Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Harry Potter series of books. I am making no money from the distribution of this fanfiction. Anything you recognize is not mine.

Author notes: Thanks everyone who had reviewed so far.

Chapter 10: To Dance for a Moment
The days that followed were trying. Hermione and Fletcher remained at Fiddaqua out of necessity and not necessarily want. Severus offered them the residence for as long as they liked, though Hermione didn't want to stay longer than she had to. The previous days had been the first time she'd looked at flats in Hogsmeade. None really made her happy, though she had found one with a superb laboratory. She had explained to Severus at dinner that night that she was looking seriously into buying the place as least to get her things away from Christopher's home and to let Severus have a summer in peace.
"You really ought to look at some of the homes in St. George. They are rather comfortable and affordable." Severus had interrupted obviously against owning a home in Hogsmeade.
"Yes, I should, but I would rather like to find something soon." She felt the words trickle out of her mouth before she could see what kind of intention they proposed. "Not that you haven't been a wonderful host and your house a welcome sanctuary, I just need my own space I think. Some of my independence is coming out."
"Yes, I can understand that completely." He wiped his mouth and stood to go to his study. "Good evening, Mrs. Hopkins."
"It will be Grainger in one week." She stated.
"Certainly." He added, noting that her ring had been absent since that morning. Marriage rings were bonded to their bodies like tattoos and appendages, they could not be removed unless a resolvement had been made. Hermione finished her meal and then took Fletcher back to the nursery where Trixie was waiting to collect the washing. Hermione liked the house elf a lot as she was always very helpful with Fletcher and seemed to be taken care of greatly.

She probed into the trunk that had been delivered from her home with Christopher and found a more comfortable outfit of flannel pajamas. She still had no other robes than the one she had borrowed from Severus, so she put that on as well to keep herself warm in the drafty manor. After dozing while reading a book, she headed to the library to return it so she could find another more captivating one. As she rounded the last two stairs and down the hall, she heard music playing loudly from Severus's study. She put her book back on its respective shelf and then contemplated going to Severus's office to see if he was all right. She eventually decided to brave the storm and knocked on his door.

"Severus?" She required loudly, knocking the door in the brisk hallway. She heard a shuffle or two and then nothing. She then opened the door against her better judgement and saw Severus standing before his own collection of books, organizing them, or it appeared that way.

"Severus, is everything all right? I knocked but you never came to the door." She walked closer to him and touched his shoulder briefly. He tensed but never turned to face her.

"My father died today." He whispered, his words flowing on the air like the music that seemed to be getting louder and louder.

"Why didn't you say anything at dinner. Oh, Severus, I am so sorry. I know you loved him." She placed both of her hands on his shoulders which was like reaching to get a cup from the tallest cabinet in the house. He was after all six foot three and her measly five foot seven body hardly reached that high.

"I only just received the owl. He fell from the bell tower after mass." He replied, his voice still low and upsetting.

"What can I do for you? How can I help?" She asked. His head fell forward and his shoulders slumped, her hands falling back. In instinct she put her arms around his waist and gave him a tight hug to show that she did care for him, even if he didn't believe it. The music changed from something fast with a load of violins and cellos to something very smooth, the same violins. It was something familiar...something they had danced to before.

"Severus, please talk to me." He tugged from her grip and faced her, his eyes mad with sorrow. He took her hands in his and pulled her close to him. It was the first time in years that he had accepted her presence, even asked for it. She clasped her hands together once they were tight around his stomach and laid her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

"Do you recognize this song?" He asked starting to dance with her, taking her hand in his and pulling away. With one hand on her waist and the other tightly around hers, he waltzed with her around his study. Her hair moved like cotton on the wind, swaying in anticipation of the day.

"Yes." She said, never leaving his eyes.

"Do you remember where we danced?" He asked, wondering if she had ever thought of that night.

"The wedding of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour. The night we made up." She smiled remembering the night and also remembering how happy they were then.

"Yes, the night we made up. I can't believe it was four years ago. This music makes me think it was only hours ago." He looked from her face into the distance behind her and a sad expression crossed over his face.

