Chapter 52: Ministry Gala
The next morning dawned clear and bright. The Daily Prophet was full of photos from the banquet and listings of who received each award. The front page had a photo of Harry receiving his award with Albus in the background beaming with pride; it really was a great photo. There was even an article about what everyone wore, Lavender and Pavarti were arguing over its contents.
"When are you going to start your book?" Harry asked Luna who was seated across from him, next to Neville. Her house had been badgering her with questions since the banquet so she escaped to her fiancé's side.
"I have already outlined what I want to include," she told him, happy to have his support. "I need to start gathering information from the rest of the participants. I need to interview all the original member of the order and try and get the stories about those we never met."
"I know there is a photo of the original order someplace, I saw it once," he told her. "Just let me know if you need anything form me."
"Thanks Harry," She said with a big smile. "I may need you to talk to someone if they don't want to tell me their story. Your recommendation will get a lot more people to talk to me."
"I'm sure your having a 1st class Order of Merlin will help too," Hermione told her with a grin.
Hermione spent that morning working with Minerva on her anamagi form. The two realized they worked very well together and were really enjoying their work. "Severus seemed shocked to receive the order of Merlin last night," Minerva mentioned. "Why would he think they would skip him?"
"He doesn't think he deserves to be forgiven for everything he did in the past," Hermione told her. "Can you imagine living as he has for the past 20 years?" She asked her professor.
"It's no wonder he was always so abrasive," Minerva told her. "But he does grow on you after a while."
"Yeah, his bark is definitely worse than his bite." Hermione laughed. "When you get to know him, he's a totally different person than you would ever imagine."
"I am glad the two of you have become friends. You really brought him out of his shell." Minerva told her, pride evident in her voice.
"Well once Remus shattered his image of Harry's perfect life it was much easier. Then when the school united there was nothing to keep him acting like he hated everyone. I would have to say most of the praise should go to Remus." Hermione told her.
"So what are you doing with your hair for the ball tonight?" Minerva asked changing the subject. "It's the first ball away from the students that I am attending in over 30 years."
"Well then you really need to knock them dead!" Hermione said with a grin. "What were you thinking?"
"I was actually thinking of leaving my hair down," Minerva told her with a smile.
"That will definitely grab his attention, especially if we use my shampoos to make it shiny and gorgeous." Hermione told her with a smirk.
"Whose attention do you think I am trying to gain?" Minerva asked her with a raised eyebrow.
"Albus' of course!" Hermione said and laughed at the look of shock on her professor's face. "Nothing to worry about my dearest professor, the girls and I will get you all dolled up!"
Draco had been kicked out of his dorm and common room as the women invaded to get ready for the ball. "This is so exciting!" Susan said with a grin. "It's my first official ministry function as the fiancé of one of the minister's sons."
"The only reason we are all invited is because we are in the Order," Hannah reminded her. "There will only be high ranking ministry officials there and then the order. I heard the press wasn't even allowed into the room."
"I am sure they will get in there somehow," Hermione said with a sigh. "It would be nice not to be hounded with questions all the time."
"I can't believe the nerve of some of those reporters last night!" Gabrielle said, "It was like a zoo and we were the animals on display. They even asked me how many death eaters I took out."
"I still can't believe how many you brought down Hermione!" Ginny said to her friend. "You were like an avenging angel or something. After Harry collapsed all I could think about was getting him to safety yet you ran off and ended up saving my brothers and Fleur and everything."
"I was just so focused that I didn't even think. If I saw someone in trouble I helped them. My magic has never felt so strong and as focused as it did after Moldy Voldy went down. I must have been on a magic high!" Hermione told them as they all laughed.
"Did you ever figure out why Voldemort was afraid of you?" Luna asked her, the journalist in her naturally curious.
"No, I tried to ask Severus what he remembers but his memory of the battle is still clouded thanks to that confundus charm." She replied. "Maybe the old geezer wasn't used to women standing up to him!" She had to admit that she was curious about it but hadn't really had time to dwell on it to get an answer. Maybe she would have a chance to figure it out once everything calmed down again.
Hermione thought she had almost every woman in the Order who was staying at the castle in her rooms. Even the other professors came when they heard she was helping to make over Minerva for the evening. "You should leave your hair down more often Minerva," Gabrielle told her with a smile. "It looks so elegant."
"Without the teaching robes and severe bun you look years younger," Poppy told her friend. "And the slight curls look wonderful."
"Thank you," Minerva told them as she stared at her reflection. She was wearing a deep burgundy ball gown with gold piping and accents, very Gryffindor. Her robes matched perfectly, it was hard to tell where the dress ended and the robes began. "Now let's finish up with the rest of you ladies!"
