Chapter 48 – Crescendo: The Night Before Christmas and A New Year

Summary: Severus loses a magical bet to Albus. The consequences? He's forced to take Argentine Tango lessons from Hermione during her summer break from University. An uneasy friendship is formed that turns into something more. What part does the Wolfsbane Potion play, and what is the mystery behind the Enchanted Leaf? Equal parts: humor, sensuality, adventure, and mystery. My answer to the Codpiece Challenge on WIKTT. HG/SS (Rating for later chapters)

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc., of the Harry Potter series are not mine; they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

Note: Since I started the story so long ago, it should probably now be considered AU and is not compliant with The Half-Blood Prince or Deathly Hallows.

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Dances with Witches

Chapter 48 – Crescendo: The Night Before Christmas and A New Year

Molly had the Burrow magically enlarged the summer after Bill and “Phlegm’s” wedding in anticipation of the brood of grandchildren that would fill her home. She still had high hopes for Harry and Ginny, both agreeing that raising a “Qudditch team” of their own might be fun. Harry, finally able to move past his lonely childhood, and Ginny, used to the turmoil and sense of belonging that growing up in a large family entailed, had often said they wanted to start a family as soon as the time was right. Even Ron held the potential of satisfying the need for grandchildren if he could find the right girl.

So it was no great surprise that Harry and Ginny chose Christmas brunch to announce their engagement. The only real surprise had been that they waited so long to do so (Ginny’s career, not withstanding).

“I suppose congratulations, as well as condolences, are in order?” Severus drawled softly. He stood stiffly, offering a brief nod in Harry’s direction as Harry came forward to greet him. Ron, tagging along side Harry, was the picture of unwelcome. Frowning, ready to engage Severus in a verbal attack, Ron was fairly certain the man wouldn’t kill him in his parents home, but Harry’s hand on his arm stayed any comments he might have made.

“I understand the congratulations, but condolences?” Harry was unable to contain his grin; it seemed his life was finally moving in the right direction; he was in love, and all was right with the world, as far as he was concerned; even the dour Potion’s master couldn’t shake his mood today. Though he did notice that Severus’ comment seemed to lack the usual bite it normally had when aimed at him making the remark seem more of a joke than an actual barb.

Severus displayed a wry smile of his own. “Condolences. To Miss Weasley.” He caught sight of Hermione smiling and laughing with Ginny. “You don’t disserve her, but I imagine she has decided to overlook that fact.”

Harry laughed, his drink spilling from the force of it. “You’re right, I’m sure I don’t deserve her. I still can’t believe she said yes.”

A flush spread across Ron’s face as his anger started to build. “It’s not like you brought down Voldemort or anything. Or my sister hasn’t fancied you for the last… how many years?” He knew Harry and Snape had reached some type of truce after Hermione’s fall, but he didn’t have to like the git. “What about Hermione?”

The sound of Ron’s raised voice echoed in the suddenly quiet room, as those in attendance gave up all pretense of not listening to the interchange between the two men and took an open interest in their conversation. All eyes turned to watch the two wizards face off.

“Come on, Ron, it’s a joke,” Harry commented good-naturedly.

Severus knocked back the remainder of his drink, watching Ron for any sudden movements. “What about Hermione?”

“Leave off, Harry. If you won’t deal with him, I will.” Pushing Harry away, Ron turned on Severus. “I don’t know what you did to get her to like you, but it’s not natural. I still think you slipped her a potion or something; you don’t have qualities a girl like her would go for. Do you really believe she deserves getting stuck with the likes of you? It’s not like you could ever deserve her!”

“Ron.” Harry sighed tiredly; they’d been over this ground numerous times. Ron still couldn’t believe Hermione had chosen Snape. He and Ginny had talked about it. Hermione was happy. If she was happy, who was he, or anyone else for that matter, to say what was right or what was wrong. The Potions Master may not have been his favorite person, but seeing his devotion to his friend after her accident, well, Harry had to respect the man for that, if nothing else.

Severus’ voice was low, devoid of it’s usual sarcasm, his black eyes glittering dangerously despite the tone of his voice. “You’re right, Weasley, I don’t deserve her, and I’m quite sure she knows it, even if she won’t admit it. But I am thankful for every day she decides to ignore that fact. Potter.” He nodded briskly to Harry as he turned toward the kitchen door. “I imagine the garden might offer a bit more solitude as the pests seem to have infested this room instead.”

