Author Note – Thanks for all the follows, favourites and reviews! Every time I get one I smile. :D

November 16th

Grace had no idea what Severus thought of that kiss. She had been carefully avoiding him for the past two and a half weeks. How could she have done that? He probably hated her. After everything she'd read in the books, why would doing that even cross her mind? Severus Snape was as closed off as it was possible to get and not just that but why would she want to open herself up to being hurt again?

Grace was sat at the teachers table in the Great Hall eating her breakfast. She had been avoiding the Great Hall as well but today was the first Quidditch match so she'd had to make an appearance.

Sat resolutely staring at her plate, Grace tensed when she felt Severus slip into his place next to her.

'Professor Hamilton.'

Grace stabbed her bacon viciously. 'Professor Snape.'

'So you've finally decided to become more formal have you?' Severus asked her disdainfully. She didn't respond other than to stab her bacon again. 'Ah the silent treatment…how mature.' Grace finally looked up to scowl at him but still didn't speak. 'So have you decided to stop avoiding me?'

'No.' Grace turned back to her plate quickly, she hadn't meant to say that.

'She speaks, will the wonders never cease.' Severus said sarcastically. 'If you regret your…actions on Halloween I have no objections to acting as though it never occurred.'

Grace looked at him, surprised he would just confront the issue that way. 'I don't regret it.' Damn her verbal diarrhoea!

Severus looked at her coldly. 'Your actions since then would indicate otherwise.'

Grace wondered how to explain her reaction. 'I just…I'm…' She broke off in frustration. 'Damn it. I'm just not exactly the best person to be in a relationship with.' Was all she could get her brain to come up with in explanation. Grace saw the slightly amused look Severus was giving her. 'What's so funny?'

'You say that you're not good to be with? You are aware of my…past are you not?'

Grace didn't understand what he was getting at, at first, but then realised what he was referring to. Blushing she looked back towards her mutilated breakfast. 'Oh, I didn't even think of that.'

'I find that hard to believe.'

Looking up again Grace wondered why he sounded so bitter. Perhaps he felt…as though a Death Eater was the only thing he'd ever be, even now when Voldemort hadn't returned yet. 'Severus, when I'm with you I don't see that.' Grace waited until he turned to look at her. 'All I see is a guy that has risked – and will continue to risk – his life for those who don't know he's doing it. All I see is an intelligent and infuriating man who I love spending time with.' And there goes her mouth again. Just then Aurora sat next to her and started a conversation. Turning towards the Astronomy Professor, Grace didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed that Severus hadn't had the chance to respond to her statement.

December 20th

As November changed to December Grace was no longer avoiding Severus but neither did she seek him out. They spoke politely at the dinner table but nothing more and Grace found herself missing the friendship they had started to form. To avoid dwelling on it Grace threw herself into planning the Yule Ball. She had put notices in the common rooms announcing the date for it as the twenty first, the last Saturday before the students went home for Christmas. With the help of the prefects and the Head Boy and Girl, the details were slowly coming together. Grace had decided to restrict the Ball to fifth year up but, like the Triwizard Yule Ball, younger years were allowed to attend as dates of older students.

Grace was currently walking down to the dungeons, unfortunately she needed to ask Severus with help with an idea one of the prefects had come up with for the ball. As she rounded the last corner to the Potions classroom Grace heard a smarmy voice.

' – hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to.'

'Malfoy!' Grace yelled spotting the smarmy Slytherin.

At the opposite end of the corridor Severus appeared and shouted at the same time. 'Weasley!' Grace strode up to the group in the hallway getting there just as Severus did. 'Five points from Gryffindor for fighting Weasley.'

Grace saw the smug look on Draco's face. 'And five points from Slytherin for purposefully antagonising a fellow student Malfoy.' Draco lost his smug look and Ron, Harry and Hermione looked less outraged. 'Now all of you get moving, you're now officially on Christmas holidays.'

Malfoy skulked off with Crabbe and Goyle following him. Harry, Ron and Hermione went off with Hagrid to see the decorations.

Deciding to ignore the altercation Grace smiled at Severus. 'Just the person I was looking for Severus. Have you got a minute? I need help with something for the Ball.'

Severus just nodded and turned back towards the potions class. Following him inside Grace looked around, never having had the chance to do so before.

'You wanted something?' Severus asked her coolly as he sat at his desk and began marking homework.