"Well I better be off," Poppy told them as she headed to the door in her light blue gown and robes. "I wouldn't want to keep Alistar waiting. He wants to be one of the first there so he can make sure the area is secure!" They all laughed at Moody's 'Constant Vigilance.'
The other teachers left shortly after leaving only the younger Order members there with Tonks and Fleur. "How is Remus doing?" Gabrielle asked Tonks.
"I've never seen him happier. The war is over, he's cured and we have a chance for a wonderfully peaceful life." Tonks told her. "I do wish Kingsley would have been here to see it," she told her sadly. They had all found out that Kingsley was actually Tonks auror partner and that was why they were so close of friends. "How is Draco holding up?"
"As well as he can," Gabrielle told her sadly. "He's glad the war is over but he still feels responsible for his friends' deaths. I think he will be relieved when all the trials are over and the rest of his friends are free."
"Is everyone ready?" Fleur asked as she led them to the door. She was still weak but was back to looking like her beautiful self. "I am very excited about the ball, the last one I went to was the Yule ball here at Hogwarts my final year."
"I have a feeling this one will be a bit more formal than that one was," Ginny said with a smile. "At least I'm going with Harry this time."
"I had forgotten that you went with Neville to the Yule ball," Luna said with a smile. "How many times did he step on your feet?"
"Quite a few, but I knew it was because he was nervous." Ginny told her with grin. "I see he's a much better dancer now."
"Thank goodness," Luna said and they laughed as they made their way to the Great Hall to meet the rest of the party. The ministry had arranged portkeys for them to travel to the ministry so they were going in groups of four every few minutes.
"You look beautiful," Harry told Ginny giving her a gentle kiss so not to mess up her makeup. "I will be the envy of every guy there."
"You haven't seen Hermione yet or Minerva for that matter," Ginny told him smiling.
"There could never be anyone as beautiful as you Gin," He told her lovingly. He was entranced by how the peach colored robes accented her body and face. He never wanted to let her go. He was already planning the best way to propose but knew her parents would rather they wait until Ginny was done with school. He wasn't sure how long he could wait to make her his wife once he placed the ring on her finger so he was going to wait a bit.
Severus' breath caught in his throat as he watched Hermione enter the room. He was standing next to Remus and Bill, both noticing the beautiful young woman enter the hall. "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" Severus quoted from Romeo and Juliet. Remus and Bill shared a knowing look as Severus made his way towards her.
"He's got it bad," Bill commented with a smirk. "Do you think he realizes that he just quoted Shakespeare when she walked in the door?"
"The question is does he realize the significance of the verse he just recited?" Remus asked. "For it is the moment that Romeo falls in love with fair Juliet."
"I never thought I'd see the day," Bill told him smiling.
"Unfortunately we may never actually see it," Remus told him. "He is too proper as well as afraid to ever say anything to her."
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out he is smitten with her," Bill commented. "Surely a girl as smart as Hermione must see it."
"I believe this is a case where they both ignore what is right in front of them," Remus told Bill while shaking his head. "I would wager a guess that she thinks he would never think of her as anything other than a little girl and he believes she could never fall for such an old and cranky man."
"Once she graduates we'll have to lock them in a broom closet until they work it out," Bill said with grin when Remus nodded his approval. He wasn't opposed to some good old fashion meddling if it would help Severus win the women he loves.
Severus was still in awe as he approached her and stood silently in front of her, eyes taking in every inch of her. "Is it acceptable?" Hermione asked feeling nervous that he hadn't spoken yet and scared that he didn't like her gown. It was the black and white strapless gown she had bought in Diagon alley and she loved it, she had just hoped he would like it as well.
Severus shook himself out of his stupor and decided he had to make up for his lack of words so he decided to finish the verse he had started when she walked in, "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Hermione flushed at his words her eyes sparkling with happiness as she realized he had been speechless when he saw her and then quoted, in her opinion, what was one of the most romantic versus in Romeo and Juliet. "Thy presence is gracious and kind (sonnet X)," she replied, still blushing.
Severus smiled at her quick retort and enjoyed watching her cheeks flush. "Shall we?" He asked offering his arm to her and leading her over to the stack of parchments they were using as portkeys. They were joined by Tonks and Remus and were quickly standing in the main lobby of the ministry of magic.
The lobby was full of couples and reporters. The guests were all dressed in their very best and Hermione and her friends were awed at the grandness of everything. "It's so lavish," Hermione commented to Severus.
"This is nothing compared to a Royal ball," he told her with a smile. "I am sure there will once again be Royal functions I have to attend and they are worse than these. Luckily there are fewer reporters at those functions."
