Chapter 17: Ball Preparations
November had finally drawn to a close and the students of Hogwarts were getting excited about another big event: the Yule Ball. Girls were gathering around each other deciding on dresses, hairstyles, jewelry and shoes. Boys were coming up with plans to get some of the girls out of their huddles and ask them to the ball. None, however, were as excited as two boys by the names of Severus Snape and James Potter.
"About time you were back to normal!" Sirius said, clapping a hand on his friend's back on the way to Transfiguration. "I was getting sick of the heartbroken, desolent, shellshocked, weepy, moaning-"
"I get it! I get it! I was upset about Evans going out with Snivellus, but not anymore!" Potter proclaimed with his usual air of overconfidence. "I'm going to show her what a real date with a real wizard is like! I'm going to ask and escort the lovely Lily Evans to the Yule Ball!"
On his way to the classroom Severus had the same idea about asking Lily to the ball. Afterall, they have been going out for almost five weeks, even if it was just to a few of Slughorn's get togethers, and it was only natural that he should ask her. The only problems he had were trying to find a suitable set of dress robes, and how to give her the present he got her on their last trip to Hogsmeade.
"I'm going to ask and escort the lovely Lily Evans to the Yule Ball!" he heard Potter exclaim to Black.
"Best things come in threes," he thought sarcastically when he entered the room.
"That might be a problem, Potter," Severus said when he approached their desks.
"And why is that?" the other boy hissed.
"Well, let's see," he said, pretending to think about the problem. "First, Lily might be a forgiving person, but I highly doubt she has forgiven you about what you did in September," he was pleased to see his foe prickle at that. "Second, Lily has been going out with me since our first visit to Hogsmeade and has enjoyed herself immencely. Third and finally, since we are in a relationship it's only fitting that I ask her to the ball."
"Wanna bet, you greasy haired git?" Potter growled. "The moment she comes through that door, the first one who gets to her has first dibs asking her to the ball."
"Lily isn't a trophy Potter!" Severus snarled. "But I suppose that's a revolutionary newsflash for an insulent ex-Quidditch jock like you."
Potter was about to reach for his wand and curse him, forgetting about being suspended from school, until his eyes caught sight of the aforementioned girl in the doorway.
Lily came into the classroom and was making her way down to her desk near the front of the room. Every eye that was not on her at the moment was turned immediatly in her direction, following her every movement and taking in her appearance as she passed.
Dropping his hand from his wand pocket Potter and Severus turned, practically racing toward her halfway down the aisle, but with different intentions. Potter just wanted to win the race and Severus was trying to stop him. Unfortunatly, Potter got to her first after another black haired boy "accidentally" streched himself out and tripped up an approaching Severus. The boy being Sirius Black of course.
"What do you want Potter?" Lily asked in an uncharacterically harsh tone. It was something she developed whenever he tried to talk to her after September's fiasco.
Getting down on one knee and holding his hands in a pleading prayer grasp Potter asked, "Lily Aurora Evans. I know what I did to you was wrong, and I've been sorry for it in more ways than you'll ever know. So I ask, as an act of repentance and in hopes of forgiveness, will you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Staring at him with emotionless eyes Lily could only contemplate at what had just happened. Potter, the great James Potter, was literally on his knees, begging for her to go to the ball with him. It would have been something to pull on the heartstrings, except for one thing. She heard what was said earlier.
"Sorry, but I can't go with you," she replied still in her harsh voice.
Gaping like a fish out of water Potter sputtered, "B-But w-why? I'm down on my knees begging you to go to the bloody ball with me, and you're saying no?"
He stood then, fury in his hazel eyes and gazing at her as he did that fateful day in September. He woke up with such confidence that day and she had to go and ruin it. Just like she has now.
"That's just it!" she said glaring pointedly at him. "Your temper! Your temper is what brought me to the hospital wing with more than just a broken wrist! Your temper is what lost your chances with me then, and now!
With that she helped Severus off his feet and the two of them walked hand-in-hand to their seats. When they sat down Lily buried her face in her hands and Severus put a comforting arm around her.
