“I’m hurrying as fast as I can,” Dierna shouted back from behind the bedroom door.
“I am watching the clock young lady.”
Dierna cursed under her breath as she slipped her feet into the pair of heels she had found, her language becoming incredibly more colorful as she tried to balance herself on the stilettos.
“ONE MINUTE!”
She swore out loud this time as she glanced in the mirror one last time, she ran a hand over her curls, silently begging them to stay in place and smoothed the wrinkles from her dress, the same gold one that she had worn for the ball at the end of the last term.
She practically raced for the door and opened it just as her father was tucking his pocket watch into his dress robes.
“It’s about time,” he growled at her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think it would take me that long to get ready.”
Severus still looked irritated, but he offered Dierna his arm as they headed out of the room and down the stairs out into the magical quarter of Florence.
“Where is the reception at?” Dierna asked.
“At the conservatory of magic, it is near the river.”
Dierna nodded in response. She found it took all of her attention to keep her balance in the accursed heels she was wearing while walking on cobblestones. Plus she was nervous. Long before she was ready they had reached the conservatory and had entered a large candle-lit ballroom. She tightened her grip on her father’s arm, feeling more than a bit overwhelmed. They were almost immediately joined by several men whose work Dierna was very familiar with. She was content to stand to the side and listen. However she did not remain as invisible as she had wished.
“Have you taken on an apprentice Snape?” One of the men asked.
“No, you know I have not patience for apprentices,” he slid an arm around Dierna’s shoulders, and she was thankful of its protective feel, “this is my daughter, Dierna.”
“I’ve seen your scores on the OWLs young lady,” LeBeau spoke up, “very impressive. I am quite anxious to see how you do on your NEWTs this coming year.”
Dierna blushed, “thank you sir.”
“Have you brought any of yours with you this year?” Severus asked.
LeBeau snorted and took a long drink from his glass, “heaven help me, yes. And her they come now…” he gestured to a group of young men who had approached. “Gentlemen, Miss Snape, let me present the apprentices, motley crew that they are, from my lab. I fear they are only here for the party, not for the intellectual stimulation.”
“Mademoiselle,” one of the young men held out his hand to Dierna, “surely we can provide better company than for you than that which you are currently with. Please join us for a drink.”
Dierna caught the disapproving look her father was giving her and defiantly slipped her hand into the offered one, “that sounds wonderful,” she didn’t look back as she allowed herself to be led away.
“She’s just going to get herself into trouble,” Severus muttered as he turned his attention to his own drink.
“You’re only young once Severus, let her enjoy herself,” a new member of the group said as he approached.
“Ptolemy, you should have joined us a few seconds earlier,” Snape said as he looked up, “she wouldn’t have left. She idolizes you far too much.”
Dierna deftly managed to remove herself from the arm that had be wrapped around her waist, “you sir,” she said as she stabbed a finger into the chest of the offending man, “are no gentlemen. I’m glad you were kept safely away at Beaxbatons and not near any respectable Hogwarts girls.”
“Mademoiselle, I am hurt,” he purred back, “is there anything I might do to work my way back into your favor?”
Dierna grinned, even though her devotion to Stefan kept her from doing anything beyond a bit of innocent flirting, she was rather enjoying being the center of attention. She flashed a brilliant smile as one of the young men pressed another glass of champagne into her hand.
She turned when she felt a hand on her arm, expecting to see another one of her admirers there, instead she looked up into her father’s face, “hi Dad,” she gave him a brilliant smile.
“If you will excuse us…” Severus gave the crowd of young men a dismissive look and watched as they dispersed. “I think you’ve had quite enough,” he said scathingly as he plucked the glass of champagne out of her hand.
“I’m fine,” Dierna assured him.
“Hmmm… we shall see how you feel in the morning.”
“Are we leaving then?”
“Yes. I detest these social gatherings, but I felt it necessary to make an appearance.”
Dierna narrowed her eyes, “I was rather enjoying myself.”
“I could see that.”
“Take me shopping tomorrow?”
“If I must.”
Dierna looked up at the moon as they stepped outside, loving the way the city looked in its light, “thank you for bringing me.”
Severus nodded absently in response.
“I love you Dad.”
Severus slid his arm around his daughter’s shoulders as they walked back to the hotel.
~~~~~~~~~~
“I got you something,” Dierna and Serena said at the same time, which caused them to start laughing.
