Olivia's POV

I spent the rest of the day with Charlie. We went off in to the woods for a little alone time, then returned to the enclosure where all four dragons were sleeping. The champions tent had been taken down and several off the wizards were in the process of taking down the stands by magic. There were a few wizards inside the enclosure. Onei n particular was examining a cut on the Chinese Fireball's snout where Krum had hit it with a spell.

"Come on, I want you to meet somebody," Charlie said, taking my hand and leading me into the enclosure.

He led me over to the wizard who was examining the Fireball. He was an elderly wizard with a lined face and shot grey hair. He had a burn scar over one eye and part of his forehead and cheek, giving him a rather alarming appearance. He turned to us as we approached, observing us with olive eyes through wire-rimmed spectacles.

"Hey Doc," Charlie said as we reached him, "This is Olivia Cain. …She wants to be an animal doctor when she leaves Hogwarts."

"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Cain," Doc said, inclining his head. He spoke with a strong Romanian accent.

"And you. Is that what you are- an animal doctor?" I asked somewhat excitedly.

"Not exactly. I study dragons back at the reserve. It's my job to patch them up when they get hurt. When they fight with each other or get too rowdy. The babies do that from time to time- play too hard and hurt themselves."

"Baby dragons," I said in an awestruck voice.

"Doc patches us up from time to time, too," Charlie added with a grin. He rolled up his sleeve and showed me a large burn on his arm.

"Courtesy of the Horntail," he said.

"Would you like to help me put Dittany on her wounds, Miss Cain?" Doc asked me, nodding to the Fireball.

"Would I!" I exclaimed excitedly, "And you can call me Olivia."

"Wait," Charlie said as Doc crouched down next to what looked like a tool box. Doc looked at him questioningly. Charlie pulled out his wand and transfigured a rock on the ground into a vial. He approached the sleeping dragon and held the vial out to where bright red blood trickled from her wound. He let the vial fill, stoppered it, and handed it to me.

"I believe it is quite valuable as a potions ingredient," he said.

"Thank you Charlie," I said and hugged him. He looked quite pleased with himself and grinned his silly grin. I put an Unbreakable Charm on the vial and stowed it in my pocket.

"Pretty and talented," Doc said, winking at me, "Nice on, Charlie."

I smiled.

Doc pulled out his wand and tapped the box that was on the ground. It opened to reveal several compartments. He rummaged through it a moment, then pulled out a small bottle labeled Essence of Dittany.

"Wicked awesome," I said, nodding to the box. Doc smiled and handed me the Dittany.

"I don't have to tell you what to do with this, do I?" he said.

"No sir," I said, unstopping the bottle.

"You don't have to call me sir," he said with a wheezy laugh, "Doc will do just fine."

"How many drops, Doc?" I inquired, "Five?"

"That should do it," he said with a nod, "You have good instincts."

I meticulously let five drops fall onto the open wound. Greenish-grey smoke billowed upwards and the sleeping dragon let out a growl. I hesitantly stepped backwards.

"It's okay," Charlie assured me. "There's no chance of her waking up. She'll be out for quite a while. …You can touch her, if you like."

I stepped forward again. The dragon's wound was now closed, a layer of pink, scaleless skin covering it. I reached out cautiously and touched the dragon's scaly head. She didn't stir.

Charlie and I walked around to the other dragons with Doc and he let me help heal them. Once we were finished it was nearly dark outside.

"We'll be leaving in an hour, Charlie," Doc said, "You kids best go have fun while you can."

Charlie blushed and smiled at me somewhat sheepishly.

"Why don't we go see Windquest again before you leave?" I suggested as Doc walked away.

"Sounds good," he said, nodding in agreement.

In less than fifteen minutes we were inside the waterfall cave with the two hippogriffs. Charlie pulled an apple out of his pocket and tossed it to the little hippogriff who pounced on it, sniffed it, and swatted it back at Charlie.

"I know what you want you little bugger," he said, laughing. He pulled out a dried piece of meat and tossed it to Windquest, who caught it in midair and swallowed it. He bounded over to where Charlie and I sat and began to sniff Charlie. I chuckled and picked up the apple.

"You should eat your fruits and veggies, Windquest, they're good for you," I said, extending the apple to him. He sniffed it again doubtfully, then wolfed it down. Charlie smiled at me and leaned in for a kiss.

A short while later we were sitting at the edge of the cave, our feet hanging down over the ledge. The spray of the waterfall was soaking us but neither of us cared. We were sitting side by side and Charlie had his arm around me.

"I want you to have something," Charlie said, removing his arm. I watched curiously as he pulled something from underneath his robes and over his head. I allowed him to slip it over my head, then examined it.

"Is that-?"

"A dragon tooth? Yeah," he said, smiling, "From a baby Asian Lung."

