AN: All reviewers rock my socks. Even more so for the ones who favorite me/my stories and spread the love. And also to the brilliant Crick118, my awesome beta; she'll be making sure my stories suck less from now on. grins
When Hell Freezes Over
Chapter 4: Sneaking Around and Chocolate Mousse
Steps echoed softly in a black corridor. A large portrait of a bowl of fruit loomed close and the footfalls stopped. Long pale fingers tickled a pear in the painting, and as it giggled a handle appeared. The tapered fingers grasped the handle and pulled gently, obviously trying to keep noise to a minimum.
Stepping into the shockingly bright kitchens, the man was assaulted by the squeaky voices of house elves.
"Can we be helping you, sir?" called a female elf with salad-tossing utensils in her bun.
"I'd like you to find Dobby, please," replied the man.
The elf grinned cheerfully; this man had said please to her, a mere house-elf. "Of course, sir! I will be doing that, right now!"
While the man was waiting another unisex elf, who obviously didn't like the cold, if the many scarves and sweaters meant anything, seated him in a soft armchair by the fire. He was soon brought coffee and, his favorite, chocolate mousse.
"Sir? I am bringing you Dobby, sir," the female elf sang proudly.
Dobby looked at the man seated in his armchair, and the sweet house-elf's eyes grew as round and large as dinner plates.
The man grinned, eating another spoonful of chocolate mousse and, before Dobby could say anything, said, "Hello, Dobby. I need a favor."
XXX
Ginny grinned and gave the password to the Fat Lady. Hopping in the common room, she ran towards the couch where her three best friends, Ron, Mione, and Harry, were sitting.
"Good news, then?" Harry asked, his eyes glittering with curiosity and hope.
Ginny gave a Cheshire-Cat grin and nodded, putting Harry's invisibility cloak down on a table, not offering any further information, just enjoying the others' squirming.
"Come on then Gin, out with it!" Ron's blue eyes sparkled merrily.
His girlfriend also seemed impatient, almost bouncing in her seat. "Yeah, Ginny, let's hear it," Mione smiled, her fingers entwined with Ron's.
Ginny looked them over and, catching Hermione and Ron's mushiness, laughed.
"PDA!" she shrieked, giggling lightly, jumping from her seat and standing in front of them.
Her face then took on a mock serious expression. "You will get no more out of me than this; Snape is Malfoy's godfather."
Ron looked scandalized, Hermione looked thoughtful, and Harry nodded. Apparently he already knew of this fact.
Ginny pursed her lips and continued, obviously not satisfied with the damage done, "Snape and Dumbledore make bets on student's love lives."
Now both Ron and Hermione both looked scandalized, though Harry was being difficult and only giggled slightly.
Ginny furrowed her brow, but it smoothed out almost instantly. She had the perfect surprise.
Flipping her hair at the trio, she turned away from them with a haughty sniff.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said over her shoulder as she headed towards the girl's dorms. "Malfoy is falling in love with you, Harry." And with that she smiled beatifically, snapped a picture with the camera hidden in her robes, and skipped up the stairs.
It was no small miracle that not every single person in the castle was jerked awake at the resounding "YES!!!" seconds later.
But most were.
XXX
The next morning was hectic. As it was Saturday, no one wanted to come down, but as it was the first Quidditch match of the season (Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw), no one dared be late for breakfast. If they were, there wouldn't be any good seats left at the Quidditch Pitch. Plus, on Quidditch game days, they had dessert with breakfast!
The breakfast was a healthy one, porridge and fruit and bagels, so the dessert looked almost more delicious than usual; it was a crowd favorite, chocolate mousse.
The owls flew through the Hall just as the mousse was being dished out.
Severus Snape already had a spoonful and, just as he was about to put said spoon it his mouth, it was knocked out of his hand by a very familiar eagle owl.
Draco's eagle owl held what looked like a box of chocolates; Severus's very favorite type.
Few had been let in on the well-kept secret: Severus Snape, Potions Master and Evil Git, was a chocoholic.
Draco had often related his obsession with chocolate to his passion for potions and scaring small children.
Draco knew exactly what type of chocolate Sev would absolutely never, ever, ever say no too.
Severus looked down at the golden box. It had a blue ribbon wrapped around it, and a chart to guide his choice of chocolates on the bottom.
On top of the box, a note was Spello-Taped.
It read:
Sev,
For always being there, and loving me so much that I would trust you with anything. I know you would do anything for me, Sev, and that means so much.
