Hydra at Hogwarts

Chapter Six: Dumbledore & Dancing

With Madam Pomfrey's excellent remedies, Lily was back on her feet quite literally the next day. She still had a wide bandage on her leg and was a little pale, but this was probably more to do with the scene in the ward than doing battle with the creature - it wouldn't be the first dangerous animal she'd attacked whilst on duty. She managed to give Lupin and Snape a wide berth for the next few days, ignoring Snape's comments on potions and declining Lupin's invitation to chess.

Dumbledore asked her to help out with a Potions exam and, whilst she sat at the same desk as Snape quite companionably, she kept herself aloof from him and his theories on the use of intoxicating poisons in perfume making. Somewhat suspiciously, Dumbledore also managed to get her to invigilate in the History of Magic exam with Lupin. They walked up and down the aisles, Lily keeping an eye on the students but feeling Lupin's eyes on her the entire time.

-

Lily was on her way to the staff room when Dumbledore stopped her by the entrance to his office.

'May I have a word with you?'

'Of course.'

'Anthrax ripple,' Dumblore said solemnly, and gestured for her to precede him up the steps. He conjured a large armchair for Lily next to his own desk and chair.

'How have you found it here since September?'

Lily smiled. 'Surprisingly hard work.'

'I've been very happy with your teaching over the last few months. You've covered all the major topics in the curriculum, which is excellent.'

'And hydras, too.' Lily grinned wryly.

'Indeed. You also seem to have settled in well with the staff.' The words were innocuous, but the slightly raised eyebrow and suspiciously twinkly eyes were not.

'Er - yes - quite well, I think.'

'I gather you're getting on with Nymphadora Tonks, as well as Remus and Severus...?'

'Remus and Severus I knew from my first time at Hogwarts.'

'Of course, of course. I have been speaking to them recently to make sure that you were at ease, but I gather you've been very busy with marking the past week or so. In fact they were both very wary on the subject.'

'Professor-'

'Never mind. Both seem to be thriving after working with you - Severus' enthusiasm for teaching Potions is unparalleled and I heard from Minerva yesterday that he actually awarded points to a Gryffindor student.'

Lily looked steadily at the ceiling.

'Remus often feels that he isn't good enough to be a teacher, but I note his self-confidence seems to be much improved recently, for some reason. I can only conclude that your presence in the staff room is beneficial to all.'

Lily turned her gaze to the floor.

'Your potions work is evidently coming along splendidly, too. When do you think you will release the potion for general use?'

'I've left that up to Severus. He's going to be the named authority on it. We're hoping to get the formula published in one of the journals soon, after we get the Ministry to approve it. They're arguing that it hasn't been properly tested -'

'-Which of course it hasn't but the lack of readily accessible werewolves is a bit of a problem, isn't it? Of course if you need my help you have only to ask. Are you sure you don't want your name on the bottle?'

'I don't need the fame, Headmaster.'

'The inference being that Severus Snape does?'

Lily dropped her gaze demurely to the floor again. 'I think it would be best for my career if my name were to be kept out of the papers.'

'So we can't keep you here, teaching, Lily?' Dumbledore asked, leaning forward over his folded hands. 'That would be a shame.'

'I do enjoy teaching, more than I'd thought. I don't know what my plans are at the moment.'

'Of course there's the Yule ball coming up next week. Perhaps that will help you decide...?' Dumbledore lifted his eyebrows, but Lily nodded noncommittally as she stood up.

'Anything else, Headmaster?'

'Just my congratulations on your first term.'

-

Lily couldn't help feeling nervous about the Yule Ball. Of course, it was just a party, just a Christmas get-together - but it was a very smart occasion; hence she and Tonks were on their way to Muggle London to buy dresses for that Saturday. Lily was conscious of wanting to look her best, but not sure why; Tonks had a much better idea of what was making her nervous.

They boarded the City Bus at Hogsmeade, making their way through the crowds of students buying last-minute Sleakeasy potions and Amorosa charm papers, crowding from door to door in the shuffling snow. Soon they were deposited on London's Oxford Street, their pockets full of Muggle money. An afternoon of sorting through piles of dresses, bright and dark, glittery and shimmery ensued, but without success. She and Tonks ended up in a coffee bar, watching the muggle shoppers with their full carrier bags squeezing themselves onto crowded buses.

