Chapter 7- The Ball
Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway sneering. Snape's scowl returned.
"What can I do for you Mr Malfoy?" But Malfoy stood there, delight written all over his pale face.
"What a touching sight" he said "Professor and the Mudblood"
"What are you talking about?" snapped Hermione. She was so angry. She had been so close, so close to Snape.
"Mr Malfoy, it seems to me that you are determined to get a detention from me so lets see, I think we'll make it tomorrow night, 8:00, here" Malfoy's grin faded, he scowled.
"Goodbye Malfoy" said Hermione. He looked for a moment as if he were going to reply but instead he turned around and walked back up towards the Dining Hall.
"As I was saying Miss Granger I think you should take extra tuition after school. Perhaps 3 nights a week. What would you say to that?" But Hermione's face fell. Damn that Malfoy. Snape had called her Miss Granger again and that brief interlude with Malfoy seemed to have changed Snape back to his old self.
"Miss Granger? Are you listening to me?"
"Sorry Professor, yes that would be fine. Please excuse me it's almost time for my next lesson". Hermione ran up the stairs towards the Entrance Hall with tears in her eyes. For one moment, for one glorious moment she had thought that Snape might actually like her. Everything he had said and done, they way that he looked at her suggested that he did but now, that was all gone.
Ron came speeding towards Hermione from the Dining Hall.
"Hermione you missed Dumbledore's speech" he cried, looking positively wild. "Next month, another ball, didn't say why but I can guess that it's because of all the tension or something! Hermione what's the.."
"Nothing Ron" she said in a small voice. "I didn't think you liked the ball anyway"
Ron stopped for a moment. He didn't before, the last one was a complete disaster.
"Yes but this time we don't have to have a partner. However I am and I've decided I'm going to have someone who's my friend, someone pretty and clever! " he said happily. "Hermione, will you come to the ball with me?"
Hermione sobbed. Ron looked at her quizzically.
"So… do I take that as a no?" he said looking crestfallen his face going bright red. Hermione fled. She ran up to Gryffindor tower leaving a highly embarrassed Ron at the foot of the stairs staring after her.
Hermione threw herself onto her bed and cried uncontrollably into her pillow. Why was Snape making her feel like this? She never liked him before! And now it seemed all the chances had gone. Thanks to Malfoy. She thought about what might have happened if Malfoy hadn't shown up. Snape was a teacher after all, and she was sure that student/teacher relationships were just as seriously looked upon in the wizarding world as they were in the muggle world. And then she had a nasty thought. Could it have been her imagination? Maybe she just wanted to hear Snape saying her name, rather than actually hearing it. She cried harder.
20 minutes later Hermione made her way down to Transfiguration. McGonagall would probably throw a fit when she saw Hermione so late but she didn't care. She walked into the room and everyone turned around.
"I'm sorry I'm late Professor" she said, her voice still slightly shaky. Professor McGonagall took in Hermione's pale face and her red eyes.
"Please she me after class Miss Granger" she said shortly and carried on teaching. She sat down next to Ron who seemed determined not to look at her. She grabbed a piece of parchment, took out a quill and wrote.
Dear Ron,
I'm sorry about earlier, I was just feeling a little bit ill. I'd love to go to the ball with you. Especially now that you have gorgeous dress robes (only joking I'd go to the ball with you whatever you were wearing!!)
Love Hermione
She re-read what she had just written and slid the note over to Ron. True, she didn't really want to go to the ball at all, and true she didn't really want a partner either but she knew that Ron would appreciate this. She looked at him, he was reading the note with an expression of wonder on his face. When he finished reading he gave a great whoop of joy. The whole class turned around and McGonagall looked sternly at him. Hermione tried her hardest not to laugh.
At the end of the lesson Ron and Hermione went chatting up to the Hospital Wing to see Harry. He'd got a lot better recently and was probably going to be discharged soon.
"Mind you Ron" Hermione said as they climbed the steps "I'm going as your friend and nothing else!"
"Of course Hermione!" he said grinning.
"I thought I'd see you two today" said Madam Pomfrey as they reached the Hospital Wing "Well, you can both go and see him, but mind you don't make too much noise!"
