Credit for the idea behind this story goes entirely to my roommate, Starmaster. In continuation with our bet to see who could update/post a story faster, I asked her for an idea for a story, and she replied with this:
Starmaster: "how about Snape ordered by Dumbledore, for reasons that make perfect sense to Dumbledore, to work with Hermione on preparations for something not snapish like a dance, graduation, or something where they have to spend lots of time together doing something Snape detests. Hermione could be head girl and that could be why it has to be her he works with."
Although I've won our "bet" by updating before she has, I encourage everyone to read her story The Color of Night, and leave her a review. It's not HP but it is excellent and well thought out.
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Disclaimer(applies to all chapters): If I owned Harry Potter, I'd be rich and living in England with more money than the Queen herself, and I wouldn't be a poor college student writing fanfiction as a means of procrastinating the large workload sitting beside me. Aka: I don't own anything HP related… yet ;-)
Also: I was inspired to write by all the WONDERFUL and INCREDIBLE authors out there whose work is awesome and greatly surpasses my pitiful attempts at fiction. I would like to thank Anne and Abby, Rilla, Corazon, Azreal, Anna, Shiv, Teshara, Ramos, Quillusion, and dozens of other amazing authors I could continue to name, for all your inspiration J If you haven't read their works, please do so before reading any further. Any similarities to other stories is COMPLETELY unintentional, and I would ask that you please send me an e-mail if you think I've used something without giving due credit, so that I may fix that =)
Also thanks to Fiona, Lulo3, Renegade Seraph, and Starmaster for their entirely over-generous reviews for my first story J They are also a large reason I felt inspired to continue…
And without further ado…
Chapter 1
Everyone was in the Great Hall when it happened.
The Slytherins were glaring around at anyone foolish enough to look their way, while Draco Malfoy and his cronies were charming spit balls and bits of soggy toast to fly and hit members of the other houses.
The Hufflepuffs were chatting excitedly amongst themselves, trying to guess who the new seeker would be this season while glancing around every so often confused, as something wet and soggy pelted them on the head.
The Ravenclaws, ever the attentive ones, were watching the Slytherins with the spit balls and muttering counter-charms that made the spit balls fly back onto Crabbe and Goyle (who couldn't figure out why their charms were back-firing).
And the Gryffindors were generally oblivious to the rest of the Hall. Half the boys of the House were discussing new Quiddich strategies to use against the new Hufflepuff seeker. The other half of the boys were trying to strike up a conversation with the girl sitting closest to them. The Halloween Ball was only a little over two months away, and no one wanted to go without a date.
The girls of Gryffindor were sharing beauty tips and whispering about where they were going to buy their dresses from during the next Hogsmeade weekend. All the girls with one exception. Hermione Granger was sitting between her two best friends, steadily ignoring their Quiddich prattle, and ignoring all attempts the other boys made to talk to her, choosing instead to mentally make up a study plan that would be the most effective for the upcoming NEWTS.
It was the first day of their 7th year, and Hermione was determined to make it her best yet. Looking around her, she gave a small sigh as she realized that she and her friends were all grown up. It seemed like only yesterday they were timid first years waiting at Platform 9 ¾.
"Hey! What the bloody hell was that for?!" Ron yelled as Harry threw some bits of egg in his hair, interrupting Hermione's thoughts.
"For being a prat" Harry replied, "it doesn't matter if the new Hufflepuff seeker is one of the hot 7th years, we're going to beat them anyways."
They continued, but Hermione's thoughts drowned them out. Well, Hermione smiled ruefully, they've grown up physically if not mentally.
She herself had grown up quite a bit over the summer. At first she'd been a bit concerned about her blossoming body when her Mum had taken her shopping for some 'necessary things.'
Then when she had blushed at the new lacy bras and knickers her mother had insisted on getting for her, and vehemently objected to wearing anything that accentuated her new figure, her Mum had said quite clearly "Nonsense dear, real women have curves, it's nothing to be ashamed of."
And when she had stepped on to the Hogwarts Express for the first time on the way back to Hogwarts for her 7th year and every male jaw on the train had dropped to the floor: she knew her Mum had been right.
The male euphoria over Hermione's figure was short-lived, however, as soon as all the boys realized that she was indeed still more interested in books and research than Quiddich. As if suddenly developing a figure was going to turn a girl into a brainless sports fan, Hermione snorted quietly to herself.
Not that it mattered, as everyone was talking too loudly to have noticed her. They were all engrossed in talks of Quiddich and the Halloween Ball, while Hermione waited patiently for the Headmaster to give them some last minute announcements. Among them would be this years Head Boy and Head Girl, and she was dying to know who made Head Boy.
