***Chapter Two***

"My," Lucius Malfoy said. "She really has turned into a delicious morsel, hasn't she?"

"Father," Draco said, paling even more than his usual very light complexion.

Severus discreetly glanced over his shoulder, as Lucius was facing him, to see what witch had caught his attention. Narcissa had fled the country assuming, presumably, that Lucius wouldn't escape Azkaban this time. Or that she'd get some prison time herself for her Unbreakable Vow with Severus surrounding Draco's assigned task of killing Albus.

She knew there was a credible threat against Hogwarts' headmaster's life, and said nothing to anyone.

Except Severus, of course. She seemed of the mind that wouldn't be much of a defense. She hadn't told Severus hoping he'd stop Draco from doing it, or to do something to prevent the headmaster's death.

Those not on Voldemort's side this time were pulling no punches when it came to punishment and holding people responsible, so her fear was perhaps valid. It wouldn't matter that Albus had already been aware of that threat.

He about choked on his drink when he saw the witch in question who had captured Lucius' focus.

His witch!

Red velvet again, as last night's dress had been. Had he seen her wear red velvet before last night? For her to wear it twice in a row, that suggested that she was aware of how … (Lucius for a change did have the right adjective here) … delicious she looked wearing it. How he wished he could disagree with Lucius' assessment, but the wizard was not wrong.

Both being red velvet was where the similarities ended, though.

Last night's had been appropriate for a more intimate cocktail party and dinner at Kingsley's home. He wouldn't call it conservative exactly as her shoulders and arms were bare. It certainly wasn't suggestive or what he'd deem overly sexy, other than the fact he found her sexy while wearing it.

It was a muggle cocktail dress.

This one was a pretty standard V-neck with the long sleeves ending in gloves rather than leaving her hands bare. How did he know the gloves weren't separate? There were no seams on her arms where the gloves ended. Last night's dress had been just shy of being floor length. Tonight's was long with a bit of a train behind it and a slit along her left leg so high that he caught himself wondering if she was even able to wear knickers under it.

And he absolutely did not want Lucius Malfoy thinking of Hermione Granger's choice in undergarments.

Not that he should be thinking of them either.

Last night, she'd worn her hair down, almost like a lion's mane.

Tonight, it was piled on top of her head, emphasizing her sleek neck and the ruby drop earrings she wore that went with the dress very well. A ruby pendant that was nestling just-so between her breasts with a matching bracelet along her left wrist and an ankle bracelet on her left leg both with a string of rubies completed the picture.

Delicious morsel was a serious understatement. She was going to give every wizard in the room, regardless of their age or health history until seeing her, heart palpitations.

Her eyes widened a fraction in recognition when she spotted him, but she continued scanning the crowd for her friends. He didn't take it as a slight. She wasn't going to rush over to talk to him when he was standing near Lucius Malfoy, no matter the occasion. While the two were … cordial when they had to be, there was certainly no friendship or attempt at fooling others into thinking she liked the wizard. (He probably wished that weren't true as, no doubt, he felt it was a slight against his charms working without fail that she was immune to them.)

"Had I known she'd grow into something so scrumptious, Draco, I may have looked past her pedigree and allowed you to pursue her. For that matter, had I known Cissy was going to leave, I may have laid the groundwork…"

"Father. Do not! She is my friend now. I do not want to hear it," Draco said with a shake of his head.

Severus was glad Draco stopped his father. He had no desire to hear what was going to come out of his mouth next either. He might have felt the inclination to hex the man if he got too graphic. He certainly did not wish to think of his old friend with the witch that he himself was more than slightly intrigued by.

He'd forgotten his godson and Hermione had forged a friendship.

And that led to a question.

"Have you read any of Miss Granger's books, Draco?" Severus asked.

"I have, of course. All of them," he didn't seem particularly surprised by Severus' question. "I am actually designing and producing a video game based on them," he said. "With Hermione's cooperation."

"Really?" Severus asked.

"Yes. We both think it will be immensely popular, and could lead to other media formats, like comics. We're working out the details. She wouldn't hear anything about it until she finished her latest manuscript," his godson said with a roll of his eyes. "Honestly, throw in the children's books now, I'm not sure she'll ever want to hear about it."

