Author's Note: This is a bit of a fluffy chapter, I need certain things to happen and I need to take this chapter to do it. So for those of you who are fond of action, you're not going to get it here, at least this chapter. Sorry it's so short!

Chapter 13: The Masquerade

Buffy was substantially better by the time the next week rolled around. She had made Minerva promise to go shopping with her in Diagon Alley on the weekend. The older woman was stubbornly refusing to tell her the name of her date for the masquerade. Buffy knew she had one because she blushed every time someone asked her about it.

Meanwhile, DADA was going quite well. The end of the Aphraxus potion meant that the Slayer could no longer do the stunning acrobatics of two weeks ago, but her temperament was much improved. The blonde always had a smile gracing her face. The ebony cane was long gone and Anduthoniel was back. Buffy had found it very useful in the Forbidden Forest on patrol.

Severus had been very reluctant to let her go back out into the Forbidden Forest, but she was adamant. She was a grown woman and perfectly capable of making her own decisions. So far, in four nights of patrolling, Buffy had managed to avoid any injuries that would prove Sev's point. Remus periodically accompanied her; his werewolf side had heightened senses that reveled in the freedom of the fight.

Friday evening rolled around and Buffy was getting ready to head to Diagon Alley with Minerva, Poppy, and Sybil. She was not looking forward to spending any more time with Sybil that necessary. The Divination professor had not found a date for the sixth ball in a row, so she would be very loud. Poppy's husband was coming in from St. Mungo's, where he was a magical pathologist. Neither Buffy nor Minerva would disclose the identity of their dates. However, they all assumed that Buffy would go with Severus.

They all met near Dumbledore's office and used his Floo to get to Diagon Alley. The first stop was Madam Branwen's Costumes for Every Occasion. Buffy disappeared into the Muggle section. She was determined to find the perfect costumes. Two hours later, the three older women were ready with their purchases and had yet to see Buffy emerge from the Muggle costumes. Finally, she came out, dressed in a stunning blue dress. "You're Athena Adenbrau's muggle version!" Poppy cried out. She had watched the movie in her younger years, when her husband had been going through his "muggle phase."

Minerva agreed, "Oh it's perfect."

"Oh no! The spinning wheel!" shrieked Sybil, "You're going to be hurt and go into a deep sleep-"

"Can it, Sybil," Buffy growled, "That's the plot of Sleeping Beauty, you twit." The spectacled woman blinked several times and her jaw moved up and down. She did a fabulous impression of a fish out of water. Then she just sulked.

Within five minutes, the small blond girl had bought two costumes, but she wouldn't let them see the other one. "I can just say that you will be surprised," she hinted.

The next day had a Quidditch game. It would be the first one that Buffy had attended while on good terms with both Remus and Severus. However, it was also Slytherin versus Gryffindor. So she was on the ground helping coach the Gryffindors while Sev was on the other side of the field with the Slytherins.

Ultimately, it was a rather uneventful game. Buffy's work with Ron and Harry had paid off. Ron didn't let one goal through his hoops while the Boy-Who-Lived was the fastest he had ever been. Draco didn't stand a chance against him. "Hey Potter, you think you're better than everyone now?" the peroxide blond boy hissed.

Harry spun around and told him, "No, I know I'm not nearly as good as half of the people on this pitch. I'm honest; Professor Summers is the best player anyone here has ever seen. Professor Snape gives her a test and would slaughter me. Ron is the best Keeper I've ever seen and getting better every day. However, anyone here could beat you with your attitude. Try practicing instead of talking."

Everyone clapped. Buffy didn't join in the clapping, but she smiled. Severus did not clap either; it would have been inappropriate. Harry could see the pride in his eyes. The Potions Master had gotten slightly fonder of him over the past few weeks, especially after Buffy's accident at the beginning of the year.

That evening, Buffy locked herself in the bathroom to get ready and told Severus to go the dungeons to use the loo if he needed it. Severus ended up spending a long time on his hair as well. He heard the children calling his hair greasy, and he wanted it to appear nice tonight. It just might help him disguise himself as Prince Phillip.