Grace pulled her gaze from the specimen jars and walked over to him. 'Yes. Melanie, a Ravenclaw prefect had an idea. Is there potion that would slowly give off harmless sparks that would sort of move across the floor?' Severus quirked an eyebrow at her. 'Fog is overdone.'

After a moment Severus looked away again but began speaking. 'There is one potion that was designed for such a purpose. It shouldn't interact with any charms you'll use for decorations.'

Grace grinned happily. 'Oh brilliant. Do you think you'd be able to brew some for us?' Severus stopped writing and up at her, he had a curious look on his face that she hadn't seen before.

'Yes, on one condition.'

Grace smiled wondering if he was going to bargain for information on the future. 'Sure, what is it?'

'Will you attend the Yule Ball with me?'

Okay…not what she was expecting. Grace felt her mouth drop open in shock. 'Say that again?'

'Did I stutter?' Severus asked coolly.

'No but my brain did.' Grace said without thinking. 'Did you just ask me out on a date?'

Severus was asking himself the same thing. Was he asking her out? After her ardent assessment of his personality the day of the Quidditch match, Severus had found himself thinking of Grace more often than before. He had also been inexplicably pleased when she had stopped avoiding the Great Hall and they could once again talk over meals. Severus realised Grace was waiting on a reply.

'Yes, I believe so.' He believed so, what was wrong with him? He was acting like a sixteen year old boy.

On the opposite side of the desk Grace was looking at him intently. 'Okay…I'll go with you.' Grace smiled nervously at him as he silently sighed in relief.

'Very well, I shall brew the potion tonight, do the prefects want a particular colour?

'Yes blues if possible.' Grace grinned at him. 'Thank you.'

'Shall I pick you up at your quarters tomorrow?' Severus asked her as she turned to leave.

'Oh yes, how about eight? Then I can be there when the doors open at half past.'

Severus nodded agreeably and Grace left the potions class. Dropping his quill Severus leaned back in his chair wondering what had come over him. He hadn't meant to ask her out, least of all to the first Ball Hogwarts had held in over two decades. Perhaps he had inhaled too many potion fumes today. Though if Severus were honest with himself, he'd done it purely to spend more time with Grace. Damn it, now he had to brew a potion as well.

December 21st

Grace looked over the final menu for the buffet tonight one last before handing it back to the house elf nearby.

'That's perfect, thank you.' The elf beamed and ran off. Grace left the kitchens and headed back to the Great Hall to check things over…again.

The Great Hall was decorated in all shades of blue with silver accents. The usual Christmas trees were still in place, the decorations on them temporarily charmed to match the colour scheme. Silver candles were floating above at just the right height to provide soft lighting but not get hit by tall students. Small tables seating half a dozen were at the end of the Hall near the doorway. Each table had a miniature version of the larger trees on it. At the opposite end of the Hall the teachers table had been replaced by a stage with enchanted instruments on. Filius had enchanted them to play nearly forty different instrumental songs. In front of the stage was an area for dancing that had a cauldron on either side of it. Severus must have dropped them off while she was in the kitchens.

Seeing Minerva near one of the cauldrons Grace hurried over. 'Minerva, is that the potion from Severus?'

Minerva turned to look at her. 'Yes, there's a stasis spell on them, once it's removed the potions will emit the sparks after five minutes and will last all night.' Minerva stopped and frowned at her. 'Never mind that it's seven o'clock, aren't you going to go and get ready?' The older woman's only concession to the Ball was to put a piece of silver tinsel around the rim of her hat.

'I was just wanting to check – '

'Grace Hamilton I am perfectly capable of looking after your precious Ball for an hour while you get ready. Now go away.' Minerva turned and simply ignored Grace, giving her no other choice but to do as she was told.

Fifty five minutes later Grace was putting the finishing touches to her makeup and trying to keep her nerves from taking over her. Putting her wand inside a neatly hidden pocket on her dress Grace stood up and just then there was sharp knock on the outer door. Looking in the free standing mirror in the corner one last time, Grace left her bedroom and opened the door to her office.

Grace was wearing a floor length dress in an ice blue colour. The skirt was simple but the top half was a bodice with thick off the shoulder sleeves that went to her elbows. The bodice was intricately decorated with silver threads and silver beads. Her hair was different as well, she had changed it to a dark, midnight blue that made her silvery blue eyes really stand out. Her hair had flashes of ice blue and silver streaked through it.

'Well?'

Severus blinked and realised he had been staring at Grace this whole time. Knowing she was waiting for his reaction Severus said the first thing that came to mind. 'You look beautiful.'

Grace beamed at him. 'Thank you, you look wonderful yourself.'

