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Chapter 38: 1st Anniversary
Little Elizabeth Marie was heartily enjoyed and it seemed that she was a relief to the anxiousness that many in the castle had in relation to the first Anniversary. Unfortunately many in the castle were obliged to attend a ministry ball to celebrate the end of the magical war. Hermione had looked at her wardrobe and then decided to call an expert in, Pansy, to help find an outfit for Hermione to wear to the ball. The only other thing she had to do now was to find a date for the event.
Pansy had been a life saver and found Hermione a lovely teal coloured dress which brought out the cinnamon and honey highlights of her hair and made her eyes glint like she was a rich smoky single malt with amber hues.
When Hermione mentioned during their shopping day in London that she now needed a date for the ball Pansy gave a scheming look to their other companion on this excursion. Narcissa replied by giving Pansy a nod; yes she would handle this side of the plot to get the two together. Severus was going to get a nudge from his old friend Narcissa Black Malfoy and he would be taking the belle to the ball.
Returning to the castle that night Hermione was glad to have a rest in her quarters as she was absolutely exhausted. She had to be sly and surreptitiously take some of her break through pain medication just to endure the rest of the day. Hermione had been flagging by about 11am. Thankfully she was using her chair but if she had been just using her crutches she would have not made it for more than 30 minutes on the shopping trip.
The intelligent witch had been getting stronger with her standing time and she was getting more confident in her walking around the apartment using the furniture as walking aids very much like Teddy was when he started to learn to walk. The little boy had rocketed off as a commando crawler at about 9 months and he seemed to have two speeds. Flat out and stop. It had taken a while but it appeared that in the last month he had started stepping while holding onto the couch or the sides of his cot.
Teddy Lupin had also become a little bit of a Houdini with his ability to climb crawl out of the cot and playpen. Winky was in seventh heaven as she had been staying with Missus Wolf to watch the little one during the last month or so of Dora Lupins pregnancy so had a wonderful time following the small boy round on his adventures.
There was a knock on Hermione's apartment's front door and it disturbed her. Rolling over in the bed she realised the time. Bugger she had miss dinner. Calling for Tinky she asked the Elfess to answer the door and explain that she was coming. Coming out into her sitting room she was surprised to see it was Severus.
"I am sorry I missed dinner but I had been out with Narcissa and Pansy and they wore me out," explained the mussed witch. She was a little embarrassed as it was school policy to try and ensure that there was a reasonable number of staff at meals on the weekend to ensure discipline and safety. There were quite a few professors out of the school this weekend so Hermione knew that the Headmaster had been counting on her presence.
"I was just checking to see if you are ok. You really should eat something. Tinky can you get a meal for Miss Mia and I will have a coffee please" ordered the Headmaster.
"Please sit it is an awfully long way up to look from here" advised Hermione coming into the sitting room proper and moving from her wheelchair to sit on one of her two couches.
"Have you had some of you oxynorm medication?" inquired Severus. Hermione had not done her furniture walk which indicated that she was not sure her legs would hold her and she had that slight tensioning round her eyes that indicated that she was in some pain.
"No not yet. Your knock on the door was what woke me up. I had some at lunch and when I came home from the shopping expedition," explained the witch feeling comfortable talking about her on going treatment with a friend who understood the daily battle she had.
Tinky popped back in bring a tray with Hermione's meal and Severus's coffee. After setting up a special breakfast tray for Hermione the Elfess served the Headmaster his coffee. She also had a slice of coffee cake for him that she knew to be one of his favourites. The breakfast tray was a couch butler's tray designed for invalids much like a bed table it had room for the individuals knees and blankets and brought things like plates to the correct height so that they could easily use their cutlery and feed themselves.
Noticing that Hermione did not have her medication box with her Severus asked Tinky to get her meds for her. "It is on the bedside table Tinky," advised Hermione after a brief rewind in her mind of where she had last seen it and where she had put the box. That was one of the troubles of been woken from a broken sleep it could take a while for her brain to engage.
