Dances With Wolves
Chapter 5 of 31
quaffswinegailyThe Yule Ball has its moments.
ReviewedDances with Wolves
Disclaimer: Sorry, JKR. I’m making a real hash with your characters. I’ll try to sort them out later.
On the night of the Yule Ball, Severus had no partner. Lily still hadn’t spoken to him. He stood, half-hidden in the shadows of the Entrance Hall, watching the elegant Miss Evans descend the main staircase in a golden glow. As she reached the last step, James Potter moved into Snape’s line of vision, holding a hand out to Lily and drawing her into the Great Hall. Lily glanced back over her shoulder as she went through the doorway, giving Severus a small, apologetic smile.
Severus eased back into the shadows, scowling deeply, a tight constriction in his chest. Still watching the now empty doorway, he jumped when he heard Dumbledore right beside him.
“When you have finished checking the alcoves for errant students, Mr Snape, please make your way into the Great Hall for the festivities.”
Bloody, twinkling festivities.
Severus skulked around the edges of the hall all evening, watching Lily dance enthusiastically with one Gryffindor after the next. She laughed as she danced with Lupin gangling beside her, hair flopping in his smiling eyes. As the music finished, Lupin took her hand and started to drag her towards Snape.
“You two have got to talk,” Remus said.
Severus pushed off the wall he had been slouching against and stepped forward to meet them. Just then, the final dance was called.
“The mistletoe has been enchanted. Everyone pair up for the Grand Old Wizard of Jorvik,” called the Master of Ceremonies.
To Snape’s dismay, Black edged in front of him, barring his way.
“Back off. She’s not yours, you poltroon,” growled Sirius.
James Potter took Lily’s arm to guide her back onto the dance floor. He smirked at Snape, mouthing “Mine” as he brushed past.
Severus stood rooted to the spot, glaring. Everyone paired up on the floor, leaving Snape standing alone on the sidelines. Cheeks flushed with the affront, he turned to leave the hall but was stopped by a gentle tap on his arm.
“Monsieur Snape, would you do me the pleasure?”
His heart sinking, he sighed and nodded.
Mademoiselle Bien-Aimée made her way to the same group as Lupin, Potter and Lily, with Snape lagging in her wake. As she took her place in the dance line facing him, she gave him a reassuring nod.
Lily and Potter were the couple at the top of the set. As they split and danced down the sides of their set, leading the others behind them, Potter fixed Snape with an aggressive stare. The couple formed an arch with their arms for all the others to pass under. As couples passed underneath, Lily and James were supposed to lower their arch to catch couples, who had to kiss to be released, but Potter held their arms aloft until the very last couple. Potter winked to Sirius when Severus and Charmaine approached, and he dropped the arch over them. Enchanted mistletoe appeared magically above their heads.
“Kissy-kissy,” taunted Potter.
“Ha! You’re a snivelling coward, Snape.”
Pettigrew laughed.
Seething with embarrassment, Severus turned to push his way out of James' and Lily’s encircling arms. A light touch on his sleeve stopped him. Gently, a fingertip on the side of his defiantly raised chin turned him back towards Charmaine, bringing his ear very close to her lips.
“You are not a coward, Severus Snape,” she murmured.
As he gazed past her towards Lily, he fought back tears of humiliation. Maintaining eye contact with Lily, he bent slightly and brushed a feather-light kiss on the professor’s lips. A flare of magical energy tingled across his lips. Caught by surprise, he looked down into Charmaine’s honey eyes, catching a flicker of sighing thought... Severus!... accompanied by a sensation of profound sadness, longing, and warmth? There was a brief vision of a dark-haired wizard flying towards him with a hand outstretched.
She closed her eyes abruptly and dropped her head.
“Never do that again without asking,” she snapped before breaking out of the circle and striding out of the room without looking back, her wavy hair bouncing with each angry step.
Black howled with laughter as Snape was left standing alone in the centre of the crowd, staring after the departing professor with a finger pressed to his still tingling lips.
A/N: Thanks again sunny33 for the beta work.
1. Jorvik = York, England
2. The Grand Old Duke of York is a simple dance much used at school ceilidhs. The boys and girls pair off, forming a double line, boys on one side and girls on the other, facing each other. The first couple dance down and up through the middle of the set, then the boy turns out and goes down the outside of the boys' row, followed in a chain by the other boys while the girl goes down the outside of the girls’ row, followed by all the girls. When they reach the far end, the first couple face each other, join hands and make an arch with their arms, under which all the other couples have to pass. The couple making the arch try to bring their arms down around a passing couple and capture them; caught couples can only escape if they kiss.
How come the greasy gits I had to kiss at my school ceilidhs were just greasy gits and not powerful wizards in training? Sunny says it's because Severus hadn't been invented, back in the dark ages, when I was at school.
