IT'S CHANGED (SNILY)
CHAPTER 29 This is impossible?!
They both had been standing there for like forever. And nobody knew what the fucking hell they were talking about. They looked like the world was about to end and they both were the only people who knew how to save it. Shane and Selene.
Severus and Charm huffed in annoyance. They had no idea what was going on. They had been looking at them for a long time but nothing came under their comprehension.
Selene held Shane's hand urgently, speaking something too fast. Shane tried to sooth her by saying something slowly and rubbing a hand on her back. She again looked close to the tears of frustration. Shane cupped her face and kissed her gently. Selene again started blabbering something and he went even paler than before and looked away, as if to calm himself. He himself now looked close to tears. And this all was going on in a corner of the Great Hall.
Severus and Charm groaned.
"They are going insane" Charm banged her head on the table.
"Absolutely" Severus agreed.
"Don't you zink zey look worried?" Elias said, frowning.
"Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Elias" Charm banged her head once more.
Elias shook his head, desperately. "No, no, you know ze worried, worried… ze zing you can't zell"
"I still don't get it, Amedee" Severus gave him a tired look.
"Do they think we are not trustworthy enough, to have a share in their problems" Charm leaned on Severus' shoulder, making Elias edge closer to her in jealousy. She smirked internally.
"Their problems?!" Severus turned to her sharply, with wide eyes.
She gasped. "Do you actually think…?"
"I don't know-"
"SLYTHERINS!" Flint shouted, making everyone flinch. The Seventh-year Slytherin prefect. Not even one student existed, who wasn't wary around him and his scowl. He came running from the Hall's door to stand before the Slytherin table.
"RAVENCLAWS!" Sara Chang yelled at the Ravenclaws and stood before their table. The Seventh-Year Ravenclaw prefect and seeker. They all looked at her with a bored look. They didn't like to be disturbed when they were reading.
"HUFFLEPUFFS!" Abbot didn't yell like others, she simply called them out smiling. The Seventh-year Hufflepuff prefect. Well, they all smiled back at her when she come to stand in the front.
"You all know I don't possess the energy to yell… so, Gryffindors!" Remus said pleasantly. Dare someone to make him yell like others. He came and stood in front of the Gryffindor table.
"Would someone tell us what's going on?" Sirius asked.
Flint scowled from the far corner. "I SAID SLYTHERINS, and I believe Solace you are ONE OF THEM" he yelled at Shane and Selene.
Well, Selene was one of the very few people who weren't afraid of him. She shot a stinging hex on his wrist and gracefully took her seat on the table.
"You just attacked a PREFECT" Flint glared at her.
"Yes, I did" Selene said calmly, making Flint huff and face them all again.
Sara Chang narrowed her eyes. She had never like Shane and Selene being together. "Care to come here, Shane. You are Ravenclaw, remember?" she called out in an overly-sweet voice.
Shane gave Selene a look before tiredly walking to his table.
"Now, what?" Smith from the Hufflepuff table asked and all of the prefects looked at each other, as if in a race of who would speak first. But before any of them could, another voice rang the Hall.
"BEAXBATON STUDENTS!" A student with blue robes came running to the Hall. "COME WITH ME, NOW!"
The Beaxbaton students huffed and got up from the Slytherin table to follow their prefect.
Now, again before the Hogwarts prefects could start speaking, another voice cut them.
"DURMSTARNG STUDENTS!" a student in red robes and a warning scowl on their face called out. The students didn't have to be told anything more. They automatically stood up from the Gryffindor table to follow them.
"THE SLYTHERINS HAVE TO ASSEMBLE NOW IN THE COMMON ROOM!" Flint announced as soon as he got the chance and then gave the other prefects a smug look.
The other prefects huffed. "Yeah… the same for you all too, and now" they all muttered.
"NOW, WHAT ARE YOU ALL WAITING FOR!?" Flint yelled, making the entire Great Hall scramble to their feet and follow their prefects.
