Hey! I hope you are all ok, sorry for the late update. Lot going on, and finally got responses from unis in the UK so have to get that all sorted out. Big huge thanks to those who reviewed the past chapters! A virtual hug to the new followers and people who added this story has a favorite, and also those who read this story in general :)

I still don't own any Harry Potter characters, or the Harry Potter World in general. Just my OCs and this story's plot.

25 A little note.

News of the ball brought quite a few hysterical students to Hogwarts. It became the talk of the school, even occupying Severus's Slytherin mates conversations. One morning, as Severus arrived at his table for breakfast, he expected the ball to be the subject. However, it was not the case. He looked at the 'Daily Prophet' being held by Avery in front of him. It read that there were small series of attacks that took place in Wizarding Glasgow and London.

"Ah, the Dark Lord warned them Snape. Those excuses of wizards never learn. You could have been there with us Snape. The look on their faces, especially the Muggles. The fear was priceless."

"I sense it was worth it then?" asked Severus.

Mulciber raised a brow. "Obviously Snape. They started to cry and shout at the hexes and jinxs. The cowards they are. One used this little metal device, must have been a Muggle weapon. Whatever it was, it was disarmed quickly. Those weapons are no match for a wizard's wand."

Severus put his food down, and spoke in a low voice so no one else the five of them heard. "Did you kill anyone Mulciber?"

He gave a disappointing look. "No, they wouldn't let us. The fools. Bellatrix, you know Black's aunt, and Lucinda Garlin, they did the killing. Those two were supervising us since it was our first attack. They let us torture a bit and scare the prisoners. Our next outing is where the real fun will begin. It is also when you, Snape, should think about finally putting your name in the Dark Lord's circle as we did."

"Yeah Snape, you should, instead of befriending the enemy, you know Easgriff." Added Avery. "Or, that could be your plan. Befriending Easgriff, and getting all those secrets out of her so the Dark Lord would have leverage everywhere."

Severus said nothing in response. Of course his 'mates' would think that. Eva's aunt being part of the circle had probably given information about the numerous spells, curses from the Wickford side of the family. Plus a few hints that the Easgriffs have their own share of dark magic. Severus knew about those, but not in detail. Eva never told them either story of the Easgriff side.

The group finished their breakfast a few minutes later and then headed for Charms. Severus went straight to his usual spot next to Eva.

"Hey Sev, how are feeling? You look a bit pale."

"Oh, I'm fine, really I am." He said.

"Ok then." Eva replied, not pushing it further. She cast a look around the room, her eyes meeting Mulciber. It took mere seconds for them to exchange a murderous glance. Severus observed their exchange. It felt like the two were dueling with the darkest spells the wizarding world knew. He could feel somehow deep down that one day, Eva and Mulciber would have a showdown; a real wizarding duel. He hoped however that it would never happen, but couldn't help but worry about it.

Severus decided to end the exchange. "Eva, you have been staring for some time over there."

"What?" She said turning her head towards him. "Oh the looks duel with Mulciber?"

"How did you…"?

"Sev, legilimence remember?" she then smiled to drop the stress going on inside Severus's mind. "Just kidding, the concerned look you had on you face gave it away."

Severus opened his mouth to respond; he didn't think he was that easy to read. "I…I gave it away?"

Eva starched her head. "You are somehow, Sev, to me, like an open book. For some reason I know what you are thinking of, most of the time that is." She ended her sentence with a wink and started to listen to Professor Flitwick.

Severus knew his own mother couldn't read him like that, so how could she? He decided to put his thought and feeling for Eva aside for the time being and concentrate on charms. Before he could fully pay attention, in his mind his finished their little conversation.

You are a book yourself Eva, interesting to read, understand, and fall for with every word you say.

Class couldn't end sooner. The bell rang, and the pupils were off to their next subject. While on their way to Defense, Severus's mind went to the thoughts he had during charms. He paid attention to Flitwick, but he couldn't help but wonder how he could ask Eva to the ball. How he would do it? She was going to be asked by one or two other boys, perhaps Black would give it shot, although it seemed suicidal for the poor Gryffindor.

"I wonder if dueling is on the agenda for today." Said Eva as they walked.

"There is always a chance that Professor Harling has it planned." He replied.

"I hope so."

The two walked a bit longer until they reached the Defense room. They entered and sat beside each other as they did any other day. The room quickly filled with students, and Harling came into view.

