The Greatest Love, The Highest Sacrifice

Chapter 15 - I Could Have Danced All Night

You are here: so am I

Maybe millions of people go by

But they all disappear from view,

And I only have eyes...

For you.

Art Garfunkel, I Only Have Eyes For You

This is fondly dedicated to all of you who have been patient enough to wait so eagerly - and so long! Most especially to Sarah B, Jade, Irulan and . And a deep bow of thanks to Aieshya, without whom this would never have (finally!) made it to all of you.

"Draco," Norri said quietly, waiting for him to turn his attention to her. "I need to talk to you."

"You are talking to me," Draco said, not looking away from the object of his interest, "and I, I might add, am watching Ginny."

It was the day after Christmas, and the trio had gone to Hogsmeade. Right now, they were sitting in Madam Malkin's, watching Ginny try on dresses for the Yule Ball, which was now only a day away.

"You're always watching Ginny," Norri teased, glancing over at Ginny for a moment. "She's busy checking out that dress just now. And it will only take a minute. It's important."

"All right," Draco responded, immediately giving her his full attention. "What's up?"

Norri looked away and fiddled with the hem of her robes.

"I've decided to go and look for Charlie in London," she said after a moment.

"You've what?" Draco asked in astonishment.

Norri looked up, smiling self-deprecatingly. "I know, it's the last thing you expected, wasn't it?"

She sighed.

"It's just that, after he talked to Ginny last night - you know, when we were all together in the common room, I realised that it's not fair to him, spending all his time looking through London for me when I'm right here. And she was so disappointed when he said he wouldn't be back for New Year. So I thought it's finally time to face up to things and get everything out in the open."

"Good for you," Draco said cautiously, not certain how she wanted him to respond. Then something else occurred to him.

"Does that mean you won't be coming to the Yule Ball?"

"No," Norri said definitely. "I'll still be coming - and as myself too. I'm going to tell everyone tonight that I have to go visit my grandfather. I'll spend tonight with him - we didn't get to see each other for Christmas - and then after the Yule Ball I'll go into London and look for Charlie."

"Fair enough," Draco answered, his mind reeling. "You're really going to do it, then? I mean, talk to Charlie and tell him everything?"

"Yes," Norri answered decisively. "If I don't do it now, I don't think I ever will. And maybe this will help me solve all the discomfort Ginny and I seem to be having lately."

Draco wasn't so sure, but he wasn't about to say so. If Norri had finally drummed up the courage to face Charlie with the truth he wasn't about to say anything that might change her mind.

"Good luck," he said.

"Thanks," she smiled. "I think I'm going to need it."

***

Later that day, Ginny and Draco met in the Great Hall for dinner.

"It's such a shame that Norri had to leave for London to see her grandfather today - and that she won't be here for the Yule Ball," Ginny said, eyeing the decorations which were starting to be put up. "I mean, she was so looking forward to it."

"Oh, well," Draco said casually, "I guess her grandfather needs her. She doesn't get to see him very often, you know."

"No, I know," Ginny replied.

"Looking forward to tomorrow night?" he asked.

Ginny shot him a glance.

"You know I am," she laughed. "Although I'm not too sure about you. After sitting in Madam Malkin's for almost three hours, waiting for me to find the right dress, I'm afraid you might be getting cold feet."

"Far from it," he grinned. "The only thing I don't like is the fact that you won't tell me which dress you've picked. Now I'm going to have to wait and see."

Ginny smiled demurely.

"My mother told me a girl should always be a little mysterious," she informed him primly. "So yes, you'll just have to wait."

"Not too mysterious, I hope," teased Draco. "Any dress but that awful purple thing you tried on first. That was awful!"

"Oh no, you don't think so, do you?" Ginny asked, shocked, and Draco cringed at the possibility that she might have actually picked the horrible creation.

Until he saw her grin, that is.

"You wretch!" he said good naturedly. "If you're not careful, you'll kill me with your teasing before the ball."

"Now that I wouldn't do," promised Ginny, still grinning. "After all, Ron has to have a heart-attack tomorrow night over something. And if it's not me dancing with my new boyfriend, what's it going to be?"

"You kissing your new boyfriend," Draco replied, putting an arm around her waist.

Ginny blushed, then frowned.

"Why do you always have to have the last word?" she complained.

