An Unlikely Savior ~ (Edit) COMPLETED

Chapter 39 ~ The Beginning of the Ball

Eileen finished applying her lipstick and studied herself critically in the mirror. She certainly didn’t look the least bit Christmassy, and that had been her goal. A bit of teenaged acting out on the Slytherin’s part. This was her first time attending a function of this type since starting at Hogwarts. She wasn’t about to walk in there looking like a billboard for Father Christmas.

She didn’t do colors anyway, unless Slytherin colors. But, it was too uniform for Eileen’s tastes, because all her housemates wore green and silver to every function, the girls in green or silver gowns with matching accessories, and the boy’s in black dress robes with green and silver ties. Eileen knew it was supposed to stand for house solidarity, but it was incredibly boring.

She smirked at herself, knowing that the consensus would be she was more dressed for an elegant funeral than a ball. The black gown she wore was full length, simple, low in the back and form-fitting. It was the black lipstick that added the extra bit of macabre that she wanted, and she wore black eyeliner and mascara too. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and crinkled nicely. Braiding it had given her just the effect she was looking for. She cast a holding spell on it so it would last the night. Dangling black and silver earrings pulled the rest of it together.

Alsop told her he expected to dance with her, after finding out if she could dance or not.

”Of course I can dance!” Eileen had snapped at him. “I can waltz, too. My father taught me.”

”I mean really dance,” Alsop pressed. “If you can’t, I’ll show you some moves.”

Eileen watched with narrowed eyes as he gyrated about to imaginary music, dancing around the witch. She cast a tripping spell on him when she couldn’t take any more.

”Hey!” he hissed at her, getting up off the ground and brushing crusty snow from his gloves and cloak.

”I don’t dance like that, Alsop,” she said pointedly. “I dance cool. Just move to the music. I don’t jump all over the place but I can keep the rhythm. So—just stop it. Blech. I won’t be doing any of that.”

So, Eileen really intended to have fun at the ball. She wondered what Alsop was wearing. He had been so annoying, talking about it but not giving any real details about it. He did know she was wearing black though and said he’d match her. He’d better not wear anything crazy.

Finished, she tucked her wand down her cleavage, took one more look at herself, then headed out of her room. Her fellow Slytherins looked at her as she walked through the common room, her expression sober.

Scorpius Malfoy did a double-take, the witch talking to him frowning slightly as she looked after Eileen, then back at her date

”She looks like she’s going to a wake,” she said bad-temperedly. “And is breaking Slytherin tradition to boot.”

Scorpius thought Eileen looked hot, in a dark, dangerous kind of way.

”At least she doesn’t look like everyone else, Madeline,” he replied, looking around at all the silver and green gowns the other witches wore.

”She’s a weirdo,” Madeline said jealously. “What? You don’t like the way I look, Scorpius? Maybe I should put on a death shroud. Seems that kind of thing gives you wood.”

Scorpius laughed.

”You look beautiful,” he said. “And if anybody gives me wood—“

Madeline smiled up at her date as he smoothed his faux paux over nicely and suggestively like a true Malfoy.

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”Stop it, Rose! You’re as bad as mum! My hair’s supposed to be spiky looking like this,” Hugo complained, dodging his sister as she tried to smooth it down in the Gryffindor common room. He was wearing black dress robes and a Gryffindor tie.

Other housemates were milling about, witches exclaiming over each others’ gowns and adding touches to each others’ make-up and the boys ogling them all.

”You look like you’ve been frightened—badly,” Rose replied with a grin. She was dressed in a green silk gown with a large Christmas corsage attached, red, green and gold earrings and green shoes with gold and red accents. Her auburn hair was swept up and held in place with a festive holiday comb. There was Eileen’s walking billboard.

”I like it, Hugo,” Lily said. She wasn’t in a gown but a nice set of dark blue dress robes, and wearing a little gold reindeer pin. Her red hair was brushed out nicely. She was almost the spitting image of her grandmother at that age. She was going to the ball with Hugo, sort of.

”Thanks, Lily,” he said from a short distance away, still scowling at Rose.

