A/N: This is the longest chapter, ever!! I am exhausted! Well, here it is! Please R&R!!
Chapter 13
The three neat-as-a-pin Gryffindor's descended the main staircase and spotted Malfoy outside the Great Hall apparently waiting for them.
"Oi, ferret!" Ron called, grinning.
Malfoy spun around to confront whoever called him a ferret and subsequently, his jaw dropped.
"Careful Malfoy, if the wind changes, your face will stay that way!" Harry warned jokingly.
Malfoy continued to gape up at the vision descending the stairs gracefully.
Hermione blushed furiously and gazed at Malfoy shyly through her eyelashes.
Harry and Ron grinned.
"Cleans up pretty well, eh Malfoy?!" Ron jested, elbowing Malfoy.
Malfoy finally found his voice again. "Why she's....well she....wow!"
Harry snapped his fingers in front of Malfoy. "Hey, Malfoy, you look like a love-sick hippogriff!"
Malfoy shook his head to clear it and tore his eyes away from Hermione to look at Harry. It was then that he noticed Harry's appearance. "Wow, Harry! Your hair can be tamed! Who did it?!"
Harry gestured proudly at Hermione.
Malfoy lifted a hand to touch Harry's hair to see if it was his real hair, and jumped in surprise as Harry leaped away from him.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!!!!" Harry cried protectively. "It might go awry again!"
Malfoy laughed.
"Hey Malfoy! You look like Dracula!" Ron piped up.
It was sort of true! Malfoy had his hair slicked back as usual, and he was wearing a black tux, covered with a cape with a high collar, it was black and lined with green satin on the inside. He was already pale, all that was missing were the fangs!
Malfoy stopped laughing abruptly to glare at Ron.
Hermione quickly intervened by going to Malfoy and taking his arm. "I think you look very handsome, Draco!" she said smiling at him.
The strange love-sick look came over Malfoy's face again, and he instantly forgot Ron's comment. 'she thinks I look handsome!' he thought happily, then he shook his head again frowning. 'No!! stop! She's still a mudblood!' he argued with himself as they walked into the great hall. 'Must. Not. Feel. Anything!'
When they entered, they found that everyone was there already, milling around talking to each other and waiting for Dumbledore to start the ball. The tables had been shifted to line the sides against the walls to make room for dancing.
As they walked over to a table that was laden with food (expertly spotted by Ron) people gasped at Hermione's transformation and Harry's tamed hair. Compliments flew back and forth and finally stopped when they began to eat.
Neville walked up and stood beside them, happily munching on a sausage roll, oblivious to Malfoy, who was standing directly behind him picking up a plate and loading it with food.
"Arw ou guys going to danph?" Neville asked the trio around his Sausage roll, spraying Harry as he spoke.
Harry didn't reply as he brushed the half chewed bits of sausage roll off of his cloak. Ron looked mortified that such a thing would even be suggested and Hermione shrugged and stated that she would like to, but didn't know who would dance with her!
"She's going to dance first with me, Longbottom, so back off!" Malfoy interjected suddenly.
Neville got such a fright when Malfoy spoke, he sprayed sausage roll all over Malfoy.
Malfoy in response, flinched and closed his eyes, but refrained from throttling poor Neville, who was now staring at him in fear with his hand over his mouth.
Harry patted Neville on the shoulder comfortingly. Ron was laughing hysterically and Hermione gasped and began to brush the food particles off of Malfoy's shoulders.
Malfoy took his napkin and cleaned himself up, glaring at Neville with contempt all the while.
"I..I'm s.sorry, M-Malfoy!" Neville stuttered, paling considerably at the look Malfoy was shooting him. "I- I d-d-didn't expect y-you to b-be there!"
Malfoy finished cleaning himself up and tossed the napkin away, then turned to Neville.
Neville cowered away from him. "P-please d-don't Avada me!" he pleaded.
Malfoy weighed up the situation. Normally, he would have hexed Longbottom into oblivion for spraying him with chewed food, but he didn't want to blow his cover in front of the trio. So, with that in mind, he counted to ten and took a deep breath. "I will let it go this once, Longbottom, but next time, I won't be so lenient!"
Neville nodded and dashed off in the direction of the opposite end of the hall and as far away from Malfoy as he could get.
Just then, Dumbledore appeared at the head table, he was wearing royal purple robes with silver stars on it, looking very cheerful.
The students fell silent to hear the headmaster speak.