"It's a guy thing," Draco replied. "You'll get used to it."

He smiled smugly, then looked startled as Ginny trailed a finger along his arm. Leaning up, she whispered breathily into his ear, "Don't count on it!"

Then she moved away from him and walked to the Gryffindor table, leaving a stunned and trembling Draco sitting in the midst of the furiously-whispering Slytherins.

***

"I think that's about it," Norri muttered to herself, looking at her reflection in the mirror carefully to make sure that nothing was out of place.

The Yule Ball was due to start in fifteen minutes, and Norri had whisked up to her room after making sure that Ginny had already finished her preparations, and gone down to the Great Hall with Hermione.

In a mad rush, she had donned her dress robes - a beautiful ice blue gown with a transparent blue cloak covering her shoulders - and applied a Coiled Curl spell to her long blonde hair. It was now piled on top of her head, a few tendrils strategically falling down to curve against her cheeks and neck.

"But there's something missing," Norri murmured, her stomach a jumble of nerves as she realised she was actually about to step into the Great Hall as herself for the first time in almost ten years.

Glancing along her shelves, she spotted an intricately carved bottle.

"Perfume!" she cried. "That's what I'm don't have. And that one is perfect for the occasion, too."

Leaning up, she plucked down the bottle, pausing for a moment to re-read the card.

Dear Lily,

Christmas wishes for our last year at Hogwarts. Something for you to wear to the Yule Ball.

S.S.

"Well," Norri murmured, "Lily never wore it. But it was meant to be for a Yule Ball." And, her mind added, it's from Severus. So maybe it will give me the courage I need to finally talk to the man.

Opening the bottle carefully, Norri gasped at the beautiful scent that flowed from the bottle. Strong, but sweet, it held traces of gardenia and roses. Much like a spring garden, she thought happily, dabbing liberally at her wrists and throat.

Stepping back, she looked again at her reflection in the mirror.

The perfume hung in the air about her, sweet and heady.

"I feel more confident already!" she realised happily, revelling in the sweeping sense of confidence that flowed through her. Winking at her reflection, she gathered up her gown and swept out of the room, and down to the ball below.

***

"Is that who I think it is?" Professor McGonagall asked the Headmaster as Norri entered the room.

"Yes, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore replied. "But please, don't say anything. She's here incognito tonight."

"In that dress, I'll be surprised if anyone is 'cogniting' around her at all," McGonagall quipped. But she smiled as Norri caught her eye, and nodded to Dumbledore to indicate her understanding.

"It's a good thing young Professor Weasley isn't here this evening," she commented to Dumbledore. "Or Sirius Black," she added slyly, darting a glance at the Headmaster.

"Yes, isn't it," he agreed fervently, not at all bothered by her perspicacity.

On McGonagall's other side, Remus Lupin also nodded his head in silent agreement. There was no doubting who the tall blonde was, and with Norri looking superb, Charlie Weasley's presence would have been a sight more than just uncomfortable. Not to mention how Sirius would have reacted.

Watching her make her way towards the High Table, Remus turned to observe the other teachers, and was struck by Professor Snape's expression.

The man's in shock! he realised with simultaneous satisfaction and concern. I do hope Norri knows what she's doing, he worried.

Though Remus could respect the fact that Norri did not return Sirius' affections, he doubted that her attraction to Snape could ever be more than wishful thinking. While he was unaware of the dark cloud that seemed to hover over the Potions master, he had heard vague rumours, the murmured whispers amongst the staff about a former student and a potion of which Snape had been the victim. Whatever the truth, it did not bode well for Norri and her romantic dreams.

And Remus hoped fervently that Norri would tread carefully this evening. She looked so beautiful, and so happy, that he wanted nothing to spoil things for her. She did not deserve to have her dreams destroyed tonight.

***

"Check it out!" Seamus said to Dean and Neville on the other side of the Great Hall.

"My goodness," Neville breathed, also impressed.

Dean turned around to see what they were talking about, and came to a stand-still.

"Oh, she is hot!" he whistled, and quickly turned to Harry, Ron and Draco, who had just spotted Ginny and Hermione make their entrance.

"Who is?" Ron and Draco turned and asked simultaneously, not at all impressed at the possibility that Dean was referring to either of their girlfriends in such terms.

