AN:- Its the Halloween Ball finally. We get to see different sides to Two of the boys....Ooo

Chapter 8

Samantha had tried to talk to Snape for the next two days but either he had hissed at her or ignored her completely. Finally she dropped it. She wasn't going to try to apologize to him when obviously he was fine with the way things were. Sirius had also been avoiding her. Good, she thought. She hoped that they both just left her alone for good then; she didn't need to surround herself with all that negative energy.

Suddenly it was Saturday the last day of October and the Halloween Dance was only a few short hours away. She and the girls were in their dormitories busily getting ready. Girls flocked from bedroom to bathroom with face products and hair gadgets. Samantha just lay on her bed staring at the ceiling.

Lily, Alexis, and Annabel had been watching her cautiously for the past few hours.

Alexis spoke first, "You've been groggy all day, Sam."

"More like angry at the world." Annabel said.

"He will lighten up, Sam. I don't know why you're so upset that he's avoiding you." Lily said giving her a curious look.

They didn't know the half of it…actually they only knew half of it. They were referring to Sirius but it was he and Snape that were on her mind. "Yeah, I think I'm over it." she said as she got up and walked towards the wardrobe she and Lily shared. "So who said that they wanted to do my hair?" she asked and feigned a smile.

The looks on their faces were like the looks on children's face when they were being told that Santa would be coming tonight with presents. Originally she had told them that she was just going to leave it out but they had argued with her extensively saying things like she wasn't putting enough effort into the occasion or that she was just pushing it in their face that she had such gorgeous hair that she didn't have to do anything with and it would still look amazing.

About a half hour later she was gripping the chair arm to keep from reaching for her wand as Annabel and Lily were playing with her hair still.

"I only agreed to this because I thought that you were going to put my hair up in some elegant way – not sit there and play with it." she ground out.

"But it just does everything you ask it to." Annabel said excitedly.

"It's so lovely I don't know why you don't let it down more often." Lily mused.

Samantha was going to kill them. True she almost always had her hair in a ponytail but here they were harassing her to allow them to do it up elegantly and they were telling her that she should let it down more often. She got out of the chair and turned to them as they gave out a cry of protest. She grabbed the brush out of Annabel's hand ran it through her hair a few times and walked into the bedroom to put on her black dress.

Once she was done she stood in front of the mirror for a moment, taking in the way the black dress complimented her tanish skin and sort of liked the way her blond hair fell over her shoulders and down to the middle of her back.

She sat slouched in an arm chair waiting for this thing to finally start. She usually loved dances but today she wasn't in the mood to do anything but silently drone. She watched as the boys started to spill out of the boy's dormitory in their dress-robes. She spotted Sirius who didn't look her way but just left the common room to fetch his own date. Arrogant ass, she thought. She didn't know why he was still ignoring her; Ashley Dimple was a gorgeous girl and many boys were extremely jealous of him, just like many girls were now jealous of Ashley. He couldn't possibly still want to go out with her, she hadn't ever led him to think that she fancied him and to be honest she didn't think that she was the most gorgeous girl in school anyway.

"Hey." She turned to smile up at Remus, "You look great." He said as he eyed her black dress that fell just above her knees. "Usually it's the guy that waits for the girl in these situations." He laughed and held out a hand for her.

She laughed, "Sorry, I usually am all for tradition but I couldn't have stayed up there for another second." She informed him.

He laughed and they waited for the rest of the girls to come down.

"Blimey, you look hot, Lil." James said as he saw her. She sniffed haughtily but Samantha saw the smile she tried to hide.

Annabel's and Alexis' dates were waiting outside of the Gryffindor common room. They made their way down to the dance.

An hour earlier, Severus lay on his bed staring at the air above his bed while all the boys slipped into their expensive dress-robes and talking about how they might get lucky tonight. Morons. He hadn't planned on going tonight but Rodolphus and Bellatrix were forcing him. He also hadn't asked anyone so he was going alone and that suited him just fine. Rodolphus had tried to force him to accept a girl in the Fifth year but he had refused, he didn't need a date.

"Why aren't you dressed, Severus?" Rodolphus asked, straightening his tie.