“Ronald Weasley!” Molly’s yell in the quiet room carried more anger than any howler ever sent to Hogwarts. “Severus is a guest in our home. If you think…”

“How dare you? I…”

“What is your…”

“Ron…”

He could hear a calipee of voices behind him as he slipped out through the open doorway seeking sanctuary in the quiet afternoon air of the Burrows’ magical garden. He shook his head, not sure why he had even bothered to come. Social pariah had always been at the top of his skills list, time hadn’t changed that fact.

He’d felt her approach even before she spoke. “Thank God you never tried to spy on anyone during the war. You’re louder than a Hippogriff.”

“I didn’t know stealth was required.”

Severus turned and watched Hermione approach. “Didn’t you know? All those years of spying have left me with a hair trigger. As Minerva is so fond of saying, hex first, ask questions later.”

Hermione laughed and stepped closer.

Softly he rubbed her back as he contemplated the clouds rolling by. “Hermione, you didn’t need to check on me. I’m sure you haven’t finished listening to Miss Weasley’s tales of wedding frippery yet.”

“Ron is an idiot.”

Severus snorted at the sudden comment. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

Hermione studied his face. “Maybe I’m the one that doesn’t deserve you?”

“No, you don’t deserve me, you deserve much better, but you are stuck with me. In my wildest dreams, I would never have inflicted myself on you. I’m still not sure how ‘we’ came about, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let you go.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

Smiling, he chuckled quietly. “I know.”

“I suppose it’s just that everyone thought I would end up with Ron. Especially Ronald. Ever since our breakup sixth year, he was sure I would come around. All he had to do was bid his time. Really, I’m sure our breakup didn’t bother him all that much, if at all, especially if you look at the stream of witches that adorn his arm every time I see him.” Her eyes suddenly lit with a mischievous gleam. “Actually, I don’t think it’s so much that he and I are not together—it’s who I replaced him with that bothers him the most.”

“Are you saying I’m a replacement for Weasley?” His voice rose dramatically, amusement and revulsion warring with each other, as he appeared to contemplate her comment.

“And I would say the better wizard won.”

Potter. Weasley. Sometimes, it was all too much. Severus shook his head. He would never have imagined his estimation of Potter could change so much, but as he’d said before, times change. Point in fact; he never could have imagined Hermione with him. “Times change, people change.”

“For the better, I hope.”

Pulling her tightly against his side, he gently kissed the top of Hermione’s head. “Definitely for the better. I can’t remember the last time I had such a willing woman in my bed on such a regular basis.”

“Oh, thank you very much. That can change on a moment’s notice.” Hermione said with a smile. Severus’ warm laugh, a sound that she marveled at each time she heard it, warmed her heart. “And to think, if I wasn’t always around, you wouldn’t get to see so much of Harry or Ron.”

Severus snorted. “Potter has been tolerable; it’s Weasley that’s a bit hard to stomach.”

“Your staying with me in the hospital did seem to really count with Harry. He’s all the family each of us has these days. I’m sure Hell must have frozen over, since Harry seems to have a new respect for you, too.”

“Potter and I have one important thing in common that I would deign to agree upon—your welfare.”

Hermione looked around the magical garden. “This is nice. I remember Molly saying she wanted to enjoy the sunshine even in the winter.”

Severus nodded. “Arthur asked Flitwick about the charms needed to create a climate controlled open-air garden.” They stood silently for a moment and allowed the cool afternoon air to engulf them until Severus gestured toward the Burrow’s back door. “Go. Your friends will be wondering where you are.”

“What about you? You’re not coming back in?”

“I’ll come in a minute.”

“Severus…”

“Go. I just want to enjoy the quiet for a bit longer.” After a quick kiss, he watched her head back into the house. His mood had turned introspective, a condition that usually did not serve him well. He’d wondered before if their relationship could survive her friends’ scrutiny, regardless of Hermione’s unshakable belief that she knew her own mind and could not be swayed; there was still something to be said for peer pressure. Potter’s begrudging acceptance of him after Hermione’s accident had been a surprise and galled him to no end. One of his few pleasures in life had been despising the boy. And now? They would never be best ‘mates,’ but they wouldn’t hex each other on sight, either. He’d even found the young man tolerable in small amounts. It was enough. But Weasley…

“Severus? Are you all right.”