Dean laughed. "Not those two, you prats! Her!" he finished, jerking his head towards Norri, who had just reached the High Table and was being greeted by Dumbledore. "Isn't she a piece of work!"

Draco's eyes widened as he took in Norri. It wasn't just her clothing, or the fact that she looked like her real self. There was something different about her tonight. Something to do with the way she moved, the way she smiled. She was more graceful, more feminine, more ...sensual.

He turned to see Ron and Harry staring intently, also wide-eyed.

"Pity she's older," Harry said woefully, and Draco struggled to hide his grin.

"Mmm," Ron agreed, but he had already turned his attention back to Hermione, and Draco sensibly did the same, and all thought of Norri was immediately banished from his head as he saw his date.

Hermione, surprisingly, was dressed in red. It should have clashed with her hair, which was styled in the same way it had been for their Yule Ball in fourth year, but the rich colour instead highlighted the deep chestnut tones in her hair and brought a warmth to her cheeks that made her hazel eyes sparkle. Ginny was wearing a forest-green gown shot through with golden threads and she looked stunning. With her hair hanging loose down her back, and an enormous smile on her face, Draco was convinced she was the most beautiful girl in the Great Hall, and when he told her so, she smiled delightedly.

Harry, still standing with Dean and Seamus, was watching the girl at the High Table. She had greeted all the staff as if they were old friends, and now sat between Professor Snape and Remus.

He wondered briefly at her great familiarity with Professor Lupin - I wonder if she knew my Dad or my Mum, he thought - but he was more interested in the way she reacted to Snape.

"Would you believe it," Seamus said in a devastated undertone. "She's scoping Snape!"

"Well, that goes to show that women can have everything it takes...except sense," Dean lamented.

Harry grinned. "But come on," he said mischievously, "don't you think it's going to be fun to watch and see how Snape reacts to someone attempting to pick him up?"

The other three chortled, quickly seeing the humour in the situation.

"Bets on how quickly he turns her down?" Neville asked.

"Absolutely," the others replied, and starting forking out money.

Harry, who was still watching the High Table, started in surprise when he saw a smile crease Snape's lips.

His eyes narrowed.

"I'm putting my money on the girl," he said abruptly, and the others looked at him in amazement.

"You've got to be kidding," Dean protested.

"Yeah," Seamus agreed. "I mean, unless she's got Veela blood, there's no way."

Harry shook his head, adamant.

"If she has Veela blood, the bet's off," he stated. "But if she doesn't, and she convinces Snape to dance, then the money's mine."

"Done," the other three agreed, thinking their pal was insane to back some strange girl - even if she was a stunner.

They knew Snape, as well as anyone else at Hogwarts. And if anyone learnt anything at Hogwarts it was this:

Professor Snape didn't dance.

Period.

***

Norri was at the High Table, sitting between Remus and Professor Snape and unable to believe her luck.

Finally! she thought, brimming with excitement. Finally we're both here, and we can talk, and maybe something - anything - will happen. But I need to actually talk to the man first.

Determining how to achieve that aim most quickly, she turned to Remus and said softly, "Introduce me!"

Though Remus looked a little uncertain, he did as she asked.

"Uh, Severus?" he enquired, gaining the other man's attention immediately. "Allow me to introduce you to Elinor Evans. Elinor, this is Professor Snape, our Potions Master and Head of Slytherin House."

"Charmed, Miss Evans," Snape said, looking intently at Norri.

"Professor Snape," she answered, then continued hesitantly. "We've met before, haven't we."

It was a statement rather than a question, and though Snape looked surprised, he answered her easily.

"Yes, we have. Though I believe this is the first time I've been properly introduced to you."

Norri smiled.

"I don't believe I ever had the chance to thank you for what you did - rescuing me, I mean," she said, toying with her wine goblet before looking up to meet his keen scrutiny. "I've never forgotten what you did for me," she finished softly.

He smiled - quite a charming smile, Norri noticed.

"Well, now you have the chance to thank me properly," he murmured, then looked taken aback by his own words.

"By giving me the honour of the first dance?" Norri quipped, amazed she was actually flirting with him.

"The night is young, Miss Evans," he answered, then added wryly, "I, however, am not."

"No one is ever too young to dance," Norri replied, gesturing towards Professor Dumbledore, who was currently dancing with Madam Pince.

