The Snake and the Eagle

Chapter 7 - The Yule Ball

Neither of the two teachers ever spoke again about the boggart accident. They had silently agreed that it was wiser to go on as if nothing had happened at all. It was no good to indulge in those painful memories. Moreover, Snape was too ashamed of himself for showing his own weakness in front of her. Alexandra was soon back in her usual good mood while Severus ... well, not that one could ever describe his as a 'good mood' at all ! ... He simply kept his thoughts to himself, not wanting to hurt his friend's feelings. By the way, a deep curiosity about her past began worming into his brain.

The first two weeks of December students were busy studing for their mid-term exams, before the beginning of Christmas holidays. In those days, one could find any single corner of the Library packed with some hysterical student, fully immersed in a maddening revision. The most funny thing one could be lucky to witness was the amusing scene of students spying on each teacher who happened to come into the library, in hopes of finding out some useful hint on the possible topics of the tests. They followed the unaware professors, taking notes about the books they picked up. Once, a student dared follow Snape into the restricted section. He was so infuriated by that insolent behaviour, that he threw a nearby exstinguished candle at the poor boy, who stormed out of the Library as quick as a hunted hare.

To the students's great delight, Dumbledore announced that a more intimate version of the Yule Ball was going to take place on Christmas Night. This time, however, there were going to be no foreign students. All seven years were allowed to go , without the old restriction to students from the fourth to the seventh year. The Great Hall was going to be as richly decorated as two years before, and Madame Rosmerta had already received an order for hundreds of butterbeers and others drinks for the party. Dumbledore had also invited The Weird Sisters to play for that night's entertainment.

"Do you think it's a good idea to organize a ball for the time being?" Professor McGonagall had once doubtfully asked the headmaster.

"My dear Minerva, these kids' future is so uncertain, that I'm afraid not many other possibilities of entertainment are waiting them along the way. I think we must allow them some fun as long as we can," he wisely stated.

Albus had his personal fun, imposing an extra rule to the ball: each Head of House would be dressed in his/hers own House's colours. He thought the expression on Snape's face at this news was priceless. He had always worn black throughout his teaching career, with the only exception of the Slytherin vs Gryffindor final match during Harry's third year, when he attended the match wearing the Slytherin colours. This meant new party dresses for the four teachers, therefore, a trip to Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions in Diagon Alley was made essential.

A week before Christmas, Professor McGonagall made a list of the kids staying at Hogwarts over the holidays. They were more than usual, as nearly the whole school would not have missed the Yule Ball for any reason on earth. Once the exams were over, there was nothing else left to do before the Feast. Professors McGonagall and Falconbridge were busy decorating the castle. The Great Hall looked spectacular. No fewer than twelve towering Christmas Trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, others glittering with hundreds of candles and golden bubbles trailing over the branches of the trees. There were live fairies too, and mysterious lights shining in the suits of armour enchanted to sing carols. Snow fell warm and dry from the enchanted ceiling, and the walls were covered with silver frost, garlands of mistletoe and ivy hung all around the walls. Some mistletoe was hung from an achway in the staff room too, so that the bystanders could exchange the traditional auspicious kiss beneath it.

***

When everything was ready, McGonagall sent an owl to Madame Malkin to announce their visit and anticipate the special requirement for their party dresses. Two days before Christmas, the four teachers took the Hogwarts Express at the Hogsmeade station to reach London, and then Apparate straight in Diagon Alley to buy their clothes, and some Christmas presents too. They had a compartment for themselves as the train was almost empty. They spent the long trip chatting, playing cards and having a nap. At a certain point, Professors Falconbridge and Sprout began singing merry travelling songs to dispel boredom while McGonagall kept the time clapping her hands. She was too shy to sing, so she told them she had a cold. Snape spent the whole trip, pretending to be reading a 'very' interesting book he had with him, an excuse to avoid being involved in the singing. Not that he could not sing! He had a beautiful, warm, baritonal voice but he would rather die, than sing in front of people.

They reached London late in the evening and spent the night at the Leaky Cauldron. They had a light dinner and then went early to bed, very tired after the long train trip. They agreed to go to Madam Malkin's one at the time, while the others bought their presents. The first to go was Snape. He really did not like the idea of waiting for three witches trying on hundreds of dresses before chosing one. He was greeted by Madam Malkin herself. She lead him to the male section of her shop, where she had yet prepared an assortment of smart suits of different shades of green. He chose a dark wood green suit with delicate silver embroiderings, a white silk shirt and black shoes.