As Potter came down the aisle to reclaim his seat beside Sirius many murmurs and death glares were following him. Normally that sort of thing would not bother him, as he was used to it over the last four years of trying to be Lily's suitor, and just attributed it to jealousy. However, now that his popularity had plummeted, it was bothering him to no end.
"How dare he make a move on Lily like that with her boyfriend in the room!" he heard one guy say.
"Snape may not be everyone's favorite, but at least he treats Lady Evans with respect!" his friend commented.
"He probably just wanted to rebuild his popularity. Perhaps actually working for his grades is finally getting to him," a girl had whispered.
When the accused finally sat down in his seat his friend was shaking his head and turned his eyes resolutly on his book.
A few seats ahead Severus was busy trying to comfort a very distressed Lily.
"What's wrong Lily? Don't tell me that prat has finally gotten to you?" he asked kindly.
Shaking her head Lily said, "No, Sev. It isn't that at all. I could care less about Potter attempts at forgiveness, but it's something else."
Looking around to see that nobody else was trying to listen Severus cast a charm to block out everybody else's hearing, just in case, and then asked, "What is it Lily? You can tell me anything. I'm here for you."
Nodding her head Lily looked directly into his eyes and said, "I'll show you." Then she allowed him to use his Legilimancy and focused on what happened just a few days ago. From the meeting in the Entrance Hall, to the bespelling of Skeeter, and then to the conversation with Bellatrix after she realized what she had done.
Severus was silent after that. His mind going into overdrive at the events he just saw unfold, and looking at an even more distraught Lily when she finally told him.
Thankfully McGonagall had chosen that time to enter the room and Severus undid the charm surrounding their desks.
"After class. Usual spot," he mouthed and then turned to face the Transfiguration teacher, who was beginning to take role.
Once class was over in the next hour Lily and Severus grabbed their things and headed out the door. Potter was leaning on the doorpost but Lily strode forward and stepped on his outstreched feet, hard, with Severus following suit. His howls of pain could be heard as they made their way to their empty spot by the lake.
When they got their Lily leaned against the trunk of the tree and Severus sat close behind her. They placed Severus's charm around their area, so nobody could interrupt, and Severus started to speak.
"Lily," he started, feeling uncertain, "I really don't know what to say about this. I know you don't like Dark Magic, and I also know you don't like Bellatrix, but, I must admit, what you did was...impressive."
"Impressive?" Lily repeated shocked. "Sev, I used the Imperius Curse on another student to get a stupid quill and parchment."
"But you did it out of loyalty," he tried to reassure her. "You were, at the moment, conflicted with what you were planning to do and what you thought was right. You may have started wanting to get back at Bellatrix, but you didn't want her personal life being broadcasted through the entire school. I sensed that when you allowed me to see what had happened in your mind."
Lily nodded again and Severus took that as his cue to continue, "Besides, what you did was purely out of instinct, and she doesn't remember a thing, right?"
"No," she said, biting her lip, then sighing. "But I never, ever want to do that again for as long as I live. Bella had better thank me for that," she said as an afterthought.
Smiling slightly Severus made his move, "Lily, I know that we haven't been going out for very long, but I was wondering something."
"Yes?" she pressed on, blushing a little and getting those butterflies in her stomach again.
"Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?" he asked, hoping for a...
"Yes," she answered.
They looked at each other then and flashes of their dream that they had that summer rushed before their eyes. Before they could help it the two teens moved closer to each other, hands linked, emerald meeting obsedian, and soon their lips followed.
The sensation that followed was better than what they hoped for that long summer ago. Everything seemed to have disappeared around them as they unclentched hands and coiled their arms around each other, taking in the other's scent. Both of them wrapping their fingers into each other's hair and putting more pressure into their kiss.
Little did they know that a certain, black haired someone was watching them. Lips formed a snake-like smile, and a pleased look burned beneath violet eyes.
It was only a few days until the Yule Ball and there was still so much to do. Lily and the other Prefects were assigned different tasks to help for upcoming ball. Lily, Severus, Bellatrix, and Remus were assigned to help Professor Flitwick with the decorating and to get as much help from some other student. The other "volunteers" were those that had to serve detention before holidays let out, the two being the usual duo Potter and Black.
