Yule Be Sorry
A/N: Hermione Granger learns to see Professor Snape in a different light, throughout her years at Hogwarts. SSHG, starting at Christmas during GoF, continues through OotP, HBP, DH and beyond. EWE. Rated M for language and smut. Spoilers for everything, naturally. Follows canon very closely (hopefully!), although probably a hideous mix of both book and film, with some different interpretations of events, depending on whichever bits float my boat and I can use for my own nefarious purposes, mwahaha! I have glossed over the details of some canon parts, unless I have specifically written about something different occurring. For example, when the Trio jump from a dragon's back into a lake, after Snape has just read in the paper about the Gringotts break-in that occurs in Deathly Hallows, I haven't described the break-in itself as it's presumed to have occurred according to the book/film and I thought it unnecessary, as you all know how the canon story goes, and no-one can write it better than JKR! Just so nobody thinks "Eh? How did they get from there to there?"
Nothing romantic occurs while Hermione is underage, for those of you of a sensitive disposition ;)
Currently 29 chapters finished and proof-read (about a million times!), so I think it's very nearly complete, just need to tie up the last chapter or so. I'm running out of steam a bit at 86 thousand words LOL. Please R&R, and thanks in advance!
Chapter One: Dance, Dance
Hogwarts Castle had been naturally transformed into a winter wonderland; blankets of soft powdery snow laying across the grounds and covering the many rooves and spires. Everybody was gearing up for the Yule Ball - a little extra excitement to add to the prestige of hosting the Triwizard Tournament.
A live band was playing in the Great Hall, Hermione could hear the lead singer's voice warbling throatily away up the staircase about something, something, Hippogriffs, as she made her way down towards the party. She was nervous about making an appearance, unsure as to what the boys would think of her sudden transformation. Earlier Ginny had tried to reassure her that she looked stunning, but Hermione was on foreign territory when it came to dressing up to the nines.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, taking her time on the worn, uneven stone in her high heels, a tall, burly figure in a long red cloak stepped forward through the parting crowds.
"Hermy-own-ninny! You look very beautiful." Viktor Krum extended a meaty paw in her direction and she placed her hand into his, gave him a nervous smile, and followed him into the Hall.
Skulking along the edge of the room, Severus Snape stood stiffly near a table in the corner. He had no idea why he was even bothering to attend, but Albus had made himself very clear that all staff members were expected to turn out in a good show for their visitors. He hoped Igor Karkaroff didn't feel similarly obliged to put in an appearance - Snape had been doing a stellar job of so far of avoiding the Durmstrang headmaster whenever possible. Their... shared past made any such encounters rather awkward for him and quite frankly he just didn't have the motivation to spend any more time than necessary in his company. Karkaroff was a fool and a coward, and Snape had no interest whatsoever in whatever plans he was making for his immediate future since the re-emergence of the Dark Lord.
His thoughts on Karkaroff, Snape absentmindedly scratched at his left forearm through his tunic sleeve. Although the Dark Mark beneath wasn't currently troubling him, it was an uncomfortable reminder that change was afoot.
A bright flash of colour across the room caught his eye. Looking up towards the Entrance Hall he could see that Karkaroff's protégé Krum had arrived. And on his arm was no other than Potter's friend, the Granger girl. Snape frowned to himself, pondering the strange pair. Surely Granger couldn't genuinely be interested in the Quidditch player? He knew of her only what he saw in his Potions classes of course, plus the odd time she'd been conspicuously by Potter's side whenever certain events had occurred at the school over the past few years, but he thought he had a good enough idea of her character, he'd always prided himself on his ability to read others. An intelligent young witch, though possibly a bit socially inept. Not so different from himself in his younger years, he mused. Or even now in his mid-thirties, come to that. No, she couldn't possibly be romantically interested in Krum - the boy could barely string a sentence together, in either English or Bulgarian, after years of taking Bludgers to the head. Most likely she was using the meathead to obtain information in order to aid Potter in the tournament. Almost Slytherin, he thought approvingly.
Snape watched as the young couple made their way onto the dance floor and the Bulgarian put his arm on the girl's waist. Granger mirrored her partner. Snape thought back to the mousy little girl that had arrived at Hogwarts just a few years ago, and realised that she'd changed substantially. And not just her sudden glamourous makeover tonight! Potter still looked like a facsimile of his wretched arrogant father - all Snape ever saw when he looked at Harry was an image of James the Tormentor staring back at him. But the girl… It surprised him to realise just how… pretty… she had become. Quite grown up, he mused idly. Such pedestrian things were normally beneath his notice, although he keenly observed everything that occurred at the school.
