Malfoys Christmas Ball

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~o 52 o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Malfoys Christmas Ball

The car made another leap forward, arriving on another country road, speeding past a quaint village, eventually driving along a stone wall with trees and high hedges on one side of the vehicle and rolling country with lush, green farms on the other.

When a musical car horn had been heard from out on the street, Severus had said it was time to go and indicated that they go out the front door. Hermione had been amazed to see the gorgeous, black Rolls-Royce Phantom IV limousine parked in front of number eleven, the driver looking quite relieved when their party had emerged out onto the pavement.

Hermione had always loved the historic car, which had been made exclusively for royalty and heads of state and, of course, featured in a few Muggle movies such as the James Bond movie, Octopussy. As she walked to the door held open by the chauffeur, she smiled at the silver dragon stretching his wings and neck, which had replaced the Spirit of Ecstasy that would normally adorn the hood. The Rolls-Royce Phantom had obviously been heavily enchanted. Once out of the city, the drive to Wiltshire took only minutes. Although the ride was luxuriously smooth, the succession of jumps the driver made confused Hermione’s sense of direction. For the most part, they hardly spoke, Ginny and Hermione both trying to guess where they were after each jump before the car leaped forward again.

The car slowed as they approached a wide drive that passed through a gorgeous stone gate. “Are you sure this is the right place?” Hermione asked, looking around for the lane bordered by the high, neatly manicured hedge, shaded by overhanging trees, which they’d used the last time she’d come to the manor. And her first time, but she was not going to dwell on that day. Not today.

“Yes, Hermione. The other entry is used for Apparition,” Severus said, placing a hand on one of hers. “It was the one the Death Eaters and Snatchers used because they didn’t want to be seen by the Muggle villagers.”

Hermione nodded, accepting his explanation.

“It’s not uncommon,” Ginny said, leaning around Harry to look out the window next to Hermione, “especially for the wizarding homes in Muggle villages and towns. My Aunt Muriel has a secluded spot behind the garden gazebo that the family and her friends use.”

The large, hand-forged gates swung open as the car approached, and the guard at the gate waved them forward. Hermione peered through the front window and was amazed at the sight: the house stood out at the end of a long drive that stretched before them through extensive grounds of wide expanses of lawn interspaced with dense ornamental coppices. Every window of the house was aglow with light, creating a welcoming sight even from a distance.

As they drew near to the manor, perfectly manicured, hedge topiaries interspaced with outdoor lanterns lined the drive, and the open lawns gave way to lovely, elaborate knot gardens either side. Ginny pointed out three peahens, their white plumage stark against the dark greens of the gardens. Hermione fidgeted with her bracelet, a simple double strand of pearls that was once her mother’s, while she stared at the handsome manor.

Severus put a hand on Hermione’s arm, and she sat back in her seat to look at him. “Nervous?” he asked softly.

“A little,” she admitted softly.

Harry gave her a lopsided grin and clasped Ginny’s hand. “How bad can it be? It’s just dancing.”

“It’s dancing as long as you dance with me,” Ginny said with a cajoling smile.

His smile instantly faded. “It is a ball, Harry. You had to know it was expected,” Hermione said, trying to contain her mirth. She knew that he hated dancing in public. “It will be a lot like the Ministry Ball, I think.”

“Hardly,” Severus said, staring out the window. “It will be like the Moncrieff’s party; the music will be variations of the waltz.” He glanced quickly at Harry. “You should be able to get by with a simple box-step.”

“Brilliant,” Harry muttered, turning to look out of the window as another car, a Ministry car, drove past them in the other direction. Hermione grimaced in understanding to Ginny, but she shrugged and looked down at her hands.

“Ginevra, I’m sure that you’ll have partners if you want to dance,” Severus replied smoothly, before the other car vanished with a loud bang. “If you’d like, I’d be happy to dance with you.”

Ginny looked up smiling as Harry looked at Severus in surprise.

“Yes, Mr. Potter, I can dance.”

Harry turned to the window again, muttering something under his breath; however, Ginny squeezed his arm and whispered something to him.

As their car entered the courtyard, the driver followed the drive around a huge marble fountain, featuring Poseidon surrounded by adoring water nymphs, dolphins and hippocampi, in the center of the circular drive. Hermione saw two more elegant cars circle the gorgeous fountain as a classic bronze and dark blue Bentley Mark VI stopped to let out its passengers. They stopped behind the Bentley, and a footman opened the door, offering a hand to assist the girls out of the car.

Hermione smoothed her skirts and looked up at the imposing house. Severus offered his arm and smiled down at her, and she smiled back, hoping it didn’t come off as a grimace. She squared her shoulders and let him guide her up the stairs, Harry and Ginny right behind them. Ahead of them, Mr. and Mrs. Hammond, who Hermione remembered from the Moncrieff’s party, were greeting Mr. Ingoldsby and his wife as they entered the house.

When she walked through the front doors, Hermione’s breath caught for a moment at the magnificent sight of the Malfoys’ Grand Foyer. Two sweeping, gilded stairs, similar to the grand staircases at Buckingham Palace, curved along creamy-white walls decorated with gold wainscoting and ornamental plaster wall flourishings. Huge portraits hung around the upper part of the stairs, each nodding serenely to the guests as they ascended, which were interspaced with large, porcelain pedestal vases with hand painted white peacocks. Above her head, at least three stories up, the Tiffany style glass dome depicted vines of wisteria blooms and a pristine blue sky.

At the top of the stairs, guests mingled in the Grand Corridor as they strolled toward the right where the music flowed. Along the walls were magnificent landscapes in ornate frames and tables holding exquisite urns and vases. Two winged cherubs waved at the guests from the curved lunettes on either side of the doorways, some cherubs holding harps and others, small bows fitted with miniature arrows.