'This is chaos,' sighed Tonks, wiggling her tired feet in their orange Doc Martens. 'I knew we should've gone to Mystic Alley.'

'You're right.' Lily said glumly. 'Forget it. Let's find a public loo and Apparate out of here.'

'Hold on - what's that shop?' Tonks spied a sign on a side street, dropped a few coins on top of her receipt and darted across the road accompanied by loud taxi cab honking. Lily followed at a more careful pace. The shop bore a sign, 'Muggles'.

'No way.' Lily stated flatly. The shop was crammed with dresses, all different. Lily subjected the shop assistant to a discreet stare and noticed the tell-tale seam of a wand pocket tucked under the lapel of her jacket. She wandered over.

'That's an interesting shop name.' Lily said with her best poker face. Then she spotted the list of credit cards accepted. 'May I pay by Gringotts?' The assistant smiled. 'Of course.'

'Hey, Tonks, this is a wizard shop.'

The assistant moved smoothly over to them. 'May I help?'

'I'm OK,' said Tonks gesturing to the pile of dresses flung over her arm, 'But Lily needs a hand.'

Lily waved her away. 'I'm fine.'

'If you're sure, madam. If you need a dress in a different colour or size, we have Kodachrome charms, Tinting Ribbons and Fabulous Fit pins at your disposal.'

Lily smiled her thanks and wandered off to look at the racks, which were full to bursting.

'That's what you want.' giggled Tonks, picking out a barely-there gold sequinned creation. 'That'll get their attention.'

'I don't know what you mean.'

'I'm not dense, Lily,' she wandered off, her arms full of dresses, her hair long and bright red.

'You should put that pink one back unless you change your hair.' Lily called as she went to look at another rail. She had no dresses yet to try on and was beginning to think she would have to resort to the sequinned one when she noticed a fold of deep blue, squashed behind a pile of puffy ball gowns. She reached for the hanger and pulled it out. It was a long, sleek, midnight blue jersey dress, long sleeved but backless. She checked the label - her size. 'Tonks!' she called. 'I'm trying this one.'

They commandeered the changing room, making it briefly unplottable to ensure they had it all to themselves. The muggle shoppers milled round the crowded store, causing the assistant to look briefly puzzled and direct them to the cleaner's cupboard. Tonks was flinging on the flamboyant pink dress which clashed horribly with her hair.

'You'll have to go blonde.'

'Yeah, but it's gorgeous.'

Lily slithered into her own dress. No question - it was the one for her. The deep blue and low neck made her skin look smooth and creamy, while the long sleeves balanced the low back that dipped to show the hollow of her back.

Tonks whistled appreciatively as Lily twirled in front of the mirror. 'Flipping heck.'

-

The evening of Saturday was crisp and frosty, the great hall blazing with tapers, outshining the starry ceiling above. The teachers assembled in the house common rooms with the students. Staff and pupils alike stood around nervously in their unaccustomed finery. Lupin, in his dark dress robes, eyed her with barely disguised approval.

'Has anyone asked you for the first dance yet?' he murmured, standing in the hallway as they anticipated their summons.

'Not yet,' she smiled.

'May I?'

'Of course.'

The hall, when they entered, was a hum of excitement. Dumbledore climbed the steps to the raised dais, and opened the ball with an exhortation to all to have fun. The band - Belladonna - strummed their instruments loudly, and launched into a fast tune. With a practised whirl, Lupin took Lily's hand and pulled her into the dance.

'Where did you learn to dance like this?' Lily asked him, incredulous.

Lupin grinned. 'The Shrieking Shack.'

'No, really.'

'Tonks taught me last year for the Goblet of Fire tournament. She's a bit of a pro.' Lily looked across to Tonks, who was dancing coquettishly with Vector, who looked decidedly ill at ease.

'Well, you're really good.'

He pulled her fractionally closer and spoke in an undertone. 'It doesn't matter whether I can dance or not. Everyone's looking at you. You're beautiful.'

Lily smiled, the compliment thrilling her whole body. Her feet tingled. She though of Lupin's anger at Snape, because he was upsetting her, and squeezed Lupin's hand. He grinned, and with a warm hand on the bare skin of her back, danced on.

