This is based on the 5th Harry Potter book/movie. Order of the Phoenix. This is when Umbridge has gone mental and become dictator of Hogwarts.
Everything belongs to JK Rowling. Nothing is mine, but the twist in the plot that would have been really great in the book/movie. Please don't sue me.
December 31st.
Hermione sighed and looked at the date for the hundredth time that evening. The common room was buzzing with excitement as all the students had arrived earlier that morning so they could attend the ball. They'd had a moment of silence for Severus at lunch and Hermione'd had to refrain from straight-out crying. Umbridge had almost been looking for these sorts of reactions, especially from the Gryffindor table. But she'd kept it together. After lunch Cho and Luna had both hugged her and they'd asked her how they were going to keep having their 'class'. Harry told them they'd work it out when they got back into school routine.
It was almost time for the ball to start and it had taken Ginny an hour to get Hermione's attire perfect. Her dark blue dress ended just past her knees, the sea blue sequins twining around the bottom in the pattern of a wave. Black heels accentuated her dress. She had on her white mask and her hair was clipped on top of her head, like she'd had it at the Yule ball.
Now she sat on the couch in the common room with Harry and Ron. They'd told her five different times already she looked beautiful, perfect, marvelous, and stunning. Everyone else was running around trying desperately to get ready. She put her head on Harry's shoulder and took Ron's hand in her own. Of all the things they'd been through together…why did this seem to be the hardest?
Hermione took a deep breath and stepped through the huge arched doors into the great hall. The teachers were all at the front of the room. Minus two. Severus, and Umbridge. She was desperate to get one back, and wished the other would stay away. Quietly she followed her friends to a table on the edge of the room and sat. She watched glumly as couples took the floor and danced gracefully.
"We're going to go get some punch." Harry said taking Cho's hand and skittering away.
"Alright." Ron said grinning. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked turning to Hermione.
She fixed a small grin on her face. "Yes, I'll live." she waited until they left before she added the word. "…unfortunately."
Slowly time started to pass by and she danced a couple fast songs with her small group of friends. Then the slow songs became more and more frequent and finally she just sat at their table and didn't bother to get up any longer. Tracing patterns on the table she almost started to cry when 'Lips of an Angel', by Hinder came on. But she remembered her resolve and lay her head on the table. Halfway through the song she sat up when she heard someone approach her from behind.
"May I have a dance with the prettiest girl at the ball?" a soft voice whispered.
"Listen buddy, no offense or anything but…" she turned to look at the figure and gasped. Her heart all but leaped out of her chest, the pieces that had previously been broken and black, formed together once more, to shine bright. Clad in black, with a black mask and black hair, pale skin and grey eyes greeted her. "No." she whispered. She was sure she was seeing an angel.
"Yes, Hermione. It's me." the dark masked figure held out a hand.
"But you're…you're…" she trembled, unable to finish.
"Dead?" he queried softly. His voice sending shivers down her spine. Surely there had never been a sound so divine.
She gulped and nodded.
"No. I'm free Hermione. Please, dance with me."
Quickly she slipped her hand into his and relished in the feel of his skin.
He pulled her close and grinned when she whispered "Severus." and buried herself in him. "Dumbledore freed me. Voldemort thinks I'm dead. The night you went to the astronomy tower and Dumbledore was there…after he took you back to your dorm, he met me in his office, and we talked for quite a while. This was the best way. Now I'm all yours."
She wanted to cry and scream all at the same time. She wanted to hit him and kiss him. She wanted to kill him and yet clamp onto him so tight no one would ever be able to tell where she ended and he began. So instead she danced with him. She held him close. "You have no idea what I went through." she rasped clutching his robes in both her hands. She took in his scent and held onto him all the tighter.
"I know. And for that I'm truly sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But it was the only way we could be together. The only way I could keep you."
She smiled up at him, tears brimming over in her eyes. "You fool. You've always had me." The song changed to 'I Cross My Heart', by George Strait. She hummed along as Severus sang. Everything was as perfect as it would ever be. Her tear-stained eyes met Harry and Cho's. She saw them gape and smile the biggest they ever had.
Severus held his fingers up to his lips. Secret.
Harry nodded eagerly and spun Cho away as tears welled up in her eyes, surely looking for Ron and Luna to share the good news.
Severus waited a beat. "I can't stay for the whole dance. The unmasking will reveal me and rumor will spread I'm not really dead. Then I'll be an outlaw and even worse off than before."
She nodded. "Of course." she took his hand and led him out and into the garden. They made their way through the garden maze, passing several curious stares as to who the tall dark stranger was. They finally reached a secluded section. They sat on a stone bench, and she reached up and pulled off her mask.
"You look beautiful." Severus murmured and waited while she gently slipped his off.
"You do too." she replied. "I didn't think I was ever going to see your face again." she traced the planes of his face with her fingertips. His forehead, eyebrows, his eyelids, cheekbones, his nose, and finally his mouth, relishing in every fiber of his being. She cupped his face in her hands and gently pressed her lips to his. The taste of his lips were like a drug. So potent and sweet against hers. If he hadn't come back she was sure she'd have died from withdrawal.
Severus pulled her into his arms. He kissed her slowly and deeply. The woman he loved. "You're positively glowing." he murmured and pulled back to look down at her.
Hermione smiled, more tears threatening to overwhelm her. Instead she buried herself in him once more. "I never want to let go." she whispered in a shaky breath.
"I know." he agreed and his brow furrowed. "We may continue to correspond. Though it might be difficult. And if you wish I shall make secret visits."
She smiled up at him. "I love you. I thought I'd never utter those words again…not to anyone but you."
Severus looked down into her rich brown eyes. They were absolutely swimming. "I know. And I love you." he waited a beat, unsure he wanted to continue. "Dumbledore hasn't changed the password to my chambers yet…" he trailed off and pulled back to look down at her, gauging her expression. He felt the greatest relief when she blushed and seemed to glow brighter.
She took his hand. "Please, lead the way."
And they walked off into the night.
*YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!! Thank you ALL for being, if not supportive, then helpful!! Let me know what you thought of the story!! *