Chapter Five by amsev

Disclaimer: I am JKR in disguise. Just kidding. (Neither am I ladyinthecloak, but I borrowed her disclaimer as well as her nifty section dividers!)

Chapter Four – By amsev

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The wondrous Robisonrocket has volunteered to beta this story. She probably had no idea what she was letting herself into. Thanks, dahling, we all appreciate it!

This story is the start of a round robin, which is being brought to you by some of the Admins here at the Petulant Poetess (amsev, CocoaChristy, ladyinthecloak, Soul Bound, and Southern_Witch_69). I have more details listed in the author's note at the bottom.

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Surprised by Severus' laughter, Hermione hurried over to his side. He was standing square in the doorway so she had to stand on tiptoe to peer over his shoulder.

Her jaw dropped in amazement. She wasn't sure just what in the scene before her had made Severus laugh; however, before them was the Great Hall, decorated for a ball with everyone in what appeared to be period costumes.

"Severus?" she asked him in a whisper.

"This ruddy corridor is playing mind-games with us. When I opened the door, I thought that we had found our way out into the Great Hall. I laughed because I realised that it is the Great Hall – about 175 years ago." Severus also kept his voice low.

"And this is funny because..." She looked at him with a question in her eyes.

"It seems we are walking into a Yule Ball. A Yule Ball circa 1820-1825 from the looks of the fashions. I merely found it humorous because with what I am wearing," he gestured at his frockcoat, "I will fit right in."

"Well, perhaps a trifle severe-looking."

It was Severus' turn to look at her in inquiry.

"You have no lace. Nor a fancy, starched cravat."

"Easily remedied." He waved his wand, and delicate lace appeared at his wrists. Another wave added a simply tied cravat around his neck. Yet another tied his long hair back into a queue at his nape. "Now, what shall we do with you? Obviously trousers aren't quite de rigueur for the ladies in this time period.

Hermione stared at the female students dancing in the set dances and withdrew her wand from her sleeve. With a gesture sweeping her body, her anachronistic clothes changed into an empire-waisted gown of delicate green. With another gesture, her hair rearranged itself into a chignon with ringlets draped around her face. Looking at Severus, she raised her eyebrows with a smile and a challenge.

"Ah, milady is ready for the ball," Severus murmured and offered her his arm to lead her into the Great Hall.

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Harry and Neville stared at Dumbledore's portrait in shock.

"Days?" blurted Harry. "They could be missing for days? Why?"

Dumbledore smiled gently at the young men. "Do not worry on their account. They are perfectly safe where they are. Or mostly safe," he added enigmatically under his breath.

Minerva glared at the portrait. "Just what do you mean by that?"

"Only that there is nothing in the corridor that would actually kill them."

"But...?"

"Let's just say that the corridor is a bit like a genie in the bottle. Except that rather than getting three wishes when the bottle is uncorked, the corridor slowly, gradually reveals the innermost wishes of those who tread down its rooms and paths. Sometimes that journey can be a bit hair-raising for the participants. However, the corridor will provide whatever they need should something dreadful be thrown at them."

Neville looked puzzled. "How can they not know their innermost wishes?"

Dumbledore grinned and spoke "For example, Miss Granger did not know she was a witch until she received her Hogwarts letter. When she received it, she realised that this was something she had desired all along, just didn't know it up until then."

"Why Snape and Hermione?" asked Harry, a note of suspicion creeping into his voice.

"Why not?" asked Dumbledore. "Who knows why the corridor saw fit to have them both traverse it."

Harry looked unconvinced.

"Don't worry about your friends, Harry," Dumbledore counseled with an emphasis on the word 'friends.'

Harry's brows rose up towards his hairline.

"Surely you consider Severus a friend of sorts after what he has shared with you."

"Well, he didn't exactly do it voluntarily," countered Neville. Harry snorted, trying to hold in a dismayed laugh.

"Gentlemen, let's just assume that what happens is meant to happen, hmmm?" Dumbledore's eyes were drawn to the quaint clock Minerva kept on her desk. "Why, look at the time! Dillys, Everard and Mordicus are expecting me to make a fourth at bridge. I shall see you later. Minerva. Harry. Neville," he said as he nodded to each in their turn. "You know, Minerva, I am simply amazed at how much the other Headmasters and Headmistresses enjoy that game now that I've taught them how to play. However, that is a story for another time. Farewell." With that, he left his portrait, leaving Minerva and the young men glaring at the empty setting.

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Hermione looked at Severus, a small smile quirking her lips at his courtly manners. "If milord pleases," she murmured in return.

They had entered a few feet into the room when a voice shouted, "Prince! I say, Prince!"

"Oh, dear Lord, don't tell me Prinny is here." Severus quirked an eyebrow at Hermione.

Hermione, swiftly recalling the time period and the Regency romances she had read for a short time when she was younger, looked at him, dismayed. "The Prince Regent was a wizard?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"How else do you think they erected the Royal Pavilion at Brighton so quickly? John Nash was also a wizarding architect."

