Chapter 26: The Yule ball
The next day, was of course, Christmas day. Which meant that the Yule ball was finally here. Snape mingled around outside of the great hall, looking blank and solemn. He told off a couple of children for shouting and had deducted points even before the ball had begun. Gryffindor lost a breaking 50 points, while Slytherin gained 20. As the people organised themselves Snape shifted uncomfortably
“Professor Snape.”
“What?” he asked turning around. McGonagall was standing boldly behind him
“Where is your date?”
“Date?” he said darkly and blankly. Remembering the lady he’d asked, he shook his head in disappointment. He’d never take Shona’s advice on love again. “She’s over there”
“Well you must find her the Yule ball will be starting soon. And also you’ll be starting off the dance along with the champions, your daughter and Shona…But where is Miss McGuire?”
“She didn’t get a date” Snape replied, he felt a lump in his throat as Lucy was mentioned. McGonagall sighed. “And now the tradition is broken,” Snape muttered
“I heard about your ‘attempt’ to ask miss fields to the ball”
Snape made a low disconcerting grunting noise. McGonagall obviously annoyed at the what Snape replied.
“Your attempt failed epically,” McGonagall said in return. Snape looked shocked as the lady smiled.
“And have you got a date?” Snape asked rudely
“Dumbledore asked me,” she said smugly. “And, Professor, if I were you I wouldn’t say things like ‘I’ve been watching you for a long time’ to someone who has to deal with drunk men on a daily basis.”
McGonagall walked away, leaving Snape to walk off tightly. Mad-eye limped towards him and Snape looked blankly at him.
“Severus, I hear - ”
“Yes, Miss Fields is a bar maid! But telling me not to indulge her in odd questions will not help!”
“Actually I was going to say good luck with your date with Jenny” mad eye said shocked. Snape went red as he realised how stupid he was being. “Good luck, professor,” mad-eye grumbled, patting him on the back and eyeing him with his glass eye. Snape was going to need it.
This night could not get worse, Snape thought. But it did.
He was yanked sharply behind a gargoyle and found himself staring at Shona
“McGuire! Why aren’t you dressed!” Snape questioned
“Because I didn’t get a date! And apparently we have to start off the dancing!”
“I know,” Snape agreed with a tone of panic.
“Can I tell you a tiny secret?” she whispered
Snape nodded.
“I don’t know how to dance, and I don’t have a dress. I don’t have enough money”
“Miss McGuire, why aren’t you changed?” McGonagall hissed
“Miss McGuire was helping Dumbledore with a mission, Minerva,” Snape said silkily. His low voice, cutting her into two. “Miss McGuire and me were going to see the headmaster in his office before she got changed.”
“Very well,” McGonagall said, not bothered that the fact Snape had got his own back. The people bustled as more and more students entered the hall. “Where is your date?” she asked Shona.
Shona gulped loudly “I…didn’t get one,” she admitted.
McGonagall sighed and took out a scroll. “Well you have to start the dance, it is a tradition. I’ll find you someone suitable.” she looked through the scroll as Shona imitated her words. Snape made a small noise of approval before the woman raised her head. “You can dance with Mr Tailor”
“Mr Tailor? As in, John Tailor?” Shona quivered.
“Yes, I’ll go get him,” McGonagall said in a rushed voice. Shona and Snape were left to fight off the packed area.
“What’s wrong with Mr Tailor?” Snape asked
“Nothing! Nothing at all! He only one of the hottest boys in school! Who I happened to accidently prank in first year!”
Snape rolled his eyes dramatically. Snape dragged the girl by her hair, back up the steps and by a Mona Lisa painting. She smiled at them before turning to see a knight fighting a dragon in her background.
“Stay still” he spat
“What are you going to do?” Shona asked defensively.
Snape rolled his eyes again before taking out his wand. “Go to that closet.”
Shona glanced up the steps to the door “No! Are you a -
”
Snape grabbed her harshly and rammed her up the steps. Shona made a high pitch noise as he stuffed her in the broom cupboard. Snape shut the door and heard the deafening sound of McGuire stepping into a bucket. She swore loudly before falling down the stairs, mops covering her trail.
