Much thanks to my editor, Gwen McCormick, and to my dear friend DUJ. All mistakes are mine. Obviously, I am not JKR and am making nothing from this.
The Course of True Love
Chapter 21
Saturday, May 1, 1999
First Annual Victory Party
"Miss Granger," Professor Severus Snape called out. "I'd like to speak with you." The young witch turned around, her new aquamarine ball gown floating around her like a calm sea. Severus smiled at her and offered her a glass of champagne. Sweet Merlin, she's beautiful! He couldn't stop the thought the popped into his head, shocking him, and vainly he fought the new feeling flooding through him.
Hermione returned his smile. "Thank you, Severus." She took a sip of the bubbling wine, hiding her perusal of him. His new dress robes were of a deep Slytherin green. They fit him well, making him stand out among the guests at the Ministry's End of the War Anniversary party.
Her eyes flickered over him. Something's changed, she thought. He's – different. What is it? She couldn't take her eyes off him. He was resplendent, breath-taking. "The new robes are gorgeous," she told him. Guilt and jealousy battled in her gut. You're engaged, she scolded, and so is he! "Did Mrs. Malfoy pick them out?"
"Not at all," he replied with a smirk. "Although she does indeed have exquisite taste, I chose these myself."
"I like the change." Hermione nodded. "Green looks good on you. You look very handsome."
"Handsome? Hardly!" he scoffed. "However, I will admit that I have enjoyed watching the utter confusion on the slack faces of those idiots who cannot fathom change."
"Well, you can hardly blame them. They're used to seeing you in funereal black." She gave a small laugh. "The change is very nice, but why now?"
"Touché," he replied with a nod and a slight quirk of his lip. "As to why - sometimes, a man must make a change in his life. A change for the better."
"To change," she told him, lifting her glass. Together they silently toasted.
His dark eyes glimmered in the candlelight. "Miss Granger." He paused, words failing him. All he could do was smile like a fool.
Instinctively, she drew nearer. "And it's Hermione. Remember?"
"Hermione," he repeated, pausing to inhale her scent - English roses. "Tonight, Albus will announce his retirement, and Minerva will take over as Headmistress of Hogwarts."
"Oh," she murmured. She felt suddenly disappointed, and she wasn't sure why. She took another sip to hide her confusion. "I suppose my apprenticeship with her is over then."
He stepped even closer and ushered her to a small table against the wall. Together they sat, and he leaned forward. "There's no need for you to fret," he whispered. "You won't have to give up your apprenticeship." He grinned.
"You look ferocious when you smile like that," she told him. Immediately, she lowered her eyelids, wondering where those words had come from. He chuckled darkly, and she could feel the fine hairs on her arms rise. She leaned forward until their knees nearly touched.
"Can you keep a secret?" he asked playfully.
His voice! That playful tone! What is wrong with me? she thought. Inhaling sharply, Hermione could only wet her lips and nod.
"Although he doesn't yet know it, Dumbledore will be teaching Transfiguration," he confided in her. "Minerva will see that he does and that he completes your apprenticeship as well as begins your animagus training."
Her eyes widened with delight, and she blurted out in excitement, "I'll be able to stay?" Leaning forward, she rested her hand on his knee. "I'll get to complete my apprenticeship and begin animagus training as well? Oh, Severus, I could just kiss you!" Her mouth dropped open, and she quickly jerked back her hand, using it to cover her mouth. She felt the blood rush to her face.
"Not in front of the guests, please," he quipped with a grin. "As to your apprenticeship, yes, you'll finish it and with the great Albus Dumbledore no less," he replied. He couldn't keep the sarcastic note from his voice, and she giggled. The sound went down into the deepest corners of his heart. Clearing his throat, he amended his tone to a respectful one. "There are some people who believe he is the foremost transfiguration expert in the field today."
"Just what the bloody hell is going on here?" Ron growled. He gripped his beer bottle until his knuckles were white. His face was suffused with anger, and the tips of his ears were blood red.
"Oh, Ron," Hermione said as she quickly stood. "Severus was just giving me some wonderful news." Nervously, she lifted her Champagne flute for another drink but found it was empty and quickly set in down on the table.
Ron's eyes narrowed to twin laser beams, and he focused them on the older wizard. "Really?" he asked. "Because it looked to me like you were going to kiss him."
"Ronald!"
