Chapter Eighteen: Yuletide Cheer
Hermione stretched in bed before looking at a pile of packages at the foot of her bed. It was Christmas and she couldn't be happier. She grabbed her gifts and started unwrapping them.
There was a book from Ron and his family, a Weasley sweater, Chocolates, some Jewelry form Harry and some music from home.
She shook her head, her parents just didn't understand the fact that nothing electrical worked at Hogwarts.
She looked and there was a large box left.
It was from Snape.
Of course their constant contact if under other circumstances would call for him to give her a gift, but as it was there was simply no point to it.
She undid the bow and the paper came off a white box. She lifted up the top and gasped, dropping it to the floor.
Inside was the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen. It was Black velvet and white silk, a medieval style with a high waist and a slip ball gown with angel sleeves. It looked felt and had to be very expensive, why did he send her something like this?
Her answer came from a card in the bottom of the box.
"This is for the party, it's the latest style so you needn't worry about the other women commenting to heavily. – Snape"
It was gorgeous. On it felt like heaven, and flowed around her form oh so perfectly.
She just wondered how he knew her size, or if the dress had a spell on it to fit the first person to wear it.
Either way she got out of it and changed into her uniform before going to see the boys, who had been without a doubt up two hours earlier then her.
*~*~*~*~*~
The party that night was held in a small, yet decently sized room. Nothing like the great hall, but roomy enough that a few people could dance if they wanted.
It wasn't meant to be this huge gathering, in fact the only people there were Albus Minerva, Flitwick, Severus a few other teachers Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Hermione had decided to wear the black gown Snape had sent her, her hair was straightened by deception and slightly curled at the end. Down of course, buns are too painful.
"Your certainly look remarkable in that gown, Ms. Granger." Snape walk up to her as she was grabbing a drink.
The Gryffindor bunch was laughing at some joke Ron had just made. And the others were chatting idly enjoying the nice atmosphere.
Clearly no one realized that they were talking civilly to each other, however they did not realize that was what everyone else wanted them to realize.
Harry and Ron Had not learned of the lessons Snape was giving Hermione, but they knew that her detentions weren't just detentions anymore, it seemed everyone in the castle has figured out in one way or another that the two resident geniuses practically were made for each other, and everyone was helping them be pushed together.
As Snape and Hermione discussed her dress, like where he got it the spells on it, ect., Flitwick waved his hand slightly and gave them a gift. This all without appearing to have left the lively discussion.
Hermione thought she smelled something, looking up she could have turned white like the berries she smelled.
Mistletoe.
She hurriedly stepped away from Snape hoping he hadn't noticed.
"What's wrong Ms. Granger?" he asked moving back to his comfortable proximity to her.
The Mistletoe followed.
'Damn.' She cursed. "Its just sir," she stepped back again and nodded to where the magical floating Mistletoe hung over his head.
He looked up, and turned as white as she had.
"Oh."
He faced her with a strange look on his face. "I have a feeling it wont leave until the tradition is kept." He informed her.
"That's what I was hoping against." She told him openly.
"It only needs to be a peck on the cheek." He informed her.
It didn't sound bad, so she agreed.
The shock of the softness and warmth of his lips on her forehead made her blush furiously, she prayed he wouldn't notice.
He did.
But he didn't say anything. He was to busy hiding his own blush. "Well Ms. Granger when Dumbledore announces the teacher student dance, which really wouldn't be anything special, I would like to see how well you can indeed dance."
"Practice?" she asked, and he nodded before going off to his own little corner.
Hermione sighed and setting down her drink went out the side door to get some fresh air.
Honestly she didn't know what to think, he was so kind to her, but the second another person was around, he became a strict basterd.
Munin flew over and perch on her shoulder.
"Evening, Munin." She spoke softly, the raven nuzzled her check softly, and she petted him.
"I would send you to spy on him, but he'd recognize you and mask himself. I wish I just understood."
"Men can be very hard to understand, mind you they never looked my way." Hermione looked up to see Moaning Myrtle above her.
"Evening Myrtle." Hermione spoke up to her friend.
"Evening, if only I knew such a thing... .. ... You don't know how lucky you are." She pouted from above.
Hermione was surprised by her lack of attack but let it go.
"Munin is quite helpful, the powers that bird has are remarkable, I got to see my eleventh Birthday when I got my letter for Hogworts, it was nice." Myrtle commented.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Your bird reminded me of a happy time, how I don't know, but it was nice."
"Odin had two Ravens, he was a god that was clever, however to spy on others he gave his thoughts and memories to his ravens and sent them off. He was little more them a corpse until they came back. Perhaps Munin returned a memory to you that was happy since you only remember sad ones."
