A Rose By Any Other Name Is Still the Same

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Inspiration for this belongs to Vanityfair who wrote this brilliant list on her LiveJournal at the first of the year. JKR owns the universe.

8 Days, 5 Hours, 11 Minutes

When it came down to it, he had decided that he had little choice but to attend Potter's Christmas party to see what Hermione Granger had to offer when it came to accomplishing his list. Severus had a new career, which he'd cleverly tricked the list into believing satisfied item number five. However, he still had three items left on his list and only eight days remaining until the New Year.

He was very quickly running out of time. He needed to complete all the items on the list by the stroke of midnight 31 December or else he would lose his magic. Hell, if he became a Muggle he wouldn't be able to see his own castle!

No, I will not think about failure! he told himself. I will not waste time being nervous or anxious. I will finish all the items. Or else.

Swallowing his pride, he Apparated into the Atrium at the Ministry and made his way to the night guard, who directed him to the lift and Potter's party. He knew he had arrived in the right place: the entire floor had been turned into a ballroom that rivaled the Great Hall at Hogwarts during the Yule Ball.

Severus was greeted by the smiling face of the youngest Weasley. The chipper young woman was dressed in deep forest green robes, which even Severus had to admit were quite fetching on her. She graciously welcomed him as he exited the lift, offering to take his cloak before ushering him into the room where many of the other guests were already "mingling," as she put it.

The room was a bustle of activity. Before Severus even knew what was happening, Hermione Granger appeared, slapped something on his chest with a Cheshire grin, and quickly headed off towards another group of people before Severus could even get out one snide remark.

He had written to her on numerous occasions since receiving the invitation to Potter's party; however, she'd been very evasive in her responses to him, always saying that she would speak with him in person, to trust her, and to please come to Harry's party.

Tonight he was bloody well going to talk to her in person and get some direct answers from her, one way or another!

Deciding that now was as good a time as any, he made to follow her, only to be stopped by Remus Lupin.

"Ah, the Half-Blood Prince, it's so nice that you could join us," Lupin said, clapping Severus on the shoulder with a smile.

Unimpressed by Remus' remark, Severus sneered. "Furry freak."

Lupin chuckled. "Come now, Half-Blood Prince, it's the holiday season. Almost the New Year, I might add. We've buried the Dark Lord. Wouldn't you say that it's time to bury our differences and build 'new friendships'?" he asked with a wink.

"What are you on about, Lupin?" Severus asked, becoming slightly nervous at what the werewolf knew. "And why do you keep calling me 'Half-Blood Prince'?"

Still smiling, Remus tapped on Severus' chest, indicating a white nametag that had been stuck on Severus' chest. The words prominently bore the name, "The Half-Blood Prince" in bold lettering. "Do you or do you not wish to be referred to by that name tonight, Severus... er... 'Half-Blood Prince'?"

Groaning, Severus ran his hands through his hair. "It seems that is my name for the evening. What are you so friendly for? Last that I recall you wanted nothing to do with me?"

"Last that I recall you had just murdered the head of the Order and then threatened to give my girlfriend a Permanent Face Altering Potion. And after that you expected me to trust you?"

When Severus didn't answer after several uncomfortable moments of silence, Remus sighed and went on. "Things have changed. We're starting over. Hi, I'm Remus Lupin, and you are?" he said holding out his hand.

Growling slightly, Severus took the werewolf's hand and briefly shook it. "The Half-Blood Prince," he replied.

"Pleasure to meet you, Prince."

Severus couldn't stop the rolling of his eyes even if he wanted to.

"You know, Hermione's gone through quite a bit of trouble for you," Remus said with a smile as he nodded towards the group of people that Hermione was currently among.

"What are you getting at, Lupin?"

"I hope that she's able to help you to get through the rest of your list, whatever it might consist of. She wasn't all that specific. Just asked us to play along when it came to the 'name thing' tonight, and being your friend. Which I should tell you, Prince, we've been friends much longer than you realize; you've just always had a bad habit of fighting it." Remus paused to grab two glasses of eggnog that were floating in the air and handed one to Severus before he continued speaking. "Please don't hurt Hermione. I really think that she cares a great deal for you."

Severus snorted. "Ah, I see you are worried about the irreplaceable Miss Granger. That girl is nothing more than just a pain is my backside. She has done nothing but be an irritant and a nuisance."

Remus turned and looked behind him to make sure that Hermione had not walked over to them and heard Severus' careless remark. "That is the precise sort of thing I'd wish to avoid, Severus. You have no idea what she's done for you! After you saved her life from Dolohov, she all but saved yours. She was by your side every day that you were unconscious while in St. Mungo's. She never told any of us how, but she somehow found a way to get Dumbledore's portrait to reveal the Secret of your house. Hermione fought tooth and nail against the Wizengamot to get them to drop the charges brought against you for Dumbledore's murder. Something in the information she got from his portrait. No one will speak of the details. It was all sealed.

"But that was how she discovered about your New Year's resolutions. Now, I don't know everything on the list. She did feel horrible about invading your privacy, but she does want what's best for you, Severus ... Half-Blood Prince, and I'll be damned if I'll let you hurt her."

