—————A—————

"You look weird," Aurora greeted her mother as she entered her father's chambers. He chuckled from the sofa, lounging lazily in his black dress pants and white dress shirt.

"Well thank you for that, poppet," her mother responded with a smirk, though it wasn't quite the smirk Aurora was used to. In fact, there were many very subtle changes in her mother. Her hair was a touch darker, closer to Aurora's near-black than her normal chestnut curls. Those curls were gone, replaced by long smooth hair. Her eyes were lighter, more golden, and her nose was sharper. "So, do you think anyone will recognize me?"

"No," she assured. "Don't you remember what you looked like before you went back?"

"Be nice," her father scolded. "Your mother was beautiful even then."

"I do recall having my teeth hexed to grow past my chin and you saying that you saw no difference," her mother recounted, and Aurora snorted at the same time she heard her brother in the corner doing the same.

Her father shrugged lazily. "I didn't like you at the time."

"No, you didn't want to like me," her mother corrected as she headed to Aurora's room, beckoning for her to follow. "There's a difference."

"Yes, dear," her father said, and Aurora watched her mother roll her eyes and shake her head affectionately.

They entered her bedroom and her mother closed the door, turning toward her with a smile. "Are you sure you don't want to get ready with your friends?"

Aurora shrugged, looking at the bed instead of at this strange version of her mum. "They're in Ravenclaw Tower getting ready. With Fleur Delacour. And Cho Chang, who's going with Cedric Diggory. It felt a bit ... elite. I didn't want to intrude."

It wasn't as if they hadn't extended the invitation, then begged her to accept it, but Aurora had felt out of place at the mere thought of going. These girls were going to open the ball, and she was going with Neville. Which wasn't a bad thing, but it didn't exactly require her to be the belle of the ball.

Her mother nodded in understanding, offering her a shy smile. "I didn't go with anyone my first Yule Ball, and I most certainly didn't feel the need to impress anyone."

"But you tried for Dad," she noted.

"Of course, I was already half in love with him, if not completely. And I know you've seen the pictures of Harry's mother, she was stunning, and he, well ... Between us, he was infatuated with Lily Potter when I first met them."

Aurora couldn't keep her lip from curling at that, making her mother laugh.

"I think I'll keep that to myself. Bad enough that Harry's going to figure out one day that his friend married his professor. I don't want him to know that the same professor liked his mum, too." Aurora realized why her mother had changed her appearance. "You don't want them to know tonight, do you?"

Her mother shook her head sadly. "I didn't want to do a full Glamour because there's no younger me to see me. I don't think I need to hide completely. But it's only been a few months for them, and well ... I think they need more time. If they see me and see me , then so be it. But I was hardly going to reveal myself and take away from the evening. Which brings us back to you." Her mother flicked her hand toward the closet door, a storage space empty pretty much all the time these days, and four dresses swept out and hovered in front of Aurora. "You never wrote about one. And there wasn't a Hogsmeade weekend before the ball, and you didn't ask me or your father for a few Galleons. So, I took the liberty of providing you a few options."

Aurora looked at the gowns in awe and with just a touch of sentimentality. One was new, simple, black. It was lovely and mature and would certainly make her appear older than fourteen. There was another, also new, but was a lovely shade of gold. But the ones that caught Aurora's eye the most were the two older gowns.

Both were her mother's, she had seen them in pictures growing up. The little girl in her soul coveted being a princess, even for a night, just like her mother had been.

Without thinking, Aurora's hands each reached out to stroke the silk-soft skirts of the two gowns.

"I didn't keep any of the ones I wore to the parties of your father's ... associates. They always felt tainted afterward. But these two, I suppose I remembered you and held on to them just in case. I didn't know for certain that you were mine."

Aurora smiled at that. "It must have been odd, knowing I was going to happen before it happened."