Severus chuckled low at that. He could see her being that focused, and Draco getting frustrated at being put off.

Severus didn't quite understand how exactly Draco fell into the video game business, but he had and was an up and comer. Severus only knew that he had discovered video games due to his, initially wary, truce that had turned into a friendship with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. He and Harry had come up with a muggle equivalent to quidditch that wouldn't violate the Statute of Secrecy, or raise any eyebrows for muggleborns who in the past had been obliviated by an auror for witnessing something they shouldn't have. Hermione had done her part by doing research on the best price to list the game at.

That he was working with Miss Granger on a new game was a little surprising, but not really. As he had just recalled, they were friends. Their friendship was how he had information on the witch the Prophet nor Minerva seemed to have. Draco enjoyed gossip just as his father did. It was annoying most of the time, but as he was holed up in a secluded Scottish Highlands castle the majority of his time it was … nice to have an inside track to believable information over the drivel the Daily Prophet published about her.

Draco had never mentioned a Maynord, though. Were they good enough friends that Draco would be informed of a paramour? Severus wasn't sure. For that matter, would she accept an offer of a night of dinner and a show with him if she had one? He didn't think that she was the type to do that.

"Well," Lucius said, shaking his head a bit so his hair fell behind one shoulder.

It was a practiced move.

One that meant he saw someone of interest to attempt to woo. He didn't find it difficult to woo them into his company for a night or two. Sometimes that turned into a week or two. Never much longer than that, though. Lucius had confided in Severus that he was tired of those short term affairs and wanted something more permanent again.

It turned out his old friend liked being married. Finding a witch willing to give that to him, and not have it be merely the witch in question settling a curiosity about him, had not proven easy. His past was coming back to bite him in the arse. No one wanted a twice-reformed death eater. He was not exactly bring home to Mother material with that background. And there was no hiding who he was. (He wouldn't do it even if there was a way, Severus realized during that conversation.)

"Since the witch who piqued my appetite seems to be off limits, I must go off in search of another. You two can stand here and talk amongst yourselves. I'm going to mingle."

"Enjoy, Father," Draco drawled with a shake of his head.

He'd seen Lucius' trademark tell, too, it seemed. Draco looked in the direction Miss Granger had gone. Severus knew he was going to go over there. He would offer to join him in an effort to not look obvious that he wished to speak to her again.

In a moment.

First, though.

"Are you familiar with a Maynord?"

"Um," Draco said with a frown. The question came from nowhere, at least to Draco's mind so his godson looked confused by the question. Severus admittedly couldn't blame him. His godson obviously thought over the question for a moment and then shook his head.

"Should I be? Is he a new professor at Hogwarts or something?"

"I had the impression that it is likely a first name?"

"Oh," Draco said.

He was clearly thinking through anyone he might know or have heard of with that name. It wasn't that common of a name. Surely it would have stood out to his godson as it did to him?

"No, can't say that I have. Why?"

"Just curious. The name came up and I grew curious."

"Oh. Uh oh," Draco said.

"No, nothing nefarious or 'uh oh' worthy, I assure you. Just a wizard being curious. Miss Granger mentioned him not caring for Mr. Weasley."

"Oh, no, sorry, no idea." Draco glanced at him for a moment, clearly curious and likely seeing too much. Severus had been a regular fixture for Draco's entire life, which made Severus realize he'd said too much. If there was anyone Severus had ever been … vulnerable with, in the sense of being soft, playing and so forth as people do with children, it was his godson.

"I wished to congratulate this Maynord on obviously having good taste."

Draco smirked at that. Clearly, he did not believe Severus' attempt at an excuse for his question. "Why don't you ask Hermione?"

"Because it was something I overheard."

"I see," his godson said.

Clearly, by his eyebrow arching and his attempt at a less than subtle smirk again, he saw more than Severus wished him to.

"Well, I can see if I can find out for you. As I said, we're going to be discussing the video game soon. That's what you're wondering, right? If Maynord is a boyfriend or something?"