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Latest 25 Reviews for A Man's Best Friend
353 Reviews | 7.7/10 Average
Damn so he came back cured of the love that he had,but stilled loved them as a friend.I am not sure I understand how he was cured from being dead...did he not really die cause of the Blaze? I loved the story,felt a little rushed at the end,but it was supposed to be a one shot right!! Great work thanks!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for taking the time to read to the finish and review. I wrote this story three years ago, so perhaps would take more time on the ending now. Maybe one day I'll revisit it.
I think they could have been a triad. Do you ever write those stories? You would write a great one I know!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I haven't yet. Maybe one day.
i like the older Snape and I am sure Hermione does too!!Great story!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
He matures rather well.
If he had lived would Lupin have been thier third? I would like to think so...I LOVE this story!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Perhaps... or maybe not...
i love the way you incorporate canon and fanon!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you very much. I appreciate your reviews.
poor Severus and poor(Hermione?)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Indeed.
I never liked Lily, a real friend would have forgiven!! I hate the fact Severus never recoved from her loss and went to his death alone on a dirty floor...Thank goodness for fan fiction!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fan fiction just lets us explore other options.
i was not expecting the unicorn to hurt our Severus!! I think it is for the good in the long run!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Here's hoping...
Hermione?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Really?
Response from deedeebug95 (Reviewer)
Hahaha!
oMG, this really could have happened this way!! Poor Severus this is breaking my heart
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It's certainly a possibility.
like the start of this!! How dare they shave Severus' hair!!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I know. Oily and lank though it may be at times, we do love his hair.
If the professor knew how the dance went, why would she not be prepared to be kissed by Severus? It seems odd that a professor would dance this dance with a student. Obviously she has some kind of magical sight that Severus can pick up on when he touches her. Legilimins? Could they have gotten away with a kiss on the cheek? She should chastise Snotter for trapping her and Severus and taunting him right in front of a teacher. I know I need to just buck and deal with the tragedy that is Silly Lily Evens the idiot girl who has no ability to judge character and Severus Snape. I still don't like it though. F the Gryffindors. I hates them all!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm sure they woudn't have let them go with just a kiss on the cheek.
Lily is such a little airheaded dolt! She has no common sense! She knows Severus better than that! She should know he wouldn't say such a thing! And that Snotter deserves to be killed by Voldemort. The world is better off without his kind of riff raff. I know that sounds stinky, but I'm a fat, greyheaded, crotchety and cantankerous old broad so I get to say things like that. "That little whiper snaper probably smokes dope like all them other little pimply faced reprobates! All those young people are are on dope, damn it!" That's the mood I'm in and it's late. So I'd better go to bed before I do or say anything else antisocial. If you knew the week I've been having you'd understand. Some little wanker stole my car and got it impounded for driving with no licence and for possession. He also just happens to be married to my idiot, enabling daughter who makes excuses for the little A-hole. I have no idea who raised these damn kids of mine! Just freeking kill me now before I ever have to live with with any of the ungrateful leeches. I'll have bed sores and a wet diaper all the time. I could totally kick that drunk, skinny little ass of his if I wanted to, you know... he's a little putz and I weigh more than he does. All I have to do is knock him down and sit on his face until he suffocates. He just better hope I don't cough, sneeze or laugh while I'm at it! Oops! it's too late. There I went and said something else antisocial. Somebody make me go to bed! I have to work tomorrow so I can buy diapers and wipes for my spawn's babies.If you have to have kids, for the love of god don't have girls! Drama Drama Drama! I'm just warning you now. Kids are over freeking rated. It's time for sleeping pills. I can't believe how late it is and I'm still up bitching... Now you know why I read Harry Potter fan fiction. In my head magic is fixing everything right now and Snape thinks I am the sexiest thing he's ever seen!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I hope this manages to take you away from real life dramas, if only for a short time.
What special gift does she have? Oooooo, I know! She must be a werewolf! No wait. She does't smell of dog. But maybe she just knows how to keep the smell away. Hmmmmm. Touching Snape's face would have been OK if he had been a 4th grader but, teenager? Does she uderstand teenage male hormone function? Or should I call it a disorder? Just kidding. When I was a girl I didn't know what not to do around boys. I don't think I got wise until my mid 30's. I'm thinking she must be at least that old, however or she wouldn't have been thinking the things she was thinking. Women at the bottom of the hill wouldn't notice such attributes. Interesting.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Teenage male hormones... does anyone understand them?
