A/N: SO THIS IS TOTALLY MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CHAPTER SO FAR! HOT, STEAMY! WOO HOO! I think you'll definitely enjoy if you're cheering on the same side I am! It was fun to write & I hope you have fun reading it! The pace is going to pick up dramatically after this. I felt it was onlyright to give this the proper run up - things w/ Snape don't just "poof" happen. It always takes time... SO - I don't wanna give anything away - but PLEASE, I BEG YOU PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE REVIEW THIS CHAPTER! Even if you haven't reviewed any of the rest! PLEASE review! I got a creative wave & I rode it out here tonight - Staying up WAY past bedtime & I've got school tomorrow in the a.m. - so PLEASE, indulge me!


Chapter 21

The door swung open and they were greeted by a young woman, dressed in a maid's attire that smiled and said, "Good evening! Please come in." she swept her arm in front of her, encouraging them to enter.

Snape put his hand on the small of her back and pushed her inside. Lexie tried to muster up a smile, but found it difficult now that she was here. This was it. She was inside a Death Eater gathering. It hit her then; Snape was a Death Eater… at least they thought so. Sophie's face came swimming back to the front of her mind and Lexie found it difficult to rid herself of that face and what she would say about her not reporting in for nearly a month. She felt sick. The weight of what she was doing, suddenly and vividly on her shoulders.

"Names… get names and faces" Lexie told herself as she watched Snape shrug off his cloak and hand it to the girl. He replaced his hand on her back and she flinched. Suddenly aware of the fact that she was developing deep, if nothing else, sexual feelings for this potentially evil man. What would happen if he turned out to really be one of them? For that was certainly the way it seemed right now. He looked completely at ease inside the Malfoy house.

Her flinch did not go unnoticed; nor did any of her other movements or facial expressions. He could almost feel her, suddenly and unexpectedly pulling away from him. A fresh wave of irritation washed over him. This was not the time to be in a bad mood with him. It was important that they remained on the same team, at least for the duration of their stay.

He led her through the foyer. There was a sweeping, long, white, marble stair case to their left. The cathedral ceiling was white, like the outside of the house and from it hung a glistening, crystal chandelier which glowed pale yellow candlelight. They passed through a doorway, and then veered off to the left and into a set of double doors.

It was as though Lexie had just walked into a fairy tale… Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast… or even Phantom of the Opera. It was a large, open ballroom. Shining, rich, hardwood floors, full length French windows, candles and several small chandeliers for lighting. It was even more beautiful than the front of the house.

The guests were mostly wearing masks; the ceremonial, white masks with the hollow eyeholes, notoriously belonging to the Death Eaters; their trademark. Most of those wearing masks were men. The women wore dresses of black and white (as it was a 'black and white' ball). They were some of the loveliest women Lexie had ever laid eyes on. They were pale-skinned and delicate looking, like porcelain. Their dressed flowed out and twirled around them gracefully as their partners guided them around the ballroom to a beautiful waltz, played by a small orchestra in one corner.

She felt a hand touch her chin, gently. Then she felt Snape's lips brush her jaw. He pushed her jaw upwards sand said, "You dropped this." meaning her jaw. She said nothing, but allowed him to lead her inside the room.

"Take my arm." he commanded, under his breath, and she obeyed.

They made their way through the party, Snape occasionally nodding so another Death Eater or saying a polite, but curt "Good evening."

In another corner of the room was a small, oak bar with a black marble surface. A bartender, dressed in white was wiping out the inside of a cocktail glass and making a small squeaking noise. Snape stopped in front of a blonde man. He was not wearing a mask, though she could not see his face. He and Snape were the only men in the room who dared not sport the skeletal masks. Lexie wondered what gave Snape the license to go without the mask… then again, what gave Snape the license to do half of the things he did. The world may never know.