"Wow… Is there one on your reserve in Romania?"

"No, no. I was traveling abroad in Asia. They had him on a reserve in Russia. His mother had been killed by poachers."

I was silent a moment, fingering the tooth.

"We should go," he said reluctantly, checking his watch.

I nodded and stood to go. We said goodbye to Windquest, mounted our brooms, and flew back towards the castle.

"We can fly back to the castle. That way you don't have to walk back alone," he said as we soared over the dragon enclosure.

We flew around the castle a while, reluctant to end our time together, but finally we landed by the lake.

"I guess this is it then," he murmured.

"Thank you Charlie. For everything. Today has been…amazing."

He nodded silently.

"You'll write me, won't you?" he asked.

"Of course."

"I'm going to miss you," he said and embraced me. We stood like that for a while with him resting his chin on top of my head. Finally he released me.

"Goodbye Olivia," he said on an exhale.

"Bye Charlie…"

I watched as he swung a leg over his broomstick and took off. He glanced back at me and waved. I waved back until he was out of sight, then I walked back to the castle.

I went down into the dungeons and started to head towards the Common Room. At the last minute I remembered the vial of dragons blood in my pocket. I didn't particularly feel like hearing Snape make snide remarks about Charlie. I paced indecisively a moment, then headed for Snape's office. At least I knew that his being difficult was his way of showing he cared about me.

I knocked on his office door and received a curt "Come in." I opened the door to find him sitting at his desk, reading the Evening Prophet.

"Well. Thought you'd be halfway to Romania by now," he sneered.

I scoffed.

"I knew you were going to be an ass. Why did I come down here again?"

"Beats me," he muttered, returning his gaze to the paper.

"Oh yeah," I said reaching into my pocket and pulling out the vial, "Here."

I set it down on his desk with a thud. He glanced up, then lay the paper aside.

"Is this what I think it is?" he asked, picking it up to examine it.

"Dragons blood. Fresh," I said, "From the Chinese Fireball."

"Well…You can tell Charlie I said thank you."

"I can't. He's gone," I said somewhat wistfully.

"I thought you weren't attracted to him anyway?"

"I wasn't. I'm not."

"Then why did you go off with him in the woods?"

"Were you spying on us?" I demanded.

"No!" he said, face flushing.

"Well, for your information, I went off with him because…well, it's nice to have someone who actually shows me affection."

"What?" he asked, scowling.

"Charlie is nice to me. He tells me I'm pretty and smiles at me!"

"It's not my job to be nice to you," he snapped.

"I'm not saying it is, but would it kill you to show a little soft side?"

"I don't have a soft side," he retorted.

"You saved my life when I was a baby."

"Well what did you expect for me to leave you there to die? I'm not completely heartless!"

"Ha! You just contradicted yourself."

"I- oh shut up and go to bed."

"I don't want to."

He glared at me.

"Well fine…but I want to brew a potion with the dragon's blood tomorrow."

"We'll see," he said stiffly.

I made my way back to the Common Room thinking about my conversation with Snape. So much had happened that I had practically forgotten the first task had been today until I entered the Common Room to find Alex and Brandi waiting up for me.

"I can't believe you didn't tell us about the dragons," Alex said.

"And where did you sneak off to after the task?" Brandi asked.

"Oh are you speaking to me again?" I asked Brandi coolly.

"Of course. I was just…upset because you chose Snape over us."

"And I always will," I said firmly. "I made a promise to him."

"It's okay. I understand," Brandi assured me. "But who did you sneak off with? It wasn't Snape - we saw him looking around for you."

"I- he was looking for me?"

"Only briefly. Come on, spill the beans. Who were you with?"

"Well…I was with Charlie."

"Who's Charlie?" Brandi asked eagerly.

"He's one of the dragon handlers."

"Which one? I saw a couple of cute ones."

"Well he is rather short and sticky. He has long red hair - he had it in a ponytail today - and lots of freckles."

"Ooh. I know the one you're talking about. How did you meet him?"

"Severus and I had to brew a Sleeping Draught to help them keep the dragons under control. Charlie sent me an owl this morning and invited me to come see him before the first task. We hung out."

"That's why you weren't in Care of Magical Creatures this morning, "Alexandria said.

"Is that all you did? 'Hang out'?" Brandi asked with a knowing smirk.

"Well," I said, smiling slowly, "It's a little more complicated than that."

"I knew it. You like him."

"No. Well, he is nice and everything…and he loves animals…he showed me a baby hippogriff and let me heal a wounded dragon…and he really likes me…"

"He sounds perfect for you, Liv," Alex said.

"I know but…my heart already belongs to someone," I murmured sadly.

"But you and Charlie still-?" Brandi asked.

"We had fun. I love Severus, but…it was nice having someone hold me and kiss me."

