Changing Ideals

Body



Disclaimer: *whispers to demon minion* Do I own any of this? What?!? I don\'t? Are you sure? Yes, 100% sure. Huh, well hot damn, I thought I did. I guess the only thing I can really claim is the plot, but not really even that since I\'m using an over cliched plot line. Oh well. I try.

Chapter 17: Manipulative Man

*Dumbledore\'s POV at the dance*

Well, doesn\'t the Great Hall look nice? I think we\'ve really outdone ourselves this year. Laughing to myself, I stroke my beard as my eyes make a sweep over the Hall, looking for specific people. Hmm, where oh where is Potter? Or for that matter, Severus? They are vital to me. Oh, there\'s that little know-it-all, Granger. Maybe she knows where Potter is, after all, she is a friend. Or that Weasley boy, he could probably tell me. Hmm, might not be a good idea though. They\'ll become noisy, and I can\'t have that. Sometimes I just want to knock them over the head and tell them they don\'t always have to be involved in everything.

My eyes are drawn to doors as they open, smiling I hope that it is the two people I am waiting on. My smile dims slightly when I see that it is the Parvarti twins. My, my, don\'t they look nice. They make very convincing fairies. Seeing the Weasley twins enter, about swallow my lemon drown own and snort my drink up my nose. Sometimes I wonder what goes around in their heads. Honestly, dressing up as Severus. I don\'t think he\'ll be very amused if he sees their costumes. Look, they even got the greasy hair right. They really should be commended for their unique and innovative costumes.

Walking over to them, I paste a jovially smile on my face, knowing that no one will know what is really going through my head. "Well, boys, I must say that no one else could possibly pull off a costume like that but you two boys. I commend you, truly excellent costumes. Maybe though, one of you should have came as someone else?" Raising my eyebrows in a questioning manner, I tip my head to the side, as if I\'m actually contemplating what else one of them could have come as.

Sneering, one of the two answered me. "Honestly, Headmaster, we would think it would be obvious as to why we both dressed the same." Looking at me in contempt, I had to hold back a guffaw at how well they had Severus down.

Smiling in a sardonic manner, the other said, "Yes, Halloween is a time to scare people. I do believe that the tiny brains of the students will not be able to deal with more than one Professor Severus Snape. We should effectively traumatize the little imbeciles." Putting on their best menacing faces, they walked away. Later, I noticed they stopped trying to be intimidating, going for overly cheerful. I do believe they will be more effective that way.

Shaking my head, I turned and walked away, contemplating who else I should talk to. Shortly after finishing that thought, Severus entered. Ah, just the man I was looking for. Pulling down my Phoenix mask, I smiled a sinister smile, glad the mask covered my mouth. Stealthily, I made my way over to my unsuspecting victim. I\'m always trying to pull one over on the man, but he seems to have sort of radar that tells him where I am.

Before I\'m within a foot of him, he turns, looking at me. "Headmaster, is there something I can do for you?" He says this, and the look on his face states to me that he truly wishes he were anywhere else. I know he doesn\'t like gatherings or social functions, but can\'t he at least look as if he isn\'t being horrifically tortured.

Sighing quietly, I pull the mask off my face, letting it rest on the top of my head. "Severus, do you have to look like that?" Pulling up an annoyingly happy facial expression, I say, "Can\'t you smile? Just tonight? Please?"

I watch as his eyebrows lower, and his face looses all emotion, before he sneers and doesn\'t appear to actually be paying attention to me. Noticing the fangs, I take in his entire outfit. My, my. I do believe that Severus will the main attraction in many lustful thoughts and dreams tonight of both the male and female population of Hogwarts. Finally, he seems to snap out of his daze, turning to look at me, he decides to reply to my request.

"No." Turning, he stalks away from me. Well, hmph. What a grump. He really needs to get laid, or something. It must be the spying he does for me. It has permanently put a stick up his ass. If only someone would remove it.

Moving on, I spot Minerva and Remus. Laughing, I walk over to talk to them. We talk of mundane things, school, students, the holidays. About part way through our conversation, it felt as though someone was looking at me. Turning just slightly, I pull my mask down over my face, having had the feeling that someone was trying to figure out my costume. If I had realized so many students were here now, I would have already had it pulled down. Oh well. Turning, I see who it was that was looking at me, Harry Potter. It takes quite a bit for me to not allow my mouth to fall open. It seems others weren\'t quite as able as me, and then I realize he\'ll be sharing the minds of everyone here with Severus. My, my, he does clean up nicely.