"Lucius." Snape greeted the back of the blonde man's head. He turned to face them and Lexie again, was breathless. This was potentially the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. His platinum blond hair cascaded down over his shoulders, like Fabio, the American male model. His jaw was strong and set jauntily. He smiled at Lexie and Snape. He had perfect, straight, white teeth and stumbling blue eyes that enthralled Lexie to the point of not being able to look away.

"Severus!" Lucius Malfoy said jovially, extending a hand. Snape took it warily, shook it once, then let it drop.

"I'm so glad you made it!" Malfoy gushed, never taking his eyes away from Lexie. "And who do we have here?" he asked, his voice taking a new, seductive, velvety tone that made Lexie blush.

Snape was just about to do the introductions when Malfoy spoke again, "Is this who I think it is?" he glanced from Lexie to Snape, then back again. "Could it be our newest edition?" he asked, reaching out and taking Lexie's hand instead.

"Lucius, this is Alexandra Bane. And yes, she is indeed the one I have selected to train to become one of us." He said dryly.

But half of what he'd said was wasted and fell on deaf ears. For Malfoy was no longer listening to him. He was busy becoming instantaneously enthralled with Lexie.

"Well well…" he said, reaching over and taking Lexie's hand in his. His hands were soft and warm. His fingers were perfectly manicured. He brought Lexie's hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. His lips were like his hands, soft and warm.

Lexie felt herself flushing a deeper shade of red.

"I must say… it is a pleasure to finally meet you." He said, letting his eyes stray from Lexie's over to Snape to throw him a contemptuous glance. It was possible that he felt that this meeting was taking place much later than it should have.

"The pleasure's mine Mr. Malfoy." Lexie greeted him cordially, finding her voice miraculously.

"Lucius, please." Malfoy said simply.

Snape, felt something like hot water bubbling up in his chest as he watched the banter going on between Lexie and his colleague, Malfoy. Not knowing what would happen if he was forced to watch any more of this disgusting charade, he intervened.

"That's enough Malfoy." He said, his voice turning cold and reminding Lexie suddenly to his presence.

"Yes, I should think so." said a cold, female voice from behind Malfoy.

A ghastly pale woman, with white blonde hair and icy blue eyes had appeared behind him. She looked angry… nay, pissed off.

"Ah." Malfoy said shortly, giving Lexie the impression that he was bothered by her sudden appearance which interrupted his little game with Lexie. "Let me introduce my lovely wife." He said, sounding more annoyed than ever. Lexie found it intriguing that he could speak a sneer into a word without anyone actually picking up on it. "Narcissa Malfoy… this is our newest Death Eater recruit… Alexandra Bane."

Lexie felt her stomach drop a little. Great. Now she'd pissed off Malfoy's wife before they'd even been properly introduced.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Malfoy." She said, suddenly feeling quite thirsty and nervous.

"Indeed." She said shortly, ignoring Lexie's outstretched hand.

"Lucius, dear… would you be kind enough to get me a glass of champagne?" she said, her arm slithering through his lovingly.

"Of course my pet." He said smiling in a twisted sort of way. "Could I interest either of you in a drink?" he asked, looking between Snape and Lexie.

"No thank you." Snape said curtly, his eyes roaming the room.

"For you Alexandra?" he asked, locking eyes with her again. "Champagne for you as well?" he offered.

"That would be perfect. Thank you." She breathed.

He nodded, and then turned around to speak to the barkeep.

The remaining three stood in relative silence.

She was vaguely aware of Snape's calculating eyes on her again. She knew he was trying to catch her eye, probably to scold her for drinking. But she evaded those dark pools by looking around the room.

"So you're the newest Death Eater recruit…" Narcissa said, her arms crossed over her chest. Her hair was swept back into a tight, neat, elegant bun. She was dressed, contrary to Lexie, in a white gown, which clung to her body down to her knees at which point it flared out into a long train.

Lexie nodded. She wasn't sure that calling Mrs. Malfoy, ma'am was wise, for it certainly did draw attention to the fact that she was years younger than she was. It was a term of respect for one's elders. So she settled for, "Yes."

