Soon, the students had arrived and no one really had much time for leisurely activities, as they were always grading papers or teaching classes. Of course, it was no time before the Yule Ball was announced. This year, it was not accompanied by the Triwizard Tournament (for quite obvious reasons), but Dumbledore still thought that the older students deserved something to help get their mind of schoolwork for an evening (as if they honestly needed an excuse). Every teacher had to chaperone, and they were also required to bring another teacher as their "date," although many wished not to call it that. Severus groaned and scowled when he herd this news. Of course, he didn't expect anyone to even consider asking him, so he would have to be the one to invite someone else. But who? Certainly not Trelawney. McGonagall? Perhaps, but she was a bit out of his age range. In fact, everyone was, unless he wanted to attend the Ball with Lupin.

What about Granger? a small voice in his head asked him.

Hmmm… What about Granger? Well, at least she was closer to his age than McGonagall. Closer by about twenty years, actually. However, he had two weeks to decide, so he would choose shortly.

However, just over one week later, before he had even had a chance to decide, there came a knock at his door. He quickly failed the paper he'd been grading and stood to answer it, wondering who it could possibly be. No one ever visited him unless they had orders or news from Dumbledore, which was quite rare now that the war was over, or they were a student that had been given detention, but he had not assigned any for tonight. He opened the door, and to his mild surprise, there stood Hermione Granger.

"How can I help you, Professor Granger?"

She sighed. "All right, Severus, here goes- Would you like to accompany me to the Yule Ball?"

He was taken aback, but quickly recovered. "I'm sorry, Professor?"

"Well, Neville's already asked Minerva, and then I was going to invite Remus, but he's been asked by Trelawney, so I suppose you were the next best thing to those two," she explained.

"How flattering," he sneered sarcastically. "Well, I suppose so. After all, I certainly don't have anyone else to go with. All right. What time would you like for me to be at your chambers the night of the Ball?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I believe my question was quite clear, Hermione."

"I apologize, it's just… You're actually going to be at my chambers to pick me up? I never knew you were such a gentleman, Snape," Hermione grinned and raised an eyebrow.

His cheeks flushed slightly red. "What time, Granger?" he asked again, growing impatient.

She thought for a moment, and found that she really didn't care. "Well, teachers are required to arrive at least ten minutes prior to the beginning of the Ball, which is at 7:30, so I suppose you should be there at around 7:15."

"Very well. I will be there at 7:15 on…this Saturday, isn't it?"

Hermione nodded, smiling, and said, "Thank you, Severus. That is all I wanted."

With that, she left his classroom, absentmindedly leaving the door open. Snape sat stunned at his desk. No one had ever asked him to anything in his life. What was wrong with this girl? Not that he minded so much, but what could she possibly see in him for him to be her third choice? Surely there had to be somebody else before him, after Lupin… Dumbledore, Binns… Anybody. However, she had chosen him, and he supposed that she must have had her reasons, so he pushed the thought out of his mind and went back to grading essays from the ever mounting pile on top of his desk.

One week passed surprisingly quickly for Hermione. She enjoyed teaching, except for the occasional trouble-making group of Slytherins that she was oh-so-blessed to have as students in her class. For Severus, however, it was a completely different matter. Each day dragged along slowly, just like ever other day in his meaningless, dreary life teaching a classroom full of utter dunderheads.

Finally, the night of the Yule Ball arrived. Students were released from their last classes early, so that they could be given a sufficient amount of time in which to prepare. As soon as her last student had left, Hermione wasted no time in running back to her quarters to get ready before Snape arrived. The last thing she wanted to do was make him wait, when she was already pushing the time they were required to be there by about five or ten minutes. She had a total of three hours to prepare, though at first, she doubted it would take that long. How very wrong she was.

Hermione went to her closet immediately and extracted the gown that she had traveled to Diagon Alley just three days ago to purchase. It was long, white silk with off-the-shoulder flutter sleeves. It did not truly show any cleavage; just a hint. She had tried the dress on in the shop, and when she gazed at herself in the full-length mirror, only one thought came to her mind: goddess. It hugged her in all the right places, showed off her subtle curves, and made the most of her rather modest bust. She slipped it on over the tight bun that she had put up for class, but then took down her brown hair and brushed through it. Somehow, over the years, it had become straighter, finer, and much more willing to cooperate. She put it up again meticulously into a high, fancy updo at her crown, with two small ringlets falling gracefully down on either side of her face.

Meanwhile…

Severus stood before his closet, not quite knowing what to do. He hadn't seen the need to select his clothing that he was to wear to the Ball beforehand; he presumed that he would simply choose something last minute, as always. However, now that he stood there, he was not quite sure. Dress robes, of course. But should he wear black or green? And what about what to wear underneath that? He hated himself for caring so much. Eventually, he removed the black and green dress robes and laid them neatly on his bed. He decided to wear black. At least then if she decided to sport her house's color of red, and he had chosen to wear his green robes, they wouldn't look like Christmas ornaments side by side. Next, he simply chose a black shirt and black slacks to go underneath his dress robes; Severus had never been a big fan of dressing up. He chose his least patched shoes and slipped them on, and then went into the bathroom.

He examined himself in the mirror. Long, jet-black hair framing his sallow face. Black beetle eyes, a terribly lanky figure, and a hooked nose to top it all off. What Hermione saw in him to make him third place on her list of men to ask to the Yule Ball, Severus would never know. Nothing about him, as far as he could tell, was even the least bit attractive.

Apparently, Hermione seemed to be thinking along quite different lines as she strived to make everything in her appearance just perfect for when he arrived. She was only just now applying her makeup: concealer, blush, color and gloss on her lips, mascara, and just a hint of dark eyeliner around her wide eyes. She then carefully opened the cream-colored jewelry box, a gift from Harry and Ron just before they had completed their seventh year here, and selected a pair of square diamond earrings and another simple piece: a diamond necklace. After she had fastened her earrings, she suddenly heard a rapping at her door.

She gasped and looked quickly at her clock. 7:15, on the dot. How is he always so punctual? she wondered. Spritzing herself with perfume hastily, she set down the bottle on her bathroom counter, checked herself one last time in the mirror, and hurried to answer the door, the diamond necklace still clutched in her hand.

A/N: Okay, thanks so much again to everyone who reviewed! Honestly, it really just completely makes my day when somebody says something nice about my story.

kimidragon- Wow! Well, I guess I'm just a happy person. Lol. Thank you for all your compliments!

olivialynlee- Well, I love writing this story so much, I just want to write and write and write! Unfortunately, I am just so busy with cleaning and schoolwork that I just write whenever I find the time. But I think the next chapter may not be up for two or three more days. I'm not quite sure how long it will take me to complete it. And thank you for the "keep the characters real" thing. I try so hard, but I don't know if I'm quite able to do it at times. I don't know what I'm saying...I'm insane...never mind. :)

rinny08- Thanks for your reassurance!

And thanks again to everyone else who reviewed!

Please, if you read my story, review it! It only takes a minute, people. Please! Thanks soooooo much!

p.s. maybe I need to chill on the sugar...hehehe