Chapter 5: The Courtship (Present)
"Hermione, you are going to make us late! What is taking you so blasted long?!" Severus snapped as he paced in front of the floo.
"I'm sorry, honest. I'm just so nervous, I'm not used to all of these…extras." Hermione said as she worried her fingers.
Severus stared for a moment before clearing his throat, "You look very beautiful Hermione. I'm honored to have you on my arm tonight." He said with a slight bow as he stuck out his arm for her to take. She giggled slightly, "Oh good sir, I'm overwhelmed with your honor." She responded with a smirk and then she smiled at his deep chuckle.
"Let us take our leave. Come now." he said pointing towards the floo for her to go through first.
She stumbled out of the floo, her heel twisting to the side and snapping making her jerk forward. She was caught by the arm and spun around, her foot finding stability on the carpeted floor. "Thank you!" she said turning around to see who had kept her from falling.
"It is my pleasure, Miss…?" Lucius Malfoy smiled down at her.
"Oh! Mr. Malfoy, I didn't know you'd be here!" she said, still trying to catch her breath.
"Lucius is here every year, Hermione. His family is an avid funder for the advancement of potions." Severus said, pointing his wand and casting a quick reparo on her broken heel. "Thank you, Severus." She said, quickly sliding her foot back into her heel and not noticing the slight rise of Lucius' eyebrow at her use of his first name. "Ah, and I see young Draco has accompanied you again this year?" Severus mentioned as a response to Lucius inquisitive look.
"Of course! You know our Draco, ever the avid potioneer."
"Really, Draco? I never realized you loved potions so much in school!" Hermione said, jumping at the obvious in Severus and Lucius had given her.
"That is because your passion was constantly outshining my mere scholarly interest." Draco said with a smile, before reaching forward for Hermione's hand and placing a kiss atop her knuckle. "It is a welcome surprise to see you here, Hermione and might I say, you look beautiful this evening."
Hermione flushed under his praise, "Thank you, Draco. You'll have to catch up with us after the speeches and toasts; I'd love to hear your input on Professor Chaputs new blood replenisher!"
"I'd be delighted, of course, you'll have to permit me at least one dance?"
"Mmm," she said with a light smile, "we'll have to see how good your argument is." And with that, she turned, placing her hand in the crook of Severus' elbow and letting him lead her into the banquet hall.
As they reached the table Severus pulled out her chair and pushed her towards the table. He leaned over towards her, "that was perfect Hermione, I will admit I am surprised by how natural you were at that."
"If I've learned nothing else all year, I've learned to flirt."
"That was not flirting, that was a cat toying with a mouse."
"Is there a difference?" she smirked at him.
"There's the good little death eater in training."
"Well," she said staring him straight in the eyes, "I've learned from the best." He nodded his response and sat up, looking towards the stage as the introductions began.
"I will be curious to see how the public accepts the new blood replenisher." Hermione said to the group she was conversing with.
"You must admit though Miss Navarre, that it is bordering on blood magic! One cannot simply allow anyone access to those types of spells and potions." A gruff man with a thick American accent.
"I'm not sure I know what those types of spells and potions are sir?"
"Dark magic of course!" he said, spit spewing from his mouth with his vigorous answer.
"I disagree with you sir. How can a blood replenisher be construed as dark magic? It is a key potion in hospitals, for our Aurors and even a common potion kept in homes. This new brewing process allows a higher potency and has the ability to save a life that, up until this point, magic has not been able to. I believe you are so concerned with the idea that a Potioneers blood must be involved and the small, ignorant world you live in has taught you that any blood magic equals evil, that you have completely missed what this break through could mean." Hermione argued passionately.
"Well said, Miss Navarre. Severus has mentioned his brightest student in a few of his letters and I told him, why not bring her here! It is a pleasure to meet you my dear." Professor Chaput said as he bowed and kissed the top of Hermione's hand. "I would love to speak with you before the night is out, Miss Navarre. A little bird has told me you may have an interest in earning your Masters?"
"I'm honored, sir! Of course I would love to speak with you regarding my Masters! I've not yet decided on a mentor or if I should even pursue so soon after school, so I'm very interested in hearing what those in the field think!"
"Let us set a time for you to come to my lab, I'm sure you'd love a nice trip to France, eh?"
"That sounds delightful! Although I will admit that I've not traveled on my own before so I'll have to ask my Uncle."
"I would be willing to accompany you, should you like an escort." Draco offered.
"I'd hate to ask that of you Draco." She responded shyly.
"It's not a bother, I will be traveling to France to meet Blaise, Pansy and Gregory next week for a week at our chateau to relax after graduation. I could accompany you and simply bring you home the next day, or if you would like to invite some of your friends, you are more than welcome to stay for the length of our stay. Of course I would consult your Uncle for permission first, should you be interested."
"Splendid, splendid! I do look forward to seeing you next week then Miss Navarre! Now, you must excuse me, I see the puff pastries being circled around the room." The Professor said before speeding away, leaving herself and Draco standing alone.
"I'm not sure just what your intentions are, Draco. We've not spoken much at school until the last few weeks and here you are inviting me to a trip to your French chateau but a week after graduation."
"It was not as if our social circles blended often, Hermione. I will admit to being intrigued when you and Daphne began your friendship."
"Well, it was a project to begin, but yet, we have developed a very close friendship. Will she be attending the trip? I'd imagine my Uncle will be much more open to the idea should there be more females involved in the trip."
"Of course! She will be coming a few days into the trip, her Mother wants her to clarify some wedding plans before she leaves for our trip."
"Of course! It's so hard to believe she and Blaise will be getting married in just a few months time!"
"I hear you've been asked to be the Maid of Honor?"
"Yes, she asked me just before graduation actually. I was very honored, I'd assumed her little sister would be asked."
"I forget sometimes that you are not entirely familiar with all of the pureblood customs." He said simply, "I apologize, I did not mean to offend. I only mean with your family name it is easy to forget about the unfortunate circumstances that took you away from the world you should have been raised in." Draco said in an attempt to take back anything offense he had said.
"Yes, well, it is unfortunate that my Mother was not here to help me transition into the pureblood circle. I do not imagine my Uncle has much interest with me learning that piece of my family history."
"And do you Hermione? Do you have an interest in learning more about your pureblood heritage?"
"Very much so." She said shyly. "I'm just not sure how to go about it. I did not receive a coming out ball as many of the girls in our year had and so I felt very separate from the close-knit group in our year and slightly younger. I have never wanted to offend any of my friends and so I never pursued the interest."
"I'll speak with Mother. I know she would love to speak with you more and I'm sure she'd be delighted to have you over for tea with some of the women and their daughters in her circle of friends."
"Oh! Thank you, Draco. I would very much like that. Now, how about that dance you asked for?"
"I would be honored." He said taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.
Across the room Severus stood in a group of Potioneers, discussing many of the presentations that were given tonight. He attempted to keep his eyes from a smiling Hermione, as Draco spun her across the dance floor. She was doing wonderfully and he had little doubt that by the end of the night she would not have completely ensnared Draco and secured herself an invitation to dinner at his home. He was concerned, however, as he watched her laugh at something Draco had said, that she would find herself equally as ensnared in the world that she was about to be wined and dined in.
*Not quite as long as the last but fairly decent! I forgot to add a note to the last one that it was in the past. Also, looking at an outline I wrote this will definitely be longer than what I thought! Am I giving too much detail, not enough? Anyone confused or am I pretty on track with explanations?! Thank you!