Shocking Revelations

I

Severus Snape woke up feeling uneasy. He hadn't slept well that night. In fact, he hadn't slept at all. Not with all those nightmares coming back. He sighed. They were his old acquaintances, occasionally coming to visit him. Especially now that Voldemort was back.

The Sunday sun was coming in big rays through the curtains. He closed his eyes trying to make the headache stop, knowing that he was in for a hell of a day. And, as he did every time this happened, he was surprised at how much it still hurt him. Frank, Lily, Rowena, all gone. If only he had arrived three or four minutes earlier......

Disgusted, he noticed his eyes were starting to get wet. He would not allow himself to shed any tear. Oh, no, he would never let anything make him suffer again. He had promised himself that the night Albus rescued him from the darkness he was about to go willingly into. Above all, he wouldn't allow himself to appear in public with red eyes. Thanks Goodness there were still two weeks before classes started....he would have hated to have to teach in such a state!

No. No matter how miserable he felt, he was still going to make his students tremble at the mere sight of him. And after the terrible events at the Triwizard Tournament last semester, he was even more determined to make them sweat blood in order to turn them into the best wizards he could. Yes. With Voldemort back again and gaining powers, if they failed to stop him, those bunch of kids would be their world's only chance....

"Every victory has its losses," had told him Albus once. Only too many people had lost too much fighting against Voldemort, he thought bitterly. Only too many dreams and hopes and lives had been shattered along the way. And he, having been in Voldemort's intimate circle could certify that.

Now the pain in his head was almost unbearable as memories came back with unusual strength, so he ducked under the blankets in a vain attempt to make them go away. Frank, Lily, Rowena......so many lives crushed.....

II

A blast and a thunder. Those were the sounds everyone associated with Lily every time she stormed into a room. Whether it was the library, the classroom or any other room at Hogwarts she always had that way of announcing herself. This time, the thunder was made by the sound of the Slytherin common room's door as it opened and the blast by the small explosive spell she used to get two first year Slytherins out of her way.

Severus lifted up his eyes from the book he was reading and tried not to smile. As Monitor of Slytherin he was supposed to look angry and outraged at the invasion....But they were alone in the room so appearances could be left aside. Still, his pride forced him to sound conveniently stern when he addressed her...

"Don't you know you can't come here whenever you want? And in such a way?"

"Oh, cut it off, Mr. I'm - the - big - boss - at - Slytherin!" she smiled as she threw herself on one of the big, black leather sofas. "I have good news for you!"

"Don't tell me that the Gryffindor team is lost in the Forbidden Forest!" he said teasing her.

"Is there anything else in your sorry, pathetic world than Quidditch?"

"Sure. My broom," he answered very seriously.

"You are impossible! Ouch! When are you guys going to change this awful decoration into something more...."

"Gryffindorish pretentious?" replied Severus amused.

"There's nothing pretentious about our common room!"

"Oh, sure! I suppose all those red and gold tapestries are just......what?....the last cry of fashion?"

"You must admit they show better taste than this....."

"This is proper, stylish and, as our dear Lucius would say, adequate for our aristocratic backgrounds"

Lily laughed at Severus fine imitation of Lucius Malfoy.

"My, My!" she said. "What would your classmates think of you if they could hear you? Or if they could see you with, oh horrible sin!, with a Gryffindor?"

"I can deal with them. Can you deal with yours?"

Lily kept silent for some seconds.

"Sure. Even though I'm afraid this time it is going to be quite harder..."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you see, I have this very good friend who happens to be in Gryffindor and....er...let's say she has a little problem..."

"Hmm?"

"Yes. Until very recently she was dating someone very important from Gryffindor but, alas!, now it seems she'd rather tame snakes than lions...Are you interested?"

"I...I don't know what you mean..."

"Oh, nothing! It's just that as I see you fidgeting with your pencil....I thought you knew who I was talking about..."

"I...I'm not fidgeting! Anyway, what do I have to do with all this? Why are these good news?"

"Hmm, let me see...You know tomorrow is the Yule Ball, don't you?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well, this friend of mine would be extremely happy if this boy from Slytherin would ask her to go with him...Of course, that would be a problem....but since you say you can control everything..."

"Are you....are you sure Ro...your friend would say yes if I...if this boy invited her to the ball?".

