an unlikely match...

\"Austere?\"

Hermione looked to her fiancée in shock, her dark brown eyes wide as she surveyed his frame in the doorway, looming over her. She tremored at the
look of fierce possessiveness in his somber eyes.

\"Luv.\" he said between clenched teeth, \"How odd to find you here, with Severus in his room...in your wedding dress.\"

Hermione looked guilty as sin, but Snape behind her stepped forward a bit with a solemn look of grief on his pale face. He saw Hermione\'s dipped head, and he knew she was frightened. He stepped forward, the gallant gentlemen
the rae rarely was.

\"She came to me for advice.\"

Austere broke the glare from Hermione to look at Snape in confusion, \"What?\"

\"She asked me about her wedding gown.\"

Austere looked to the silent Hermione in question. \"Is this true?\"

Hermione felt panic flood her, how in God\'s name was she supposed to deal with that? Think Hermione think...you\'re not done for yet.

\"Yes well...\" She faltered, and then a light went on in her eyes. \"And as you know your brother is never one to curb his comments, even though they may be crass.\" She knew Austere was waiting for her to get to a point.

\"So I decided he\'d be the perfect person to ask about the train on my dress. I knew he wouldn\'t hold back the criticism.\"

\"Why not ask Ginny?\"

He was testing her, and this irked Hermione quite a bit, although she knew she deserved it for sneaking around on him. She had surely kissed Snape, knowing that she was engaged to Austere. She couldn\'t prove Austere\'s alleged affair, and she wouldn\'t push it. If he truly didn\'t care about her would he be here?

\"I wanted a man\'s opinion, and you\'ve been so busy.\" Hermione answered flatly, \"And well I couldn\'t find Harry, Ron or Ginny for that matter.\"

Austere nodded, \"I just saw Harry and Ginny in the hall. They\'ve gone up to
bed.\"

\"Well,\" Hermione said, taking this as her cue. \"I believe I\'ll do the same.\"

Austere looked at the long fabric around her as she bunched it up and gave a small nod, obviously this was a good enough reason for him to stand. \"I see. It\'s just strange, as I didn\'t believe you two could stand each other.\"

\"We weren\'t drinking tea and socializing,\" Austere said in the familiar cold manner in which he treated everyone worthless to him. \"She was asking an opinion. That was all. Now if you don-\"

\"So, you\'re not worried about the wedding?\" Austere asked Hermione gently, her dark eyes searching his before she shook her head. He gave a relieved smile and held her hand a moment, \"I\'ve been so busy lately, I was worried you\'d want to back out of the whole thing.\"

Hermione looked to the rugged face of her soon to be husband and gave a genuine smile, he wouldn\'t forsake her as his brother had. He appreciated
her. He loved her. He wouldn\'t be so fickle as to dismiss her love over nothing. She had made the right choice.

\"Never.\"

He smiled at her answer and drew her to him, Hene fne felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she realized Snape was watching them darkly. She could feel his eyes on them. She tried to pull from Austere so that they could continue in the bedroom but he quickly dipped his head and pressed his lips against her own.

She was blushing and trying to push him off gracefully, but his tongue soon swam into her mouth and as she pulled back he deepened the kiss. Soon though when Hermione didn\'t believe she could take anymore supervised kissing Austere broke off and smiled at her serenely.

\"I love you.\"

Hermione went rigid, her mind whirling as she felt Snape\'s eyes on her back. Austere was waiting for her response.

\"I think your brother wants to get some sleep Austere. Let\'s leave.\"

His face fell a moment before he nodded, \"Ah yes.\" Austere nodded looking over at the bitter Severus, \"Do get a good night\'s sleep Cinderella. Tomorrow you attend the ball.\"

Snape scowled, Ah yes, the ball. The stupid, traditional wedding ball Mother just HAD to put on. Family. Dancing. Fun...All of them there to see Aue ane and his Hermione...no, not his anymore. He had blown that.