"Such a long time, it seems." Her own heart became heavy remembering that she had been pregnant with Julius at that wedding.

"I don't know what ever possessed him to go to Scotland and work in that church. He was one hundred and twelve years old for Merlin's sake, he shouldn't have been in the tower."

"He enjoyed seeing the people, Severus. When he was here, he stayed in the bottom house for days on end without any visitors. I believe he liked the people that came to church and I bet it made him feel important to ring all the bells." Hermione responded, catching Severus's eye once more. The words had seemed to heal him a bit.

"He enjoyed having you here, Hermione." Severus held her tight against him again as the song began to change. Hermione thought of Adonis Snape and his wild ways. She would never have thought that Severus and the man were son and father. Severus had dark hair and onyx eyes and this man had red hair like fire and green eyes like a clover.

"I enjoyed being here." She murmured quietly. She wasn't sure if he had heard her, but thought as much when his hand began to caress the small of her back in long, gentle strokes. It took her away to another time, a time when she was so in love with the man in her arms that she would've died for him, and almost did.

***Flashback***
Hermione's dress was navy and rather simple as she stood in front of the mirror to make sure she had everything on right. She put on the locket Harry had given her for her nineteenth birthday and the bracelet Ron had given her at graduation. The two silver items seemed to add flare to her simple dress and simple appearance. She swirled around her room and then caught site of her now small belly in the mirror. She had always been thin and knew that the new pudge around her middle was more than fat, it was her child. Her eyes fell hard on it and she wondered if she would be able to do it all alone. She thanked the gods that she'd always have a part of Severus with her now that she was having his child, but couldn't help feeling guilty that he had not idea about it. Before meeting Remus at the bottom of his stairs, she put her shawl around her shoulders and made herself smile. As happy as she was about the child, she could tell no one about it especially Severus whom had walked out on her two months prior.

"You look gorgeous, Hermione." Remus scoffed in a mocking tone when she had accomplished the stairs.

"Thank you, Remus, and you're not too shabby yourself." Hermione replied before thy apparated to the garden in which Bill and Fleur were to be married. Hermione had seriously doubted coming to the wedding as she feared her own hormonal reaction to the event and the reaction of the people she'd be forced to be around.

"Hermione, how have you been?" Ginny asked, faking conversation and pulling Hermione from Remus's arm.

"Severus Snape is here, dateless." Ginny added as they walked towards a bench. Hermione scanned the area for him and saw that he was standing with the other professors that were attending the wedding. She averted her attention back to Ginny as she was sure she'd be caught staring eventually.

"Ginny, what am I going to do. How could I really have believed he'd changed and could openly love me. Why did I have to tell him all those things?" Hermione's eyes were full of tears as Ginny embraced her.

"Don't blame yourself, Hermione, he's just horrible like that. You deserve the best and from where we are standing, there are plenty more bachelors available than Snape." Ginny replied giving Hermione a handkerchief.

"I think we should get back, Dean and Remus will be wondering where we've got off to." Hermione walked with Ginny towards Remus and Dean only to discover Remus sitting in front of the Hogwarts professors. Hermione held her head high and took Remus's arm as she sat, wondering if seeing her there made Severus feel any emotion at all.

"Hermione, you've been crying, is everything ok?" Remus asked leaning into Hermione's shoulder, whispering in her ear.
Remus, my parents didn't make me move out of their home, there is another reason why I left Hogwarts so abruptly." She paused, the music changing to the wedding march." I was seeing Severus Snape." He opened in mouth in awe and shook her a bit.

"What?" Remus exclaimed, standing as Fleur walked with her father down an aisle of cherry blossoms.

"For almost two years. We've kept it a secret for obvious reasons. Two months ago I confessed my love for him and he turned me out." Remus's face- hardened yet his eyes lightened in sadness for her. He honestly wanted to turn around and give the man a good talking to.

"So he denied you, well I'd say it's his loss. You are still so young, Hermione and have plenty of years left to marry. Besides, you deserve better."

"That's what Ginny said."