Severus stood in place, stunned after Remus' little speech. He'd learned more in the one minute from what Lupin had just now said than he'd heard from anyone else since he'd been released from St. Mungo's.

"She had no right to go into my house. She had no right to go through my things." He had to force himself not to shout.

"Yes, but Hermione did those things only with your best interests at heart. At the time, she was trying to get evidence for the Wizengamot in your trial that you never even had to appear for. I'd be thanking her, Prince, not berating her."

"I'll try to remember that," Severus said with a scowl as he glanced back towards the witch, meeting her gaze. "So, I suppose I also have her to thank for all of my dates over the last few weeks?" he asked, turning back to Remus.

Curious, Remus raised his eyebrows and asked, "What all was exactly on this list?"

"Never mind," Severus mumbled.

Remus chuckled. "I see. Well then, I need to go find where my wife ran off to. I hope to see you soon, Half-Blood Prince."

"Good evening, Lupin."

Before Severus could move off to hide in the shadows, he was bombarded by two more people to converse with, and after that, yet another. Remus Lupin, however, was the only person to mention the "list," thankfully. Severus hoped that meant that no one else knew of its existence, although Severus had a sinking feeling that Potter at least knew about it.

Every person had a nametag, and everyone called him by the name, Half-Blood Prince. At least initially. When asked to explain the nametag, Severus simply stated that Miss Granger placed it on him. Then he went on to explain that his mother's maiden name was Prince and he was, in fact, half-blood. He'd then introduce himself by his given name, and some would call him Severus after that, but most continued calling him "Half-Blood Prince" or simply "Prince," as they thought it was humorous. A few others began wearing some unique titles on their nametags as well – "Quidditch Queen," "Broom Jockey," "Mum's Favorite Child."

After two hours of small talk, he finally spotted his Gryffindor Princess, approaching him.

"Well, Little Miss Know-it-all, I suppose that you're feeling quite smug this evening?"

"Now, why would I be feeling smug?" Hermione asked. She'd finally just walked up to Severus. They'd been watching each other all evening, but each time it seemed that she'd been about to approach him, someone else would be there to strike up a conversation with him.

"Do you enjoy trying to control my life? Lording it over me that you know my little secrets?" Severus sneered. He'd not expected it, but from the moment that she approached him, he felt his anger bubbling up and nearly over the surface.

"I haven't lorded anything over you! I am only trying to help."

"Yes, helping by breaking into my home," he accused, taking a step towards her. "Encouraging women to date me? Women that you know nothing about, I might add. The last one. What was her name? Oh, yes, Mrs. Schmidt. She blamed the Death Eaters for the death of her husband. Me, being an ex-Death Eater, fell under that category. She tried to poison me during dinner."

Hermione's eyes went wide. "Oh, Severus. I had no idea. I..."

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I don't want to hear your apologies."

They stared uncomfortably at each other for several minutes before Hermione finally forced herself to ask, "Will your list be completed by the New Year?"

"It is none of your concern," Snape replied tersely as he moved to step away.

Hermione grabbed his sleeve, stopping him. "I am concerned. I heard that you were hired by Roberts & Smythe. So, you have a new career, then?"

"Yes," he hissed, yanking his arm free. "But it doesn't matter that everything else is crossed off of the list but one item. The problem is the singular remaining item."

"I realize that," Hermione replied with a nod of her head. With another short pause, she tentatively asked, "So, after tonight, the only item remaining should be getting you a girlfriend?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, he replied, "And keeping her... So it would seem."

Hermione took a deep breath and look up at him. "I'm just going to ask this straight out then, in an effort to get it over with. Would you have dinner with me? I promise to explain, at least as best as I can, what has happened. What I've done. If nothing else, you will know exactly what you're mad at me for."

He looked at her for a few minutes, considering her offer. He still had several questions that he wanted answers to, and really, this was not the place to seek those answers. Besides, Lupin had said that the girl... no, young woman... was interested in him. They had spent all of that time together before the battle exchanging information and had developed a cautious working-relationship. From what he could deduce, she had taken that and allowed her teenage hormones to spin it into something much greater, but Severus could use that to his advantage. It wouldn't hurt to have dinner with her. He relaxed his scowl slightly into a fine line. "Be ready tomorrow at six. Where should I pick you up?" he asked.

"Erm... at H-Harry's," she stammered, surprised that he actually agreed.

With a sharp nod of his head, Severus turned and walked towards the lift. He spied Miss Weasley and requested his cloak. He'd accomplished more than enough in one evening.

He arrived home to Snape Castle, and walked over to where he had his list tucked away in a drawer. Sure enough, the only item remaining was for Severus Snape to find a girlfriend... and according to the countdown, he only had 7 days, 23 hours, and 51 minutes in which to do that.

Maybe he really should put some serious effort into wooing Miss Hermione Granger.

A/N: Well, only a week left to woo Miss Granger. Will he succeed? There are several loose ends in here, actually, that will be tied up in the conclusion of this story. So, if you are wondering about something likely it will still be coming up. I still haven't decided if this story will be one more chapter or two more chapters. Sorry about that, but there shouldn't be much of a wait. Thank you for reading! :)

Thanks to my amazing betas, JuneW & SnarkyRoxy. They are absolutely wonderful! :)