By the lake.

[Natalie St. Clare]

"Sabrina has other things on her mind, really," Natalie said sadly. "She's always been really popular and sometimes she forgets about people. I don't think she means to do it, but she does. Right now she likes that other boy--Remus." Natalie looked at him. "I'll be your friend if you want. I'm not a student, but I'll be around a lot now. I have no other place to go."

[Severus Snape]

"I'd like that. " said severus smiling alittle "Would you go to the ball with me? I know you don't really come here yet. but i don't think the headmaster would mind" he was shy.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie smiled very slightly. "The ball?" She thought for a minute, looking at him with her head tilted. "OK. I didn't actually think I'd get to go. I wasn't even sure I wanted to. I don't do fun things like dancing very much. But I'll go with you."

[Severus Snape]

"Great!" he said happily" it's like a halloween party so everyone has a get up they go in." he said feeling his blotchy blush spread, taking a deep breath he controlled his emotions and asked "How come you don't do anything fun? Even i have had some good times... I made a floating potion a while ago." he chuckled " that was before one of my friends fell head over heels over a hufflepuff!" he said smiling "they were in denile" he said, hoping that explained it.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie didn't look at him. "I told you I was different," she said. "I see things... things that haven't happened yet. And I can see people's secrets. I guess it's good, cause I know who I can trust... but I don't like knowing things about people that they don't want me to know. And I hate knowing what's going to happen, because I usually only see bad stuff, and I can't figure out a way to stop it. I mean, what good is it to have a power like that if you can't stop the bad things from happening? I saw visions of both my parents dying and I tried to warn them. But no one ever believes me, and they died anyway. It's not fair!" she said, her voice rising slightly. She took a few deep breaths. "Now that you know my secret, do you still want to go to the ball with me? Or do you think I'm a freak?"

[Severus Snape]

Severus looked at her "I'm sorry they didn't believe you...but Your still nice to me, and if you do see, then you know that doesn't happen often." he unwrapped one arm from about his legs and streched it out towards her "I'm not always a nice person...I don't like a lot of things. But I know i'm not all bad" he said giving her a weird half smile. "I still want to dance with you, but i only know how to waltz... i've not been taught any other dances..." he said still holding out his hand.

[Natalie St. Clare]

She stared at his hand, afraid to take it. She really didn't want to know what she would see. But she already knew about his father... what could be worse? She busied herself with wiping the dirt and tree bark from her hands while she spoke. "I don't know any formal dances, really. But I like to spin. I get lightheaded and I feel like I'm flying." She finished wiping her hands and looked up at him shyly, still afraid to touch his hand. "But I don't think I'll embarass you too much with my lack of dancing skills. You said it was a costume party, right? What are you wearing?"

[Severus Snape]

Severus let his hand stay in the air. "I was thinking about being ghost." he laughed and said "just painting my face white and dark circles around my eyes...I don't really have money to spend on things like that, face paint is cheap and it's fun" he said smiling a little "You could paint a kitty face on you" he said still keeping his hand outstreached.

[Natalie St. Clare]

"That sounds easy enough," she said. "We could both be ghosts. I could be a ghost bride. I have this lacy white dress I wore to a wedding once, cause I was a bridesmaid. I could paint my face like yours." She took a deep breath and took his hand. She saw the usual flash...

In the vision she saw, Severus was caught between dark and light, undecided on which side he should go to. He was at a crossroads, and the things that happened to him now would determine the path he would choose.

She opened her eyes and looked at him appraisingly. Maybe here was one she could do something about....

[Severus Snape]

"So what's your verdict? will you come to the dance with me?" he asked smiling.

[Natalie St. Clare]

"Yes, I will," Natalie said. "Maybe I'll even have fun. Um, do we have to get ready soon? It's about to start, right?"

[Severus Snape]

"Oh your right! You wanna meet me in the Slytherin common room? that way you could go get dressed and we could paint each other's faces." he said smiling, He lended over and whispered into her ear the pass word. " I'll see you in a little!" and he sprung up and ran towards hogwarts.

[Natalie St. Clare]

"OK," she said. "I'll see you then!" She actually smiled for just a second.

[Severus Snape]

Severus heard her and turned quickly back towards her and waved good bye and smiled.