"Well, then you'll be working in close contact with my husband."

Lexie fidgeted nervously.

"And who will be doing your training?" she asked critically. Lexie figured she probably suspected her husband might have something to do with it… and she wasn't exactly happy about it.

"I will." Snape piped up.

"Very well." Narcissa said coldly. "And Severus is your Professor?" she asked, sharply, not bothering to look at Snape.

"That's right." Lexie replied, growing increasingly more uncomfortable at this line of questioning.

It was a relief when Lucius chose that particular moment to return with two glasses of champagne which he gave to the women. Lexie accepted hers gratefully and instantly took a long swig of it. The bubbles tickled her nose and she wrinkled it up. She did love champagne.

The foursome stood in silence, the women sipping their champagne. A few moments later, Malfoy spoke. "Well, you two will have to excuse me. Because there's nothing I'd like more than a dance with one of the most beautiful women in the room." He said, extending his hand to his wife, who surveyed it for a moment before accepting. She set her glass down and took his hand. "Enjoy yourselves. And do drink the champagne." He said, smiling broadly as he led his wife away from Lexie and Snape.

Lexie set her empty glass down on the bar. A split second later, a waiter, carrying a tray of full glasses of champagne came past and Lexie snatched one of the tray so quickly that he didn't even have to stop.

"Drinking?" Snape asked at the first opportunity.

Lexie swallowed before bothering to reply. "Looks that way." She said, scanning the room. It was no good; she couldn't recognize anyone in these blasted masks. Even if she could describe one of them, it wouldn't matter. She had no names to go with the masked faces.

"Do you think that wise?" he asked turning to face her.

Lexie shrugged. "I'm nervous. What do you want me to say?"

"I think it would be prudent… for you to keep your wits about you this evening."

"Right. I'll keep that in mind." Lexie mumbled, burying her face in her glass again.

She heard Snape's sniff of disapproval. But she didn't care. She was working. Working on a job that he knew nothing about. She wasn't about to let him boss her around right now.

They stood there beside the bar for some time. Lexie was enjoying the music immensely. And the dancing… she realized how much of a lost art it was. No one in her generation knew how to really dance anymore. Slow dancing usually consisted of dry humping to a boy band's attempt at a love song at a school dance. This was real music, and real dancing. The kind that one learned through several lessons and plenty of practice.

After her fourth glass of champagne, she was feeling pensive and comfortable. She was just contemplating the idea of making her way over to a group of nearby men to chat them up for information when Malfoy and his wife twirled over to them and stopped.

"Do come have a dance with us." Lucius said to them while Narcissa sulked.

"I don't think so Malfoy." Snape said shortly.

"Oh come now Severus!" Malfoy urged. "One dance. Just for the sake of appeasing your host!"

Snape appeared to be chewing his tongue, biting back his dislike of the idea.

Lexie watched him, and then her eyes darted to the dance floor. Nearly everyone in the room was dancing and chatting with each other. Perhaps if they got out there, she could strike up a conversation with a couple next to them… and if she was lucky, get something useful out of them.

"Oh, please Professor? Let's have just one dance." She said, putting on her best pouty face… which, she wasn't sure was the most intelligent way to get him to do as she asked, but she did anyway.

He huffed a sigh. Lexie gathered up the front of his vest by the flaps and drew herself up to him. He looked down at her, scowling despite himself.

"Please?" she whispered. When she still received no response… "Just to keep up appearances?" she pleaded, "One twirl around the dance floor to appease everyone?" she whispered up to him, repeating his exact words he'd said to her a few days prior.

His eyebrows contracted instantly at hearing his own words used against him. He knew he couldn't refuse. "Very well."

"Yay!" she said in a childlike way, trying to hold true to her 17-year-old front.

