Prospects, Plans and Promise

Pookah, thank you so much for checking the contiguity of my story. I really appreciate your honest opinions. Thank you also to MadBrilliant and Southern_Witch_69 for the beta read. We are almost at the end, girls. Thank you so much for sticking through this with me.

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Prospects, Plans and Promise

~Winter 1999 ~

When Hermione finally repacked her small beaded purse, she wasn't any closer to solving the question of how to release the spells on the tower room. Surprisingly, Draco had spent a good deal of the week with her, helping with her research, even though she'd never really told him what she was looking for. Hermione realized that Draco had been actually making a concerted effort to be nice to her, although he'd still made the occasional sneer or sarcastic comment, which seemed so much easier to accept than when he'd been solicitous toward her. Even Mrs. Malfoy had been more gracious than Hermione had expected, each afternoon inviting Hermione to join her for tea in her solarium. Even the meals in the formal dining room had been pleasant, although Hermione suspected that it took every ounce of Narcissa's good breeding and social etiquette to remain the perfect hostess.

Nevertheless, Draco had been very helpful. He had pulled out books and set them in piles on the large wooden table to help Hermione in her research. One pile of books had references on how the Blood-Bonding was done, one tall pile of books actually had Blood-Binding curses in them, and another, albeit small, pile were books that mentioned bypassing or escaping the curse. These were the ones in which Hermione was most interested, although very few of the books had any kind of directions on how to reverse or remove the curses, and those that did, didn't seem to apply.

In the week she'd spent in the Malfoys' library, she'd garnered more information on Blood-Bonding than she had ever wanted to know: how it was done and what types of blood made the strongest bonds. She'd discovered that human blood was not always the best choice, which had surprised her. Frequently, the blood of the victim or a servant was suggested, as it tied the other person to the spell, not the person casting it. Occasionally, when the one performing the spell was to add his or her own blood, only a prick or a cut on a finger was suggested, which meant that there wasn't a lot of blood used. More importantly, she had a good idea of how long Blood-Bonding could last: a few years, the life span of the caster, and, in very few cases, for as long as their bloodline survived.

What Hermione did figure out from the books at Malfoy Manor was that, somehow, it had to be the caster, in this case the three casters, or the person whose blood was used, who had to release the spells on the tower. If there was a known living descendant – a direct line heir, it might be possible that they could release the spells, but in the case of the tower room, finding an heir was a long shot, if not impossible.

Hermione was convinced that the reason the spells on the tower had lasted so long was because it was Rowena Ravenclaw's and Helena Ravenclaw's blood that bound the spells they'd cast. Hermione assumed that Rowena Ravenclaw didn't have a living relative since Helena had never married, and it wasn't likely she'd had a child. As one of the founders, the castle itself was Rowena's magical legacy. In essence, it was Rowena's magic, the spells that she'd cast on the castle during its creation, the ever-changing floor plan of the castle that made the castle practically sentient. She suspected that the spells Rowena and Helena had cast on the tower would last as long as the castle itself, and that they were now as much a part of the castle as any other section of the castle – a semi-sentient magical living entity made of stone, wood, mortar, and magic.

Hermione knew that Rowena Ravenclaw's spells were merely to conceal the stairs and the lower chamber, and they didn't necessarily need to be reversed. It was the spells on the door and the room that Hermione wanted to reverse or break, the ones that ensnared the unwary lovers and sweethearts in the Blood-Bound enchantments. Unfortunately, Hermione had no idea if the ghosts – both mere imprints of Helena's and the Baron's corporeal selves – would be able to retract their spells.

Once back at school, Hermione had to set aside the puzzling problem of the tower room.