Lily stood up. "My dear Sev, do you think I would be here if that weren't the case? Think about it! " she said as she left the room.

"You are going to do WHAT?" asked Frank without believing what he had heard.

"I'm going to invite Rowena to the ball!" answered Severus.

"Rowena? The Rowena McFarrell that is James Potter's girlfriend?"

"Was," corrected Severus.

"Oh, man, you are going to get in big trouble! If you show up with Gryffindor's Monitor girlfriend...."

"ex!"

"Whatever. If you do that Hogwarts is going to blow up in pieces!"

"Really, Longbottom, could you be more supportive here?"

"Supportive? Of course I'm being supportive! I'm trying to save your life!"

Severus looked at him angrily.

"Are you suggesting I can't deal with Potter and his bunch of sorry sidekicks?"

"No. I know you can blast James with one swish of your wand.....and he knows that too, which is probably one of the reasons why he hates you. But you know how nasty things can get when he's angry, and if he's with Sirius, Remus and the rest..."

"I can run over them without sweating!".

"I know. But you'll never do that because I know you and you're not the bullying type, and you know that too. Listen," he said seriously, "I know you don't need Rowena to find a reason to quarrel with James, but you will be crossing a line here, one that you might not be able to cross back later. And you know that. So, are you ready for that?"

"Of course I am. Frank, you know..."

"Yes, I know. I know how you feel about her and I have no reasons to think she doesn't feel the same for you...After all, Lily is her best friend, so I'm sure what she told you is true. But you are not the only one to get in trouble. What about her? I know you can deal with your fellow Slytherins, they respect you too much to defy you, but will she be able to do the same?"

"I'll be behind her!"

"I see you have already make your choice," sighed Frank, resigned.

"I have." replied Severus firmly. "So?" he asked.

"Well, I've already tried to convince you....Since I couldn't, I think I'll have to support you!. Isn't that what friends are for?"

"I never doubted you would, Frankie!"

"But I still think it's a very bad idea!"

That afternoon Herbology seemed to last forever, but at last the bell rang and Severus was free to go. As he got to the library, he saw Frank standing outside in the corridor, waiting for him.

"You still have time to go back, you know!" he told him when he got there.

"Frank...."

"Ok, ok, but I heard something this morning that......Are you really sure everything is over between James and Rowena?"

"W...Why do you ask that?"

"Well, I overheard two girls in my class saying than it hadn't been a joint decision and that James was very reluctant to let her go..."

"Too bad for him"

"Oh, you're so....get in there and be careful, OK? I need you alive to help me pass Transfiguration IV!"

Severus looked inside. The truth was he wasn't feeling as cool-blooded as pretended to but then, it was very difficult to keep calm when he was near her.

He went in and looked for her from the door. After some seconds, he found her in the Potions section. Honest to say, he couldn't blame James for being reluctant to loose her, he thought. The uniform, which in his opinion was one of the worst pieces of clothes he had ever seen made her look terribly sexy. The way she wore the skirt, some inches over her knees, showing a pair of wonderful legs, her eyes, her hair....

"Are you going to move or what?" asked a voice behind him.

"O...Oh, Lily!" he exclaimed.

"You know, I can't believe this bunch of nerves is the same brick-headed guy that can risk his life in the most foolish ways just to catch a Snitch. Oh, look! Here she comes! Come on, you stud!" she laughed.

"Lily! I've been looking for you!" greeted the beautiful brunette coming to where they were standing. "Hi, Severus. Weren't you at Quidditch practice?" she asked smiling.

"I...no...it was cancelled. Hi!" he answered back feeling a complete idiot.

Some seconds passed without anyone talking.

"Well", said Lily, "I think....I'll go....I'm sure you have things to talk about!"

Severus looked at her helplessly, but she turned around and went away.

"So...Are you looking for something?" asked Rowena

"Yes. I...I need to find something about manticores...for Potions, you know," he answered trying to sound as casual as possible.

"I see"

Silence.

Severus breathed deeply.

"You know about the Yule Ball, don't you?"

"Of course. No one has been talking about anything else for the past weeks. Why wouldn't I know about it?"

"No. Yes. I mean, of course you know, how silly of me. Er...well, the thing is...it's an important event you know.....and...er...I...."

