Chapter 10

On Friday evening, just after tea, someone knocked at the front door. Severus narrowed his eyes, putting down his book as Hermione went to answer the summons, her wand at her side. Harry stood there looking smug, but more surprisingly, Ron loomed behind him.

"Friday night is witches' night out, Gin tells me," Harry said as she stood back to let them in. "At the Three B's. Rosmerta has baked her famous sausage plait. Go on, bugger off and get sloshed."

"But who's looking after the boys, Harry?"

"Molly, of course; did you think I'd leave them alone?"

"You heard the man. Shoo," Ron told her.

"Not until I know what you two are up to." Hermione stood her ground, glaring at them.

"Do you not trust me to look after myself, Miss Granger?" Severus leaned back in his old armchair with his feet up on a stool and a cushion supporting his back, a position which made his outthrust stomach look huge. Ron goggled at him. "I am sure the saintly Potter will prevent his hot-headed friend from hexing a patently pregnant wizard."

"What are you here for, Ron?" Hermione demanded.

With a flourish, Ron produced a familiar battered wooden box from under his travelling cloak.

"I'm going to thrash Snape," he told her with a leer, then turned back to Severus. "Neville told me there's a trophy at Hogwarts with your name on it; Slytherin chess champion 1976, and when you started teaching, none of the other staff except Dumbledore would play against you because you always won and got really snotty about it."

"Really?" Severus purred. "You fancy your chances, do you, Weasley?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I won't let them come to blows," Harry promised. "Go on. Ginny promised me I could go to the Quidditch game tomorrow and to the pub after with Ron and George if I Snape-sat tonight, so make the most of it."

Hermione ran upstairs to change her robe and shoes, cast a quick series of charms on her hair, applied a spray of 'Tidy Locks' and Apparated to the Three Broomsticks.

She hurried into the back room, which was already very warm, and smelled of a fragrant mixture of perfume, mead, Butterbeer and savoury cooking. Ginny waved and indicated the seat she had saved.

"Bit short notice, isn't it?" Hermione said as she slid into the chair beside her friend.

"Not my idea, this time. Look over there."

The usual crowd occupied Ginny's table; Fleur, Angelina, Katie and Luna were passing around photographs of Fleur and Bill's children. At the next table, Hannah, Cho and the Patil twins were chatting to Rosmerta, but beyond them, looking both haughty and slightly ill at ease, sat Daphne, Astoria and, to Hermione's complete amazement, Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode.

"Gosh, who invited them?" Hermione whispered.

"Luna. She's launching another campaign."

Luna looked up and smiled at Hermione.

"Hi, Hermione." She was wearing tiny wooden carvings of animals as earrings, a cat dangling from one ear and a rabbit from the other. She noticed Hermione's interest and fingered them. "Pretty, aren't they? I carved them myself. They're fertility symbols, of course; I'm wearing them in Professor Snape's honour."

"Um, yes, lovely," Hermione said, doubting that Severus would appreciate the gesture. Luna stood up and waved her hands in the air, as if about to start dancing to music inaudible to anyone else. This had the intended effect: all conversation stopped as people stared in surprise.

"Hello," Luna remarked "It's lovely to see you all again. Isn't this nice? I've got the latest edition of The Quibbler with me, so you can all be the first to read about our new crusade. That's it, really." She sat down again and lifted a cocktail glass containing a pale green liquid, a radish, two slices of cucumber, an olive and a paper umbrella.

"You can't leave it like that, Luna!" Ginny exclaimed. Luna stared at her with wide blue eyes.

"Can't I? It's all in The Quibbler, you know."

Ginny huffed and stood up.

"It's about Professor Snape, of course. The Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot is determined to send him to Azkaban, and we're even more determined to keep him out."

"Who's this 'we' you're on about, Weasley?" Pansy demanded. Ginny turned to face her. Pansy sat with her arms folded and her face set in a scowl.