Severus' lips thinned. Did he really want Draco conducting reconnaissance for him? And yet, who else was he going to ask? Potter? He'd just as soon bathe in bat puss than consult her best friend. At least on this.

"Quite," he said with a simple nod.

"Well, she hasn't mentioned anything, but it's been a couple of months since we spoke at any length, so I suppose something could have changed. I'm not sure how."

"What do you mean you're not sure how? You don't find her attractive?"

"Oh, she's gorgeous, and if I thought I had a chance, I would pursue the hell out of her, my father be damned."

"She wouldn't be receptive?"

"To me? Doubtful. She doesn't look at me in that way. And," he shrugged. "I said some pretty miserable things to her. You know. Before."

"As did I," Severus said softly. That was a more than defeating realization. He had said more than just some pretty miserable things to her.

"Yes, but you had an excuse. I mean, your irritation came at her answering questions and interfering with your job as a professor. Mine came because I believed what my father, and his father, and his father's father had taught me. That she wasn't deserving of being a witch."

Of course, Severus was fully aware of how Draco felt twelve years ago.

"You think it's a viable excuse?" he asked, not really having thought about that.

Their past being a hurdle he'd have to jump.

Shortsighted of him not to do so, he supposed. Of course, there was a reason he hadn't actually sought her out despite his ever-growing interest.

It'd been five years since the end of the war. They'd been cordial and polite to one another at all of these events over the years since the end of the war. He thought, until last night anyway, he'd kept his attraction subtly hidden. How had Mrs. Potter known? What had given him away? Or was it Mr. Potter who'd caught on?

"I think you have a better chance than I do at getting her to think so, but as to your question about her dating. Even outside of these types of things she doesn't come across as approachable."

"She accepted my offer of a night of dinner and theater."

"As far as I know, and Harry would have told me I'm sure, she hasn't had a date in like three years. Not from what I've heard anyway. So if she accepted, she wanted to."

"She tells Harry about every date?"

"Well, no, I'm sure she has them. One offs you know, they don't work out, so she doesn't bother mentioning them. Harry wants to see her married."

Severus' lips thinned again as his eyes darted to the group they were discussing.

Married? He mulled that word over, rolling it around on his tongue as if it was a new whisky he was tasting.

That would, of course, be the normal end to a relationship. At least the goal one would have entering into a relationship. Seeing if you fit for a potential future together. He'd never had one himself, but he'd observed enough to know that was what came after courtship.

"Does she?" he asked.

"Want to get married?" Draco asked, sounding amused.

"I swear on Merlin's grave if you repeat this conversation to anyone…"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to say anything. Hey, if she can see past your Professor Snape persona. More power to you, Godfather. Do you want to marry her?" he asked, seeming as an afterthought.

"I would like to pursue that avenue, yes."

"Really? No one else knows?"

"I suspect the Potters are aware that I have an interest."

"Oh, and they know she accepted your dinner offer?"

"It would appear so."

He shrugged.

"You're braver than I am. I wouldn't even know where to begin to apologize. She's never asked me to, and she seems to accept me for who I am. However, I know not to cross her either. You, though, how much of that was aimed at her because she chose to be Harry's friend? I mean, if she'd merely been Hermione Granger, annoying student but not friends with Harry Potter. She probably would have still gotten on your last nerve, but you wouldn't have had another thought about her. You had to save her arse, though, too, along with Harry's."

"Mm," Severus said.

He was unable to disagree with his godson's assessment. He was likely right. He'd never thought about it, and there was really no sense in doing so. The fact of the matter was that she was Harry's friend, and he'd allowed her to get under his skin simply based on that fact.

And because he saw bits of himself in her when he was her age.

The desire to please.

The desire to prove herself.

To show that she belonged at Hogwarts with the Malfoys and the Goyles and the Weasleys. She'd at least had a … proper upbringing prior to attending Hogwarts. He hadn't been so lucky.

"Do me a favor, though?" Draco asked, bringing Severus out of his thoughts.

"I can try."

"Don't hurt her."

"I'm sorry?" He hoped he didn't sound as incredulous to Draco as he thought he did. Who was this wizard?

