Intervention and Surprises

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 50 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Intervention and Surprises

Even after the girls had excused themselves to go make their preparations for Longbottom's party, Harry and Severus remained in the kitchen and drank their coffees in relative silence. Severus felt relieved that Potter was able to sit companionably without needing to converse.

Severus still felt uncomfortable around him. Despite his having Lily's emerald green eyes, the boy would always remind him of James; the uncanny resemblance, the way the boy brushed back his hair only to make it even messier than before, the arrogant smirk he sometimes made, the calculating gleam in his eyes, the angry squint he'd made when he'd been caught doing something or being someplace he shouldn't have been, even the way he held his knife and cup all reflected the boy from his youth that Severus hated.

However, Hermione was right, in other ways he was little like his father. His choices in friends attested to that, his penchant for standing up for others rather than bullying them, and his embarrassed sincerity when accepting praise. Potter was also not a show off, and although Severus was loath – even grudgingly – to admit Dumbledore was right, the boy was modest. Having worked with Potter on a few Auror cases, Severus noticed that the boy had a natural ability to lead others, recognizing his teammates' strengths and utilizing them, and always gave credit where it was due. The brash, impetuous, hot-head had grown up into a respectable Auror. Although Severus didn't believe that he and Potter would ever be good friends, certainly not close by any means, Potter was not as impossible as when he'd been a student.

Severus finished his coffee and set the cup aside, a motion mimicked by Potter. As if on some unspoken cue, both men rose to go change, Severus cringing at the thought of the impending soirée.

"Severus, I wanted to show you something," Harry said on their way up the stairs to change into their dress robes.

"What?" he replied noncommittally, wondering what Dark artifact the boy had uncovered in his renovations.

"Ginny got a suspicious package and sent it to me," he replied, leading the way up to the next floor.

Severus' attention was definitely piqued.

"It came in a plain wrapping paper," Potter continued, looking at Severus over his shoulder, "and upon first glance it seemed innocuous, but when she tried to open it, it – well, smoked – puce colored smoke like the stuff we encountered outside Summercourt, Cornwall, but it's acidic. She cast the Bubble-Head Charm and managed to place a strong enough shield around it and sent it by Floo to the Aurory. I have some and was hoping you'd recognize it."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "You have some – here? In the house?"

"In the attic," Harry stated and led the way, taking the stairs two at a time.

Severus followed Harry quickly up to the attic, apprehensive as to the mysterious substance, and hoping he was wrong in his initial presumption.

Last time Severus was here, the attic had been full of boxes and had been used for a hippogriff pen; the space littered with old newspapers and buckets. The boxes remained, neatly stacked on the far end, but most of the space seemed to be Harry's work area now. The standard grey desk with two drawers and a file drawer on each side stood near the middle of the room with a six drawer file cabinet within easy reach, both sporting racks and bins on the surface, and the usual wall mounted peg board covered in notes... It was apparent that Potter frequently brought his work home with him. Two tables stood on the side of the room, one the typical style for holding potions equipment, the other worktable holding a stone chest and various magical implements that Severus easily recognized. He'd have to talk to the boy about the danger of doing potions in an attic later.

Harry walked up to the stone chest and lifted the lid. He turned, holding a large glass orb with a smaller orb suspended inside it. "This is the stuff."

The smoke swirled in two directions at once, the hue changing a mixture of puce, purples and dark maroons, and a grey residue was forming on the inside of the outer sphere. "Yes, I know this substance – the Dark Lord's Black-Acid Smoke – it's extremely dangerous, much more so than merely Garroting Gas or Asphyxiation Plume. Inhalation of the smoke particles restricts the bronchial tree in the victim's lungs by blocking the bronchioles. The residue in the ash will seep into one's skin and eat away at their tissues," Severus said, then looked at Harry. "Was Ginevra checked out by Madam Pomfrey?" He was rather disconcerted that this was the first time he'd heard about it.

"No, she was taken to the Auror ward at St. Mungo's as a precaution," Harry stated.

"So she received it here?" Severus asked, relieved that he'd not have to have the Gryffindor girls' dorm checked – or the common room either. But if she received it here, that meant... He dreaded the answer but he had to ask, "Did they inspect the house?"

"Of course," Harry replied, much to Severus' relief. "Top to bottom, all cleared." He pointed to some creased brown paper and twine lying on the end of the table. "That's the wrapping. After casting the Bubble-Head Charm and containing the smoke, Gin used her wand to clamp the box it came in closed. The wizards in the Regulation and Control of Harmful Substances Department said she'd acted quickly enough. The spells were ones her brothers, Fred and George, taught her – they apparently learned it from Bill... thankfully it was strong."