"I didn't even know how to comment when they asked me about my research," Hermione confessed. "What do you say when they ask you?"
"The benefit of being anti-social is that when I glare at them they get the point and hurry away. I doubt we will be bothered by too many reporters, they try and stay clear of me." He told her with a smirk and she knew he was proud that he still had the ability to terrify people. "Come; let me introduce you to the lead potions expert for the ministry." He led her away, happy to have such an intelligent and beautiful woman on his arm.
"Is Snape socializing?" Ron asked Harry and Ginny shocked. "I still can't believe that Hermione is letting him escort her!"
"Ron stop," Ginny scolded her brother. "Severus is a good person and he and Hermione are great friends. You need to get over your jealousy."
"I am not jealous of that git!" Ron squeaked in indignation.
"Sure you're not," Susan said in a voice where it was clear she meant the opposite of what she said. "Come, I want to show my aunt my ring." She said as she led him away.
"He's lucky she puts up with him," Ginny commented to Harry who agreed.
"He loves her but he still doesn't like the idea of Hermione with anyone else. Luckily Susan knows that if it ever came down to where Hermione actually wanted Ron that he would run screaming." Harry told her and they made their way farther into the room.
They lined up in pairs to be announced as they entered the ballroom. The order members all chuckled as Moody's name was read off first. The ministry officials were seated first (other than Moody) so they could all see who the Order members were. Arthur and Molly led the group in as Albus and Minerva were to be the last to enter. It was easy to tell that Colin, Dennis and their dates were nervous around all the older ministry people but were trying their best to act like they belonged.
Severus and Hermione were introduced as: 'Order of Merlin 1st Class awardees Potions Master Severus Snape and Hogwarts Head Girl Hermione Granger.' They were the 3rd to last couple to enter. Harry and Ginny were next: 'Order of Merlin 1st Class awardees Harry Potter and his fiancé and daughter of the Minister of Magic Ginny Weasley.' Harry was just happy that Ginny had more titles than he did. Albus and Minerva were the last couple to enter: 'Order of Merlin 1st Class, Grand Sorcerer, Founder of the Order of the Phoenix, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizegamot and Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore and Order of Merlin 2nd Class and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts Minerva McGonagall.' Harry ginned at all the titles they used for Albus, he was sure they could have added even more if they had wanted to.
Arthur stood to make the opening speech and welcomed them all and thanked the Order for all their hard work and dedication to the cause. There were several other boring speeches before dinner as most of the ministry officials felt the need to praise the Order members. "Will it never end, I'm starving!" Ron grumbled between speeches.
"We have a special award that needs presented," Arthur told the crowd after all the speeches. "This is a newly created award the Wizegamot just invented to honor the person who was most responsible for wining this war. I heard there was a tie in the voting of who it should be presented to and they were told to decided between them who would receive it." Arthur said, earning a small chuckle. "The award is called the Golden Phoenix award and will only ever be presented to those who deserve more than an Order of Merlin 1st class which before today was the highest honor in our world." He nodded to Albus and Harry who stood and approached the podium.
"Thank you Arthur," Albus said twinkling madly. "As the Minister has just said this is an award to honor the man whom without we would never have won the war. Harry and I discussed who should receive the award and came to a unanimous decision."
"Without this man we would have perished to the darkness long ago. There was a prophesy given before I was born that determined that I had to be the one to kill Voldemort. Without this man I would not have been alive to perform that feet. Without the work this man did for the Order of the Phoenix we would have never won the war. He is a deserving and honorable man and it is a great privilege to call him my friend." Harry told them.
"It is our honor to present the first ever Golden Phoenix award to Severus Snape," Albus said, the twinkle in his eye blinding the whole room. No one could ever remember Albus looking as happy or as proud as he made that announcement.
Severus was frozen to his seat in shock. Sure he had imagined winning the Order of Merlin 1st class but never something of this magnitude. Hermione was crying with joy for the man at her side. After realizing he wasn't moving she grasped his hand to get him to go accept his award. Severus shook himself at feeling Hermione's hand on his and looked over to see her crying with happiness for him. His heart had never felt as full as at that moment when he looked into her eyes. He made his way slowly toward the dais Albus and Harry were on, he knew that tonight was so far the happiest night of his life. "Congratulations my son," Albus said hugging Severus after placing the medal around his neck.
