Author's Note: Sigh Valentine's Day... let the romance begin. ;)

Thank you again for reading my story. All questions, comments, and constructive criticism are welcome if you would like to leave a review.

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Disclaimer: Harry Potter and the characters from the books in the series are copyright JK Rowling, and are not being used for profit, only for personal enjoyment.

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Chapter 22 ~ No Hearts and Flowers

Severus was prowling the corridors, hurrying the students along to the Great Hall. He was annoyed already, and the ball had barely even started. He scowled as he thought forward to later that evening, when he would have to patrol the school grounds as well, chasing errant students back inside.

Hearing footsteps behind him, he whirled around to lecture the approaching students about lingering in the corridor, only to find that it wasn't students at all.

Remus Lupin was walking towards him, with Elizabeth on his arm. But he hardly noticed them. It was the young woman who was a few steps behind them who caught his attention. Severus' breath caught in his throat as she stepped into view.

As they had grown closer over the past two months, he had come to view Hermione as a lovely young woman. But tonight... tonight she was radiant. He found himself staring, and had to force himself to look away from her. He was almost greatful for the distraction of Remus greeting him, "Good Evening, Severus."

Severus suddenly remembered why he was there, and began to breathe again as he answered, "We'll see about that, Lupin. I rather think I'll be too busy chaperoning this infernal affair to have a 'good evening'," he groaned.

As Hermione stepped closer, Severus noticed their son in her arms. This time, he didn't hide his smile as he looked down at Samuel dressed in green robes, "Ah... there's my little Slytherin," he whispered as he reached out to touch his son's cheek.

"Hmph... Slytherin, eh?" Hermione faked a scowl, "Maybe I should have bought him robes of red and gold."

"You wouldn't dare," he scoffed, "No son of mine..."

Hermione interrupted, "We'll see about that!" she teased as she turned to follow Remus and her mother into the Hall, leaving Severus speechless behind them as he couldn't help but notice how graceful she looked with her Slytherin-green robes flowing behind her as she walked away.

*****

Remus left them just inside the great hall, as he went to join the other professors to find out where he might be needed to chaperone the evening. Hermione and her mother took a seat at a table in the back corner, as neither of them intended to dance that evening. They had come along just to enjoy watching the festivities, and didn't want to be in the way of the students. Elizabeth joked that she was glad to not be the only 'old maid' in attendance. Hermione laughed at her mother as she chastised, "Who are you calling 'old'?"

A soft voice broke in behind them, "And what are two lovely young women such as yourself doing, sitting all alone back here in the corner?"

Hermione smiled, and Elizabeth blushed at the emphasis that was put on the word 'young', as they turned around to find Remus smiling behind them.

"You've got a great view of the Hall from here... I can't think of a better place to sit where I can still keep an eye on the students. Mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Not at all," Hermione replied, as Remus pulled out a chair and sat down between the two of them.

They sat there most of the evening, with Remus occasionally excusing himself to make his rounds of the Hall. Hermione couldn't help glancing around periodically, wondering if Severus would be coming inside. She sighed when she eventually realized that he was likely to stay out in the corridor all evening, catching students who were bound to try sneaking off to some dark corner of the castle.

An hour later, Remus had just returned to the table after making another round of the Hall, he smiled at them as he said, "It seems that every professor has had a dance partner this evening, except for myself. Which of you ladies might be willing to do me the honor?"

Hermione looked at her mother, urging her to have just one dance tonight. "Hermione... I don't know if I can. These feet haven't danced in a long time..." Elizabeth smiled at her daughter and urged her to go, taking Samuel into her arms and smiling wistfully as Remus whisked her daughter onto the dance floor. He was a graceful dancer, and Elizabeth would have given anything to be the one dancing with him.

After one dance with Remus, Hermione rejoined her mother at the table, smiling encouragingly at her. "Mum... I know you can do it. Besides, Remus would never let you fall." Elizabeth smiled regretfully in return as she shook her head.

Remus smiled at her as he said, "If you change your mind..."

"I'll let you know," she whispered in reply.

*****

Severus was getting bored, having scared so many students back into the hall that he doubted any of them would dare try to sneak out again. He hadn't seen a single soul in over an hour. His mind kept drifting to Hermione, and the way she looked tonight in her flowy green robes... the way her hair spilled down her back in glossy ringlets... the rosy glow on her cheeks. He finally decided that he had had enough of prowling around in the shadows, and he walked towards the Great Hall, intent on joining Hermione and her mother at their corner table. He knew exactly where they were sitting, as he hadn't been able to resist taking more than one glance into the Hall earlier that evening.