Suddenly Austere gave Snape a small, knowing wink before Snape slammed the door in his face. To any outsider the wink would look harmless, a mere playful gesture. But Snape knew what it truly was; a wink that clearly
warned him to stay away from Hermione.

Not that he would.

* * *

\"Goodmorning luv.\"

Hermione opened her eyes a bit, the new sun glaring into them as she viewed the outline of Austere. She grinned in reply, kissing his nearby hand in welcome. He smirked and kissed her cheek tenderly before rolling off the
bed.

They had come back to Hermione\'s room last night and held each other all night, whispering how much they loved one another. It was funny, the more she looked into his eyes, the more she fell in love with him. It was as if she had been thirsty all her life and Austere was that refreshing drink at
the end of it all. Filling her.

He swept over to the chair that held his shirt and pulled it on, looking to Hermione a moment. \"I\'ve got to dash.\" He motioned to the door, \"Don\'t want Mum to catch me. She\'d have both our heads.\"

Hermione nodded, she had been delighted to see that Austere had stayed all night, risking his Mother the warden. He blew her a small kiss and quietly made his way out the door, leaving Hermione still smiling wistfully in her
bed.

Soon though her smile turned into a small frown, she was still unsettled. Everything with Snape yesterday...all through the night dreams had overtaken her. No, memories. Obviously in reliving those past memories, all her other lost ones were coming back.

She had dreamt of she and Snape conversing together about anything and everything in the wee hours of the morning... him telling her to clean up her parchment from his floor as she so often did her homework in his chambers before their arguing led them straight into the bedroom, tearing
at each other\'s clothes as they frantically kissed. So that was indescribable passion. She had seen them making love, (God there had been tons of those ones...she only
hoped she hadn\'t been screaming in her sleep.) She saw so much.

She even saw the engagement; it had been lovely. Snape had snuck into her HeadGirl room late one night, told her to get dressed and snuck them onto the lake beside Hogwarts, under the confines of an Invisibility cloak. The moon was shining overhead and casting a bit of light over them both. Hermione had been wondering what he was thinking,
and had deducted that Snape had called her out for some late night shagging. When he had sat them both down on a large rock she had been then convinced he just wanted to talk. And when he had gotten down on one knee before her
and claimed his love for her and asked for her hand in marriage, she had been sure she was dreaming. She had of course jumped into his arms, sending him almost backwards as she covered him in kisses taking breaths to say,
\"Yes. Of course. I love you.\"

Now she felt hollow, as if that were the last time she would ever be able to
relive such happiness and a stray tear fell down her cheek before she
brushed it away. Would do no good to dwell on such things when she knew how
it turned out. It was like watching a movie you thought was a romance that
ended with one of the main characters dying. Tragic.

She quickly rolled out of bed then, a new thought in her mind as she padded
to the bathroom, going about her usual routine. When she emerged from the
bathroom - castinnon-non-frizzing and drying spell - she had pulled on her
clothing, and magically made her bed.

Then with a little smile on her face she headed out the door and to Harry
and Ginny\'s.

* * *

\"Hermione?\" Harry opened the door, allowing her to walk in. Hermione gave a
small kiss on his cheek and she noticed the pajama clad pair and grinned,
\"You two are still in your pajama\'s? It\'s nearly noon.\"

Harry shrugged, and Ginny at the small table just looked confused as he
finally spoke. \"I know, we were both just so tired we slept forever. Don\'t
remember what we were doing last night.\"

\"Austere said he saw you last night.\" offered Hermione, and then she glanced
at Harry with a wry grin as she took a seat at the table with Harry and
Ginny. \"Perhaps too much fun at his bachelor party Harry? Is that why you can\'t remember anything?\"

Harry grinned but shook his head, preceded to get his ebony hair into his
eyes as Ginny tsked and smoothed it, much to the irritation of the
embarrassed Harry. \"Didn\'t Austere tell you? He cancelled the bachelor party.
Said it was disrespectful to you.\"

Hermione felt a small blush creep onto her face, \"Really? He did it for me?\"

Hermione felt her heart soaring, Austere had gone and cancelled the whole
affair of ogling half-naked women, drinking beer and having one last shot
at recklessness before marriage. How selfless. How could she have ever
thought he would cheat on her?

