Once again, sorry about the delay, had a small case of writers block.

Though by the size of this chapter, I think it's safe to say it's cleared up :-)

I hope you all like it, presenting the second last chapter!

Oh, and please excuse any spelling/grammer errors... I'm having an incredibly dyslexic day today... I could hardly even read my uni application (I finally applied today, YAY!) but the bunny was pushing me and I was already late, so please, no wet smelly tuna today for grammer errors, pleeeease? LOL (I'm not tired, I swear!)

This chapter is for both Kelly and Nick - Kelly, thank you for letting me use you as a sounding board for ideas, you're wonderful. And Nick, thank you for the wonderful day spent that also helped me write this chapter!

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Chapter Forty-Seven

Desperately trying to ignore the boys who were trying to belt down her door, Hermione took one last look at herself in the full length mirror that stood in the corner of her room. Yet another strand of her hair had escaped the twist she had created at the back of her head. She had used Sleakeasy's potion to smooth and straighten her hair, twisting and clipping it at the back, allowing a generous amount of shining hair to fall down from the top of clip. Somehow though, a few strands had managed to escape the twist, settling around her face. Hoping they wouldn't look too out of place, she made her way over to open the door.

Harry, Ron and Neville were all standing at the door, and all were apparently quite taken aback by her transformed appearance.

"You look… wonderful!" Harry managed out. He was apparently the only Seventh Year going to the Ball without a partner. "If I can't go with Ginny, I'm not going with anyone!" He had announced one night in the Common Room. He was wearing a set of jet black dress robes that matched his messy hair.

Ron, who was attending the ball with Karla (the pair had started dating again the day exams had finished, Hermione had found out yesterday), and dressed in the dress robes Fred and George had bought him almost two years ago, just sort of gaped at her. Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes.

In a set of dark blue dress robes, Neville might have looked like he'd finally matured a bit, had it not been for the awe struck expression on his face. In all honesty, Hermione had only agreed to go to the Ball in fear of being left without a partner, as there wasn't really any boy in the year level she'd wanted to go with. Part of her told her that there was someone that she'd want to attend with, but she pushed the thought away before she could remember just who she'd wanted to be entering the Great Hall on the arm of.

"Are we ready, boys?" she asked, fiddling nervously with her sleeve. She had been planning on wearing the same dress robes as she had to the Yule Ball in her fourth yet, simply charmed them to fit in places she'd grown a bit. However, her mother clearly had other ideas, and last week Hermione had received a new set of dress robes. As much as she shied away from wearing any shade of pink, she had to admit that the dusty rose colour was quite beautiful. The robes had been a perfect fit, with the simple lines suiting her shape.

Taking the arm that Neville offered and making their way into the Common Room, Hermione could tell that simple was clearly not the idea stuck in the heads of the other Gryffindor girls… Lavender for once appeared to be in a stunning set of black robes, with slits so high Hermione swore she had unfortunately caught a glimpse of the girl's underwear for a moment, as well as a neckline that plunged far below where it would be allowed. How did those even get away with being called dress robes, Hermione wondered?

Thankfully, Lavender seemed to the most outrageously dressed, but the other girls were not far behind, in glittering garments that seemed ready to slide off their bodies at a step. Hermione wondered if they were using magic to hold them up, and what Professor McGonagall would say about them when she saw them. When had making an attempt to show off every inch of skin possible while still clothed become a fashion for the girls? Hermione was glad she'd missed that note, glancing down at her dress. While she felt some more plain, at least she was covered, the line of the dress ending just above her chest, and thick straps holding it securely. It was more like a muggle dress then anything, but no matter.

Together, all the graduating Gryffindors descended from their tower towards the Great Hall, silence settling over them as they approached what was their final evening at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft of Wizardry. It was Seamus who reminded them quietly that they should be thankfully they were graduating, that they should be ready to celebrate and have a good time, if only for those who couldn't. They had all agreed, passing on the message to other students who were milling around the Entrance Hall, waiting for the doors to be opened.

Finally, after a moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened, the entire faculty stood just within the entrance, waiting to greet the students as they filed in. Hermione, still holding Neville's arm, fell in step with Harry and was slightly disheartened to see that Professor Snape was not one of the greeting party, the only member of the current staff that was present. However, before her stood teachers who might have taught her in her first years and never again, all the teacher's she'd ever had – save for the few who had died. Hermione's throat tightened as she was reminded of this.

Her throat tightened a little more as she was greeted by a smiling Remus Lupin who stood in front of her, his arms open. She let go of Neville and threw herself at him.