She took his arm and he lead her to the dance floor, to both her delight, Lucius' and Narcissa's… Lexie had half a mind to believe that her delight was simply due to the fact that she, Lexie was dancing with Snape rather than her husband.

Snape put his right hand on her hip, took her right hand in his and picked up the slow waltz as though he'd been dancing it all night.

To say that Lexie was impressed was a huge understatement. Snape moved even more gracefully on the dance floor than he did whilst gliding across his dungeon classroom. It was as though he was floating rather than dancing. Lexie took the first few minutes of the song to silently marvel at this.

"You're a wonderful dancer." She said finally, as he was not speaking.

"Hm..." was his reply.

"Really." She insisted. "Where did you learn?" she asked curiously.

"One of the benefits of a classical education…" he answered in a deep voice as he took a moment to look down at her.

Lexie laughed openly. Lately, she'd felt Snape's company becoming comforting and safe. Earlier in the evening, she'd been nervous with him… after her fresh reminder of what he could potentially be. But now, after several glasses of champagne, she felt completely at east with him again. It was as though they hadn't missed a beat. Her objectives seemed to slip away from her when they were together. In fact everything seemed to slip away when they were together… the whole world.

No one was close enough to them for her to get a good look at them, much less speak to them, so she continued talking to Snape.

"This is the most beautiful party I've ever been to." she said honestly. "It's no surprise that you have such good numbers within the organization." She said, referring to the Death Eaters.

"You think this a lifestyle you could get used to?" he asked, twirling them around again.

"Well… I can certainly see the attraction." Lexie replied. "Who wouldn't want a life like this?" She added, gauging his reaction.

He sniffed. She imagined that was his way of expressing amusement at something without going so far as to laugh.

"Why did you join?"

"Excuse me?" he asked, rather taken aback.

"What made you decide to join the Death Eaters?" she asked again.

"I do not think this is the appropriate place, or time to discuss that matter." He said quietly.

"When, then?" she asked, smiling coyly.

Snape raised an eyebrow to her. Something else that he did often. "Someday." He said vaguely.

"But you will tell me?" she said suspiciously.

The corner of his mouth twitched, a smile was threatening. "Perhaps when I feel as though I can trust you."

"You don't trust me!" Lexie blurted out, tripping over his feet which never stopped moving.

He dragged her up and back into the rhythm saying, "Should I?" skeptically, eyeing her harshly.

Lexie smiled back at him and shrugged. "Fair enough." She agreed. And she contented herself in leaning into him as the room began to grow distant and foggy. She was getting dizzy. Too much spinning. She took a firm grip on his hand and pulled it down to her waist before wrapping her hands around his, and burying her face in his chest.

He humored her for a few minutes. He slowed the pace down and simply danced on the spot. For the first time ever, a woman was dancing with him. Really dancing with him. Not just for looks. They were no longer simply 'keeping up appearances' or 'appeasing their hosts'. It was nice to feel a woman in his arms again. It had been so long…

Snape had been right. She'd had too much to drink. However, she was content in her champagne euphoria. But she was tired of dancing. No, she thought, she didn't want to dance anymore. She pulled away from Snape and took his hand in hers, dragging him off the dance floor to stand near the doorway where a cool draft from the hallway was flowing in.

Snape noted that her face was flushing. Perhaps it was from too much alcohol; perhaps it was from the dancing. He allowed her to tow him over to the door. He leaned against the wall, and was surprised, pleasantly when she leaned back against his chest. He brought his hands to rest on her hips, ever so gently.

Lexie sighed deeply and relaxed against him, letting her eyes drift half shut. The music was like a lullaby and she was so very tired. And tipsy. The waiter strode past again with his tray and her arm suddenly shot out and caught another glass.

Something in her head was telling her that this was a bad idea… but she was having such a good time. But she was working… but she wasn't really working… and she was having such a good time! The argument went on… it was suddenly interrupted by Snape whispering in her ear.

"I don't think you should have any more to drink."