They chatted a bit more, and strangely neither Ginny nor Harry brought up
that they were opposed the marriage anymore. Perhaps they finally understood
that Hermione was deeply committed, and indeed in love with Austere.
Suddenly Harry piped up with a question not expected at all.

\"Hermione? I know this is strange, but have you seen our wands?\"

\"Your wands?\"

\"Yeah,\" Harry piped up, \"We haven\'t had them a few days now. Went missing.\"

Hermione shook her head, then stopped and gave a mighty sigh at the
bewildered couple. \"Charlotte probably had them refinished. You know,
polished and such. She did the same with mine a few days ago. Never tells
anyone...are they still missing?\"

Harry and Ginny nodded, and Hermione promised them she\'d talk to the maid
later on, although the thought did nothing but unsettle her. No matter.

\"Where\'s Ron?\"

\"He\'s out with some of his fan girls.\" Harry offered with a shrug and a smirk
as Ginny rolled her eyes emphatically. \"The man is out all the time. Horny
bugger.\"

\"Honestly Harry.\" Ginny said with a small grimace. Thoughts of her brother\'s
raging libido did nothing to stop the queasy-ness in her stomach. Hermione
smirked at the thought of millions of screaming women rushing after Ron as
he ran away, them tearing at his clothes and begging him to take them.

Harry suddenly stood, stretching and telling them he needed a shower. Ginny
watched him leave, probably wondering if she should join him. Seeing her
small chance to intervene Hermione suddenly spoke.

\"Ginny, get dressed.\"

Ginny looked over a bit surprised, \"Whatever for?\"

Hermione suddenly gave a small grin that in Ginny\'s opinion was far too Professor Snape-like.

\"My bachelorette party.\"
* * *

\"Since when does a bachelorette party happen in the middle of the afternoon and entail the bride buying the maid of honor a dress for some snobby ball?\"

Hermione knew that Ginny and Harry didn\'t have much money, Harry refused to be a media whore, and in turn had been shelved after the defeat of Voldemort, and he couldn\'t have been happier. They lived in their own pleasant little home, and loved it dearly. Although Hermione knew that Ginny longed for some nice things to have.

And so they had come to Hogsmeade, giggling carrying on as if they were in school again. Looking at the familiar stores and catching up on all that had been missing for so long. Things were finally good.

Hermione smirked and looked at Ginny in the unflattering lavender dress as the girl slouched before her. She gave a sigh and then a short shake of the head and Ginny nodded, disappearing behind the curtain to change into another gown for Hermione to judge. They\'d been there several hours. Hermione spoke to her through it as she changed.

\"I thought bachelorette parties were supposed to be what the bride wanted.\" Hermione argued good-naturedly, \"And I want to buy my friend a dress and go out to lunch is that so much to ask?\"

\"Suppose not.\" there was a bit of shuffling, \"Okay, this is one a definite \'no\'.\"

\"Come out.\" Hermione said, trying to persuade her friend, \"Give it a chance, I want to see it.\"

\"It\'s the black one.\"

\"So?\"

\"Well...it\'s a bit, revealing.\"

Hermione rolled her eyes, \"I doubt they\'d sell anything too scandalous
here.\" she reasoned, looking at the older, frumpy looking witches all
shopping for ball gowns. They were all miserly looking, and she doubted they were purchasing dresses that would shock. A witch with a missing eye gave Hermione a glare and she winced.

Ginny suddenly stepped out from behind the curtain then, blushing and trying to cover herself up as Hermione gasped in approval. \"Oh Ginny...Harry\'ll love it!\"

\"I dunno.\" Ginny looked down at her minimally exposed cleavage, \"Are your sure it\'s acceptable?\"

Ginny looked fabulous in a long, thin strapped dress that went into soft ruffles near the end. It was dipped a bit in the front, but nothing too revealing, just classy. Hermione nodded emphatically, looking to the witch who owned the store.

