Hi! I'm back! I hope it wasn't too long of a wait, but the chapter is here so yay! I will try to update the next chapter faster but I rather you have quality instead of a quickly done chapter and all. Anyway, thank you all so much for your support, this story is seeing more and more viewers, followers and all :) I have people from all over the world reading this and it means a lot (I just hope you like it). Your support and reviews keep me going, again thank you!

Now of course I don't own any Harry Potter characters and everything not from J.K Rowlin's wonderful work. Just the OCs, and story plot.

26 Scares

"So, you asked Easgriff to the Christmas gathering? Snape, are you mad?!" asked Rosier.

The Slytherin was not the first to ask about Eva. His housemates believed he wouldn't have the courage to ask her. Their bets were on Black making a proposition of some kind (no pranks on the poor Slytherin was the main idea they had in mind), or Eva going with a demanding boy of some sorts. For that, Severus was subject to numerous interrogations the minute he got out of bed. Mulciber made remarks, Regulus Black tried hard to something sarcastic to say, Avery used recycled comments, and now, Rosier, decided to stick his nose into Severus's business.

As he ate his breakfast, Severus turned his attention to Rosier. "Oh no, Rosier. I can assure you I am perfectly sane. You, however, might have a few issues to deal with and I would prefer not being your therapist for the next year."

"Snape for the love of Salazar Slytherin you don't have to be such a douchebag about him asking a simple question." said Avery.

"Well, I am answering his question Avery. For your information, the fact that I am attending the ball with Eva has absolutely nothing to do with any of you."

"Ah, but you see Snape," started Mulciber raising a finger, "You are with US, and we are part of the Dark Lord's circle. Who you decide to 'go out with' has a very important impact on how He sees us." He pointed towards Eva, who was talking to her friends. "She has an impact, and now the scumsucker is rubbing off on you, and our reputation! It would be a real shame if she accidentally gets hit with a killing curse."

Severus's blood was boiling. So far, the insults were tolerable (if that was even true), but this was a threat. "You shut up right now, Mulciber. I will not hesitate to burn you to the ground if you lay a finger on her, you or anyone else." He finished his sentence and left the great hall in a hurry. Severus knew he couldn't hide his feelings for Eva from people much longer. He was giving out too many signs, and now he just said in front of his Slytherin 'friends' that if they were to hurt her, he would be there to avenge her.

As Snape was leaving, Mulciber let out a small grin, "I knew it. That idiot has feelings for the girl after all."

"Oh fantastic, this is Evans all over again!"

"Exactly Rosier, how are we going to solve this one?" questioned Avery.

"Didn't the whole 'Mudblood incident' take care of Evans?" asked Black.

Mulciber had his grin back on his face "Yes it did. We can either ensure a small rumor that would fuel Potter's or Sirius Blacks's hatred for him, a minor argument in which for Snape to save his pride will have to shut her up. What better way for that then saying you filthy mudwallower."

"But would Snape go so far again?"

"Either he will, or we can give him an offer he cannot refuse."

Further down the castle, Severus stood in front of his first class of the day, anxious to get inside.

"Sev, are you okay?"

He turned around to see a few students who had already arrived, and Eva, with her friends staring back at him. They had concerned looks on their faces.

"Yes I am, perfectly fine, why you ask?"

"You seem a bit off, pale too, are you sick?"

"David, I can assure you I am in a healthy state, perhaps it was something I ate this morning."

David didn't respond to him. He knew Eva was best at getting information out of him. He wasn't going to interrogate him any further or start a new session. He might have gone through it with the Slytherins.

Slughorn arrived some time after, letting the students in. Severus could feel Avery and Rosier's staring at him as he sat next to Eva. He tried to ignore it.

"Sev, there is obviously something wrong with you. Has Black done anything to you, or is it something else?"

"Eva please, everything is fine. Black has done nothing to me. Don't assume it's always him."

"Well it's often him Sev, you don't need to get on a hippogriff about it." Eva replied

"I am not getting on a hippogriff, can we just stop talking about it, please."

"Oh, of course we can." she sarcastically replied.

Eva sighed in defeat. She now assumed it was someone from his house, and maybe even Black. Being sarcastic in her remarks was something she loved doing, but having to use it at Severus made her feel uneasy. She turned her attention to the potions professor, and the calmest class she had ever been in started.

They made their potion in almost complete silence, with only directions being told and questions asked. Severus usually was not bothered by silence, but this time it had an effect on him.

"Eva can you say something, this is getting ridiculous."

She put down the Newt eyes, "You know what I find ridiculous? We have been friends for a while now I believe and you still won't tell me what is going on" She quickly put the Newt eyes in the potion and stirred it before any explosion would again occur. "I feel that you don't let me in…

"That's absurd."