"At times, I suppose. But by the time you came around, I'd already grown used to the idea of having a few surprises. Much like your brother was, despite our hopes for him to begin with." She looked at the dress Aurora was fingering the most. "I can change the color from green to red. I was attending with a Slytherin, after all. But you're going with someone from your own house." And then she smirked. "You father told me what he did to Ronald."

Aurora threw her head back and laughed, remembering the wondrous moment from a few days ago. They'd been in study hall, and Ron had been whining about not having a date.

With a sudden burst of inspiration, Ron had looked at her and said, "Snape, you're a girl."

Her father, who had been walking up and down the rows, stopped behind Ron at the mention of his name and frowned.

Aurora, trying very hard to not draw attention to her looming father, mimicked his eyebrow arch. "Last I checked."

"So, you should go with me," Ron had said. "I mean, I'm sure your dad will let you, what with Gin and Luna going."

Aurora had glanced at her father, who lifted his brow in question, fingering someone's workbook. She gave him a subtle shake of her head before turning to Ron again.

"I'm already going," she said. "I was asked the day after the ball was announced."

"No, you weren't," Ron scoffed. "Who'd have asked you—?"

Smack! Her father had moved so swiftly that it was as if he hadn't moved at all.

Ron rubbed his head, scowling but not stupid enough to complain.

"I was gonna ask her," Fred confessed with a cheeky grin. "Plan on stealing her from Nevvie for a dance or two, too."

"Neville asked you!?" Ron asked, his voice breaking. He earned another swat, and then her father moved on.

"Yes. What's the big deal?" Aurora asked rhetorically.

Her mother's eyes were dancing with mirth .

"So how about that dress, changed to red?"

Aurora nodded, already picturing herself twirling around the dancefloor. The only thing was, she couldn't decide whose arms she preferred to picture herself in.

—————S—————

Severus looked himself over in the mirror and smirked at his reflection. He'd considered showing up to the Yule Ball in his usual frock coat and robes, maybe after a day full of brewing and with no time to cleanse his hair. But he had so few opportunities these days to turn his wife's head and make her proud to be on his arm. Plus, it was an anniversary of sorts.

His hair was, despite his better judgment, immaculate. It was combed and tied back in a dark green ribbon; that alone made him look drastically different. After the girls had left, he'd cleaned up, replaced his trousers, and pulled out a dark green cravat. After it was in place, he found his silver Slytherin cravat pin that Minerva had gifted him when he became Head of House. After that, it was his black waist coat, and then his black dress robes, which wouldn't billow as much as his teaching robes, but he couldn't always have what he liked.

As he was making a couple minute adjustments, Leonidas came into their bedroom.

"Will I need dress robes?" he asked, studying his father in the mirror.

"Eventually," he replied. "Not for a few years yet, and the ball tonight is not likely to be repeated while you're in school. You'll probably need them before you leave Hogwarts for a wedding."

Leo nodded sagely. "I understand. If it's okay with you, I'd like to meet Aurora's escort this evening." As Severus turned to his son with intrigue, Leo shrugged his shoulders. "You think he's a dunderhead. I thought a fresh perspective may help us determine the worth of Aurora's future husband."

"Future hu—?" Severus roared incredulously.

Nightmare images of Neville Longbottom waiting for his daughter to approach him and bind herself to him. Oh, Longbottom calling him 'Dad' and quivering the entire time. Grandchildren that exploded cauldrons. Aurora Eileen Longbottom.

"Is that not what happens at the end of a courtship? She has chosen, and now—"

"Leonidas, where in Merlin's name did you get the impression that your sister is courting someone?" Severus interrupted his son before the thought could make him any crazier.

Leo frowned. "Aside from the fact that you and Mum began a courtship that ended in marriage, it was in a book. A couple books, really."

"And what have we said about books?"

"That they are excellent, useful things to glean information from, but aren't always right."

"And does your mother remind you of this?"

"Frequently."

"Then why would you think that what you read about such things is the absolute truth?" At his son's confusion, he added, "Your mother and I are the exception. Unless there is an arrangement in place, a courtship does not have to end in marriage."

