A/N; Hey guys, sorry it's been quite a long time since I last updated. I've been caught up in work and other stories. I have been working on this one for quite a while so please don't be too mad! Thank you for the reviews and subscriptions I received from the last chapter, they mean a lot! I've decided this story will end within the next two or three chapters. I have actually started working on a sequel for this, the first chapter has already been completed! I hope you enjoy this chapter, I love you all :D
DISCLAIMER; All Harry Potter goodness belongs to Queen Rowling. The OCs and basic plot belong to yours truly.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN; PLAYING THE JEALOUSY GAME
"I.." Simona was left speechless.
"Great, now you have nothing to say," Severus said sarcastically, his eyes giving away a flicker of hurt.
"No Sev, I'm just…surprised," Simona said eventually. Part of her wanted to squeal with joy, that to her it seemed Severus actually cared about her, but another part felt a crushing guilt. She didn't like making people cry.
"Go on," Severus said, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"I feel bad," Simona said, trying to sort out her feelings.
"Why?"
"For making you cry," Simona said with a sad glint in her eye. Severus shuffled uncomfortably.
"It's nothing I, I need to learn how to control my emotions better," Severus said, looking down at the floor.
"No," Simona said, causing Severus' eyes to snap up to meet Simona.
"I think it's sweet," she continued, stepping closer to him. "You're sweet," Simona said, closing the distance between them. Even in heels Simona barely reached Severus' shoulders.
"Simona are you sure?" Severus asked uneasily, spluttering slightly.
"Sure about what?" Simona asked, her long eyelashes fluttering.
"Aren't you with Lupin, or Black?" Severus replied. He began to lose the ability to breathe, Simona was mere inches away from him, she looked up at him, her emerald green eyes glistening.
"No," Simona said with a small frown.
"I just danced with Sirius, and Remus asked me here," Simona continued, her eyes still locked on to Severus'.
"Oh, well good," Severus said with a ghost of a smile.
"What do you mean by that?" Simona said with a roguish glint in her eye. Severus blushed slightly.
"Because," Severus said, starting to find the words in his mouth had become tar-like.
"Because why?" Simona said, her mouth curling into a smile.
"Because… I couldn't tell you that," Severus said, taking a deep breath. "I couldn't tell you how…beautiful you look tonight," Severus said finally. Feeling slightly relieved he had managed to get the words out. His eyes quickly flickered to Simona to see her reaction.
Simona's eyes widened in shock, and then a childish grin spread itself across her face. Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh Sev," Simona said, her eyes starting to shine.
"What?" Severus asked in confusion, before realising Simona's reaction was content. "Oh," he said, before stopping himself from saying anything else and took suit with Simona. Severus' face relaxed and smiled back at her.
"I like your dress robes," Simona said gleefully. Severus looked down at his tattered robes and wondered whether or not Simona was being sarcastic. He decided the latter, her expression and gleeful manner didn't show this at all.
"They're terrible," Severus said light heartedly, Simona laughed and shook her head.
"No, I like them. They are…perfectly imperfect. Like you," Simona said coyly.
It was as if the world had stopped and darkened. As if two spotlights were on them, as if they were the only people in the universe at that point. All that mattered was each other.
Severus blushed even more and pursed his lips. He could feel his heart beat in his throat. He decided to be like his Gryffindor adversaries and be brave. Slowly, he leaned forward, internally cursing the height difference between the both of them.
Simona looked up to see Severus cautiously moving closer to her. She smiled and closed her eyes in anticipation. Severus raised a shaky hand and put his hand underneath Simona's chin. He moved closer to her and tilted his head to the right. Their faces were inches away. Severus inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. Their lips were about to touch when they were interrupted by a stern voice from behind them, bringing them back to reality.
"Mr Snape and Miss Sforza, 30 points from Slytherin," Professor McGonagall said her glasses resting halfway down her nose and her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
The rest of the night passed with relative ease. The two Slytherins continued to dance, under the vigilant eye of Professor McGonagall and Simona and Severus began to feel at complete ease with each other.
"I wish she would stop staring at us," Simona said frowning as they spun around on the floor.
"We have gained her interest it seems," Severus muttered, smirking slightly. Simona didn't realise this but he was not talking about McGonagall, he was talking about a certain red-haired beauty who was staring at the two Slytherins with a mixture of jealousy, anger and sorrow.
"Sev, are you going into Hogsmeade tomorrow?" Simona asked as they continued to dance.
"I wasn't planning on going, why?" He replied, his eyes flickering from Simona to Lily.
"I was just wondering if you wanted to go with me," Simona said shyly. Severus looked at her, his eyes softening.
"Yes, of course. I'd like that," Severus said causing Simona to flash her pearly white teeth at him again in happiness.
"Good, good. I can buy Christmas presents when I am there," Simona said contently.
"Are you staying here for Christmas?" Severus asked Simona as the hours wore on.
"Yes," Simona replied simply. "Are you?" She asked.
"Most likely, I prefer being here than at home," Severus replied, a sad glint in his eyes. Simona decided not to press him any further and instead rested her head against his chest. Severus let out a small gasp of surprise, but didn't deny her.
"Me too," Simona replied, before letting her eyes flutter closed.
Severus sighed and began to feel tired. He looked up and saw Lily staring at him. He felt his heart splinter. It was no secret that he loved Lily, he had always loved Lily. But new feelings began to rear its head as far as Simona was concerned, and he had no idea what to do.
Simona spotted Sirius out of the corner of her eye. She smiled sympathetically at him before looking back up at Severus.