"Not really, you don't trust easy I can see that and understand I think, but you also don't trust enough."

Severus leaped over to the potion, stirred it counter-clockwise and added the powder for it to be finished.

"I do trust you Eva, but there are certain things I don't feel ready to tell you or I want to keep them to myself. I understand what you are saying and it's still very hard for me to open up to others."

"I guess so, but Severus, you are aware that you cannot keep everything to yourself forever. One day I will find out either by you or on my own."

He knew she was right, but he was determined to keep some information, such as the Mulciber and company wanting him to join the Dark Lord's circle. Severus was aware if she found out, Eva would give him a serious betting, or something similar. It would have an important impact, he would lose her, and losing Eva could not be compared to losing Lily, not anymore.

"I understand Eva, don't worry."

"Good, now let's call the old Slug over here, it looks like the potion is finished, and there are no explosions this time."

Severus nodded and put his worries at the back of his mind. Potions ended well. He went with Eva and her friends to the next class, and ended up staying with her for the rest of the day.

He felt watched during most of the afternoon, the eyes of one Mulciber haunting him. The hatred the Slytherin had for Eva was very real now. She was in a bad position and he felt that he put her there. The last thing he wanted was for her to be live bait for the Death Eaters or a reason for them to attack somehow. A duel to the death between her and Mulciber wouldn't be impossible now. Severus hoped, however, that such an event would not be happening anytime soon.

At dinner he sat by Black, who was against all odds; the less provocative of the group. The interrogations he endured earlier did not occur, and Mulciber, usually talkative, only said a few sentences here and there over the course of the meal. Once it came to an end and all students were sent to their houses, Severus went straight to bed hoping to forget even for a small period the comments he heard from the gang earlier that day.

Light poured through the lake's water and into the windows when Severus woke up, followed by a strange feeling inside. He looked at his watch and his eyes went wide. He was late, and none of his mates noticed this. He got up as fast as he could, prepared his things and went out the door. The Great Hall was deserted, not a soul to be seen. He then remembered the time, and dashed through the empty halls towards the DADA room. They were all in class, he felt stupied running through the halls, passing a few students probably skipping the first hour.

Severus opened to door in a hurry "I am so sorry for being late Professor." Once inside he found himself standing in the middle of an empty room. Eva rushed in shortly after him.

"This is not right."

"Sev, you see it too? For a moment, I thought I was going crazy. You know maybe too much butterbeer yesterday. There has to be something going on today and we were not aware of it." she stated to which Severus agreed to. They went back to the empty Great Hall and sat on one of the benches trying to understand the situation.

"Maybe it was some volunteer stuff, wouldn't be the first time and it would explain why some are walking around the halls." stated Eva

Severus didn't agree with her statement, it was too simple for him. He started to find a different explanation, but something stopped him.

"Always together aren't you, how adorable."

Severus and Eva jumped and rubbed their eyes revealing Mulciber in front of them. However he wasn't wearing the deep green colours of Slytherin, but a dark black robe covering his either body. Avery, Rosier, Black and a few other came forth dressed the same way as Mulciber.

"Mulciber what is all this?" asked Severus

Eva wasted no time in hearing what Mulciber had to say. She pulled out her wand aiming it at the Slytherin "Sev, stay back please."

"You heard her Snape, stay back and enjoy the show." He removed his wand and shout out a stunning spell at Eva, causing to fly to the professors' table. Soon Severus could hear screams of joy from the small crowd.

"Ha ha! Good shot Mulciber, now let me have a go."

"Yes, of course, Isabella."

Isabella kept the grin on her face. "Oh, but first, let us assure Severus here has a front row seat." She cast a levitating charm on him, followed by ropes bidding him making him immobile and unable to reach his wand.

"Let him go, Isabella!" shouted Eva, who was back on her feet.

"Now why would I do that, when I can do this, crucio!"

"No!" cried out Severus, tears starting to form in his eyes. Eva fell to the ground, crying in pain at the force of her aunt's curse. Isabella was overjoyed and soon joined by Mulciber and Lucinda in the event. The screams of the girl he loved filled his ears. Tears were now rushing down his face, as he stood there levitating over her, unable to defend and help her.

"Wait, stop!" shouted Isabella. The screams ceased and now only Eva's small breathing could be heard.

"Severus isn't this the perfect time to tell her about your plan to join our family?"

Eva raised her weak body to Severus "You want to join them? You were lying to me this entire time!"

"No, not exactly! I was considering it, but then you changed all of it…"

"Oh, so you were going to put it on hold until an argument and go back to them? Was that the plan Severus?!"