"Remus!" She cried. "It's so good to see you, what are you doing here, you should have told us!" She threw her arms around him. The pair had written quite a few times since the conclusion of the war, but he'd not seen her all year.

He held his hand up and laughed at her. "Take your seat Hermione, there'll be time for that later," he said, pressing her on and into the Hall, where she and Neville worked to find where they had been seated – thankfully with Harry, Ron, Ron's date and unbelievably, Remus.

Looking around, she was even surprised to see Gilderoy Lockhart standing in the receiving line, looking slightly confused by all the faces, but thrilled with the attention none the less. Near Lockhart, more surprisingly, stood Dolores Umbridge, who was looking at the students, nothing bothering to hide her disgusted expression.

As it had been during the Yule Ball in her fourth year, the house tables had vanished, replaced by smaller, round tables. There was no need for as many tables as there had been that time, since it was only the seventh-years this time.

It wasn't long before everyone in the Hall was seated, and Professor McGonagall stood from her place next to Terry Boot, and an empty seat. Hermione wondered if that was where the Potions Professor was meant to have been seated. She did not ponder on that for long, as the Headmistress began to speak as Remus took the empty seat on Hermione's right.

"Welcome, seventh years to your Graduation Ball," she begun. "It has been an honour to watch you pass through this school in your pursuit to truly learn the magical ways of our world. It has been a privilege to help each and every one of you on your journeys through the school, first as your teacher, and this final year as your Head of School." She paused to take a breath. "On such a note, I believe, before we begin your celebrations, that you all take a moment to be thankful for both our presence, and the memories of those who may not be present."

Hermione reached for Neville's hand, as well as Remus. All three of them had suffered losses in the past seven years, losses she did not wish to recall, no matter who it meant she was forgetting. But holding the hands of those on either side of her, she let the memories wash over her, feeling Remus give her an encouraging squeeze.

Once everyone had looked up again, Professor McGonagall continued. "Tonight is about your celebrating these past seven years, before leaving this castle as a student tomorrow morning. But there is no need to remember that for now. I beg of your that you dine, you drink, you dance, and you enjoy yourselves." Giving the room around her a small smile when it broke into applause, the Headmistresses sat down.

"Strong woman, she is," Remus commented a moment later, when chatter had finally began to rise around them.

Hermione gave him a knowing smile, before picking up her menu.

Dinner was a somewhat noisy affair, the Hall echoing with the sound of talking, laughing, promises and friendship. But when the doors to the Hall swung open, it fell silent, and Hermione twisted in her seat to see just what had caused the doors to open at the time like this.

Severus Snape stood within the doorway of the Hall, looking around and scowling in his usual fashion. Hermione noted that he was not donned in his usual billowing cloak, only a simple black frock coat and black pants that went leaps and bounds to highlighting his thin appearance. She had to bite back a smile as she realised that he at least looked somewhat healthy now beneath those robes. She raised her hand to stop herself from laughing when she realised what was also was different about the Potions Master's appearance.

As he began to walk, the rest of the school noticed, too, that instead of hanging by his head in their usual lank strands, the Professor's hair was sitting around his face in a puffy, clean sort of fashion. It bounced as he moved, billowing out behind him as he walked in the same way he cloak did.

Remus, Ron, Harry and Neville sat open mouth as they watched the Potions Master take a seat a table not far from theirs. Hermione was amused by the fact what Professor Snape was still able to scowl and look menacing, though she suspected it was simply from all the attention he was receiving. What else could he have expected she wondered, trying not to laugh.

"I guess, given your reaction, that you might have had something to do with this?" Remus' voice asked quietly in her ear.

Still trying not to laugh, Hermione simply told him "Later," before returning to her meal. Slowly, the rest of the Hall did the same, though she guessed that most of the students around her were taking peeks at the dark man sitting amongst them, wondering what had overcome the man.

Hermione's mind slipped back to the conversation they'd had yesterday, and her comment about showing people, that the past did not matter, and she wondered if Remus was right, if she did indeed have something to do with the clean, gleaming hair of the feared man. She let slip a pleased smile as she did so.

Dinner was over quicker then Hermione could think, and it scared her to realise that time was passing quite quickly. But there was still much to be done for the evening, she realised, as a band entered the Hall and set up on a small stage she'd not taken notice of earlier. It was not the same band that Dumbledore had hired for the Yule Ball, but a group of two women and three men. They carried what might have been a small drum set, a violent, a guitar (was it a guitar, she wondered), and an instrument she had no hope of identifying.

Taking the hand that Neville offered her, she stood, smoothing her dress robes of any wrinkles she might have obtained over dinner as Professor McGonagall cleared the floor of the tables. However, the dress was perfectly clean.

