Part 29
"Come on, hurry up Hermione, I swear you are taking forever!" Ginny was getting annoyed, she'd rushed to put her dress on right after dinner and had been stalking up and down the dorms for an hour rushing everyone else.
"Have you never heard of fashionably late Ginny?" Came one call.
"Seriously, go down by yourself if you are so desperate to see Harry." Was a second. That quieted her for a moment and she sunk down on Hermione's bad in a bit of a huff.
"Well I can't help being excited. It's the first real ball this year, with dancing, and hand holding and all." She moped.
"We'll all get there Ginny, it won't even start for another half an hour, so you won't be late. I promise." Hermione tried to sooth her hurt feelings. She felt the same type of excitement at the thought of seeing Severus again, especially in the dress that Molly had sent, though she didn't let on about it.
It took another five minutes to get the dress to hang just right, and to get the feathered mask fastened to her face comfortably, all the while, Ginny vibrating with excitement. By that time most of the other girls were ready as well, and they stepped downstairs to the common room in a long procession. Of course the boys were waiting, three in particular, over by the fireplace, their backs initially turned to the girls, until the collective 'wows' of the other boys brought them around.
Hermione was caught by their appearance, and who made up the trio. Harry, Ron and Neville were dressed identically, and she knew exactly who they were, even if some of the others didn't. The three Musketeers, complete with blue coats, fleur de lis emblems, feathers in their caps and navy half masks. They had even equipped themselves with fencing swords, and were every bit the movie archetypes. It must have been Harry's idea, and while the first glimpse of them had put a smile on her face, especially seeing Neville included, after a moment she felt just a little sad. The first group of three Musketeers had included her, and being left out of this reformed group made her actually feel a little bit isolated, even though she chided herself that she was being ridiculous, and that they were just costumes, and she couldn't have worn a man's costume anyways. Their reactions to her helped sooth her hurt feelings.
"Oh my God is that you Hermione?" Ron always was the most vocal and emotional, and since his date wasn't present he was able to pick his jaw up off the floor without getting swatted for his trouble. She stepped down the last few stairs carefully; she had chosen ballet slippers instead of heels, feeling more secure in them. She wasn't a woman to feel vanity normally, but she had needed that affirmation of her presence.
"Hermione, you look amazing." Harry was less tactful in front of his date, but Ginny seemed ok with it; she sort of understood the friendship that Harry and Hermione had. "Mrs. Weasley sure can sew for her girls. A Princess and a, well Hermione, I don't know if I have a word for it."
"Peacock." Ron piped up.
"Thanks Ron, I was looking for something more elegant than that."
"She looks like a Queen." Neville spoke quietly. "You really do Hermione."
"Thank you Neville, that is the nicest thing I've heard from any man today." She shot a glance at Ron and Harry, but a good-natured one.
"No one will recognize you."
"Well isn't that what a Masquerade is about my friends. You can be anyone you want to be. Athos, Porthos and Aramis?"
The little Gryffindor clutch met up with some of the Ravenclaw students, including Alice, Ron's date, and Denis and Richard, who were, not surprisingly, dressed in black, with full white face masks, playing the shadows. Alice was dressed in a Harlequin Leotard, which showed off her assets, and made Ron act just a little bit goofier than he normally did around girls. Hermione was happy to blend into a larger group, as it gave her a bit more anonymity in her quest to hide her identity from Severus for a little while.
The Great Hall was decorated as if it was a castle in Venice and not England. There were crystal chandeliers suspended in mid air under a ceiling that looked like Michelangelo himself had painted it. There were candelabras along all the walls, and tables piled with savories and sweets, and fountains bubbling sparkling punch. Everywhere there were rich curtains in all the house colors, blended together in the spirit of the new cooperation between them all.