Severus doubted that since he had only put on robes that were edged in silver. 'If you say so Grace. Shall we go?' He held his arm out to her and began to walk down to the Great Hall with her. He felt nervous walking beside Grace, which was strange. How could he calmly face the Dark Lord and yet be unnerved by simply walking next to this beautiful woman?

Grace thought that Severus' arm felt a little tense underneath her hand as they walked. He was obviously nervous and Grace had to admit she was nervous too. Although Severus' compliment had definitely helped ease some of her fears.

The Entrance Hall was still empty, but Grace knew that it would soon be filled with students meeting up with dates from other houses. Steering Severus into the Hall Grace couldn't help but be pleased at how good the large room looked.

'You have done a good job.'

Grace smiled at Severus. 'Well the prefects came up with most of the ideas I just wrangled them into action and coordinated everything. Could you take the stasis spells off the potions for me while I sort the lighting?' Severus just nodded politely and walked off. Turning her gaze upward Grace waved her wand at the candles. 'Obscura Luce.' All candles suddenly flared to life, then Grace aimed her wand at the ceiling which was where the normal light charms were contained. 'Mutare Nocti.'

'You look lovely Grace.'

Grace turned to find Minerva behind her. 'Thank you Minerva, though I should thank you for sending me away when you did. I only just finished my makeup when Severus arrived to escort me down here.'

Minerva glanced over to the Potions Master who was stood near one of the cauldron apparently making sure it was going to work. 'Yes I saw the two of you arrive. I'm surprised you persuaded him to come with you.'

Grace felt a blush creep over her face. 'Actually he asked me to accompany him.'

Minerva's eyebrows disappeared beneath the brim of her hat. 'Really? Is there…something between…'

Grace shook her head slightly but not in denial. 'I'm not sure yet. We both have…issues in our past we need to get over.' Grace looked over at Severus and smiled when he caught her gaze. 'But I think we're seeing where it goes…maybe.'

Two hours later Grace was stood near the music stand sipping a butterbeer and talking to Aurora. 'I don't know why he even bothered to ask me if he isn't going to dance with me.'

Aurora laughed quietly. 'What is he doing anyway?'

Grace turned and looked over her shoulder at the buffet table. Severus seemed to be standing guard. 'I believe he is guarding the punch bowl. He thinks the twins are going to sneak in or something – but they won't.'

The Astronomy Professor eyed her speculatively. 'How do you know that?'

Grace shrugged. 'I made a deal with them. If they didn't disrupt any events I planned I would try and convince Albus to restart the Duelling Club.'

Aurora grinned. 'I can't believe you, first you bargain with them to get homework out of them and now this? No wonder all the students think you're the best teacher.'

Grace blinked at Aurora in surprise. 'What all of them?'

'Yes.' The older woman nodded thoughtfully. 'Even those you don't have in class. It seems like you were right to not get sorted. Even the Slytherin students grudgingly respect you.'

Grace smiled happily and turned to look at the dancing students. Everything looked wonderful in the low candlelight. The dance floor was only marginally lighter due to the sparks coming from Severus' potion. Sparks of silver and all shades of blue poured from the cauldrons onto the dance floor, disappearing just before reaching the tables.

'You should ask him to dance Grace.' Aurora said gesturing at Severus with her glass.

'I couldn't.' Grace replied with a shake of her head. 'What if he said no?'

Aurora snorted. 'Like that stopped you from calling him Severus when he told you not to.'

'I suppose…' Suddenly the glass of butterbeer disappeared from Grace's hand. 'Hey!'

'Go ask him.' Aurora nudged her towards the buffet table.

Grace sighed at Aurora's insistent tone but relented. Working her way around the edge of the dance floor, she made her way towards Severus, getting more and more nervous with each step.

When she got there Severus glanced at her. 'I've had to stop two attempts to spike the drinks already. I blame you. If you'd had some elves stay they could have served the drinks individually and avoided this.'

Grace hid a smile at his suffering tone. 'Severus, it's a party, would you relax already?' He ignored that and just made a huffing sound. Grace screwed up her courage. 'Dance with me Severus.'

That made him look at her. 'What?'

Grace took his hand for the first time. 'Come and dance with me, it is a Ball after all.'

Severus had a tight look on his face. 'I don't dance.'

'I refuse to accept that. Now, you can either escort me to the dance floor like a gentleman or I'll drag you out there – in front of the students I might add.'

The expression Severus had would have been described as mild shock on anyone else. On him it was as though someone had dropped a brick on his head.