Severus drew his wand and cast detection spells on the plain, brown paper wrapping, finding nothing.

"There was a slight residue in the box, but it had turned charcoal grey. The R.C.H.S.D. has it now," Harry continued as Severus levitated the paper to get a closer look.

"A clear indication that the smoke had dissipated and 'burnt' out," Severus stated. There was nothing visible on the paper, and the address had been printed carefully, almost child-like in standard black ink. He shook his head.

"Yeah, I didn't find anything either," Harry said as Severus let the paper fall to the surface of the table.

"Mr. Potter – Harry, this, Black-Acid Smoke, is really difficult to produce, let alone capture," he said, pointing to the orb. "It's created by making a significant quantity of myrrh oleoresin coagulate with an equal amount of the poisonous nitrated-phosphorus dragon excreta, then using a Dark magical flame to ignite the contaminated myrrh. The resulting smoke becomes alive, a living entity much like Fiendfyre, dangerous, uncontrollable and extremely deadly. The Dark Lord used it on occasion, but the fumes are extremely toxic, even to the caster, and he actually preferred Fiendfyre instead. Clenittia Lestrange tried using it once on a Muggle-born household, but it escaped out the windows and consumed her as well as the neighboring houses on the cul-de-sac. Bellatrix used it in 1978 in a small village of magical residents on Loch Maree near Wester Ross and wiped out the entire village: every person, animal, and even some of the fish and insects. She escaped only because she set the contaminated myrrh on fire to release the smoke and Apparated away. Mulciber was somewhat adept at controlling it, as was Rowle, but Mulciber is dead, and Rowle was Kissed in Azkaban. I don't know anyone else who can use it – even I can't control it – nor contain it once it begins to plume." He was now sufficiently impressed with Ginevra's shielding capabilities; she must have acted quite quickly.

Harry nodded and set the orb carefully on a three-pronged stand in the stone chest, then closed the lid carefully, and sealed it in place. "I'll inform the guys on Monday. The good thing is that it dissipated once it spread out enough and its concentration became sufficiently diluted. No one was hurt by the residue that I know of."

"Then whoever cast it was inept," Severus stated, "which means that someone read how to make it and experimented."

Harry walked to his desk and picked up a clipboard holding multiple sheets of parchment. He scanned through the pages, shaking his head every so often, saying, "Nope. No. None... No." He lowered the clipboard and looked up at Severus. "Nothing on the census roster – no one has been to St. Mungo's with magical smoke asphyxiation or skin or tissue deterioration this week."

Severus was surprised that Harry had one of the census rosters. But then he is bloody Harry Potter, boy wonder that lived – twice, and savior of the wizarding world – twice. "Which only means that either they are dead, or sought out help elsewhere," he stated, trying to remember anyone else who'd know about creating Black-Acid Smoke or had the knowledge or resources to create the contaminated myrrh. The few who knew how to ignite the myrrh were in the Dark Lord's inner circle during the first uprising, and only a handful were told which dragon breeds produced the optimum dragon excreta. Of those who might, few of them would have known how to make the elements coagulate properly...

"Do you think Rabastan Lestrange could have done this? He's Bellatrix's brother-in-law, and he's still at large?" Harry asked.

"Not very likely," Severus said, shaking his head. "He was a slash and maim kind of wizard, liked to use my Sectumsempra and the Entrails-Expelling Curse."

"I just thought since you mentioned both Clenittia and Bellatrix Lestrange as having done it," Harry said, crossing his arms as he leaned against his desk.

Severus shook his head. "Seeing your mother die of asphyxiation as her skin is eaten away would be quite the deterrent to try it," he said. "But then again, the Lestrange boys were always a little on the... dark side."

"So, I' m not going to rule out Lestrange," Harry said as he stood and stepped away from his desk. "Besides, Gin may have had a run in with him at the final battle. I know that we fought him in the Department of Mysteries, and Bellatrix was killed by her mum... that could be cause to want revenge?"

"If you say so," Severus said, following the younger man from the attic. He went downstairs to the room designated as his for the night to change into his dress robes. He had to go to a party and face the students that made his first year as Headmaster literally unbearable – a living hell. He wasn't at all pleased; it wasn't part of their bargain, and he'd wished that he could simply stay here and read in the library instead.