Snape's eyes followed the direction of her hand. He was still observing the Headmaster when he spoke again.

"In general, dancing is but a clumsy attempt at flirtation for those to whom conversation can be a burden. When one's mind is occupied on the steps, there is less need to concentrate on the eloquence of one's tongue."

"That's odd," Norri laughed, unperturbed by his reluctance to accept her invitation. "I'm certain that what the Headmaster and Madam Pince are discussing involves a great deal of eloquence."

"And what is that, Miss Evans?" Snape asked curiously.

She smiled mischievously.

"Well, if it's a continuation of what they were discussing during dinner," she explained, "then they're arguing about the dangers of Muggle-wizarding marriages, as revealed in the unfortunate tendency Muggle poets have of misrepresenting their experiences of the wizarding world."

"Eloquence indeed," Snape agreed solemnly. "Which might be why Madam Pince is taking especial care to avoid the Headmaster's heavy toes."

They both laughed at this, and Norri could feel a sense of warmth spreading inside her. Though he had rejected her invitation to dance, Snape was more relaxed and light-hearted than she had ever seen him before. And she was having the night of her life.

***

Draco followed Ginny's concerned gaze to where it rested on Harry, who was staring wistfully in the direction of the High Table.

"Oh, puleese, Potter!" he exclaimed sarcastically. "I'm telling you right now that you don't stand a chance."

Harry glanced at Malfoy and grinned, obviously not taking offence at the other boy's tone.

"Thanks for the ego boost, Malfoy. But that's not why I'm interested. Remus told me she knew my parents." His expression became hungry as his desperation to hear about the parents he had never been given a chance to know revealed itself.

"Well, why don't you go ask her about them?" Draco suggested reasonably, though privately he considered the fact that Norri would kill him if she ever found out he had actually countenanced this latest development. He knew she wasn't comfortable with the idea of talking with Harry, though only because she was afraid to let something slip that she shouldn't.

"What, go up to the High Table on my own and ask her for a private audience? Not only will the students think I'm the most desperate person here -"

"Which you are," Draco muttered.

" - but the teachers will as well," Harry finished glaring balefully at Draco but not commenting on his aside.

Draco sighed.

"Well, why don't you ask her to dance?" he proposed. "That way you can talk to her while you're dancing. Privacy in public, if you know what I mean."

"But the problem's still the same," Harry complained, even though both Draco and Ginny could see that the idea appealed to him.

"Look, if it really bothers you that much, I'll go ask her to dance myself. Then you won't look like such a prat."

Harry looked at Draco in stunned disbelief.

"Why would you help me?" he asked suspiciously.

Draco shrugged.

"Because you helped smooth things over after that fiasco of the bet," he replied, glancing sideways at Ginny as he explained. "And because you never knew your parents, and I wish I'd never known my Dad." And because Norri owes a dance, he added silently.

"Well," Harry said ruminatively. "If you're offering...." He drifted off, looking hopefully at Draco.

"It's done," Draco said calmly, then cocked an eyebrow at Ginny. "If it's alright with you, that is."

"Don't be silly," Ginny grinned. "I've been meaning to have a dance with Harry anyway, and now I don't need to feel bad about it."

Draco smiled and squeezed her hand gently, then dramatically handed her over to Harry.

"See you on the dance floor," he said confidently, then sauntered off in the direction of the High Table.

"Do you actually think she'll dance with him?" Harry asked Ginny, taking her arm as they headed to the dance floor.

"Absolutely," Ginny replied. "He's got enough self-confidence that I reckon even McGonagall would dance with him if he asked her." She laughed, then swept Harry a deep curtsy. "So, Mr. Potter, show me if you've improved your dance technique since fifth year."

"You're on," Harry grinned back. "Let's give Malfoy something to live up to."

***

"Pardon me, Professor Lupin, but I was wondering if your companion would care to dance with me?"

Remus looked up from his interrupted conversation with Norri to see Draco Malfoy grinning at him impishly. Before he could reply to Draco's question, the Head Boy addressed Norri directly.

"I know it is rather forward of me," he said self-deprecatingly. "But it's a matter of honour, you understand."

Both Remus and Severus Snape - who had been unabashedly eavesdropping since seeing Draco approach the High Table - looked startled at this, but Norri laughed.

"Ah, a bet. Well, in that case, I'd love to dance with you."