"I'd love to go with you, thanks for asking me!"

"Wh...What?"

"Didn't you come here to invite me to the ball?"

-Er...Yes...Yes. I did".

"Well then. I'll see you tomorrow at seven, is that Ok for you?"

"Y...Yes"

"Great! Meet me by the Fat Lady! I'll see you at dinner!" she said kissing him lightly on the cheek.

Before he could react, she was gone.

"OK, tell me! I have to know EVERYTHING!" cried Lily excitedly taking Rowena by the arm. She had been waiting for her at the end of the corridor with Frank, anxious about what was going on inside the library.

"Oh, there's nothing to tell, really. I felt sorry for him, all sweating and trying to make a straight sentence! Thanks God I took the initiative, or we would have stayed there until tomorrow!" laughed. Rowena

"Isn't it funny how boys can be such cowards?"

"Well, coward or not, I've got a date. And I'm very happy. Honestly!"

"I know!" smiled Lily, genuinely happy to see her friend so delighted. "Rowena," she said suddenly turning serious, "what about James?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. He will be really angry when he finds out!"

"So?"

"So? You know he can make your life miserable being, as he is, Gryffindor's Monitor"

"Oh, stop it Lily, please! Just let me enjoy the moment, will you? I know it will be hard, I know it will mean a lot of trouble for both of us, but I won't let this chance go away.. Besides....I have you to console James!"

"Do you think he will ever get over you?"

Rowena put her arms around Lily's shoulders and smiled at her. "Of course I do!" she said firmly. "Come on! I need you to help me choose what I'm going to wear!"

III

The clock had barely struck seven when Severus, a bunch of nerves, arrived at the painting of the Fat Lady.

"Ahhhhh! Someone is really nervous here!" cried a voice behind him. He turned around only to come face to face with Peeves.

"Get off, Peeves!"

"Ha! Waiting for a Gryffindor girl? Oh, my, oh my! LISTEN EVERYONE! LISTEN EVERYONE!"

"Relashio!" said Severus rather boringly pointing his wand at Peeves. A blast of Sparkles came out and Peeves shrieked.

"Ahhhh, I'm hurt! I'm hurt!"

"Hurt? I will hurt you even more if you don't get out of here NOW!" threatened Severus.

Peeves didn't waited to be told it twice and disappeared in the air, not without moaning.

"Now, that was a spell!" said Rowena coming from behind the painting. "I thought we didn't know how to cast seventh level spells!" she said amused. While most of her fellow students where still struggling with level four spells, both she and Severus could cast seven ones.

But no answer came back since Severus was absolutely strucked by her looks.

"You know," she said amused, "I hope this means that you like the way I look!" she said knowing perfectly well she was looking ravishing. In fact, she had been bothering her mother all the holidays to buy her that dress. The soft, lavender shade of the silk created a glow around her that matched her eyes perfectly, while the tiny little stars embroidered in the corsage sparkled every time he moved.

"You look amazing!" exclaimed Severus breathlessly.

"You look very well too!" she said back. "Shall we go?"

"Oh, yes. Sure"

"Well, you know we have to walk in order to move!"

"Yes"

"Aha!. So....are you going to move or will I have to carry you?"

"Oh! Sorry! Gee! I don't know if I will be able to do anything else but look at you all night long!"

"I hope you can. I want to dance all night!" she replied as she leaned on him and they both started walking along the corridor. And all along the way they were conscious of the way everyone was looking at them.

"Nervous?" he asked her before going into the Great Hall.

"No," she lied.

He stopped and looked her in the eyes, seriously.

"You know that if we go in there there will be no turning back after, do you?"

"Are you afraid?" she said trying to smile.

"No. But I don't want you to get in trouble. I can handle both Gryffindors and Slytherins....."

"And I can do that too!" she said without letting him finish.

"So," he smiled, "are you sure you want to go on with this?"

"Watch me!" she said holding his arm.

"Ok, then. Let's shake Hogwarts a little!"

"The Great Earthquake", as Frank Longbottom would always refer to that night, began with the usual calmness that precedes any storm. As soon as they came into the Hall silence fell all over the room. Three seconds later, the silence was broken by whispers and low tones.

"I told you you would shock everyone, dear!" said Severus loudly.