Within moments, the band begun to play a slow song, a song which reminded Hermione strongly of her pain forgiven, and she couldn't understand why. She allowed Neville to lead her onto the dance floor, she had promised him at least one dance for the evening.

However, within a few more moment, it was clear that it had been quite a mistake. Neville began to step on her toes as he made a lousy attempt to hold her close, crushing her foot through her rose heels. She grimaced, trying to take the pain, and when he suddenly stopped dancing, she was most thankfully.

But when she saw the look on his face, she was almost worried. He was staring at something in a bug-eyed fashion, a look of shock on his face. Hermione wondered what was happening, and then noticed that once again the students all her around her were trying to see something, glancing around quickly and then back, as thought trying not to be seen.

He couldn't be… she thought, but even as she turned her head, she could see that her thoughts were wrong. Barely a metre of so from her and Neville, Professor Snape was holding a very stunned looking Madam Hooch near, one hand holding hers high above his shoulder, the other resting on her waist as he guided her in slow movements, matching the song.

Once again, Hermione nearly burst out laughing, despite the stunned looks on those around her, all of who were trying to make it look as though they were dancing, and all failing miserably. She was thankful when Remus tapped the completely shocked Neville on the shoulder, asking if he could cut in.

"Sure…" Neville said, looking distracted as he made his way to an empty seat of seats along the side of the Hall.

Remus quickly took up his place, reaching for Hermione's hand as she raised the other to sit on his shoulder. "You've got me curious, dear Hermione," he said quietly, as they began to move amongst the couples who were dancing around the floor now, apparently almost over looking at the Potions Master in pure shock.

She tried not to blush under the scrutiny of the man's grey eyes. "Why's that, Remus?" she asked.

He pulled her a little closer. "You've got me curious because you seem the only student who's not acting as though their eyes could fall out at any moment, due to the sight of one Professor dancing with another, or said Professor not sporting his usual greasy appearance." He raised an eyebrow at her. Turning her head slightly, she could Professor Snape still guiding the shocked looking flying instructor about the floor. "It leads me to believe that you did indeed have something to do with it."

This time, she did blush, looking at her hand resting on his shoulder instead of his eyes. "Well, I don't know about that…" she said.

She felt the wizard smile at her. "Harry told me, you know," he said very quietly, causing Hermione's head to jerk up wildly and give him a questioning gaze. "He's been writing to me, as you know, and once or twice he mentioned the fact that he was rather worried about you – apparently you've been spending quite some time with the beloved Potions Master."

Hermione ducked her head fully this time, watching their feet as they moved around effortlessly. She loved to dance, she'd admit it. "It's not as if anything's going on Remus, you surely know me better then that." She tried to say.

"Oh, dear girl, I'm not accusing you of anything like that, I'm just wondering what you said to the surly bastard to make him attend a public event, with clean hair, let alone dance." He tipped his head once again towards the man, who as the song changed from the slow medley to something only slightly faster, smoothly exchanged Madam Hooch to dance with Professor Sprout, who giggled and looked quite surprised.

Hermione bit back yet another smile. "I told him that using magic on his hair was bad for it, and that that was making it greasy," she paused, taking a moment to laugh at the expression on Remus' face. "Yes, I'm still alive, even after saying that. I've seen him with clean hair before, you know." She paused again, not knowing just how to explain the dancing. "And yesterday, I went to see him, and we talked about his Grad Ball."

A dark look fell over her dance partner's face. "Oh yes, you're right," he said in a sour voice. "I remember that incident… certainly not James and Sirius' finest moments, even I'll agree." He shook his head.

"So even you agree that it was uncalled for?" she asked.

"Most certainly," he agreed. "It was rare that it was called for. Snape learnt to keep to himself after the first few times."

"What happened?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice.

Remus just smiled at her. "That, dear girl, you will have to find out from Snape. I only know James' side of the story, and much as I loved the man as my mate, I've always had a little doubt over what really happened."

"Oh…" Hermione quiet as Remus spun her slowly.

Silence fell over them until he asked her, "So what are you doing, spending time with Snape? I mean, I've nothing against it," he quickly corrected as she narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm just curious, as is Harry."

Hermione pondered the question for a moment, taking the opportunity to look at the other girls who were currently inhibiting the Great Hall. She was almost embarrassed to see that other girls seemed to have the same idea as the girls from her own house – the more skin they could show while clothed, the better. In all honesty, Hermione felt quite plain in her dress, but it was nothing she was ashamed for, watching the disgusting way in which their male dance partners drooled like dogs all over them, apparently not caring about whether the girls noticed or not.

