A/N JKR still owns it. I am extrapolating. This was SUPPOSED to be in response to a challenge on Petulant Poetess but I did not get enough done in time to submit it. My beta for this is SMW, an artist friend.

She nodded in assent. I invited her to Hogsmeade the next weekend when Mother was bringing the dresses for me to try. "We are nearly the same size, my mother will have produced several dresses but I can wear only one. Perhaps you could look through them also. You could find one that Viktor would like to see you in."

She agreed before we separated at the entry doors. I decided to see Professor Flitwick to ask what the music would be for the Ball. He was teaching some dancing classes as a kindness for the younger students. Headmaster Dumbledore and Professors McGonagall and Snape were in the room watching. When I arrived, Flitwick laughed and exclaimed, "At last, a young woman I know can dance the tango. I remember you danced it once years ago with Rolanda, Severus. Show these students what the tango can be if danced correctly!"

He looked at the two of us and flicked his wand. Severus was suddenly in a black silk shirt and tight black pants. I now wore a red flounced skirt and a black low cut blouse. The music swelled around us and Snape raised an eyebrow at me. I moved into his arms and we began to dance, gliding, turning, his hand warm on my hip and my hand cupping the back of his head. At the end of the dance, he had dipped me back until the top of my head touched the floor. He pulled me back to my feet and bowed. I ran my hand along his jaw line then inclined my head only a fraction of an inch. Dumbledore and McGonagall were applauding. Flitwick restored our outfits to their normal appearance. The younger students were all agog. I whispered to Flitwick that perhaps Snape and I should show them the waltz. Snape had heard and nodded. He changed our outfits once more. This time Snape wore the finery of a Regency buck and I wore the Empire style. He bowed before me and led me out to the floor. My hand was on his shoulder and his at my waist. Our other hands were clasped lightly together. We twirled about the floor until all the students were clapping. Snape looked down into my eyes and murmured that I would have to save him a dance at the Ball. "A Tango, perhaps, Professor?' I teased. "If that is your wish." He replied archly.

After we had finished teaching the students the steps I consulted with Flitwick as to the music. He said I would be pleasantly surprised. He said that he had a special surprise for the end of the night, one that had been requested by Dumbledore. "You are going to be the belle of the Ball, Miss Leonidas." Flitwick told me. "Not me, Professor. I am too solitary, too quiet, and too cold." He twinkled back at me and reiterated "Prince Charming will have to waken Sleeping Beauty, then." He winked at me and thanked me for taking the time to teach the younger students the dance steps.

I laughed at that, and then went back to my dormitory. I danced a little going down the stairs. Halfway down I realized I was being observed. Severus Snape stood at the bottom of the stairs watching me. I smiled brilliantly at him, doing a little jig down the rest of the stairs. He almost smiled before starting up the stairs.

That night I woke from another nightmare. It had been night and I was kneeling over the bleeding body of a dark haired man. I expected to see my father's face when I turned him over but it was Severus Snape. He still breathed barely; I knew I had to get him to safety. I realized that his life mattered to me as much as my own. I was coming to care for him.

4 November 1995

My darling mother has outdone herself with the dresses. She has brought five for me to choose from, an ice blue velvet creation with long pointed sleeves and a full skirt, a royal blue velvet with a heart shaped neckline and a bell skirt, a wine coloured satin with a narrow skirt, a black silk sheathe, and the dress of hers that I have wanted for years, the fairy silk in green and copper, very low V-neck, fitted to the bottom of the hips, flared skirt, sheer modified bell sleeves. She had updated it and it fit me perfectly. She and I decided the ice blue looked exquisite on Hermione. Hermione was just astonished that we would give her the dress. Mother laughed. She said that the number of young women who would see the two dresses and want a dress by Persephone would be more than enough recompense. Hermione was aghast. "Your mother is Persephone? The most expensive dress designer for witches the world over?"

"Yes, she is, Hermione. She is, also, only my mother. I never considered her to be that famous, but I guess she is. She does not make dresses for just anyone. Draco Malfoy's mother has wanted a Persephone dress forever, but she does not have one yet. This dress can be used later as a wedding dress with only slight alterations. Please take the dress, you would make us both very happy. You would make her even happier if you fall in love with our Viktor." I hugged her.

She thanked Mother profusely before going off to the bookstore. Mother and I went to meet Professor Snape at Madam Puddifoot's establishment. Mother and Professor Snape talked about my classes, how I was progressing for my NEWTs. Then after dessert, he indicated that I should make myself scarce while he talked to Mother. I kissed her and took the package with the dress. She said she would send me shoes to match. That I should keep my temper under control, and she added that she was glad of the message from Father. I went to the bookstore looking for Hermione. I found her being accosted by Pansy Parkinson. Apparently, Miss Parkinson was of the opinion that Hermione could not possibly have a dress by Persephone for the Yule Ball. I told Hermione, in French of course, to take out the note that Mother had put into the package. Then I showed it to Miss Parkinson. It read, as I knew it would, "For dear Hermione, my daughter Thera's friend. With my thanks and wishes for a Happy Christmas."

I said to Pansy" Ma mère est Persephone." With a cry of disbelief, Pansy Parkinson turned away and ran out of the store. Hermione and I laughed before starting back towards Madam Puddifoot's establishment. Mother and Professor Snape were just coming out of the door. He put his hand on her shoulder, said something to her. She wiped a tear away smiling at him. She kissed his cheek, said something back to him. He hurried away nodding to Hermione and me as he passed. Mother was almost happy again. Snape must have told her some news of my father. She said she had been asked to be a chaperone at the Yule Ball. She would see the two of us wearing the dresses she had created. She kissed me goodbye again hugging Hermione after thanking her for being my friend.

