Chapter 34

Disclaimer: This story is a product of my imagination. However, most of the characters used belong to J.K. Rowling. She makes the money, not me.

Author's Note: Thank you to noybate for the beta of this chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Four

At the head table, Hermione (as Severus) remembered to hold her regular chair for Severus (as Hermione) to sit down. They had practiced their roles all week, and she was determined to do this right. After seating Severus, she took his usual chair next to hers and sat down to try and enjoy the evening, interminable though it might be.

Filius, who had charmed himself to look like a goblin, tapped his goblet with a knife as Minerva stood. "Thank you to all students and staff who made an effort to make this evening enjoyable," she said, nodding to the tables on both sides of the room as well as the teachers seated at the head table. "I notice Mr Potter is rather popular this year." There were grins from the thirty or so students...and Ginny...who had impersonated Harry. "Also, I see many Muggles present, especially those of the Slytherin persuasion." Those students at the Slytherin table who were wearing jeans, loudly patterned t-shirts and trainers smiled wryly.

"I don't think they were trying very hard," Hermione muttered to Severus. He just smiled.

"Since I don't intend to be as long-winded as our former Headmaster..."

"Too late," muttered Severus.

"...let the feast begin." Minerva sat down and tapped Severus on the shoulder. "Hermione, dear, such comments are unbecoming to a member of the teaching staff, even if you are trying to imitate Severus."

Hermione giggled.

"That was well done, Severus," Filius said. "You almost sounded like Hermione for a moment."

Severus rolled his eyes. It was definitely going to be a long night.

* * *

Minerva nodded at Filius, who once again tapped his goblet to gain everyone's attention. She stood up and thrust back her sleeves as she pulled her wand from its arm holster.

"Now, since we have completed dinner and it is almost curfew for the younger students..." She let a few half hearted protests be heard as she waited. "We will have the unveiling, and then all students will report back to their common rooms. Finite Incantatem."

Those who had made an effort to actually charm their costumes found themselves back in their school robes. Others, who had merely put on regular clothes and gone as Muggles, ended up wearing dunce's caps on their heads. Every one in the room turned to look at Severus and Hermione as the students started to empty the Hall.

"Hey, they didn't change!" Ginny pouted. "They must have used Polyjuice."

"I assure you, Madam Potter, no Polyjuice was necessary," Severus said smugly. "We simply had to make you believe we were the other."

"It worked," Hooch said grouchily. "I really thought you were Hermione, you black-hearted git."

"He's not a git," Hermione protested. "This was his idea and I thought it was brilliant."

"Indeed," Minerva said with pursed lips. "However, it was supposed to be a costume, not an impersonation."

"You didn't specify," Severus pointed out, "so we took matters into our own hands. You should applaud our efforts to at least pretend to be each other. I, for one, would have preferred to remain myself."

"I most certainly agree," Hermione said emphatically. "At least we made an effort."

Minerva opened her mouth to speak, but Severus forestalled her, the noise of the departing students covering any conversation at the head table. "I was most emphatic about not dressing up for a so-called Masked Feast, Minerva. As was Hermione."

Hermione nodded her head fervently in agreement.

"We both thought that, as we had made the effort of pretending to be each other, you would applaud our intelligence. Instead, you chose to castigate us for not following the letter of the law, as it were," Severus continued.

"I am trying to get through these last few months with no friction. However, you can send me to Azkaban if you wish. I truly don't care any more!" He stood up from his place at the table with enough force to tip over his chair and stalked out through the teachers' entrance behind the head table.

Minerva watched him go and turned to Hermione with pursed lips.

"Not a word, Minerva. I happen to agree with everything he says. If you want to send me to Azkaban as well, then do so!" Hermione followed Severus out the teachers' door, leaving those remaining with mouths agape in shock.

Minerva cleared her throat and looked at the few remaining students. "Return to your houses at once!" she said. "You are in danger of violating curfew and losing points." All but one student turned and almost ran from the room.

"Miss Pendragon," Minerva said with a scowl for the errant girl. "Did you not hear what I just said?"

"Yes, Professor," Nimue said. "I just wanted to tell you..."

"Return to your House, Miss Pendragon," Minerva interrupted in a harsh voice. "I don't want to have to tell you again." She watched as Nimue's shoulders drooped and the girl walked slowly out of the Great Hall on her way to the Hufflepuff common room.

"Minerva..." Filius started to say something.

"Not now, Filius, please," she said and exited the Hall as well.

* * *

Hermione followed Severus to the Rose Garden, where she found him standing stiffly in front of Minerva's favourite rose bushes, his ebony wand held stiffly in front of him. From what she could tell, he hadn't begun blasting...yet...but the set of his shoulders said it was just a matter of time before all the bushes would be denuded and black.