"It's Potter, Parkinson," Ginny snapped. "And the 'we' is everyone who believes Snape was fighting against Voldemort..." there was a mass outbreak of flinching at the name "...and that he killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's own orders, and he did his very best to protect everyone at Hogwarts when the Death Eaters were in charge. He doesn't deserve to be imprisoned; he got an Order of Merlin first class, for Merlin's sake! He's a hero, and Harry and I are going to do everything we can to make sure he remains free."

"You're only doing this because your buddy is sleeping with him," Millicent growled. "You don't give a toss about Snape himself. You hated him at school."

"He wasn't a nice teacher," Ginny acknowledged, "but he's a good man. No kid likes a teacher who makes them do as they're told."

"So what do you expect us to do?" Pansy asked shrewdly.

"Whatever you can."

"Yeah, right, and what are you going to do?"

"The same. Luna is going to publish a series of articles about the 'hidden hero of Hogwarts', interviews with people who knew him well, that sort of thing. Harry is talking to members of the Wizengamot to persuade them not to convict him, and I'm making up a list of influential people. I'll circulate it to anyone who wants it, and we'll send owls asking them to support Snape. Not Howlers at this stage; we want to persuade rather than annoy. If you can contact the Slytherins and get them to do the same, it would be a big help."

"Some of 'em think he was a traitor," Millicent rumbled.

"He was a traitor to the Dark Lord," Daphne said suddenly, "but he was never a traitor to Slytherin house, was he? He looked out for us. If we approach it from that angle, there are a lot of people who will send an owl or two for him."

"Draco says he's going to get Slughorn to help," Astoria remarked. "He knows influential people."

"That'll be brilliant," Ginny told her. "Thanks."

Astoria sniffed resentfully, as if Ginny had usurped a meeting that Astoria had actually called.

"That's really nice," Luna said dreamily. "I liked Professor Slughorn. He was always polite to me."

"Snape wasn't," Cho Chang said.

"No, but he wasn't very nice to anyone, was he? He was always so unhappy." She looked at Hermione. "Is he happier now?"

"I hope so."

"I've got something for him." Luna picked up a large orange shoulder bag and rummaged in its depths. "Here. Tell him to tie it around his tummy." She held out a length of purple ribbon, attached to which was a metallic spiral adorned with crystals of coloured stone. "It will keep away malignant influences from the baby."

"You didn't give me one of those, Luna," Ginny said, obviously trying not to giggle at the thought of Severus tying a purple ribbon around his middle.

"Of course not; I didn't need to. You don't have lots of people trying to harm you, not like Professor Snape. Ooh, here's Rosmerta! Do you think she's made pudding, too?"

Rosmerta clattered into the room on her high heels, levitating a huge platter of steaming sausage plait, fresh from the oven, and all conversation ceased as they busied themselves with plates and forks.

oooOOOooo

Hermione kept to the Butterbeer, despite Harry's admonition to 'get sloshed'. She Apparated to Spinner's End and warily opened the front door.

Severus sat leaning over the chessboard, Ron equally intent opposite him, while Harry lounged on the sofa reading what looked like one of Severus' books. Once he had grown out of his typical teenage-boy antipathy to schoolwork, Harry had discovered that he actually enjoyed reading more than just Quidditch magazines. He would never love books as Hermione did, but he was happy to immerse himself in fiction and anything that related to his job. She had no doubt that this was one of Severus' more dubious Defence Against the Dark Arts reference books.

"Still all alive, then," she said, hanging up her travelling cloak. Ron held up an imperious hand for silence and moved a bishop. Harry grinned at her, stood up and indicated the hidden doorway to the kitchen.

"Well?" she asked, tapping the kettle with her wand and getting out the teapot.

