Ron ran after his girlfriend, who headed for the stairs. "Hermione, wait!" She didn't answer as she rounded the corner and took the next set of stairs up to the second floor.

But Ron was faster, a resault of all quidditch practise. He ran up to her and wraped a strong arm around his girlfriends waist and dragged her into a classroom. The room was dusty, and he guessed that it was rarely used this days. He locked the door an turned to Hermione.

"Whats the matter with you?" he asked and sat down on a dusty chair.

She hadn't said a thing after the conversation in the Great Hall, and was now staring out through the window, not even sparing him a glance.

"You know what, I'm guess I am tired of this." She stated. Not turning around to meet his gaize. "I'm tired of her always being the one everyone is looking at, tired of standing in the bloody shaddows all the time."

Ron frowned. "What do you mean Herm? You are good in class, everyone thinks you are a fun girl..."

"Oh, please Ron, open your eyes!" she snapped at him turning around. "She is the hero of the wizarding world, everyone thinks she some sort of god or saint. She is good looking, maybe she dress like a begger, but she is beautiful, you can't deny that. She is friendly to everyone and everything, always trust everyone to easily. But the worst of it, happened tonight. She stepped through those doors, looking like a dream, and looked for Malfoy! I can't believe she did that to me! To us! She knows how he has treated me all this years, and she went to the ball with that scum! And she didn't even tell me!" she screamed the last sentence, and Ron was taken aback by her words.

"Mione, what are you talking about? I thought you were her friend."

Hermione glared. "Yes, I am her friend Ron, or I was anyway, now I don't know."

Ron started to get angry. "If you knew all that I know about her you wouldn't say these things.." he trailed of.

Shit.

"What things Ron?" Hermione stared at him with a suprised expression on her face. Ron shook his head. "Never mind Hermione, forget I said that." His cheeks became a shade of red and he felt so stupid.

Tess had told him about the abuse she had suffered from the hands of her relatives, and he had promised not to tell a soul, and here he was, nearly breaking the promise, and he knew that if he did, she would never trust him again, or so he thought anyway.

"Ronald Weasley, what do you know that I don't! If you don't tell me you will be in so much trouble, now spill!" She told him and sat down on the chair beside him.

Ron looked into the eyes of his girlfriend. He was slowly digging his own grave.

The professor blinked and stared at her. Tess stood calmly, not showing any trace of discomfort. But inside of her was a battle of emotions running through her veins. Fear, for being yelled at. Fear for being rejected. She would have a hard time if Snape rejected her offer. Not that she would be sorry that she didn't got to dance with the git, but just mearly for being rejected. She had had a hard time getting over the worst of her abuse from the Dursleys. Ron had helped her, and showed her that he would be with her no matter what, but she was still unsure of herself sometimes.

She gave the potionmaster a asking look, and he seemed to snap out of his shock somewhat. "What, Potter, did you say? I'm not sure that I heard you correctly."

God, what part did he not understand?

"I was asking you if you would like to dance this dance with me." She repeated. Snapes face showed nothing, but after a while, he rose.

"I think I would." He answered and offered his arm to her. She stared at him. He wanted to dance with her? His bane of excistence? She gave him a unsure smile, and took his arm.

When they walked out on the dancefloor the students gasped. Tess thought it was rather good that Ron had left, otherwise he would be furming by now, and makeing a scene.

She saw Malfoy standing at the drinktable, smirking at her. She gave him a warning glare, and before she knew it, she was in her professors arms, dancing another waltz.

He could see Dumbledores eyes twinkel towards them and she scowled. The old coot.

Snape was a good dancer, and she felt secure in his arms, something that she felt releaved over.

"So, may I ask why you're at this ball with Malfoy of all people?" Snape wispered in her ear and she looked up at him, suprized. She looked over to Malfoy who now was talking with Zabini again. "He asked, and I thought I would prove that I was more of a lady than he could ever emagine." She answered truthfully.

Snape wirled her around and then catched her in his arms again. The students stared at their professor and her, and she started to feel a bit insecure about herself, as she often did when stared at. Snape, to her suprize seemed to notice this, and he looked her into her eyes and told her softly; "Ignore them."

She did her best to shut them all out, and Snape asked her more questions. "Were did you learn to dance? The muggles?"

Tess tensed at the mention of her relatives, but tried to ignore it and answered quietly.

"Sirius taught me, he was an exellent dancer." Something flashed in her professors eyes but it dissapeared quickly.

"Then I understand why you can dance this good Ms Potter, Black was a very good dancer if I remember right." Tess could not believe it! He had said something nice to her about her godfather! Snape had hated Sirius, that was no secret. She nodded and the song ended, and Snape released her.

His black eyes met hers and Tess miled faintly. "You are a good dancer, professor, even better than Malfoy."

Snape gave her a sneer. "I hope I am the better one, because I thaught him."

Before she could give him a reply, Malfoy came up to them. "May I have the last dance with my date professor?"

Snape nodded. "Of course Mr Malfoy." He turned to Tess. "Thank you for the dance Ms Potter." He turned and walked away over the floor towards the teachers table and Malfoy dragged her of to the last dance for the evening.

Severus Snape studied the girl as she danced gracefully over the floor with his godson. He could not believe that this girl was actually James Potters daughter. Tonight was the first time he had seen Lily in the girl, and that made him realize how wrong he had been about her.

Something that made him puzzeled about the girl was why she had acted so weird when he asked if her famiky taught her how to dance. Also her reaction when the students stared at them. Why did she act like she was afraid of them? She would be used to attention by now, so why act like it was totally new and scary?

Severus snape didn't like the feelings ge detected around her, and he didn't like unanswered questions.

He needed answers, now.

Sorry it took me so long, but I had writers block and that sort of crap. I'm also working at a hotell for six weeks now, so it's rather much to do. I hope you liked this chapter, and I'm sorry if there was any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes, I try my best.

Review!