Seven Years Later Reception, Drunk Dance and All Ch 24 pt2, a harry potter fanfic

Seven Years Later...
Chapter 24 Part 2
"The Reception; Drunken Dance Scene and all"

Artimis watched in shock as Ron asked her sister and newly found cousin to marry him.

It's about damn time... I knew it was gonna happen... Like Remus always says about us... Where one of us is, the other is not far behind... Artimis thought as she watched Alexis passing out for the third time in a row.

It's the Lexy yoyo... boing...Artimis mused as she watched Alexis go into yet another prediction. Artimis listened as Alexis repeated some of the same words she had spoken at the end of the final battle. Obviously somebody in the beyond thought they really need to remember it. Artimis decided to take the pressure off of Alexis and send it back to partying.

"I think there has been too much formal drama tonight. I say the music goes back on, you people dance, sing karaoke, and drink and we'll have a good evening." Artimis declared and then nodded to Harry, watching him walk up to the music area, turning his hat into a baseball cap and turning it sideways. Why she really didn't know, or care. She watched as several family members started dancing as Remus rushed over to Alexis's side. Artimis got up and walked over their, looking at Alexis oddly.

"Why does she keep doing that?" Artimis questioned and Remus looked up at her oddly.

"Because her mother was a seer." He spoke and Artimis took a step back looking at him.

"A What?" She asked in disbelief. Remus went to answer but was kicked from behind by Snape. Artimis looked at him oddly, as if he was conspiring something and Remus knew about it.

"Remus, what was her mother? And if you kick him again, I'm gonna kick you." Artimis spoke, directing her attention to Remus. Remus looked at Severus who glared at him and Remus sighed.

"A seer, an oracle, an uber Trelawny, um... Powerful! Get it?" He asked and she nodded looking at the coming to Alexis.

"Um... yeah, let's not tell her about that just yet, she might kill you, but only cause you just admitted to me you knew her Mum." Artimis spoke and Remus smacked himself in the forehead.

"No, let's not listen to Severus. Cause he never has any idea what he is talking about. NO, not at all. Let's just tell the whole world, why don't you." Severus groaned behind him and Artimis smirked at him. Remus glared up at Severus and snarled.

"You first, Snape." Remus told him and Severus backed up.

"I didn't say a word about Vanessa and her um... talent." Severus hissed, speaking the last word with disgust.

"And you just admitted it too. Can you say busted, cause I can? And wait a minute, if you both know, then who else knows? Weird." Artimis sighed shaking her head as she started back to her table.

"I just have to say one thing, you two are cruel bastards." She told them as she heard Alexis moan. Luckily, Ron had been to engross on Alexis's well being to hear their conversation, so only Artimis had her information. But she had a sinking feeling there was more, a whole lot more. If her family had been lying to her about her best friend, what else were they hiding about her own past? Artimis walked to the table and Draco grabbed her hand.

"Does Mrs. Malfoy feel like dancing?" He asked with a smirk and she smiled back, knowing that she could get used to her new last name.

"Why of course, Mr. Malfoy." She mused and he led her out on the dance floor as a slow song came on. She let Draco hold her as they swayed, Artimis seeing Parvati and Apollo dancing slowly as Erica and Vicky sat with Athena and Damien. She smirked and Draco whispered in her ear.

"And how is our little girl acting?" He questioned and Artimis snickered.

"Using my bladder as a trampoline, what else would she be doing?" She joked and he laughed lightly. The song ended and then there was two ahems from the stage. Artimis turned to see Fred and George standing on the stage with microphones with sunglasses and their suits all straight.

"Artimis, Alexis would you care to help us out, George only gets that high a note when you kick him in the gr-" Fred spoke and he was smacked by George. Artimis looked at Alexis who was standing now and Alexis nodded, walking over to the stage away from Ron.

"Alright boys, but I am standing right here." She told them and they nodded as the creepy beginning of the music for "Men in Black" began. Alexis waited for the beat and began singing her part.

"Here come the men in black."