~H~

Hermione had been delighted when Mispy had answered her Floo call. The house-elf had happily agreed to get Hermione her black velvet dress robe, but she'd adamantly refused to pass them to her through the Floo. However, after dinner, her robes were hanging on the wardrobe door, and her black lacey undergarments were laid out neatly on the bed. She'd changed into her underwear, slipped on a dressing robe, gathered up the rest, including the garnets Mr. Prince had given her, and hurried to Ginny's room to finish dressing.

Ginny smiled as soon as she entered. "Good, you can zip me up," she said, turning her back as she finished dressing.

Hermione dressed quickly, being careful not to put a run in her stockings. "New robes?" Hermione asked as she helped with her friend's zipper as Ginny examined her lithe figure in her new Persian turquoise green dress. "That color is wonderful on you," she complimented her friend.

"Thank you. I went shopping with Angelina, and she helped me pick it out," Ginny said, waiting to reciprocate and zip up Hermione.

Together they fussed over their hair and applied up their makeup. When Hermione opened up the red jewelry box, Ginny inhaled sharply. "Oh my!" She looked up at Hermione. "Where did you get those?"

"They were Severus' grandmother's," Hermione said, putting on the necklace. "Mr. Prince gave them to me for Christmas."

"Oh, I thought..." Ginny started to say and then made a small smile. "You're lucky. I wish..."

Hermione fastened her earring on and stood to face her friend. "I have a feeling your Christmas is going to sparkle, Gin."

Ginny's expression brightened up and her smile widened. "What did you hear?"

Hermione was reluctant to say anything more, not wanting to spoil the surprise.

"Harry already showed me my Christmas gift, considering that he wanted my opinion on which house we're going to live in – so give! What is he planning?"

Hermione smiled. "And ruin your surprise? Never," she said, smirking at Ginny's pout.

"You're no fun."

"I made a promise," Hermione teased, checking her image in the mirror.

When they walked down to the drawing room, both Severus and Harry, who were deep in conversation over by the fireplace, immediately stopped talking and turned. Hermione smiled as Severus stared at her. His mouth curved into an appreciative smile as his gaze swept down and then back up her body, becoming truly smoldering once they made eye contact. In that moment, Hermione felt suspended in time. Somehow the silent appraisal meant so much more than the compliments he'd given her each time before, and made her breath hitch. Besides, for some reason, tonight, Hermione felt more like herself, much more relaxed and sure.

Harry approached, drawing Hermione's attention away from Severus' stare. "Gosh, Gin," was all he said, but Ginny smiled, blushing.

"Luna told us to Apparate under the canopy on the front path, since it might rain," Ginny said after a long pause.

"Then I suppose we should be going," Harry said with a nod, accepting the two cloaks that Kreacher handed up to him.

With a snap of his fingers the elf was gone and back again, this time with Hermione's coat and Severus' cloak.

"Well, if we must," Severus deadpanned as he crossed the room and helped Hermione with her coat.

"Severus, please..." Hermione whispered, but he held up his hand.

"A wise witch once told me, these people are part of the package," he said softly.

Ginny turned sharply and stared at him.

"I'll be polite," he added with a smirk and draped his own cloak on his shoulders.

Since Severus had never been to the Longbottoms, Hermione had to take him by Side-Along Apparition, and if that annoyed him, he hid it well. When Hermione arrived at the party with Severus on her arm, she half expected everyone in the room to stop and stare. Instead, a few people turned to look at her, Ginny, Harry and Severus as they entered the large drawing room, but other than a few nods of acknowledgement and waves in greeting, the conversations hardly lulled at all, much to her relief.

Across the room, the guys, Dean, Seamus, Ernie and Terry were talking animatedly, most likely about Quidditch, and over by the fireplace, George, Angelina and Lee faced Katie and Oliver, talking about something a bit more serious. Hermione smiled at the way Oliver placed his hand on the small of Katie's back for a moment. Lavender, Mandy, Hannah and Susan sat together in the chairs, sipping on punch and eating from small plates. Megan Jones and William Summers were talking with Neville and Luna. Luna excused herself and walked up to them.

"Are we late?" Harry asked as Luna hugged Ginny in greeting. Asia brought them drinks and disappeared with everyone's cloaks.

"No, everyone just arrived before you did," she said serenely, hugging Hermione. "Hello, Severus. Grandmother Longbottom is in the parlor if you'd prefer mature company." She pointed to the doorway across the entry. "She said our music was too much for her nerves."

