A Turn for the Better

Chapter 38 ~ Preparing for the Ball

Hermione spent about forty-five minutes with her mother and father, who attended the graduation ceremony and who would also be attending the ball. There was an area provide for family members to relax and get ready for the evening's festivities. They were also allowed to walk about Hogwarts and talk to staff members as the students prepared for their final ball.

Jean had been disappointed to learn that Hermione didn't have a date. It was sad, but her daughter seemed fine with it.

"I don't need an escort, mum. It's my graduation ball and I'm not going to miss it for anything," Hermione told her.

She had already missed the Christmas ball, but this one was far more important.

Professor Snape watched Hermione depart, then quietly walked up to Mr. and Mrs. Granger.

"Excuse me," he said politely. "I am Professor Severus Snape, Miss Granger's Potions professor."

Both John and Jean Granger turned to face him. Snape offered Mr. Granger his hand, who looked at it for a moment, then took it in a rather firm gripped and pumped, several times. Snape then inclined his head toward Jean.

"Mrs. Granger," he said silkily.

"Professor Snape," the woman said, looking into his pale face with interest.

John Granger studied him.

"I understand you are offering my daughter an apprenticeship," Mr. Granger said.

Snape nodded.

"Your daughter has a gift, Mr. Granger. She is highly intelligent and capable of handling the exacting art that is Potions. She is so exceptional that she is the first apprentice I've ever taken on. She will be given a premiere education and will be a full fledged Potions mistress when she completes the four year program, at which time she will be formally admitted into the field. We do not give out degrees here, but she will be the equivalent of a Doctor of Potions and Elixirs," Snape told him.

Jean looked very impressed at this. Snape seemed to be a very reserved wizard.

"I understand you will be providing for my daughter's needs, Mr. Snape," John said to him, his eyes hard.

"Yes, that is standard operating procedure. Room, board, books, equipment and ingredients," Snape replied smoothly. "It is a fair exchange since she will be working very hard at her art assisting me. I am not an easy teacher, but thorough."

John eyed him.

"Yes. What I'm interested in is the room and board part. She will be living with you?" John asked him pointedly, reddening slightly. Jean placed her hand on her husband's arm and his eyes shifted toward her a moment and he calmed.

"Yes, she will. Would you like to see her quarters and the lab she will be working in?" Snape asked them.

"Oh yes," Jean replied, thinking this might help the pulsing veins now apparent in John's temples back to rest.

"Please, follow me," Snape said, leading them through the other parents and out of the room.

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"Your quarters are down here?" Jean asked Snape as he led them through the dank, dark dungeon corridor. Torches splutters and eerie shadows flickered on the walls. Hogwarts residents were used to the dourness, but for two dentists, this was rather disturbing.

"Yes. The coolness of the area helps with preserving ingredients, Snape replied, leading them to his office and letting them in.

John's eyes immediately fell on the pickled plants and creatures in jars behind his desk.

"Quite a backdrop you have there, Mr. Snape," he said as Jean cringed a little as the staring frog in the purple liquid seemed to spasm.

"They are mostly for show, Mr. Granger. I like to keep a bit of atmosphere and mystery surrounding me," Snape replied. "They've been here for years and serve to rush those with lesser constitutions out of my office in a timely manner. I'm a busy man."

John Granger smirked a bit at this. The wizard kept these awful things to drive people out of his presence? That was rather funny.

Snape pulled a torch on the wall, and an opening appeared.

"These are my quarters," Snape said, leading them into the sparsely furnished study. Books lined the walls from floor to ceiling. Two armchairs, a sofa, a liquor cabinet and a desk were all the furnishings apparent. As well as a large fireplace with a small fire burning in the hearth. Torches burned in sconces, carefully tilted away from the books. There was a door that led to Snape's bedroom. All in all it seemed rather dismal for a young woman to occupy.

"I don't see any accommodations for my daughter," John said, eyeing the door that led to Snape's bedroom.

"Oh, you wouldn't," Snape replied, walking to the left wall and pulling out a book. The wall, complete with tomes, slid up, revealing a doorway. "Here is where your daughter will reside."

Snape stood back and let Jean enter first, followed by John Granger. Snape entered behind them.

"As you can see, she has every amenity necessary for a young woman to be comfortable, including privacy," Snape said softly.

They were in a small, brightly painted kitchen furnished with a stove, cooler, cabinets, pot, pans, kitchen table and four chairs. A well-lit hallway led away from it.

Mr. and Mrs. Granger thoroughly investigated the rooms. She had a bedroom with a queen-sized four-poster canopy bed, large wardrobe, dresser, two wooden chairs and a small desk and chair. There was also a private bathroom done in Gryffindor colors, with a sunken tub and separate shower. Plenty of fluffy towels were stacked in the small closet.

Further down the hall was another room with a desk, sofa armchair and empty bookshelves. Her private study. Finally, there was another room. A lab.

"My, this is quite nice, isn't it, John?" Jean said, impressed.

John nodded thoughtfully.

"And it has a private entrance from the dungeon corridor," Snape added, his dark eyes glittering. "Your daughter hasn't seen it yet."

"These are very nice accommodations, Mr. Snape," John admitted grudgingly.

"I want her to be comfortable and well-rested, Mr. Granger. This apprenticeship will be no cakewalk. She will need someplace of her own to recharge," Snape replied.

"What type of work will she be doing, Mr. Snape?" Jean asked him.