And with that she excused herself from Snape and Remus and walked with Draco onto the dance floor.

"There wasn't really a bet, was there?" she asked as Draco spun her out and back again in perfect timing with the music.

"Not about me there's not," Draco assured her. "But you should know that Dean, Neville, Seamus, and Harry all have bets going about whether or not you'll manage to get Snape out here."

Norri chuckled.

"That one's in the bag," she said confidently, then laughed outright at Draco's sceptical expression. "Oh ye of little faith," she chided him gently. "I should be insulted that you underestimate my powers of persuasion so badly."

"You really think it's a good idea - you and Snape, I mean?" Draco asked.

"That's my business, isn't it?" Norri asked lightly, but Draco knew a dismissal when he heard one.

His impression was confirmed when she promptly changed the subject.

"So, where did you learn to dance so well?" Norri asked.

"A Malfoy does all things perfectly," Draco intoned solemnly, then spoiled the effect with a boyish grin. "My mum loves to dance," he explained. "When my father was away, we used to have little parties - just the two of us - and she taught me."

"And Ginny doesn't mind that you're dancing with the mystery woman?" Norri asked half-seriously, catching sight of her best friend dancing with Harry on the other side of the dance floor.

"No, she thinks I'm being a selfless hero" Draco answered flippantly, and then expanded when Norri looked at him blankly. "Harry wanted to dance with you so he could find out about his parents, but he didn't want to seem desperate. So I said I'd ask you first."

"Harry wants to meet me?" Norri asked, and Draco looked at her, concerned that the possibility bothered her.

But Norri's face was joyous, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Obviously, she was thrilled rather than worried about the possibility. Just as he was about to re-assure her that everything would be fine, Norri startled him with a flippant comment.

"So I'm just a means to an end?" she sighed dramatically. "What a set-down! And here I thought I was so attractive you couldn't stay away from me."

As the song ended and a new number began, Draco looked at Norri intently.

"What?" she asked after several moments of silence between them.

Draco shrugged.

"I don't know. You just seem - different - tonight."

"You're not used to seeing me as myself," Norri said dismissively.

"No, that's not it," Draco replied. "But I can't tell you exactly what it is either."

"Oh, well," Norri said, clearly not bothered by what he was saying. Which was unusual enough in itself.

Then, all of a sudden, she stopped dead in the middle of the dance floor.

"What is it?" Draco asked in alarm, seeing that her face had gone pale.

"Justin's here!" Norri whispered in a desperate undertone.

"What?" Draco asked in disbelief.

"Justin - your uncle - he's here," Norri repeated, starting to dance again so as not to draw attention to them, but motioning to Draco where his uncle had stood when she caught sight of him.

Immediately Draco turned around. But he could see no sign of Justin.

"Are you sure?" he asked Norri, who nodded, her face still pale.

"He's gone now. I only saw him for a moment. But he was looking right at me -" she broke off and shuddered. "He looked stunned," she added inanely.

"I'll bet he looked stunned," Draco responded, a little wryly. "I'd give up my entire inheritance if he actually came here looking for you." He moved so that he and Norri exchanged places on the dance floor, and scanned the Great Hall to try and catch sight of his uncle. "He probably came to check things out for that invasion Voldemort's planning."

There was silence between them, until Draco broke it by swearing profusely.

"If only you'd come as Elsie," he remonstrated, now seriously worried that Justin could be lurking somewhere within Hogwarts, waiting until Norri was on her own. "When this dance is finished, you're going back to the High Table," he ordered sternly. "Don't leave it - unless you're dancing - without one of the professors. Lupin or Dumbledore, that is."

"Or Snape," Norri added.

"Maybe not Snape," Draco disagreed, thinking that if Norri went anywhere with Snape, she'd probably be too distracted to keep an eye out for Justin. Normally he trusted her judgement implicitly, but she was different enough this evening for him to doubt her on this particular issue. "I don't know how safe you'd be with him," he explained evasively.

"You forget he saved my life," Norri retorted. "And besides, if I'm going anywhere tonight, it's almost definitely going to be with him."

Draco said nothing, but privately he wondered what the hell was going on. Norri had been worried about Justin, it was true, but he had expected his uncle's appearance would have bothered her a great deal more than it seemed to have. And now she seemed more focused on Snape then anything else. Not to mention that her comments about him were totally out of character.

