Chapter 56

Aftermath

"It's official, Draco you have been infected with mublood cooties and completely lost your mind!"

Draco let out a loud burst of laughter at Pansy who did not take the news of Draco dating Hermione well. "Wow Pansy, cooties, really? What are you, 5?" He said plopping down on a couch by the fire.

"She's right, Draco." A higher, younger voice spoke up. "Maybe she drugged you. No proper pureblood would go for trash like Granger. She must have slipped you something or has you under a spell."

Draco's blue eyes narrowed at Astoria. The blond hadn't made much of an attempt to win him over since Lucius had been arrested, but he did notice that from time to time she would still follow him, or watch him. The other day he caught her staring at him while he was in the Library with Hermione. It was, at times, unnerving.

"She did not drug me you nit wit. I care about her, a lot. She is smart, and beautiful and-

"Has filthy blood" Astoria spat.

Draco took a deep calming breath as he stood from the couch. He wasn't going to waste his time and energy arguing with that malicious little harpy. Instead he stood as tall as he could, looked her straight in the eye and said, "Hermione is one of the most amazing witches I have ever met, not only is she beyond brilliant, her spell works is beyond compare, so it goes without saying that her heritage has obviously not clouded her magical prowess. Now if you will excuse me I need to go say goodbye to my girlfriend before she leaves on the train."

Draco left the Slytherin common room without so much as a glance back and headed for the Great Hall. He didn't notice Astoria and Pansy huddled together as he left.

xxx

He knew this was coming; it was really only a matter of time. So seeing his Godson take Granger into his arms and plant a kiss square on her mouth in the middle of the Great Hall wasn't as shocking to him as it was to others. Some cheered while others sneered at their embrace. The young couple however didn't seem to care in the slightest and were simply wrapped up in each other. Or at least they were until Minerva decided to end the show and took away house points.

"Really Minerva, was that necessary?" Albus commented.

"Of course it was, they can't snog in the middle of the Great Hall, some of us are trying to keep down our breakfast. I'm honestly surprised you didn't say anything." She said turning her gaze to Severus.

In response the potions master simply shrugged and went back to eating his breakfast.

"Perhaps the spirit of Christmas has captured Severus as it has so many others?" Albus said with a grin, then taking a sip of his morning coffee.

Severus rolled his eyes but said nothing further. So maybe he was in a better mood then usual but it had nothing to do with Christmas and everything to do with his beautiful fiancé who was still asleep in his bed. They planned to tell Draco of their engagement later that day.

XXX

While Harry was invited to spend Christmas at the Weasley's, due to his strained relationship with Ron he choose to stay at Hogwarts. Ginny, while she understood where Harry was coming from, wasn't exactly thrilled about spending the rest of the Holiday without him. He had given her, her first kiss the night of the Yule Ball. They had reached the portrait of the fat lady but before going into the common room, he kissed her. He had told her that it had been the best night of his life and then he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. She could feel her entire face warm at that kiss and was pretty sure she resembled a cherry afterwards.

The entire train ride home Ron glared at her. He hardly said two words but if looks could kill she would have been long gone. Sometimes she really didn't get her brother. She doubted deep down he still believed Harry had cheated; he was just too stubborn for his own good. He would get over it eventually but she figured he better get his head out of his bum soon before Harry tossed him to the curb.

XXX

Voldemort was growing impatient. Barty had yet to infiltrate the school as he had ordered him to do. The fool had tried to capture Moody before the term started, and planned to use Polyjuice to take his place. This would have been extremely ideal, as it would have gotten him very close to Potter. Unfortunately his attempt failed and he nearly got himself captured.

On a lucky chance encounter Barty ran into Karkaroff while in Diagin Alley one afternoon and able to stealthy place the Imperious Curse upon him and then commanded him to place Potters name in the Goblet. Unfortunately the curse was either too weak to last and wore off or someone else recognized he was under the imperious and released it as he was not able to mentally communicate with him after a couple of days. It was, however, long enough for him to complete his task.

Barty was going to make an attempt to get into the castle as the older students who attended the Yule Ball and hadn't already left for holiday, made their way towards the Hogwarts express. He was hoping to sneak in the gates while the student's headed out of them. Not a very stealthy plan but they were running out of ideas and there wasn't much time to sit idly and play around with possible ideas.

Barty had to find a way to access the Triwizard Tournament Cup and Potter had to win that tournament, allowing the port-keyed cup sending the boy straight to him. Once the boy was in his grasps he could use his blood to regenerate himself. Voldemort grew weaker by the day. There was only so much Unicorn blood could do for him and his supply was running low. He could inhabit animals or another humans as he did with Quirrel, but he could only have access to his own magic with a body of his own.

If Barty failed this time, he would be forced to use him as he did Quirrel, at least until he could figure out a way to get to Harry Potter.

XXX

Severus plopped down on the sofa next to Narcissa. He let out a tired sigh and he draped his arm over the top of the couch.

"Everything okay?" she asked closing the book she had been reading and placing it on the space beside her.

"Yes, and no."

She gave a small laugh and asked, "Yes and no? How's that?"

"Well, I was doing my rounds and… it's usually pretty quiet during the Christmas holiday, but with children from two other school visiting even minus the ones who have left, it was a bit more active then I expected. I broke up a fight and three snogging secessions. One, oddly enough, between a Beauxbatons girl named Fleur Delacour and Bill Weasley. The boy has been out of my hair for over four years yet he finds a way to weasel his way back into the castle and seduce a poor French girl in the process."

"Weasley, really, I would have figured he headed home with his brothers and sister." Narcissa commented.

"Yes, I thought that as well. He said he was heading home in the morning. There really wasn't anything I could do to him as he is no longer a student and the young girl is of age, so I told them to get out of my sight and to keep their personal affections somewhere more private. On a more bizarre note I found Filch of all people polishing the Triwizard Tournament Trophy."

"Filch?"

Severus nodded, "Yes, or at least that's what he was claiming to do. He gave me the strangest look… unlike anything I've ever seen from him before. It was very odd indeed."

"That is bizarre."

"Yes, well, perhaps he had a little to much of Ogden's Finest, who knows. What have you been up to in my absence?"

"Not much. Draco stopped by with Harry for a short time. Harry congratulated us on our engagement."

Snapes lips instantly turned into a sneer of disgust, "How touching," he said his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"You know, he really does seem like a nice boy. Very polite and considerate."

Severus huffed, crossing his arm over his chest. "Don't tell me your joining the Potter fan club."

Narcissa sighed in annoyance as she stood from the couch. "Severus, I know his father was an ass to you, but you really need to get over it. Harry is not James." She then reached out her hand, which he took, then standing. "I love you Severus, but I'm not going to lie to you, your attitude towards Harry is beyond juvenile. You are acting like a bratty child and frankly we are all getting tired of it."

Severus narrowed his eyes and shook his head, "You have no idea-."

"Sev, darling," She interrupted now taking both his hands in hers. "There comes a point where it is okay to admit your wrong."

"I am not wrong," He huffed.

Narcissa gave her fiancé a pitying look, "You are a brilliant, amazing, powerful wizard Severus Snape, but you are also as stubborn as Centaur. I don't disagree with you on many things but Harry is one of them. He may be the Boy-Who-Lived but he is my sons friend, and overall a fine young man." Kissing his hands she then released them before grabbing her book, she had placed on the couch

and retreated to the bedroom.

A/N Hello all, I know another long wait, but don't worry I will have another chapter coming out shortly. Up next, the wedding of Severus and Narcissa. Also Draco asked Severus about the ring he had found in the room of forgotten things and his answer is quite surprising.