The professors were all increasing their efforts to cram as much information and practice into the last remaining weeks of school to prepare them for their N.E.W.T.s. If Hermione thought that she had had loads of extra work in her fifth year, her last year was proving to be even more demanding. The essay subjects given out were far more in depth than ever before. The pages of her study guide were a mess: due dates were either charmed to glow as the date approached, underlined in red, highlighted, or numbered. Her essays were likewise indicated in a different color per subject with added notations, circles, and arrows, or underlined in red as well. She was even using the five colors of highlighters Harry had given her for Christmas, and the planner itself would give her verbal reminders of pending dates and deadlines.

Many of the students were being given Calming Draught or sleeping potions, and several classmates were using pimple creams and salves for rashes most likely resulting from the added stress. But for Hermione, she found her stress relief in her bath, the tower room, and in bed before she fell asleep: she simply closed her eyes for a few minutes and fantasized about Severus, finding him and making love like they used to.

Still occasionally in the late hours of the night or when she slipped away to have her cup of tea in the tower room, when she wasn't revising, writing essays, practicing her spell work, or when she wasn't contemplating the probability of the tragic lovers of the tower room, she was daydreaming of Severus Snape.

*

As necessity sometimes did, Severus had swallowed his pride and approached the Master Brewer in Charge at St. Mungo's, Jargons Nortquist, to offer his services. He had chosen several potions to send with his letter, requesting an interview, three of them the most complicated ones he knew, and thus expensive potions, as examples of his work. The Master Brewer had taken almost two weeks to respond, but Severus answered the summons to meet with the Healer at his office as soon as it had arrived.

"Mr. Snape, I have received letters of glowing recommendation on your behalf from the Minister himself, one from Mr. Arthur Weasley, one Dedalus Diggle, and Harry Potter, as well as from both Minerva McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey. Most unfortunately, St. Mungo's isn't currently hiring new Potions masters," Mr. Nortquist stated, reviewing Severus' curriculum vitae.

Severus was ready to simply thank the wizard for granting him the interview and leave.

Finally, Mr. Nortquist set down the parchment, looked up, and smiled. "However, I am well aware of your skills and innumerable contributions during the war, especially in regards to antidotes and antivenins. Those potions you created for Arthur Weasley..." He shook his head. "If it hadn't been for you, the man would have died. And your Euphoria Elixir you sent as a sample – I've not seen quality like that since Hector Dagworth-Granger himself, Merlin rest him. And your Wolfsbane Potion is superb, even better than Damocles Belby's own brew."

"Thank you," Severus said, feeling like he was wasting his and the elderly wizard's time.

"Unfortunately, at present, I have enough Brewers to handle most of the average daily healing potions, pastes, and elixirs." Mr. Nortquist stared at a spot on the wall. "But as you know, we frequently have need of those unusual or complicated potions... Yes, I can see how... If you'd be willing to brew on an 'as needed basis' as an independent per diem status, supplying potions on an assignment basis," he continued, "I'm sure we could find a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"That would be agreeable," Severus said, knowing that this arrangement would suit him best, brewing the occasional rare, complicated, and extremely advanced potions. At least he wouldn't be in St. Mungo's basements with all the other Brewers who met the daily supply of routine potions.

"I don't suppose you'd consider taking a position as an instructor in our Healer Training program, would you?" Mr. Nortquist asked, clasping his hands together and looking at Severus with an eager expression.

Severus tightened his fingers on the armrest of his chair and controlled the smirk he wanted to give the wizard. "I'm afraid that my teaching days are concluded."

"Oh, well, one can only ask," Mr. Nortquist said, unable to effectively mask his disappointment. "I admit that I was hopeful. Are you sure you won't reconsider? We are talking about N.E.W.T.-level graduates?" He paused, looking hopeful. "No? More's the pity. With your level of knowledge and skills, our Healers would benefit greatly. So, I'll just have legal draft up the necessary documents and owl them to you. I'll send a list of our stock requirements as well, and we can negotiate your fees."

Severus nodded and rose. "Thank you."

