He stood and waited in the main hall, near the outer door. He did not have to wait too long before she came along. She walked up to him, catching the eye of many of the students as she did. She wore hip hugging, low-riding black leather trousers and a blood red cropped bodice top. Her hair was pulled up into a tight pony tail at the crown of her head and she wore dark make up on her pale face. Bill was stunned. She was pretty, he would give her that any time, but the way she looked as she sauntered up to him made his breath hitch.
"Wow!" He was wide eyed. "You look great…" He frowned as he thought of something. "Your dad lets you dress like this? I would have thought he'd have a fit."
She grinned at him. "Let's just say he hasn't seen me, yet."
"You're going to get us both in trouble, I fear."
"Can you take the heat?" She took his arm, smirking.
"Oh, I think I can handle a little fire." He returned her smile.
She got a twinkle in her eye. "Can you handle Severus Snape, though?"
"Yeah, I put up with while I was here. I'm not a student anymore. Besides, I think he'll have his hands full pretty soon." Bill began leading her outside, towards Hogsmeade.
"Damn straight. I really need to come up with something…" She lost herself in thought. How could she get her father and Lupin together. Surely there had to be a way!
"Something?" Bill looked at her, curious to hear what was going on in her mind.
"Yeah. To get Remus and my father together."
"Well, I'm sure you'll think of it. Could have Harry help, something for you to bond over," he suggested.
"Perhaps," she said as she thought. "I would probably get better ideas from you sister, though." She smiled at him.
"She's a smart on, she is." He seemed very proud of Ginny.
"Hmmm…" She got a thoughtful look on her face.
"How long do you think it'll be before she and Harry realize?" He put a hand over the one on his arm.
"Hard to tell, but I'm going to let that one pan out on its own."
"Really? The way you want to match make for Snape and Lupin, I would think that you would be the first to do the same for him."
"Harry is not oblivious. Really, to you think my father has any idea what to do when it comes to a relationship! This is Severus Snape we are talking about!" She looked up at him with her vibrant green eyes.
"He must know something, or you wouldn't be here," Bill pointed out. Severina bit back the retort about where that relationship went and his lack there of since.
"I don't know. I'm not sure how that happened, me being here. He's never talked about it, and I can't go to my mother." She looked down but smiled. "Remus seems persistent, though. I think he'll win father over. If father even likes guys." Her head came up in surprise. Why had she not thought of that before? "Have to be as subtle as I can and ask."
"You and subtle don't seem to go together." He looked her over form top to bottom. She didn't leave very much to the imagination.
She smiled at him somewhat smugly. "Oh? Smooth and quick, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "Well, I try."
She chuckled. "A Weasley trait. I've heard your mother dislikes your hair." She fingered it. "I like it."
"Well, then I'll keep it long just for you."
"Are your brothers as charming as you?" She smirked at him. "Though, I must say, you come on a little thick for a first date."
He smiled. "I don't know. I've never had them make moves on him." His mood changed, sobered. "If I'm making you uncomfortable I can stop."
She shook her head slightly, with a smile. "No, it's fine. As I said, charming in a cute sort of way. It's just your humor coming through."
"If you're sure… beautiful." He smiled at her again.
"You're going to give me a complex, Mr. Weasley."
"What better complex to have than know you are beautiful?"
"If my father could hear you."
Bill smirked. "He'd kill me. Anyway, what would you like to eat?" He asked as they entered the restaurant. They sat down and looked at the menus.
"Oh, I don't care really. Anything."
"Well then, order anything you want."
She nodded. "I'll have… a steak, French fries, and a side salad." She smiled at the waiter and handed over her menu. Bill followed suite but did not take a salad. "So, what is it like working for Gringotts?"
"Very adventurous at times, but the paper work sucks." He smiles. "What's it like being Snape's daughter?"
She shrugged. "Not really the expert. We write, on occasion. I see him maybe once a year nowadays, if that. But, he's a good guy. He cares, if you can get him to show it."
"Most parents do. If you want my opinion on getting him together with Lupin, go at it straight ahead. I don't think he'll get subtle."