When he reached the Great Hall, he stopped in the doorway, his brow furrowing in confusion as he saw that Elizabeth was sitting alone, holding Samuel. As his eyes scanned the dance floor, he found Hermione waltzing gracefully with Remus. Scowling, he turned away and stalked outside.

Inhaling the fresh air deeply, he closed his eyes as he thought about Hermione's smile as she danced in the werewolf's arms. As he began to wander the school grounds, he reminded himself over and over... Hermione and Remus were friends, that was all. Of that much, he was sure. Besides, it was obvious to him that Remus had feelings for Hermione's mother, no matter how much the werewolf tried to deny it.

Severus stopped by the lake and looked up to the sky, gazing deeply into the stars as if they held the answers. He groaned inwardly as he tried to figure out why it bothered him so to see them together.

He and Remus had made peace long ago, agreeing to let go of the past, for the sake of the Order. Over time, he had even developed a grudging respect for the werewolf, even if he would never admit it to anybody but himself. But, seeing the way Remus was with Hermione... their easy, open friendship... the way he could comfort her with a soft smile, a gentle word, or a single touch... the way that he could make her smile so brilliantly... the way he made her laugh... the way Hermione would throw her arms around him in an open display of affection.

Severus had rarely, if ever, been able to do any of that for her. Somehow, Remus made Severus feel inferior when it came to the mother of his child.

He sighed as he finally admitted to himself that it was't Remus that was the problem... it was him.

*****

Nearly every student that Hermione had known from back in her school days had stopped by their table to admire her son that evening. She had been surprised that she hadn't heard any speculation among the students about Samuel's father, and was relieved that nobody had asked. It wasn't that she was afraid to admit to the public that Severus was the father of her child, it was the thought of the possibility that she might be asked 'how?'. Even though it wasn't spoken aloud, Hermione did begin to notice a number of curious stares, and after a while she began feeling a bit uncomfortable. Leaving Samuel in the care of her mother, Remus, and Professor McGonagall (who had joined them at the table to take a few minutes off her feet while she became better acquainted with Elizabeth) Hermione excused herself for some fresh air.

Walking through the entrance hall, she slipped out of the castle through the main entrance, and stood on the front steps inhaling the crisp fresh air. It was a beautiful evening. The air was refreshingly cool, but not too cold, as she made her way down the steps and began to walk down the path to the garden, enjoying the luxury of a nighttime stroll. She looked up and sighed at the stars glittering in the black sapphire sky, smiling as she realized just how long it had been since she had enjoyed walking outside like this. Being out here, looking at the glorious night sky, made her feel... alive.

She hated to have to go back inside, but after walking through the gardens without a cloak to keep her warm, she was beginning to feel the deep chill of the winter air. Sighing regretfully as she whirled around to head back inside, she collided into something. She gasped as she took a step back, her foot sliding on a patch of ice, nearly causing her to fall backwards.

But she didn't fall. Through a flurry of black robes, two hands darted forward and caught her by the elbows, before gently sliding upwards to rest behind her shoulders, steadying her on her feet. She looked up to find two black eyes staring at her in concern, as a deep silky voice asked, "Are you alright?"

"Severus... I..."

"You shouldn't be out here in the snow after having had the flu last week." His voice was gentle, not demanding, as he chastised her.

Hermione couldn't break away from his gaze as she whispered, "I just needed some air."

Their eyes were locked as he softly said, "You're shivering..."

Hermione felt a pang of regret as his warm hands moved away from her shoulders, and as she looked down to hide her disappointment, she heard the rustle of heavy fabric. Severus had removed his cloak and gently placed it around her. She looked back up in surprise just as his hands were lingering at the base of her throat, after fastening the clasp of the cloak. She felt his fingertips briefly brush against her neck, tickling her as he slowly slid his warm hands back to her shoulders, and their eyes locked again as he asked quietly, "Better?"

"Much," she whispered hoarsely, getting lost in the depth of those deep black eyes.

"You're still shivering," he said gently as he moved his hands gently up and down her arms to warm her.

"Am I?" she whispered breathlessly, not resisting as his hands pulled her closer to the warmth of his body. They stood there, inches apart, staring into each others eyes for an eternity. She fought not to close her eyes at the feel of his warm breath caressing her cheek, and she felt another shiver down her spine. Only this time, it wasn't because she was cold.

*****

Severus had been walking back from the lake that evening, when he saw the shadowy figure of a young female lurking in the gardens. Assuming that it was a student, waiting to meet illicitly with another, he crept stealthily behind the individual. He was nearly close enough to reach out and tap her on the shoulder, but just as he approached, the girl whirled around and collided with him. He looked down, startled to see two honey-brown eyes staring up at him. It was Hermione.

