Chapter 16

A/N: Hail to Shellsnapeluver for her mad skills as a beta! Also, thanks to notsosaintly for catching all of my crazy grammatical errors! I hope you like this chappie. Let the romance begin!

***

The morning after the final battle, Hermione woke up with roses surrounding her bed. Pavarti and Lavender shook her awake, and Hermione opened her eyes to the sight of all the various colors of gorgeous long-stemmed flowers in their vases.

"What on earth is this?" said Lavender, standing with her hands on her hips, which made Hermione think she looked a bit jealous. "Who sent you flowers?" she demanded as Hermione looked wide-eyed at the explosion of color around her: dark reds, vibrant yellows, blushing pinks, even white roses that had been dyed royal blue. However, it was the one long-stemmed pure white rose on the stand next to her bed with a sealed note that meant the most. Before she even opened it, she knew the sender.

Hermione looked around for a clue and saw a note by her bed. She opened it and read it silently to herself. As she read, a great smile crept over her face.

This is only the beginning.

Severus

"Hermione, who sent them?" the two girls demanded. Hermione sank back in her bed and let the fragrance of the sweet flowers wash over her.

"It's a secret," she said softly.

"Is he in love with you?" asked Pavarti as she knelt down to smell some of the pink roses.

"Do you have any idea how many Galleons this must have cost?" asked Lavender angrily. Hermione smirked. Lavender was fairly growing more envious by the minute.

Hermione hopped off her bed and started placing the vases on her vanity and nightstand. She prepared to take her shower, happily ignoring the dumbfounded girls. She tapped on the secret drawer in her vanity that only opened to the recognition of her wand and secured the note. She was more intrigued by the note more than anything. "This is only the beginning," she whispered to herself as she studied her naked body in the mirror.

***

The last month of school was full of studying for the NEWTs. Harry had been exempt from taking them, so he was enjoying some very hard-earned time with Ginny, who had announced their engagement the day she had been released from the infirmary.

A lot had changed for everyone. Those who had aided in the finding and destruction of Voldemort and his Horcruxes were all given the Order of Merlin. Hermione was also given the Order of Merlin, First Class, for her work on the potions that had aided the Order of the Phoenix.

It had not escape Hermione's notice that many of the girls at Hogwarts and numerous witches around wizarding Britain were enthralled with the men who had fought against Voldemort. Hermione, by this time, had given up a part of her beauty regimen, embracing her hair and weary of pretending she was someone she wasn't. She still wore some make-up and dressed nice when she felt like it, but she watched as the fan mail came pouring in for the wizards who had become more than mortals in these deluded witches' eyes with a little pull of jealousy.

Hermione was still holding Severus to his promise, and he was keeping his word faithfully as the mail came to him in the Great Hall during breakfast. Each morning, the house-elves would sort his real mail from fan mail, and each morning, to everyone's amusement, he would lazily flick his wand, and the bag of mail would explode and disappear. He would then look at Hermione, who would already be looking at him, and they'd share a conspiratorial little smile.

She was still tender and prone to feeling afraid when she saw other girls who were by far more beautiful and charming than she throw themselves at Professor Snape. They talked about him after hours and found his brooding, quiet nature romantic and manly. It was nerve-wracking to Hermione to listen to others talk aloud of their dreams and fantasies about how he must look like naked, and how they wanted to have sex with him.

Ginny was the only one Hermione confided with about Severus. She had been very concerned that Ginny would not approve of the match. However, Ginny had shocked her by telling her most of the uncontrollable rage she felt towards the Potions master had been fueled by Voldemort.

"I still hate how he treated you, but I don't have those intense, vicious feelings anymore. It is as if I can be rational about it all. I am just happy he is working so hard to prove his love for you, so in that case, I shall bury the hatchet," she had told her.

When Hermione admitted to Ginny concerning her fears over the other girls talking about Severus, Ginny had embraced her and assured her he would keep his promise. She was right. Every day, when the mail would arrive, a letter would come to Hermione addressed by no one but full of the most beautiful words.