Severus looked down at his usual school robes and gave a groan. "I don't see why I have to go to this."

"Because you are my friend and we do things together, now here." Rodolphus said as he threw Severus a pair of his own dress-robes. "Get dressed, and show some pride in yourself."

"I have pride in nothing but myself." Severus grumbled but told Rodolphus thanks with a nod which Rodolphus understood and nodded back. He admired Rodolphus for few things but his generosity and loyalty to friends was definitely one of them.

When he had finished changing he came back out of the bathroom and took up his post on his bed once more. Suddenly he was grabbed from behind and someone jumped onto his lap and started running a comb through his hair. "Hold him tighter, Mulciber." Rodolphus said as Severus started to struggle. "I said to show some pride in your self." He explained for his actions.

"I do." Severus growled and pushed them both back with an un-worded spell, they flew back, their bodies slamming into the wall as the walls and floor compressed slightly- anyone else would have been mad but they were impressed.

"You're getting stronger." Rodolphus said plainly as he ran his wand over his robes to smooth it back out again.

"I have always been strong." Severus spat back, his hair once more covering most of his face.

Samantha smiled and laughed as she danced with Remus. He had cheered her up considerably, making jokes about what some people where wearing, bumping into people on purpose on the dance floor. He hadn't lied when he had said he too was a good dancer.

All of the tables in the Great Hall had been removed and replaced by a few circular tables set off to the side of the dancing area. A long table the length of the stage area where the teachers usually sat was covered in many assorted finger foods and drinks. Samantha watched as some boys spiked their pumpkin juices or butter beers with something stronger.

All the teachers were dressed in some of their finest robes and gowns. Headmaster Dumbledore's robes were a bright blood red and he wore a matching wizard's hat.

Pettigrew and his Hufflepuff date were dancing on the other side of the room. James and Lily were dancing near to Remus and Samantha but Sirius and his date hadn't been seen yet. Alexis and her date sat at a table chatting heatedly. Alexis hadn't been pleased when she had finally accepted Montgomery's invitation but couldn't bear to be dateless. Annabel and Gregory were dancing in the middle of the dance floor, clinging to one another through songs that were slow and fast. They seemed to be in a world of their own and Samantha was happy for Annabel.

"Look at Lily and James." Samantha laughed as they sat down at a table near the dance floor. He did and laughed as well.

A slow song was playing currently and James had his head in the crook of Lily's neck and was plastered onto her like a second skin. Lily looked slightly uncomfortable but after a while softened into him and stoked his jet black hair out of her face.

"Would you like something to drink?" Remus asked her.

"I'll get this one, what would you like?" she asked. He didn't protest and asked for a butter beer.

On her way back to Remus Samantha spotted Snape leaning against the wall studying the floor. She had to pass him in order to get back to her table and let out a breath.

"Having fun?" she asked as she leaned against the wall next to him. This area was covered in shadows and she doubted if anyone one saw them together.

Snape looked at her, took in what she was wearing. She was pretty he thought as he took in her long legs and slim waist. She had a descent sized bust and from the skin her dress showed she looked toned, not just slim. Her hair was out today like it was in the Owlery and it tumbled in sleek waves over her shoulders and back. And he wasn't the only one that noticed these things about her tonight. As she danced across the floor with the mutt many boys, from all the different houses had gazed at her with longing. They still were he discovered as he looked around at the people standing in the area in front of them. A few shot him disgusted glares before turning back to their dates.

"No, not really, Cromwell." He said.

"I haven't seen you dance with anybody." She stated as she watched Remus watching the crowd.

"I don't dance, Cromwell." When she remained quiet he quickly warned, "And don't you dare ask me to."

She snorted at that, "I wasn't going to."

He looked at the two drinks in her hand. "Run along to your date now."

"I think I will." She said as she leaned off of the wall.

"By the way, I think he would prefer a bowl." He added.

"Go to hell, Snape."

"Already on my way."

