Chapter 17

She stared at the dress on her bed, pacing back and forth. Did she really want to slip into and wear it down? What if she tripped? What if people insulted her? What if people got angry at her for dancing with Severus? Her heart was fluttering as she chewed on her fingernails. She was pacing in her bra and underwear, not caring who came in or not. She'd been told to go buy herself a dress, one for the Ball but every dress she found at Hogsmeade was hideous. Like a rumpled old sack and the other girls thought they were gorgeous. So instead, she bought the material and the needles from a craft store and a book on "Witch Craft Guide to Robes and Roamers." It was stupid title but it helped her use the needles and magic to make the dress she thought of.

"I don't care if people like it or not." She hissed finally and grabbed the dress. Carefully she slipped into it. It was black that faded into green –very suiting for a Slytherin. It was a strapless dress with a ruffled lacy trim on the top, coming up to almost like a green seashell to cover her chest. The dress was very form fitting until the hips then it came down into a frilly layered skirt that was short in the front just enough to show the front of her legs before curving down into a train that stopped at her ankles. The under skirt was like a petty coat that was green, and each layer got lighter and lighter until it reached the same color as the under skirt. She looked at herself admiringly and quickly used a spell to curl her hair into ringlets. Grabbing a silk dark green choker she wrapped it around her neck, clipping it tight and looked at the gem that hung down. It was the Spiders charm, she'd simply removed the stone from its original necklace and move it to the choker –she didn't want to risk the Dark Lord getting ahold or it or it falling into the wrong hands.

Grabbing a pair of black heeled shoes she slipped them on after sliding into a pair of grey leggings. Reaching back she fixed the gems at the small of her back that were creating a slight bustle and looked at herself once more in the mirror. To herself she looked good. Grabbing a pair of dark green silky gloves she pulled them up to the middle of her upper arm and hesitated. Once again she grabbed the gloves and took them off. "I can't do it." She whimpered reaching back to take the dress off.

"Well if it isn't Nox-" She stopped and whirled around. Standing in the doorway with Pansy in an ugly dress –oh GOD was it hideous- he stared at her, falling silent.

"Hello Draco," She rubbed her forehead muttering. "Go on, I'm listening. I'm fat, I'm ugly, my ass looks huge, my eyes are crossed, my legs are bowed. Go on." She crossed her arms, but he just stared. Pansy was waiting for him to insult her but when he failed to do so she thought she could get the party started.

"Going pole dancing?" Pansy grinned evilly.

"Why you wanna watch?" Nyx asked seriously. "If you hold tight I can slip out of this dress and give you a show." Her expression was stiff, serious.

"No thanks." Pansy snarled.

"Yes please." But Draco's words showed a completely different outlook. Nyx's eyebrows furrowed.

"What?"

"What?" Pansy whirled around glaring at him. Punching him in the arm she stomped away, heading down the stairs leaving the drooling Draco behind.

"You look…" Draco started, rubbing his arm.

"Like I'm going to a ball? Because I am." She walked forward and tried to slip through but Draco blocked her.

"Gorgeous. Like a princess." He corrected her, smiling.

"It's because you can see down my shirt isn't it? If I would have known that was all it took for you to get out of my face I would have flashed my breasts towards the beginning of the school year." Grabbing his shoulders she pushed him aside and headed down the stairs. Pansy was sitting on the couch with her arms crossed, glaring at her as she came down.

"Hussy." She insulted as Nyx grabbed the door to leave. Turning facing her she smiled.

"You Jelly?" Growling Pansy whipped her wand at her in one final attempt to ruin her night and barked.

"AGUAMENTI!" Gasping Nyx whipped the door open and ran through, slamming it shut just as the rush of water came at her. She felt the pounding of the burst of water hit the door, soon soaking in under the door. Smiling she turned and raced down the steps, careful not to fall or break her ankle.

"I forgot my gloves but it doesn't matter." She smiled, heading along the corridor. After walking for a little bit she realized that she didn't even know what hall the event was being held in, but seeing a crowd of girls swarm in one direction in hideous dresses she knew. Smiling she followed, allowing the other girls to go ahead of her.

"Nyx?" A female voice caught her attention. Stopping she turned around just in time to be pounced on. It was Bria wearing a beautiful satin white dress. It was very plain but much better looking than the other dresses some of the other students were wearing. "I sought you vere not comink! You look beautiful." She stepped back admiring the dress. "Like a princess." Nyx smiled looking down.

"I didn't have dress robes but I made my own, I didn't go too overboard did I?"