*Page Break*
Slughorn was waiting up for them in the common room, grinning broadly with excitement.
"Here are my Slytherins!" he said happily, looking at them and then motioning them to take seats. "Now, when everyone's settled, I have an announcement to make…"
A muttering the common room began then before Flint slammed a foot on the floor loudly to quieten them.
"Thank you, Mr. Flint" Slughorn began again. "The Yule Ball is approaching- a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only all-"
The common room broke out into another chatter.
"Now, students, please… this is important" Slughorn requested. "Dress robes will be worn and the ball will be at eight o'clock on Christmas Eve, finishing at midnight in the Great Hall. You all are allowed to meet your families for the half a Christmas and New Year, so, the train will be up at eleven o'clock in the morning the next day for the students who'd like to leave and you'll be boarding on the train to come back on tenth of January at eleven o'clock"
Some of the people giggled and looked around while the others like Severus who had no interest in the ball, looked bored.
"Now, I hope you won't be embarrassing our school in front of them. And to even make sure of it, you'll be getting waltz lessons till then. Ans as my Slytherins have a great association with profanity, please, refrain from it"
Severus pictured Slughorn dancing and just the made him laugh, though he kept a straight face.
"Now, to our champion..." Slughorn pointed at Severus and all the eyes turned to him, while his remained wide.
"Me? Sir?" he asked weakly. He knew he wouldn't like anything that was coming.
Slughorn laughed, wobbling his bid belly. "Nothing bad, Severus. Just that the Hogwarts champion has to represent the school in the ball-"
"But doesn't Potter have to do that… sir. I was anyways going to sign to go home" he lied.
Slughorn shook his head. "This year you are one of the champions and you will represent the school, Severus" he said sternly. "The champions will be opening the ball accompanying their partners-"
"Partners?!" Severus screeched. "Can't we come alone?"
"No, Severus, you need a partner. And what are you worrying about, you'll get many people in the line wanting to go with you" Slughorn chuckled eyeing the people in the common room, who looked at Severus… with desire.
"So, we just need a partner and open the ball and then we are allowed to leave?" he asked hopefully.
"No, Severus… now, get done with the tantrums. You'll also have to dance-"
"Dance?!" he shrieked; eyes wide. The others giggled at him. "No way, I am dancing. I don't even know how to" he argued.
"You are dancing, Severus" Slughorn stated firmly. "It's the tradition and the school are giving lessons for it, so, you'll be fine"
"No" he whined. "Can't I just fall ill"
Slughorn eyed him sternly. "No, Severus. Come here" he gestured him to stand beside him. "You'll learn the dance first"
Severus turned red but hesitantly went up to stand beside his head of house.
"Now, we need one good friend of waltz" Slughorn looked at the others critically. "Ah… how about Mr. Parkinson"
Parkinson coughed with embarrassment. Trust Slughorn to make the situation awkward. He approached Severus. Parkinson was a Pureblood. He obviously knew how to dance properly. And that would only embarrass Severus even further. The others snickered and made teasing noises in the background.
"Now, Parkinson, a hand on Severus' shoulder and Severus, a hand on his waist" Slughorn directed.
Severus and Parkinson kept their hands on each other hesitantly and so, lightly that none could even feel it. The background noises made by the other students were just helping them go red even more.
"Closer, you two" Slughorn demanded.
Severus and Parkinson inched closer and then closed their eyes and turned their heads to the floor to escape embarrassment.
"Now, move, Mr. Parkinson… I know, you could dance"
"I am sorry for the embarrassment, Severus" Parkinson said in a whisper so, that only Severus can listen.
"I believe this is because of me, so, I must apologize" Severus gave back.
"Move that leg, Severus, you can show those juicy calves later" Parkinson teased.
Severus turned red and glared at him. But began moving the leg that he noticed had been stiffly glued to the floor till then. Juicy Calves? He blushed again.
That the most awkward dance Severus had ever done. And he meant it. Ever. He felt drained like hell after the dance was complete. They hadn't even once stepped on one another's feet because they maintained all most the distance of one foot between them.
