*A/N* What on earth is WIKTT?? Some people have mentioned it to me and I
don't know what it is. Could someone email/IM me and explain?
(Fionuir@aol.com) Well, it seems there will only be a few more chapters
left in this story--but don't worry, I will come up with new characters to
torture and new plots to set into motion. That is, after I deal with
school.
~~ The last few days before graduation were free of classes, so the seventh years all tried to enjoy their last times together as students. Hermione spent her days with Harry, Ron and Draco, and her evenings with Severus.
Many of the seventh year girls were excited about the upcoming Graduation Ball, reserved exclusively for the graduating class and their dates. Hermione was also feeling nostalgic, but not so much now that she knew she'd be staying at Hogwarts for a long time. Only her friends made her feel a pang of regret that everything had come to an end, as all wonderful things do. The ball made her feel uncomfortable because everyone knew who she'd be with--and they'd all want to be in on the juicy details.
Hogsmeade had been packed with seventh years wanting to go to Zonko's and the Three Broomsticks for the last time. Even Rosmerta was feeling a little tearful as she saw some of her most loyal customers preparing to leave. She gave Hermione and her friends each a huge hug. "Be careful, all of you!" she sighed. "Hermione, I will see you again soon?" Hermione just nodded and smiled.
"By the way," Rosmerta added with a wink as they were on the way out. "You'll have to tell me next time you see me if Severus is a good lover!" Hermione's companions blushed, but she decided to raise an eyebrow suggestively at Rosmerta, who smiled broadly.
On her way back to Hogwarts, strangers stopped and whispered about her love life, speculating. Hermione tried not to let it embarrass her.
"I heard he's twenty years her senior!" squawked an older witch, who was with a woman who was probably only a few years older than Hermione.
"Age doesn't matter, grandmother!" the girl cried. "It's true love! It's the most romantic thing that's ever happened outside of a story book!" Hermione tried not to laugh. Severus Snape was anything but a prince charming--and she was glad of it.
~~
Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati all insisted that Hermione spend the six hours preceding the graduation ball getting ready with them. Hermione was horrified when Lavender and Parvati insisted on applying muggle makeup, and on styling her unruly hair armed with only a blow dryer.
As they worked on Hermione, they chatted. "I can't believe we're graduating tomorrow!" Lavender sighed. "I know, it was so much fun, wasn't it? We'll have to have a class reunion every few years," Parvati said as she stared off into space nostalgically.
Hermione donned shimmering lavender dress robes that hugged every curve in just the right way and moved with her as she walked. She'd picked the robes up in Diagon Alley over a year ago but had never really expected to wear them. Now, however, she had someone to wear them for. "Hermione," Lavender grinned, standing back to admire her work. "Professor Snape's jaw is going to hit the ground when he sees you. You look absolutely fantastic--like a faerie queen!"
Hermione thought of Severus with a smile, knowing he'd probably be dressed in his customary black and loving him all the more for it. It excited her that tonight she'd be able to dance with him, even though everyone would be watching her. While this made her uncomfortable, Hermione knew she'd get used to it. Once she was with Severus, there was no one to think of but him.
~~
Eventually the hours of preparation had passed and it was time for the ball to begin. Slowly, the seventh years began to creep into the Great Hall, chattering to each other excitedly. Hermione went in on Draco's arm, simply because he didn't have a date and Severus was supposed to remain with the staff until the dance began.
"You look ravishing," he whispered in her ear. "If you weren't taken already I'd be after you myself. I do hope you'll save a dance for me!" Hermione laughed and agreed, giving him the honor of being the first to escort her to the dance floor.
Severus felt his heart skip a beat. Hermione was dazzlingly beautiful--so beautiful that he simply gave up on disguising his appreciation. McGonagall laughed. "See something you like, Severus?" He glared at her before turning to watch Hermione again. He felt a small pang of jealousy as he watched her dance with Malfoy, then Weasley, and then Potter. In the middle of her dance with Potter, the Headmaster motioned for the teachers to join in, giving Severus one of his amused looks and nodding towards Hermione. Lupin just laughed and pounded the Potions Master's back. "Go for it, Severus. You know you want to." And the truth was, Severus did want to.
During her dance with Harry, Hermione noticed that the professors were beginning to leave the table and join in. Trelawney was dancing and chatting with Binns, who no longer felt so out of place as a Hogwarts Professor. Dumbledore was dancing with one of the Ravenclaws. She knew it was only a matter of time before Severus got to her. She grinned when Severus came up behind Harry and lay a hand on the boy's shoulder. Harry jumped and sprung away immediately, not noticing the slight smile Severus gave him when he drawled, "Mr. Potter, may I cut in?"
Just as she found herself in Severus's arms, on came a slow song. Hermione couldn't help grinning--the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence. Perhaps Dumbledore had something to do with it...