Scanning back and forth across the Hall, habitually aware of his surroundings and on the lookout for anyone who might be getting up to something troublesome, his gaze passed again over the Durmstrang and Gryffindor couple who were twirling gently around amongst the other students. As Granger spun, her eyes suddenly met the professor's across the room; she beamed happily, and Snape felt a sharp jolt of something in the back of his brain before she continued her turn and disappeared into the crowd again. Blaming the shot of Firewhisky he'd downed hastily before his arrival at the Ball and furrowing his brow, Severus blankly contemplated for a second or two the flickering flame on the candle hovering by the wall next to him, then turned and strode away abruptly, effortlessly creating a path through the other partygoers with his determined stride as he exited the Great Hall through one of the doors at the back of the room.
Dancing awkwardly with Krum, Hermione was concentrating hard on not getting her feet stepped on, and tried to focus on the scenery around her to avoid getting dizzy. Mid-spin, her eyes suddenly met the impenetrable dark gaze of Professor Snape who was stood motionlessly by the wall, observing the room, and looking for all the world like a disapproving statue. Carried away with the dance, her mouth quirked in a smile before Krum spun her away and their eye contact broke. Snape looked awkward at such an event she thought - probably only there to enforce his usual brand of strict discipline and mirthlessness on the students. She thought he might be wearing a different tunic to his usual? Still clad in all black, with myriad buttons and cuffs, he had eschewed his billowing cloak for the evening and she was surprised to realise he actually cut a rather smart figure. Less bat-like than usual; he looked almost regal, and, dare she say it, even suave - like something out of a Jane Austen novel or a member of the nobility, although wizardkind had no such thing, she knew.
Flushing slightly at this new train of thought, Hermione hoped Viktor didn't notice, or would at least put it down to her current physical exertion. She and Ginny had shared a sneaky couple of Butterbeers before heading down from the dormitory to the dance to meet their dates too, so that probably accounted for the sudden warm feeling in her face and the fluttery fuzziness in her chest. Knowing Ginny, the other girl had probably spiked it with a bit of Firewhisky as well, just to help her friend 'loosen up a bit', as the younger witch was always advising Hermione to do. The Weasleys were a bad influence, Hermione smiled to herself wryly.
Making her excuses to Viktor as the song finished, she took her leave of her dance partner and picked her way carefully through the crowds, not fully trusting her own capabilities. Eyes flicking over to the table where Professor Snape had been standing momentarily, she noticed he had now vanished. Probably off dishing out detentions to third-years snogging in the corridors, she mused. Suddenly a hand tapped her on the shoulder and Hermione turned to see the youngest Weasley standing there, grinning impishly at her. "Hey 'Mi, how's your date?" Trust Ginny to ask about a Quidditch player!
"Oh, err… Viktor's nice, we've just had a dance." She waved her hand vaguely at the crowd behind them as if to illustrate. "Say Gin, did you slip anything into that Butterbeer we had earlier?" Hermione fixed the other Gryffindor girl with a mock-accusatory glare.
"Nope, why? You feeling a bit tipsy already?" Ginny flashed her a trademark freckly Weasley grin that reminded Hermione of Fred and George when they were up to no good. "Maybe you're drunk on Krum?" Ginny laughed lightly and gave Hermione a conspiratorial dig in the ribs with her elbow. She looked around for the Durmstrang student and spotted him stood with a few of the other European visitors, nursing a glass of something bright green and fizzing, and absorbed in conversation with another red-robed boy with a severe haircut that rivalled his own. "He's quite the catch you know, all the girls are talking about it - you're the envy of all of them. And some of the boys too I think!" She let out a small snort of amusement, well-aware that Krum's celebrity sportsman status would be completely wasted on Hermione Granger.
Hermione was still scanning around the room aimlessly. "Oh. Yes I suppose. He's very talented. Viktor's been telling me all about the games he's played for Bulgaria…" Her voice trailed off. Ginny could tell that Eastern European Quidditch was the very last thing her friend cared about right now.
"You okay, Herm? You seem a bit distracted."
"Mmm I'm fine, Ginny. I just… I think perhaps I'll go outside for a minute for a bit of fresh air." Hermione fidgeted absentmindedly with her bracelet and smoothed at the ruffles on the front of her dress.
"Oh, okay. Do you want me to come with you? I've left Neville somewhere for a minute, I think he was grabbing us a couple of drinks but I can find him and let him know if…?" The younger girl looked across the crowd, searching for her partner.
"No, no I'm fine Gin, honestly. You go and find Neville, I'm sure he'd love a dance with you." Hermione smiled warmly but distractedly at her friend, clasped her arm in farewell and made her way through the Hall and out the entrance, into the cool, wide corridor outside.
Leaning back against the stone wall, Hermione ran her hands lightly over her hair, checking it was all still in place where it had been charmed. She smoothed down the front of her dress again self-consciously. The ruffles stayed put. Sighing deeply, she slipped off her high heels and started to pad her way randomly through the castle. She'd be glad when things got back to normal she thought; as exciting as the idea of the Tournament and the Yule Ball had been initially, she was finding the whole thing rather draining emotionally. Hermione thought she'd much rather settle for a nice relaxing week of exams any day...