Disclaimer: Harry Potter® is a creation of J.K. Rowling

Summary: Set during the Yule Ball; Snape's musings on how much Hermione has grown. Hermione finds comfort from a most unlikely source after her fight with Ron. SS/HG GOF

Yule Tears

I

What he would give to be able to just crawl into bed in his comfortable, secluded dudgeon room. No frivolity, no giddiness, just silence and peace.

It was not to be. It was expected of him, as a Hogwarts Professor, to be present at all school functions, even dances. He shuttered inwardly at the thought of actually having to dance. Luckily, he mused sarcastically, he didn't suspect anyone would dare ask him, even if they wanted to. He would just have to gri...excuse me, frown and bare it. The Triwizard champions were coming into the great hall now, arm and arm with their dates...

Snape felt himself do an involuntary double take as he looked at the young women on Victor Krum's arm. It took him only a second for recollection, and even then he couldn't believe it. The know-it-all, Hermione?

It was often interesting to see how much students could change within the course of four years. Hermione Granger was no exception. Merely a scraggly haired child when he first saw her, bursting with knowledge and an eager to please, to...well he would say it...a beautiful young women, still somewhat enthusiastic, but more reserved and properly primped.

So that was the one who had asked her, thought Snape looking distastefully at Victor Krum. Oh my dear girl, you can do so much better. It wasn't that he didn't trust Krum, or maybe he did. The boy was a stranger and a student of another former Death Eater. Snape decided to keep an eye on Krum while he was with Ms. Granger.

Snape was very tired by the time the Yule Ball had begun to wind down, not from dancing but mere strain watching all the frivolity and snogging of his younger, and even some of the older, generation. And the rock band that had entertained, Snape had to leave the hall for that, he couldn't stand it.

He felt a sharp pain in his chest when he had lost sight of Krum and Granger for a few moments, but all was well. They were coming out of the mass of dancers. He watched as Victor kissed Hermione's hand and left her to get drinks. Hermione went and sat down by a despondent Harry and Ron. She looked absolutely radiant!

A fear gripped Snape then. Did he find the young Granger...attractive! Merlin's beard, she was a student, twice his junior...well never mind, there was nothing wrong with finding a young women attractive. That's all it was. That's why she had done her hair and put on make-up and downed that elegant pink gown. She wanted people to look at her. Snape, having regained composure, looked back in the direction of Hermione, Harry and Ron. The glow she had shown only seconds earlier was gone. A look of anguish and furry began to cloud her features. She rose from her chair, hesitated, then went after Victor Krum.

Most of the students had gone of to bed by now and the band was playing a soft rock song. Snape was glad when Victor Krum bade Hermione good night and left. He watched as she caught up with Ron. He could tell she was yelling at Ron. He inched silently closer to hear what was being said.

"...I can take care of myself!" yelled Hermione with pain and furry. Weasley scoffed.

"Doubt it. He's way to old." Hermione was taken aback.

"What! That's what you think!" Snape couldn't help notice the indignation in her voice that it was wrong to be with someone older than her.

"Yah, that's what I think." Oh shut-up you stupid boy, thought Snape as he glared at Ron.

"Know the solution than don't you!"

"Go on," The cheeky little... Hermione rounded on him, tears streaming down her eyes.

"The next time there's a ball, pack up the courage and ask me before somebody else does. And not as a last resort!" The Weasley boy seemed to stammer as he backed away from her.

"Well...th..th..that's completely of the point." Snape wanted to smack the boy. He watched as the pitiful boy saw his savior coming towards them. "Harry," Hermione now rounded on Potter.

"Were have you been," before he could answer Hermione continued. "Never mind, of to bed, both of you!" Snape cocked an eyebrow at Hermione's attempt at adult authority. He found it...endearing. Harry gave an utterly bewildered look up at Ron and walked quickly passed Hermione up the stairs. Snape saw Hermione brush a tear from her eye.

"It sure is scary when they get older.." She rounded and charged up the stairs after them.