"May I suggest you to add a white silk ascot around your neck, perhaps with an emerald button brooch?" she proposed showing him the article.

He tried it on with the dress, and was very satisfied with the overall effect. He looked a true gentleman, like the nobleman he was. In fact, he was the last Lord Snape of Snapeville, a thing he never told anybody, because he did not give a damn for titles. He then used his free time for his shopping. He bought an Astronomy book for Albus, Latest Improvements in the Art of Transfiguration for Minerva, and an eagle bronze pendant, with saphires for eyes and all over the wings and tail feathers, hanging from a short chain for Alexandra. Then, he went to Knockturn Alley in search of some interesting potion ingredients for his private store. To his great annoyance, he had to buy a present for his old 'friend' Lucius Malfoy too. No doubt, Malfoy was going to send him one, and he was obliged by circumstances to return his 'kindness'.

Alexandra was the second to go. She had bought most of her presents: a pair of thick blue socks with stars and moons for Dumbledore, as she had heard rumors about his passion for socks. She chose a golden brooch the shape of a rampant lion, with a ruby for eye for Minerva; a new sneakoscope for Moody who had completely worn out his last one, a mobile with flying dragons of different races for Hagrid, and a pair of round white gold cuff-links with snakes, wound in a spiral with an emerald for eye for Severus. As soon as she entered Madam Malkin's, she asked the witch about the cuffs of Severus' shirt.

"Five buttons as usual, why?" the owner asked her curiously.

"Well, I've just bought him a beautiful pair of cuff-links to wear at the party. I was wondering if you could change his cuffs, so that I can give them to him as an early present," she hopefully explained.

"I'm afraid he will get upset, if he receives something different from what he chose," said the shopper with concern. Snape was one of her wealthier customers, and he always chose everything of the highest quality and finest fabrics.

"Don't worry! Send it on the 24^th in the morning, so he'll have no time to change it. Then I will come out with the approriate present!" she merrily said, with a smile that said please-don't-tell-me-no. Trick organized, she began to look for her own evening gown. She chose a wonderful night blue velvet dress, with bronze embroiderings on the front of the bodice and all around the edge of the skirt. It was sleeveless, with a wide neckline that softly covered her shoulders showing the base of her long neck. The dress was completed by a pair of long silk blue gloves, and velvet shoes matching the dress.

Professors McGonagal and Sprout met just outside the shop, so they went in together. Minerva chose hers at once, a red and gold tartan evening gown with a matching hat, which hid her head perfectly. On an occasion like the Yule Ball, female teachers were allowed to losen their hairs. But Minerva had never accepted to do so, she actually was used to keeping her hair up even in bed. The hardest dress to choose was Professor Sprout's one. The poor little, fat witch was not helped at all by her unlucky set of colours. In fact, with a body like hers, every black and yellow dress made her look like a fluffy Queen-bee. Both Minerva and Madam Malkin had an hard time trying to convince the poor tasteless witch, that a dress with yellow fur along the neck-line, black bodice and a skirt with alternating black and yellow flounces was absolutely out of the question. They realized they could only find her a suitable dress, avoiding curve lines as much as possible. Madam Malkin did very good sales that day, as the four party dresses were made with high quality, and therefore expensive, materials. She also gave to the four teacher four matching velvet cloaks, with each house's crest embroidered on it, as her personal Christmas present to thank them for their faithful choice of her shop.

***

The longly expected day finally arrived among everyone's great excitement. The usual midday meal was lighter than usual, because of the gorgeous Christmas Feast taking place at eight o'clock that evening. Madam Malkin's robes arrived that same morning. As a matter-of-fact, Severus was rather unnerved to discover the little change in his cuffs. Fortunatly, Alexandra intercepted him on his way to the Owlery, where he was heading to send an owl of complaint to the shop owner. She calmed him down explaining that it was all her fault.

"Open my Christmas present and you'll understand!" she said handing him a small package wrapped in golden paper.

"Oh! I see," he said amazed by the wonderful pair of cuff-links. "Thank you! They're really beautiful. I'll wear them tonight," he said tracing the engraved surface of the jewels with a long finger. "Very Slytherin, I'd dare say! I have an early present for you too. Come to my office before going to the afternoon staff meeting," he told her, and he went back downstairs.