Severus guided Hermione through the first doorway. Grinning with glee, Ginny clung to Harry’s hand as they followed them. The large room was mostly red with a huge, white quartz mantelpiece, white stone pillars, and heavy, red velvet curtains. Even the ornately carved chairs and lounges were upholstered in red velvets. A long table stood to the side, holding a banquet feast of delicately prepared foods and sweets, with two swans sitting majestically on either side of a tiered tray of edible flowers and fruits. People in their finest greeted each other, helped themselves to the tidbits from the table, or sat in small clusters along the wall. Although they stuck together, Ginny and Harry staying close to Hermione, they did mingle with some of the people in the drawing room, mostly with people Severus knew or whom Hermione had met at previous parties. That, and several people, including the Burkes, Oswalds, and Lodwicks, had wanted an introduction to Harry Potter, much to Severus’ chagrin. Even the formal Mr. Byron Ingoldsby had sought out the group, to make introductions.

A wizard in a white coat and gloves offered their small group champagne. Severus pulled out a flask from his pocket, pouring a bit of the pale taupe potion into Hermione’s flute. “To keep you from getting too inebriated tonight,” he said softly, adding some of the potion to Ginny’s.

“Thank you,” Hermione and Ginny both said as Severus held the flask up and looked pointedly at Harry, who nodded and held his flute up to be filled. Hermione took a long sip and crinkled her nose at the peppery aftertaste of the Inebriation-Inhibiting Potion, remembering Severus warning from last time. She recognized the Moncrieffs as they entered the room; Mrs. Moncrieff greeted a small group of ladies as her husband approached two wizards standing a few feet away.

A group of younger men entered from the other doorway and laughed, one of them boisterously, making a few of the occupants, including Hermione, turn their heads in their direction. One of the young men tapped the arm of another, and Hermione smiled as she recognized Kazimir Maschke when he turned, his gaze sweeping the room. He smiled when his eyes met hers. Kazimir excused himself quickly and crossed the room to greet her.

“Sdrasti, Her-mi-oninny!” he said with a huge grin. He swept Hermione up in a big hug, lifting her off her toes, then set her down and kissed her soundly on the side of the mouth. “How have you been?” he asked, looking at her fondly, ignoring Severus’ scowl. “You look… krasavitse – beautiful. Vhy have you not come to see me?”

Hermione blushed at his compliment. She liked the way Delphinia’s pearls looked with her royal purple, taffeta dress robe. The earrings framed her face nicely, the lovely tiara was pretty in her upswept hairdo, but the way Elbee had done her makeup was so thick, her eyes and lips were so dramatically enhanced, she knew that she barely looked like herself. “I’ve been in school and haven’t had the chance,” Hermione said, suddenly aware of Severus’ stiff posture. “Kazimir, may I introduce you to Severus Snape, my—”

“Affianced Bonded mate,” he finished the sentence before she could, placing special emphasis on each word, as a warning to the grinning sportsman, and holding her upper arm tightly against his.

“Da, I read of your Bonding. Posdrawlenia!” Kazimir said, holding out his hand. Severus clasped it, both men curling their fingers in a firm handshake. “Headmaster Snape,” Kazimir said, looking Severus directly in the eye, “I am proud to make your meeting.”

“Mr. Maschke,” Severus said formally, his gaze locked boldly on the younger man.

Kazimir nodded briefly, let go, and turned to smile at Ginny and Harry. “Dobar wecher, Ginny,” he said warmly and kissed her cheek. He looked at Harry with a friendly smile. “Your… how you say… fiancé, neh?”

“Yes, Kazimir, this is Harry Potter,” Ginny said as Kazimir shook hands with him. “My Bonded mate and fiancé.”

“I remember. Posdrawlenia to you, too! Sdrawei, Gospodin Harry Potter,” Kazimir stated as he released Harry’s hand. “You vere Hogvarts other champion, I remember.”

“You were at Hogwarts then?” Harry asked, somewhat thrown by the Bulgarian’s friendliness.

“Da, I vos a Durmstrang candidate, but Viktor von the honor. He is here tonight,” Kazimir said, turning, looking briefly behind him. “He may be in the Ball Room.” He turned back to Hermione. “I know he is vanting to see you, too.”

Hermione smiled as she drank more of her champagne, glad that Viktor may have forgiven her for not writing to him when she was in hiding with Harry and Ron. “I’m looking forward to seeing him, as well.” Severus’ hand tightened slightly on her lower back, and she turned to give him a reassuring smile that was apparently being ignored. His carefully guarded expression, while not stony, was not exactly friendly either.

“You will allow me a dance?” Kazimir asked, glancing between the two girls, thankfully unfazed by Severus coolness.

“Absolutely,” Ginny said, clearly delighted.

“Of course,” Hermione replied, carefully avoiding Severus’ eye in case he showed any signs of disapproval. He had little reason to be concerned about Kazimir. Although they’d written to each other since the end of her fourth year (with the exception of her seventh), his letters had always remained friendly, not flirty as Viktor’s had. And until recently, he’d often written about Tatiana, a witch whom he’d been seeing, sometimes allowing her to add a postscript greeting on the bottom of his letters. Hermione even had a picture of the pair taken at a victory party when Bulgaria made the semifinals.

Kazimir made a click of his boots as he bowed slightly. “Than I shall look for you inside. Headmaster Snape, Gospodin Potter.”

“Wait until I tell Ron I got to dance with the Chudley Cannons’ new Chaser!” Ginny said as he walked away.

“When did you two become friends?” Severus asked, drawing Hermione’s attention as he urged her to finish her champagne.

“Shortly after the Yule Ball,” Ginny answered before Hermione could. “He and his friend, Mario, approached us in the library to ask Hermione if he could borrow a book she’d checked out.”

“Seems the Durmstrang students were in our library more than we were,” Harry said with a grin.

“So you would think,” Severus said, making Hermione want to roll her eyes. A waiter appeared as soon as the girls emptied their glasses. “Shall we?” Severus asked, indicating the door that led to the ball room.

