Halloween Mix-Up

I was going through the reviews, because I noticed that I had over 30 reviews and just had to see what everyone was saying. I wanted to thank all of you for your thoughts and comments. It\'s so good to see that people are really enjoying my story.



One person asked me if the story about Aphrodite was true. No, it is not. At least, not to my knowledge. I am an avid Ancient Greek God studier. I take the gods very seriously. And I made up that story. However, Aphrodite is, like the many of the other gods, prone to be a bit chaotic. I suppose she gets bored being immortal and does things to amuse herself. So, while my little story about the girl is not true, it could be plausible.



There is also no such book as an Aphrodite fairytale book, unless you wish to count Disney princesses... These are things I placed in "existence" for the story.



For those who are interested, I have another story, a Draco/Hermione fic posted on Fanfiction.net. It\'s called Heart and Soul and it is completed. I didn\'t post it on here because I just... didn\'t. I go by the same pen name on FF.net, so you can look me, or my story up if you wish. Just a head\'s up.



Now, on with the story.







Halloween Mix-Up

by: Tassana Burrfoot









Chapter Ten: Detention Again







Hermione glanced down the hallway. She was nervous and suddenly shy. Her stomach was doing flip flops and somersaults and didn\'t know what was up or down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You can do this," she told herself as she took a tentative step forward.



Very slowly, she made her way to his office. She knew what was going to happen. In fact, she had spent the past two hours preparing herself for it. Her hair, though still quite bushy, wasn\'t as crazy. Her skin was freshly scrubbed and smelled of roses and vanilla. She wore a light green baby doll blouse and a pair of light blue jeans. They weren\'t exactly "uniform", but somehow she didn\'t think that would matter to him tonight.



She felt uncomfortable in her undergarments as well. She had donned a lime green silk bra with hardly any support and matching silk bikini bottoms. She felt naked underneath.



Nervously, she knocked on the office door. "You may enter," his booming voice beckoned.



With a final deep breath, Hermione held her chin up, opened the door, and strolled inside. She found him sitting behind his desk, grading papers. Apparently, he wasn\'t the least bit interested in her garments.



"Have a seat, Miss Granger," he ordered, not looking up.



She did as she was asked and looked around her. The office was pristine and orderly. The green and silver chairs agreed perfectly with the dark wood furnishings. The three walls were lined with bottles and potions of all kinds, shapes, and sizes. The wall directly behind him was lined from top to bottom with books. She nodded appreciatively at the room.



On his desk was a small desktop clock. It chimed away the 6th hour of the evening. Snape placed his quill into it\'s holder and capped his ink. He carefully tidied the paperwork before placing it in a file cabinet, probably for later perusal.



Once he was finished tidying up, he finally looked up at her. He frowned slightly. "You aren\'t wearing that to serve your detention, I hope?" he stated, it really wasn\'t a question.



Confused, she glanced down at her shirt and jeans. "Is there something wrong with what I\'m wearing?" she asked. "I thought we were going to..."



"I wish to eat first, Miss Granger," he interrupted her, as though he was able to guess what she was going to say.



This surprised her. She felt herself inclined to inquire, "But, sir, you said we were going to skip dinner..."



He tilted his head to the side slightly. "When did I ever say that?"



"I... you didn\'t," she stated, stopping herself when she realized he had not, in fact, mentioned missing dinner. That had been Harry.



"Miss Granger, I have no intention on missing a meal," he informed her as he walked around his desk to stand in front of her. "I have been given permission from Dumbledore to dine outside of Hogwarts tonight, and I wish you to accompany me."



Was he asking her out? She stared wide-eyed at him. "I don\'t think..."



"I\'m not asking you to think, Miss Granger," he said. "I\'ve all ready spoken with Dumbledore on the matter. You need not fear reprimand. There is this little restaurant that has recently opened. I wish to try it out. Since you are obviously feeling a bit... adventurous, I don\'t see why we can\'t go."



That was a comment towards her garments. He obviously did not approve of them. She blushed, "I have nothing to wear."



"Do you, or do you not, learn Transfiguration, Miss Granger?" he inquired.



Her eyes widened as it dawned on her. Of course! She could just change the clothes to suit their needs! She jumped up from her chair and ran to his only mirror in the room. Thankfully, it was a full sized, free standing mirror.



Taking out her wand, she made some much needed adjustments to her clothes. Instead of a green baby doll tee with jeans, she now wore a light green flare dress with a V-neck and light blue lining.