"So, what, walk up to him and go 'Father, I think you need to date Remus Lupin'?"
He shrugged. "Yeah, why not?"
"You going to be there with the camera so I can always remember the moment he died of a heart attack?" She asked sardonically.
"If you want, or maybe something like 'Remus isn't the boy you remember from school. I think you have a lot in common and should spend some time getting to know him better'."
"I like yours better. I think I'll ask Remus his intentions. Maybe he should make the first move, because I doubt my father will."
"I think he already is your dad just isn't getting it. See, subtle doesn't work on him."
Severina nodded. "Well, enough about my father. I plan to forget about him and his problems for now." She smiled at him.
"What do you want to think about?" He asked, returning her smile.
"Anything that has nothing to do with troubles."
"Well, I could tell you bad jokes." He offered cheerfully.
"Oh?" She was interested to hear how bad they could be. "Let's here one."
"Knock knock."
"Who's there?" She threaded her fingers together and rested her chin upon them.
"Dwain."
"Dwain who?" She could tell she was going to regret the answer.
"Dwain the tub. I'm dwowning."
"Yes, that was bad." She chuckled. "So? What do we talk about?"
"Well, let's see. We covered my hair, your father's dating habits, our siblings getting together, bad jokes, my work… I think all that's left is making wedding plans." He grinned at her.
"I bet Fred and George love you." She smiled at him.
"Where do you think they learned it from. Don't tell mum. She thinks I'm an angel." He winked.
"Secret is safe with me, for now." She smirked.
He raised a brow. "Should I be worried about that statement?" He then smirked himself. "Of course, I could tell your father about that outfit you're wearing."
Her smirk turned into a patent Snape smirk and shrugged. "He bought them."
Bill looked really surprised. "You gotta be shitting me!"
"No. Day we saw you at the pet shop."
"Damn. Well there goes my leverage."
She laughed. "Sorry."
"That's okay. I plan to learn at least one of your secrets so we are on level ground again." He looked at her with a merry determination.
"Well, what would you like to know?"
"Whatever you want to tell me."
"Well, I'm twenty-one, was a… Well… I had the mark for less than twenty-four hours, I graduated Hogwarts, and I have been living in the muggle world for the better part of the last four years."
"Those aren't really secrets, though. Tell me you once ate five pounds of chocolate at one setting or you have a sixth toe… Something you wouldn't want people to know."
She pondered for a minute. "I don't know. You just want something not to tell my father, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much so that you won't tell mum about Fred and George."
"Well, I don't have them in, but I have several piercing. And, I have a couple tats."
"Where are the piercing, and what are the tattoos?" He perked up greatly. He really wanted to know.
"Well, one of the piercing you wouldn't be able to see anyhow." She winked at him. "I have my belly button done and my left brow as well as…" She stuck her tongue out to show him that hole. "I'm thinking of letting that one close. My tats are of a snake and a red-black rose."
"Really? Wouldn't be able to see? The mind wonders." He grinned at her.
"I'm sure yours does."
"You could just tell me, and put it to rest."
"Or, you could hope to see one day." She smirked at him.
He returned her smirk. "That I could. Until then, I'll just have to imagine."
"That you will." She looked up as their food arrived. They ate in silence through half the meal. Finally, Bill had listened to the silence long enough.
"Are you having a good time?"
"Yes, or I would have left, insulted you, or both. Maybe even dumped your drink in your lap."
"Please, I work at Gringotts. You'd have a hard time insulting me."
"Well, I don't wish to try. But, I am a Snape, even if I go by Evans. We know how to do such things."
"Well, at least you come by it honestly."
"And the goblins don't?"
"Yeah, they do, but I am a Weasley and we are the nicest people there are." He rolled his eyes. She chuckled. She had found them all nice, except Percy.
"I'll give you that, for all of them but Percy. He's just… Percy."
"No, he's an ass."
"You said it, I didn't."
"Yes, I did, and I'll stick to it, too."
"Percy is more anal that my father, or Granger."
"He'd be fine if he could get laid."
