Several weeks had passed, and the much-anticipated day of the ball had finally arrived. The date had been set for the eve of the winter holidays, so that everyone could fully enjoy the magical atmosphere of the festivities. Dumbledore had even canceled the day’s classes, officially to allow the students to prepare, but in reality, it was another blow to Dolores Umbridge's authority, which was fuming at the sight of her control slipping further away.
Alice had spent the morning helping with preparations. She hadn’t planned to get involved so much, aside from inviting Cornelius Fudge, but a certain motivation had taken hold of her over the days. This motivation was largely fueled by the infectious enthusiasm of Tammy Singer and Eva Baudelaire, two students full of ideas and energy.
That afternoon, the Transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall, had joined Severus Snape, and they had spent some time walking together. They discussed the recent events, particularly the shifting atmosphere at Hogwarts, and the students' drastically changed behavior with the arrival of the bureaucrat.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when they saw Alice McGarden, hidden around the corner of a hallway. Her furtive behavior piqued their curiosity, and they approached, somewhat concerned.
“Alice, what’s going on?” asked Minerva, furrowing her brows.
“Are they here?” Alice whispered, glancing quickly to the left and right, as though she were a fugitive on the run.
“Are you haunted, Alice, or have you finally gone mad?” Severus quipped, arms crossed.
“If I’m crazy, Severus, you must be at least as mad as I am. But no, I’m talking about the fourth years!” she replied in a hush.
“Students? You’re hiding from students half your size?” Snape replied, his tone heavy with sarcasm.
“Why are you hiding from them, Alice?” Minerva asked, choosing to ignore the barbed remarks and focus on the situation.
Alice let out a deep sigh and straightened up slightly, though she continued scanning the surroundings nervously. “The fourth years... Singer, Baudelaire, Hatchette, Coleman... and others. There are several of them.” She lowered her voice. “Someone must’ve whispered that I was the one who convinced the Minister to prevent Umbridge from interfering with the ball. And to thank me, they offered to do my hair and makeup. You know, the whole package...”
“And you accepted,” Minerva concluded, a hint of amusement in her voice.
“And now you regret it,” Severus added sharply.
“They were just so happy...” Alice admitted with a shrug. “But now, I’m not sure I want to be the victim of their frivolities.” She made a face. “Well, I figure if I can lock myself in my office until the very last minute, I can claim that, alas, I just didn’t have time...”
Suddenly, feminine voices and hurried footsteps echoed down a nearby corridor. Alice tensed up, and without further ado, darted off toward her classroom. In her haste, she cast a locking charm on the door, magically sealing herself in behind her.
Severus and Minerva, who had stayed motionless, exchanged a glance of mixed perplexity and resignation before they found themselves surrounded by a group of young girls, all smiles and clearly on a mission.
“Hello, Professors!” exclaimed Tammy Singer, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “Say, have you by any chance seen Professor McGarden?”
“Why are you looking for her?” Minerva asked calmly, though she already knew the answer.
The group of students hesitated for a fraction of a second before awkwardly hiding behind their backs the makeup boxes, combs, and various accessories they were carrying.
“Uh... nothing special!” Eva Baudelaire blurted out a little too quickly, betraying their intentions. “It's just... to thank her, you see.”
“We just have a few questions to ask her, nothing more... About tonight’s organization!” Tammy added at the same time.
“Oh, well, Miss McGarden has a lot of work to do,” Minerva tried to cover for her colleague.
But before she could say more, the Potions Master intervened, a smile concealed at the corner of his lips.
“She’s in her classroom, look,” Severus said in a perfectly neutral tone, though laced with mischief. “The door is open. It seems she’s expecting you.”
With a swift, precise movement, he pointed his wand at Alice’s classroom door. The door, which had been magically locked moments before, suddenly creaked open, revealing the interior of the room.
“Thank you, Professor !” the students exclaimed in unison, enthusiasm shining in their eyes. Their little group immediately rushed giggling toward Alice’s classroom, their makeup boxes and accessories in hand.
Minerva, frozen in astonishment, slowly turned her head toward her colleague, her face reddened with indignation. “Severus!” she exclaimed, outraged. “How could you?”
Severus raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “She called me crazy,” he replied with disarming nonchalance, casually tucking his wand back into his sleeve.
“You started it! And that doesn’t justify this... betrayal! Honestly, Severus...”
He shrugged, unaffected by Minerva’s reprimand. “She won’t die,” he simply replied, his tone dry but indifferent.
“Severus Snape!” Minerva thundered, placing her hands on her hips in an authoritative stance. “I hope you at least offer her a dance to make up for it!” she said, a mix of anger and defiance in her voice.
Severus paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder. A flicker of light passed through his dark eyes, but he didn’t reply. With a measured step, he moved down the corridor, his black cloak trailing behind him.
Minerva sighed deeply, both exasperated and, despite herself, slightly amused.
Two hours had passed since the arrival of the young girls. In the end, the experience turned out to be much less unpleasant than Alice had anticipated. The students, bubbly and full of energy, had quickly transformed her classroom into an impromptu little lounge. They spent more time chatting, gossiping, and laughing than actually preparing.
When they finally decided to focus on her, the “beauty council” launched into an intense discussion about the perfect makeup to “enhance her features.” Alice, a bit overwhelmed by the technical terms and arguments over which shade to use, merely nodded approvingly, allowing the girls to work their magic.