Mr. Nortquist rose as well, extending his hand. "I look forward to a productive relationship, Mr. Snape. Do let me know if you change your mind regarding the position in our training program. We could match the amount of your salary from Hogwarts, maybe even offer an increase. Research opportunities."

Severus managed to control his smirk at the old man's persistence. "I'll consider it, but not for a while yet," he relented, shaking his head. "I really want a break from teaching."

"No? Well, do keep it in mind anyway."

Feeling emboldened after that interview, Severus had decided to try approaching several apothecaries as well and was able to establish a consignment basis with several of them. In Slug and Jiggers, a woman followed him from the shop after he'd secured an agreement with Mr. Jiggers.

"Mr. Snape?" she asked.

Severus turned around. "Yes," he replied, eyeing the woman suspiciously. "May I help you?" The woman was wearing a long Indian-style dress made of a bright, reddish-pink silk and lavishly decorated with embroidery over loose fitting pants of the same color, although she did not appear to be Indian herself. However, her light, sandy-brown colored hair was braided loosely down her back, and she had a red dot between her brows like Indian ladies wore.

"My name is Sunita Gupta," she said, looking up at him with earnest, violet-grey eyes. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation in there, but were you looking for a position as a potion brewer?" she asked, demurely pointing to the door of the apothecary.

Severus crossed his arms and regarded the woman, allowing his curiosity to show in his expression. "Yes."

"And he said that you were a master at potions," she said, adjusting the scarf on her shoulder.

Severus nodded, watching her with a level gaze. She shifted nervously, then stood up and faced him as if pulling on some inner courage. "I am looking to hire a potions brewer of some skill for my shop."

"And what does your shop sell?" he asked smoothly.

"Well, I have aromatherapy oils, custom blended fragrances, bath products, skin care, massage oils, and skin treatments... basic skin treatments, but I'd like to branch out a bit more. Offer an assortment of lotions and potions for skin, hair, and nail problems... for eczema, psoriasis, kitschy-horn, fungus... and maybe..." She paused and looked away. "Not your thing, I suppose."

Severus was watching her, angry that she would consider hiring him to brew beauty products, but when she'd mentioned the idea of producing skin treatments for generalized dermatitis and chronic, non-contagious autoimmune diseases of the skin, he thought it might not be too bad.

She looked up at him, and a soft flush colored her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I've wasted your time, sir," she apologized.

"No, go on," he said smoothly.

She smiled and began telling her of her desire to offer treatments for basic skin, hair, and nail ailments, chronic curse and hex maladies. "Would you like to see my shop?" she finally asked.

Severus shook his head, and she lowered her gaze to the ground and sucked her lower lip under her front teeth. "I'm more interested in further discussing what you see as my role in your business," he said, and she looked up at him and her eyes widened. "All right, let's go to your shop and discuss your needs in further detail."

He followed her to a shop that stood at the junction of Knockturn Alley and across from Wlado's Whatit's and Wiggets and Gringotts. The door of her shop opened up at the corner so that it could just as easily have had a Knockturn Alley address instead of Diagon Alley. It was not a space that had held a business for long.

Inside the shop appeared to combine Muggle mysticism with Magical aspects of mystical study. The shop had several customers, looking around and waiting by the counter to be rung up by the shop assistant. That in itself was promising. There were a few shelves of books on cosmology, astrology, and esotericism. There were counters and shelves with potions, lotions, shampoos, soaps, oils, incense, and herbs. A display on one wall held music albums, and there were glass cases of crystal jewelry and various stones carved in the shapes of animals and eggs. The shop had a second floor and a basement; the second floor had the darker aspects of the shop and the basement was mostly for storage. The most curious thing about the shop was that it could appeal to either the curious wizard or witch or the more shady clientele of Knockturn Alley.

Halfway through his tour of the shop, Sunita introduced her sister, Avani, a woman that reminded Severus of an Indian Trelawney, except without the glasses, and her waist-length raven-black hair was in a neat plait.

