A/N; THANK YOU to all those who left a review :D
This chap is for you guys ;P
The room itself was decorated in various ribbons and banners from each house. The effect it created was a splendid display of colour lighting up the whole room.
Hermione had charmed flowers to glow like fireflies and they were dotted around the room, glittering like tiny pieces of glass.
The house elves were there to serve the students and against her better judgement she had let Ginny to convince her to have them wear "those silly muggle wheelie shoes". So they were skating round the room in little tiny roller-skates.
She had to admit it was a fascinating sight, and they did seem to enjoy it.
Everyone had dressed up, even the Slytherin's had made an effort. Which was surprising considering when they had found out she was organising the ball they had threatened to protest.
Seeing how it had all finally come together filled Hermione with a warm feeling of satisfaction. She had done possibly the last thing Hogwarts would ask of her. Secretly she hoped there was one more thing she could do for the school that had homed her for seven years, but she was yet to hear an answer on the subject.
"So, do you want a drink?" Ron asked nervously glancing around the room.
Before she had a chance to say yes a little house elf skidded up with a tray of beverages.
Giving a shrug to Ron she took a butterbeer from the tray. Ron smiled and did the same. "It's really great, the hall" he said waving his arm around the room.
"Thanks" she smiled.
It wasn't long before everyone was up on the dance floor, she had even persuaded Ron to dance with her.
He had nervously held her at a distance. She didn't mind though, he was only trying to show her that he could do the 'friendship' thing, and she appreciated it.
At the moment she was dancing with Dean Thomas and he was twirling her like a maniac around the room. That's when she saw him. He was glaring at her from across the room, his dark cold eyes fixed on her. Her smile faltered a bit as she glared back just as venomous, but then dean thrust himself up against her as they spun around together and eye contact was broken.
How dare he look at her like that, she had done absolutely nothing wrong? In fact she had tried to help, but then again he never did appreciate her input.
And he had kissed her. She still didn't know why, but if anyone should be doing the glaring it should rightfully be her she reasoned.
Impossible man.
He didn't know why it bothered him, to see her there smiling and being thrown about by that dolt. He shouldn't care, he didn't care. He was simply mad at the fact that there she was acting all normal as if nothing had happened, enjoying herself when she should be locked up in a dark room somewhere going mad over the fact that her professor had taken advantage her.
This was not normal behaviour. Why wasn't she bothered by it? He was certainly bothered by it, but that was reasonable, that was an appropriate reaction. To be bothered as such.
And that dress, what was he suppose to do but look at her? There she was, twirling about in all her splender.
And she was gaping back at him aswell, the nerve.
At the front of the hall the headmaster rose to the small stand in front of where the head table usually resided. As all eyes became fixed on him silence fell on the great hall.
"My dear students" he began "it is with mixed emotions I say Farwell to you, for so many years now you have filled my life with such joy. I have experienced the best and the worst of you, and as each year passes you astound me even more. I look at you now, and seeing the people that you are truly growing into, fills me with great hope that one day the magical world will be a much more magical place indeed." His eyes twinkled with what could be interpreted as his usual spark, but those who could see past the half moon spectacles would notice the tiniest of tears escape.
Hermione, along with the rest of the hall broke out into a mass of applause.
As another of her professors took the stand she felt a tight grip on her arm from behind. Not getting chance to look around she found herself being pulled into the shadows at the back of the hall.
As she was thrust up against the wall she jerked her arm free, "what the-" she began but was cut off by a hand against her mouth.
"A word of warning Granger," the voice said, "leave whilst you still can".
"Malfoy?" Hermione asked. She couldn't see who it was as he had her against the wall in a position that made it unable for her to turn around.
Suddenly the figure tightened his grip on her arm, "I'm only telling you this you filth, because out of you and those freaks you call friends I find you slightly more bearable".
"Yeah, whatever Malfoy. What are you up to?" she snarled.
Draco realising he was fooling no one by hiding, appeared in front of her, "fine don't take the advice, but know this, your precious professor Snape won't be able to come to your rescue this time" with one last shove at Hermione he headed back into the crowd of students listening to McGonagall's speech.
Hermione stayed in the shadows rubbing her arm. What the hell had that been all about? Knowing that Malfoy probably was prone to spurts of inanity she shook her head and took a few steps forward to rejoin the majority of students.
IIIII
Severus couldn't believe what he was doing, with his usual snarl plastered on his face he made his way up to the stand.
Looking around at the numerous dunderheads he was unable to see the one that he was doing this ridiculous speech for.
Rolling his eyes he cleared his throat. "It has been seven years since you first stepped into my classroom" his dark voice rang out, "seven years of my time spent hopelessly trying to teach you a subject that the majority of you will never use again…"
Minerva McGonagall looked worriedly at the headmaster wondering if it was such a great idea to let Severus speak at such an event. Albus just put a finger to his lips and smiled.
"Do I feel that my time has been wasted?" he asked, "no, I don't. I know at least one of you out there has grasped the fine art that is potion making, I know that at least one of you will go on to use it. I know at least one of you will save a life with the skills I have taught you. I know that one of you will make a difference. In all my years of teaching such extraordinarily idiotic students, I now have the knowledge that at least on of you will go on to be extra ordinary.
