Fire and the Dragon

A/N: A bit of background first, to explain some character\'s behaviors. 1.) In the books, I always viewed Ron as a hothead who liked to drink, perfect makings for a violent drunk who wouldn\'t remember his \'blackout\' excursions. 2.) Severus has always admired Hermione\'s brain, again i gather this from the books. After her physical recovery the two of them spent a lot of time together and he began to view her as a grown woman and fell in love with her intelligence as a friend, it progressed from there. As for the commercial Valentine\'s day cliche...Severus is trying to woo Hermione, in doing so he is sucking up his disdain for commercialism. Um...Harry was surprised at Ron\'s actions, he was merely more concerned for Hermione. I think that may cover it, if not I will continue in the next chapter. Hmmmmm...thanks for reviewing and reading, I do take all of your opinions and suggestions into account, though I can not please everyone. Sorry if the story gives you whiplash...my own pregnancy hormones are taking us all on a rollercoaster ride! I guess that is all..on with the story.















Ch. 18 Valentine’s Day



Hermione frowned at her appearance. Something wasn’t quite right. The dress she was wearing was a black, calf-length cocktail dress with thick straps that rested on her shoulders. When the light hit her just right, the dress would shimmer emerald green. On her ears were silver hoops shaped like snakes with tiny emerald jewels at the ear lobe, a silver necklace with an emerald charm graced her neck.



The dress, jewelry, and makeup were fine, it was her hair that had the problem. A faint memory of dressing up on her birthday sent a shiver down her spine. She shook it off, “No,” she said aloud. “No, Hermione, you are a different person now.”



The only problem was, she still looked like the same person, with the exception of her ballooning abdomen, goodness she really popped out. As if reading her thoughts, the baby gave a swift kick. Hermione smiled, she loved that she could feel the baby now.



Again, she frowned at her reflection. Then she figured it out, her hair was too…well just too…HER. She wanted to look different, tonight was like a fresh start for her. She grabbed her wand and muttered a charm at her hair, instantly it shaded to a dark blonde.



She smiled, but was still unsatisfied. With another wave of her wand, her hair went from curly, to slightly wavy. “There,” she exclaimed happily. “Now that’s better.”



She turned around as she heard her door open. “Hey, Hermione, Ginny and I were wondering if you would like to join us for…” he stopped when he saw the young woman in front of him.



“Why are you dressed like that?” he asked her, his eyes full of brotherly concern. “Hi, Harry. I’m sorry but I can not join you and Ginny. Professor Snape is taking me out tonight.” She smiled.



“He’s what?? Have you lost your senses completely?” Harry shouted at her. Hermione just glared at the boy. “I’m sorry, Hermione, but the greasy git?” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down, daring him to say anything more.



Harry turned and left her room hastily. She was pretty pissed at him. He decided to confront Snape. “SNAPE!” he screamed at his former professor.



“Well, Mr. Potter, should you not be at home attending to your wife?” Harry looked at the man; he was dressed in a nice set of black dress robes that shone with black embroidered dragons when he walked.



“What are you thinking taking Hermione out? You know what she has been through. She can not possibly be serious in going out with YOU!” Severus saw the overprotective Gryfinndor in the boy and rose to his full height.



“It is up to Ms. Granger as to when and what she does. I merely asked, and she accepted. Now if you will excuse me, I must be on my way.” He stalked past Harry to collect Hermione for their evening.



“If you hurt her, so help me Merlin, you will no longer be recognizable as a man. Keep your greasy hands to yourself, Snape, or my father will look like a saint to you.” Harry was nearly shaking with anger as Severus stalked away from him.



As Severus and Hermione made their way through the castle, many stares followed them. Severus could not stop looking at Hermione, he had nearly fallen all over himself when she answered her door and he saw how beautiful she looked. They passed an extremely agitated looking Professor McGonagall whose look clearly told Severus that he had explaining to do later.



When they reached the restaurant at Diagon Alley, Hermione looked around. “I never knew this was here.” Severus looked down at her and smiled, “There are many things about this world that you do not yet know.”



When they were seated and there orders taken, they began to discuss muggle politics. It was one of Severus’ guilty pleasures. He found the dirty tricks intriguing to him. Hermione couldn’t help but laugh. “Never, in a million years, would I have ever suspected that you follow muggle politics.”



Severus began to chuckle when a familiar voice made his skin crawl. He looked up to see the face of Lucius Malfoy. He cringed, not the person he would hope to run into. “Good evening, Severus.” He droned. Severus sneered, “Lucius.”



“What a surprise to see you out tonight, and with a lady as well.” Lucius placed his hand on Hermione’s shoulder. She flinched slightly at the unwelcome touch. “You must forgive Severus’ bad manner, M’Lady, he so rarely gets out of that stuffy castle. Lucius Malfoy, at your service.”