But right now Hermione didn't feel like wondering why the slow song came up when it did. She wanted to enjoy dancing with Severus, who was surprisingly good at it. She grinned up at him, feeling safe in his arms. Hermione breathed in his scent--still musk and leather--and felt herself to be supremely lucky.
Snape himself had felt uncomfortable at first, and he could still feel everyone's eyes boring into his back, but it was worth it. Hermione was here, with him, and she seemed to be happy to have him, though he'd worried at first that she'd feel embarrassed to dance with him. But once she'd flashed him her brilliant smile, he relaxed. It was wonderful to have her with him, enjoying his presence as much as he enjoyed hers. He briefly closed his eyes as he savored the feeling of her against him.
Hermione closed her eyes contentedly and relished the sensation of his smooth, somewhat silky dress robes beneath her cheek. She wished that the song would never end, perfectly content to just sway with him forever. Severus's heart pounded in his chest, and Hermione relished the comfort brought by the steady pulse. There was a pleasant vibration against her ear as he murmured, "You look stunning tonight, Hermione."
~~
Everyone, whether they admitted to it or not, was watching Hermione and Severus. They had never seen their evil Potions Master look so...happy. Both of them positively radiated happiness, and even though Hermione looked beautiful and every girl present would have loved to dance with their now- famous Professor, no one dared try to cut in.
"I must admit, that's the most adorable thing I've ever seen," Hooch whispered to McGonagall. She almost started. "You think that Severus is...adorable?" she gasped, slightly shocked. Then, after thinking about it for a moment, she added, "Well, I guess you're right. That girl does wonders for him."
Lavender, and Parvati were also jealous, even though they had both been dancing the entire time with Ron, Draco, and an extremely attractive Ravenclaw. Harry had brought Ginny as his date, and they were too wrapped up in each other to give anyone else a second thought.
"They are so sweet together," Parvati whispered, giggling. "Look at Professor Snape! He absolutely adores her! I wish I had that effect on someone."
"You do," whispered Lavender. "Just look at Ron--his tongue is practically hanging out of his mouth."
Dumbledore and Lupin were also discussing the unusual pair. "I'm glad he finally found someone," Lupin smiled. "I've never seen a couple so in love." Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, I'll agree they are quite well suited to each other. I believe I made the right decision last summer, don't you?" The two of them laughed and each chose a student to dance with, still grinning.
~~
After a few more dances, Severus was tempted to continue but had to break away. Hermione looked up at him questioningly. "Come for a walk with me, Hermione." He took her hand and began to lead her outside and into the gardens.
~~ The last few days before graduation were free of classes, so the seventh years all tried to enjoy their last times together as students. Hermione spent her days with Harry, Ron and Draco, and her evenings with Severus.
Many of the seventh year girls were excited about the upcoming Graduation Ball, reserved exclusively for the graduating class and their dates. Hermione was also feeling nostalgic, but not so much now that she knew she'd be staying at Hogwarts for a long time. Only her friends made her feel a pang of regret that everything had come to an end, as all wonderful things do. The ball made her feel uncomfortable because everyone knew who she'd be with--and they'd all want to be in on the juicy details.
Hogsmeade had been packed with seventh years wanting to go to Zonko's and the Three Broomsticks for the last time. Even Rosmerta was feeling a little tearful as she saw some of her most loyal customers preparing to leave. She gave Hermione and her friends each a huge hug. "Be careful, all of you!" she sighed. "Hermione, I will see you again soon?" Hermione just nodded and smiled.
"By the way," Rosmerta added with a wink as they were on the way out. "You'll have to tell me next time you see me if Severus is a good lover!" Hermione's companions blushed, but she decided to raise an eyebrow suggestively at Rosmerta, who smiled broadly.
On her way back to Hogwarts, strangers stopped and whispered about her love life, speculating. Hermione tried not to let it embarrass her.
"I heard he's twenty years her senior!" squawked an older witch, who was with a woman who was probably only a few years older than Hermione.
"Age doesn't matter, grandmother!" the girl cried. "It's true love! It's the most romantic thing that's ever happened outside of a story book!" Hermione tried not to laugh. Severus Snape was anything but a prince charming--and she was glad of it.
~~
Ginny, Lavender, and Parvati all insisted that Hermione spend the six hours preceding the graduation ball getting ready with them. Hermione was horrified when Lavender and Parvati insisted on applying muggle makeup, and on styling her unruly hair armed with only a blow dryer.
As they worked on Hermione, they chatted. "I can't believe we're graduating tomorrow!" Lavender sighed. "I know, it was so much fun, wasn't it? We'll have to have a class reunion every few years," Parvati said as she stared off into space nostalgically.