Severus sighed heavily. Some days it didn’t pay to leave his dungeons. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sure you are.”

“What do you want, Lupin?”

“I saw Hermione come back in alone.”

“I’m fine.”

Lupin gazed up at the sky, ignoring the man’s tone he said companionably, “Molly is still yelling at Ron.”

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Severus had taken up residence in corner of the main room, content to sit quietly and observe the other occupants as he waited for Hermione. At the moment she was helping Molly and Ginny in the kitchen with the desert. He’d managed not to hex anyone during lunch, he merely had to get through tea and dessert and he was home free.

True to her word, Senalda had shown up a few minutes ago, causing a flurry among the assembled. He was amused to see Senalda’s curt nod as she greeted Harry. While he felt it was prudent, from time to time, to remind the boy-who-still-lived that he was simply human, regardless of their ‘truce,’ it was interesting, if not rare, to see someone not fall all over him or herself when speaking with Harry Potter.

Harry stared questioningly at the witch, not sure why his very presence seemed to annoy her. “Excuse me. As far as I know, we don’t know each other. But have I inadvertently done or said something to offend you?” Harry’s quizzical stare gave the mystic pause.

“You remind me of your father. Same manner and tone as far as I can tell.” The witch’s gaze swept over him, her manner cool as she seemed to appraise him.

“You knew my father?”

“Briefly. He hexed me when I refused to sell him an Enchanted Leaf.”

Harry stared open mouth at the witch. “Why?”

“Why did I refuse to sell him the leaf, or why would he hex me?”

“Um, both questions really.”

“There had been reports of Death Eater attacks. He had hoped my grandfather’s magic would protect your mother.”

“And you didn’t sell him a leaf, yet you sold one to Snape?” Harry’s anger colored his tone, his eyes narrowing as he observed the witch. He and Severus might have reached a new understanding, but this was his parents she was talking about. “You left my parents to die?”

“I never did any such thing. Both my brother and I have been trained to read my grandfather’s magic. Your father’s request was for protection. That was never the leaf’s purpose. Besides, the connection it can create does not work as a defense amulet. It would not have helped either of them.” The witch shrugged elegantly, refusing to say more.

“And you knew this for a fact?”

“I saw it in the magic. The night before your father came into my shop, I had a vision. It foretold of events to come. I warned him of the dangers I saw, but he refused to listen to me, deciding that hexing me was a more prudent course of action than listening to what I had to say.”

Harry stared dumbly at the woman. Could what she was saying be true? “You could have saved them!”

“No, Mr Potter, I couldn’t. While I knew an attack was imminent, I did not know exactly when it would occur or by what means, only that they were in danger. I did try and warn your father. I even went up to Hogwarts and spoke with Headmaster Dumbledore, even after your father had hexed me for refusing to sell him a leaf. Sometimes fate has its own hand to play in these matters and disregards the needs and desires of the humans it manipulates.”

Harry paled, not knowing what to say.

“Harry? Are you all right?” Ginny’s voice seemed to break the spell he was under.

Senalda nodded at the young witch. “Ah, Miss Weasley, I understand congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you.” Ginny glanced between Harry and the witch. “Who are you?”

“Senalda Trelawney.”

“Oh, my god. You sold Professor Snape the leaf that saved Hermione’s life!”

“I’m fairly certain they saved each other, but yes, I was the one who sold the Professor the leaf.”

Senalda turned toward Harry, tipping her head questioningly as she seemed to reach a decision. “I believe I am remiss in not offering you my congratulations, Mr Potter. You appear to be your own person. When you are ready for your bands, I would be honored if you would consider my humble establishment for your needs.”

“Oh, I understand you have some unusual pieces.” Ginny’s eyes lit up as she thought about browsing through the treasures the shop held.

“No!” Harry grabbed Ginny’s hands. “No, uh, thank you. I, um, had some place else in mind.”

Senalda nodded knowingly as she turned to see Hermione waving her over. She thought her opinion of Harry Potter might need a bit revising, his ability to hold his temper a vast improvement over his father’s attitude. Still, one could never be too sure.