Isabella chuckled "How sweet, my niece changed you Severus. Oh the beauty love can do to someone." Severus saw the group back away, leaving only Eva, Isabella and himself in the Hall. Isabella took her niece's chin and looked her in the eyes, then backed away. "Too bad it all ends for you now, you would have made such a wonderful couple, such a pity. A pure waste of magical blood."

Severus's eyes went wide, tears falling faster and faster. "No! Please don't, I'll do anything!"

Isabella looked up at Severus. "This is something I have always wanted to do, even you being a part of this wouldn't have helped you filthy half-blood. You can't compare with me. Perhaps you could of kept her away, but I would have found her. I am superior, I am pure, and now finally returning the Wickford name to its original purity, removing every little particle of dirt I can find"

She removed her wand, still staring at Severus "Oh Severus, if only you could of done something" now her wand was pointing at Eva "What a disgrace to the pureblood line, avada kedavra!"

"No!" Severus shouted, and the scene went blank.

"Snape, shut up!"

He opened his eyes finding himself in his dorm, covered in sweet and breathing rapidly. It was all a dream.

"Oh, sorry Preval."

Preval, another Slytherin of his age, just rolled his eyes. He didn't know him very well since he never got to know him at all during his time at Hogwarts.

"Whatever, Snape, just be glad you didn't wake the others, and apology accepted."

Severus shook his head, he looked at his watch with the light of the moon shinning through the water, allowing him to see the time. It read half past three. He threw his head on the pillow, taking deep breaths.

"It only was just a dream" he mumbled "It didn't happen."

He calmed himself down until his breathing was stable again. Soon he drifted back to sleep.

This time when Severus woke up it was real. He looked at his watch seeing seven o'clock, got up, dressed and went down to the Great Hall just as breakfast was being served. Upon reaching the door, he saw Eva and her friends talking. Relief took over when he saw her.

"Hi Sev, you look a little better this morning."

Severus nodded, went up to her and pulled her in for a hug, surprising Eva, and her friends, who decided to leave them and get breakfast.

"Wow, Severus, this is not like you. Are you alright?" she said with a smile on her face.

"You're ok." he stated.

"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be? You can't get rid of me easily Severus."

"I know it's just… never mind, and to answer your question I'm fine, thank you, just a bad dream."

She looked at him with concern as they separated from their hug "What kind of dream?"

"I… I was dying" He lied.

"Well, you're not, you are right here with me. We are going to attend the Christmas ball together and everything will be fine." she replied, leading him in the Great Hall. Severus remembered the room well from the nightmare, but here it was filling up with students and members of staff.

He sat with Eva that morning and ended up spending the afternoon with her. After Charms, they decided to go to the library to stay warm. It was cold outside, and the atmosphere nicer compared to other ares of the castle. They all sat and her friends started talking about the Christmas Ball only a few weeks away. He participated in the conversation. It helped forget the dream from the night before, and the comments he received from his Slytherin friends. The subject of the dress robes came up, of course.

Severus had not bought any dress robes for the occasion. He didn't know how he could manage. He and Eva both sent out letters to their families informing them of the ball, but Severus didn't get his hopes up. He knew Eva would receive a response from her family. No respected pureblood family would let their child go to a ball with robes 'unfit' for the occasion, or any occasion. He had some money left and hoped if no response came back from his mother, it would be enough for the robes. He also remembered the robes from the Blackthorn Manor gathering. He could use parts of the outfit and get a few new things to complete it without having to buy a complete dressing robe.

"I am thinking of a red dress, any thoughts David?"

"Do what you want Mariana, but don't tell me your final decision I want to be surprised." replied David. He thought of mixing bits of wizard robes with formal Muggle clothes for the event.

"What about you Eva, any ideas?" he asked his friend.

"I don't know, Dave. I am still waiting for my parents' response, then I will go. I did see this dress in a shop at Hogsmead or one at Twilfitt and Tattings, but that's in London. Mother can go get it for me, she knows my size, but I would prefer to do it myself. So, I have no idea what I will do."

"You Severus, any ideas?"

"Umm, I don't really know yet, but I do have a few ideas going around." he said.

"I wonder how the Great Hall will be like, perhaps similar to the Yule ball from the Triwizard Tournament." stated Eva.

"How do you about how it was?"

"My family is not entirely from the US Severus, the Easgriff side saw the last Tournament. It ended terribly though. I mean, who sends people our age to catch a cockatrice? It went on a rampage. I for one, will be completely shocked if it came back, and will make sure my children won't enter it. Overall, it is a very, no extremely, dangerous competition."

