Single Magical Male

Even less mine thsualsual. Not only are the le, le, places and things the intellectual property of others but the idea for this wrap-up was a wonderful gift from Peeves, with distracting help from The Immaculate Grey Lady. Girl Power!


A few weeks later, Albus insisted on hosting a small and very informal party at the Three Broomsticks. The ostensible excuse was to celebrate Severus’ completion of the challenge; the real celebration revolved around the fact that the Potions Master and his former nemesis finally admitted that they were a couple. Given that it had been the third consecutive weekend Snape had been absent from meals at the Great Hall, and her third consecutive weekend staying at Hogwarts, the admission was hardly newsworthy any more, but a celebration was held nonetheless.

A few tables had been pushed together near the middle of the room to accommodate Albus, the three witches who started the whole process, and the slightly embarrassed couple. Albus toasted all the accomplices, and after finishing, turned to Hermione and toasted the couple.

After the last round of congratulations had been drunk, Snape turned to Hermione and said, “You know, I remember you telling me that you didn’t respond to the ad but you never told me who did. Was it one of these…” pausing, he gave each witch a glare that would have melted any sixth-year, “women?”

Hermione blushed furiously, and began to stammer a response. Before she could cough out an answer however, a heavily cloaked figure glided to the table and said, “I sent in her response.”

The group at the table were silent in the face of this unidentified presence. Slowly, a hand moved to the hood and pulled it back to reveal the thin and forbidding face of none other than Irma Pince.

Hermione actually gasped aloud. “Madame Pince! But how --?”

The librarian actually had the grace to blush before answering. “Hermione, I am sorry. I never meant to deceive you in any way but I just couldn’t let you continue down that path.”

It was hard for anyone at the table to believe that they were hearing anything out of the shrill woman’s mouth other than criticism or shushing. Needless to say, they were hanging on her every word.

Hermione opened and closed her mouth a few times, not sure what to say. “Madame Pince, what are you talking about?” Hermione finally asked.

“You probably don’t remember, but it was a year or so ago that you and Harry Potter and that Weasley boy were in the bookstore. Well, I was there – actually, Professor McGonagall and I were there together. You’ll vouch for me, won’t you Minerva?” McGonagall nodded, still in shock. Pince continued, “I heard the way those boys were badgering you about getting out. Well, everything they shad had been said to me, years ago.” To everyone’s horror, it looked like tears were forming in Pince’s eyes. No one knew the woman had emotions, much less showed them.

“I remembered you spending every mt int in the library and from what those boys said, you hadn’t changed one bit. Well, I’ve spent my life that way and look where it’s gotten me – I’m a bitter old spinster who has nothing more than a room full of books for company! I wasn’t about to see that happen to someone else.”

She paused to blow her beak-like nose in a far from ladylike manner.

“You reminded me of myself at your age. I just knew that if someone had pushed me a little bit, I might have found happiness in a man’s arms rather than in a dead-end job – no offence meant, Albus.”

Dumbledore was still too shocked at the fact that Pince was revealing a sensitive side to register the insult.

Hermione finally found her voice: “So you told me about some make-over contest in Witch Weekly. Only there really wasn’t one, was there?”

Pince’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “I told you that so you would write the letter. You see, I was here the first night Minerva talked about doing this.” At that, Snape turned to McGonagall and glared at her. “You were going to let Albus take all the blame for this?” he hissed. McGonagall coloured and looked discomfited.

“I’d always thought you and Severus had a great deal in common,” she looked apologetically at Severus, then Hermione. “After hearing these three write the advertisement, I knew you were perfect. I also knew there would be charms to check the authenticity of any letters, so you had to be the one to write it. Once you wrote it, I offered to proofread and post it for you…” Pince trailed off and shrank further into her cloak. There was a collective sharp intake of breath. McGonagall and Sprout were actually in danger of hyperventilating if there were many more gasp-inducing revelations.

“I guess it’s lucky that the other two ladies didn’t work out.” Poppy said, relieved. “Well, it wasn’t all luck,” Pince replied. “I was here for all the dates.” Any light-headedness that might have been caused by all the surprises disappeared with that last comment. McGonagall shot Pince a piercing look and said sharply, “Irma Pince, you should be ashamed --”

“Minerva,” the librarian interrupted, “I didn’t do anything to interfere with the dates. Let’s face it, I didn’t need to do anything that first night,” she smirked at Pomfrey, Sprout and McGonagall. “The second date had me a little worried though.” Severus was quite thankful for his mastery of keeping his expression neutral; while his face registered nothing, he was nearly panicked, trying to remember exactly what he’d said to the barkeep after walking Erin to her door. He was desperately hoping he hadn’t looked too … happy when he’d returned to the bar.

Irma continued, “but as Severus accompanied the woman to her accommodation, some man had come to the bar asking after her. I told him that I might know something about where she was and he told me his story – that he’d made a terrible mistake and had come to get the love of his life back.” Pince looked around the table. “So I didn’t do anything directly to influence the dates themselves.” She straightened and her face returned to the haughty expression they were accustomed to. “But I would have if I’d had to.”

There was silence for a good minute, then a chuckle from Albus. The chuckle became a giggle. By that time, Minerva had started in and before long everyone at the table – Severus and Hermione included – were laughing at the chain of events that brought the couple together.

After everyone had caught their breath, Albus brought a chair over to the table for Irma and before she quite knew what was happening, he kissed her on the cheek. “It would seem, Irma,” the Headmaster whispered to her “that we’ve all underestimated you. You’ve made this old man very happy with the results of your scheming.” She ducked her head but not before everyone saw the sparkle in her eyes.

The Headmaster called for another round of drinks and Sprout, Poppy, McGonagall, and Dumbledore each insisted on toasting the librarian, causing her to blush – but she nevertheless accepted their toasts.

As the party wound down and everyone started to toward home, Minerva put her arm around the librarian’s shoulders and said, “So, Irma -- we girls are having a little get-together next month. Perhaps you’d like to join us. We do this every month…”

A/N -- Again, thanks to all the reviewers.

Special gratitude goes to Droxy (and thanks for you email -- you\'ve no idea how much it meant) who not only gave me some of the best praise I\'ve received, but shares a love for two of my favorite things: ELP and Barrie.

Thanks to nesscafe and the two debs for the support. Y\'all made my day each time you reviewed.

In case you haven\'t figured it out yet, Barrie has been a huge inspiration and a great friend. GO READ \"SUB ROSA\", then read \"More Important Than Winning\" and \"Gray and White\"! There\'s a reason this woman gets PAID to write ~ and she gives it away for free here, so before she wises up and starts charging me to beta for her, go enjoy her stuff! Oh ~ and \"E Pluribus Unim\" (sequel to \"Sub Rosa\") starts soon.