Hermione said that my mother looked somewhat familiar. I answered her quietly. "You have seen her sister. Viktor's mother is my aunt. Viktor is more like his father, but our mothers are twins. Don't tell anyone. What are you doing about the abuse the Umbridge cow is doing to your friend Harry? You should acquire some dittany. It helps heal magical injuries. Any potions you might need, just ask me. I have a supply of medicinal potions set aside. I have books that you might find helpful on a variety of subjects, magical Philosophy texts, collections of John Dee's writings, a collection of a Muggle born poet who never formally trained as a wizard, but was surely born one, John Donne. "

We discussed books for the entire walk back to the school. Hermione's friends, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter were waiting for her. They glared at me simply because I was technically a Slytherin. I waved at them. I went on to the Dungeons. I checked my stores of potion ingredients and found that I had three vials of Dictamnus Albus. I took two of them and ran to catch up with Hermione. I offered her the two vials explaining about the differences in the two types of Dittany. This was the healing herb; the other was used for different things. As I returned to the dungeons, Professor Snape beckoned me to come to his office.

"Be seated, Miss Leonidas. Your mother has requested that you spend the holidays here at school rather than going to Chelsea. The headmaster has approved that request. Do you have any questions?

I simply shook my head. This development confirmed that something was going on. Mother was a fanatic that we all spend Christmas together. Last year when Father had been here for the Triwizard Tournament, she had been frantic. I had time to think about this though. The holidays start on the 21st of December. The Yule Ball would be the night of the 19th.

15 December 1995

I have not had time to write in my journal for weeks. The Muggle Studies teacher, Charity Burbage, found out from Hermione that I had a collection of papers on John Donne that surmised that he was actually an untrained, untaught wizard. She and I have been working on a paper for the Muggle Studies newsletter. I cannot believe that Christmas is almost here. The Yule Ball is next week. I have heard from Viktor. He says he wants to see Hermione again very badly. He thinks she is quite possibly the girl he wants to marry. I hope he is right. Everyone should have a soul mate. I fear I am doomed to be alone. The only man I seem to be interested in happens to be my Head of House. We have attended meetings of the Order and I have had to go through his rooms to get to the tunnel to Hogsmeade. He was summoned last night to the Dark Lord He had been tortured until he could barely move. I had been awakened by his Patronus. I came to get him immediately. I treated what I thought were the worst injuries. I had given him a pain potion, but he wanted me to stay for a minute. I knew there was something on his mind and so I prepared tea and brought it to him. I tucked the quilt around him because he was shivering. The bloody gash on his cheek I had treated with the last of my Dictamnus Albus so I needed to replenish my supply. I mentioned that to him. He laughed a harsh, painful laugh. "That is the least of our worries. The Dark Lord may have found where your father has been hiding. Someone saw him. They have gone to Spain looking for him. You may not be safe here any longer, Thera. Things are advancing faster than we had feared. Next week may—will--- change things, I hope. Drink your tea, lass. Thank you for coming so quickly. How is your work with Charity coming? It has long been thought that Donne was a wizard, along with John Wilmot. Wilmot's poetry is not suitable for you to be reading, however""

"And the shite that Umbridge calls a textbook is? Come now, Professor, Wilmot is no more licentious than Donne was in his youth. Wilmot did not make old bones. He died younger that you are now. You seriously think that Donne is more acceptable than Wilmot?"

"Not really, but I needed to get a rise out of you. You were looking very grim. Am I in that bad shape?"

"No, I was just worried, Professor." But he was still in a lot of pain I could see.

"Severus, lass, I think we have gone far enough as partners to be on a first name basis. I am Severus. Say my name, Thera."

"Sev… Severus. Why now? What is going to happen? I know there is something going on. Mother never would let me stay here over the holidays unless something drastic was happening. Is it my Father?"

"All will be explained next week. Do not brood on it, lass. Thank you again for the rescue, but you should be in bed. We will talk in the morning. I will let you have your Dictamnus Albus."

I was not happy about leaving him alone but went to my room. I did however leave the passageway open. I could hear him if he cried out in the night. He did cry out, my name. I grabbed a robe and dashed down the passageway. He was thrashing in his bed, feverish. I tried to get a vial of Draught of Peace down his throat but was having no luck. I sent my Patronus to the Headmaster in a plea for assistance. Dumbledore arrived within seconds. He used a modified body bind to allow me to get the potion down Severus's throat. He sent me out of the room while he checked Severus for other injuries. He called me back in and told me that Severus had injuries he had not disclosed to me. Then he gave me instructions on a potion to brew." Brew it quickly, young Thera. He is gravely injured." I ran to Severus's private laboratory to set up a cauldron. Most of the ingredients were on hand but the Origanum Dictamnus was not. I had a supply of it in my room and dashed for it. I heard Dumbledore talking to Severus as I ran back and forth.

"Why did he do this to you? How did you anger him, Severus? Why didn't you tell her of these further injuries?"

"I refused his plans for the girl. I said she was not to be harmed. He did this in retaliation. He thought if I could not protect her that way then she would fall into his hands that much easier. He means to find her father at any cost. The only way I could protect her was to make the Dark Lord aware of the betrothal agreement. Now, even that may be a moot point. I could not inflict the sight of this on her. She is still an innocent. It sickened even you."

"Hush, Severus, she is brewing the potion. Somehow, I knew she would have the Dittany of Crete. That should restore ability, if not total potency." He used the floo network back to his office after he checked my progress with the potion.

When the potion was a glowing reddish purple I decanted it from the cauldron into a mug and brought it to Severus. He drank it down, then lay back. There were new lines in his face. Pain and anguish warred with each other.

"What the hell did he do to you? How exactly did you mean to protect me? A betrothal agreement? Severus, tell me. If this concerns me I have a right to know."