”All right. I’ll leave your hair alone, Hugo,” she said with a smile.

”Good. Now, can we go?” he asked her.

”Yes, come on, Lily,” Rose said to her cousin. The three of them left the common room.

James and Albus waited impatiently at the bottom of the stairs that led to girls’ dormitory.

”What’s taking them so long,” Albus complained as he fidgeted.

”Hopefully it’s not their gowns. If they’re hard to put on, then that means they’re hard to get off,” he replied.

”They can always be lifted,” Albus suggested with a wicked grin.

James chuckled.

”Now, that’s an idea, Albus,” he replied, looking up the stairwell with hopeful eyes.

Maybe he’d get lucky tonight.

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Snape Apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and was met by Hagrid, who was greeting and checking visitors.

”Hi’ya, perfessor. Comin’ to celebrate tha season, eh?” he said good-naturedly. He wore a huge Father Christmas hat on his scruffy head, iron grey curls falling from beneath it.

”Something like that, Hagrid,” Snape replied.

”Well, it’s nice ter see yeh. Have a good time and Happy Christmas ter yeh,” Hagrid said with a smile.

”Happy Christmas to you as well, Hagrid,” Snape said, then began walking toward the castle.

He had decided not to glamour himself. He had never acted in an underhanded manner toward his daughter, and after thinking about it, decided he didn’t want to set that kind of dishonest precedent. He was just going to look in on her and see if she were enjoying herself and say “hello” to Alsop. Maybe apologize for his actions if she seemed willing to talk to him for a quick moment. Then, he’d depart.

Snape had always been an adaptable man. Although all of his fatherly instincts were clamoring for him to “protect’ his daughter, common sense said, “She’s growing up and has to learn to deal with wizards on her own if she’s to get any experience.”

All Snape could hope was that he raised her in such a manner that she respected herself and would impose her own boundaries. He couldn’t be everywhere.

He strode up to the double doors, hesitated and walked in. The entrance hall was full of brightly dressed students, all chattering and laughing, some heading inside the Great Hall. Snape entered and looked about the nicely decorated hall. There were round tables set up, and an open area in the middle for dancing. The staff had a large table of their own.

House elves were still setting up an ample buffet, large bowls of punch and other drinks on a separate table. The DJ finished his sound check and put on a bit of traditional Christmas music. The room smelled of spices and pine, thanks to the huge sparkling Christmas tree standing where the dais normally was. Snape walked over to the libations table and made himself a glass of punch, watching the door as students streamed in.

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Eileen walked up the dungeon corridor, headed for the entrance hall. She agreed to meet Alsop at the entrance to the dungeons. He wasn’t a Gryffindor, so wouldn’t immediately be targeted by the Slytherins for being in their domain, but it didn’t make any sense to chance it. As people walked by Alsop, some stared, some whispered and some laughed out loud.

He didn’t care, however. He was going to enjoy himself tonight. He watched the dungeon entrance, making sure he wasn’t visible.

Suddenly, Eileen appeared. Alsop’s eyes rounded. She was in all black, but she looked—wow—she looked so hot. Was that black lipstick?

Eileen looked about, then her dark brown eyes fell on Alsop, scanning him from the top of his head down to his shiny black shoes. Her mouth dropped open as he gave her a courtly bow, removing his hat, his tails fluttering slightly as he did so.

“My lady,” Alsop said, straightening and debonairly replacing his top hat on top of his head, tilting it forward and slightly to the side.

Eileen blinked at him, stunned.

Alsop was wearing an elegantly cut black double breasted tailcoat, a stiff studded white shirt, and a black bowtie. Black trousers, a black top hat and highly polished black shoes finished off the ensemble.

”I was going to bring a cane, but I changed my mind,” he told her. “So, what do you think? I had it made especially for tonight. Paid off a few Hufflepuffs to do it.”

Eileen shook her head. He was horribly over-dressed, but—she had to admit he did look dashing, and definitely different from everyone else. Actually, she liked what he was wearing.

”You look okay,” she replied with a half-smile.