Hermione,

Severus

***

Now, to the credit of the Potions master's reputation, it was unlike him to write poetry. He preferred the words that came from his own mind: the day of her induction into the Order, how she had been as the sun that made him alive again, or how he enjoyed watching her hair as she worked with potions came far easier. He had once likened her hair to being a live thing that curled and refused to stay up in the "contraptions," he called them, to keep her work safe from contamination. He wrote of how when a lock of hair would fall down, curling into her flushed face, the longing to capture that lock for himself nearly would undo him. Finally, there was how he signed each letter. He wrote "your," not "yours," which would be the proper way, but "your," meaning his sincerity that she owned him, and he was not ashamed to admit it.

These words would make Hermione blush and smile as she read them over and over. Then there were the letters of his dreams, and those were very precious to her. She remembered that one evening in his lab when he had held her, exploring her body, and had made her melt under his touch. Apparently, he hadn't forgotten either, and it was, as he recalled in one letter she had received, "the memory that kept him grounded, waiting for her for when the time was right."

So as the other girls, the lush and full-bodied girls, with their manicured nails and long silky hair, panted and flirted with Professor Snape, there was Hermione with her letters, quietly sharing them with Ginny.

"Oh, Hermione," Ginny had said one evening as they lounged on Hermione's bed. "He is so romantic. Who knew Professor Snape could be so passionate? How long will this continue? You know that right after the end-of-year feast the Celebration Ball is happening. Have you even gotten a gown? Has he asked you?" Ginny sat up straight like an arrow. Hermione knew that movement. There was shopping ahead in her future.

"No," replied Hermione simply as she folded up the last letter he had given her. "I know he means these things. I see how large a production he makes out of destroying his fan mail."

Ginny laughed as she lay across Hermione's bed. "Who knew Snape could be funny?" she wondered aloud.

"But still I see the other girls here, and they are so much prettier than I am, and I know that it's foolish..."

Ginny sat up and took her by the shoulders. "Hermione, there is one thing that you have that those other girls don't have and never will."

"What?" she asked.

"You."

***

A few weeks had gone by, and the NEWTs were finally done and over with, and the Golden Trio were no longer students. After their last examination had ended, a large owl swooped into the Great Hall, landing in front of Hermione, dropping a large, thin envelope attached to a large, thick packet. Hermione tore into the larger parcel and nearly screamed with excitement as she looked at the contents.

"Look!" she showed everyone. It was the latest copy of The Practical Potioneer. She opened the letter attached to the magazine, and it said that she had a five–year subscription paid in full by Professor Severus Snape for Miss Hermione Granger.

"Snape?" Ron said, grabbing the letter to read for himself. Hermione looked at the magazine hungrily and then glanced up at the Head table to smile at him. He wasn't there. She heard a voice to her right and spun around with the rest of the Gryffindors as Severus Snape took Hermione's hand in his own, kissing it as he bowed.

"My Lady," he said loud and clearly. "The Ball to celebrate the war is right after your end-of-year feast. You shall no longer be my student. Would you do me the honor of being my companion for the evening?"

Hermione was dumbstruck and swallowed, knowing the whole table was watching her.

A look of understanding washed over his face. "Ah, of course, you must have many suitors asking for your pleasant company. How foolish of me. I would have asked you sooner, but propriety prohibited me from taking liberties before you had finished your NEWTs. Please let me know your answer as soon as you have made a decision," he said silkily and bowed again before leaving.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" said Pavarti. "What was that? First the roses..."

"What roses?" asked Ron.

"Then this five–year subscription to your favorite Potions magazine..." said Ginny.

"That's what this is?" asked Harry as he thumbed through the magazine.

"Are you going to say yes?" asked Lavender, her eyes bulged in disbelief.

Hermione gazed at the light shining through one of the many large windows that lined the hall. "I don't know," she said dreamily. Then she snapped out of her daydreams and remembered where she was. "Maybe," she said curtly. "I'd need to get a dress, we only have a week."

