Elizabeth & beaweasley2

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Severus compiled a list of spells and charms in his head as he picked up the lone shoe. This mystery woman...his Cinderella...had left her black heel in her rush to hide her identity. Why had she been ashamed to show herself?

He'd enjoyed their evening more than she knew. The conversation had been titillating, her kisses divine. Best of all, they knew each other in real life. She'd said she would like to get to know the Headmaster better.

Well, here he was trying to find her. If he'd told her whom he was, maybe she might have stayed. He really had to find her. He felt more than a sexual connection with her. It had been ages since he'd enjoyed someone else's company so much. He devised a plan.

Plan A: He approached the recently vacated fireplace and constructed a sort of re-dial spell, hoping that would put him through the last-called fireplace.

Pocketing her shoe, he cast the spell and Flooed away. A woman was sitting at her vanity, brushing her long, blonde hair.

"Is that you, love?" she asked without turning. Her voice wasn't the same sultry timber as before. The mask must have lost its power.

Severus leaned in to kiss her.

She screamed.

He jerked back, alarmed. "Forgive me, madam," he said, recognizing her as Astoria Greengrass.

The Floo activated behind him and Draco entered. "Get off my wife!" Draco demanded and then scowled. "Severus? What's going on?"

After an awkward explanation, Severus left feeling like a lamebrain.

With the spell reconfigured, he tried again. This time he landed in the Improper Use of Magic Office. They were not pleased with his illegal tampering of the Floo network. Angrily, he returned home. Scratch that idea.

Plan B: In his office, Severus tried the Pensieve. He watched Cinderella noiselessly pronounce her destination, but the charm on the mask was dissipating, distorting her entire face. It took several viewings before he thought he understood. Hoping he was wrong, he barked out, "Bulstrode's London Flat."

Millicent Bulstrode sat reading a romance novel. "Professor?"

"I apologize for the late-night intrusion. But..." With great relief, he realized she was too large to be his enchantress. "Never mind." He quickly showed himself out. Well, that was a bad idea.

Plan C: The next morning, he convinced George Weasley to provide a list of witches who'd received blonde-haired glamoured masks. Most of the women didn't fit Cinderella's criteria, and they were easily crossed off his list. A few remained:

Miranda Goshawk, author of the Standard Book of Spells series, had worked with him several years ago, improving her latest edition. But she was currently in hospital with an unspecified ailment.

Andromeda Tonks was listed. She reminded him too much of Bella, although, reasonably nicer... Perhaps her? He spurned the notion. No, the shoe doesn't fit. Neither does her personality.

Aurora Sinistra had held feelings for Severus for years. Can she be the one? She's somewhat attractive. He apprehensively sought her out.

"Excuse me, Aurora," he implored softly at her chamber door. "But was it you whom I spent the evening with at the masquerade? You see..."

"You!" Aurora squealed, throwing herself at him. "It was you! Oh, Severus." She kissed him savagely, letting her hands roam.

Well, she certainly isn't shy now. He wrapped his arms around her waist, which seemed a bit wider than he remembered. Finally I've found her. This is where I should feel relief, so why am I mildly disappointed at the outcome? Despite her attempts through the years, she'd never caught his attention before. Why had she seemed so different?

"Why did you run off?" he managed to ask between kisses.

"Less talking...more kissing. And I didn't run off."

"But you left your shoe behind," he said perplexed, realizing she wasn't the right height and her perfume too strong.

She finally stopped long enough to look at him quizzically. "We made love in the broom closet, Severus. Of course, I took off my shoes. And you left first."

Oops... He sighed in exasperation. Well, this is certainly awkward.

There had to be a more practical approach than guesswork. This wayfarer method was not productive. The longer he took, the more aggravated he became. Who am I overlooking?

Plan D: He listed his clues pointing to Cinderella. First, she had worked with him. He listed all females whom he had worked with in the past including Order members and Hogwarts staff. Second, she would have to fit the sexy body he'd held in his arms. The mask hadn't changed body shape. Third, the shoe would fit her. And maybe the old Atrium fountain statue is a clue. She'd disliked it.

Hestia Jones slapped him. Perhaps he had been a bit rude.

Narcissa Malfoy claimed the shoe was too drab to be hers.

Rolanda refused to even put on the shoe, but she wasn't into men anyway.

Pomona was too plump.

He skipped Sybill altogether; it was not possible to have mistaken her for someone with intelligence.

"Minerva, would you kindly remove your shoe?"

She looked up confused. "Whatever for, Severus?"

"So I can sleep in peace," he pleaded.

She complied. Thank Merlin it didn't fit.

Severus had no idea what to do next; all his plans were rubbish and had failed. Miserably. He stared out his window contemplating his options.

In a way he was relieved none of those women had been her. She's different...something to be treasured. Why can't I find my Cinderella? Am I not enough of a Prince Charming?

