Father had us demonstrate some of the curses we'd learned. Which really meant that we had a duel. Father had a sealed room that was used to practice curse and magic in. No magic energy was released, so the Ministry didn't know about our activities.
Malfoy, predictably started with an Experium. My shield held. He was surprised that I'd bothered. After all most of the curse went through it like it wasn't even there. I took advantage of this however and cast a lightning bolt at him, "Fulmen!"
He retaliated with Ignus Glacious. For the second time this summer, the liquid in my body froze and my flesh burned. Sadly, I felt I should thank my father, because I'd already felt it, I was aware, not blinded by the pain.
"Dolor Pustulae!" I returned. Painful boils covered his right arm. Unfortunately I'd missed his wand arm.
"Pugnus!" It felt like a fist hit me in the stomach. Than another tried to beat me down to the floor.
"Dolores Magnos Movere!" I hissed at him. Translated to: pain extremely badly. This caused Malfoy to explode in pain, as his nerves suddenly remembered every painful stimulus in ones life and sent it to the brain. Or so I'd been told.
Lucius faltered and felt to his knees after that. I took a moment to recover, once his spell was released. He was gasping for air. I thought he would yield, insisted, "Manus!" I felt an invisible hand pushing at me. "Comprimere!" the fist clenched around me. I took a deep breath, I couldn't move, breath even.
Time to end this. While the fist blocked me from moving it also afforded me protection. With that last breath I'd taken and my wand pointed down, I yelled with all my magical energy "Pulvere Nitrato DESTRUERE!" I fiery ball appeared at our feet. It grew slowly at first then exploded, sending Malfoy flying. When he landed he was out cold. After what seemed like an eternity, but were really only minutes. I emerged the winner. Although I had to rest on my knees for several minutes as I was weak and shaky.
The look from my Father was as close as it ever got to pride. He nodded his approval. Not saying anything to me. He just turned to Malfoy and replied "They still need some work."
"Yes! I'd say so." The men headed upstairs. They hadn't even bothered to check on Lucius. Once I could move again, I went over to him. He was still out. I debated with whether to stay with him or not. I stayed . . . partly because the though of walking to my room was overwhelming, partly I suppose would be a kind to concern (but wasn't really).
The night of the fundraiser, I dressed as was expected. Black silk dress robes. No decoration, father believed that to be to showy. I pulled my hair back from my face. I remembered that Len had mentioned that she liked that. I had already decided that I'd tell father that it was easier to read lips this way, which was true.
My mother, a handsome woman, also wore plain robes. Except for a line of gold trim that tracked down from her neck, along the side to the bottom hem of the robe. This gave it a very styling oriental look. The robe was of the finest silk and matched her slate grey/black eyes perfectly.
Father wore plain straight black robes. Elegant, but gave him a very stoic and imposing look to him. He studied us closely before going. My mother was to take me with her, as my father was too important.
We arrived early. Father never liked to be late. He liked to watch as people entered. I watched for Lenore to arrive. I knew that I couldn't talk to her. My father was adamantly apposed her father's bill. He would likely kill me for such an act. And I'm not just saying that. I mean it, he'd kill me!
"There's Nightshade and that . . .woman." I heard my father sneer. I looked over to the door. Hoping to see Lenore with them. But she wasn't with there. I felt my heart sink. I hadn't realized how much I'd wanted to see her until then. A few minutes later I watched as Maia came in with Lenore.
It was like a dream. Lenore looked so beautiful. Her sky-blue robe was bright and soft, just like her. Her hair, was elegant and fun, like her. She smiled at Maia. I think I almost melted.
Fortunately my Father had never seen her before. Thus did not even notice the two girls. He believed them below his notice. I was suddenly glad the he was a snob. I desperately wanted to go over to her. Knowing that I couldn't. Soon Father left to socialize, taking mother with him. I sat watching Lenore.
This isn't healthy. I told myself. I was unable to look away from her thou. She will be the end of you. I told myself. I didn't care. I hopelessly wanted her. I wished to curse every boy who danced with her, while at the same time wanting to be each one.
I forced myself up. I had to get away. I went to a balcony off a side room. Far away from the gala. I thought about her letters. I looked up to the sky. I tried to calm myself. Then I heard voices. Arguing in sweet pleasant tones. I knew very few people that could do that.
"Are you sure that you want to risk it? I mean lone girl, three guys; I can see the headlines now. Are you sure that you want to risk your family name like that?" I knew that to be Lenore's voice.
