The Burning Pen

A Looping of the Scales by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 72

All recognizable characters belong to JKR. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 72 ~ A Party in More Ways than One

In an attempt to get Severus’ focus off of her shoes, Hermione talked about Professor Slughorn as they walked. She was mildly successful because he was forced to look at her, rather than her shoes out of politeness, but his eyes kept shifting downward.

“I find Professor Slughorn’s parties distasteful because he excludes so many students. He only invites famous students, the relatives of famous people or people who are gifted in some way. He didn’t give Ron the time of day until after Voldemort fell. It’s really bad for peoples’ self-esteem.”

Snape snorted.

”I wouldn’t give his party the time of day if I hadn’t made an agreement with him to do it,” Snape said, frowning. “When I attended Hogwarts, Slughorn didn’t give me a second glance and I was brilliant in Potions. Better than Lily. In fact, I tutored Lily in Potions and she helped me with Charms. It’s how we both became proficient early.”

Hermione thought maybe it was because Severus had been such a loner that Slughorn didn’t embrace him. From what she knew, he wasn’t the most social of wizards back then.

“He likes fame,” Hermione said. “But, he doesn’t want to be famous—he wants to influence famous people and get perks from knowing them. Like free Quidditch tickets and being able to advise people in high positions, things like that.”

”He is a Slytherin,” Snape replied. “Making good contacts is part of our philosophy. That he wants to benefit from his contacts is no surprise. There are worse things he could do.”

”Yes,” Hermione agreed as they took the shifting stairwells down to the first floor. “A lot of people thought he was a coward for the longest time. He hid out, you know, trying to avoid being recruited by Voldemort. He was the one who told him about Horcruxes. He hid that for a long time until Harry got it out of him. Without that knowledge, we couldn’t have destroyed the Dark Lord.”

”So, Slughorn is a hero?” Snape asked her.

”I’m not sure if you can call him that, since he was the one who put Voldemort on his evil path. It wasn’t on purpose, but still—“

Snape frowned.

”Well, I made the elixir that gave him more power,” Snape said softly. “So what does that make me?”

”You were young. You didn’t know what he’d turn into, Severus.”

”I knew enough. We were at war,” the wizard replied sullenly.

”You spent your entire adult life trying to rectify that mistake, and you saved a lot of lives and made it possible for him to be killed by your sacrifice. If not for you, he might have realized Draco, and then Harry was the master of the Elder Wand. So stop going on about that. You’re a hero, and I won’t stand for you saying otherwise!”

Snape looked at Hermione’s fierce expression. She looked as if she wanted to hex him. Did she believe in him that much? Obviously so. He felt his heart swell a little.

”All right,” he said quietly.

”Yes, it is all right,” she muttered as they walked toward the Dark Arts classroom where the party was being held. They could hear music and low chatter.

“Here we go,” Snape said as they entered the open doors.

The desks had been removed from the classroom and tables and comfortable seating areas placed strategically for the guests’ comfort and to inspire conversations. There were several lit ice sculptures that doubled as fountains. Juice, wine and other libations flowed freely. All one had to do was capture their choice of drink in a goblet.

Some students not part of the Slug Club were there, dressed in crisp white jackets and serving the guests various finger foods. On the far side of the room, against a wall was a large display of photographs, all members and former members of the Slug Club. Harry and Ginny were standing in front of it, Harry looking at several pictures of his mother.

All together there was a group of about fifty people in attendance, most of them adults, and not all of them exactly human. The vampire Sanguini was in evidence, as well as his friend and companion Eldred Worple. The tall, pale creature’s black eyes shifted over the crowd consideringly, then fell on Hermione, who shuddered and clutched Severus’ arm tighter.

”What’s wrong?” he asked her.

”Sanguini, the vampire. He gives me the creeping fugwugs,” she replied.

Snape followed her gaze and saw the vampire staring at them, wearing a small smirk. He was dressed in long black robes, had long, rather lank black hair, and a large nose.

”I think there might be a bit of resemblance between us,” Snape said to Hermione, who hissed back at him, “There’s NO resemblance at ALL!”

”I vant to bite your neck,” Snape teased her, lifting his upper lip slightly and showing his slightly crooked white teeth. .

