Disclaimer: The characters in this story (except Julius) and the universe in which they exist are the sole property of JK Rowling. You know the rest.
Chapter 13 - The Halloween Ball
Julius stood with Harry and Ron watching amusedly as the main hall of Hogwarts was inundated with students dressed in brightly coloured costumes and masks. Boys and girls chattered merrily, showing off their adornments for their friends, laughing as they moved towards the large open doors of the Great Hall which had been decorated special for the night.
Julius himself was wearing a sable and gold tunic belted with a sword and sported coordinating tights, looking quite dashing as Shakespeare's Romeo. Several of the girls passing by glanced in his direction with bright eyes and hopeful smiles, which he returned easily as he stood with Harry and Ron.
Harry had decided to dress as a knight in chain mail, with a gold-trimmed red cloak and sword. Ron had come as a Quidditch player, as the robes and broom were easily come by and were far less expensive than to rent a costume. They had both stayed up half the last night creating a replica of the Quidditch House Cup.
"What is taking her so long?" Julius whispered quietly as he leaned towards Harry and Ron, his dark eyes lingering expectantly upon the upper platform of the staircase.
"You know how girls are," Ron shrugged, leaning against his broomstick. "They always have to make an entrance."
And make an entrance Hermione did. All three boys straightened up as she appeared on the top step, and Ron's mouth dropped noticeably open at the transformation.
Hermione had tamed her bushy brown tresses into manageable ringlets which were swept back and held in place with delicate cream-coloured ribbons, the curls spilling playfully down her back. She was wearing a beautiful renaissance-style gown of golden brocade with cream accents that flowed in a generous cascade from her waist. The Gryffindor smiled radiantly as she caught sight of her friends below and slowly descended the stairs to greet them.
The three boys stood there as if petrified, unable to move, their eyes following her every step. Julius was the first to recover, and quickly strode across the room to the base of the stairs, taking Hermione's hand lightly as he helped her the rest of the way down.
"La belle lumière qui brille de chez vous a conquis l'obscurité de mon coeur," he whispered breathlessly, his shadowy eyes lost within the chestnut pools of Hermione's.
"What am I hogging this time?" she whispered in return, a warm mirthful smile dancing upon her lips as she placed her hand lightly in the proffered crook of his arm.
"I do so very hope that it is me, Mademoiselle," he replied, escorting her towards Harry and Ron, his gaze never leaving her.
The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was strewn with floating lit pumpkins and flying bats, and the house tables had been removed, replaced by smaller round ones around the edges of the room. A band of ghosts was playing at the far end of the hall, filling the air with soft music as the students settled themselves.
The punch bowl was being carefully guarded by Mr. Filtch, who looked none too happy to be there, ensuring that no prank potions were added to the refreshments, and Mrs. Norris weaved aimlessly under the many tables keeping watch from her own point of view.
"Happy Halloween, Miss Granger, Mssrs. DeVere, Potter and Weasley," Dumbledore chimed joyously, leaning upon a scythe for support as he passed their table and winked, a large brass hourglass held securely in his other hand. His long white-grey hair and beard tumbled over his white robes, partially obscuring a blue sash that read 'Father Time'.
Professor McGonagall, who merely dressed in her normal robes with a few added cobwebs and bats fastened to her hat was speaking with a smile to Hagrid. The four friends looked at each other funny as they tried to discern what the Game Keeper was supposed to be, but all they could come up with was a big brown furry mountain.
As the band struck up the first waltz, Julius rose and bowed to Hermione gracefully, offering his hand. "Would Milady honour me with this dance?
Hermione blushed at his manner of speech, allowing him to help her out of her chair and escort her to the dance floor. Beginning their dance, Hermione felt on top of the world. He had obviously practiced, or was a natural for he guided her effortlessly around the room, his deep eyes never leaving hers.
At one point they brushed near Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson and the two boys' eyes met with a glare. Draco had come to the party as the Grim Reaper, and both he and Parkinson were holding onto his scythe as they danced.