They exchanged sad looks and smiled sympathetically.

"I'm exhausted," I said, standing suddenly, "I've had such a long day it feels like three days in one."

"Hey at least tomorrow is the weekend," Brandi said.

"Yeah. I'm going to sleep until lunchtime," I said, flopping down on my bed with a tired groan.

Tired as I was I still lay awake long after my friends had fallen asleep. I stared up at the ceiling, fingering my dragon tooth necklace absently, wondering if my decision to stay loyal to Severus - even though he didn't want me - was such a great decision after all.

Snape's POV

The weeks after the first task wore on and the weather outside grew cold and windy. I saw little of Olivia, besides during classes, and I strongly suspected she was in correspondence with Charlie… though I had sense enough to avoid the subject.

Christmas was fast approaching and I had forgotten one of the traditional aspects of the Triwizard Tournament…that is until Albus called the Heads of Houses up to his office one evening, a few weeks before Christmas.

"I am sure all of you have informed your students of the upcoming Yule Ball-" Albus said to the four of us.

I swore softly. I had completely forgotten.

"-And for those of you who haven't, there is still time," he continued with a twinkle in his eye, "It is also mandatory that each of you meets with your students of the year 4 and up at least once for a lesson in dancing."

At least I wasn't the only one to be repulsed by this idea. Minerva stiffened and Filius and Pomona shared a groan.

"Oh come now," said Albus, "It is a traditional aspect of the Triwizard Tournament. …I will leave it up to each of you when to meet with your students. You may each have the use of the Great Hall and Mr. Filch will assist with providing the music."

Before we left the headmaster's office, Filius and Pomona had agreed to talk to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students together. Minerva and I would never submit to this, as our students would rather kill each other than be made to dance together.

"What day are you going to meet with your students?" I asked her casually as we left Albus' office.

"Friday evening probably," she said. I nodded thoughtfully. I decided then to spy on her meeting with her students before meeting with my own. I would just do whatever Minerva did.

I went back to my office and made a notice to go on the bulletin board in the Slytherin Common Room, telling all students in Year 4 and above to meet with me in the Great Hall Saturday at 3 p.m., after making sure Filch would assist me then. Olivia saw me putting the sign up and came over to read it.

"What's up?" she asked me, pointing at the sign.

"You'll have to wait until Saturday, like everyone else," I said. She made a face at me and walked back over to her friends.

Friday came quick enough. After dinner I hid myself in the Great Hall, waiting for Minerva's students to show up. She cleared the tables aside while Filch brought in the record player. When her students came Minerva separated the boys from the girls. She told them about the Yule Ball and how she expected them to be on their best behaviors and uphold the image of Gryffindor. I suppressed an eye roll. Then Filch started the music and she got one of the Weasley boys to dance with her, much to the amusement of his friends and older brothers. Then she brought the rest of the students together to practice dancing.

Dance with a student! I thought to myself. …It would have to be Olivia. I wouldn't dance with anyone else. Besides…we were cousins.

Yeah, right, I thought, Cousins.

Still, I couldn't help but smile.

Olivia's POV

Saturday after lunch Brandi and Alex and I went back down to the Great Hall. We were the first ones there, besides Snape and Filch. Filch was messing around with a record player. I raised an eyebrow at Snape curiously and he carefully avoided my eye. When everyone had arrived, Snape directed the girls to sit on one side of the hall and the boys on the other.

"What is this, like a sex thing?" Brandi whispered.

Alexandria and I burst into giggles and I wondered if maybe she was right. It would explain why he was avoiding my gaze.

Snape cleared his throat to cut the chatter.

"Your attention," he said in one of his most deadly quiet voices. Everyone was of course already looking at him. I rested my head on one hand and started at him, smiling.

"An important event is fast approaching. An event which goes in hand with the Triwizard Tournament- the Yule Ball. On December 25th at 8 p.m. a dance will be held in the Great Hall for students in Grade 4 and up, though you may invite a younger student, if you so desire.

"I want it understood that I expect you all to be on your absolute best behavior or suffer my…displeasure."

"I'd like to suffer his displeasure," I whispered almost inaudibly to Brandi, who giggled.

Snape glared at us- or more specifically, at me. He continued to speak, his eyes on me.

"Per the headmaster's orders, you are to practice the waltz-"

A groan rose up from the crowd of Slytherins and several hisses and boos.

"Silence!" Snape said loudly and they all fell silent, "I will demonstrate first. If I hear so much as a snicker the person who uttered it will not be taking part in the Yule Ball- or any other part of the Triwizard Tournament, am I clear?"

Most everyone nodded, not daring to speak.

"Miss Cain," Snape said and I jumped slightly, "Up here, if you will."

My friends gasped quietly and urged me onto my trembling feet. I approached Snape silently and Filch started up the music.

