As the Yule Ball continued inside the castle, Professor Snape found himself burdened with one of the enjoyable tasks of the evening — making sure students weren't using the Ball as an excuse to disappear into the grounds.
His patrol eventually brought him to the gardens behind the castle.
The crisp winter air carried the distant sound of the Weird Sisters while snow reflected the warm glow spilling from the castle windows.
As Snape passed the Beauxbatons carriage, he stopped.
The carriage rocked noticeably. Then again.
His eyes narrowed. He strode straight to the door and threw it open. "Out."
A startled yelp from inside. "I said, out. Both of you. Now."
A flustered Hufflepuff boy and a blushing Ravenclaw girl scrambled out of the carriage, avoiding his icy glare.
***
Back inside the Great Hall, Harry and Ron had long since given up pretending they were enjoying the evening.
The opening dance had ended some time ago, the floor now crowded with students from all three schools, laughter filling the hall as the Weird Sisters played another lively tune.
Neither Harry nor Ron paid much attention to it.
Harry frowned as his eyes wandered across the room. "Hey, Ron... I saw Victor dancing with Fleur."
Ron barely looked up. "No, you didn't."
"I did."
"He was with Hermione the whole time. They only just went outside a minute ago. How could he be dancing with Fleur?"
"That's what's confusing me."
Ron gave a distracted shrug, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. "I don't know, mate."
Harry leaned back in his chair, still trying to make sense of it. "Well... at least one of us is enjoying the Ball."
Ron let out a long sigh. "I hate this night."
"Yeah... me too."
Neither said another word as the music continued around them.
Outside, the castle grounds were quiet compared to the noise inside.
The cold winter air carried the distant sound of music across the snow-covered gardens.
Lanterns hanging from stone archways cast a warm glow over the winding paths while stars shone brightly above the castle.
Victor and Hermione sat together on a stone bench overlooking the grounds.
Hermione rested her head against Victor's shoulder, her arm linked loosely through his.
Away from the crowded hall, the evening felt considerably more peaceful.
For several minutes they simply watched the snow drift gently across the gardens.
Hermione broke the silence with a quiet smile. "I really like tonight."
"So do I." A chilly breeze swept through the garden and he noticed her shiver. "Though I think that dress isn't doing much against the cold." Before she could answer, he slipped off his dress robes and draped them over her shoulders.
Hermione looked at him in surprise. "What about you?"
"I'll manage."
She smiled and pulled the robes around herself. "Thank you."
They sat in comfortable silence, listening to the distant music drifting from the Great Hall.
"Just three more years," Hermione said at last. "Then we'll graduate. Have you ever thought about what you want to do afterwards?"
Victor leaned back against the bench. "Honestly? Probably nothing."
Hermione turned to stare at him. "Nothing?"
"I'm from a wealthy family. If everything goes according to plan, I'll spend a few years doing absolutely nothing."
She laughed. "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"You have no ambition whatsoever?"
"I do." He smiled. "I'd like a peaceful home, a good family... and I'd make an excellent house husband."
Hermione blinked. "A... house husband?"
"Why not? If my wife enjoys her career, I'll happily stay home. Cook, keep the house tidy, make sure everything's ready when she gets back."
Hermione couldn't help laughing. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone say that so confidently."
"I've given it some thought."
"I can tell."
Victor glanced at her with a teasing smile. "If you're interested, you could always be the working wife."
Hermione froze for a heartbeat. "W-What?"
"I said you could—"
"I heard what you said."
A warm blush spread across her cheeks as she looked away, suddenly finding the snow-covered gardens far more interesting than Victor.
Victor chuckled softly. "So, does that mean you've rejected my brilliant plan already?"
"I didn't say that."
"No?"
"I just can't picture you spending all day doing housework."
"I'd be excellent at it. I cook well enough to survive, I can clean, and I don't mind a quiet life."
She laughed. "You've actually thought this through."
"I have."
Hermione looked at him for a long moment, her smile slowly fading into something gentler. The winter breeze stirred a few loose strands of hair across her face. Victor reached over without thinking and brushed them behind her ear.
Their eyes met. Neither spoke.
The distant music drifted through the gardens but seemed very far away.
Hermione's heartbeat quickened. For once, she stopped trying to analyze every thought running through her head and simply listened to the feeling.
Slowly, she leaned a little closer. Victor remained where he was, watching her with quiet curiosity. When only a few inches separated them, she hesitated for the briefest moment before closing the distance herself.
Her lips met his in a soft, gentle kiss. It lasted only a few seconds before she drew back, their foreheads almost touching.
Victor looked at her, a faint smile spreading across his face. "So..."
Hermione's cheeks were still warm. "So?"
"I wasn't expecting that."
A shy smile appeared on her lips. "Neither was I."
"I suppose that answers my question."
"What question?"
"Whether you'd let me become a house husband."
Hermione let out a quiet laugh and gave his shoulder a light shove. "Trust you to think about that after..."
"After my proposal for future employment?"
She rolled her eyes, unable to stop smiling. "It wasn't a proposal."
"No?"
Hermione met his eyes again. "And yet..." she admitted softly, "...I don't dislike it."
*****
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