Good day, readers. I've been working on this one for a while, trying to get it right. I think it's much improved and now ready for primetime. I hope you enjoy it. More to come. International travel does allow for long stretches of uninterrupted thinking time. As ever, please do offer reviews and critique. Enjoy! - DN

"I hope there's not too much dancing this year," Ron complained to Harry as Hermione and Ginny sat opposite deep in a private conversation. Ron grimaced. "What could they possibly have to talk about, they've been together all day."

"Probably about what songs they'll want to dance to and how they hope there'll be lots of dancing this year," Harry speculated. "Did you get yourself one of those Funky Fudges George was selling? Good for at least an hour they say." Harry decided it wasn't the time or place to tell Ron he was hoping the evening would involve at least a little time in the shadows of the garden with Ginny. A guy didn't need to hear that about his sister. Between the regular 7th year class load, with the extra study halls for N.E.W.T. preparations, the addition of Occlumency and Legilimency, and his Potions apprenticeship (like a regularly recurring detention), this year had been incredibly time-consuming. He was actually pleased to have declined the captainship of the Quidditch team. Demelza Robins was doing a great job and it took a little of the pressure off him. Not to mention it didn't seem fair to the regular 7th years if the "8th" years took all the leadership positions.

He had spent more time in the library this year than all the others combined, but now that his future seemed so close by, it made more sense to him to invest. Ron was there constantly, either studying or cataloguing books in the Restricted Section for his apprentice hours. Even Hermione seemed overloaded, which was really saying something since the time-turner days.

Hermione refilled her plate with more roasted chicken and potatoes while Ginny had moved on to a dessert of candy corn and chocolate frogs. "Planning your dance moves, Ron?" Ginny teased. "Hopefully you'll be a better date than 4th year." Ron threw a roll at her, which she caught easily and munched.

"He invited me while we were still on the train to school this year," Hermione laughed. "Nothing left to chance this time."

Ron reddened slightly. "I'm learning, give a guy a chance."

"How many do you need, Ron? You're like a cat, with nine lives." Ginny caught the second roll that Ron launched, but tossed it back to Harry, who then beaned Ron with it.

Just as Ron was readying it for a second throw, this time at Hermione for having the nerve to laugh at Ginny's joke, a long pale hand swiped the roll from Ron. "Save your catching and throwing for the Quidditch pitch, Weasley," Snape said quietly. "Or it will be 5 points from Gryffindor." Snape tossed the roll idly in his hand as he continued his stroll to the staff table.

Harry grinned as Snape walked away, eliciting a jab from an aggrieved Ron. "I'm pretty sure he was joking, Ron."

"I don't care what you say, Harry. That guy's as scary as ever. I'm still waiting for him to expel me."

Snape smiled just then or maybe it was a grimace. Ron worried how loud he'd said that and how much joy it would give Snape if he just had a good reason to boot him out. He'd faced down Voldemort, for heaven's sake. Surely he could handle Snape. He returned his attention to dessert and the difficult decision of choosing between the pumpkin cheesecake and apple pie.

Hermione turned to Ginny, speaking quietly, not entirely certain that Snape hadn't overheard Ron. "There's something different about him lately, don't you think? He wears his hair tied back now, but that's not it."

"It's probably a big load off to not need to be a double agent anymore," Ginny replied, looking as closely as she dared without staring obviously. "Yeah, I think I can see what you're saying. He seems younger now than before, maybe even a little bit better looking. And his nose doesn't seem as large. Must be an effect of the hair?"

Ron leaned over to Harry and spoke so Hermione (and Snape) wouldn't hear. "Just about anything would improve that face. There wasn't much further down to go." Harry replied only with a shake of his head.

The Hogwarts Halloween feast was unlike the ones at the Sedona School. If this wasn't the highlight of the Hogwarts year, Hunter couldn't imagine what would be. A carpet of candles shone from overhead. The ceiling of the Great Hall was star-strewn with the moon rising. Bats flew across it from time to time. The walls were covered in pumpkin vines, with large pumpkins serving as punch bowls at intervals near the floor and as lanterns further up. She complimented Flitwick and Sprout on the amazing effects and the house elves on the food. Even the Headmaster seemed like he was in a reasonably good mood as he approached the staff table, tossing a dinner roll idly in his hand. The conversation among her dinner partners focused mainly on the students, identifying of who was seeing whom, or had they parted ways, and who was likely to begin a new romance of the evening. No one had time to speculate about the staff tonight, though it had been rumored that Sinistra was seeing the new Muggle Studies professor and that Trelawney might be seeing someone, though no one seemed to know who. Trelawney made a practice of saying very little about herself, turning most conversations back on what she saw in the future for those around her, which was rarely optimistic. Hunter found the Seer rather unconvincing, despite knowing several Seers in Sedona and Boston who were quite talented. But the rest of the staff, if not fully convinced by her regular dire predictions, were at least respectful of her.