"That was funny," he said, leaning on the table. It creaked ominously and he quickly stood upright again. "They both started off thinking it would be a walk-over. Ron was all swagger and Snape all dangerous silence, and they both got a shock. We know how bloody good Ron is but Snape's brilliant too. Ron won the first game by the skin of his teeth. Snape fought back really hard and won the second after a long struggle, and now they're playing the decider for the evening."

"I never thought of getting them to bond over a game of chess."

"It isn't exactly 'bonding' – more like an unstable truce, if you ask me. How did you get on? Did Luna manage to get any Slytherins to join in?"

"Yes, Pansy, Millicent, Astoria and Daphne came, and they're going to help. I'm getting a bit more optimistic, actually."

"Good. We've got to keep plugging away. Tell you what, have you bought your tickets to the dinner dance yet?"

"No, should I have? What's it for?"

"For Kingsley's charity fund for the war orphans. Quite a few of them are starting at Hogwarts this year, and we want to make sure they can buy all the books and robes and stuff they need."

Hermione nodded. She and Harry both hated the Ministry galas, being put on display and fawned over, but the cause was a good one and close to Harry's heart.

"You'll have to bring Snape," he said, "because Ginny and I are going."

"I don't think he'll want to go."

"He needs to be seen with us and Kingsley and the old Order members – you know, make sure people see him with the good guys. Okay? I'll get Draco and Astoria to sit at our table so he has someone to talk to as well as you."

Hermione nodded. "I'll owl the Ministry and order our tickets tomorrow."

"Good girl." He patted her shoulder. "Accio milk and sugar. Let's go and see who's winning."

Ron was triumphant, but only after a long and bitterly contested fight.

"The set was my Granddad's so the pieces know me really well," he said, attempting to sound magnanimous in victory. "They don't trust you yet."

Severus leaned back and folded his hands on the front of his robe.

"They are rather too Gryffindor in their attitude," he said. "They eschew subtlety in favour of smashing their opponent to bits. Next time, I shall use my own pieces."

"As long as they have the standard anti-cheating charms," Ron muttered, opening the box and watching as the chessmen lined up and marched in. Severus sniffed and accepted a mug of tea.

Hermione told him about the dinner dance later, but she waited until he had collapsed on her, panting and sweaty and sated. She might be a Gryffindor but she wasn't completely reckless.

oooOOOooo

Severus looked – well, he looked like Severus, but he also looked rather magnificent. It was surprising what a difference a haircut and a visit to Madam Malkin's could do for a wizard. His new dress robe was cut to flow from his shoulders, skimming his distended belly so that it was barely noticeable. The seamstress had put in an Expansion Charm and Hermione suspected a subtle Disillusionment Charm too.

She walked into the Ministry ballroom on Severus' arm, feeling a flutter of nervous excitement. Many pairs of eyes turned to watch them arrive, and she heard their names whispered around the room. Kingsley made straight for them, and she allowed herself to relax a little. The Minister shook Severus' hand.

"Good to see you again, Severus. I hope things aren't too difficult for you under virtual house arrest."

Severus shrugged. "I spend most of my time resting now. It could be worse."

"Still no date for the trial," the Minister muttered. "They're dragging their heels, I'm afraid. But we shall prevail, never fear. Ah, Arthur, glad you could make it."

Hermione felt Severus' arm twitch under her own, and looked around to see Arthur and Molly Weasley approaching. She gave a little tug, and he allowed her to steer them to where Ginny was waving at them.

"Harry's gone to get drinks," she said as Severus sank down onto the chair next to her.

"What have you done with the children?" Hermione enquired suddenly.

"Mum wanted to come tonight. This is for the orphans; she does a lot of work for the charity, so I asked Fleur if she'd have them. Harry and I will then look after Victoire and Etienne in exchange so Bill can take Fleur out for her birthday."

Harry returned levitating a bottle of champagne and tray of glasses. Severus accepted a glass of pumpkin juice and sipped it with that air of poised calm that always indicated that his emotions were veiled behind a wall of Occlumency.

