Chapter 52, A Fish Out Of Water
The dance was held on a Saturday so that it could go late into the night without disrupting classes the next day. Though Severus understood this logic, it cost him a Hogsmeade day, so he was annoyed. Regulus was meeting up with Kreacher and the Lestranges and probably the Malfoys while Severus was stuck at a stupid dance because Heather Toy would not just go with Raislen.
He did think of her as Heather Toy when it came to the dance, simply because of how annoyed he was with her over the entire thing. The more he got to know Malfoy, the easier of a time he'd have working his way into Voldemort's ranks when he was out of school. Regulus's approval may or may not be enough, but added to Malfoy's, it would certainly be enough. Malfoy was a high ranking Death Eater, and that mattered a lot. Severus was well aware that Lucius did not particularly care about him as a person or a friend. He cared about him as an intelligent capable mind that could serve his Lord and his cause. That was fine with Severus. Just fine, in fact.
The fewer friends he had in Voldemort's ranks, the fewer complications there would be when he made his true loyalties or lack thereof known. He truly liked Regulus, and that made things uncomfortable enough. Lucius Malfoy he honestly did not think much of, so using him shamelessly gave Severus no qualms. Knowing that progress was not being made this weekend because of a dance, put him in a foul mood. Still he was ready half an hour early, just as Heather Toy asked him to be.
He met her just outside the Great Hall at eight o'clock sharp in the evening, half an hour before the dance was to begin. Heather wanted to be early, because as head of the decorating committee, it was up to her to check last minute to ensure everything was properly in place and perfect. When Severus had made the mistake of pointing out that he was not on the decorating committee, she'd glared and said that it would not do for her to show up without a date and have to wait about for him. So here he was, half an hour early to a dance that he did not wish to attend. He could feel himself hunching into his Slytherin robes, but his body just couldn't help but respond to the discomfort.
"What do you think of the decorations," Heather asked brightly. From the eager expression on her face, she truly seemed to care about Severus's opinion on the matter for some strange reason. Idly he wondered if he'd ever given her the impression that he cared for interior design.
"Um... It is nice?"
"It is set up like an old fashioned Greek garden," she explained.
"Ah," he said. Several ornate stone fountains that held sparkling cascading water were scattered around the Great Hall. Animated cavorting statues of nymphs and fawns pranced around them. A few larger statues of Greek gods and goddesses, also animated, wandered about carrying trays of snacks and drinks.
"Guess what the statues are made of," Heather enthused.
Severus stared at the statues for a moment. "Um... Stone?"
Heather sighed. "Of course not stone. Well now they're stone, but we Transfigured extra desks from an empty class room on the third floor! Same for the fountains. They're all wooden desks. And they shall be again after the party is over. Say, if you want to practice for your Transfiguration O.W.L., you could always stay after and help the committee with Transfiguring them back!"
Severus stared dubiously at a statue of Medusa dancing with one of Poseidon. He could just imagine attempting to Transfigure them back and shattering the blasted things because he could not stop them from moving mid spell. "I don't know how to make them stop moving, and I Transfigure far better when things aren't moving," he muttered.
"Oh that's ridiculous. Just ignore the moving," Heather said. "Aren't they sweet dancing together?"
Severus ignored the question, because only desserts were sweet. Instead he focused on her statement about ignoring the movement.
"When I ignore the movement, the Transfiguration goes wrong!" He lamented.
"Well you aren't going to improve that issue without practice, Kid," Heather told him briskly.
"I don't want to help you clean up after the dance," Severus snapped darkly, scowling at her. "I did not even wish to attend this thing. I am not staying around after. That was not in the agreement."
"I just thought you'd help because we're friends," Heather bit out, looking annoyed. Before more could be said on the matter, the rest of the girls from her decorating committee filed in.
"Everything is perfect," a short thin girl in Hufflepuff robes sang out. "Heather, you are a genius. This makes us look quite smart."
Heather nodded sagely. "Yes. Those ancient Greeks were quite brilliant and progressive." Severus noted darkly that the other girls had not come in with their dates. That meant some lucky gits were spending the next half hour doing something useful, and showing up when the dance actually began.
"Which universities are going to be here," Severus asked."There," Heather said, pointing to a glowing mural on the far wall. It looked like Mount Olympus, with several gods and goddesses standing on top of it. Upon closer inspection, Severus noticed that each god or goddess had the name of a magical training facility on their chest. Apollo was The Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts (W.A.D.A.). Hades was The Secret Society of Druids, and wore a crown of oak leaves on his brow. Hecate represented the university of Vodou and Necromancy in Haiti. Athena represented the Ministry of Magic and all its branches and Hermes represented healers, though he sported no official name. "Where is Hermes's university name," Severus asked.