"Mr. Weasley," Snape drawled, "do you trust your fiancé so little?" Slowly, he rose from the chair. He eyed the younger man with dark, glittering eyes.
"Her? Yeah, I trust her." Ron's tone was belligerent. "But you-" He thrust his bottle at Snape, splashing him with beer, and barked a laugh. "I trust you about as far as I could throw you."
The two men glared at one another. The tension between them was broken when a voice from across the room called out, "Professor Snape!" Both men turned to see Nymphadora Lupin waving her arms.
Snape sketched them a quick bow. "If you'll excuse me?" He turned and walked rapidly across the room.
SHSHSHSHSH
"Professor Snape?" Nymphadora Lupin called out. She waved her arms at him as she met him halfway across the room. "Um, Professor –"
He interrupted her. "Really, Mrs. Lupin, you are no longer in my classroom. There is no need to keep calling me 'professor'."
She grinned. "Okay, how about I call you Sevie?"
"How about I call you Nympho?"
The grin instantly melted. "Severus?" When he grunted his agreement, she continued. "Anyway, I was wondering if it's true that Professor Slughorn is retiring? And the potions position will be open?"
Snape nodded. "Yes," he told her. "And as Cuthbert Binns has finally discovered that he is no longer alive, the History of Magic position is available as well."
"History of Magic?" a soft, feminine voice called out. "Severus, did you say there was an opening for History of Magic?" Narcissa Malfoy asked eagerly. She and her sister, Andromeda, joined them.
"Hello, Severus," Andromeda Tonks added as she hefted her grandson from one hip to the other.
"Cissy, Mrs. Tonks," he replied politely. The three women closed around him, and he began to realize they wanted something. "Why do you ask?" he drawled, directing the question at Mrs. Lupin.
"I, uh, I was wondering if you were going back to teaching potions?" she replied slowly. "Because if you were returning to potions, then the defense job would be open, and since I can't go back to the Aurory-"
Snape frowned in confusion. "I don't understand," he remarked slowly. His eyes scanned the women.
Narcissa stood on tiptoe and leaned against him, cupping her hand around her mouth and his ear. "Dora's break-down last year," she whispered. "While completely understandable, given the situation, the Aurory doesn't feel that-" Narcissa broke off and settled back on her feet, looking up at him with misty blue eyes.
"We hate to ask this of you," Nymphadora told him.
Andromeda Tonks looked around at her small family. "The Ministry confiscated all Death Eater assets, and to put it bluntly, the four of us are trying to make ends meet on Ted's pension." She looked significantly into his eyes. "And soon Draco will be out of prison, so –"
"Severus," Narcissa spoke softly, "it would amount to a life debt if you could help us." She looked significantly into his eyes and lightly touched his arm.
Snape's face softened, and he nodded. He understood exactly what the women wanted. Because Lucius had saved his life, Severus owed him a life debt, and now, as Lucius' widow, Narcissa was calling in that debt. Obviously, the sisters were in financial difficulty. "Actually, I was planning to return to potions position," he admitted truthfully.
"Thanks, Severus," Nymphadora said. She smiled, and he could see new lines engraved on her face and crows' feet around her eyes. "I'm fairly sure I'm qualified to teach defense against the dark arts."
"Dora, I think Teddy is ready for bed," Andie added. "Perhaps we should go. You can work on your job resume. Severus, would you act as escort for Cissy? See that she gets home?"
"Of course," he replied, bowing to the two women.
SHSHSHSHSH
"Well, are you gonna explain?" Ron demanded.
"Explain?" she retorted. "Explain what? You act like there's something that needs explaining. I told you. Severus was giving me some good news."
He took a long pull from his beer and snorted. "So, what's this good news that's so special you were practically sitting in his lap?"
"How dare you!" she snapped. "I was not sitting in his lap!"
"Well, from a distance, it looked like-"
"Do you think for one minute that I would behave like that?" she hissed at him.
"Him, I would!"
"With his fiancé and her family right over there?" Hermione pointed to where Severus stood with Narcissa, Mrs. Tonks, Dora, and little Teddy. That Malfoy woman was leaning against him, whispering in his ear. "Do you seriously believe that Severus would be attracted to the likes of me when he's got Narcissa Malfoy?"
"I'm sorry, Hermione," he said softly. "It's just, well, you look really pretty tonight."
"Thank you," she said, blushing. "But don't think you're forgiven that easily."
