Hermione woke up early the next day, and put it down to having slept in an unfamiliar bed. She'd always woken early when staying at the Burrow too. She looked over at Severus, who was still sleeping, one arm holding her securely by the waist. She took a minute just watching him sleep, cuddling into his side. She knew that in all the books it was said that people always looked more peaceful when they slept, but in Severus' case the cliché was well founded. All the troubles of tricking Dumbledore and Aberforth left an almost imperceptible hunted look on his face when awake, but here, in the early morning, all his cares seemed to have melted away.

As great as this is, thought Hermione, I need to get up and I need to pee and I've got things to do.

Carefully, so as not to disturb him, she lifted his arm so she could wriggle out of his embrace. He didn't wake up, just shifted position and rolled over. Smiling in relief Hermione padded quietly over to his bathroom.

A short while later she emerged and picked up her clothes from the day before, then crept through the bedroom and flooed back to her own rooms to change. The older students were returning from half term today for the ball, but lessons wouldn't start until the day after tomorrow. In the mean time, she had to buy a dress for the Valentines Ball. As head girl, it was a social function she couldn't skip out on.

Before she went down to breakfast she flooed back to Severus' quarters in case he's woken up. He hadn't yet, but she wasn't overly surprised. With a wicked grin she surmised that this was probably the most relaxed he'd been in a long time. Instead of waking him, she pinned a short note to her pillow explaining why she'd gone.

Because knowing him he'll think becoming lovers was too much for me and I ran off to lick my wounds. Lovers…now that's a word I could get used to saying.

She grabbed a bottle of pain relief potion before she left too, because as ready as she'd been, a first time hurts, and this morning she was aching.

Breakfast was a hurried affair, as the elves were busy making the feast for the ball and made it clear they wanted everyone out as quickly as possible, without being rude. This suited Hermione fine, as she didn't want to wait around to hear about any extra head girl duties that Dumbledore might have thought up for her. Instead, she left the castle as soon as she spotted an opportunity and went down to the gates at a brisk jog. She was fairly certain she could have apparated out of the great hall to Diagon Alley, but she didn't want to splinch herself without Severus around to sort her out.

Diagon Alley was blissfully empty so early in the morning, with just a few harried looking parents picking up odds and ends their children needed to go back to school with. Hermione made her way to Madame Malkins robe shop for a new ball dress. Her dress from fifth year, although beautiful, was too pink for her current taste. The door tinkled as she walked in and Madame Malkin bustled over.

"Can I help you Miss Granger?" Hermione noted that she'd been recognised. Bloody publicity.

"Yes please Madame. I need a new ball gown, for this evening too if that's at all possible."

"Certainly. If you would step up onto this stool?"

Hermione stood on the stool and waited patiently as the witch took her measurements. "And will you be wanting something similar to the Ball you bought for the Yule Ball a few years ago? I have some lovely pink silk I could…"

"No, thank you. I have something a little different in mind this year."

Just over half an hour later Hermione left the shop, confident Madame Malkin had understood what she wanted from her detailed instructions and perusal of material swatches. The dress would be made for the evening, and delivered straight to Hogwarts. It had better be right. Thought Hermione. I won't have time to change it much if it's not.

Hermione apparated back to Hogwarts, and walked back up to the castle at a leisurely pace. About half way up the path she spotted Severus coming towards her, in his jogging outfit. She waved him over and he fell into step beside her.

"You got my note?" Asked Hermione.

"Yes. Though you forgot to say where you were going."

"I didn't forget, I purposely omitted."

Severus chuckled. "I won't give you the satisfaction of asking why. I must admit, I was relieved you weren't there when I woke."

"Why?"

"I'd be wondering if you expected a sickeningly sweet breakfast in bed, you know the type. The tray with a flower in a vase etc."

"Hardly. I'm not a particularly romantic person, I like flowers and intimate conversation, but big boxes of chocolates and swearing you undying love while I simper around isn't my cup of tea."

Severus snorted. "I'd take you to Pomfrey if it seemed you thought it was."

"No you wouldn't. Because then you'd have to explain why I'm in love with you."

"And why are you."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I told you, I don't know. Love is blind right?"