Too late, he realized he could've used Polyjuice Potion if there had been a bit of her in the shoe. But he'd let countless women try it on. What good is the shoe now? It was nothing but a mocking reminder of the splendid witch he'd let slip through his fingers.

Resigning himself, Severus decided to go ask a woman's opinion on the matter.

Severus left the Burrow shaking his head at the obvious he'd overlooked.

"Grandma, I can't find my shoe!" the child screeched as she came down the stairs.

Molly tried to Summon it first, and then she used the Mate-Matching Charm. A thin, red 'thread' materialized between the shoe Molly held her wand to and the 'lost' one, quickly identifying the missing shoe's location. The errant shoe was stuck under the sofa. "It's really helpful for finding those missing socks, too," Molly said with a grin.

Then she'd fed him. She always fed him when he visited. She considered him 'peaky' and far too thin. Severus didn't mind; her onion soup was the best he'd ever had and her fresh homemade bread... heavenly.

He returned to the castle and picked up the shoe. I can't believe that a simple 'mother's' charm can tell me what I want to know. He performed the spell. Immediately, a red thread shot from the shoe, out the window and across the Hogwarts Lake out of view. Grabbing his broom, Severus Disillusioned himself and followed the thread. He landed in Northampton in front of a two-story brick house with large bay windows and two blue doors in a row of similarly terraced homes.

He approached the door on the right and peered into the window, surprised by what he saw; Hermione Granger curled up by the fire, reading. It's Granger? Yeah, right. Axminster's Flying Carpets will become legal if she's my Cinderella!

Miss Granger had never shown the least bit of interest in him. They hadn't really 'worked' together all that much, as he could recall. Once in Grimmauld Place on a potion to counteract a particularly nasty curse... or identifying those cursed trinkets... but that was all he could think of. Unless she counted that day in the library at Grimmauld Place, identifying which of the Blacks' Dark Arts tomes were too dangerous to keep at headquarters. Nevertheless, the thread passed through the door before him. The mate of the shoe was definitely inside.

He leaned over to look in the window again, but she was gone. He stood upright right when the door opened. He had just enough time to move before Miss Granger walked out onto the step. However, the thread continued into an adjoining room as she closed the door.

Curiosity got the better of him. Ending the Mate-Matching Charm, he followed her to a greengrocer and a pub, whose special for the day was Shepherd's Pie and Apple Crumble, and back to the house. Although the deceptive disguise of the glamour was gone, her walk was the same and her mannerisms... But he needed to be certain that she was the woman who'd bewitched him.

Luck was on his side. When she set down her bags to pick up her post before closing the door, he slipped inside and removed the Disillusion Charm.

"Hello, Hermione. I hope you don't mind my stopping by," he said in his softest timbre. He knew what the sound of his voice could do to a witch and hoped for the same reaction he'd gotten in the Atrium.

But he'd startled her, making her jump and her wand sputter. "What the?!" she exclaimed, whirling about-face as it started to rain on them.

He hardly noticed, mesmerized by her. Her lips were parted, eyes wide, breathing rapidly with her wand aimed at his chest. "But I just had to find you," he said smoothly, ignoring the downpour, and taking a huge chance, he kissed her.

She stiffened, but he pulled her closer, seeking to deepen the kiss and smiled inwardly as she sighed, allowing him access. Emboldened, he kissed her cheek, near her ear, the skin below her lobe, then trailed kisses down her neck to the curve of her shoulder and back while his hands explored the body he'd craved in his dreams since the party.

She nearly swooned into his embrace as he captured her lips. Her kisses were like an aphrodisiac ambrosia to his senses. She felt right in his arms, the smell of her... Oh, yes, she's the witch. Her blouse was slick with water, but he could feel her warmth under his hands. However, when his fingers finally touched flesh, she stiffened, and Severus pulled back, disconcerted. She'd been receptive, responded with a fiery desire, but she hadn't protested.

Suddenly, as if just now aware that it was raining, she looked up at the ceiling. "Meteolojinx Recanto," she said, soaking wet, her blouse slightly open and clinging to her body. She leaned away from him, catching her breath, and stumbling back against the wall. "What are you...? How did you...? Why?"

"I had to find you... to... talk," he said, hating that he didn't sound as suave as he'd practiced in his mind. However, his voice seemed to send a shiver through her, unless she was simply cold. He quickly dried her off in case. "You eluded me before I could discover who my enchantress was. You had to know I'd find you eventually."

He looked deeply into her eyes and wondered why she'd flinched, unless she'd just realized who she'd been kissing.

Saturn's Notes: This is week two of the Playoffs for the Intergalactic Quidditch Cup Tournament! We hope you've enjoyed our start. Remember, please help us out by leaving a review, even if it's just to say "Thanks!" or "Update soon!" please.

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A/N: Thanks to Southern_Witch_69 for the beta work!

Prompt Words used: lamebrain, wayfarer, Hogwarts Lake, Axminster's Flying Carpets (Axminster used in the plural), Apple Crumble, and Meteolojinx Recanto. (six out of seven! Whoo whoo!)