"Thank you," Severus replied, placing his hand on Hermione's lower back protectively. "I'm sure I'll endure."

Hermione nudged him gently as she looked at him with a crooked smile and then walked over to join Hannah and Susan as Lavender and Mandy went to refill their cups. "Hello, Headmaster, Hermione," Susan said, as they approached, "nice to see you."

Anthony Goldstein joined them, and Severus stepped closer to Hermione, making her chuckle silently.

"Looks like everyone is here," Anthony stated.

"Not everyone; Padma and Parvati are in India this Christmas, and Justin couldn't make it, he's at his parent's home," Lavender said sweetly. "His family is hosting a party."

"Well, Ron's here," Anthony said with a smirk, jutting his chin toward the door. "I see he brought Amelia Bunton."

"Bugger, I forgot he was still with her," Harry said, turning to face Hermione. "Hermione, if..."

"No, its fine, Harry," she replied, turning, smiling as Michael Corner waved from across the room. She waved back, seeing Ron walking over to them with a witch teetering on her high heels as she clung to his arm. Severus placed his hand on Hermione's lower back again, his posture straighter, but his expression remained cordial at least.

"Hi, you all know, Amelia," Ron said, taking a drink from Asia and downing it in one go.

Hermione tried not to gape at the girl. Looking at Ron's date, Amelia, was almost like looking into a mirror. They were the same height and build, same hair color, although her eye color might've been darker brown than Hermione's, but it was hard to tell. The girl had dark smoky eye shadow, dark berry painted lips and glittery rouge. Her warm brown hair was styled with softly curled layers, silkier than hers. Hermione held out a hand. "Hello, I'm..."

"Oh, like I don't know who you are! You're Hermione Grang...er...Snape!" the girl exclaimed immediately, and Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Oh, and you're Severus Snape, and you're Harry Potter! I can't believe I finally get to meet you! This is so exciting. I know we'll all be good friends, won't we? Ron's told me all about you, of course...the things you've done! I..."

Hermione sipped her fizzy drink to hide her amusement. The girl was completely star-struck and babbling away about what she thought she knew of them, mostly tripe from the paper, as Severus' eyes turned stony, and Harry rolled his eyes.

Ron simply mumbled something softly to his sister, but Ginny shrugged and pulled Harry aside. "Let's go say hullo to Dean and Seamus," she said.

Severus gripped Hermione's elbow. "You haven't said hello to Mr....George," he said and turned. "I believe I have something to discuss with him. Shall we?"

Hermione stifled a chuckle and excused herself, then followed Severus.

"Insufferable girl," he grumbled once out of earshot.

She knew it was wrong to judge the girl so quickly, but she had to agree. "I get that reaction quite a bit, actually, especially from the younger years," Hermione said and waved back to Megan. "Sunita Gupta still gets that gobsmacked guppy look every now and again. It's part of being famous, I suppose."

"I hate it," he said, nodding to George and Angelina as Katie and Oliver left to talk to another group of friends.

"Hate what?" George asked.

"Being a celebrity," Hermione said.

Angelina shrugged, smiling. "I suppose you should have thought of that before you helped save the wizarding world."

"She was doomed to her fate the day she tackled a troll in the girls' loo," Severus said, giving her a sardonic grin. "That was the first of your many exploits, I do believe."

"Yes, her pivotal move from mere swot to a loyal and brave Gryffindor," George said, pretending to wipe away a tear. "Fred and I were so proud of her ever since."

"Didn't you call her that annoying priss in our sixth year?" Angelina asked with a grin before Hermione could defend herself.

"Well, Miss Perfect Prefect took a page out of Percy's book and kept trying to thwart our product development," George replied. Severus cocked an eyebrow at him, and George raised his glass to him, adding, "And our good professor here helped save our arses multiple times."

"Someone had to sort out the experiments and hazardous concoctions you two created," Severus said, scowling slightly at him. "You put quite a few students into the hospital that year."

"Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey kept copies of your notes on the antidotes," George said with a smirk. "They came in quite handy. So, Severus, still up on your potions skills? I could use a wizard with your talents."

Severus' lip curved upward slightly. "I do believe that Healers Earl Midgley, Gerhard Callicott, Akshaya Kumagar, Maryanna Pinchuk and Arthur Schopenhauer currently have that honor."

