Thank you so much for the reviews. I plan to try and update more regularly. Enjoy xx
Snape found his thoughts wandering to her. He couldn't help but feel a pull towards her, like there was some greater force pulling his thoughts towards her on a frequent basis. He hadn't seen much of her recently, perhaps that was why he was finding his mind drifting more and more to her, he couldn't be sure but when he had seen her she was generally with the other two members of the golden trio which was more than frustrating.
The Halloween ball was fast approaching, and with that, it was not surprising that the students were growing more excited by the day. Severus on the other hand was far less excited. He was relieved that tonight was to be the final meeting of the prefect committee on the topic.
Dinner in the great hall proved to be rather dull, and not for the first time Hermione thought. It was all very well being back at Hogwarts but she couldn't help think she was a bit beyond this. Looking around her, taking in her classmates she felt dismayed. Of course she still loved Ron and Harry but after all she'd been through she felt more than a student, that she has progressed, going back to school after fighting a war just didn't seem logical.
She was soon distracted as there was much chatter around the great hall of the upcoming Halloween ball. "Hermione what shall I wear for the ball? Knowing my luck, mum is probably transfiguring a pair of old curtains as we speak" Ron huffed. Hermione giggled. "Ron the idea of a masquerade ball is you get a mask to hide your identity and get a muggle tux" said Harry. "Exactly!" Said Hermione. "Why don't we go into London and get our outfits, it would be good to get something a bit unique and we are supposed to be in Hogsmede this weekend, so we could us that time apparate to oxford circus instead" Harry suggested somewhat tentatively knowing exactly what Hermione's reaction would be. "Harry, we can't apparate to London without permission!" Hermione said indignantly "so no, absolutely no way". "Oh Mione pleaseeee, I really have nothing to wear, or a mask" said Ron.
Hermione with much reluctance agreed, after all wasn't she thinking just how boring it had been being just a student again, and she did love London in Autumn. "Ok, on one condition, I make the rules, and you must follow them!" she huffed. "Deal" Harry and Ron both said in unison."We had better not get caught!" Hermione added, although she couldn't help thing it had fallen on deaf ears.
That evening the trio arrived with exactly 5 minutes to spare for the Prefect Meeting, Hermione took her place next to Snape's empty chair. She scanned the room, she found it particularly exciting to think what had gone on in the room and knowing what was behind those closed doors leading off of the office. She couldn't help think that for such an insanely private man he had actually bared a large quantity of his soul to her.
In order to successfully escape to London, Hermione had to hope Malfoy would cover her watch over the hogsmede trip, it was important senior prefects were visible, and she knew Malfoy might notice he absence, so making the most of the remaining 4 minutes, Hermione reached over the empty chair. "Draco, I was hoping to ask you a favour if you wouldn't mind" Hermione asked politely. "Oh, Granger, yes, what can I do for you?" Malfoy said sounding surprised. Hermione knew this wouldn't be easy asking Malfoy for a favour, although they had recently patched up their differences, neither of them could really forgive and forget the past. "I don't want to go to Hogsmede this weekend, and I know we need to unofficially supervise, so I was hoping you wouldn't mind keeping an eye out knowing I won't be there" she said. "Got plans granger!?" Draco teased. Hermione rolled her eyes "no, I just have studying to do and I have been planning for this ball and I am a bit behind, plus I am exhausted" she said in weaned voice. Hermione saw a slight flash of empathy from Draco and she couldn't help feel guilty that she was telling a white lie. "Fine" Malfoy replied in his usual slytherin tone, but Hermione knew he wasn't actually as troubled by the extra work as he appeared. Hermione reached over the empty chair and grasped his arm lightly, "thank you" she said.
The doors flew open and Snape strode into the room, Hermione quickly averted her gaze and retracted her hand from Malfoy for fear of revealing her just plan.
The room was buzzing with noise "Settle down" Snape purred. "Whilst I know you are all excited for the ball" there was a whoop from the back, Hermione convinced it was Ron and she shot him a glare, they didn't need to draw any undue attention to themselves. Snape resumed "we are in final preparation, has everyone ensured their responsibilities are taken care of?" A chorus of "yes" came from the room. "Good" Snape continued to purr.
"On another matter this Saturday those students with permission forms and prefects are permitted to travel to Hogsmede, those without slips are not, do I make myself clear?" There was a sound nod from the room. "It will be your duty to check permission slips and supervise the students to ensure the reputation for good behaviour in Hogsmede is upheld".
Hermione didn't dare look at the boys, for no doubt they were grinning like Cheshire cats.
Hermione couldn't help notice Snape's good mood particularly given the topic of conversation, he hadn't sneered once - perhaps she was the cause of that exceptionally mellow mood. Dragged from her thoughts by spotting Ron in the background, she could see him smiling and nodding at her, along with Harry who was grinning. As she had guessed, the were hardly being subtle about their plan. If she herself hadn't been involved she would be willing Snape to find out about the London plan and then their grinning would be very shot lived.