"Oh, but why?" she pouted, sipping the golden, bubbly liquid anyway.

"I don't like it when you drink." He explained.

"Sure you do." She said, feeling suddenly brave, and even a little sexy. She turned around to face him. "I'm a lot more fun when I drink."

"You… are not old enough to drink." He reminded her.

"Right…" she said, draining the glass and setting it down on a nearby railing. "OK, fine… have it your way. No more."

"Well, good. I'm glad you've decided to listen to me just as we're about to leave." He said smugly.

"We're leaving?" she asked.

"Yes, as soon as I can catch Malfoy to tell him."

"What time is it?" Lexie wondered aloud.

"Nearly midnight." He replied, removing her from himself. Malfoy was coming over.

"Lucius… thank you for this evening. We are about to leave."

"Oh…" Lucius pouted. "So soon? The night is young!" he said enthusiastically. "There are still festivities yet to begin!" he said, with a sadistic sort of twinkle in his blue eyes that gave Lexie the creeps.

"I am afraid so." Snape replied, shaking his hand. "I happen to know that there is Potions homework that my student here," he gestured to Lexie, "has yet to complete."

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy… you have such a lovely home, and it was a wonderful party!" Lexie gushed.

"Lucius." He told her again.

"Lucius." She repeated.

He reached out and took her hand to kiss it goodbye. She heard Snape's sniff. "Yikes!" she thought, "What's that about?" she wondered.

"Do be careful when you leave. Have a safe trip back. And I'll be seeing you again, very soon Alexandra. I look forward to working in much closer contact with you." He said dramatically.

Lexie smiled and let Snape steer her out into the hallway.

Damn, it was going to be bloody cold outside with no cloak. Hopefully the alcohol she had in her would act as her cloak and keep her warm. But somehow, she doubted it.

The same girl was hovering in the foyer, holding Snape's cloak. He accepted it and pushed the door open, cloak draping over his forearm. They stepped out into the cold and Lexie was instantly doused in cold air. She shivered from head to toe.

But then she felt a swish and warm silky fabric came down on her shoulders and back. Snape was standing behind her, adjusting his cloak over her. He smiled wryly when she caught his eye. She must've looked stunned, for that was certainly how she felt.

"Your need is greater than mine." He said flatly.

She was about to thank him when he put his arm behind her and guided her off the porch and down the long drive.

Once they were outside the perimeter, Snape, again took her in his arms, held her tightly and apparated.

The only difference in this apparition was that once they'd arrived outside of Hogwarts, Lexie didn't let go.

He looked at her quizzically.

"Thank you for tonight." She said softly staring up at him. Merlin! But she loved those coal black eyes. In the moonlight they looked even sexier than they did in his dungeon classroom.

"Was it everything you'd hoped for?" he asked, likewise keeping his grip on her hips.

"And then some." She said sweetly.

She moved her hands, bravely, to slink around his neck.

"Miss Bane…" he said with a bit of scolding in his tone.

"Shh…" she hushed him. "Just let me do this." She said putting her hands behind his neck. She pulled gently, urging him closer. And he obliged her. She stood on her tiptoes, heart racing, threatening to explode in her chest with excitement… and kissed him. As he was supposed to be her Professor, she kept it professional. She let her lips brush his gently and for no more than three seconds before pulling back.

When she opened her eyes, he was looking at her strangely. Was he going to be angry?

"That's it?" he asked, blindsiding her with his reaction.

Lexie opened her mouth several times, but nothing came out.

"Let me." He offered, descending on her, his mouth connecting with hers in a deeper, more passionate kiss.

Lexie's stomach was furiously tying itself in knots. She felt as though she were floating six inches above the ground. She parted her lips slightly and let his tongue invade her mouth. But only for a second. He let his lips brush hers twice more and then pulled away.

His forehead remained touching hers. "Remember who is the teacher… and who is the student Miss Bane." He said in a sultry, sexy, velvety voice.