Sooo, in reward for your patience and heart-warming reviews!
Chapter eight is here.
And no, there was no killing curse. But to be fare... with all that pain and anger built up, who'd have the time or self-discipline to think up a neat hex involving funny looking objects? No, with anger at it's peak you throw people across the hallway;-)
Enjoy my beloved readers and reviewers! You are my inspiration and you keep me at my computer writing my heart out and I love you for it!
Mr Redfern: Break out those dance shoes :-)

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Chapter eight: It's just a silly ball...

Hermione didn't know what happened. Instinctively she'd drawn her own wand to face the source of the attack, only to find herself pointing it at a petrified Professor McGonagall. Hermione looked bewildered from McGonagall to Neville and back again, before storming to Nevilles aid. It seemed several others had heard the racket as the hallway started to fill with people. Students looked horrified at the lifeless Neville, gasping in terror, nobody noticing the distraught professor on the other side of the corridor.
"Out of my way!" Snapes voice was not as fear striking as usual, since he did no attempt to hide the slight concern in his growl as he pushed the students out of his way. But as he got through the mass of students he froze for a second at the sight. Then without a single word, he picked Neville up in his arms and carried him away. Everybody where so busy looking at the uncharacteristic behaviour of their feared potions master that they never noticed their transfiguration professor, nor their headmaster who'd led her away with him.
Hermione was still sitting on the floor where Neville had lain, not able to move a muscle of her own. Her mind was racing as the rest of her remained numb. Had she really seen this happen? Had it really been..? But it couldn't! There was no way! Hermione was a woman of logic and reason, of fact and knowledge. It just wasn't possible that..

"I cursed a student!" Minerva McGonagalls voice was just a high-pitched croak.
Albus Dumbledore had led his friend into his office and there had not been a word spoken while he sat her down and pored her tea, until now.
"I am much aware of that Minerva." Said Albus. His trademark calm was present, but the seriousness in his voice was not to be mistaken. "However..." He continued as he placed his own cup of hot tea on his desk and folded his hands in front of him, watching the strict woman who'd been his devoted friend and co-worker for many years now, tremble. "Severus assures me that young Mr Longbottom will be fully restored."
"Oh, Albus, I didn't mean to.. I don't know what happened to me. I just-" Her voice trailed off.
"You just released all your pain and anger on a seventeen year old boy, throwing him unconscious into a wall." Dumbledore filled in. Somehow the lack of accusation in his tone made the words strike Minerva even harder. She fought the tears burning to be released and cursed the trembles in her hands. He was right, as always. Seeing Hermione and Neville had sent all her locked up emotions crashing into blind rage. She'd let an innocent boy, a student, pay for her own lack of self-control. There was no excuse in the world for what she'd done. And she knew it well.
So with all the power she could master she uttered the words that she never thought she'd say, the words that pained her deeply, but she knew she had to say. There was no choice for her any more.
"I'll have my resignation on your desk tonight." Her voice sounded stronger than she would have thought possible, but she dared not look at Albus.
"I don't want your resignation Minerva." She looked at him with utmost scepticism, but Albus was still looking very serious.
"But Albus, I-" She started, not knowing what to expect.
"I know what you did Minerva." He cut her off. "And I'm not condoning it in any way." He paused as to make sure that the point came across, but it was very obvious that it already had, so his voice was lighter as he continued. "But the reality of the situation is that we need you here. We are yet again fighting a war and I cannot afford to lose my best professor at this time. I am of curse relying on the fact that nothing remotely like this will ever happen again."
"Of curse not Albus!" Minerva was not sure how to react to this. She'd certainly not seen this coming. "But in all fairness, I attacked one of my own students! Surely you cannot mean that I should continue teaching? The smallest problem would be the thousands of owls you'll receive from parents."
"I certainly expect you to continue teaching. Where would I find a more competent Transfiguration teacher?" The gleam was back in Dumbledores eyes and as Minerva opened her mouth to object he continued. "There are four people who know what really happened today. None of the students saw what happened, neither did the professors. Neville will have no recollection of the attack, which I must say is probably for the best. Severus of curse will not speak of it to anyone, and as for Ms Granger... well, I think it be best if you had a word with her yourself." As Minerva looked up, they exchanged an understanding glance of a slightly different subject and Albus was yet again very serious as he spoke."In light of all that has happened it would be wise to keep the rules between student and professor as they should be." Minerva had thought her heart could sink no lower, but she was proven wrong.
"I must admit I'd never imagined the day when you would disappoint me Minerva." The sadness in his eyes was too much for her and she avoided his gaze. There where not many things that could make her feel more ashamed than hearing Albus utter those words. "To fall in love with a student is one thing, I am surprised I didn't see it coming sooner, but this... It it had been the act of any other professor in this school I would not have hesitated on accepting a resignation." But just as quickly as he'd turned serious, he again regained some of the light and caring voice that he was known for.
"I trust you will find other means to express your feelings in this matter my dear." Minerva could have sworn she saw him winking at her.
And just like that, Albus stood up to open the door for her. But she was about to pass him he said in a soft whisper.
"I don't know what you plan on doing after this school year, with our seventh graders graduating and all. But what I do not see, I cannot object to." He smiled. "I'll see you at the ball tonight."
And before she knew it, Minerva McGonagall was standing on the other side of the stone gargoyle, not really knowing what had just happened.

