A/N: Hello everyone. I see that you have been actually reading my little story here. I want to thank you very much for taking the time to check it out. Please leave some reviews. I'd like to know everyone's opinions, constructive criticisms, etc. This whole book series was created a long time ago, and the continuation here is to close it up. I hope you at least find it entertaining. Happy reading!

Chapter 21: Date Night

I am being restrained by Gilderoy. His arm is around my hip to stop my moving and his other hand is on my mouth again to stop shouting. I see Andrea/Lucius turn in the direction of us. As Gilderoy holds me back, he uses his wand to levitate the time-turner back over my neck so we are joined by this cruel chain of truth. He then begins to spin the turner. I loosen his grip and move around, facing him mere centimeters apart. His arm remains around my waist. I let out a jagged breath, half from anger and half from something I'm unfamiliar with.

"You cannot cause a ripple across your timeline, Love. I won't allow it." Gilderoy's own breathing is uneven as he speaks to me. "I don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

We are in his quarters once more. He doesn't let go of me.

I ask, "Are we all set here, then?"

His eyes square in on mine. My stomach fills with heat that travels to my toes and back up. "You really are beautiful, Maranda." His voice is so low, I wonder if he knows he is even speaking.

"Gilderoy?" Though I intend on speaking, my voice somehow matches his in volume. "I have a date, remember?"

He lets go of me, but neither one of us shift. I take the chain off of my neck, but we still do not lift our feet. I feel confused as to what is wrong with us. GIlderoy lifts his hand to touch my cheek. My face burns.

"Right," Gilderoy unlocks his feet from the stone floor and steps back. "You and Snape have a date tonight. I will swing by the library tomorrow to see if you have any ideas on what we saw."

In agreement, I nod. "Goodnight, Gilderoy."

"Goodnight, Maranda. And good luck with dinner." He walks me out of his quarters and I leave the Defense room with frustration looming over my head.

It follows me to the Grand Staircase like my own personal storm cloud. I reflect on everything that's gone on including GIlderoy's strange emotions as he held me. I stop in my tracks on the first floor stairs. I can see Snape pacing back and forth not too far from me. A train of realization chugs my way, mocking how blind I have been; Gilderoy likes me. I don't know as to what level of attraction, but he sure as hell made it obvious tonight. Hagrid had tried to hint it to me before. I don't know how I feel about this, but it is an eye-opening truth. I smile to myself. After all, he is a sweetheart most of the time.

Severus is following me with his gaze and I can see his lips part. A small smirk appears and he takes my hand.

"You look lovely, Maranda. Might I ask what took you so long, other than dressing up in this beautiful gown?" He opens the door to the castle and lets me walk outside first.

I was flirting with disaster. "Gilderoy needed help finding a really old book. We found it after a long hunt. I bribed some kid to watch after the library while I'm gone tonight. Besides, I'm only running ten minutes late, Sev. Sorry."

We walk to the path heading to Hogsmeade. There is a buggy waiting for us, complete with a top-hatted man and brown horse. Snape helps me step up into the enclosed compartment. He sits next to me and tells the driver we are ready to depart. The buggy jolts with an initial step forwards. Under milky white stars and a crescent moon, I'm already feeling the romance of tonight. Snape interlaces his fingers in mine. My arm goes a bit wobbly. I missed feeling wanted.

"Where are we eating that's so fancy?" My question lingers in the air unanswered. I wait a moment and still nothing. I stare at Snape with wide eyes.

He jumps back as my gaze startles him. "What, do you really think I'm going to answer and reveal my secrets?"

"Never mind then." My attention moves to view outside. Hogsmeade is really pretty at night; shop lights glimmer along cobblestone and the sound of quiet chatter and laughter breaks through a comfortable silence.

We stop in front of Bella Broom, an Italian restaurant. The place is littered with tiny white lights outside to illuminate the patio dining sets. I step out of the buggy first and Sev follows. He motions for me to interlock arms with him as if we are strolling into a ball. Inside, a hostess greets us with a warm smile and asks if we have a reservation.

"We are a bit late," Sev begins. "Two for Snape."

I giggle. It's just hilarious seeing Sev be somewhat social outside of school. As expected, he glares at me.

"Right this way," The hostess waves her arm in a come-forth motion.

The dimly-lit restaurant has booths and round tables made from a cherry wood. I only know because it is my favorite finish; I hope for the day I can furnish my own place. We pass through the bar where men and women laugh over spirits and appetizers. In another room, we are brought to a booth with seats the color of an eggplant. I notice that the booths and tables encircle what seems to be a dance floor. Sev smirks at my wandering eyes. He points diagonally. In the corner there are violinists and a pianist playing soft music.

"This place is awesome," I grin like an idiot and sit down. "For your first date with me, you picked an exceptional restaurant, Sev. I hope the food is good."

