Disclaimer: It's not mine, I just like to pretend it is!
A/N: Thanks to all you lovely reviewers! Cookies and brownies for everyone! Champagne for those old enough, lol, and those who want it! Just remember to surf the web responsibly, or have a designated mouse-mover!
A/N 2: Special thanks to Lady Sloane of Stone Mt. for the dress inspiration, and to everyone else who sent me dress ideas! I've incorporated some ideas in here, and others might be used at further occasions!
A/N 3: Hey, for those of you who read Voldemort's Heirs, this is just to let you know it won't be continued. If you're wondering why, you can go see the latest update for the story. It explains things.
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Six
Hermione changed into a pair of black capris and put on a pick tank top with a black lace tank top over that. Slipping on a pair of black sandals she pulled her hair back in a messy bun and made her way back to the front hall where Severus was waiting.
"Ready?" he asked, turning at her approach.
"I assume we're apparating?" she replied nodding.
"Yes, unless you'd rather floo of course. I assume you have your apparating licence?"
"I can't stand flooing, it's so dirty and yes, I have my apparating licence."
"All right, we'll apparate to the Leaky Cauldron then," he said, and after focusing hard, they both disappeared and reappeared a moment later in the back of the Leaky Cauldron. Agreeing to meet back at the Leaky Cauldron at noon, they each went their separate ways; Severus to the apothecary, and Hermione to Madame Malkin's.
"Hello there dear, what can I do for you?" Madame Malkin asked as Hermione walked into the store.
"I need a custom-made dress," Hermione replied walking over towards the counter where fabrics and patterns were messily laying around. "And a dress, not robes." The reason being that even though it was only wizards attending the society ball, robes couldn't be custom made only custom coloured.
"Well, what do you have in mind?"
"I was thinking…" Hermione began and for the next half hour she and Madame Malkin poured over patterns, discussed fabric, debated about styles, and finally came up with a dress that Hermione thought perfect and hoped wouldn't embarrass Severus. She had ended up with what she thought was a simple yet elegant dress, without frills or gaudy accessories.
The gown was made out of an iridescent light weight silk. The gown appeared black from one angle, but dark green from another. The strapless ball gown was cut straight across the top and fit tightly to the waist where the gown fell gently into a very full, floor length skirt. There was nothing on the dress; no glitz, no beads, nothing, and that was the beauty of it. It didn't compete with Hermione, it just complimented her natural beauty. To go with the dress, Hermione also had decided on getting above-the-elbow length gloves of the same material and colour to match. Madame Malkin told her that the dress would be ready in about twenty minutes or so. So while waiting, Hermione went out to muggle London to the nearest shoe store and bought herself some low-heeled black sandals since the only other pair she had had been chewed on by Crookshanks a few days ago. Going back to Diagon Alley, she went back to the store, and saw her dress displayed on a mannequin for her to better see it.
"Oh Madame Malkin, its lovely!" Hermione exclaimed, clasping her hands in delight.
"I think its some of my best work yet!" the other woman replied. Packing it away into a large dress box, she continued. "Now, the total for your dress will be 200 galleons."
'Oh no, I don't have any money with me!' Hermione thought to herself.
"Charge it to our account, please," Severus' voice came from behind her.
'Damn, I hate when he does that sneaking-up thing!' Hermione thought as he came up next to her.
"Of course sir, now what's your name?" Madame Malkin asked.
"Snape, vault number 474."
"All right, here's your receipt, and thank you for visiting!"
Severus turned around and exited the store as Hermione followed after quickly shrinking the box down and placing it in her purse. Catching up to him, they walked back to the Leaky Cauldron and took a seat in a booth in the corner.
"Thank you, I'll pay you back for the dress," Hermione said sitting down across from him, her back to the rest of the room.
"You'll do nothing of the sort," he said. "In case you forgot I said our account. We're married, we share everything. I have so much money I don't know what to do with it, so if you get some joy out of it, then by all means, use it."
"Oh, thank you again then." She sat quietly until a hostess came and took their orders, explaining that they were a little short on staff at the moment, but a waitress would bring them their food shortly.
"So what did you need from the apothecary?" She asked, getting a little tired of the silence that always seemed to surround them when they were together.
"Just the basic supplies and I needed another pewter cauldron since my other was getting old."
"Oh, that's good then."
The silence resumed, broken a few minutes later by a different waitress coming over to their table with two plates of food. Setting it down, she stared for a moment at Professor Snape, not really having seen Hermione's face as she was looking down at her fingers still.
"Professor Snape?" Their new waitress was none other than Luna Lovegood.
"Miss Lovegood," Professor Snape said curtly nodding at her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked her face blank as always. She had been working as a waitress since the beginning of summer and he had never stopped in to have lunch before.
"Eating lunch with my wife," he replied matter-of-factly, shocking Hermione with his bluntness and causing her head to shoot up.
"Hi Luna," she said smiling slightly.
"Hi Hermione," she said just staring back and forth between the two curiously. "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Hermione replied.
"I have to get back to work, but if you need anything, just let me know," Luna said before rushing off to a different table where a little boy was having a temper tantrum and throwing his food on the floor.
They finished eating a short time later, and on their way out, Hermione pulled Luna to the side and asked her not to mention her marriage to anyone, which she promised she wouldn't. Hermione joined Severus and they apparated back home.