After excusing herself while Remus and James were busy chatting, Samantha headed outside and walked around the magically warmed garden to the side of the Great Hall. The weather was getting colder and duller the closer it got to winter and most of the trees had lost their green coloring. The silver light from the moon made everything glow, even her skin. She walked by many people kissing under the moon and friends chatting by the light coming from the Great Halls windows.

She was turning around to head back inside when she bumped into someone's chest. "Sorry." She mumbled as the person steadied her with fumbling hands. She looked up and gasped as she saw Sirius standing there, his eyes half open and some sort of alcohol stench to his lips.

"You," he accused. Then he smiled and hugged her close. "Sa-ham, why don't you juzz give me a chance?" he mumbled in her hair.

"Sirius maybe we should head back inside." She offered as she noticed no one else was around this part of the garden.

"Will you dance wizz me?" he asked.

Wanting to just go back inside and not be alone with him when he was drunk she said, "Okay. We can have one dance when we get back inside."

"No." he said as he wrapped his arms around her, "Lezz dance here." He started to jarringly sway with her.

She didn't like this one bit and her anger at him being foolish enough to get so drunk was starting to rise. "Sirius, I mean it. Let's go back inside." She said, determined.

He suddenly pushed her away from him and she ended up on the floor. "You love him don't you?!" he yelled at her. "Why don't you like me?"

She didn't want to feel guilty so she pushed it aside and stood up again. "I don't Sirius."

His eyes darkened and he took a step closer to her. "You don't love me?" he asked again.

That's not what she had meant but she tried to reason with him, "Sirius, please. You don't even love me." She tried to get around him but he grabbed her by her upper arm and squeezed.

"You don't know that." He said as he quickly lowered his lips her lips and crushed her to him. She struggled and hated that she couldn't get out of his grasp. She pulled her head away but he just raised a hand to hold her still. It was just a kiss but it was a stolen kiss and she wasn't having any of it. She slammed her foot down on his and tried to wrench her hand out of his but he still wouldn't let go. His grip tightened impossibly more as he started to shake her and stare at her with rage.

"Sirius, let go, you're hurting me." She wouldn't have said it if he weren't hurting her. Her arm was now numb and traitorous angry tears were slowly gathering in her eyes. She blinked them away, not going to show him that she was slightly scared. She looked up and he must have finally understood what he was doing because he dropped his hand and took a step back, horror on his face.

She rubbed her hand over the imprint of his grasp and glared at him. Sorrow and guilt spread over his face and he was about to say something as he stepped forward but she slapped him across his face with her good arm.

He stood there shocked but didn't make a move towards her again.

"Don't you ever touch me again, Black." she said calmly through clenched teeth when all she wanted to do was hit him again and yell at him. She turned and hurried away.

Severus was leaning against a wall in the corridor outside of the Great Hall, to be away from the noise and his friends, as someone kicked open the doors of the Great Hall. He turned his head to see Cromwell storm out of the temporary dance room, her heels clicking on the stone ground, her right arm cradled to her body by the left hand. He didn't move towards her but he did wonder at what clumsy accident she had fallen victim to this time.

Samantha had ignored Sirius' advances to apologize – not ready to face him yet. He had actually physically hurt her. Sure he had been drunk and he was trying to apologize for it but it didn't change the large ugly bruise that was now on her upper arm. She made sure to keep her robes covering it.

Remus and her friends had asked her why she had made such an abrupt exist that night but she just blamed it on flu. She was going to tell them she told herself but maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to do so.

Monday morning Severus found him self looking at how slowly Samantha wrote when usually she wrote much faster. This reminded him of Saturday night. Interested he reached out and touched her arm and frowned as she winched but looked at him. He reached out again and before she could stop him he drew back her robe's sleeve and saw a nasty bruise wrapped around her upper arm that looked suspiciously like a hand mark.

She jerked her hand away and recovered it as she gave him a troubled look. "Don't touch me, Snape."

"What happened to your arm?" He demanded.

She looked down at her covered arm and he knew she was about to lie. "I slammed it in a door."

Yes, a lie, "That's pretty hard to do, especially hard enough for a bruise like that."

"I bruise easily."

"What really happened?"

She looked down at her paper and whispered, "Nothing, it was just and accident."

