A/N: Told you another update would be soon. This one's a little longer, and I suspect it won't be long before Chapter 8 is ready. Enjoy, you lovely people.

Almost two months later, Hermione found herself at the Burrow celebrating Harry's birthday. The conversation had moved onto the summer ball that had been arranged at Hogwarts as a reunion for everybody that fought in the final battle. As people chatted idly about the rumours of who had been booked to perform, Hermione felt a great sadness wash over her. The last and only ball she had been to, she had fallen out with Ron, because he had waited too long to ask her to be his date. Now she couldn't think of anyone that would possibly ask her to be their date.

She began to feel the tears welling up and excused herself from the table and went to the bathroom to allow herself a moment of sadness. She found this had been the best way of dealing with her internal struggles.

As she came out of the bathroom, she jumped as George was stood in the hallway.

"Sorry, Hermione, didn't mean to make you jump," he said as he gave her a hug. "I just came up to check if you were ok?"

"Of course," she replied as she returned the hug.

"You can't fool me, but if you want to keep it to yourself, that's fine. But just remember, I am here for you."

"Thank you."

"Now, I was also wondering, would you like to go to the ball with me, as friends?"

Hermione pulled back from the hug to look into George's face to see if he was joking.

"That sounds great," she said with a smile.

SSHGSSHGSSHGSSHGSSHG

Severus adjusted his robes as he waited for Rosmerta to meet him at the gates of Hogwarts. He was feeling apprehensive about this evening, and was nervous about being at such a large social gathering. Thankfully, Rosmerta had agreed to go along with him so he didn't have to sit in a corner alone if he didn't want to. Their friendship had blossomed over the last few weeks, but no matter how much she served as a distraction, he could not help but wonder how Granger had been getting on. He had felt regret in the pit of his stomach ever since the day of the memorial, but he was terrified of apologising.

He stepped into the shadows as more and more people began arriving around him. As Rosmerta approached, he heard a faint pop and across from him appeared Granger with the surviving Weasley twin. He stepped back, hopeful she wouldn't acknowledge him, however he couldn't help but make eye contact as she passed.

"Professor," she nodded curtly as the pair passed him.

He nodded back in his usual expressionless manner. She could not know how much the guilt had eaten away at him.

"Ready?" Rosmerta was at his side.

For a moment, Severus stared after Granger before turning to Rosmerta and giving a slight smile. He held out his arm for her to take and proceeded to walk towards the castle.

Once inside, Severus made a beeline for the drinks table, pouring himself a large glass of firewhiskey and downing it in one before pouring another. Already he was regretting his decision to attend this pointless affair. He decided now would be the time to apologise to Granger if he was ever going to apologise. The two glasses of Firewhiskey had given him the extra confidence to do so without making him so drunk that he became an embarrassment to himself. He looked around the room, eyes scanning for the ginger dunderhead she had brought. If he found him, he'd find her. And there they were, talking to Longbottom just off the centre of the hall. He walked towards them purposefully, but as he got closer, he lost his nerve and walked straight past them. He walked towards the opposite corner in which Rosmerta was conversing with McGonagall.

He swore to himself at his lack of resolve. All he had to do was go up to her and say sorry, what was he so afraid of? But he knew the answer to that - rejection. But why should that bother him so much? Granger was nothing more than a former student. They had a few friendly conversations whilst they both recovered from the final battle, but after that they went their separate ways and would continue to do so whether he apologised or not.

But the longer he thought about it, the more he realised, he didn't want them to go their separate ways. Here was a person with whom he could have an intelligent conversation with, who hadn't judged him on his opinions and who hadn't made him feel like a subordinate.

He had barely been listening to the conversation going on between the two women he had joined when he was asked for an opinion.

"Sorry, what?" he said, caught off-guard with the sudden inclusion.

McGonagall chuckled before repeating herself. "I said it's nice that Hermione Granger didn't feel strange bringing George Weasley as her date. She deserves to be happy, wouldn't you agree?"

She then proceeded to wave them over. Severus sighed and gave a non-committal grunt.

"Hello, Hermione, George," McGonagall greeted them cheerily. They engaged in light conversation, all of them seemingly happy. Severus tried to avoid looking at her at all. But despite his efforts, his eyes roved up her slim body, curves in all the right places, accentuated by the green dress she was wearing. His eyes had just fallen upon her cleavage (barely contained by the dress) when Hermione spoke to him.

"And how have the past couple of months been treating you Professor Snape?"

He looked up to her eyes, her wonderful brown eyes, and suddenly his mind was empty of words.

"Fine," he eventually managed. He wanted so desperately to turn tail and run, but he felt rooted to the spot. His mouth had gone incredibly dry. He gazed around the room, trying to find an excuse to leave.

The others themselves had engaged into their own conversation.

"Granger, I just…" he began, before pausing. He couldn't finish the sentence; he couldn't take the certain rejection.

"Professor, I understand. We all have bad days, and we were all a little emotional that day. It's all water under the bridge. Now, would you like to join me in a drink?"

He looked at her incredulously, not sure whether to be angry that she assumed that that had been what he wanted to say or pleased that he didn't have to say anything.

When he said nothing, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the drinks table.

"What do you think you're doing Granger?"

"You didn't answer, so I took that as a yes. You're so used to saying no, that your answer caught in your throat." She smiled up at him. He felt his knees weaken a little.

"Have you been drinking, Granger?" he questioned, narrowing his eyes.

"Might've had one or two," she replied with a giggle.

"I thought as much."

He poured them each a Firewhiskey.

"So, tell me Granger, what books have you been reading recently."

And so they entered into a conversation not unlike the many they'd had when both had made the Great Hall their temporary home. Severus felt lighter than he had done for many years, and he knew why - this was the first time in his life that he literally had nothing to worry about.