Artimis waited for Alexis to sing it again and then Artimis added her own higher note.

"Here come the men in black--" She sung out and then Fred broke out into rap. Artimis turned around and began dancing with Draco to the beat, singing her parts loudly while dancing. She and Alexis kept in tune as back up singers and Draco just smiled at her.

"Let me see ya just bounce wit me, just bounce with me..." Fred sung and Artimis carried her own note.

"Bounce with me--" She sung out and then George began in on his part.

"Let me see you just slide wit me, slide wit me." He sang and Artimis joined him.

"Slide with me--" She followed and she kept up with it as the song came into a close. Alexis began dancing and singing.

"Here come the men in black, galaxy defenders. Here come the men in black, won't let you remember." Alexis sung as the music ended. Artimis laughed as she stopped dancing, seeing Aaron standing on the side of the stage, nodding to Harry as Fred handed Aaron his microphone.

"This song is for someone in the room, and they know exactly who they are. You wanted proof, here it is." He spoke as the slow beginning music of "Crash and Burn" By Savage Garden began. He looked out into the room, though Artimis followed his gaze directly to the table where Hailey, Hermione and Ginny were sitting.

"When you feel all alone, and the world has turned it's back on you, give me a moment please, to tame your wild, wild heart. It's hard to find relief and people can be so cold. Let me be the one you call, when you jump, I'll break your fall, lift you up, and fly away with you into the night. If you need to fall apart, I can mend a broken heart, if you need to crash, then crash and burn, you're not alone." He sung out beautifully, still having his talent. Artimis smirked as her heels hurt and she and Draco walked back over to their table. Alexis was obviously doing her thing and being the two fisted drinker of the evening. A bottle of rum resided in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. Artimis knew she was going to pay for that in the morning. Artimis laughed as she watched her family and Draco's family bear a sort of cease-fire as they danced.

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Alexis took alternate drinks from both her bottles of alcohol, having convinced Ron to let her have them both, after giving him his own bottle and a nice kiss. She left him sitting at the table for a moment, intent of finding the rest of the cake. She stumbled around, bouncing to the music as she searched for the appetizer table. But instead, she found a more interesting specimen. Severus was sitting at his own table, staring intently into a glass of some alcohol with ice, stirring the ice around with a plastic straw, eyes unfocused as he gazed intently at his glass. Alexis smirked, feeling the urge to dance.

Hmmm... Maybe I can get Severus to dance... hehehehehe...

She sauntered up to his table, plopping her half empty bottles on them as she sat in a chair next to him. He didn't even acknowledge her, still stirring his drink. Alexis sat there, plagued by hiccups as she watched him silently for a moment, absorbed in his actions. Then she asked in a slurred voice. "Whatcha doing Severus?"

"Isn't it obvious." Severus spoke back, slurring his words slightly as well, still not looking at her. Alexis nodded, looking out on the dance floor for a minute, and then asking him again.

"Severus?"

"What, Whyte." He answered curtly, poking an ice cube with his straw distractedly.

"Do ya wanna dance with me?"

Severus growled back. "No."

"Why not?"

"I'm busy."

Alexis pouted for a minute, then asked sweetly. "Please?"

"I will not dance with you, Whyte." Severus stressed, taking a drink of his alcohol with his straw. Alexis pouted, then took a deep breath.

"But why not? I thought you liked dancing. I know you do, I heard you talking about it once. You know you want to dance; you're just being stubborn. You know deep down you really want to dance with me. And I asked nicely, so let's go dance..." Alexis rambled loudly, making Severus wince. He looked up at her with annoyance, simply stating. "No."

"PLEASE! Please please please please please please..."

"Shut up!" Severus snapped angrily at her and she grinned.

"Nope. I'm going to bug you until you die, or agree to dance. Whichever comes first?" Alexis slurred proudly. Severus shook his head and sighed. "That would be sweet release..."

Severus buried his head in his hands, trying to block out her voice as she continued to ramble at him, not letting up for a moment. But he couldn't help but snicker about it, it was kind of funny. That, or he was just drunk enough to think anything was funny.

