Disclaimer: Okay peoples, it's not mine, so you can't have it!
A/N: Hello everyone!!!! I'm back in the U.S.A. as of a few days ago, dealing with jet-lag and un-packing, but I wanted to get a chapter up for all of you lovely viewers out there! Italy was great, I had a blast! The places I went to were Rome, Pisa, Milan, Florence, Genova, Lake Maggiore, Isola Bella, Stresa, Lugano (Switzerland),Venice, Burano, Ravenna, Assisi, Sorrento, Capri, and Montecassino! Fun, fun, fun! Thanks for being patient, now onto what you really want, the story!
Take Time to Smell the Roses
Chapter Fifteen
"If I may have everyone's attention please?" Professor Dumbledore stood up at dinner the next evening and waited for silence before continuing. "A little under a month from now, on the first of October, I have decided that Hogwarts will have a singing competition. Anyone may enter including staff, students, and ghosts, and the winner will be decided by a school vote. Also, on October thirty first, there will be a Halloween Ball, beginning at seven, open to all years, although curfew for fourth years and below will be at ten o'clock, and midnight for everyone else. Thank you."
"You and I are entering the singing competition, no buts about it!" Hermione commented to Severus. "And I know originally we said we would do a duet, but would you mind if we just sang separately?"
"If I must sing at all, then fine," he replied in mock graciousness, causing Hermione to laugh.
At that moment owls began flying in, delivering the morning mail. Two of the owls that flew towards the high table swooped over Severus and Hermione's heads and dropped a letter for each of them on their plates.
"So you first, who's that from?" Hermione asked after they had both opened their letters and read them.
"The Zabini's," Severus passed the letter to her. "Their oldest daughter Maurine has just become engaged to Geoffrey Nott, and we've been belatedly invited to the engagement party this Thursday. Who is your letter from?"
"My mom and dad," she handed him the letter she had gotten. "My cousin is getting married on December fifteenth, the day she met her fiancé, and we've been invited. Do you want to go?"
"To the wedding? Or the engagement party?"
"Both, either, I don't care. Although I do want to go to my cousin's wedding. She and I are rather close, since I never had any siblings."
"Well, I'd pass on the engagement party, but the Nott's and Zabini's are both prominent members of society, and we'll be expected to attend since they're both former students of mine. As for your cousin's wedding, I'll go, but I can't promise I'll be concerned with anything that goes on, seeing as it's muggle tradition."
"Thank you Severus," she leaned over and hugged him, something that had become more commonplace for both of them.
"Severus, it's almost seven fifteen, we're going to be late!" Hermione exclaimed from the living room where she was waiting for him.
"We will not. I'm ready, let's go," he said as he came striding out of the bathroom where he had been getting ready.
Grabbing his cloak he and Hermione began making a hurried walk to the main hall, and then the edge of the forbidden forest where the closest apparition point was. The party started at seven thirty, and they wanted to be on time. Clasping hands, they apparated to the Zabini Manor where they joined the small groups of people dispensing their cloaks and entered the large hall where the party was being held.
"You look nice," Hermione commented as Severus grabbed them each a glass of champagne from a passing house elf.
"Thank you, so do you."
Severus was wearing (what else?) black dress slacks, and a black button up collared shirt. His tie was dark silver with thin black asymmetrical stripes on it. His hair was hanging loose, brushing the tops of his shoulders tonight, and Hermione took note of the fact that it didn't look greasy at all. She supposed the greasy look sometimes came about as a result of working around various potions all day.
Hermione was wearing a casual evening dress. The black dress was off the shoulders with three-quarter length sleeves, and an asymmetrical hem. A diamond buckle at the neckline near her left shoulder provided brilliant detail and matched the small diamond studs Hermione was wearing. She had tamed her hair and pulled it back into a sleek chignon.
"Ladies and Gentleman, friends and family," Adelphio Zabini waited for silence. "Thank you for coming. It is with great pride that Helene and I, along with Edward and Liza, announce the engagement of our children, Maurine and Geoffrey!"
Polite applause sounded throughout the room as Edward and Liza Nott, and Adelphio and Helene Zabini made a big show of welcoming their soon-to-be family member. Helene Zabini came forward and pointed out the food and drinks, and welcomed everyone once again. The orchestra started up soon after, and people began milling around, talking with one another, visiting the buffet table, or more commonly, visiting the bar. The Zabini's were known for their extensive winery, and the chance to drink some of the finest Italian wines was hard for many people to pass up.
"Congratulations Miss Zabini, Mr. Nott," Severus hugged Maurine and shook Geoffrey's hand as he and Hermione finally got the chance to extend their congratulations to the happy couple.
"Yes, congratulations," Hermione also chimed as she hugged both of them, somewhat awkwardly. She wasn't used to hugging people she didn't know, but it was quite common among the 'upper circles' so she just went along with it.
"Thank you Professor, Mrs. Snape. We're so glad you could attend, what with the short notice," Maurine smiled, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Yes, now if you'll excuse us, I believe some more of my family has just arrived," Nott nodded as he took Maurine's hand and led her away.