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It was a weary but happy witch and wizard that climbed into bed that night. Both were bone tired from lack of sleep. The success of the tests with Lupin the last three nights had gone better than expected. They would need time to gather further data and correlate the results before publishing their findings, but Severus was sure there wasn’t a master in Britain that wouldn’t be clamoring for Hermione as their apprentice once their findings were published. At least she would have real options if Master Ag Viridis didn’t work out.

Hermione smiled; the potion worked and two of her best friends were getting married. Life was good. The past Christmas’ at Hogwarts, especially after Voldemort’s return, had left little time for fun and relaxing. This year was different on so many levels, not the least of which was the dour man sliding soundlessly between the sheets next to her.

“I don’t know why the bloody fireplace doesn’t stay banked. It’s cold enough in here in August, never mind December. You can almost see icicles form on the ceiling.”

“Ack! You don’t cast a warming charm on your feet before getting in bed?” she shrieked.

Severus’ smile was mischievous. “Haven’t you ever heard the expression cold feet, warm heart?”

“Actually, I thought it was cold feet, bad circulation.”

“And you say I’m not romantic?” he asked teasingly, his brow raised for effect.

“How exactly is shocking my body with your cold feet romantic?”

With a glint in his dark eyes, he slid wordlessly below the covers, intent on showing her his method for warming her up. Before he could begin his mission, a loud banging at his chamber’s door interrupted the pair.

Magicking on a wrapper, Severus snarled as he went to answer the pounding at his door. “Whoever it is had better have made peace with his maker. There won’t be enough to fill a teaspoon when I get finished with them,” he snarled. His wand tucked firmly in its holster, he viciously turned the handle and threw open the door.

Only to be confronted with a squealing, happy witch.

“Oh, my God, Professor, I don’t know how we’ll ever thank you. Or Hermione!” The overjoyed witch awkwardly enclosed the stunned man in an enthusiastic hug. “Remus is more like himself than I’ve ever seen him. If you’ll pardon the expression, he’s over the moon! I’m going to name our son after you, or our daughter. We’ll name all of our children after you two—Severus Hermione Lupin, or Remus Severus Lupin, or Severus Remus Lupin. I’m so excited I can’t think!”

“Nymphadora?” Severus had barely managed to extract himself from the silly witch’s clutches when he heard Hermione behind him.

“Tonks?”

“Hermione!” she shrieked, rushing past the confused wizard to hug the witch. “I can’t thank you enough. Remus proposed, Hermione! He proposed! First Harry and Ginny, and now Remus and me. I told Severus we’re going to name our children after you, all of them. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

“You’re pregnant?” Severus’ brow furrowed in bewilderment.

“What? Pregnant? No,” she said with a laugh. “When we have kids. Hermione Severus Lupin if it’s a girl, or Severus Hermione Lupin if we have a boy. Without you two, Remus never would have agreed to get married. He’s been going on forever that it wasn’t fair to me to have to live with his condition. But he’s so happy with the new potion that he agreed to marry me.”

Severus raked a hand through his hair. Severus Remus Lupin, he shuddered at the thought. The only thing worse than Lupin naming a child after him, would be if Potter did so, too. Severus shook his head; that thought was just too ridiculous to contemplate.

Hermione cast an amused glance at Severus, who was still standing next to the open door looking bewildered. “Really, Tonks, I can’t tell you how happy I am for you and Remus, congratulations to you both, but you really shouldn’t name anyone after either of us; our names are not exactly the easiest to live with, and when you put them together…” Hermione suppressed a shudder at the thought of a child being stuck with both their names. “Really, it’s not necessary. You two just be happy. That will be thanks enough.”

“I can’t believe it. All this time, all this time he kept saying he loved me but he wouldn’t subject me to his problems. Can you imagine that? His ‘problems.’ But now…” The young woman’s hair raced through the shades of the rainbow as she hugged Hermione. “I just can’t believe it.”

“I’m so glad.” Gently, she steered Tonks towards the door. “I can’t wait to hear all about it. Tomorrow, at breakfast.”

“Oh, Professor!” Clumsily, she grabbed Severus and hugged the embarrassed man again. “Thank you.” As quickly as she’d come, Hurricane Tonks was gone.

He nodded as he closed the door behind the happy witch; looking quizzically at Hermione he asked, “Tonks and Lupin?”