But before he could question her directly about why her mood and demeanour were so altered, the dance ended, and Norri told him she was going to the drinks table, where Snape had replaced Madam Hooch as the teacher ensuring no students spiked the punch.

"I have to convince Snape to dance before Harry comes and asks me," she said in explanation, "and I owe Remus a dance too."

She winked at Draco.

"Don't leave Ginny with Harry for too long," she warned jokingly. "If he has half the amount of charm his dad did, you could be in trouble."

And then she was gone.

***

"You know, Miss Evans," Snape murmured as Norri stopped at the drinks table, doing her best to convey the idea that her appearance their was pure co-incidence, "the sight of you forced to dance with the young and inexperienced almost inspires me to change my mind."

"About dancing with me, Professor?" Norri asked breathlessly, uncertain as to whether the Potion Master's smile was genuine or sarcastic.

"Certainly. But I am still doing my best to resist temptation."

"You should take a lesson from Oscar Wilde, Professor Snape," Norri retorted wickedly.

Severus Snape grinned devilishly at her in response.

"What, and recognise my own weakness?" he parried.

"It takes a wise man to realise he can resist anything....except temptation," Norri murmured, her eyes not breaking their contact with his gaze.

"Too true, Miss Evans, too true."

"It's Elinor, Professor," Norri said softly.

"In which case, Elinor, it must be Severus also. Don't you agree?" Snape responded, taking an unconscious step towards her.

"Dance, Elinor?" Remus asked, almost harshly it seemed, and Norri reluctantly turned her eyes from Snape, blushing a little that he must have overheard their conversation, but smiling brightly.

"I'd love to!" she answered, and walked over to join him. "You should think about what we were discussing before, Severus," she said in parting over her shoulder as she walked off with Remus. "Sometimes there is nothing like succumbing to temptation."

***

As Norri and Remus moved towards the dance area, where only a few couples currently circled the floor, Remus linked an arm around his friend's waist and drew her close.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Norri," he said carefully, diffusing her possible annoyance by smiling down at her.

"Why, Remus, I'm not sure what you mean," Norri answered impishly.

"Chatting up Snape like this," he replied calmly.

"Oh, that!" Norri laughed. "Well, one can but try you know."

"And you're trying pretty hard," he prodded gently.

"And succeeding, I think!" was Norri's gleeful retort.

Remus sighed.

"There's something about you tonight that's different," he mused, then stopped, annoyed with himself. "I'm sorry, Norri," he said. "It's just that I worry about you."

She smiled up at him.

"Don't," she said gently. "I'm twenty-seven and I know what I'm doing. It's just a harmless bit of fun. Nothing to get worked up over."

"And is that all you want it to be?" Remus persisted. He had known Norri was interested in Snape for years now, but he had never once heard her dismiss her own feelings as 'a bit of fun'. Again, he felt a twinge of unease about the whole situation.

Norri shrugged her shoulders.

"We'll see," she said noncommittally. Then, spying Harry dancing with Hermione a few feet away, she changed the subject. "Remus!" she implored, "get Harry to dance with me?"

"Alright," he readily agreed, glad to keep her away from Snape for as long as possible.

***

Some time later, Norri was sitting at the High Table again, chatting with Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore. She was regaling them with some of her original experiences at Hogwarts when she heard her name spoken from behind her.

Turning around, Norri caught her breath.

It was Harry.

Tall, dark - so like James! she thought - his eyes shining eagerly, but with a certain nervousness, he stood there looking at her a little tentatively.

"Yes?" she asked, hoping she sounded encouraging, rather than overcome with emotion.

"Um, Miss Evans? Would you mind dancing with me?"

"Of course. I'd love to!" Norri replied, excusing herself quickly to Professor McGonagall and the Headmaster.

As she left the High Table, she did her best not to look at Minerva McGonagall. She knew if she saw the tears in the older woman's eyes - which were surely there - her own control would shatter.

Looking in the opposite direction, she caught sight of Ron, Hermione and Ginny, standing together near the Gryffindor table. Their faces were curious, and not at all supportive. She prayed silently that they were only worried that their best friend was about to make a fool of himself, asking an older woman to dance. The last thing she wanted - or needed - was for Ron or Ginny to realise who she was.