When she rejoined Tonks, she was sparkling with electricity. Tonks smiled at her, her usual madcap craziness absent. 'You look very happy.'

'It's nice to dress up.' Lily said dismissively, but smiled.

A hand tapped her shoulder. She turned, and saw Snape offering her his hand. She took it, slightly unsure. She looked back over her shoulder at Tonks, who raised an eyebrow.

'You can dance?'

'Just because I don't prance around at every opportunity, doesn't mean I don't know how.' Snape rested his hand on the small of her back. Lily tensed, but Snape gave her a very small, superior smile. 'Don't worry, I don't intend to harass you here on the dance floor.'

He moved around the hall, perfectly correct but without the ease of practice.

'I thought now would be a good time to mention a couple of things,' he said lightly, his face close to hers.

'Lupin's not my favourite person.' Snape sneered the words, but it was a shadow of his usual contempt. 'But it would never work, you and I.'

Lily, floored, decided that the best course of action was to say nothing.

'Just make sure that you don't give up on your potions work. You have the makings of a good potions maker.' Speechless with irritation and amusement, she stood still as the song ended and he released her with a tiny bow, black robes billowing as he strode off to the staff table.

Lily was just stood there until a new tune started and Dumbledore, who had been watching this by-play with a twinkle of amusement, swept his long beard over one shoulder with a flourish and caught her hand for a dance.

-

Lily had barely fallen asleep when, very early the next day, she was woken by a soft knock on her door. 'Lily?' it was Lupin's voice. She stumbled awake, fumbling for the door lock.

'Remus? What's wrong?'

'Nothing's wrong. I just wondered if you wanted to come for a walk.'

Lily looked at him. 'It's early.'

'It's late. I haven't been to bed yet.'

She considered him for a second then said 'All right. Give me two minutes.'

Lupin paced nervously up and down the corridor outside her rooms while she found yesterday's white shirt, skirt and boots underneath her discarded dress and splashed her face with icy water. She picked up her cloak and tucked her wand into the pocket as they walked outside.

'Did you enjoy the ball?'

'Very much.' Lupin looked sideways at her with his quiet half-smile. He led her down steps and along corridors until eventually they came out into a tiny enclosed courtyard, dim in the pre-dawn light and so cold that her breath made clouds on the winter air.

'I haven't seen this place before!' exclaimed Lily, enchanted by the little space with its paved floor and dark pool. The light was velvety and soft on the sleeping flowers, seeping down from beyond the high walls.

'I don't think many have.' They sat down on a little curlicued bench, its iron handles rimed with frost.

'Lily, you've always seen the good in people. Even in Snape - even in me. Do you still?'

She turned to him, her eyes bright and warm. 'More than ever.'

He suddenly took her hands in his, warming her whole body through his touch. She felt as though she was stood on the lip of a high cliff, not sure whether she was about to drop to the rocks below or to be lifted into the air on a breeze.

'I just need to ask you something.' He looked down at her hands, abstractedly stroking her fingers with his thumb. 'What did Snape say to you last night?' his eyes looked earnestly into hers as words tumbled out of him in a hurry. 'I know it's none of my business, and that a werewolf isn't the ideal lover, God knows, and maybe Snape is better, I don't know, but nobody will love you as much as I do-'

'Remus-' she breathed his name, the word a caress, and sealed her lips to his. Why hesitate when she knew exactly what she wanted? 'Remus, will you come on a date with me?'

He smiled lopsidedly. 'When?'

Lily smiled, a mixture of mischief and happiness. 'How about breakfast?' Lupin crushed her to him in a tight hug, wrapping his cloak around her and winding one hand in her hair.

'Are you sure? The potion only modifies the effects, it's not a cure. I'll never not be a werewolf.'

'What better partner than one who knows how to make the potion, then?'

'Fine.' He picked one of the budded flowers, and tucked it into her hair. 'Now come to breakfast.'

-

'Out all night, Lupin?' Snape enquired stiffly as they took their places at the table. Lupin was in his rumpled dress shirt.

'An early morning walk can be very beneficial, Snape.' Lupin replied happily.

'What's that in your hair, Lily?' asked Tonks. Lily unwound the flower, which was blooming in the heat and light of the great hall.

Dumbledore leaned across and smiled at her. 'A dog rose.'

END