"Not something I think will ever happen unless he finds some snob in the Ministry willing, that is able."
"Like he needs to reproduce anyway. Could you imagine the kids?"
Severina had a good laugh over that. "What about Fred and George?"
"They both deserve to have sets of twins just like them, only girls."
She continued to laugh as he said that. "Well, they say the children are worse than the parents." She made a face. "I hope Malfoy doesn't procreate."
"Some would say the same for Snape. His daughter turned out pretty good, though." He smiled at her. He liked the light in her eyes.
"I think my mother had to do with that."
"Well, yeah. I mean in the end he's done the right thing, turned his back on the dark side and all."
"True." She began to rub at her scar, which had began a dull burning. She was not surprised to see a man a few tables away stand and rush from the place. He was calling to them. The man that had just left was a Death Eater.
"Does it bother you much?" He nodded to her arm.
"He's calling to them.
He took her right hand. "It's okay. You didn't have a choice."
"No." She looked at their hands. "I didn't when it was put on. It doesn't hurt like theirs, but it burns a bit."
"Well, once he's gone we won't have to worry about it." He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"If he's ever gone." She looked back up to Bill's eyes. "I've hid from him for four years. I'm starting to wonder why I just don't get it over with. The man over there, the one that ran out, I think he recognized me. If he did, Voldemort knows where I am now."
Bill winced slightly at the name. "Don't talk like that. You'll be fine, and he will be gone. We won't let anything happen to you." He squeezed her hand again then let it go.
"I hope you are right." She started eating again, not wanting to talk about it. Bill decided to allow her that.
Ginny and Harry walked into the common room of Gryffindor Tower. Neither was really sure what to do for the rest of the evening. "So, Harry, what are you going to do with the other musketeers off snogging?"
"Try to figure out why I am the only one who didn't know Lupin liked men."
"Well…" Ginny was not sure how to answer that. "I don't know, Harry. Maybe he just never thought of the right time to tell you, or you just never picked up on it. The Wizarding world doesn't look down on that sort of thing."
"I don't… I mean… I don't think less of him because of it but…" Harry could not find the words he wanted.
"Why Snape?" Ginny offered.
"No, why couldn't he tell me. I thought we were friends."
Ginny shrugged. She was out of answers. "Ask him."
"I will. I guess it just hurts a little. He felt he had to keep it from me."
"Maybe he just never thought of it." She tried to get Harry's mind at ease so it would move on.
"I don't know. When we were out the other day, he made a comment about not chasing skirts in a long time. He could have said something then. I thought he may have had a thing for Vena."
Ginny laughed. "My mom told me something." She looked around to make sure they were alone. "You can't let her know I told you."
Harry perked up, interested in what she had been told. "Okay. What?"
"In school, Remus… He's more likely to have a thing for you than Rina cause… Well, he and your dad…"
Harry's mouth fell open. He gaped at her. "They were… but… mom…"
Ginny shrugged. "I… I think that's when your sister… well… your mom found out… it was only once… I think… and she was mad at your dad for a while. I don't know much about it, but I thought you should know."
"Wow…" Harry was at a loss. "I guess my dad was bi then."
"Yeah, I suppose."
"Guess I'm lucky to be here then, huh?" He was stunned. "Ginny, can we, I don't think I want to think about this anymore. Can we hang out for a while? Maybe play some chess or something?"
"Sure. I'm not as good as Ron, though."
Harry looked relieved slightly. "That's okay. I suck at it so you'll probably win."
She smiled at him. "We'll see about that."
"Okay, but I bet you that I'll carry your books for a week if you loose."
Ginny felt that was a rather stupid bet to make. She hid her smirk. "Alright."
"Oh, and no doing your worst either, cause it's off if you do." He started setting up the board. Ginny could lose on purpose and he would never know, but she figured she could carry her own books.
"I can't believe you think I'd do that, Harry Potter!" She gave him a look of mock outrage.
"Um… Yeah, you are related to George and Fred." He smiled at her, and she returned the gesture. He noticed just how pretty she was when she smiled and stared at her.