Then Slughorn asked others to start with any random partners too. He cleared the things from the common room to provide them with some space.
The next partner Severus got was Charm and she was damn better. He sighed in relief. At least not a person who had some day fancied him. Only if he knew.
"So, how was dancing with Parkinson, Mr. Champion?" Charm teased while they adjusted their postures to start dancing.
He sighed dramatically. "Awkward"
She laughed. "You are not such a bad dancer, though, if only not for the toes that are stepping over mine"
"Oh, sorry, this is the first time I am dancing, Charm. And I have no idea how to"
"Well, still you are appropriate"
"Don't say that. Elias already has suspicions" he smiled wickedly.
Charm slapped his shoulder to hide the red blotches that were shinning on her cheeks. Flustered Charm was always interesting. "There's nothing as you think"
"I don't think anything"
"Whatever, Severus"
He laughed.
In another corner Selene was dancing with Andrew Afroze, and were being glared by Bennet Sawyer.
"Don't go too fast, Andrew" Selene asked.
"We are not. It's actually the slowest speed we are on" Afroze frowned.
Selene turned green and paused, closing her eyes.
"Are you alright?" Afroze asked, worriedly.
She nodded, only so slightly. "Yes…"
"Do you think you might want to go to Madam Pomfrey?" he asked.
Selene opened her eyes and faced him sharply. "No!" she said quickly and firmly.
Afroze immediately backed down. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, but-"
"I am fine. Just a little migraine" she muttered. "I apologize I have to-"
The moment she said it, Afroze's face turned pale and he left immediately before she could make any other move. She stood their confused before leaving herself.
*Page Break*
The Ravenclaw common room had the very similar scenario. People awkwardly dancing with one another, stepping on their toes. Though, worry didn't cease here, either.
Shane had his hand on Sara Chang's waist and he could distantly feel her hand on his shoulder. He actually wasn't even present there at that moment. His mind kept wandering somewhere else. And that irked Sara.
"Shane" she kept a hand on his cheek and directed his eyes to hers. "Is something bothering you?"
Shane paled. "No" he looked down.
"Yes, there is something, I know. You'll feel good if you share" she insisted.
"No, there's nothing, Sara, no need to worry" he whispered, trying to assure her.
"You can actually share. I'll keep your confidence"
Shane ran a hand through his hair and took a deep, shaky breath. "I don't know what to say"
Sara kept a hand on his forearm.
"You know… there are sometimes that we make mistakes and we really want to undo them… I am in the very same phase…" he sighed in frustration. "And I am hating this… feeling helpless… when…"
She rubbed his hand. "It'll be fine, someday, Shane"
Shane laughed dryly. "Yes, it will alright, one day… making the situation worse"
"I don't know what you are talking about but I hope it is resolved soon" she hesitated then. "Is this something related to Solace?"
Shane paled further and looked away.
Sara smirked. "I knew she is not worth you… I hope you leave her soon-"
"Worth me?!" Shane practically yelled. "What do you think you are saying?"
"That you both had a nasty fight in which she must be manipulating you again" Sara shrugged and said as if it was all obvious.
"I love her, Sara… and we did not fight" he hissed.
"But she is a Slytherin, she can't be trusted"
Shane narrowed his eyes and left immediately. He couldn't take it anymore.
*Page Break*
After hours of tiredness and dance, he came to place that was found by Shane and Selene at first. The window seat in the Great Hall. It was a quiet and calm place to be and chatter without anyone knowing you are here. He jumped and sat on the space before the huge window.
"Hey, Severus!"
Severus turned his face. Lily, who again called him Severus. He sighed and then feigned a smile. "I am here" he waved at her.
She happily walked to him and took the seat beside him. "Tired?"
Severus sighed exaggeratedly. "That would be an understatement"
Lily tittered. "Me too. So, whom did you danced with?" she added after a little hesitation.
