I Think You Mean It Like That

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters herein.  All the characters in the Harry Potter universe belong exclusively to J.K. Rowling. I am publishing this only for my own selfish desire to be a part of their world.

The song “Drift Away” isn’t mine, obviously!  As far as I know it was first sung by Dobie Gray, and then reprised by Uncle Kracker.  It belongs to them, and their record labels, etc, etc.

The song “You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This” isn’t mine either.  The version I’m referring to was sung by Toby Keith.  I would guess as he writes most of his songs, he owns it, or co-owns it with the other guy who he writes with.  There may be others who own it more than he does, aka his record label.  Lyrics quoted are borrowed from listening to my very own purchased CD. 

Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed so far!  What an amazing response!  I’m honored!

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Chapter Two – There’s a Different Feel About You Tonight

The next two weeks passed quickly as the seventh year students sat for their NEWT’s.  Before it seemed possible, the tests were done, the scores had been posted, and Harry, Hermione, and their friends were ready to graduate.  As most of the students found themselves scurrying around finishing their final packing before getting ready for the Graduation Ball, Harry sauntered down to the dungeons, happy to be free of the pressures of studying, but eager to start the next phase of his life. 

Harry peeked through the open door to the Potions’ classroom.  “Professor, do you have a minute?”

Severus looked up from the potion he was stirring with a smile he allowed very few people to see.  “Harry, come right in.  And I believe you can now officially call me Severus in public as well as in private.  You are now my colleague, not my student.”

Harry smiled genuinely and sauntered over towards his former Professor, and perched on the edge of one of the work tables.  “Funny isn’t it?  Just a couple years ago I couldn’t imagine calling you anything but ‘the greasy git’ and now I can’t imagine not having you as a mentor and a friend.”

Severus gazed off into the distance as if recalling a memory, and then turned to look at Harry seriously.  “I often wondered if I had made a mistake showing you this side of myself after Black died, but you were too despondent for me to continue to harass you.”  A slight smile curved the corners of his lips.  “In retrospect, I’m glad that I trusted in your maturity, and your rather Slytherin-esque ability to continue to act as though we were enemies until the Dark Lord’s demise.”  Severus put out the fire beneath the cauldron, and cast a stasis charm over the contents.  He turned towards Harry with a bemused expression.  “So why are you here?  Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the Ball?  What precious flower will be gracing your arm tonight?”

Harry snorted.  “Nah, I’m pretty much ready already.  I’ve just got to fish out my old dress robes from my wardrobe.  I’ve got plenty of time.  I really have no desire to even go to the stupid Ball.”  Harry rolled his eyes, annoyed.  “Ron basically forced the issue so ‘Mione and I are going together.  Not like it’s a real date or anything…”  Harry trailed off, almost sadly.

Severus looked at the young man before him wondering if he had been as clueless as the Boy-who-lived when he was seventeen.  Severus snorted to himself in disgust.  Never mind, obvious answer there.  He had been clueless enough to enter the Dark Lord’s ranks when he was seventeen, poor Harry merely was too blind to realize that he had feelings for his best friend.  And obviously had no idea that the girl had feelings for him either. 

Severus pondered if he would have seen the signs when he was seventeen.  Alas, Harry Potter was a great deal like Severus Snape.  Both, for strikingly similar reasons, had been forced to grow up far before they should have, and by doing so missed out on the social niceties of dating and parties.  While Harry’s school years had been a mite more carefree than Severus’ had, the weight of the job he was destined to do carried heavy on Harry’s shoulders even while he was supposed to be enjoying himself. 

No, Harry had definitely missed the signs.  He had no idea that Hermione Granger cared for him in a more than friendly way.  Likely, she didn’t know about Harry’s feelings either.  And their classmates?  Well they were simply too involved in their own lives to see the truth right in front of them.  Hmmm, Severus hadn’t played matchmaker in almost eighteen years.  And that time proved to have spectacular results.  The first time he had encouraged a shy Lily Evans to give James Potter a chance, perhaps now…

“Harry, you can’t honestly plan to just show up wearing your old dress robes?  You’ve grown at least several inches since then.”

