Winter's Shadow

Chapter 17

Stay Away

Hermione followed Snape off the dance floor and around a corner. He headed into a dark corner that normally Hermione would not be found following someone into, but this was Snape. His darkness blended into the corner. Before she knew what happened she found herself pulled by her upper arm and then shoved against the bricking of the building. She looked up to see Snape peering down at her full of spite.

"Miss Granger, what exactly do you think you are doing?" She looked at him curiously as if asking, "What do you mean?"

He shook her slightly by her arm that he still held. "Don't play coy with me, MISS Granger. You know very well what I am referring to. That...that...performance." Hermione watched the anger, trying to decipher if it was anger spurred from jealousy, after all she did not do to him nearly what she had to the other gentlemen in their party, or if it was a professor's anger at a misbehaving student. He looked her up and down. "And I am ordering you to change into something appropriate."

Hermione opted for the jealousy-inspired anger. With an impish grin that worried Snape, Hermione reached up to one of her pigtails and began to twirl it with her fingers. Cocking her head to the side slightly she looked at Snape with her signature mock innocence. "Why, Professor, I thought you would approve of my uniform." She reached a hand down and ran one finger up her leg from the knee. "After all, it covers SO much more than my bathing suit ever did." As her movements began to move her skirt further up Snape grabbed her arm again abruptly moving her hand from her leg. With a slight jerk, she felt her body hitting the wall again. What is it with this man, walls, and me?

"Miss Granger, look over there." With his other hand, he moved her face to the direction of a table toward the back of the club. "Do you know who they are?" She turned her head to look back at the man holding her captive. "Death Eaters are following us. It would be wise to not draw such attention to yourself. You need this just in case." With his other hand he held the onyx necklace up. Automatically it wrapped itself around her neck. The stone warmed instantly against her chest.

Hermione's gaze pierced his eyes. She saw something flicker across his face, only for a moment. What was it? Fear? But not for his self--for Hermione. He shuddered to think what would become of this muggle-born witch if they got a hold of her. It was a flicker of the man that kissed her while they were in hiding.

Snape saw Hermione starting to lean a bit toward him. He tightened his grip on her arm, startling her.

"Miss Granger, I am warning you." His acidic tone told Hermione that Snape was not going to tolerate any more of her stunts. "You are completely unaware of the affect you have on those around you." Hermione quirked her eyebrow at this wondering what he was getting at. "I am going to ask you one more time to change your clothing. You may be able to handle the pubescent advances of your peers, but I doubt your ability to handle such advances from a hungry wolf and canine...or a group of Death Eaters." Hermione not only heard the cruelness in his voice, but she could feel it also.

Sirius stepped into the shadow taking Hermione's hand causing Snape to relinquish his grip. He brought her hand up to his lips and barely kissed it and once he saw that Snape was watching he barely licked her hand. She looked up appalled as did Snape.

"Sorry," Sirius said with a grin looking at Snape and then at Hermione. He winked, "it's just the dog in me." Hermione laughed completely understanding that was for the benefit of seeing the look on Snape's face at knowing his conversation was overheard. Hermione, smiling, let Sirius lead her from the trap Snape had her in.

"Miss Granger," Snape hissed as she passed by. "You are a child and my student. It meant absolutely nothing."

Sirius felt Hermione's hand tremble in his. He gave it a slight squeeze and led her out to the dance floor where a slow song had started. He danced with her while she fought back the tears and turned those unshed tears to anger. When the song ended Draco cut in.

He looked Hermione up and down with his infamous Malfoy smirk. "I didn't know there was a naughty school girl up under those robes."

Hermione smacked his arm laughing. "There's not and you know it."

"Yeh I know." He shrugged. He watched her knowing where her mind really was. He looked at the table where Remus sat trying to talk with Snape, who was watching them dance. He looked back at Hermione. "Snape is a git, Hermione. You're better off not even worrying about him." He gently rubbed her cheek. "Besides, how can you think about him when you are dancing with the hottest Seeker at Hogwarts?"

Hermione looked up and around her. "But I thought I was dancing with Draco? Harry is over there dancing with Ginny."

Draco stopped and just looked at Hermione. Laughing she reached up and kissed him on the cheek. "Where is Colin when you need him and his camera?" Draco shook his head and continued dancing with his friend.

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Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk watching the flames dance around in brilliant shades of teal. One by one he watched his students and their "chaperones" return through the flames. The Headmaster smiled at Hermione. She was covered in her scarlet jacket again, but she still donned pigtails as did the other girls.