The walk back to her own quarters was the same. It was as if someone had wiped her mind blank and she'd walked the path to her chambers without thinking. But as she approached the door to her office, she came to a complete halt. Her mind raced and her heart was pumping like never before as she saw the young woman sitting at her doorstep.
"Can I come in?" Hermione asked. Her voice was thick and by the looks of her puffy red eyes, she'd been crying. Minerva resisted the urge to embrace the fragile looking beauty and just nodded as she unlocked her door.

Hermione had gone through the scene in her head over and over for the past hours. The sight of Neville, of her beloved professor... She didn't know what to make of it all. She knew what had happened of curse, she was not stupid. But she couldn't understand.
Just minutes before, she'd sat at Nevilles side at the hospital wing. He was awake and doing well. Madame Pomfry had not budged on the issue of having Neville staying the rest of the afternoon, but had reluctantly agreed to let him go to the ball if he was fully recovered. There was a smile on Nevilles face, unlike anything Hermione had ever seen before. A self-confident and almost euphoric smile. He had made sure they where alone before telling Hermione what had happened.
"I woke up in his office. He was pacing back and forth, mumbling, but as I awoke, he hurried to my side and asked me how I was doing." Neville continued the story, the smile spreading, joined with a slight blush as his words made Hermiones jaw drop.
"He was the one who made sure the ministry didn't find out about the backfiring spell this summer. He said he'd hoped I'd come to him for help." Nevilles mind had been on nothing but Snape the whole time, and the fact that someone had hexed him at school didn't seem to bother him the slightest. Hermione noticed a dark red, almost purple, spot on Nevilles neck. He didn't try to hide it but he didn't speak of it. He didn't have to. Hermione knew her friends affections had been answered and that this day Severus Snape had marked the young man as his. She wasn't sure how to feel about it. She knew Neville loved him, and she of all people understood that. But it was Snape. The man who'd brutally bullied Neville since first grade. None the less, there was nothing she could say at this moment. Snape had shown a very uncharacteristic concern for Neville, and she was not the one to judge.
But now, as she stood in McGonagalls office watching the gorgeous older woman as she sat down behind her desk with her most characteristic Professor attitude sending them miles away from each other, Hermione wished for a second that she'd been the one stuck by the curse.
"Have a seat Ms Granger." Minerva McGonagall sounded as professional as if talking to any student.
Hermione did as she was told, trying desperately to hide how much it pained her to be treated as just another student.
"I'm glad you came." McGonagall said, her voice as emotionless as her strict expression. "We need to talk about what happened."
Hermione couldn't believe her! She was acting like nothing had happened, like they where discussing a bad grade on a paper. The hurt and anger boiled inside of her. But if Minerva was going to be cool about it, so was she.
"I'm listening." Hermiones voice was harsh, and though Minerva had expected as much, she was not prepared for how much it would hurt. Never the less, she continued. She was determined to handle this in her most professional attitude. It was the only way she'd be able to master it.
