The Burning Pen

An Unlikely Savior
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.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 40 ~ The Waltz

“Oh, Severus,” Minerva gushed as she walked up to him, dressed in black dress robes with golden bells and red and green tassels hanging from her hat. “I just saw you and Eileen embracing. It was so—heartwarming to see. I never dreamed you were demonstrative with your daughter.”

Snape scowled at the Headmistress.

”Stop gushing before you melt into a bloody puddle, Minerva,” the wizard said. “She’s my daughter and embraced me. What did you expect me to do? Push her away?”

”Well—no, not exactly. It was just strange to see you so—so tender. The way you looked at her—“

”She’s my DAUGHTER, Minerva. Why are you acting like my showing her affection is such a miracle?”

”It’s just—UnSnape-like,” the witch said.

Snape looked at her incredulously.

“UnSnape-like?” he asked her in a dangerously quiet voice. It was like the quiet before all hell broke loose.

”Severus, you have to admit you don’t exactly exude warmth,” Minerva said apologetically.

”I do when it’s necessary,” he replied shortly, deciding not to tell the witch off. UnSnape-like indeed. Anything he did was Snape-like. He was Snape after all. He just didn’t waste his warmth.

“Are you staying for the ball? If you are, I’d like to invite you to sit at the staff table,” Minerva offered.

Snape considered it. Perhaps he should sit down for a while, rather than hover at the libations table as if guarding it.

”I’m not planning on staying the entire night, Minerva, but thank you. I believe I will take a seat for the time being.”

”Right this way,” Minerva said, delighted.

Eileen watched her father follow the Headmistress to the staff table. She wore a small smile. She wasn’t angry about him being here at all. Unlike a lot of teenagers, she enjoyed her father's presence and didn’t feel him to be an imposition at all as long as he didn’t try to interfere with anything. She didn’t have anything to hide.

Alsop was off again, this time getting food from the buffet, leaving Eileen with Hugo and Lily.

“Eileen, I like the way you’re dressed,” Hugo said to his sister, cutting into her thoughts. She looked over at him. He didn’t even ask to join her at the table. He just took a seat like he belonged there. Lily was a bit more hesitant, but sat down, too, sneaking curious glances at Eileen.

“Thank you, Hugo,” Eileen replied, arching an eyebrow at him, then her brown eyes shifted to her redheaded cousin. Lily looked very much like her grandmother in the Pensieve, the friend who abandoned her father years ago.

”So, you’re Lily Potter,” Eileen said to her.

Lily nodded. Eileen thought she looked a bit afraid of her. Her green eyes were wide as she looked at the newest member of the family.

”I’m—I’m your cousin,” she said in a furtive little voice. “It’s nice to meet you.”

She might be scared, but she was polite, and Eileen had to give her credit for coming over to join her and Alsop, rather than chickening out and running off with Rose to sit with her other brothers. She decided to give the little witch a break.

”I hear you like tea parties,” Eileen said with a small smile.

Lily’s face lit up.

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Snape ended up seated next to Divination teacher Sybill Trelawney, who stared at him through her large glasses with bug-like eyes. She hadn’t changed much over the years except her hair was going white. She didn’t color it and believed it added to her Seer persona.

Snape looked straight ahead at the students before him, but could feel Sybill practically staring a hole in his face. Finally, he let out an exasperated sigh and looked at the witch.

”Is there something you’d like to say, Sybill?” he asked her, his nose wrinkled with distaste. She was wrapped in gauzy Christmas colored scarves, brightly colored bangles on her skinny arms, and wore a number of wooden necklaces shaped like animals. Her head was wrapped in a brightly colored scarf as well. Her magnified eyes ogled him, blinking rapidly.

”I received a vision weeks ago, that a forbidding darkness would descend upon the Christmas ball,” she said in a hollow voice meant to portray the importance of her premonition. Then her voice changed to normal.

”Obviously, that was you,” she finished, taking a sip of sherry.

Minerva and professor Sinstra tittered, and Snape nearly chuckled himself. Minerva took this opportunity to introduce him to the other staff members. He knew who they were of course, having teacher/parent conferences over the years and nodded politely as they were formally introduced in turn.

Every single one of them was curious about the story of his daughter Eileen, but wisely, no one brought it up. Snape might no longer be at Hogwarts, but even the newer staff had heard stories of his snarkiness, and no one wanted to bring it out of him.

Instead, they politely complimented him on his daughter’s continued achievements. Only one staff member didn’t have much to say, and that was professor Desmond Blythe, the current Head of Ravenclaw house and Charms teacher. The wizard was well aware of the Board’s decision to have a hearing about Eileen Snape’s academic abilities and was of the opinion that it was very likely the witch was magically enhanced. Much could be done with magic, after all. It didn’t make sense that a witch that brilliant wouldn’t have been sorted into Ravenclaw.

Of course, he hadn’t been around when her equally brilliant mother was in Gryffindor house. And she had been conceived traditionally. Since he couldn’t say anything nice, Desmond stuck to the old adage of not saying anything at all.

