Chapter 9

Riley held her hand out to Sirius as she descended the stairs from the Gryffindor girls' dormitory into the common room. Her skirts rustled with each step under the black crinoline fabrics that held up the bottom of her mermaid tail-framed dress.

Sirius sucked in his breath as he took her hand in his, noticing her outfit, looking her up and down. Her short bob hair had been pressed into shiny ironed 1940's waves resembling the film actress Veronica Lake. Her dress was a deep crimson color that had a satin sheen. It clung to her from her strapless bust down to her knees and then swung out on the bottom like a tail. The neckline dipped down into a sweetheart scoop, annunciating certain assets. A short, simple silver necklace with a white stone dangled dangerously close to the said assets from her slender neck.

"Geez, Brannigan. You don't disappoint." Sirius said, eyeing her up and down with his jaw slack. She smiled at him with a wink and looked him over. He didn't look half bad himself in his black dress robes accompanied by a white bow tie and black vest. His wavy black hair was brushed until it shone and he stood proudly, ready to be admired.

"You look good yourself, Sirius." It was a genuine comment that came out of her mouth. He did look great, but she wished it was Severus escorting her in dress robes. She knew he'd look great in whatever he wore or didn't wear. She pressed a happy smile on her face and allowed Sirius to tuck her arm in his as they walked out of the portrait towards the ball.


Severus fought himself internally all day. He looked at himself in his dormitory mirror and shook his head at himself. All of this to see a girl dance with another boy. Technically, it would be two girls dancing with two other boys. He was used to torturing himself, so what else was new. He sighed at his reflection in his black vest, black bow tie, straight black trousers and straightened his lapels. Like it mattered, he scoffed. He turned away from the mirror, his robes trailing behind him as he exited the door and went downstairs.

When he entered the Great Hall, he noted the obvious changes. The long tables and benches had all been magically swept away and in its place was a glittering dance floor surrounded by circular small tables and a band on a stage where the professors normally sat for meals. The room was filling up slowly with people standing on the sides of the room as the band tuned their instruments in anticipation of kicking off the ball. Severus looked to his right and noticed Lily's flaming red hair next to an unruly mass of black hair. Lily took no notice of him as he stood and stared at her. She never looked at him anymore. Not ever. He should have given up by now, after all the humiliation, but they had a history and it was just—Lily. He turned his face into his favorite indifferent expression and sauntered deeper into the room. He would just have to keep being the casual observer from the sidelines.

Something caught his sight suddenly and he turned his eyes to the entrance and his breath caught in his throat. He suddenly regretted his decision to be the casual observer and not by Riley's side. All of his thoughts of Lily were suppressed to the back of his mind. Riley was the most gorgeous creature he had ever laid eyes upon. He thought her dancing at the concert was attractive, with her shirt that kept rising up past her navel, but this trumped that. She glided in with one foot in front of the other in careful movements in her form-fitting crimson dress. The satin sheen showed off and hugged each one of her curves as she slinked in. He pictured her wearing that dress doing what they did the night of the concert and he had to suck in a deep breath. The neckline alone would have made any warm blooded man weak in the knees. It dipped down to show off her décolletage which was tanned and smooth. He had never seen so much of her skin at once. Redness crept up his neck and his body warmed uncomfortably. Lily would never have worn something like that. Her girlish, pastel blue dress paled in comparison to the curve hugging, womanly gown Riley had on.

Severus finally ripped his gaze from his temptress and grimaced at the smug expression on Sirius' face. Sirius looked as if he had won the Quidditch cup with his arm wrapped around Riley's. He nodded and smiled at the stares they received, proudly showing off his prize. Severus almost retched in revulsion staring at Sirius' self important grin. What he wouldn't give to see Sirius fail, for him to lose for once in his life.

The music kicked off and the couples started to mill around the dance floor, finding a spot. The band started off with some lively numbers that were currently popular on the Wizarding Wireless Network and people jumped around in enthusiasm. During a break after a song or two, Riley turned to Sirius and whispered something into his ear. He nodded with a smile and watched as she rustled off to the band. Severus watched as she stood on tip toe to say something in the band leader's ear on the front stage. The band leader looked puzzled for a moment as he listened to the girl and finally smiled in recognition. He swept back his green hair and winked at the girl as she sauntered away, back to her date. He reached up to the microphone as Severus looked curiously on.

