Thanks for reading my story! Hope you enjoy it.


2. Chapter: Masquerade ball

Malfoy Manor was lighted by countless of torches this evening.

Many guests stand in queue in front of a wrought-iron gate waiting to be controlled.
Peacocks strutted along the glamorous dressed wizards and witches and showed their impressive trains. Even Hermione masked as death eater Romilda Sweeny were among the crowd. Her ruby-red sleeveless dress was hidden under a black full-length cloak. She held a black ornate mask, which she was allowed to put on as soon as she passed the control point, in her right hand and the invitation to the masquerade ball in her left hand. Besides, she had stuck the silver death eater ring on her left ring finger, which she had taken of Romilda Sweeny.

She tried to keep calm when the last guest in front of her passed the gate and it was her turn to prove her identity.

"Your invitation please", the controller said. Unhesitatingly the young woman handed him the required paper.

He took a peek at the card before he put it aside. "Am I allowed to see your ring please, Mrs. Sweeny?"

Without hesitation she showed him her left hand and sighed with relief when he stepped aside. "Have a nice evening, Mrs. Sweeny."

While she went to the open entrance, where she saw a house-elf with a tray full of champagne glasses, she put her mask on. The mask would hide her true identity now.

Gratefully she picked the glass the elf offered her and entered the house. Another house-elf grabbed her cloak and showed her the way to the parlor, where almost all guest came together.

It was very difficult for her to find Snape in the crowd. Awhile she went up and down the dance floor and tried to find him between the dancing guests. Then she realized that it was kind of ridiculous to think that her old professor was dancing.

Suddenly her heart was in her mouth when she saw a man dressed in a black cloak on the sidelines of the vacant buffet. He seemed to be deep in thought while he nipped at his Elf-made Vine glass.

Both his statue and his aura reminded her of Snape.

Her carefully pushed back feelings were running high and let her hesitate. How would he react, when he recognizes her? Would he betray her?

But most of all she was afraid of her own reaction.

She feared that she still loves him after all this time - what happened, what he did to her.
Hermione clenched her teeth and approached him. He didn't raise his eyes when she joined him. So she was forced to make the first move.

„It's a wonderful evening, isn't it? ", she whispered to him and didn't avert her gaze of the dancing couples.

By the sound of her voice he winced and turned to her. "What was that?" he asked dumbfounded.

"I talked about the beautiful evening, Sir", she repeated willingly.

"What is your name? ", he wanted to know with his typically cold tone.

"Romilda Sweeny" Hermione answered and nipped at her champagne glass.

"Don't lie to me, you are not Romilda Sweeny" he hissed angrily.

"So, who am I then? ", the young woman asked and smiled at him flirty.

Before she had a chance to react he grabbed her arm and pushed her in the shadow of the room. "Don't play games with me, Miss Granger."

"So you recognized me" she whispered trying to keep calm although her body was shivering.

"What the hell are you doing here? Are you insane?" he said and she almost believed that there was panic in his voice.

„You aren't scared for me, are you?" she wanted to know provocatively. "Could it be that you have some feelings for me after all this time?"

"You have no idea, silly girl", he responded harshly.

"No idea of what?" she breathed on his lips teasingly. Thereon he wanted to kiss her, but she pushed him off.

"I'm no longer a little innocent girl, Severus. I'm playing with the big guys now" she whispered appealingly before she left the room through a side door.

She knew that he took the bait and that he would follow her, now where she provoked his appetite. The young woman hid behind the door and had not to wait long.

Just some seconds later Snape came into the room and stopped looking around. Silently she sneaked up on him and kissed his nape.
He spun around and pressed her to the next best wall. Complaisantly she opened her mouth, when he kissed her hungrily. Eagerly he hugged her and his hands ran over her dress trying to find the zip. When his fingers found what they searched for, she stopped him.

"Not here", she said aroused.

He understood and led her to the fireplace. With a short swing of his wand he enlightened the fire: "Come! "

Without to know where he was leading her to, she followed him. Soon after the flames spat the couple out into a small room, which Hermione knew very well – his office.

He brought her to Hogwarts! Rejoicing inside she caved in to his pressure and kissed him passionately.

They tumbled through the secret door behind a shelf directly into his living-room. There they undressed each other and got into the bed room.

Without giving it much thought she gave herself to him. Some hours later she woke up resting her head on his naked chest.

She had pangs of conscience. On the one hand she wished for his kisses and his touches and on the other hand she knew how easily he could hurt her.

What if she failed? What if her feelings would be her undoing again?

Silent tears ran down her check when she dressed herself and got a letter off her coat pocket.

In the letter stood everything Severus must know when he wants to meet her again and as she knew, he wants to see her again.

Passion was roused again. Harry's plan came to fruition.