The Half-Blood Princess (A Snape and Astoria Fanfic)

Chapter 14

This is the dress that I see Astoria wearing, when she goes to Hogsmeade with Snape. :)  Enjoy chatper 14!

The month went by so fast for Astoria, between tending to students and brewing potions to restock the Hospital Wing. Before long, Halloween was upon them and the Halloween Feast was tonight. Hagrid had already brought in the pumpkins that he grew and carved himself. Professor Flitwick lit each jack-o-lantern and levitated them to the ceiling, amongst the candles. Professor Flitwick also conjured up some bats to fly around the Great Hall, and having them weave around the jack-o-lanterns. Each of the four long tables were draped with an orange table cloth. The staff table was also draped in the same orange table cloth, as the staff prepared for the Halloween Feast. There was also Hogsmeade Weekend to look forward to as well.

Astoria decided to go to Hogsmeade as it's been awhile since she has gone. She decides to wear casual clothes, to go to Hogsmeade. She puts on a v-neck, dark blue, knee length, dress with black flats. She puts her hair in a lose bun and puts on the bracelet that Snape had given her for her birthday. She puts on light make-up , then looks at herself in the mirror. Satisfied with how she looked, she grabs her hooded travel cloak and leaves her office. As she heads out, she runs into Snape. Astoria smiles, "Hello Severus." Snape spots Astoria and stops before her and smiles slightly, "Hello Astoria." Snape noticed how beautiful Astoria looked in that blue dress she was wearing. It accentuated her waistline and showed off her legs quite nicely. He can also see more of her face now that her hair was pulled back. Astoria blushed slightly from the stare she was getting from Snape. Snape flushed realizing how he was staring at her. He looked down slightly and said, "My apologies for staring. I couldn't help it..." Astoria smiles and says, "It's ok. Your only human, Severus." Snape smiles slightly again and asks, "Where are you headed, dressed as you are?" Astoria replies, "To Hogsmeade. It's been so long since I've been there and since it's Hogsmeade Weekend, I though it was high time I went to see if the village is still the same. Plus I miss the taste of butterbeer." Snape chuckles slightly, "I see." Astoria thinks for a moment then smiles, "Would you like to join me, Severus?" Snape smiles, "Yes. I would, Astoria. Thank you. Let me get my traveling cloak. Wait here." Snape turns and heads to the dungeons while Astoria waited. Snape returned shortly after, wearing his traveling cloak. ", Shall we, Astoria?" said Snape. Astoria chuckles as she puts on her traveling cloak, "My aren't we eager to get going." Snape flushes again, but chuckles, "Of course. I cannot pass up the chance to be in your company and I can get to know you a little more, while we are there." Astoria replies, "Ah. I see. Then, yes we shall." Astoria and Snape left the castle together and headed down the road to Hogsmeade.