Ron and Hermione ran towards Harry's bed. Harry was sitting up, grinning at his two best friends.
"Finally" he said "I was beginning to think you two would never some!!"
"Oh Harry there is so much to tell you" said Hermione "There's going to be a ball next month, you don't have to have a partner this time but…" she looked at Ron who was beaming.
"You're not….going together are you?" said Harry.
"Yes!" cried Ron. Harry laughed, then Ron started and though Hermione tried to control herself she started to giggle too! It felt like a huge weight had lifted from each of them as they sat there in the Hospital Wing rolling around laughing.
"So Harry" said Ron "You planning on taking anyone?" Harry thought for a moment. That Summer there was one girl who he had thought about more than the rest. Ron and Hermione both knew about his feelings for Cho.
"Well" he said tentatively "Cho's probably got a partner by now". He looked downcast.
"Don't be so gloomy" Ron said "As I was leaving the Dining Hall this morning I heard someone ask Cho and she said no. She said she was waiting for someone else to ask her" Harry looked hopeful for a moment. But that could be anyone he thought.
The three of them talked for ages after that. Hermione's heart felt lighter than it had for days. She even forgot to worry about Snape.
"Time's up you three" said Madam Pomfrey, bustling up to Harry's bed. "Harry will be out of here in a couple of days and then you can all talk for as long as you want"
"It'll be great to get out of here" said Harry grinning at Madam Pomfrey's face.
"I'm sure it willl" said Madam Pomfrey "But now, you two out please!"
"We'll come and see you tomorrow" Ron called from the doorway.
"See you then" Harry called back.
The next few days passed uneventfully for Ron, Harry and Hermione. Harry returned to school to a huge welcome from the Gryffindors, who had arranged a spectacular party with food, drinks and afterwards fireworks. Harry couldn't remember feeling happier. Everywhere he went over the next few days people smiled at him, shook his hand, called to him and even (in the case of a few excited first years) asked for his autograph. The only people who looked disgruntled at his return to the school were the Slytherin's. One day after Divination Harry saw Cho coming up the corridor towards him. Stay calm, he told himself. Stay calm, at cool, you can do this.
"Cho" Harry said
"Er.. Hi Harry" Cho said looking embarrassed "It's really nice to see you again" Harry grinned.
"Nice to see you too" he said "Cho I was wondering, is there any chance that you….will you…would you go to the ball with me?". Cho's face went bright red.
"Harry.." Harry's face fell. Damn he thought, I knew I was wishing too much
"It's alright" he said turning away. Cho grabbed his arm
"Harry I'd love to". Harry looked in disbelief at Cho.
"Did you say yes?" he asked, hardly believing his ears.
"Yes I did" she said "I have to go now, see you around?"
"Yeah, sure" said Harry, relief and happiness written all over his face.
Snape was behaving in his usual manner and Hermione had started her extra tuition. Hermione could see no friendly signs immerging in Snape as she sat alone with him in the dungeon.
"Right now" said Snape "Add 3 lacewigs carefully" Hermione added them. "Then wait ten minutes. Time is critical in Potion making, something that, if you are like most of my students, you will never get the hang of. Hermione scowled. He thought she couldn't do it, she'd prove him wrong. She carried on making the potion perfectly. He looked at her. Did she mind? Maybe she had forgotten about what had happened, it had been a week ago now. Hermione looked up and caught Snape staring at her. He didn't look away. Hermione looked Snape right in the eye.
"Is there something wrong Professor?". No answer. He just kept staring at her. "Professor?"
"I'm sorry Miss…Hermione" he said finally, never taking his eyes off her. "This week had almost killed me"
"Professor I don't know what you mean"
"Don't play with me Hermione you know exactly what I mean". She did.
"I don't Professor, would you mind explain…"
"Please Hermione" he said almost desperately "Call me Severus"
"Severus". The word sent a chill down Snape's spine.
"Oh Hermione I'm so sorry"
"No Severus, it's all my fault" Snape put a finger up to Hermione's lips and stopped her speaking.
