The heart of a Black (A Severus Snape love story)(Watty Awards 2012)

chapter 18

The months had flown by before Aria knew it and Christmas was almost here. She hadn’t seen much of Professor Snape outside of class and that’s the way she wanted it. She had been avoiding him as much as she could, but she knew it wasn’t going to be long before she saw him again. Professor Dumbledore had arranged a dance, on Christmas Eve for any of the students that were still here, which seemed to be a good amount. With Voldemort rising to power quicker and quicker, the parents thought the school would be safer. Aria hadn’t wanted to go, but Hermione, who was now oblivious to her relationship with Snape, decided it was a good idea for her to get out. Aria had told her that she was trying to start over. Hermione thought maybe Aria could take a date. Aria thought about it, the only person she wanted to go with, she couldn’t, so she was going to go alone.

            Classes had ended that Friday for the Christmas break, so the hall was already being transformed. The dance would be a week from that day and Aria needed to find a dress. Hermione finally dragged her to Hogsmeade a few days before the dance and told her if she didn’t find a dress then Hermione would just pick one for her. Aria grumbled and walked around the store until she found the perfect one. She immediately knew it would make him want her and she wanted him to feel that way. She wanted him to know how it felt to want something he couldn’t have.

            The night of the dance was upon them and Aria sat in the room she shared with Hermione getting dressed. She pulled on her long blue dress. It had a v neck collar line and at the waist was a row of rhinestones that formed something that might resemble a belt. Her sleeves were long and see through; the skirt fell down past her feet. On her feet she wore silver heels that were very elegant. She looked up in the mirror as Hermione finished doing her hair. She loved that way it looked. Her hair was swept back into two braids that were tied together at the base of her neck in a bun with pins. Her bangs were swept to the left side.

            After they were both ready they made their way down to the great hall. As they entered the hall Aria couldn’t help but gasp. The hall had been completely redone. The ceiling was enchanted to match the snow the snow that was falling outside. Small Christmas trees were placed on each table, which was set up in a circle around a mirror floor dancing area. Where the staff table should be was an over large Christmas tree. Music was playing from speakers somewhere in the hall. She looked around as she followed Hermione to where Ron and Harry were sitting with Ginny, while several other students were already dancing. She noticed that the teachers, who were standing to the side, were having fun. Well, all but one, Professor Snape looked like he’d rather play fetch with Fluffy. She met his eyes and saw something other then annoyance flicker in them. She did notice the suit and tie that he was wearing, as was the other make teachers including Dumbledore. The women were wearing dresses. The formal attire was not doubt Dumbledore’s idea.

            It was a beautiful dance and a few fast songs played. She sat drinking her butterbeer as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all danced to the fast songs. Aria loved to dance, she was a party girl, but the right song hadn’t come along. Her eyes glanced around the room to catch the eyes of Snape again. He was watching her closely, she suddenly wanted to be with him, wanted his arms around her, but she wasn’t going to do it right now, she wanted to have some fun before she possibly got shot down. Tonight she was going to tell him she loved him, tonight, she was going to change his life forever, or so she hoped. She lowered her gaze back to her drink, but she knew he was still watching her. A song came on that she loved and her friends knew it. Harry came over and dragged her laughing to the dance floor. She began to move with the beat of the music, her body swaying close to her friends. She felt free for once and she was going to have fun. She felt she deserved it after what had happened in the last six months. She had saved her father from death, got into a fight with Professor Snape and then made up, in a sense.