By now the hall was buzzing with Professor Snape's fawning over Hermione Granger. Pavarti and Lavender made good their escape to go and gossip with the Ravenclaw girls. Ginny made Harry scoot down, and she whispered across the table to her.

"Hermione, you should see the glares coming this way! They are all so jealous."

Ron, who had been sitting next to Hermione, turned around and jerked swiftly back again. "Bloody hell!" he swore. "Harry we need to get out of here. The looks alone could melt me back."

Harry peered over and ducked his head low. "Uh, you two have this under control, right?" he whispered. "I don't do well with angry witches."

Ginny kissed him on the cheek. "You and Ron go find a nice hiding place. We'll deal with the witches," she said with a smile.

"You won't think less of me as a wizard?" he asked nervously as he swung his backpack over his shoulder.

"No, Harry," Ginny replied. "The wrath of witches can be very daunting."

"More like high octane," Hermione quipped in a more Muggle-like example.

"Okay," he said hurriedly. "Bye."

He and Ron got their things and took off.

"Now," Ginny plotted as she rubbed her hands. "We are going to Diagon Alley. We have to get you the ball gown that will just destroy and devastate every witch that comes across your wake. How much money do you have? We have to get the dress, but between the two of us, we can transfigure shoes and a purse. Oh! Maybe McGonagall can even transfigure jewelry!"

Hermione chewed her bottom lip. "Well, I have about one hundred and fifty galleons, give or take a few, and I have my own pearls my parents gave me when I turned eighteen. Earrings, necklace and a bracelet."

"Perfect!" Ginny said with a bright smile. "Okay, let's go. I can Side-Along Apparate with you. I'll get McGonagall's permission, and you go give Snape the good news."

Grinning like eager first-years, they jumped up from their seats and then had to calm themselves to act like the young women they were. There would be time for giggling and acting silly once they were inside Madam Malkin's.

Hermione walked calmly as possible up to the Head table and said, "Good morning," to Dumbledore and asked Professor Snape for a word. Severus wiped his face, rose gracefully from his seat, and met her on the far side of the room where they could have some privacy.

"I wanted to thank you for the subscription to The Practical Potioneer," she said a bit breathlessly. She was so nervous, she thought her heart was going to jump out of her mouth. She fixed her eyes on the buttons of his coat, and he lifted her chin up to meet his eyes.

"How did I know that it would be The Practical Potioneer that would catch your attentions more than the rest?" he said mischievously.

Hermione could feel her cheeks turning red. "You are gorgeous when you blush," he whispered as he reached to touch her cheek with a finger. She shivered on contact.

"You see how much an innocent touch can become as erotic as an intimate kiss between two people who are longing for each other?" he murmured.

"I want you to know that I accept your invitation to be your companion to the Ball," she said quietly.

"May I dare hope to refer to you as my date?" he whispered.

"Yes, if you wish," she replied.

"No, sweet one," he said tenderly. "You are the one who shall tell me when to go and when to stop. You tell me how high, how low, and I shall do whatever you ask. I love you, Hermione, and I will be a fool for you to prove how honored I am that you would even give me the chance to speak with you."

She cleared her throat and felt her body was on fire. His words were driving straight into her and making her feel sensations she had never felt before.

"I will be going with Ginny to Madam Malkin's to buy a gown," she said. When shall I need to be ready for the Ball?" she asked him.

"The Ball begins at eight o'clock. The guests of honor, which includes us, will be presented once the Ball commences. I shall be waiting for you at the bottom the main stairs to escort you. Whenever you are ready, I will be waiting."

"Fine," she said with a timid smile. His eyes were burning like black coal into her. She felt naked, exposed, and to her amazement, it didn't make her feel strange. It felt right. She couldn't believe how hard he was working to win her.

She turned to leave, and he said, "May I escort you out of the hall, Hermione?"

"Yes, Severus," she replied.

He tucked her arm into the crook of his and as they walked down the main aisle, he said, "By the way, your hair is lovely today. May I request something?"

