A New Beginning (DH -COMPLIANT)

Chapter 62 ~ The Ball

Hermione soon found out it was better to check the niches from a safe distance rather than to enter them with Severus. The first dark corner they entered, the wizard grabbed her and kissed her soundly, caressing the soft skin of her back appreciatively. It was the first bit of skin he had managed to get his hands on.

Hermione was surprised, then felt the Potions master’s hands smoothing over her skin. His touch was sure and gentle but still very masculine . . . and very affecting, his fingertips moving over her vertebrate, shoulder blades, and shoulders, pressing, exploring as he pressed his lips to her mouth. She could feel small calluses on the tips of his fingers and on his palms. He had a working man’s hands and those warm, slightly roughened hands on her body felt wonderful . . .

”Severus!” she gasped at him when he broke the kiss and released her. Whether it was because he had kissed her or because he had stopped, she wasn’t sure. But she had to give some reaction. Besides, they could have been caught snogging like sixth years. Hermione would have died of embarrassment.

Snape made an exaggerated motion of looking around the Great Hall, although he never would have acted in such a manner if he believed they would be seen. He looked at Hermione, his dark eyes glinting.

”Just as I suspected. No one saw us. We definitely have to mark this area,” he said to her with a small grin, “It is a potential snogging spot for certain.”

Even though Hermione had enjoyed the kiss, she was determined not to let him know. It might encourage him and really get them caught. She could imagine Hugo’s and Rose’s reaction to their mum being publicly busted for kissing in a dark corner at a ball she was supposed to be chaperoning.

Rose: ”Mum, how could you?”

Hugo: ”Ew mum!”

”Ooh,” Hermione said, storming out of the niche, Snape striding after her and catching her arm.

”We have more niches and shadows to investigate,” he purred at her.

”I think the chaperones need chaperones,” Hermione shot back at him, fighting the urge to smile at the wicked wizard. He was terrible and acting like a randy student himself. Who would have thought Severus Snape had this side to him?

Most likely he hadn’t known it either, but Hermione brought out an increasing hunger in him and he couldn’t help responding to it as much as she would allow. Now, if he was observed by someone else and his actions toward Hermione misconstrued as overall amicability, they would be sadly mistaken. This was a side of the Potions master meant only for Hermione. He would be as acerbic as ever to others and have no problem showing so. It wouldn’t be an act. It was just how the wizard was. Wumblewort received a little taste of the wizard’s coldness earlier. Snape might be falling in love, but was no one’s buddy.

Hermione refused to enter anymore potential snogging spots after that, but Snape was satisfied. He’d gotten one good kiss in, and the night was still young. There would be other opportunities. She was too lovely not to kiss.

They continued around the Great Hall, Hermione and Severus greeting others as they identified the areas that would have to be watched. There were six other chaperones, eight all together. With the staff, the students would be covered as much as possible.

”The school medi-witch is going to need about a gallon of Morning After Potion,” Snape said as the students began to enter the hall arm and arm, exclaiming at the decorations as soft music played. “Shagging and balls go together.”

Hermione looked up at him sharply. Snape looked straight ahead, a small smirk on his face. Yes, he was being purposefully facetious.

Hermione looked at the door. She saw Hugo and Lily enter arm in arm. Hugo’s red hair was neatly combed, and his black dress robes fit him nicely but his tie looked a little crooked. Hermione fought the urge to run over and straighten it for him.

”Aw, Hugo and Lily look so cute,” Hermione gushed as Snape looked over at the two students.

“Don’t make it a point to tell them that,” he said, “or you’ll be banished from all balls that follow this one.”

”I know,” Hermione snapped, “still, they’re cute. I wonder where Rod and Rose are.”

***********************************

When Rose Weasley walked out of the portrait entrance, Rod was absolutely speechless. She was beautiful. There was no other word to describe her. Her hair was gently curling around her face, her gown was sparkling and fit her perfectly, and her shawl was elegantly draped over her arms. Rod stared at her as if she had just suddenly materialized.

