Chapter 32

Disclaimer: That which belongs to JK Rowling does not belong to me. I am making zero Galleons, Sickles, or Knuts on this story.

Author’s Note: Thank you to noybate, beta extraordinaire.

Chapter Thirty-Two

“Hermione, would you care to join me in my quarters for a nightcap?” Severus asked casually. “I thought I might return your journals and perhaps discuss some of the articles.”

Hermione looked up from where she sat in front of the fire in the staff room, her lap full of papers she was grading. The wind blustered outside the windows, and rain lashed against the castle walls. All in all, it was a night for staying indoors and being comfortable.

“I would enjoy that very much,” she said smiling, putting the essays away in her dispatch case. “How did you find Marcus Bettz's article on the effects of belladonna as it is used in various doses of the Dreamless Sleep potion?”

“I thought the man was an imbecile when I studied under him before taking my mastery,” Severus said with a sneer. “I see no need to change my opinion.”

The door clicked shut on Hermione's answer as Minerva and Poppy smiled satisfied smiles at each other. Ginny looked from one witch to another and said, “Don't let Hermione see you do that. As my brother, Ron, likes to say, 'She's brilliant, but scary'.”

Poppy laughed. “It just feels so good to see them get along like that. Did you know that there are only four adults in the castle under the age of fifty? Sheila's married with three children, you're married to Potter, and that just leaves Hermione and Severus. Allow two old witches to have the fun of matchmaking.”

Ginny grinned. “Can you let a young witch in on that fun?” she asked conspiratorially. “Ron thinks Hermione will break down and marry him some day. He can't see she's totally wrong for him.”

“Are you saying that as a sister or as a friend?” Minerva smirked at her. “I'm only asking because I agree with you about the wrongness of such a match.”

“Both, actually,” Ginny explained. “Ron cares about Quidditch and food and being an Auror. He can hardly talk about anything else. I know that used to drive Hermione mad when they were together.

“But you saw her and Severus as they left the room,” she continued. “They were discussing some musty old journal article and in seventh heaven, the both of them. They're just plain right for each other.”

Minerva and Poppy looked at one another again. Their unspoken conversation must have been agreeable because Minerva looked at Ginny and said, “Okay. You're in.”

“Great,” the redhead exclaimed, rubbing her hands in glee. “What's the plan?”

* * *

“Severus, I would like to discuss the Halloween Feast with you,” Minerva said, catching him in the Entry Hall after dinner.

“You know how I feel about that, Headmistress,” he said irritably. “I have a detention to supervise this evening.” He turned to the dungeon stairs.

“You can come to my office when you're finished,” Minerva said. “This has to be done tonight.”

He sighed. “Very well. Will nine o'clock be satisfactory?”

“Quite.”

* * *

“Hermione!”

“Hey, Gin, what's the problem?” Hermione turned on her way up the stairs to watch her friend approach. “I was on my way to the library to talk to Irma.”

Ginny wrinkled her nose. “Why?” she asked.

“Because she wants to talk about adding a room dedicated to Muggle literature appropriate to the age level of the students.” Hermione smiled. “‘If the teachers are going to assign such reading, then the library had better have room to house the necessary books’,” she quoted, approximating the librarian's querulous tones.

“Merlin, you almost sound like her.” Ginny laughed at the impersonation. “I just wanted to discuss your costume for the Halloween Feast.”

“Costume! What costume?” Hermione asked in bewilderment.

* * *

Severus was just as bewildered a short while later that evening as he faced Minerva in her office. “Why are we wearing costumes? It's a feast, not a costume party.”

Minerva smiled at him. “It was Albus' idea. Rather than a feast for the school and a Masked Ball for the older students, we combine it into a Masked Feast so the younger students can dress up as well.”

“I'm sure it was.” He glared at the former Headmaster, who just smiled benignly and twinkled. How can a bloody painting twinkle? he thought petulantly.

“Now, Severus, all the other teachers agreed…” Minerva said.

“When? And why was I not notified?”

“I’m notifying you now,” Minerva said testily. “If you would come up out of your bloody dungeons once in a while for more than just meals and staff meetings, you might actually find out what's going on without having to come up to my office.”

“But it's such a lovely office,” he grumbled with barely veiled sarcasm. “And I'll remind you that I cannot leave this bloody castle for another three months.”

“Severus,” Minerva snarled in warning, “that's enough. You will wear a costume for the Halloween feast just like the rest of us. I suggest you start thinking about what you're going to wear.”

“Do the students know of these plans?” he asked.

“They will once I announce them tomorrow morning,” she replied calmly. “That will give them two weeks to devise costumes or have their parents send them something. Look on the bright side, Severus. You might actually have fun.”

“Minerva!” The office door slammed against the wall as Hermione stormed in, followed by Ginny, who was frantically signalling at Minerva. “Why are we wearing costumes for a Halloween feast when we've never done so before?”

“Because that's what was decided by the other teachers,” Minerva explained, waving the door closed.

“When?” Hermione demanded. “The first I heard anything about needing a costume was from Ginny this evening.”

“Join the club, Professor Granger,” Severus said with a great deal of irritation. “I just now found out myself.”

“Last weekend in the staff room—” Minerva began.

“Where was I?” Hermione interrupted. “I was there last weekend.”

“Not all the time,” Minerva said, holding up her hand to stop any more comments. “You and Severus were discussing an article and left for the library to check your references before the subject came up.”

“How convenient,” Hermione snarled.

“Indeed,” was Severus' reply.

“I think the two of you have been spending way too much time together,” Minerva quipped with a slight smile. “You’re beginning to sound alike.

“Now, the subject of the Halloween party is closed. You will wear costumes to the feast and you will enjoy yourselves. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, Minerva,” Hermione and Severus said, identical sneers on their lips.

* * *