Five minutes before the meeting, she went down in the dungeons to Snape's office. She knocked on the door, he opened it and let her in. She took a seat on a comfortable black leather arm-chair, while he took her present from his desk drawer, and gave it to her.

"Oh Severus! It's wonderful!" she shouted, holding the eagle pendant on her palm, staring at it with her eyes opened wide.

"I want to try it on, help me," she said jumping out of her seat. She moved in front of him, turned her back, and pushed aside her long braid to allow him to hoock the chain behind her neck. She stood there breathlessly admiring the shining jewel resting on her chest.

"It matches the colour of your eyes," he lowly whispered, thinking the expression on her face in that moment was simply priceless.

"Sorry, Severus. What did you said?" she casually asked. He had spoken so low that she could not catch a single word.

"I was saying, it's time to go," he lied.

"Thank you Severus!" she said, sweetly kissing him on the cheek. He lightly blushed at the touch of those soft cherry lips on his skin. It had been a very long time since a woman had kissed him. Usually, witches were less warm-hearted with him. She wanted to show her new jewel to the party, so she momentarily put it back in its box. They entered the staff room together, unintentionally stopping underneath the hanging mistletoe.

"Welcome, my friends!" a very cheerful Dumbledore greeted them. "Why don't you take advantage of that mistletoe above you to wish you a merry Christmas?" he suggested, as they both looked up.

"Don't you want to make me your wishes?" Alexandra teased him, offering her cheeck to him. A malicious smirk curled his lips, as it crossed his mind the opportunity to take his revenge on her, doing something embarassing in front of the whole staff. He still had not forgiven her for the little 'massage incident'.

"Of course!" he said with a malicious smirk on his lips.

He suddenly wrapped an arm behind her back, pushing her down in a deep casqué, pressing his lips on hers. He had moved so fast, that she had no time to stop him or find a way of escaping his grip. She was completely shocked. She stared reproachfully in his black, highly amused eyes, gripping strongly to his arms to avoid loosing her precarious balance. When he finally brought her back in a standing position, she was flabbergasted, and her eyes and mouth were open wide with indignation.

"This is going to be a veeeeery merry Christmas!" said Moody laghing like a mad. The whole room bursted in loud roars of laughter, and Snape and Alexandra joined them too. She felt a little ashamed, but nonetheless amused.

"Do something like that in front of the students, and I'll have your head on a silver tray," she unconvincingly threatened him.

***

Everyone at Hogwarts was spending the few hours before the party chatting merrily about the coming event, trying on their dresses, and thinking about every possible expedient to improve their look. This party was very important for both male and female students, because dating were an excellent means of socialization.

Let's have a look at some of the couples... First of all, there was our dear Harry Potter with a pretty Ginny Weasley. Actually Ginny wanted to go with Seamus Finnigan. They had been secretly dating each other for months, but Ron was so madly jealous of his little sister, that Harry was her only choice. Harry was well aware of the situation, and did not mind at all to help Ginny come out of that difficult situation. Moreover, he thought that Ginny had become a beautiful girl, so he was happy to have her for partner. She was like a sister to him after all the time spent at the Burrow together, but that did not mean he was so blind to fail to notice her improved beauty.

Then came Hermione and Ron. He had finally found the courage to ask her out, and he was now out of his skin with joy thinking about the party. He obviously looked forward to holding her close to him in a slow dance. He had also taken some dancing lessons to avoid making a fool of himself. To anyone's surprise, our shy Neville Longbottom had managed to date a Hufflepuff girl, and one of the prettiest we should add. As for the other two fellow Gryffindors, Seamus Finnigan had to invite Parvati Patil, while Dean Thomas went with Lavander Brown. Draco Malfoy was partner with Pansy Parkinson again. He had become taller and quite handsome over the summer holidays, so he could have asked any girl he liked. The problem was, that Pansy seemed to have declared him her own property, and she had threatened every girl she saw trying to approach Draco on his own.