She turned to glance at Snape. "Better?" she asked, with a smile.



He raised an eyebrow and nodded once. "Now, let\'s not waste any more of this evening. I am hungry and wish to eat before it gets too late," he informed her, holding out his hand to her.



Now Hermione really was nervous. She was going to dinner with her professor. She was to dine with her teacher. They were going on a date.



She quietly counted to three and she placed her hand into his. This evening would be, in a word, awkward.





(II) (II)





"Personally, I like the idea of the Seven Ages of Man, myself. It makes the theory of evolution more plausible, in my opinion," Hermione stated as she took another bite of her steak.



Snape lifted his shoulders ever so slightly in what Hermione had come to know as his shrug. "I\'m surprised you don\'t find more comfort with the religious teachings of the Catholic faith," he told her as he cut through his green beans.



She smiled. "I think, were it not for magic, I would have been a woman of science. All religion, in the grander scheme of things, is just myth. Intriguing stories passed on from generation to generation to explain the points of being. I believe that eventually, science will be able to explain it all," she replied.



"Really?" he questioned. He took a moment to chew his food and swallow before continuing, "Tell me, Miss Granger, how do you think science will explain magic? By now, you should know that magic cannot be supported by scientific theory or hypothesis. Just like the infamous Jesus Christ, wizards and witches really can walk on water and heal the injured with a touch. We turn water to wine with great ease and can destroy an entire building with a simple spell."



"Are you saying we are like gods?" she asked.



He shook his head. "No. I am saying we should thank the gods," he confirmed. "Science or magic, we are gifted, talented individuals who can literally find far more ways to skin a cat then we wish to admit."



She laughed at that and nodded her head in agreement. "Fair enough. Let\'s say your theory is true. That there really are gods or angels or what have you out there..."



"I believe you have already confirmed their existence, Miss Granger," he pointed out.



This stopped her and she looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"



"This spell," he obliged.



She begged to disagree. "The spell does not prove the existence of gods. It\'s just a spell, like every other spell there has ever been. It\'s just a crafty, cunning spell hidden within a very well written book."



"You still do not believe?"



She shrugged. "I believe certain things, like the Seven Ages of Man, evolution, scientific theory, and magic. But, whether there is a god or not is still up for debate."



He nodded slowly. "While I cannot say I disagree with you, this discovery is rather intriguing," he told her. "I would have pegged you for a Christian or some such."



Again, she shrugged. "My parents go to church every once in a while, but they practice freedom of thought. They prefer for me to come to my own conclusions on life and the journey thereafter. They say it\'s a path I must choose for myself, when I find myself."



He pinched his lips together. "I almost forgot how young you were," he muttered, unhappily. "In many ways, you are much older then your years. And yet, you are still very much a child in the ways of the world."



"Are you disappointed?"



He shook his head. "No more than I should be," he answered honestly. "This evening has been entertaining, your company delightful. It is not your fault you are naive. I do believe your naivety will start to fall much sooner than you had hoped."



"What do you mean?"



His dark eyes sparked suddenly with the lust she knew he had been feeling for the past few days. "I know I am not the only male who has been touched by you, Miss Granger," he replied. "And I\'m sure you will touch many more before the end of this time frame. Regardless of how careful you and Mr. Malfoy attempt to be, accidents happen. Mr. Finnigan is a prime example of it. I just hope you do not keep him waiting as long as you\'ve kept me."



"Actually, Professor, I had thought this night would end with us being together," she told him truthfully.



He nodded. "Trust me, it will. Though, I believe we must set a few ground rules. I cannot afford for this to get around the school. Therefore, you must keep what we do private, between us. I do not even wish Mr. Malfoy to know. While Dumbledore has offered me clemency, somehow I do not think the other teachers or the school governors will. I have no desire to start looking for another job," he revealed.



She nodded in understanding. "Your secret is safe with me, Professor. Though my friends may be... morons, I respect you. Always have. You are a very intelligent man who has much to offer the world. I would not wish you to lose your job because of me," she stated.



He flashed her another rare smile. "I appreciate that, Miss Granger. Now, would you care to retire to my chambers for a nightcap before returning to your dormitory?"



She returned his smile with one of a vixen. "Of course, Professor. I would love to have a \'nightcap.\'"



She was even more pleased that he obviously understood the implication. He paid their bill and the two walked back to the castle, completely engaged with one another\'s conversation.