"Welcome students of Hogwarts, to this wonderful occasion!" he began "May I present, our reason for this celebration, Proffessor Severus Snape who turns 38 today!" Dumbledore lead the students into applause, which was half hearted, but applause none-the-less, and moved aside to reveal a very grumpy looking Snape, who sat at the Headmaster's usual spot wearing a colourful party hat just daring someone to come up and wish him a happy birthday!
No-one dared cheer for him, if looks could kill all of the students would be dead, except the ones in the back, but that was only because Snape couldn't see them!
The applause abruptly ended and Dumbledore continued. "With that said, let the ball begin!"
Waltz music began and the students filed onto the dance floor. Snape stayed right where he was, glaring at the happy students as they danced the waltz before him.
Dumbledore grabbed Proffessor McGonnagall and waltzed her around the dance floor.
Some Hufflepuff girl they didn't know came up and asked Harry to dance. Ron intentionally hid himself in the darkest corner he could find. Malfoy on the other hand, politely held out his hand to Hermione.
"Would you care to dance, Hermione?" he asked as he bowed.
"I would love to, Draco!" she replied, putting her hand in his.
Since Ron was sitting this one out, Harry, Hermione and Malfoy had handed their gifts to Snape over to Ron to watch over while they danced.
He whisked her off onto the dance floor and waltzed with profession.
After a while, Hermione managed to speak. "You dance wonderfully!" she complimented.
Malfoy looked down at her as he waltzed her around in a circle. "It's a given," he replied "in aristocracy, it is expected of you to learn how to dance. We have so many ball's, I wouldn't be a proper Malfoy if I couldn't dance. The Waltz was the first dance I ever learned, I was four years old."
Hermione was impressed. "You were only four?! Wow!"
Malfoy nodded. "Father said that the best time to teach me was in my most impressionable years. I didn't have much of a choice, it was either learn to dance, or get caned for refusing!"
If they weren't friends and nothing had changed between them, she would have been glad to hear that someone had caned Malfoy, but since he was now a friend, she was shocked and appalled.
"He caned you?" She asked, perplexed.
Malfoy shrugged. "yes, still does on occasion." He replied nonchalantly.
Hermione looked up at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Draco. He shouldn't!"
Malfoy looked down at her, surprised by her compassion. Nobody had ever shown him love or compassion before. "Thank you!" he said softly as a well of emotion, almost like relief and happiness flooded over him. He'd told Hermione something personal, that had opened a door for her to see the real him, whom he'd been hiding for a long time.
As a Malfoy, he was not supposed to show any emotion other than rage, hate and scorn, and occasionally malice. He found he was allowed to smirk too, much to his delight. He couldn't possibly go around looking like Snape all his life. And anyway, his smirk was his trademark, he wouldn't be Draco Malfoy without it.
The waltz ended and another dance began, but Hermione was tired from the waltz and wanted to sit this next dance out, which Malfoy readily agreed to. He needed to be alone for a few minutes to get his emotions under control. He scolded himself for letting his emotions get the better of him. What would his father say! Falling for a Mudblood? It was unthinkable.
Once he was outside the Great Hall, he sat and tried to gather every bit of hatred he had for muggleborns that had been hammered into him from the age of 3, and bring it all to the surface, to submerge the other confusing feelings he was not accustomed to. If he got all soft now, he wouldn't be able to carry out his elusive plan. You can't very well carry out an evil plan if you don't feel evil now can you?!
With this accomplished, he made his way back to the Great Hall, confident that he could keep the upper-hand over his strange affection for Hermione and the strange feeling of being friends with Ron and Harry.
When he had returned, he scanned the hall for his three vict- erm friends.
Some sort of fifties rock and roll song was playing and a lot students were on the dancefloor doing all the classic dances.
He was just beginning to get impatient when he finally spotted them. He saw Hermione and Harry dancing together. Harry was really getting into this fifties dance thing. He had thrown Hermione up into the air, caught her and she went under his legs and came bouncing back up, then they did some sort of head movement followed by arm movements. They looked like extras out of "Grease". Malfoy shook his head. Muggles! Ron had apparently stopped being a wallflower and was to be found bouncing and 'dancing' around them in circles, yelling that muggle music wasn't half bad!
Dumbledore was spotted dancing right along with everyone else, thoroughly enjoying himself.
Snape, was still sitting where he had been from the beginning, still glaring around at everyone, not at all looking like he was enjoying himself.