“What?  Oh, hmmm, I guess you’re right.  Think if I transfigure them longer…”

“I think you should come with me to my quarters, I should have something that will fit you.  You’re my height now, and we’ve got about the same build.”

Harry’s face blanched as he pictured himself wearing one of Severus’ all black ensembles.  “You want me to wear…”

“Oh, don’t look so panic stricken.”  Severus spat out.  “Children!  You act as if you believe all I wear is black teaching robes or Death Eater garb.  Honestly!  You know your professors do have lives outside of school.”

Meanwhile, across the castle…  “Honestly, Professor.  I can stay and finish up here.  You go.  It’s not like I have much to do to get ready.”  Hermione waved her hand dismissively, as she went to levitate another row of textbooks into the storage box in front of her.

“Hermione Granger!  If you think I will allow our Head Girl to be late for the Graduation Ball you are sorely mistaken.  And for the hundredth time, call me Minerva!”  Minerva stood with her arms crossed, lips pursed, tapping her foot in annoyance.

“I’m sorry, Prof-…I mean, Minerva…it just is so difficult to change seven years of reflex.”  Hermione smiled apologetically.

Minerva relaxed her posture, and gave her charge a bright smile.  “Of course, child.  I understand.  It took me quite a while to call Albus by his first name as well.  After all he had been my Transfigurations Professor, you know.  That point aside, you really do only have four hours until the Ball, you really should start getting ready.”

Hermione sighed in frustration.  “So the other girls tell me.  Lavender, Parvati, and Ginny are having a makeup and hair party right now in .  I’m quite sure Luna and Padma are doing the same thing over in the Ravenclaw dormitories.  They’ve been getting dressed in stages since they woke up this morning.  It’s revolting.”  Minerva chuckled at Hermione’s obvious disgust at the thought of getting ready with the girls.  “It should take me less than an hour to get ready.”  Hermione shrugged and looked off into the distance.  “I mean, I’m only going with Harry, and he doesn’t exactly want to go with me.  If Ron hadn’t goaded him…well goaded us both…” 

Minerva could see the disappointment etched on her young student’s face.  Could it be that Minerva’s suspicions were accurate and Hermione did have feelings for her best friend?  If so that would make it all easier.  Hermione had been difficult to read.  Minerva hadn’t seen a young one so able to hide emotions since…well, since Severus Snape had been her student.  Harry, quite on the other hand, was an open book.  He wore his emotions candidly on his face just like his father had before him. 

Minerva sighed to herself.  She supposed she’d be helping yet another young lady have a Cinderella makeover tonight.  With any luck this one would wind up as a Mrs. Potter as well.

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Several hours later a very nervous Harry Potter entered through the portrait hole of .  Harry blushed furiously at the appreciative glances cast his way by most of the females milling about in the room awaiting the arrival of their escorts.  He spotted Ron and Neville staring at him wide-eyed from across the room.  Harry hurried over to meet them.  Ron blinked owlishly at his best friend.  “Mate, we were getting a bit worried that you’d decided not to go tonight when you didn’t show up to get dressed.  I thought you were planning on wearing your old dress robes.  These are…wow!”

Harry chewed his lower lip nervously.  “Too much, eh?”

Ron shook his head profusely and grinned.  “No, they’re bloody fantastic.  It’s just that I’ve never seen you so dressed up.  And your hair…it actually looks good, mate.  How’d you get it to lay flat?  Where are your glasses?  And where’ve you been?  Not to mention where did you get those robes?”

Harry chuckled through his nervousness.  “Slow down Ron.  Um, actually, the robes belong to a friend.  He loaned them to me since I’ve outgrown mine.  He helped me get ready, and charmed my hair and eyes as well.” 

Ron whistled in appreciation as he circled around Harry admiring his outfit.  “Well he’s got excellent taste.”

Harry grinned cheekily.  “Yeah, Snape really does have good taste doesn’t he?”

“SNAPE?”  Both Ron and Neville bellowed out.