"This is what you're going to get next DeVere if you get in my way again.," Malfoy threatened quietly as they circled each other so that only Julius could hear.
Julius was about to turn and grab Malfoy, but Hermione, catching on to what was about to happen, held tightly to Julius and whispered, "Just ignore him, he's not worth it."
Julius glared at Malfoy one last time, watching the blond-haired pest chuckle softly to Parkinson before turning his attention back to his partner, closing his eyes as he attempted to calm himself.
But Hermione was starting to get a cold feeling as well as they traversed the dance floor, catching frowns and venomous glares from various girls she knew to be members of the Banner Brigade. She was thankful that the waltz came to its end a short time later, and they were able to take a break.
"Are you alright, 'Mione?" Julius asked softly, concerned at the way her eyes kept darting about the room.
"Yes," she smiled slightly, squeezing his hand, "I'm fine, I just need some air. This dress is a bit constricting."
Severus Snape prowled the dimly lit grounds outside the castle, his black-clad form melting easily into the shadows. Dumbledore had asked him to watch the rose garden and discourage any romantic trysts from getting out of hand, which was fine with him. The last place he wanted to be was inside the Great Hall with a bunch of overindulged dunderheads and sugar-induced shenanigans. It was better that he was out here, where he could keep a clear head and think.
Though several weeks had passed, the potions master had not veered from his promise to find the one or ones responsible for his son's beating. He had been sure it was Malfoy who had attacked Julius; who else would have been in the dungeon that late at night so close to the Slytherin rooms? The two boys had been at each other's throats since the first day of school, and it did not seem that their relationship would change anytime in the near future. The wand had at least told him the approximate vicinity, which led him to question the Malfoy boy in the first place.
He had asked several other students of his house if they knew anything about the beating, but all had corroborated Malfoy's story, which didn't really surprise the professor. Malfoy had made his deep pockets well known when the boy's father bought the Slytherin team new brooms four years ago. The only way he was going to find out anything was to keep a close watch on the boy, and hope Malfoy blundered.
A frown spread across the professor's face as he heard a few branches rustling in the next row over, and stalked towards the disruption. Reaching in a hand he pulled out Anthony Goldstein and Greta McPhearson, and shoved them both towards the door to the castle. "This is an institution of higher learning, not a red light district!" Hormone crazy teenagers.
By the time ten o'clock came around, Snape must have pulled at least two dozen amorous students from the bushes, and the flesh of his hands was torn and angry-red. What these kids will do these days, he thought to himself. Not again…
A pair of soft voices could be heard from a small alcove bench that was carved out of the wall. As Snape made his way over stealthily, he peered through a hole in the foliage of a bush, and found himself staring at his son and girl. It took him a few moments to realize that it was Hermione Granger.
The two students were talking quietly, Miss Granger's head resting lightly upon his son's shoulder. Julius was pointing out several stars in the night sky to the girl, whispering things in her ear with a warm smile upon his face.
Snape couldn't tear himself away. They are so much like you and I, Alessandre, he sighed. I would give anything to have those simple days back. Anything.
He must have been standing their for ten minutes, watching in fascination, reliving his past. It wasn't until Julius leaned in towards Hermione, their faces mere centimetres apart, that Severus Snape, failed father and husband turned from the scene and stalked off into the night.
A/N: "La belle lumière qui brille de chez vous a conquis l'obscurité de mon coeur." Translation: The beautiful light that shines from within you has conquered the darkness of my heart.
HardcoreWWnut: yes, it was a good mental image :) If you are an Alan Rickman fan I highly recommend "Sense and Sensibility" for some great eye candy of Rickman in Victorian clothing ::swoons:: His role of Col. Christopher Brandon was my inspiration for Snape's early years.
This fic is also posted on HarryPotterFanFiction.com, though it is way behind in chapters as their submissions were down for two weeks. I am trying to catch up over there submitting 2 chapters per day.
Thank you to everyone for reviewing!