“Oh yes, please,” Hermione answered, eager to dance. Harry dragged up the rear as they walked to the doorway.

Hermione and Ginny both stopped as soon as they entered the Ball Room. It was immense. The creamy white walls were decorated lavishly with gold wainscoting and ornamental wall flourishings, like the Grand Foyer, with large mirrors in heavy, very ornate gilt frames and gold and crystal candelabras. The ceiling was decorated with elaborate frescos between three large crystal chandeliers. Couples whirled, turned, slid and glided on the hardwood dance floor to the music of the chamber orchestra that played at one end of the grand room.

Severus laughed softly and leaned down close to her ear. “Shall we dance, or do you want to just stand here and stare?”

“Dance,” she replied, laying her hand on his proffered hand and followed him out to the dance floor. They danced for a while, Hermione enjoying the assured way he led her around the floor. A few times Hermione saw Ginny dancing, first with Harry, then with Kazimir and again with Harry.

When the music paused, Hermione pulled back, intending to leave the dance floor, but Severus’ hand on her waist tightened slightly. “Going somewhere?”

“No, just needing a break,” she replied, and he dropped his arm. She saw Kazimir on the side of the dance floor talking to Draco, Theodore Nott and a lovely brunette, she assumed was Larissa Roquewood.

Severus growled softly as the Bulgarian stepped away from his friends as they approached. “I thought you wanted a break,” he said in a low tone so only she’d hear.

“Be nice,” Hermione hissed and then smiled as Kazimir stepped up to her.

“Her-mi-oninny, you honor me a dance,” Kazimir said, holding out his hand.

Hermione placed her hand on his, saying, “I’d be happy to,” and allowed him to lead her back onto the dance floor. Kazimir was quite a competent dancer. Hermione knew that he preferred the Viennese style of dancing, turning them either toward his right or his left, interspaced with little changing steps, and occasionally swaying her dramatically, grinning mischievously when he did. It was fun dancing with him and somehow, Merlin knew how, she managed to keep up with him and not trip. When the dance ended, Kazimir insisted on another, a fun little line dance that had her twirling and turning with each wizard in the line, until she finally faced Kazimir again. Hermione was winded, but happy. “Thank you, priiatel,” Kazimir said and kissed her on the cheek. “Hope your fiancé is no mad at me.”

“It will be fine. I enjoyed the dance, thank you,” she replied softly. She turned, realizing they’d ended up on the other side of the room.

“You look for your fiancé?” Kazimir asked, and she nodded, not seeing Severus from where they stood. The last time she’d seen him, he was standing where she’d left him, watching her with that intensity that gave her either thrills or chills.

“Either you dance with me again or we find your man,” Kazimir said.

She turned to smile at him. “I should find him,” she replied. He nodded in understanding and, holding her hand on the crook of his arm, guided her through the guests towards the place where she’d seen Severus last.

Kazimir halted when Theodore Nott and the brunette young lady stopped in front of them, having left the dance floor as well. Apparently Kazimir and Theodore were friends, because the Bulgarian greeted Nott personably, calling him Theo.

Nott looked at Hermione and inclined his head as he said, “Mrs. Snape.” He turned his head toward the girl at his side. “We were in the same year,” he said. “Mrs. Snape, may I introduce my wife, Larissa Nott.” The girls exchanged greetings, and Hermione’s first impression was that Larissa was a very sweet girl.

Kazimir asked Larissa for the next dance, and Nott shyly extended his hand to Hermione.

When the music stopped, Nott walked her to the edge of the floor where Kazimir and Larissa were, Larissa laughing at something Kazimir had said to her. Larissa repeated the comment to Nott as Draco and Astoria approached them, but Hermione was looking about the room as slyly as she could and missed the comment. “Already looking for your next partner?” Draco asked.

Hermione turned sharply to face him. “No, I was looking for Severus,” she replied, then blushed under Draco’s smirk.

“He’s across the room talking to the Boatrights and Wertheims,” Draco said, looking past her and jutting his chin slightly. “You were doing all right out there, Hermione.”

Hermione quickly glanced back, spotting Severus, and cringed slightly at his emotionless expression. She shrugged as she faced Draco again. “Thank you, Draco.”

“You look lovely, Hermione. I love your dress robe,” Astoria said, smiling warmly.

Hermione felt her cheeks flush. “Thank you – you too.”

Astoria asked Hermione if she’d met Larissa, while Draco, Nott and Kazimir exchanged a few words. Before the music started up again, Draco turned, saying, “May I have the honor?” offering his hand to Hermione. Stunned, she nodded and let him guide her to the dance floor as Kazimir asked Astoria. As Draco led Hermione around the dance floor, she saw Larissa and Nott dancing, and Ginny paired with a tall, dark-haired wizard, and she wondered where Harry was.

“Are you having a nice time?” Draco asked Hermione, drawing her attention from her friends.

“I am,” she replied, allowing Draco to lead her briskly and easily about the dance floor. When Draco turned her, Hermione saw Severus watching them while talking to Lucius Malfoy.

“She dances well,” Lucius said as his eyes followed Hermione dancing with his son.

“Apparently,” Severus said, never taking his eyes off his fiancée. Hermione was, surprisingly, quite light on her feet and relaxed enough to follow Draco’s lead, never trying to direct or anticipate the moves as some ladies would do. Not the accomplished ones, of course. She was looking intently at Draco, allowing him to turn and sway with her to the music, and Severus wondered what the boy could be telling her that was so enthralling.

He realized that her proficiency on the dance floor was making him uncomfortable. Perhaps she was so confident now because of her partner – Lucius had ensured that Draco had learned from an excellent dancing instructor. But then, with another savage jolt of bile, he remembered how she had also danced with the Bulgarian, her eyes shining, her face alight with pleasure and enjoyment. He realized that he was gripping his wine glass so hard his knuckles were beginning to hurt. He turned and saw Lucius regarding him with high arched eyebrows and a damnable smirk on his aristocratic features. Refusing to give Lucius the satisfaction of a response, Severus schooled his face into a blank mask and watched his beautiful… fiancé… continue to dance with the Malfoy whelp.

