Disclaimer: It's not mine, sorry.
A/N: Hey everyone, thanks soooo much for the reviews. One or two people questioned me about why Severus would be at the Potter's wedding, and my reasoning is that even though he might not have been friends with James, I think he was friends with Lily, and he took the picture of them as a gift to her. Sound reasonable? Good. Secondly, I am so sorry that this is so late in coming. I know it always sounds like a pathetic excuse, but I had a combination of writers block, and a ton of ideas swimming around in my head, so many that they couldn't get out at all. So I hope this was worth the wait and that the party scene lives up to your expectations. Also, thanks to everyone who waited patiently (or not so much!). And, not that anyone will complain hopefully, but I'm going to start adding a little more romance. I think they've warmed up enough to each other to start (and it's going to be gradual in coming), don't you? Now, as always, onto the story!
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Ten
Hermione woke up late Sunday morning feeling apprehensive about the party, but feeling very much relieved that everyone would've already found out because of the article in the Daily Prophet. She went downstairs to the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee to drink with the raspberry scone sitting on the counter for her.
"Nervous about tonight?"
"Good morning Severus," Hermione said as she turned to face the man behind her. "A little, yes, but knowing they've already read about it in the paper helps."
"Of course, now what time do we need to leave here at?"
"Around twenty to five, is that all right?"
"Of course, I'll meet you in the front hall as always?" Severus asked.
"Sure," Hermione hopped off the stool she had been sitting on. "I'm going to go get dressed and then I plan on going for a walk around the lake, or at least some of it."
"May I join you? I think we have some things we should talk about before the party."
"Probably, so I'll meet you out back in a few minutes then."
"All right," Severus replied as she dashed excitedly out of the room, acting more like a child then the mature eighteen year old woman he knew she could be.
Not a minute after she left, a tiny brown fluff-ball came barrelling in the window and straight into Severus' chest. It hooted crazily as Severus untied the letter attached to its leg. It was addressed to "Hermione Granger and Significant Other" so Severus went ahead and opened it.
Dearest, darling, most beautiful, ravishingly delightful, most delightfully beautiful, and beautifully darling Hermione,
Sorry this is such short notice, but Mum just decided that Harry's party is going to be a masque/costume party, so if you can, dress up. We're going to keep our identities a secret till later in the party, so dress to kill, and we'll see you when you get here, though we're sure we won't know it's you!
Fred and George
"Severus?" Hermione went past the doorway then doubled back when she saw a scowling Severus standing with a piece of paper in his hands. "What's that?"
"A letter from the Weasley twins," he handed the letter to her. "Apparently Mr. Potter's party is now a costume party."
"Oh no!" Hermione cried.
"What? I'll admit it's not the best idea Molly's had, but it isn't exactly horrible either," Severus drawled as he looked at her panicked face.
"I know, but it's a little after noon right now!" Hermione exclaimed. "You and I only have four hours to find costumes and get ready. You can get ready quickly, but it will take me a longer time! And what's so funny?"
"You," he replied simply, a hint of a smile on his face. "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked as she followed him out of the kitchen and upstairs.
"To one of the guest rooms where I have a Clossire I inherited from my mother."
"What's a Clossire?" Hermione asked as they walked into the room next to hers.
"It is the abbreviated name for a Closet of Desire. You simply have to write down what you would like to wear, and it will appear," Severus walked over to a large armoire standing against one of the walls. "I suppose my next question is what costume would you like? Matching? Colour? Style?"
"I don't know…what do you think?"
"I have an idea, although they're not exactly costumes, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all. I'm not exactly keen on dressing up in some silly costume so that I look like an animal or singer or some such nonsense."
"I quite agree," Severus stepped forward and wrote on a piece of parchment for a few minutes then placed it in the Clossire and closed the door. "They should be comfortable in this warm weather also."
Rumbling could be heard a few minutes later, and a few minutes after that the door opened and displayed two elegant looking costumes. Severus reached in and pulled out an exquisite looking costume that he held up for Hermione to see. It was a deep burgundy-coloured, one shouldered dress that had thin ribbon straps that would go over one shoulder. The open-back dress was made of rayon, and the skirt of the dress looked like it would begin about mid-thigh on the left and slope down to the right to just above her ankle.