"Then what's the point?" Leo asked.

Severus was saved from answering by the sound of a timid knock on his office door echoing through his rooms. Severus looked down at Leo, who looked expectantly back at him. He did look an awful lot like he had at that age, just with cleaner hair and a less offensive nose. Still big, but not hooked, at least.

"You want to meet the dunderhead taking your sister to the ball?" he asked, to which Leo nodded. Severus pulled out his wand, and with a quick swish, Leo's corduroys and simple oxford were replaced with Severus' usual teaching wear, shrunken to fit his son. Leo looked down, then at his father with unrestrained glee. "Enjoy."

Leo dashed out the room, and his sister and mother bustled down the small hallway shortly after.

"Stop!" Severus called, halting Hermione and Aurora's progress. He stalked out, looking over his daughter with a keen eye. "You look lovely. And entirely too grown up."

"Dad," she whined, and he raised a hand to stop her.

"I don't mean that the cut of the dress isn't proper or too old for you. I mean, you look older than fourteen. Had Mr. Weasley been the one to escort you, you would not have looked out of place on his arm. And it is one more reminder that you are not a child anymore." He straightened. "Now go, save Longbottom from passing out while your brother practices being intimidating."

Aurora scoffed a snort, picking up the skirts of her dress and heading to the office doors.

—————A—————

Neville led her in by the arm, shaking only a little after the encounter with her brother.

Aurora still wanted to laugh at the scene she'd come across. Leo had stood as straight as he could, mimicking their father's crossed arms stance, complete with holding a bit of the robes in each hand as he did so. He stood just far enough from the door that he wouldn't get hit when it opened, and bellowed, "Enter," just as Aurora made it into the office.

Neville had done as asked, stopping short and looking at Leo with a slightly timid and quite perplexed look.

Leo had done his best to scowl at him, though Aurora found it a touch too adorable to be as intimidating as their father.

By the way Neville blanched, she was sure he didn't think the same thing.

"So, you're the Longbottom I've been hearing so much about," Leo had said, eyeing her date over with a sneer. "I must say, you're exactly as I thought you would be. What are your intentions towards my sister?"

"Y-y-your sis-sister?" Neville stuttered.

"Yes, you dunderhead, what are your intentions with her?"

"Well, er, sir..." Neville frowned at the title, and Aurora had burst out laughing as she came into sight.

"You had your fun, Leo, and I'm sure Neville is properly terrified," she said, making her brother scowl further as she kissed his head.

"Rory," he hissed.

"I left my textbooks on the couch, you can have a look at them while we're at the ball," she said.

All thought of pretending to be their dad seemed to evaporate from Leo's mind as he turned and ran, shouting, "You're the best sister ever, Rory!"

His cloak fluttered behind him.

"How old's your brother, again?" Neville asked as they stood at the edge of the crowd, waiting for the ball to begin.

"He's turning ten in January. He'll start when I'm in my fifth year."

"Right," Neville said. And then after a pause, "He's a bit frightening for someone younger than a firstie."

Aurora chuckled at that.

"Did I hear that right? Neville's scared of a kid?" George said behind them, Katie Bell on his arm.

"Must be right terrifying, that lad," Fred agreed, Angelina chuckling.

"He looks exactly like Snape. Even dressed like him," Neville said.

"He did that on purpose, you know," Aurora told him. "Normally he looks much more his age."

The doors opened, and the hum of conversation was replaced by gentle applause as Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall led the procession of professors and headmasters.

They were followed by the Durmstrang Headmaster, with a very severe-looking woman at his side. His wife, Aurora would guess, though she must have come to Scotland just for the event, as she couldn't remember seeing the woman around school before.

The Headmistress of Beauxbatons came next, with Hagrid at her side. When he spotted Neville and Aurora, he waved at them, obviously trying to be subtle and failing.

Professors Sprout and Flitwick came next, though the Ravenclaw Head quickly parted from his escort to make his way to the orchestra.