"We could say that you propositioned us." That was Malfoy, they must have arrived. "Our word against yours."
"Right, then you three would have to explain to your fathers why you let a mudblood put you three into a compromising position in the first place. I still think that I would win on that one." Len replied confidently. I had peaked threw that curtains to see Malfoy leave Lenore standing there alone. She was scanning the room.
"Looking for anyone in particular?" I asked her. I was like the moth to a flame. She jumped in surprise and turned to look at me. Her face changed from fear to . . . something. Her smile warming as she looked at me.
"Actual yes. A few people. Maia, my folks, you, her folks. . ." She replied.
"Did you really say me?" I was confused. She smiled warmly and moved closer.
"Of course! I haven't heard back from you lately. I was curious to see how you were." She smiled. I searched her face, her voice for sarcasm. None registered.
"Apologies. I have unfortunately been busy." I told her. It was true, Father had been keeping me very busy learning my curses. Pushing me harder than I can remember. "I ummm . . .thank you for writing." I felt suddenly shy. I had begun to look forward to her letters.
She just smiled. "Glad you like them. They're sometimes a little insane, I'm sorry. My house gets like that sometimes." I smiled shyly back at her.
"Are you enjoying the event?" I asked. She shrugged. One of her curls fell over her eye, I wanted to reach out and move it.
"It's fun." She replied. "Especially the dancing. Eri? Would you like to dance with me?"
I shook my head and blinked. I must have imagined that. Hallucination! That had to be it.
"I know that I shouldn't do the asking, but . . . please!" Lenore asked again suddenly looking self-conscience. "I'm a little jealous that Maia gets all the attention."
You have nothing to be jealous of! my mind screamed. "I'm not much for dancing." I finally replied. She looked so hurt. "Perhaps, if you'd like, we could go for a walk, in the gardens. Really, it's alright, they're open."
She smiled up at me. "I'd like that." She looped her arm through mine and let me lead the way. "Tell me about you're summer?"
All the things I done this summer, went threw my mind. Definitely not on the approved list of conversation. Redirect, "Nothing much to tell really, tell me about yours?"
"My folks have both been working, so I have been left to watch the little ones. I love them, but I want to have fun too." She confided to me. She spoke about them as we walked. "So it gets all quiet right. So Bas and I go up to check what they're into right? We walk in to see Eddie pointing MY wand at Bec!"
"Had he hurt her?" I asked. Len seemed shocked at this. Apparently death-duels were not part of her normal family life.
"No, fortunately. He said that he just wanted to show her what Bas had done." She breathed a sigh of relief. "I was so scared. I thought for sure that something horrible was going to happen."
"You said he's 8 right?" I asked Len nodded. "Doesn't he have a training wand?"
Len looked at me confused. "Training wand?"
"Yeah, it teaches you to focus the magic to a single point. Helps you learn control and focus." I told her. She still looked confused. "You can't actually cast spells out of one, just colours."
"Sorry, I'd never heard of one before." She shook her head and smiled. "Truth is that Eddie hasn't shown any signs of having magic talents." She looked sheepish. "That bothers you doesn't it?"
I thought for a moment. "Perhaps he's just a late bloomer." I told her. "Or from what you've said about your mother. Perhaps he's trying to suppress it to hide it from her."
"Could he really do that?" She asked as if considering that.
"It's possible. . . I read an article on Sqwibs while I was waiting at St Mungo's for my mother." I told her. "The doctors had found that in nearly 80% of the cases of sqwibs, the child was from a large family and magic talents had been suppressed to get attention."
"Hmmm . . . interesting." Len replied thinking about this. "Did it mention what could be done?"
"I didn't get that far." I admitted. She laughed. Some Feu Frolies came to the sound of her laughter and danced around us. She pulled me along with her to their faint singing. It was actually rather nice. I dipped her, I pulled her up close to me. We looked at each other frozen in the moment.
We're slowly moving closer to each other, and the closer we get, the farther away the rest of the world gets. It's just the two of us, just Lenore and-
"Severus?!"
Whatever strange spell had captured us was broken suddenly as Malfoy's voice rang out. I close my eyes. From the proximity of his voice, I don't have to turn around to know that even with a wand there is absolutely no way whatsoever to change the way things look.
...and yet, a part of me... that part that had risked Slytherin house points to help someone else do better, the part that had wanted to help Lenore pass Potions even at the risk of being caught helping her cheat... that disturbing and frightening part of me, suddenly didn't care if the cat finally got out of the bag...