"Oh, my."

The person who had been shouting tapped Severus on his shoulder. "Flavius Prince, as I live and breathe! I swore just last week at the club that you would never set foot outside of your summer estate after that debacle of a duel, yet here you are!"

Severus glowered at the impertinent man. "I don't believe I have the pleasure..." he trailed off with a hint of menace in his voice.

"Oh, dash it all. You must have taken a stronger crack to that hard noggin of yours than we all thought." The man, who was obviously a dandy of the more extreme sort with a delicate pink vest under his deep mauve frockcoat, swept into a deep bow with his leg extended towards Severus. "Arsinius, Viscount Malfoy, at your command." Noticing Hermione, his eyes opened wider, and he smiled delicately at her with just a hint of a leer in his expression. "Flavius?" he asked, gazing at Hermione. "Not your usual sort, is she?"

Hermione found that she did not care for the tone of his voice and began to draw herself up. Severus covered her hand with his own and gently squeezed it. "A distant cousin of mine, here to get a touch of bronze to her manners. Miss Granger of Grange Hall, this gentleman, and I am using that term loosely," he said with a glare at the Malfoy ancestor, "is Arsinius Malfoy of Malfoy Manor. The currently reigning lord there."

Hermione dipped a shallow curtsey at the introduction and immediately snuck her hand back into the crook of Severus' elbow.

"Flavius, my dear. You wound me. First you pretend not to know me, and now you speak so coldly to me. Whatever have I done to offend you?"

Severus moderated his tone. "Nothing, nothing at all, old friend."

"Perhaps I might persuade you to loose your grip on the charming Miss Granger so that I may lead her into the next dance?"

Hermione faked a sneeze and ducked behind Severus. Whipping out her wand, she conjured a dance card with a ribbon tied around her wrist.

"Shy little thing, isn't she?" Arsinius observed blandly.

Severus, not entirely sure what was happening behind his back, murmured, "Quite."

Hermione stepped back out from behind him and pretended to consult her dance card. "My apologies, Lord Malfoy, but my next dance is promised to my Cousin Sev... er, Flavius."

The opening strains of a waltz wafted towards them across the dance floor. Severus moved to stand facing Hermione. He swept her an elegant bow murmuring, "Cousin. Shall we?"

Hermione looked panicked for a moment, but then realised that it was indeed a waltz playing rather than a set dance such as the fashionable quadrille, which she didn't know. Severus took her by the elbow and led her to the dance floor where he bowed again and she curtseyed in response. She gave her right hand to him, and he gently slid his right arm around her waist to end in her mid-back. They paused until an opening appeared in the crowded dance floor, and Severus swept her into the dance.

About halfway around the circumference of the ballroom floor, Hermione relaxed enough to realize that Severus was a superb dancer. He sensed her relaxing and guided her through a series of twirls, then back to him. Hermione smiled at him in delight.

Circling back to where they started, Severus came to a stop because Lord Malfoy had decided to attempt to cut in.

"Dear Flavius, she is such a charming dancer that you simply must permit me to dance a part of this waltz with her." Malfoy smiled, a hint of shark to his grin.

Hermione shuddered. It appeared that this Malfoy ancestor was pursuing her. Severus' eyes smoldered briefly with anger, but acquiesced to Arsinius' demands rather than cause a scene, which Malfoy would undoubtedly try to cause if he didn't allow him to cut in. He bowed to Hermione and released her, catching her eyes with a warning glance. Hermione acknowledged his warning with a brief nod and curtsey, stepping over to join Malfoy to allow him to lead her into the dance.

A blessed few minutes were spent in silence, with Arsinius merely guiding Hermione around the dance floor. It was too good to last, however. Malfoy slowly tightened his grip, pulling Hermione closer than was seemly.

He leaned in toward her, whispering insinuatingly in her ear. "It seems my dear Flavius has been slain by your charms, Miss Granger. Perhaps I can convince him to share."

Hermione met his eyes, startled. He was openly leering at her and eyeing the low decotellage of the dress that revealed the roundness of the tops of her breasts and cleavage. "I-I don't know what you mean..." she stuttered.

"Of course you do. A pretty young woman pretending to the manor born is up on all marks. Surely you didn't expect me to believe this 'Miss Granger of the Grange' nonsense. Who are you really, my sweet adventuress?

He smiled coldly at her and led her dancing in a new direction, right out to the balcony just outside the ballroom. The balcony had been created for the ball and spelled to keep the winter cold out, but Hermione didn't notice that as she tried to catch a glimpse of Severus before they were completely out of the ballroom.

"Now let's play friends, just like you and your kissing cousin Flavius are doing." Malfoy grabbed her wrists in one large hand and wove the other into the chignon at the base of her neck, pulling her face closer to his.

Hermione tried to push out to get away from him, but he was holding her wrists too firmly for her to fight loose and pull her wand out of the pocket hidden in the side of the skirt. She tried kneeing him in the groin next, but was dismayed to find that the skirt of the dress was too narrow to allow her knee to get anywhere near its intended target.