"Yes," George said, placing his hand on his heart. "The Healers in the Hector Dagworth-Granger Poison and Potions Accidents Ward and the Thaddeus Turkell Transfiguration Accidents Ward are soo helpful. As well as Healers Sengi Podhuvan, Leonia Henkin and Harvey Freidman from the Archibald Alderton Accidental Magic Ward, and Galen Cavallaro, David Cadwallader and Joanna Hibert on the Spell Damage Ward. They send their regards, by the way."

Severus lifted his glass and said, "Touché," with a sardonic grin as Angelina laughed softly.

"And how is it that you know all the Healers at St. Mungo's?" Hermione asked, unamused that they knew so many Healers by name. "What are you doing that's so dangerous?"

"Relax, Hermione," Severus said with a smirk. "I occasionally consult with the Healers on the Accidental Poisonings and Potions Mishaps Ward."

"As well as some of the cases caused by Dark Arts or Dark Artifacts," Harry said, joining the group.

"And just how many Healers do you know?" Hermione asked Harry, a bit more sharply than she intended.

Harry turned his head and blushed. "Not all of them," he replied softly.

"Comes with the territory, right, Harry?" Ginny asked with a smirk. "It's not that bad, Hermione. At least they get prompt attention, being on such familiar terms with so many of them."

Somehow Hermione didn't find that at all reassuring, remembering how concerned she'd been the last time he'd been laid up in the hospital.

"I see you escaped the Hermione-look-alike," George stated, slyly pointing to Ron and his girlfriend.

Ginny scrunched her nose. "She is nothing like Hermione."

Hermione turned to look, catching Ron's eye as Amelia leaned against him and ran her fingers through his hair. "Clingy, isn't she?"

Ron blushed, trying to subtly disengage the girl as he turned his attention back to Seamus. Severus smirked and took a sip of his drink.

On the other side of the room, the boys started laughing. Hermione hoped it had something to do with Quidditch.

A short while later, Hermione dismissed herself from her friends to go use the loo. On her way back to the party, she ran into Ron.

"Avoidin' me are you?" he asked, clearly somewhat inebriated.

"Ron, every time I see you, you've been across the room," she said and tried to side-step him.

He reached out and grabbed her arm. "You look pretty."

"Thank you. You look well," she lied. He was clearly smashed, his hair was mussed, his tie was crooked, and he had lipstick smudges on his face.

"Hermione..." he said as she tried to pass him again. She stopped. "I missess you."

"I'm..." she started to say but she faltered. She missed him too, just not in the same way he meant.

"With Snape," he said, downcast. "You don' have ta say it, it's obvious. You've been hangin' on him all evening."

Hermione's eyes widened at his statement. "I've hardly been hanging all over him!" In fact, other than his hand placed possessively on her lower back whenever she was talking to one or more of the guys, Severus had merely stood beside her, making every attempt at polite conversation. "We've been socializing, that's all!"

"He's been hoverin' o'er you all nigh'," Ron whined, his ears going red. "You haven' even said Happy Christmas to me."

She smiled indulgently. "Happy Christmas, Ron," she said sincerely. "But I'll be seeing you tomorrow. You'll be coming over for Christmas."

"We'll be share ta-night," he snapped, staggering slightly. "But don' worry, I won' be bugging you and your git."

She refrained from rolling her eyes. "He's not a git, Ron. I know you've had dealings with him at the Ministry, and you've gotten on well enough the few times I've seen you together."

"Shat was work," he said defensively as he leaned against the wall. "Dis is differen', in'n' it?"

"Ron, you're... wrong. Isn't it time to get along with him?" she asked. He was pissed drunk, and in a way she still felt sorry for him. He needed a decent witch to care for him, not some clinging Lethifold in high heel sling-backs and too much make-up.

Ron hung his head. "Are you happy?"

Hermione smiled as she considered her answer. "Yes, Ron, I'm happy. He's good to me." She didn't really want to tell him more than that so as not to hurt his feelings. She was happy with Severus. Even though he could be moody, they had actually come a long way as a couple. "I need to get back."

Ron stood up and leaned forward. For a moment, Hermione thought he might stumble and reached out to steady him. Instead, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the cheek. "I'm glad you're happy," he mumbled, his breath hot on her ear. "Happy Christmas, Hermione."

He stood and ambled away from her, and she watched him go. She felt a deep sadness for him, knowing he was unhappy, but there wasn't anything she could do for him. She turned to go back to the party and saw Severus standing in the hallway. His face was set, his expression stony. He turned on his heel and walked into the parlor. She let out a heavy sigh. Oh yes, progress, she thought ruefully.

When she entered the drawing room, Ginny ran up to her. "Are you all right?"