Alexis, still talking a mile a minute at him, started poking him in the arm to emphasize her point. Severus flinched every time she did so, growing more desperate by the minute.

Finally, he could take no more of it. He turned and pinned her arms down, shouting. "Alright! Alright! For Heaven's sake, please shut up!"

Alexis grinned widely, and he let her go, sitting back in his chair, shaking his head at her with frustration.

"Well? Does that mean you're going to dance with me? If not, then I can rant all night. It's one of my talents, and I know you don't like it, so it would just encourage me to do more. Actually, I think ranting can be thought of as an art, not many people can rant for a long time and still kind of make sense..."

"I GET THE POINT! God, if I dance with you, will you leave me alone?"

Alexis smiled happily, replying. "Maybe..."

"Wrong answer..." Severus growled, turning back to his drink. Alexis spoke quickly. "Okay! I'll stop annoying you, but you have to come out and actually dance, no just standing there while I dance around you. It takes two to tango you know... not sure if I know how to tango..."

Severus stood and yanked Alexis to her feet, pulling her towards the dance floor. Alexis shut up and let him pull her, feeling a great accomplishment. She blew past Artimis, grinning at her happily. Artimis just stared in utter shock and amusement, watching as Severus pulled her onto the floor.

Severus pulled Alexis around to face him, as he spoke simply, smirking slyly down at her. "Fine. You want to tango? We'll tango."

Alexis looked up at him in confusion, listening to System of a Down, 'BYOB'. "But, this isn't the right music for tangoing..." Alexis spoke softly.

Severus stepped up to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, grabbing her other hand in the dancing position as he told her. "Oh well. Listen to it in your head. We'll see if you're a good a dancer as you say..."

Alexis, being that close to Severus, felt really weird, maybe starting to have doubts about this. But it was too late to change her mind as Severus whisked her out onto the dance floor. Alexis quickly lost herself in her dancing, moving with Severus like a puppet, going whichever way he spun her. They danced quickly, Alexis surprised she could keep up with him as she focused on her dancing, just thrilled that she actually got a dance out of him. After a minute, Alexis almost out of breath, she took a deep whiff of him, his chest not three inches from her face. She smiled, looking up at Severus. "Hey, you smell good..."

Severus looked down at her quizzically, replying. "Um, thanks..."

He spun her dramatically, hand on her hips, and she felt a little awkward, but was too drunk to care as she went with it. Hey, now I can brag that I know how to tango... nifty... never knew I could... oh well...

She thought to herself, almost growing dizzy with all the spinning and movements. If she had been just a little less drunk, she would've been very weirded out at him even touching her, let alone her waist and hands. But, she didn't really acknowledge that fact.

After a good length of time, Severus put his hands behind her back, to her confusion, and dipped her back, eyes closed momentarily, looking lost in his mind as he did so. Alexis panicked, removing her hands from his shoulders and arms, and wrapping them tight around his neck in a panic. He gazed down at her in shock, and then stumbled. Alexis fell back onto the floor, Severus stumbling and crashing down onto her, knocking the breath out of her.

Her head spun as it hit the floor, and she gasped out around a mouthful of his shirt. "Sev... I, can't breath..."

Severus quickly scrambled backwards off of her, Alexis looking up to see Ron grabbing Severus's shoulder and pulling him back as well. She lay still for a moment as she breathed deeply, Ron kneeling next to her. Severus backed up, still looking at Alexis in surprise, then turned and quickly made his way back to his table. Ron helped Alexis sit up, and she immediately started laughing.

"Damn! That was so cool! I want to do that again..."

Ron was grumbling about her being 'his woman', glaring over at Severus in an unfocused gaze. Alexis knew he was drunk as well as he stumbled to his feet, pulling Alexis up with him.

Alexis shook her head, still laughing.

