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A Single White Rose	By : Pat Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5839 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Robes and Rogues
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"Gather round," commanded Professor Snape as he swept into the Slytherin Common Room. He had called a meeting with the students who would be attending the Halloween Ball the following evening. Time to lay down some rules.

The sixth and seventh year Slytherins stopped their chatting and turned their entire attention to their Head of House.

"As you know, Hogwarts will sponsor its first Halloween Ball tomorrow evening and, as only sixth and seventh years will be in attendance, I would hope and anticipate that there will be no childish or spiteful incidents that would mar our House's reputation," said Snape turning his laser glare on Crabbe and Goyle, who were doing their best imitation of innocent.

Professor Snape swirled his robes dramatically in front of the fireplace and, with his back to his students, studied the flames for a moment before speaking again.

"No hexes, curses, spells launched against members of other Houses except in self-defense, no spiking of the punch or other silliness will be tolerated," Snape said as he turned again, his eye roaming towards some of the habitual troublemakers.

"Anyone caught breaking these rules will spend a month of detention with Filch and will suffer revocation of Hogsmeade privileges for the duration. Do we understand each other, ladies and gentlemen?" Snape said in his coldest voice, his gaze settling on young Malfoy.

Blaise, sitting next to Pansy Parkinson on the couch kept a neutral and attentive expression. Pansy, looking at Draco's sullen and petulant expression, broke into a giggle.

Snape's attention snapped in her direction.

"You find this amusing, Miss Parkinson?" Snape said, his silky voice taking on a dangerous edge.

Pansy paled dramatically.

"No, sir," she whispered and tried to shrink back into the cushions.

"I thought not. Very well," Snape snapped. "We understand each other, I think; I will leave you to your evening," he said.

Snape gave a minute nod to Blaise on his way out.

Blaise put his feet up on the end table, studying his new boots he'd purchased in Hogsmeade. He sat considering the transformation of his life that had begun just a few weeks ago.

His personal life was now, planned or not, neatly dovetailing with his family's ambitions and newly acquired political alliances. His parents had thrown their support behind Dumbledore in what in Slytherin circles was considered both a bold and dangerous move.

While his parents had contacted Dumbledore privately, Blaise had managed to communicate his new status as willing ally to Professor Snape.

Snape had accepted his assistance and was even now using him in a camp to to prevent further inductees to Voldemort's cause from within the ranks of the Slytherin children.

Blaise and some of his closest friends in the House were to offset, if possible, the influence of Draco Malfoy and his pro Death Eater faction.

Draco was furious. He regarded Blaise as an out-and-out traitor.

Blaise had to watch his own back carefully as the war between Voldemort and Dumbledore's forces heated up. He was quite resigned to the fact that, at one point or another, Malfoy would make an attempt to disable or neutralize him.

"Why so serious, Blaise?" said Pansy, watching him carefully.

"I'm considering how to sneak Neville's present into the Gryffindor dorms," he said in a genial voice.

Pansy grinned at Draco's sneer and tossed her head at him. Clearly, things had gone downhill quickly between the two of them since Pansy had accepted Seamus Finnigan's invitation to the dance.

What she'd done out of a fit of pique, initially, had hardened into something far more serious after Draco had managed to inform her parents of her perceived miscalculation in accepting Finnigan's invitation.

Pansy had received a Howler the day before from her mother and she was certain that Draco was at the bottom of her reprimand.

Draco curled a lip at her, but otherwise ignored her.

"Why not give it to me? I'm sure I can get Seamus to drop it off for you," she said.

Draco Malfoy couldn't stay silent any longer.

"Oh, yes, I'm sure Finnigan would accept anything from you, Pansy," he said with a salacious smile.

Pansy stiffened but pretended not to hear him.

"Well, it doesn't surprise me at all in the regrettable current atmosphere of wizards forgetting their station and duty to their name," he said in a condescending manner, picking a piece of imaginary lint of his immaculate robes.

Millicent Bulstrode snickered behind her hand.

Pansy started to reply, but Blaise grabbed her hand and kissed it to distract her.