"This next song is a special request from a new and fabulous American acquaintance that has great taste in muggle music!"

Riley pulled Sirius by the hand to the dance floor and stood in the center of the floor waiting for the song to begin. Severus shook his head, only Riley would make friends with someone in the blink of an eye and already be the recipient of a special request. She was infuriating at times but persuasive too.

"S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y! HEY! S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y! HEY! We're gonna keep on dancing to the rock and roll on Saturday night, Saturday night…" The singer belted out, getting the crowd to jump and clap along with him. Severus scowled, he would never understand muggle music. He folded his arms and leaned back on to the wall, watching in his dark corner as Riley jumped around in that tight dress. Then again, if it made her move like that, he might be able to get used to it.


The music slowed down soon after and the non-couples retreated from the dance floor to the sides of the room. Couples paired off and wrapped arms around each other as they swayed in time to the music. Riley hadn't seen Severus in the hall and was having a great time dancing around but it would have been better if she could have seen her favorite scowling Slytherin. She danced from side to side with Sirius, her arms on his shoulders above her. She was not a fan of the slow songs, but she knew she had to put in some time to repay Sirius for being her date. His smile was wide and lazy as he swayed with her back and forth. Sirius' head dipped down and his wavy locks cascaded along side of his cheekbones. He gently pressed his lips to Riley's and lifted her up to him so that he could meet her. She was surprised by his strength as he held her up with his muscular arms. His kiss was sweet and innocent like a Gryffindor's kiss probably should be, not the intense passion-filled hunger of a Slytherin she had kissed before. It was very fairy tale prince-like, the kind you'd see in a movie. Riley was in the middle of dwelling upon this thought when something firm grasped her arm. Startled at the movement, she broke the kiss and opened her eyes upward thinking that Sirius had grabbed her. She saw a dreamy look vanish from his gray eyes and look of anger replace it. His eyes had been redirected behind him, behind her back. She whipped around in confusion in Sirius' still lingering arms, her long dress twirling silky at her sides. She looked up higher as she adjusted her vision and saw that she was staring into the dark eyes of a very serious Severus Snape. His hand had not been removed from her upper arm and his long, dexterous fingers completely encircled her bicep. He stared down at her, his black curtained hair draped around his face and she saw he had anger in his eyes. He did hold anger there but not for her. His normal calm face was twisted in irritation and he looked up from Riley to Sirius. Sirius stood fuming with one arm still wrapped around Riley. She felt as if she was in the middle of some demented tug of war game and no one was letting go.

"Let go, Snape." Sirius growled in an animal like way. She twisted her sight briefly to see the redness flare up Sirius' handsome face in a frenzy. His eyes had flared up to something dangerous compared to the calm prince-like characteristic they held previously. She threw her neck around again to see Severus' expression return to its calm mask, controlling the anger that raged beneath that veneer.

"Riley will tell me if she wants me to let go." He said, clear as a bell and delivered with a wickedness that she hadn't heard in his voice prior to now. It was almost a taunting tone that she was stunned to hear. She started to notice that people around them were now turning towards the scene that was developing beside them. She was beginning to be aware that James and Lily were also staring from their spot on the dance floor. She wondered what the other girl thought, what Lily thought about Severus fighting for Riley. Did Severus know Lily was watching the whole thing? He must have known. She was forever on his radar. But did he care anymore? Did he care that he was fighting for another girl and not his beloved Lily Evans? Color started to creep up her bare collarbone and en route of her neck at the stares they were getting. This was not the attention she liked to receive from others. She didn't appreciate being a possession that the two boys were fighting over. That feeling was soon replaced with dread as she watched Sirius snatch his wand from inside his black dress robes and point it directly at Severus who was still standing behind her.

