Shadows In The Rain

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters owned by JK Rowling. Just using them for a short time. Original characters: Lucinda Moonstar and Angelina Moonstar.


All through the castle, the buzz for tonight\'s Halloween Ball was wafting through the air. It was a formal dance. Allowing for beautiful dresses and handsome suits - no robes permitted tonight. Severus was not really one for dances, but as one of the chaperons he had to attend and it was customary for them to dance with students. Who he would dance with was a mystery to him - the only females he did not scare were other instructors and Angelina. Maybe, he would ask Miss know-it-all Granger to dance to even out the students side of his dance card. Ha-ha-ha very funny - Severus thought to himself. He finished dressing and stopped to take a look in the mirror. No robes tonight - a well tailored black suit with his usual high collared jacket and black silk shirt - his hair was tied back with a black band and he had his own aftershave, that he had created with a combination of spices. Not too bad if I do say so myself - if I could just force a smile to look natural on my face I might actually attract a woman. Laughing out loud - he cursed at his image in the mirror and allowed his usual scowl of self loathing to return. No woman will ever want you Severus quit trying to fool yourself. He shook his head and walked out of his rooms to see if he could catch any students fooling around before the dance. Deducting house points always cheered him up when he was feeling sorry for himself.
Although it was very uncommon, Angelina had come over to Hermiones\' room to get dressed for the dance. Hermione had developed into a beautiful woman - long curly bronzed brown hair to match her skin - she was wearing a lovely shade of maroon tonight. Her dress was just below the knee and fit snugly, she was wearing high heels which she was afraid were going to trip her up. Angelina was wearing an emerald colored dress that went to the floor - it seemed to be draped to her body. She chose to wear flats afraid that she might trip over her feet and the dress. They looked at each other with admiration commenting on how beautiful the other looked and then broke out in laughter as they decided it was time to go downstairs. When Harry and Ron looked up the stairs as the two women descended, their mouths dropped open. After several compliments and red faces, they left for the dance.
The decorations were scary but tasteful, luckily no blood and guts anywhere - autumn oranges and golds were the main colors. There were brilliant colored mums and sunflowers on every table and the candles were enchanted to float just over head giving off a soft glow. All the teachers were already there, even Professor Snape. When they walked into the room, Angelina could feel his eyes upon her - he had a startled expression and then broke out into a rather broad grin when he realized she had caught him.
Severus noticed them when they came in the door - Miss Granger looked very pretty tonight, she certainly had changed since her first year here. Angelina, on the other hand, looked absolutely stunning, breathtaking - she had on a Slytherin shade of green that accented her skin tone and her russet colored hair. He did not even mind that she had caught him admiring her, he just smiled at her across the room. When he looked away and back again he realized that she was admiring him and she blushed when he caught her. Headmaster Dumbledore was watching all of this with a very secretive smile spreading across his face. Minerva turned to him and coughed to let him know she had caught him. He looked away in deference to her and she took her chance to glance at Severus and Angelina and think what a lovely couple they would make.
Professor Snape watched as they found a table and sat down to have some punch before the music started. As the music began to play, Harry led Angelina onto the floor for her first dance that evening. They looked quite graceful and comfortable together. After that neither of them sat for a very long time, both had partners lining up to dance with them. Snape had already danced with Minerva and Miss Granger by the time he was able to beat the next young man to Angelina.
\"Good evening, Professor Snape. How are you tonight?\" Harry smiled which unnerved Severus a little bit.
\"Mr. Potter, I am fine. Miss Moonstar, I was wondering if I could have this dance?\" He offered his hand to her.
\"Why yes, Professor Snape. I would love to dance with you. Hermione said you are a wonderful dancer.\" She smiled and let him guide her to the dance floor.
As they waited for the next song to start, they exchanged small talk.
\"Angelina, you look stunning tonight, that color is lovely against your skin.\"
\"Thank you Professor\" Snape interrupted her and said. \"Please for our dance at least, call me Severus.\"
\"Thank you , Severus. I must say you look very handsome tonight. I like your hair tied back - I can see your eyes much better.\" She smiled to herself as she looked up into his face realizing how flirtatious she had just sounded. The blush that rose from her neck to her cheeks let him know that she had not meant to sound so forward. The music started for a slow dance, as they placed their hands in the proper positions and began to glide over the floor, both felt a jolt of electricity course through their bodies.
Angelina had never realized how tall Severus actually was until she looked up into his eyes - he really has lovely eyes - utterly enthralling. She felt herself drifting away, lost in the moment they were sharing - she hoped it was a very long song.
Severus was thinking along the same lines - she was graceful, her limbs had a wonderful innate flow and her eyes, oh her eyes - hazel green with that brown ring around the outside. Enchanting. Suddenly they were knocked out of their reverie of each other by a bump as someone else tripped and fell into them. No one was hurt but Angelina looked as if she needed some air to recover herself. Severus offered to take her out on the balcony for some fresh air - she accepted and they walked outside. He never let go of her arm trying to support her as they exited the dance temporarily.
\"Thank you Professor. I think I needed eatheather.\"
\"Severus - our dance was interrupted so while we are enjoying the night sky please continue to call me Severus.\"
\"Thank you Severus\" she looked at the sky and commented, \"the stars are glorious tonight.\"
\"They can not compare with how beautiful you are tonight, Angelina. You are becoming a very beautiful woman.\" Severus realized too late that the words were actually coming out of his mouth. He coughed uncomfortably and tried to move away from her, almost afraid of what he would do.
Angelina looked up into his eyes and as he moved back she moved towards him, closing the distance enough to reach up and trace his cheek with her fingertips. She smiled and before she knew what she was doing she brushed her lips softly against his mouth. Severus felt like his body was on fire - what was she doing - he was her teacher. He could not stop himself from leaning down taking her mouth in his, tenderly at first but with rising urgency as he realized that what he was doing was wrong. When her tongue pushed through his lips to explore his mouth he thought he would explode and although he had twined his tongue with hers at first, he gently pushed himself away from her. They stood for a moment, panting as if they had been running a marathon not knowing what to say.
\"Angelina, I did not mean to be so forward with you. I hope I have not offended you in any way. Would you like to report my actions to the Headmaster? I will go with you and admit to everything.\"
\"Severus, never. I know that I am the one who started the kiss and I hope that I have not lost all your respect. I don\'t know what happened it felt so right and natural to kiss you. Can you forgive me?\" She looked at him pleadingly.
\"There is nothing to forgive.\" He met her eyes and tried to smile knowing that the passion he felt while kissing her was still evident.
Severus started to go back in, when she grabbed his arm and asked if they could have just a few more moments in the starlight together. He could not refuse her and as he turned she pulled his arm around her waist and backed into him, nestling her head right below his chin and sighing contentedly.
They did not know that someone had witnessed the events on the balcony and he was not going to tell them. Harry felt as if he had been eavesdropping. Snape had looked at Angelina as if there were no other women in the world and the love in his eyes - that was an emotion Harry would never have believed pose fre from Snape. He knew in his heart that they were meant for each other. He also knew that this was one of Dumbledores secrets. Harry felt deliriously happy for them - Snape had never been his favorite person but with Angelina he seemed to be a complete person - one who was capable of intense tenderness and love.
They each left that night leaving a bit of t hea hearts behind - Severus and Angelina, waiting for that time when it would be proper to begin a relationship and Harry hoping to share such a passionate love with someone in the future.