"Oh I love it!" Hermione exclaimed as Severus pulled out his costume; a pair of black pants and a slightly billowy black shirt. "Let me guess, we're going as salsa dancers!"
"Or tango, or Latin or Spanish dancers, but yes," he replied as he pulled out two masks. Hermione's was a burgundy mask that just covered her eyes. Severus' was the same in black. "I figure that we can also alter our voices and you can change your hair style for the evening to confuse them. I don't need to change my hair since they won't really be expecting me."
"Sounds good, now, I need to go get ready. I'll meet you downstairs at twenty to five!" Hermione hugged him and ran out of the room to get ready.
* * * * *
"Hermione?" Severus knocked on her door a few minutes before they needed to be going. "May I come in a moment?"
"Sure," she called from where she was seated at her vanity putting the finishing touches on her make-up. She turned and stood up as he opened the door and came in. "Hey, you look great!"
Severus did look very dashing in his costume. The black pants fit him snugly without being too indecent looking. The slightly billowy black shirt was long sleeves, but made of a very light material that buttoned up in the front with the top two buttons undone. He completed the outfit with black dress shoes, the black, bandana-like mask that covered his eyes, and his hair was pulled back into a ponytail tied with a black ribbon.
"Thank you, and so do you," he said and pulled a white rose from behind his back. "A rose for you."
"It's beautiful, thank you," Hermione smiled as he stepped forward and tucked it into her hair just behind her right ear.
Hermione felt very out of characteristic in the costume. The dress was form-fitting and showed every curve of hers in a very enticing way. Not bad looking, just very un-like the loose clothes she normally wore. On her feet were white strappy, high-heeled sandals that accentuated her legs, and gave them the appearance of looking longer than they were. Her hair was pulled back in a tight chignon at the base of her neck. Silver earrings with little bells on them dangled from her ears. She also wore a silver bolo-style necklace that had a rose on it, and no other jewellery but her wedding ring.
"Let's go," Hermione said as she put on her mask and took the wrapped picture from Severus to carry to the party. "But first let's change our voices so no one can recognize us as easily."
"All right," Severus muttered the incantation and his voice deepened as hers rose higher, both sounding very different from their usual mellow voice pitches. Holding out his arm, they walked to the front porch, and apparated to the Weasley's where they were greeted by Charlie Weasley who was standing near the Weasley home apparition point, greeting people and quickly ushering them inside.
"Hello whoever you are," he said making two check marks on a piece of paper he was holding. "You're the last two people to arrive, and Harry should be here soon, so get in soon."
"You don't know who we are?" Hermione asked, curious as she handed her gifts to him to add to the large pile.
"Nope, my mum just told me to check off the number of people that arrived so everyone can keep their identity secret. We're expecting around thirty five people or so, including my family," Charlie explained as they walked into the decorated backyard.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had done an awesome job of decorating the backyard. Paper lanterns were charmed to float around the perimeter of the yard while little white lights were charmed to float above the food tables, picnic tables, and dance floor. A good size portion of the middle of the yard was transfigured to a hardwood floor for dancing, and a stereo had been set up near one edge of it. Two long tables were laden with tons of platters of delicious food, desserts, and drinks. Several other tables that could seat small groups of people were set up around the dance floor with flowers on them. At one of the tables Hermione could see who she was pretty sure was the rest of the Weasley clan due to the red hair they all shared. Ginny had dressed up as a faerie, Bill as an Egyptian pharaoh, Charlie as a (what else?) dragon tamer, Percy was dressed up as a mob leader since he already owned many suits, Fred and George as a pair of rabbit's feet, and Ron as a Chudley Cannons quidditch player. Hermione could see other people in varying degrees of costume. Some had done as Fred and George and worn actual costumes. Some had done like Ginny and made simple costumes, and others had done as herself and Severus and taken clothes from their wardrobes and donned masks.
"Hi, what are you supposed t'be?" a little boy about five years old or so came running up to them, dressed as Superman.
"We're tango dancers. What's your name and how old are you?" Hermione kneeled down so she was eye level with him. "Who are you here with?"
"My name's Archibald, but everyone calls me Archie. I'm five and I'm here with my Mum and my Da," Archie said rocking on his heels.
"Well who are they?" Severus asked, making an attempt to sound nice, but to Archie, he still sounded mean.