Love,
Your Godson,
Draco
Severus narrowed his eyes at said godson, who was seemingly engrossed in his chocolate mousse.
Putting his suspicions and box of chocolates aside for a while, Severus grabbed a clean spoon and dipped it in his mousse.
Swallowing the treat, he began to feel a little strange.
When he realized what was happening it was too late. Oh, it was far too late for our poor Potions Master.
"Attention! ATTENTION!!! I, Severus Snape, do here by declare that the best color in the entire world is PINK!!!"
The entire Hall stared at him. Dumbledore gazed at Severus with a wild twinkle in his eyes, and an amused smile on his face.
"Yes!" the dark haired former Slytherin continued, though he tried desperately to stop himself, "I LOVE and ADORE the most WONDEROUS color PINK!"
As the people in the Hall began to realize this was a funny and priceless moment, the staring changed to pointing and laughing.
Severus glared as he continued his Ode to pink involuntarily. Thinking fast, he looked around for a way to stop himself, fuming all the while.
Seeing the box of chocolates, he looked at the chart on the bottom, and chose a caramel. This company was known for its chewy caramel, and Sev hoped it would slow him down.
He popped it in his mouth, and hurriedly began to chew.
Moments later the Hall fell silent.
Severus looked around the Hall, hoping it had worked.
Until, that is, there was the flash of a camera held by Ginny Weasley, and another, much larger camera held by Colin Creepy Creevey.
And then once more, Severus's world exploded with laughter.
Furrowing his eyebrows, he looked to the teachers. He was shocked at seeing them try to smother giggles as well.
With his jaw stuck out, and a 'Life Sucks' look on his face, he marched huffily to the Headmaster. This increased the noise of the laughter, but Severus was beyond caring.
Afraid to open his mouth, he simply waited for Dumbledore to stop smiling so infuriatingly and conjure a mirror.
The Headmaster did soon enough.
Severus stared into the conjured mirror with a stunned expression on his face.
He looked up and, seeming to gather his senses, roared, "PINK!!!!!!!! My HAIR is PINK!"
Apparently the chewy-ness of the caramel was gone now, along with the pink-love.
This caused for some hurriedly hushed hilarity.
"DRACO MALFOY!!!"
The smirking Slytherin in question suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
Draco's irate godfather stalked towards him.
Draco calmed slightly, standing. Sev just couldn't look very frightening with pink hair.
"Draco Malfoy, you effeminate, scheming, little demon!"
Sev was obviously livid. So Draco decided to play with him, of course.
"Now, Sev, that was mean. And I'm not the only homosexual in this conversation. Speaking of which, when is Remus coming to visit again? You are always so much more jolly after you've spent the weekend 'having discussions'."
Now Severus's face was also pink. It clashed with his hair, poor darling.
"Draco," he snarled. "I will give you a five second head start. One...two...FIVE!"
Silver eyes grew wide as the pink haired man flew close to Slytherin table.
Luckily, some sort of invisible force made Severus freeze in place.
"Good shot, Mione," said a familiar voice, shockingly close to Draco's ear. So shocking, that Draco jumped and tripped over his own two feet.
Right before he hit the ground however, warm hands grabbed him around the waist, and pulled him back into a standing position.
Emerald eyes met silver and neither could look away.
Until a flash blinded them both.
"Ouch, Gin! Go away!" Harry growled rubbing his eyes.
Ginny looked at him, her face scrunched up. "You'll thank me someday," she declared, and moved away a little.
Draco stood, his hands resting on Harry's forearms, and blinking away the momentary loss of sight.
"Hey, Draco?" Harry said softly.
"Yeah?" Draco replied, looking up into glittering green eyes.
"Did you set all this up? The pink obsession and the pink hair? Was that you?"
Draco cast his gaze to the floor, and then determinedly looked up at Harry through blond fringe.
"Yes," was the simple answer he gave.
Harry smiled. "Why?"
"Why else?" Draco began. "You were taking too long."
They both grinned, locking gazes once more, and this time they didn't mind the flash.
Kissing doesn't require open eyes.
AN2: Yes, that's right. Dessert with breakfast. In my HP universe, they have dessert with every meal on Quidditch days. Another thing: I know effeminate doesn't equal gay, and if anyone feels insulted by this please give me some help there. I do believe I will be doing an epilogue, and I am currently writing the next chappie for Pride and Prejudice. Once again: thanks to all readers, reviewers, and my brand new and way awesome beta, Crick118.