"Dumbledore said that there is no university for healing, just specific healers that teach their craft. He has invited a few here to speak to any students who are interested so they can see who they're best suited to learn from," Heather explained. "Like the Druids, they don't just teach anyone. You have to have the skills for it. Sure there are some potions that work for anyone, but there are more refined skills that one must have a natural affinity for or they won't work well."
Severus nodded. That made sense. "There aren't that many universities," he said, not bothering to hide his disappointment. "Raislen was right. None of these seem worth the bother.
"Dumbledore is doing a nice thing to give seventh years the opportunity to speak to people who may specialize in more rare abilities, though," Heather said.
"Sure he is," Severus agreed. "Just I personally do not care about any of them, so this evening is going to be boring at best."
"Well you're getting paid, so be nice," Heather said.
"Who is Raislen bringing, then," Severus wondered.
Heather scowled. "He better not be bringing anyone. I have enough to do making sure this goes well without having to rescue his date from him."
"Oh good," Severus said. "If you've so much to do, you shan't be making me dance!"
Heather frowned. "We could at least dance once or twice. I like dancing."
"I do not. Plus I do not know how, and nor do I care to learn," Severus told her firmly.
Heather giggled. "I could teach you."
Severus could feel his eyes widening in horror. "No thank you," he said firmly and Heather giggled again. Suddenly the Great Hall filled with the sound of old fashioned Greek music and the other seventh years began to arrive. At least he wasn't the only younger student who had been dragged along for a date. There were several sixth years present as well. He may have felt more discomforted about being the only fifth year, but he was too uncomfortable about a dance in general for any additions to truly matter. Heather broke through his rapidly rising thoughts and feelings of self-pity when her fingers latched onto his upper arm. "I thought we could talk to the Druids. Just to, you know, see what they're like! They have a lot of ancient knowledge and we like ancient knowledge so, perhaps they will share some with us if they find us worthy."
Severus glanced around. The representatives of the universities had arrived neatly without him noticing. The staff table had been empty seconds before, and now several strangers in various styles of robes sat where the professors usually ate their meals. "I want to wait on Raislen, but he's late," Heather complained. "If he isn't here in a few minutes, though, we will just go and talk to the Druids without him."
Severus frowned. "I thought he was supposed to leave you alone for the dance. I told him that he has to stay away from you so that I can get my book!" He was confused which made him annoyed.
Heather shook her head. "I wanted you to make sure he leaves me alone."
Severus nodded. "Yes. That is what I just said."
Heather shook her head again. "No. I don't mind if he is with us. I just don't want him bothering me or pulling my hair or pulling pranks on anyone that may embarrass me while I am having my head of decorating moment for this bloody dance! Don't you see the difference?"
Severus sighed. "Not truly."
"In your version he is not to come near us, and in mine he may, and you are to make him bloody behave!"
"Ah," Severus said. "Well you should've been more bloody clear!"
"Boys," Heather practically shouted. "Sometimes they can be so stupid!"
Severus rolled his eyes. He couldn't help it. "Girls are no treat either," he muttered. "Trust me. I would know. I am experiencing that right now."
Heather gave him a withering look before glancing around again for Raislen. "He always has to pull something," she fumed. "He is late! Tonight of all nights, he is late."
"He was not impressed with universities, remember?" And she said boys weren't smart.
"Yes, but he may have found something interesting regardless," Heather pointed out. "And there are good snacks."
"I am up for talking to the Druids if they will talk with us," Severus said. "Merlin, Nimue, and Morgana were Druids after all." He didn't know if he thought these Druids had managed to keep to the old ways enough to know nearly what Merlin and Nimue did, but it would certainly be interesting to find out.
"As far as I know, Raislen has not spoken to Druids before," he said. "So he may find them interesting. Where is he, anyway," he grumbled, at last beginning to share Heather's frustration with Raislen's lateness. It was detaining him from talking to the Druids at this point.
"We'll wait a few more minutes, and if he isn't here, we will just go talk to the Druids without him," Heather said. "It will teach him to continuously show out," she muttered half to herself.
"But will it?" Severus wondered plaintively. "Because I do not believe it will." Heather sighed, but made no reply, her attention on her Greek serving statues.
"Perhaps he's studying with Regulus and lost track of time," she said after several minutes had passed.
"Regulus went to Hogsmeade to visit with his family, and Raislen does not like the Lestranges and Malfoy enough to go without us. He has told me this," Severus said. "So no."
Heather sighed again. "Then I don't know what to think! He's just found another way to make a pain of himself is all." She made a dour face.
"Let's just go talk to the Druids," Severus said, annoyed with both Raislen and Heather at that point. The annoyance was dampening his eagerness to speak to the Druids, because he knew he should've been far more eager. He would've been too if both of his best friends were present and behaving properly.
