Chapter 6
“Surely you knew?” he demanded of her as soon as the door closed behind her.
She turned to see Snape sat at his desk in his white oxford, woolen trousers and long black hair scraped back from his face into a messy bun atop his head.
He looked sad and the idea that he thought this was her fault made her feel frustrated and angry.
“Knew what? she asked wryly.
“Do you really think i’m that much of a bastard Hermione? I’ve been nothing but kind to you within the parameter of our lessons. I’d never.. you know.. surely you knew it was an act?”
Feeling herself deflate she slowly walked across the room and rather than sitting on her chair she learnt against the edge of his desk, arms crossed and head bowed.
“I think I knew, it just hurt so much” she whispered.
Before she knew what she was doing she raised her hand to touch his face only recognising the movement as her fingers made contact. She quickly dropped her hand with a muttered “sorry” before continuing in a rushed and quiet voice “are we dancing tonight?”
“No” he answered quietly placing his hand on her right cheek and drawing her face to look at him and upon making eye contact he added with a smirk “you’ll be disembowelling frogs” causing them both to burst into raucous laughter.
Minutes later, wiping their eyes they looked at one another once again and he gently held out his hand. “May I?”
“You may” she answered smiling up into his eyes as they stood.
With a gentle wave of his hand the tables and chairs disappeared and the sounds of Pink Floyd began to rise as they slowly walked to the centre of the room.
“What are we learning tonight Sir?”
“My dear Miss Granger, as ever you have exceeded expectations, tonight we shall simply be applying what we know into practice”.
Spinning out and twirling elegantly she turned to him with a smirk and rolling her eyes added “I believe my grade to be outstanding Sir”.
“Ha!” he barked, “let us see” he chuckled pulling her close and leading her through the steps of a wizarding waltz with ease and enjoying their last night together before their lessons were due to come to an end and as the music fell on their last dance she curtsied in response to his low bow and with a smile he conceded “Outstanding indeed, 20 points or salted caramel cake?” he asked with a smirk.
When she didn’t answer but simply laughed he called out “Dot!”.
…..
Hermione awoke the day of the ball to snow falling outside of her window and her roommates already pampering themselves in preparation for the evenings festivities and despite her excitement she felt an overwhelming sadness which she could not understand. Laying in bed feigning sleep she thought over her feelings and recognised she had a beautiful dress, she could dance and she had been invited to the ball by Victor Krum of all people..and there in laid her issue. She would be attending with Victor Krum and not, Severus Snape.
“Fuck”.
…..
Descending the stairs into the entrance hall in her gown of midnight black she had never in her life felt more beautiful and found the moment to be improved only by the small smile of her dance tutor who had appeared from the dungeons at the same moment to rally his students.
“You look vundivul Hermio-ninny” Victor said in her ear, drawing her attention to him.
“Thank you Victor” she smiled, “shall we?” she added linking his arm and walking into the great hall to the gasps and applause of the student body.
…..
The night might have been perfect if not her inability to speak to the one person she wished too and of course… Ronald.
“Why do you always spoil everything?!” she screamed after Ron as he was led up the main staircase by Harry. Overwhelmed she stormed out of the front doors into the blistering cold and she walked until she felt calmer sinking onto a bench in the empty courtyard where her tears began again much to her dismay.
“Hermione?” he asked quietly, waving a hand to set privacy wards and warm the area before sitting down next to her and handing her a handkerchief. “What happened? It wasn’t Krum was it? Because-”.
“No” she sniffled, lightly blowing her nose, “Ron” she grumbled.
“Buffoon of a boy” Severus retorted gruffly making her giggle.
“Have you had a good evening?” he asked quickly adding “before the Weasley wanker ruined it.”
Giggling again she said “it was nice, I missed you. Isn’t that odd..” head lowering at her declaration she was surprised to hear his response.
“And I you”.
“Oh” she said, looking up into his dark eyes, his hair dotted with the falling snow and a small smile upon his lips.
“Seems a waste of lessons if we don’t even get to dance at the ball?” he whispered quietly, gently pressing his shoulder against hers. “You look beautiful tonight and I believe that hair of yours shall not last much longer” he added with a smirk holding out his hand.
“Come on Granger, show an old man how’s it’s done”.
“You aren’t old” she mumbled standing and taking his hand as he pulled her towards him and together they danced as one for as long as the moment allowed with the snow falling around them and the rest of the castle non the wiser to the story that was just beginning in the courtyard below.