Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money from this in any way.

Slash of the male/male kind will eventually be appearing in this story. If you don't like slash, or the idea of Harry/Severus, then please leave. Don't read what you don't like.

I dedicate this story to DT – for pushing, pulling and prodding me into it.

Once again – Thanks to everybody who reviewed my last chapter.

I apologise for taking so long to get this chapter out – RL has been really busy recently. Please make any suggestions as to what should come next.

Like Chapter Four – this is more of an interlude. Hopefully I will have Chapter Nine up a lot quicker than this one.

Chapter Eight

Still... Snape's been sending me all these strange looks recently. Or maybe I'm delusional. Can I blame the high heels?

"... and so in honour of the Winter Equinox there will be a day off for all students and teachers. There are going to be various fun activities going hosted by teachers around the school during the daytime. Then for fifth grades and above, as well as teachers, a ball will be hosted during the night..."

Damn. Damn. Double damn.

When Dumbledore mentioned it passingly in the corridor – I didn't think he'd actually do it. Damn that infernal meddling old man!

Slowly chewing my food I consider why Dumbledore would have this ball. Perhaps it's so now Potter and I will have to appear in public together other than just at classes and meals. Damn that meddling man.

Is he trying to make me appear human?

First Professor Young with the shopping, which incidentally she thinks we're, shudder, friends because of. Now I'll have to attend a ball with Potter – and act like I'm enjoying it.

Usually I don't mind balls. I enjoy dancing and socialising. But not with the pesky fifth, sixth and seven years.

Snape looks like he's just blown a gasket. All red and narrow eyed. I can practically feel heat radiating off him – I wonder if his skin feels warm...

Gah – I have to stop thinking about Snape like that. It's wrong. Wrong.

He looks so cute now though, all red and flustered. As if Professor Dumbledore did this to him on purpose. Ha – as if. Professor Dumbledore has better things to do than annoy Snape.

I really should stop staring at him now though. Oh no. He's seen me and is now glaring at me. I really should stop trying to smile... Ok – wiping the grin of my face right now.

Oh – as if he would actually try to kill me here in front of everybody... Or at least I hope he wouldn't.

If he wanted to kill me then why would he have let me use his shampoo this afternoon to get that blasted pink goo out of my hair? What a waste of good shampoo, and it was. Very nice smelling stuff as well. Sort of like red roses.

Hrmm... Who would have thought Snape would have shampoo that smelt like roses.

Perhaps I could borrow it again before the ball? I'll have to start thinking about what to wear... I wonder if it's dress-robes, or if I could get away with something more mugglish... I wonder what Snape will wear...

Whoops... I'm grinning at him again... Look away.

I glance at Malfoy – it seems like he didn't have as much luck as me with the pink goo. I have to hide my snigger. Malfoy's hair is a bright pink, and that Pansy-girl is fawning over him. Heh – he looks really pissed off, and keeps on glaring at Snape.

As if it was Snape's fault. If Malfoy wasn't trying to chat me up it would never have happened. Eww... Malfoy tired to chat me. I'm going to be scarred for the rest of my life.

I'm just going to back at grinning at Snape. After all, it was Snape's shampoo that got rid of the pink goo. Even if he was the one to put me in the position of having to help Malfoy anyway...

Damn.

Potter is grinning at me.

First this stupid ball. Now a grinning Potter. People are going to get the wrong idea about us if he keeps on staring and... shudder... smiling at me.

Damn.

Dumbledore is watching Potter smiling at me. Death glare at Potter. Not working... Right... Time for drastic measures...

I turn to my other side where McGonagall is trying to stifle a laugh. Raising an eyebrow in her direction I force myself to inquire politely, "Good Evening Professor McGonagall. May I enquire as to what is so amusing?" Heh – the silly old cat is blushing. Serves her right for laughing at something that has to do with me.

"Actually Professor Snape, I was wondering if you and Miss Paton would be attending the ball together." Damn that woman with the wicked glint in her eyes and smug look on her face. I have a feeling that Dumbledore has told her the truth about who Jamari Paton really is. "Professor Sinistra and I were just commenting on how much we would like to see the two of you dancing together. You'd make such a cute couple."

Cute.

Me and Potter dancing. Cute.

Ha.

I doubt if the boy could even dance properly.

"... dancing together. You'd make such a cute couple."

I pale and nearly gag on the piece of chicken I'm eating.

Dance.

Flashbacks of the horrible incident from Fourth year come back to me. Everybody watching. Stumbling and fumbling. Making a fool of myself. I never want to be in that situation again. As Harry Potter or Jamari Paton.

Opening my mouth to reply to Professor McGonagall's question I see that Snape has been watching me the whole time.

Oh no. His eyes are crinkling in that evil way...

Heh. This the perfect time for pay-back.

"Of course we'll be attending the ball together. We have been friends for ages. And Miss Paton just loves to dance. I'm sure she wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this."

I have to stop myself from sniggering. Potter's face is just so stunned. Luckily he transforms it quickly to a pleasant, if somewhat forced smile. Giving McGonagall his attention Potter turns on the charm, "I do love to dance – and I definitely wouldn't miss a chance at dancing with Severus. He is such a marvellous dancer."

Potter gives McGonagall and me a brilliant smile, and then turns back to his food. I just turn to McGonagall and smirk. Heh – she does look mildly shocked. Especially if she knows Jamari is Potter, and from that brilliant and embarrassing exhibition of Potter's dancing skills at the Yule Ball a couple years ago, I bet she wasn't expecting that answer.

Ha. That shows the silly old cat.

Oh gods. What I have I gotten myself into? I can't dance!

Well, I'm going to have to think of something because now Professor McGonagall and Sinistra are expecting us to dance. Together. Dancing with Snape...

I know that I should feel horrified and disgusted, but I don't.

Perhaps it's those strange looks that Snape has been giving me recently. They aren't exactly evil or nice – sort of in-between. Sigh. I don't know, and I doubt that I'll ever find out why he looks at me like that...

But more importantly... WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THE DANCING?