"If you're just looking for, you know," he said with a shrug, eyes moving in Hermione's direction. "She deserves better than that. You know that's why she broke up with Ron, right?"

"I'm sorry? What are you talking about?"

He swore to all that was holy that if Weasley had laid an unkind, unwelcome hand on the witch, he would rue the day he was born.

"Woah, calm down, Godfather. That must have come out wrong. He didn't hurt her. I just assumed you'd heard the gossip. Ron wanted sex without marriage."

"She did not?"

"It would seem she's one of those old-fashioned witches."

"Mm," he said.

"So, as I was saying, if that is all that you're after …"

"I have no intention of deflowering the witch and sending her on her way, Draco. Rest assured, I know how to be a gentleman."

"Good."

Severus observed the witch in question and then turned his attention back to his godson.

"And if you thought she would forgive you?"

He sighed and Severus saw the look of … pain in his godson's eyes. He felt a bit bad for putting that look there.

"It wouldn't really matter. She doesn't look at me in that way. She never has, so I'd be groveling for nothing. I just don't think it'd work. And, well, there is sort of someone. Let's go over there and join in their conversation. Maybe you can ask her to dance. If she accepted the offer of a date, I wager she'll accept a dance. That'll tell you a lot."

"How so?" Severus asked curiously. Truly, how would her accepting his offer of a dance say anything?

"She's not afraid to say no. Trust me. Five years on now, everyone in this room has asked her and been told no whose last name isn't Potter, Weasley, or Longbottom."

"She's danced with you?"

It wasn't really a question, Severus knew she had danced with Draco more than once now.

"Blaise, Nott, and I are about the only exceptions. She even laughed at a couple."

"She has not!" Severus said. That surprised him. She had a cruel streak, but he hadn't realized it extended to people asking her to dance.

"Oh yes, she has. That was the first or second ball, I think. She assumed someone had paid them to ask her."

"Ah," he said.

Draco and Hermione were not friends at the first ball, so how he knew this Severus wasn't sure.

"And the one who asked her was Goyle," Draco added.

"Well, that makes much more sense. Both why she'd think it was a dare of some sort, and why she'd laugh."

"Agreed," Draco said with a nod. "I think even Parkinson asked her. She'd heard the rumor as to why Ron ended things and thought she might be into women instead of men."

"You can't be serious?"

"Oh totally. You didn't know that she likes witches?"

"She did a very good imitation of pursuing you for seven years, so no."

"It was just an act. You really didn't know?"

"I was a little distracted, Draco, to pay that close attention to my Slytherins' love lives. As long as she didn't get caught breaking the rules."

"Right, sorry, I just assumed that you knew. You knew everything else," he shrugged. "Anyway, let's go be social."

"You're not concerned that your father isn't going to push you…"

"No, he wouldn't. Not with her. I was sort of hoping Lovegood would be here tonight."

"Really?" Severus said.

He shook his head slightly. That was a match he never expected.

"She is the someone you spoke of moments ago?"

He really was out of the loop. There were benefits to being secluded away at Hogwarts, for certain. However, there were drawbacks. He knew that Draco hoped for a more meaningful presence by his godfather because he really couldn't rely on his father for much. Not things like this, admitting he cared for a witch, without fear of judgment or threats. Luna was perhaps an odd choice, but she was a likable witch from Severus' memories.

"She's nice."

"She is," Severus agreed. "I have nothing bad to say about the witch, other than she's a little odd. Then aren't we all."

"Thank you. Father would…"

"Oh, I can just imagine what Lucius would say. If you are fond of the Lovegood witch, then pursue her, Draco."

"Thank you, Godfather."

"You were really waiting for someone's blessing?"

"Not really waiting. She's not here!"

"Perhaps she will arrive fashionably late."

"One can hope, but she's been absent the last couple. She was in South America the last I heard."

"She owls you?"

"Well, sometimes. She will usually send one letter to someone via owl, assuming the whole group of us will read it."

"I see."

He wondered if Draco found it as odd as Severus did that he just referred to himself as being included in their group. Never, seven years ago would he have envisioned that change.

