A/N - After a time of exile, Fanfiction.net is back and so am I. Here's the next chapter - enjoy and let me know if it's good, bad or otherwise!

Arcee, Raija Darknight, Seal & Snapebelongstome - Thanks for being supportive of the Harry/Ron scenes!

BethAnn - Yes, I'll get there eventually with the statue..

Kiwi Pixie - I'm glad you like AR's voice too! No, this story won't end up being a sex-fest. Tempting, but no. Thanks for thinking that Harry is in character.

Maggie Griffin - Thanks for enjoying the story, here's more!

Mara456 - Glad you liked the chapter!

Mediterranean Queen - It's a fact in this story that none of the guys can understand why girls like Snape, heh, heh.

Neko-chan - I'm flattered you like this story even though you're not a H/S shipper.

Starfruit - Thanks for liking my story - if it was in my power to make a real H/S statue I would but I can't.sniff

Tracy - Yes, I've put some H/S moments in this chapter (but not much mush this time)

Part 16

Finally it was time to go down to the Great Hall for the banquet. Feeling somewhat nervous, Hermione bathed, brushed her long hair until it shone and changed into a clean black robe. In the end she was one of the last to come down from Gryffindor Tower and when she did she saw Severus and Professor McGonagall waiting and talking together in the Entrance Hall near the ornate, bronze coloured double doors that led into the Great Hall. When Professor McGonagall saw Hermione she beamed and after whispering something to the Potions teacher she hurried off into the Great Hall. Severus turned swiftly in Hermione's direction and though he didn't smile (his habit of never smiling in public unless it was to intimidate someone was deeply ingrained) his shadowed eyes were gleaming when they saw her.

[He waited for me!] Hermione thought in surprise, smiling at him.

[She's pleased to see me.good..] Severus thought with warmth he was still accustoming himself to.

[I still can't believe he loves me!]

[She's so beautiful.]

"Hello, Professor" Hermione said softly when she approached him. Neither of them cared that students passing by were staring at them.

"Good evening, Hermione" he murmured, his eyes drinking her in as he gazed down at her, trying to suppress the urge to take her into his arms and kiss her until she was breathless (again).

In the last few hours he had been surprised and unexpectedly touched at the number of teachers who came by his office to thank him for his part in Voldemort's death and to inquire after his health, having heard through the school grapevine about the events of today.

Dealing with the Slytherin students who came by had been another matter - despite their genuine pleasure at his survival at Voldemort's hands for once they had nearly driven him up the wall by insinuating that Hermione 'wasn't good enough' for him. (to his further annoyance *all* of them had been interested in the news of the damned statue of him and Hermione to be made)

In the end he had managed to get rid of them and with some time to himself he had had a long, hot shower in which he'd grimly scrubbed himself until he felt at least halfway clean again. He had examined himself critically; noting that not only had the phoenix tears Hermione had given him had healed the injuries Voldemort had inflicted but also his myriad collection of scars. Significantly, the Death Eater mark on his arm had started to fade away.

Afterwards he had donned a clean set of black robes after destroying the grimy ones he had been wearing.

It had taken a big effort for him to come down to the banquet at all - he preferred to have stayed in his quarters with a tray of food so he could recuperate (with the welcome presence of Her nearby) - but that would be letting Dumbledore down, and letting Her down as well. No.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked, noting that his eyes looked weary. Indeed, she felt as if the day was catching up to her too, despite the chocolate Severus had enticed her to eat before.

Severus looked irritated and brushed some of his lank black hair out of his face. "Tolerable, thank you.but if anyone asks about 'my statue' once more then I will have the greatest of pleasure of making them scrub toilets for a month. Even if they are a teacher." It struck Severus as to how easy it felt talking to Hermione as an equal, rather than as a student just short of graduation who had generated confusing feelings in him that he had tried to distance himself from.

Hermione winced in sympathy. "Aren't people supposed to be dead before statues are made of them?" Hermione said plaintively.

Severus looked down at her dryly; "Try telling Dumbledore that - but I doubt he'd listen. But enough of that for now dear one ."

Hermione's cheeks turned pink when he offered her his arm.

"Thanks" she smiled, laying her hand in the crook of his elbow, noting a subtle yet exotic spicy scent that drifted from his person. She herself had put on her favourite perfume of orange blossoms.

"Chin up - we have faced worse" he murmured as they both walked into the crowded Great Hall, its austere stone walls gleaming gold from reflected firelight. The people sitting at the tables fell silent at the sight of them, as if the sight of a Slytherin and a Gryffindor together without fighting or taunting the other was a impossibility in itself. Hermione tried not to feel uneasy at the sight of all the eyes gaping at her and Severus.

Unexpectedly, it was Draco who was the first to stand up at his table, grudgingly looking at Hermione as well as Severus. "Three cheers for the Defeaters of Voldemort!"

Not to be outdone, Ron and a few other Gryffindors stood up. "Yeah! Hooray to Hermione!"

