Chapter 11: The Yule Ball

The next few weeks passed quickly. Excitement filled the air as students began to find partners for the dance. Harry visited Rose often, getting advice on how to ask girls out and each day he learnt more and more about his family. Especially how the entire family was the polar opposite of his Aunt Petunia.

"Rose?" Harry asked quietly one day.

"Yes Harry?"

"What is going to happen to me now that you are back? Do I really have to go back to the Dursley's?" He asked forlornly.

"I asked Dumbledore about that the first night I was here. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how the ancient magic that protected you works. He doesn't know if it is safe not to go back. What he thinks you should do is go back for a visit each year. Then once that short visit is over, you can come and spend the rest of the summer with me. I have asked Dumbledore if he had a job for me and I am looking into finding a home nearby. Madame Maxime has been warned that I will not be returning to Beaux- Batons after this year. I am not leaving you alone, Harry!" Rose said forcefully, with years of regret in her voice.

"I am just happy to know I won't have to deal with the Dursley's,"Harry smiled at his aunt.

"Not if I can help it. When I take you home at the end of the school year, I think Petunia will be just a little shocked." Rose winked at Harry. "Now Harry go get ready for the ball. I need to shower and make myself presentable!"

They hugged each other and Harry left to get ready. Rose took her shower and took her time doing her hair. She curled it the muggle way and added a little magic to make sure it would stay curled all evening. Her long auburn hair cascaded down her back and was pulled up in the front in a very loose braid that had curls falling strategically from it. She put on enough makeup to make her green eyes stand out. She then put on her dress.

As she was dressing she noticed that the box she had received the night Sirius came to see her had begun to emit light. She went over to it and opened the lid. Two scrolls had names on them. One was for her and the other read "Severus Snape". Rose gasped.

"How am I supposed to give this to him?" She wondered. She continued to get ready as she pondered what she would do.

"Rose? Can I come in?" Harry called hesitantly.

"Come in Harry. I was just putting on my earrings!"

Harry walked in.

"Rose! You look gorgeous!" He exclaimed.

"Thank you Harry. You look quite dashing yourself!" She said giving him the once over. Harry had on black dress robes that made his green eyes stand out.

"Would you like to walk in with Parvati and I?"

" I would love to," she smiled and took his arm. Together they headed to the Great Hall where they were met by Parvati. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rose went to join the Beaux-Batons delegation.

Severus hated all that had to do with Balls. He did not want to attend this Yule Ball but he needed to talk to the ever illusive Karkaroff and he needed to talk to Rose. Since their last discussion he had felt guilty for bringing back the past. Especially as it was such a painful memory. He needed to make sure she would be alright. As he walked up to the entrance to the Great Hall, he began scanning the crowd for her. His eyes were immediately drawn to her cascading auburn hair and her dress.

"What the hell is she wearing? Where is the rest of it?" He growled to himself. He saw Charlie Weasley go up to her and ask her something and put his arm on her back. It took all of Severus' self-control not to hex the fingers off the boy.

She was wearing an emerald green dress with ribbons that glittered gold, red and silver. From his vantage point, it had no back and seemed to tie around her neck. He could see her smooth milky white skin and how the back of her dress started just below the top of her hip bone. It had a long and flowy stalked over to her.

"Dumbledore never said that clothing was optional!" He growled in her ear.

Rose turned around and he caught a glimpse of the front of her dress. It was gathered to look like two bands of cloth crossing at the back of her neck and across her chest to then link to the skirt of her dress. It had a thigh high slit that allowed him to catch a glimpse of her shapely legs. Although it was incredibly revealing, she looked like a Middle Eastern queen in it.

"Severus, thank you, you look ravishing as well. I do hope you will keep me a dance?" She asked him laughingly.

Severus walked away grumbling. He went into the Great Hall and waited for the dancing to begin. As he did so, Rose stared at his back.

"Why does that man have to be so angry?" She asked herself. "Why does he have to look so freaking gorgeous?"

"Mademoiselle?"

"Oui Jacynthe?" replied Rose, snapping out of her contemplation.

"The man over there told me to tell you that we will be dancing soon. What did the Potions teacher want?"

"He thought my dress was too revealing. Now let's get into formation. We need to show these people how strong our wandless magic is!"

The Beaux-Batons delegation walked to the edge of the dance floor that had been created in the Great Hall and waited for the music to begin.

Severus sat at the teacher's table and scanned the room. The music slowly faded and was replaced with the beat of drums and cymbals. He saw Rose and some of her students walk slowly to the centre of the dance floor, hips swaying to the beat of the drums. He became hypnotized by Rose's hips and the way they kept time with the drums. He had heard these beats before during his apprenticeship when he and his Master had gone to the Middle East to gather rare ingredients. As the beat continued to pick up he realised that she was slowly creating flames and making them crawl up her body until she was covered from head to toe in flames. She continued to dance, looking like the flame of a candle dancing in the wind. The music continued to pick up and her flames glowed brighter until they turned into a Patronus, a doe. Just as abruptly as the dance had begun it ended and thunderous applause reverberated throughout the Great Hall. The Beaux-Batons took a bow and glided off the dance floor, only to be replaced by the four champions and the ball got underway.

He was walking the perimeter of the dance floor for the third time, watching Rose dance with her students to another fast paced song when he heard the music change to slower song. He turned to walk to the punch table when he felt a small hand on his arm.

"I believe you owe me a dance, Severus," a throaty feminine voice said.

He turned to look into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen.

"Rose..." he began.

"Severus, you used to dance with me at all the balls when we were younger, have things changed that much?" She laughed.

Severus took her hand and led her to the middle of the floor. He hesitated when it came to putting his hands on her bare back. She noticed, took his hand and placed it on her hip. He gasped slightly, and she felt his body give a jolt but, he did not let go and lead her in a slow waltz around the floor.

"Severus, I missed this," she said smiling up at him. "Can we talk later?"

"What about Rose? I don't want to fight again." He answered.

"I have something for you, can you come to my rooms around 12:30?"

"Certainly, but what do you have for me?" He asked, his curiosity piqued.

"It is hard to explain but you will understand when I show it to you later."

They continued to dance, talking about days past and the present. It seemed that they had re-entered the ease of their old friendship. Both were slightly apprehensive about their scheduled meeting after the children were sent to bed. They danced until the beat changed to a faster paced song. They both seemed to hesitate leaving the others arm.

"Rose, I have to do my rounds but I'll see you after." He whispered to her silkily, sending shivers down her spine.

She watched him walk away and wondered when he had gotten so sexy. She had always thought him attractive. His hair always shone and his pale skin had always been baby smooth, even now when he sported a five o'clock shadow. What had changed, however, was the fact that he was no longer thin but lean and muscular. He would never be large and buff but under all those layers of clothing she could feel his muscles as they danced. The blue black robes and trousers he wore only enhanced those new muscles (well only to her) and the beautiful obsidian colour of his eyes. Rose couldn't take her eyes off of him.

"I hope that letter doesn't take him away from me," she whispered to herself before going back to dance with her students.

This is the dress I had in mind only in green:

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