"He's kinda scary, who's he?" Archie leaned over and whispered (not very quietly) into Hermione's ear.
"This is my husband, and don't worry," she whispered back to him. "He's really not so tough."
"Okay. Well, if ya really want t'know, my Mummy and Da are Oliver and Katie." Archie pointed to two people standing among others talking. They were dressed as Batman and Cat-Woman.
"Oliver Wood and Katie Bell are your parents?" Severus asked incredulously.
"No," Archie stared at him. "Oliver Wood and Katie Wood are my parents, and actually they are my 'dopted parents."
"You're adopted?" Hermione asked, and Archie nodded. "Well your parents are pretty lucky to have you. What do you say I take you back over to them so they don't worry about you?"
"Okay," he said and took her hand. He grabbed Severus' hand too, surprising him. "You gotsa come with us so you don't have to be worried."
Hermione exchanged a smile with Severus over Archie's head as he led them over to his parents, Oliver and Katie.
"Archie, where have you been?" Katie reached down and picked him up as he let go of Severus and Hermione's hands and ran over to his mom and dad.
"I met mango dancers!"
"I think he means tango dancers," Oliver commented as Hermione and Severus walked closer. "Thanks for bringing him back over."
"Oh that's all right." Hermione replied. "He is adorable, when did you adopt him?"
"How'd you know we adopted him?" Oliver asked as he picked his son up.
"Well first of all, you two graduated not that long ago so the numbers don't match up, and second of all, he told us," Hermione smiled.
"Do we know you? Who are you? Who's he?" Katie blurted off several questions at once.
"Yes you know us, we're not supposed to tell who we are, and this is my significant other," Hermione replied fighting a smile as Severus grimaced at Katie's pestering.
"Everyone get ready! Harry's just arrived!" Ginny yelled as she ran into the backyard.
Everyone ducked down behind nearby tables or ran to hide behind one of the many hedges lining the edge of the yard. Hermione and Severus ducked down behind the barrels of butterbeer. Hermione almost fell over when stooping down, so Severus placed an arm around her waist to steady her. Hermione smiled when he didn't remove it after she had regained her balance.
"Hello Harry, the boys are out back in the field setting up, so go on out," Mrs. Weasley could be heard saying from the kitchen.
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley," they could faintly hear Harry reply as he walked outside.
"SURPRISE!!!!!" Everyone yelled as they jumped out. Harry looked stunned and then began laughing as everyone came over giving him birthday greetings.
"All right everybody, help yourselves to food," Mr. Weasley spoke so his voice carried across the yard.
Hermione and Severus were right next to the food table so they quickly helped themselves to fried chicken, potato salad, biscuits, and butterbeer before going to sit at one of the small tables. They were soon joined by Archie who had piled his plate with pizza.
"Hiya, my Mummy said I could sit here if I didn't bother ya and if ya didn't mind," Archie set his plate down. "Is that okay?"
"Of course, you go tell her we said its fine," Hermione replied before Severus could open his mouth to refuse.
"THEY SAID I CAN SIT WITH 'EM MUMMY!" Archie yelled out attracting a lot of attention and causing several people to chuckle. Katie just waved her hand and went back to talking with Harry and some others who Hermione assumed were former Gryffindor quidditch team members.
Archie pushed a chair between Severus and Hermione and plopped down on it. Somehow he managed to demolish his slices of pizza while keeping up a running commentary about Superman and all his latest adventures. He also chattered about his Mummy and Da's quidditch team and their practices, and Hermione was sure that he would follow in his parent's footsteps as a professional quidditch player. As people were finishing up dinner, someone began playing music.
"All right everyone, the dance floor is now open, so go dance!" Hermione knew from the announcer's voice that it was Lee Jordan. Severus and Hermione sat for the next hour talking with each other, left alone by everyone else except for a few inquisitive glances and people saying hello. And of course, the seemingly ever-present Archie.
"Would you dance with me? My mummy's busy talking," Archie rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands behind his back.
"I would love to," Hermione took his hand and walked with him out onto the semi-crowded dance floor as a slow song came on.
Severus watched as his wife bent down and said something to Archie, to which he nodded. A moment later she picked him up in her arms so they could dance more easily. He watched as the little boy looked over at him, then leaned in and whispered something in Hermione's ear. Hermione threw back her head and laughed, and Severus thought she had never looked more beautiful. Before he could stop it, the thought of her holding their child like that and looking happy popped into his head. He quickly erased it from his mind. He stood up as an upbeat salsa song came on and walked over to the pair.