Feeling thankful for her current dance partner, she pulled him a little closer before answering the question. "It's quite funny, really," she said softly, catching a glimpse of the shocking Professor out the corner of her eye. "He's been really nice to me, Remus." She quickly went on to explain her illness, about which he'd already heard, and also about how Snape had treated her after she'd been ill, followed by the flying lessons, the spending time in his library, the long talks and meals they'd shared.

By the time she'd finished, they'd danced four dances in a row, and Hermione noticed that Snape swapped partners with every dance, always dancing with a different staff member. An odd feeling passed over Hermione as she wondered if she'd get the chance to dance with him. When she realised that the possibility of such a thing happening, she tired to tell herself that it was not disappoint that she felt.

Finally, she sat down with Neville, who was talking with Ron and his girlfriend as Remus went off to talk with members of the staff. "It's incredible that Remus is here, isn't it?" she asked brightly, fetching a cup of punch. She hoped that more strands of her hair had not come loose of the twist.

"Check out Lockhart, the preening fool," Ron laughed, pointing to a place in the crowd where their somewhat mentally ill ex-Professor was spinning around the floor with a Hufflepuff student. He was still looking mystified as to where he was and why he was there, but he seemed to be enjoying the attention, talking animatedly. Hermione giggled, wondering if he was offering her an autograph, as he had done so for her and her friends when she'd accidentally ran into him Christmas two years back.

"What on earth is going on with Snape?" Harry asked in a shocked voice, and Hermione's eyes fell on the Professor, who was now guiding the Headmistress around the floor. Even from the distance, Hermione could see the grace in his dance steps that were always apparent in his stride. He was somewhat light on his feet, and he moved easily. His face was neither angry, nor happy; it was his usual cold mask of indifference, keeping the world shut out. She remembered his face when he had smiled at her, the rare times that she did.

"Maybe he just decided to show everyone that he's not entirely the Greasy Git that everyone thinks he is?" Hermione suggested with a slight shrug, raising her cup to her lips and concentrating on the drink to avoid the stares she knew she was receiving from those around her.

"Hermione?" Ron asked.

Hermione gave him a steady look. "Just leave it," she said quietly.

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The night wore on, and Hermione danced with many of the boys from her year, even a Slytherin at one point, and she found herself growing quite tired, despite enjoying herself immensely. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful night, after the eventual shock of the beginning wearing off. People even seemed to be getting used to the sight of the feared Potions Master guiding teacher after teacher around the floor, dancing with all more then once. He even dared to dance with Umbridge, whose ugly green bow had nearly fallen off in shock.

Hermione watched him all night, watched as he lead them around gracefully, not looking at anything around him, holding his face the same all night. While he may not have been the most charming or talkative dance partner in attendance at the Ball, Hermione could not fault his steps. Surely he must have danced more since his own Ball…

Once or twice she allowed herself to hope that perhaps, just perhaps he would offer her a dance. But she did not allow the hopes to really grow, clamping them down and smiling at whoever offered to dance with her again. She danced with Remus several times, along with Harry. Ron seemed caught up with Karla all night, and Neville took his leave from the Hall at an early hour.

About half an hour before the Ball was scheduled to finished, Hermione decided to follow the forgetful boy's footsteps and retire to her rooms. The night was wearing on, her feet were beginning to hurt, and quite frankly, she was sick of seeing the boys dribble over what ever the girls might have been doing. So it was with a nod to the boys, a big hug from Remus and once final sweeping look over the Hall that she left through the open door.

Crossing the Entrance Hall, about to ascend the stairs to Gryffindor tower, when she heard a male voice call out her name.

"Miss Granger," it rang.

Turning, she was surprised to see the Potions Master coming out of the Great Hall. "Professor," she nodded at him. He continued towards her, where she stood upon the first step of the staircase. On close inspection, she noticed the worry that seemed to be in his eyes. Surely she was reading them wrong – what would he be worried about?

They simply looked at her for a moment, the sounds of the soft music from the Great Hall drifting around them. Finally, he extended a hand towards her. "May I have this dance?" he asked quietly.

Hermione stared at him blankly for a moment, trying to process his words. He couldn't be serious, could he? But there he stood in front of her, offering her his hand for a dance, a dance she had been somewhat been hoping for all night. "Um, yes, sir, that'd be nice," she managed out, reaching out for his hand with her hand.

The moment their hands met, a sense of disbelief settled over Hermione. Professor Snape guided her off the step and into the centre of the empty Entrance Hall. "Here, sir?" she asked.

An eyebrow quirked above his black eyes. "Where else, Miss Granger? Would you care to go back into the Great Hall?" He smirked down at her. "Personally, I got the impression that you wished to leave."