"The Weasley you should be concerned about is out with your sister." Her eyes were on the board as he stared so she failed to notice.
"Vena can take care of herself, and he isn't the one getting lucky in some dark corner as we speak, either."
She smirked up at him. "Okay, but he taught Fred and George everything they know, and he always gets his girl."
"Your mom know that?" Harry glanced over to where Hermione and Ron sat. "Seems like he isn't the only Weasley to get his girl."
Ginny giggled. "Well, me, I want a man." Her eyes twinkled. "Just haven't picked me out one yet."
"Don't let Ron hear that. He'll flip."
"He wouldn't hear if the Dark Lord walked in the room at the moment."
"Yeah, his mind and other things are occupied else where," Harry agreed.
"He'd really flip if I told him Draco Malfoy is hot." She waited for the reaction.
Harry frowned. "You really think he's hot… You're interested in him?"
Ginny busted out laughing. "Are you jealous, Potter?" She grinned at him devilishly. He had reacted much as she had hoped.
"Of that twit? No."
"So, I can have the hots for him then?"
"Hey, they're your hots. You can have them for anyone you like. I just don't see what you would see in the little snob."
"I don't see anything in him, Harry. I was just seeing how you would react."
"Of course I would be upset."
She rolls her eyes in Hermione fashion. "Let's just play chess. I'll contemplate asking you out later."
Harry took a moment to register what she had said in jest, though she really wanted to ask him. "Okay… What… Then, I would have to except I suppose."
"Huh?" She was not actually expecting him to say that.
"Well, you asking me out. I'd have to ask where you were going to take me."
At that moment, Ron had broke away from Hermione for much needed air. He noticed them playing chess, and he heard what Harry said. "What?!" He stood and walked over to them. They both jumped at his exclamation, wiping Ginny's shy smile off her face.
"Aren't you two suppose to be in a dark corner somewhere else?" Harry asked.
"Forget us! What is this about my baby sister asking you out?" Ron crossed his arms.
"Well, she was practicing for asking Malfoy out." Harry shrugged nonchalantly.
"What?!" Ron grabbed his chest and the back of Harry's chair for balance.
"Harry!" Ginny hissed. "He's kidding, Ron. I'd never want to ask that git out."
Ron was breathing heavy as Hermione joined them. "Yeah, anyway, she wasn't asking me out cause I was going to ask her out." Ron's breathing picked up even more.
"Ron, calm down. She is old enough to make up her own mind," Hermione stood up for Ginny.
"You're awful!" Ginny scolded Harry.
"She's my baby sister!" Ron argued to Hermione, looking stricken. "Bill hears about this…"
"Who better for your baby sister? Do you think Harry would hurt her?" Hermione scowled at Ron.
"No, but… Harry and Ginny?" Ron was not letting go.
"I was joking!" Ginny stood and looked at them. "What I do with my life is my business! Butt out!" she turned on her heel and marched up the stairs without another word.
"Nice one, Ron." Hermione followed Ginny.
"What did I do?" Ron looked at Harry.
"Nothing but be you." Harry stood and went to the boys dorms.
Ron looked around, confused. He shook his head and sat down at the chess board. "Great! Now they are all mad at me."
Hermione chased Ginny down. "Ginny, wait up. We should talk."
"What about?" She looked at Hermione, still a bit sour.
"You and Harry. You weren't just kidding were you?"
"Would I like to go out with him, yes. Was I actually going to ask him out, no."
"I think he meant what he said," Hermione offered.
"That he would go out with me?"
"Yes."
"Then, he will have to ask. I'm not doing it." She turned to go to her room.
"I'll let him know that. Why not, though?" Hermione persisted.
"I… I couldn't take it if I asked and he said no."
"Did I not just say he would say yes?"
"You said you thought," Ginny pointed out.
"When have you known me to be wrong, Ginny Weasley?" Hermione asked curtly.
"When have I known you to not be self-involved?" Ginny disappeared inside her dorm room.
"Stubborn Weasley. Why do they all have to be that way?" Hermione asked herself as she made for the sixth year girls room.