Severus sighed. "Right. Heaven knows why I'm in love with the insufferable know-it-all."

Hermione gave him a shove. "Rude."

"Indeed. And what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to change the subject. I didn't purposefully omit where I was going this morning, I forgot to. I was buying a dress for tonight."

"The Ball."

"That's right. Oh!"

"What is it?"

"Um." Hermione felt a bit awkward. "Well we weren't really, you know. At the time. And even if we were, well we probably couldn't anyway. So I'm going with Blaise to the ball but only as friends. And that's ok right?"

Severus frowned. "He knows it's only as friends?"

"Oh yes. No problem there."

"Then it's fine with me. Though if I find you two in the bushes I will not settle for detention."

Hermione grinned. "Fair enough. It's just so we've both got someone to walk in with."

"I said it's fine."

"But knowing is a weight off your mind."

Severus glanced over at her. "Of course." He said.

They had reached the castle doors and Severus pulled her to one side and began to talk quietly. "I'll be busy with my teacher duties for most of the day, and I imagine you have things to do when the children arrive as well. We won't be able to get away to give the Shadows the potion tonight either, so we'll do that tomorrow instead. Truth is, there's several meetings for all the various groups happening tomorrow evening, as none of them expect the others to be planning anything on the day they children come back to school."

"Ok. So I'll see you at the ball. Wear something Slytherin-y coloured. No one else will think anything of it, but I want to match. I'm in emerald green."

"Very well, see you later." He gave her a quick peck on the lips, and then they parted ways, both getting busy ready for the new half term.

The students arriving back at Hogwarts after the holiday filled the castle with animated chatter as friends reunited and excitement over the ball reached fever pitch. The corridors quickly emptied as the evening neared, as everyone busied themselves with getting dressed. Hermione was sat in her private common room to avoid the general clamour that had got even as far as the Slytherin rooms, when Pansy, Draco and Blaise all piled in breathing heavily.

"Where have you been!" Cried Pansy.

"Here." Replied Hermione bemused. "Where else would I be?"

"We thought we'd meet in the Slytherin common room and get ready together, but you weren't there."

Hermione sat up. "Of course I wasn't! Everyone's getting too manic down there. I thought I'd come up here and read."

Blaise sat down beside her. "You confused the owls as well. A Package came for you and the owl was flying round down there screeching."

Pansy held out a package, with Madame Malkins seal on the top. "Are these your robes?"

"I guess so. None of the Hogwarts owls would be as stupid to not find the person a package is addressed to."

"Well come on then!" Pansy grabbed Hermione by the arm and dragged her towards her bedroom. "See you later boys!"

Hermione opened her door, disabling the wards so Pansy could enter. She sat on the bed, followed by Pansy, and the two of them made short work of the package. Hermione pulled out her dress, and levitated it, so she could see it from all angles. Pansy did the same to her own dress, which she'd had in her pocket, then conjured a screen to change behind. A moment or so later she came out wearing a black backless halter neck, trimmed round the neckline with a bright fuchsia pink. It was made from a velvet type material, but Hermione could tell from the way it hung that it wasn't as warm or as heavy. It was tailored to fit closely, but not tight, and flared out towards the bottom. Her black hair was down, a pink flower matching the pink of the dress pinned to one side. She gave a twirl and grinned.

"What do you think?"

"It's beautiful, but is Draco prepared to wear anything pink to match it?"

"Almost. He's wearing a plain black and white tux, but I persuaded him to wear a flower in his buttonhole to match the one in my hair. Lets see yours then."

Hermione went behind the screen, absently listening to Pansy hum as she fixed her make up. Hermione pulled off her clothes and shimmied into her dress. Madame Malkin had got it almost right, and few tweaks with her wand was all it took to get everything as she wanted it. She stepped out from behind the screen and Pansy smirked.

"You really want to ram it down those Gryffindors throats that your Slytherin don't you. It's gorgeous."

Hermione gave an experimental twirl in front of the mirror, pleased with what she could see. It was a simple strapless full-length dress, in emerald green silk. Hermione had ordered a pair of black silk gloves that went up to her elbows and was also wearing the sliver pearl necklace and earrings she'd worn at New Years to the Malfoys ball. Her dark brown hair was worn up in a neat bun, a few tendrils shot through with green. Her eyes were dark with black eyeliner, and her lipstick was a few shades darker than her natural shade too.