"Severus," I whispered when I stood before him, "I don't know how to dance."

"It's okay. Just follow my lead," he said, taking one of my hands in his and placing one hand on my waist. Slowly he began to step, allowing me time to copy his movements. I grew used to the steps and soon we were waltzing around the hall.

"Everyone is looking at us," I whispered, my face burning.

"Everyone come together," Snape said loudly, over the top of my head, "On your feet, now."

They didn't hesitate to obey him. There was a little awkwardness as everyone found a partner. Brandi flushed a bright red when Draco Malfoy extended his arm to her. Alexandria looked frightened and her eyes pleaded for me to help her, but I was still waltzing with Snape and rather enjoying myself. Before long I saw Alexandria waltzing with a black-haired, blue-eyed seventh year.

Snape and I continued to dance though I was sure our instruction was no longer necessary. He pulled me closer to him and I leaned my head on his chest. He stopped suddenly and I stumbled. He steadied me with his hands, then left me and proceeded to walk around the room, critiquing everyone's dancing. Feeling a little lightheaded I went and sat on one of the benches. Snape didn't speak to me again throughout the lesson but every time I caught his eye, he would smirk.

When Snape dismissed us, my friends came back to me and the three of us walked back down to the Common Room together.

"This should be fun," Brandi said excitedly.

"Speak for yourself," Alex groaned, "I hate these sorts of things. Dancing and music and dresses. Ugh."

"Who are you taking then?" I asked Brandi.

"Well, I'd love to take Draco, but he'll probably go with someone in his own year. Maybe one of the Weasley twins," she said, blushing slightly.

"Which one?" Alex asked.

"Does it matter?" was her response, "…What about you, Liv? Who do you want to take?"

"Not any of these idiots, that's for sure," I muttered, "…I wish I could take-"

"Snape," they chorused, "We know."

"I can't believe he danced with you!" Brandi said. "What's with that?"

"Well he had to dance with someone," I said, trying to sound dismissive, "And we are like, cousins."

"Right," they said.

"But no matter how…tolerant Professor Dumbledore may be, I don't think he is going to let a teacher escort a student," Brandi said.

"You should just find a boy to go with," Alex added.

I sighed heavily.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," I said, "And I'm not taking any of these idiots."

Over the next few weeks, all anyone talked about was the stupid Yule Ball. Brandi was asked out by a slew of boys from Hogwarts and Durmstrang. No one asked me…but I would have turned them down anyway.

I was helping Snape grade a bunch of antidote essays one afternoon. I was frowning in concentration, struggling through a third-year's particularly wretched grammar when Snape spoke.

"So, have you found a date for the Yule Ball yet?" he asked in a would-be casual way.

I let out a snort.

"Have you?" I retorted.

"Who would I take?" he asked, surprised.

"I'm sure there's a nice girl in the village who would have you."

He scoffed.

"You're avoiding my question," he said.

"No I haven't got a date. I don't want to go with any of these losers."

"Who do you want to go with?" he asked.

I crossed my arms and said nothing.

"Stupid question," he said to himself, then to me, "You should just pick one of your classmates."

I said nothing but stared back down at the essay I was grading. After a minute of illegible reading I gave the kid a D and moved on.

"Snape has a point you know," Brandi said later that evening, "There's only five days left until Christmas."

"This I know."

"You should just pick a guy."

"I am not going with a stupid boy," I growled.

"Why don't you just go with me?" Alex suggested with a laugh.

"Works for me, if you're serious," I said with a shrug, "As long as you don't get jealous if I sneak off with Severus."

"Wouldn't dream of it," she replied with a grin.

We spent the next few days telling everybody who asked that we were going together. We always laughed at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces. Yet on Christmas Eve I still found myself feeling somewhat depressed.

I walked around the snow-covered grounds of Hogwarts as the sun was setting, casting a red light on everything. I was wearing my Muggle jeans, a thick grey sweater, snow boots, and the cloak Snape had given me a while ago.

"Good evening, Olivia," said a voice. I turned to see Dumbledore coming towards me.

"Hi," I said reluctantly.

"Anything the matter?" he asked me.

"No…well, yes. The stupid Yule Ball."

"Why is it stupid?" he asked with a smile.

"It's not the ball itself… I don't want to go with any of the boys at school. They are all idiots."

"Who would you rather go with?"

"No one," I said, blushing faintly, "I mean…well, if I could…I would like to be able to go with Severus. It'd cheer him up at any rate. I'm not sure he even plans to go."

"Severus will be attending the Ball. He has no choice. However, I am afraid it would be inappropriate," said Dumbledore sympathetically, "Nevertheless…I would not begrudge you a dance."

This made me smile. At least I would have something to look forward to.

"If I can even get him to agree to that," I said, "Thank you."