"Ms Ganger," As she paused to gather courage, just for a split second, Hermione felt that the dam was on the verge of bursting. How could she sit there, calling her 'Ms Granger' in that emotionless tone, when not that long ago she'd been moaning her first name in eustacy? But as soon as that thought rose in her, she buried it again. It was to painful, and she was not about to cry. Not here, not now. She couldn't speak. A few times she opened her moth to say something, but nothing came. "I do not know exactly what happened today." McGonagall continued as her pupil didn't react. She didn't know where she was going with this. How could she explain her behaviour, how could she ask Hermione to understand when she herself was so utterly disgusted with what she had done? But she had to finish this. She had to let Hermione go, and the only way was to make the young woman detest her as much as she detested herself at this moment. "I lost it. I flung my own student into a wall." She was rambling. She never rambled! 'Get a hold of yourself Minerva!'
"Ms Granger, we cannot pursue this, you understand? It isn't right. I'm your professor, though I shouldn't be after what I did today." McGonagall added the last part quietly, but Hermione only heard the first words. She rose to her feet so fast that the chair she'd been sitting on was flung to the floor. Her eyes where burning as the tears started to well up, and she no longer cared if McGonagall saw them. Her face was white as her knuckles on her clunged fists and she clinched her teeth so hard it was a wonder they didn't break. Minerva just looked at her, not able to hide the pain in her eyes, but Hermione took no notice.
"Fine." Hermione hissed, before everything broke. She glared at the woman she loved so badly with tears streaming down her face. "Don't worry professor," She emphasised the last word strongly. "I will not tell anyone that you sent my ball date to the hospital wing. But don't expect me to just sit here and take it when you crush my heart over and over again because you're scared!" Her voice was so loud and so full of the pain she'd been hiding for so long, that Minerva could do nothing but just stare at her. "If you're dumb enough to question my feelings just because of Lilys lack of taste, then fine!Maybe I'm the fool for ever thinking you could actually love!" With that, she burst out of the office, leaving Minerva McGonagall feeling worse than she'd ever thought possible.

Hermione had run just far enough so that she wouldn't be heard from the office she just left. Her legs folded beneath her and she let it all out. For what seemed like an eternity she just laid there, crying her heart out.

So much had happened this day that Neville was quite surprised at the fact that it was merely mid afternoon. His mind had one focus, and one focus only. Not that long ago, he'd been in the arms of the man he loved. He had found a side of Severus that no other man in this school had ever seen. He wasn't sweet and kind, like Neville. In fact, they would always be complete opposites. But there had been love and caring. Besides, Neville had fallen for the brute of a man that was Severus Snape.
But as he laid there, he wondered... Severus hadn't visited him. In fact, he had left without a word as soon as Madame Pomfrey had taken him. Had this just been a one time thing?
No. Neville didn't doubt the love in his potion masters eyes. Still...

Neville had no more time to reflect on the subject as Hermione Granger walked in.
Her steps where determined, and though she tried to hide it, Neville could see she'd been crying. But he was given no chance to ask.
"Hi Neville." She said in a cheery voice. "How are you feeling?"
"Great." He smiled at her.
"You're sure?" She gave him a sceptical look.
"Sure, I'm feeling better than ever. Even Madame Pomfry hasn't been able to object."
"Good" She smirked at him and he smiled back, knowing exactly what she was thinking. He nodded as a sign that he was in.
"Come on then." She said warmly. "We've got a ball to get to, and we both need some serious freshening up."
Neville grinned at her as he jumped out of his hospital bed and threw on his robes.

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The ball along with Hermiones and Nevilles big Plan will be revealed in the next chapter;-)
-Jellicos evil smirk-

All my love to you, my wonderful readers who keep me going!
-Jellicos