After dinner, Snape rose slowly and silence befell the hall as was required when the Headmaster moved to the lectern, lest your House lose points for disrespect.

"Here we go," Ginny muttered. "Another long speech."

Harry, remembering the epic one from the first night, settled in for a long sit. The good news was that Snape had allowed them to eat first, so he didn't feel faint from hunger like then.

Snape towered over the lectern and stared out over the amassed students, the tables covered with the remains of a good meal devoured. An audible groan circulated as he examined several parchments, then silence again, as his piercing gaze fell on each house table, one by one. "Professor Flitwick informs me there will be music and dancing tonight." He looked down his nose over the students, a sneer of distaste fixed on his mouth. "So be it."

The students sat silently for a few moments more, expecting there to be more, much more, to be said. Snape stood glaring out from behind the lectern for a while, as the sneer slowly evolved into the tiniest smile. He put the parchments in his pocket, turned on his heel and retook his seat.

Cheers broke out as hundreds of students stood up at once. Flitwick and Sprout waved their wands in unison, and the long house tables disappeared, replaced by smaller round tables. The band got set up on one side. Then the candles dimmed, leaving only the stars on the ceiling and the jack-o-lanterns glowing to illuminate the scene.

Once the band began to play, it was evident that George Weasley had sold more than a few Funky Fudges, as energetic and athletic dancing was on display, often from the most unexpected students. Dennis Creevey was doing a lindy hop with Ngoyo Obasaju. Janiss Ames and Seamus Finnigan were bouncing off the walls, and even Neville Longbottom seemed reasonably well-coordinated as he boogied with Cho Chang. Ron had declined the offer to take any magical fudge, but humored Hermione by doing his best, which was not very creditable, other than for effort. Harry and Ginny also declined magical dancing enhancement, but admired the moves of those who hadn't.

Predictably, once the first hour was over, things calmed down a great deal. After a refreshment of another round of pumpkin juice, the band offered a series of slower dances, which lead to a few students deciding to exit the Great Hall for the gardens outside. Soon, Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron were nowhere to be seen.

Hunter had enjoyed the display and was impressed by the effectiveness of the Funky Fudge. No one had been hurt (at least not seriously enough to need the hospital wing) and no one seemed to be falling over with exhaustion as the effects wore off. Perhaps tomorrow would be a different story, depending on the ingredients used.

She had accepted offers from Flitwick and Vector to dance and finally found herself in a group of staff witches reliving dances from their youth, once the band began to play some oldies. But once the slow songs started, she made her way back to the staff table, intending to continue her chat with Madam Hooch and her husband about a Quidditch after-party that had to be broken up by the Department of Magical Games and Sports for conduct unbecoming of national champions. Just as she sat down, Snape stood up, staring intently at the doors out into the courtyard, then striding off across the dance floor, which cleared quickly in his path, embracing couples eyeing him nervously, hoping they weren't the target of whatever it was he was seeking out.

McGonagall exchanged a worried glance with Madam Hooch as the Headmaster exited towards the garden. Curious herself and seeing an opportunity, Hunter excused herself at the conclusion of the Quidditch story, heading toward the drink table to get some pumpkin juice. After, she redirected her steps and made her way more subtly towards the doors out.

Harry and Ginny had found a quiet bench, which was difficult given the number of couples now outside enjoying the crisp night air and the glow of the moon. Harry had taken Ginny's hand in his and was beginning to remark on how great it was to be at the ball, having missed it and her last year, but before he had uttered more than a half-dozen words, she kissed him. Once he came up for air, he resumed his thoughts, but she cut him off again with another kiss, after which he thought the better of it and followed her lead, realizing that she was telling him the same thing, only with no words. Suddenly, it was she who pulled away and straightened her robes, clearing her throat and saying something about being cold and should they go back in. Harry was confused and then saw the tall figure of Snape bearing down on them. His stomach tied itself in knots, wondering what could bring the Headmaster out to the garden, concluding that it could not be good news.

"Good evening, Professor Snape," Harry said as conversationally as he could, having just been interrupted in the first decent moment he and Ginny had shared in months.