Severus turned out to be a light and comfortable conversationalist during her meal. He inquired about her Muggle teaching degree and how she felt she was going on the program. They had a discussion about pedagogical approaches in the dangerous teaching environment. Hermione was glad that she was using a laptop and word-processing her assignments. She would write them the first time using the magical classroom name and then do an executive find and replace for example if she had made a mention of potions she would replace it with Chemistry.
Listening to the young woman talk Severus Snape was a little disappointed that she was going into academic support rather than into a specific academic area, as she would revolutionise any subject she set her mind too. Hermione had made a significant improvement in the provision of academic support and most certainly revolutionise the awareness of every one of his teaching and learning staff members about Specific Learning Disabilities. She was making contributions left right and centre and it was wonderful to watch her develop new ideas. Her excitement could be very contagious.
Narcissa Black Malfoy had been on the case this afternoon when she returned to Grimmauld Place. She flooed called the Headmaster and arranged to quickly visit him. It was then she laid down the law at him about being a gentleman. It was pointed out to Severus that "there was no way he was going to be allowed to duck out of attending the Victory Ball. Now as a gentleman and the Headmaster." Narcissa asserted that, "he would have to ask someone to accompany him".
Severus thinking that he was getting in trouble from Narcissa for not asking her promptly asked her. Her response was intriguing after she had stopped laughing. "Not me silly. I do believe that Miss Granger is in the same boat as you. That being she is required to attend the event and is not able to get out of attending. She does not have a date and you as a good friend should ask her to accompany you," advised the refined Lady.
Severus had worked himself up to ask her at dinner even managing to get her allocated to be sat next to him. It was a bit of an anti-climax for him when she failed to arrive at dinner. He had skipped his favourite dessert so that he could come and check on her, as it was not like her to miss a meal especially when he had asked for numbers over the weekend.
When Tinky had cleared away Hermione's dinner and the remains of his coffee cake Severus felt a little at a loose end. He was saved by a knock on the door. "Do you want me to answer it?" he asked. When Hermione nodded he stood and walked over to the door. Upon opening it he discovered it was Bonnie Thompson. Hermione confirmed that she was up to visitors.
"I was just dropping by to say congratulations on the fine work you did on the baby layette for Elizabeth Marie. I was just visiting Tonks and she had the little one swaddled in the cotton blanket. Did you get a dress?" inquired Bonny finally stopping for a breath.
"Yes I got a dress. If you want a look Tinky can take you," advised Hermione.
"No surprise me on the night. What ever you wear I am sure you will look wonderful," advised the kind southern Californian woman.
"So do you know what you are going to work on for your next de-stressing project? Do you need me to pick up anything from the states for you?" asked Bonnie.
"Um not for me but I think Tinky or Winky was looking at the catalogues and were interested in something. Just let me check. Tinky!" she called. The little Elfess popped back in to the apartment and asked, "You need me Miss Mia"
"Madam Bonnie has asked if we need anything ordered from the states do you have anything on your wish list or was it Winky who was making a list from the catalogues the other day" inquired Hermione. There were some companies mainly US based who would only deliver to US addresses refusing to take International orders. These Muggle companies of course had some wonderful products so in the know crafters would organise a delivery to a US address and then work out a way to get them to their International location. With Bonnie or Keith both commuting to and from each other, the crafters in the castle could get special orders delivered to Bonnie in the States and then either one of them would bring it with them on the next portkey. It turned out it was both elfesses. Tinky advised Madam Bonnie they would write up their list and give her the money so she could do the order for them.
Bonnie said bye as she and Keith were going out dancing tonight so she couldn't stay long. When she had gone Severus was still in shock at seeing another cultural aspect that he had not been aware of. It led him to asking further questions and soon finding himself overloaded with information. Watching Hermione he could see that she was fade fast. So he started to excuse himself.
"Before I go. Hermione would you be my companion for the Victory Ball next week? I know we both have to attend. I would rather go with a friend than on my own."
"Why certainly Severus. Friends help Friends. It would be a pleasure for me to be your companion for the Victory Ball."
It was then that he shocked her. Severus kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you and good night" he advised her and departed before Hermione could really say any thing.