Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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Chapter Six: Etiquette Lessons

Snape was standing at the bottom of the staircase leading to the ballroom. It was a week before the ball and he had been trying to train Hope on how she needed to act for that night, and until then, to prevent anyone else getting hurt, including herself.

Snape pinched the bridge of his nose as he yelled for her to make her entrance for the fifth time that night. She would enter unaccompanied, and would walk to the Dark Lord and bow to him. Then he would introduce her to Draco. However, she could not grasp the concept of how to enter.

Narcissa had also been coming by during the days to help her with her style. She had provided Hope with a couple gowns that she could practice in while she was making the gown that she would wear the night of the ball. Snape would never forget the look on the girls face when she entered her new room.

Flashback:

Snape pulled Hope into her new room and watched as she stopped dead in her tracks. The room was a normal size for the children of pureblood families, and automatically was set to change to how she wanted it to look. It was done in a mixture of blues, and the bed was big enough to fit six people comfortably of her size.

Hope walked around the room, running her hands over the exquisite furniture. She examined the room for a few minutes before turning back to Snape.

"What kind of trick is this? I know they won't let me stay here," she asked, her voice giving her away.

"It's a trick, Hope. But this really is your room." Snape closed the door and put up silencing charms. "His thought is that if you see how well you could live by being on this side, then you'll switch more easily. They got nowhere with beating you. Or murdering your parents. This is their newest plot. I brought it up, figuring it would be easier than seeing you in tears every night from pain."

"So I really get to stay here until you get me out?" She asked in a small voice.

"Yes, and even afterwards. You're my charge now, so when you aren't at Hogwarts, you will be at Snape Manor, and have a room about this size."

She nodded and sat on the bed. She looked as if the room would transform into the dungeon again at any moment. Snape shook his head and sat next to her, only to sigh as she scooted further away. Ever since the night her parents were killed she was lenient to let him touch her, even just to touch her shoulder.

"Hope, there's more to this. You have to learn proper etiquette for pureblood witches. You will be presented at the ball on Halloween. It's my job to teach you the etiquette, while Narcissa Malfoy will be here to teach you how proper purebloods dress and style. You must show respect to those who are supposed to be superior to you, or you're not only risking more torture to both of us, but you're risking the chance you have at escaping this place."

She nodded. "What will happen at the Halloween Ball?"

"You will be presented to the pureblood families as a follower. If I understand correctly, you will also be presented as a couple with young Draco Malfoy."

"No way! I have to go to this ball and act like I think muggles are trash, and then dance with someone who is as stuck up as them?"

"You will be dancing with quite a few people I shall think, but Draco is truly on our side. He's just a key to getting you out of here."

"Right, so I have a little more than a month and a half to learn pureblood etiquette and learn to dress as them. This will be fun…"

End Flashback.

Snape had thought she'd have problems at first, but she proved to be an excellent quick study. The only problem they had ever encountered was how to enter a room. Hope wanted to use the wrong side of the staircase, and gripped her dress in the wrong way. Snape looked up to see her trying again.

Hope lifted the edge of her gown she was practicing in and remembered to go on the right side of the staircase rather than the left. She held her head high and placed a small smile on her face as she was expected to. As she entered, she locked eyes with Severus, who would be waiting to take her to Voldemort. Right now there was a rookie death eater sitting in his place.

Hope fought to keep her expression neutral as she made the correct entrance and headed to the bored death eater. She grabbed her dress and curtsied as she had been shown. He stood, giving her permission to stand straight.

Snape stood back after delivering her to her position. He watched with an almost unnoticeable smile as she perfected the bow and entrance, and turned to walk to another death eater who represented Draco. The death eater took the hand she offered and bowed to her before raising her hand to his lips. Hope smiled at him before turning to Snape.

"Did I do it?" She asked with hope in her voice.

"You were perfect," he said, causing her to jump up and down in excitement as the others left the room.

"My first ball. I'm so excited." She said twirling around.

"Goodness girl, it won't be your last. Now please, go up to your room and get to sleep. Narcissa will be here early tomorrow," he said firmly, getting dizzy from the spins she was doing.

She turned and glared at him before following the order and going up the stairs. He shook his head and knew she would chose to stand on the balcony of her room rather than going to bed. He didn't care, as long as she wasn't somewhere she could get into trouble.

Snape turned and walked out of the manor toward the apparition point. He had some last minute details to make with Dumbledore before they filled in Draco on everything going on, and it was already nearing eleven. This was going to be a long night.

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The night before Halloween found a small group of group of people gathered in Dumbledore's office. Snape sat in a chair furthest away from others while Draco Malfoy sat in another close to the desk. The last person in the room was one Severus did not like being here, nor did he think he deserved to be here.

"So the plan is that tomorrow morning Draco will leave the school with Severus to pick up a few things. Severus has a portkey from Voldemort that will activate at exactly seven thirty. The ball starts at eight. Meaning Draco and Severus will be back here at seven for me to cast the tracing charm on Draco. Does that sound correct?" Dumbledore asked, eyeing Draco and Severus, both whom nodded.

"Good. Now Harry, the only reason you are here is because you've been driving all of us nuts with trying to find ways to get Hope out. She will be taken from the manor tomorrow at midnight. By then, some of the people should have left so there won't be as big a crowd to fight. You will remain here, Harry. Do you understand that?"

Harry grudgingly nodded while crossing his fingers inside his robe pocket. He planned on being there for that ball whether he was allowed to or not. He needed to see for sure that Hope was okay.

"Very well, you all should go now and get a good rest before tomorrow." Dumbledore said as a dismissal, causing all three figures to rise and leave, each going their own directions to get a good nights sleep before the big day.

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A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I love getting reviews from you guys! It really helps me to keep writing.

Thanks to Nita, for betaing.

And thats it, next update in a week.