"Alright," Heather said. "And he'd best not complain later that we didn't wait for him." They were just stepping forward to approach the cluster of green robed figures with a heavy ornate oak tree on their breast, when to Severus's shock, professor Flitwick rushed past them and up to the Druids. He stood before a tall red haired woman, speaking intently.
The woman's face shadowed and tears sprang to her eyes. Flitwick's face likewise looked stricken and Severus was suddenly extremely uncomfortable. Deciding he was going to have a snack, to get away from the emotion, and return later, he hastily turned away only to be dragged back by Heather's hand on his upper arm. She tugged him toward the Druids and he resisted. She tugged harder and his feet slid forward. Blast it! As they drew closer, he caught Flitwick's words. "Please, if she ever returns to your grove, tell her... tell her to please come and find me."
The words seemed to be a struggle to get out, as if Flitwick wrestled with his pride. Had anything ever been so uncomfortable, he wondered desperately. Turning he tugged hard at his own arm, quite prepared to use it to drag Heather away like a bloody fish on a line. He would get away from this and have a bloody snack. He so had not wanted to come to any stupid dance! Blast Heather Toy! "I shall, Sir. I can see that you care for my sister very much," the red haired woman was saying when Severus finally managed to drag Heather away.
"My arm hurts," he growled at her as he snatched a small egg salad sandwich from a tray carried by Athena. "Curse you, Heather that was uncomfortable and embarrassing!" He shoved the sandwich into his mouth, relishing the flavor. It was delicious! Perhaps even more so because it had rescued him from his discomfort.
"I wanted to hear why poor Flitwick was so upset," Heather whispered. "It seems like his girlfriend is missing. Do you think Voldemort took her, then?"
"It wouldn't be his first crime, or the first time he took away a person who is very much cared for," Severus said, after swallowing his bite of sandwich. He finished his sandwich and washed it down with a glass of pumpkin punch. Heather declined to have a snack, and as Flitwick had gone away again, they were free to approach the Druids at last. "Hello," Severus said, bowing awkwardly. He had no idea if one should bow, but Druids were an ancient magical order, so some form of respect felt appropriate.
"Yes, hello," Heather echoed, bowing hastily after Severus had done.
"We don't feel we are suitable for Druidic training, but we respect Druids very much," Severus said. "Your knowledge, power and wisdom is something we can only hope to aspire to some day."
"We're just more city people and don't really feel we'd be suited to grove life and such," Heather added. Severus tried not to grin, picturing how miserable she was when traveling through nature with her parents in some caravan or other during the summers.
"Merlin and Nimue are my favorite historical wizards in all the world," Severus said. "Do your people feel they have any of their knowledge left, I wonder?"
"Not even going to give us your names, then," A tall thin wizard with a sweep of bushy gray hair demanded.
"Yes, sir, I am Severus Snape," Severus said hastily, feeling his face flush in embarrassment as he did. So intent had he been on being proper to the Great Druids, that he'd quite forgotten the necessity for his own name. It was about them, not him, after all.
"Heather Knight," Heather murmured.
"I am Galen and Heather and Nimue were mad as hatters," the old Druid growled. "They toyed with dangerous magics, invoking the most powerful fae as if there would be no consequences. After they were gone, it left all the Muggles seeking assistance from Druids like whiny little babies. It took them a few generations to learn that we weren't all Merlin."
"Were you there," Heather asked and Severus gasped.
"Of course he wasn't, Heather! He isn't that old!"
The red haired woman to whom Flitwick had been talking now had dry eyes and an amused smirk on her face as her green gaze darted eagerly between the old wizened Druid and Heather and Severus.
"I didn't mean," Heather began, but the old Druid cut her off.
"We have our history passed down from father to son, so that nothing is lost. I did not need to be present to have all the facts."
"Yes sir," Severus said. "Of course, Sir. I myself read of how Merlin and Nimue served the fae. Nimue served queen Maeb herself, being an air Druid elemental practitioner, and Merlin served Maeb's sister, Vivian, Lady of the Lake, a water fae due to his affinity for water magic."
The old Druid nodded. "That is actually true," he said grudgingly. "What of it?"
"Your people do not generally work with the fae, then," Severus wondered, and the old man shook his head.
"As I indicated earlier, it can be dangerous. Merlin and Nimue played with fire. Perhaps they won, and perhaps they did not. This is up for debate, I suppose. But if you're after their brand of magic, we have little to teach you."
"What about divining in the fire or laying on curses," Heather asked.
"As I said, Girl, we are not Merlin. And anything we could teach, you would be unwilling to learn as you both have no desire for our groves."
"Thank you for your time, Sir," Heather said, bowing again. "It was truly an honor to speak with you."
Severus allowed her to tug him away. He felt tongue-tied and despondent all at once. How he detested dances!