"Thanks."

"Shame Severus won't be the one to walk down the stairs with you."

"I know. But hey, at least we're back together now."

Pansy grinned and gave a little squeal. "I knew he'd see sense! What happened? Did he ask you or did you ask him?"

"He asked me. But keep it to yourself. Obviously the less people who know the better."

"What about Draco and Blaise?"

"I'll tell them in a bit. I can't take the opportunity for Draco to tease Severus away from him, especially on Valentines Day."

Pansy gave her a sly smile. "So have you two…you know."

Hermione gave her a look of mock outrage. "I am saving myself for marriage I'll have you know."

Pansy grinned. "I thought so. But don't worry; I won't ask for details. He's still too much of a teacher for me in some ways. You can keep your sex life to yourselves."

"Gee thanks." Said Hermione. "So shall we go out and see how your beaux is doing?"

"Yes lets." Chuckled Pansy. "But I bet he's not ready yet."

Sure enough, Blaise was alone in the common room, sitting impatiently on a sofa, drumming his fingers on the armrest. He jumped up when the two women came in, and shook his head.

"Both of you look amazing, and neither of you are single. Are you trying to get me killed by protective partners?"

Hermione laughed. "Of course. Isn't Draco done yet?"

"Nope, he's fixing his hair or something I don't know. Why he can't just bung a tux on like the rest of I don't know."

Pansy darted to Draco's rooms' door and went in. Hermione made out a few words being spoken, and then the door opened, Pansy dragging a haughty looking Draco behind her.

"Are we all ready." He asked.

Pansy rolled her eyes behind her boyfriends back and Hermione bit her tongue. "Now you're done, yes we are."

They left the heads rooms together, joining the throng moving towards the main staircase down to the great hall. Their innate Slytherin sense of style and timing meant that most of the school was already in the Great Hall, and as they approached the stairs they watched Nearly Headless Nick announce Ron and Luna, then Harry and Ginny. Predictably, everyone's eyes were on the chosen one and his date, and Hermione nudged Draco to get his attention.

"Fancy ruining his big entrance?" she whispered.

Draco grinned at her wickedly. "Of course. What's the plan?"

"Leave it to me. Just be ready to descend the stairs as regally as possible."

Draco and Pansy gracefully hurried to the top of the stairs, and Hermione gave Blaise's arm a squeeze before disappearing into a shady corner. She took a deep breath, and cast a disillusionment charm on herself, then concentrated on apparating, not wanting to splinch on her ball night. With a quiet pop she disappeared, and reappeared next to Harry and Ginny. She walked with them so they were halfway down, and then stuck her foot out in front of Ginny. Ginny was wearing a heavy gold dress, that must have been second hand as she was too short for it, and got entangled in the material draped round her feet making her stumble. As she was arm in arm with Harry, she took him over with her when she fell. As they tumbled down the last few steps, the Bloody Baron boomed out Draco and Pansy's names.

"The Head Boy Draco Malfoy, and his date for this evening Pansy Parkinson."

Draco walked down the stairs quickly, but regally as Hermione had suggested. At the bottom of the stairs, with a touch Hermione loved, he wrinkled his nose, raised his cloak and stepped over the groaning body of Harry, who was lying on the floor. Pansy lifted her skirt and daintily stepped over Ginny, looking for the entire world like she was avoiding a piece of shit on the pavement. Hermione hurriedly apparated back to Blaise, lifting her invisibility and grinned at him.

"The Head Girl Hermione Granger, and her date for this evening Blaise Zambini."

They swept elegantly down the staircase, Hermione resting her hand on Blaise's proffered arm. Hermione used the height to spy out Severus, and spotted him lurking in a corner. At the bottom of the stairs they joined with the waiting Draco and Pansy and entered the great hall together. Harry and Ginny were being fussed over by Gryffindors, and the whole group shot them dirty looks, knowing they couldn't do more in front of the teachers. Hermione gave Pansy a discreet high five and smirked.