When the fifties rock and roll song finished, it was only to be expected that some classic songs be played. It wasn't a party without them!
Malfoy made his way over to the trio. They were huddled together and Harry and Hermione were showing Ron how to do the moves to the next dance, which all the muggle-born's knew too well!
When Malfoy arrived, they pulled him into the huddle.
"What are we talking about?" Malfoy asked.
"The next dance is a muggle dance, wanna join us?" Harry replied excitedly.
Malfoy made a face. "Muggle dance?"
"It's really a lot of fun!" Ron put in. "You see, you do these moves.." He showed Malfoy the dance moves that Harry and Hermione had shown him.
Malfoy watched, taking it all in with a dubious expression. "I don't know, it looks..."
"Oh, come on, Malfoy! Live a little!" Harry cut him off.
Malfoy was still reluctant, but the intro to the "Tragedy" by "Steps" had started and Harry and Ron had grabbed his arms and drug him forward. Now he was stuck!
More than a few student's, especially the Slytherin's were shocked to see Malfoy up there dancing with the few Muggle-born's in the school, dancing to a muggle song none-the-less!
Malfoy had no choice but to try and follow the others in their moves, trying to learn them so he wouldn't look like an idiot. He fortunately picked it up quickly and found himself enjoying being in unison with the three Gryffindors. They were dancing in perfect synchronization!
Seeing Malfoy dance in such a way shocked even the muggle-born's that they left the dance floor to watch him in action. But he was having so much fun, he didn't even notice that only he, Harry, Ron and Hermione were left to do a floorshow!
Finally, the song ended, and the hall erupted in applause!
Suddenly realizing, that they had been dancing alone, the four blushed and bowed out of courtesy.
Malfoy turned to Hermione. "That was fun!" he declared. "Are there any other's like that?"
Hermione laughed and went over to the DJ and requested a few more songs.
Nobody else came onto the dance-floor, they were content to watch the four perform!
And so, the four danced the Macarena, (Hermione in the front, the three boys behind her) and Kyle Minogue's "Locomotion" and finally another "Steps" classic "One for Sorrow".
By the time they had finished, Girls were fawning all over Malfoy!
Thankfully, it was time for a break. They were exhausted! Hermione and Harry congratulated Ron and Malfoy for learning the dances so fast and for doing them so well!
Then Dumbledore took the stage again. "May I have your attention please!"
The hall went silent and Snape appeared to tense considerably, he was looking like a deer caught in headlights as the Headmaster continued.
"It is time, dear ones, to sing "Happy Birthday" to Professor Snape!" He said happily.
He took out his wand and raised it to conduct the school. "Altogether now! One, two, three!"
"Happy birthday to you!" The school sang together. "Happy birthday to you!"
Snape sank lower in his seat.
"Happy birthday dear professor Saa-aape! Happy birthday toooo yooooou!" the finished with a round of applause, each student enjoying the Potions Master's pained and mortified expression.
While everyone was clapping, Hermione suggested that it would be a good time to give Snape his gifts, which, aside from the other teachers, only they had been thoughtful enough to buy him.
They approached the appalled professor, and he didn't appear to notice them as they drew near, each bearing their gifts behind their backs.
Hermione went first. "Erm... Proffessor Snape?" she said softly.
You would think she had used a voice edifying charm and had yelled in his ear by his reaction. He nearly shot out of his seat in alarm at being approached so unexpectedly.
Clasping his chest he stared at them wide eyed, then quickly recovered.
"What is it, Miss Granger?!" he snapped.
"Are you having a happy birthday, sir?" Hermione asked innocently.
Snape folded his arms huffily and glared. "No, I am not, Miss Granger!" he declared sharply. "This ball was a ridiculous idea!"
She glanced at the others and they slowly brought their gifts out from hiding.
"Then perhaps, sir, these might cheer you up!" Hermione said hopefully, holding her gift out to the astounded Proffessor.
He looked at each of them, each holding a gift out to him. He was too shocked to say anything. He never got anything on his birthday, not since he had been a child. And yet here were four students who had apparently taken the time out of their own free time to get him gifts! It was astounding!
Figuring he had better show some sort of gratitude, he took Hermione's gift and set it on the table in front of him, then stared at the neatly wrapped package, then looked back at her, his black eyes searching her face for any hint of a joke, but all he could see was a gentle smile and compassion.
