The great hall was filled to bursting with the feast, Pumpkin pies, butterbeer, cakes and sweets, cinnamon rolls with sticky icing spiders on them, the difference to regular rolls were that these icing spiders moved over the cakes. The usual lit Jack-o-lanterns suspended in the air with the thundering clouds above them. The children were laughing and shouting to their friends, enjoying the sugar rush.
Allegra looked on. It was quite impressive really, they hadn't celebrated Halloween at any of the schools she had attended, being particular to England and America in this regard. The resident ghosts moved silently through the halls, in particularly, the Fat Friar looking down on the tables with a moan… "food… how I miss a good meal" he was saying to one of the younger students. He mournfully moved away, casting a sad look over the tables. When the feasting was over, Minerva stood up and tapped on a glass,
"Quiet, quiet please, calm down everyone, can the fourth years take the younger students to their common rooms please, fifth six and seventh year make your way to the ballroom for our Premiere Halloween Ball" there came the scraping of benches, the giggling of the younger students as they filed out of the room. The older students quickly moved away, eager to get ready fort he ball.
Allegra moved toward the sound of the thumping, even though a silencing charm had been cast to isolate it from the rest of the castle, the reverberations were pounding through the old stone work. She could see the flashing lights and sparks emanating from the hallway, young men and women dressed in party gear were heading in a steady stream towards it. She herself as staff was dressed quite conservatively in a black slightly off the shoulder tube style dress with a little detail around the neckline. the only concession to the party was a slight shimmer to the black fabric, and a pair of red heels peeking out of the hemline. She had almost arrived when Cynthia caught up with her. She looked amazing in a knee length silver party dress. it was lovely, truly, with sparkles on the bodice and a slight gathering at the waist with more diamantes flowing around the hem, the younger girl twirled in front of her, showing the sparks flying and laughing, "Look Allegra, isn't it gorgeous." A matching pair of heels finished off the outfit, with some sparkly jewellery to compliment it. Allegra felt quite dowdy at that moment,
Ah, to be young again she sighed, but then she had never gone through that stage. One of the reasons that Allegra had attended so many schools was that early on in her life she had been found to be a prodigy, excelling in magic, even at an early age able to control it without effort, learning spells, and becoming more advanced before her 11 years than many of her teachers. The European version of Britain's Wizengamot had decided to put this to good use, sending her to the most exclusive schools around the world, and at 16, she had been put to use as a fully-fledged Auror and spy, with no parents, and having been cared for by foster parents who were actually part of the system, no one had stopped them. She was fine with it for the most part, she had enjoyed her life, the excitement, the danger, the reward of putting an evil witch or wizard away in Azkaban, or Preztor, the South American wizard prison. She had an innate sense of right and wrong, having read extensively and voraciously as a child and had imbibed many of the ideals of stories, the weak being protected against the strong. The Robin hood stories of the Wizarding world, the fables, legends and lessons. She had been employed by all Wizarding councils to rid the world of to be simply put, bad people.
They walked in together, Cynthia moved toward the stage and she and took up her station near the drinks table, to ensure that the drinks weren't spiked with spells or potions, or extra alcohol added to the punch. She wouldn't put it past teenagers, self-control, right and wrong were still a vague concept with many of them. She looked over to the stage. It was brightly lit with an unknown W-Rock Band, a pre-show to the Axolotls, who were about to come on, the coloured lights floating in the air, streamers and sparkles going off around them, it was going to be one head thumper of a night. She manned the table and her gaze slowly drifted around the room. Filius was late, it was not usually like him.
W.T.F,
she stood there stunned, her eyes widened to owl status, no freaking way. She simply could not believe it, Severus Snape had just walked through the door, avoiding the mass of teens by moving around the walls, he came up behind her and stopped. He didn't even try to hide the distaste on his face as he looked out to the crowd. He was wearing his usual robes, with no concession at all for the ball, not that she had expected anything else. No one had ever seen him dressed in anything other than his school attire. She stood there, contemplating what to say, her mind was reeling, he could not be here without have being forced by the Headmistress. She had been looking up at him to gauge his thoughts however his usual mask of ice quickly settled over his features.
The band came on, and the crowd erupted with a roar, they were dressed in the most outlandish outfits, trousers that shone in neon patterns, shirts that pulsed with the beat, sparks that flew from their instruments. Yes, she truly was old… she simply didn't like it. She could feel him behind her, his warmth radiated from him, though she wasn't sure if that was her or him. She wasn't quite sure why his presence was affecting her so much, she was in no way looking for any kind of relationship. Especially one with a closed-up misanthrope. The drinks table was busy, the self-filling bowls of punch and the now empty bottles of Butterbeer were scattered throughout the table. She watched, casting some spells to check if all was in order. She was pretty sure the presence of the Potions master discouraged any attempt to sabotage their efforts. They had been asked to do 2 hour shifts, herself, Cynthia Filius and Desdemona the first two hours, with a changeover at the end. Jontie was to man the table after her with Obadiah, and Pomona and Montmercy relieving the rest, though she was pretty sure Cynthia would be here until the end.