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Severus sat at his table, carefully stirring his drink as he felt the calm release of Drunkenness. Yes, the music was loud, yes, it was too crowded, but he didn't care at the moment. Everyone was leaving him alone to his thoughts and his drinks. He stirred his drink the other way, hearing the loud thuds of bottles on his table.

Great... Remus the mighty loudmouth is back... Severus mentally groaned. Then he heard a voice that he didn't even want to think about at the moment.

"Whatcha doing Severus?" Alexis Whyte asked curiously.

"Isn't it obvious." Severus growled back at her, hoping she would go away. He knew he was slightly slurring, but he didn't care as he continued to focus on his masterful stirring. He kept an ear open to listen if she had left and he didn't hear her move.

"Severus?" She asked him and he wanted to glare but continued with his task.

"What, Whyte." He answered her curtly hoping she'd get the point, poking an ice cube with his straw distractedly.

"Do ya wanna dance with me?" She asked him and he held back a snort. He, Severus Snape, was definitely not drunk enough to dance with his bane, Alexis Whyte.

"No." He quickly growled back.

"Why not?"

"I'm busy." He snarled, upset that she was breaking his concentration at properly mixing his drink. She silenced and he thought she was finished, but then she begged him in a sickenly sweet voice that made him want to snap her neck.

"Please?"

"I will not dance with you, Whyte." Severus declared sternly, deciding his mixing was ruined anyways and to just drink it after all. He took a sip of it through his straw, not liking the mis-mixed flavor. He heard Alexis draw in a deep breath and he figured she was about to sigh. He was wrong.

"But why not? I thought you liked dancing. I know you do, I heard you talking about it once. You know you want to dance; you're just being stubborn. You know deep down you really want to dance with me. And I asked nicely, so let's go dance..." Alexis rambled at him loudly, making Severus wince as he was unexpectedly barraged by her annoyingly drunk voice. He looked up at her with annoyance, simply stating. "No."

"Why do you have to be so mean to me? I just want one little dance, and you can't even do that. Maybe you're just scared that I'd better than you. Won't find out until you dance..." Alexis ranted at him once again. Severus shook his head, smirking at her insanity. How drunk did she think he was, or was the better question, how drunk was she? He declined yet again, hoping to shut her up. "Nope."

"PLEASE! Please please please please please please..." She began to beg and his brain twitched a bit, or at least it felt like it. Shut up... Shut up... Shut up... He hissed mentally at her, knowing she couldn't hear him.

"Shut up!" Severus snapped angrily at her in his frustration and she grinned at him. He so wanted to curse that smirk off of her face.

"Nope. I'm going to bug you until you die, or agree to dance. Whichever comes first?" Alexis slurred proudly at him and Severus shook his head.

He sighed. "That would be sweet release..." He spoke, thinking being six feet under would never be as bad as being ranted at by an insane woman who has had too much to drink.

"Oh come on Severus, you're such a uptight dork. You need to dance. Makes you loosen up. And I bet I can dance as good as you, if not better. I don't dance often, but from what I, know, you don't either. Come on, it would be a good experience. You know you want to, I think you just like arguing with me, why else would you always say no to me? It's just a dance, all you had to say was yep and I would've been happy. But nooo. You've got to go make things all complicated..." She ranted again and Severus buried his head in his hands, trying to block out her voice as she continued to ramble at him, not letting up for a moment. But for some odd reason he couldn't help but snicker about it all, it was kind of funny, after all Alexis Whyte was begging him to dance with her. That was kind of funny. That, or he was just drunk enough to think anything was funny right about now. As Alexis continued to berate him with her senseless prattle she began poking him in the arm, something that was not funny. Every time she touched him he involuntarily flinched. He wanted anyway to get her to leave him alone and he was getting more desperate by the minute.

Finally, he could take no more of her annoying antics. He turned and pinned her arms down at her sides, shouting angrily. "Alright! Alright! For Heaven's sake, please shut up!" He could see her smirking at him as she asked with wild, drunken eyes.

"I GET THE POINT! God, if I dance with you, will you leave me alone?" He exclaimed, still holding her in place.

