Struggling Through New Beginnings

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

�That�s two,� he breathed in her ear as his hands tightened on her waist to pull
her even closer.

Pansy smirked up at Ron, her dimples flashing at him, �Well, if you didn�t hold
me so closely I wouldn�t be brushing against you.�

His red eyebrow lifted, �You did that last one on purpose, witch! How am I
supposed to get back to the table like this?�

Pansy allowed her eyes to flicker down to his tented trousers and smiled
wickedly, �Gee! Did I do that?�

Ron pulled back from her a little and breathed deeply. �How long is this damn
dance?�

�Not having fun?� she laughed up at him and her smile turned devilish when he
growled in the back of his throat. �You know? If we�re
careful, we could slip out to, uh, alleviate your problem, and be back before
we�re missed.�

�Let�s go!� he said turning towards the doors and pulling her along.

When they neared the table of their friends, Ron stopped and tugged her in the
other direction. Unfortunately, that change brought them face to face with a
sneering Professor Snape.

�And, where are you two headed in such a hurry?� he asked. His voice was low,
but commanded their full attention, as well as an answer.

Ron, whose entire focus had been on getting out the hall so he could be alone
with Pansy, blurted, �Damn it!� before he realized completely who had stopped
him. The glacial glare he received made him stammer, �Uh, sorry. Uh, Sir.�

�We needed air,� Pansy blurted in an attempt to answer the professor�s
question.

The glittering black eyes flitted back and forth over them and the professor�s
face formed a sneer as he said, �The courtyard for this blasted event is on the
other side of the hall, Mr. Weasley. You looked to be heading to the doors of
the main entrance. Are you such a dunderhead that you can�t find the correct
exit?�

Ron�s face reddened in anger, but it was Pansy who stepped forward with her
chin lifted haughtily. Her eyes blazed at the Head of her House, but her voice
dripped with forced respect, �Sir, I needed to use the ladies� first. Ron was
kind enough to offer to escort me. Is there some new rule, Professor, against a
gentleman escorting his date around?�

Snape�s brow lifted sharply as he fixed his stare on Pansy, but she didn�t back
down. �Of course not, Miss Parkinson. Please do not
let me keep you from your goal. I am sure though that you will hurry back to
enjoy the rest of the festivities.�

When they both nodded, he forced a smile that was scarier than his sneer, �As a
member of the faculty it is my duty to ensure the safety of all students. As
such I will wait right here for your safe and swift return.�

Both nodded and turned to do the only thing they could; go pretend to use the loo.

xxxxx

�You can stop pretending, I know you hate this,�
Parvati smiled at Theo. �I am just thankful you stayed this long.�

They�d been at the ball for almost two hours and spent much of the time
ensconced at their own table in a dark corner of the room. Parvati enjoyed
dances and dancing, while Theo did not. They had ventured out to dance a few
times, and spent a bit of time with their friends, but most of the evening had
been spent enjoying their alone time together. Parvati had just returned from
the ladies� room to find Theo drawing images in the condensation on his glass
and looking extremely bored.