There was a pause in the applause as her father and mother entered the Great Hall. He looked quite handsome. For her father, anyway. And her mother was lovely in her silver-white gown with a subtle green trim.

"Is that Professor Snape?" She heard a few of the upper-class girls murmur behind her just as she heard a couple of the boys mumble, "No way is his wife that fit."

There were whispers, but they were all in awe despite her father's scowl and her mother's amusement. The doors closed after them, and when they reached the dais, Aurora watched her mother lean in and whisper something to her father.

"Blimey, I didn't realize your dad could clean up so well," Angelina said.

"Sure your mother isn't on a constant guzzle of love potion?" an idiot by the name of Cormac McLaggen leaned past his date beside Angelina to ask. "She's a bit too pretty for him."

Before she could say anything, Fred smacked him. "More to life than looks, McLaggen. Maybe she likes smart blokes, probably a bit of a bookworm herself."

If they only knew.

The doors opened again and the champions and their dates came into thunderous applause.

Fleur Delacour looked lovely, and whoever accompanied her looked proud, though Aurora had no clue who he was.

Ginny entered with Viktor, looking both cute and pretty in a lovely burgundy gown with her hair pinned up. She waved at Aurora as she passed. Cedric and Cho Chang followed them, and then, of course...

Harry and Luna made quite the pair. Harry looked smashing and grown in his modern dress robes, though his walk was stiff and nervous. Luna, by contrast, was as serene as ever, though her dress was her typical eccentric style: a bold kaleidoscope of color, paired with a necklace of bottle caps.

Still, when the students surrounded the champions as they got ready to open the ball, Aurora noted that Luna's peace and calm had an effect on Harry. She and Ginny knew the boys had been practicing, and while she was fairly certain that Harry knew what to do, she doubted he'd remember in the spotlight. Luna looked like she was giving quiet instructions as the song started, and Harry looked no more out of step than the others.

Ginny moved gracefully with Krum, looking all the world like they had been dancing together their whole lives. And with a pang of jealousy, Aurora acknowledged that Krum seemed quite smitten with Ginny. It wasn't that she was jealous of the man, he reminded her too much of her father to find him attractive in any sort of way. She yearned for the way he looked at Ginny.

Professor Dumbledore brought Aunt Min out to the dancefloor, followed quickly by the Durmstrang Headmaster and his lady. The applause paused for a second as the great bat of the dungeons swept his wife onto the dancefloor as well.

"Did you, er, want to ...?" Neville asked, holding out his hand.

A few other couples were bold enough to step out, and because they wouldn't be the first students, Aurora accepted.

Neville had practiced adequately and was nearly as graceful as her father. She looked at her parents, and while his expressionless face would have anyone in the room who didn't know him believing he was unimpressed, there was a glint of approval in her father's eye. She then met Harry's gaze, and traded an amused grin before she was turned out of his line of sight. She spotted Draco walking Pansy Parkinson onto the floor.

That meant that out of their little group, the only one not dancing was—

She found Ron off to the side with a dark-haired girl clinging to him. Romilda Vane. Ugh, he must've been truly desperate.

Focusing on Neville, she noticed he was stiff, unsmiling, not looking at her. She waited, hoping he would look up, but he didn't. When the song finished, before the next one began, she asked, "Is something wrong?"

He looked up, blushing, then looked away. "No. I'm just ... I'm trying not to, er ..." He swallowed nervously. "You look really pretty."

"Thanks," she said, and smiled when she noted he smiled despite ducking his head. "Did you want to dance again?"

He looked up in surprise, then smiled wider. She didn't know why he'd be surprised. It wasn't like he'd stepped on her feet, and he was her date for the evening. But he nodded and took her in his arms much more confidently than before. And this time, when he led her through the dance, he didn't take his eyes off hers unless it was needed.

And if Aurora started to feel something similar to the uncomfortable flutter that Fred caused her from time to time, she kept it to herself.

—————S—————