“Stand up,” he barked. He heard a clatter before he stood in an attacking position, raising his wand, “Nevesa dresio.”
Snape thought back to the dream he had in the year Jessica had been with him. The light blue dress, the hair…
Snape stopped and lowered his wand.
“You can open the door now,” he said calmly. The door creaked open as Shona popped her head round. The hair that had been flat was beautifully wavy, soft and dazzling. It was longer as it reached just below her shoulders. Her original brown hair shining through.
The blue dress sparkled softly as Shona slowly let herself out. It was like something out of Alice in wonderland but far better. Shona felt her hair and was shocked to see it was longer than usual
“Oh my god…” Shona gasped, seeing herself in a mirror
“You should dress up more McGuire” Snape granted. Shona seemed overjoyed by the dress, she twirled round, missing Snape’s grin. “I love magic”
Just then McGonagall rushed over to them
“Professor Snape! The ball is about to begin… McGuire?” McGonagall stammered. She turned back to Snape. “You have five minutes to find your date,” she rushed away, obviously worrying over every little speck of dust. Shona seemed to read Snape’s mind because she roared with laughter
“That’s what happens when you get old.”
“Like me.”
“Well you’re not that old really…” Shona started but Snape held up a hand.
“I was joking, and you don’t have to be kind because I gave you a dress.”
“Right...” Shona and Snape stood there awkwardly for a bit before hearing the sounds of McGonagall bossing people around. “Bet she’ll have a heart attack.”
“Not before me” Snape admitted, remembering his date he gestured to the crowd with his hand and they walked silently to the gathering.
They talked for a bit about schoolwork; Snape was pleased at how the dress had appeared on Shona. Soon it wasn’t long before McGonagall was up their backsides again
“Shona I think you’ve met john” McGonagall nodded towards her.
“Er yes,” Shona stammered. “He’s in my defence against the dark arts class.”
“Is that really you, Shona?” the boy asked. He smiled politely. Snape recognised him as one of the students in his class. His brown hair had been groomed and he recognised him as the boy who’d had been chased around by girls earlier in the term. He acknowledged Snape and he nodded back
“We’ve got to line up, McGonagall and her barking orders.”
“I guess so, I bet she wouldn’t like it though if we all stampeded in.”
John laughed and Shona and him walked over to the line. She looked around and she gave a rare smile to Snape. He raised his glass at her and drunk it. He placed the drink on an incoming waiters tray as his date stood next to him.
“Hello, Severus,” a woman said as he took his arm. Snape sighed loudly. The grotty woman had failed in trying to make herself to look beautiful, her curly hair in knots and her overloaded eye shadow and mascara dominating her face. If her hair had been blonde she could have been Lady Maidens mother. Her black skirt looked more skeleton like and it seemed to form with her skin because she was so pale.
“Oh my god…” Jenny stammered, turning around. Snape turned quickly with his wand raised; he was expecting he’d have to attack something. But he was stunned to see his daughter walk down the steps. She was wearing an amazing red dress, and her hair had been done very gracefully, it was obvious she stole the show by all the boys gawping at her. Snape was frozen with his wand in the air, staring with his mouth open. Lucy glided down the step and stopped gently in front of her father.
“Close your mouth, dad, you’ll catch flies,” she told him softly; it was as though she was forced to say it. He placed her fingers on her chin and closed it shut gently. Snape woke up and lowered his wand. But Jenny broke the moment.
“Oh, Severus! You made me blush, trying to save me!” Jenny hugged his arm passionately. Lucy giggled and walked past Snape, still trying to get over the fact that the man who had coincidently adopted her was her real father. She knew she mustn’t think too badly about him but she was having thoughts about him. Lucy had half forgiven him but she couldn’t help thinking why he left her all those years ago…
“Lucy!” Fred beamed.
“Fred!” Lucy squealed. She hugged him and got into position with the other contestants.
