Unity Begins at Home

Severus knew he would hate most every second of the celebration ball. What he didn't expect was to spend the first 45 minutes scanning the crowded room in search of some bushy brown hair attached to a witch, who, if he was honest, was starting to bewitch him.

In the end, Severus had opted for no greater shock factor than walking into the ballroom, taking a glass of steaming punch from a house-elf, and proceeding to have a perfectly normal conversation with Minerva.

It was enough. He heard the whispers, and noted the stares, but ignored them all.

Unfortunately, what he could not ignore were the Thackery twins. The girls- well, they could hardly be described as girls but they certainly acted like hormonal teenagers- were pin-up girls in one particular Quidditch magazine. Severus had no doubt Weasley had something to do with their invitation.

Once they spied the infamous Severus Snape, potentially an actual vampire, they just had to get their claws into him.

Severus was powerless to stop them converging upon him, all heaving breasts and girly voices. Merlin's beard, he really wished he was dead.

"Excuse me, Miss Annabelle!" Severus almost squealed when one of the girls decided to run her hand down his back and cup his…nether-regions. Just as he was about to hex them into next year, he heard another breathy female voice.

"Oh there you are, darling!" Hermione breezed in between the twins, who were looking very much like they had just consumed some sour grapes, and wrapped her fingers around Severus arm. "I have been looking all over for you, you silly man!" With her other hand, she lightly swatted his chest and leaned in to his cheek, ostensibly for a kiss. "You looked a bit like you were drowning…." She whispered before giving a very cat-like grin at the twins. "Well, I'm sure my Severus has had a fabulous time talking with you, but he has better things to do now." Then she propelled Severus as far from that corner of the room as possible, the Thackery twins staring at their retreating backs.

Severus was too relived to notice that everyone was staring and whispering at the unlikely duo more than they had when Severus had first entered.

"You do realize that I do not need 'saving' from anyone or anything, Hermione. I am perfectly capable-"

"Oh yes, completely capable of being drooled on by the twit-twins." Hermione had dropped the jealous girlfriend act and was trying very hard not to laugh at the memory of Severus looking as if he wanted the floor to swallow him.

Severus grunted. "Yes, well… thank you." He said quietly through gritted teeth.

"You're welcome."

Now that Severus was not drowning in the clashing perfumes of those exasperating women, he noticed Hermione was dressed rather elegantly in a long, black dress. It was simple and understated, just like her. He suddenly felt quite lucky to have her friendship.

"So…what was this surprise you promised me?" Severus asked as Hermione grabbed a drink from a passing elf.

"Well, I thought you and I should show our support for House unity."

"Mm…" This was nothing new.

But before Hermione could explain her idea, Harry approached them. "Good to see you, sir." He held out his hand. "As Hermione keeps saying, we must stick together in these trying times. I appreciate you coming out tonight."

Severus nodded in reply. Really, the boy sounded exactly like a future Ministry minion, but at least his heart was in the right place.

Harry winked at Hermione and walked off, smirking to himself at Hermione's brazen scheme.

"Anyway, I figured what better way to express our desire for healing these wounds then showing everyone that a Gryffindor and a Slytherin can get along very well, thank you very much."

"I'm afraid I miss your point. Surely, you and I talking together is not going to garner a significant amount of change."

"Mm, no, but I think it might get things going." Hermione smiled. Severus knew that smile.

"You're keeping something from me, aren't you?"

Hermione gave a short laugh, and turned around slowly. The back of what Severus thought was a plain, simple dress, was almost open but for some gold cords looping towards a large snake curving down the length of her spine.

When Hermione turned back around, she leaned in and whispered in Severus' ear. "I thought this might help with inter-house relations…"

Severus felt a shiver down his spine. There was definitely no mistaking that tone of voice. He swallowed and replied, "Indeed. Shall we begin these… relations… at your place or mine?"

Hermione smirked and pulled him out of the ballroom, where the two wasted no time in embarking on Hermione's inter-house unity proposal.

As the two apparated back to Hermione's house, they thought that perhaps they could begin to heal each other's wounds. In the end, just maybe, all would be well.

And that's all folks. I hope you've enjoyed! Until next time. :)