"No! Not at all, so, who is your date?"

"Take three guesses. I'll give you a hint, he's not a student." She smiled, beaming proudly. She felt bubbly and excited, those feelings only intensifying when Bria's jaw dropped.

"Professor Snape no!"

"Yes," She laughed nodding. "Oh god I haven't felt this giddy since the last time I went to the dentist and they pumped me full of laughing gas."

"Are you goink to tell him 'ow you feel tonight?" She questioned grabbing her arm, walking forward.

"Tell him how I feel?" She thought about it. Tonight would be the perfect night for it. They'd be dancing, around loud music, his guard would be down… "I might." She smiled. Bria giggled squeezing her arm. They waited as most of the couples got together and headed down to the dance floor. Nyx walked beside Bria until they had to split off and for some reason when her pillar of strength left she felt self-conscious. She heard people whispering about how beautiful she looked, even while they were commenting on Hermione. She was only glad that the entire conversation wasn't focused on her.

She watched as the four champions took their spot on the dance floor, getting ready to begin. Then the music started. The four champions started to dance and she felt her heart race. Looking up, next to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall she saw her date. His dress robes were slightly different but not by much. He stood tall and proud but didn't have a smile on his face as he watched. For some reason it made her knees weak and she felt like collapsing. Following Albus's lead the professors moved to the dance floor. She hesitated but stepped forward when Severus stepped forward. She met him in the middle taking his hand. She could hear everyone talking but it stopped for the most part when the students moved in to join the dance. Wrapping his hand on her waist, taking her hand he began dancing. He spun her, cradling her and leading her gracefully. Her breath was caught in her throat as she stared into his eyes.

"Loosen up." He commented as he lifted her, doing another spin.

"I-I'm sorry sir." She looked down.

"You look beautiful, if that's what you're worried about." He complimented. Her face turned red from the compliment. Looking up into his eyes she smiled brightly.

"Thank you sir." Suddenly the music stopped, breaking out into fast paced rock music. She grimaced as Severus stopped, pulling them off to the side to avoid being tackled by screaming dancing students. "Why do they ruin every good dance with stupid songs?" She muttered standing next to him.

"I have a headache already." Reaching down the front of her shirt she pulled out a bottle and opened it. Taking his hand she poured 4 pills into his palm.

"Hold on one second." Turning she dashed across the dance floor, dodging the jumping bodies as good as possible. Grabbing a couple glasses of punch and a small plate of snacks she returned, trying not to spill the drinks. "Here you are sir," She handed him a glass.

"What is this?" He looked at it.

"It's called IBU Profen sir, it's muggle medicine for headaches. It's made to work quickly to alleviate the pain. You just pop it in your mouth, swallow, wash it down with some liquid and wait. You also probably want to eat something with it as well, if you take too much of it without eating food with it it'll burn the lining of your stomach out." He looked at the pills hesitantly, then popped them in his mouth swallowing some of the punch down after it. Leaning against the wall he tilted his head back waiting for it to work. Beside him she held the plate up, nibbling on some cheese. Looking at it he grabbed a piece and popped it in his mouth.

"It's working already. What did you say it was?" He looked at her. Reaching back in her shirt she held up the bottle.

"IBU Profen sir, this is the 200mg. If you get the 500mg you only want to take two pills. I know it's not as good as a potion but it's convenient."

"Actually any potion I've made takes a little longer to kick in." She looked at him shocked.

"Really? You can cure people's faces so they don't have scars, or heal broken bones but you can't just…" She lifted her hand, flicking her wrist as if she were casting a spell. "Do a spell and it'll be gone?"

"We don't try it with spells lest someone's brain explodes." He muttered. Her eyes opened wide, wincing.

"I see, that's a good reason not to." She watched as the other danced, the music hurting her ears. She wanted it to be a ball, not a high school dance, but it was still magical. Slowly she slid closer to her teacher to the point where their arms were touching. He turned looking at her but she didn't notice. Instead, she closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder a bit. He wanted to move away from her. He knew he should move away from her, but he just sighed and stood there, taking little pieces of cheese off the plate she still held up in offering.

The night carried on like that. One boisterous song after another and soon Severus was used to how close the girl was. He actually felt comfortable with her there. Halfway through a song he played with the idea of resting his head against hers, like an actual date would but he thought against it. He was a professor, she was a student, I would be against school rules to do it… However, she did look gorgeous. He looked over at her. He noticed the way her curly hair shimmered in the lights, how her sequined dress shimmered like rainbows against the icy decoration of the ball, and the smoothness of her legs as she leaned against the wall. She was beautiful. Nevertheless, she was a student.