"What?" she asked.

"Please leave your hair free, or if you must place it up, can it be loose so I can enjoy watching the curls around your face? No fake Sleekeazy's, just you."

Hermione still remembered the crushing words he had said to her. "If I don't use Sleekeazy, my hair might frizz up," she said uncomfortably.

"Would that make you nervous, afraid that your hair may not obey you if you left it free?" he inquired as he searched her face.

"Yes," she admitted.

"Then you do what you want to do. I just want you to know how much I love your hair, alive and free. No matter what you do with your hair, you will be the loveliest witch in the room," he assured her.

"Thank you," she replied as they reached the main entranceway where Ginny was waiting patiently for her.

"May I have another kiss?" he whispered gently.

She nodded, and he kissed her hand.

As Hermione and Ginny walked towards the Apparition point, Ginny said, "Have you ever been more intimate with the Professor than that?"

Hermione blushed. "Once. It was a moment of passion, and we just never repeated it. But we have never had intercourse."

Ginny smiled a knowing smile. "I can't wait until you do, Hermione. It will be so romantic. I know Harry and I were in a rush of desire, and it was so fast, but it was so good and fulfilling. Harry had always been so romantic and tender, it's nice to know he can be wild when we choose to be."

"Severus was very passionate," Hermione admitted. "I have wanted more, and he has wanted too as well, but the time hasn't been right. Besides, I still had some doubts over how he treated me. I need more time. Ginny, he is baring himself to me. It is frightening and thrilling at the same time. I feel sometimes I will just explode when he simply touches my face!"

Ginny smiled and nodded her head. "And how do you feel when you both are working in the lab? When you are just being friends, talking normally about mundane, normal things?" she asked.

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Oh, Ginny, we love and appreciate so much of the same things. He is so intelligent, and he also listens to my thoughts, and together we bounce ideas off each other. It is so exciting how much we think alike and yet differently enough to see things in other ways."

Ginny put her arm around Hermione's waist, readying herself for Apparition. "Hermione," she said nervously. "I had my doubts for a while about Snape, but after all of this, I really think he is sincere. I think you both are perfect for each other," she said confidently.

***

Hermione and Ginny Apparated right in front of Madam Malkin's, and they were giggling like little girls over all the fancy robes and gowns they saw.

Madam Malkin came out and gasped, "My goodness! Hermione Granger, what an honor to have you in my store!" May I assist you and Miss Weasley?"

"I'm all set," said Ginny. "Harry placed me on his Gringotts account, so I could buy whichever dress I wanted. It was amazing!"

Madam Malkin looked at Hermione and asked, "How may I assist you?"

"I need a gown for the Celebration Ball," she replied.

"Oh my," she replied. "One week. I don't mean to be rude, but how many Galleons are you willing to spend on your dress?"

"Oh, around seventy-five Galleons," she replied.

"Well, that does make things a bit easier," she said. "Let me see what I have. I think a lovely, daring pink, fuchsia gown would be lovely," she said as she went towards the backroom.

They waited for quite a while, and Hermione was getting rather nervous when the dressmaker finally returned.

"I apologize, Miss Granger," she said in a breathless voice. "An unexpected owl arrived, and the note was from Professor Snape from Hogwarts! He said that he will be your escort for the Ball and that you are to buy whichever gown you wish and to place everything on his personal account at Gringotts."

Ginny squeezed her arm and said, "Hermione! Oh, my heavens! That is amazing!"

"Wait, Ginny! We have no idea how much money Professor Snape may be willing to part with. I don't want to deplete his resources!" she whispered.

"Ladies," said Madam Malkin expertly, "I have been in this business for decades. I am privy to the fiduciary information of potential clients before taking on credit. Professor Snape has never frequented my establishment, being a bachelor with more masculine tastes. However, the tailor that he frequents at Twilfitt and Tatting's has assured me that Professor Snape's account is of the finest order. Know that you could have your pick of any dress in my store, Miss Granger."

"Well?" prompted Ginny as she poked Hermione in the side with her elbow.

