Chapter 76: In Celebration of Cupid (Redux)

The Potions Classroom, Hogwarts...

Obsidian eyes burned into the minds of the unsuspecting minds of the first year Slytherin-Gryffindor Potions class. The owner of the blazing eyes, one Severus Sebastian Snape wore a rather emotionless expression as he went over the various properties of Canis Root. The school had been buzzing with the obvious approaching Cupid's Ball but most knew better than to mention anything pertaining to Valentine's Day around Severus Snape. Despite everyone knowing about his apparent relationship with Hermione Granger via The Daily Prophet, he had showed no signs of interest in the so-called holiday at all. Dumbledore decorated the castle possibly thinking this was the one time that Severus would get in on the festivities since he too had a significant other this time around. The students had been unpleasantly surprised to find that Snape had remained his usual dour self despite all that has happened perhaps even more so.

"Can anyone of you tell me what the properties of a Canis Root consist of?" asked Snape in his usual deep baritone drawl.

The students fumbled about searching their books for the answer.

"How disappointing." said Snape as he started to pace the classroom oozing coldness from every pore as he made his way between the various rows of students.

Everyone was silent.

"You will find that today's reading requires your undivided attention." said Snape as he continued to pace. "As an antidote to your ignorance you will be reading the following chapters on the various properties of Canis Root...Chapter 34 on page 45...chapter 35 on page 52 and chapter 37...on page 61."

The class still remained silent.

"You will notice that I have skipped over chapter 36." said Snape in an emotionless tone. "That is because the properties in this chapter are irrelevant to what we will be attempting in the near future."

A dark haired first year Gryffindor boy had the unfortunate luck of being passed a Valentine's Day card. It had been a rather expensive looking thing as if who ever brought it went all out in the spirit of the holiday. Before he could put it away Snape had been over to his desk and glaring at him with cold eyes as if he were peering into his very young soul.

"Mr. Cullright." said Snape in an icy tone. "What is that?"

The Gryffindor boy known as Cullright had been trembling. He had heard stories about just how ruthless Snape could be when someone brought Valentine's Day things into his classroom. He had even seen the man set fire to Dumbledore's decorations.

"I-It's a c-card sir." replied the dark haired boy.

Austin had been watching Snape with caution. He had heard that Snape had not liked Valentine's Day but to see his reaction to something like a card was just strange to the boy.

Snape levitated the card into the air and examined it briefly. His pale lips curled in disgust. The dour wizard made his way toward the front of the room and made sure he got the attention of the entire class.

"In the future you will do well to remember that things of this nature are not welcome in my classroom." said Snape barely concealing his anger. "Such frivolous displays are not welcome in this room...if you wish to indulge in the holiday keep it outside of my classroom!"

None of the students had been prepared for what happened next.

"Ignis." said Snape and the card burst into flames with the eyes of the entire class watching. Collective gasps filled the room and quickly silenced.

"Get back to work." said Snape as he turned and headed back to his desk in a billow of robes.

No one dared make a sound that wasn't work related after that.

Austin looked across the room and found that Cullright had been hiding tears as he continued to do his work. He had not had much luck with making many friends and it was the first time that someone had showed an interest in him. The dark haired Gryffindor went back to work with a sad expression on his face. He had forgotten the most important rule when it came to Snape despite all that the older kids had told him.

The Potions Master hated Valentine's Day.

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Later...

Snape held Cullright after class as the last of the students filed out of his classroom. The dark haired Gryffindor boy had been still upset about his card and quite afraid of what the Potions Professor would do next.

"Mr. Cullright...in the future you will obey the rules of my classroom." said Snape.

"Y-Yes sir." said the crestfallen boy.

"Enough sulking." said Snape.

He waved his wand and the remains of his Valentine's Day card turned ash that littered the floor swept into the air and mended itself. The boy's dark eyes had been bright with excitement. Snape rolled his eyes and levitated the card back to the boy.

"I trust you will keep this to yourself." said Snape. "If I am questioned about this incident I will deny it to the full extent."

Cullright smiled holding his newly restored card in his hands.

"I-I will sir." he said elated. "T-Thank you sir."

"Yes yes...run along Mr. Cullright I have parchments to grade." replied Snape turning his attention back to his desk.

The elated boy took off with his card in tow. Snape shook his head unable to help the smile that threatened to file across his pale face. Unbeknownst to Snape, Austin Embers had witnessed the entire ordeal and had a smile of his own. He knew his guardian could not possibly be that cruel especially to an unlucky boy like Cullright.

The young Slytherin made his way to his next class with a new appreciation for Severus Snape.

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Teacher's Lounge, Hogwarts...

A late meeting was the last thing Severus Snape wanted when he strolled into the teacher's lounge. His mood had dampened some since the earlier incident with the card and Valentine's Day decorations. He had still hated the holiday with every fiber of his being and nothing was going to change that. Not even a witch like Hermione. He had spent too many years suffering at the mercy of the blasted holiday and it was a deeply ingrained hate.

The Potions Master sat in his usual seat nearest to the coffee pot and the door. Hermione strolled over and kissed her ever brooding grouch much to the chagrin of the other staff members. She knew where her boyfriend would much rather be at this time and it wasn't sitting in a room discussing the plans for the up coming Cupid's Ball. The Charms Mistress knew that Snape had a deep hatred for Valentine's Day but never knew why exactly he had a problem with it. She had to admit that she had not really been a fan of it either and it seemed to suite them both. He had given her gifts in the past and she didn't doubt that he would again but that didn't change how he felt about the holiday overall.

