Entranced By A Prince

After weeks of anticipation, the day of the Yule Ball finally arrived. The afternoon classes had been cancelled in order to allow the students time to get ready for the dance, and most of the teachers had no desire to teach seeing as how most of the school was going home for winter break the next day.



"So Sev," Ian said at lunch, while filling his plate with potatoes. "What should we do while the girls get ready? They will need all night but we'll only need what, fifteen minutes?"



"Well, you can always pack," Severus answered him helping himself to some stew. "I mean you are leaving tomorrow and haven't even begun to pack your trunk."



"You have a point there," he answered him. "Won't take too long to shove it all in though." He smiled as Alexxi rolled her eyes at him.



"I packed my stuff a week ago," Alexxi told him with a playful glare. "But men will always wait until the last minute. I bet Noko already packed too."



"I'm not going home this year," Nokomis said as she started peeling her orange. "I didn't want to put up with my mum's aunt Mikahla."



"Oh yeah," Alexxi said with an understanding look. "I've met your great-aunt Mikahla, she's quite difficult."



"That's putting it nicely," Nokomis answered with a smirk. "And trust me, she's anything but great."



"Try having Muggle relatives," Severus said quietly. "They'll ask you how you are doing in school and when you just say fine, they think you are being a twit and get upset with you." Severus looked over at Nokomis and gave her a smile. "I'm just glad I chose to stay at school this year with you."



Nokomis smiled and felt her face grow warm. She knew that the only people in Slytherin that were staying that year were her and Severus and she hoped they would get to know each other quite well with no-one around to bother them. "Well, I can't finish this," Nokomis said putting down her fork and getting up. "I'm going to head downstairs and start to get ready."



"I will meet you in the common room at a quarter to seven Nokomis," Severus said to her as she gathered her bag.



"Sounds good Sev," she said to him, bending over to give him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you then." With that, she made her way out of the great hall and headed down to the dungeons.



***



"What time is it Noko?" Alexxi asked, putting an amethyst clip in her hair.



"Six-thirty," she answered her, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. "How'd you talk Ian into wearing purple anyway?"



"It's deep enough to look black from far away," she answered smiling. "Besides, he was happy let me pick out his robes."



"Severus hated it when we picked out his," Nokomis said remembering. "But the ones he got looked nice." She stood up and put the shawl over her shoulders. "Shall we go?"



"Sure," she answered getting up. "Think you are showing enough skin there Noko?" Alexxi smiled at her joke.



"That's why there is a shawl with it Alex," Nokomis said letting it fall from her shoulders. The two girls walked into the common room and paused as they noticed Ian standing by the fireplace.



"Wow," Alexxi said walking over to him, "you look great tonight Ian." She gave him a kiss and took the arm he offered her.



"You are quite stunning yourself," he answered, giving her a white rose. "But it's hard for you not to look that way."



"Where is Severus?" Nokomis asked Ian, feeling a bit stupid that he hadn't shown up.



"I'm right behind you," he said softly. "I must say, you look amazingly beautiful tonight."



Nokomis turned around and was amazed at what she saw. "I love your hair pulled back like that Severus," she said, gently running her hand down the side of his face. "The silver is a nice color for you also."



"Well, let us head upstairs," Severus said, giving his arm to Nokomis. They walked in silence to the Great Hall, every so often Nokomis would look up at Severus and beam, lucky to be the one on his arm that night.



When they approached the Great Hall, they lined up to check in with Professor Slughorn. Severus put his arm around Nokomis' shoulders and moved his thumb in a circle on the bare skin of her arm.



"Nokomis Lennyn and Severus Snape," Severus announced when they reached the table.



"Ah yes," Professor Slughorn said, crossing their names from his list. "You have a good time tonight."



"Thank you Professor," Severus said as he led Nokomis into the hall. It had been completely transformed from how it was at lunch. The four house tables had gone and replacing them were dozens of smaller tables. Decorated fir trees were standing guard around the perimeter of the room which was softly illuminated by hundreds of candles. Severus guided Nokomis over to a table in the front of the room and sat down beside her.



"Wow," Alexxi said when they joined them a few minutes later. "The hall looks great. I didn't realize how big this room was."



"I'm sure there are charms to make it bigger," Nokomis answered looking around. "It is certainly beautiful though."



"Not half as beautiful as you are," Severus said taking her hand. "Would you care to dance?"



"Sure," Nokomis said, getting to her feet. She quickly found out that he was only joking when he said he couldn't dance. They moved about the dance floor smoothly, almost as if one mind was controlling both bodies. After dancing for a while, they returned to the table to join Ian and Alexxi for dinner.



"So, having fun?" Severus asked the other couple as he sat down again after helping Nokomis to her seat. "This smells delicious," he said after they had ordered thier food.



"I know I am," Alexxi said taking a bite of her dinner. "How about you?"



"Can't think of a better one," Severus said looking over at Nokomis. She was sitting there just pushing her food around on her plate. "Is anything wrong?" he asked her putting his hand on her back.



"No, I'm fine," she said smiling up at him. "I'm just not hungry today."



"Ok," he said looking concerned. "As long as you aren't upset about anything." He pulled her closer to him and gave her a small kiss on the lips, not wanting to do more since there were plenty of other students and even teachers in the hall. He put his arm around her and watched the other couples on the dance floor. She put her head against his chest and just enjoyed the music and the company. When Severus noticed that she was beginning to fall asleep in his arms, he helped her up and accompanied her to the common room.



"Sleep well Nokomis," he said to her before giving her a deep kiss. "I shall see you tomorrow. Until then, remember, you are always in my thoughts." He turned and walked over to the doorway to the boys dorms. He turned back just to see her disappear into the girls dorms. 'Merlin, I love that woman,' he thought to himself as he made his way to his own bed.