Harry chuckled at the looks of surprise on the faces of Ron and Neville.  Harry had been astounded himself when he saw the stylish robes Severus had hidden away in his wardrobe.  True, Harry had gotten to know the Slytherin Head of House much better over the last two years, but he had rarely seen Severus out of his teaching robes.  “Shhh, not so loud.  He does have a reputation to uphold.  I doubt he’d want anyone to know he was caught being nice to me…of all people. “ 

Severus had selected a set of midnight blue raw silk robes for Harry that had a crushed velvet cape of the same color attached at the shoulders.  He had additionally supplied Harry with a pair of black knee-high dragon hide boots which peeked out from beneath the floor length robes.  The look complemented Harry’s lithe, Quidditch-toned body and lightly tanned features.  The deep blue color also brought out the vivid green in Harry’s eyes.  Severus had cast charms on both Harry’s eyes and hair to temporarily correct Harry’s vision and to subdue his usually unruly hair, respectively.

Harry was about to comment again when he heard Neville mutter under his breath.  “Oh my gods, who is she?”

Harry turned towards the portrait hole to see that Professor McGonagall had already entered, and was now taking the hand of a beautiful young woman to help her step through the entrance.  Harry couldn’t see the young woman’s face at first, but her figure was flawless.  The first thing he noticed was the delicate golden three-inch heels which graced her petite feet.  Her dress robes hugged her curves, accentuating a body that couldn’t possibly belong to a seventh-year student, at least not any he had ever seen.  Her robes themselves looked as if they had been spun from pure gold.  The skirt sparkled with iridescent patterns, and swayed with her body as she walked, almost as if it had been bewitched to do so. 

As Harry’s gaze traveled upward, he noticed that silver threads were spun throughout the bodice of the robes, which only served to further accentuate her ample bosom.  When his eyes finally strayed upwards to her face, he was met by the shy smile of his best friend, Hermione Granger.  Harry’s mouth fell open as he fought with the realization that the incredible beauty before him was, in actuality, his Hermione.  He knew Ron was speaking to him, but he truly couldn’t concentrate on anything but walking across the floor to Hermione.  Time seemed to slow down as he drank in the sight before him.  Her face was made up delicately, only enough to let her natural beauty shine through.  Her lips were glossy, and her eyelids were surrounded with a smattering of glitter which highlighted her bold cinnamon eyes.  Her hair had been tamed and she was wearing it loose in long, silky ringlets down her back. 

Hermione had actually enjoyed spending the afternoon getting ready with Minerva for the ball.  Apparently it wasn’t that Hermione had trouble forming friendships with other females, it was only that she was not interested in the same things as her female peers.  However, as relaxed as she had been in Minerva’s chambers, her anxiety reappeared the second they had left for the Common Room. 

Minerva had insisted that Hermione borrow one of her sets of dress robes, and Hermione was glad that she had done so.  As she had watched her reflection in the mirror as Minerva helped her with the finishing touches on her outfit, she was shocked at the difference a few charms and a decent outfit could make in a person.  How could she have ever considered wearing her dress robes from fourth year? 

While she was concentrating on not tripping over her robes, using Minerva’s hand to steady herself as she walked into the Common Room, all sound had stopped.  When Hermione finally looked up, she had realized with embarrassment that all the appreciative eyes in the room were on her.  She blushed furiously until she saw Harry.  As she stood watching Harry walk towards her, she could barely remember what her robes even looked like.  Her breath caught in her throat as she saw how handsome he looked.  But before she could ponder further on when Harry had a chance to obtain such fine robes, or how he had gotten his hair to flatten, or how absolutely glorious his eyes looked when they weren’t encumbered by his glasses, Harry was standing before her.

Words failed Harry as he reached Hermione’s side.  His eyes locked with hers, and when he saw that she was as nervous as he was, he relaxed immediately.  This was his best friend, granted the best friend that only moments before had made his heart, and other body parts, leap to attention, but still…his best friend.  Maybe this night would be fun after all.  Harry took her hand in his own, and leaned down to gently brush his lips to her fingertips.  “Milady, I believe that I am your escort for this evening.”

Hermione giggled as the tension left her body at Harry’s gentle teasing, then immediately returned, but to a far different place, as she felt the electricity pass between his soft lips and her fingertips.  She answered him softly.  “Yes, kind sir, I believe you are.”

Harry bowed briefly towards Minerva.  “I promise I shall have the young lady back at a decent hour madam.”

“Hmmm, I would hope so, Mister Potter.  Now run along, children.”

TBC