Come Together

Chapter 16: Come Together

Excited whispers spread through the crowd when Hermione stood immobile in the centre of the dance floor, staring at Ron and his date. Music rang forth from the orchestra, but she took no notice until Lucius stepped before her, blocking her view and effectively breaking her odd trance. In one swift move, he drew her back into position and deftly matched their steps to the new dance.

Her senses returned, chased back inside her brain by stark reality. Heat coloured her cheeks. She had likely just made quite a spectacle of herself, and for what? She cursed her foolishness and knew it was simply the shock of finding herself on the outside looking in. Seeing Ron alongside Harry and Ginny was so familiar, but now there was someone else in the place where she had once felt so comfortable. Not that she wanted the spot back. She had no interest in Ron and wondered what had ever possessed her to think they could be happy together. She didn't regret the loss. Having the details of their relationship bandied about in public had been harder to take than the break-up itself. She could understand...even sympathise with...drinking too much and confiding in the wrong person. But he had never once tried to set things right, and that was something she could not forgive. He remained, to this day, utterly clueless.

She chanced a glance at Lucius, dreading what she might find. But he wasn't even looking at her. Apparently, she wasn't the only one fascinated by Ron's date.

He tore his gaze away and frowned at Hermione. "Are her lips bleeding, or do you suppose she painted them like that on purpose?"

She hadn't noticed the garish, red rouge before, but a quick peek at the lips in question made her flinch.

He chuckled at her reaction.

"I'd assume it was intentional," she said. "I'm sure most men will be far too busy examining her chest to notice her mouth." The fact that Lucius didn't seem to be one of them shouldn't have mattered.

He cast another glance at Ron's date, then lifted his shoulders in a dismissive shrug. "Such women can be had for a Knut a scoop. Only a fool would choose something so cheap," he said with a nod towards Ron. His gaze returned to Hermione and lingered on her face. "Especially when he could have had beauty and intelligence."

"I think you're laying it on a bit thick now."

"I think you are being overly modest."

"Perhaps," she relented with a smile. "A little."

"Perhaps a great deal," he countered. "I do not say these things merely to flatter you, Miss Granger. I happen to be a connoisseur of women, and my opinion on such matters is unparalleled."

She chuckled. He seemed so serious, and her spirits were lifted more than she would have thought possible.

"This is hardly a laughing matter," he said. "I assure you, I recognise quality when I see it. You have it...she does not."

"Please ... no more," she said with a grin. "I officially forgive you."

He threw his head back and laughed, a deep, hearty sound, as rich as his vault at Gringotts. Several of their neighbours on the dance floor turned to stare.

"Don't think this means you get out of house-elf liberation, though," she clarified quickly.

"I would not dream of it," he said with apparent sincerity. "But this is excellent news!" He sobered quickly when he glanced at Severus. "And none too soon, it would seem. I believe your date might poison me, were I to continue manipulating your attention."

Her gaze found Severus, and she smiled. The scowl left his face when their eyes met and held. As the dance ended, Lucius ushered her to where he stood alone, his arms folded across his chest.

"I'm forgiven!" Lucius announced, somewhat boastful.

"You're losing your touch," Severus replied at once. "It took three dances to convince her."

Lucius leant in conspiratorially, but whispered loud enough for Hermione to hear. "Actually, she was completely charmed by the end of the second dance. The third was merely for my own enjoyment." He offered a cheeky wink to Hermione, who couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you quite done now?" asked Severus, unmoved by their mirth.

"Yes." Lucius rubbed his hands together slowly and looked as if he were reluctant to leave. "Where has Narcissa gone? I must inform her we are the new champions for house-elf equality."

Severus issued a loud bark of laughter. "You didn't?" He turned smiling eyes on Hermione.

Lucius raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused. "Your date is a more formidable negotiator than I had anticipated," he said. His look managed to convey equal amounts of exasperation and appreciation. Clapping Severus on the shoulder, he added, "I wish you the best of luck, my friend. You will likely need it."

Lucius took her hand and raised it to his lips. "Thank you for the charming company, Miss Granger. I look forward to our next meeting."

"As do I," she said, surprised to realise she meant it.

Lucius released her hand and stunned her by leaning forward to place a swift kiss upon her cheek. Then he strode away, undoubtedly to break the news regarding their servants to his wife.

"You'll want to watch yourself with that one," Severus said, jerking his head to indicate Lucius as he made his way through the crowd.

"Oh, I fully anticipate a battle ahead," she said, "but I'm well prepared."

"I wasn't referring to your plans for his house-elves," he replied cryptically. "Lucius has been known to invite himself along on certain... activities.

What?

"Affairs you might prefer more private..."

She stared at him questioningly, not fully comprehending his meaning until he shifted closer to her, his gaze blatant...verging on lewd...as it raked over her features and lingered on her lips.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, cheeks burning. "I can barely handle one man ... I'd have no clue how to handle two."