"My sister and I share the responsibility of running the shop, although Avani does the books, and I make some of the items that you see," Sunita explained when they'd sat down in the small office in the back room. "The thing is, I have noticed that although St. Mungo's doesn't necessarily have a health clinic for chronic care, most witches and wizards hate waiting in the reception line just to refill their potions. I was thinking that I – that is we, if you're interested, could provide refills of their potions, possibly even have some healing potions for common ailments..."

"So you are considering having an apothecary service in addition to your beauty products," he said, still scrutinizing the shop and the two witches.

"Exactly," Avani said softly. Up until now, the girl had been very quiet, letting her sister do all the talking. "It's Sun's idea. We would prefer to have a contracted source rather than a brewer on the premises, although if you needed space we could make some in the basement."

"I would want my name on the labels of my potions," he said smoothly, and both girls beamed at him.

"Absolutely," Sunita said, smiling and her eyes sparkling again.

Severus left the interview and walked down Diagon Alley to the Leaky Cauldron for a pint. If nothing else, he now had the makings of a small personal business as an entrepreneur providing potions for St. Mungo's, two apothecaries, and the Gupta sisters' shop. Things were looking much better.

Several months later, Severus entered the offices of Holmes and Chaney, Magical Realtors, in the hopes of procuring the house in which he'd been residing. In the entire time he'd been living there, no one had been by looking for the cottage. He hoped that the cottage could be declared as abandoned by the previous owners and that he could claim the property by squatter's rights; therefore, Severus would own not one but two properties. He had already turned Spinner's End into his private potions lab, but he definitely preferred living at the cottage.

~Spring 1979~

By sheer coincidence, Severus overheard Leanne telling Mary in Madeline's Magical Mélange in Diagon Alley that Potter and Lily had married. He had been in the shop, picking up a new frock coat he'd ordered to wear to dinner at the Notts' home. Severus moved through the racks, keeping out of sight of the girls as he listened in on their conversation. Apparently the wedding had been a quiet affair with only a few friends in attendance.

Severus had ducked into the dressing room to avoid anyone seeing the angry tears welling up in his eyes. He eased from the shop and followed the girls until by happy chance they entered the bookshop and got separated. Leanne was terrified upon seeing Severus, but with a quick, forceful Imperius, the use of Legilimency, and an Obliviate to erase her memory of their encounter, he had a vague idea where Potter lived and knew that Lily had been living with him all this time.

Severus felt a searing feeling of despair that he turned into a raging hate by the time he was summoned to the site of the raid.

The raid that night on a supposed 'safe house' for Muggle-borns in a quaint fishing village had been a brutal one. The blasting hex he had used made a huge hole on the side of the house that had made two walls tumble and the roof collapse. Severus had lashed out against one dark-haired bespectacled wizard, brutally using his Sectumsempra, and the house had been left in shambles.

Another well-aimed spell and the car on the drive exploded. Screams and cries could be heard along the street when Severus indicated for everyone to leave. He shot the Dark Mark in the air above the house with a bit more gusto than he'd normally have done, making the image of the Dark Mark almost three times the size he normally produced.

That night, he went to the location he'd retrieved from Leanne's mind and tried the Scrying Charm to locate Potter's house. Severus broke into the house that he thought belonged to Potter, smashing and exploding everything in sight, Disapparating when the sounds of the sirens announced the arrival of the police. He crumbled on the hearth of his Floo with a full bottle of Ogden's and cried, devastated that he'd lost Lily forever.

The next morning, ignoring the hangover, he searched through the week's newspapers, thinking he'd missed the announcement. Nothing. The announcement of the marriage of James Potter to Lily Evans had never made the pages of the Daily Prophet. Severus scanned through his papers again. Nothing. He checked a few back issues.