“Hey how come Shona’s got a date with John? I thought he was going out with Mellissa? George fancies her…”
“I do not fancy Mellissa!” George shouted in Fred’s ear. Lucy laughed as she saw her dad being tormented by Jenny Flaggen, assistant of the three broomsticks. He looked very out of place
“Right students into the hall! Contestants, stay here!” McGonagall ordered. The rest bustled into the hall. George and Ron glumly stomped into the great hall, which had been spectacularly turned into a brilliant dace hall. It was polished white and it was snowing from the magic ceiling. Snape was at the back as the classmates cheered them in. people stared at Lucy as her hair went a bright purple. It quickly returned though just as they got into their positions.
Lucy was very nervous. Fred gave her a weak smile before the band raised their instruments. She quickly glanced at Snape. He looked at her quickly before actually making full eye contact. She could tell he was feeling awkward and Lucy gave him a reassuring smile, again forced. Snape juddered as Jenny Flaggen pulled him close…A little too close… Some children laughed at Snape’s eyes closed and made a funny face.
The music started and Fred and Lucy circled each other. Harry was having problems though; he seemed to be doing one dance before going into another, Pavarti hissing at him. Shona seemed a little nervous as she danced, as if she’d never danced before. But John didn’t seem to mind at all. Snape wasn’t enjoying himself though. Jenny kept standing on his feet and nodding to students in the crowd. Malfoy sniggered as they went for a jump. Dumbledore and McGonagall entered and were applauded by the students. Soon the teachers had joined in and most of the students were dancing. Fred was enjoying himself and Lucy imagined the barrier of students between her and her dad.
Time flew by and the first song had finished. Lucy and Fred danced for a while before deciding to get something to drink. There was punch and a shifty looking lemonade, not to mention the odd looking appetisers. The mini cakes where OK until one girl bit into it to realise it was a pink elf cake. Lucy had placed her food back immediately. Cho Chang didn’t seem to mind all the quirky foods, quoting the seaweed sandwiches were quite delicious. Harry took her word for it as Pavarti dragged him away. Cedric seemed amused at this and took a drink of pumpkin juice from a waiter nearby.Snape seemed to be having a terrible time though. That omen would not let go of him. Shona had quoted to him that most girls where wanting to get up his cape and she was right. The woman flirted and kept on pulling Snape a little to close. Snape found and excuse getting refreshments before sneaking out the hall. He collapsed on some stairs and tried to get the demon woman out of his head. Suddenly the orchestra stopped and a booming sound could be heard from the hall. Fearing the worst, Snape pulled out his wand and ran back to the doors. He opened slowly to realise McGuire was DJ-ing. She was playing muggle music. Grunting, Snape put back his wand.
You need to calm down, he told himself. But he new all this sudden hero talk had made his mind spin and he was always very edgy wherever he went now. Damn orb…
“Sevy!” Jenny shouted and bounded into his arms. Snape hid his look of fright by staring blankly ahead. “Your very far from the refreshment table.”
“I was telling some students off,” he concluded.
“But it’s only been half an hour, the Yule ball has only just begun!”
“Um…” He growled.
“Time fly’s by when your having fun, professor. Maybe we’ll have some fun later,” she flirted.
“Those drinks then,” Snape babbled, pushing past her and to the punch. He hid amongst some students as he got two drinks, trying not to think about what the hag had said. Oh why did he have to scare
away the bar maid?
“I see you’ve managed to get away form ze hag, Mr Snape,” a voice erupted from behind. Snape turned to see Madam Maxime. Snape looked up to her and struggled to find words.
“Madam Maxime?”
“Don’t worry, Professor, I wont ‘ere long, just getting some punch,” she grabbed the spoon and got a cup. “And I would be careful about who you speak to ‘ere, most snoopers are here to get that secret information. Now excuse me, my girls and I have a dance to do,” with that the giant walked off.
Snape heard the music change to something else before he saw the witch approach. He hissed and ducked below some children. The sudden occurrence made them scream and Snape was forced to scuttle to a table at the side. He’d lost her for only a couple of seconds before she headed in his direction. Panicking, he ran over to a random table.