“You’ve never noticed the two of them together? Looking longingly at each other during Order meetings? Sneaking off when we’d gather in the kitchen at Grimmauld Place? Really, and everyone says I’m clueless. Come back to bed; it’s late. And if I remember right, you were just about to show me how you planned to warm me up. Unless you’re too tired?”

Shaking his head Severus looked back at his chamber door, before turning to follow Hermione. “Tonks and Lupin. Severus Hermione Lupin?” A sudden chill seemed to run through the dark man. “They ruddy well better not name even so much as an owl after me. Severus Hermione Lupin? Who would name their child Severus Hermione Lupin? What if they start with old Severus and young Severus, or God forbid, big Severus and little Severus?” He closed his eyes; the thought of his name linked with Lupin’s was too painful to contemplate.

“Oh, Severus…”

Through the open doorway he could see Hermione stretched out naked upon the bed calling to him, her planner open on the nightstand. They’d managed quite a few locations and positions she’d listed. Ever one for experimentation, he was more than happy to accommodate his witch and explore the list she had so thoughtfully compiled. This holiday had proved to be most enjoyable, allowing them private time they so rarely got during the school year.

I thought I heard the witch mention something about position 23. Why don’t you and Little Severus have a go at her? Asked the annoying voice in his head.

He smirked inwardly at the comment. I believe that would be ‘Big’ Severus’ job, he told the annoying voice just before silencing it and moved off to join Hermione.

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Hermione cast an appraising eye at the tree she was trimming. Severus had explained that the holidays were merely another day to him. He hadn’t celebrated Christmas since he was a child, but if she wished to have a tree for them to ‘share,’ he had no objection as long as she was in charge of procuring, decorating, and disposing of said tree.

“Ginny said they’re planning a spring wedding. She doesn’t want a long engagement.”

Severus looked up from his grading. “Are you to stand for her?”

Hermione nodded, adding more tinsel. “She wants to get together next week to look at robes.”

“And for Potter? Is Weasley standing for him?”

“They are best mates.” Hermione eyed the still wizard. “Is that a problem?”

“No, not unless you suddenly lose your mind and make it a double ceremony.”

“Well, considering the bond we share, I’m sure everyone expects us to get married.”

“You have always been free to choose another man.”

“And you would let me go? Just like that.”

“I told you once I would fight for you. I meant what I said. But I want you to be happy.” Severus slid the stack of essays to the side, his bottle of red ink refilling automatically as he replaced the cap. “If there is someone else that makes you happier, by all means, go to him. I’ll be there to comfort you if he should meet a sudden untimely end.”

Amused with his nonchalant attitude, one brow rose questioningly. “Untimely?”

Severus shrugged. “Life is full of danger. One never knows what is around the next corner.”

Hermione abandoned her decorations to stand in front of Severus. “Then I suppose, if only to spare some innocent life, I should just stay here with you.”

“It might be wise.”

Effortlessly, Hermione slid into his lap, gently combing her fingers through the fine hair at his temple. “I am known as the smartest witch of my generation for a reason.”

“Indeed…”

Whatever else Severus might have said was lost as Hermione’s lips claimed his.

It was several minutes before Severus broke the kiss. Snogging his witch had proved to be most enjoyable and ordinarily lead to other, equally enjoyable, activities, but the fact was his heart raced anytime he thought of the words marriage and Hermione together in the same sentence.

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New Year’s snuck up on them as they spent the week in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve alternately working on their notes for the revised Wolfsbane, reading, and making love. Severus marveled at the ease of their time together. The school year had left him wanting, their time too short during the week and severely infringed up during the weekends by other responsibilities. They’d been invited back to the Burrow to ring in the New Year with the Weasleys but politely declined, having previously decided to bring in the New Year privately.

Severus found he couldn’t get enough of his witch, and all too soon she would be returning to Cambridge. He had every intention of making New Year’s memorable. His seduction planned, he listened with half an ear as Hermione detailed new plans for Ginny and Harry’s wedding the following June as they sat down to a private dinner in his quarters.

The evening had gone as planned: a romantic dinner, champagne in front of the fire, a sensuous massage with oils he had personally created, and an evening of making love while reinforcing their bond. She would be leaving all too soon; he wanted her to remember how much he cared. Now all he had to do was work out the timing and the evening would be perfect.