"Let go now, you sniveling snake!" Sirius cried, his wand extended just above Riley's shoulder aimed at Severus. Severus reacted quickly and thrust Riley behind him with one arm and grabbed his wand with the other. They stepped back from each other with both wands stretched out, ready to do battle. The rage between both students sizzled in the hall as Riley stood behind Severus in horror, frozen from action. This is not what she wanted. This is not what she intended to do. She shook the shock from her mind and tugged on Severus' arm shielding her.

"No, Severus! Don't do this. You'll get expelled!" She tugged on his arm as much as she could in her tight dress, clinging on to him in some desperation to get him to stop. She had pushed him too hard again. Now, he was going to go off the deep end.

"Enough!" A loud, commanding voice proclaimed over the murmurs and shocked sounds in the hall. The hall went entirely silent, including the band. They set their instruments down and stared on at the panorama below them. Albus Dumbledore strode forward in brilliant purple robes that sparkled with each step and placed his arms out in between the two young men. They both looked at Dumbledore with stark white expressions and instantly lowered their wands. Dumbledore's countenance left nothing to be desired as the rare sight of ferocity crossed his face.

"You are both intelligent, bright men. This is not the behavior I would come to expect of you. I will not allow such a display in my hall." Dumbledore's voice was steady and true but was at a volume that did not allow any questions to be asked of his thoughts. Both boys mumbled their apologies to the headmaster, both sets of eyes still trained on each other, anger still in their blood, no longer boiling, more of a simmer. Severus took the momentary lapse of silence to turn on the heel of his black boot and glide out of the Great Hall. Riley looked back and forth between the two, now seeing James and Remus standing by Sirius' shoulders. They muttered something to him in both his ears as he shook himself off. Dumbledore left as fast as he came and ventured off with a swish of his royally purple robes. The band picked up their instruments on that cue and began playing a cheery tune. Students turned back to their dates and began dancing in time with the music in their elegant garb. Riley looked at Sirius who was now engaged in a heated conversation with James and looked back at Severus' trailing robes that were disappearing out the door. In a split second decision, she twirled her dress behind her in its crimson folds and dashed off after Severus as fast as her platforms would take her. Behind her, she heard Sirius finally note her absence and call after her, but it was too late, her crystal eyes were set on the final flap of black fabric.

"Severus! Severus!" She called, picking up her dress with both hands, allowing her feet to speed up with her knees. The rustle of crinolines under satin whooshed as she elongated her stride. It was times like this, she was glad she was a runner. He did not make any sign of stopping so she continued on. She had reached his back when she reached out and grabbed him by the arm like she had so many times before, dropping her dress. His movements ceased and he stood facing the direction he was headed. She yanked at his arm with some effort at his lanky form until he finally faced her. She took a deep breath, catching herself after her run down the hallway. She peered up at his face and saw his expression-less mask crumbling. "Oh…" she mumbled, reaching out to cup his jaw in her hand. Anger still lurked in the black eyes but tenderness slid in its shadows.

"Go back to him." Severus said in a cold bluntness. Riley looked at him with a bewildered expression of frustration and anger.

"I'm here with you, you git." She replied with an irritation that ran deep within her. "Stop that." He yanked his head back at her words in annoyance dropping her hand from his jaw, a cold look settling upon his face.

"Why are you so irritating?" He threw at her in a very temperamental tone.

"Why are YOU so irritating?" She threw back at him in a borderline growl. "You're the one grabbing me, fighting in the hall, and storming out, leaving me just to stand there!" She placed both of her hands on hips that were snuggly fit with red satin. Her cheeks turned pink in anger and her blue eyes flashed.

"You can't be with him!" Severus cried out in frustration. His face turned white at his own words and Riley stared at him so blatantly, she didn't try to hide it. Her eyes blinked rapidly at his words as she stood in silence.