”And you look gorgeous,” he replied, making her blush a bit. “I like the lipstick—is it flavored?”

He shifted slightly as if about to dart in and steal a kiss, but Eileen gave him “The Look” and he froze in place, immediately subdued by the glare.

She’d inherited that look from her mother, and translated it meant, “Don’t you dare.”

”No, it’s not, just take my word for it, Alsop. If you kiss me, it’ll smear. Then, I’ll smear you,” Eileen warned him.

Alsop smiled.

”Gods, I love it when you threaten me, Eileen,” he said, taking her arm. “I must be some kind of masochist. Now, come on. Let’s get this party started.”

Eileen rolled her eyes, but walked with Alsop to the Great Hall, Alsop playing it up big, strutting and tipping his hat at people, who laughed. Eileen was ogled and whispered about too, the witches jealously sniping about what she was wearing, and the wizards saying she looked real good in black.

Alsop stopped, released her arm and opened the door for Eileen and made a sweeping arm motion.

”After you, Eileen,” he said, smiling at her as students bottlenecked behind them.

Eileen frowned at him slightly then walked in, quickly followed by the Ravenclaw, who caught her arm again.

”Where do you want to sit?” he asked her.

”Somewhere near the wall,” she replied. She didn’t want to be totally surrounded by people. Like her father, she liked to have something solid at her back.

”As you wish,” Alsop said, guiding her through the tables.

Snape stood there, looking at the couple. Alsop Potter certainly was a character and obviously flew to the swish of his own broom. Actually, the top hat and tails looked good on the young wizard. They were well tailored.

And Eileen. His little girl was definitely a young woman. Obviously, she was going for the anti-Christmas look. But, she looked beautiful as Alsop escorted her to a table and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down and they conversed for a moment. Alsop suddenly started walking toward the libations table. Snape quickly turned his back to him, moving aside as the young wizard walked up to get drinks for himself and his date.

Snape was about to reveal himself when suddenly, “Hey, Alsop. Where’s you get that suit?” rang out and James and Albus Potter materialized beside him, Albus tugging on his tails and James flicking his top hat with his finger.

”Stop it,” Alsop hissed at his brothers, who laughed as he straightened his hat in irritation.

”You just couldn’t be normal, could you?” James asked him, still smiling.

”I’m being myself,” Alsop responded, pointedly preparing two cups of punch. “Besides, this is a great suit.”

”I don’t think you’re being normal,” Albus said, looking over at Eileen, then back at Alsop. “Going out with your own cousin. She looks like something out of a horror movie. A bride of Dracula or something.”

Alsop turned to face his brother.

”The only reason I don’t punch you right in the nose, Albus, is because I don’t want to get kicked out of the ball. Eileen looks great and you know it. She’s the prettiest witch here. And I’m not going out with her. We’re just friends. But even if I was going out with her, we’d only be cousins by marriage, not blood. It’s perfectly acceptable.”

”Not from where I’m standing, but you’ve always been a weirdo, Alsop,” Albus told him, making a glass of punch for himself. James didn’t say anything as he fixed his own date a drink. Albus was getting out of line though. Eileen didn’t look bad at all. Just different. But she was a different kind of witch anyway. She probably would have looked stranger dressed in something Christmassy. The way she was dressed suited her.

”Have a good time, Alsop,” James said, before walking off.

”Thanks,” Alsop called after him, then frowned at Albus.

”You’re a prat, Albus,” he seethed at him.

”At least I don’t want to do my own cousin,” Albus spat back at him before leaving.

Snape saw Alsop’s hand was shaking and he inadvertently broke the plastic punch cup he was holding, the liquid covering his hand and spreading all over the table.

”Damn,” Alsop muttered, shaking his hand as house elves arrived to sop up the mess. A handkerchief appeared in front of him. He took it.

”Thanks,” he said, wiping off his hand, then looking up.

He went pale as he saw Eileen’s father staring back at him soberly.

”We meet again, Mr. Potter,” Snape purred at him as he took the handkerchief from the young wizard, Scourgified it with his wand and tucked back inside his inner robes pocket.