"Well, she's right. What kind of man denies the love of a good woman.?" Remus released her from his death grip long enough to see Fleur and Bill take hands. She had never particularly cared for weddings but something about this one made her nostalgic and sad. Remus placed his arm around her shoulders and refused to let go, he knew Hermione needed his support. When Hermione had asked him to accompany her to the wedding, he'd accepted readily as she was a fine woman with a good heart; he'd no idea someone had broken it. When all the vows were said and the kiss done, Hermione and Remus stood to go over to the reception. She caught Severus's eye for a second and looked away determinedly as they left, her heart aching with every step.

The reception was pleasant and full. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves including the Hogwarts staff. Hermione and Remus had danced together a couple times and she'd danced with Ron and Harry as well. She didn't feel the need to try to make Severus jealous, she knew that jealousy was an emotion wasted on Severus Snape. It wasn't as though she was dead or away from the country, yet he acted as though she didn't exist at all. While drinking punch, she noticed Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall dancing slowly to a Beethoven piece. It made her heart ache to see them so happy. Dumbledore released his lady and walked towards Hermione to beg a dance.

"You dance marvelously, Professor Dumbledore." She said as they dance about the room.

"You are too kind to an old fool, Miss Granger." He replied, spinning her around.

"I'm so happy we could all be here for this, seems I hardly see any of you now that I've returned to the ministry."

"Yes, we miss you terribly, Miss Granger, though some of us don't dare admit it."

"There'd be nothing to miss is some people weren't so stubborn and self-righteous."

"Quite right, Miss Granger."

"I've tried talking to him, Professor, he just doesn't listen. It's not as if I am trying to kill him, though he treats me no better than one of his death eater fellows."

"Some habits die hard, Miss Granger." Dumbledore replied. His hand in hers, he twirled her away from his body causing her to lose her balance and fall into the rather unsuspecting arms of the Potions Master.

"Sorry." She murmured letting go of Dumbledore and flattening her dress. Dumbledore offered his apologies and skived off towards the punch bowl where his lady was waiting. Hermione couldn't help but believe Dumbledore had done it all on purpose, yet she turned from Severus and walked off to make sure Remus hadn't left with some available bridesmaid. Severus caught her arm abruptly and held tightly.

"You would do well to release my arm, Professor, considering the lack of alcohol in my veins and heart in my chest." She spat her words out like venom as he released her arm. She had desperately wanted reconciliation, but somehow felt those words would not be the ones out of his mouth.

"Remus is waiting for me unless you have something important to say." Hermione waited hoping he might apologize and ask a dance. Waiting seemed to be all she had been doing over the last weeks. "As I expected, can't get your head out of your ass long enough to see the way things really are and should be. You parade about as some overgrown bat awaiting his next victim. Well, congratulations, Severus Snape, that's one more notch on your score card. I hope you're quite satisfied." Hermione had started crying sometime during her speech, her head had lightened and her stomach felt completely empty. She felt her legs become numb and her vision blurred before she could think to walk away, she collapsed in Severus's arms. She had fainted at the most inopportune time.

"Hermione, dear, can you hear me?" She heard Minerva McGonagalls voice echo throughout her brain. She opened her eyes and saw a crowd of quizzical faces above her.

"How long has it been since you've eaten?" Professor Dumbledore asked, sitting her up. She noticed Severus was gone.

"I don't remember." She replied taking the bit of turkey sandwich from Remus's hands and forcing down a large bite. While her feelings of loss had harbored in her brain for months, they were quickly replaced with anger and disappointment. She stared at Remus, her large chestnut eyes afraid to cry.

"Clear off, she needs air." Hermione heard from behind her, a feeling of satisfaction somewhat replacing her anger." Here, you need to take this and eat more of that turkey."

"What is it?" She asked, not wanting to endanger her child.

"Pepper up, what does it matter, you'll feel better." Severus said thrusting a bottle of the potion at her and the rest of the turkey sandwich. She was amazed at the look on his face, it seemed as though he was actually concerned.