"Lucky Hermione!" called out a girl from the Ravenclaw table, prompting chuckles and giggles from other girls (Severus looked perplexed for a moment). The tension broken, the rest of the students and teachers stood and cheered, clapping their hands (Harry's smile looked a bit forced, but he clapped willingly along with the rest). Hermione sighed and smiled in relief while Professor Snape, looking taken aback for being the centre of mostly pleased attention for once, allowed himself to give a brief yet genuine smile.

The hall was covered in both Gryffindor and Slytherin decorations and for once both rival houses were in accord, though Gryffindor students were now certain Hermione was the real hero (and that maybe she would be a good influence on Professor Snape).

The Slytherins on the other hand were smugly certain that Professor Snape was the real hero of course, and that Hermione should be grateful that the Head of Slytherin had deigned to look at her at all. Of course, the Slytherins said to themselves maliciously, they had known that Voldemort was on the losing side all along, and wouldn't the other Slytherins who had left to join him get what was coming to them?

To Hermione's surprise, Severus took her up to the High Table (which had been extended slightly to accommodate visitors from the Ministry of Magic) instead of the Gryffindor table.

"This is one night you will not be plotting with your friends over dinner" he said to her quietly with a smirk.

Dumbledore beamed at them both as they approached the High Table. The seat on his left side was empty, as was the seat on his right and to Hermione's surprise Dumbledore indicated them both to take those seats. "Yes, sit down here both of you, splendid, splendid!" the headmaster said benignly. Severus sat down with smooth grace at Dumbledore's right, while Hermione sat on the left (still amazed to be given a seat of honour). Everyone else sat down in his or her seats and then Dumbledore rose from his seat, tapping a glass to catch people's attention.

Once everyone was silent Dumbledore spoke, a grave smile on his face. "Welcome all to this night, students, fellow teachers and guests. After years of war and strife, I am pleased to say that those dark times are over, with Voldemort (people shuddered reflexively at that name) having been overcome at last today thanks to the valiant efforts of Professor Snape and Miss Hermione Granger, who risked their lives in the process. For their efforts they will both be awarded the Order of Merlin and 150 points to each of their houses."

There was applause from the students, with Gryffindor and Slytherin students smirking at each other while they clapped.

"What about the statues?" a student called out. Hermione sighed and Severus muttered under his breath.

Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, it is the wish of myself and Professor McGonagall for there to be a permanent reminder of this day, to remind us that even the darkest of evils can be overcome when all hope seems to be lost. Tomorrow will see the courtyard graced by a depiction of our heroes. And now - let the feast begin!"

There were cheers and then the creaking of tables as an unprecedented amount of food appeared on top of them. Students whooped and promptly started eating.

Hermione secretly thought that she could get used to eating at the High Table. It was difficult for her and Severus to have a conversation though with Dumbledore smiling fondly at them both at times like a matchmaking grandfather. The fact that Dumbledore clearly approved of their relationship meant that the amount of disgusted looks cast her way was few.

However, she nearly choked at one point when Severus (with a wicked gleam in his eyes) passed her a platter of chocolate. Ron and the others beamed at her several times from the Gryffindor table, though Harry only gave her one glance and then looked away.

Several girls cast adoring looks at Severus who failed to notice, though he found himself irritated at the number of male students casting smitten looks at Hermione (then he was irritated further at the fact of being jealous).

"So, tell me Severus" Dumbledore quietly inquired at one point in the dinner, "by what method were you able to gain control of the Mirror of Erised? I do not think it would be wise if others were able to travel beyond the mirror and back. I suspect Harry Potter and other students may be tempted to exploration."

"No one, least of all Potter.will be able to use the Mirror of Erised and return unless they have a.fondness, shall we say, for someone from their rival house. I cannot see Potter falling for one of my clever Slytherin girls!" Severus smiled smugly, looking pleased at being able to thwart Harry.

"Dear me!" Dumbledore murmured. "I cannot see him following your example, I think." It was probably for the best, the Headmaster thought.

Hermione was also sitting next to Arthur Weasley, who had been Head of the Ministry of Magic for the past few years, ever since Cornelius Fudge and other high-ranking members had been killed in battles against Voldemort. At the moment, Arthur was regarding her with near-awe.

"Have you considered a career in the Ministry? I believe you will be graduating at the end of the year, Hermione."

"Well.." Hermione hedged, trying to fight off a building headache. Usually she could cope with feasts but after today's events she just wanted to put her feet up. She also felt herself wishing that she should have had dinner on a tray next to the fire in the Gryffindor common room. Severus gently massaging her temples as well would be a bonus.

Severus paused in his eating and listened to the conversation, his eyes glinting.

Arthur went on eagerly. "We always keep an eye on students with potential and after what you did today a job as an Auror is there if you want it."

Hermione was silent for a second. Harry and the others had set their hearts on careers in the Ministry, and certainly she had been tempted. There were many benefits of becoming an Auror, but recently she had found herself attracted to the idea of being a teacher.

"I'll keep your kind offer in mind, thank you!" Hermione said sincerely to Mr Weasley.

Arthur beamed. "Excellent. Well, my office is always open to you."

Severus stared blindly at his plate, an unreadable expression on his pale face but said nothing.

A/N: It's not quite over yet folks.