Hermione laughed, smiling as Draco turned them, and Severus gritted his teeth.

“I thought that things were going better,” Lucius said as he rolled his wedding band around on his finger casually while watching the girl and his son dance. “Rumor is that the girl wears a ring.”

“She does,” Severus replied, controlling his reaction to the fact that Lucius knew already. “We made it official this morning.”

“Congratulations. Narcissa saw the ring on her hand when you entered the room,” Lucius stated, the slight twitch of his lips enough of a smirk to make Severus raise his eyebrow. One side of Severus’ mouth twitched and his eyes narrowed for a second. The Dragon Heliotrope was large, a lovely oval shape, and the setting had cost him a fortune, but it wasn’t that large. Hermione’s ring fit nicely between the knuckle and the joint of her finger. Other ladies had larger rings.

“When have you set the date?”

“June,” Severus said. Draco and Hermione had progressed further across the dance floor so that they were obscured by the other dancers. Draco wasn’t a problem, and seeing her dance with Nott had surprised him, but that Bulgarian was paying Hermione much too much attention.

“June?” Lucius asked as he looked at Severus. Severus turned to excuse himself as Lucius added, “A whole month – long wedding. Have you decided where this extended event will take place?”

He gave his friend a confused glance as he sorted out the nonsense he’d just heard. “The date in June hasn’t been confirmed, but Mr. Prince has offered to host the wedding,” Severus said.

“Narcissa was going to offer for you to have it here,” Lucius stated, nodding politely to the Burkes.

Severus barely refrained from snorting aloud. “A generous offer, but as you know, Hermione is still reserved where you are concerned.”

“She’ll come around,” Lucius said, nodding, quite aware of the fact. “Still, the guest list would have been entertaining. Narcissa was hoping that by sponsoring the girl, she’d allow her to coordinate the wedding as well.” Severus glanced sideways at Lucius, his eyebrow cocked questioningly. “Narcissa loves planning formal events – she’s been planning Draco’s wedding since the day he was born.”

This was something that Severus was well aware of. The music stopped and the couples were thanking their partners. He saw Draco incline his head to Hermione, then offer his arm to guide her from the floor. Hermione glanced at Severus nervously as she accepted Draco’s arm, following Draco off the dance floor, thankfully in his direction. Not too far away, Astoria and the Bulgarian came in view, the pair turning to follow Draco and Hermione.

“Speaking of which, here comes my son and daughter-in-law now,” Lucius said with a proud grin.

“I shall convey your suggestion to Hermione,” Severus said politely and moved forward, intending on procuring the next dance with his wife. Behind him, Lucius chuckled softly and greeted one of his guests.

Hermione was winded, happy, but a bit too warm. She’d danced nonstop since arriving, not that she was complaining; she was having a wonderful time. She only hoped that Severus wasn’t as upset as he seemed. As Draco led her from the dance floor, she caught a glimpse of Harry, Ginny and Viktor talking with a tall, dark-haired wizard with broad shoulders and thick arms, a few feet away from Severus and Mr. Malfoy.

“Hermione,” Severus said as she turned to thank Draco.

Smiling up at him, she said, “Severus,” in response and turned to see where her friends were. “Do you know him?” she asked, indicating the dark-haired wizard talking with Ginny, Harry and Viktor without pointing.

“No,” he said, watching her instead.

“I’d like to get a punch,” Hermione suggested, ignoring his curt reply. He nodded and indicated they leave. After quenching her thirst, Hermione saw Ginny, Harry and the dark-haired wizard near the doorway, and she walked up to her friends.

“Hermione,” Ginny exclaimed as she approached. “This is Bartholommeo Gonçalves, the Chudley Cannons new Beater. Bartholommeo, this is my best friend, Hermione Snape, and her Bonded mate and fiancé, Severus Snape, Headmaster of Hogwarts.”

The tall wizard said, “Olah,” to them both, and faced Severus. “You are Headmaster of the school. We have written,” Bartholommeo said, extending his hand, his manner reserved, yet polite, and his English heavily accented.

“We have,” Severus replied as he shook his hand. “Is your brother still intending on taking the O.W.L. exams?”

“Sim, he is,” Bartholommeo said, looking Severus in the eye. “He is wanting to take his O.W.L. exam and is concerned that he is no prepared.”

Severus smiled at him assuredly. “It would behoove him to take placement exams to assure he’s ready for them, and to show the staff where your brother may need additional tutorials, or if he should wait a year.”

“I thought that the students take O.W.L.s in their sixth year in Portugal?” Hermione asked. She knew that Beauxbatons did, so she was uncertain.

Bartholommeo turned, looking at her squarely when he answered, “Não, they sit their exams in their fifth, like you do, but, my brother, he is wanting to know that he has learned the right spellwork. We lived in Spain for a year. He said the school was ahead in some spellwork but behind in others.”

Hermione understood, changing school midterm was hard enough, moving from country to country could mean going to a school where the education may not have been fully equivalent. She had been surprised at what Viktor and Kazimir had learned at Durmstrang; in some areas Hogwarts was more advanced, such as Potions, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, in other subjects, such as the Defense Against the Dark Arts, they were a bit behind. Durmstrang taught DADA as two courses: The Dark Arts and Curses and Principles of Hexes and Jinxes, that taught not just spells but identifying the spells, the theories, defense and reversing techniques. She wondered briefly how Hogwarts compared to the Portuguese and Spanish schools.

“Professor McGonagall is looking forward to acquainting him with the school,” Severus stated.

