Chapitre Cinq

The following day, Horace rallied the troupe to introduce the duke and announce the changes they would be making to the club. During the proceedings, Hermione and Severus watched each other and the duke watched Hermione.

Knowing what had happened in Slughorn's office, Lucius was apprehensive about Hermione having dinner with the duke that evening. Therefore, he was deeply relieved when Hermione made an excuse to the duke and spent the evening with Severus and Sirius instead.

"You have deceived me! cries the Potion maker when the evil sorcerer forces the courtesan to make him believe she doesn't love him. He rages with jealousy," Severus explained, descending the stairs from behind a curtain.

Giggling, Hermione added, "Not in love? Why that's horrible."

"With disgust, he tosses his Galleons at her feet and thanks her for lifting the veil from his eyes. And then... then the magical potion vial of Veritaserum says... he says..." Severus described, moving to lie over Hermione on the chaise.

"Severus, that is my part," Sirius reminded, sitting down at the table with a glass of Dragon's breath in his hand. Slinging it back, he slammed the glass down on the table and rose to stagger over to the settee by Hermione and Severus.

Laughing, Hermione pushed upward to plant a kiss on Severus' chin. "This is brilliant, you do know that." She smiled at him, then at Sirius.

Looking down into her eyes, Severus added, "The vial says, 'The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."

"Yes, yes, that is my part," Sirius said almost dreamily, seeming to lose focus altogether. He sat down heavily on the thatched rug and began to laugh, the effect of the drink taking over.

Studying her face, suddenly serious, Severus leaned down and kissed her tenderly. Seeming to savor the moment, he reluctantly withdrew and carried her to the bedroom, beyond Sirius' riotous laughter.

The days that followed encompassed a large amount of work. Lucius watched as Harry fashioned the musical arrangements, Remus demonstrated the wandwork required, and Neville taught the dances to the troupe. Severus and Hermione ironed out the story line and used their time spent together to carry on their love affair. Meanwhile, the duke only had eyes for Hermione, and he attempted to court her at every opportunity.

In Hermione's dressing room, passion flared between the two lovers. Holding her to him tightly, Severus crushed his lips upon hers and let his tongue invade when he felt her mouth surrender to him. Her hands traveled up his chest, linking behind his neck, pulling him closer. Abruptly, a rap at the door startled them and they broke apart.

Pushing open the door, the duke stepped into the room, a leer on his face. "My dear, I thought we might enjoy an afternoon in the sun. A picnic sounds divine, don't you think?" he questioned, moving to reveal a picnic basket floating behind him.

Panting irregularly, Hermione gasped, "Duke! Well... normally that would sound lovely, but we still have so much rehearsing to do."

"Ah, indeed, but you can practice just as well in the park, can you not?" he supplied, eyeing them both.

"W-well, Severus still has to settle the final love scene for the show..."

"Pish, posh, you can do all that while we're there; come along," the duke insisted. Hermione and Severus cast longing looks at each other, but followed the duke and his floating basket to the square.

The following day, the duke almost caught the younger wizard and witch in a passionate embrace when he flung open the door to Hermione's dressing room once more. This time, he Transfigured flowers plucked from a vase into oars and invited Hermione on a moonlit boat ride.

"I'm so sorry, Duke, we are still working."

Raising his eyebrow, the duke studied them with suspicion. "Then bring the story-writer along. I see no reason why you both can't do your work in my presence."

Sighing heavily, Severus and Hermione joined him on the river.

Soon, the duke became more demanding of Hermione's time. He often accompanied her while she waited for her part in the rehearsals to begin. As they stood watching Kingsley dance in a mock battle with a flying dragon, Severus approached them.

"Hermione, I still need to finish that scene in the Potion maker's laboratory, and I was wondering if you could help me finish it tonight?"

Turning to him, the duke frowned, then quickly faced Hermione and added, "But, my dear, I have already planned a spectacular feast in the tower for us tonight."

Shifting his eyes from the duke to Hermione and back, Severus let out a breath. "That is fine, we can rehearse it first thing tomorrow then." He bowed to them both and began to walk away.

"No, wait! Every scene is important, I want to make certain I know it forward and back. My dear Duke, surely you understand the need to ensure the quality of this production. I know you wouldn't want to deny me the much-needed time to complete and rehearse the scene," Hermione spoke quickly before the duke could respond. "Severus, I will see you tonight."

Severus nodded and strode away swiftly.

"B-but, my dear..."

"Oh, Duke, I knew you would understand! Please excuse me."

Standing near the duke, Lucius watched Severus as he made his way to the balcony. Behind him, the duke pivoted on his heel and stomped over to Slughorn's side, up by the stage.

"That's a wrap for today! Tomorrow we will be preparing for the lovers are discovered scene. Thank you, everyone!" Horace exclaimed, clapping his hands. Spinning around, he smiled when he saw the duke approaching him. "Ah, Duke! Everything has been assembled for your rendezvous tonight."

"But we won't be eating it!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Hermione said she won't be attending. I understand that she wants to produce a quality show for me, but she incessantly spends all of her time with that writer! You were supposed to ensure she was mine!"

Looking up at the balcony, Slughorn drew in his breath, then carried on in a rush. "And I am, don't worry, Duke. I will insist she attends supper with you tonight."

Following Horace's gaze, Lucius' mouth dropped open when he realized what the other man had seen. There, gripping each other tightly, were Hermione and Severus, the darker wizard looking as if he might swallow Hermione whole. Pressing her against a column, Severus tangled his hands in her hair, then released her to whisper something in her ear.

"Very well, I shall expect her tonight," the duke replied, striding off, looking pleased.

His face twisted with fury, Horace strode to the dim stairs leading from the balcony, startling Hermione as she descended them into the light. "Oh, Horace, I didn't see you there!" she gasped, raising a hand to her mouth and letting out a slight giggle.

"What are you doing?" he snapped.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean... carrying on this affair with Severus – the writer?"

"Don't be silly..."

"I saw you! And if I hadn't thought quickly, the duke would have as well."

Laughing, Hermione told him, "It's just a fascination, Horace, really!"

"Well, the fascination will end."

Before Lucius could hear more of their conversation, his translucent form was dragged away as Severus made his way to his flat across the street.

That evening, both Lucius and Severus paced, each going an opposite direction. Severus constantly walked through Lucius, traveling from one end of his apartment to the other, worry evident on his face. Lucius was in constant turmoil for he feared that tonight the duke would bind Hermione to him and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Earlier, Severus had explained to Sirius that Hermione would be joining him to figure out one of the final scenes. Sirius had wiggled his eyebrows and staggered back up the stairs. All night, Severus paced, but Hermione never came.

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A/N: My sincere thanks goes to Karelia and Luvsev for all they do. You two ladies are in a league of your own.

Disclaimer: The characters belong to J. K Rowling, and any resemblance this story has to Moulin Rouge by Baz Luhrmann is completely intentional.