SUMMARY: Hermione looses her two best friends in the war against Voldemort. Because of this, she becomes depressed and flees from the world she loves. To London she goes and chooses to live as a muggle. Six years pass. Hermione slowly begins to forget how to use magic. Will the staff of Hogwarts be able to teach her again before the damage becomes permanent?
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
PAIRINGS: Hermione Granger, Severus Snape (eventually); Rated M
A/N: Thank you to mysticpam, bRaTsKi, SeverusSnape'sLove, iloveseverussnape, .pityfulanonymous., A Lee En, Kathryn Isabella, KellyRoxton, screwtheperfectlife, hpobsessor, Katyes, KieraLee, GigaDragonPuffMaster, Anarane Anwamane, Murphyangel, and coldqueen for your reviews.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Professor Dumbledore, please!"
"No."
"Please," Hermione begged once more.
Hermione had been trying to persuade Dumbledore for 20 minutes to wave her invitation to the Halloween Masquerade Ball. She saw no point in her going. Her efforts proved to be worthless. It wasn't going so well.
"Please! I'll do anything!"
"Hermione, this is not a negotiation," said Dumbledore.
"There is no reason for me to attend this-"
"That's ridiculous," he interrupted. "The ball will do you well. Hermione, I imagined you would have been thrilled."
"With all do respect, sir," she started, "I didn't come back to Hogwarts to go dancing. And besides, I'm probably the worse dancer in the world." He chuckled lightly. "And what is so funny?"
"You sound like Severus."
"Excuse me," Hermione said with raised eyebrows.
"Severus has the same attitude towards the ball as you do. He sees it as a waste of time. And he also thinks his dancing skills aren't the best." He paused. "Its odd you would think the same of yourself," he said curiously.
"Okay firstly," Hermione rose from her seat, "if you're implying that I hate parties, you couldn't be more wrong. I love getting together with people and having fun and dancing, even if I make a fool of myself," she laughed lightly. "But," she added quickly, "there is a time and a place for everything. This however, isn't the greatest of times for me," she said softly.
And Hermione wasn't just referring to magic...
"I would see it as the perfect time."
"Well of course you would." She walked over to one of Dumbledore's many book shelves and took in his wide variety of novels. "You have an open mind about everything. Nothing ever dampens your spirits."
"That's true," he said admiring himself. "Was there a secondly?" Hermione thought. Yes, there was a second point actually.
"And secondly," she turned to face him, "people have fun in many different ways. I enjoy the occasionally party, but not every one is the same. Professor Snape is obviously not a wild one..." she trailed off. Hermione was quoting Snape's words. But more importantly, she was defending him!
Why am I defending him?
"I will agree with you there, Hermione," said Dumbledore, breaking her train of thought.
"Yeah, well, um..."
"You're going to the ball, Hermione."
"But-"
"It's settled. You are going and you will have a wonderful time." Hermione opened her mouth to protest once more, but thought against it. There was no way to persuade him otherwise.
"This is completely unfair," she muttered to herself. "What ever happened to democracy..."
Hermione continued talking to herself as she departed from Dumbledore's office. She was gone before Dumbledore got a chance to wave his farewell.
Before Hermione knew it, it was October 31 and The Halloween Masquerade Ball was here. Dumbledore's niece again, was kind enough to send Hermione an outfit. The dress she received was breath taking.
The gown was three shades. The top was light gray. The middle faded into a darker shade of gray, until finally, the bottom flowed into black. The dress was sleeveless and low cut in the back. And the gown was gracefully splashed with glitter from top to bottom. It fit her body perfectly, showing off every curve. The shoes were a light shade of silver, trimmed in various embellishments, though it really didn't matter because the gown covered her feet.
Also, Hermione received a velvet mask. Everyone would be wearing one. It was, of course, silver and matched her gown perfectly. The ends were curled in a feathery fashion. The mask was made to cover only the top half of her face. She assumed everyone's would look like this. Though the males many not have the feathered ends.
As Hermione lock her bedroom door behind her, the cool air made her shiver. She began to wish Dumbledore's niece had sent a shawl with the elegant gown. Thankfully, she left her curly chestnut hair down.
Hermione hoped she wouldn't turn to many heads at the party. Her dress was very elegant and was sure to draw people's attention. She prayed Snape would say a hello and be done with it. Hermione didn't want to be anywhere near Snape tonight, especially with such a revealing outfit (she began to think about the low cut back of her dress).
Hermione's thoughts of Snape had only gotten worse. Two nights ago, she had a dream that they had sex in his classroom on top of his desk. And two nights before that, it was in the library. Because of these dreams, Hermione's work was suffering. Potions especially. She couldn't remember making so many mistakes at once.
That day she scheduled with McGonagall went fairly well. She had Hermione change a match into a needle. She had managed to transform the match into a tiny twig. Not bad for her first try.