\"We\'ll take it!\"

- - -

\"Remember when George and Fred set off dungbombs in Filch\'s office?\" Ginny\'s eyes were teary from laughter, \"It reeked for a g-good week.\"

Hermione and Ginny had been in a small eatery in Hogsmeade for a few
minutes, having just ordered and were now reminiscing about things past.

Hermione nodded, her eyes squeezed shut as she reminisced laughing. \"Remember when Harry and you snuck down by the forbidden forest for your three month anniversary?\" Hermione chortled through her glass, almost choking as she laughed. \"A-And McGonagall and Dumbledore caught you, snogging and carrying on?\"

\"Yeah,\" Ginny smirked, giggling a bit before rolling her eyes, \"Draco was such a tattletale.\"

Hermione nodded, \"I know. What a bloody pansy.\"

\"I can\'t believe he and Crabbe got together.\"

\"I can.\"

The two girls erupted into a sporadic peal of giggling, hitting the table and shaking with laughter. The few patrons looked over to the young women and shook their heads, assuming they had just been let out of St. Mungo\'s.

Soon food was in front of them and their giggles dimmed, replaced now with small talk and eating. Moments later Ginny was first to speak, quite a surprise considering she was out with Hermione Granger.

\"When are we going to buy your dress?\" Ginny asked through a mouthful of salad, the dress\' box sitting right beside her, she was practically guarding it. Hermione shrugged, downing her pumpkin juice and looking wistful.

\"I already have mine.\"

\"If its anything like mine, you\'ll have men lining up for you to dance.\"

Hermione rolled her eye giggling, \"It\'s nothing really special, just elegant enough to please Lady Snape and sexy enough to have Severus drooling...\"

\"Austere.\"

\"Sorry?\"

\"You mean, Austere.\"

\"That\'s what I said,\" Hermione went on blushing and nearly choking on her drink. \"It\'ll have Austere drooling.\"

Ginny nodded, looking bewildered a moment as she went back to her salad, not quite believing the blushing girl in front of her, looking out the diner window and biting her lower lip.

* * *

\"C\'mon Hermione.\" Austere was standing outside his fiancée’s room, continually glancing at his watch as he stood outside. Severus had passed moments earlier, sneering at him. Which only meant thing; they were late.

He had been waiting for a good ten minutes, the guests were already assembled in the Ballroom, waiting for Austere and his fiancee to arrive.
Lady Snape at present was looking around the Ballroom for her other son and
Hermione, a bit worried.
\"I\'m coming I\'m coming.\"

Hermione opened the door slowly and smiled softly at Austere who leaned
against the doorframe boredly when she stepped out. She looked breathtaking in her soft creamy ball gown. It had thin straps, a flattering bodice and
went into a flattering empire waist gown.

Her dark hair was in an elegant twist at the nape of her neck, and her
makeup was minimal but lovely. She had decided to keep the light color
motif, and she waited for Austere to say something about her appearance.
Instead he nodded, grasping her hand and they began walking to the Ballroom.

She had spent a good hour and a bit getting ready for him, wanting to make a
good impression on all of Austere\'s family, they were going to be her family
soon. But he didn\'t seem to notice, his dark eyes staring intently in front
of him as they walked along.

\"We\'re late.\" he mumbled miserably as he towed her along with her, not
caring that it was hard for her to do in heels. Hermione offered a
breathless \'sorry\' before they were in front of the ballroom, and Hermione\'s
heart was pounding.

She wasn\'t sure she wanted to see Severus, after this afternoon\'s slip up,
(which Ginny remarked about one more before giving Hermione a severe glance
and telling her she\'d see her at the ball.) It was all so phony. The whole
affair. A ball...for God\'s sake, they\'d be having another one after the
wedding tomorrow.

\"Okay Hermione.\" Austere said nervously patting her hand absently as she
clutched his arm. \"This is all my family in here. Don\'t do anything stupid.