"I still don't want to abuse his gift. However, I would love to see which fairy dust dresses you have?" Hermione asked meekly.

Madam Malkin beamed. "You have the most elegant taste, Miss Granger. And please, call me Eleanor."

Soon, Hermione was surrounded with the most beautiful magical dresses that had been enchanted with fairy dust to make them sparkle and shine most divinely.

Ginny said, "Okay. Your hair is a warm brown. No pastels, I think the fuchsia would be the best. Definitely not the yellow," she said. "What do you think?"

Hermione eyed the daring dark pink dress with interest. "What if it were not so purple?" she asked. "What if it were more mauveish...like a pink brown...more subtle? I'm more of a restrained person, toned down."

Madam Malkin snapped her fingers and disappeared again to return quickly with another enchanted dress and said, "This is the dress for you!" She fairly squealed.

It was the most gorgeous pink color, not pastel, but not so bright to be gaudy. However, it was strapless and would have half of Hermione's back and all of her shoulders exposed. The cleavage was daring as well.

"I don't know if I could pull this off," Hermione said reluctantly as she looked down at her bosom. Her hands went instinctively to her chest. Then she remembered she didn't have any scars. Severus had healed her completely.

Ginny pushed her into a changing room and said, "You'd be surprised at what underwire and some magic can do!" she said confidently.

***

Hermione went alone in the changing room and examined the places she had cut on her body. She still had a couple of faint ones on the inside of her wrists and a few on her thighs from the deeper cutting she had done over and over after being healed time and again. However, her arms, chest, and everywhere anyone would see her skin in the gown was clear and without a blemish. As she slipped on her fairy dust dress, Hermione thought of the importance that she must approve of herself. She looked again critically at her body and noticed in her dress she looked quite fetching.

Although her hair was a bit out-of-control, which was just how nature made her, she realized that she was pretty. Inside and out.

She had a lovely smile and a brightness about her that made her shine. She didn't know if it was just the excitement of the Ball or how she was beginning to feel about Severus. Nevertheless, she knew that she was clever and sweet. She had a tender heart that cared about the feelings of others, and goodness within can radiate out from the inside.

Hermione started to realize that she was beautiful because she had decided it was true. She could spend all day picking out all the small flaws of her body, but it would profit nothing. Physical beauty never lasted, but beauty from within was something that would keep her lovely all her days. But it did help her ego to know she had fabulous legs!

This was the way she had been made. It was going to take time for her to honestly love herself, but she was confident she would get there.

***

After they were finished, Hermione emerged with her hair temporarily spelled up on top of her head, and she shimmered as she walked out to show Ginny. The witch was gob smacked and said, "Oh, Hermione! You are beautiful. I-I can't tell you how lovely, just simply lovely, you look in that dress!"

"Do you really think I can pull it off? Does it make my breasts smaller?

"And you won't have to worry about another witch wearing that dress," added Madam Malkin. It is a one of a kind. I have other magical dresses, but not in that color or in that cut. You should show your bosom off, my dear. You have a pretty figure."

Ginny walked around her and said, "You are like a Muggle princess! With your pearls, you will be divine. You look like an angel. Professor Snape will be speechless!"

"Shoes and garters!" announced Madam Malkin. She brought out a lovely pair of shoes that she had charmed to match the color of the dress that had the loveliest gathering of sparkling fairy dust to decorate the top of the shoe.

"The heel is modest, perfect for dancing. The stockings I recommend are of ice pink to match the light pink corset and garter combination," she added.

Hermione giggled. "I feel like Cinderella!"

"Who, dear?" Madam Malkin asked sweetly.

"Oh, nothing," Hermione said as she dismissed the statement.

When all was said and done, Hermione was forbidden to know the total cost. Madam Malkin was insistent that it had been Professor Snape's instructions. Hermione was terrified and nearly changed her mind about taking the dress, but Ginny assured her she would be simply irresistible, and Professor Snape would be rendered speechless for at least the first ten minutes when she descended down the stairs.