Alexis smiled happily at him, replying. "Maybe..."

"Wrong answer..." Severus growled at her, finally realizing he had a bargaining chip for his solitude. He picked his glass up and down the rest of it, hoping it would drown her out.

Alexis spoke quickly to him. "Okay! I'll stop annoying you, but you have to come out and actually dance, no just standing there while I dance around you. It takes two to tango you know... not sure if I know how to tango..." She began again and there was no way he was going to take another minute of it. Severus stood and yanked Alexis to her feet quickly, pulling her towards the dance floor with determination. He heard her shut up and she didn't resist him pulling her along. He marched past Artimis, who looked at him with shock and he glared drunkenly at her. Severus got her to the floor and spun her to face him, knowing exactly what he was going to do. He spoke simply, smirking slyly down at her with evil intent. "Fine. You want to tango? We'll tango."

He saw her look up at him with confusion and then craned her neck to listen. He too listened, hearing some odd rock music, but that didn't matter, Severus could dance to the music in his head.

"But, this isn't the right music for tangoing..." Alexis spoke softly to him and he smirked, stepping closer to her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and took her other hand up in his in the starting position to dance as he spoke. "Oh well. Listen to it in your head. We'll see if you're a good a dancer as you say..." He saw her look at him and the closeness and he saw the wheels turning in her head as she asked her self what she had gotten into.

Nope... There is no way you are getting out of it now... He thought as he moved, expecting her to stumble but she just kept with him as he mentally heard the beats for the music in his head. He spun her out and around and she seemed to just move wherever he moved her too.

Hey, she's not that bad... for an amateur... He mused as they moved about quickly. He heard her inhale deeply and then she said on of the oddest things he had ever heard from her.

She smiled, looking up at Severus. "Hey, you smell good..."

Severus looked down at her quizzically, replying. "Um, thanks..."

He spun her from him dramatically, one of his hands on her hip and a thought of how weird this was flowed through his mind momentarily, but was whisked away by his imaginary beats. He continued to spin her, pulling her back to him and his arm when to around her waist once more. He then let go of her waist spinning her around with her one hand over her head and then pulled her back quickly. After a little bit more time, the music in Severus's head was coming to a close and he moved his hands to the base of Alexis's back, dipping her back. He closed his eyes, and for that brief moment he wasn't dancing with Alexis, but off somewhere else, dancing with a ghost from the past. Suddenly he felt her arms tightly around his neck and he looked down at her in shock, trying to keep his balance. He failed and stumbled, unable to catch himself as he fell full force on Alexis. He lay there a moment, trying to figure out he had gotten on the floor when a voice under him spoke muffled.

"Sev... I, can't breath..." He heard Alexis say and he lifted up quickly, wondering why the hell she was there. Then he remembered that he had agreed to dance with her if she would leave him alone. He felt hands on his shoulder as he tried to scramble back off of Alexis and he turned to see Ron. Severus looked at Alexis in surprise and then got up, walking back to his table for another drink that he would be able to stir in peace.

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Ron sat at his table, watching Alexis as she went off on her search for birthday cake. He turned back to his bottle of some deep amber colored liquid. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was damn good. That was all that mattered. He figured he deserved to get drunk, proud of himself for finally getting the courage to ask Alexis to marry him. Yep, he was a happy man. Drunk, but happy.

He heard a commotion somewhere behind him, hearing Artimis's loud laughter joining it. He shrugged, taking another gulp of the alcohol straight from his bottle. After a minute, he saw Severus stalking past him, dragging someone behind him as he walked out onto the dance floor. Ron shook his head, finding that a little odd, taking another drink. It was then he got a good look at whom Severus was going to dance with.

He sat up straight, coughing as he almost choked on his drink. He looked closely, and it was indeed his Alexis. Ron watched carefully as Severus stepped up to her, putting a hand on her waist, taking her hand with his other.

