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Chapter 7 – Not Drinking the Punch

Severus found himself at a surprise staff meeting Thursday morning. He peered at Hermione for the seventh time since the meeting started which was about two minutes ago. He couldn't get her out of his head. And to make it worse, she didn't seem like she had the hardest time forgetting him. She hadn't glanced at him once since he left her classroom on Monday. As a result, he's been in a vile mood ever since.

It was as if she didn't care if they were friends, and the last two months meant nothing. And that hurt him more than anything she could've said to him.

Minerva stood up and began. "Sorry for this surprise staff meeting, just minutes before your first classes. But I have some issues to address." She said smiling.

"Duties will be as followed, Draco, Ginny, Seamus, and Hannah, are to be checking the students in, and making sure that they are properly dressed. Sybil, Vanessa, Vincent, and Hagrid are to be making sure the hallways are clear and making sure no one tries to sneak into the backdoors. Everyone else will be on duty at the ball making sure everything goes well." She smiled.

"And please, everyone on staff has to bring a date; no one goes solo, no one." She threatened. 'Great, just what I bloody need.' He thought as he got a hopeless glance from Abbott. 'I'd rather go with Trelawney,' he thought bitterly as he glared at her.

"Meeting adjourned." Minerva said as she walked toward Severus. Being his only current friend, Severus told Minerva of what happened.

"Severus do you have a date yet?" She asked rather loudly while Hermione was on the other side of the room gathering her things to leave.

"No, Minerva, you know I don't." Severus said gritting his teeth. 'She was so obvious.' He thought.

"Hermione," She said as Hermione was making her exit. Hermione turned and faced the Headmistress.

"Hermione dear, Severus does not have a date to the Halloween Ball. I'm sure he would love it if you accompanied him, since you're such good friends." She smiled.

"I'd rather spend the night devouring my own waste." She said apathetically as she left without so much as a glance his way. Severus was seething, 'how dare her, in front of his colleagues?'

Minerva chuckled. "She certainly acquired you way with words Severus." She said. He glared at her.

"I'm not going with anyone Severus. Maybe I could accompany you?" Sinistra said. But Severus did not hear a word of it, as he was out the door chasing down Hermione. He caught up with her in her classroom.

"Hermione I need to talk to you!" He said as he closed the door.

"Professor Snape, it's Professor Granger, and I have a class in ten minutes." She said turning her back to him.

"Hermione, I'm sick of this! I don't like this silent treatment. You treated me better when we weren't friends. Are we enemies now Hermione?" He asked her furious at the mere thought. She said nothing.

"Hermione please don't say we're enemies! I know I could never ask for your forgiveness but this is too much! I can't take it anymore!" He said. She still said nothing. She didn't hear him come up behind her. "I need you too much." He whispered in her ear. His hot breath on her ear and her neck. She involuntarily closed her eyes, and her heart sped its rate.

By the time she turned around he was gone. She wondered if it was just a dream. She wanted to be friends with him, but if he couldn't let her in, then she didn't want it. She wanted all of him, or nothing. 'Why couldn't he understand? Hadn't I given him all of me?' She thought sorely.

Saturday came too quickly for both Severus and Hermione. Severus learned from Minerva that Hermione was going to the ball with Montague. He ended up being stuck with Sinistra, who was a better option then Abbott, he would've gladly went with Hagrid rather then her. He stood in his mirror trying to fix his hair appropriately.

Normally he didn't care, but Hermione was going to be there, and he wanted to look nice for her. He thought about putting his hair in a ponytail, but he decided against it. Instead he let his hair down. Since it was a formal dance, no costumes allowed, Severus was wearing a black suit with a black shirt and dark green tie.

He looked at the mirror in rile. He figured his appearance couldn't get any better, there was nothing much to do with his repulsive look. He left his quarters and left to pick up Sinistra. He decided to make it a point to arrive twenty minutes late so she knew where she stood with him.

As they entered the decorated Great Hall her arm in his, his heart stopped. As a result he stopped moving and just stared at the beautiful woman that was laughing at something Montague said, he presumed. She had a strapless black long sleek dress that flared at the bottom cover her shoes, and the top was a dark green that ended just under her bust. Her hair parted to the side and held back in a tight bun that showed every highlight in her hair, and was wearing very little make-up. She looked breathtaking.

His thoughts were interrupted by Sinistra. "She looks absolutely stunning." She said as Severus tore his eyes off of her. He did not look at Sinistra nor respond. Hermione stood next to the drink table outright bored. Montague was somewhere trying to 'hide' from Luna. She smiled at the thought. It was actually Montague who couldn't stay away from. He found himself completely fascinated and entrapped by her, as if under some spell.

She was about to pour herself some punch when she saw Abby coming her way wiping a stray tear. Hermione tried hard not to roll her eyes. "Are you okay Abby?" She asked.