"Severus?" she whispered softly, placing a hand gently on his back. She stepped back as he stood taller and turned to face her. "Are you all right?"

The agony in his face was gut wrenching. It was as if he couldn't believe he was back where he'd been six long years before, losing the friendship of the one woman he respected almost as much as his oldest friend, Lily Evans.

"Why?" he asked almost plaintively. "Why did I lose my temper like that?" He didn't seem to expect an answer, but Hermione gave him one anyway.

"Because it's easier to lose our temper with someone we love than with a stranger," she whispered consolingly.

"Is it?" he asked, sitting down on a nearby bench, his wand sagging in his hand until it pointed to the ground.

"Yes, because we know they will eventually forgive us." She sat down next to him and cautiously put her hand on his back once again. When he made no move to shrug her off, she began rubbing small circles across his back in a soothing rhythm. "Minerva will come around in time. If it helps, she's angry with me right now as well."

Severus snorted. "Her Golden Girl? What did you do?"

"Agreed with you," Hermione said softly. "I told her she could send me to Azkaban with you."

He stiffened and she ceased her backrub, but then he relaxed into her hand once more. "That feels good," he said, changing the subject.

"What?" she asked with a teasing tone. "Has no one ever rubbed your back before?"

"Not since I was a baby," he snorted, closing his eyes. "And sometimes I wonder if my mother ever did."

Tears brimmed in her eyes, and daringly, she put both arms around him in a hug. He stiffened once again but did not try to pull away. Instead, he opened his eyes and looked down at the top of her head where it lay on his chest. Awkwardly, he reached up and stroked the unruly curls that were the bane of her existence. As she looked up, questions in her eyes, he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips.

Hermione gasped, but didn't pull away. "Why?" she asked.

"It seemed the logical thing to do," Severus murmured. Then he bent down and kissed her again. This time, Hermione reacted and kissed him back. The tingle that remained on his lips when they pulled apart was echoed in her cinnamon-coloured eyes. He smiled at her just as an "Awwww" was heard from the direction of the garden gate.

With a start, both Severus and Hermione were on their feet, wands at the ready. The sight of Poppy Pomfrey and Ginny Potter at the entrance to the rose garden with smug smiles on their faces did nothing but increase the embarrassment of being caught kissing. Severus smirked evilly as his partner reacted first.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Hermione asked angrily. "If Minerva sent you..."

"Relax, 'Mione," Ginny said. "The Headmistress doesn't know we're out here."

"Indeed," Poppy said. "We were concerned when the two of you disappeared. Minerva left the Hall just after you did, but she went upstairs. However, I can see that everything is quite alright with the two of you." She smiled pleasantly. "Come, Ginevra. I believe we can safely leave these two to their discussion, don't you?"

"Of course, Poppy." Ginny winked at them. "I'll just get the gate, shall I?"

"Insufferable chit," Severus grouched as the school matron and her assistant left the rose garden. "Did you see her wink?"

"They think they're... Did you see...?" Hermione sputtered, almost incoherent with indignation.

Severus smirked. "Dear me, Professor Granger, your language skills are sorely lacking," he said, teasing her in turn. "However do you manage to convey anything to your students?"

Hermione swung on him, wand at the ready. "Don't tempt me, Severus Snape," she said angrily. "I'm one word away from hexing somebody."

"Point it at Minerva," he said with a laugh. "Then we can both claim credit."

As quickly as her anger had developed, it dissipated just as fast. "Merlin," she said, relaxing back onto the bench. "My heart's still racing."

"Indeed," he said, also sitting down. "Was it my kisses or the interruption?"

"I don't know." She looked up and smiled at him. "Why don't we try some experimentation and see?"

"Hmm, yes. Empirical results are always looked upon favourably when experimenting." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Well?"

"Heart rate normal," she said, frowning. "I don't think that was it. Let's try this." She reached up and pulled his head down to hers. "I always think..."

"You think too much." He smiled and sealed her mouth with his.

Hermione gasped as his tongue sought entrance past her lips. Just like that, he was inside and she tangled her tongue with his, tasting the chocolate cake and raspberries from their dessert. With a deep sigh, she settled down to the task of snogging the Potions master silly.

Both were breathing heavily when they raised their heads for air. Hermione looked up at him and smirked. "Evidence indicates the preceding exercise..."

"...elevated our heart rates a great deal." Severus concluded. He looked around and, seeing they were alone, pulled Hermione to her feet. "Come with me."

"Wait," she gasped. "Where are we going?"

"I believe further experimentation requires a laboratory setting, don't you?" He smirked. "I was thinking my quarters might be..."

"...an excellent testing centre," Hermione said in concurrence and grinned. "Lead the way."

* * *