Then again, never seven years ago would he have envisioned himself fascinated by Hermione Granger and having an as of yet to be scheduled date with her pending for sometime this coming summer.

An entire evening, no less, as dinner and a show suggested hours together, not just a quick drink.

What had he been thinking?

He must have been mad, or more inebriated than he realized.

He knew nothing about dating! He knew nothing about keeping a woman's attention. He knew nothing about courting a witch!

"Oh, that's a nice smile," Draco said, nudging Severus' ribs gently as they approached the group of former Gryffindors. Zabini and Nott were there as well, Severus noticed.

"I'm sorry?" Severus asked.

"She just smiled. At you. That wasn't meant for me."

"And you know this how?"

Draco scoffed. "Because she's never smiled at me in that way ever."

He'd apparently missed it while taking in the group that they were approaching.

XvXvX

Hermione was not surprised to see Draco approaching them. She was a little bit since he'd been with Lucius when she saw him initially upon entering. Lucius knew of the friendship Draco had formed with their group, but he tended not to flaunt it. He wasn't ashamed, but his father was pretty alone these days. Draco didn't want to rub it in the man's face that he'd been forgiven and his father had not.

Why she could forgive Draco and not Lucius she wasn't sure. It boiled down to the fact that Draco was not even a teenager yet when they'd first met, treating her as he'd learned by said father on how muggleborn witches (and wizards) were to be treated. He hadn't known better. Who around the Malfoys would have taught him any different?

She liked to think that with time, without the war in play, that he would have learned that what he'd been taught was wrong. She'd never know, but Draco was a smart enough wizard that she believed it would have happened.

And it wasn't that she hadn't forgiven him. She wasn't holding anything against him. She just didn't particularly like him, and had no reason to fake that she did.

Severus Snape walking with Draco toward them, though, was shocking. She couldn't help but smile at him. She hadn't even really meant to, it just happened because she really liked the way he looked tonight. She'd spent most of the day contemplating where he'd take her to dinner and what show he'd choose.

Stupid things to spend her day thinking about. She always thought she was above such things. Daydreaming about a wizard.

Evidently not.

Ginny was the one who pointed out to Hermione that the two wizards were walking toward them. Her stomach did a flip at the thought of him coming here. He never had before. And what in the hell was with her stomach doing these flippy things all of the sudden?

"Hello, Draco," she said. "Severus."

"Hermione," he said with a nod.

She heard the sharp intake of breath by Blaise and Thomas. She supposed them suddenly addressing one another by their first names was a bit of a shocking thing. Well, she did enjoy shocking people!

Everyone else said hello, or some version of a greeting. For once in her life she was rather clueless as to what to say. Something had shifted between them, hadn't it? She'd accepted a date with him. She'd accepted to visit him at Hogwarts. And she wasn't stupid enough to think that he invited her to spend an entire weekend with Minerva. (She didn't think so anyway.)

That should have made it easy to talk to him, not more difficult. Shouldn't it have?

What was wrong with her?

"Is the seat next to yours taken this evening?"

Bless him for initiating, because Crookshanks obviously had her tongue at the moment.

"I guess that depends."

"On?"

"Did you want it?"

"I would," he said.

"Then it is now," she said.

"Excellent."

"I am curious what show we're going to see."

"Perhaps I shall leave you curious."

"That would be very Slytherin of you."

"Exactly."

"Well then, I will wait to find out."

"I did check my schedule…"

"You can just send an owl, Severus. Whatever is more convenient for you will work for me."

"I will do that then."

They both seemed content to turn their attention to the rest of the group, listening as they talked and joining in on occasion. Well, she did. He didn't say much she noticed, which was fine. No one seemed to find it odd he was there. Even Neville talked to him a few times. She knew Neville found him fair as a boss, as much as her friend hated to admit that.

XvXvX

It was close to midnight when Severus thought to seek Hermione out for a second dance. Their first had been a bit uncomfortable perhaps, but not awful or completely unpleasant. He was admittedly nervous, knowing her friends were watching. Watching knowing he'd asked her on a date. (He presumed that they all knew anyway.) That dancing wasn't something he partook in frequently (ever) at these things went toward him being nervous as well. He assumed she was feeling the same nervousness.