”Shut up.”

They entered the room and immediately Ron and Susan appeared, Ron carrying a huge plate of hors d'œuvres. He was chewing on a small glazed chicken wing. Snape eyed him.

”If not for your dress robes, I’d swear you were a server, Ron,” Hermione said, shaking her head as Susan grinned. Ron did love to eat.

”You’d find out you were wrong when he bites your hand off at the wrist when you attempt to take a piece,” Snape interjected.

Hermione and Susan chuckled as Ron looked outraged.

He swallowed his food and said, “It’s not that bad. I’d only take a finger or two.”

This caused more laughter and Harry and Ginny walked up.

”Hi, Hermione. You look fantastic,” Ginny said.

”Thanks,” Hermione said, blushing and patting her hair a bit nervously. “You and Susan look very nice yourselves.”

”I like her shoes,” Snape said. Harry and Ron looked down at them.

”They look dangerous to me,” Ron said. “One misstep and crack! There goes her ankle.”

Harry thought they looked sexy. Ginny had on heels too, and he loved to see her in them as well. Susan wore shoes with a broad heel, not quite as high as those of the other witches, but still quite a nice pair.

Snape shook his head slightly, thinking Ron didn’t have a clue as to what was sexy.

Suddenly, a smiling Slughorn appeared, looking directly at Severus and having eyes for no one else. He wore an old-fashioned waistcoat with gold buttons and his bald head shined as if he’d polished it just for the occasion. His white walrus-like mustache fluttered in delight as he looked at the young wizard greedily.

”You made it I see, Severus,” the professor said gleefully. “Wonderful, wonderful. I wonder if I might borrow you for a few moments and introduce you to a few of my guests.”

Snape frowned at Slughorn’s rudeness. Didn’t he see anyone else?

”I’m with my friends,” Snape said tightly.

Slughorn’s prominent eyes shifted around the small group of friends as if seeing them for the first time. They dulled slightly as they fell on Ron holding the plate of hors d'œuvres. He might be famous, but what a glutton he was. No couth at all. Still, Slughorn smiled.

”Ah yes, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley—and—er, who are you?”

”Susan Bones,” Susan said softly, blushing slightly. Her hand was resting on Ron’s arm.

”Ah, Miss Bones. Mr. Weasley’s date. What house are you in?” Slughorn asked her.

”Hufflepuff.”

”Oh, I see. Well, welcome to my little party, Miss Bones,” Slughorn said a bit dismissively, turning back to Snape.

Ron frowned at the wizard, then patted Susan’s hand.

”He’s a git,” he mouthed at her, and Susan gave him a small smile.

If Slughorn had any idea about Susan’s food magic skills, he would have shown much more interest in her. Susan’s magical hors d'œuvres would have taken his party to another level completely. Well, it was his loss.

“You don’t mind if I borrow Severus for a bit?” he asked the group.

They couldn’t very well say they did mind.

”Not at all,” Hermione said as Snape shook his head slightly at her, signaling for her to say she did mind. But Hermione was too polite for that.

”Well, come along, Severus. We’ve people to impress,” Slughorn said brightly, walking off.

”Thanks a lot,” Snape hissed at everyone, then he followed Slughorn stiffly.

“Well, he should have expected it,” Hermione said, looking after him. “Hopefully, it won’t be too painful. Let’s mingle.”

Hermione and friends moved off into the crowd as Snape was led to a small group of wizards, Slughorn beaming proudly.

”Ah, members of the Council. You are of course familiar with Severus Snape?” he said, slipping an arm behind Snape and pressing him forward. “Severus, these are the currently seated members of the Ministry Council. Good men to know.”

Introductions were made, and Snape felt distinctly uncomfortable as the Council members eyed him like some kind of novelty.

”So, it is true,” one council member said. “You have youthened. Don’t have any memories of your adult life at all?”

”No, I don’t,” Snape said shortly.

”That could be considered a blessing in your case. You were involved in some rather sticky business,” another member said, frowning at him in obvious dislike. “Some believe you should be under Azkaban for the death of Albus Dumbledore.”

An uncomfortable silence followed this statement, then Slughorn stepped forward, his eyes glittering.