Ron narrowed his eyes narrowly, clenching the bottle in his fist. Why did Severus want to dance with Alexis? His future wife? He was supposed to hate her, which was fine with him as long as she didn't mind. If Severus was drunk enough to dance with her, what else was he drunk enough to try?

Ron sat back in his chair, glaring after Severus as he twirled Alexis onto the dance floor. But after a moment, he smirked, not knowing she could dance so well. And it seemed to be bugging the hell out of Severus. He relaxed a tad bit, deciding to watch for a minute before interceding. Besides, he was having fun watching her...

After a few minute though, Ron started noticing where Severus was putting his hands on Alexis, seeming to be awfully close to her, more than he liked. He started grumbling angrily to himself.
"Drunk bastard... don't know how to keep his hands to himself. Who does he think he is? Dancing with my fiancé... ha... fiancé. That's a cool word... wonder who came up with that word. Dunno, it kinda sounds French..."

Ron mused to himself, watching Alexis and Severus dance, but lost in his drunken thoughts that seemed very important to him at the moment.

"Well... then again, it kind of sounds Italian. French or Italian. Yeah... now I want French toast, or, better yet, spaghetti... yeah, with meatballs, big meatballs... and thick, tomatoey sauce. Damn that sounds good right about now..."

He nodded, taking a drink and feeling hungry now. He watched Severus twirling Alexis, narrowing his eyes once again.

"Stupid git... Can't believe he's even touching my fiancé... fiancé... ha, that's a cool word..." Ron continued on, his whole rant starting over in a vicious cycle, Ron none the wiser of his repetition. Suddenly, he saw Severus dipping Alexis, his face too close to her chest than he liked. He stood angrily, swaying and almost falling. He put his half empty bottle on his table, stalking over towards Severus angrily.

He stopped abruptly as Alexis swung her arms over Severus's neck, causing him to lose his balance and topple down, landing on her as they hit the ground. He gasped, then raced over, grabbing Severus's shoulder to yank him back as Severus hastily jumped away from Alexis, who had started laughing, hiccupping as well in her drunkenness.

Ron kneeled next to her, looking over her a bit worriedly as he glared after Severus as he quickly walked back to his table. Ron pulled Alexis to her feet. "Won't touch her again if I have anything to do with it... she's my woman... only I can touch her..." He grumbled darkly, but quickly forgot about it as Alexis grabbed his hands, dancing away with him across the dance floor, stumbling and tripping the whole way.

After a dizzying dance with Ron, Alexis followed him back towards the table; his arm wrapped firmly around her waist, wondering where was it that she had set her rum and wine. Though, the thought of drinking the rest of the alcohol made Alexis a little queasy after the vigorous dancing. She decided to just sit with Ron until she didn't feel as sick. Remus was sitting at their table now, having an animated discussion into his glass. He looked up at Ron and Alexis with a huge, drunken grin, gesturing for them to take a seat. They did so, Ron plopping haphazardly into the seat next to Remus, while Alexis jumped on the table, watching them and swinging her legs.

Pretty soon, they started some conversation that she couldn't follow, something about bagels... Alexis grew bored quickly and decided to go search for her lost alcohol. She jumped off the table, bouncing away without Remus and Ron even noticing. She meandered around the tables, checking each with a scrutinizing gaze. Finally she found them, also seeing Severus seated at the same table.

He was once again stirring his drink, watching it intently. Alexis bored as it was, decided to see what he was actually doing. She plopped in the seat across from him, resting her chin in her hands as she watched Severus slowly mixing his drink.

After a minute, she asked curiously. "Whatcha doin Sev?"

He spoke without looking up. "I thought you said you wouldn't annoy me anymore tonight."

"I'm not. I'm trying to have a decent conversation thingie with you." Alexis defended quietly, still watching his glass. Severus sighed, and answered. "Fine. I'm mixing my drink."

Alexis nodded, still confused. "What for?"

"Because it doesn't taste right. You have to stir it to get the proper taste." He spoke matter of factly, now stirring it in the opposite direction.