"Ah, ah, ah!" cautioned Malfoy. "I do enjoy a spirited young woman, but only if she plays the game my way." He pulled her in tightly and forced a kiss on her resisting mouth. His hot breath on her face filled her with repugnance, and she fought all the harder to get loose from his cruel grip.

Suddenly, a loud voice cut through her fog of revulsion.

"Malfoy, what is the meaning of this?" demanded Snape angrily.

Malfoy, startled, relaxed his grip on Hermione's wrists, and she broke free and ran to Severus' side.

"Flavius, Flavius, Flavius. You certainly do have a wicked sense of humor attempting to foist this innocent-looking demimondaine upon our little dance. She's clearly a Muggle-born adventuress intent on obtaining an entree into pureblood society." Malfoy's expression darkened. "Your little slut certainly won't make it far now.

A gasp had risen out of several throats at the word 'slut,' and Hermione realised that they were surrounded by small crowd intent on observing the little drama play out.

Severus stood straight and drew his wand out of his sleeve. This elicited another growing murmur and caught breaths from the crowd. "Clearly, Malfoy, you are going beyond what is seemly, insulting my cousin and her heritage. Perhaps it is you who wishes to disgrace an innocent young lady."

Malfoy himself gasped at this insult to his sense of honor. He swept a glove out of a pocket and swiftly strode over to Severus, striking him in the face with it. "Well, Prince, what shall it be?" he sneered. "Where do you want to meet?"

Severus glared at the young lordling and said, "Why not here and now, if you are man enough to follow through."

At this, the current Headmaster attempted to intercede to convince the men not to duel. He failed and, with great resignation, began clearing a space out in the Great Hall for the duel.

Short minutes later found Severus facing Arsinius across fifty feet of stone floor that had been cleared of the wood spell cast down to provide a surface smooth enough for dancing.

"Gentlemen, on the count of three," the Headmaster intoned, his voice laced with disapproval. "One. Two. Thr..."

Malfoy chose to cast early. Fortunately, Severus had anticipated this and cast a quick shield to block the curse flying at him. It bounced off his shield and ricocheted into the floor, digging a shallow rut into the stone before it dissipated. Severus looked up in alarm. It seemed that this Malfoy was playing for keeps. He gritted his teeth and started sending curses and hexes at his opponent.

Both men were evenly matched, so the spectators were treated to a frightening exhibition of magical strength and stealth. The battle went on, and both men began to tire. Malfoy saw a break in Severus' defense and didn't hesitate to send a vicious cutting hex through that opening. The hex caught Severus on his Dark Mark, slicing it open, causing him to gasp in pain and drop his wand. Malfoy cast another hex, and Severus ducked down and rolled in an attempt to evade it and to regain his wand without stepping outside of the boundaries of the duel.

Grabbing his wand from the floor, Severus moved swiftly to send hexes flying back at Malfoy, who had grown a bit careless with the fight having apparently gone his way. He roared, "Expelliarmus!" causing Malfoy to fly backwards and land hard on his back, apparently stunned. Blood dripping down his arm, Severus walked over to Malfoy to call quits and was joined by the Headmaster, when Malfoy whipped another wand out of his frock coat, sneered, and barked out a Diffindo. The force of the cutting hex carved a deep gash across Severus' chest and knocked him off his feet. He landed hard and struck his head on the stone floor.

"Stupefy!" shouted Hermione, aiming her wand at Malfoy, causing him to lose consciousness. She ran over to Severus, who was trying to sit up and shaking his head, trying to clear it. She used her wand to slice the narrow skirt of her dress and sat down behind him, catching his head and shoulders as he fell back in a faint.

"Severus," she gasped. "Lie still. I'll do what I can to stop the blee..."

A shimmer of fabric and stones flew past her bewildered eyes, a door slammed, and she found herself back in the corridor, cradling an unconscious Severus in her arms. As she looked down in amazement, the gash across his chest and the cut on his Dark Mark healed up, disappearing as if they had never happened.

"Severus?" she murmured. No response. She looked up at the ceiling, trying to hold back the sudden tears that sprang up in her eyes.

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A blond head rested on the pillow at the end of Harry Potter's living room sofa. Having tidied up the place, it was time for a short kip.

The doorbell rang. The blond reluctantly went to answer it. The door almost flew open by itself, and there stood another blond, wand drawn.

"We need to talk," stated the intruder.

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amsev's Notes: I just adore Regency Romance and had to indulge myself, particularily after reading all the wonderful responses to the Regency challenge over at grangersnape100 community on Live Journal.

Southern_Witch_69 is up to bat next!

We can promise that this fiction will be updated quickly, as per our own rules upon getting together. The fun thing is that we aren't making outlines with each other, and whatever one of us writes is a surprise for the rest of us as well! This should be fun for everyone involved! Please let us know what you think! Thanks!