“Can I sit here?” He hissed. Without an answer he sat down quickly and hid behind a menu. The girl looked at him in shock and slowly placed the menu back on the table.
“You’re going to need to do more than that to get away from Jenny Flaggen, Sir,” Shona replied. Snape looked up and saw it was Shona. When he turned he saw that shed left the DJ stool to play on it’s own. “Need a break,” she said to him.
“Hide me,” he said quickly as he noticed the hag ruffle closer. He shook her and pleaded with her. “Save me! Please!”
Shona took action quickly and rammed his head under the table. Snape made a low noise as his body sloped under the table. He sat there as he saw Jenny’s legs stop at the table
“Hello you lovebirds,” she chirped. Snape listened quietly, noticing Shona’s foul expression about her and John. “Have you seen Professor Snape?”
“He’s put of the bounds, in the fifth corridor.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Who knows, the man is dangerous. I’m telling you he - ” Shona squealed as Snape thumped her in the leg, and she quickly changed conversation. “Do you like snow?”
The woman walked away slowly and Shona pulled Snape’s head back up. His hair was ruffled and John looked at him as if he’d never seen Snape before. But then again, who would recognise Snape’s head emanating from a table after running from a love struck date?
“She only likes you because she thinks you’re powerful,” Shona told him.
Snape sighed and looked coldly. “Damn witch,” he barked. John gave him a look before Snape scared him away.
“So how’s the date?” Snape asked, head still popping out from the table
“It’s OK, but he’s going out with Mellissa, and I’m meant to be the DJ.”
“Right,” Snape said in distracted voice. Shona rolled her eyes and got up. She went back to her stand and started another song.
“These muggle songs aren’t half bad,” John said politely as Snape rose to his feet.
“Not a word to anyone, Mr Tailor.”
“Yes sir,” he said as Snape stormed off.
Lucy was having a great time though. She had been dancing for well over an hour and Shona’s music was really cool all the kids agreed that this was way better than the orchestra, who were dancing in the background. They had taken Flitwick and began passing him above their heads. Everybody was laughing except for Snape. He was standing quietly by a table, looking lost in the noise. He was grateful when McGonagall found him.
“Professor Snape, we need all the teachers on guard duty. Some of the students have decided it’s OK to walk around the grounds on their own.”
Snape nodded and followed her out the hall and into another corridor. He positioned himself by a big oak tree and waited to catch students off guard.
He could hear strange words coming from the great hall as he heard another muggle song.
For some reason they had started to chant:
I throw my wand up in the hair sometimes
Saying ay-oh!
My name is Draco!
Strange he thought, they then went onto about something about Dumbledore.
I throw my beard up in the air sometimes saying ay-oh
My names my names Dumble-dore!
Snape shook his head at the behaviour. Then he heard his name…
‘Cause I came to rock this club
Jen and me can go all night and we’ll start snogging all bloody night!
‘Cause I told you one, now I told you twice!
Snape and Jenny are going to rock the night!
Suddenly the music stopped and started again and the intro to the song started again, then he heard McGuire’s voice
“This song is dedicated to the lovey dovey Snape and Flaggen!”
Then to his horror they started the song.
We came to dance, dance, dance, dance.
We hit the floor ‘cause that’s our plans, plans, plans, plans.
I’m wearing all my favourite capes, capes, capes, capes.
Jenny give me space to move my hands hands, hands, hands, yeah yeah yeah.
And I go on and on and on!
Until I bore the class! Yeah!
Snape whips his cape sometimes
Saying ay-oh! ten points from Gry-fin-dor!
He wants to celebrate a sad life saying ay-oh! Ten points from Gry-fin-dor!
He’s going to shake those hips
Saying ay-oh, Jenny lets go!
Snape snarled and stormed off, letting the music to embarrass him without him listening. He told several people off for being in the corridors. Some of them repeating the lines in the song McGuire had ever so kindly created…
“Saying ay-oh! Jenny lets go!”
“Where, Professor? To your office for business?”
