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The Yule Ball was that day and all classes had been shortened. Lunch was in the Great Hall as usual, but the House tables were closer together and placed towards the end of the Hall, the Head Table removed. Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, chewing on his food. The Hall was already decorated, a few large Christmas trees placed around the area. The ground was a white marble, the very front of the Hall with a large misty curtain covering it.
Teachers were all there, either eating at a separate table or assisting with the decorations. Harry guessed that they didn't want to set up too much while the students were there, just to keep it a surprise. Against Harry's will, he had spent Celosia's money on a pair of dress robes that weren't completely expensive but not absolutely cheap. If it was Celosia's wish, he wanted to put the money to good use.
"Harry, isn't that your aunt, right there?" Hermione pointed and Harry followed the direction of her finger, looking up to see Celosia standing to the side, her hair up in a messy bun and dressed in all black. He smirked slightly as he saw she was dressed in Muggle jeans and a long sleeve shirt that dipped at her chest. She was holding several pieces of parchment, wand in hand. McGonagall was saying something to her and she nodded her head, Severus coming up from behind her to look over her shoulder.
Harry was quite surprised at the relationship Celosia and Snape had. Why would they be friends? Why would Severus Snape of all people enjoy the company of anyone? Sure they grew up together but if they truly did, Severus would have been friends with Lily, and wouldn't have treated Harry so harshly. Tons of questions started swimming in his mind and he wondered when he would be able to meet with Celosia and get everything answered.
Severus' warm breath on her neck made Celosia smile as a warm shiver went down her spine. "I do believe Celosia and I can handle the walls and ceiling." His deep voice said and her eyes looked in his direction, not facing him directly. He could see his lips and watched them move as he spoke. "Minerva, you and Filius can handle the tables and floor. I do believe we need a very large decoration lining the doors and the outside as well."
"A curtain should do." Celosia said, not taking her eyes off him. "For the inside of the hall."
McGonagall nodded in understanding and turned her attention down to the pieces of parchment. Celosia saw Severus bite his lower lip and her mouth opened slightly. Her eyes flashed with desire and she saw him press his lips together before she felt her tongue licking her lower lip.
"Perhaps some mistletoe and tinsel around will do as well." She said, breaking away from her thoughts and looking at McGonagall. The older woman smiled.
"That's wonderful, perfect for the Christmas spirit." She agreed and walked off. Celosia smiled and Severus moved from behind her, facing her with his hands at his belt.
"Do you think that is wise, having mistletoe around the castle so students have a better chance at snogging in the corridors?" He raised a brow and Celosia laughed, organizing the parchment in her hands.
"Students will be snogging in the corridors either way." She smirked and looked up at him. "It's Christmas, just let them have their fun."
Severus raised a brow and Celosia let out another laugh, walking towards the front of the Hall, setting the papers on the table that the teachers were eating at. Severus followed her, his arms crossed as she grabbed a plate of food and leaned against the table, forking some rice into her mouth. "I still think it is not a wise idea to further encourage students to participate in inappropriate behaviour with each other rather than dancing, which is what they should be doing at a Ball."
"Lighten up, Severus." She smirked. "I'm not planning to place any in the Hall. Just near the entrance, selected places outside."
"Not a wise idea."
"Stop ruining my fun." She pouted and finished her food, setting the plate down and crossing her arms, looking at him with a smile. "Do you have something against students showing public displays of affection on a holiday?"
Severus frowned, hands at his waist as he towered over her. Celosia had a smug look on her face, looking up at him with a raised eyebrow. "No. I wouldn't want your work to go unnoticed if students are too busy outside trying to find the closest mistletoe."
"It's not like I'm going to announce it to them that mistletoe will be placed around the entire castle." She rolled her eyes. "I'll place a spell on them so they'll appear and disappear to different locations. Is that better?"
Severus scowled and Celosia sighed, standing straight and looking at him in the eye. A sudden smirk came on her face. "Do you have something against mistletoe, Severus?"
His eyebrows rose. "No, why do you ask?"
"You're just afraid you're going to have to kiss someone when you least expect it." She smirked and took a step towards him. "Is that it?"
Severus frowned, taking a step back. "Do what you want with the Hall and the area around it." He sneered before walking off, Celosia with a giant smirk on her face. She let out a small chuckle, taking the parchment and waiting until the students left before she got to work on setting up.
The night of the Ball came and Harry was dressed in his long brown dress robes. The Patil sisters stood beside him, Ron still fussing over the lady-like robes his mother sent him. One look at Ron and Harry was grateful Celosia gave him the money.
After Hermione and Krum had gone into the Hall, McGonagall went up to Harry. "It's tradition that the three champions, in this case four, start the dance."
"You've got to be kidding me." Harry muttered under his breath as the Gryffindor Head of House walked off.
Celosia walked into the Great Hall, smiling at her work. It truly did look like a winter wonderland. The wallpaper she and Severus had set up covered every single wooden surface, bringing the Hall a crystal feel. Round tables were placed around the end of the Hall, some students sitting while the others stood around the area. The dance floor remained untouched, teachers and staff standing around them on the side. The magical ceiling was a dark blue, snowflakes falling gently to the ground but quickly disappearing before they could touch anyone. The candles had been replaced with ice crystals, a fire for light not needed with all the white in the area.