"Okay... I see... is there any specific way you're suppose to stir it?" Alexis asked, truly interested. Severus stopped stirring, looking at his glass in contemplation. Then he looked back up at her, informing her and looking dead serious. "Well, not precisely. There could be several ways, I prefer my own."

Alexis nodded, cocking her head at him, asking once more. "That's cool... can ya show me?"

Severus seemed to think deeply on it for a long moment, Alexis waiting patiently. Then he shrugged. "I don't see why not."

Alexis smiled, shifting to get comfortable, head still resting in her hands as she watched him with shining green eyes. Severus looked at her, actually looking humane for once. "Alright then. They key is to not stir it too much, just enough to give it the right flavor." He explained, dipping his straw back into his drink. Alexis nodded, watching him intently.

"Then, you stir, not too fast, you don't want to spill any. Stir in a clockwise direction about, let's say, ten or so times. You following?" He asked, looking up at her seriously. Alexis nodded eagerly, paying rapt attention to his words. There was a movement out the corner of their eyes, but they were too preoccupied to see what it was.

"You don't add nuthin to it?" Alexis asked curiously.

Severus shook his head. "Nope. Stirring adds all the flavor you need. Trust me."

Alexis nodded again, eyes wide as she watched him stirring, kind of growing dizzy as she watched him, but her attention was fully caught. This was damn interesting! He slurred again. "Next step, you stir it counterclockwise for a few turns, no more then ten, mind you. Then you kinda want to shake up the ice a bit, so it don't water the drink down too much."

Alexis shook her head, watching him admiringly. It must've taken a lot of talent to remember how to stir a drink the right way, she knew she couldn't. She watched as Severus stirred twice more, and then took out his straw, tapping it lightly on the side. Alexis smiled.

"Now, you drink it." Severus stated, taking a long swig of the newly mixed alcohol. Alexis watched him with bright eyes, mouth slightly open in wonder. She whispered quietly as he set his glass back down. "Wow... you're my hero."

Severus looked to her and smirked smugly, stating quietly. "Yep. I know."

Just then, Ron stumbled up, looking at Alexis. "Hey, I found ya!"

Alexis looked up at him and grinned. "Dude, you missed it, Sev just showed me how to properly mix a drink. It was nifty."

Ron nodded, looking to Severus impressively. Severus nodded proudly, sitting back in his seat. "And guess what Lexy! I found the cake!"

Alexis jumped up happily. "Neat, let's go get some and start a food fight."

Ron nodded, and Alexis wrapped her arm around his, both skipping off towards the cake, Severus staring after them oddly, then going back to his drink.

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Artimis watched as the majority of her and Draco's family left, being helped at the floo by Vincent and Greggory. She snickered as she moved about the room, realizing that she was the only remaining sober one besides Colin, and Colin was only sober because he was working. Artimis walked over to his table where he sat, scanning the room for more picture moments. She sat down and he smiled at her.

"So Artimis, how does it feel to be tied down?" Colin asked jokingly and she chuckled, shoving his shoulder.

"Good, for once I feel wanted." She replied and then rushed movements out of the corner of her eye made her turn her head. She shook her head, questioning if the fumes from alcohol could make her drunk. Severus was leading, no dragging, Alexis on to the dance floor. Alexis seemed accomplished in something and Artimis was confused as hell. Artimis watched as Severus pulled Alexis to him. Artimis listened a moment, hearing loud System of a Down music and know that Severus could in no way dance to that. She saw him hold Alexis's hand up and then they began moving to a completely different tempo. She thought for a moment as she watched them dance, trying to figure out which dance they were doing. Then as they were dancing to the beat of their own drums, she realized that they were tangoing.

"So, do you think he's gonna dip her?" Colin asked as he lowered his camera from taking a few pictures. Artimis looked at them, figuring they were both drunk and nodded.

"Yeah, he's too drunk not to." She told him and Colin nodded.

"I'm willing to bet he won't." Colin challenged and Artimis rose and eyebrow.

"And I'm willing to bet he does." She replied and he smirked.