Snape continued past without breaking stride, saying "Carry on, Weasley," as he did so. Ginny shrugged and appeared ready to resume, but Harry held her off, nodding in the direction Snape walked. With each successive couple, although Snape never spoke or scolded, suddenly Dean was overcome with a coughing fit that required going in to find something to drink. Cho started sneezing uncontrollably, as Neville offered her his handkerchief. The Patel twins were following their dates, exchanging familiar looks of irritation and disappointment as they gave up trying to catch up to their dates who were both suddenly urgently running in the direction of the nearest boys' lavatory. Ginny tried hard not to laugh as she heard Hermione asking Ron what happened, followed by the sounds of most of his extensive dinner landing in the bushes.

"Snape has a positively evil sense of humor," Ginny said admiringly. "Wish I knew half those charms. No one teaches us the good ones."

Harry was amused, as well, but also grateful that they had managed to escape being his target. At least until he felt his lips begin to swell. And he was even less pleased when Ginny nearly fell off the bench laughing. Eventually, after letting him sputter incomprehensibly for a time, his lips now the size of three-week-old Blast-Ended Skrewts, she uttered a Reducio spell and his lips went back to normal. He was about to give her a well-deserved tongue-lashing, but she hushed him and indicated the door out to the garden as Professor Hunter emerged, looked around a bit, then moved in the direction of the Headmaster, easy to see with his height reaching over most of the hedges and his pale skin reflecting the moonlight. Hermione and Ron arrived just then, Ron still looking a little green even in the darkness.

Hunter had no problem finding Snape in the garden, as she only needed to listen for the sounds of disturbed couples as he went on his stroll. She nearly broke out laughing at the effects of his jinxes on the unsuspecting pairs. Soon the garden was cleared out, which suited her purposes well. She had protected herself with a counter-charm to the Boldness charm she put out, so as to keep her judgement sound, but she felt a surge of courage as she took in the sight of him again in the moonlight. She continued until she reached him near the walls, keeping her steps quiet and slowing down as she got closer. She had thought she might take him by surprise, but he turned and greeted her as if they had made an arrangement to meet.

"Professor Hunter, your Boldness Charms have had their intended effect," he said with no anger in his voice. "Very mild, very subtle, but with a lasting residue that was clearly New World."

She smiled at his demonstration of his analytical skill. There were the first words he'd said to her that weren't required for research or teaching administration since their walk by the lake. She realized how much she enjoyed his dark wit, and how much she had missed it.

"And your series of counter jinxes were certainly various and effective, Headmaster." She continued forward until they were together at the wall.

"They'll wear off before they completely ruin the evenings, if their dates are patient enough," he said, to which she stifled a laugh. "I should return to the Great Hall."

"Please don't go just yet, Severus," she said quietly, holding out a hand to stop him.

Ron still looked a bit green and was rubbing his stomach as he and Hermione wandered back to the bench where Ginny and Harry still sat.

"Oy," he groaned, with a hand now at his back. "That was rotten. What'd I eat that you guys didn't?"

Ginny grabbed Harry's knee as a warning, then turned, her eyes fixed on a small break in the shrubs between their bench and the lower part of the garden. "Shut it, guys. Professor Hunter just went out after Snape."

A twitter passed through them and they all crowded around, but the break in the bushes was small. Only Ginny could see, and she wasn't giving up her place.

"What's going on? I heard they have been really frosty with each other after that walk a few weeks ago," Hermione said quietly.

"What walk," asked Ron. "What's the big deal about a walk?"

"Shhh, Ron, they'll hear you. Everyone knows about this. They went for a walk together, but she came back alone. He didn't come back for hours," Hermione reported. "Remember, it was right after he got that bad migraine right in the middle of dinner."

"So what," Ron replied nonchalantly. "He probably went to get some grubworms or boomslangs and she didn't. Who could blame her?"

"Professor Hunter is a Potions Mistress, Ron, she doesn't get squeamish about skinning boomslangs. Not like some people…" Hermione retorted.

Ginny hushed them with a wave of her hand before Ron could reply. "She's going up to him. He's making to head back to the castle, but she's stopped him."

"With her wand?" Harry wanted to know.

"No, just with her hand and standing in his way."

"Snape would never let someone stand in his way. He's so much taller than she is, he'll probably just stand over her until she moves." Harry was speculating. He'd seen him do that before, but not with a fellow teacher. At least, not lately.

"What's she saying?" Hermione asked urgently.

"Can't tell," Ginny said distractedly.

"Just when you want extendable ears, to spy on Snape of all people," muttered Ron.

"Now Snape looks like he's protesting something, he's put his hands up."

"Is she angry with him?" Ron wished Ginny had omnioculars, so she could replay the scene. He'd love to see little Professor Hunter giving Snape a good talking to. His belly began to feel better at the thought.

"It's hard to say. She's not smiling, but she's not shaking a fist, either. Snape's backing away."

"Maybe she'll hex him," Ron said, with more hopefulness to his voice than concern.

