I will kill Minerva if this is Granger because this woman is nearly perfect. Severus thought as he glanced down at the adorable creature beside him. Her small cold hand fit well within his larger hand, and she wasn't babbling incessantly like he imagined Granger would be. She was actually rather a pleasant partner for the evening, simply looking out over the crowd as he was, making sure no students were up to any shenanigans. Commenting scathingly on the antics of the children. He almost wondered if Minerva had actually listened to his request to not be around the young chit and paired him with one of their guests for the evening. Severus doubted it though, she knew most of the staff fairly intimately based on their conversation so far. This woman had to be a professor.
Now that he thought about it, the Transfigurations Professor had been rather quiet during meals lately. He hadn't really been paying attention to her this school year, rather, he had been complaining to Minerva about everything, and mindlessly belittling everyone. All in all, it was a good year so far for him, despite Granger's unexplained silence. Now that he thought about it again, their arguments had been rather fun her first year as a teacher, and last year she had mellowed, and now this year she hardly ever said anything to him. Or to anyone other than Minerva.
"If you had been able to stay in your rooms, what would you have read?" he asked. Severus wanted as many hints as to whom his companion was as possible. She looked at him, then away quickly with a faint blush.
"I'm in the middle of a classical reading binge, actually, so currently I'm reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"," She looked up again, and held his eyes, "what would you be reading?"
"Probably the latest academic journal," he said, looking into her eyes. They were a pretty shade of hazel, and held the faintest spark of interest.
"Which journals do you prescribe to?" she asked almost timidly. He quirked his mouth a little, and they proceeded to discuss the latest academic findings in the Wizarding world and surprisingly the Muggle world as well. Severus found that his companion was well versed in most topics, including potions, which was rare to find in any woman, no less everything else she was able to thoroughly keep up with.
During their conversation, she stood close to him, almost touching (with the exception of their already joined hands). And when Severus offered for them to go get a drink, she walked close to him, using him as a shield to get through the crowd. He gladly allowed her to do so. She was very attractive, and caught a few other men and some boys looking at him with envy. Severus smirked, feeling good to have, at least for an evening, people jealous of him. She clung to him on the way back to their spot against the wall as well.
Who ever it was that Severus had been spending this enjoyable evening with, he liked her. It also seemed as though she did too, which was always good, but she had this slight air of caution when conversing with him, that made him wonder if she guessed who he was already. He had an inkling that Minerva would be devious enough to set him up with Hermione Granger, and if it was her, he might lighten up on the girl and actually get to know her. She would at least be able to supply a good conversation.
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