Mind made up, I feel myself standing taller. I like Lenore...like her more than I ever thought I could like anybody. She's smart, she's beautiful... she lacks perhaps the drive to take proper advantage of her strengths to make a name for herself... but I really like her. And if admitting that is going to chip away at my current reputation... well, so be it.
"Pig!"
A hand slaps my cheek with enough force to spin my head. My hands fall from her and my eyes fly open.
"You're all the same, aren't you?" Lenore spits out harshly, backing away from me. "I should've known, really. Where there's one, there's always the other! You two are so pathetic!" And with that, she's shouldering her way roughly past me, and stomping back inside.
"Someone really ought to teach that little cow a thing or two." Malfoy is drawling with disgust.
I'm too far in shock just now to fully process the last 10 seconds, much less Malfoy's commentary. What in the Dark Lord's name just happened?
"Did the same sort of thing to me not 10 minutes ago. But I do admit, you really had me going for a second there. Thought you and she... well, never mind." Clapping me on the shoulder, Lucius snorts, still looking in the direction in which Lenore had just made her exit. "You know, father always says the best place to strike is always the heart."
Working my jaw and somehow resisting the urge to bring a hand up to my cheek, I stare at the empty doorway Lenore just disappeared through.
"....starting with that pathetic muggle mum of hers..."
There's something heavy settling in the pit of my stomach, and something painful piercing my chest. I want to get away from here. I want to curse something. How could I have been so wrong? How could I have misjudged her so much? I had thought that she was different... I mean our walk that night at Hogwarts... she kissed me...
"...we do things right, her father will be so broken up, he won't care about passing his bill, and You-Know-Who will be sure to wave the age restriction to his Death-Eaters for us..."
Malfoy is still talking, for some reason. Can't he tell I want to be left alone?
"Either way, we'll think of something." Malfoy nods confidently. "Oh yeah, and your father has been looking for you. I think the speeches are about to start. Wouldn't do for us to reflect badly on our families in front of the whole of the Ministry. Come on then."
His mention of Father snaps me out of my daze enough to understand that I need to be inside. I hesitate a moment, but inevitably follow. One does not ignore a summons from my Father, and I haven't completely taken leave of my senses. Just my heart.
I vow not to look for her as I re-enter the room. I vow not care if my eyes should for some reason land on her.
"Over there." Malfoy voices nodding his chin towards the centre of the room. "They're over there."
I follow his gaze, but as I do, I see a very familiar sky-blue robe. She's sitting almost right behind my Father, giggling as though she hasn't a care in the world as whispers animatedly to her friend, Maia. Maia's gaze lands suddenly on me, and her smile disappears. She whispers something to Lenore, interrupting whatever conversation they were having. Lenore turns to look, her smile also fading as her eyes land on me, a coldness that would make my Father proud entering her eyes.
"Come on." Malfoy urges, obviously not yet seeing the girls as he begins leading the way towards the area where both our fathers are seated. He freezes just before we get there, "Great." he mutters, obviously finally seeing where the girls are seated, but neither of us has a choice. We continue on and take our expected seats.
I resolutely keep my eyes focussed straight ahead.
"...what a jerk..." Lenore's whispers softly. "...let him off easy..."
"...his pride..." Maia's voice answers, equally softly.
I've always prided myself on my ability to eavesdrop at home. It is in no way amusing that I can't seem to shut my ears to it now though.
"...at least a black eye so everyone could see..." Lenore's statement ends with a barely smothered giggle.
"...keep that in mind in case there's a next time!" Maia exclaims, also giggling.
They hush themselves as Arthur McKinnon, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, approaches the podium set up at the front of the room.
I don't hear a word he says as I struggle against the hurt and rage building powerfully within me.
I liked her. I really liked her. I risked more than she'll ever know or understand for her.
Worst of all, I was actually beginning to think she was different from her friends. I could not have been more wrong.
She was by far worse.
Len's POV
"I didn't get that far." he admitted. I laughed. Some Fou Follies come, apparently attracted to the sound of my laughter and dance around us. Smiling, I pull Severus along with me to their faint singing. It was actually rather nice. He dips me suddenly, taking me by surprise, then pulls me close to him. We looked at each other frozen in the moment.
We're slowly moving closer to each other, and the closer we get, the farther away the rest of the world gets. It's just the two of us, just me and-
"Severus?!"
Whatever strange spell had captured us was broken suddenly as Malfoy's voice rang out. I see a flash of panic strike Severus a moment before he closes his eyes. From the proximity of Malfoy's voice, neither of us need to look to know that even with a wand there is absolutely no way whatsoever to change the way things look.