"Easy, Ron," said Harry.

"Sorry, I forgot his godson is with us," Ron said ruefully. Harry gave him a jovial punch, and Ginny shushed them again before their sparring got too noisy.

"Oooooh, now she's got his hands, she's not letting him come back. She's still talking. He's touching that burned spot on his jacket. He looks like he wants to get away from her, he keeps stepping back, but she keeps up with him."

"What does she look like? Angry, upset, pleading? Why does he want to get away?" Hermione asked.

"No, she looks, I don't know, like she's saying something difficult. She keeps stopping and looking away, then talking some more. He's not saying anything. Now he's backed himself up to the garden wall, there's nowhere else for him to go unless he wants to fall over the garden wall or try flying without a broom again."

Harry's eyes widened at that thought, remembering the last time he'd seen Snape do that. Hopefully whatever was going on down there wouldn't rise to that level of desperation. It occurred to him that Professor Hunter probably didn't even know Snape could do that, unless someone had taken her aside and given her the inventory of his skills. Which seemed unlikely. He wondered what else she didn't know about him. The Daily Prophet wasn't exactly a catalogue of history, nor was it especially accurate.

"You think she'll toss him over the wall, Harry?" Ron said.

"She's too clever for that sort of approach," Harry said. "If she wants to cause him harm, she'd just put something extra in his oatmeal. Something a bezoar can't get out."

Ron nodded in thoughtful agreement.

"Now what?" hissed Hermione.

Ginny's voice had changed. It shook slightly. "She's still coming towards him, he's put his hands down, she's holding one."

"She's holding his hand, like holding it back or…like…holding his hand?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"Holding it, and he's not grabbing it away. Now he's…he's…."

"What!?" spit out Ron. "What's going on?"

Ginny flapped her hand behind her urgently to quiet them, transfixed to the scene through the branches. "He's kissing her hand. She's … oh dear…. I think he's….Merlin's beard….they're going to…they are….."

Ginny pulled her face away from the hedge, blushing a deep red.

"What?" said Ron, Harry, and Hermione in unison.

"They're kissing."

"What?!" roared Ron, roughly pushing Ginny aside and making a leap for the opening in the bushes.

"I can't see anything," he complained. "A bunch of fog just rolled in."

Ginny, Harry, and Hermione grinned, knowing just how that fog had arrived.

She'd forgiven him. And now she was kissing him. Severus Snape struggled to recall any previous time that he had ever experienced such a thing in his life. Dumbledore had not exactly forgiven him, just allowed him to pay a penance for his help. Lily had never forgiven him. Well, perhaps in some way in the Other World. If that was real and not just the delusions of a man near death. And he'd certainly never forgiven himself.

The receiving of Morgan's forgiveness was not merely an emotional event, but a physical one. He felt his muscles change, his stomach change, the very rhythm of his senses change. His offense, while serious and not forgotten, was overcome. They could move forward now. He was drawn to her, her wit, her scent, her humor, her intelligence, and she seemed drawn to him, too. To what, exactly, he couldn't imagine, but here was the proof. She wasn't under any spells, the effect of the bluebells long gone and her now immune to them, the Amoreverselixir effective. And yet, here she was. Here she was, a most remarkable witch, in his arms, on a moonlit night.

She'd forgiven him. And now he was kissing her. Morgan Hunter felt immense relief in letting her anger go, in forgiving. Yes, it was a serious offense, not easily overlooked. And she wasn't overlooking it, far from it. She'd made clear her plans should he repeat his actions, and she meant to follow through. But in forgiving, she received release as much as he did. All the pent-up anger, the seething, the clenched teeth, were now dissipated.

It felt wonderful, almost like their first kiss. She searched herself for any trace of a spell or some other love potion, but found nothing. She could relax now, enjoy this moment, knowing it was real. She had wished the moonlight were brighter, but a fog had come up suddenly, obscuring nearly everything in the garden.

Janiss had placed a Silencio Charm and a Binding Jinx on Seamus the moment they'd arrived on the other side of the garden wall. She listened with the Extendable Ear she'd bought at Weasley's shop on the first Hogsmeade weekend, seeing its potential. And what she'd heard! So much tender emotion, how sweet. Snape and Hunter, just as all the rumors had implied. Hopping hippogriffs, news certainly traveled fast in this tiny, insular community. She nearly froze to death, remaining silent and still in the deep shadows below the garden wall, breathing only when the winds through the trees might over the sound. At last, her quarry decided to go back inside. She reversed the Silencio and Binding spells on Seamus, who immediately began to sputter and curse. "What in the name of Godric Gryffindor was THAT about?!" She tossed a small Obliviate his way, then took him carefully by the arm and led him back in.