'You wouldn't.' Severus said sounded almost certain.

Grace took a step back, still holding his hand. 'Try me.'

For a moment it looked like she would have to follow through with her threat. Severus just looked at her with his dark eyes glittering in the candlelight.

'Very well.'

Grace couldn't help but beam as Severus took her arm and led her to the dance floor. He took one of her hands in his and – reluctantly put his hand on her waist. Grace rested her free hand on Severus' shoulder and he started leading them around in time with the fairly quick song.

Over her unwilling partner's shoulder Grace could see many students sneaking looks at them. Many of the young faces had astonishment written across them.

'Those dunderheads should desist before I give them all detention.'

Grace sniggered. 'No master spy endorsements for their skills then Severus?'

The corner of Severus's mouth twitched slightly. 'Hardly. Their subtlety leaves much to be desired.'

Grace laughed and let herself forget about the curious eyes watching them, and forget about the reasons she'd had for avoiding Severus. Instead, for the next hour she lost herself in the pleasure of dancing with Severus.

At one point there was an interruption to Grace's bubble. A girl started shrieking at her date rather loudly. Before the argument could do much damage to the tranquil setting, the couple was quickly led from the room by Minerva.

'Young love.' Grace said with a laugh.

Just then the enchanted instruments changed to a slow song, Severus tensed and seemed about to leave. Before he could Grace shifted slightly closer to him and put both her hands on his shoulders, leaving him no choice but to put his second hand on her waist. Grace felt him slowly relaxing again and smiled. Severus really knew how to dance, he was gracefully moving her around the dance floor and no toes had been stepped on. 'So much for not being able to dance.' She murmured without looking at him.

'I said that I didn't dance, not that I couldn't.'

'Well, either way, I'm enjoying myself.'

They slid into silence again Grace decided to drop her head onto Severus' shoulder, or the top of his chest at least since he was taller than her. After a minute or so she felt him rest his chin on the top of her head.

When the music came to a close and started to change to another slow song Grace looked up at Severus. 'Thank you for coming with me Severus.'

Severus looked down at her and Grace swore there was just a hint of a smile on his lips. 'You're welcome Grace.'

Grace decided to ignore the small part of her mind that was saying to not get attached to people, and just follow her instincts. Lifting onto her toes a little Grace reached up and kissed Severus again. This time when he started kissing her back Grace did not pull away, instead she revelled in the softness of his lips and the lingering taste of butterbeer in his mouth.

As the kiss came to an end Grace smiled up at Severus again. He didn't smile back but there was a gleam in his eyes that wasn't usually there.

Grace spotted something above them and frowned. 'Where did that come from?'

Severus followed her gaze and spotted the Mistletoe floating above their heads. 'Why did you let the prefects put that out?'

Grace shook her head. 'We didn't, someone else must have – '

'I see you two got caught.'

Grace turned to look at Minerva. 'What? What do you mean?' Severus stepped away from her slightly but kept a hand on her back.

Minerva waved at the Mistletoe. 'It's charmed, that shouting match earlier was because a young man was caught underneath it with someone other than his date. It disappeared before I could catch it.'

Grace frowned and quickly shot a summoning spell at the Mistletoe. As she grabbed hold of it Grace felt several charms laid on it and waved her wand again to reveal them. Wondering slightly how she knew what spells to use. 'It's got tracking spells on it and a mild compulsion spell…' Grace frowned as something tugged at her memory. 'Hold on…I think I know who may have made this.' Grace waved her wand a third time to reveal any leftover magical signatures on the Mistletoe. A slight haze appeared around the offending item which Grace recognised. 'Damn them!' Grace quickly looked around and realised people were watching them, obviously her and Severus' kiss had attracted an audience. Then she spotted a flash of red hair. 'Get here you two!' Grace yelled making Minerva jump. Storming towards the now fleeing twins Grace waved her wand at their backs. Fred and George froze just outside the Great Hall.

Walking up to them Grace glared heavily at them and cancelled the freezing spell. She was rather pleased to see that they looked scared. Grace saw the crowd gathering and immediately dispersed them. 'Back in the Hall or go to your common rooms, now!' The students disappeared and Grace saw Severus approaching.

Ignoring him she turned to the red headed pranksters and held up the Mistletoe. 'What is this? And I mean the proper answer not a smart response.'

Fred gulped. 'It's Kiss-letoe.'

Grace glared even more. 'And what do the charms upon it do exactly?'