"Oh get a room you two." grumbled Minerva.

"Gladly." replied Snape. "But your coot of a wizard demanded we be here."

Hermione shook her head.

"Severus." she said trying to mediate.

"She's the one who insisted our display of public affection be taken elsewhere." said Snape narrowing his eyes at Minerva.

"That's enough." said Dumbledore chiming in.

Snape opened his mouth to retort but Minerva narrowed her eyes at him and tightened her grip on her wand.

Dumbledore addressed the rest of the staff.

"As you all know the annual Cupid's Ball is coming up." said the old wizard. "And as you all know I have gathered you all here to decide who this years chaperons will be."

"Oh joy." said Snape un-enthusiastically.

"Behave yourself Severus." said Minerva turning her attention back to Dumbledore.

"Yes Mother." replied Snape sarcastically.

Hermione, Lupin, and Neville tried their best to keep from laughing out loud.

Professors Sprout, Sinistra, and Vector simply tried to ignore the antics of The Potions Master.

"This years chaperons for the Cupid's Ball are..." Dumbledore read off the names from his list. "Professors Hermione Granger and Severus Snape."

"WHAT!?" asked Snape greatly annoyed about his name being called.

Hermione couldn't fight off the fit of giggles that overtook her when she saw how seriously disturbed he looked about the idea of chaperoning the ball.

"You've got to be kidding me." said Snape folding his arms across his ebony clad chest. "Pick someone else."

"Oh cheer up Severus." said Minerva teasing. "You seemed to be quite amorous a few minutes ago when you were snogging Miss Granger."

Snape narrowed his eyes at the older witch.

"Snogging?" he said as if the word were distasteful. "Why Minerva, I had no idea you spoke hormonal teenager...perhaps you would like to be chaperoning instead."

"Not on your life." said Minerva. "Besides, you dear boy have way more in common with the token randy six years."

"Isn't there some catnip you should be sucking on?" asked Snape in a cold tone.

"Probably next to your hair dryer I'd wager." countered Minerva.

Hermione couldn't help herself at this point. It seemed Neville couldn't either. As students neither of the ever would have imagined that teacher meetings had been like this.

"Sentient Hag." said Snape.

"Dungeon Bat." countered Minerva.

"Salem witch." said Snape

"Son of a grease monkey." said Minerva.

Hermione had been stunned. She knew Snape and her former head of house had a rivalry due to them being the heads of two rival houses but she never would have imagined it being anything like this.

"You lose Severus." said Minerva with a wicked grin.

"Only because you had the advantage of a distraction." replied Snape gesturing to Hermione.

"You buy the drinks." said Minerva triumphant.

"Blasted she devil." Snape grumbled.

"That's sweet Severus but you've already lost the game." said Minerva still with the smirk.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh again. Snape narrowed his eyes at her. He had lost a barbs game against Minerva and had to be a chaperon for the upcoming Cupid's Ball.

He really hated Valentine's Day.

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Snape's Bedroom, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

Hermione had not been surprised when Snape arrived at Hogwarts smelling heavily of Firewhiskey. He had grumbled about having to buy Minerva drinks at the local tavern in Hogsmead and proceeded to try and retain his dignity by challenging the wily Scot to a drinking match. Needless to say he won but at the cost of many mental functions.

"H-Hellllo H-Hermioneeee." said Snape drunk.

Hermione shook her head unable to say much about his current state.

"Severus." said the bushy haired witch with a smile. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I-I-C-Could th-think of a few things...M-Miss Granger." he replied with a drunken grin.

He stumbled toward her and she lead him toward the bed.

The bushy haired Charms Mistress unbuttoned his frock coat and he let if fall to the floor below. She helped him into bed and he kicked off his boots. She unbuttoned his white shirt and he let that fall to the floor too. She climbed into bed wearing only her cotton night gown and pulled back the covers.

"Hmmmm." purred Snape in her ear. "Y-You Smeell gooooodddd."

Hermione smiled in the darkness of his bedroom. He had been an adorable drunk.

"And you smell like firewhiskey." she replied. "Get some sleep."

"W-W-Why?" he asked letting his fumbling hand creep across the exposed flesh of her thigh. "I-I-I've f-f-final-ly go-got-t y-o-ou al-one."

"Because you're much too drunk tonight." said Hermione matter of factly.

"R-Rub-bish." replied Snape with a wicked grin.

Without another word he captured Hermione's lips in a heated kiss and proceeded to prove to the young witch that he was just as good in bed drunk as he was sober.

After a few hours he had fallen asleep snoring quite loudly in his drunken state. Hermione smiled once again in the darkness as she kissed Snape's pale lips softly. He let out a low growl and scooted her closer to him. This coming Valentine's Day was bound to be much better than the last one she spent with the dour wizard. She could be with him in the open like any other witch keeping company with a wizard on the holiday.

Still she knew he had not been a fan of the holiday but he would get along with it for a time for her sake.

After the last few pleasant thoughts of the day filled her ever wandering mind, Hermione fell asleep happily in the pale arms of her lover Severus Snape.