Hermione scanned the walls, assuming the Professors would be there, watching over the students, looking for Severus. Professor McGonagall was easy to see, dressed in a gown that made her look distinctly feline, as did the points of her tufted mask. Professor Sprout was all in verdant green with a yellow mask, like a daffodil of spring, and Hagrid was impossible to miss, simply by his size, but to give him credit, he had put on a costume that made him look quite a bit like Henry the Eighth, though Hermione wasn't sure if he actually knew who that was; there wasn't much Muggle history taught at Hogwarts except in Muggle Studies class. She didn't see Severus immediately, and was soon swept up in the excitement of her friends around her.
Severus saw her immediately as she had entered, he knew he would have known her anywhere, but she was so much different than the student who normally inhabited the Hogwarts hallways. He had deliberately kept himself hidden back up on the dais so that he could watch her without anyone else noticing his interest But now that he knew the colors of her dress; the natural greens and blues, very much the Peacock that Ron had suggested, and the feathers of her mask, he was confident that he could take his time, and wait until she was alone before he revealed himself to her. For now he could watch here and there, and be glad to see her happy, and imagine what it would be like to have her in his arms on the dance floor.
"Would you like to dance Hermione?"
"Where's Ginny Harry?"
"She's off showing everyone her dress, and comparing to theirs."
"She has been very excited about all this hasn't she?"
"Oh yes, but she's entitled, we're all entitled. Last year was simply miserable for everyone, we have a great deal to make up for."
"Yes we do."
"So will you dance with me?"
"I would love too."
Harry led her out on the dance floor, and took her right hand in his left, and settled his right against the small of her back to lead her around the floor in a formal dance. He couldn't help but smile at his best friend. It was so wonderful to see her smiling and happy once again; though he tried not to think of the major reason, he was still uncomfortable with Snape being so close to her, but he was torn. It was easier to concentrate on the girl, no, woman in his arms. They had shared so much, and as he watched her smile, and laugh at his footwork, and as he remembered every cold miserable night in that tent, or exposed in nature, he began to wonder at everything he had held for granted. He had never thought of Hermione as anything but a friend because Ron had liked her, and made no secret of it. And Ginny had made no secret of how she had liked Harry. And Ginny was nice, more than nice, Harry was pretty sure he loved her. She was a talented witch, and a sensitive girl, and she had fought with him and had always been on his side, like Hermione. But also not like Hermione. Ginny had suffered during the war, but not like Hermione, she had not faced torture and death every single day on the run. Why, Harry wondered to himself, when he and Hermione had been alone, huddled for warmth in the middle of winter, hiding, after Ron had left them, had he never realized how beautiful she was? Why had he never taken her in his arms, as she was now, to do anything more than comfort her? Why had he never kissed her, or let himself think that he could love her? He tightened his grip on her, drawing her body just a little closer to himself. If he had been more of her friend, if he had given her the companion she had so obviously needed, would she have even gone to Snape? Would she be his? Sharing his bed? Her closeness tossed all those thought around in his head, and he wondered 'what if' for the rest of the dance.
When the music faded he draped his arm over her shoulders, and walked back to their table with her. Ginny still had not returned and so Harry took the opportunity to talk to Hermione for a moment.
"How are you Hermione?"
She knew what he meant, "I'm ok Harry, I feel good about things right now."
"You're my best friend Hermione, you know if there's anything you want to talk about, good or bad, that I'm here for you, right?"
"Or you'll just walk in on me in the tub again?" She elbowed him in the ribs.
"I'm serious, I'd love to hear about why you are so happy right now, and I need you to find me when you are feeling sad, 'cause I'm just a guy, and I can be self-centered, and I don't always notice, even when I should."
"Oh Harry, I love you." And she wrapped her arm around his waist, drew herself into him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm lucky to have you as my friend."
"Not as lucky as I am to have you." And he kissed her back. "So remember to find me if you need, ok?"
