Chapter 17

It was Christmas Eve and Hogwarts was having its traditional Christmas Ball. Like always the twelve fir trees were decorated festively and the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall looked as if it was snowing right into it – but of course this was only a charm. Little ice fairies danced through the air and everyone, no matter if student or teacher, stood at the entrance for a while with an open mouth when they saw this incredibly beautiful room as they entered.

Hermione had a lot of fun. Now that her friends were back, everything was perfect. Well, almost. They laughed together, happily and Harry, Ron, and even Neville asked her to dance with them. It was amazing and, in this moment,, she felt really pretty with her blue dress with silver small stars on it which flew around her while dancing. Her hair was pinned up with a few strands falling into her face gracefully.

Severus stood with folded arms in one corner of the room, dressed like always, and searched the Hall for students who were up to no good. He, thereby, spotted Hermione, of course, and was shortly out of breath when he saw her. She was so beautiful and now that her genuine smile had appeared again on her face even more so.

He thought his heart might stop when she left her group of friends and came over to him. "Hi," she greeted beaming.

He nodded at her. "You look wonderful tonight," he said quietly and knowing that he would blush but didn't care.

She to his great joy blushed too. "Thank you," she stammered. "Do you want to go outside?" she then asked and nodded to the door at the Entrance Hall which would bring them outside into the courtyard.

He nodded and they went outside with nobody noticing them – or so they thought.

They found a bench where no one could see them and sat down.

It was very cold outside and soon Hermione shivered in her light dress so Severus gave her his cloak.

"Thanks," she smiled. "But will you be alright without it?"

He nodded although it was freezing.

Hermione then sighed and looked up into the sky which was full of stars tonight. "This is breath-taking."

Severus didn't look into the sky but instead into her face and agreed. "Yes, it is."

She looked at him and beamed. "It's so good to have my friends back," she chatted. "I don't feel alone anymore. Although, when I was with you, I never felt alone at all."

He smiled at that and she took his hand.

"You're letting me?" she asked after a while when he didn't do anything to free his hand from hers.

"Yes," he whispered his heart beating fast. It was inappropriate but he didn't care. In this moment, he wasn't her teacher.

Hermione smiled before asking him in a serious tone: "Do you only like me because I like you?"

He shook his head at once. "No, I even liked you before. I think I've always liked you." And then he lifted his hand to her cheek and gently put a wisp of hair behind her ear.

She was looking at him mesmerised also with a fast pounding heart and slowly their heads moved closer…

Suddenly someone coughed and they both jumped apart. To their huge horror it was Professor Dumbledore who stood not two metres in front of them and looked very stern. "Miss Granger, Severus, follow me into my office."

They looked at each horrified – Hermione quickly returned Severus' cloak to its owner –, then followed the headmaster without once glancing at the other.

It was all so unfair! Hermione thought. She finally had her friends back – now she would lose Severus? Why couldn't she have both? She feared for him to be fired and her to be expelled. She never wanted any of this to happen. And it was her fault because she had started it, coming to him, talking to him, having feelings for him, taking his hand… It was all her fault…

"Please sit down," Dumbledore told them when they had entered his office. "Now, would you be so kind as to tell me what happened back in the courtyard?" His voice was ice-cold. "Or should I rather say what almost happened?"

Neither Hermione nor Severus spoke. They once looked at each other shortly but remained silent.

"Your silence shows me that my assumptions are correct," Dumbledore continued. "You would have kissed if I hadn't prevented it, wouldn't you?"

Silence.

"Wouldn't you?!"

Hermione nodded quietly but Severus looked directly at the headmaster and confirmed with a clear voice: "Yes."

Hermione stared at him with a small smile. He didn't deny it! He would have kissed her!

Dumbledore coughed again and Hermione's smile quickly vanished. "I also assume that you both are aware that your behaviour is not only inappropriate for a student and a teacher but also forbidden."

They both nodded. It had always been forbidden but when you're in love, rules don't matter anymore.

"I neither intend on expelling our brightest student in her last year nor firing my most important teacher who would eventually be killed if I did."

Severus swallowed. His job – his position as a spy – was the only reason Voldemort hadn't murdered him yet… It was his life.

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "So I will give you a second chance. Till the end of the year, so the day Miss Granger graduates from this school, you will not see each other in private or talk to each other when alone. Miss Granger will not stay longer after a lesson when there is no one else left. You will not seek each other's presence. Is that understood?"

"Yes," Hermione and Severus answered quietly.

"Good," the headmaster said. "If you violate the rules you will be expelled and fired – permanently."

They both nodded.

"Then, Miss Granger, please go back to your dormitory now. Severus, I need to speak to you."

So there was no other option for Hermione to stand up and quietly leave the office. "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore," she silently spoke at the door. Then her gaze went to Severus who looked as unhappy about all this as she felt. "Goodbye," she whispered, a tear dropping out of her eye, and then left the office closing the door behind her and feeling thereby as if someone she knew and loved had just died…