The Daily Prophet reported the attacks on Bruce Hall and Patricia Knollwood and their families that Severus knew had been a raid. There was a hurricane incident on the coast of Weymouth, Doeset, and the wreckage of several fishing boats caused by a pair of giants the Dark Lord controlled. In the highlands, a small village of Buckhaven was destroyed over a supposed feud over grazing land and the interbreeding of weeples and the local Muggle sheep. There were other reports of the Death Eaters' activities, which were highly exaggerated, but Severus didn't care. His eyes brimmed with unshed tears as the hurt and anger swelled up inside him. His Lily, his Lily love, had married Potter. Potter had won her, and he, Severus, had lost her forever.

McNair, Lestrange, Roiser, and Avery were standing with Severus by the grand staircase that evening, waiting to be brought before the Dark Lord. "You should have seen it," Avery said, trying to stifle his laughing. "The size of it! Anyone would have been able to see that Dark Mark for miles!"

Severus turned to look down the empty hallway. "It was nothing," he said, wondering why it had amused Avery so much. He'd lost control that night, wanted to vent out his anger – acted with vengeance, and now regretted his lack of control.

"You were awesome last night," McNair said, patting Severus on the shoulder. "You should have seen him; he was unstoppable. Those Mudbloods didn't stand a chance."

Severus tried to tune out Avery's recounting of the raid as he waited patiently to be summoned before the Dark Lord. He glanced up as Malfoy walked over. Severus nodded to Malfoy when he looked in his direction with a look of wonder after listening for a while.

"Merlin, I'd love to know that spell!" McNair said, turning to Severus. "Will you show me some time?"

Severus simply nodded once and sipped his drink. I'll show you the first attempt, the failed version, but not the actual one...

"Cool," McNair said before turning back to listen to Avery boast.

Severus' attention was diverted as Mr. Warrington walked over to him. "By the way, I heard from Carrow that you managed to perfect the Thurkell Potion?"

Severus shook his head. "No, I would hardly call it a potion." Fact was Severus hadn't really tried to make it work.

"Pity. Would've been the perfect answer," Mr. Warrington said as he ran a hand down his robes to make sure he was presentable, "turn 'em all into Squibs."

"Is that what it's supposed to do, turn them Muggle-borns into Squibs?" Avery asked, and Severus shrugged.

"I like that, make 'em Squibs so they stop polluting our world," Rosier said, giving Avery a nudge with his shoulder.

"The potion directions Mr. Carrow sent me apparently made his female Crup miscarry, and the pups all died. However, the bitch died from hemorrhaging. He'd considered the potion a success and had wanted my input on the matter." Not that Severus agreed with what Amycus wanted to use the potion for. "A poison given to a pregnant female would have done the same." The mere thought of actually using the potion on women, witches like Lily, made Severus' skin crawl.

"He wanted to talk to you about it," Mr. Warrington said proudly. "It's why he came here tonight."

Severus cringed. So that's why I was summoned. He knew what the potion was supposed to do, and he knew what needed to be done to it to make it work. However, he hadn't wanted to. He wasn't sure he could convince the Dark Lord that he'd been unsuccessful with the potion, although he'd heard that no one could lie to him. "I'm having difficulty with the formula. The one that seemed hopeful failed," he said calmly. It wasn't an actually lie; that variation had failed, on purpose.

"I'll pass on the information to Carrow," Mr. Warrington said. "Let me know if you require any more ingredients or test subjects."

Severus made a slight nod of his head. "Thank you, but I'm fine for now." Severus counted as he forced himself to breathe slowly so that he appeared calm and in control. Most of the Death Eaters he knew were in the Dark Lord's inner circle were present, milling around in small groups. The worst part of being summoned sometimes was the wait until you were called to appear before the Dark Lord, giving you plenty of time to think about what the Dark Lord wanted and dwelling on the possible reasons in anticipation.

Finally, Bellatrix came to retrieve Severus. "He wants to see you now."