Dierna reached into her bag and pulled out a red silk scarf embroidered with gold flowers, “something to wear next time Nick takes you out.”
Serena grinned as she wrapped it around her neck, “I love it. Here,” she handed her twin a bronze arm cuff in the shape of a snake, “I thought it looked exciting.”
“It’s great, I’ll have to wear something sleeveless to show it off, Dad will hate that.”
“But he can’t really say anything about you wearing snake jewelry, can he?” Serena asked innocently.
Dierna grinned back, “You are far too brilliant for your own good.”
“So, you and Dad didn’t kill each other, I’m impressed.”
“And you survived Egypt, I’m equally impressed.”
Serena stopped smiling, “I think we have some things to talk about.”
“What?” Dierna looked confused.
“There were a few things that I overheard… stuff that we’re not supposed to know.”
Dierna sat on her bed and drew her knees up to her chest, “fill me in.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
“Think we can do it mate?” Kamen asked.
William nodded, “we better. I don’t like the idea of playing on a team without you.”
“Two openings and six of us trying out, we better do a damn good job.”
“I’m planning on it.”
Kamen shouldered his broom, “let’s head out.”
William followed him out onto the practice pitch for the Appleby Arrows, where the team and coach were already assembled and where the rest of the team hopefuls were gathering.
The two flat mates listened carefully as the coach outlined the drills that they were going to run with the regular teammates. They were soon on their brooms running through the drills and playing a mock game.
Kamen tried to ignore the sweat dripping down his forehead into his eyes as he dropped into a tight spiral, the quaffle held tightly against his chest. As soon as he righted himself he made a smooth pass to William. He hoped that their best would be enough.
He swore under his breath every time the regulars intercepted a pass or blocked a goal. He tried to shake his nerves, knowing that they would only make things worse, not something he wanted.
He and William shared a bitter look as the coach blew the whistle and they were forced to come down. They had no idea how it had gone.
“Hit the showers,” the coach instructed, “the team and I will review and hopefully the lists will be up by the time you’re out.”
Kamen and William, along with the other hopefuls trudged toward the locker room. They were all silent, too nervous to make small talk and too tired to comment on each others’ performances.
“You’re taking a long time putting on your shoes,” William observed as he joined Kamen on a bench and shook back his wet hair.
“I’m not sure if I want to go out there.”
“Neither do I, but I suppose we have to.”
Kamen gave a curt nod and stood up, “shall we do it?”
William grinned, “if nothing else, we still have each other.”
Kamen smiled back, “and I’m sure that Anastasia will love us whether or not we made the team.”
“She is rather devoted to us,” William agreed, “and a much prettier face to return home to than you are.”
“I resent that comment,” Kamen said as he threw his towel at William.
“You’re just jealous of a fountain.”
Kamen laughed, “That piece of stone has a lot to be jealous of.”
“Makes you wish that she wasn’t stone…”
They stopped just short of the list that was posted outside the door. Neither one wanted to be the first to look.
“Together then?” Kamen asked
“Together,” William agreed, as they approached it warily.
Kamen hadn’t realized that he had been holding his breath until he shakily let it out, “the reserve team.”
“Both of us,” William added breathlessly.
“We made it,” Kamen couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.
“Congratulations boys,” the team captain said from behind them, “you’ll look good in blue and silver.”
~~~~~~~~~~
“Mum!!!” Serena shouted down the hallway.
Morgan sighed and stuck her head out of the library, “would it be too much trouble for you to come find me instead of yelling?”
“It worked, didn’t it?” Serena responded.
Morgan rolled her eyes, “I take it you want something.”
“Of course.”
Morgan waited patiently for the request, having a feeling that if she was being asked it was something that her husband would be likely to say no to.
“Kamen and William are having a bit of a celebration party tonight in honor of them making the Appleby Arrows, can me and Dierna go?”
“What did your father say?”
“Come on Mum, this is your own son. Are you really not going to let me go to his party?”
“What did your father say?”
Serena sighed, “I haven’t asked him. But Dierna said that Stefan would go with us. Please…”
Morgan sighed, “I suppose…”
“Thanks Mum!” Serena squealed as she sprinted back upstairs.
“I really hope that they manage to behave themselves…” Morgan muttered, “Because I am not saving them from their father if they don’t.”
~~~~~~~~~~