"Well, they seem to be doing all right with one another," Severus commented as he and Hermione began walking around the room.
"Why wouldn't they?" Hermione questioned. "They are engaged."
"Not by choice. It's mainly their parents doing. Maurine and Geoffrey have, fortunately for them, been friends since they were children, and that's how long their marriage has been in planning."
"Oh, is that common?"
"Not so much, but yes, it is. Mister Malfoy and Miss Parkinson have been promised to each other since they were but a few days old. I pity them since neither of them particularly likes the other. Speaking of Mister Malfoy, I see Lucius and Narcissa over there. Come," he held out his arm for her to take. "We must fulfil our family obligation and say good evening."
"But they're a bunch of evil, dirty, no good idiots," Hermione grumbled under her breath, but put a calm, superior look on her face as they approached the Malfoy family.
"Good evening cousin," Lucius sneered as he shook Severus' hand, and Hermione could see that they were both gripping hands tightly.
"Good evening," Hermione replied as she exchanged the obligatory hug with Narcissa, who also had a mask of calm indifference on.
"Good evening Professor Snape," Draco said as he came over to them, ignoring Hermione.
"Draco," Lucius warned as he swiftly squeezed his son's shoulder in a warning.
"Good evening Mrs. Snape, would you care to dance?" He bowed slightly when the pressure on his shoulder increased.
Lucius only let up when Hermione agreed, mainly to escape from Lucius and Narcissa, and also because as much as she disliked Draco, she didn't want to see him acquire more bruising at her expense. Taking his hand they fell into the rhythm of the waltz at the edge of the circle of dancers before sweeping in to join the group of people dancing.
"I'm sorry," she said after a moment.
"What for?" he sneered, covering his surprise. 'Why on earth is she apologising to me?'
"That you have to dance with me."
"Well I'm used to dancing with people who disgust me. Even if they are family."
"You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family," she glared at him and purposely trod on his foot. He did well at covering his pain, and barely let a shadow of a wince cross his pale face.
"I hate you," he spat at her, thankful the dance was ending as he led her back.
"The feeling is mutual, cousin, don't worry," she sent a saccharinely sweet smile towards him before going to join her husband again.
"Well you look proud of yourself," he commented as she moved to his side.
"I just had the last word with Draco," she replied. "How much longer does this go on for?"
"Well it officially ends at midnight, but Professor Dumbledore set a ten o'clock curfew for all students attending, so we need to be leaving soon."
"Good, because if I see one of the Malfoy's I think I'll go crazy, they are so snobby and – Hello Mrs. Malfoy," Hermione's face quickly went from irritated to smiling as Narcissa came over to them.
"You don't mind if I steal her away for a few moments before you two need to leave, do you Severus?" And without waiting for a reply she linked arms with a slightly flabbergasted Hermione and pulled her away from Severus.
"How are you doing Hermione?" Narcissa asked as she led Hermione to a small table, slightly apart from the others and sat down.
"Uh, Fine Mrs. Malfoy," she replied, slight confused as to what Narcissa wanted to 'steal her away' for.
"Call me Narcissa," she smiled, but her tone of voice made it sound like a command.
"Okay, Narcissa," Hermione said awkwardly. "What did you need to talk to me about?"
"Oh nothing really. Seeing as we're family and all, I just wanted us girls to get together for tea the next Hogsmede weekend you have," she stared at Hermione intently. "Just for some girl talk, that's all."
"Okay…The first Hogsmede weekend is next week, but I already have plans with my friends, but the Hogsmede weekend after that is the seventh of December, if that works for you?" Hermione suggested nervously, still wondering exactly what Narcissa's motives were.
"It's a date then," Narcissa stood up, as did Hermione, and gave her a hug. "Ta ta for now Hermione, be sure to keep in touch!"
"That was weird," Hermione was so deep in her ponderings that when Severus came up behind her and lightly touched her arm, she jumped and had to stifle a gasp. "You startled me!"
"What did Narcissa want?" He questioned as they made their way to the cloak room.
"She wants to have tea," Hermione smiled her thanks as he helped her with her cloak. "The December Hogsmede weekend."
"Tea?" Severus looked sceptical.
"That's what I thought, but I'll admit my curiosity will be peaked by that point."
"Hmm," Severus didn't say anything, but silently mused over what Narcissa could possibly have to talk about with Hermione.
After saying a few last good-byes, they clasped hands and apparated home. Funnily, neither of them seemed to realise that since they both knew perfectly well where Hogwart's was, they didn't need to have physical contact with the other. However, maybe-just maybe- their subconscious' wanted it.
Okay everyone, that's it for this chapter. Next chapter will have the singing talent competition, so if you want to give me song ideas for various people to sing, I'll do my best to use some of them, although I don't know how many, since I plan on writing out the lyrics for the songs that people sing- at least for some of them. So as always, review or don't, it's all good!