The band finished their set and the first intermission was here.. ah.. the quiet.. even though there was some fill in music, it wasn't the wailing of the set before. Allegra turned around, seriously she just had to ask, she put a hand on his arm to gain his attention and he bent down to hear her. "What are you doing here Professor?" he looked at her, his dark hair falling onto his face, it was silky in the lights with blue and red shining off the locks,
"I was forced into it, you don't really think it was my choice, do you?" she almost laughed, he sounded so plaintive it was almost a teenage whine. His voice was nasal and dripped with malice. "Flitwick was supposed to be here with you, however he was called away for a few hours and Minerva insisted I attend" the cadence of his voice stressed the word 'insisted' in a way that she knew from experience, brooked no argument, from anyone.
"Well" she replied, "I won't be sorry to finish here as well, its definitely not my thing." He looked at her again, and straightened up, glaring across the crowds again. The band reappeared in a flash of smoke and explosions and it was on again.
Severus stood there, not believing he had been forced into something he loathed, the music was simply appalling, he could hear no melody, no real tune, just this incessant wailing and inharmonious beat. The lights were irritating, sweeping across the room in a pattern guaranteed to give someone a seizure, the sparks flying across the room from wands waving, the almost palpable teenage hormones. It was all just too much. He stood behind Allegra, towering a full head above. He could put his chin on the top of her head without any effort at all if he wanted. He looked down, she had not pulled it back tonight, just let it loose in a mass of curls around her shoulders it was long, coming down to her shoulder blades. The black dress was fitting, and he quickly glanced down, she didn't have many curves, she was quite slender, and to be critical, not much up top. No jewellery but for a pair of what he assumed were diamond studs in her ears, no rings, at all… he chided himself, why would he care if she was married, or engaged. He noticed the red shoes peeking out and he allowed himself a quick smile. Cheeky he thought, a touch of the unexpected. He could smell her perfume, a light hint of violets, not much more, and a lightly made up face. It was his preference for a woman to be more natural, he wasn't a big fan on the extended lashes, the bright red lips, the perfect heavy eyebrows. People have the right to choose their own look, but he preferred the natural style.
As he looked at her his heart started to beat a little faster, and immediately felt himself take automatic control, it was no good to think these thoughts. You fool, he said to himself again, why would anyone be interested in and ugly man like you. He thought himself too tall for his own good, his nose, far too large, black eyes. He had changed as a teenager, finally getting his personal habits under control, realising the potions brewing caused his hair to look like he hadn't washed it in a month. He was incredibly particular about his appearance now, making sure everything he owned was clean and his surroundings were immaculate. Not that it mattered, after Lily, no one had ever shown any interest in him. Even after he had joined the Death eaters, and Voldemort had shown him favour, the girls kept away, afraid of the thing that had made him the Dark Lords favourite. Lost in his reverie he almost missed Montmercy come through the door, dressed in a sharp deep green tux, the man was getting appreciative looks from the older girls. Snape sneered, he thought so highly of himself, another Lockhart clone. He lightly placed a hand on his colleagues' shoulder to indicate the changeover.
"Are you staying to enjoy the dulcet tones of the band?" he leaned down, his dark hair falling over his features. She could smell the residue of the herbs and ingredients he had been using that day, he had obviously come from his office before this. She could smell the peculiar aroma of Fanged Geranium and Sage. "Or the company" he looked over in the directions of Blatt.
"Not one more minute" She sounded relieved, and when he walked over to her, she made her way out with Severus, with the excuse of the noise to beat a hasty retreat.
They escaped down the long corridor, the music lights and teens retreating behind them. They walked together in silence along the stone rampart. It was a chilly night, the mountains in the distance hazy with mist, the full moon partially hidden by clouds, and the lake glittering with a thousand sparkles off the moonlight. They could hear the wolves in the distance, the muted sounds that carry on the night breezes. It was a comfortable silence after the noise, the only sound was the clicking of heels and soles on the hard floor. Arms occasionally brushing one another in the narrow corridor.
"Well" he drawled, "that's over...thank Merlin, I think I have gone deaf, though that may actually have been an advantage" she laughed, her voice echoing down the corridor. She concurred, and they walked into the main hallway, lined with portraits either side.,
"Severus" she said unexpectedly, would you like a drink to finish the night off? I have an exceptional whisky if you would like" she wasn't sure why she had offered, it simply sounded right. He stopped, unsure of whether he had heard correctly, when she looked back at him, he frowned, the relaxed face tightening again, his arms stiffened by his sides.
"I don't need company and I don't need you to pretend to be nice." he stalked off, leaving Allegra in the hallway a little stunned.
Goodness the man was uptight.