That night the castle was all aglow, like a giant chandelier. A merry music was spreading all around the building, and one could see happy faces everywhere. Coling Creevey, the fifth year Gryffindor with a passion for photography, had been charged by Dumbledore to be the official photo-reporter of the event. He had to take lots of wizarding pictures of the party, and the best ones were meant to be put in a commemoratory album. Obviously, he was going to take this duty at heart, it was his greatest opportunity to take lots of pictures of everybody without being chased away. It had been Professor Falconbridge to suggest him to Dumbledore. She had been positively impressed by his skills, when the boy showed her the pics he had taken of her falcon, and some of herself with the bird too.

***

It was time for Alexandra to get ready for the party. She felt as happy as a little girl. She was happy for the delicious dinner they were going to eat, happy for her wonderful new dress, happy for the beautiful jewel Severus gave her that afternoon. She looked forward for the evening entertaiment, because she liked The Weird Sisters very much. There were going to be great music and dances. Oh, yes! She loved to dance. She was above all very curious to see how the other teachers were dressed. She particularly was anxious to see how Severus looked dressed in green and silver. She also found herself wondering about the possibility that Severus could ask her to dance.

"Oh, no! That's not likely to happen. It will be a miracle if he doesn't run away just after the dessert is served," she said giggling at the strangeness of the image of Severus dancing a slow, romantic waltz with her.

Meanwhile in the dungeons ... Severus was having a shower and an abundant shampoo, using a strong cleaning potion of his own creation, which really was a holy hand for his poor neglected hair. He put on his bathrobe, and headed back to his bedroom to look for some clean underwear in his drawer. His party suit laid across his bed. He paused a second before it.

"Well, at least it's not purple," he said looking doubtfully at the wood green fabric.

Upstairs, Alexandra put on her gown, and moved in front the long mirror in her bedroom.

"Maybe this neckline is too wide or the bodice is too tight," she critically judged her reflection. She was wrong, and she well knew the dress fit her perfectly, gently exalting her curves. She smoothed the fabric of the skirt, then she spun once on herself. She was simply delighted by the swishing sound of her skirt, and the perfect round it made. She loosened her plait, trying to find the way her hair looked the better. Up or down? Absolutely down. She brushed her long, dark chestnut waves and pinned up two side flocks with two small rose-shaped bronze clasps. She put on some make-up, carefully chosing the shades which best exalted the colour of her eyes. She put on her beautiful eagle pendent, and a pair of matching earrings. She put on the gloves, shoes, and her new cloak, a little touch of a delicate perfume and she was ready. She had done her best to show her beauty at its top, she wanted to dazzle, to look like a princess.

Severus was standing before the mirror, fully dressed. He wrapped the white ascot around his neck, then fixed it with its emerald button brooch. He had a final look at his reflection.

"Not bad!" he exclaimed satisfied with it. "If only my hair wasn't such a mess!" he complained taking a silken, raven flock between two fingers.

That cleaning potion did a true miracle, but he was not satisfied by his usual hair-style with the long flocks framing his face. He tried to comb it backwards but he was still not satisfied.

"What if ... ?" he mused, searching inside a little drawer where he found a black silken ribbon. He tied up his hair with it in a low aristocratic pigtail.

"That's it!" he said beaming at that new look. Sometimes, he had seen Lucius Malfoy wear his long silver blond mane in that fashion, and he had always found it too snobbish for himself. But he had to admit, that it was a great improvement to his look. He put on his beautiful cuff-links and the green velvet cloak. He had done his best to look as much charming as he could, and he now looked like a true prince. We have no doubt about women's vanity on such special occasions, but it was really weird to see our dear Snivellus, paying so much attention to his usually unkept appearence. Was he trying to draw someone's attention on him? Most of all, whoever could he be interested in at that party?

***

Students were already sitting in the Great Hall, whose four long tables an benches had been replaced for the occasion by groups of small round tables and more comfortable chairs. The peculiar disposition of the tables left a wide aisle in the middle of the long room. It had all been one of Dumbledore's odd ideas. He had reserved for the faculty and himself the privilege to parade in front of the students, walking the whole length of the room to the High Table at the end of it. What a show off he was!

When Snape emerged from the dungeons, he found Albus, Minerva and nearly all the other teachers gathered in the Entrance Hall. Only Alexandra was still missing. It was not her fault, she certainly did not want to be late to make a spectacular entrance. One should keep in mind that, apart from Professor Trelawney who lived in the North Tower, she was the teacher whose rooms were situated the fartest from the ground floor.

"Good evening, Severus," Dumbledore greeted him.