Rose blushed and smiled at him. He looked almost dashing in his rich blue robes. His blonde hair was nicely combed and he smelled quite nice.

”Hello Rod,” she said softly, “You look very nice.”

Rod continued to stare at Rose, unable to register she was speaking to him.

”Rod? Rod are you all right?” Rose asked, her brown eyes full of concern.

Just then Roland exited the tower. He looked Rod up and down with a frown on his face, then at Rose. He blinked.

”Wow Rose. You look gorgeous,” the wizard said to her.

”Thank you,” Rose said uncomfortably.

This served to wake Rod up.

”Hi Rose,” he said lamely as Roland scowled at him.

”See you after the dance, Dormers,” he growled then walked off.

Both Rod and Rose looked after him.

”What did he mean by that?” she asked Rod, who shrugged.

”I don’t know. He hasn’t tried anything since our last fight,” Rod said, looking at Rose again, backing away to let several more students pass. They looked at Rod, particularly the witches.

”He cleans up good, doesn’t he?” one of the witches said as they passed.

”Yeah. He almost doesn’t look ‘Odd,’” another commented.

Rod moved back and looked at Rose again.

”That gown is . . . is nice, Rose,” he said, trying to be complimentary. His tongue felt twice its normal size.

”Thank you, Rod. Your robes are nice too. I like the color,” she said.

Rod gave her a relieved smile and stood there awkwardly.

“I think we should go, Rod,” Rose suggested.

”Oh. Oh yeah,” he said, turning and starting up the corridor. Rose looked after him, frowning slightly.

Rod suddenly realized he was walking alone and turned around, hurrying back to Rose, who offered her arm to him, her mouth quirking a bit.

”Oh. Sorry. I’m new at all this, Rose,” he said, reddening as he took her arm and mentally cursed himself for being so stupid as to leave his date behind him. He was supposed to be escorting her to the ball.

Rose thought Rod was adorable, he was so nervous. They started walking up the corridor together.

”You’re doing fine Rod. At least you realized I wasn’t with you before you made it to the Great Hall,” she said with an encouraging smile.

”Yeah,” he said, “At least.”

They walked up the hall in silence for a bit, then Rod said, “You know, I’m pretty nervous about this Rose. I want you to have a good time. I hope you didn’t make a mistake going with me.”

Rose smiled at him and patted his hand.

”I don’t think I did, Rod. I really don’t. You’re sweet,” the witch said.

Rod looked at her. Sweet? She thought he was sweet? Wow.

“Thanks,” he said, flushing a little.

The couple made their way down the main stairwell, joining a stream of laughing, talking students heading for the Great Hall. He saw James and Winston with their dates and waved. They waved back and waited for he and Rose to approach them. They then introduced their dates. Winston was with a Ravenclaw named Sharon Birdwell, a very pretty black witch with long black hair and James with a Gryffindor witch named Anita Coswell, a sixth-year with big blue eyes, blonde hair and curves for miles.

”Nice robes, Rodman,” Winston said appreciatively. He was dressed in maroon robes that matched his date’s gown. She wore a corsage on her wrist. So did James’ date.

Damn. He hadn’t thought about getting Rose one.

”Thanks, Winston,” he said, smiling at the wizard.

”Wow, Rose. You look halfway decent,” James said to his cousin, looking her up and down. “Too bad it didn’t come with a veil.”

”Shut up, James” she snapped at him as the others laughed, with the exception of Rod, who stood there a moment, then blurted out, ”Well I think she looks beautiful.”

Everyone stopped laughing and looked at Rod in astonishment. Rose smiled at him.

”Thank you, Rod,” she said, pointedly looking at James then sticking her tongue out at him. “Let’s go in.”

She led Rod through the door, her nose in the air.

”Well I’ll be damned,” James said, shaking his head, then taking Anita’s arm gallantly, following them in, Winston and his date behind. They all sat at the same table and were joined by Hugo and Lily.

”Hey Rod! Nice robes,” Hugo said, smiling brightly.