George looked down at his feet as he answered. 'It tracks down two people that are near each other and makes them kiss – '

'But only if they want to!' Fred finished quickly as he saw her face.

Grace frowned. 'What do you mean? Does it make people kiss or not?'

George shook his head frantically. 'It only does if people want to kiss the person they're with. If they don't it doesn't go near them we swear!'

Grace glanced at Severus stood behind them and saw that he was livid. Running her hand through her hair Grace sighed.

'Right, first you two are at school function that is restricted so that's ten points from Gryffindor. Second, you are out after curfew so that another twenty points.' Grace stopped to take a breath and calm down. 'Lastly, despite the good charm work on this…Kiss-letoe it is a prank item and not only caused a fight between people earlier it has disrupted the entire evening and embarrassed myself and Professor Snape. For this you will each serve two weeks detention.' The twins both gaped at her. 'This will start the first day of term. The first week you will do lines with me in my classroom, the second week you will scrub cauldrons with Professor Snape.' Grace glanced at Severus again and saw that he seemed surprised at the severity or her punishment. Fred and George realised he was there and paled. 'Also I will be sending an owl to your Mother.'

'We're sorry Professor Hamilton, Professor Snape.' They said simultaneously looking horror struck. George got even paler and started to speak but Grace stopped him.

'Don't bother George, I won't change my mind.' Grace nodded and gestured for them to leave, which they did at high speed. Grace incinerated the Mi – Kiss-letoe in her hand.

Severus watched as Grace set fire to the charmed Mistletoe and then vanished the ashes.

'Honestly, I wish they would just use their brains in class.' Grace ran her hands through her hair again and walked over to him.

Severus sneered in the direction those blasted Weasley's had disappeared in. 'Those fools wouldn't know hard work if it smacked them across the face.'

To his surprise Grace chuckled. 'Severus you'd be surprised at the amount of work those two will put into their inventions. I'm mean that Mistletoe, usually the charm that made it disappear and reappear would have cancelled out the tracking charm, since they're sort of opposites. I'm not sure how they made them work together.'

Severus scowled as he noticed the tense she had used. 'Do you mean to say that those imbeciles are only getting started?'

Grace looked up at him and smiled. 'They are going to do great things and make some amazing advances in Charms, Severus, also they are going to put good use to their potions lessons as well.'

'How so?'

Grace laughed and took his arm. 'Let me put it this way, in about a year I'd start checking any food you eat just to be safe.'

Severus frowned and wondered what horrors were awaiting them. Then he realised Grace was leading him back to the Great Hall. 'Grace, despite my lack of caring what the student population thinks of me, I am going to retire for the night.'

Grinning at him Grace just pulled him to the door. 'Don't worry, I have no plans to go in either, just hold on.'

He watched as she waved her wand at the gap in the door. A moment later Minerva appeared.

'Ah Grace, I thought it would be you. I saw the points disappearing and I expected more to be honest.' Minerva glanced at him.

Severus smirked. 'Believe me Minerva I was set to take more than that but I think Grace did better.'

Minerva looked at Grace intrigued. 'What else did you do?'

Grace shrugged. 'They each have two weeks detention, one week doing lines, the other scrubbing cauldrons. I also plan on writing an owl to Molly Weasley.

Minerva winced when she heard that, which Severus didn't really blame her for. The Weasley matriarch's howlers were loud even by howler standards. She had sent one to Charlie Weasley when had accidently let a thestral into the Great Hall during dinner.

Minerva cleared her throat. 'Well then I shall make sure to be ready with an ear plug spell tomorrow morning. I take it the two of you are not going back inside?'

Grace shook her head. 'No I'd rather not, do you mind overseeing the elves clean up Minerva?'

'Not at all. You put all the work in after all. I'll see the two of you in the morning. Goodnight Grace, Severus.'

Severus inclined his head as Minerva disappeared. Beside him Grace sighed.

'Let's go Severus.' She said softly and leaned into him as they started walking.

Severus didn't reply but instead just watched her as they walked. He thought back to what the twins had said about the charmed Mistletoe. He hadn't planned on making excuses but now he knew for sure that Mistletoe wasn't to blame for the kiss. Considering that, Severus played the kiss over in his mind. At least Grace hadn't literally run off again, though it made him wonder why she had done so in the first place.

Author Note – Obscura Luce – Dim Light

Mutare Nocti – Change to night

Let me know what you think of the 'Kiss-letoe', I have seen similar things in other fan-fics but I haven't read something with this in. Let me know how you like the developments guys!