Charlie could never know she had been at Hogwarts.

But as she looked at Harry, who had turned to self-consciously begin their dance, everyone else disappeared from her mind. Even Professor Snape left her thoughts for a while.

There was only her nephew - and the spirits of her sister and James, as well as her own mother and father, all watching on.

She knew that, right now, they were all as happy as she was.

***

"So, what do you think of her?"

"Who?" Ginny responded blankly to Hermione's question.

"Her," Hermione snapped, jerking her head towards where the blonde woman was dancing with Harry. "The Veela-woman."

"I thought you told me Professor Lupin said she wasn't a Veela," Ginny said in confusion, wondering why Hermione wanted to talk about another girl when there was Ron, and Harry and Draco - Draco! - to sigh over.

"That's what he said," Hermione refuted darkly. "But he's a man. And therefore he's vulnerable."

Ginny shrugged.

"I couldn't care less," she said easily. "Draco danced with her once, but he came straight back to me, and he hasn't left me since."

"But she's the only other girl he's danced with," intoned Hermione, obviously not satisfied at Ginny's complacence.

Ginny's eyes flashed with increasing annoyance.

"Well, Ron hasn't danced with anyone else, not even her, so I don't know why you're complaining," she said sharply.

Then she sighed.

"Sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean to snap. But honestly, I can't understand why she's bothering you so much. I mean, you have your boyfriend, and he's not interested in anyone other than you, so what's the problem?"

"She's blonde," Hermione said abruptly, then turned to Ginny in dismay. "Oh, Ginny, Ron's always loved blondes. It's a thing with him. And, I mean, look at my hair. And my dress; I should never have picked red, it doesn't suit me at all."

From behind Hermione, Ron grinned at his little sister. He wasn't about to admit that he definitely thought the blonde woman dancing with Harry was stunning. But he certainly thought Hermione a good deal more attractive.

Besides, she was his.

And that made all the difference.

"I think you look fantastic in red," he said softly in Hermione's ear, then chuckled as she turned to face him, her cheeks burning with embarrassment that he had overheard what she'd been telling Ginny.

"And," continued, not letting her speak, "I think it's about time we got back on that dance floor and showed Harry and that partner of his how it's really done."

With that, he grasped Hermione by the waist and whirled her into a waltz, winking at Ginny as he did so.

Ginny stood watching them, a smile of pleased satisfaction on her lips.

"Galleon for your thoughts?" Draco asked, coming up to stand next to her.

"It's just such a wonderful night," she said happily, turning to look up at her boyfriend, still not believing she was really going out with him officially.

"I know," Draco agreed, smiling down at her. "And I don't think it could get any better either." Holding out his arm, he added, "Unless of course, you'll honour me with this dance."

Ginny chuckled, delighted at his courtly manners. "Why sir," she gushed, "I should be delighted."

And they waltzed out to join the other couples on the floor.

***

"I hope you didn't think me rude," Harry said uncomfortably as he and Norri began their dance.

"Not at all," Norri answered quickly, hoping to put him at ease.

"It's just that - well - Remus, that is, Professor Lupin -" Harry broke off, uncertain how to continue. "He said that you knew my Mum and Dad," he said finally, his voice quiet and his eyes lowered.

Norri gently squeezed the shoulder her hand was resting against.

"I did," she replied, and smiled at Harry when he raised his eyes quickly to meet hers.

"I don't remember everything about them," she continued honestly. "I was much younger than they were - eleven years, to be exact. But I knew them both quite well. I knew you too, when you were born," she added, and in that moment Norri couldn't stop her eyes from filling a little.

She was so proud of him - of the boy who was dancing with her, who had been through so much and grown so fast, and who was not a child anymore.

"So, what do you want to know?" Norri encouraged Harry gently.

"How old were you?" Harry asked, then flushed.

"Don't worry about asking my age," Norri laughed. "I knew Lily all my life - we were kind of related, actually."

"Really?" Harry asked excitedly, but when Norri didn't continue, he shifted the subject.

"So you knew my dad before he married mum?" he asked.

"Yes, when they were just dating," Norri replied. "He was very charming. And very funny. And they were so much in love - they'd already decided to get married in seventh year, you know."

"No, I didn't," Harry said, a little surprised. "I guess it fits, but Remus and Sirius never mentioned it."