Hermione shook her head. "Severus is angry." Ginny's head tilted in confusion. "He saw Ron and me... He kissed my cheek when I told him I was happy with Severus and wished me a happy Christmas. Severus walked away before I could say anything."

Ginny nodded. "I'm sure he'll understand when you explain things. Why don't you go talk to Luna for a bit? She'll cheer you up."

Hermione smiled weakly and nodded. "I'll ask her if she got rid of the Wertzles in the mistletoe."

"It's Nargles, I think," Ginny said with a chuckle.

~G~

Ginny watched Hermione cross the room to where Luna stood with Neville, Dean and Susan. She turned and walked into the doorway of the parlor. Mrs. Longbottom was sitting with a few of her friends, listening to the wireless and chatting, but Severus wasn't there. She tried another room, and another. Sighing, she cast a warming charm on her robes and slipped outside. He was standing on the top steps that led to the garden. She approached him, making sure her heels made loud enough clicking noises to alert him. "Hello, Severus."

"I'm not in the mood, Ginevra," he growled out without turning to acknowledge her.

"Misinterpretations and assumptions will do that," she said softly as she moved to stand beside him.

His head snapped in her direction. "Pardon me?"

She gazed out at the grounds as she said, "Making assumptions leads to misunderstandings."

He turned his head so that he stared at the lush garden landscape, buried under a layer of snow.

She turned to face him. "Look, I know my brother can be a git, but really, I thought things were getting better between you?"

"Mr. Weasley..."

"Not you and my blockhead brother – you and Hermione," she corrected him. "My brother is going through witches like socks, trying to replace her. This latest one should attest to that!"

He snorted at her, still staring straight ahead.

"Look, Hermione told me what happened," she stated, forging forward. "Ron apparently asked her if she was happy, and she said yes. He kissed her cheek and wished her happy Christmas, and I believe her. Maybe instead of jumping to conclusions you should ask..." she faltered when he turned the full force of his glare on her. Ginny swallowed and lowered her tone. "Did you ask her what happened or just walk away, assuming the worst?"

"That's none of your concern," he snapped.

She shrugged. "Right, because I like seeing my best friend hurt and miserable but forcing a smile to hide it while her mate, my friend as well, is outside freezing his arse off, wallowing in self..."

"I do not wallow."

She suppressed her smirk. "After everything you've been through, do you really think she'll go back to Ron?"

He turned his head to look at her.

"She moved her stuff into your house, and you've bought bed linen! Tonight she's stayed with you all evening, smiling at you each time you joked or carried on friendly banter with her friends."

His eyebrow rose questioningly.

"Well, for you that was friendly banter. I do have to consider the source."

The side of his lip pulled back into a smirk. She knew he needed to calm down a bit more before she took him back in; his expression had yet to soften. "The gardens are lovely, aren't they?"

His eyebrow rose again as he regarded her.

"Would you rather I remarked on the stars?" she asked, unable to contain her amused smile.

"No," he replied, his voice low and controlled. "Aren't you cold?"

Good, she was getting somewhere. "I had a warming charm on my robes," she replied and felt grateful when he refreshed the charm. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said, stowing his wand away.

"So when do you plan on giving it to her?" Ginny asked, the warmth of the gown not doing much for the cold that touched the exposed skin of her bare arms, chest and neck.

He turned to face her. "I had hoped to do so tomorrow morning."

Ginny smiled. "That's perfect."

"I thank you for your assistance acquiring it," he said, clasping his hands behind his back.

Any other wizard and she'd have been suspicious. "You're welcome. I know she'll love it."

There was a teeny flicker of uncertainty in his expression, and then immediately his normal mask was back in place.

She grinned, pleased that she was finally beginning to be able to read those minute inflections he occasionally let slip around her. "It will be all right. I know she'll love it," she said again to reassure him.

They stood there for a short while until she noticed his shoulder relax ever so slightly, almost unperceivable, except it was what she'd been waiting for. "I think I'd like to go back in now," she said as if he'd been the one to escort her outside for a bit of frigid cold air.

~H~

Hermione and Harry were talking with Neville, Dean, Seamus and Susan about the inequity of magical legislation regarding magical Beings when Ginny returned to the party and walked over to where her brothers were talking Quidditch with Oliver and Angelina. Harry smiled at Ginny, then turned his attention to their discussion about werewolf rights and the possibility of overturning the current anti-werewolf legislation.