”Hi Hugo,” Rod responded. Again introductions were made.

Several Slytherins walked by with their dates, scowling at Rod sitting at a table with Gryffindors. No one noticed however.

”They really made this place look great,” Rose said, looking at all the decorations.

”Yeah,” Rod agreed.

Winston stood up.

”Excuse me a moment,” he said, leaving.

James watched as the wizard walked over to the DJ and handed him some coins and a disk. The wizard turned the disk over in his hands, then nodded. He had played the Christmas ball for the past three years and knew about James’ and Winston’s routines. The wizard made his way back to the table.

”We’re all set,” he said with a smile at Rod, who looked a little nervous.

“Hey Hugo, isn’t that your mum? Who’s she with?” Lily said, pointing over at the punch table. Everyone looked in that direction to see Hermione standing with Snape, looking over the crowd of students.

”Wow, that’s Professor Snape. He came with her,” Hugo said.

Rose stared at the tall, severe looking wizard. He looked a bit like a hawk watching for prey as his eyes washed warily over the students. Suddenly, his eyes shifted in her direction and he made eye contact. He nodded.

Rose nodded back and watched as he leaned slightly and said something to Hermione, who immediately looked in Rose’s direction and waved animatedly at all of them.

”Mum sure looks nice,” Hugo said. “That dress is sparkly.”

Rose studied her mother’s dress. She did look nice and kind of sexy too, in an older witch kind of way. The Professor was dressed nicely too. He stood very stiffly however. He seemed so cold and reserved. How did they get along? Dad was always a lot of fun. Snape was nothing like him.

Rod was looking over at the Professor too. He wanted to thank him for the bonus. He looked at Rose.

”Rose, would you like some punch?” he asked her.

”Oh yes. Thank you, Rod,” the witch replied.

”I’ll be right back,” he said rising and leaving the table.

James’ and Winston’s dates looked at the two wizards pointedly as they whispered to each other, planning their takeover of the dance floor. Finally, both witches cleared their throats. Both boys looked over at them, then rose quickly.

”Punch?” James asked Anita.

”Yes,” she said shortly, her eyes a bit narrowed. James was a great guy, but easily distracted. If he wasn’t so cute, she’d dump him.

”Punch, Sharon?” Winston asked her with a grin.

”Why yes, thank you,” she said, then punched the wizard in the arm hard for ignoring her.

”Ow!” he cried, grasping his arm.

”And I’d like something to drink too,” she added sweetly.

”I deserved that,” Winston said as he rubbed his arm, “I’ll be right back.”

Both he and James walked off, heading for the punch table. Hugo rose.

“Come on, Lily. Let’s walk around a bit before they serve the food,” he said to his cousin.

”All right,” Lily said, standing up and following Hugo into the crowd.

Anita and Sharon immediately turned to Rose.

”Are you going out with Odd Rod?” they asked her.

Rose looked at the witches.

”His name is Rod, not Odd Rod, and no I’m not. We just came to the dance together,” she said to the witches, frowning slightly.

”Did you lose a bet or something?” Sharon asked her.

”No,” Rose said, puzzled, “Why would you say that?”

Sharon shrugged.

”I just didn’t think anyone would want to go to the dance with him,” she said, looking at Anita who nodded slightly, “But I know he saved your life, so you probably felt obligated to go when he asked you.”

Rose frowned at them.

“Rod is a nice wizard. I’m glad I came with him. And he’s a gentleman. You can’t say the same about James and Winston. They didn’t think about you at all. At least Rod went to get me a drink without me having to clear my throat,” she said with a bit of an attitude.

The girls all fell silent then. Rose looked over to see Rod talking to Professor Snape.

”Hello Professor Snape,” Rod said, walking up to the wizard, “Hello Mrs. Weasley.”

”Hi Rod. You look very handsome,” Hermione said, smiling at the young wizard.

”Thank you,” he said, flushing a little, “You look nice too, Mrs. Weasley.”