Severus was mostly silent throughout dinner trying to process the fact that he had received the highest award the wizarding world had to offer, even more than Harry Potter received. He was sitting in a room of the most important witches and wizards in the UK and they had honored him. He had the most beautiful woman in the room on his arm. He had known the world would be a better place after the Dark Lord was defeated but he had never imagined feeling so happy. He watched Hermione talk to Draco, who was seated next to her, and smiled. He hoped that perhaps when she was finished with University he may be able to tell her how he feels about her. He had gotten used to the fact that she was the princess and knew that she would do a wonderful job.
"Is that a smile I see on your face?" Minerva teased him from his other side.
"Yes Madam it is," he told her and even graced her with a smile of her own. "I am in an exceedingly good mood and am, dare I say it, happy."
"Well it's about time!" Minerva said sternly, but the jolliness in her tone belied her happiness for her colleague. "I'll have to alert the press. This is a rare occasion indeed."
"It was," he told her. "But perhaps with the war over it may no longer be such a stretch for me to be happy."
"What is it you still require to become happy all the time?" Minerva asked him curiously.
"Two things," he told her with a sigh. "I need a job I enjoy where I can do all the research I want without having to baby-sit dudderheads and I need the love of the woman of my dreams." Hermione was pretending not to listen to their conversation but heard it all anyway. She was glad that he was happy and only wished that she could fill the post of woman of his dreams.
"Well neither of those things are impossible Severus," Minerva said startled he was being so open with her, especially about his personal live.
"No, not impossible just highly improbable," he told her with a smirk. "I don't think the job will be the tough part either."
"After all the awards you've received there will be women begging for a date, I doubt you'll have a problem finding a woman ever again." Minerva told him with a mischievous grin. Hermione had to hide her scowl in her napkin at that thought.
"But there in lays the problem," Severus told her. "I don't just want some woman, I want a specific one." Hermione was so shocked she forgot to breathe for a moment. He had never mentioned there was a specific woman he was interested in before!
"Well whoever this woman is she would be crazy not to fall for you," Minerva told him in a voice where he knew better than to argue.
Draco had picked up most of Severus and Minerva's conversation as well and noticed how Hermione reacted to everything that was said. He had figured out that she was attracted to Severus but now he was sure it went deeper than that. He decided to ask Gabrielle what she knew; he wouldn't want to meddle if he was wrong.
Severus was still in a jovial mood when dinner ended and offered his hand to Hermione to lead her to the dance floor. "Did you enjoy your meal?" He asked as he spun her smoothly across the floor.
"Yes it was lovely," Hermione told him with a smile, still trying to put the conversation she had overheard out of her mind and concentrate on having a good time. "I am very happy for you tonight. That award is well deserved."
"Thank you my dear," he told her. "I must say I can't remember a time I've enjoyed myself so much at a social function. Perhaps it is the better company." He smiled at her wondering if she would accept the compliment.
"Yes, it is nice to have the entire Order together again and on happy terms." Hermione said not willing to believe he meant her company after his dinner conversation.
Severus smiled to himself when she deflected the compliment. He had noticed that since dinner she was more reserved and didn't seem as happy. "You don't seem to be having a good time, have I done something to offend you?" He asked to make sure.
Hermione smiled at him, "Of course not," she told him. "I am very much enjoying being in your company tonight. I guess I was just thinking about all the changes that are going to be occurring in my life soon. Leaving Hogwarts and all my friends behind is sad yet exciting at the same time."
"I will miss you when you're gone," he told her sincerely. "The castle just won't feel the same without you there."
"Thank you Severus," she told him trying not to tear up. "That means more to me than you could know."
The dancing went on for another few hours. Most of the order members were able to dance with everyone and it was a fine evening. They said their good byes to those who would not be accompanying them back to the castle and dodged the reporters to get back to the portkey waiting area. "Thank you for a wonderful evening," Severus told Hermione as they paused at her door. "You looked positively enchanting tonight." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, so not to scare her off as well as that she was still his student.
"I also had a wonderful time," she told him. "Congratulations again on your award. You truly were the most deserving. I don't think I've told you just how happy I was that you survived the war. I would have been miserable without you." She smiled at him again and gave him a quick peck on the lips before disappearing into her rooms.
The only ones to see Severus smile and touch his lips as he walked back down the hall were Draco and Gabrielle who hurried into the shadows when they saw the pair paused at the door. Draco raised his eyebrow to Gabrielle in a silent question as they both noticed the smitten look on their head of house's face. Draco's wheels were turning. It seemed that Severus and Hermione had a thing for each other and neither was aware the other returned their feelings. He would definitely have to talk with Gabrielle about this! He wondered what the others would say about the two potions experts pairing up. As far as he was concerned they were perfect for each other. He had never seen his mentor look so happy and he hoped he could help him get the woman he so obviously desired.