One minute to midnight:

“Mine,” he said between measured pants.

“Always,” she agreed, drawing a strangled groan from the dour man as she tightened and released her inner muscles.

“Tease. Stop that. I have plans for you.” And while the command may have sounded harsh, his soft tone and straining muscles belied the pleasure he derived from her movements.

“Mine,” she whispered.

“Until the end of time,” he growled, his mouth claiming hers in a searing kiss, sealing their pledge.

The clock struck, its chimes counting out the hour, Severus felt the knot at the base of his spine explode; he thrust rapidly, unable to hold back any longer. His seed spilled forth, pushing Hermione over the edge. As the final chime sounded, the pair in the bed felt a distinct surge of magic caress their skin. Hermione’s leaf glowed brightly for a few seconds before fading in the candlelight, a result of renewing their pledge to one another.

Severus brushed his lips across Hermione before gently kissing her. “Happy New Year, witch. From that surge of magic, it would seem we’ve reinforced our bond. You may consider yourself claimed.”

Hermione smiled, one hand reaching up to run her fingers through Severus’ hair. “As are you. I’ve always thought New Year’s was a magical time. This just proves it.”

“It would seem we brought the New Year in with a bang. Perhaps this should be a yearly tradition,” he said with a quiet chuckle.

“A bang? Damn it, you and your massages … You made me forget to set the charm.” Swearing, Hermione grabbed her wand off the nightstand.

“Hermione?”

“Hang on.” A quick swish and flick of her wand accompanied by a mumbled spell, one that a confused Severus could only make out the words ‘count’ and ‘bang’ as she chanted it. One final swish of her wand, and a spectacular light show appeared over their bed.

“What…”

“Just watch. I wanted to surprise you. This was supposed to start at ten seconds to midnight. I had a timer charmed into it and everything, but the massage felt so good, and then you started kissing me, and we … well, I guess I forgot.”

Muggle spotlights played across the ceiling, the beams merging in the center before slithering off to the sides and back again. Severus could hear voices chanting some type of countdown.

“10… 9… 8…”

“Just wait.”

“3… 2… 1… 0!”

Severus watched as a miniature fireworks display played across the ceiling. Each Hogwarts houses was represented: four separate blasts displayed the house crests, the house mascots briefly coming to life before melding to form the school crest and then “blowing up” as a fire-breathing dragon emerged from the center of the flames, it’s exhale of fire a twirl of colors that was breath taking. The school motto, "Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus," appeared below the dragon until both images burst forth into sparks of light before dimming slightly in deference to the grand finale. But the grand finale was not to be outdone. The outline of a potions jar with two realistic hearts inside, the label at the bottom reading “HG + SS,” appeared for just a few seconds before bursting into flames and merging with the final display.

Speechless, Severus looked from the ceiling, now void of light, and then at Hermione.

“So, maybe the realistic hearts were a bit too much?”

Shaking his head, Severus looked dumbfounded at the witch before falling back laughing. The more he tried to answer her, the harder he laughed as he thought of the display.

Hermione smiled, pleased by the mere fact that he could laugh so openly, that he let his guard down so fully in her presence, understanding that it spoke volumes about their relationship and his feelings toward her. She loved the sound of his warm laughter, glad that she was the cause of it. “This was supposed to count down the New Year for us, but I sort of got distracted.”

“Hermione.” Severus coughed, trying to bring himself under control. “Hermione, that was amazing! Where did you learn that?”

“It’s a new variant to the skywriting charm. The hardest part was formatting and timing the school mascots. The first few times I tried it, they all appeared at the same time when I released the charm. They looked like they were attacking each other. Not what I’d planned, but the fireworks display was still pretty.”

Severus pulled the pleased witch to him. “And I especially liked the realistic hearts. Reminds me of the jars in my office. Hearts should always be realistic. You are amazing, truly exceptional.”

It was a New Year’s he would remember for years to come.

TBC

A/N: A grateful thank you to Shug for her support, her time, her general enthusiasm for Dances, and for beta’ing the chapters for me. I truly appreciate your help.

Still to come: Valentines, Master Viridis, testing at Easter, the school year, a wedding, the future, and the finale.

-Pearle