"Severus?" Rolanda called, feeling the effects of the alcohol Albus had added to the punch once the students had turned in for the night. She watched as the Head of Slytherin stormed out of the Great Hall, looking angrier than usual. Keeping her balance as best she could, Rolanda managed to catch up with him when he was halfway down the hall, grabbing his arm.
His head whipped around, anger flashing in his eyes. "What?" he snapped.
"There's a lady in red waiting for you."
Severus glared at her, his glare piercing through her. "She's being well cared for, isn't she?"
Rolanda almost laughed when it dawned on her what was running through Severus's mind. The greasy git is jealous, she thought to herself. "Grow up and go dance with her."
"I will do nothing of the type," he replied, adjusting his robes as if it would make him appear more dignified.
"You're acting like an insolent fifth year," she said, narrowing her eyes. He was drunk, but she hadn't noticed him drinking much throughout the night, off with Igor for what seemed like hours. "How often do you and Minerva get an opportunity like this?"
"This is a child's party and a show for the Ministry."
"And now the children are gone, and Albus has allowed us to make better use of it," Rolanda pointed out. "And it seems the Ministry is on its way out," she added, motioning to Bagman and Minerva who had just come out of the Great Hall.
Severus looked smug as over, his eyes set on Minerva, who Rolanda had to admit, looked gorgeous in her red robes. Everything she wore was normally black or dark green. The red stood out well against her pale skin. As angry as she could see Severus was, Rolanda could tell that his eyes were interested in her. "Thank you for a lovely evening, Minerva," Bagman said with a fake sense of chivalry. The Potion's Master's jaw was tightening, and Rolanda watched as Bagman kissed her cheek for the umpteenth time that evening.
Minerva nodded and waited until he was far down the hall to turn to where Rolanda and Severus stood. The smile on her face melted quickly when she saw Severus's face. "Have a good night, Professor?" Severus asked, his voice biting.
"You know Albus asked me to keep Bagman happy," she replied, her voice equally irritated, walking towards them.
"Always the loyal deputy, aren't you?"
Knowing she was in the way, Rolanda slipped into the Great Hall, peering around the doors so she could still see them. Minerva had made her way towards Severus, a hand on his arm. "I am. I did my duty, and I was rather hoping we could enjoy the rest of the evening together…that is if you're done breaking up all the snogging in the castle this evening?"
Severus smirked. "Well, it seems the other Heads of House were preoccupied. Just carrying the weight."
Minerva wrapped her arms around his waist, and it was clear that Severus was making no effort to move away. Rolanda laughed to herself. One hand fell to her behind while the other began to pull pins out of her hair. As her black and silver strands fell against the red robes, Rolanda felt herself tear up at how pretty she looked. Earlier in the week, a few students had been snickering on the Quidditch field about the Transfiguration's Mistress's comment about letting her hair down. Severus kissed her deeply, and when they parted, Minerva whispered, "Let's take advantage of the rest of the night. I think it's your turn to keep me happy." Severus's lips fell to her neck, unbuttoning the top of her robe when Minerva pulled away, smiling mischievously. "I do believe you owe me a dance."
Before Severus could protest, Minerva was dragging him past Rolanda into the Great Hall. Only a few of the staff were left for the evening- Poppy, Albus, Filius, who was far more inebriated than he should have been, Pomona and Argus who had been having the most fun Rolanda had ever seen him have. The decorations were still up, and Rolanda had to admit Hogwarts had outdone itself. Snow continued to sprinkle from the ceiling, piling lightly on the floor. The children as well as Igor and Maxine had retired for the evening, and Rolanda appreciated the chance to relax around the part of the staff she truly enjoyed. Everything had been so different with the arrival of the others- their usual friend gatherings more awkward with the others around. The staff room was lacking its same, laid back feeling. Aside from when Sybil was walking around predicting whose death was next, the staff room had always been a place Rolanda found a comfort. With the strict Russian and snobby Frenchwoman, things were never quite as they had been.
Walking towards the punchbowl, Rolanda looked up and saw Minerva pulling Severus to the middle of the now empty dance floor. Well, it was almost empty, aside from Argus continuing to enjoy his dance with Mrs. Norris and Filius attempting to demonstrate to Pomona how he had 'crowd-surfed' earlier in the evening. With his arm around her waist, Severus looked far more like a gentleman than he ever had. "There's a sight I never thought I'd see," a soft voice came from behind her.
Rolanda turned to see their Headmaster behind her, handing her a drink. Accepting it with a smile, Rolanda toasted it towards the dancing couple. "I think you should dim the lights a little," Rolanda teased.
Albus waved his wand and suddenly the bright white lights faded to a much more romantic shade. Rolanda whistled, and Minerva and Severus immediately jumped out of each other's arms. Minerva glared at her. "Would the two of you stop?"
"Only trying to set the tone," Rolanda replied. Severus's face was bright red, but when Minerva pulled him back towards her, he looked too interested in her to let the embarrassment tear him away. "They still work," Rolanda commented to Albus.
"It's a dangerous pairing," Albus added.
"They were either going to kill each other or fuck- one of the two."
"I suppose we see which of the two happened."
"I wouldn't ever say Severus looks happy, but when he's with her, it's the closest I think he'll ever come to it." Rolanda watched as Severus, clearly thinking nobody was watching, kissed Minerva's forehead, tucking her hair behind her ear. They were whispering to each other, Severus pulling her closer as they continued across the floor. "Maybe, we should leave them be," Rolanda suggested.
"For now, yes," Albus agreed.
"For now?" Looking up at the Headmaster, Rolanda saw the normal twinkle in his eye, but there was something missing from his normal look. Since the start of the term, Albus had been around less, shut up in his office more. Whispers among the staff suggested that something dark was coming. Charity had whispered about her fears to Pomona a few times, Rolanda overhearing them. For the most part, she'd shrugged it off, but the lackluster in Albus's eyes suggested she should be more concerned.
"Sometimes duty becomes greater than personal joys," he said in his normal, mentoring voice. Yet, it unnerved Rolanda. "Let's let them enjoy tonight, hm?"
Albus put an arm around her shoulder, guiding her out of the Great Hall. The others seemed to get the hint and followed behind, leaving the couple to enjoy the remainder of the dance.