As if reading her thoughts (which was always a possibility) the Headmaster stood up and motioned for silence. The Hall quieted immediately, except for new excited whispers over who would be the Head Girl and Boy.
"Welcome, welcome" the Headmaster's voice rang out clearly into the Hall. "I know you all are eager to begin your first classes but I'm afraid I'm going to make you all a bit late." Several relieved chuckles assured Dumbledore that starting classes late wasn't going to bother anyone.
"I trust you all got yourselves settled after last night's Sorting Feast, and now I have just a few more announcements to add to those I made last night." He paused for a moment to be sure he had everyone's undivided attention. "First, I would like to introduce you to this year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
There was murmuring in the crowd. Everyone had waited for this announcement at the Sorting Feast and when it didn't come, there was much speculation as to why. The door of the teachers entrance to the Great Hall opened, and a collective gasp went up from the female half of the student body as the new professor walked up to stand beside Dumbledore.
"I'd like to introduce you all to Professor Wysna Delppion. I have reviewed his lesson plans and I believe he will make a fine asset to our teaching staff. I expect you all to make him feel welcome" he concluded, looking out into the sea of girls who were looking a little too eager to make Professor Delppion feel welcome.
He was by far the most attractive man on the teaching staff, and debatably the most attractive Hogwarts had ever had. He stood about as tall as Professor Snape, although that was the only comparison you could make between the two. Where Snape was tall, dark, and greasy, Delppion was tall, dark, and handsome. He had light brown hair with thin streaks of blonde running in jagged lines all the way through it, and light brown, coffee coloured eyes to match. His hair was long, curling near the ends, and tied loosely behind his neck. He had just a hint of facial hair around his mouth and chin, giving him a sort of rugged appearance. His robe was short-sleeved, and the girls looked him over longingly as they noticed well-defined muscular and tanned arms. One could only imagine what the rest of him would look like.
There was a groan in the Hall as mutterings of "Lockhart," "pretty boy," and "Snape'll take 'em" could be heard coming from the boys.
"Now, I have just two more announcements to make before I dismiss you to your classes." The Headmaster's voice rang out once again. "As a special treat, I have decided that for this year's Halloween Ball, there will be a special performance, featuring one of Hogwarts Professors and one student."
Silence in the Hall as they all absorbed this information. Some were excited about the prospect of showing their talents in front of the rest of the students. Parvarti from Gryffindor, for example, had always thought she could imagine herself on stage. Others were apprehensive. They may respect their Headmaster, but they knew that sometimes he made odd decisions. And others still were terrified at the idea of performing anything in front of everyone at Hogwarts.
Just as the suspense was becoming unbearable, the Headmaster again began to speak. "A dance," he continued "between our very own Potions Master, Professor Snape, and this year's new Head Girl."
Where just a few moments ago, all the girls were secretly hoping that the owl carrying their Head Girls letter had gotten lost, and that they would hear the announcement today that they had indeed been chosen; the girls were now counting their blessings that they had not received that same letter.
"And now the announcement you've all been waiting for. This year's Head Boy is Draco Malfoy" much cheering and whistling from Slytherin, "and this year's Head Girl is Hermione Granger."
The silence that followed this last announcement was tangible, and many horrified stares were being passed as the students looked first to Hermione, then to the Headmaster, and lastly to Professor Snape.
The Head Girl herself was staring into the abyss, as now hushed whispers of relief and sympathy could be heard.
Professor Snape, however, was silent. Deathly silent, and only the Slytherins noticed the raging fire building in the black eyes of their Head of House as he slowly turned and glared at the Headmaster.
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"Absolutely NOT!" Snape roared, as he paced the length of the Headmasters office, his black robes whipping behind him as spun around at each end. "I can't believe you made a decision like this without consulting me."
"Now Severus," The Headmaster twinkled at him "it's really not the catastrophe you seem to think it is, and besides, we made the decision at the last staff meeting—which you did not attend. No one else volunteered so you were nominated. There were no objections."
The glare Snape sent him let him know that as soon as he found out who had nominated him, they would be short one teacher on the staff. "You know perfectly well why I wasn't at the last staff meeting, Albus" Snape hissed, subconsciously rubbing his left arm. "I simply refuse to lower myself to do this, you'll have to nominate someone else" he finished matter-of-factly. Snape's black eyes boring into the Headmaster's blue ones.