Ginny looked up at him expectantly. “He will be in Gryffindor!” Bartholommeo’s forehead creased in confusion as Ginny clasped her hands, smiling like a clabbert. “Hermione and I could always help him if he needs help,” Ginny said, and Hermione’s and Severus’ eyebrows both shot up at the offer. “Does he play Quidditch?”

“You just want him to play on the house team,” Harry chided her softly.

“Obrigadu, that is kind of you,” Bartholommeo with a knowing smirk. “He likes Quidditch, but does not play much.” He looked up at Severus as the chamber orchestra started a quadrille. “May I have the pleasure of a dance with your fiancé?”

Severus nodded reluctantly. “If she consents,” he said, stepping slightly to the side.

Hermione gladly accepted, following the tall wizard to the floor. She and Bartholommeo squared off with another couple. Hermione tried to follow along, stumbling the steps occasionally, but enjoying herself. Copying the motions of the other ladies as best she could, turning about with women opposite her with her right hand held up, barely touching, and then turning about to her left with the other woman’s partner in the same way, progressing up to the head of a double line with Bartholommeo. Bartholommeo spoke to her occasionally, asking her simple questions, mostly about school and England. At one point she was faced with turning with Lucius, Mr. Hammond, who greeted her warmly, then with Viktor. Viktor stared at her, his gaze snapping from her hand to her face, his gaze becoming intense as if wanting to say something but refraining.

When the dance ended, Bartholommeo thanked her formally and escorted her back to Severus and her friends. Harry, Ginny and Kazimir had engaged Severus in a discussion of Quidditch, and Bartholommeo stayed to join in the conversation. When the music changed again, Severus graciously excused himself and Hermione, claiming the next dance. Unfortunately, they’d only walked a few steps when they were waylaid by a wizard. Severus introduced him as Lawrence McDonough, Administrative Officer of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, and his wife, Louise. The man inquired about how things were between them, and Hermione got the impression he wanted details about their relationship. Louise made a few veiled attempts to ask if they were sleeping together, which Severus handled smoothly if not utterly cryptically.

Severus excused themselves from the couple and drew Hermione out onto the dance floor. “The nerve,” Hermione uttered as Severus guided her to the music.

“Yes, some women have little tact where gossip is concerned,” he replied softly.

“But why is she concerned as to where I’m sleeping?” Hermione asked.

Severus chuckled as he turned her. “Mrs. – and thus Mr. McDonough – do not approve of me being Bonded to a student. So, I answer those inquiries about our relationship frequently,” he said with thinly veiled chagrin.

She simply nodded in understanding. She supposed the Board would question him, but still, the woman had irritated her.

She danced the next few dances with a few men she’d met at previous parties.

Needing something to drink, she and Severus went back to the drawing room for some refreshment, and after accepting a glass from a waiter, Hermione led them over to where Ginny and Harry were sitting, plopping down next to Ginny as Severus stood, his arms crossed, slyly surveying the room. Ginny, Harry and Hermione talked about the people they’d met and whom they’d danced with, while Severus listened in, yet appearing to be inattentive.

Mrs. Diederich, a woman who’d been friendly with Hermione at the Burke’s and Moncrieff’s party, spotted them, and as she and Mrs. Robards approached, Hermione and Ginny both rose to their feet. “Headmaster, Mrs. Snape, how good to see you,” Mrs. Diederich said, quickly introducing her friend to Ginny and Harry, who’d stood to shake hands as well. “I’ve been meaning to ask you how the validation of the Headmaster’s potions are going. Why, Abigail Burkwald and I are so excited about the project.”

Hermione smiled; Mrs. Diederich and Mrs. Burkwald were both on the Friends of St. Mungo's Hospital Philanthropy Committee, and Mrs. Diederich supported the Hector Dagworth-Granger Foundation that promoted scholarships for both Hogwarts students pursuing a career in Potions and the St. Mungo’s Healer’s Training program. “We’ve validated fourteen so far,” Hermione said proudly. “Ginny and I should have four more papers finished before school resumes.”

Mrs. Robards’ hand flew to her chest as she stared at Hermione, then at Severus. “That’s – eighteen? Good Lord, girl, how many are there?”

“Nearly every potion in Advanced Potion Making,” Hermione said proudly, then turned to smile at Severus. He looked down at her, his lips in a neutral line, with a slight warning to his gaze as if he was embarrassed that she’d told these women of his accomplishment.

Mrs. Robards’ eyes widened in shock at the pronouncement. “Each – as in all of them – but that’s over a hundred… Oh my.”

“One hundred and forty-six, I believe. Wasn’t Abigail telling you only a moment ago that Healer Elena McMullen holds the Headmaster here in the highest regard,” Mrs. Diederich said, smiling at Severus.

“How is Elena?” he asked, his tone one of deepest respect, and Hermione looked at him wondering who she was that he respected her so.

“She’s here tonight with her husband. I know they are looking forward to seeing you this evening, to congratulate you on your recent validations of the Astuteness Draught and Anamnesis Potion,” Mrs. Diederich said. “It is so amazing how a simple color variation can change a potion’s efficacy.”

Hermione tried not to grin at the woman’s assumption. Even Ginny was fighting back a chuckle, Severus’ variation on the Anamnesis Potion was still morning turquoise blue, but the sunrise glow was more pronounced. But mixing the mucus secretion from the hypobranchial gland of a Phoenician sea snail with raw, sour Gruinard goat milk before adding it to the Astuteness Draught turned the potion a sea blue-green instead of lime green and did in fact greatly enhance the potion.

“And Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Snape are validating them all?” Mrs. Robards asked, looking at the girls.

“Yes, Professor Reynolds and Severus are monitoring our progress,” Ginny said, smiling with pride. “We’ve had ten of our validations published so far.”

“Four were submitted for review to the Academe of Potion Masters and Brewers at the end of term, and we are still waiting for confirmation from the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers on the other four we submitted last week,” Hermione said as Severus smiled at her, his dark eyes showing both pride and gratitude.