"Five Galleons?" Colin asked her and she smiled sweetly.

'Sure, and you owe me an extra five if he drops her." Artimis mocked turning back to watch Severus dance with Alexis. After a moment Artimis watched with glee as Severus dipped Alexis backwards. Then to her greater satisfaction, Alexis got startled and made Severus not only drop her, but fall with her. Artimis held her hand out to Colin as she saw his camera flashing away and then she witnessed Ron rushing forward to 'save' Alexis from the drunk Severus.

"Bottle of Rum; ten galleons. A drunk dance scene with Severus and Alexis; Priceless, Pictures; blackmail." Artimis joked and Colin laughed with her as he got up to go take pictures. Artimis got up as well, feeling a bit stiff and her feet were starting to hurt a bit. She watched as Alexis was practically zoning in on Severus's table. She saw her sit down and she witnessed a conversation ensuing.

Those two, conversing... God they must be drunk... She thought as she walked over there. Severus was explaining to Alexis his fine art of mixing his drink. Artimis stood there a moment listening to them.

Artimis heard Alexis ask him drunkenly with seeming wonder. "You don't add nuthin to it?"

She watched as Severus shook his head to her replying, equally drunk, trying to sound important, which wasn't working on Artimis, but it sure was doing a number on Alexis who seemed amazed. "Nope. Stirring adds all the flavor you need. Trust me."

Artimis couldn't hold in her laughter as she walked over to her table, by her sleeping drunken husband and she sat down, slipping her shoes off. She watched as most of the other people left and Aaron and Hailey drunken walked into their rooms, both of them giving each other warily looks as they went in. Artimis watched as Fred carried George down the stairs, George still singing Men in Black but only his version, which was 'The Sexy Men in Red'. Artimis snickered to herself, wondering if she was this funny when she was drunk. She watched as Ron and Alexis sauntered into her tower and Artimis yawned, wondering if she should go to bed herself. Then she watched as Alexis came back out. She saw Alexis, exclaiming something to Severus about her bottle and Artimis burst into laughter as Alexis passed out in Severus's lap. Artimis started to get up, planning on carrying Alexis into to bed when Severus stood up, picking Alexis up and semi-tossing her over his shoulder and began carrying her to her room. She waited for him to come back out for a few minutes with curiousness, then got up and walked over to Alexis's room, whose doors were open. She went to walk in but stopped, seeing a lump of human in the door. Artimis kneeled down and saw that it was Severus. She snickered, gesturing for Colin to come over and he rushed over, taking a picture. He looked at her and smiled.

"Well Artimis, I'm gonna head home for a bit and develop these, I'll be back in an hour." He spoke and Artimis looked at him amazed.

"How do you stay up with out even growing tired?" She asked and he turned to her with wide eyes.

"Coffee... lots and lots of Coffee." He told her and she nodded, walking back to her table as he flooed home. Artimis watched as Remus crawled over to the stage and talking into the turned off microphone. Artimis walked over and sat in front of the stage, listening to him as he lay on his back looking up at no one.

"Bagels, now those are freaking awesome, with honey. Yeah. You know what, Ron asked Alexis to marry him... Wow... Wish I would have gotten married... Oh well. Though I definitely had a better chance of that then Severus... Man, that guy... How can any sixteen-year-old boy not know what to do with a girl in their arms... Come on that was pathetic... He had to go to Andres for advice... AND not once either... Three times... That's like trice... That's a lot... But me, me I knew how to treat the ladies... And of course that one special lady, but she's gone now, married some other bum too... Damn him..." Remus ranted and Artimis shook her head, getting back up and walking over to her table. She scooted her chair over closer to Draco, who had his arms crossed on the table and was sleeping and she laid her head on his back, closing her eyes briefly. She fell asleep for an hour before Colin came back, startling the sleeping Crabbe and Goyle who were sleeping next to the fireplace. Artimis snickered and laid he head back down, waiting for the dawn.

And The Second part of the Chapter.. Hope you all enjoyed it...
EckoStalker