Buffy emerged from the bathroom swathed in the blue dress. It fit her perfectly. A simple golden cross adorned her neck and her hair was down in waves. She really did look like Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Severus was in awe. So was his date. His hair didn't look the least bit greasy, it looked soft and shiny. The costume fit him quite well. Together, they made quite a pair. A thin wooden cane accompanied Buffy, so she was not disguised in the least.

When the two came gliding into the Great Hall, several students stopped and stared. Many of the girls were wondering who was the handsome man that Professor Summers was latched onto? For the first half hour of the dance, Buffy and Severus danced on the floor. They seemed unaware of everyone around them. Of course, they weren't, Buffy was whispering what she heard other students saying as they danced. They laughed at some of the comments together.

Finally, Dumbledore waded through the crowd and whispered, "Buffy, it's your turn to act as chaperone. Just keep an eye out."

That was the end of their dancing. They moved over to the punch table to get some refreshments and then stood near Poppy and her husband. After several looks, the Mediwitch figured it out. She paled and nearly fainted when Severus asked her, "Do you think I have a chance with Aurora here?"

Then she finally managed to say, "I think you have her, Severus." She was very, very quiet about it.

The night seemed to last forever. Severus spotted two Seventh-Years nearly screwing right on the dance floor. The girl was dressed in little more than fishnets, boyshorts, and a halter top. She obviously meant it to appear that she was a mouse. Her date was costumed as a cat, meaning that he had a set of kitty ears perched on his head. His hands had moved the black top up nearly over her breasts. "That's absolutely inappropriate," he sputtered and made a move to go over and speak to the couple.

Buffy put and hand on his arm and said, "Sev, wait a second. Let me do it." Something about the evil twinkle in her eye told him that it was better to let her do it.

"Sleeping Beauty" gracefully floated into the middle of the dance and reached the happy couple. "Annabelle, you might want to hold off on that until after you leave the dance. In fact, you will have to. Payne, please get your hands out from under your date's shirt," she whispered. Then she turned and winked at Poppy, who smiled and waved her wand and said a scant few incantations under her breath. Annabelle and Payne were suddenly in furry cat and mouse costumes. "Those will disappear at 2am. Have a nice dance, dears."

Buffy returned to Severus, who said, "I think our time as chaperones is up, at least for now." He dragged her out onto the dance floor. The raven-haired potions master was more aggressive as he danced than before. "I think Payne may have had the right idea," he whispered in her ear.

"You'll just have to wait a while, Sev," the little blonde muttered, her face blushing furiously.

Two hours later, as the clock struck one o'clock, Dumbledore's voice rumbled, "Good night all, festive Halloween! Reveal yourselves and kiss your dates!"

Buffy removed Severus's mask and smiled at the sight of his face. No one was paying any attention, they were preoccupied with kissing their dates. What started out as a chaste kiss between the two professors soon moved into one of the most thorough kisses that Buffy had ever received. It seemed like it would never end, and they didn't want it too.

Then they heard Dumbledore clear his throat. They broke the kiss to look around. Everyone was staring at them in awe. "Professor Summers and Snape???" many voices said.

One older voice managed, "Severus and Buffy!!??" It was Xander. He was standing there with his girlfriend, Ariana. Xander was wearing a very fine tuxedo as James Bond. Ariana was dressed as a Bond girl, though it could have been any one of them. She was looking very nice and had drawn stares from all of the men.

"Alexander Harris, get you rear over year and introduce me to your girlfriend," Buffy screeched, momentarily forgetting her own embarrassment.

It was Xander's turn to be embarrassed. He brought Ariana forward. She was a shy girl. "Ariana, I'd like you to meet my best friend, Buffy Summers," he said. "Buffy this is Ariana."

"It's nice to meet you, Ariana," the smaller girl said pleasantly.

Ariana smiled and told her, "Same here, I've heard so much about you from Xander."

"Why can all I manage to do is blush today?" Buffy ranted momentarily. Then she looked around and blushed even more. "Come on, Sev, we're leaving. It was wonderful meeting you."

And that was how Buffy left a stunned school. Who would have thought, the greasy Potions Master and one of the prettiest professors to come through Hogwarts in ages?