Snape arched an eyebrow at the boy as Hermione smiled at him. Rod was adorable..

”You need to work on your compliments, Mr. Dormers. That was just sad,” the dark wizard commented

”I haven’t had a lot of practice complimenting witches,” Rod replied.

”It was just fine, Rod,” Hermione said, glaring at Severus, who looked at her coolly for a moment then back at Rod.

”I . . . I just wanted to thank you for the bonus, sir,” Rod said to the wizard.

”You are quite welcome, but it is standard procedure for the company to issue incentives to its employees, Mr. Dormers. It was not a gift, so there is no need to thank me,” Snape said to the boy curtly. “It was business. Just be sure to show up to work the day after graduation.”

”Yes sir,” Rod said, then, “I have to get Rose some punch. Have a nice evening.”

Rod moved over to the punch bowl and retrieved a cup of punch for Rose. He began to carefully move through the crowd. From a table filled with other dateless Gryffindors, Roland watched him with narrowed eyes. He was more than jealous. Rose looked so hot and she was out with Rod. It just wasn’t right or fair.

Snape looked over toward the table and noticed Winston standing very close to the punch bowl but not getting any punch. The young wizard’s right arm moved slightly.

Silently, Snape strode over and stood behind him.

”Excuse me young man,” he said imperiously.

Winston spun and looked up at the pale wizard and blanched.

”Yes sir?” Winston said, dropping his hand. He had been about to take out a flask of firewhiskey from his inside robes pocket.

Snape studied him.

”You look familiar boy. What’s your name?” the wizard asked him in a soft yet dangerous voice.

Winston swallowed.

”Ah Winston, sir. Winston Thomas,” he replied.

Snape’s brow arched.

”You wouldn’t happen to be the son of Dean Thomas would you?” he asked the boy.

”Yes sir,” Winston asked.

Snape smirked a bit unpleasantly, his eyes flicking to Winston’s lapel for a moment before he met the boy’s gaze steadily, his eyes knowing.

”I see genetics carry over in your family. Your father and a Mr. Seamus Finnigan were notorious for spiking the punch at affairs of this nature when they attended Hogwarts. I will have my eye on you, Mr. Thomas. Now move away from the bowl. Now,” Snape said to him.

”Yes sir,” Winston said, trembling a bit as he picked up Sharon’s punch and quickly walked away. Snape sauntered back over to Hermione, who looked up at him.

”What were you doing?” she asked the wizard.

“Attempting to keep history from repeating itself,” he replied obliquely.

If Winston was anything like his father, however, Snape knew he was fighting a losing battle. Still, he liked a challenge.

Winston returned with Sharon’s punch and sat down at the table, looking over in Snape’s direction, still a bit ashen.

”What’s wrong with you?” James asked him.

”That Snape guy is scary,” Winston said, “He knew I was going to spike the punch before I even grabbed the flask. He said he knew my father too.”

“My dad knows him,” James said, looking over at Snape, “My little brother is named after him.”

Rose suddenly looked around.

”Where is Albus anyway?” she asked.

”He’s sitting with some other dateless Gryffindors,” James said, pointing to a table where a group of wizards were crowded, joking and laughing with each other, stopping occasionally to watch a witch pass then whispering among themselves. Roland was looking directly at their table.

“Oh,” Rose said as Rod finally made it back. It was slow going with the punch and people were greeting him along the way, impressed by his appearance.

”Here you go, Rose. Sorry it took so long,” Rod said apologetically as he placed the cup in front of her, then sat down. The moment he did, Wumblewort magically enhanced his voice and told everyone to be seated.

Everyone listened as he welcomed them to the dance and instructed them to enjoy themselves.

“Providing our music tonight is DJ Whizzy Whiz!” he announced, as the wizard on a special high dais waved to the crowd and did a quick scratch on his magical turntable. "We will initially begin with a few waltzes, and as the evening continues move to a more popular musical line up."

James and Winston both smiled and nodded at Rod, who looked a little apprehensive.