"I daresay you underestimate your man-handling abilities," he whispered. He shifted even closer. The front of his robes brushed her dress and a smile played along his lips. "But should you need someone to practice them on ..."

"Ah, the humble male test subject, eh?" She angled her neck so she could watch his eyes and moved closer, already anticipating the feel of his lips.

"Hermione!" said a voice behind her, so loud she jumped. She turned to find Harry watching her, a look of concern on his familiar face. She mumbled a quick hello and tried not to be irritated when he butchered his greeting to Severus.

"Will you dance with me, Hermione?" he asked.

"Maybe later, Harry," she told him. "I still haven't had a chance to dance with my date yet."

His green eyes surveyed the crowd with curiosity. "Right. Where's your date, then?"

In perfect unison, both Hermione and Severus rolled their eyes and pointed to one another. Harry's obvious shock was enough to keep her annoyance at bay. He seemed incapable of forming words, so he resorted to a rather comical display where his mouth kept opening and closing, again and again, as if an appropriate response would spring forth at any moment.

Turning to Severus, she jerked her thumb in Harry's direction. "Would you mind terribly if I danced with fish-boy here?" She was in no mood to spare Harry's feelings, and he really did resemble nothing so much as a fish out of water.

"By all means," said Severus, his tone gracious despite the look of dislike marring his features.

She trudged back to the dance floor with Harry in tow. "I thought you didn't care for dancing," she said.

"I hate it," he confirmed as they began to move in time to the music. "But I saw how you were stuck dancing with Lucius Malfoy, and then I thought Snape was threatening you..."

She interrupted him with a derisive sigh. "Would you please stop trying to save everyone?"

"I swear I didn't realise Snape was your date. Are you angry?"

"Yes, I'm angry. I don't need to be rescued from evil Slytherins, Harry. And I certainly don't need to be rescued from my date and my date's friend."

"I'm sorry." He looked away and shook his head. "It's been a rough night. Ginny's about to murder Ron, and I'm buggered because I forgot to tell her he was bringing that awful woman to the ball."

The thought of Ginny's wrath warmed her almost as much as Harry's description of Ron's date.

"To be honest," he whispered, "I'm not even sure she's a woman."

Their dance had led them closer to Ron, Ginny, and the unnamed witch, and a surreptitious peek lent credence to Harry's words. Hermione smiled at last. It would be rather appropriate to see Ron's cluelessness bite him in the arse. Literally.

Harry seemed to accept her smile for a peace offering. They danced in companionable silence for a moment, then he said, "So ... you and Snape, huh?"

"Yes," she replied. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"No," he said instantly, sounded suitably repentant. "We owe him a lot, of course."

"Yes, we do."

"I have to admit I'm surprised, though. I guess I was still holding out hope for you and Ron."

"That's a waste of hope, Harry. It was a bad idea from the start."

He nodded. "I suppose it makes sense for you to be with an older guy. You're too smart for anyone our age. It's just... you know... weird... to see you and Snape together."

She scowled and said, "Well, it shouldn't be. We're not really a couple, after all...we just came to the ball together. After tonight, it's doubtful we'll ever see each other again." The thought soured her mood more than anything Harry had said or done.

"You really care for him!" he accused.

She looked into his eyes and contemplated the wisdom of denial. "Yes," she admitted finally.

"Then why do you seem so sad?" he asked. "Are you afraid he doesn't feel the same way about you?"

"I know he doesn't," she said. "He doesn't want a relationship. He's only interested in..." She trailed off, deep in thought.

When she left the ball, her life would return to the same old routine. No more flying lessons to anticipate, no more dances to plan. She would say goodbye to Severus Snape and somehow try to forget him.

Not so fast.

She was a grown woman, wasn't she? She was free to make whatever choices she wanted. And right now, she didn't at all feel like letting him slip through her fingers without first experiencing something... more.

Harry looked positively ill over the thought of what his former professor was actually interested in.

She laughed and abruptly ended their dance. "Thanks, Harry...I needed this conversation. Give my love to Ginny ... Tell her I'll owl her tomorrow."

She returned to Severus, unable to suppress the smile on her face.

"You look like you're up to something," he commented as she approached.

"I was thinking I'd had enough dancing."

He raised an eyebrow but said, "Ah, you've decided to spare yourself the humiliation of my two left feet."

"Actually, I was thinking I'd had enough of the ball entirely."

Disappointment raced across his face, gone so rapidly she'd have never seen it if she hadn't been paying attention.

"You wish to leave?" he asked.

"I do," she confirmed. "Will you escort me back to my flat?"

"Of course."

She slid her hand around his arm and ignored the hungry eyes watching them leave, the tongues that would soon be wagging. She supposed she could have timed their departure better...coming on the heels of Ron's arrival as it had would only increase the tittle-tattle. But for once, she really didn't care. Having made up her mind to seduce Severus tonight, she couldn't bear the thought of wasting another second at the ball. Her heart pounded as they entered the Apparition area. She could hardly wait to set her plan in motion.

A/N: My deepest thanks to Karelia for her fast beta of this story.