He walked in the direction he'd seen her heading a bit ago. Had she left? He hoped he warranted at least a good night this evening, but perhaps he was getting ahead of himself in thinking that. They hadn't yet had the date she accepted.

He heard her voice - and Lucius' - and headed in that direction.

"I really appreciate the offer, Mr. Malfoy, but I think I'm done dancing for the night."

"You danced with Severus." The words were slurred, but it was clear that was what he meant to say.

"I did dance with the headmaster, yes, earlier in the evening."

"I thought perhaps you were finally deciding to quit being so uptight and stingy with your dances. Some like the dark side, you know." This was said in what Lucius probably thought was a seductive purr. His inability to enunciate properly made it miss the mark.

Not that the witch would be taken in by that tone.

Severus rolled his eyes. Did Lucius really think that line would work? With some witches, mayhaps it might have, but not this one. Severus, admittedly, didn't know much about picking up women, or lines that did or didn't work, but he knew with this witch that one would not.

"Um, no."

"You know that he wasn't always a spy, don't you?"

"Of course I do, Mr. Malfoy, I'm not sure what that has to do with my accepting an offer of a dance."

"Because you've been awfully stingy with allowing anyone a place on your dance card for years now."

"As is my right as the owner of said card, Mr. Malfoy. Now…"

"You listen here, you little impure harlot. You do not get to show up here tonight, looking like sin incarnate and get to dismiss me as if I am unworthy. You are the …"

"That is enough, Lucius," Severus said, hand extended in an offensive pose. He did not cast a spell, but he was prepared to if things escalated to where that was necessary. He didn't need his wand to do so, and the other wizard knew that.

"Severus, how nice of you to join us. Perhaps the two of us can…"

"Stop! You are drunk. Do not continue with that thought. She has said no, as is her right, now unhand her or I will do it for you."

Lucius scoffed. "Oh, you have truly changed then, haven't you. There was a time…"

Severus shook his head, waving his hand and, wordlessly, Hermione was no longer in Lucius' grasp. She moved beside him then, and he was relieved that was the case. That meant his friend's words hadn't … scared her off of him. Wouldn't that be the way things worked, though, if she did get scared off by what he'd said?

"There was a time for a lot of things, Lucius. The witch has said no, and she has done nothing to deserve your mistreatment of her this evening."

"Look at the way she is dressed, Severus. She's obviously asking for it!"

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with her attire. She is free to dress how she pleases. Just because you are unaccustomed to muggle finery, does not mean that you are free to lay your hands on her."

"You would choose a mud…"

"Do not say that word. Merlin's balls, Lucius, get a grip," he hissed. The man barely escaped Azkaban! Had he no shame or fear? As if that should surprise, Severus, but even Lucius had to have some sense of self-preservation. For his son, if not for himself. "You are at a Ministry event, you drunken buffoon. And, yes, I would choose her. Speaking of choices. If I were you, Lucius, I would choose to go home and sleep off your over imbibement. When you wake up in the morning and realize that you embarrassed yourself in front of a friend of your son's, you are free to issue her an apology via owl."

"I should have known. Thirty years of friendship means nothing to you."

"This has nothing to do with our friendship, Lucius. She said no."

"You are weak, Severus."

"Leave now and you will not have to find out just how far from weak I am, Lucius."

"We are not done!"

"You are done with Miss Granger. I, however, look forward to continuing our conversation at another time," Severus said. "When you're sober."

He took his leave then, presumably making his way to the apparition point so that he could return to Malfoy Manor. He would ask Draco to check on him when the wizard returned home. Normally, he'd be concerned about Lucius splinching himself, but tonight he could care less. It would serve him right.

"Are you all right?" he asked, turning so that he could focus his attention now on his witch.

He closed his eyes with a shake of his head, realizing what he'd just thought. And not for the first time. And what it meant. For him, and for her.

"I'm okay, thank you. I just came out to get away for a minute. This gown gets warm, which I didn't think of when choosing it for the night. He must have followed me. I didn't see him out here, or I wouldn't have come."

"He has bothered you before?"

"Only at every one of these."