"May I have her back for this song?" He asked Archie.
Archie nodded and scrambled back over to his parents after Hermione set him down. Severus took Hermione's hand and began leading her through some of the salsa moves. He pulled her a little closer after a few steps and leaned his head down so she could hear him.
"What did that bothersome boy say about me that was so funny?" Severus asked, his breath lightly tickling Hermione's ear.
"He's not bothersome, be nice," Hermione chided him. "He just said that you looked like Zorro, which I hadn't even realised till he mentioned it."
"What on earth is Zorro?"
"Who, you mean."
"Fine, who on earth is Zorro."
"He's this dashing movie character who dresses in all black and saves beautiful girls," Hermione smiled sweetly at him as he spun her out and then back in again.
"Great," Severus drawled. "Just what I always wanted, to be a dashing movie character."
"Well you do look dashing tonight. Black is a good colour on you, although I think we need to go shopping sometime and get you some other colour robes."
"You are not touching my clothes, and for your information I do own other colours."
"Really? What?" Hermione asked, doubtful.
"I have a dark green robe, a dark silver robe, two dark brown robes with my family crest on them, and a dark blue robe with various decorations on it for royal functions- weddings and coronations and the like," he stated.
"Fine, fine, whatever you say," Hermione said as the song ended.
"Okay everyone; we're going to open presents now, so gather around the birthday boy!" Bill Weasley called out and everyone made their way over to where several tables had been set up around the pile of gifts. Hermione took Severus' outstretched hand as they walked over to where everyone was sitting down. They took their seats on one of the benches so that their backs were to the table top.
"Okay everyone, here's the deal with the unmasking," Mr. Weasley stood up, motioning for quiet. "As Harry here opens his presents, whoever gave it will reveal their self, all right?"
Harry began opening his gifts, receiving all sorts of things. Oliver, Katie, and Archie gave him a gift certificate to Quality Quidditch Supplies, Fred and George gave him some prank items, and Dean and Seamus had gotten him some treats and toys for Hedwig, saying she deserved some gifts too. Ginny gave him a book on some of the greatest wizard battles in history, Mrs. Weasley gave him a sweater, Mr. Weasley gave him one of his favourite batteries from his collection along with a book about the Ministry of Magic, Neville gave him a rememberall, Alicia and Angelina conspired to give him a broom cleaning kit, and Ron gave him a Chudley Cannons poster and some chocolate frogs. Soon they were nearing the bottom of the pile, and finally came to Hermione and Severus' gifts.
"Blimey!" Harry exclaimed as he opened the box the broom was in.
"What is it Harry?" Charlie asked since Harry was just staring at it in the box and no one could see what it was.
"It's a Silverwing 5000!" he said excitedly as he held it up for everyone to see. There was a good deal of scrambling as everyone clamoured to get a good look at it, and it was a few minutes before everyone got back to their seats, still talking about what an awesome broom it was.
"Who's it from Harry?" Ron asked.
"It doesn't say," Harry checked and saw the other box with the matching wrapping paper. "Oh wait, there's another one here."
Harry tore off the paper and opened the box, once again staring in silence at the gift before pulling it out of the box at someone's prodding.
"It's a picture of my parents on their wedding day," he responded quietly yet happily when asked what it was.
He passed it around so everyone could see. As it passed by Severus and Hermione, Severus took off their voice-altering charms. Even though Severus hadn't wanted to come, the look of gratitude and happiness on Hermione's face as she watched Potter open it was some gratification.
"Who gave you the gifts?" Mrs. Weasley asked no one specifically. "They must really care about you."
"Hardly," Severus snorted before he could stop himself, drawing the attention of everyone.
"Stop it," Hermione slapped his arm lightly. "They're from us Harry."
"Hermione?" Harry questioned. "Is that you?"
"And her husband too!" Archie yelled out as Hermione stood up and took off her mask.
"Husband?!" Several people exclaimed.
"Yes…didn't you read yesterday's Daily Prophet?" Hermione asked, confused.
"None were delivered due to an owl flu epidemic," Ginny explained.
"Oh no," Hermione turned to Severus who was still sitting down. "What do I do?"