True to Harry's word, Hermione and Severus were seated at one of the round dinner tables, between Harry and Ginny on one side and Draco and Astoria on the other.

"Who's sitting there?" Hermione asked rather anxiously, concerned that Severus would be facing a Weasley in one of the two vacant places opposite them. Harry tried to look mysterious.

"Don't you trust me?"

"Not entirely, no. We've got three archetypical Gryffindors and three equally typical Slytherins here, so I hope you haven't added anyone too incendiary to the mix."

"Good evening!" boomed a familiar voice, and Horace Slughorn waddled across the room to plop into one of the vacant seats. "Well, well, Severus, my dear boy, how are you? You'll soon be as fat as I am, I dare say. Harry, wonderful to see you; Mrs Potter, as vibrant as ever; Miss Granger, what a lovely robe; Mr and Mrs Malfoy, a pleasure..."

He might be ingratiating, but at least Slughorn could be relied on to make polite conversation at the dinner table. He, Draco, Severus and Astoria very quickly got into one of those conversations punctuated with "Did you hear about old so-and-so?" as they updated each other with news of Slytherins they had known.

It was with pleasure that Hermione saw the tall, severe-looking witch in red robes edged with tartan, striding to take the spare seat. Minerva McGonagall looked around at her dinner companions, and her eyes took on a martial gleam.

"Aha, two well-matched teams, I see. Good evening, everyone."

"Minerva!" Slughorn raised his glass to her. "My dear old adversary, welcome."

"Less of the 'old', Horace, if you please. Draco, was that your father I saw on my way in?"

Hermione glanced aside at Severus, who appeared to be listening with an air of mild interest.

"Yes, oddly enough it was. Someone owled him with a ticket and an anonymous note, suggesting he needed to get back into Wizarding society again."

"Didn't he suspect a trap?" Harry enquired. Draco shrugged.

"I think he recognised the handwriting. He decided to risk it, anyway. He's over there with the Zabinis and the Parkinsons."

Under the table, Severus grasped Hermione's thigh, gave it a quick squeeze and then let go. She concentrated on buttering her bread roll.

oooOOOooo

The meal was as good as house-elves could make it, the champagne bubbled freely, and everyone at the table made an effort to avoid confrontational topics of conversation, so all in all, Hermione enjoyed herself. She was very conscious of Severus beside her, self-contained and outwardly calm, occasionally joining in to make insightful and sometimes caustic comments. This was what he must have been like at the staff table at Hogwarts, she realised. She was also keenly, acutely aware of the wizard in embroidered robes of heavy silk, who chattered and ate with his Slytherin companions and who met her careful glance with his own every time she sneaked a peek in his direction.

After dinner, as the elves served coffee and tea, she made her way to the witches' restroom, glad of a moment of respite from the tension that was thrumming through her. Lucius was here, and she ought not to be as excited as she was. She was Severus Snape's lover; they were having a child together, but the equation was incomplete without Lucius Malfoy, damn him. She charmed a few stray hairs into place in her elegant chignon and checked her lipstick, then took a deep breath and stepped out into the corridor. He was leaning on his cane and smoking a cigar.

"Lucius."

He inclined his head. "Hermione. Thank you for the ticket."

"You're welcome. We've missed you."

"Have you?" He cocked his head to one side, flicking away the half-finished cigar. It vanished in a little puff of fragrant smoke.

"God, yes. Severus is pining for you."

"Really," he drawled. "Pining?"

"Yes. Surely you know how he feels about you?" She moved closer to him, wondering if she could cast Muffliato without arousing suspicion.

"He certainly likes what I can do to him," Malfoy said. His voice was cool and almost careless. She felt like stamping her foot.

"Lucius, do either of you ever tell the other how you really feel? Is it too un-Slytherin to reassure him? Because at the moment, he really needs reassurance. He's afraid he'll spend the rest of his life rotting in Azkaban."