"Now I have heard enough!" Albus warned him. "You know I don't like to exert my authority in most matters" Snape snorted, earning him a glare from Dumbledore "but I am putting my foot down in this one. The nomination was placed, it was voted on and passed, the announcement was made, and now there is nothing more to be said about it. Now, I suggest you go back to your rooms and practice your dance moves." He smiled at Snape "Your lessons with Miss Granger begin Friday evening. Professor Delppion is most anxious to begin."
At this revelation Snape's eyes narrowed. "What does he have to do with any of this?"
"He's teaching you and Miss Granger to dance, of course. He's very talented, so I hear, and we needed someone on neutral ground willing to work with the both of you. Don't worry Severus" he added, noticing the scowl on his Potion Master's expression "everything will be over before you know it, and things will all be back to normal."
Except my reputation Snape thought sourly to himself, as he turned and slammed the door to the Headmasters office, effectively ending their conversation. He went down the moving staircase and headed towards the dungeons to brood. It was going to be a long year.
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"What was he thinking!?" Demanded Harry, for the 14th time.
"Yea! Who does he think he is, carelessly ruining someone's life like this" agreed Ron. They had been going on like this in righteous indignation over the injustice done to their best friend for the past 30 minutes.
Once everyone had been dismissed from the Great Hall that morning after the awful announcement took place, the first day of classes had proved to be an effective means of distraction, and the Trio had been able to ignore the announcement like the horrible nightmare it was. Now that they were back in the common room, however, and had retired for the evening; it was becoming painfully obvious that the dance between Hermione and Snape was a frightening reality.
Hermione during all of this, had resignedly been staring off into the fire, her potions textbook forgotten by her feet. She loved her two best friends dearly, but their arguments wouldn't change the fact that she still had to go through with it.
"He's the Headmaster, Ron. That's who he thinks he is, and if he decides that I have to dance with Snape then he'll make that decision and it doesn't matter what I think about it."
"Well I don't know how you can be so calm about it" grumbled Ron, as he and Harry plopped onto the floor next to Hermione in front of the fire.
"I'm not" she replied "but as I don't have much say in the matter there's no use dwelling on it."
"Hmm, well I know something that might cheer you up" piped Ron.
"It had better be good mate, to make up for the shock of having to dance with Snape" chuckled Harry.
"Oh it is" Ron replied darkly. "Did you hear about what happened to the Malfoys over the summer?" Seeing the blank looks on his friends' faces he continued. "Apparently Lucius Malfoy did something to displease" he lowered his voice "He Who Must Not Be Named" he resumed speaking normally "and Malfoy's mother was killed as a result!"
Ignoring the horrified look on Hermione's face and the small gasp she emitted he continued. "Of course there's no proof of that, but Dad heard about it in the Ministry. The Dark Mark appeared over the house and Malfoy's mother was found dead in it." He laughed, "Seems like the git finally got what he deserved."
"Ron!" Hermione scolded "That's nothing to be happy about, you really should know better. Mrs. Malfoy may have been a very nice woman for all we know…" Hermione finished sadly. As much as she disliked Draco at times, she would never have wished something like this to happen.
Ron at least had the decency to look sheepish as he continued "Doesn't matter anyways, not like it did him any good. You'd have thought he would start being nicer to people now that he knows how they feel." He looked surreptitiously to Harry. Malfoy never had let up on Harry about the death of his parents.
"Well, maybe he will" Harry added softly.
"Oh no" Ron was quick to pick up. "If anything it's made him even more of a git. I heard that this morning he hexed a first year Slytherin! A Slytherin! For doing something stupid like breathing."
"Give him some time" Hermione reprimanded gently. "Perhaps he'll come around."
Ron looked skeptical, "Who cares if he comes around, he'll always be a git…"
"Anyways" Harry interrupted, trying to steer the conversation in another direction "we've got more important things to worry about. Like what to do about Hermione and Snape."
Hermione groaned, "ugh, thanks for reminding me."
As if on cue, a loud POP sounded from the fireplace and a scroll jumped out and landed at Hermione's feet. Giving her friends a quizzical look, she opened the scroll and began to read.
Dear Miss Granger,
I'm sure you were most enthusiastic this morning when you were informed of the privilege you received to participate in the Dance at the Halloween Ball. Aside from teaching you DADA, I will also be responsible for teaching you the dance you will perform at the upcoming Ball.
I have already made these same arrangements with Professor Snape, and I would be most appreciative if you would meet us in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom at 7:00pm, Friday evening after dinner.
Dress comfortably!
Professor Wysna Delppion
Defense Against the Dark Arts
HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"Who's it from Hermione?" Harry and Ron wanted to know. Smiling to herself, she passed the scroll to the boys to read.
So Professor Delppion was teaching them to dance was he? Maybe things wouldn't turn out as bad as she thought.