Hmmmm. She wants to let Severus know that Lupin is a Werewolf? I sincerely hope she isn't the one behind the prank that almost killed the young Severus. Why would Dumbledore want the two boys to work together? Training them for something? Are you saying that the speech on the first day of potions isn't Severus Snape's original work? I am very surprised he would use someone elses speech, but I guess if she turns out to be someone he truely admires I suppose he might use it to honor her. Maybe it caught his interest so well that it inspired him for life and he uses it hoping to inspire other young people the way he was. I guess we will find out. Black is such an arse! No wait, worse, he's a vulgar dick head. I take it we won't be super attached to Sirius Black in this story. That's fine with me. I read for the love of Severus Snape and the love of Snape/Granger romance.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Hopefully all will become clearer as the story moves on.
Bummer! They shaved his beautiful long black hair. Hasn't the poor man suffered enough assault to his dignity? I wonder why they let him out of Azkaban for the funeral? Is it to humiliate him? Is he out of Azkaban but under house arrest with guards? It must be shocking to Hermione to see Snape sobbing. I guess you'll tell us how he survived the war. An ausicious beginning!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thank you. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
This has got to be one of the most gorgeous convoluted twisty exciting mind bending epic stories I've ever read!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I'm delighted you enjoyed this and appreciate you taking the time to leave a review.
I started reading this just before bed time, telling myself that I'd only read a chapter or two then off to bed... its now 5:30AM and I just finished! I just couldnt stop reading! I loved it. I really enjoyed every word! Great job and I look forward to reading more from you!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm absolutely delighted. Thank you very much. Now, go and get some sleep!
What a fun roller coaster! Thanks for posting it where we can read it.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
You're most welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for taking the time to stop and leave a review.
Charming story! I've definitely never read anything like it. I love the Portkey idea, and how the story flowed between the past and the present. Thanks.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks for reviewing. This was my first ever long fic. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'm not sure if I loved the story more or the A/N! Fabulous write;)
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Thanks very much. I really appreciate your review. A/N: must remember to give everyone squishy hugs for reviewing...
Thank you for a happy ending - Severus & Hermione wedded, and Remus brought back, as well as Remus finding another special person to love and share/continue a new life with! I can't believe you intended this first to be only a one shot - thank Merlin's Beard that you got carried away or we all would never have had this wonderful, creative adventure in our ff lives - big heartfelt thanks! Looking forward to more of your multi-chaptered works as well as all others!
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
It was a one shot, but the darned thing wouldn't lie down. Normally I struggle to string more than a couple of words together, so this was a bit of a one off. Thanks very much for your encouragement. Cheers, qwg
Ah-ah, Quaffie. I told you quite a few chapters back that you couldn't kill off Remus and you told me to get some new specs or something of that ilk because your prologue dictated that the lovely werewolf had shuffled off his mortal coil or pelt or whatever. Hmmmph. I'd like you to know lassie that I have 20-20 vision....and hindsight and can see through walls too. I enjoyed this ending but I secretly thought that Remus was going to end up with Harry. No??? Anyway thank you for a wonderful story. I have thoroughly enjoyed both Remus and Severus' and indeed our banter over the last few months and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future. Best wishes, Love Ali xxxxx.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Fie on you, and your xray, 3D, perception... glasses... thingies. It was very tempting to set Remus up with Harry, or in a threesome, but Jo was looking a bit left out. And being a true Aussie sheila used to wrangling crocs and dingoes, I reckoned she'd be able to manage his scrawny, flea-bitten hide.And the bloomin' happy ending fairy took over...I'm away to sink into the slough of despond, or onto the couch, or anywhere out of this infernal summer heat. Thanks for all your edifying reviews.Cheers, qwg
So glad this was more than a one shot! I've loved every minute of it. I'm really loving this unicorn magic. You should explore it more in future stories. Beautifully written and one of my favorite fics.
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
I'm very glad you liked it. The story just kept expanding - in some part due to sunny33, who read the original, and never made a comment, but the look on her face just said 'crap ending, write some more' - so I did (but not exactly what she wanted).As for more unicorns - not sure if I trust the mutant horse much - we'll wait and see.Thanks for all your lovely reviews.Cheers, qwg
Yay for you! Your first long fic and it went out on top. This was an even better ending than expected. I have to have my happy ending, always, and I knew you would let Severus and Hermione end in that fashion, but I was so pleased to find that they were able to have their friend back, even if it was through a portrait. THEN, you went and did one better by bringing him back for real. I, for one, am pleased that this one-shot got carried away. Feel free to let that happen again ...
Response from quaffswinegaily (Author of A Man's Best Friend)
Darn! The happy ending fairy got a bit over exuberant, didn't she? I'll have to go and think up something evil she can't tamper with. I hope you enjoyed the read. Really, it shouldn't have worked - a story about a time travelling poisoner, a dead werewolf and a hard drinking wizard with memory defecit. What a load of tosh!Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, they are much appreciated.Cheers, qwg