Severus nodded and followed her into the large dining room. The massive table was lowered to the floor, making a type of dais, upon which the Dark Lord sat in an armchair. Severus walked up to the edge of the table and kneeled. "My Lord, you have summoned me before you," he said as smoothly as he could, forcefully pushing his emotions down so all he felt was calm.

"Yes, Severus," the Dark Lord said, his long fingers curling around the carved lion heads of the armrests. "Rise and approach me."

Severus did as he was told.

"I have had news that you reviewed Amycus' potion. What have you to say on it?"

Severus inhaled and repeated what he'd told Mr. Warrington.

The Dark Lord remained silent as he paced in front of his chair. "Very disappointing," he finally said and turned, his robes flaring before he sat down.

Severus didn't realize he'd been holding his breath until the pain in his chest reminded him to exhale. He let it out as slowly as he could.

"Well, if the potion only causes miscarriages and hemorrhaging as you claim, then that is what we shall use it for," the Dark Lord stated dismissively. He leaned forward, his expression far more attentive but his tone cold when he spoke. "I have heard about your actions during the last raid. I must say I was surprised."

"I wanted there to be no mistaking the intent of the raid, my Lord," Severus said as smoothly as he could.

"However, the children live," the Dark Lord accused.

Severus remained as he was, his mind replaying the raid, trying to remember if he recalled seeing children, if any. "If they did, my Lord, I was unaware of the children's existence. We were informed of an elderly witch, the mother of the victim, his wife, and him..."

The Dark Lord smiled. "See, Bella, he speaks so calmly of the victims." He turned his penetrating gaze back on Severus. "Nevertheless, the children and the wife fled to the back of the house and Disapparated away."

Severus ran the raid over in his mind, replaying the explosions. The Dark Lord's eyes narrowed. "I had believed that the family within the targeted house had all been dispensed with as per your orders," Severus said. He wanted to hang his head, hide the guilt he felt, but remained standing, ready to meet his fate. "If I have failed you, I will accept my punishment."

There was silence in the room as Severus waited. The Dark Lord rose and regarded Severus, his gaze never leaving his face. After what seemed to be minutes, the Dark Lord raised his hand and waved him off. "You may go."

Severus bowed and backed away, only turning when he'd reached the door. Avery was standing in the doorway and shifted aside to let him pass.

"Avery, he's ready for you now," Bella said with a smile.

Severus walked as casually as he could for the exit, wondering how he'd escaped punishment for the surviving children. He heard Avery scream when he reached the front doors.

~Spring 1999~

Announcements were posted in every publication and on the notice board at Hogwarts; the Ministry of Magic was sponsoring a ball on the second of May at Hogwarts to commemorate the end of the Voldemort Wars. Two days later, Hermione received her invitation for the ball, permission from the Minister to attend, and a brief note that if she needed dress robes for the occasion, she could contact Auror Avenguard Nettles to escort her to Diagon Alley to purchase them. Professor McGonagall sent a note asking Hermione to see her after her last lesson before lunch.

As soon as Hermione sat down, Professor McGonagall came right to the point. "You and I are to go shopping for new dress robes, it seems."

"Pardon me?" Hermione asked, surprised at the announcement.

"For the Ministry's ball on the second," Professor McGonagall said calmly, although there was a slight girlish glint in her eyes.

Hermione was a bit stunned by the offer. "I wasn't really all that keen on attending the ball," she said demurely, hoping that she didn't offend the Headmistress.

"Nonsense," Professor McGonagall said offhandedly. "Besides, I know that your friends and the members of Dumbledore's Army are expected to attend. Miss Lovegood and Miss Weasley will be coming with us as well. I have even been given money to assist you and Miss Weasley in paying for the dress robes if you don't have money enough of your own."

Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth fell open, and she knew that she must look like a gobsmacked guppy. She finally managed to say, "You've what?"