Watching Harry, I see him take a few deep breaths before leaving the refreshment table. His eyes sweep over the students, and he smiled at his friends. Smirking to myself when I noticed the fangs, an idea started to form in my mind. Now, if only the two would go along with it.

*Post-dance, Dumbledore\'s POV*

Merrily humming to myself, I contemplate the success of the dance as I head to my office. Personally, I think it went rather well. Well, other than the whole fiasco where Harry ran out of the dance like Voldemort was after him. Not that Voldemort isn\'t after him, but I\'m pretty sure he didn\'t make an appearance at the school Halloween Dance. Hm, guess I should ask around to find out and make sure. Though it is highly unlikely. I wonder where the little brat ran off to? Sighing, I continue on. Oh what I wouldn\'t give right now to have some lemon drops.

Making my way into my office, I notice that someone is sitting in my seat. Upon closer inspection, I recognize the vampiric Harry Potter. I have to chuckle at his costume. I mean, come on, an immortal vampire, near impossible to kill, just like him. Of course, I about fell on my ass laughing when I saw that Severus was dressed the same way. I\'m just shocked that I didn\'t notice the heated glances between the two sooner. I think they are perfect for each other, this will make it easier for me to control Harry. I already have control over Severus, my perfect little spy, now I just need the control back of my little figure head, my icon, Harry Potter. This is something new. When did he grow enough of his own will to sit in MY chair. That little... Reigning in thoughts of that nature, I smile at the youth.

"Ah, there you are, Harry, my boy! I was worried about you!" Making my way around the desk, I expected the boy to remove himself from my seat. Noticing the defiant glint in his eyes, I about had an aneurysm when I noticed he seemed to make himself more comfortable, propping his feet on my desk. Narrowing my eyes slightly, I decide to up my smile at the boy. "What is it I can do for you?" Patiently standing there, I pull my hands behind my back, grasping them together. Now, don\'t think it\'s because I\'m being open to what he has to say, it\'s actually to keep me from either hexing or strangling the ostentatious little brat.

"Oh, I just thought I\'d come up for a little visit." Smirking at me, I just wanted to throttle the brat. If that is all, how the Hell did he get in?! I sure didn\'t give him the password in. Ah!!! He is so frustrating.

Looking slightly confused, I cock my head to the side. "Well then, is that all?" Chuckling, I continue, "Glad you came to visit, but if you don\'t have more pressing matters, I\'m going to have to ask you to leave." Gesturing towards the door, I walk over and open it, expecting him to leave.

"Listen up, old man, I am not here for a visit. God, I can\'t believe you actually thought I was." Rolling his eyes at me, Harry slammed his feet onto the floor, and banged his hands down onto my desk, startling Fawkes. Narrowing his eyes in anger, he continued, "I know what you did, and I don\'t appreciate it. I don\'t like being forced to dance with anyone." Taking a breath, he spoke slowly, enunciating his next words to me. "I DON\'T LIKE DANCING!"

Putting a slightly confused look on my face, I turned my head to the side, giving him my best innocent look. Damn, the brat seemed immune to it. Guess I\'ll just have to try to talk him out of this idea. "I haven\'t a clue what you mean, Harry. I simply thought that people would like to dance with others they might not normally ask. I\'m sorry if it made you uncomfortable." Smiling at the youth, I said, "Although, you and Severus did look rather comfy up there, until the end that is." Cocking my head to the side again, I voiced a question, "Why did you leave anyway? You seemed to be enjoying it?"

I heard his hiss of anger and watched as he threw himself from my chair, as though it were burning him. "ENJOYING IT?! ENJOYING IT?! ARE YOU DAFT?! You forced someone to dance with me, someone that had no interest in dancing with me! Someone who just barely tolerates me! How could you think I was enjoying something like that?" I could practically see his anger radiating from him.

Trying to think up something to calm him, I said, "Severus seemed to be enjoying it." This didn\'t seem to placate the boy. Damnit, now would be a great time to have that mind reading ability everyone seems to think I have. What is going through his head? What is g wig with him? Seething at my inability to decipher the boy, I decided to listen to what he had to say.

"After I left, I went to have a visit with Myrtle." Smiling evilly, he said, "Of course, how could I possibly pass up going into the Chamber? While I was down there, the most interesting thing happened. I had a visionot; ot;

TBC

Okay, shorter than I wanted.

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