It astounds me that someone could have in them the courage and yet stupidity to offer their own life for another, such a rare thing it is. And yet, these past seven years I have witness it happen time and time again.
I know now that there is one of you who would sacrifice your life for mine" he took a deep breath, "and you should know that in return I would sacrifice my life for yours. I know that I have taught at least one of you over these past seven years, know now that at least one of you has taught me."
As he said the last few lines of his speech his eyes met hers. She was at the back of the room in the shadows, her eyes lighting up the darkness that surrounded her. A light in a world full of darkness. The irony was not lost on him.
As their eyes met and they regarded each other, for a fleeting moment something passed between them, nothing in particular, just a feeling, a sense of common destiny.
With as much grace and courtesy as she had ever seen I'm him, he nodded slightly. Only those paying attention would see it. A thank you of sorts, an agreement of understanding.
Hermione nodded back, it was time. Slowly she made her way out of the hall.
In the centre of the crowd one redhead turned to his best friend, "what the bloody hell was all that about?" he asked.
"Dunno" Harry shrugged, the same confused look on his face.
IIIII
Hermione sat on the cold stone stairs looking up at the sky. It was so much clearer at Hogwarts than back home, light pollution being at a minimum here and all. She sighed and rested her head on her arms.
She was sting with her knees bent up to her chest, her cream gown pooled out around her.
Severus saw her before he spoke; he didn't want to disturb her. Merlin knows why. What was it about her that drove him to overwhelming frustration every time she was in the vicinity? With his arms crossed over his chest he cleared his throat. "Miss Granger" he addressed her.
Hermione stood up to speak with him, her politeness he noted. "Sir" she acknowledged.
"After giving it much thought I have agreed to your proposal" he said as he indicated she walk with him as they speak.
"I do find it foolish however, but as matters stand at the moment I see it as the only option we have"
Hermione nodded in agreement.
"You shouldn't be in any danger under my care, although I cannot grantee it. Should the dark lord so wish it, you would be killed. You have to understand that whilst I will be there to ensure as much protection as I can offer, I can not let my cover down"
"I understand sir" Hermione whispered.
Severus narrowed his eyes at the girl. Senseless Gryffindor. "You understand that you might die?" he asked not believing she quite knew what she was getting herself into.
"Yes" she answered in a determined voice "like you said in your speech".
"I didn't say anything about getting yourself killed".
"You said my life for yours" she corrected him.
"That is not the deal; there would never be any such deal. The speech" he sighed rubbing his temples "was metaphorical. And I didn't say it was a good idea" he sneered.
"It could get me killed I know that, but it could also save so many other students. My friends' professor, the ones I love. Wouldn't you risk death for the ones you love and care about the most?"
Severus shot her an icy look as if to say not to peruse the subject further.
"Besides you wont let me die" she said simply before walking off in front of him.
Who did she think she was? Presumptuous little chit. "Yes I will Miss Granger, do you understand that? If I need to I wouldn't think twice about it".
Hermione stopped walking and looked at him closely. A calculating expression on her face.
Severus frowned at her nerve. Trying to read him, the very cheek. "Is it is too difficult for you to understand Miss Granger?" He said his anger rising "is your dim-witted Gryffindor brain unable to process the information?"
"I understand sir" she frowned, "I just thought you wouldn't let me die before we talked about you kissing me the other day that's all".
Severus was fuming. How dare she? "Miss Granger" his voice was so intimidating she actually startled, "do not ever speak to me of that again" he said advancing on her.
Hermione stood her ground.
Gripping her arms slightly he slammed her into a nearby tree, "you are a child, an irksome little girl. Don't you ever thing that I would do that again, don't you ever think that I want to speak or be reminded of that again. UNDERSTOOD?" He shouted the last word out with such force he ended up slamming he against the tree again.
Hermione flinched in pain. Her arm had been manhandled enough recently, she wasn't sure she could come up with an excuse fore all the burses she felt coming.
Snape seemed to notice he had hurt her as he quickly released his grip and turned to leave.
"Tomorrow night my office 8 o'clock" he said sharply before storming off.
Hermione slid to the bottom of the tree, her once pristine dress already covered in stains and tears from the bark of the large Oak. Looking out over the river she began to cry.
She cried for Harry, for Ron and Ginny, their lost childhood. She cried for her parents. Her professors. Her classmates. The brave who were lost to the first war against Voldemort. Those who inevitably would be lost this time round. She cried for the likes of Draco, and the lost causes. She even cried for Professor Snape, whose spitefulness and lack of acknowledgement hurt her beyond any physical pain, But most of all she cried for herself, for caring.
IIIII
From the window on the second floor landing, facing over the vast Hogwarts grounds, Severus stood and watched.
A dark presence in the shadows.
He could tell she was crying, even from the distance. Why he allowed it to bother him he didn't know. He couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't care, but he did. And it drove him mad.
She was tearing him apart, and she didn't even know it.
A/N; Hope you liked that, next one up soon.
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