"Don't ask me"
"Tell me"
"Parkinson and Charm"
She laughed. She didn't feel any insecurity from Parkinson. "Parkinson fancied you, didn't he?"
Severus twirled his hands in his lap. "Well, that is what he confessed"
"And what did you say?"
He rolled his eyes. "Well, unfortunately, I am not a gay, Lily. Or else he doesn't seem bad" he wondered aloud.
Lily shook her head, happy for his straightness. "So, you know, champions are going to open the ball?"
Severus sneered, looking at his lap. He was trying to not make any eye contact with her. "I do and it is pathetic. Potter must be representing the school"
"Yes, he is too. But you are also a champion"
"Unfortunately, yes"
They sat in silence for some time before Lily broke it. "So, whom are you going with?"
Severus blinked. He hadn't thought about that, but his desire wasn't so unpredictable. He already knew whom he wanted to. "I-I don't know"
Lily looked away. "Oh…" what could she say? That she wanted to be with him there? Should she ask the question? "You could ask anyone; I know many would agree"
Severus chuckled. "Slughorn said that too"
She shrugged. "How about her?" she pointed to a Durmstrang girl. Well, with a heavenly figure.
"I'll give her a four" he dismissed in no more than a look.
Lily blinked incredulously. That girl would have a line behind her any time and Severus just dismissed her like that. And she herself looked nothing in front of her. What would he give her? A minus eleven? She cleared her throat.
"And she?" this time it was a blonde girl, who could be classified under cute.
Severus didn't even pay any attention. He kept fiddling with a thread of his robes, lost in his own thoughts. "I don't know… five, perhaps"
Lily crossed her arms on her chest and before she could speak, a girl stood in front of them, with light brown hair and blazing green eyes. She smiled at Severus and he straightened. She extended a hand.
"Hi, I am Amanda Channing, from Beauxbatons"
Severus blushed. A girl approached him! "I am Severus Snape" he shook her hand.
She laughed beautifully and tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Of course, I know you. The 'Ogwarts Champion"
"One of the Hogwarts Champions" he corrected, while Lily kept frowning at the interaction. She had seen Severus being a bit distant. Had he actually lost all interest in her? He even blushed! Wasn't that reserved for her?
Amanda gave a knowing look to him. "Ze modest one, aren't you?"
Severus flustered. "Uh… No, it's just- the truth, perhaps… I-I, you know-"
She laughed again and pulled his cheek gently. Lily wanted to slap her hand away. How dare she touched him?! While Severus just flushed further more. "I just wanted to ask a question"
"Y-Yes?" Severus stammered. He didn't know how to respond when a girl approached him.
Amanda smiled, beautifully. "Would you come to the ball with me?"
Severus froze. Damn. "Uh… I-I am sorry… I already have a date" he gave the first thing that came to his mind, which made both Lily and Amanda stare at him for a few seconds before shaking their heads.
Amanda looked between Lily and Severus and the smiled, sweetly. "I see"
Severus' eyes widened. "No… No, no… it's not what you think…"
She laughed and patted his cheek. "It's absolutely fine. Bye" she said and went away.
Severus kept staring in space before lowering his red face to look into his lap. He was so bad. Did he ever lose a chance to embarrass himself?
Lily cleared her throat. "Why didn't you say yes?"
Severus frowned but didn't look at her. "We don't even know each other"
"So, what? You just need someone for a night" she shrugged.
"It sounds bad, when you say it like that, Lils" he called her that before he could even stop himself. He was trying to be distant. Why can't he just leave her alone? Could he stop being so pathetic? Ever?
Lily smiled. "Well, if you say so. But you still need someone"
He shrugged. "I'll get someone till then, perhaps"
"There are just five days left, if you forgot how to count" she teased, that wasn't taken in such a friendly way by him.
He sighed. "I can just fall ill, you know"
"This tension will certainly, make you fall ill" a familiar female voice met their ears. Selene.
"You can't be pressing me over being tense, Selene. Look at yourself" he rolled his eyes.