"Okay," squeaked the tiny Charms professor, "I'll need two people to help me with the tree ornaments, letting me know if they're crooked or need to come up a little. Mr. Lupin, you and Mr. Snape will be in charge of that.
"As for the ice sculptures, I'll need another pair to help levitate and keep them cool as they are being moved into the correct positions. Ms. Evans, Ms. Black I'm leaving that to you.
"The rest can set up the stage, tables and silverware, but, mind you, I want it all arranged so that people won't crash into anything while dancing, so make sure the dancefloor has enough room," he concluded and they all set to work.
Bellatrix and Lily started talking as they went to work freezing and hovering the large mounds of carved ice to their appropriate positions. It started out normally with Bellatrix commenting on a few things, such as the weather, classes, and other small matters while Lily just nodded and tried to keep her concentration focused on her work. Then the real questions started to crop up.
"I heard you and Severus are an official couple now. Is that true, or just idol gossip?" Bellatrix asked, already knowing what had happened.
Lily blushed and smiled. "Yes, it's true. Severus Snape and Lily Evans are an official couple," she said with mock officiality. Then she asked, "So, how are things between you and Rudolphus?"
"Things have gotten better, actually. We are quite happy together, and I do mean happy," the girl smile suggestively. "Just the other day we-"
"Bella, I really don't want to know the specifics, thanks," Lily interrupted, blushing redder than ever and almost sending an ice swan crashing to the ground.
Bellatrix laughed at Lily's blush and close call, then she said, "Since the Yule Ball is going to be tomorrow, and everyone else is going to be busy getting ready, how about you come down to the Slytherin Dungeon around five o'clock? We can get you looking like royalty for your Prince."
"Why five o'clock? The ball doesn't start until eight, and what do you mean by 'we'?" Lily asked, setting the swan on top of the punch bowl where the icy mist drifted down into the empty bowl.
Rolling her eyes and grinning like a fox the darker girl stated what she thought was the obvious, "Lily! If you want to make this night memorable for your date as well as yourself you need to look your best! Besides, if you're planning on wearing that dress you got from Rudo's father, you'll need a corset to wear under it. Do you even have one?"
"Well, uh, no, but I thought I'd wear just the usual str-"
Putting a finger on Lily's pink lips Bellatrix interrupted, "No Lily! For that kind of dress you need a corset! It's made out of silk, which is quite easy to slip off your shoulders if you're not careful, and a strapless bra will show itself almost immediately even if you secured the shoulders to not slip down. As for the 'we' part, I'll be inviting somebody to come and help you get ready, and I don't want any arguements."
Nodding in comprehension and thinking back to the summer where she tried on her dress, Lily agreed that Bellatrix was right and so agreed to meet in the Slytherin common room to prepare for the ball.
"Severus?" Lupin asked after securing a brass ornament on his side of the tree.
"Yes, Lupin?" Severus mumbled back trying to keep his concentration on his ornament. He was not as talented at Charms as Lily, or his werewolf partner. (He figured it out after last year's near-death experience and was told by Dumbledore to keep it quiet.)
Deliberating carefully the brown haired youth continued, "Is it true that you and Lily are a couple?"
James Potter, who was busy setting some silverware on a nearby table, stopped what he was doing to listen in on the discussion better.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, we are," he replied, trying and nearly failing to keep the happiness out of his voice. "After I asked her to tomorrow's ball- which she said yes to- we made our relationship official."
Raising his eyebrows as he and his partner made eye contact, Remus asked, "How do you make it official?"
Sighing Severus countered, "It was absolutely nothing Dark or illegal if that is what you mean. I have way to much respect for Lily to force her into something that she would never willing agree upon. It's also against a gentleman's principles to tell if his lady does not agree to share it as well."
What he said rang similar to an old agade Remus always heard, "A gentleman never kisses and tells", and that is what he realized had happened.
Severus Snape and Lily Evans kissed.