Malfoy examined his fingernails. "That isn't going to happen."

"Of course it isn't, but he's still afraid that it will. There are people watching his house, and we don't know who they are. He's undergoing physical changes that worry him, he's getting uncomfortable and tired, and he misses you."

His steely grey eyes met hers.

"Then I need to speak to him. There's a cloakroom over there," he nodded towards an unlit doorway, "the hat-check elf won't return until people begin leaving. The dancing will start shortly; I'm sure you can entice him away for half an hour."

He inclined his head, whirled and strode away, his silk robes rippling.

Hermione slipped back into the ballroom, where the round tables had vanished and elves were levitating chairs to the edges of the room. The carpets rolled themselves up to reveal a polished wooden dance floor, and a group of witches and wizards walked in, carrying instruments.

As the music started, Harry stood up and held out his hand. Ginny took it, and they whirled out onto the floor as Arthur led Molly out. Kingsley invited McGonagall to dance with him and Hermione turned to Severus. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"Do you dance?" she asked him.

"No doubt I can manage a staid waltz, but don't ask me to tango with this belly on me." He got to his feet and took her lightly in his arms. As they moved out onto the dance floor, he spoke next to her head. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing nefarious, I promise."

She could feel his breath on her ear, the slight pressure of his hand on her back, the smooth fabric of his robes under her own hand, the clasp of his hand on hers, and nudging against her hip, the hard shape of his abdomen.

"It hasn't been too bad, has it?" she asked, her voice betraying her anxiety. "I know you don't like this sort of thing, but you have more right to go where you want and do what you want than most."

"And what do you want me to do?"

"Whatever makes you happy," she whispered. "I want you to be happy, Severus. I just want you to have the choice, that's all. If you want to stay at the Dower House and brew potions, or go back to Hogwarts, or enter politics, or move to Australia and live in the outback, I just want you to be free to choose."

She realised he was steering her towards the corridor leading to the restrooms.

"You must excuse me for a minute," he said, "all that pumpkin juice has gone straight to my bladder." He gave a slight bow and strode off quickly to the wizards' room. Hermione wandered towards the cloakroom, pretending to gaze out of the window overlooking a garden that certainly did not exist in this part of London.

"Hermione, there you are!" The pompous voice was familiar, and she looked around to see a red-headed figure hurrying towards her.

"Hello, Percy."

"I'm glad I've found you alone." He caught her arm and drew her further from the ballroom. "I want a word with you."

"Yes?"

"About Ron."

Her heart sank.

"What about him?"

"Will you give him another chance, Hermione? You two were made for one another, you know. Yes, I realise you're upset that you can't have children, but this thing you've got with Snape – it's unnatural, can't you see that? He's a Slytherin!"

"Percy..."

"You and Ron always looked so right together, you know each other so well, you understand him..."

"He doesn't understand me, Percy!"

"...and we all knew you should be a part of the family, just like we knew Harry should..."

"Your mum didn't think so."

"...and Ron's going wild without your steadying influence. He's seeing a different girl every week, going out to pubs and clubs and coming home at ridiculous hours of the morning. Mum's worrying herself to a frazzle over him. He should be settled now, not gallivanting about..."

"Your mum claimed it was me who was gallivanting, not Ron."

"...so will you please give him another chance?"

"I'm sorry, Percy, no."

It was as if she was mouthing nonsense at him. He ignored her words.

"Please, Hermione? He's my little brother; I want to see him happy again."

"Excuse me." A long pale hand reached to tap Percy on the shoulder. He glanced around, then whirled with his wand in his hand.

"Malfoy! What do you want?"

"Miss Granger, do you wish me to remove this annoying little wizard for you?"

Hermione was very tempted.

"Percy, I'm never going to get together with Ron again, believe me."

"Keep your paws off her, Malfoy," Percy spat. "She's family!"