“Get out!” He bellowed. Leaving them to run away.
Snape walked to the carriages where Madam Maxieme and her students had arrived. He strolled along as the snow faintly fell; some flakes falling in his hair. He checked in Madam Maximes carriage to make sure there where no snoopers, when a man came up behind him.
“Severus! The mark!” It was Karkaroff, and he made no attempt to lower his voice. He was as subtle as a sledgehammer.
“Will you be quiet? I have felt it burn, yes. But that does not mean - ”
“The Dark Lord is returning, Severus.” He snarled. Snape flicked him off and carried on his search. But Karkaroff whisked him round
“He will kill me, Severus,” he shouted.
“Then flee then, but I’m staying here,” Snape said curtly. He turned round at the sound of giggles. He flew to a carriage and flung the door open with a spell.
“That will be twenty points from Hufflepuff Miss Smith! And I’ll be speaking with your head teacher Mr Niles!” Snape growled. The students scuttled off leaving the pair to argue with each other. Snape went to another carriage and went to open the door, but the distraught man pinned him against the side, nostrils flaring.
“Show me your mark, ” he growled and he grabbed Snape’s wrist. Snape was like lighting as he raised his arm out of reach. Karkaroff slowly backed away and smiled. “You’re afraid of yourself.”
Snape remained silent as he slowly lowered his arm. He glared at the man as Karkaroff showed his mark. It was pulsing black and the snake moved slyly. Snape walked off and back to the Yule ball.
Snape repeatedly felt his mark burn and he got looks as he held his arm in pain. He saw the time was ten and was shocked to see how much time had passed. Half the kids had gone but there was a fair amount of students left, and a band had replaced Shona and her music. It was more shrieking than music and Snape could see a crowd of people jumping randomly. The singer then took the microphone.
“OK, we’ll take a five minute break, get some juice and then well rock out!” the place cheered and they moved over to the refreshments (after that Snape then relaised that they were he very popular wizard band ‘the weird sisters’. Just then Jenny rushed up to him.
“You’ve been a while, Professor,” she sniffed.
“Patrol,” he replied blankly. The woman looked angry and cold, like a cloud had ridden over her. Snape’s hair still had bits of snow in it and Jenny stared at him.
“You must be freezing, I’ll get you some punch,” she scuttled off quickly as the people by the appetisers made room for the hag to get the punch.
“Hey, dad,” a voice mumbled. Snape turned to see a very happy Lucy. She had actually plucked up the courage to speak to him, completely ignoring Fred’s advice.
“Lucy, where’s Mr Weasley?”
“Um I don’t know, probably gone off to bed.”
“So you’re on your own?”
“Yes,” she sniffed. Snape went to hold her hand but she walked away. Snape went red and busied himself with a brief argument with a kitchen elf. The boozed thing was dragging itself around the place, bumping into everything and anyone. It decided to run in and out the corridors, making a hell of a racket. Snape used it as an excuse to get out of the stuffy place and watched it turn around a corner. Snape followed quietly and saw the elf plod round the corner.
When Snape turned he saw Shona talking to nearly headless Nick. They were talking about the headless hunt last year and Nick was telling her all about how the owls used to go around and how he thought the ministry using magical paper as a disgrace.
“What’s magical paper?” Shona asked.
“A charm on the paper so it fly’s itself. They look like paper aeroplanes.”
“I wish I knew that spell when I was at primary, Mr Bert should have watched out,” Shona turned to see snape.“Professor?”
“Have you seen a drunken elf around here?” he asked. He got looks from both the living and dead. Just then the elf ran back down the hall, jumping around and running into Shona’s dress
“Oh!” It said as it hit the dress. Snape picked it up by the arm.
“You bloody elf! Go back to the kitchen!” He barked.
“Dobby?” Shona asked in disbelief
“Miss Shona McGuire! Pleasant surprise!” Dobby sat on up happily. “Dobby was running away with the fairies, Dobby wanted to see how it felt to fly!”
“I don’t think elves are meant to fly, Dobby,” Shona laughed. Snape then noticed the wine bottle.