\"Oh because that was the plan Austere.\"

\"Hermione, I\'m serious.\"

Hermione glared at him offended, \"Oh of course.\" she drawled sarcastically, \"I suppose I\'ll just put away the karaoke machine in my back pocket, and
leave the dung bombs out here.\"

He gave her a small apologetic smile and nodded, understanding he sounded like a prick. They were ready. She plastered a large smile on her face as the doors opened and she and Austere were swallowed up in a sea of people.

All around her she heard voices, talking to her and Austere who seemed to be taking it all well in stride.

\"She\'s lovely Austere!\"

\"Hermione, darling, where\'d you two meet?\"

\"You\'re a witch dear?\"

\"Are your parents Muggle dentists? My fourth husband was a Muggle..\"

\"What\'s your profession?\"

The world was spinning as she tried to answer questions, soon pelted with even more from all sides, from unfamiliar faces and voices and smells and sights. She saw so many people, in robes and muggle gowns, everyone looking
utterly fancy.

\"Austere, you charmer!\"

\"Was Severus really your old Professor?\"

\"I\'m Uncle Tony, please to meet you Harriet.\"

\"Such lovely hair. How do you manage it?\"

\"Excited about the wedding?\"

After a good hour of answering stupid questions from even stupider people Hermione was dragged away by an elegant looking Ginny. Hermione shot her a grateful look as they made their way over to a small table, Austere still braving the crowd behind them.

\"Wow...I\'ve never seen so many...people.\"

Hermione nodded, gulping down a small thing of butter beer before fanning herself and looking round the room. Everyone was chatting with someone, looking as it they were at a bit get together where the Queen would be
stopping by.

\"Mum and Dad said they\'d be by.\" Hermione said sadly to Ginny as she looked around the room dismally, \"I guess they\'ll only be able to make it tomorrow to the ceremony.\"

\"They\'re always so busy.\"

Hermione conceded, \"I suppose.\"

Suddenly Harry appeared at their sides, staring at Ginny openly as he handed her her drink. Ginny sipped it and then flushed as Harry asked her to dance a moment later, mouthing the words \'thank you\' to Hermione as Harry dragged her to the dance floor.

Hermione nodded and then sighed relieved, glad to have some personal space and time to think. She got another butter beer and looked to the decorations
around the ballroom. She hadn\'t been able to before.

It was a huge room, resplendent with every decadent ornament known to man and wizard alike. Lights floated near the top of the Ballroom, the darkened windows covered in sheer clothes, the walls a creamy white and decorated on
occasion with rich, pastel artwork. How Snape could have grown up to be the way he was, was beyond her.

There was a large buffet table, and many champagne glasses being served all around by...Charlotte. God did the woman do anything else? Hermione noticed
that she was flirting openly with all the males she came into contact with and Hermione had to will away the thoughts of Austere and Charlotte. There were so many people, she saw Lady Snape, Austere, Ginny, was that Neville?, Ah there was Ron flirting as usual, Harry was getting drinks again but where
was...

\"Good evening.\"

Hermione slowly looked to her left and into Snape\'s dark eyes as he stood beside her chair, hips lips in a thin line and his arms crossed in front of him as he looked boredly around the room, trying to be casual.

Hermione nodded, \"Good evening.\" She was in a trance, Snape had decided to doff the traditional robe he usual wore and gone for a more ornate black
one, this one with exquisite cuffs and a higher white collar. He looked really quite desirable.

His cologne was drifting towards her...she remembered it had been her favorite. It was at that moment she saw he was waiting to be offered a seat and she clumsily pointed to the one across from her, \"Please, sit down.\"

He nodded and did so as if he felt obligated, and Hermione immediately regretted it. In all truth his past behavior was getting to her.

“You look lovely tonight, Miss Granger.”

Hermione looked to him in surprise and was about to thank him when it suddenly occurred to her that he was giving her a compliment. After what he had done to her so many years ago? There was a fury like none other in her, and in a burst of anger from nowhere she spoke angrily, “Why do you say these things?”