"My family," said a poisonously soft voice from behind them, "since I am carrying her baby. Off you go, Weasley. Your mother was a very poor match-maker, and I suggest you do not attempt to emulate her."

With evident reluctance, Percy stowed his wand and walked back to the ballroom, watching them suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.

"Severus," Lucius murmured, "come with me." He moved back into the shadows, Hermione and Severus following. Hermione felt the slight watery shiver of a Notice-Me-Not Charm as they entered the small cloakroom, pushing between racks of travelling cloaks and hanging hats.

Lucius whirled around, his robes flaring, and he gathered Severus in their billows like a Lethifold. Severus let out a sharp exhalation, gripping the silk over Lucius' back.

"Severus," Lucius sighed, "my, you have grown." His large hand spread over Severus' belly, rubbing the heavy robe in circles.

"So many times we parted without saying goodbye, wondering if we'd meet again," Severus whispered.

"Always lent a certain piquancy to the proceedings, did it not? Getting maudlin, my friend?"

"Hideously emotional. I need you to keep me grounded, tell me when I'm making a fool of myself. You always did that so well – ah, Lucius!"

He arched back, his eyes fluttering closed, as Lucius lifted his robe and slid a hand between his thighs. Lucius' breath went out in a shocked hiss.

"Merlin's balls, Severus!"

"Surprise!" Severus gasped, with a shaky chuckle, and then he gave a low moan. "Inside me, please..."

"With pleasure," Lucius growled. "Shall I take your virginity in this orifice as well, up against the wall? Do you remember our first time, all those years ago? You were such a ferocious creature, all claws and teeth, so eager and lusty, that I didn't realise until afterwards that it was your first time."

Hermione was trying to keep an eye on the corridor, to warn of anyone approaching, as well as watch the two wizards. There was a swift scuffling, and then she saw Lucius hoisting Severus up in the corner and Severus' pale thighs wrapped around Lucius' dark robe at his waist.

"You're getting too heavy for this game," Lucius complained. He was trembling slightly with the effort of supporting his lover's augmented weight. Severus drew his wand, directed it at himself and whispered a feather-weight charm, and then he whimpered, actually whimpered, as Lucius gave a sharp jerk of his hips.

"Did I hurt you?"

"Yes, you bastard!" Severus snapped."Do it again!"

"Smooth as silk," Lucius sighed, finding his rhythm as Severus gripped his shoulders and threw back his head, groaning as Lucius thrust into him. He clawed at the fabric of Lucius' fine robes, writhing against him, urging him deeper, faster and harder. Hermione, standing in the shadows, caught sight of their expressions. She had expected snarls of animalistic need, but there was something gentle in Lucius' grey eyes and an almost sublime hunger on Severus' face. The connection between them went far deeper than a need for sexual release.

Even so, Hermione could imagine nothing more erotic than the sound of Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape losing control, of Lucius gasping "Severus!" as he came, of Severus giving a little moan and slithering down into a heap on the floor.

Severus fumbled in his robe and Lucius seized his wrist.

"No, you don't."

"You came; I need to."

"Of course you do, but not like this." He turned his head, strands of pale hair sticking to the sweat on his face. "Hermione, darling, if you are going to be a pervert, we'd much prefer you did it here with us."

Hermione gave a final look up and down the corridor and sidled into the dimly lit room.

"I would happily delve into your luscious little fanny," Lucius said, "but at my age, even a wizard needs a little time to recuperate, and we had better not be too long or we will be missed. Severus, on the other hand, is in urgent need of release."

Hermione gathered up her robe and Lucius made an appreciative noise. "Silk stockings. Mm, you look delectable, my dear. Severus, does she not look edible?"

Severus heaved himself up onto one elbow. He looked delightfully debauched himself in the dimness of the cloakroom, slender pale limbs and black robes tangled in a heap and his dark cock glinting with moisture.

"A cushioning charm, if you please, Lucius?" Hermione said. "Severus has been having trouble with his back and his hips."