”If not for Severus Snape, we would all be serving the Dark Lord, Gregory. You know his service and sacrifice. He is as much a hero as Harry Potter. And I find it distasteful that you would say such a thing to him when you know he has no recollection of his adult years. I thought better of you,” Slughorn said angrily.

”Yet, this is amazing,” another member said, cutting off the argument. “You actually found a way to permanently take years off of a human being. Do you have the potion?”

”No. This was an accident,” Snape said tightly.

”It would be wonderful if you could retrace your steps and recreate it,” the councilman said. “You’d make a fortune, and I wouldn’t mind investing in such a product, as well as using it.”

Snape didn’t say anything to this. He already had Lord Malfoy backing him. He didn’t need more stuffed shirts trying to profit from his abilities.

”Severus also has an amazing Animagus form. The most fascinating I’ve ever seen,” Slughorn said proudly as Snape looked at him, startled.

”Really. What is his form?” another council member asked.

”Would you mind showing them, Severus?” Slughorn asked him.

”What? Here?” Snape replied, feeling uncomfortable.

”Yes. Surely you’ve transformed in the castle before,” Slughorn said encouragingly.

People began to crowd around him, having overhead Slughorn praising him.

”Uh, oh. What’s happening?” Harry said. “Everyone’s gathering around Severus.”

”What?” Hermione said, putting down her cup of pumpkin juice and looking over. Snape didn’t look too happy. In fact, he looked a bit trapped.

“I’m going to see what’s going on,” Hermione declared, walking over and pushing her way through the crowd. Harry, Ginny, Ron and Susan followed her.

“Go ahead, Severus. Show everyone your form,” Slughorn pressed.

Snape scowled. Everyone was standing around him expectantly. He saw Hermione push to the front of the crowd, her eyes questioning.

”Are you sure he’s an Animagus?” someone in the crowd said. “It seems as if his talent is petrification. He’s as stiff as stone.”

Laughter rose as Snape’s face contorted. He hated being laughed at.

”I’m not doing this,” he suddenly said.

“Oh, come now, Severus. Everyone will be impressed, once they see your Animagus form,” Slughorn cajoled him.

“No,” Snape said stubbornly.

Ron, Harry, Susan and Ginny pushed through. Ron’s blue eyes were narrowed as the crowd began to jeer at Snape. This was the wizarding world’s cream of the crop? They were all arseholes.

“Snape never had an Animagus form,” someone else called out from the crowd. “Unless ‘slimy git’ counts.”

Hermione looked over to see Cormac McLaggen looking back at her smugly. He was the one who made the statement. Ooh, she couldn’t stand him.

”Leave him alone. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone here,” Hermione cried, stepping out in defense of him.

”Horace, what were you thinking, inviting Snape here? Youthened or not, he’s an undesirable, no matter what the history books say. Even after all this time he reeks of Voldemort.”

”How dare you!” Hermione shouted at the distinguished looking wizard who made that statement.

”Severus is an exemplary wizard,” Slughorn said in his defense. “He will become a wizard of consequence, mark my words!”

“He’s filth,” someone else cried and voices rose in agreement.

This was a wolf-pack mentality. Snape as a young wizard didn’t appear as formidable or imposing as an adult. He was defenseless, and people who would have never dared insult him before, did so now and with great malice.

“Oh, no . . . this isn’t going to work,” Ron growled, pushing his plate of hors d'œuvres into Susan’s hands.

”Ron, what are you going to do?” Susan asked him.

Suddenly, Ron transformed into his Orangutan form, screeching. Everyone looked at him startled, backing up as he ran through the crowd and began trashing the place. They wanted to see an Animagi? Well, here one was!

”Ron!” Hermione cried as he threw a table across the room, the wizards and witches running out of the way. Harry saw someone pull out a wand and point it toward Ron. He whipped out his own.

”Expelliarmus!” he cried, blasting the wizard before he blasted Ron. More wands came out as Slughorn shouted for everyone to calm down. Soon there was a full out wizard’s duel going on, hexes, food and people flying. Sanguini moved through the fighting throng, slipping the flying food and hexes, and occasionally mesmerizing a wizard here, a witch there, staying in the spirit of the occasion. He might even manage a light snack in all the confusion.

