Legacy
by
Jeslyn Nighthawk
A/N: Happy Birthday, Mom! On that note, I think I am finally back from my long hiatus, and updates might possibly become more frequent again. Not a whole lot of plot in this one, but I hope it will do. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. Responses at the end and at Ashwinder, on the review page. Enjoy
Chapter 11
Severus took a deep, not very calming breath and tried very hard to suppress the urge to bang his head on his intricately carved mahogany desk. So much for secrecy. Only a week in, not even that, and he had managed to out the girl to his devious nephew. Severus knew Draco could keep a secret, but still… He couldn't help but think this endeavor was doomed from the start. Why couldn't he court the damned girl in a normal fashion anyway? He put his head in his hands and groaned. Because he wanted the challenge. It was always about the bloody challenge.
Severus looked up and stared moodily into his fire. Perhaps Draco's inclusion in the scheme would work to their advantage. It certainly couldn't hurt to have another such illustrious member of the ton included in the plan. The gossips would be more inclined to believe Draco, just because of his title and good looks. They would never think to take into account that Draco was a Slytherin and could lie with the best of them.
Looking at the clock, a magical devise that very helpfully told him he was "more than a little late," Severus quickly penned a note to Minerva which he sent with a House Elf. He told her merely that he had been unavoidably detained, and that he would be by within the hour to pick up herself and Miss Granger. That done he retired to his rooms to change into his evening attire.
By the time Severus' letter arrived, Minerva was ready to thrash the insufferable man. Not only was she quite put out that he was detaining her from her evening's activities, but Hermione was practically quivering with nervous energy, and it was about to drive the old Gryffindor mad.
Hermione was sitting in the window seat of the sitting room staring out the window into the gardens. Her pale face was turned into the moonlight and given a slightly golden glow by the lamps which lit the room. Her artfully piled curls also caught the light and glimmered as if spun through with gold. She was resplendent this evening in a gown of rich sapphire organza, her form perfectly still except her hands. The fan in those hands was every few moments snapped open, and then, on an even count snapped shut just as artfully.
Were it not the thousandth time this had happened, Minerva might have admired the skill with which her charge handled the item. As it was, the continued and frequent snapping was severely grating on her nerves, and she felt that she would truly be justified in murdering the young woman and the stupid man that was the cause of this whole damned fiasco.
So, it was with a sigh of relief that Minerva opened the letter from her wayward friend. "Hermione!" she snapped after glancing at the note, "Stop twitching. He'll be here within the hour. He says that he was unavoidably detained."
"Unavoidably detained, my arse," Hermione muttered under her breath. Out loud she said, "I'd bet he's taking his revenge for my slapping him in public last night."
"My dear," Minerva replied, "when Severus Snape decides to be vengeful, you will know it. And he would never pick such a petty means."
"So I should still be worried, then?" Hermione arched one delicate eyebrow at her aunt.
"Of course not," Minerva soothed, but at Hermione's sigh of relief, she could not help but add, "but I would be on my guard, were I you."
"Huh."
The next half an hour practically dragged by. Despite Minerva's glares, and despite the news of Duke Snape's imminent arrival, Hermione was still twitchy. The constant movement of the fan and the intermittent sighs were enough to drive the older woman out of her mind. Finally, thirty-three minutes from the moment Minerva had opened the note from Severus, said Duke arrived in all of his snarky glory.
"One would think," drawled an elegant voice from the doorway of the sitting room, causing Hermione to practically jump out of her skin in surprise, "that as I myself am nearly an hour late, such thoughtful ladies as yourselves would have been ready to leave. But apparently not."
"Perhaps then, Your Grace," Hermione fairly purred- she was determined not to lose face in front of this man- "you will endeavor to be on time in the future. After all, one would hate to think that such an exalted personage as yourself could possibly be so ill bred as to keep two such thoughtful ladies as ourselves waiting more than once." Of course, at the dark look passing over Severus' face, she couldn't help but think maybe she was in over her head. Just a little.
"Youinsufferable little- "
"Severus!" Saved by the aunt! Hermione gave an exultant little prayer for the respite. Of course, Severus was still glaring at her, and for that matter, so was Minerva. "You too, Hermione," Minerva continued, "I want no more fighting between the two of you for the rest of this evening. I want one night of peace, by all that is holy, and if you two don't give it to me, I will not be held responsible for my actions!"
Oh. Apparently Aunt Minerva was not on her side in this. She murmured a quiet apology to her aunt and decided to try another tactic. Brushing passed the glowering duke, Hermione made her way into the foyer and took her half-cloak from Charlie Weasley, the butler and Ginny's eldest brother. She thanked Charlie with a small smile, and the breezed out the door and into the waiting carriage. Snape was, of course, right behind her, followed soon after by Minerva, but Hermione couldn't help but feel a thrill of victory at having taken the infuriating man by surprise. If antagonism was not to be on the plate tonight, Hermione would just have to see how Duke Snape took to being ignored.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time, Hermione mused, but then, she supposed that was not really the best defense. Even Napoleon must have thought that before he invaded Russia in the winter. And they all knew how that had ended.