Lucius seized the cane that he had left propped against the wall, withdrew his wand and cast the charm, then with the air of a master of ceremonies conducting the proceedings, he placed a hand on Hermione's hip and the other on Severus' waving cock. He appeared to take great pleasure in guiding them together, helping Hermione to balance as she lowered herself down onto Severus. He knelt beside them, lightly rubbing Severus' glistening pale belly, murmuring encouragement before slipping a hand between them to gently stroke the moist folds of Hermione's sex. Already aroused, and then stimulated by Lucius' wickedly clever fingers, Hermione did not take long, and her shuddering orgasm triggered Severus'.

As they lay side by side on the invisible cushions of Lucius' charm, Lucius caught Hermione's hand and pressed it, and his own fingers, to Severus' belly. Inside, the baby flexed more strongly than Hermione had ever felt him. Lucius gave a delighted little chuckle.

"That's Hugo," Hermione said breathlessly.

"Hugo Snape," Lucius purred, rubbing firmly to make Hugo dance, "enchanted to meet you."

Severus burped and then snapped, "Don't!" pushing their hands away. "Unless you want puke down your dress robes. This was a very bad idea on top of a rich meal."

Lucius stood up, reaching down to pull Hermione up, and then took Severus rather more gently by the arm.

"Up you get, old chap. A gentle walk will help your digestion to settle."

Severus allowed himself to be helped to his feet and then flexed his shoulders, lightly clasping both hands to his stomach.

"Well," Hermione said, looking down at her crumpled, stained robe, "isn't it a good job we've got magic?" She was casting charms to remove the last of the creases when Lucius grasped her arm.

"Someone's coming," he breathed.

Two pairs of swift footsteps echoed along the corridor, and Hermione heard another very familiar male voice.

"Along here, there's a cloakroom we can use!"

A girlish giggle answered him and Hermione stifled a groan.

"What do we need a cloakroom for, Ronnie? Are we going somewhere?"

"You'll be flying in a minute, sweetheart! Come on."

"I think someone's already here ..."

"So what? They'll only be doing the same as us anyway. That's a bog-standard Notice-Me-Not Charm, nothing to worry about: look! Finite incantatem! There, see? Now come here ..."

"Oh, Ron ... Oh, yes ... You're my hero, you've always been my hero, did I tell you that? You must be so brave!"

"I may vomit," Severus breathed against Hermione's hair.

There was a rustle of silk as Lucius slipped past the canoodling couple, a shadow against the light of the corridor, and then he was gone.

"Went through some bad times," Ron said, in between kissing noises, "fought a few bad guys, you know how it is."

"And you're best friends with Harry Potter."

"Yeah, that's right. Harry and me go back a long way."

"Always at his side, the two heroes."

"Yeah. He couldn't have done it without me, you know."

"I know."

Severus made a faint gagging sound, and all movement stopped.

"Who's there?" Ron demanded, and the tip of a wand flared blue-white, making Hermione shield her eyes. "Bloody hell," Ron groaned.

"Who is it?" the witch demanded tremulously. She sounded very young.

"Just a couple of unsung heroes," Severus said, in his smooth, scathing voice. "Do go back to whatever you were doing and don't mind us; we are leaving. Hermione?"

She took his arm and they walked out, Hermione trembling with an urge to laugh that finally bubbled up once they reached the ballroom.

"You look ... charming," Severus told her.

"Do I? Thank you, Severus."

His dark eyes glittered.

"Well-shagged is a look that suits you, Miss Granger." She stared at him, and he reached up to finger a lock of her disheveled hair. "'One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything, except a good reputation.'"

"Wilde," she said and he smirked at her. "'My reputation grows with every failure,'" she suggested and he frowned.

"Shaw."

"It is! Go on, your turn."

They avoided the knots of dancing couples, deep in conversation, while numerous pairs of eyes watched them go.