"Perhaps," Myrtle responded. "I'm going to see the merfolk, Good night, Hermione."
"Night."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Snape had gone to the garden, still trying to kill the damn redness in his cheeks. What was wrong with him?
He paced about until he heard some muttering. Curious he looked over the top of the suspected bush only to find his charge muttering to her familiar.
The crying ghost joined them shortly, and he listened, smirking.
When the ghost had left, he decided that it was time to make an appearance.
"That was quite touching Ms. Granger." Snape stood behind her and she turned around.
"Is it time to practice?" Hermione asked lightly.
Snape raised an eyebrow, "Why yes, I just figured you'd rather not dance with me in front of everyone else." He bowed and offered his hand.
She curtsied and accepted.
Soon they were waltzing about unaware of the audience that had formed at the back door. All watchers had great smiles.
One watcher, a raven, recorded the event for a time when his mistress may want it..
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day Hermione woke to feeling refreshed and smiling. She quickly got dressed and headed down for breakfast.
However her day wasn't destined to be normal as Professor McGonagall stopped her in the middle of the hall.
"Ms. Granger, the headmaster wishes a word."
It took "sugarless lemon flavored toffee" to get the stairwell that led to the headmasters to show.
She walked up the many steps and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Sounded form within, and she walked in.
"Yes, Sir?" Hermione asked, smiling.
Dumbledore gestured to a seat, "I figured it was time the both of us talked, after all you have been training for a few weeks now."
*~*~*~*~*~
AN:
Sorry it took sooo long again!
Now its time for me to bow my head ashamed. Sorry cartwright76, it wasn't you it was FF.net
And to the "Annoyed Reader" I appreciate the insight, and I'm sorry you wont enjoy my writings ever again, it makes me sad, but I can understand your frustration, I only hope you'll forgive me for being human, I'm sorry.
I would love to THANK all my readers who calmly and curiously informed me of the situation at hand and helped me calm down. It was rude of me to jump to conclusions and I thank you all for supporting me and helping me.
Especially one reviewer who kindly IMed me and talked directly to me, I'm spacing your name (Bad with names) so I'm sorry I don't have your name listed, but thank you.
I've been horribly busy lately and once again I'm sorry this chapter didn't come sooner.
RELENA
Hermione stretched in bed before looking at a pile of packages at the foot of her bed. It was Christmas and she couldn't be happier. She grabbed her gifts and started unwrapping them.
There was a book from Ron and his family, a Weasley sweater, Chocolates, some Jewelry form Harry and some music from home.
She shook her head, her parents just didn't understand the fact that nothing electrical worked at Hogwarts.
She looked and there was a large box left.
It was from Snape.
Of course their constant contact if under other circumstances would call for him to give her a gift, but as it was there was simply no point to it.
She undid the bow and the paper came off a white box. She lifted up the top and gasped, dropping it to the floor.
Inside was the most gorgeous dress she had ever seen. It was Black velvet and white silk, a medieval style with a high waist and a slip ball gown with angel sleeves. It looked felt and had to be very expensive, why did he send her something like this?
Her answer came from a card in the bottom of the box.
"This is for the party, it's the latest style so you needn't worry about the other women commenting to heavily. – Snape"
It was gorgeous. On it felt like heaven, and flowed around her form oh so perfectly.
She just wondered how he knew her size, or if the dress had a spell on it to fit the first person to wear it.
Either way she got out of it and changed into her uniform before going to see the boys, who had been without a doubt up two hours earlier then her.
*~*~*~*~*~
The party that night was held in a small, yet decently sized room. Nothing like the great hall, but roomy enough that a few people could dance if they wanted.
It wasn't meant to be this huge gathering, in fact the only people there were Albus Minerva, Flitwick, Severus a few other teachers Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Hermione had decided to wear the black gown Snape had sent her, her hair was straightened by deception and slightly curled at the end. Down of course, buns are too painful.
"Your certainly look remarkable in that gown, Ms. Granger." Snape walk up to her as she was grabbing a drink.
The Gryffindor bunch was laughing at some joke Ron had just made. And the others were chatting idly enjoying the nice atmosphere.
Clearly no one realized that they were talking civilly to each other, however they did not realize that was what everyone else wanted them to realize.
Harry and Ron Had not learned of the lessons Snape was giving Hermione, but they knew that her detentions weren't just detentions anymore, it seemed everyone in the castle has figured out in one way or another that the two resident geniuses practically were made for each other, and everyone was helping them be pushed together.