"Why?" She said in surprise in a suddenly calm tone. His mouth shut into his indifferent line at her words and he drew within himself, refusing to speak and crossing his arms. "You can't shut down on me now, you damn robot! I have been so damn patient with you!" She shouted, changing her own emotions so abruptly at his facial features that she threw her body against him, pounding her fists into his muscular chest repeatedly. He caught her fists in his hands, easily engulfing them with their much larger size. He dipped his head down in a swift movement and caught her lips with his. He pressed against her with an appetite and opened his lips to hers. She tasted the honey of his lips and opened her lips against his, passion filling her body up. The repressed tension they had felt was as if they had waited for a fuse to set a bomb off. His hands still gripped her to him as she pressed as close as she could into him. Every touch, every movement of their lips burned and sparked with electricity. He continued to move his mouth against hers until he broke from her, his breaths coming out raggedly. His eyes were ravenous as she opened her eyes and gazed up at him. That fire in his eyes made her shudder with anticipation. He released his right hand from her and moved his left hand up her wrist, catching it and pulling her along with him down the hall. She followed him silently in a curious fashion, as he led her up several staircases eventually ending up on the seventh floor. Once upon the seventh floor, Severus held her by the wrist as he walked in front of a wall with a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on it. She remained silent and interested without asking any probing questions as he repeated his steps in the hallway three times, dragging her behind him, her dress trailing the floor. Suddenly, a door appeared in the stone wall across from the tapestry. Her eyebrows rose to her forehead as he headed for the door.

"What?" She mumbled, as he opened the wooden door and led her inside a vast and spacious room. There were mounds of items spread throughout the room, piles of random things on the floor in the back. There was so much to look at that Riley didn't know where to turn her head. Severus continued to hold on to her wrist and pulled her farther back into the room past several mounds until she spotted a leather couch, much like the one she had transfigured up in the Muggle Studies classroom. He sat her on the couch with a swoosh of dress and lowered himself down on to the other side.

"Where are we?" She whispered in awe. She looked around and saw cabinetry and gold items flickering in the light from the lit lanterns located on the walls. She saw books, so many books, stacked one on top of the other.

"A place where no one can bother us." He said.

"No one?" Riley said looking about, as she turned her head again, he slid his long fingered hand under her jaw and pulled her head toward his. He captured her lower lip between his two lips and drank her in. She was dizzy from his kisses and was well aware that his long beautiful hands were now trailing up and down her back. He took his hands on her back and pressed her against him tightly, forcefully pulling her into his lap. His kisses turned hungry as they caught her jaw and her ear lobe.

"Why are you so damn beautiful?" He muttered into her ear in his rich baritone voice. He nipped at her ear lobe making her gasp excitedly and then he laid kisses down her neck, arriving at her collarbone. "Don't make that noise again." He growled in her ear in a stern voice. His growl sent shivers down her spine, shuddering against him. She wrapped her hands in his hair, loving the satiny feel between her fingers. He was trying so hard not to ravish her that very minute as he slinked his hands up and down her torso. She started running her hands under his untucked shirt, feeling what she had hoped for, a nice smooth, lightly muscular stomach. Her hands were warm on his cool stomach and his cool hand was now creeping up towards her thigh making her gasp again in delight when he pulled back from her. He took her hands away from his stomach and adjusted her on his lap.

"We should probably slow down a bit." Severus mumbled huskily even though that was last thing he wanted to do. Riley pouted with her cherry red lips and he touched her bottom lip with his fingertip. "Don't do that."

"I am trying to be a gentleman." He said in another growl, pointing at her.

"You don't have to be a gentleman." Riley said with a wink, her fingers creeping up back to his stomach. He caught her fingers in his long fingered hands and stroked them with his thumbs. He pressed her hands to his lips and kissed them with a gentle peck. "I don't understand what you do to me." He said in staring at her under his dark eyelashes as if she had bewitched him with some nonverbal spell.

"I keep you on your toes." She said with a gentle and lazy smirk that lit up her face. Her blue eyes twinkled and her lips were slightly swollen from their kissing escapade. Her tanned face glowed in the candlelight. Her neck and shoulders were so slender unburdened by her normal school attire. Her chestnut locks were ruffled from his hands running through them. She was beautiful, he thought, so beautiful. And she chose him over Black. A triumphant, soothing feeling filled him up and he actually smiled.

"Yes, you do."