He says, "I already ordered for us when I put the reservations in. This is a special night and I don't want you to have to spend hours trying to figure out what you want to eat."

"Well, I guess I can trust you to know what I like to eat."

A tall and tanned man with slicked black hair came to our table with a bottle of red wine.

"I am Jacob, your waiter this evening." His thick Italian accent made me smile. "I see you've already ordered. This Merlot is from 1938, a fine choice. Bella?"

I nod. He pours me a little bit in my glass. Sev gets some as well. The bottle is left on our table, next to two candles. Jacob lights our candles for us as well and says he will be back with our appetizers.

"Wine from 1938? How much did you spend, Sev? I only asked for a small date. This is already too much." I bring the wine glass to my nose and smell the richness before taking a tiny sip. "Alright, maybe not too much. This Merlot is beyond amazing. Velvety and deep, very smooth. I don't feel that horrid tart aftertaste like others I've had."

"Aren't you just the wine expert," He jests. "I knew you would enjoy it. Now, let's talk."

I pour myself a little more wine, this time at the halfway mark. "Talk? It seems like forever since we had a heart to heart. What do you want to talk about?"

Our appetizers are brought out: mini caprese salad on top of crostinis. There are four of them on a white plate drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. My stomach rumbles.

Sev takes a bite followed by some wine. "I'm assuming you're glad to be in the library now. It's too bad, though, since I have to work with that creepy girl Andrea."

If only he knew what kind of person she really is. I drink more wine and let the warmth soothe my nervous stomach. I consider what could have been if Andrea/Lucius never went after me. I would have stayed the rest of the year with Sev. We could have done so much together. We could have been great, but now I still feel like I am working from the ground up. In this Italian restaurant, we are pretending everything is perfect. Maybe my leaving hurt me more than him.

"Earth to Maranda," Sev snaps his finger in front of my face.

I shake my head and reply, "Sorry, I got lost in thoughts."

"And wine, too. Slow down." He taps the wine bottle. I've managed to have an entire glass full after my half. He adds, "What is on your mind, love?"

He calls me love differently than how Gilderoy said it. I don't know why it is amusing to compare them. I answer, "I'm wishing things were simpler."

"Like what?"

"Life in general." I pour another glass of wine. I'm unstoppable. "The usual: Lucius' trial, my new job, this wonderful vino. It's been a long year already and we just started. Did you want me to keep ranting, or should we focus on lovey-dovey stuff?"

Sev stops talking as our dinner arrives. I lift my head and feel the rush of alcohol to my head. Slowly, I become hazy, or is it the room that is hazy around me? Either way, our lasagna and breadsticks smell like we are walking past a spice market on the streets of Italy. My eyelids are becoming heavy. I hope the food will sober me up.

"We can chat about anything, but I'd like to be told if something is wrong." Sev tilts his head, listening intently on the music. "Would a dance make you better?"

I ask, "What dance?"

He stands up in one swift movement and extends his hand. I take it and stand as well, unsure of what we are doing. I immediately regret moving from my seat, as the alcohol explodes into a million liquid fragments of stupid in my blood stream. In other words, I am extremely tipsy.

"Remember when I taught you how to waltz?" Sev wraps his arms around me and sways us from side to side. Other people eating and talking quiet down. "That whole year we were back and forth fighting and tolerating each other. I knew I loved you right away."

Let the melting ensue. "I wish I never ran away. I wish I'd stayed to see how things played out. Sevvie, it's not easy doing this with you. Everything should be the same, but it's not. I'm so in love with you but I barely see you. And I think you're still mad at me, deep down."

"Sevvie?" He smirks. "I told you to slow down on the drinking. I'm not angry at what happened. We are here, are we not? I took you out – though my timing has been horrible. I think the rest of the night will prove to you where my heart belongs."

I giggle. Words pour from my mouth, "I'm having a great time. I don't truly regret anything that has happened, but there are a few occurrences I would change. The time I punched you for thinking you stole my journal. I would change that. I should have confronted Andrea today. The chance was there, but I ruined it by almost being seen and heard. I cannot absorb the fact that she used a polyjuice potion. Ugh – and the mistletoe? That means it was her. I think I'll throw up now."

"What are you talking about." Still dancing, Sev reminds me I'm not alone. "Andrea? Mistletoe? Who heard you say what?"

My brain doesn't work. Shit. Why do I speak when I drink? Can I buy a muzzle? "Alright, I went back in time. I had the time-turner and whoosh, off I went."

Snape drops his lead arms to the side and takes a step back. "You promised you wouldn't use one. How could you lie to me so easily?"

I shift uncomfortably in my red gown. Spectators eat their expensive dinners and watch me.

"I had to." I reply. "I'm sorry."

He glares at me. I recognize this facial expression from a million different fights from our past.

I brace myself.