As Snape and Hermione discussed her dress, like where he got it the spells on it, ect., Flitwick waved his hand slightly and gave them a gift. This all without appearing to have left the lively discussion.
Hermione thought she smelled something, looking up she could have turned white like the berries she smelled.
Mistletoe.
She hurriedly stepped away from Snape hoping he hadn't noticed.
"What's wrong Ms. Granger?" he asked moving back to his comfortable proximity to her.
The Mistletoe followed.
'Damn.' She cursed. "Its just sir," she stepped back again and nodded to where the magical floating Mistletoe hung over his head.
He looked up, and turned as white as she had.
"Oh."
He faced her with a strange look on his face. "I have a feeling it wont leave until the tradition is kept." He informed her.
"That's what I was hoping against." She told him openly.
"It only needs to be a peck on the cheek." He informed her.
It didn't sound bad, so she agreed.
The shock of the softness and warmth of his lips on her forehead made her blush furiously, she prayed he wouldn't notice.
He did.
But he didn't say anything. He was to busy hiding his own blush. "Well Ms. Granger when Dumbledore announces the teacher student dance, which really wouldn't be anything special, I would like to see how well you can indeed dance."
"Practice?" she asked, and he nodded before going off to his own little corner.
Hermione sighed and setting down her drink went out the side door to get some fresh air.
Honestly she didn't know what to think, he was so kind to her, but the second another person was around, he became a strict basterd.
Munin flew over and perch on her shoulder.
"Evening, Munin." She spoke softly, the raven nuzzled her check softly, and she petted him.
"I would send you to spy on him, but he'd recognize you and mask himself. I wish I just understood."
"Men can be very hard to understand, mind you they never looked my way." Hermione looked up to see Moaning Myrtle above her.
"Evening Myrtle." Hermione spoke up to her friend.
"Evening, if only I knew such a thing... .. ... You don't know how lucky you are." She pouted from above.
Hermione was surprised by her lack of attack but let it go.
"Munin is quite helpful, the powers that bird has are remarkable, I got to see my eleventh Birthday when I got my letter for Hogworts, it was nice." Myrtle commented.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Your bird reminded me of a happy time, how I don't know, but it was nice."
"Odin had two Ravens, he was a god that was clever, however to spy on others he gave his thoughts and memories to his ravens and sent them off. He was little more them a corpse until they came back. Perhaps Munin returned a memory to you that was happy since you only remember sad ones."
"Perhaps," Myrtle responded. "I'm going to see the merfolk, Good night, Hermione."
"Night."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Snape had gone to the garden, still trying to kill the damn redness in his cheeks. What was wrong with him?
He paced about until he heard some muttering. Curious he looked over the top of the suspected bush only to find his charge muttering to her familiar.
The crying ghost joined them shortly, and he listened, smirking.
When the ghost had left, he decided that it was time to make an appearance.
"That was quite touching Ms. Granger." Snape stood behind her and she turned around.
"Is it time to practice?" Hermione asked lightly.
Snape raised an eyebrow, "Why yes, I just figured you'd rather not dance with me in front of everyone else." He bowed and offered his hand.
She curtsied and accepted.
Soon they were waltzing about unaware of the audience that had formed at the back door. All watchers had great smiles.
One watcher, a raven, recorded the event for a time when his mistress may want it..
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next day Hermione woke to feeling refreshed and smiling. She quickly got dressed and headed down for breakfast.
However her day wasn't destined to be normal as Professor McGonagall stopped her in the middle of the hall.
"Ms. Granger, the headmaster wishes a word."
It took "sugarless lemon flavored toffee" to get the stairwell that led to the headmasters to show.
She walked up the many steps and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Sounded form within, and she walked in.
"Yes, Sir?" Hermione asked, smiling.
Dumbledore gestured to a seat, "I figured it was time the both of us talked, after all you have been training for a few weeks now."
*~*~*~*~*~
AN:
Sorry it took sooo long again!
Now its time for me to bow my head ashamed. Sorry cartwright76, it wasn't you it was FF.net
And to the "Annoyed Reader" I appreciate the insight, and I'm sorry you wont enjoy my writings ever again, it makes me sad, but I can understand your frustration, I only hope you'll forgive me for being human, I'm sorry.
I would love to THANK all my readers who calmly and curiously informed me of the situation at hand and helped me calm down. It was rude of me to jump to conclusions and I thank you all for supporting me and helping me.
Especially one reviewer who kindly IMed me and talked directly to me, I'm spacing your name (Bad with names) so I'm sorry I don't have your name listed, but thank you.
I've been horribly busy lately and once again I'm sorry this chapter didn't come sooner.
RELENA