Her face paled dramatically, and just then Shane came to the view too. He also pale and… sick. Though, he smiled. How could he always?
He waved his wand and conjured two chairs for themselves.
"Hey, guys, no one invited us" Austin and Charm came too.
Shane waved his wand again for them to sit.
"You are always invited" Selene rolled her eyes.
"Of course" Charm grinned. "Severus danced with Parkinson" she said hastily.
Severus groaned. "What's up with you?! I hate you, Charm"
She just shrugged.
Austin and Shane smirked at him. "Wasn't that cool?" Shane winked.
"Can't be cooler than dancing with Sara Chang" Charm said innocently and then quickly started examining her nails.
"From where do you get to know all this" Shane asked her bemusedly.
"I have my sources" she said cheekily.
"You are ditching me!" Selene whispered brokenly to him.
Shane paled. "NO. I just had the waltz-"
"You can't do that, Shane" tears dripped down Selene's face all of a sudden. "I trusted you. Loved you!"
The others just looked bewildered at both of them. She must know it was just a joke. Why was she behaving so weirdly? Even crying? Had someone Polyjuiced Selene?
While Shane shook his head tiredly and desperately. He kept his hands on her shoulders and she shoved them away. "Don't touch me!" she shrieked and that got the others to mostly believe that she wasn't Selene.
Shane took his hands back, calmly and cleared his throat. "Listen to me, Selene. You know-"
"I thought I knew you, but apparently I don't" she hid her face in her hands.
"You are distressing yourself for no reason" Shane said tiredly.
"How do you care?!" she sobbed.
"Selene…" Charm tried but stopped when Shane showed her a hand.
He waved his wand around her and Selene calmed immediately. She took a deep breath and hung her head back. Then she turned to Shane and hugged him. "I am sorry"
"It's fine" he smiled back.
Severus took his wand out and pointed it on her. "Selene" he called and she turned. "I know you are not her"
Selene chuckled. "I am Selene Solace"
"Proof?" he narrowed his eyes.
"We sneaked in Slughorn's private stores at around four o' clock in the morning to get the Octopus powder for strengthening the shampoo for your use. This is something only we knew until now" she winked.
He flushed and lowered his wand. "Then what's wrong with you? You have been behaving weird"
Selene looked at Shane and both of them sighed.
"Something is wrong and that is clear so, don't deny it" Austin warned.
Lily gasped. "You both… tell me it's a lie- you can't be…"
"We are not sure, Lily" Shane whispered.
Charm stood up and looked at Selene with an open mouth. "You are…?"
"We don't know, Charm!" Selene said under frustration.
"I thought it could be but… then I thought you both would be sensible enough to take precautions" Severus whispered.
Both Shane and Selene flushed red. At least some color returned to their faces. "Severus, thing happen that are not under your control" Selene hissed, turning bright red.
Severus almost laughed at their misery. "I agree, but still…"
"We regret it too, Severus" Shane said.
"Just say it once to make it seem more realistic" Austin pronounced.
"They are pregnant" Severus shrugged gaining hisses from Shane and Selene, and chuckles from the other.
"And would be an uncle, Severus" Shane smiled exaggeratedly.
He turned red. "Uncle?!" he choked. "Wow… that would be great, wouldn't it?"
That turned the grin off Shane's face and the others laughed except for Selene who glared at them.
"You both are going to be mother and father and are still in school" Charm grabbed her hair. "Amazingly crazy"
"We are not sure, Charm!" Selene was already again in tears, and that shut Charm up.
"Yes, the mood swings are quite intense" Shane voiced.
Severus eyes narrowed. "And you used a calming spell on her?"
Shane looked uncomfortable. "Well, she was distressing herself… What else was I supposed to do?"
Selene groaned. "I have no control over my emotions. I apologize for being such an idiot. You can use the spell whenever you deem fit, Shane"
"NO! It's not good for the baby…" he trailed off, getting redder.
