"Love doesn't make the world go round,
Love is what makes the ride worthwhile."
- Elizabeth Browning

Chapter 7: A Dance

Severus grumbled about his chaperoning duties. Tonight was the ever-fateful night of the Halloween Dance. Severus was sure that the prefects would be working overtime to clear out classrooms that held hormonal couples. He hated Halloween dances. The only one he had ever attended had been a nightmare. He ventured into the Great Hall. It looked typical. The HeadBoy and Girl had bewitched the ceiling so it was a slightly cloudy star-filled sky with a large full moon. Occasionally a shooting star would rocket past. There were dozens of little tables in the back covered with black cloth that held glittering stars on it. Candles hovered over the tables and a light fog was down and around the floor.

Severus rolled his eyes at the sight of it. He went and took a table in a far back corner. The chaperones every dance sat there. Trelawney was the next to enter the Great Hall. She took the seat across from Severus and immediately started to talk his ear off about her predictions.

Severus stood back leaning against a wall. Several students were dancing, rolling the white fog around and around. The Great Hall doors would open occasionally allowing students in. Severus eyed Sirius with obvious anger. He stood with a swarm of girls around him. They were all begging for a dance.

Suddenly Sirius's head snapped up and stared. Severus turned to see what he was seeing. Instantly his hands feel to his sides and his jaw dropped as Faith walked into the Great Hall with Lily. Faith looked amazing. She had worn a gown made of white cloth so pure that it looked like snow. The dress hung off her shoulders, it clung to her upper-body tightly and the came out around her waist. It barely grazed the floor when she walked. She had let her hair go curly and she put it up, a few strands framing her face.

Faith smiled as James Potter came and asked Lily to dance. Lily looked to her friend and then went to dance with James. Sirius immediately walked up to Faith and she frowned as he began saying something. At that moment a seventh year Huffelpuff walked up and asked Faith to dance. She accepted and left Sirius standing there dumbstruck.

Severus gave a sigh of boredom as Trelawney continued to babble about something or other. McGonagall also looked bored of Trelawney's talk, she continually bewitched her glass to turn into various objects.

"Care for a dance?" a voice whispered into Severus's ear. He could feel chills down his spine and a tingle shoot through to his fingertips. He turned slightly and saw Faith's smiling face right next to him. She looked beautiful. She had worn a simple black dress that came in tatters at the end. Her hair was straight and around her shoulders.

"Y-Yes," he answered after finding his voice.

She smiled and he got up from his chair and followed her out onto the dance floor. He could feel his heart slamming in his chest as he put his arm around her waist and her body came so close to his.

Faith laughed as a sixth year Ravenclaw took her out for a dance. He kept talking to her and making her laugh. After a few minutes she wandered over to the side. She spotted Severus and he could feel his breath leaving him. He felt weak in the knees and his head buzzed madly. She walked over to him and smiled, "Hi,"

"Hi," he breathed.

"I d-" she started but a hand found its way around her waist and sneered, "Hi Snivillus,"

"I believe you owe me a dance," Sirius smiled coyly to Faith. He dragged her off and onto the dance floor before she could utter another word.

"I didn't know you could dance this well," teased Faith in a whisper.

"It's a…" Severus whispered, "hidden talent," she smiled. He smiled—slightly—back, and dipped her low, her smile grew. He loved knowing that he was the one putting it there.

Severus got a glimpse of Faith leaving the Great Hall. His curiosity getting the better of him, he left to follow her. He followed her outside and deep into a different part of the Hogwarts Grounds.

Hedge walls and towering trees were everywhere and he couldn't find Faith anywhere. A shimmer of white caught his eye and he hurried in the direction of it. The same flash of white could be seen behind a tree. Severus smiled and moved around the tree. Suddenly his heart stopped. Standing there, bathed in moonlight was Faith and Sirius in a passionate kiss.