Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

It's just a book	By : QueenRuby Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Snape/Hermione Views: 13757 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Disclaimer: I own nothing. JKR owns everything including Severus. I�m just using them for my own sick pleasure.

A/N: I would like to thank my betas Alianne and akathryna. For anyone interested David�s title is a real title. David�s name is not but the Blois is an ancestor of ours. Way back so far that we cannot claim anything. Much to my mom�s disappointment.

Chapter 8: The Ball

Thousands of candles lent their light to the atmosphere of the great hall. The three giant chandeliers were set high to give off as much light as possible, their crystals throwing specks of rainbow across the room. Silver candelabras graced the drink and snack table with their presence, adding their warm glow to the golden tablecloth.

The stage was set with the orchestra on the opposite end of the hall from the grand entrance, which sat on top of the divided stairs. Behind the buffet table, a fire crackled merrily in the huge fireplace. Across from it, the drapes had been drawn back and the doors thrown open to let the guests have access to the terrace and the gardens beyond.

The suits of armour that stood at the corner of the hall had been polished to a mirror finish and the floor had been freshly cleaned as had been the tapestries. The servants moving through the hall were dressed in their best clothing as they served wine to the Lords and Ladies.

As the queen moved through the crowds double checking everything, whispered conversations were drifting to her ear. �She left him in town.� �She questioned his manhood.� �She didn�t!� �I heard he carried her back to her room� �How romantic.� �The servants are taking bets on when the wedding will be.� The queen wasn�t sure whether to be happy or mad. Obviously, she wanted her daughter to be happy, but in the queen�s opinion, she could have done so much better.

It seemed even the weather had bowed to the Queen�s plans as it was a cool crisp evening, but also unseasonably warm for late fall. The Lords and Ladies were decked out in their finest, each trying to outdo the next.

The Major-domo broke the hum of conversation: �Announcing Princess Hermione and her escort Lord Severus Snape, the King�s advisor.�

Everyone stared at the couple at the top of the stairs. Amongst all the pastels, these two were striking. Hermione�s under dress was the deepest black they had ever seen, while the overdress was a rich wine red. A five-strand cream-coloured pearl necklace with a ruby pendant graced her neck. Her hair was woven up with more cream-coloured pearls in it, and curls had been pulled free to frame her face. Severus was wearing black tights and a red wine tunic that matched Hermione�s dress.

The Major-domo hit his staff on the floor once more to get everyone�s attention again: �Announcing Crown Princess Megan and her husband Count David of Blois.�

Hermione turned to greet her sister who was done up in white as was her husband. Before she could say anything, she caught a look of hatred from David that was so intense it caused her to take a step closer to Severus. He didn�t notice David�s look as he was scanning the crowed before him with a scowl.

�I thought she was going to cut the guest list down.� He was not happy but only she heard him as he guided her down the stairs.

�This is reduced,� she responded watching David out of the corner of her eye. He was all smiles now and Hermione wondered if she had imagined it.

�Would you two stop complaining?� Megan said while keeping a smile on her face, making Hermione wonder how she did it. �We have to lead the opening dance. All four of us,� she reminded them as David led her to the middle of the dance floor.

Severus growled as he followed their lead. He pulled Hermione into his arms as the music started. Pulling her close, he bent his head down a little so he could talk to her without anyone else hearing; at least, that�s the reason he gave himself. �Have you noticed the colour scheme in this scene?�

�Are you talking about the fact that everyone except for us is wearing �happy� colours?� She was glad to have this discussion as it took her attention away from his hand on her back. �Maybe you�re referring to the fact that while we are dressed in black, my sister and her husband are in white.�

�Both, as well as a third fact you have failed to notice.� He was slightly amused at her attempt to ignore his hand on her back. He started tracing small circles through the fabric of her dress. A shiver passed through her at his touch and he smiled at the effect he was having on her.

�What third thing?� Her voice trembled a little as she tried to concentrate on his voice and not his hand.

Noticing she was concentrating on his voice, he dropped it into a sultry range as he answered her. �I�ll tell you later. What is your opinion on the on the first two?�

Hermione almost turned into jelly at the sound of his voice. She had to rack her brain to remember what he had asked. �Well, normally the main characters are put in clothing drastically different then everyone else to draw attention to them. As for the black, she could be referring to your dark nature.�

�My dark nature? Cutting your self a little short there, aren�t you?� His breath caressed her ear as he spoke, sending more shivers down her spine. He was not playing fair.