It was a good thing, too. It would have gotten very ugly if he had implied Eileen’s abilities weren’t on the up and up. Very ugly indeed.

For about an hour, staff and students milled about, socializing and eating, then the first strains of a waltz began to play.

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Click Here for Interactive Music
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”Aw, do they always start out with this stuff?” Hugo asked, his face contorting. “Where’s the good music?”

Alsop laughed.

”Hugo, you’re too young to appreciate a good waltz with a lovely witch,” he said with a smile, looking at Eileen.

”Yuck,” Hugo responded as he watched the staff approach the floor. “Waltzes are for old people.”

”I guess I’m old, then, Hugo,” Eileen said as Alsop took her hand and she rose.

Hugo stared at her in disbelief.

”You’re going to go out there, Eileen? There’s only staff members out there,” he said incredulously.

Eileen did feel a bit self-conscious, but her father wanted to see her waltz. Alsop didn’t care. He liked waltzing. He thought it was dignified as well as a way to get Eileen’s father’s approval. He told him to make sure she had a good time.

”Yes, I am, Hugo,” Eileen replied, then Alsop led her away.

”I guess Eileen can’t be cool about everything,” Hugo said to Lily as he watched them go.

”Waltzing is romantic,” she replied dreamily.

Hugo screwed up his face at her.

”What is it with witches?” he asked, shuddering as Lily stuck her tongue out at him.

”Boys,” she said witheringly.

Both of them folded their arms and watched the waltzing.

As Alsop and Eileen made their way through the tables, students stared at them approaching the floor.

”Will you look at that. Alsop Potter’s taking Snape out to waltz.”

”Oh, this is going to be good.”

”She looks like she’s going to a funeral. Where’s her lily corsage?”

Severus saw Alsop leading Eileen to the floor. She looked a little nervous as she approached, her eyes shifting about. By her sober expression, no one else could see it. But Snape was her father and familiar with every nuance.

They stopped at the edge of the dance floor, trying to time it right to slip in, Alsop bouncing a little 1, 2, 3, 1 , 2, 3. He caught her hand.

”Come on!” he said, slipping in with Eileen and whirling her perfectly, her gown billowing prettily as they fell into step with the other dancers.

Everyone watched the youngest couple on the floor, waiting for a stumble or some kind of flub, but it never came. Alsop in his top hat and tails, and Eileen in her black gown, looked quite elegant among the others, Alsop smiling down at the witch as if no one else in the world existed.

”Isn’t Alsop her cousin?” a Slytherin asked another, who shrugged.

Snape watched Eileen, not even registering Alsop or any of the other dancers. She had a slight smile on her face, her hair and gown flowing with her motions. She was beautiful and obviously happy as she danced. He’d done a good job.

”Severus, would you like to waltz?” Minerva asked him suddenly. She’d been watching him watch his daughter, his black eyes soft and glistening.

Snape started and looked at her.

”Yes. Yes, I would, Minerva,” he said, rising and helping her out of the chair.

Normally, Snape wouldn’t indulge, but he wanted to be closer to Eileen. Minerva knew this, and that’s why she asked him.

”Hey. Look, Eileen,” Alsop suddenly said.

Eileen followed his gaze and saw her father expertly whirl the Headmistress into the waltzing couples. She smiled then, a bright pleased smile as she met her father’s eyes.

”Wow, he’s good,” Alsop said as Snape danced.

”He’s the best,” Eileen agreed.

They continued dancing, Eileen watching her father as much as she could. Alsop saw this, and asked, “Eileen, do you want to waltz with your father?”

Eileen looked up at him.

”Oh, yes, Alsop. We’ve never danced with other people before.”

”All right, follow my moves,” he said, breaking out of the circle of dancers in perfect time, crossing over and edging behind Snape and Minerva. The other waltzers adjusted accordingly.

”What’s Alsop doing?” Rose said from the table, frowning.

All around the Great Hall students were murmuring. Then, Snape and Alsop smoothly changed partners, the wizard handing Eileen off to her father.

”Dad,” Eileen said softly as Snape smirked at her and whirled away.

Alsop found himself face to face with the Headmistress.

“Mr. Potter, that was not proper waltzing etiquette. You don’t hand off partners as if you’re at—at a disco!” she chided him. But secretly, she had hoped that Severus would dance with his daughter. That’s why she took him out to the floor in the first place.

Alsop grinned.

”But if I didn’t hand Eileen off, how would I have found out that you dance so divinely?” he asked, whirling Minerva so quickly, she had to catch her breath.

”You scamp,” she tittered at the Ravenclaw.

”Always,” he replied with a smile.

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A/N: I know. Short chapter and warm fuzzy moments abound. But, I just thought it would be nice if Snape could waltz with his daughter. It was a nice moment for them. I know, I’m a honey bun sometimes, but it’s nice writing about family. Thanks for reading.

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