"Morning. Today, we will take a different approach of the lesson we did a few days ago." He scanned the students with hawk like eyes as if he was looking for a victim. He paused on Sirius Black and James Potter for a moment. "For those who have a slight memory issues, I am referring to dueling." Then carried on his speech. "So, I have decided to have you all duel each other. However, it will be someone you are close to. It would be too easy for a person to send a rather uncomfortable spell to Mister B because they dislike one another. You will be dueling your friend who is sitting next to you. Now all of you up! Let us get these tables out of the way."

Severus got up, helped Eva put the table aside, and then settled his things by hers. With all the tables to the side the room appeared large enough for the students to duel, although Severus thought a different area would have been better.

Eva and Severus went to a less crowded area to duel. "Ok, let's start then." She said.

They both raised their wands to prepare to 'fight'.

Smirking Severus mouthed, "Ladies first."

"Oh really?" Eva replied raising a brow followed by a smile. "I would prefer the loser to have a go before the winner."

He chuckled "Do you actually think you can beat me?"

"I don't think Sev, I know." She winked back.

"How can you know, if you never tried?" He stated

"Because, my dear, some things are foreseen."

Severus made a face "What are you talking about?" he knew Eva, but not this side of her.

"Whatever, get ready to lose Snape!"

He raised his wand at the exact moment she did. "I would like to see you try, Easgriff!"

Eva shoot out a stunning spell that Severus easily diverted. He responded with one of her favorite spells, the impediment jinx.

"Hey! Oh you want to play that game, fine lets!" she shouted, and pointed her wand at papers on the ground. "Oppugno!"

Severus removed the papers as fast as he could. "Oh come on! Expelliarmus!"

Eva cast a stunning spell to try and annul the effects of Severus's spell. "Stupify! Aqua Eructo!"

Using a non-verbal spell, Severus changed the jet of water into thinner particles, which sprayed the nearby students .

"Hey! Watch it will you!" shouted a Hufflepuff.

Both Eva and Severus spoke at the same time. "Sorry!"

Professor Harling decided to put the students aside so the pair could finish their duel. It appeared that neither of them was going to back down and let the other one win. Harling could tell it was annoying their classmates, but he gave their duel no more than two more minutes. Once it was over, he would remove five points each for not staying in their area.

Severus could feel the eyes of his classmates on him. Why he and Eva had to use these particular spells he would never understand.

He faced Eva, who raised her wand at him. Not thinking he shouted out the stunning spell, the same one she sent out.

"Stupefy!" they both cried. The charms passed less than a centimeter between each other and hit Eva and Severus respectfully sending them backwards. Severus went into the crowd, and Eva to the ground. They both went unconscious.

"Rennervate." said a voice.

Severus awoke with a small headache. "Professor Harling?"

The man put away his wand. "Hello there, Mister Snape." Severus put his head in his hands trying to make his head feel better. "Don't worry, the pain will fade. That was one nasty stunning spell. She hit you hard. Although I could say the same for you."

Severus looked up at the man. "Eva? Where is she, is she alright?"

"Miss Easgriff is fine. Madam Pomfrey is giving her a potion for her head since she hit the ground." He pointed Severus to the bed a two rows down. Severus saw her sitting with a cloth on her forehead and drinking the potion while making faces.

"You both have been out for two hours since those were powerful stunning charms."

"When may we leave the hospital wing, sir?" he asked.

"Eager to leave the hospital wing I see. I would say in an hour or two depending on Madam Pomfrey. You won't be staying here for days Mister Snape." Harling finished his sentence and went over to the nurse to say goodbye before leaving.

"Ah, you're up. Drink this, you'll feel much better." she handed him a small vile with a black liquid inside. He drank it. It had a bitter after taste.

"Tastes awful!" Eva said.

"Well dear, what did you expect? Hot cocoa?" replied Pomfrey. "Now let us give time for the potion to work and then you may leave."

The pair nodded and the nurse went to check on a first year on the other side of the room. Severus got up and walked over to Eva and sat by her.

"Sorry about the spell."

"Me too, they knocked us out pretty hard though."

"Indeed." He looked at Eva holding her cloth. "How is your head?"

"Better, I got a small cut on my forehead, but it's fine." She replied.

Severus's hand went to the cloth on her forehead, making Eva let go of her grip on the material. He removed it and found a small cut above her eyebrow.

"I did that." He muttered.

"No you didn't, I just hit my head. Things like this happen."

Severus let his shaky hands go over the small injury. He was scared Eva would push them away, but she didn't. Instead, she closed her eyes.

"Sev, could you…"

"Right!" he cried out, dipping a new cloth in the bowl of water next to them. He then brought it back to her head.

She chuckled "I was going to ask to if you could hand me a new cloth, but it looks like you got to it first."