�It would have to be your dark nature, Severus,� she said his name in a breathy way. �Or maybe she thinks we look good in dark colours.� Hermione moved in such a way that when they made a turn, her thigh brushed his groin area.

�Ah, because you�re so innocent.� He raised his eyebrows, giving that statement a double meaning. �That dress does look good on you.� �It would look better on my floor,� he thought to himself, surprised at his own cheekiness. A hiss escaped his lips as they made another turn causing her to brush against him again. He was tempted to let his hand drop to her rear but dared not to with so many people watching. �The third thing is we are both dressed in the same colours. Think back on every play you have seen. What does that usually mean?�

�In both plays and movies, lovers are often put in the same colours,� she responded before what she was saying actually sunk in and she blushed.

�Now Hermione, while I have you where you can not run away, let me ask you this: why was I pulled into a book you were reading miles away and why is the author so intent on throwing us together?� The music stopped. �Think on that while I get us something to drink.�

She was flabbergasted as she watched him walk away. �He couldn�t be serious. So what if I wouldn�t mind the sex part all that much; we would still fight like cats and dogs all the time. Wouldn�t we?� she thought. She quickly replayed the last several days in her head and decided that all the times they had fought had been him purposely aggravating her.

�Princess?� She turned to see a young nobleman. �Would you do me the honour of this dance?� He gave a deep bow. �It is what I need, time to think,� she said to herself.

�It would be a pleasure.� She took his hand and followed him onto the dance floor.

***

Severus was seething. Hermione had been avoiding him ever since the first dance when he had brought everything to her attention. She had danced with one young nobleman after another. When he got his hands on her again, he would make sure she never even wanted to look at another man.

�Would my Lord care for a dance?� It was the raven-haired lady from the garden.

�I think that is just what I need, my dear lady.� He flashed her a smile as he offered his hand. She would never know how forced that smile was as he led her out to the dance floor. He was a spy after all.

�I noticed the Princess is avoiding you, my Lord. Did you two have another fight?� She smiled reassuringly.

�Actually no, I thought we were getting along fine.� He wondered at his willingness to talk to this lady.

�Perhaps she just needs time to think,� she offered with a smile.

�That could be it.� He was going over everything that had happened and realized that it could be overwhelming for her. �Why are you so interested in us?�

�Let�s just say I�m sick of you two being so stubborn. I usually don�t intervene or speed things along but your friends are starting to give me a headache,� she said for his ears only. His eyes opened wide as he realized with whom he was dancing.

�Ruby,� he sneered at the woman in his arms.

�Severus, I thought you would be happy at finding your soul mate.� She smiled at him sweetly. �I do not have much more time here. Even if the spells are my own, I can not interfere too much without dire consequences.�

�Who is bothering you?� he asked suddenly fearing who in the real world knew he was here. The music ended and she smiled sadly at him.

�My Lord, I do not see the Princess. Do you know where she is?� With that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Severus scanned the dance floor and could not find Hermione there. As he searched the ballroom, his eyes landed on the King who looked at him questioningly. He overly exaggerated shaking his head to get his point across. The King quickly motioned some of the guards to him.

Word spread quickly across the crowded ballroom. The Princess was missing and everyone was being called to search. Everyone felt the urgency as they remembered someone had tried to poison her just the other day.

Megan was worried about her sister instantly and when she turned to David for comfort, she saw the pleased look he wore before he could wipe it off his face. Her heart sank as she turned and moved as quickly as she could away from her husband. She had to find her father in this confusion.

Dread started to fill Severus as he raced out to the terrace. His eyes scanned the gardens for any sign of her. His heart almost stopped when he found none.

�Someone saw her come out here two songs ago with a young man,� the King quickly said as he joined him. �No one seems to know who he is.�

�Have the guards search the grounds and castle.� Severus was still looking for a hint of which way they had gone.

�No one remembers the man they saw her with being announced,� the Queen said while trying to catch her breath as she joined them on the terrace. �Several of the Lords and their personal guards are joining in the search.�

�I told you this ball was a bad idea,� Severus snarled at her, causing to take a step back at his venom. Her eyes widened at what that simple sentence implied about her priorities.

�Now Severus, there is no need for that,� The King snapped, coming to the defence of his wife. He would not let anyone talk to her that way even if he did agree with them.

Before the king could say anything more, a scream ripped through the air and like a lighting bolt Severus was over the railing of the six-foot-high terrace and running through the gardens to the woods beyond. His heart raced, not sure what he was going to find but knowing with certainty that scream had been torn from Hermione�s lips.
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

It's just a book