The result, it must be said, was rather impressive. The makeup, subtle yet refined, added a luminous touch that highlighted the unique gleam in her gray eyes. As for her hair, the girls had opted for a crown of delicately woven braids, evoking both elegance and simplicity. Alice, although accustomed to a more natural look, found herself surprised by how much she appreciated their work.
"You look like a forest queen, Miss McGarden!" declared Tammy Singer, hands on her hips, while the others nodded in approval with exclamations of agreement.
Once they were satisfied with the result, they slipped away to prepare themselves, leaving Alice finally alone with her thoughts. She allowed herself a moment of calm, heading to her apartments and stretching out on the sofa, careful not to ruin the work of the young girls.
When she woke up, the golden light of twilight was filtering through the windows. A quick glance at the clock made her jump: she was late. She quickly got up and hurried to finish getting ready.
Alice had chosen an elegant yet understated dress. The silky fabric was a mesmerizing gradient of blue and green. The long sleeves were both elegant and practical for the winter chill.
With the dress on and accessorized, Alice adjusted her earrings one last time. The delicate clink of the jewelry echoed in the room when three sharp knocks came at the door. She looked up, slightly surprised.
"Come in," she said calmly, finishing the last touch on her outfit.
The door creaked open, revealing Severus Snape, who leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed. His dark gaze swept over Alice from head to toe, his expression unreadable.
"Well, you’re still overdoing it, I see," he remarked.
Alice turned toward him, a little annoyed. "I haven’t overdone anything! And I remind you that if I’m so made up and well-coiffed, it’s because someone betrayed me..." she replied, stressing the last word, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Severus raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, really? I wonder who could have done such a thing." He paused theatrically. "Probably Minerva, of course."
Alice rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You’re incorrigible."
Severus looked at her with a mixture of amusement and mock seriousness. "You look like a bird, like that."
She squinted. "A pigeon, maybe? A seagull? Or better yet, a gull?" she said, sarcastically.
"I was trying to give you a compliment," he replied, feigning offense, "by comparing you to a magnificent peacock, but since you seem to think I’m only capable of mockery, I’ll keep my compliment to myself."
Alice was caught off guard. "Ravishing? You think I look ravishing, Sev’?"
Severus slightly looked away, uncomfortable but still maintaining his calm demeanor. "Let’s just say..." He made a slight gesture toward her outfit with his hand. "It suits you."
The compliment, as brief and unemotional as it was, left Alice speechless. She felt a familiar warmth spread across her cheeks. A compliment from Severus Snape? Two, in a row? She searched for a response, but no words came to mind. Severus, on the other hand, had already noticed her discomfort. He slightly turned away, focusing on an invisible point on the hallway wall to mask his own unease.
"I hear the Minister is looking for you," he said quickly, his tone deliberately detached.
Before she could thank him or reply, he turned on his heel and disappeared down the corridor, his black robe trailing behind him like a dancing shadow.
Alice stood still for a few seconds, still a bit shaken by the exchange. She let out a sigh mixed with amusement and surprise. She shook her head slightly to refocus.
After a short moment to regain her composure, she straightened up and adjusted her outfit in front of the mirror. Barely had she stepped into the hall when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Alice! You look ravishing!" exclaimed Minister Cornelius Fudge, who was indeed waiting near the entrance. He stepped toward her with a bright smile and overflowing enthusiasm.
"Good evening, Minister. How are you?" she replied politely, offering a professional smile.
Fudge shook his head, laughing. "I’ve told you already, come now, Cornelius will be just fine! No formalities between us." He lowered his voice slightly, adding with a touch of false modesty, "I have great news, Miss McGarden. Mr. Mare has finally finished writing his book!"
Alice raised her eyebrows, clearly delighted. "That's wonderful news! I can't wait to read it. Congratulations to him!"
Fudge continued, puffing up with enthusiasm. "I’d like to organize a little party soon to celebrate, and of course, honor the late Miss Magnold, who inspired us so much. A memorable evening ahead!"
Alice nodded, genuinely interested. "It will be a lovely tribute. I’d be happy to attend, Cornelius. Do let me know the date once it’s set."
"You can count on me!" he promised, before spotting a figure in the background. "Ah, Dolores! Come, come!" he called, gesturing to Umbridge, who had been lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping on the nearby conversations.
The undersecretary stepped forward slowly, her smile frozen, more of a grimace than anything else. "See how beautiful this ball is, Dolores!" Fudge continued, beaming with satisfaction. "Miss McGarden was absolutely right to invite me. I would have been terribly jealous not to attend such an evening."
Umbridge gave Alice a forced smile, her piercing gaze lingering on her for a fraction of a second before shifting back to Fudge. "Yes, of course, Cornelius. It’s… absolutely sublime," she replied in a syrupy tone, but lacking any real conviction.
Alice, noting the barely concealed bitterness from the bureaucrat, decided not to respond to it. She returned a polite smile and then excused herself. "I’ll go keep an eye on the students and… perhaps indulge in a few appetizers. Have a pleasant evening, Cornelius."
"Good evening, Alice!" Fudge called as she departed, clearly pleased with their exchange. Umbridge, on the other hand, had already turned away to begin a conversation with the Minister.