"And yet you asked for a dance," she said softly, looking up into his eyes.

"And yet, you accepted," he smiled at her, the first smile she had seen on his face all night before he raised their hands, twining their fingers, and placing his other hand around her waist. Quickly, she raised her free hand to his shoulder, and stepped back as he stepped towards her, following his guiding hand and gentle pushing.

They began to dance slowly around the Hall, their bodies at what Hermione thought to be a safe distance. Her body seemed to be on high alert to him; she could sense him all around her, making her feel alive. She wondered briefly what was going on, the way he was holding her, the heat she could feel rising within her, the way she was getting lost in his black eyes and he guided her gently around the empty Hall.

"You are a good dancer, sir," she commented shyly as he led her.

He smirked at her. "You needn't get a big head, being right," he informed her, and she felt pride rise in her as he admitted that she had been right. "However, I must compliment you on your choice of attire."

She almost stumbled at his words, only managing to hold herself upright and hoping to the roof above her that he did not notice. However, the amusement playing across his pale face told her otherwise. "T-thank you, sir," she sputtered out.

"It is nice to see that there is at least one student around her who does not need to show every inch of her body to every available male around her," he told her, appreciation showing in his eyes.

Smiling shyly, she thanked him again, before remind him, "I am not a student anymore, Professor."

"No, you are not," he agreed quietly, his eyes searching her face. "And therefore, I am no longer your Professor." He twirled her out, her dress swishing about her ankles.

Hermione was shaken by the softness he used to acknowledge the fact – was he trying to say something more? Looking deep into his eyes as he pulled her back in, this time a little closer then before, though barely noticeable, she tried to find them. They pulled her in, and made her feel as though he was searching her soul. She wondered desperately if he could already see what she had only realised barely days before. Instead, she changed the topic.

"Have you had a chance to read that book I left you?" she asked as they upped the tempo along with the band.

"Yes, I have, and I think the suggestions you left behind where right." He nodded. "However, you'll need to come down and fetch the book before you leave tomorrow, I've not time to be mailing books all over the country."

Or the world she thought, thinking about the choices she had made that day. But she did not speak this, only allowed herself to be pulled a little closer, warmed by the idea that he accepted her idea of what had occurred for them to share the dream. Warmed by the idea that it meant that even on a subconscious level, he considered her someone he could trust, someone who he could be friends with.

Taking a risk, she closed her eyes and leaned in to rest her head on his shoulder as the music once again slowed down. Idly she wondered who had picked this band – they seemed to favour slower songs, for they'd been playing them all night.

"Minerva could have done a better decision with the band," Snape said quietly, as though reading her mind and causing her to giggle slightly, warmed even more by the fact that he did not push her away when she had made such a bold gesture in resting against him. By now, they were only moving in slow circles, dancing in the shadows created by the staircase. His arm slipped around her a little tighter as silence fell over them again in an easy way.

Too soon, the music stopped, and applause rang throughout the Hall, signalling the end of the Graduation Ball. She and the Professor stepped away from each other hesitantly, as thought neither wanted to, though he still kept a hold of her hand.

"Thank you for that dance, sir," she whispered, lost once again in his black eyes.

"The only reason I danced with anyone in there, Hermione," he informed her quietly, "was so that it would not look odd for me to be dancing with the Head Girl, if I were to dance with everyone else who could sit at the staff table."

He danced with them all just to dance with me… Hermione looked at him in shock. Before she could do or say anything, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. Her breath caught as he did so, and she hoped that he would not notice. But when his eyebrow quirked up as his lips pressed against her knuckles, she knew he had.

"Thank you sir…" she said breathlessly, and quite suddenly, as though he'd never been there, he dropped her hand and left, just in time for the students from the Great Hall to pour out. Thankfully, none of them took any notice of the confused Head Girl standing in the corner, trying to determine what had happened.

She knew it wasn't going to happen, so resigned herself to bed. Once she was changed and lying amongst her sheets, she swore she could still feel his arm around her, could still smell the clean scent that hung about him, could still feel a ghost of his lips touching her hand.

Confusion swept away from her. Though she knew she had a crush on him, she had hoped to walk away from Hogwarts tomorrow and forget about it. The man was clearly going to make it very difficult for her.

Thoughts were swimming around in her mind as she finally slipped off to sleep.

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You know what, if anyone can tell me where that came from, I'd be very thankful! LOL --pats the plot bunny--

Who wants a carrot, in honour of our precious little bunny?

That was by far the longest chapter ever, lol, and the final Chapter is up next :-)