"Good evening to you too, Headmaster, Minerva," he said approaching them.

"Oh, Severus! You're really handsome tonight!" said Minerva amazed.

"So are you, Minerva. Alas, I wish I was older!" he galantly said, while bowing to kiss her hand. She giggled amused by his sense of humour. He soon felt everyone's eyes fixed on him, and was beginning to regret not having remained faithful to his usual gloomy look. If his fellow teachers had reacted like that, it was nothing compared to what awaited him in a hall full of students. He dearly hoped for something to happen that could avert anyone's attention away from him.

An answer to his payers came, when Alexandra finally appeared at the top of the marble staircase. Everyone's head turned at once to look at her, while she carefully went down, holding her long skirt up to avoid stumbling on its hem. Severus's mouth drop open in amazement, and he needed to be elbowed in the ribs by Moody to come out of his stupor. The most excited of all was probably Colin Creevey, who had already taken a picture of each teacher, and was now shooting like a mad to the beautiful witch.

"I'm sorry to be late," she said slightly panting, blushing embarassed by all those eyes on her.

"My friends, as we are all present, we can now go in," Dumbledore said to the gathered faculty. "Gentlemen, would you please be so kind to escort these lovely ladies inside?" he shouted offering his right arm to Minerva. Following Albus's example, the teachers devided into couples. Severus readily offered his arm to Alexandra, a little afraid of being preceded by someone else, while Moody took Professor Sprout's arm.

"You are really handsome tonight," Alexandra whispered to her escort.

"And you're simply bewitching," he said with an happy smile on his lips, resting his left hand on her gloved one.

Dumbledore opened the big doors of the Great Hall with a swish of his wand. They entered the room two at a time. Albus and Minerva were in the lead, immediately followed by Severus and Alexandra, Moody and Sprout, then the others. The students looked with wide-open eyes at the parade of their teachers in their smartest clothes. A couple in particular aroused everybody's admiration. Many found Professor Falconbridge beautiful, but no one could imagine she could ever look as wonderful as she was that night. But their Potion Master was a true revelation.

"Is that really Snape?" exclaimed a very surprised Ron Weasley.

"Yes! And he looks even ... handsome!" said Hermione flubbergasted.

"I've always thought he was charming," commented an enchanted Ginny Weasley, causing those around her to look at her like she had suddenly sprout two heads.

Dumbledore stood up to make a speech, wishing them a Merry Christmas, then the Feast began. The food was simply delicious, the house elves had really overdone themselves. As soon as the meal was over, all tables disappeared, while plenty of arm-chairs and couches appeared all along the walls, leaving room in the middle of the hall to be used as a dancefloor. Settled in a corner were The Weird Sisters, who began playing some soft music to give time to their audience to digest a little their lavish meal, before lanching themselves to dance.

"We are going to open tonight dances with a traditional Scottish folk dance, The Happy Highlander" announced Myron Wagtail, the lead singer of the popular wizarding band.

It was a merry song, which required a specific but simple dance, known by many Scots since childhood. It was very funny to dance and, moreover, so easy that even Moody could do it in spite of his wooden leg. As students were too shy to open the dance, Moody stood up, and headed towards where Alexandra sat next to Severus.

"Let's go to dance, my bonnie lass!" he said offering his hand to her.

She was very pleased by his invitation. It had been him to teach her that dance, when she was a small child. She stood up, took off her gloves and cloak, then took his hand and followed him to the center of the dancefloor. A group of Scottish students followed their example, and joined them as the music began. Severus was a little angry with Moody for having taken away his company, but he changed his mind as soon as he saw her dance. She moved with the grace and lightness of a fairy, her face beaming with joy. He never took his eyes off her, until she came back to sit again next to him.

"You dance very well," he observed.

"Thank you, but it was really a long time since I've last danced this one," she said moving her long hair behind her shoulders, for dancing had heated her up. By doing this, she revealed her long smooth neck to his sight. He found himself longly fixing his eyes on it, fighting back a sudden desire to kiss it that was driving him mad.

When the band began playing slow dances, the dancefloor filled with lots of cheerful students holding their partners, then they played a waltz and some of the teachers joined them too. Albus invited Minerva, while Moody asked a blushing Professor Sprout. Severus was greatly tempted to ask Alexandra for that waltz, but he still was not able to make up his mind. He had pretended he could not dance to decline Professor Sinistra's kind invitation. While he was playing this I-would-like-to-but-I-can't mental torture, someone else took advantage of the situation. A very bold Draco Malfoy invited her to dance, and she courteously accepted.