"What do you mean what do you do?" Ron asked, confused like the rest of the group.
"I believe that she is trying to find the kindest way of informing you that she and I were married about a month ago," Severus stood up and removed his mask, shocking everyone, especially Ron, who promptly passed out cold. Ginny quickly splashed some water on his face to wake him up.
"You married him!!" Ron yelled, once he gained consciousness again, expressing the majority of the crowds' thoughts. "Why!?"
"Don't worry; he's really nice!" Archie piped up, but was quickly silenced by Katie.
"Okay, so let's get this straight…" Mr. Weasley tried to be reasonable. "You two got married a month ago…and something about the Daily Prophet?"
"We attended this ball the other day and photographers took our picture since it was the first time the Lord and Lady Snape, us, had attended the event in quite a while. The picture was on the front page of yesterday's paper with a large headline. We assumed that everyone had seen it and would know about us. That was a relief for me since I was worried as to how you would react." Hermione began to become emotional, as she seemed prone to do in situations like these. "I didn't know how to tell you all."
"Don't cry Mynee," Archie ran over, reached his arms up, and hugged her around the waist. "I still like you."
"Thank you Archie," Hermione knelt down and hugged him back, gathering herself and her emotions together.
"I think what we need to do is sit down and answer all of your questions," Severus spoke slowly. "Then perhaps we can continue with Mr. Potter's birthday celebration."
Everyone sat back down and for the next hour and a half or so asked Hermione and Severus questions. Several times Ron had to go inside and calm himself down, so shocked and disgusted was he. By the end of the interrogation everyone seemed satisfied, if a bit weirded out still about the whole situation. Most people, while shocked, were surprisingly accepting and understanding of Hermione's and Severus' reasons.
"Hey all Gryffindor guys, you know what this means!" Fred and George yelled out as extremely mischievous looks crossed their faces.
"Time for The Talk!" All the Gryffindor guys yelled.
Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean, Neville, and Percy all gathered around Severus and frog-marched him away from the rest of the group for 'the talk' that consisted of what the consequences would be if he broke her heart in any way, shape, or form.
"What did they say to you?" Hermione asked as Severus came back a few minutes later looking paler than usual.
"Nothing I ever want to hear again," Severus replied, refusing to say any more. "Even the threat of taking off house points didn't phase your year-mates."
"All right everyone, we still have dessert, so gather round to sing happy birthday to Harry!" Mrs. Weasley called a while later after Harry finished opening the last of his gifts.
The rest of the party wrapped up without any further commotion, and a spectacular display of Filibuster Fireworks set off by the twins. People soon began to leave, and over the next twenty minutes Harry was busy saying good-bye and thanks to everyone until only the Weasley's, Harry, Hermione and Severus were left.
"I'm sorry if we ruined your party Harry," Hermione came over to him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"That's all right Mione, it wasn't your fault the Daily Prophet owls all caught the flu so we didn't know," Harry replied as he ran a hand through his messy hair. "Thanks again, both of you, for the presents, especially the picture. It means a lot."
"You're welcome, but you really have Severus to thank for that. He took it himself at your parent's wedding," Hermione smiled as she pushed Severus forward to talk to Harry while she went to say good-bye to the Weasley's.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to her calling you that," Harry smiled, shaking his head. "But thank you Professor Snape, and congratulations."
"You're welcome Mr. Potter," Severus shook his outstretched hand. "But don't think that because you are best friends with my wife that I will be any easier on you in class."
"I wouldn't dream of it Professor."
"We need to be going Harry," Hermione interrupted after saying good-bye to Ron who was grudgingly becoming more accepting. "Severus and I are going shopping tomorrow."
"For what?" Severus asked as they began walking to the apparition point.
"New robes," Hermione replied just before apparating home, leaving an irritated Severus and a laughing Harry.
A/N: Okay everyone, that's it for this chapter. This chapter is almost 4,500 words long, and I hope you all liked it. The party scene was tough to write, and it was tough for me to write the reactions. I mainly saw people being too stunned and shocked to really do much, and Ron of course passing out cause he over-reacts to everything. Archie is just one idea that popped into my head as I wrote this chapter, and I thought he was just kind of something fun to throw in. Anyways, I hope you liked it, and as always, review if you like, but it's okay if you don't.