A familiar voice came to help them.

"You look wonderful, Rowena!" said Frank with a smiling face.

"Thanks Frank. Hello, Eileen!" she said

"I love your dress!" said the girl.

"Thank you. You look very nice too!".

At that moment music started playing and tension was relieved. Soon, everyone was back to their own business.

The Great Hall looked really wonderful that night. Huge golden stars hung in the air, casting soft gleams all over the place, while hundreds of small shooting stars danced around the room. Severus took Rowena in his arms and took her to the dancing floor.

"Come on, let's dance!" he said

"But there's no one else dancing!" she said.

"I know"

"Don't you think we are tempting fate too much?"

"I want to make clear for everyone how things are now!" he said firmly even though he knew she was absolutely right.

But he had felt the admired looks his fellow Slytherins had given him, and he knew everyone in his house was enjoying the humiliation Gryffindor and its Monitor were about to suffer. And, if he had to be honest to himself, he too was anxiously waiting to see Potter's face. He knew James was still angry after Gryffindor's defeat last match, after he had caught the Snitch before him. And now he was going to dance with his ex girlfriend just in front of him. Better yet, he was going to make her his girlfriend!. He smiled. It was always nice to beat Potter.

"You can't wait to boast in front of him, can you?" asked Rowena sharply. She had been watching his face and knew exactly what he was thinking.

Her straightforward question caught Severus off guard and for a moment he remained speechless. He opened his mouth to talk but he closed it back without saying a word. He was not going to lie to her. Besides, he knew she knew.

"I'm sorry," he apologised, "I can't help it!" he said frankly.

"At least you are honest!" she replied tightly.

"You can't expect me to....."

"No. Pity I can't!" she snapped at him stepping back and leaving him alone. He went after her and they both reached one of the big, food-loaded tables at the same time.

"I need something to drink!" she said picking up a cup that filled itself immediately.

"Rowena, listen......," started Severus holding her arm.

"No. You listen! I wanted to come with you because I thought we could have something real between us, and I don't like the idea of being a sort of trophy in your stupid macho competition!" she said angrily.

"Is that what you think?"

"I think that is what you think!" she exclaimed leaving her cup on the table and heading to the door. Before he could react, she was already gone. He went quickly after her and collided with Lily, who was just arriving.

"She went that way, you idiot! If you hurt her I'll kill you!" she threatened. But he was already in the corridor running after her. He reached her in the garden.

"Rowena, listen!" he called her.

She stopped and turned around, looking at him. There were tears in her eyes and he cursed himself for having been such an idiot. He went close to her and tried to utter an apology. Of course, it was a complete disaster. He wasn't used to do that, so he stumbled over words until even he couldn't understand what he was saying. She tried to hide a smile as she watched his face turning red as he started and restarted every sentence, until at last she decided the torture had lasted too long. She smiled again when she saw the relieved look on his face, and made him promise he would try to avoid any confrontation with James. He promised he would give it a try and the peace was sealed with a kiss that lasted until Mrs. Norris presence told them Filch was near the place.

"The Great Earthquake" took place as soon as they got back into the Great Hall. It began with James walking angrily towards the couple and grabbing Rowena by the arm, an action that, of course, lead to a response from Severus in the form of a punch that sent James to the floor. After that hell got lose, as Frank would later recall, with James and Severus furiously casting spells at each other with fury. The fight got worse when Sirius Black and James' other buddies decided to take part in the action, something that made the Slytherins act in consequence.

As many earthquakes, this ended with an explosion too, only this one came from Professor Dumbledore's wand and resulted in both houses punished with the loss of 150 points each, James and Severus in the Headmaster's office, Lily comforting a tearful Rowena in the bathroom and cursing every boy on earth and Frank philosophically waiting for his friend and promising himself he wouldn't tell him "I told you so".

Finally, both boys came out of the office looking calmer but still exchanging murderous looks. They had almost been expelled and both Professor Dippet, the Headmaster and Professor Dumbledore, had been really serious about what had happened. Especially since, as Severus would tell his friend later, he had used spells he wasn't suppose to know yet, a fact that had concerned Albus a lot.

"That ability of yours with spells will get you in trouble one day," told him Frank then.

Of course, at that time he never dreamt that prediction would come true one day.