"Miss Granger, did you have an enjoyable birthday?"

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore. I can not tell you how much I appreciate you allowing us this evening."

Professor Dumbledore nodded his head instead of saying, "your welcome." Hermione's eyes shifted to the dark professor staying nearest the fire as if he wanted an easy escape if need be. He was not looking at her however, but glaring at Sirius. All the students said their goodnights to Sirius, Remus, and Professor Dumbledore. They were assured they would have no problem going back to their common rooms as Filch had been given a list of their names so as not to punish them for being out.

As the students headed toward the door the headmaster looked at Snape and with a smile looked back at the girls.

"Oh, ladies?" They all turned to look at him. "Do make sure your uniform skirts are of proper length by tomorrow." Draco, Ron, and Harry snickered while the girls looked dumbstruck. How did Dumbledore always seem to just know things?

The Malfoy smirk penetrated the room.

"Professor Dumbledore, you might have fewer cases of ill students during classes if they kept them...OUCH!" Immediately his face contorted to the usual glare he was known to give Hermione in the past. Now, Sirius and Remus were attempting to hold back their laughter. The rich chuckle of Dumbledore however, set them off.

"Mr. Malfoy, I am sure there would be. Now, off to bed with you all." The students walked out. The professors could hear the girls voices at Draco all the way down the staircase. The sound of their voices died down as they moved further from his office. Finally, Remus broke the silence.

"Well, are you going to tell us if you recognized any of them?"

Snape looked up realizing Remus was talking to him.

"I don't have time for petty games, Lupin."

Sirius, who had been closest to the door looked up at Snape's obtuse attitude toward the nights events. The low growl warned Remus his friend was coming from behind him and heading straight for Snape.

"Why you bloody git!" Remus reached out and grabbed Sirius from getting to Snape. Snape lazily looked to Sirius as if he was no threat at all. "I over heard your conversation or should I say your tirade to Hermione!"

Dumbledore held up his hand for quiet.

"Sirius, calm down. Severus, did you recognize any of the Death Eaters that were following you?"

Snape turned his head to the headmaster. "Yes, Headmaster. I recognized two of them. Lower ranking Death Eaters. No doubt doing what they must to rise in the ranks."

Dumbledore nodded his head in understanding and did not go any farther in want of details. "Well, gentlemen, we can discuss this more after some much needed rest."

Sirius nodded his head and bid the Headmaster and Remus goodnight before flooing back home. Remus left for his own chambers with Snape not far behind. When Snape reached the door the sound of the Headmaster's voice stopped him from exiting. He did not turn around however.

"Severus, Miss Granger is not one easily controlled." He watched Snape's hand tense of the door knob. He knew Snape was listening. "I thought...you might need reminding."

"Thank you, Headmaster." Snape didn't turn around, but left for the dungeons.

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Hermione had changed into her pajamas and sat in front of the fire in her and Draco's common room. A few moments passed and Draco stepped into the room in his flannel pajama bottoms and t-shirt.

"Are we day dreaming about Snape?" He received a glare worthy of a Death Eater.

"Bloody hell, Hermione! I was only kidding. No reason to give me the Death Eater Glare." He sat down and put his arm around her in a friendly way. "I told you, he's not worth it."

Hermione nodded her head in agreement or understanding, she herself was not sure which. He noticed the silver chain around her neck and the onyx attached to it. "So, he gave you the necklace back?"

She snorted. "More like forced it on me. I had forgotten until you said something." She shrugged. "I'm going to bed I think. I'll removed the necklace before I go to bed and give it to him first thing in the morning."

He nodded his head in understanding. "Okay. Sleep well, Granger." He tried for the past drawl he used with her, but it was now nothing more than a joke.

"Sleep lightly, Malfoy."

She got up and went to her room. Draco stayed in the common room trying to figure out his own emotions. He was always attracted to Hermione, he knew that. But it was only getting worse. Or was she becoming one of his best friends. She always said she loved Harry and Ron, but could never date them--it wasn't that kind of love despite Ron's misconceptions that it could be. He just didn't know.

While lost in his thoughts, Hermione had closed the door to her room and went about preparing for bed--including removing the necklace. Suddenly, Hermione's voice echoed through out the common room in sheer anger that would send Voldemort running for cover.

"AHHHHH....SEVERUS SNAPE! BLOODY HELL! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU FOR THIS!"