Stepping towards the other staff members, Celosia's purple heeled feet clicked against the floor. Her short, flowing violet gown fit her perfectly, the strapless dress sealed tightly above her chest so it had no chance of slipping. Her hair was in tight curls, a violet butterfly necklace across her neck and matching earrings. Her wand was tucked in a strap under her dress, placed for easy access if she needed it. Just because it was a Ball didn't mean she had to ignore her duties for security.
Severus stood beside Minerva and Albus, hands behind his back as he admired the work Celosia had put through. It truly was wonderful. The Hall was full of students in chatter, not yet dancing until the Champions were rounded up. A blur of purple came onto the dance floor, walking towards him. Looking up, Celosia smiled, approaching him. His eyes almost widened in surprise and she took notice, her smile widening.
"Hello, Severus." She stood beside him, smiling. "You look quite dashing, although nothing has really changed about your usual attire."
"Minor changes, I'm not much of an attention seeker." He muttered. "However you seem to be."
"The only thing I want to get attention for tonight is the Hall." She smirked and looked up at him. "Why, do I look good enough to catch your eye?"
Severus was tempted to say that she always caught his eye but refrained. "I've never seen you dress formal like this, so yes, it did catch my attention."
Celosia rolled her eyes, knowing that was as far as a compliment she'd get from him for the night. The Great Hall doors opened and everyone immediately started clapping, the champions walking onto the dance floor with their dates. Celosia caught sight of Harry and started smiling, seeing he was in a set of clean and new robes.
The magical orchestra had started playing music, the champions dancing around. Celosia didn't take her eyes off Harry, smiling to herself at how uncomfortable and awkward he looked. He hardly messed up at all, but was very careful. Dumbledore invited the other students to join in dancing as he took McGonagall's hand, walking onto the floor with her. Celosia smiled, wondering if anyone was going to ask her to dance. She would definitely want to- experience what the students were thinking when they were being spun around in the Hall that she spent weeks decorating.
Severus watched Celosia out of the corner of his eye. Students and staff started going out to the dance floor together, and he could see the look of longing in her eyes. She obviously wanted to experience this, especially after her two to three weeks of hell setting it up.
Standing straight, Severus debated in his mind if he would ask her to dance just to make her happy. He wasn't worried about her being uncomfortable with dancing with him; they've known each other for years. He wouldn't fear rejection, she obviously wanted this. But would he bring this woman a night of happiness in front of the entire school? Obviously students would think he went soft.
Making up his mind, Severus turned to Celosia, about to open his mouth before another man beat him to it. "Celosia Dilaurentis, I presume?" A rough voice with a thick accent said and Celosia looked up, smiling.
"Igor Karkaroff." She curtsied. "It's a pleasure to meet you properly."
"Lovely job you've done with the Hall." He said in a thick accent and she smiled, his hand reaching out to her. "May we dance?"
Celosia grinned, setting her hand on his. "I'd love to."
Severus watched with a raised eyebrow, Celosia and Karkaroff walking towards the floor. The Durmstrang Headmaster was taller than Severus, and in turn Celosia was a few inches shorter than him. The height difference wasn't too large and Celosia didn't seem to find it a challenge. Severus frowned as he watched them. Merlin was probably against him, making Karkaroff of all people take her away.
Celosia twirled around, feeling the brightness of the Hall and every detail blur across her vision. It really did look wonderful. She outdid herself this time, and she knew Lily would have herself.
Igor held her waist and lifted her off the ground, Celosia's dress dancing around her thighs as she was set down again. Twirling around she caught Severus' eye, smiling before escaping into the many bodies on the dance floor.
It was over soon enough and Dumbledore had grabbed Celosia's arm, magically magnifying his voice. "Before we eat and get the Ball started, I do believe we need to acknowledge a few people."
Dumbledore's arm reached out to motion to the champions. "To our four champions, who have done a fantastic job for the first task." A polite applause came from the crowd, soon followed by screams of Viktor or Cedric's name and more shouting.
Dumbledore silenced them and continued. "And last, a huge thank you to Ms. Celosia Dilaurentis, for spending the last two weeks and a half decorating this beautiful Hall."
More applause came and Celosia smiled, looking over at Harry. He had a surprised look on his face and then joined in on the clapping, applauding loudly.
The Ball went on and everyone was eating, Celosia leaning against a table with a glass of Firewhiskey in her hand. She had found out minutes earlier what the stage had been used for, and a wizarding band was playing while the students cheered and danced on like Muggle teenagers. Hell, some of them even were Muggle teenagers.
Noticing Harry and Ron sitting at one of the tables in the back, Celosia furrowed her brows, watching the boy grab his cloak and leave the Hall. She downed the rest of her drink, a harsh burning in her throat protesting against the severity of the sudden load. Clearing her throat Celosia conjured a black poncho, pinning it on at the front as she followed Harry.
Celosia stepped out into the courtyard, marvelling already at how her charmed mistletoe were already at work. Students were surely snogging under each plant and she smiled, the students looking at her in fear before realizing she wasn't going to do anything to get them in trouble.
Walking around, it didn't take long for Celosia to find Harry settled on a ledge far away from the others. He looked up at the sound of footsteps crunching into the snow and looked up, Celosia looking at him with a smile.