"You heard me," Professor McGonagall said, lacing her fingers together on the desk. "As you know, it will be here, in the Great Hall, the Entrance Hall, and there is to be a huge tent on the grounds in front... quite an undertaking. I am to allow all sixth- and seventh-years to attend. I don't really think that this is optional." She turned and looked at the parchment that bore the Ministry seal. "Several members of the Social Events office are arriving on the first of May, and I am to assist them in making all the necessary preparations as we did for the Yule Ball. This means that for two days, the students will be eating in their common rooms."

Hermione could tell that she was annoyed at the Ministry for imposing. "Might I make a suggestion?"

"Yes, certainly," Professor McGonagall said, looking at her questioningly.

"You could have the Room of Requirement imitate the Great Hall during that time, if you think that the elves could deliver the food there...? That might be one possible solution."

"An excellent idea, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall said, smiling as she picked up her quill and made a notation. "I can even arrange for a bit of a celebratory dinner for the students unable to attend. Now as we don't have much time before the ball, we shall go this Saturday to Diagon Alley."

~*~

The next morning, the students who did not get invited to the Ministry ball were grumbling and bemoaning the inequality of it all. Professor McGonagall had waited until dinner to announce that for the days that the Ministry would be using the Great Hall, the students would be dining in the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor, which caused quite a stir. Many of the students had heard about the now infamous Room of Requirement, so excited murmurs broke out from all four house tables.

The next day, school owls delivered special invitations to all the students not attending the Ministry's ball to attend the Hogwarts May second celebration. Schedules were placed on every notice board regarding special activities planned. On the first, there would be a picnic for all students outside on the school grounds with broom races and obstacle courses on the Quidditch pitch, and boating on the lake. On the second, there were games scheduled for the afternoon in the library before the party, wizard chess and Gobstones competitions by year in the large classrooms on the second floor, and of course, the Hogwarts' party to celebrate the end of the war. Also, students were informed that George Weasley would be providing fireworks afterwards.

No matter how much Hermione protested that she didn't want to attend a Ministry ball to be congratulated, stared at, and pawed over by every wizard in the room, Professor McGonagall wouldn't hear of it. That Saturday, Luna, Ginny, and Hermione met Professor McGonagall in her office. Auror Avenguard escorted them through the Floo to Diagon Alley and to Madam Malkin's for dress robes. Each girl was given her allowance and allowed to try on any robes they liked. Madam Malkin herself attended the girls, and Hermione was certain that the robes she was showing them were of finer quality and more expensive than the amount they had to spend. In the end, Hermione was given a set of lovely iridescent peacock blue-green satin robes, Ginny a set of rich emerald green wrinkle-free taffeta, and Luna iridescent purple chiffon that showed gleams of green when she moved.

*

Severus received an owl one morning that flew in through the window behind Ruddy. Ruddy dropped the two letters he was carrying and flew up to sit in the rafters, his favorite perch, to preen.

The young Snowy Owl that arrived looked exhausted, but she proudly held out her leg as Severus untied the letter, then flew up to the rafters to sit next to Ruddy. "I suppose you are waiting for a reply," he said, receiving a muffled sleepy hoot back. Seeing the Ministry seal on two letters Ruddy had brought him, he set them aside and picked up the letter the Snowy Owl had delivered.

The message was from Potter, inviting him to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch or dinner, whichever was more convenient. Severus scoffed and set it aside.

The second letter he opened was an impersonal letter from the Social Affairs office about some bloody ball to be held at Hogwarts on the second of May. Not surprising, the second envelope held his invitation to the ball and a note that his R.S.V.P. had already been accepted and that he would be an honored guest of the evening. Severus scowled at the impertinence of the witch, assuming that he'd even consider attending until his eyes fell on a name in the list of honored guests: Hermione J. Granger. Severus stared at the name as he walked over by the fire and sat down. She'll be there. I'll be able to see her. His arm moved to the armrest, still clutching the letter as he stared into the fire. But will she want to see me? I haven't written or spoken to her all year. He felt a knot in his gut and a sense of guilt. It's never too late to write a letter.