Now, the next time Hermione saw McGonagall, was after her first vivid sex dream with Snape. This time that little helpless match burst into flames and disappeared into thin air as Hermione said the charm and waved her wand (Hermione did gain control of her wand, eventually). McGonagall said she had never seen anything like it. Hermione wasn't sure how to explain it either.
Nevertheless, Hermione tried her best in all the classes. But the ending result was always the same. She almost set Draco on fire when she was asked to repel a boggart. The boggart, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky...
As for the ball, Hermione still didn't wish to attend. But to her surprise, when she entered the Great Hall, all her doubts were swept away. Hermione had never seen such a beautiful display. The hall was filled with many decorations the color of black, orange, yellow, and purple. The ceiling was bewitched with fly bats and floating pumpkins. And the floors were filled with dancing students, all were masked.
"Maybe no one will recognize me," she said as she placed her mask on her face. "Though I highly doubt it..." Hermione made her way through the crowds of dancing couples and took a seat at the Head Table.
"Granger?" Hermione looked to her right, peeling her eyes from the dancers. She saw a man in dark red robes, with a mask similar to the one she wore. Hermione then noticed his hair.
"Malfoy?" He lifted his mask over his head. She turned her attention back to the dance floor. "You clean up nicely."
"I thought you weren't coming," he said shouting over the music.
"That's what I thought too," she yelled back. "Dumbledore is a fortress! You can't reason with that man." Draco laughed.
"He has his reasons," said Draco. "Try to have fun, Granger. Or, at least pretend." He gave her one last look then left and began to chat with some of the other professors. Hermione rolled her eyes at his comment.
" 'Try to have fun, Granger,' " she repeated, imitating Malfoy's voice.
"You have a very bad impression of Malfoy." Hermione wiped her head around to the left so fast it cracked. Her eyes fell upon a figure cloaked in black, completely silk, with, of course, his mask over his face.
I wonder who this could be.
"Professor Snape." She knew exactly who it was. "I'm only guessing, of course."
"Your assumption is correct, Ms. Granger," he said. Snape thought Hermione looked absolutely ravishing. The gown she wore was perfect for her complexion and her flowing locks cascading down her back tied it all together. "May I," he asked gesturing towards the seat beside her, pulling his mind back. She nodded.
"What makes you so sure I'm Ms. Granger?"
"I saw you as you come in."
"Oh..."
"You look very beautiful."
He noticed. How sweet!
"Thank you," she said. "You don't look too bad yourself."
"The ball is nearly over," Snape said, ignoring her compliment. "You arrived so late. We didn't think you would show."
"Dumbledore made it quite clear that I make my appearance." She paused. "The reason I'm so late is because I was trying to-"
"Work," he interrupted. Hermione said nothing. "This is not a night for you to work, Ms. Granger. You should go and enjoy yourself with what little time you have left."
"I'm quite content here, thank you." Snape looked at her. She was happy with his company. He wasn't expecting this.
"You enjoy my company," he asked. Hermione turned to face him. She didn't mean for him to take it that way.
"Um-"
"As you all know, the last dance of the evening is shared by the staff. So if the students would please clear the floor and make way for the teachers." Dumbledore's announcement broke off Hermione's words.
Hermione saw this as the perfect opportunity to take her leave.
"Have fun dancing," she said in a hurry as she got up to leave. Hermione didn't expect Snape to grab her arm. Apath of heatcreeped up their arms, causing them to pause. Snape then began topull her towards the dance floor.
"What are you doing?"
"We" he said, "are going to dance until you tell me why you enjoy my company." He twirled her around to face him, placing one of her hands in his and the other rest on her back. Hermione suddenly lost all her composure.
"Um...um..."
"You're getting there," he said, a clear hint of amusement in his voice.
He's clearly enjoying himself!
Hermione was terribly uncomfortable.
If I tell him something, we'll stop dancing.
"You're very light in your feet," she said.
"That's why you enjoy my company?" Hermione had the urge to laugh.
"Well if you must know," she said as he dipped her, "you're rather easy to talk to." He then pulled her back up to face him. They began to stare into each other's orbs. "You're the most intelligent person I've ever met."
They swayed to the music.
"Go on."
"I wouldn't see you as the type of person to enjoy flattery." Hermione smiled.
"Don't judge a book by it's cover." He gave her one last twirl before the music stopped. "You above all people should know that." Hermione went to say something, but got distracted.
As the melody slowed, they decreased the space between themselves, neither of them aware of their movements. Hermione was completely frozen. She dared not move.
Snape, on the other hand, couldn't stop moving. She looked so gorgeous tonight, so different, her lips a sweet shade of red.He found himself helpless against her spell. His head drew closer and closer, their lips were mere inches apart.
Snape took a chance at her slapping him across the face. He touched her lips with his, ever so lightly. It was a kiss, but just barely. He pulled away slightly. There faces were half covered which only added to the mysteriousness of the act.
Hermione stared at him in surprise, thinking she mightfaint, until finally, Dumbledore's voice announcing the close of the Halloween Masquerade Ball, broke the moment.
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