Dark Sister

Chapter 11 Yule Tidings and Goblins Treasure

December was now upon the school and the students were all a buzz with excitement over the up and coming Yule Ball. Severus glanced longingly across the Dining room at Lilly hoping that he could find a way to ask her to the ball. His heart fell when he remembered that he hadn't a clue on how to dance. Eden sat beside him and waved her hand in front of his eyes to break the trance like state that he was in.

"Severus, it's rude to stare." She said as she poured herself a hot cup of coffee.

"You're right Eden; I don't know why I bother anyway. She'll never except me as her date for the Yule Ball anyways." Said Severus as he lowered his eyes to his plate of eggs.

"I don't know about that Severus, you're not that bad looking of a chap. Why wouldn't your little girl friend want to accompany you to the ball?" asked Eden as she took a sip of her drink.

Severus rolled his eyes and glared at his sister. "Eden, Lilly is not my girlfriend." He argued.

"Don't get snippy with me because you don't have the balls to ask her." Said Eden as she buttered a piece of toast.

"Eden, you may have been following me around during the holidays and summer, but it's more complicated than just having the nerve to ask her. She's one of my best friends; I know that if I can ask her before Potter does that she'll go with me. That's not the problem." Said Severus as he took a sip of cold milk.

"Well then, what is the problem?" asked Eden as she leaned back in her chair and settled her gaze on her little brother appraisingly.

"I don't know how to dance." Said Severus softly.

Eden looked at her little brother then rose to her feet and pulled him up and out of the dining room to speak with him in private.

She ran dragging him through the school until she got to her common room. Once the door closed behind them she whirled on him and gave him a piercing look. "Severus, forgive me for saying this but considering your father's upbringing, the fact that you can't dance does not surprise me. I can teach you some simple dances that won't get you off on the wrong foot at the ball." Said Eden as she flicked her wand at an antique gramophone. The sounds of a waltz came flowing into the room as she turned back to her little brother.

"Alright, to begin place your right hand on my waste and you can either place your left on my shoulder or in my hand," said Eden as she placed Severus's hand onto her waste. Severus blushed crimson as he looked down at his feet in embarrassment. "Now watch my feet and follow with yours," she said as she led her brother into the dance floating with the music.

Thirty minutes later found Severus taking the lead and guiding his sister around the room in a simple box step. "You're doing much better. Keep this up and you'll be the best dancer at the ball," said Eden as she flopped down into a comfortable chair and put up her feet. "Is that set of navy blue robes the only set of dress robes that you have," asked Eden as she twirled a lock of her hair in her fingers serenely?

"Yes," mumbled Severus softly under his breath.

"Well then, we'll need to fix that," said Eden as she jumped up from her seat and glided to the door. "Come with me Severus, we need to ask your headmaster for permission to take you to a local robes shop."

Severus followed his sister and stood there quietly as she spoke with Headmaster Dumbledore on his behalf.

Ten minutes later found Eden and Severus browsing the racks at Quigley's Robes for all occasions in down town Wizarding New York. Eden insisted that Severus pick out a few extra sets of robes that he could ware when he visited with other wizarding families.