"Thank you." Hermione knew every ingredient in the Pepper up potion due to her extensive work with Madame Pomfrey in seventh year. She stood slowly and found a nearby seat.

"Perhaps if you feel up to it we can talk." Severus added trying to see how mad she might still be. He drank a bit more of his wine and studied her face. It looked as though she could kill him or make love to him in an instant.

"We can talk though I doubt you have much to say." Hermione quipped.

"Spicy tongue tonight." Severus said in a muffled tone.

"How would you presume my tongue to be? Should I not be upset?" Hermione's voice shook a bit more than she would've liked. She ate a more of the sandwich and wiped her mouth with a hand that couldn't stop twitching. As she lay it to rest on the table, Severus placed his own shaky hand over hers and sighed.

"I've been a fool." He stated.

"Bloody heel, just now figuring that out."

"You know it's moments like these that remind me why I love you." He said wondering if it was already too late to mutter the right words.

"You sure have a skewed view of how love works then. People in love don't separate for two months because one confesses to adore the other. I don't know what I expected that night, but I can assure you it was not a shove out the door or a delivery of my belongings." She took a breath and claimed her hand from his. "We've been together almost two years and though I'd never said it before, I thought my love was every day implied. I've loved you since I can remember now. If it was all work and play for you, then I wish we'd set that boundary a long time ago because I wouldn't have let it go this far."

"It's not something I am proud of, Hermione. I was irrational and scared. So completely scared and unbelieving that someone like you could truly love me. You don't understand that no one had ever said so many wonderful and lovely things to me before in my entire life. I was terrified of the implications of your love. I was afraid you wanted more than I could give. I can't ask forgiveness because I know it's too soon for all that, but realize I do return your affections and want to show that."

"Prove it." Hermione challenged. He took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor. He put one hand at the small of her back and the other in her hand. When the music slowed, he waltzed with her around the room, his eyes on her with a small smile on his lips. Before she could think to breathe, he kissed her softly on her lips. She responded by resting her head on his chest listening to his quickening heart beat. Soon his arms were around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She could smell spices about his clothes and herbs so intense that she began to breathe through her mouth. Soon she was aware that many of the guests were staring at them.
"You deserve better than me."
"So I've been told."
"Yet you still have such faith in me, how can you do that?"
"Because you have never used me like everyone in my life has before, you understand me. I don't know, because I can't get over you, though I tried very hard."
"How romantic."
"I can return to my dark corner despising you."
"No, please don't." "Behave then."
"Will you ever forgive me?"
"Someday."
"I won't hold my breath." He replied. She pulled away from him to look into his eyes, as they were always where she found her strength; onyx like the night sky.
"I was really hurt Severus, I thought I'd lost you forever."
"But you haven't and you never did in the first place." She smiled and returned her head to his chest, feeling warm and safe.
"Where have you been staying?"
"With Remus, why?"
"Perhaps you should move back to Fiddaqua. You'll have better research materials there anyhow." He replied.
"How can I be sure I won't be chucked out next week?" She asked back, still unable to let his indisgressions dissolve.
"You need further proof?" He asked, offering her a box with her name inscribed on it in gold. She reluctantly opened the box and almost fainted again as she peered at the present.
"It was my grandmothers. She said it always brought her great luck and love whenever she wore it." He said slipping the ring on her finer. It was silver and gold intertwined with a diamond, an onyx stone and a ruby all in a circle around a mother of pearl Celtic cross. "It's not what most women probably expect in an engagement ring, but I felt it suited you."
"No, Severus, it is lovely." Hermione choked out staring at her suitor. "Do you really want this?" "Yes, more than everything."
"You've really amazed me tonight."
"It's less than you deserve, Hermione." He whispered as they sat back down at the nearest table.
"No, Severus, it's perfect." She leaned into his body and embraced him tightly. " I hope this means no more distance."
"Of course, Hermione aside from role in the Order, my life is yours." She smiled at him and kissed him longingly as if she hadn't kissed him in years. Little did she know in less than a month, her child would be dead and Severus wretched from her life once more.

*** End Flashback***