"Thank you, Miss Granger!" He said softly, still not quite believing that this was happening.
She nodded happily and stepped aside to let Malfoy come next with his gift.
Malfoy handed his gift over, casting a smirk to ron over his shoulder. "Happy Birthday, Proffessor!" he said simply.
Snape took Malfoy's gift with the same shock that he had taken Hermione's and laid it down beside hers. "Thank you, Mr Malfoy!"
Malfoy shrugged and stepped aside.
Ron was next. He cheerfully handed his roughly wrapped gift over to Snape. "Here you are Proffessor! Enjoy!"
Snape took Ron's gift, with a little suspicion, but placed it beside the others anyway.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley."
Ron nodded and stepped aside.
Snape nearly fell off his chair when Harry stepped up and held out his gift.
Harry stood patiently waiting for Snape to take the gift. For a moment, Harry and Snape just stared at each other, Harry's face showing no hate or loathing, just... respect. Snape stared back searching Harry's face, not believing that the student he hated most was giving him a gift.
Harry continued to hold the gift out to him. "Happy birthday, sir." He said quietly.
Snape inclined his head and took Harry's gift, setting it aside with the others. "Thank you, Mr Potter." He said slowly.
Harry managed the tiniest of smiles, as the others gathered around again and watched Snape intently.
Snape looked from one face to the other, all wearing the same expectant expression.
"What?" he demanded.
"Aren't you going to open them?" Malfoy demanded.
Snape looked at the four gifts. "What, now?" he asked.
Four heads nodded furiously.
"Can't I open them in my private rooms?" Snape asked, in a very un-Snape like way. He was starting to feel cheered that he actually had gifts!
Four heads shook furiously.
"Nope, you have to open them now!" Malfoy replied.
Snape stared at the four students, who were apparently very eager for him to open his gifts. He raised one eyebrow. "Very well."
He picked up Ron's gift first and opened it. His eyes lit up at the huge jar of sweets. "My favorite!" he remarked with amusement. He turned to Ron, confused. "But how did you know-"
Ron pointed at Malfoy. "He who has eyes, let him see!"
Malfoy smirked. "I'm observant! What can I say?"
Snape placed the sweets to one side and picked up another gift, it was Malfoy's.
He untied the silver ribbon and removed the metallic green paper and opened the box. He looked impressed. "Well Mr Malfoy, I must say you spared no expense!" He said as he took one of the mother of pearl cufflinks out to look at.
"Only the best for-" Malfoy stopped. He was about to say 'only the best for the dark lord's most loyal followers' but caught himself just in time. "our Potions Master!" he finished with instead. "Put them on! I want to see what they look like on you!"
Snape removed his plain black cufflinks, and replaced them with the pearl ones from Malfoy. "Very nice!" Snape said approvingly, one eyebrow still raised.
Malfoy smirked proudly.
Next, Snape unwrapped Harry's gift. It was the biggest so he was quite curious indeed to see what was in it. He stared at the box containing all the stuff he would need to replace his old worn potion making set, which had been practically falling apart. He was extremely happy with this gift, he could now resume his research and inventing of new potions. Then, Snape shocked everyone by doing something they never thought they'd ever see Snape do, he smiled, and not just that, but he smiled....at Harry!
"Well, well, Mr Potter, it seems you have been observant also!" Snape remarked coolly.
Harry shrugged, and mumbled something about Snape needing a new set.
Hermione almost started crying when she saw Snape smile. They had made a sad, lonely man smile, and that was the best reward she could ask for.
Last, but not least, Snape opened Hermione's gift and again smiled.
"I should have known you would get me books, Miss Granger!" Snape said opening each book and reading the inscription that Hermione had written in each book.
'To Proffessor Snape, from your annoying know-it-all student, Hermione Granger'
Snape smiled again and turned to the foursome who were all grinning back at him. "Thank you all so much." He said "I shall enjoy all of these gifts emmensly! Now, run along, I have brooding to do!"
They all grinned. It had been short, but they had drawn a smile from Snape, and were happy that he would go back to being his normal brooding self, but knowing that he was at least a little happier on the inside.
As they made their way back, Malfoy looked at the big clock at one end of the hall and flinched. He had one hour before he had to lead them to the forest, and then....
He shook himself sharply. He didn't want to think on that right now, he wished he didn't have to do this anymore! But he knew if he didn't go through with it, his father would surely kill him.