They entered Hogsmeade village together and walk around. Astoria sighs happily, "Hogsmeade is the same as I remember it." Snape smiles as he says, "Indeed." Astoria spots Honeydukes and says with a laugh, "We must get some sweets. I have such a sweet tooth." Snape chuckles as he watches Astoria go into Honeydukes. He waits outside for her. He was pretty sure that Astoria would bring some sweets for him too. As if on cue, Astoria stepped out of Honeydukes with a bag full of sweets and goes to Snape. She opens her bag and asks, "Anything you'd like to pick out from the assorted sweets I bought, Severus?" Snape looks into the bag and sees Licorice Wands, Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Ice Mice, Fizzing Whizzbees, Sugar-Spun Quills and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Snape decides on the Fizzing Whizzbees and takes a few, "Thank you, Astoria. Though I do like sweets. I don't eat them all that much." He pops one of the sherbet balls into his mouth. Astoria smiles, "I understand, Severus. Shall we go to The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer?" Severus thinks for a moment, then nods, "Yes. That would be fine." They go to The Three Broomsticks and go inside to find a seat. They find a table and Snape pulls out the chair for her. Astoria smiles, "Thank you, Severus. You are such a gentleman." Snape smiles as he pushes her chair in, "You're welcome, Astoria, and thank you for the compliment." Astoria replies with a smile, "You're welcome, Severus." Snape says, "I'll get us the butterbeers, Shall I? Astoria nods, "Yes, if that's alright with you, Severus." Snape replies, "It is perfectly fine, Astoria. I shall return shortly with the butterbeers." Astoria smiles at Snape, who smiles back. Astoria looks around as Snape goes to get the butterbeers. Several students were looking her way. Most were looking at Snape as he returned with the butterbeers. Astoria says quietly to Snape as he set down the butterbeers and took his seat, "Severus, a lot of the students here are looking at you... I bet they are wondering what you're doing with me in Hogsmeade... Since this is the first time you're seen out with a woman..." Snape snorts, "As if I care what they think of me. Rumors have been spreading around the school about us. Spreads like wildfire, truth be told." Astoria looks surprised, "Rumors? What rumors?" Snape glares at the student and the students look away. Though when Snape looks back at Astoria, a few of the students look back at them. Snape replies, "Rumors such as, "Snape and Astoria are a couple, or Snape and Astoria are 'dating.' One of the more absurd rumor is 'Snape and Astoria have gotten married in secret.' Astoria starts to feel worried and it was evident when she asked, "Is it even possible for you and I to.... be a couple?" Snape heard the worry in her voice and realized how he sounded. He sighs and replies quietly, "Astoria, I didn't mean that we can't be a couple. I meant that these students like to jump to conclusions before knowing all the facts. I will admit... That it is possible that we... might become a couple. It all depends on how one feels and how the other person feels." Snape takes a sip of his butterbeer as he waits for her reply. Astoria relaxes and replies, "Ah ok. I'm sorry for worrying." Snape smiles at Astoria, "Nothing to worry about, Astoria." Both finish their butterbeer and sit there. Astoria asks, "Can we go to the Shrieking Shack?" Snape's smile slowly fades from his face. Astoria says, "I know what happened there, I just want to hear it from your point of view. Please Severus." Snape sighs, "Very well, Astoria. I'll do it for you." Astoria smiles, "Thank you, Severus." They both stand up and leave The Three Broomsticks. They go towards the Shrieking Shack and stop by the fence. Astoria turns to Snape and asks, "What happened here that started these rumors about ghosts and such and how did you find out the truth?" Snape sighs, "The rumors were started when the people here in this village started hearing howls and screams that came from this shack. If only they knew that it was Remus Lupin. He had transformed into a werewolf in the shack, So the howls and screams they heard was from Remus, as he bit and clawed at himself. There was no wolfsbane potion to help him at the time. Dumbledore encouraged the rumors to protect Remus." Astoria replies, "So everyone at the village never knew the truth?" Snape shook his head, "No they never did find out the truth behind the rumors." Astoria thought for a moment. then asks, "How did you find out that Remus was a werewolf?" Snape hesitates before answering, "I saw him transform." Astoria takes his hand in comfort and asks, "How, Severus?" Snape looks at her hand in his, then looks at her and replies. "It was thanks to a prank that Sirius Black pulled on me. A prank that would have killed me if James hadn't come and rescued me... It happened in my 6th year at Hogwarts. I was curious as to where Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter went, when there was a full moon. I suspected that he was a werewolf, but I wanted proof. Sirius told me that I would find my proof. That all I had to do was take a stick and prod the knot on the Whomping Willow and go down the passage. I did just that and saw a hole at the base of the Whomping Willow. I jumped into the hole and followed down said passage. When Sirius told James what he said to me, James ran out of the school to get me. He found me halfway down the passage. He looked horrified and tried to pull me away, saying that I would get killed if I reached the end of this passage. I look down the rest of the passage and spotted Remus, only it wasn't Remus anymore. He had transformed into a werewolf. I was horrified at what I saw... I turned around and fled out of the hole and back up to the castle. I told Dumbledore what I saw the next morning. He told me he knew about Remus' condition and made me swear not to tell anyone else. I don't know how James kept Remus from getting me, since I didn't look back when I fled." Astoria hugs Snape and said, "Oh Severus, sounds like Sirius pulled a cruel prank on you. You have gone through so much, and then Sirius does this to you? I am so sorry for what you have gone through." Snape hugs her back and replies, "It's not your fault. There's no need to apologize for that, besides, that was in the past. The past no longer haunts me anymore. I am finally learning to leave the past behind." Astoria smiles then lets go of Snape, who lets go in return and smiles. Astoria says, "About time you did, don't you think?" Snape nods, "Yes most definitely. Snape then asks, "Tell me a bit more about yourself?" Astoria said, "Such as?" Snape thought for a moment then said, " Such as, what is your favorite subjects, here at Hogwarts? What is your favorite color? What is your favorite place to visit, here at Hogsmeade? I want to learn more about you." Astoria chuckles, "I see. Well, My favorite subject to learn is Potions. Snape looks surprised, "Really?" Astoria nods, smiling, "Yes, really. Potions has become my passion. Defense against the Dark Arts became my second favorite. Charms a close third." Snape looks even more surprised and said, "I also have a passion for Potions as you can tell. I love learning about the dark arts. As well as learning to defend myself against them." Astoria smiles, "Seems like we have quite a few things in common then." Snape smiles back, "Indeed we do." Astoria continues, smiling, "My favorite color is red. My favorite place to visit is The Three Broomsticks. I also enjoy cross-stitching, and reading in my spare time. If it's a nice day out, I would relax by the lake and read or cross-stitch. I love to read about fantasies, adventures, and mysteries." Snape smiles, his eyes glittering again, "I too, enjoy reading a good book. I like to brew potions in my spair time. I am always tweaking my potions, trying to make them better." Astoria smiles, "I do that on occasions." Snape looks at her in surprise, "You do?" Astoria nods as she smiles, "Yes. I do, Severus. It's quite calming at time and it keeps your mind focused on the task at hand. Plus, I like to listen to music as I brew." Snape smiles, "As do I, when I brew." Astoria smiles at him in response. Snape loved her more than ever now, but decided to keep that to himself, for now. Snape looks around and sees students heading back to the castle, then looks at Astoria and said, "Shall we head back to the castle? The feast will be starting soon." Astoria said, "Yes of course. Lets head back to the castle." Snape and Astoria walk away from The Shrieking Shack, out of Hogsmeade, following the students back up to the castle for the Halloween Feast.