Even with as short a time as she had been there, Hermione was truly comfortable in the house and she loved her room. Deciding to explore the inside of the house, she began wandering around the second story, finding nothing but bedrooms and bathrooms. Going downstairs, she headed to the back and she saw the kitchen and the sun room where she and Severus had dined that morning. Walking past it, she saw a formal dining room with a table long enough to seat two dozen or so. Just outside of the dining room were the main staircase, entrance hall and coat closet, and the front door. Across from the dining room was a parlour with several white chairs and two couches sitting on top of a large oriental rug. All of this was situated in front of a large fireplace, and Hermione was sure that it must be comfortable in the winter. Leaving the parlour she entered into the next room and found herself in a large library!
Looking around she saw shelves and shelves, all completely filled with books. Forcing herself to continue she pushed open the swinging door on one wall of the library, and found herself in a small study of sorts. Against one wall was a large writing desk with a pile of parchment in one slot, quills in another, and bottles of different colour ink in a third. Once again there was a large fireplace, with two large, squishy looking chairs in front of it. Between the two chairs was an ornate chess set with different animals as the pieces. A lion in place of the King, a tiger in place of the queen, parrots in place of the rooks, unicorns in place of the knights, dolphins in place of the bishops, and turtles in place of the pawns. It was brightly coloured, and looked expensive, especially when she noticed the chess board was made of marble.
So involved with looking at the chess set and the room in general was she, that it took several frantic taps for the owl at the window to get her attention. Rushing over she quickly let the small brown owl in out of the heat. Pigwidgeon swooped in and landed on the back of the chair situated in front of the desk and cocked her head to the side as if saying, 'Why are you here and not with your parents?' Hermione untied the piece of parchment attached to its leg and quickly breaking the seal, opened it and began to read it.
Dearest, Darling, Light of the Sun, Our Diamond in the Rough, Goddess of Intelligence and Beauty-- Mione,
Hello from your favourite pair of twins! We borrowed Ron's owl to send you this invitation.
As you know we're sure, Harry's birthday is July 31st, and Mum has decided to throwing him a
Surprise Enchanting-Eighteen birthday dinner/party/picnic on Sunday, August 3rd, and of course, you're
Invited! Mum said feel free to bring your boyfriend, assuming you have one, of course.
"Ha! If they only knew!" Hermione said out loud, and continued reading.
If you do have one and bring him, we warn you now, we (meaning us, Ron, Harry, Dean, Seamus,
Neville, and many other dashing and debonair Gryffindors, will pull your significant other aside
And inform him of the consequences should he break your heart or hurt you in any way, shape, or form!
After all, we must protect you and your honour from immoral men!
We (meaning Ron and the rest of us handsome distinguished redheads) await your return owl A.S.A.P.
Gred and Forge
"What on earth is that?" Severus spoke from across the room where he was holding a book and watching the small owl swoop around. "And what is that?"
"Well the first that I'm assuming you're talking about is Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon. The other that is an invitation to Harry's surprise eighteenth birthday party, with an extended invitation to, and I quote 'my boyfriend, if I have one'. From the Weasley twins, with Molly's approval." Hermione handed him the letter.
"If they only knew the truth," Severus muttered, lips turning up at one corner in what one might consider the very small beginning of a smile.
"That's what I said," Hermione laughed, surprised that they had had the same thought.
"Well, I suppose you should send back a reply."
"I will, but my response depends on whether or not you want to go."
"Why on earth would I want to go?" He said looking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Well, he's one of your students, and he's one of my best friends. And since Molly's invitation is extended to my significant other, I thought you might like to come. Although Fred and George did say they plan on pulling my 'significant other' away, and along with my other male house mates and friends, inform him of what the consequences will be should my heart get broken in any way, shape or form." Hermione laughed lightly.
"First, Potter may be one of my students, but his father was my enemy. Second, Potter hates me. Third, if your friends do pull me aside, which I doubt since they're scared of me, then I will inform them that I will do no such thing, and then proceed to threaten them with months of detention."
"Harry does not hate you," Hermione stopped as he glared at her. "He doesn't! He just doesn't like you very much. But he respects you for your work in the order."
"Same thing, and besides, what would I get him for a gift?"
"You and I could get him that new broom, the SilverWing 5000. I know he wants it, and that he doesn't have it yet, and no one else has the money to get it since it costs somewhere around 2,000 galleons," Hermione replied. "Please? As a favour to me? Besides, everyone is going to have to find out about us sometime, and I'd rather be able to tell my friends before they find out from someone who was at the ball."
"If it will get you to stop pestering me and leave me to read in peace, than yes, I will go with you," Severus finally agreed. "But I'm not promising to be nice."
Hermione squealed happily and before she even realised what she had done, she threw her arms around him in a quick hug before grabbing Pig to send a reply and racing out of the room, leaving a shocked Professor behind.
A/N: Hee hee, random physical contact! I love hugs, they're so nice. I read somewhere that you need five hugs a day to be happy, so everyone who's reading this gets an internet hug! One down, four to go, so go hug someone! If you liked, review, if you didn't, review, if you don't care, review. Or you don't have to review, that's cool too! Join in next time for the preparing of the ball. Lots of fun; Hermione getting all girly and Severus in a tux- what's not to like?!