Alsop swallowed, but quickly recovered and offered the dark wizard his hand.

”It’s good to see you, sir,” he said, his voice cracking a little as Snape shook his hand firmly. “Did Eileen know you were coming?”

”No,” Snape said quietly, releasing his hand. “She had no idea I’d be here. I’m not going to stay long, however. I just wanted to see her at her first ball.”

Alsop looked over at Eileen, who had her chin resting in her hand as she watched the other students mill around with a bored expression on her face.

Rose, Hugo and Lily entered, Hugo looking around and his face lighting up as he saw Eileen. He made a beeline for her table, followed by Lily. Rose hung back, a look of indecision on her face before she saw James and Albus sitting with their dates and headed for their table.

“She looks beautiful, doesn’t she, sir?” Alsop said with a sigh.

”My daughter is quite attractive, Mr. Potter,” Snape replied, the emphasis on “MY daughter.” “Just remember what I told you at my shop. Conduct yourself like a gentleman.”

Alsop looked horrified that Snape would ever think he’d conduct himself badly with Eileen. That could be dangerous on a number of levels, even without her father in the wings.

”Of course, sir,” he said.

”Good. But I expect her to have a good time as well,” Snape added, looking less severe. “It is her first ball, after all.”

”I’ll make sure she has a great time,” Alsop promised.

”Well, you can begin by getting back to her. You’ve been gone an unconscionably long time just to get two cups of punch,” Snape told him.

”Yes, sir,” Alsop said, quickly preparing another cup of punch. “Goodbye, sir.”

Alsop hurried back to Eileen, who was talking to Hugo and Lily, who had both sat down with her. Hugo looked up at his cousin, his blue eyes round as he took in his suit.

”Wow, Alsop! Cool suit!” he said with a smile, looking him over as he put Eileen’s punch in front of her.

”Um, I would have been back sooner, but I was talking with your father,” Alsop informed her.

”What? My dad’s here? Where?” the witch said, craning her neck and looking around.

”He’s over there, by the punch table. He said he wanted to see you at your first ball,” Alsop told her.

Eileen looked over and saw her father standing looking back at her. Immediately she stood up and walked toward him, her expression sober.

Snape stood there, his stomach tight as his daughter walked toward him. Was she going to tell him to go?

Eileen made her way through the tables as quickly as she could, walked up to her father and threw her arms around him, hugging him fiercely.

”I’m so sorry, dad,” she breathed, feeling tears fill her eyes as everyone looked at them. “I’m so very sorry.”

Snape felt relief flood his body as he lightly embraced her back, not the least self-conscious about the open display of affection. This was his daughter—and she still loved him despite his being an insensitive git.

Let them look.

Snape broke the embrace and looked down at his daughter. She was so beautiful and grown up looking, it made his heart ache.

”I’m sorry, too, Eileen. I should have never walked away from you. I’ll never do it again,” he said softly, handing her his handkerchief. “You look beautiful.”

Eileen dabbed at her eyes lightly. Her mascara and liner were waterproof.

”Thank you,” she said, handing him the handkerchief back. “Do you want to join us at the table?”

Snape smirked at her.

”No, I think not. Adolescent-filled celebrations aren’t really my forte. I just wanted to see you, maybe watch your first waltz with a partner other than me. It will be a good memory to place in a Pensieve to view in my old age.”

”Oh, dad,” Eileen said softly.

”Go enjoy yourself, Eileen. Have fun.”

Eileen stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on his pale cheek.

”I’ll see you tomorrow, dad,” she said with a smile, before turning and walking back to her table. Snape looked after her, his heart swelling.

She still loved him, and despite how grown up she looked, she was still his little girl.

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A/N: Sorry for the long time between updates. My computer caught a virus and my website was hacked and it was hell week. I had to eventually install windows on my slave hard drive and try and save my files. It was a mess, although I did manage to get my story files copied and transferred. I’m still trying to save the other drive with the files intact. It’s a lot of work and frustrating. But, at least I was finally in the mood to write. So, thank you for your patience and thank you for reading. ***