"I will Harry, we can grab lunch together tomorrow and get caught up. Now go find your girlfriend and dance with her so I don't have to listen to her whine all night about not having enough time with you. Oh, and maybe you could kiss her or something, the poor girl is getting into quite the state about you." She pushed Harry away with a laugh, towards the dance floor and watched him go out to find Ginny. "Ah Harry." She said to herself, "you are a good friend, I wish I could tell you everything."
Most of the crowd was now out on the dance floor, so Hermione took the opportunity to make her way over to one of the refreshment tables, to get herself a drink. She was reaching for one of the flutes when she felt a presence behind her.
"You are breathtaking tonight Maya." She let out a deep sigh, and turned slowly.
"Why sir, whatever could you mean?" She smiled at him, taking in the costume she had not yet seen. A long black robe trimmed with brown and white speckled feathers, a formal white shirt that came high on his neck, and a mask that matched the feathers and was graced with a bird-like nose; an Eagle, or a Hawk, how funny that they both had come to costumes with birds.
"I knew you the moment you came into the room Maya. The way you carry yourself, the lines of your neck, the grace of your arms." He wanted so much to reach out to touch her then. "I just wanted to wait until you were alone for a minute before I revealed myself."
"Well I suppose since you have discovered me, you will be wanting your reward I imagine?"
"Soon enough, and I look forward to it."
"As do I."
"Do you think that you will be able to meet me later, after the party?"
"Oh yes Severus." She kept her voice low, "where?"
"If you can make your way to my office I will ensure it is unlocked for you."
"Then I will be there Beloved."
He leaned in very close to her, and made as though he was reaching for a glass himself, just so her could brush against her arm, out of the sight of anyone else. She shuddered as he did so, and closed her eyes.
"Then I will see you later my beauty." And he walked away, back to join Professor Sprout across the room.
"Not if I see you first Beloved." She whispered after him, not sure if he could hear her or not.
She took her drink back to the table and met Neville who immediately asked her to dance, so they took their turn on the floor; he was surprisingly adept, and Hermione was ready to praise his grandmother, who was likely of the mind that any proper young man should know how to dance. Not that Harry was terribly awkward, but she had felt as though he had been distracted while they were dancing, and had missed a lot of steps. Neville easily guided her about, and on one turn, she was quite certain she caught Severus watching them from beneath his mask, and he wasn't the only one.
"Neville, where did you learn to dance like that?" Ron was absolutely in awe.
Neville just smiled, happy to be the center of attention for something positive. The two of them sat and finished their drinks while they watched the others dance.
"Do you ever wonder Hermione, if the professors have any fun at these parties?"
"Dumbledore used to dance didn't he? And Hagrid?"
"I suppose, but Professor Sprout and Professor Snape have just been standing there for ages, watching everyone else have fun."
"It's their job I guess?" She replied, but she wondered where this conversation was going.
"Do you think it would be ok if I asked Professor Sprout to dance, it would be nice if she had some fun too? Maybe you could ask Professor Snape? If you don't mind?"
"Well if anyone could I suppose it would be us, we are both teaching assistants for them aren't we?"
"Good way of looking at it Hermione. I think everyone should get to dance tonight." He stood and held out his hand, "let's go see what they say." His grin was inspiring, and she felt really good, so she threw caution to the wind, and followed Neville over to the two Professors.
"Professor Sprout?" She turned from her conversation with Severus.
"Yes Neville?"
"Pomona," It seemed he was using her first name as well, Hermione noted, "I was wondering if you would do me the great honor of sharing a dance with me?" He held out his hand in a most gentleman-like fashion. Professor Sprout giggled a little, looked at Severus, then back at Neville.
"I would love to Neville." And she took his hand. "Now Severus, don't leave me alone out there."
He smiled just a bit under his mask and held out his own hand, "It would seen that it is now my turn. Hermione, would you like to dance?"
"I would love to Severus." It seemed they had a little confidence going amongst themselves, and she took his hand.
The four went out to the dance floor, and hardly anyone at all noticed, except Harry, and Professor McGonagall, who kept her reaction down to a simple smile.