Severus didn't reply and kept the damp fabric on her forehead. He liked having her close and when he wiped away a hair from her cheek he couldn't help but notice her cheeks turning a light pink. At that moment, he decided perhaps he had a shot at asking her to the ball with him.

"Not now" he thought "Later."

A few days passed since the incident and both Eva and Severus have made full recoveries. News of their duel travelled through the school fast. Some said they had it coming. Others were impressed at the force exerted by both spells respectively. Severus was subject to many stares in the corridors. He thought that at least now they wouldn't be picking on him anymore.

When he entered Herbology, he found himself paired up with Grace, one of Eva's friends. He did his work along with her, but let his mind wander, taking him to thoughts of asking Eva to the ball. Severus knew he wasn't the type to ask her out with chocolates and roses; a technique he was sure Black would use on any girl. Nor would he serenade with an instrument like he believed Remus Lupin would, or even write a corny song like James Potter. He remembered the last one too well; it was in the Great Hall before dinner. Severus could have sworn his Slytherin friends were gagging at the song.

At the end of class, he tried to get the words out to Eva, but couldn't. Each time they were either interrupted, or he would go with the "Nothing, I forgot what I was going to say" excuse. Eva wouldn't push him to 'remember'. He hoped this time there wouldn't be any distractions.

"Eva?"

She turned around with her usual bright smile. "Yeah. What is it, Sev?"

"Um I was wondering if…if…you…"

"Hello!" yelled out David who came crashing in on them. Severus had nothing against the young man, but at the moment, he wanted to petrify him, glue his tongue, or just simply make him vanish.

"Hey Dave, what did you do?"

"Just asked Mariana to the ball with me, she said yes and now I will go spread the joy to Grace. See you!" he finished in a hurry and ran off towards the opposite side of the castle.

"Well he seems…happy." Started Severus.

"Of course he is. Who wouldn't be, I'm glad his idea worked."

"What was his idea?"

"The good old fashioned throw a piece of paper at the girl to get her attention. You know once she looks up you mutter the words like whispering."

Severus nodded and attempted to finish the sentence he was trying to end before David came in and stopped it.

"Ah looks like it's time to go see Professor McGonagall."

Severus grabbed her arm in attempt to keep her from leaving." Wait Eva."

"Yes?"

He tried to finish, but couldn't. "Do you mind if I sit next to you today?"

"Of course not, now come on we don't want to be late."

They made their way through the castle and into Transfigurations. The pair went to their usual desk and waited for McGonagall to start.

She gave her lecture on what was expected of them that day. The first twenty minutes she made them write important facts about conjuring charms, but mostly about human transfiguration as it was the next thing they would be studying.

"This class today will be pure theory. I do not want any of you to be sent to the hospital because you couldn't follow the rules."

McGonagall's eyes scanned to room and landed on the one and only time Eva decided to ask Severus about the conjuring spell.

"Miss Easgriff! I hope you heard me quite clearly. However, to avoid any confusing you will change seats with Miss Hazel."

Severus saw her let out a sigh as she left her seat for Mariana's. Once the exchange complete the professor went back to her lecture.

Severus listened attentively taking keynotes, and writing remarks that would have important values for the exam. It was quiet without Eva next to him. He looked up to see she was calm next to David. It didn't feel right for her to behave like that. He saw that she was talking to him, and what she was saying had an impact on her.

"Wonder what they're talking about?" Mariana said. Severus nodded in agreement. He noticed Eva writing something on a piece of parchment and showing it to her friend. It appeared she was in need of advice on whatever she was doing. Severus thought of it being small phrases for her to put in a future essay on the subject. Eva later showed with her hands what appeared to be a necklace. She was talking about the ball. Severus realized what she was writing were perhaps ideas on what she would wear.

He thought of the way David asked Mariana, but he couldn't do it that way. He also knew he was getting nowhere with asking her face-to-face.

"You should write a note."

Severus turned to Mariana. The Ravenclaw appeared to have been keeping an eye on him while he was looking at Eva.

"Pardon me?" he whispered.

"I said you should write a note. It's simple, and Eva wouldn't mind. Knowing her, she would keep it and frame it. Don't be scared."

"I'm not scared." He replied.

"I believe you, Severus. So now get writing." She said.

Severus thought about it. Sending a note would be easy, but was it too easy? What if someone read it? He looked again. They weren't very far apart, and the note would pass through a Ravenclaw, a Hufflepuff and finally David before reaching Eva. He recalled those two students being on good terms with her, and started to feel less stressed at the idea of the note falling into the wrong hands.