Seamus' arguments were that if werewolves were given sanctions, others Beings, like vampires and banshees, would want them too. Harry argued that if proper precautions were taken, such as holding cells and Wolfsbane Potion, werewolves posed no real threat to wizarding society. Susan, who'd admitted that she'd been saved by Professor Lupin twice during the final battle and recalled that during his year as a professor no student had been attacked by him in his wolf form, somewhat reluctantly agreed with Harry, to a point. She was still afraid of them though.

When Severus finally returned to the party, he was quieter at first, but soon relaxed. Ron stayed across the room with Amelia still clinging to his arm as if he'd float away. It saddened Hermione seeing her friend unhappy, even though they'd been estranged since the Bonding.

One of the times she'd been watching Ron, Severus leaned close to her and said her name, "Hermione?" softly.

She shook her head, not really wanting to talk about what happened in front of everyone. "Later?" she asked and turned back to the conversation. He watched her, his dark eyes not leaving her face until she blushed and shook her head again. Unfortunately, his expression turned stony again.

When the party ended, and after all the best wishes and farewells were said, everyone Apparated home, Ron and his date arriving the same time as Severus and Hermione. Severus' fingers loosened on her arm, but he didn't let go, guiding her into the house. Ginny gave Hermione an understanding smile as Harry offered everyone drinks. "I think I've had plenty," Ginny said with a stretch and a fake yawn. "I think I'm ready for bed." She turned to Ron and Amelia. "I'll show you to your rooms?"

"Excellent idea, Ginevra," Severus said, adding, "Hermione and I bid you all goodnight," a bit too pointedly.

She was about to rebut him, but decided not to. They needed to talk, and she knew that he'd be more receptive in the bedroom. "Severus is right, I'm tired. We'll see you all in the morning." She led the way upstairs with him right behind her. However, he was very quiet once they reached the room.

Severus turned her so that he could unfasten her dress robes.

"I don't like seeing Ron so unhappy," she said sadly, staring at the pattern of the wainscoting. His fingers moved slowly, making casual flicks on her skin. "I think he's finally come to accept our Bonding, and I know that Ginny keeps telling me he goes out, but – I didn't like the girl he was with."

He was silent, so she turned her head to look at him. He cocked an eyebrow and she shook her head wishing he'd understand. "He's my friend, and I still care deeply for him, but I wish – I do want him to be happy."

"You're too kind," he said, opening the dress so it slid down her body and pooled at her ankles.

She turned to face him, rolling her eyes as his gaze swept downward. She'd worn the 'black get up', as he called it, for him, but obviously it was turning out to be too much of a distraction. Unfortunately, she didn't have her dressing robe. He trailed his fingertips along the top of the garter as he stared at her breasts. "Severus, we need to talk."

"I had other things in mind," he said, his hands reaching out to encircle her to unfasten the bra.

She clasped his forearms to stop him. "About Ron and me; why did you just walk away? Why don't you trust me?"

He sighed and turned, taking off his frockcoat, his fingers sliding down the buttons, unfastening them as they went.

She sighed and plopped down on the bed with a heavy sigh.

"What about you and Ronald Weasley?" he asked, his tone coolly indifferent as he unfastened the buttons on his shirt.

"He's my friend," she stated, trying not to sound petulant.

He sat down next to her. "I'm well aware that you were his girlfriend prior to our Bonding," he said as he removed his boots.

She turned on the bed, one leg bent with her foot behind her other knee, to face him, still in her undergarments and stockings. His gaze locked onto her knickers for a moment before sweeping up her body to her face. One side of her lips twitched in response. "He was. I have never lied to you about that. But things changed," she said. "Severus, it's over between us, it has been since, well, you."

He nodded and turned to face her, sitting like she was and pulled her to him. She allowed him to pull her onto his lap. "I didn't like seeing him kiss you," he said, kissing her shoulder. "I may have overreacted, but it was either leave or hex him, and I know some rather creative hexes."

"I bet you do," she replied with a smile, exclaiming in surprise as her bra gave, and he lowered her to the bed. His mouth descended on her breast, tantalizing her nipple deliciously. "D-do you want kids?"

"Not tonight," he said as his hand slid down to her knickers. "I'd rather you give me a book."

She inhaled sharply as his fingers found her sensitive spot perfectly. "But you're – Oh!, going to – to marry me, right?"

"Yes, someday," he said, nuzzling her neck. "Scoot over," he said, nudging her hip.

She complied. "When?"

"Hermione," he growled as he kissed his way down her stomach. "Not tonight."