"I'm not actually sure if they knew," Norri confided. "But I was at - at your grandparents' -" it was a concerted effort for her not to form the words my grandparents' - "when your dad asked for permission to marry your mum. It was amazing," she sighed.

"And their wedding?" Harry asked.

"Absolutely gorgeous," Norri stated. "I was the flower girl - your mum nearly killed Sirius because he was mucking around with me before the ceremony and she was worried my dress would be ruined."

"I've seen photos, but I don't remember you," Harry said, perplexed.

Norri grinned.

"I was only seven, so you probably didn't recognise me."

She paused.

"There's actually one of me dancing with Professor Snape," she said ruminatively, "but I don't know where that one got to."

"Snape was at their wedding?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Oh, yes," said Norri, looking a little sad. "He was a great pal of your mum's. Of course, he never got on with your dad - especially after the stupid stunt Sirius threw in fifth years," she explained, "but he and your mum were thick as thieves. He was crazy about her."

"You're joking," Harry said, absolutely stunned.

"Why do you think he's always had it in for you?" Norri asked reasonably.

"You know about that?" Harry exclaimed in amazement.

Norri blushed.

"I sort of check up on you from time to time," she said evasively. "You know, from Remus and Sirius."

"You still keep in touch with them?" Harry asked, his mind reeling from everything he was learning. "How come I've never met you before?"

There was silence for several moments, broken only by the tune the pair were dancing to.

"Well, I'm an Auror by profession," Norri said finally. "It's a dangerous job, and very time-consuming. When you were growing up I was still too young to really see you," she continued in a rush, "and the Dursleys would never have let me see you anyway."

She smiled at his shocked expression.

"Yes, I know your Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia too. I'm related to her as well as to your mum, remember. And later, when you were at school..."

She drifted off, then exclaimed petulantly, "Hogwarts is so far away!"

"I know," Harry agreed, not really knowing what else to say. "Is that why you came tonight, to the Yule Ball, I mean?" he asked suddenly, belatedly fitting everything together.

"It was one of the main reasons, yes," Norri admitted. "I've been working on an assignment for the last few years - it's a little complicated to explain now - but it's meant that this is the first time I could actually meet you properly and - well, and just talk, I guess," she finished, smiling at him warmly.

Harry grinned back at her.

"I'm glad you came," he said.

"So am I," Norri replied fervently. "And once you've finished school, I plan on seeing much more of you - if that's all right, of course?" she asked uncertainly.

"Absolutely!" Harry replied excitedly. "You're the first relative I've known, besides the Dursleys, and even though I'm not sure where you fit in, we have a whole heap of catching up to do."

"When you graduate, I'll tell you everything," Norri promised. She smiled at Harry, wanting to satisfy his curiosity and answer all his questions, but she knew it wasn't the right time. "My job doesn't finish till around then," she said, " but once it's over I will come visit and spend as long as you want going through things - remembering - telling you stuff that Remus and Sirius don't know or have probably forgotten. Especially about your mum."

"I can't wait!" Harry exclaimed.

"Me neither," Norri replied.

The two of them smiled at each other happily as the music faded away, then turned to the band as they raised their hands and joined the other dancers in a spate of applause. Harry took Norri's arm and began to walk her back to the High Table. But before they actually reached the dais, their path was obstructed most unexpectedly.

"Potter," Professor Snape said, his head bending in a sign of the barest acknowledgement.

"Professor," Harry returned cautiously, though his mind was flying through the very limited number of possibilities as to why Snape would have intercepted himself and Norri.

"Miss Evans," Snape acknowledged elegantly, then raised his eyebrows as she responded with a quirk of her own.

"Severus."

The tone was unmistakably challenging, and Severus Snape was never one to back away from a challenge.

"I have decided to join the ranks of Wilde after all, Elinor," he said imperturbably, ignoring Harry's confusion. "Would you care to dance?"

The beam of satisfied delight which shone from Norri's face gave her answer before her voice could.

"I would absolutely love to," she said happily. "You will excuse us Harry, won't you?" she added in an abstracted afterthought as Snape bore her away, leaving a bewildered Harry - and a shocked Hogwarts - in their wake.

Whew! Harry thought as he watched the unlikely couple begin to dance, I wonder what everyone else is going to make of this?

It was not going to be very long before he found out.