Picking up Natalie

[Severus Snape]

It was an ironic fate that Severus was going to a ball with Natalie. Her concern and worry had been well merited, but Severus was having a difficult time feeling sorry for what had happened. It was a horrible guilty thing he felt, her prediction came to pass, but with it he had her as a partner for the evening. He pushed the feeling far away from himself, ashamed to have Natalie sense it should she care to delve into is feelings. He felt sure that she wouldn't, she respected him in that. He hoped at least. He stopped in front of the wall of Ravenclaw and a woman's voice asked:"Answer in just one word: What signifies/clearly distinguishes/forms a clear boundary between good and evil? "
Severus took a breath and blushed as he said the first thing that came to his mind "Love."
He swore he could hear a smile in the voice of the woman as she responded "well reasoned."
He walked into the common room hoping he looked all right and that it wasn't filled with many other Ravenclaws.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Some girls liked to linger upstairs until their dates arrived, so that they could take their time and make a grand entrance. Not Natalie. She was sitting on the sofa in her white dress, her short legs dangling down, and swinging slightly, both about half a foot from being able to reach the ground. Her small hands were folded demurely on her lap, and her lips were stained with just a hint of red, borrowed from Rori.

"Hi, Severus," she said shyly.

[Severus Snape]

Severus felt his throat tighten like he had a noose around his neck. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll, her lips shone with a bare hint of rose and her white dress made her seem like an angel. She was so small, at that thought his stomach turned over for a reason he hadn't known. He tried to take a steady breath and nearly stuttered out saying hello, but regained enough composure to say "Hello Natalie." as if it were the easiest thing to say.
He smiled just enough to actually show his teeth, but he quickly pressed his lips back together. He hated his teeth. He considered what he should say, he greeted her so should he mention how lovely she looked or should he mention how happy it made him to take her to a ball, especially a Christmas ball. He decided for something in between.
"You look lovely, shall we go now?" He was glad he was able to shove aside enough of his nervous emotion to sound confident. Actually having finally said it, his confidence did grow immensely. He did feel confident now

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie was, as always, unfazed. Only in the shy smile and the faint pink tint of her otherwise pale cheeks did she show any embarrassment. "Thank you," she said. She almost could have laughed at the bluntness of his comment, but she never laughed at him.

Standing up, she placed her hand on his. "Remember the Halloween ball? When I was supposed to meet you there, only I didn't make it because of my cousin."

It seemed so long ago. She hadn't even been a student at the time, but had been staying with Uncle Alastor at the school. And that was the day that Elle had freaked out and stabbed Laitia, who was then the muggle studies teacher. So much had changed since then, and yet, it had been just a little over a year. Back then, Alastor was teaching Transfiguration, Sabrina was alive, Elle was fine... Now Alastor and Elle were both missing, and Sabrina was dead. And here she was. It didn't seem fair somehow.

[Severus Snape]

Severus's face crumpled to a little bit of confusion and sadness. His happiness dampened slightly. He had felt so destroyed that Halloween, then when he learned of the happenings of the dance his betrayed feelings had turned to guilt and shame. Guilt because he had wanted to go to the dance with his greatest friend and shame because she suffered so for the madness of a then professor. He shook off the feelings and brought his twisted smile back a bit and said "This won't be like that, we didn't have to paint our faces tonight."
He hoped it was funny, he didn't want to seem like he was worrying over her. Not that he didn't, but he didn't want to smother her with all of his feelings, even though he knew no one else could probably tell what was going on in his head, she would. For a moment he wished it was because it was she was special to him and not just magically powerful.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie hated that memory, too. She had been so excited about the idea of seeing him there, in his costume. She hadn't actually planned on wearing a costume and just going as herself. But the incident with Elle had happened, and Natalie had been unable to prevent it. And she never ended up making it to the ball. She was glad that she had the chance to make up for it now.

But there was that tiny part of her that couldn't help but hold back, just a little. The part that was certain something bad was about to happen. Not at the ball. She felt fairly certain that the ball would be find this time. But something would happen tonight, and tomorrow there would be tears. She could feel it, like an ache in her bones. It wasn't all that different from a person with a bad knee that could always tell when it was about to rain.

"This one is already better than the last one," she said.

[Severus Snape]

Severus nodded with a bare hint of a smile still on his lips. He purposefully hadn't brewed anything in the days prior to the ball; his fine hair that usually became matted in brewing steam and his own oils was tied back in a short length of black ribbon. His robes were a little shabby, but he made sure they looked well laundered and taken care of.
He thought of a rag doll and porcelain one sitting on the same shelf, one totally different from the other in looks, but still at the end just toys that could be thrown across a room should God have a childish fit. He stepped fully into the room and offered her a hand to help her off her seat.
"Come on, we're probably the last ones to show up now." His voice was soft, even if his hand was dry and colder than hers.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie's smile was shy. "You look nice," she said. She wasn't one who cared much about physical appearances. She'd seen some of the most beautiful people with the ugliest souls, and vice versa. A person's appearance had nothing to do with the kind of person they really were inside, and that was what counted. But she personally thought Severus was good-looking. Yes, his skin was pale, and his eyes often seemed sunken in, and his hair was often limp. But to her, he was sweet and kind, and she liked the way he looked.

But today, she could see the difference, the effort he'd gone to to clean himself up for her. It was sweet, and she appreciated it, but it wasn't necessary. She liked him exactly as he was.

"I don't really care if we miss the opening ceremony," she commented. "I don't really understand the purpose of the tournament. The champions all seem nice enough, but it just seems odd to pit them against each other."

[Severus Snape]

Severus considered a moment "It's tradition." it was a simple enough explanation, but it didn't seem to be very fulfilling as an answer to a question.
"I'm sure the opportunity to flaunt one's skills openly is an attractive enough offer to some of the students, I know many who tried to enter the tournament to do just that." He took her small hand into his own and smiled despite the subject they were talking about.
"Well, regardless of why, we should start make our way, I'm happy to have the chance to take you either way." he felt pride flutter in his veins along with a few other positive emotions that he hadn't bothered to identify. He pushed open the door and walked her out of the common room.

[Natalie St. Clare]

Natalie didn't think much of traditions. To her, they seemed like a way of clinging to the past without ever moving forward. And often they were twisted over time to the point of losing all true meaning.

She didn't mention this to Severus, however. Instead, she tried to focus on the positive, which was that she was getting to go to the ball with Severus. She doubted he was much of a dancer, which was fine, because she wasn't, either. Or at least, not in a traditional sense. She wasn't good at following rhythms, her movements tended to be more sweeping, giving her the appearance of an angel in flight.

She smiled and looped her arm through his. "Then I guess we should go," she said simply.

[Severus Snape]

*I posted in the ball already, you could quote me and reply if you'd like*