I feel badly for him. He's done so much to help me this year...and I don't just mean the tutoring, because he's gone far beyond what he really had to do. Pretty unlike what I've come to expect from most Slytherin.
I wrack my brain frantically, there has to be some way to save him from this situation. I owe him a lot after all, and all he ever asked in return was that I not blow his cover as a mean, anti-social, slimeball.
He has a funny opinion of what a good reputation is, but if that's what he wants, I don't want to ruin things for him now.
So I silently apologize to his closed eyes and do the only thing I can think of to save him.
"Pig!" I hiss, summoning as much anger and disgust as I can before slapping him hard. I realize belatedly that I may have put a bit more than I intended into that slap... I'll definitely have to apologize for it later.
His hands drop off me immediately, and I feel a little cold suddenly. I have never hated that prat Malfoy more than I do now. Severus' eyes fly open with surprise and pain. I'm so sorry, Eri... please understand...
Glancing ever so briefly at Malfoy, it's not hard to stir a seething hatred into my voice again, "You're all the same, aren't you?" I spit out harshly, backing away from a still very much shocked Severus. Ignore him for now, he's a smart guy, he'll figure it out any second now... think about Malfoy, think about the real pig..."I should've known, really. Where there's one, there's always the other! You two are so pathetic!" I can't keep going, no matter how much I hate Malfoy, I can't bear that confused look pain in Severus' eyes. So crossing my fingers that I've said and done enough to convince Malfoy that his friend was attempting what he himself had just failed at, I shoulder my way past Severus and make a show of stomping back inside. It's not a large leap for someone like Malfoy. I just wish I could have come up with a better idea.
"Someone really ought to teach that little cow a thing or two." I hear Malfoy drawl with disgust as I leave the two boys in the garden.
Have I mentioned lately that I hate Malfoy?
I look for Maia immediately, finally spotting her sitting near the centre of the room, her eyes also scanning the crowd. Everyone seems to be finding a seat... maybe it's a good thing after all that I came in when I did. I'd hate to embarrass my father by running in late and dishevelled tonight of all nights.
But then, snogging in the garden would have been so much more fun than sitting through a bunch of boring speeches!
Catching her eye, and waving back as she lifts a hand to call me over, I head over to Maia, who, bless her, has saved me a seat, I take my seat.
"You would not believe what just happened to me a couple minutes ago!" Maia hisses immediately.
"Whatever it is, it can't be any worse than what's happened to me tonight." I assure her quietly.
"You can beat a disturbing encounter involving Malfoy?" she asks sceptically
"How about two disturbing encounters with Malfoy within 10 minutes of each other?" I offer with a cringe.
She thinks about that for a moment, then nods. "Ok. You win. Spill."
And spill I do. By the time I get to flipping Malfoy flat on his back, we're both giggling. "Oooohh, speak of the devil..." Maia whispers suddenly, her grin fading as she looks past me.
I turn to look. At first I see only Severus, he meets my eyes and I can't quite read what his are saying. But there, standing beside him and focussed on something in front of us, is Lucius Malfoy himself. My grin goes the way of Maia's as I glare at the boy who has ruined my entire evening... as well as Maia's.
To both our horror, they start winding their way directly towards us. Malfoy finally spots us for the first time as they near, and freezes in his tracks. "Great." he mutters, just loud enough for us to hear.
"So, what'd he do to you?" I ask Maia, quietly.
Maia summarizes her dance and by the end, I can't help myself. First he makes a point of insulting me, then he goes off and toys with Maia? "What a jerk." I mutter, glaring at the back of his head and silently hoping that he can hear. "I obviously let him off easy."
"Maybe, but it sounds like you took a chunk off his pride." Maia responds, cluing in and also directing her whispered voice to the back of the blond head in front of us.
"But I could have at least given him a black eye so everyone could see it. Then he wouldn't have been so quick to bother you." I can't help but giggle slightly as the image of Malfoy sporting a black eye suddenly pops into my mind's eye. His ego was far too big to be able to admit to anyone that a girl gave it to him...
"I won't object if you want to keep that in mind in case there's a next time!" Maia whispers back, also giggling again.
We quickly hush ourselves as Arthur McKinnon, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, approaches the podium set up at the front of the room. As he begins to speak, my eyes drift to the back of Severus' head.
I wonder when I'll get the chance to make sure he knew I only did and said what I had to, to help him out of an awkward situation...