Time After Time

Chapter Three: You're Calling Me, I Can't Hear

While Severus worked on various potions—one to potentially get Riddle off Quirrell's person, and another to get the Horcrux out of Harry—he still had to contend with the potions for the hospital wing. While Hermione was pleased that Severus permitted her to help him, once she proved to him that she was indeed adept at potion making, she herself was quite busy as well. It didn't take too long to track down the diadem, and she destroyed it systematically with a basilisk fang that Severus had for making potions. Minerva, meanwhile, got her an appointment with Madam Malkin to make her some suitable ball gowns, and she was given etiquette lessons on the weekends for how to properly behave at a Malfoy ball.

"This is all very ridiculous, I hope you know that," Hermione grumbled to Severus. They all three were in the Room of Requirement, two Saturdays after Severus had decided to make her his partner for the Malfoy Easter celebrations, and Minerva was overseeing their dance lessons, although it was terribly awkward. "Besides, I already know how to dance. Minerva taught us before the Yule Ball."

"I'll bet you didn't even get the opportunity to practice your steps," Severus replied with his trademark sneer. "You likely were regulated to the corner all night."

"Actually," Hermione countered, "I did have a partner. One of the Triwizard Champions, I'll have you know."

"Ah, Potter took pity on you, then," Severus declared.

"No," Hermione said, glaring up at him. "It was Viktor Krum, I'll have you know. He was so kind and attentive that evening..."

"You were fourteen!" Severus sputtered. "And he... Well, he had to have been at least seventeen in order to be eligible for the tournament, although the headmaster let Potter compete..."

"Fifteen, actually," Hermione said. "I was born in September of 1979. Not that you would remember something like that," she said snidely. "Being a Gryffindor and a Muggleborn, I couldn't have been very high on your radar."

Severus murmured something unintelligible before pulling her closer and dipping her, much to Hermione's protests. "The Malfoys enjoy little shows like that," he informed her, although there was surprisingly no bite to his voice. "See that you're prepared for it."

Hermione rolled her eyes as her sense of gravity returned to her. "I'll try to keep on my toes, then," she said quietly.

"See that you do," Severus told her, turning her again.

"We haven't yet decided if we'll use Polyjuice for this farce," she snapped. "Or would you rather go with a buxom blonde?"

Severus actually threw back his head and laughed. "Since you seem to know so much about me, Granger, you would know that I'm not into blondes."

"Hmph," Hermione said, hating the sensation of her skin erupting in goose bumps at the sensation of him laughing. "Just so. Still, shall you be wanting me to attend as myself to the balls or not?"

"Hmmm," Severus mused. "When did you say Lucius first met you?"

"In my second-year, while we were shopping in Flourish and Blotts," Hermione responded. "As you well know, I look quite different now..."

"Different enough so that he likely won't notice," Severus said. "Plus, with your gowns and your hair done appropriately, it will be unlikely that he will catch on. No, it's decided. You will go to the balls as yourself."

Hermione grimaced. "I haven't been to the manor in...quite some time," she said softly, watching from the corner of her eye as Minerva manipulated the record needle.

"I thought you had mentioned that you and Draco were friends in the future," Severus replied, and spun her around again.

"We are," Hermione confirmed. "I even introduced him to his wife... Of course, it was mainly done to keep him away from me."