"How dares that little prat invite her? It should have been me!" Snape angrily thought, glaring at the boy with lothing. Malfoy felt very smug to be dancing with one of the most beautiful witch of the party. He really loved to show off. Then, he froze at the sudden weight of an heavy hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to see a towering Snape, looking dangerously at him with his black, deadly eyes.

"I have reason to think, that our dear Miss Parkinson is looking for her partner," he coldly whispered with a threatening voice, which seemed to say "Disappear at once from my sight!" Draco noisily gulped, nodded, then ran away like an hunted hare.

"May I have the pleasure?" he gallantly offered his hand to Alexandra.

"I was afraid you'd never asked me," she warmly answered.

They bowed at each other, then she took an edge of her skirt in her hand, and they began drifting around the crowded dance floor. They waltzed with a grace and elegance to make envy to the Asburgic Court. They danced so well, that slowly the other dancers moved aside, leaving the whole dancefloor to them. They did not noticed anything was happening around them. Their eyes were locked into each other, and a merry smile beamed from their faces. It was maybe the first time that anyone had seen Snape smile like that. It greatly sweetened his features, and even made him look younger. His eyes were no longer cold, but full of warmth. Then the music ended, and they looked around the room to find themselves alone in the middle of the immense room. Even worse, they were really thunderstruck when a thunderous applause suddenly exploded from the surrounding crowd. They blushed furiously, lowered their eyes to the floor, and went back to their seats. When the clock struck midnight the party ended, and everybody left the room to go to bed. Severus and Alexandra were among the last ones to leave. They parted in the Entrance Hall.

"Good night Severus, it has been a pleasure dancing with you," she said holding out her hand to him.

"The pleasure was all mine," he bowed to galantly kiss her hand. Then they headed to their respective rooms. He was about to go down into the dungeons, when he heard a running Potter calling him.

"Professor Snape!" shouted the boy panting.

"What's the matter now, Potter?" he said with annoyance.

"Professor Falconbridge forgot her gloves in the Great Hall, sir," he said handing them to him.

"Thank you, Potter. I'll give them back to her, myself," he said with a smirk and a friendly slap on the boy's back, before heading up the staircases to the seventh floor almost running. He could have even kissed the boy for giving him such a great excuse to see her again. Alexandra was still fully dressed, she had only taken away her cloak, jewels and the small clasps in her hair, when she heard someone knocking on her door.

"Who's there?" she asked.

"It's me, Severus," his deep male voice sounded through the thick wooden door. She went to open, feeling an excited flutter in her stomach for the pleasant surprise.

"You've forgotten your gloves downstairs," he said handing them to her.

"Oh, thank you! It's been very kind of you. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?" she kindly invited him in. He gladly accepted, even if he never drunk tea at so late a time. He would probably have had a sleepless night, but he could not care less. They sat on the sofa in front of the lighted fireplace, sipping their tea.

"We've offered them a wonderful dancing performance," she giggled.

"I'm afraid Mr Creevey took hundreds of photos of the two of us," he said chuckling. She stood up to put their empty cups on her desk, then moved to the window to look at the beautiful starry sky.

"I leave the day after tomorrow, I promised my grandparents to spend the rest of the holidays with them," she sadly whispered, without turning her back to face him. She missed them very much, but at the same time, she was sorry to leave Hogwarts, to leave him alone. Her words came so sudden that he remained speechless for some minutes. The news had been like a knife to his heart, he was so used to have her around, that he could not imagine life at Hogwarts without her, even for such a short time. He stood up and headed to the door.

"I must go. See you tomorrow at breakfast, I hope," he said looking to the floor to avoid her gaze.

"Wait!" she ordered him, then she ran toward him throwing her arms to his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight, enjoying the blissful sensation of that warm embrace. It was not easy to say the nature of what they were feeling in that moment, whether it was love or only friendship. The one thing they were sure of was that they dearly cared for each other.

"I will miss you so much," she said almost on the verge of tears.

"So will I," he answered in a whisper. She then saw him off.

"We still have a whole day to spend together," she told him. He silently nodded, and dissapeared in the darkness of the long empty corridor.