"And by seeing you dance with me this evening, he presumed your usual no would change to a yes."

He felt … awful that he was even remotely the cause for her being on the receiving end of Lucius' attentions and insults. He had never noticed his friend asking her to dance at these things. He had to admit he was surprised Lucius had done so. Not because Hermione wasn't his type, any female was Lucius' type. Severus just never envisioned he'd think Hermione would be interested in doing anything with him. Unless her friendship with Draco made him think so.

"It would seem so."

"I apologize, Hermione. Are you hurt?"

"No, he hadn't gotten that far yet. I hope that he would not have, but you interrupted whatever his plan was."

"He had a rather strong grip on your wrist and forearm. Your sleeves do not allow me to get a look. I did notice you already had one last night."

"Mm, yes, a reporter trying to get my attention."

"I hope he was properly hexed."

"It was in muggle London, at my agent's office, so no I couldn't do more than a stinging hex. He did get spoken to by their security team, though."

"Well, I hope he learned his lesson. As to your wrist, I happen to know of a capable potioner who could get you some bruise paste."

"I will look at it when I get home, thank you."

"May I escort you there to ensure you get there safely?"

She nipped at that lower lip of hers and glanced back into the ballroom.

"You're sure you don't mind leaving?"

"Not at all. I'd rather ensure you get home safely."

"I need to say good night to everyone first."

"Certainly. Would you like me to wait here?"

"You don't have anyone to say good night to? Or are you going to come back?"

"I will not return, and no I do not. Draco, I suppose, but he's capable of figuring it out. His father just left."

"Mm, okay, I'll be back in a few minutes then," she said. He watched as she walked away until he couldn't see her anymore. Merlin, she looked as if the dress was made just for her. And he really liked how it looked on her.

She did in fact return a short while later.

"Ready?"

He offered her his arm, which she took. "Floo or apparition?"

"Floo will be fine," she said, and they walked in the direction of the fireplaces they could use.

He let her lead and control the floo powder since she knew where they were going and he did not. Had Draco been to her home, he wondered, as they started on their floo journey to that destination.

They stepped out into what was obviously a greeting area. There was nothing personal or homey about the room and, if he knew anything about this witch, barren rooms weren't her style.

"Thank you. I'm sure I would have been fine getting home."

"Better safe than sorry. He can be difficult to deal with when he has his mind set on something when he hasn't been drinking. Not to make excuses for his behavior or comments, but he has not adjusted well to life post-war."

"You don't say," she said.

"Underselling the obvious?"

"Just a smidge," she said.

"You shouldn't be traveling to and from alone anyway."

"Oh goodness. You sound like Harry, Ron, and Draco now. I can defend myself, you know!"

"I'm not denying that you can, but on a night like tonight when your wand is not at the ready."

"Point taken," she said, bowing her head politely.

She seemed … nervous, and he really wasn't sure what he wanted to happen tonight himself. He hadn't planned on wanting, or been expecting, to escort her home. He was curious, he could admit that, but as she didn't seem to be in a rush to show him anywhere outside of this room, he took the hint.

Perhaps another night.

"I will owl you then this week regarding a suitable weekend."

"Excellent. I look forward to it, and thank you, really. Severus. I don't like to be rude to him, as Draco and I are friends now. He just doesn't seem to know that no really does mean no."

"Yes, well, dancing with me probably led him to believe."

"You are not Lucius Malfoy."

"Last I checked, no."

She tilted her head back and laughed. She offered him her hand, which he took, taking the hint that she was saying good night.

"I'm not used to two late nights in a row. I fear I shall need all day tomorrow to recover."

"I hope that you recover quickly."

"Have a good night, Severus."

"You, too," he said, kissing the back of her gloved hand. She watched as he stepped back into the fireplace after finding the floo powder on the mantle, taking himself back to Hogwarts.

He was still no closer to learning who Maynord was! He could at least send her the bruise paste he mentioned earlier. He wasn't sure how secure Lucius' hold on her wrist had been, but knew it was the same wrist she already had a bruise on. So better safe than sorry.

NOTE: Happy Sunday! Thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate you! ~Susan