“Compliments?”

“Yes. Do you do it because you know how you get me nervous? Do you like toying with me? My emotions?”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.” He was quiet, emphasizing for her to keep the tone of her voice down as well. Hermione was almost shaking in her wedding dress, her eyes on him.

“You know precisely what I’m getting at.” She shook her head in disgust. “You’re always manipulating. Tricking people into loving you and then throwing them away when you’re done.”

Snape shook his head exasperatedly. All he had done was compliment her.

“Still the stubborn, silly little girl from Hogwarts.”

“What did you just say?”

\"Hermione!\" Austere was suddenly at her side, grasping her arm gently as he broke their conversation and didn’t seem to mind. \"Mother\'s requested our song. Come. Let\'s dance.\"
Hermione shot one last hateful glance at Snape who was looking anywhere but her, and left with Austere.

Hermione suddenly felt like a trained monkey as Austere led her away from
Snape, her mind whirring about what he had said, to the large
mass gathered around the dance floor.

Oh God.

The group suddenly parted to let she and Austere through and they were
suddenly in a spotlight, the music starting as Austere dramatically pulled
Hermione to him softly. One arm around her waist and another one grasping
her hand as they waltzed in synch to the music.

Hermione looked to him with a grim smile and he kissed her softly as
everyorounround them \"Awwwwww\"- ed, making her positively ill as they broke
off and she reluctantly rested her head on his shoulder.

She remembered the Halloween masquerade party. She had done the same with
Snape. He had come in some disguise, everyone wondering whom the tall kid was
as he came over to Hermione, asking her in a high voice to dance with him as
she giggled and agreed. They had danced every slow dance together, (since
Snape flat out refused to do any fast dances) and left her with a lingering
kiss and a rose.

Hermione suddenly snuck a glance at Snape who was sitting at the table all
alone, not looking over at the dancing pair. She suddenly wanted to break
from Austere and leave. This was all too much.
Finally the excruciatingly long dance was over, and Hermione giving one last chaste kiss to a waiting Austere and audience, she let herself be dragged over to see more people to mingle about with, with every person there was a swig of wine gone from Austere\'s glass. Soon Austere was getting a bit loud, and a bit flinty...he was a sloppy drunk.

Hermione tried to leave on several occasions, back to Snape, only to have Austere grab her around the shoulders and drag her back to the group they had encountered, to listen to the end of a horribly dull joke she had heard a thousand times before.

When she was sure that she was going to punch him if he grabbed her again he gave a small burp and finally brought back to the table where Snape still sat, looking to Hermione surreptitiously. Hermione felt her heart fluttering and a pit in her stomach.

\"Well Snivellus.\" Austere suddenly brawled the nickname, much to the older man\'s chagrin. \"Your turn.\"

Snape looked to Austere coldly, \"What are you talking about?\"

Austere slid into a chair, ordering a coffee from a house elf and turning back to face the standing Hermione and the anxious, seated Severus. He looked to Hermione again, feeling his stomach lurch as he viewed her in her beauty.

\"Your turn to dance with Hermione.\" Austere slurred, as Hermione glanced at him in shock as Snape spoke darkly.

\"I detest dancing.\"

\"I do as well.\"

Hermione felt her cheeks flushing, because she had actually wanted to dance with Snape. Feel those arms around her again...w was was wrong. Horribly wrong. He had surely shot that one down, making it clear he didn\'t want to be near her.

\"Oh c\'mon, be civil you two.\" Austere giggled, \"Severus! The best man always dances with the bride.\"

\"She\'s not your bride.\"

Hermione and Austere both stared up at him when he said that, his lips curled in a hateful sneer as he suddenly understood his mistake as Hermione looked to him with her dark eyes confused and eyebrows arched in interest. Bugger.

\"You\'re not married yet.\" Snape hissed, his dark eyes bottomless. Austere gave a small hiccup and shrugged lazily. Hermione on the other hand looked ready to faint, looking to Snape looking so dapper and well...Austere was a drunken mess beside her.