Hermione was snapped back to the present topic by a familiar tone "The ball will commence at 7pm on Halloween with a feast followed by dancing, all students will be expected to be in their dorms by 12am with the exception of seniors who are permitted a curfew of 1.30am" Snape said with a straight tone.
There was silence.
"Bloody brilliant" chirped Malfoy.
"Indeed, and one other thing, there will be entertainment, this wasn't planned but Hogwarts have organised a live band, so I have no doubt you will all be merry andenjoy yourselves, but, be warned any rule breaking will not be tolerated and you all must be ready on Monday for things to resume back to normal" Snape sneered.
Hermione couldn't believe it, neither could anyone else judging by the shocked looks on their faces. Severus bloody Snape had organised a live bank for the Halloween ball, and then in her eye line was Ron who was clearly as shocked and looked as though he had just fallen off of his chair judging by his disheveled appearance.
Chatter broke out in the room, Severus' lips quirked upwards in response to the reaction he had been fully expecting, he quickly saw as his que to dismiss them all. But not before he had seized the opportunity to whisper quietly the words "stay" to a certain Gryffindor in a dangerously low purr.
Hermione slowly packed away her things, in the excitement of the announcement Harry and Ron had forgotten to wait for her, typical she thought but instead of being her usual peeved self, she was glad they had shot off given the command she had received and was about to obey. As the last student filtered out, once again Hermione was alone with her ex-potions professor.
The doors slowly drifted shut.
"Ah here we are again insufferable one" Snape remarked. "Innnnndeeed" Hermione mimicked. Snape narrowed his eyes, and then quaffed.
"How are your studies going?" He asked inquisitively.
"You kept me here to talk about my studies, did you?" Hermione replied thinking this was highly doubtable as she followed him to the lounge area.
"Amongst other things, so I'll repeat, how are your studies going?" He said pointedly.
Feeling somewhat baffled and disappointed given what had happened the last time they were alone, Hermione gave the bland answer of "yes fine, nothing too taxing, why do you ask?" With suspicion edging out of her voice as she trailed behind him.
"Ahhh questions, always questions" he remarked, his eyes glittered. "Maybe I'm just interested in your progress, maybe I'm asking for a specific reason, I am your headmaster after all Miss granger".
"Come with me" he said softly.
He led her her the rest of way by the hand to the sofas, he flicked his wand at the fire and it ignited with a roar. The lit fire had the ability to make the room look much softer and less office like, something Hermione was very pleased about given he'd just reminded her of the dynamics of their professional relationship.
"Defence, tell me about it?" He asked as he hung up his teaching robes revealing a white shirt which he unbuttoned at the collar. Hermione didn't hear the question, she was far too preoccupied with trying not to stare, the man standing before her looked very different to the man who had once always stood before her - the one who had taught her for all those years. It wasn't just the clothes, she could see it in him, his agenda with her had altered. Unsurprisingly of course, as things between them had more the altered - they had practically span on their axis!
"Defence, Miss granger, tell me about it" he demanded as opposed to ask realising she was elsewhere.
"It's fine, going well, I can't say I am learning much, but that's not Remus'..." He held up his hand, whilst taking a seat. "Remus? " he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
This was concerning Snape thought, she's so comfortable with him, she thinks of him as Remus.
"Yes Remus, I don't have to call him professor Lupin in front of you do I? I've known him for years!" she said completely missing his point.
Wary of revealing his thought process on the topic "no, it would appear not, carry on" he said through gritted teeth, as he flicked his wand rather forcefully at a bottle of wine popping the cork.
"As I was saying, it's not his fault. Remus knows his stuff, but I just feel I know the curriculum. I mean I did fight in a war didn't I?" Hermione said. "Indeed you did, and very well by all accounts Miss Granger" he said, tipping his head in a nod of acknowledgement. "You were often the topic of discussion at death eater meetings, you were the cause of many war wounds" he sniggered ever so, whilst reaching for a goblet.
"Good! The deserved it, ugh, even talking about those cretin death eaters makes me shiver!" She retorted without even thinking. "And what do you think of this cretin death eater?" Snape interjected genuinely intrigued. He wasn't offended, she was right they were credits, but he would enjoy making her squirm out of this one.
Damn, now she had done it, calling Snape a cretin what was she thinking.
"Humm, sorry, I didn't mean you, it just kind of came out. Sorry" she babbled. She looked up through her eyelashes and was sure that was a smile on his lips.
"Severus Snape you are a very wicked man!" She pouted.
"Well you can always come here and say sorry" he purred and he beckoned her onto his lap.