”In addition, I would like to thank our chaperones, Mr. & Mrs. Montlemore, Mr. & Mrs. Argyle, Mr. & Mrs.Colberry along with Mrs. Weasley and our very special guest, former Headmaster Severus Snape,” Wumblewort said as a spotlight moved over the chaperones and finally ended up resting on Snape, who was seated at a table and scowled at everyone as Hermione shook her head. The applause died quickly.

Hugo laughed.

”Oh man, he’s funny,” the boy chuckled.

Menus suddenly appeared in front of them.

”Just choose your selections and they will appear before you. Everyone enjoy themselves,” Wumblewort said.

Students, staff and chaperones ordered their meals and began to eat.

*********************************

After about an hour, the tables were cleared and the music started. Both James and Winston looked very bored at the classical waltz that was playing. No one was getting up but staff members.

Rod swallowed and looked at Rose, who was staring at the floor. He cleared his throat.

”Um, Rose . . . would you like to dance?” he asked the witch nervously.

Rose looked at the floor. There were only teachers out there. Not a single student. Nobody wanted to be first.

“Go on Rose. Me and Lily will go if you do,” Hugo urged her, “You made Rod learn to waltz . . . now go waltz.”

Rose looked at Rod, who looked back at her anxiously.

“All right,” she said.

Rod quickly stood up and pulled Rose’s chair out for her, holding out his arm.

From his table Snape watched him, his eyes narrowed.

Hugo and Lily also got up as Rose took Rod’s arm and he walked her to the dance floor. His heart was pounding as he passed by the other students, whispering starting.

”Is that Odd Rod leading Rose on to the floor?”

”What’s he doing?”

”Oh man, this ought to be a hoot!”

Rod took Rose to the center of the floor, placed on hand on her waist and grasped her hand. His palms were a bit hot and sweaty. He looked Rose in the eyes.

”Are you ready, Rose?” he asked her.

Hugo and Lily were already dancing, but every eye was on the two older students. Hermione watched them breathlessly. They looked so nice together, Rose tall and slender and Rod dashing in his blue dress robes.

”Yes, let’s do it Rod,” she said.

And they began to dance.

The moment they began to move, Rod began to relax, gliding with Rose across the floor as if he had done it for years, occasionally spinning the witch and even giving her a perfectly beautiful dip, before drawing her back up and continuing.

Everyone watched mesmerized as the couple danced on air. Even the teachers were watching them.

As Rod danced with Rose, it was as if there was some magic washing over him. She was so pretty and smiling, enjoying dancing with him. This was great. The greatest thing that ever happened to him, outside of everything else that is.

Roland watched them, his face black with rage as Rod led Rose rhythmically around the floor, twirling her now, the couple smiling at each other, very into the dance. Other students joined them and soon they were lost among the crowd.

Snape looked at Hermione who was watching the dancing wistfully. He leaned forward.

“May I have this dance, Mrs. Weasley?” he asked her softly.

Hermione looked shocked.

”You dance, Severus?” she asked him.

Snape felt the urge to pinch his nose. He was really going to have to talk to her about her irritating habit of trying to make him repeat himself.

”Yes. Will you join me on the floor?” he asked her again.

Hermione smiled at him.

”I’d be delighted,” she said.

Snape rose and pulled out the witch’s chair, taking her hand and helping her up, then offering his arm. Hermione took it, and together they walked out on the dance floor. They flowed seamlessly into the dance, the wizard leading the witch gracefully, his dark eyes resting on her face soberly as they danced.

Rose saw them whirl by, the wizard’s eyes resting on her mother intensely as Hermione looked back up at him.

”Professor Snape can dance, can’t he?” Rod said to Rose.

”Yes, he really can. Mum seems to be enjoying herself,” Rose said, then looked at Rod, “And so am I.”

Rod smiled at her, then, Rose rested her head on his shoulder, their bodies coming in contact. Rod held her just a bit tighter.

It felt rather nice.

*******************************************
A/N: Thanks for reading. ***