"I hope, Miss Parkinson, that you will allow me at least one dance tomorrow evening," he said in a charismatic manner.

Pansy caught his expression and took a deep breath. Yes, Zabini was right, Draco's attempt at pettiness wasn't even worth acknowledging.

"But of course, my sweet," she smiled at him. "Now come on and we'll go and get your present for Neville. New robes, am I right?" she said as they walked, arm in arm, out of the common room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny Weasley squealed over Neville's shoulder.

"Ooohh, it must be nice to have a rich boyfriend. You get only the best. Look, it's from Madame Malkin's" she said excitedly.

Neville sat staring at the package in his lap, puzzled as to what to do. Anything from Madame Malkin's exclusive robe boutique could be nothing but expensive. He wasn't sure he should accept such a generous gesture.

Neville must have mumbled some of those thoughts out loud because Lavender Brown shrieked at him. "Neville! Don't be such a prat. Of course you can accept gifts from your boyfriend."

Neville looked over at Seamus in mute appeal. As soon as Seamus had delivered the distinctly wrapped box, the young ladies of Gryffindor House had surrounded him like vultures over a fresh corpse.

Ron and Seamus had carefully extricated themselves away from the overexcited crowd and were even now grinning at Neville's dismay.

"It is traditional to give gifts, Neville," Hermione said, as ever the voice of reason.

Neville, feeling as though he'd been given permission, tried to open the gift, but his hands were shaking slightly.

"Give it here, Neville, you'll never open it at this rate," wailed Ginny Weasley.

"Ginny," snapped Hermione. "Back off, this is Neville's gift, he can take as much time as he wants," she said with a severe look to the rest of the girls.

As the paper fell away, Neville gently pried the top off. Inside was a brand new set of formal robes. They were a sky blue with a light silver trim.

The girls gasped and even the boys now moved forward to have a look.

"They're stunning, Nevvy," Hermione said admiringly.

"Oh yes, your boyfriend has very good taste," said Parvati.

"And money," squealed Lavender in a fit of good-natured envy.

Neville stood up and held the new robes against himself. He touched the material and found it silky under his fingers.

"You must go and try them on, Neville," said Parvati. "Just to see if they fit," she said and grinned at him.

"Yes, do! We're all dying to see them," coaxed Lavender.

"I'm sure they'll fit," said Hermione firmly, with a wink in the direction of an uncomfortable Ron, who was sitting in the corner of the room.

She'd asked Ron to get some of Neville's robes as unobtrusively as possible, in order to aid Blaise in picking the correct size for the new set of robes. He'd grumbled a bit, but in the end had agreed.

Hermione smiled fondly at Ron. He really was a sweet, caring person under all the bluster. Ron shuffled his feet and reddened under her doting look.

Neville sat fingering the robes lovingly. It was the nicest gift he'd ever received. His face took on a dreamy expression. He'd have to send a nice thank you note to Blaise tonight. His granny had given him some high quality parchment that he'd kept for special occasions, so he'd use that.

Clutching the robes to him, he rose and started up the stairs without saying a word. Neville felt if he broke the silence, somehow the spell of happiness would be broken.

The chatter behind him was just background noise to him and he didn't reply to any questions or suggestions. Soon he'd left his friends behind and entered the Gryffindor Dormitory.

Neville carefully laid the robes down on his bed and reached inside his private foot locker to search for the parchment.

He pulled out the parchment, quill and ink and moved over to the little desk by the window in preparation to writing his thank you note.

The moon was full outside and Neville turned his head to look at it. He reached over and opened the window, letting in the chilly night air. He breathed deeply and stared out at the glistening stars and the moon that shone brightly over the Hogwarts buildings, turrets and grounds.

It was a beautiful night to be alive. Neville felt a momentary sense of panic. This was happiness he was feeling. Would it stay? Or would it be torn away from him as usual? He took a deep breath and, with a steady hand, began to write to his lover. He would take his happiness where he could find it.

TBC
- 5
- 6
- 7
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A Single White Rose