“I know Adrien Abderhalden, I’ll send him a letter on your behalf,” Mrs. Diederich said. “He doesn’t like publishing too many innovations in his publications at the same time; he thinks it will only lead to more potion mishaps.”

Severus inclined his head once. “Sound thinking; it’s hard enough to prevent students from experimenting at school,” Severus stated. “Master Abderhalden is only being cautious, I’m sure.”

It wasn’t that, in Hermione’s opinion, the old wizard was simply being a stick in the bog. Adrien Abderhalden didn’t like Severus much simply because of his past associations, and the wizards in the Academe of Potion Masters and Brewers paid him too much heed. It didn’t help that he was also head chair of the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers, either.

“So, girls, which potions are you going to validate next?” Mrs. Diederich asked.

“Icterus Draught and Reduplicative Unction,” Hermione said the same time Ginny replied, “Roussinoff Potion and Lethargy Potion.” They turned and laughed softly at each other. “Well, we generally do brew two at a time,” Hermione admitted.

“We’re doing those four the first week back at school,” Ginny added.

“My, at the same time?” Mrs. Robards asked, making Hermione flush and Ginny chuckle.

“Hermione and Ginevra are quite ambitious,” he said, and Hermione blushed. She loved following his directions, and many of his changes actually made the potions easier to brew.

Mrs. Diederich turned to look at Severus. “I hear you’re working on improving the Medullaoblongata Potion?” she asked.

“A variation on the potion, yes,” Severus stated cryptically, yet politely modest.

“Well then, I look forward to hearing of your success,” Mrs. Diederich said as her husband approached. “If you girls have any difficulties with Adrian, let Leopold and I know.” Hermione was momentarily distracted by a round woman in exquisitely tailored robes of a soft, floaty material who waved at them, and although she didn’t know the woman, she waved back. “Oh there is Miranda,” she said, smiling. “You youngsters go dance.

“Severus, I do believe you promised me a dance,” Ginny said, adding, “in the car,” when he raised his eyebrow at her. “You said you’d dance with me if—”

“You had no partners,” he said with a subtle smirk.

Hermione smiled at her friend. “Yes, you must,” she said, then turned to Harry. “That gives me an excuse to dance with you, at least once tonight.”

Harry reluctantly agreed, and they followed Severus and Ginny to the dance floor. “Are you sure about this, I don’t really know how,” Harry said softly as he put his hand on her waist.

“We’ll be fine, Harry,” Hermione urged him. She saw Severus and Ginny waltz off, joining the flow of the other dancers with ease. “Just stay on the side and then the others can pass us. Think one-two-three to the music and take small steps – just like I showed you our fourth year.”

“And like we did in the tent that one time,” he said, relaxing a bit. They didn’t progress very far, only going about half way around the dance floor, but they had a good time of it, laughing softly at each other’s mistakes. When the music stopped, she thanked him. “Hope your toes survived,” he said with a smile.

When she turned, Viktor was standing right in front of them. “Dobar wecher, Herm-own-ninny,” Viktor said and then greeted Harry. “May I have the honor?” he asked.

“Er, sure,” Harry sputtered, looking from Viktor to Hermione and then away. “I’m going to find Ginny.”

Viktor straightened from his normal slouch, placing his right hand slightly beneath her left shoulder blade, and began to glide with her about the dance floor. Even back in his seventh year (her fourth year), Viktor had been a fair dancer, despite being slightly splayfooted. “You have been avoiding me,” he said, looking at her from beneath his bushy eyebrows.

“No, I haven’t,” she denied, although in part it had been true. “I didn’t get your letters from last year until after the war was over.”

He became downcast for a moment then looked at her intently. “You vere vith Harry and Ronald, hiding from You-Know-Who,” he said, the tone of his voice implying that maybe he’d spoken to Harry about it.

“Yes,” she said, hoping that he’d see the truth in her eyes. “I was helping Harry find something – things that helped us win the war – Dark artifacts that Vold-e,” he cringed as she almost said the name, “Tom Riddle – You-Know-Who’s artifacts. Once we found them and destroyed them, Harry was able to defeat him once and for all.”

He became very quiet and his movements reserved. They stopped dancing, and he drew her aside to a quiet alcove between a pillar and a curtain but still within full view of the other guests. “I read about you in the papers. You have become famous,” he said. “I read about these objects. I think I know vhat it vos you had to find.” She cocked her head and he smirked at her. With his dark eyes and hooked nose it was quite similar to Severus’. “Horcruxes.”

She gasped. “How – but it was – you couldn’t,” she stammered, looking around to see if anyone overheard him.

He cocked an eyebrow and his smirk became more pronounced. “I vent to Durmstrang. You vere very concerned about this Tom Riddle and asked me if I knew of him. You said you think he came to my school in the late 1940’s, so I did some research. Ven I find out that he had, this Tom Riddle, I rote to you.”

She shook her head, saying, “I never got a letter saying anything about this,” sadly.

He nodded. “Professor Lewgorski vos killed shortly after your Tom Riddle vos introduced to him,” he said. “Professor Lewgorski taught the Dark Arts and Curses until 1947 ven he died under suspicious circumstances. The boys who introduced them vos Boyko Vujanović and Dimitar Mihaylov. Boyko Vujanović, he became a Knight of Valpurgis and died in the first var, but Dimitar Mihaylov vos killed by You-Know-Who in 1948. He vos marked on his arm – a snake and skull – You-Know-Who’s mark.”

“To protect his secret,” she said, impressed by his discovery. “But how did you know he learned how to make the Horcruxes from this professor.”

The music had stopped, and he leaned closer to her as the others guests mingled and walked by. “I looked for any book that these boys had checked out of our library, dealing vith Dark Curses and Dark Arts. Dimitar Mihaylov checked out three books that mentioned the Horcrux; and the two books he vos charged vith losing, I find copies of these books. They tell how to make one.”