He reached out and grabbed her by the elbows as she stepped back and slipped on a patch of ice. Sliding his hands up to Hermione's shoulders to steady her, his eyes locked with hers. He could feel her shivering, and knew that he should get her inside, but he didn't want to move. He wasn't even aware of speaking to her before removing his cloak and draping it gently around her shoulders. He fastened the clasp, his hands lingering at the base of her warm throat, feeling her soft hair tickling them as he slid them back to her shoulders. He looked upon her face, and his breath caught in his throat. He knew that she was beautiful, but how had he never noticed how utterly breathtaking she was before this evening? He couldn't look away from those beautiful eyes, which were glittering with the reflection of the stars. He felt her shiver again. He was still lost in those eyes, even as his hands unconsciously pulled her closer to him. She was so close that their bodies were nearly touching.

"I should get you back inside," he said in a raspy voice, reluctantly pulling away after he felt her shiver a third time, not realizing that it was his touch that had made her tremble.

He placed an arm gently around her shoulder, keeping her close to his side as they walked ever so slowly back to the school. Lost in his thoughts, he was barely aware of approaching the Great Hall. A soft gasp from Hermione pulled him back to the present, and he paused as he felt her stiffen beside him.

*****

Hermione didn't remember much about their walk back to the school. All she knew was that she felt warm and safe pulled close to Severus' side. She didn't even think about pulling away from him as they entered the school and walked through the entrance hall. As they entered the Great Hall, she stopped dead in her tracks. There, on the dance floor, was her mother dancing in the arms of Remus Lupin. But they were more than just dancing... her mother was locked tightly in his embrace, as her head rested against his shoulder with a dreamy smile on her face.

"Severus," Hermione choked, "I think I'm ready to go..."

She was barely aware of Severus nodding and leading her over to the table where a smiling Professor McGonagall was sitting with their son. She didn't hear him explain that it was getting late, and that it was past Samuel's bedtime. Once Samuel was in her arms, she hurried out of the Great Hall, without a single word to anybody.

Her mind was reeling as she made her way to the dungeons. Though, in the back of her mind, Hermione had begun to have suspiscions about her mother and Remus, she had refused to let herself to fully acknowlege it before now. But after having seen them just now, there was no denying it. Her mother was falling in love with Remus Lupin.

She sighed, trying to figure out exactly what was bothering her about it, when she should have been happy for the two of them. Hermione loved both her mother and Remus... and she knew that they would be good for each other. She had even fancied the idea of the two of them growing closer over time. But, she wondered if it was too soon... her father hadn't even been gone for a year yet. She felt as though it might be a betrayal of her father's memory if she let herself be happy for her mother, and she felt a fresh stab of grief over the loss of her father.

She tried not to think about the look on her mother's face as she danced with Remus. Hermione knew that look... it was one that she had witnessed hundreds of times over the first eighteen years of her life... one that she had only seen when her mother looked at her father.

But there was something more that was bothering her... another nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

When they reached the dungeons, she entered her bedroom quickly, nearly forgetting that Severus was behind her. She passed through her own room to the nursery, where she settled down in the rocking chair to nurse Samuel. She tried to focus on her son, putting the image of Remus and her mother out of her mind as she rocked her son to sleep. After gently laying her sleeping son in his crib, she returned to her room to find Severus waiting on the sofa.

Hermione didn't meet his eyes as she suddenly realized what else it was that had been bothering her. She walked over to the fireplace, where she stood for a few moments, staring into the flames. Severus stood and walked over to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder as he asked, "Are you alright?"

She shook her head as she barely managed to whisper, "No..."

Severus stepped closer and place his other hand on her back, "Did seeing them together bother you?"

" No... Yes... I don't know!" She sighed, "I... it was just... unexpected."

She took a deep breath before she continued, "It wasn't the fact that they were dancing... it was the way he was holding her, and the way she was looking at him... I can see that she's falling in love with him, and..." she inhaled another deep breath, as she began to tremble. She could feel her eyes growing misty.

"And what?" he asked softly as his hand soothingly rubbed her back.

"And I wish it had been me, dancing in the arms of the man I ..." she broke off as she found herself unable to finish that sentiment.

She heard Severus' sharp intake of breath as he took a step back and asked, "You wish... you had been the one dancing with Lupin?"

"No! Not with Remus!"

"Then who?" he asked. She could hear the confusion in his voice, and she turned around to look into his black eyes.

A single tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered, "Dance with me?"