\"I love you both. I want you to get along...for me. Now dance.\"

\"Austere,\" Hermione chided gently, handing him his coffee, and nodding to the sullen Snape. \"He doesn\'t ha-\"

\"Fine.\" Snape said standing, and shooting Hermione a meaningful look. \"As my obligation as best man I accept. Come Miss Granger.\" he grasped her elbow and led her onto the dance floor, her legs shaking as she followed him, looking dark.

Hermione resolutely followed him onto the dance floor, a slow song having just come on they were greeted by several new dancers, barely giving them room to breathe. They stood across from one another, as if they were going to dance for the first time...which they were in a way.

They were bumped into by several couples, but all they saw were each other. They looked furiously at each other, mad for stupid reasons involving pride. Their eyes locked as the music went on around them, and finally Snape held his hand out.

Hermione moved forward and took his hand, reveling in its smooth texture. But she didn\'t show her approval. She was in the end, just plain mad at him. For his stupid comments about their past love. What a prick. Silly little girl her foot...

Suddenly as if feeling her anger Snape pulled her closer to him, until their hips touched and he slowly, sensually moved about with her in the middle of the darkened ballroom, unnoticed by all but one. She felt her body flushing, and she regretted agreeing to dance with him, he did such things to her body and senses. Suddenly fury overrode reason and she spoke to him harshly.

\"So I\'m still the silly little girl you once knew?\" Hermione finally uttered, bringing forth discdiscussion from the table. Snape sighed darkly, his breath on her collar as he twirled her and brought her back, hard.

\"No.\" he was somber, \"It was a bad choice of words.\"

\"No no, it was fine.\" Hermione grasped onto his shoulder tighter as they moved, \"I mean its stupid laboring under such misapprehensions.\"

\"Indeed.\"

\"I mean, I still think of you as the greasy git from school....\"

She saw him scowl and in revenge\'s sake he dipped her, marveling at her arched back, and delicious looking collar as she gasped and he flipped her back upright, their eyes locked once more as the music continued, pulsating through both of them.

She was glowing with sweat, the mixture of company and dancing partners getting her overheated. She saw as Snape tookher her young body, his eyes starved as he hungrily took her in. As if on impulse she pressed her chest against him, smirking as he forced himself to look away.

\"You do, do you?\" he growled, still swaying. \"What else could I do Miss Granger? Marry you?\"

He spun her and pulled her back, her hands clenching into his, She suddenly had the sneaking suspicion that Snape had sent her the rest of her memories via his mind control. Sneaky git that he was.

\"Would that have been so horrible?\"

\"Not for me.\" they both swirled and continued, undeterred. \"But you, you had such a life ahead of you. You would have grown to resent me for holding you back. I couldn\'t bear that.\"

\"That\'s just the thing.\" she breathed, not wanting anyone to overhear, \"It was my choice. Not yours\"

He didn’t answer her, his hands slowly moving to bring her closer to him, until she could feel the outline of the buttons on his robe. Still they danced, her eyes feeling heavy as she gazed up at him and he at her.

\"I made the decision for you. The right one.\"

\"For whom?\" she whispered fiercely, \"Neither of us. We love- loved each other. Now you\'re alone and I\'m marrying Austere. Is that the way it was supposed to end?\"

\"Perhaps.\"

\"You don\'t believe that.\"

His grip tightened and she felt short of breath, he surveyed her as if seeing her for the first time as the music slowed, coming to an end as he dipped her one last time, then flipping her quickly until their faces were mere inches apart.

\"You\'re right. I don\'t.\"

She looked to him with a look of intrigue in her eyes, the man that she had despised, loved, despised...was looking at her with a most peculiar expression on his face. Was it...love? His lips were inches away, and she could feel his hot breath landing in soft huffs on her lower lip. She trembled and felt her heart pounding, her lips tingling and waiting to be pressed to his.