"Ron, you spoiled everything!" She shouted. The boys turned slightly but sped up the stairs out of sight. Hermione turned on the spot and let her body go limp as she sat on a step. She cried as she took of one of her shoes and began to massage her foot.

Snape wanted to go to her. There were two other student sitting just above her, apparently lost in themselves. Snape left the shadows and slowly, silently approached the crying girl. The two above caught sight of him and decided rather suddenly that it was time for bed and quickly trotted up the stairs. Hermione hadn't noticed the Potion Master come to stand by her side. She suddenly realized someone was standing near her and turned, startled.

"Prof...Professor!" She tried to compose herself. "You startled me." She looked down at the steps, wiping her eyes with her hands.

"Forgive me." Snape replied in the most gentle voice he could muster. Hermione was still trying to dry her eyes. Snape seemed to have lost his voice for a moment as he stared down at those lovely tear soaked eyes. Through her drying tears she saw a white handkerchief floating before her. She took it. "Thank you," she sniffled.

"I wanted to make sure..." She heard his deep voice echo through her clouded brain. "That you were..well." He was surprised to hear her give a half hiccup scoff as she shook her head, his handkerchief being intertwined through her agitated fingers. "I'm fine..." she whispered in a most unconvincing tone.

"Indeed." Snape replied. "That's why your sitting here in a heap bawling you eyes out for the whole world to see." She slammed her hand holding his handkerchief down beside her and glared at Professor Snape, knew tears beginning to form.

"Forgive me, sir, but I don't see how it's any of your concern!" she was trying to keep her voice calm, but their was no mistaking the bitterness in her voice. She turned away from him, fuming were she sat.

"No, I suppose not." Snape answered quietly. Seeming not to have heard him she quickly grasped at her shoe and tore it off to join the other discarded one.

She winched slightly as she rubbed her foot. A large blister was forming on it's side. Snape came a little closer to he and looked at the wound. He rummaged through the inside of his cloak and produced a small vile. Hermione looked up from her foot at the vile and then to Snape. She was still fuming when she asked, "What's that!"

"I had the feeling this would be of some use tonight." He said to her. Seeing that she didn't comprehend, he added. "It's a soothing lotion for the skin of the feet." Hermione only stared at him for a moment then all her anger and frustration seemed to leave her as she stared from the vile to Snape, a quizzical look on his face to what she was thinking. She suddenly found herself laughing.

Snape felt affronted "Well, if you do not wish it," he began, stuffing the vile back under his cloak, his tone was that of a hurt child, rather than the usual bitterness of her potions master. This only made her laugh more. She had never seen him act this way. His sudden kindness and embarrassment made her forget her anger at Ron.

"No," She quickly reached toward his hand to stop him from putting the vile away. He hated it, loathed the feeling that washed over him. He absolutely would not allow himself to be taken with a student...no matter how smart...no mater how beautiful she looked right now...

He allowed her to pull his hand with the vile back toward her. As his grip loosened, she took the vile and put a little of the lotion on her foot. Immidiantly the pain began to lessen. She put a little more on her other foot as well then handed the vile back to Snape. She smiled warmly into his dark eyes. "Thank you, Professor. That was very...thoughtful." She couldn't be sure, but she was almost certain she saw his lips rise to form what could only be described from Snape as a slight smile. It vanished as quickly as it was seen and the stern solid look he wore like a mask returned.

"Don't...mention...it." He put the vile back under his cape and turned to leave. "It is growing rather late, I wouldn't want you to tarnish your perfect record by being late to classes tomorrow." He turned his head slightly and saw her stare in front of her for a moment, focusing on nothing. A wide smile played across her face. She quickly got up, picked up her shoes and proceeded up the stairs. "You are quite right," She stopped and looked down at Professor Snape. "Goodnight Professor." She still clutched his handkerchief in her hand as she ascended the staircase. He waited till she was out of earshot.

"Sweet Dreams, Ms. Granger." He went of down the corridor toward the dungeon...to finally get some much needed and desired, quite.