"Fair enough," Ron answered with a shrug. "Sit with me?" he asked. Then, he called for another beer. "You know," he said to fill the silence between them, "I never would have put Mrs. Malfoy with the old bat." He pointed with his bottle.
"Well, at least we can agree on that," she muttered.
"Yeah," he agreed sourly, "it's about the only thing we have agreed on this whole year." Hermione only crossed her legs, but she refused to take the bait. "You know," he tried again to get her to talk, "I always sort of envied Draco." That got her attention. "He had the best of everything, and I always got second-hand."
"Things won't always be like that for you." Hermione turned to face him and took his hand. "And look what happened, Ron," she said. "Draco's in prison now. His father is dead, and his mother is penniless."
SHSHSHSHSH
Severus glanced back towards Hermione and sighed. He couldn't keep his mind from returning to thoughts of her. That Ginger Idiot had better not upset her further, he thought. I hexed James Potter in this very room for less, and I can do it again!
"Severus?" Narcissa asked, concern in her voice. She slipped her arm through his. "Is something wrong? You keep-" Their eyes met, and she raised an elegantly tapered brow. "Miss Granger?"
"She is Minerva's apprentice and a friend," he told her coolly. "Mr. Weasley upset her just now, and I was concerned."
"From the way you were looking at her and glaring at him, I would have thought more," she replied casually.
He laughed. "Do you really think she would have anything to do with a broken, old man like me? When she has a young, handsome fiancé?" You're acting like a moon-struck boy! As if you were in- That thought sent an electric jolt through him. He mentally searched his vocabulary, trying desperately to find a word, any word, that couldn't be defined as 'love.'
"You know, Severus," Cissy remarked, "I envy both you and your Miss Granger your education. At one time, it was my ambition to go to University. I've always wanted to teach, but my father wouldn't hear of it."
"There are times when I wish I hadn't heard of it," he quipped.
"Oh, Severus, stop," she told him with a delicate laugh. "After Draco began school, Lucius finally agreed to let me attend University."
Severus's brows rose. "I was unaware you had obtained a degree," he said in surprise. "I must congratulate you."
Her smile faded. "Not exactly, Severus," she conceded. "I was allowed to attend, not enroll. There's a difference." She eyed him speculatively. "If I had been allowed to matriculate and receive actual credit, I would now hold a master's degree in history." She sighed, titled her head, and wet her lips. "Do you think I would be allowed to teach History of Magic without holding an actual degree?"
"I'm not sure," he answered, "but I would be happy to recommend you to both Minerva and Dumbledore."
"That would be wonderful," she told him. "Would you take me back to Andie's now? It's almost midnight, and I'm still under Ministry curfew."
SHSHSHSHSH
"You're right about Draco," Ron agreed. "In fact, I've got some good news for you. I quit work at the Aurory," he told her. "I got to thinking it over. The hours are really long, and the pay wasn't that great. Anyway, George really needs some help at the store, and the pay is a whole lot better. So, I'll be starting there tomorrow." He stood up and pulled her to her feet. "If I do well, he's going to make me his partner, and I'll be making loads more money, Hermione."
"If that's what you think is best," she muttered, her eyes following Severus as he escorted Narcissa Malfoy across the room.
"It is, Hermione," he insisted. "I want a big modern home with all the latest magical and Muggle conveniences. I want to be in high society. And money can get that."
"Um, hmm, that's nice," she responded automatically.
"And I've started house-hunting. We can't live with Harry, not when he and Ginny get married. I figured we've got about another year before they tie the knot, so we've got that much time to find ourselves a house."
"Yeah," she murmured, "that sounds like a plan."
Ron grinned. "And I was thinking we could get married this winter, you know, so I could carry you over the threshold of our new home."
The word "married" penetrated her brain, and Hermione gasped. "You what? Ron, this is ridiculous. You're moving too fast. I've still got another year or so of my apprenticeship, maybe longer now that I'm going to be an animagus."
"Huh? Where's this suddenly coming from? You were just agreeing with me," He frowned angrily at her. "Are you putting us off again?"
"Putting us off?" she hissed. "Why do you always start this same fight?"
"Me start the fight?" he asked incredulously. "First, you're agreeing with me, and the next thing I know, you've changed your mind!" He threw his hands in the air. "I don't know what you want from me!" He turned and strode away.