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Chapter 10 - Flowers and Faux Pas

Hermione sat quietly at a desk near the rear of the library, the well-worn, wooden surface covered in papers and stacks of old dusty books. The sun was streaming in through the large leaded windows which allowed a picturesque view of the shimmering lake and distant misty hills beyond. The library was fairly empty today, owing to the lovely weather outside, and many couples could be seen picnicking under the graceful branches of the old walnut grove.

Harry and Ron were playing wizards chest in the Gryffindor common room, as always procrastinating with their homework, sure that Hermione would allow them to copy her notes later on. She had tried once to hold her notes back from them, but caved after a few weeks, knowing she would feel horrible if they failed. Harry and Ron of course swore they would never let it go that far again, but Hermione didn't believe it for one moment. Hate to tell you this guys, she thought to herself, but one day I might not be around. What will you do then?

She had been here about two hours already, making sure she had every book she could possibly need to report on the properties and uses of blackthorn for Snape's Potions class. The other students never understood why she had to be the best at everything she did, but Hermione knew that if she did not do her best, then she was only cheating herself. She had a wonderful opportunity at Hogwarts, and she wasn't going to waste it.

She was having a very hard time concentrating today, however, as her thoughts drifted towards the brief moment she had stopped Julius before the last game. He had been about to ask her something, she was sure of it. But what? She had tried bouncing her thoughts off of Harry (afraid to mention Julius in front of Ron),about what he thought Julius might have been about to say, but Harry was absolutely clueless and not much of a help at all. She considered going to Padma Patil and Lavender Brown, but the last thing she wanted was it gossiped about to the whole school.

Biting her lower lip in reluctant concentration, she scribbled a few words on the parchment before her, trying to get at least a couple of paragraphs down upon the blank sheet, and paused, feeling something soft lightly graze against the side of her face. Looking up suddenly, brushing her wavy hair back behind her ear, she was surprised to see Julius standing near her, a sunflower held lightly in his hand.

"Les fleurs tournent leurs têtes pour suivre votre radienace, qui éclipse même le soleil, mademoiselle," he whispered softly so as not to gain the attention of Madam Pince, the librarian, bowing with an almost unnatural elegance, his glossy dark hair spilling over his eyes.

Hermione accepted the flower with a soft rosy blush, her chestnut eyes shining brightly, feeling flattered even though she did not understand what he had just said. "What does that mean?" she asked quietly, locked into his warm dark gaze.

"It means, 'you are hogging all of the books, so I thought I might bribe you with this flower'," he replied, a mirthful sparkle gleaming from his shadowy eyes.

"Brat," she retorted, laughing, but decided against swatting him with the sunflower she had just received. Instead, she reached into her book bag and drew out a small empty flask, tapping it with her wand to fill it with water, and setting the flower within.

Julius smiled, and sank into a seat beside her, glancing over the few words she had written. "Two hours, and this is all you have been able to write down?" he asked curiously, the mirth lingering still upon his face. "You're not… distracted…. are you?"

The blush that was steadily creeping up Hermione's face deepened half a shade, as she suddenly became very interested in her fingernails.

"You know, I meant to ask you something the other day before I was called away," he whispered quietly, the mirthfulness gone and replaced by something else (nervousness?). Drawing Hermione's hands out from under her eyes, and holding them in his own, he paused, lifting his deep eyes to hers. "Are you going to the Halloween ball with anyone?"

Severus Snape stepped quietly from the Restricted Section, his eyes intently screening the yellowed page of an old tome as he walked towards Madam Pince's desk. Placing it before the old woman, waiting for her to check it out, he turned, leaning against the desk, to find the two students talking quietly amongst themselves, apparently studying together. He watched them silently for a few moments, noting their smiles and soft laughter, reminded so much of his past. How many times had he and Alessandre conducted their trysts in this very library, his sanctuary from James Potter and his friends. The librarian cleared her throat, bringing his attention back to the book she had released. Quietly, he stepped towards the hall, his heart a bit heavier, reminded once more of all he had left behind.

Snape did not brew any new potions during the tutoring session that evening, preferring instead to sit quietly in his office grading the newest batch of essays. His door was left slightly ajar, however, to keep an eye upon the goings on in the large room.

Harry had not missed the professor's presence at all, finding it easier to think and work without the dark eyes of Snape upon him. They actually got to cover two potions that evening, as the bespeckled boy easily completed the Longevity and Rejuvenation serums on the first try.

After packing up for the night, Julius said goodnight to his friends, and made his way towards the door of Snape's office. He knocked lightly, and peeked his head through the opening, spying the professor with his head down, a scowl upon his face as he read an essay. With a shake of his head, Snape drew a large "D" in red upon the parchment, and moved it into another pile.

"Professor?" Julius intoned quietly, not sure if Snape heard him knock.

Glancing up towards the doorway, Snape glowered towards the intruder, quickly changing his expression as he realized who it was. "Are you finished already for the night, Mr. DeVere," he inquired, having lost track of the time, his gaze moving towards the clock on the wall.