“Have you told anyone else about this?” She felt relieved when he shook his head. “Oh, Viktor, and here I thought – I’m so sorry.”

“It vould hav’ helped you, but I could not…” He became sullen. “My owl kept returning. I thought you vere upset vith me. I vos vorried for you.”

She touched his arm, looking up at him in earnest. “I was not upset with you! I couldn’t allow owls to find us, so when I made our hiding places secure, I added enchantments that hid us from owls as well. We were hiding for our lives… I’m so sorry. Forgive me?” Couples began to walk onto the dance floor and the music started up again.

“Herm-own-ninny,” Viktor said, pulling into a hug and kissing her temple. “Dobre, I forgive you, mi priiatel.” He backed away and smiled at her. “Ve finish our dance now?”

“Yes,” she said, laughing as she followed him back onto the dance floor, and they blended back into the dancing couples. When the dance ended, Hermione could hardly wait to tell Harry and Ron what Viktor had told her.

Hermione danced the last waltz of the night with Severus; however, he was rigid and stiff while dancing. At the end of the evening, she wanted to say good night to her friends, but Severus told her that Ginny and Harry had already left, and that her Bulgarian friends would be staying in the guests’ suites. She walked with him down the stairs and through the Grand Foyer to the Great Hallway and through the corridors to a smaller foyer, one she’d been in before, and up the stairs that led to the family suites. When they entered his rooms, Hermione noticed that the bed had been turned down, a fire blazed in the fireplace and two dressing robes lay out on the bed.

Severus threw his robes into a chair as he strode into the room, ripping at his black waistcoat as he went.

“What is wrong?” she asked, slipping off her shoes.

“Nothing,” he snapped at her, untying his bowtie.

His tone alarmed her. “No – not nothing, what’s wrong?” she asked and cowered under his angry, dark stare. “Maybe I should ask if I could sleep in a guest room,” she said, and he scowled at her.

“You will not,” he snapped while unbuttoning his shirt. “You’re staying right here.”

She watched him, feeling hurt and confused. “You’re obviously angry about something – what, I have no idea – and you’re snapping at me, for what you won’t say, and I’m to assume—”

“I’m not angry with you,” he said, crossing his arms as he stared at her. “Please get ready for bed.”

She stood her ground, her hands on her hips. “I’m not going to bed with someone who’s angry with me.”

He stopped and turned, his expression coolly indifferent. “I told you, I am not angry at you.” He breathed in deeply and resumed undressing. “Get ready for bed, Hermione.”

“Then what is it?” He didn’t reply, and she sighed heavily as she sunk down on the bed. “Why won’t you just tell me? We’re not going to make it if you won’t talk to me.”

“I didn’t like you prancing around with that wizard,” he said, sitting on the other side to remove his shoes.

Hermione turned on the bed to face him. “Which wizard – I danced with quite a few tonight,” she implored, hoping he wasn’t upset about Viktor pulling her aside.

“Exactly,” Severus said sharply.

She swatted the bed in frustration. “It was a ball – people dance at balls.”

“I still didn’t like the way he was with you,” he said, dropping his shoe on the floor.

“Whom?” she persisted, needing to know if he was upset about Viktor’s kiss. It was only a peck on the temple, but considering how he’d reacted to Ron’s the night before, it was possible…

He turned to face her. “Kazimir Maschke.”

She leaned back in shock. “Kazimir? He’s engaged,” Hermione replied defensively, flabbergasted that he was so concerned about her friendship with Kazimir. Severus’ forehead creased nearly making his eyebrows meet.

“Yes…” This needs to be set straight right away, she thought. But how…? “House-elves can come when you call them, right? Will Mispy come if I ask her?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” he snapped, then growled out, “Yes.”

Hermione called Mispy. The house-elf arrived, bowing lowly. “Thank you for coming. Would you be kind enough to get something for me?”

“Mispy serves the Bonded mate of the Headmaster,” the elf said, smiling curiously at Hermione. “Mispy will bring what Miss asks for.”

She was immediately relieved. “There is a box in my trunk at school, made of red cedar with a heart-shaped lock. Would you please bring it to me?” Mispy bowed and vanished.

“Now…” he was interrupted as Mispy popped back in handing Hermione the small chest.

Hermione thanked Mispy and pulled out a stack of letters tied in an old, well-worn white ribbon. She handed the top letter to Severus. “I wrote to him after the Hogsmeade weekend when you told me that he was going to play for the Chudley Cannons. This is his reply. Tatiana, his fiancée, wrote a postscript at the bottom of his letter.”

Severus took the letter. He paced the room as he read the letter while Hermione searched for one in which Kazimir had written about Tatiana. “Boys don’t allow their girlfriends to write a postscript if they’re hiding something or are hoping to have a relationship with you…” She found one in which Kazimir had expounded on how much he liked the girl, and she held the letter up for Severus to read. “Here.”

Severus snatched the letter, and she scowled at him, hoping he hadn’t torn it.

“You know this relationship won’t work if you can’t trust me,” she said, imploringly.

“Trust is earned,” he said, still reading the second letter.

“Trust is given, Severus – respect is earned. And what have I done – why can’t you…” A tear threatened to fall from her eyes. She was exhausted and beyond tired. Her feet hurt. She was lightheaded even though she’d had his potion.

“I know you don’t respect me – you said you do, but it’s not there.” She got up to walk to the door. “We don’t talk.”

He stopped pacing and faced her. “We talk,” he snapped.

“No, you jump to conclusions without asking me. You did the same with Ron on Christmas Eve, just as you did with Blaine and Lawrence at school – and with George… You don’t trust me even though I’ve done nothing inappropriate with any of them since our Bonding.” His eyebrow rose. “Not that I had ever done anything before – oh, what’s the use!” She sat on the bed with her arms crossed and her back to him.

