A/N: I'm sorry that it took me a year to update this fic, some crap's being going on in my life. My thanks to all the reviewers and betas and God willing, I will finish this fic soon. Also, this fic was begun before the release of the fifth HP book. So don't be surprised if you see Sirius alive here. Enjoy :).

Disclaimer: The usual and Sophie B. Hawkins doesn't belong to me.

Snape was livid. He was standing in the corner of the Great Hall, downing glass after glass of punch. Damn, he thought to himself. If only they would serve some alcohol. Keep going like this, Severus, and you will soon need to pay the toilet a visit.

Hermione was dancing with a fourth-year Hufflepuff whose name Snape had forgotten in his rage. He couldn't help but feel jealous. Of course he didn't have a right to be, he told himself. He wasn't Hermione's boyfriend or husband. Who was he to envy her dancing partners?

But he couldn't help noticing the way that boy took every chance to touch Hermione in certain places. And what was worse, she didn't even seem to mind! Everytime the boy stroked her back or patted her butt, she just flashed him a warm smile, as if she were enjoying all this attention.

Sophie B. Hawkins had sang many of her greatest numbers during this time and he had to admit, the woman was quite talented. Some of his colleagues had asked him to dance during the past two hours but he had refused them point-blank. The only woman he wanted to dance with was Hermione, and all this time, she had been in the arms of other men.

Snape wanted to wring the young Hufflepuff's neck but instead, he chose to look at the other couples. Many of the young people, he knew, were out in the gardens, or near the lake, kissing passionately. He could see Remus and Sirius talking animatedly in a shadowed corner. It didn't take him long to realize that he was the only one in the ball who was left...alone.

Sweet misery, he thought to himself. Sophie was starting a new song right now; he was going to leave but he found the opening quite appealing. So he decided to stay and listen to what she had to sing now.

In a manner of speaking, he was delighted to find that she was singing one of her more familiar songs. Yes, he knew this one – Damn...I wish I was your lover. He remembered seeing the video in a London pub on the day his divorce from Adrienne was finalized. He couldn't help feeling glad that Miss Hawkins was...ahem...wearing more clothes now.

And he listened to her sing as the couples continued to dance. She was wearing a flimsy white dress and seductively moving her body to the music as she began to sing:

"That old dog has chained you up alright

Give you everything you need

To live inside a twisted cage

Sleep beside an empty rage

I had a dream I was your hero."

Snape sunk even deeper into the shadows. Now this was something he hadn't seen coming. Finally, there was one song in the evening that was about Hermione and him. But that didn't mean that he was satisfied. He downed another glass of punch and sighed. He thought about how Viktor had hurt Hermione. She was actually too wounded to try and look for love. Thus he would never have a chance with her. He wished he could, though. He would show her that he was all that she needed. God willing, one day, he'd help her break free from these bitter chains.

"Damn I wish I was your lover

I'll rock you till the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm

I am everything

Tonight I'll be your mother

I'll do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed."

Snape knew he would take good care of Hermione if she were his woman. As a matter of fact, he wouldn't have handled her half as roughly as that Hufflepuff kid. He would never let any hard come to her as long as he lived. And the next few lines made him think of his desire to make love to Hermione.

"Open up, gonna get inside,

Fill you up, gonna make you cry."

Hermione had in the meantime slipped into the arms of Ron and Sophie B. Hawkins was moving more seductively than ever. Snape frowned; he knew that Ron used to have a thing for Hermione but since the boy had another date tonight, perhaps he'd finally decided that she was way out of his league and he'd be better off with another woman...like Hannah Abbot.

Hannah Abbot? How the hell did Ron divert his attention to her? Snape wondered. But he was too depressed to think about Weasley's love life, since he himself had none.

"This monkey can't stand to see you black and blue

Give you something sweet each time you

Come inside my jungle book

What, is it just too good?

Don't say you'll stay

'Cause then you go away."

Only Snape noticed that although the young lady seemed to be having fun at the ball, her eyes reflected a deep pain. No doubt she was thinking of that Krum tonight. He couldn't stand to see her grieve any longer about such a worthless guy. And what had she seen in Krum anyway? The boy was just a Quidditch player...hardly her type. He'd always figured that she would go for a man who was a scholar or a teacher...like him.

Oh, but she hates you, Severus! She made that clear, did she not? You are so pathetic to be still pining for her.

He guessed that she was better off with him – she deserved someone fresh, someone who hadn't been a Deatheater in a former lifetime. But if she would only give him a chance...

"Damn I wish I was your lover

I'll rock you till the daylight comes

Make sure you are smiling and warm I am everything

Tonight I'll be your mother I will

Do such things to ease your pain

Free your mind and you won't feel ashamed."

Ah, there came the chorus and another glass of punch...well, he supposed that this was better than getting drunk.

"Shucks for me there is no other

You're the only shoe that fits

I can't imagine I'll grow out of it

Damn I wish I was your lover."

Hermione was the only woman for Snape and he knew it in his bones. He would never, ever stop loving her, despite the fact that they could never be together.

"If I was your girl believe me

I'd turn on the Rolling Stones

We could groove along and feel much better

I could do it forever and ever

Give me an hour to kiss you

Walk through heaven's door I'm sure

We don't need no doctor to feel much better

Let me in

Forever and ever and ever and ever."

Snape turned away from Sophie Hawkins, blushing. Wasn't there a law against dancing like that in public? He'd never really been a Rolling Stones fan and he wasn't too sure that Hermione liked them either. But he knew for sure that given the opportunity, he would heal all the pain in her...and they wouldn't need anyone from St. Mungo. Let me in!

"I sat on the mountainside with peace of mind

I lay by the ocean making love to her with visions clear

Walked for days with no one near

And I return as chained and bound to you."

He remembered when he'd first realized his love for Hermione. He'd waved it off as some kind of infatuation because after all, he'd been working with her for quite some time during the way and sometimes, hormones can go out of control. But he'd spend some time alone afterwards and the feelings didn't leave. He'd returned to Hogwarts, still in love with Hermione.

The song was ending now, and so was the party. Sophie sang the chorus once more and curtseyed graciously as everyone clapped at her performance. Even Snape managed a little smile...and he didn't smile very often. He cast his gaze on the dancefloor again and saw his lady love smiling at her friends. He knew that she was worn out from all her dancing and she wanted to go out sleep now. Well, then, good night, Hermione, he thought and slipped out of the room.