“That’s from the headmasters office!” He barked.
“Dobby knows that he shouldn’t have snuck in, but Dobby wanted fresh wine. Albus Dumbledore said dobby could have the wine if he shared it.”
“I see, and how many wine bottles have you consumed?”
“Twenty three!” it giggled in a high-pitched voice. Dobby then busied himself with nibbling the cork.
“Elves have a large alcoholic captivity,” Nick told them. “One elf was known to drink two hundred bottles.”
“And what happened to this elf?” Snape growled
“It died,” Nick said simply. Dobby stopped trying to eat the cork and spat it out his mouth. It hit Snape on the nose drool dangling off of it. Dobby giggled loudly and stood up but fell over at Snape’s feet. The laugh was infectious and soon Shona was laughing. Snape grabbed the elf by the shoulder and took him to the kitchen, dobby giggling all the way. Snape approached the picture with the fruit bowl and threw Dobby in front.
Snape took out his wand again and placed the tip at the side of it. He ran the wand down the side of it. It tickled it and giggled before it swung open. Snape stepped through, Dobby wobbling in front. The massive kitchen was full of babbling elves, all drinking and having a merry time. Snape threw Dobby into the middle of the room and swiftly left. He slammed the picture shut and walked back to the hall.
The ghosts bustled around the castle as the students crept off to bed one by one. Snape suddenly felt his mark burn fiercely and he collapsed at the side of the wall. He winced as he pulled up his sleeve to see the once faint mark glow a vigilant black. The snake eyed him and he thrusted his sleeve down quickly. He would put a healing potion on it later. He remained by the statue of the Hog for about ten minutes. He dosed off a bit before waking up quickly. He thought what a fool he’d look in front of the faculty if they saw him and jumped to his feet. The music had stopped in the hall but the lights where still on. Feeling anxious again, Snape walked round the corner.
Everybody had disappeared now. The bands instruments where left on the makeshift stage up front and the tables had numerous wine stains on them. He then saw a letter on one of the closet table and went over to it.
Severus
Left you in charge to clear up the mess
- The teaching body
Snape then knew that they’d all cleared off to bed. So it hadn’t been ten minutes, he must have slept for hours. He looked at the clock and saw it was nearly one o’clock. He wiped his eyes and flicked his wand, sending the broken instruments back into place. He was about to pack away the chairs when he noticed Lucy sleeping by the side of one. He walked over carefully and nudged her shoulder
“Lucy” he whispered. Her eyes flew open quickly as she saw Snape. She got up quickly but Snape stopped her.
“Calm down.”
“What time is it?” she asked in a rushed voice, again.
“Nearly one,” he replied.
“Oh god I’m late for lessons,” she stammered.
“One in the morning,” Snape corrected her. Lucy looked battered as she walked away from him. But Snape had had enough of this ignorance. He rushed over to her and pulled her back. “Lucy, Lucy! Speak to me, what’s wrong?”
“You know damn well what’s wrong.” She said in a tearful voice. Snape looked relaxed but in fact he was very worried. They just stood there for a while until Snape pulled out his wand again. He turned and aimed it at a music player. It crackled to life and began to play an old tune. When he turned back he face was full of calm. He raised his hand quietly towards Lucy and waited for a reply. Lucy took his hand and moved closer, placing her hands by his neck. Snape placed his hands on Lucy’s side and they swayed gently. Lucy didn’t dare look up at the potion masters face in case she burst into tears. She watched their feet move until she plucked up the courage to ask her dad.
“Why did you give me away, dad?” she asked. Snape stayed silent as a note went out of tune.
“Can I say to your eyes and not your hair?” Snape replied calmly. Shocked at the reply, Lucy shook as she looked up. The Professor made no attempt to burst into conversation, and looking at his calm face made Lucy feel strange.
“I never knew you were born, Lucy,” he admitted in a whisper. “I never knew at all. I found it strange when Potter’s brother said one day that they’d had a child.”
“Why was that strange?” She asked
“Because they had no intension of starting a family, they weren’t even married.”