\"I have to go.\"

Hermione suddenly broke away from him with that as he released her in surprise. She was trembling and slowly made her way off the dance floor, not listening to the passing guests, nor to Austere who lazily called out to her.

Hermione turned at the door, looking at Snape\'s forlorn figure once more before heading out of the Ballroom, tears streaming down her face as she did.

* * *

\"Hermione?\" Ginny rushed over to her friend, she had seen her rush out of the Ballroom moments before. The girl had rushed up to Ginny\'s room and collapsed onto her bed. Ginny had come in moments later in worry and now she tried to console the sobbing girl.

Her hair was a mess and her cheeks splotched with red as her shoulders shook whilst she covered her face with her hands, humiliated at the prospect that everyone had seen her running out of the ballroom sobbing.

\"Shhhh...What\'s the matter? Is Snape that bad a dancer?\"

Hermione tried to laugh at that but she felt her sobbings becoming larger and larger and she finally stopped herself...moments later after feeling embarrassed to be crying in front of her bloody young friend of all people.

\"No. It\'s not that.\"

Ginny helped her sit up straight, her dress pooling out all over the place as she put on a brave face in front of the listening Ginny. She tried to speak and another sob came out. It took a good five minutes for her to gather her thoughts and heart and finally speak.

\"It\'s just so horrible Ginny.\" she sniffled, \"I was certain I was in love with Austere. Certain.\"

Oh God. Ginny had been hoping that Hermione would have made her decision by now. The wedding was tomorrow!

\"I was sure I wanted to marry him.\"

Ginny knew what had happened between Snape and Hermione...she knew about the relationship. But something had evidently gone awry...but what? She decided to talk more with Hermione who looked beyond control.

\"And Snape changed that?\"

Hermione nodded as Ginny rubbed her hair and tried to stop her crying. Always crying because of Snape. What did Hermione see in the git anyway? He was rude, overbearing and well...greasy. She gave a resolute look to Hermione and took a deep breath.

\"Hermione I\'ve come to a decision. A good one I think.\"

Hermione wiped her eyes and looked up to Ginny with hope in her eyes. \"What?\" Hermione was desperate for advice, she looked to Ginny expectantly. Seems everyone was making decisions for her.

She was confused and irritated with Snape, but was rushing into marriage with Austere really the wisest decision? Was this all just pent up revenge on him for hurting her? Was she still in love with him?

Was she running?

Was she in love with him?

\"I think you should marry Austere.\"

That was a bombshell. Never had she thought she\'d say those words. Hermione was agape a moment, her head nodding as she tried to process the information. In truth she had been secretly hoping Ginny would tell her to pursue Snape.

\"Really?\"

Ginny was nodding, certain it was for the best. Evidently things hadn\'t worked out in the past, what made her think it would work now? Anyway, Austere had proposed....he loved her, she was sure of it.

\"All Professor Snape makes you do is cry,\" She gave Hermione a small grimace, \"And Hermione, it\'s not like he wants to marry you...\" she saw Hermione\'s face fall, and she quickly went on. \"But Austere does. Austere loves you.\"

\"You really think so?\"

Ginny nodded, \"I don\'t know what happened. I just got up this morning and thought that you were so lucky to have found someone who loves you so much.\"

\"I am lucky.\"

\"You are.\"

Hermione nodded as Ginny smiled and ruffled her hair a bit. \"Now come on. Get to bed you silly little girl.\"

Hermione nodded and stood, walking over to the door with a pit in her stomach. She stopped in the doorway with Ginny following. She gave a small nod at her friend in thanks and sighed darkly before speaking.

\"Thanks Ginny.\"

\"No problem kiddo.\" Ginny chided, nudging her to go to bed in her chambers, \"Now get some sleep, you\'ll need your energy...\"

If those were the last words spoken to Hermione for that night from Ginny, perhaps things would have been easier. But she said the last words Hermione really needed to hear at that juncture of her confusing emotions. But they weren\'t, Ginny rambled on, not seeing the fear in her friend\'s eyes.


\"...Tomorrow you\'re getting married.\"