He tore a small part of parchment, took his quill and started to write on it: 'Would you go to the ball with me? Severus.' When he was done, he let out a small sigh, trying to be as discreet as possible, but also not to get caught by McGonagall. He folded the parchment with Mariana gazing at it and giving him a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, it will be fine, now send it off."

Severus turned to the Hufflepuff, but felt uncomfortable, as he didn't know his name.

"That's Oliver." mentioned Mariana.

"Thank you" he replied. "Um, Oliver, could you pass this to Eva, please." The Hufflepuff turned his head. "Sure, no problem." He said as he took the note while McGonagall was at the board.

Right at the moment she turned, Oliver grabbed the note and fell back on his chair.

"Mister Murray! I do hope you were trying to follow up on what is written on the board."

Oliver pushed himself back on his seat; the young man brought comic relief to the room in his awkward and clumsy attempts to sit up straight. "Yes, professor of course. I just couldn't see the far right part of the board. Guess I moved too much and fell."

"Of course you did. I hope it has nothing to do with that piece of parchment in your hands."

Severus could feel the color in his face leave, and his heart starting the marathon.

"Oh this." He answered, holding the parchment for her to see it.

"Yes that Mister Murray, you have no other parchments in your hands now do you?"

"No, only the one." He finished putting it down on his table.

"Then I hope you don't mind me taking a look, to ensure you are following the class."

Severus sank in his chair while McGonagall walked down towards Oliver, and the Hufflepuff handing her the note. He watched her read it, and felt his heart beating at a speed that rivaled the Hogwarts Express. McGonagall then look at Oliver.

"Mister Murray, there is a time and place to be writing ideas on what to cook for your birthday. May I ask why must it be in my class? No matter. Five points will be taken from Hufflepuff."

The professor went back up to her desk, Severus turned to Oliver and muttered a thank you to which he replied 'You own me Snape.' He then pointed out to him where the note was, in Eva's hands.

Severus felt a wave of relief overcome him knowing the note was out of the danger zone.

"Hey Snape."

"Yes."

"You got something."

Severus recognized a familiar parchment in Oliver's hand. He took it, and thanked him before McGonagall could see anything. He then proceeded to open the note.

'Hey Sev, would you like to go to the ball with me? I know this is not traditional, but I wanted to ask you. So what do you say? Eva.'

Severus couldn't help but let a wide smile go across his face. He looked to see if Eva got his note. She had just opened it and had the similar smile he had. He glanced at the clock to see only five minutes were left before the bell would ring. He then looked at Eva to find her facing him, and nodding.

Severus was overjoyed. She had agreed to go with him. However, he still wanted to ask her in person. He knew that Eva was someone that preferred a direct conversation when the option was given. He replied to her note as well and went back to work when the head of Gryffindor House gave him a warning to not be turning his back at her when she was speaking.

When class was over, Severus made his way to the corridor in a hurry, wanting to catch up with Eva. Once there he saw her against the wall in front of the door.

"Got your note." She said while approaching him.

"Yes, I got yours as well." He replied.

"Yeah well, I thought it would be a good idea. You know, we would look good, like at Blackthorn Manor, and over all have a really good time."

"Of course we…would…will. We will have a great time." He finished. Severus then remembered what he wanted to do. "Eva, I still want to…"

"What do you… Oh, I see." She responded has he put the note in his robes.

"I know that you prefer a direct approach and I want to do that."

She nodded "Ok, I'm listening to you. I promise this time no interruptions."

Severus laughed "I hope not, we have had quite a few, and it was bloody awful when it happened."

They both heard a booming voice behind them. The pair turned around to see Sirius Black coming with confidence written all over him.

"Hello Evangeline dear..."

"Black, I will say this once, and only once. Shut up, please for the love of Merlin shut up; and go that way as fast as you can before I set fire to your ass. Literraly."

Sirius put up his hands in defeat, and went the other way with his friends. "I am going to propose to her one day."

"Not before I dispose of you Black!" yelled Eva causing Severus to laugh.

She then turned her attention back to Severus. "You were saying before we were rudely interrupted"

He took a deep breath to gain the confidence he needed. "Eva Easgriff, will you go with me…to the…. Christmas ball…please."

Eva then took his hands and smiled at him. "Yes. Yes I will go with you to the ball."

~~~~~~~~END OF CHAPTER~~~~~~~~

I hope you all liked the chapter, and that it was worth the wait. Sorry for not putting it up sooner, lots of work going on.

Don't forget, minutes to read and seconds to review. :)

Until next time *Puts on Harry's invisibility cloak* You wanted to play hide and seek Harry! But you never said I couldn't use your cloak!