He leaned down to kiss her hand and started when he saw her face. “Well, Well, Ms. Granger. You look nearly acceptable, I barely recognize you.” Hermione was turning a deep shade of crimson.



Severus, seeing the anger flashing in her eyes, decided to take control of the situation. “Yes, well if you will excuse us, Lucius, we have other matters to attend to.” Lucius stood back and allowed Hermione to stand. His eyes traveled to her abdomen when she was out from the behind the table.



“My word, Severus, I had no idea. You have been busy. And so soon after your. Ahhh, tragic attack.” Then he leaned in, tapped her earrings and whispered, “Perhaps the old saying is true, the bigger the hoops, the bigger the harlot.”



Severus, who had barely heard, was by her side in an instant, his wand digging into Lucius’ side. “I think it is time you leave, sir.” He said to his old friend. “Severus,” Lucius purred, “You would never hurt an old friend.”



Severus loosened his grip only slightly. “You know better than any that you do not want me as your enemy.” He hissed in his ear. Lucius inclined his head to the couple and walked away. Severus looked to Hermione, “Shall we go?”



“But we haven’t even eaten, yet.” She exclaimed, her stomach rumbling. “Obviously,” he rambled in her ear. “However, if you are agreeable to having dinner in your rooms tonight, I think you would find the cuisine quite delectable.”



They walked out into the streets before remembering that they had forgotten their cloaks. Hermione said she would be fine while Severus ran inside to fetch them. He had been gone for only a few seconds when a hand grasped her waist from behind and she felt the hot breath on her neck.



“My, you look like a delectable treat, Mudblood.” The voice of Lucius Malfoy made Hermione want to vomit. She began to panic, hoping Severus would be out soon. Lucius placed a hand on her stomach and leaned down to lick her ear. “Such a pity the bloodtraitor got to you first. I would have loved to tear that flower straight from your pert body.”



Hermione’s mind shifted and she was suddenly back on the night of her birthday. Laying on the alley floor, letting Ron hurt her. She snatched herself back to the present and slammed her head backwards, making solid contact with the older Malfoy.



He stumbled back and she turned around to face him. He was holding his nose, blood seeping out. “You foolish mudblood whore.” He spat at her. “You must be a good lay for Severus to show such interest in you.”



She pointed her wand at his groin and sparks shot from it and disappeared into his slacks. Lucius flinched, awaiting the pain before standing up, checking his genitals, and laughing. “You missed.”



Hermione merely smirked, “I wouldn’t say that.” She replied coolly to him. Severus had exited the restaurant and rushed to the scene. Hermione held up her hand to him and addressed the aristocratic man.



“You made a mistake tonight, Ferret Senior. I am not that weak girl anymore. I am not afraid. You will do well to remember.” Lucius gathered himself and disapparated before Severus had the chance to do anything.



He took Hermione’s shaking hand in his, “Are you alright, my dear?” She nodded her head. “Do you think we could go somewhere for a hamburger or a hotdog for dinner, Severus?” She was really hungry and hated to apparate on an empty stomach.



He nodded his consent after commenting on being ‘overdressed’ for the muggle slop. They ate their fill and returned to the school, bellies full of processed meat.



They were halfway down the stairs that led to the dungeon when Severus stopped them. Hermione looked at him wondering why they stopped in such a bizarre place. “I must know, Hermione.” He began, “what spell did you use?” it had been bothering him since he saw her cast the spell, he knew she would not have such inefficient spellwork as to miss.



Hermione began to laugh out loud. “Let me put it this way, for the next 12 months, Lucius will not be able to do anything with his limp noodle.” Severus, too, began to laugh. “Ingenious, year long impotency. Narcissa will be most pleased. How very Slytherin of you.”



They began to walk again. When they reached the entrance to Hermione’s rooms, Severus looked down at her. “You look very beautiful tonight, Hermione, thank you for a wonderful evening.



Hermione blushed. “Thank you, Severus, I did enjoy myself.” She stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his. Severus deepened the kiss, wrapping one arm around her waist and winding the other hand in her hair.



He leaned her against the wall, continuing the kiss for awhile longer before breaking it off. He looked at her swollen lips and stroked her cheek with his hand. Oh how he wanted to never let her go.



“What’s wrong?” she asked him, then began nibbling her bottom lip. “Not a thing, Ms. Granger, which is why I shall kiss your hand and bid you a good night.” He did so and swept away to his rooms.



Hermione entered her room, kicked off her shoes, shrugged off her dress, and got into her comfy pajamas. It had been a most enjoyable night. Even her run-in with Malfoy Sr. was productive.



“I’m not that weak girl anymore.” She whispered to herself. As she dozed off to sleep, she knew it was true…Hermione Granger was no longer afraid.