"Yes, sir," Julius replied, "I just wanted to say 'Goodnight'."

"Making an early night of it then?" the Potions Master, asked, rearranging the papers on his desk to clear it slightly, and leaning forward with his arms resting upon its surface. Before Julius could answer, he added, "I noticed you and Miss Granger seem to be working quite well together."

"Yes, sir," Julius replied, taking a step within the office to stand respectfully before the professor. "We make a good team, I think." After a moment, he added, "I… I asked her to the Halloween Ball earlier today as well."

Snape raised his eyes brows slightly at hearing this. That must have accounted for the sunflower that had been on her table earlier in the day. One corner of his mouth lifted slightly as he inquired, "And what did she say, if I may ask?"

"She said yes, sir," Julius informed him, a smile fighting desperately to blazon onto his face, though he concealed it, just barely. But Snape had learned over the years that smiles could be either hidden or faked, and instead looked into his son's eyes.

"You seem quite happy about that, Mr. DeVere," he observed. "May I ask, why her?" Snape leaned back into his chair, as he gestured for Julius to sit across from him before crossing his own arms, prepared to listen.

"Well," Julius began, lowering himself into the proffered chair. "She is the most… genuine… person I have ever known. She exudes so much confidence that just being in her presence makes me feel like I can take on the whole world. She is so understanding of other people, always standing up for those who are… less popular." He glanced towards the professor, unsure if he should continue with what he was about to say, and then continued, " I am sure you know what the general student body thinks of you, Professor…"

Snape lifted his chin slightly, his dark eyes steady on those across the desk from him, but he did not say anything.

"I have never heard Hermione speak ill of you, sir. In fact, she has always gone out of her way to stand up for you. That is the kind of person she is."

Severus Snape blinked at that remark. He had never known that the girl he so easily condemned as a goody-goody know-it-all, the one he always found an excuse to put down had ever shown him any kindness.

"She likes me despite my many short-comings, and always prefers to see the good in people…" Julius went on.

"Like your moth…" Snape began, whispering quietly, and then quickly cutting off what he was about to say, his eyes widening at his slip. His face grew angry for a moment, and quite a few shades paler, brown-black eyes darting away from the boy seated before him, his heart racing. He looked deeply then into his son's dark gaze. Had he heard?

Yes, he had.

Julius's own eyes widened, floored by the professor's comment. "You… you knew my mother?" he asked hesitantly.

Snape rebuked himself internally, his lips pressing tightly together to form an ugly line. You knew that befriending this boy would just lead you into trouble, how could you have been so stupid. You have ruined everything you have worked for. Control yourself, Severus! he thought harshly to himself. There may be a way out of this.

"Yes, I knew her," he said finally, his eyes held locked to his hands which were now folded upon the desk. "We went to school together. Your mother was a remarkable woman." His hands were shaking ever so slightly, and he willed them to stop, his knuckles going white from the pressure he was exerting upon his fingers. "Very much like how you just described Miss Granger."

Julius let this sink in for a moment before he lifted his eyes towards the face of the professor once more, another thought flying into his head. "Then you must have known my father. They met while in school."

Idiot! How could you possibly let this happen? Snape glanced up towards his son then, his mind racing as he sought an escape from his own horrific blunder. "What did your mother tell you of your father?" he countered stoically, forcing the boy to speak, buying himself some time to come up with a viable response.

"She told me very little," Julius returned. "Only that they had met in school, and he died shortly after I was born."

"That is all?" Snape asked, concernedly. You must forget about me, the memory flickered in his mind.

"Yes, sir," Julius responded, Snape's own eyes staring back at the professor, pleading. "Professor, can you tell me of my father? What kind of man was he?"

Snape stared silently at the boy before him, feeling more vulnerable than he had felt in far too many years. He silently wondered which he would rather be faced with, the Dark Lord's Cruciatus curse, or this. But perhaps, he had found a way out.

"Your father…" Professor Snape began quietly, and paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing. "he was … he met your mother when he was about your age. She was the world to him, he adored her more than anything else, except perhaps you." His eyes fell back to his hands as he continued. "He had made some mistakes… many… mistakes in his life, and one day they finally caught up with him. He tried to get out, to leave improprieties behind him, but in the end… he failed."

Julius just stared at the professor, shaking, and slowly rose from the chair, his own face very pale. "I think I better get back." He swallowed. "It is getting late."

Severus Snape nodded quietly, feeling for the boy who stood in front of him. As horrible as it was for him to tell his son about his father, he could only imagine how terrible it must have been for Julius to hear it.

After Julius had left the room, the Potions Master sat quietly within his office for many hours into the night, his head in his hands, his soul aching.

A/N: translation (hopefully): "The flowers turn their heads to follow your radiance, which eclipses even the sun." - Don't all of us gals wish guys would really talk like that? J

Poor Severus, I really felt bad for him in this chapter.