Someone had done it to her and from the looks of the bruise it was hardly an accident. "I noticed you hadn't left the dance with Lupin on Saturday." He said with purpose.

Her worried eyes shot to his face, "It was not him, and he wouldn't hurt me, don't you dare accuse him of something like that."

From the fierceness in her eyes he knew that it wasn't the dog, "But it was someone." Anger suddenly rose up in him as he said it and it finally sunk in. Someone, some boy had hurt her, a girl. Men that physically hurt women were nothing but cowards who needed to be taught lessons.

"It was an accident." She whispered again.

"Just tell me." He pushed. "Was it Black?" The only reason he thought of Black was because he knew that Black liked her – and that bruise must have been given in a time of passion - while Potter was to in love with Lily and Pettigrew was a wimp.

She knew that he knew that it was Sirius from the expression on her face. She watched as he turned his gaze to the front of the class where Sirius sat obliviously writing his essay. She watched as rage colored Snape's features and made him look even more dangerous. "It was an accident, he was drunk he didn't know what he was doing." She watched as his jaw clenched and unclenched, "Why do you even care?" she asked as she watched him withdraw his wand and as she hesitated he whispered something and a loud slam came from the front of the room.

Students gasped and some people muffled their laughter as she turned to see Sirius with his head on the desk. After a moment he rose up and looked to the back of the class at her horrified face and Snape's livid one. Samantha gasped as blood dripped from a cut on Sirius' forehead and she turned to snatch Snape's wand out of his hand and put it quickly in her lap.

Professor Slughorn was also staring at Sirius. He followed his gaze to the back of the room and asked suspiciously, "What is going on here?"

Sirius looked up at the Professor. He wiped a hand over the blood from his forehead and said, "Nothing sir, I must have fallen asleep too eagerly."

Some more people laughed while the Professor snorted. Sirius stared down again at his paper and James gave Samantha a raised brow as he turned to whisper to Sirius.

"What have you done?" she whispered to Snape who had started to write again.

Samantha ran after Care of Magical Creatures to lunch to catch up with the Marauders and their proposed victim, but she had lost them on the way. She had thought they would at least have gone to lunch first but she guessed that neither side needed the energy, but they weren't in the Great Hall so she headed back outside. She was breathless as her eyes scanned the whole of the grounds and she finally spotted the four of them cornering Snape. There were already many people out in the grounds huddled under trees and laughing with friends. They turned their heads as she ran by them and Potter made the first verbal move.

"Hey, Snivellus, want to tell me why you attacked my mate earlier?" Potter yelled the demand and drew even more attention to the escapade.

She wanted Snape to keep walking but she watched as he turned around and faced them.

"Is it going to speak? Or should we beat a confession out of it?" Pettigrew asked, delighted.

"Come to fight me, Black? Is it just me against you and Potter or me against all four of you again?" Snape sneered.

Samantha had almost reached them, "Stop this right now."

"Stay out of this, Samantha." Snape and Sirius said at the same time.

"Don't talk to her, Snivellus." Sirius said as he withdrew his wand and Snape reached for his own at the same time. Snape had his out before Sirius but wasn't pointing it at him as he crouched. "Don't you dare say her name, Snape. And I could take you myself if I wanted to, you greasy git."

"Oh, I mustn't say her name, Black? Are you that possessive of her?" Snape shot at him. They started to walk back and forwards, Sirius keeping his angry eyes on Snape and Snape keeping his eyes on all four of them.

"Just back off Snape. You made the first move here." Lupin said.

Snape stopped his gaze on Lupin, "Did I make the first move? I was only giving him what he deserved for being such a coward."

"Don't." Samantha said quietly but she knew he heard her. She didn't want him to do this, she could handle Sirius.

"What are you talking about, Snape?" Sirius asked.

Snape was disgusted; Black couldn't even add it up. Did forget about his actions so easily? She had said that he had been drunk but honestly how drunk do you have to be to be so stupid?

"Let's just slim the freak and be done with it." Potter said.

"He's got way more up his sleeve then you do Sirius." Remus warned.

"Listen to your goons, Black." Snape taunted.