"Oh, hell, hearing this is weird" Lily said.
"Only if you were a little more considerate, it wouldn't have happened" Selene glared on Shane.
"Only if you weren't so fast" he countered back.
"Only if you kept one with you all the time, you wouldn't need to run to your dorm"
"Only if you don't get moods any time"
"So, now, that's my mistake. You could have said no"
"How could I say no to you?!"
"So, how could my mood not be when you start boiling the situation up"
"You were the one to get everything heated!"
"So, now, that's me?! Again?"
Shane sighed. "I love you"
Selene kissed him. "I love you too"
The others gave them a very weird look. One moment they are shouting on each other and outing everything that happened, and the other moment they are kissing each other's lips off. Had they absolutely lost any sense? Or was this how soon-to-be-parents behaved?
"Have they both lost their heads?" Charm whispered.
"Pregnancy side-effects" Severus said back.
"You and Marlene are safe, aren't you, Austin?" Lily asked.
Austin turned red. "Obviously. What do you think?" he dismissed.
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, Lily. We both are still virgins" he reddened even further.
"Oh…Good"
"Don't lose it before seventeen or while in school" Severus stated.
"Don't tell me a Slytherin is still a virgin" Austin teased Severus and Charm.
They blinked for a second before blushing. "I am…" they mumbled.
Lily and Austin laughed, though, hers was a very relieved one. She wanted to be the first.
"Are you both done?" Charm said aloud.
Shane and Selene instantly pulled apart, out of breath.
"Sorry…" they mumbled.
"So, are you going to Madam Pomfrey?" Severus asked.
"Have you lost your head? First let us be certain, at least" Selene slapped his knee.
"AAA… Is your hand turning of iron of something?" he nursed his knee.
Selene examined her hand and then shrugged.
"That aside, I believe you must go to Madam Pomfrey" he suggested.
"We will after we are certain" Shane said.
"So, what are you doing to be certain? You wouldn't get the muggle pregnancy-check kit here" Lily said.
"No, we are making a potion" Shane told them.
"A potion!" Severus jumped. "Can I make it? Please?"
"Severus, we have already made it. It only needs time for simmering and then it would be ready" Shane quirked his lips.
Severus slumped back. "I wanted to make it, but fine, I'll make it next time"
Charm's eyes widened. "Next time?!"
Severus smirked. "Yes… you are left and Austin…"
They hissed at him and he laughed.
"So, how long would it take?" Austin asked. "I need to know if I am becoming an uncle or not"
Shane rolled his eyes. "Until New Year, perhaps"
"Not very long then" he huffed. "Fine! It's a long wait"
"After, that nine months" Charm yawned.
"Shut up, Charm!" Selene reddened.
*Page Break*
James sat in the common room, with his head laid on the couch arm side ways and his hands fiddling with his front of the robes and staring at the fire.
The Yule Ball wasn't so, far away. He had to ask someone out because he was sick of saying no to everyone he met while walking anywhere. There were just so many people who wanted to go with him, but only one with whom he would like to with. He just couldn't make out who the one was.
He sighed and sat up straight. What could he apparently do? He had to find it tomorrow. Yes. That was correct. But how?
That is when the help comes.
"Hey, mate" Sirius propped down on the couch beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"Hi, Padfoot" James said tiredly.
Sirius frowned. "Now, what? We even had the Treacle Tart for dessert"
He chuckled. "Yes, it was delicious but I have more pressing matters on my head, now"
Sirius huffed. "And what would that be?"
James opened his mouth and then closed it. How to say it? He opened his mouth once more. "I need to know, whom I am going to the ball with"
Sirius laughed. "Pick anyone… Isn't there just too many people in line, though Severus must be giving you a hard competition"
James knew that was true. In both the senses, which Sirius meant and the one he didn't mean. "You know I am not talking about picking someone up like that"
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Then just get the answer by what is the ultimate question"
James' eyes widened. "You can't be serious"
"Oh, well, that I am" Sirius laughed.