“So that must be Brian…” Lucy whispered, thinking out loud. She guessed he must have been a squib as he never performed magic in front of her.
“What’s that?”
“Nothing…But why did mum place me in that place?”
Snape thought about it for a while before talking again. “I think she wanted to see you grow up. You were born just before Harry, you know. You were two when she…” He paused at the words. “Passed”
Lucy nodded as they turned to the music. “Would you have taken me in if you’d known?”
“Of course,” he said quietly. The words made Lucy shiver.
“I was never going to get this job you know,” Snape said looking around. “I was going to get a job at the ministry. A job as an auror. But it never happened after I joined the death eaters. I was going to live in a place called Roseyoung cottage, by the sea it was, far away from here. Use the floo network to get to work, live about the fishing town.”
Lucy looked at him oddly and he realised he’d been daydreaming. “Roseyoung cottage was where my mother lived as a child. She used to take me there on holidays. Just me and her,” Snape, again, sounded like he was dreaming.
“So, your dad never came?”
“No,” Snape said sharply. “Good too.”
“Sorry” Lucy muttered.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “My mum owned the cottage, since she couldn’t bare to see it torn down. The fishing village was so small. When I was fifteen or so I used to go to work down there on the boats collecting fish. And on the Saturday I’d take a fish back for fish and chip Saturday” he smiled. But it soon disappeared.
“What happened to it?”
“It’s still there. But my dad sold it after mum passed away. I was seventeen when she died,” Snape’s voice was quivery. “She said she was going to get some extra food for the roast. But I didn’t know that she’d…” He paused and then looked at Lucy. “A gang killed her.”
Lucy’s gulped at the words. She didn’t dare ask anymore.
“Anyway that’s when dad lost it,” he croaked. “Mental he was after that. Died when I was twenty three. Died of a stroke. I found him but it was too late by the time he’d arrived at St. Mungos.”
Snape felt shaky as Lucy lent into him and let the music drift by.
“Your mum was beautiful Lucy” he whispered into her ear. “And she never understood how much she meant to me”
Then Lucy had a sudden thought.
“You miss Jessica badly, don’t you?” Snape didn’t say anything. “She won’t forget you.”
“I’m more worried about her getting killed by the knighting” Snape admitted.
“She’ll be fine, as long as she’s careful and doesn’t say the wrong things in front of Kingston and Lord Zuc.”
“Lord Zuc hasn’t returned.” Snape frowned.
“I can see him. And he’s alive.” She lookd up at Snape, her minds eye saw Zuc and Kingston but her eyes saw Snape giving her a concerned look. “He’s alive alright, and he’s invading my mind.”
“Again?”
“Don’t be surprised if I have nightmares tonight.”
“I’m always on guard when it comes to you and nightmares, they never seem to stop.”
“Agreed.” Lucy nodded.
There were so many questions she still needed to ask but she was too tired to bother so the two continued to dance until the tune ended and they stopped. Snape took out his wand again and flicked it so the whole hall cleared up by itself.
“I acted wrong towards you, I shouldn’t of freaked out like that…” Lucy muttered.
“I can understand why you did that. It was perfectly understandable, I would have been shocked if someone adopted me coincidently and then turned out to be my real parent.”
“Yeah…It’s just a shame I never met my mum…Well, properly.”
“It is a shame, but I’ll take you somewhere tomorrow where you’ll be closest to her.”
“Where?”
“Godric’s hollow. Where her grave is and where she…”
They both looked away from each other awkwardly then turned back. “Passed.” They both said at the same time.
It was as though for once they truly understood each other and there were no complications between them.
For once everything made sense between them.
"You look beatiful tonight, Lucy." Snape smiled.
"Don't push it, dad, you've already tried to ask me to the Yule ball once, I don't want you to ask again."
Snape frowned but Lucy just laughed.
"I'm joking! But thanks."
"You're welcome."
The two of them walked back to the dungeons and Snape muttered to himself on the way. "I just think you look a lot like your mother that's all..."