The song changed to a slower song and all of the students found their partners and got together. Looking up at a clock Nyx saw that it was already midnight. Most of the students had already gone to bed. Pushing herself off of the wall she turned and smiled at Severus. "Finally a song we can dance to." Holding her hand out she smiled. He hesitated then pushed himself off the wall. Grabbing her hand he pulled her close to him. There was less than 5 inches between them and she didn't care. Draping her arms over his shoulders she smiled, slowly rocking back and forth as his hands rested on her hips.

"It's a lovely night tonight." She smiled. To her they were the only people in the room. He nodded, his thumb twitching, rubbing her side a bit. Closing her eyes, she closed the gap between them, resting her head on his shoulder, her face in his neck. He swallowed and stared forward. He'd never dance like this before. Not even when Emilie was alive. So many years ago he'd wanted to dance like this, but the dance he'd intended to be for Lily he was sharing with an under aged girl. "Severus?" she whispered, cuddling up to him. His eyes slid closed. He kept moving, afraid that if he didn't someone would suspect that they were doing something a professor and student shouldn't be.

"Yes…Miss Fairbourne?" His voice sounded rough. She looked up at him, her hair draping over his arm. He looked down catching her shimmering violet eyes staring up at him

"I want to tell you something that I've wanted to tell you for a long time." She admitted.

"How long is a long time?" He shifted, the pill bottle down the front of her shirt digging into his chest. Shifting he made it so that her breasts would cushion it so it wasn't hurting him anymore. Then he had the breasts to deal with. He stared at the ceiling thinking why are women so soft?

"Since towards the end of my first year." She admitted, cuddling into him more. His eyes closed, his teeth clenching shut. He could always just…push her away. Then he wouldn't have the breasts against him anymore. Severus you're a weak excuse for a teacher. You can defend yourself against the Dark Arts but put face to face with a set of size C's you crumble like a school boy. Pulling her head away, she looked at concerned. "Professor? Are you alright? You're not in pain are you?"

"A little, but go on." He looked down at her wondering what she wanted to tell him.

"Well…Fiske told me the reason he did what he did…and he said you'd be an imbecile if you didn't notice from my reaction so…well…" She hesitated, blushing. "I was afraid to tell you because I know it's not proper and well…" She inhaled deeply. Looking deep into his eyes she opened her mouth. "Severus Snape I lo-"

"Excuse me little miss." Karkaroff waltzed up. Grabbing Severus's shoulder he looked her in the eye. "I have an important matter that is needed to be discussed with the professor." She looked at him, her jaw dropping. Looking back at the Durmstrang headmaster he pulled away.

"Sorry Miss Fairbourne, perhaps you can tell me some other time." Turning he followed the other professor out one of the other doors. She stared after him stupefied. She was so close. Her blood started boiling. Glaring after them she growled. Next to her professor Flitwick was sitting for a break from dancing. Taking a sip from his drink it exploded. Turning she headed off to bed. There was no sense in her being awake.

She stood in the crowd of people watching as the foreign students were saying their goodbyes. Even the headmasters said their goodbyes to the students and congratulated every champion who had survived the tournament. Sadly, Cedric wasn't one of those people. Even through the madness of the trials and the fear of the Dark Lord coming back, she hadn't shrugged off her grudge from the Yule Ball. Hugging Fiske she smiled.

"Write to me." She told him. Nodding He returned the smile and turned.

"I will." Stopping he saw his headmaster looming behind him. He skirted around him and grabbed his bags heading to the ship. Nyx stared at Karkaroff, her arms crossing.

"I wanted to apologize for taking the professor away from you so prematurely. I hope you can forgive me." He smiled bowing to her.

"Fuck off Karkaroff." She hissed. He looked back up at her shocked.

"Pardon me?"

"Sorry, let me rephrase that. I hope you hit a magical iceberg and your ship goes down! Do you know how long I waited!" She growled. "It was a perfect night, the perfect opportunity and you and your greasy beard stepped in!" He pulled away from her and headed back to his ship. Bria had to grab her around the waist to keep her from going after him.

"Calm down zere's alvays anozer chance!" Keeping her at bay, they watched as the last of the students boarded their means of transportation and headed home. Sighing calming down, Nyx watched as the ship sank back down under the water and the chariot vanished without a trace. The last little bit of her fairy tale was disappearing forever. All she had now was Hogwarts.