"Well, to begin with, she will be finishing up rendering ingredients from a basilisk she overcame earlier this year," Snape said, his lip quirking.

He had saved a very special part of the creature for this moment.

"A basilisk? What is that? She overcame it?" John questioned him.

"I think in this case, showing will be more effective than telling," Snape answered. "If you'll just follow me . . ."

Snape led them out of his quarters, through the classroom, past the Potions stores and into his lab.

"This will be where Miss Granger will be working when she works with me. Not as bright and airy as her own lab, but she's used to it," Snape said, walking up to a large, covered object on the counter and waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Granger to join him.

He caught the edge of the green fabric and flipped it back with a flourish.

Jean Granger screamed and clutched her husband, who turned green as he looked on the severed head of the basilisk. It was under stasis and gleaming, the yellow eyes staring, forked tongue extended and terrifying fangs apparent in its horribly gaping mouth.

"This is the basilisk. Your daughter killed it in the Chamber of Secrets after it had bitten me," Snape said to them, his black eyes resting on the head before shifting back to Hermione's parents. "She also saved my life with her quick thinking. Its venom is deadly. I wanted to show you this to assure you that your daughter is quite capable of taking care of herself. If you had doubts, I'm quite sure this . . ."

Snape swept his hand over the basilisk's head.

" . . . will bring you some peace of mind."

Mr. Granger and wife stared at the horrible thing. By the size of the scaly head, it must have been huge. Hermione killed this? By herself?

Maybe she didn't need that much protection after all.

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Hermione stood in front of the mirror, examining herself critically. Her hair was soft and curling, swept up elegantly by a gold comb, two curled tendrils dangling by her ears. She wore scarlet and gold earrings and a lovely scarlet gown, with sequins that sparkled golden when hit just right by the light. The dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves. She wore a bit of makeup, just enough to bring out her eyes and lips and her shoes were three inch heels, also scarlet and gold. .She looked very grown up as she spun.

It didn't bother her that she didn't have a date for the ball. She was excited because Professor Snape would be there, and he was the only one she had eyes for. Knowing he would see her was more than enough for the Gryffindor. Giving herself one more spin, she exited the room and made her way downstairs.

A few students were in the Common Room. Ron was the first to see Hermione.

"Wow!" he exclaimed as she made her way down the stairs, looking absolutely gorgeous. Lavender glowered at him. She was in a blue silk gown with a scooped back. She looked lovely as well, but Hermione definitely outshined her.

Since Hermione never made herself up or did anything special normally, the effect of seeing her this way was dazzling, and every wizard and witch in the room gaped at her.

"Who knew she was hiding all of that under those robes?" Dean breathed to Seamus, who was staring at Hermione with his mouth open.

Neville was there too, and he was amazed as he walked up to her.

"Wow, Hermione. You certainly clean up good," he said to her softly. "I bet these idiots wished they had asked you to the ball now."

Hermione gave him a smile.

"It's all right, Neville. The wizard that matters will be at the ball."

"His eyes are going to pop right out of his head," Neville said to her. "I'll walk you partway down. I'm going to pick up Luna."

He offered Hermione his arm, and she took it. Together, they walked out of the Common Room, everyone looking after them.

"Wow," Ron said again, this time being punched in the shoulder by an angry Lavender.

"What?" he exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder as she glared at him.

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Neville pushed the portrait open, walked out and helped Hermione through. He slipped his arm through hers, turned to walk up the corridor and suddenly froze, as did Hermione.

Standing there, resplendent in black dress robes with embroidered serpents that caught the torchlight, stood Severus Snape, his normally lank hair brushed to silkiness and his black eyes resting soberly on Hermione.

"Miss Granger," he purred, offering his arm. "I know this is rather late notice, but may I have the honor of escorting you to the ball?"

"Yes," Hermione replied, removing her arm from Neville's, her brown eyes shining as she looked up at the wizard. Snape moved forward, stood beside her and link her arm within his own.

"You may go about your business, Mr. Longbottom. Miss Granger is in capable hands," he said to Neville, never taking his eyes off the witch beside him.

Neville continued to stare for a moment, before he snapped out of it.

"Oh. All right, then. I'll just . . . just go get Luna," he said, looking at the both of them as they stared at each other as if he were invisible. "Um . . . I'll see you at the ball, Hermione."

"Yes, Neville," Hermione responded rather dreamily.

Neville backed away a few feet before turning and walking up the hall.

Wow, Professor Snape was taking Hermione to the ball.

There was going to be a powerful breeze from all the tongues that would be wagging.

Neville began to smile as he walked, a slow, rather happy smile.

So what if tongues would wag? Hermione was probably going to have the most romantic night of her life. And she deserved it. Snape was all right, Slytherin he was.

Neville's thoughts turned to Luna. His night wasn't going to be so bad either.

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"Shall we go, Miss Granger?" Snape asked the witch on his arm.

"Yes," Hermione replied, her belly fluttering as they began to walk. "You look very nice, Professor."

"And you are absolutely breathtaking, Hermione Granger," he said softly, although he eyed the Gryffindor colors, "although I do feel as if I'm being challenged. Perhaps I should have worn Slytherin green robes tonight to represent my house."

Hermione smiled at him rather shyly.

"Oh, no, Professor. Black becomes you," she told him.

Snape smirked at her.

"So I've been told," he replied, leading her to the shifting stairwell and the waiting ball.

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A/N: Thanks for reading.