Many things happened at the same time after that. Sirius had jumped forward his wand pointing at Snape as he yelled, 'Stupefy!' Snape however had said calmly, 'Finite Incantatem.' at the same time and Sirius' spell hit the ground uselessly. Potter had yelled, 'Expelliarmus!' a second later and Snape's wand flew into his hand. Samantha, mad as hell yelled, 'Expelliarmus.' as well and all five of their wands, including Snape's flew into her hand. But Sirius already had Snape pinned to the ground as she moved forward. Remus stepped between her and the two boys rolling on the ground hitting each other.

"Get out of my way, Remus." She warned him. He looked back at the wands she had left on the ground and the wand in her pocket that she hadn't even withdrawn yet and stepped aside. Snape was now over Sirius trying to get Sirius' hands from around his throat. "Stop it." she yelled.

Sirius fought and again had Snape under him when Snape muttered something under his breath that threw Sirius off of him but not before Sirius got in one more punch to Snape's eye.

Samantha sat next to Snape and glared at Sirius who glared back at her, "Just back off, Sam." He warned her.

"Or what, Black? Are you going to hit her again?" Snape asked in a whisper.

Only Samantha's girlfriends, who she hadn't realized had ran after her, and the Marauders heard what he said and they all remained silent watching Snape.

"What did he say?" Alexis said and they all looked back at Sirius.

"What's he talking about, James?" Lily asked but James was just as confused as the rest of them.

Annabel looked like she wanted to cry.

"He's probably making some sick joke." James said, disgusted.

Everyone turned to watch Sirius' face fall, except Samantha who looked down at the blood coming from the side of Snape's face.

Severus watched as Sirius looked up at his friends from the ground. He looked horrified and completely out of his element.

Sirius looked at Samantha, "I thought that all I did was push you around a little."

Lily and Annabel gasped.

Alexis turned a horrified face to him, "You did what?"

"Sirius." Potter said in question.

"Samantha, talk to me. I didn't really hurt you did I?" he sounded genuinely horrified.

Samantha didn't look at him as she said, "I know it was an accident."

"Accident?" Snape said as he reached forward and pulled up her robe sleeve. She tried to stop him but it was too late as she heard the collected gasp from the people around them, even Sirius was outraged. She looked into Snape's eyes as she told them it was okay. He looked back at her with an empty expression and disinterested face.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Professor McGonagall demanded as she came upon them.

A few minutes later everyone sat in Professor McGonagall office as she went to get Professor Slughorn.

"Sirius how could you do something like that?" Remus demanded.

Sirius just apologized to Samantha again holding a hand to his broken nose as blood seeped into his white undershirt.

"You really are a coward, she's you friend you bastard." Alexis said, her heart slightly broken.

Sirius tried again to get Samantha's attention.

"And to think that Snape would be the one to let us know about it." Annabel said, befuddled.

"I'm curious as to why he acted so strongly." James accused.

Remus slapped him over the head, "Everyone agrees that a man laying a hand on a woman is wrong no matter what house you are in."

Sirius tried to apologize again.

"Just stop, the lot of you." Samantha had had enough. "I didn't tell any of you because it was genuinely an accident. He was drunk and that was careless, but I also hit him that night. And Sirius I would have forgiven you anyway but I want to forgive you right now so that you shut the hell up. Now I would like us all to leave this behind us and as long as Sirius just leaves me alone from now on and stops drinking to that extent I don't think that we have to tell the Professors about it."

"I think we should. I deserve it." Sirius grumbled.

"Indeed." Snape agreed.

Samantha gave Snape a death stare before turning back to Sirius and saying, "Look, you're my friend, obviously you think you like me and I don't have the same feelings for you. You dealt with it badly but I forgive you. I honestly do."

Sirius looked up at her and said it one last time, "I'm really sorry."

AN:- I hope that you have enjoyed the story so far.

i hope that people are still reading.

And you all didn't expect them to fall head over heels for each other this early on right?

Nope...just confused feelings, miscommunications and just plain old grouchy Snape.

Oh and Remember to Review...ITS IN THE CONTRACT!!!