David stood up. "Come on, it is not that bad. You get prize money and eternal glory, plus if you can take on the Triwizard Tournament you can take on anything."

Severus nodded, he did have a point just as much as Eva had one. If you do qualify into the Tournament, then make it out alive, you can surely do almost anything. He also understood Eva. Why put yourself voluntarily in danger when deaths could occur any time during competition?

"Severus, what do you think?"

"Well, of course it is dangerous and I see your point Eva, but if you do compete and are alive after, you can surely be considered strong enough to battle the world." he answered honestly "It does remain a huge risk for the participants to take though."

"Obviously it is a huge risk, might as well knock on Death's door before you enter saying 'Hello Death, how you doing? Just letting you know I will be entering the Triwizard Tournament this year, so, yeah, save me a nice comfy seat, see you later!' It is completely crazy."

They continued their talk on the subject for many more minutes. It made Severus happy to see they were bouncing from subject to subject. Starting from the robes, to the ball, to the Triwizard Tournament and now how they saw the future. He enjoyed their talks, as it was a change from the Dark Lord, girls, Quidditch, girls, etc.

"Excuse me, you are talking. How could I have not seen or heard this before! Out of my library, now!"

"Alright madam, sorry." they exclaimed

The group packed their belongings and left the library under the eye of an angered Madam Olere pointing towards the exit. It was not closing time yet, but Severus knew how this librarian was. Madam Olere took no pity in throwing students and teachers out of the library. He personally saw her escort Professor Flitwick out, and literally throw a student's bag out the door so he would leave. He wondered when this librarian would retire, if her replacement would be worse than her. Then, he smirked, no one could be worse than Olere. Even if he was a quiet student, and having no problems with her, Severus found Olere to be a real troll in the library, scaring anyone who dared to speak, eat, drink or do anything else other than studying and reading.

At dinner, Severus sat back with his Slytherin mates.

"Hey Snape, we're sorry about earlier today, you know the killing curse thing." started Avery followed by Mulciber.

"Avery I don't want to hear about it."

"Snape we were joking, we did it all the time about the Mudbloods."

Severus turned to face Rosier. "Don't use that term Rosier, and Mulciber why should I accept your apology? You clearly dislike Evangeline, and will not stop the insults."

"You are right about the disliking part, but I do see what you mean. However, to make a zero risk for her, joining the Dark Lord would ensure she would not get hurt."

Severus recalled the nightmare, even if it was just a dream, it sent him a message of some kind. Isabella told him in the dream, joining would only slow them down, since killing her niece is her way of revenge against her sister and family. Severus knew he had to do something about it. Perhaps Dumbledore could help? Or Eva? He had to tell her sooner or later. For the present moment, he had to 'play' with them, make them believe he is starting to seriously consider it because at the moment he saw no way out.

"I will consider it."

Mulciber smiled. "That is all I'm asking for Snape."

Once the meal finished, all students went back to their houses for the night. When arriving in the Slytherin dormitory, Severus found a letter on his bed.

"Looks like you have mail Snape." said Preval.

"It appears so."

He put down the letter and got changed into his pyjamas. In bed at last, he decided to open the letter. Upon tearing the envelope, two Galeons and one Sickle came out on to his sheet. He held the letter up to read it.

Dear Severus,

I hope I am writing you back fast enough. I hope this will be the right amount for your dress robes. In case it is not, I took the liberty of also sending you the ones you wore during the party you went to last summer. That way you can picket off of the robes and complete it.

I am very happy you are going with Eva, I'm sure she will look very pretty in the outfits she decides to wear.

Your father has calmed down since the summer, I am removing every bottle little by little. I can understand if you do not believe me, but please listen. I have received some help, and many spells to aid us in this situation. I am hoping he will be better by the time you return home.

Love,

Your mother

Severus was grateful for the money she sent and the robes that were on their way. He obviously did not believe his drunken father to be the way his mother described him in the letter. He remembered him being calm the day he returned to the house, and left to go to Hogwarts, but that was it. For all he knew, Tobias might have been slipped a Muggle substance.

Severus shook those thoughts aside, and closed the letter back in the envelope and settled it on the nightstand with the money back inside. He put his head and pillow and now started to think about the ball and what he could get for him, but also Eva. There was no way he was going empty handed with nothing for her. Severus let those thoughts invade his mind as they drifted him off to sleep.

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

I hope you all liked the chapter, and that it was worth the wait. I edited this a lot, so I hope it is good.

Reviews keep this story alive. :)

Until next time *Sees Harry running off with my wand, "Harry give me back my wand, I promise I would tie you up and deliver you to Voldy!"