"No!" She said as if offended by the very question.

"What's wrong?" Hermione forced out.

"It's Snape, he's hear with another woman!" She said. Hermione rose a brow. "I thought you came here with Neveille?"

"I did! But we only just broke up! How insensitive!" She said. At this Hermione was sure the girl needed to be escorted to St. Mungo's immediately. "Um, sweety, you and Severus were never really going out." She said gently.

"Yes, we were, and now he's here with another woman!" She said outraged. Hermione looked at her trying to figure her out. "What exactly do you see in him?" She asked.

"Okay, look at him." She started as they both looked at Severus who was currently talking to Draco. "Look at his hair, sure in school; it used to be greasy, slicked back and a little shorter. But now he keeps it shoulder length, hanging down, when you look at it, you just want to slide you hands through, just to see if it's as silky as it looks. And believe me Hermione it is." She said glancing at her. She looked back at him.

"His face isn't as skeletal as it used to be, it's full. And his teeth are white, and he has an absolutely brilliant smile. Being a deatheater and spy has definitely kept him in shape, and it shows. He was very broad shoulders and really nice big arms. He's not skinny like he used to be. And his hands are huge, can you imagine how it feels when there protecting and holding yours? And he smells so great. And today, he looks as good as ever. He changed a lot after the war." She continued as Hermione just nodded in agreement indifferently as they stared at him. "I guess." She said shrugging.

Abby sighed and walked away. Hermione continued to stare at him, though she looked indifferent, her mind was reeling. Abby was right. Severus did look amazing. She didn't know why she didn't see it before. He did have a beautiful smile, his hair was silky, his body was practically perfect, and he smelt to die for.

She looked away for fear of losing her balance. She felt unwell. What was she thinking? 'This was Snape we're talking about!' She said as she tried to regain her composure. 'Just Snape.' She said as she finally regained her composure, sighed and turned to look at him one more time. She was surprised to find butterflies going wild in her stomach. 'Since when does this happen?' She thought. 'The children probably put something in the punch.' She thought as she stepped out into the garden for some air, and hopefully some sagacity.

The ball was going by to slowly for Severus' liking. All anyone talked about was how utterly magnificent Hermione looked. And that troubled him to no end. It was then he realized that he had no chance with her, and that his feelings were completely unrealistic for a man like him. Hermione deserved someone like Montague, who would compliment her, not an unsightly, abominable deatheater, such as himself.

He excused himself and stepped out into the garden for some air. He didn't know what to do with himself anymore, and for the life of him, he didn't remember what life was like before Hermione. He looked out into the garden.

"What am I going to do?" He asked himself running his hands through his hair.

"Well firstly stop talking to yourself or I'll be forced to send you to St. Mungo's with Abby." Hermione said smiling on a bench not too far behind him. She turned to her in shock.

He turned back around in anger. "Talking to me, are we Miss Granger?" He said.

Hermione stood up and very slowly approached him. "Obviously." Was all she said. This angered Severus more. 'How dare she act so blasé after giving him the silent treatment for what seemed like evermore.

"Miss Granger-." He said, but stopped dead in his tracks when she appeared in front of him staring into his eyes as if searching for something.

"It's Hermione." She said. He was too shocked to say anything. She brought a hand up to his face and ran it through his hair. Abby was right it felt like pure silk. "I didn't drink any of the punch." She said more to herself than Severus. He looked at her confused. She pulled her hand from his hair and stared blank faced at him. He didn't know whether he should be worried with her strange behavior or be euphoric that she was talking to him and running her hands through his hair.

She couldn't seem to understand where these feelings came from. Had she felt them all along or was it just that night? She realized that she was staring and smiled lightly at him.

"Yes Severus, we can be friends again." She said finding herself. She guessed she could be happy with what he was offering for now. She would find a way to get him to trust her sooner or later. But right now all she wanted was to be around him. Severus smiled.

"Thanks, I really need it." He said. She smiled wider. "Read to me?" She asked. He rose a brow. "What about the ball, we can't very well leave." He said. She grabbed his hand, trying to force the butterflies and the feeling of rightness away. "Yes we blood well can!" She said as they headed to his room.

When they got there, they took their usual spots, with Severus sitting up straight at the edge of the couch, with Hermione laying on his lap with her head on the arm of the couch. As he began to read, she then realized how much she missed this, and the feeling it gave her. Severus inwardly grinned. Of all the people at the ball, Hermione choose to go back with him. Though he felt like he didn't, it still made him feel like he had a slight chance with the beautiful Gryffindor, and that was enough for him.


a/n – Okay, I know I totally sucked on the description of the dress, but if youwant I can tellyou th site and you can check it out.So I hope you guys liked that chapter. Thanks for the reviews, you guys are great. Review, and tell me how I'm doing! http/