Severus was gazing lovingly at Lily. Lily was looking back, with almost the same intensity as Severus. Simona felt her insides go cold, only to be replaced with fire. She felt her temper boil over. Deciding to not let her temper get the better of her, Simona decided she would not get mad, but to get even.
"I am just going to have a word with Sirius," Simona said suddenly, she growled as she broke away, realising Severus didn't even look at her in acknowledgment.
"Hello Sirius," Simona said as she walked over to the Gryffindor.
"Hey, how has your evening been?" Sirius asked politely, Simona smiled sadly and sighed.
"It was great at first, but I am not so sure anymore," Simona said, looking back over at Severus who had started walking over to Lily.
"Hello Lily," Severus said shyly. Lily smiled warmly at him.
"Hiya Sev, I wondered when you were going to come over here," Lily said happily.
"Really? I- I didn't know whether or not you wanted to talk to me," Severus said nervously itching his head.
"Of course I do Sev, I don't want James to come between us. You're my oldest friend," Lily replied, showing her trademark smile.
"Ah. I knew Snivellus would try to ruin it somehow. James will sort him out eventually, or I will at least," Sirius said, his eyes narrowing. Simona chuckled. She knew she could count on Sirius to cheer her up.
"What's he doing?" Remus said as he walked over to Sirius and Simona.
"You look very pretty tonight, Lily," Severus said gushingly, taking in Lily's appearance. Her flaming locks of auburn hair was tied back in an elegant bun, her face was lightly powdered with make-up and her dress was a deep red, matching her hair.
"Thank you Sev, that is very sweet of you to say such a thing," Lily replied, stepping closer to Severus who squawked quietly in surprise.
"Hello Remus," Simona said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Hiya Simona," Remus said warmly.
"Why are you so nervous around me Sev?" Lily asked, her eyes shining.
"I-I don't know, I've always been nervous around you," Severus replied, feeling slightly flustered.
"I don't know mate, but he's way out of line," Sirius said frowning at Severus. Lily giggled at Severus which exacerbated Simona's fury even more.
"I think she is way out of line," Simona growled as she watched Lily pat Severus' arm lightly.
"Come on, let's dance," Sirius said, grabbing Simona's hand causing her to squeak in surprise.
The Slytherin and the Gryffindor spun around the dance floor, Simona relaxed as it seemed Sirius was a much better dancer than Severus. Simona looked up to see Severus and Lily still conversing happily. Another shot of fury made its way through Simona's tiny frame. Sirius spotted this and pulled Simona closer to him.
"Ignore them," Sirius hissed. Simona sighed and nodded.
"I know, it just hurts to see them like that no?" Simona said sadly.
"She'll never go for it Simona, she likes James," Sirius said reassuringly. Simona looked back at the couple, Lily was standing too close to Severus for Simona's liking.
"You know, I was going to approach you if you didn't come over to me," Lily said, smoothing down her dress casually.
"Even with Simona here?" Severus asked in a whisper, his expression hardened as he saw Simona and Sirius sweep across the dancefloor.
"I suppose not, but she sure seems to be having fun with Sirius," Lily replied haughtily.
"I know," Severus snorted.
"But not as much fun as we're having right Sev?" Lily asked, her emerald eyes glittering.
"No," he replied simply. Lily giggled again, Simona noticed this and growled.
"She better not," Simona muttered to herself.
"She won't, come on," Sirius said grabbing Simona's arm and repelling her away as if she was some sort of yo-yo. Simona gasped in shock and laughed as Sirius pulled her back to him.
"You need to warn me before you do that again," Simona said, suddenly breathless. A wolf-like smile graced Sirius' features.
"But where's the fun in that?" Sirius said their faces mere inches away. Simona laughed nervously before pulling away.
Severus turned his attentions away from Lily and looked up to see Simona and Sirius pulled flush against each other. He stopped himself from marching over to the two and hexing Sirius' face off. He felt divided. One second he believed Lily was his one true love, the one person he could dedicate himself to, the next he felt exactly the same for Simona.
Seeing Simona and Sirius stand so closely made him feel sick with jealousy. Severus' Slytherin determination kicked in, unwittingly breaking Simona's heart in the process. He was going to get Lily no matter what it took. He cared deeply for Simona, but he rationalised this with the fact that Lily had stolen his heart first, he wanted to make sure he had no chance with her at all before handing it over to Simona.
Severus looked back to Lily, Lily stepped closer to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Severus blushed furiously.
"I think I am going to go to bed now," Simona said, smiling politely at Sirius before making a hasty escape from the Hall, all the while desperately trying to avoid looking at Severus and Lily.
Sirius remained where he was, watching in disbelief as the petite Slytherin all but ran away from him. He sighed, he had never been turned down before.
Simona ran down the stairs to the Slytherin common room, trying to blink through the haze of tears streaming down her face. She pushed past amorous couples in the barely lit corridors, rolling her eyes at their public displays of affection and entering the common room.
She ran up to her dorm room, ignoring the stares as she flung open the door and threw herself on to her bed. Simona hugged a pillow to herself as sobs wracked through her body, eventually falling asleep out of exhaustion.
A/N; So there we have it. Isn't Severus a douche? I know this chapter is a bit fluffy, but we all need fluff in our lives huh? I will make sure the next chapter is here sooner than usual, I will end this soon, perhaps chapter 20.. But like I mentioned earlier, a sequel is on its way! Please subscribe, read and review to show how much you like this story :D Red vines to everyone who reviews and subscribes, I love hearing feedback, it's my personal fuel. I love you all more than I did before.. xoxoxo