Hermione donned shimmering lavender dress robes that hugged every curve in just the right way and moved with her as she walked. She'd picked the robes up in Diagon Alley over a year ago but had never really expected to wear them. Now, however, she had someone to wear them for. "Hermione," Lavender grinned, standing back to admire her work. "Professor Snape's jaw is going to hit the ground when he sees you. You look absolutely fantastic--like a faerie queen!"
Hermione thought of Severus with a smile, knowing he'd probably be dressed in his customary black and loving him all the more for it. It excited her that tonight she'd be able to dance with him, even though everyone would be watching her. While this made her uncomfortable, Hermione knew she'd get used to it. Once she was with Severus, there was no one to think of but him.
~~
Eventually the hours of preparation had passed and it was time for the ball to begin. Slowly, the seventh years began to creep into the Great Hall, chattering to each other excitedly. Hermione went in on Draco's arm, simply because he didn't have a date and Severus was supposed to remain with the staff until the dance began.
"You look ravishing," he whispered in her ear. "If you weren't taken already I'd be after you myself. I do hope you'll save a dance for me!" Hermione laughed and agreed, giving him the honor of being the first to escort her to the dance floor.
Severus felt his heart skip a beat. Hermione was dazzlingly beautiful--so beautiful that he simply gave up on disguising his appreciation. McGonagall laughed. "See something you like, Severus?" He glared at her before turning to watch Hermione again. He felt a small pang of jealousy as he watched her dance with Malfoy, then Weasley, and then Potter. In the middle of her dance with Potter, the Headmaster motioned for the teachers to join in, giving Severus one of his amused looks and nodding towards Hermione. Lupin just laughed and pounded the Potions Master's back. "Go for it, Severus. You know you want to." And the truth was, Severus did want to.
During her dance with Harry, Hermione noticed that the professors were beginning to leave the table and join in. Trelawney was dancing and chatting with Binns, who no longer felt so out of place as a Hogwarts Professor. Dumbledore was dancing with one of the Ravenclaws. She knew it was only a matter of time before Severus got to her. She grinned when Severus came up behind Harry and lay a hand on the boy's shoulder. Harry jumped and sprung away immediately, not noticing the slight smile Severus gave him when he drawled, "Mr. Potter, may I cut in?"
Just as she found herself in Severus's arms, on came a slow song. Hermione couldn't help grinning--the timing was too perfect to be a coincidence. Perhaps Dumbledore had something to do with it...
But right now Hermione didn't feel like wondering why the slow song came up when it did. She wanted to enjoy dancing with Severus, who was surprisingly good at it. She grinned up at him, feeling safe in his arms. Hermione breathed in his scent--still musk and leather--and felt herself to be supremely lucky.
Snape himself had felt uncomfortable at first, and he could still feel everyone's eyes boring into his back, but it was worth it. Hermione was here, with him, and she seemed to be happy to have him, though he'd worried at first that she'd feel embarrassed to dance with him. But once she'd flashed him her brilliant smile, he relaxed. It was wonderful to have her with him, enjoying his presence as much as he enjoyed hers. He briefly closed his eyes as he savored the feeling of her against him.
Hermione closed her eyes contentedly and relished the sensation of his smooth, somewhat silky dress robes beneath her cheek. She wished that the song would never end, perfectly content to just sway with him forever. Severus's heart pounded in his chest, and Hermione relished the comfort brought by the steady pulse. There was a pleasant vibration against her ear as he murmured, "You look stunning tonight, Hermione."
~~
Everyone, whether they admitted to it or not, was watching Hermione and Severus. They had never seen their evil Potions Master look so...happy. Both of them positively radiated happiness, and even though Hermione looked beautiful and every girl present would have loved to dance with their now- famous Professor, no one dared try to cut in.
"I must admit, that's the most adorable thing I've ever seen," Hooch whispered to McGonagall. She almost started. "You think that Severus is...adorable?" she gasped, slightly shocked. Then, after thinking about it for a moment, she added, "Well, I guess you're right. That girl does wonders for him."
Lavender, and Parvati were also jealous, even though they had both been dancing the entire time with Ron, Draco, and an extremely attractive Ravenclaw. Harry had brought Ginny as his date, and they were too wrapped up in each other to give anyone else a second thought.
"They are so sweet together," Parvati whispered, giggling. "Look at Professor Snape! He absolutely adores her! I wish I had that effect on someone."
"You do," whispered Lavender. "Just look at Ron--his tongue is practically hanging out of his mouth."
Dumbledore and Lupin were also discussing the unusual pair. "I'm glad he finally found someone," Lupin smiled. "I've never seen a couple so in love." Dumbledore chuckled. "Yes, I'll agree they are quite well suited to each other. I believe I made the right decision last summer, don't you?" The two of them laughed and each chose a student to dance with, still grinning.
~~
After a few more dances, Severus was tempted to continue but had to break away. Hermione looked up at him questioningly. "Come for a walk with me, Hermione." He took her hand and began to lead her outside and into the gardens.