Snape and Astoria enter the hall and take their respective seats. The tables suddenly fill up with cakes, cookies, pies, sweets, chocoates, puddings and pumpkin juice. Astoria takes a pie and some pudding and begins to eat. Snape does the same as everyone begins to eat. Once everyone ate. McGonagall tapped her goblet until the entire hall went quiet. McGonagall stood up and began to speak, "I hope you all enjoyed the Halloween Feast. Happy Halloween to you all. Now, we are, I believe, 10 weeks away from Christmas. Yes, I know, much too early to talk about Christmas, but I feel that it is the perfect time to announce that we will be having, what is called, a Winter Solstice Dance, here at Hogwarts." The students chatted excitedly about the news then quiets down as McGonagall started speaking again. "This dance will be semi-formal. You will conduct yourself accordingly. The staff here will start the dance, then the students may join in if they choose to." Snape looks at McGonagall as if she were mad. Astoria looks at her in shock. The rest of the teachers each had an expression of either shock or surprise on their faces. McGonagall continues, "The dance will begin promptly at 8pm ending at midnight. I wish you all good luck in finding a date for the dance. That is all." McGonagall sat back down and the students started talking again. This time wondering what to wear for the Winter Solstice Dance. Astoria covered her face muttering, "Great, now I'm going to need a date for the dance." Snape pinches the bridge of his nose then hisses at McGonagall, "Minerva, what are you playing at, having the staff start the dance?" McGonagall simply replies with a smile, "I thought it would show the students how to properly behave at the dance." Snape sighs and says, "Do you really expect me to dance at this Winter Solstice?" McGonagall replies, "Yes I do Severus." Severus makes a noise of disgust. McGonagall replies sternly, "You will dance at the Winter Solstice with the rest of the staff. Do I make myself clear, Severus?" Snape sighs, "Yes headmistress." McGonagall replies, "Good. I suggest you find yourself a date, Severus." Snape grumbles in reply.

Once the feast was over, Astoria goes to her office and sits in her chair, staring into the fire. Wondering what she will wear and who will be taking her. She also had to think of what to get Snape for Christmas. Astoria mutters, "Thanks for springing that on us, Minerva." She gets up and gets ready for bed. Snape heads to his office and pours a shot of fire whiskey. He drinks it down in one shot, sits down and stares into the fire. 'How dare McGonagall demand that he dance at the Winter Solstice Dance!' He thought, 'He would make an utter fool of himself if he did.' Then he thought of Astoria and started to imagine what she would be wearing to the dance. He then sees himself dancing with her. Her dress flowing as she dances gracefully with him. He couldn't stop thinking about her. He felt happy every time he saw her. 'Perhaps the dance won't be so bad if I had Astoria as my date,' He thought. 'At least I won't make a fool of myself. She would defend me fiercely. She seems the type to defend someone she cares about.' Another thought occurred to him, 'It would also be the perfect setting for me to confess my true feelings for her. I hope she feels the same for me. I will need to get her a Christmas gift as well.' Snape sighs and gets ready for bed.