A/N: I have absolutely no excuse for not posting this sooner. So sorry!

Power in All its Glory

Chapter 37: A Power Like This

Professor Snape was tired.

It had been a long day of teaching brats. That was really the only way to describe the little monsters. But at least the main emotion they felt toward him was now once again fear.

It was January. The holiday break was over. And although that had been difficult since Hermione had gone home, it would have been more difficult if she had stayed.

Once term had started again, the students had regained their healthy respect for him.

And he was relieved to have everything back to normal.

As he made his way to his rooms, he noticed his wards had once again been tampered with. Not everything was back to normal.

Thank goodness.

As he walked into his parlor, he saw her standing there, looking beautiful in a little black evening dress.

"Miss Granger," he said sternly. "What are you doing in my chambers?"

He tried to look severe, but he knew he was failing miserably.

"I thought we could celebrate," she said with a smile on her face.

His eyebrows rose together.

"You took a great risk by coming here."

She gave him an exasperated look. "What risk, Severus? As Dumbledore already knows about us, I don't really see the danger."

"The agreement was that we would wait until you graduate. There are still several months until that happens."

"It's not like I'm suggesting we shag."

"Hermione," he said cautioning her. He really did not need the mental images her words invoked. Especially when she was looking quite beautiful in that dress. It had small straps that could easily slide off her shoulders …

He really had to stop thinking those thoughts or they would not last until graduation.

But he had made a promise, and he was not going to break it. No matter how tempting.

"Oh, don't be so stuffy," Hermione said, oblivious to his internal struggle. "It doesn't hurt anything to have a little celebration."

Snape took off his outer robe.

"Don't you want to know what we are celebrating, Severus."

"Not particularly," he replied.

She noticed his sour note.

"Don't worry, this time it will be better. There will be no embarrassing moments, no other people, no singing about cold cuts …"

His eyes narrowed at her

"Only you and me …"

She leaned in then and kissed him gently on the lips.

"Happy Birthday, Severus."

Neville cheered along with the rest of the Gryffindor students. They had won the Quidditch match today against Slytherin. Everyone was in high spirits.

And everyone was there. Well, everyone but Hermione. He knew she was probably with Snape. After all, today was his professor's actual birthday.

The thought of them together no longer brought the pain it once had. Neville hated to admit it but he had learned a lot from this experience. In the last few months, he had stopped hiding. It was easy to be invisible but not so easy to let people in so they could see the real Neville.

He was no longer nervous around Snape, and so he excelled in Potions. Everyone was taking him more seriously … probably because he was taking himself more seriously.

He even had a girlfriend. That had surprised him the most.

Olivia.

She was wonderful. Perfect.

And he had never been happier.

Neville realized at that moment that although he no longer had the power that came from controlling others, he had an even greater power.

A power to control his own feelings, emotions, and actions.

A power that came from within.

And it was the greatest power of all.

A/N: This is the end of the story but at the insistence of my beta, Sevfank… who really does know best, there will be a sequel. It will not be long but it will be rated as mature. That way we can fast forward to Graduation day and all that entails. :)