By the time he'd gone to bed, Severus' waste bin was half-filled with scraps of torn up and crumpled attempts at the letter, and there were a number of balled up parchments littering the floor around it. Severus had never been at a loss for words before, always able to say exactly what he wanted in the minimum number of words, but this letter had proven to be nearly impossible to write.

*

Two days before the Ministry Ball, a young barn owl swooped down in front of Hermione and proudly held out a letter to her. Hermione gave the bird a sausage and opened the letter. She recognized the slanted script immediately, and her heart started thumping in her throat.

Dearest Hermione,

Severus Snape

Hermione stared at the letter, her heart pounding in her chest and read the letter again, still not believing that he'd written her, let alone gave her a compliment the caliber of which she'd never received before. He'd even requested to dance with her. She was about to read it again when Ginny leaned over.

"Who's it from?" she asked and sucked in her breath when she too recognized the handwriting. "Is it – no, it's – can't be! After all this time and he suddenly writes you?"

"He says he's coming to the ball and hopes to dance with me," Hermione said in quiet awe, still not believing her eyes.

"You're kidding!" Ginny exclaimed, reaching for the letter. Hermione let her take it from her fingers and watched her friend's expression as she read it. "Oh my! Oh, wow! No – he would have – with you? Oh my," Ginny finally looked up. "Oh my gosh! Are you going to?"

"I don't know. What should I do? Write him back? I don't have any idea where he is or if the letter would reach him," Hermione babbled, her mind in a whirl.

"So I suppose you'd tell him yes?" Ginny asked, handing back the letter.

"I want him to explain where he's been. What happened to him? Why he never wrote to me or contacted me before now or why suddenly now he wants to see me," Hermione rambled in a rush, simply mouthing everything that came to mind.

"Well, in two days you'll find out, won't you?" Ginny asked, biting off the end of another sausage.

"Well, we'll see. Opening up and divulging everything isn't exactly a Severus Snape trait, is it?" Hermione countered.

"Well, no," Ginny said, smiling. "But we are going to make you look as lovely as we did for the Yule Ball and knock his dragonskin boots off his feet, that's for sure. Maybe we can set you up for the ball. I know my brothers are all coming." She set down her fork. "Bill will be with Fleur, of course... George is bringing Angie... Ron's been seeing one of the girls from the Magical Sports office... Percy... No. Dag-nag-it! I suppose you could ask Dean or Terry?"

"No, this one I'll be attending with you and Harry, but I want to see what Severus has to say for himself," she said, picking up a slice of toast.

Ginny couldn't stop grinning all through breakfast. "I did like the part where he told you how brilliant you are."

"Gin, he was only saying that as an apology for ignoring me all year," Hermione replied, but her mind was still overwhelmed by his letter, and her heart was racing. This was going to be two very long days. "Ginny, would it be possible to turn my dress robes red – no, green? I want to be wearing green for the ball. Maybe I should have gotten the other one, you know the strapless one."

Ginny started laughing. "We can send an owl to Madam Milliken, asking how to change the color. I'm quite certain that it will not be the first time her customers changed their minds about the color of their dress robes last minute. But don't change dress robes. The one you selected is gorgeous on you and really shows off your figure."

Hermione smiled. "Good, I think that a dark green would go very well with my grandmother's Brazilian tourmaline jewelry."

"And be a stunning color on you," Ginny said with a wink. "I'll send a letter to Harry and see if he'll make the grand entrance with you. That will really get all the gossips wondering. Won't it?"

"Sure, that will be great," Hermione answered, still staring at the letter Ginny had handed back. He is coming. Here. In two days. Her palms were getting sweaty, her throat was restricting, and her heart was beating a crescendo against her ribs. Severus.

~ T B C ~>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o0o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Notes:

Next up the long awaited reunion.