”Severus!” Hermione cried through the melee, trying to find the wizard. Suddenly she saw him, smirking as he blocked and blasted joyously. She ran over to him, ducking spells. Susan was protecting Ron as he continued his destruction. His pent-up anger about all those months of being ignored by Slughorn was finally being released.

Suddenly, he was hit and blasted against a wall. Susan let out a scream of outrage and suddenly transformed herself, charging through the crowd and knocking them left and right as she barreled through.

”Holy hamadryads!” Ginny yelled to Harry. They were standing back to back, hexing with the best of them. It was almost like the final battle all over again, although no deadly spells were being used. “Susan! She’s an Elk!”

Yes, she was. A beautiful brown elk weighing about five hundred pounds as she plowed over a few people then returned to help Ron, who had recovered quickly, in his rampage.

Snape saw them and said to Hermione, “They’re not going to have all the fun,” then transformed into a gryffin, screeching in challenge. The entire room stopped fighting as they looked at the beautiful animal, stunned.

”He’s a gryffin,” someone said in amazement. Ron and Susan stopped their destruction and stared at Snape, who stared back at them with its black eyes for a moment, then struck a dramatic pose and let out another screech. Slughorn was sitting in a corner, his head in his hands. He looked up and saw Severus’ Animagus form.

”Why couldn’t he have done that from the start?” the wizard moaned. This had been a disaster. Tables were overturned, food was everywhere, covering everyone, and wizards and witches were stumbling about, recovering from hexes. Oh, this was awful.

Calm returned to the room, and Ron, Susan and Severus transformed back into human form. Susan had bits of food in her hair and on her dress, and Ron’s robes were stained. Hermione’s hair was standing up all over her head, coming loose in the excitement. Ginny’s dress was torn and she had sweated off all her makeup. Harry was covered in food too.

”Come on,” he said to his friends and the six of them beat a hasty retreat, unimpeded by the other guests, who were Scourgifying themselves.

One of the council members walked over to where Slughorn was seated.

”Horace,” he said.

Slughorn looked up at him.

”This had to be your best party ever,” the councilman said with a smile. He had a stuffed truffle clinging to his shoulder.

Slughorn blinked at him, then looked around the room. Although everyone was disheveled, many of them wore broad smiles. He couldn’t believe it. He stood up and walked into the center of the room, looking at his guests.

”I thought we’d do something a bit different this time. The dueling, of course, was staged for your enjoyment,” Slughorn pronounced.

Applause arose all around him as he bowed and smiled brightly.

This party would be the talk of the wizarding world for months, if not years.

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Snape, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Susan ran down the corridor, hysterical with laughter until they reached the narrow staircase that led up to the shifting stairwells. They stopped, smiling and panting as they caught their breaths.

”Ron, I can’t believe you did that!” Harry exclaimed, red-faced.

”They were all gits. You saw how they were ganging up on Snape just because he didn’t want to transform,” he said. “Who do they think they are?”

”Yeah,” Susan said in agreement. “They were horrible to him. They deserved what they got. Professor Slughorn shouldn’t have put him on the spot like that!”

Everyone agreed as Snape just looked at them. They had all come to his defense. Every one of them. He had never had anyone in his life like this before, now he had several loyal friends, ready to fight for him. His eyes glistened a little.

”We probably won’t be invited to anymore Slug Club parties,” Ginny said with a smile.

”You promise?” Hermione asked, grinning. Then she looked at Snape, who wore a sober expression on his face.

”Are you all right, Severus?” she asked him, concerned.

Snape nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. He almost couldn’t speak. But he managed.

”Thank you. All of you,” he said a bit hoarsely.

Ron gave him a smile.

”Don’t worry about it. We didn’t do anything for you that you wouldn’t do for any of us,” he said confidently.

Snape studied him, then gave him a small smirk.

”Indeed,” he responded.

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A/N: When I started this chapter, I really didn’t intend for it to go there. But the idea of a fight breaking out at the Slug Club was just too funny to me. Unfortunately, I had to reveal Susan’s Animagus form early, but I think it was worth it. It’s a cool form, too. I so enjoy writing Ron in this story. :) Thanks for reading.

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