“Misinterpretations and assumptions lead to misunderstandings,” he mumbled, almost inaudibly in the quiet room.

She turned to look at him. “What was that?”

“Nothing,” he said and then sighed. “Something Ginevra said.” He held the letters out for her to take. “It’s immaterial where – Hermione, it’s evident he has feelings for you.”

“We’re friends. We’ve been out of touch for a while. We wrote to each other because he’s a nice guy, and he wanted to improve his English,” she said, taking the letters. “I even sent him oral letters so he could hear the words as well as read them. He’s engaged to Tatiana, and there isn’t anything more to it than that.”

“And Krum?”

“He was a boy I saw for a brief while in my fourth year,” she said as she carefully folded the letters. “We wrote to each other for a while, but when I went into hiding with Harry and Ron, I had to stop writing,” she admitted. Best to get it out in the open. “I know he was hurt when I stopped writing. He wrote to me a few times last year, but I had my parents’ post sent to a postbox that I’d applied an Undetectable Expansion Charm on and a Disillusionment Charm so it would appear empty… I tried to write to him over the summer to explain, and to explain my Bonding, but he didn’t return my letters. He was a bit sullen tonight.” His letters were tied with a red ribbon, but she didn’t really want him reading Viktor’s letters.

He stood unmoving, staring at her.

“What did I do to make you not trust me tonight? Was I in any way inappropriate with either Kazimir or Viktor?”

He didn’t answer.

“I can’t help it if they have feelings for me, I have not encouraged any… and I wrote to both of them to let them know of my Bonding. I even told them which spell was used and…” She was too tired to argue. It was apparently pointless. She picked up the dressing robe and ran the silky fabric through her fingers.

"Well you should have understood! You're my soon-to-be-wife, by your own machinations. I don’t like these sorts of affairs – I tolerate them.”

She looked up at him, surprised by his admission. “But you fit in so well!”

He shook his head, looking away from her. “I don't make friends easily, Hermione, and I find social situations like that to be… stressful.” He looked at her. “But having to spend hours in chit chat, exchanging social niceties with vapid sportsmen and their groupies, is not my idea of a pleasant way to pass the time – nor is being the one left to make introductions for Potter – Harry – to the social elite. Did it not occur to you that many of the people in that room are related to people that I betrayed and abandoned?” he asked as he turned his head again, then looked at her and continued before she could answer him. “And beyond all of that is the fact that, having spent the evening dancing with all and sundry, you should choose your final dance to be with that... club-footed Bulgarian... gorilla, who it is plain to see still has feelings for you – well, that just put the tin lid on it!”

“Severus, I did not behave inappropriately! I danced my last dance with you,” she said, ignoring his disparaging remark about Viktor. She covered her face with her hands, then dropped them and looked up at him. “I’m sorry that you had to make Harry’s and Ginny’s introductions. I’m sorry that the Quidditch players sought out Harry – but he’s famous – even in Bulgaria. However, I thank you for doing it. I thank you for putting up with my friends – but why get angry at me about it? They are just friends. And even if Kazimir and Viktor have feelings for me, I’m your Bonded mate and,” she held up her left hand, “your fiancée. And they know this.” She dropped her hand and looked down at the green silk she held clasped in her lap. “They even congratulated you…”

She sighed heavily and felt the bed dip as he sat down next to her. “Should I have declined to dance? I could’ve stayed with you, made the introductions myself?” She looked up at him. “But I don’t know everyone. I remember some of them, but not everyone.”

His fingers brushed her cheek, smearing a wetness she hadn’t realized was there. “I’ve made you cry. I’m sorry,” he said softly. “No, you were right to dance. I’m glad that you enjoyed yourself.” He pulled her into a hug and kissed the side of her head.

“Well, I suppose that I should be glad that you feel enough to get jealous, but your jealously is only going to hurt our relationship,” she said softly, hugging him back and burying her face against his shoulder, understanding his admission and forgiving him for it. He didn’t say anything, and she sighed heavily.

“I can’t… change how I am,” he finally replied. “I’m a possessive man. What’s mine, I keep.”

“I suppose that’s good to know.” She pulled back to look up at him. “You are going to have to trust me at some point.”

“I know,” he said as he tipped her face up. He kissed her tenderly, one hand gently stroking her scalp as he held her head, the other tracing lines on her side, increasing the lightheadedness she already felt. This wizard really knew how to excite her desires. She pulled back slightly to say something, but he leaned forward, never loosing contact, only deepening the kiss ardently. “I love you,” he whispered against her ear. “Come to bed with me, Hermione.”

She nodded, turning in his arms so her back was to him. “Undo me?”

“My pleasure,” he said smoothly, his voice soft, low and silky, sending thrilling chills down her spine.

~ T B C ~>

Author’s notes:

I want to thank Arabellabloodgood, my alpha-reader, to Proulxes for adding a bit of British flare to my chapter, and my beta, DuchessOfArcadia, for giving this a read and helping me clean up all my mistakes. I really appreciate it very much.

Thank you also to Jay for my beautiful banner. I really love it!

For those who don’t know, a hippocampi (plural for hippocampus) is not just a seahorse, it’s a magical Mer-horse with the head and forequarters of a horse and the hindquarters and tail of a giant fish. A rather elegant fountain creature, I thought.

Ready to learn some Bulgarian?

Sdrasti or Sdrawei means hello

Da is Yes, Neh is No

Dobar wecher is a formal way of saying hello

Dobre means good, as in ‘I’m good’

Priiatel is friend

Gospodin is Mr.

Krasavitse means beautiful

Posdrawlenia means Congratualtions

How did you do? Some of them will used again in the chapter with the Malfoy’s New Year’s Ball.

http://www.linguanaut.com/english_bulgarian.htm

How did you do guessing the Portuguese?

Olah is hello

Sim is yes, Não is no

Obrigadu - how to express your gratitude in Portuguese