The carriage ride to the first party had been tense, but as Hermione had resolutely stared out the window even as Snape glared at her, nothing much seemed to come of it. Once there, introductions had been made, and Hermione had slipped away to join the other girls her age who were hoping to have their cards filled. This particular party was not overly important; it was one of many small affairs being held this night, and there was even some small chance that they would leave early and proceed to another venue. After nearly an hour of dancing with faceless boys, and unfortunately Neville Longbottom, Hermione nearly fainted with relief to look up and see Marquess Malfoy approaching her to ask her to dance. No sooner was her greeting her, however, than was Minerva swooping down to collect her to move on. Apparently His Grace had decided that this party was a bore, and that he wished to move on. Hermione dutifully followed, only after informing Malfoy of their destination.
After the third time the exact same thing happened, Hermione was beginning to get a clear picture in her head. Obviously, Snape felt threatened by the younger wizard and likely irked at her for ignoring him. This time Hermione barely allowed Malfoy time to say hello at all before sweeping him onto the dance floor and out of the range of her aunt, who was once again on her way to collect her charge.
Now Hermione was in the arms of the ever charming Draco Malfoy, and she could practically feel Snape's eyes burning into the back of her head.
"My," Malfoy teased, "what have you done to upset Uncle Severus so?"
"You mean besides slapping him in public last night?" Hermione asked. She was really enjoying flirting with the young Marquess, even if it did cause Snape to glare at her more.
"You mean you have done something else?"
"Well…"
"Tell me, or I will refuse to dance with you for the rest of the week."
"You, Your Grace, are entirely too full of yourself," Hermione replied with a laugh, "What makes you think that I would be put out by such a course of action?"
"Because we both know that I am the only one that is going to save your poor, trod upon feet from the likes of Neville Longbottom." This was delivered in a conspiratorial whisper, and despite her resolutions the night before, Hermione felt a shiver go up her spine when his warm breath caressed her ear. Malfoy gave her a knowing look and continued, "Now what have you done to earn my godfather's ire tonight?"
"If you must know," Hermione huffed, feeling irked herself at his damnable smirk, "I am ignoring him. I have decided that if the blasted man only wishes to antagonize me and get me into trouble with Aunt Minerva, then I will just have to cease paying attention."
Malfoy laughed out loud at this, "No wonder he looks so angry! You have got to be the first person to ignore him since his days teaching potions under Albus Dumbledore."
"I'm sure it doesn't help that I've spent the entire evening trying to pay attention to you, either."
"Dear Merlin, woman," Malfoy practically yelped, "are you trying to get me hexed?"
"Oh no, Your Grace," Hermione replied with feigned innocence, "I simply wish to teach your godfather a lesson. You are just a convenient means to an end."
By this point they had left the dance floor, and Draco plastered his hand over his heart in a hurt manner, "My dear lady, I am wounded that you would use me in such a horrendous manner."
"As if the reigning Prince of Slytherin would allow himself to be used without getting something in return!" Hermione's eyes were alight with the challenge inherent in the playful banter. It was not often she was allowed to make use of her intellect during conversation, and the Marquess Malfoy seemed to enjoy her company. She continued, "Tell me, Marquess Malfoy, what is your angle?"
A cold voice interrupted Malfoy's reply. "Do enlighten us, Draco. I must admit I'm curious as well." Both turned as one to face a scowling Severus Snape, but their reactions were drastically different. Whereas Malfoy took one look at the deadly cold anger on his godfather's face and paled, simultaneously backing up a few steps and placing himself between Hermione and the irate Duke, Hermione saw only a challenge, and moved forward intent on telling the glowering man off for interrupting her conversation. The result was yet another scandal for the ton to twitter over, as Lady Lupin and Marquess Malfoy tumbled into a graceless heap on the floor of Lord Garlies' ballroom.
TBC
A/N: A great big, huge thanks to my beta, Taya, who got this back to me in less than two hours! Taya also says happy birthday, mom. I promise, promise, promise that the next chapter will be worth the read, so hang in there everyone, and please leave a review. Thanks for reading!
Jes
Review Responses:
rhitmcshanm: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I finally got around to it… I had a huge other project I was working on that was causing the writers' block from hell.
Rhyia: I'm glad you found it funny, but I'm sorry I almost made you spew. If it makes you feel any better, my roommate makes a pastime out of doing the same thing to me. She's almost killed me twice.
sinj: I'm sorry to say only a little SS/HG action, but there will be more soon, promise. I guess you'll just have to read Chapter 12 when I write it.
Anarane Anwamane: I had a similar reaction. I'm still not sure what he is doing in here, but I'm sure it will be entertaining.
kjones: If only had another method available to us. I'm trying harder to keep any real info out of these, but unfortunately, I don't have much choice here.
To everyone else: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I would reply individually, but that would take up more space than the story, probably, and unfortunately more time than I have. How 'bout I use that time to start Chapter 12 instead?