She ran her fingers in his hair as he unfastened her garters. "June. Mr. Prince said June."

"Hermione," he growled as her knickers were pulled down to her ankles. "Shut up and just feel." He lifted her leg and stroked her with his tongue, sending a jolt through her.

"Severus, everyone will hear us!" she exclaimed as his skillful tongue found her clit.

He purred, "Let them," against her, making her moan in pleasure. He brought her to the brink of orgasm within minutes, but she was straining to remain quiet, but it was no use. He knew her body well, what she liked and what could push her to the edge and beyond.

"But – my gods, we'll, be – Severus!" She had tried to refrain from crying out, unsuccessfully, and fervently hoped that the boys hadn't heard her. Except he wasn't stopping, his tongue unrelenting, feeling oh, so good... tantalizing and driving her wild. She tried to squirm, but he held her firmly. "Severus!"

"What," he snapped, looking up at her.

"The walls are not that thick!" she explained, turning her head to find her wand.

"Fine," he snapped and reached for his wand. "Muffliato," he said softly, however Hermione noticed a slight twitch of his wrist as he made the sweeping motion for the spell.

"But everyone will know! Harry and Ron are right next door!" Hermione scooted up the bed so that she leaned against the headboard. "Harry will hear...!"

"The spell muffles all sounds," he said, turning back to face her.

"But it fills a surrounding area with an unidentifiable buzzing – Harry and Ron will know!" she insisted, but his brow furrowed as if he didn't understand. "The spell fills the ears of everyone nearby with buzzing so that the caster can talk with whomever he or she wishes without being heard..."

"Buzzing, what buzzing? I'm fully aware of what the spell does, and where you learned it, because I invented it." He pulled her down to him and leaned over her, and she was surprised to feel his bare legs against hers. "If properly cast, it muffles conversations, including the sounds you'll make in the throes of passion. Besides," he purred as his hand slid seductively up her thigh, "I believe that Ginevra is with Harry and Ronald is with his date. I doubt they will be paying attention to us."

He lowered down to her core again and slid a finger inside of her. Hermione grabbed the covers of the bed as he seemed to suckle and chuckle against her sensitive nub while simultaneously tapping and stroking her canal. Suddenly, her body reacted, exploding with a fierceness that made her arch her back and curl her toes as she screamed out incoherently. She actually saw stars.

Severus pulled her legs up to him and entered her swiftly before she even came down from her unexpected orgasm, her mind still whirling, her body still pulsing, her core pulsating with each forceful thrust. "Please, no, oh gods..."

He smirked but didn't relent, driving into her mercilessly, the friction keeping the pressure deep within her building and straining up and out, throughout her lower body. "Too much, oh, gods... Yes!"

She grabbed her breasts to keep them from bouncing so much and he growled in appreciation. "That's it, touch yourself," he demanded. "Pinch them."

She did, shocked by the way it created intensified jolts down to her core, and at the feral lustful gleam in his eyes.

"Gods, you're so beautiful," he said, between clenched teeth. "Come for me, Hermione, come."

She tightened rather than relaxed, and he laughed softly. "Let it go. I'm so close. Come with me," he said, leaning forward a bit more. The angle made him thrust deeper, seemingly to electrify that one spot inside her. She heard him growl out her name in blissful satisfaction as he came in her, and she came; her orgasm rolled through her in crashing waves, through every fiber of her being, even more intense than before, tingling, pulsing and throbbing, and she felt herself gush. She saw red. She saw stars.

Then nothing.

"Hermione?"

She opened her eyes slowly, her mind seeming to emerge out of a fog. She felt his hand on her face

"Hermione?" Severus asked, deeply concerned.

She looked up at him and he smiled at her. She was in bed, wrapped lovingly in his arms.

"Are you all right?" he asked, his hand brushing her hair.

Hermione nodded, enjoying the warm headiness she felt from his caresses. "Yes, I think so."

He kissed her temple, and she felt wetness on the sides of her face.

"Sleep," he said softly.

"What happened?" she managed to ask.

He laughed softly. "You passed out," he said as he nuzzled her hair and pulled her tighter to him. "Go to sleep."

Hermione exhaled slowly, relaxing and drifted into sleep.

~ T B C ~>

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Author's notes:

I have art! Proulxes drew the scene of Ginny and Severus standing on the top steps that led to the Longbottoms' garden. The expressions in the picture are exactly how I imagined they would be. I hope you go see it.

http://proulxes.deviantart.com/art/Severus-and-Ginny-383574321