-THE REUNION - CLASS OF '98

CHAPTER 8: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

"Who was that?" asked Harry.

Everybody was looking at each other in shock. All their troubles and arguments were momentarily forgotten.

Dean moved in the midst of the mess of turned chairs and broken glass and bent down to get something. "Look, it's Hermione's wand!"

Snape retrieved the wand from the young man's hand and pocketed it. He knew someone had this planned all along. He searched the faces of everyone present, in hopes of seeing a glint of guilt, a betraying expression or any clue that they knew something.

It didn't come as a surprise when he saw the anxious look from Malfoy's eyes.

"You!" He pointed at Malfoy, striding in a matter of seconds to where the young man stood, and grabbed the neck of his shirt.

With realization dawning in their faces, Potter and Weasley started in Malfoy's direction demanding an explanation, but Snape lifted one hand, ordering them to be quiet. Then he turned back to Malfoy. "You better start speaking Mr. Malfoy," Snape hissed dangerously.

Cowering and turning his face away with his eyes closed, as if waiting for the blow, he said, "It's not my fault sir, but..." Malfoy whimpered as Snape tightened the grip on his shirt.

"But what Malfoy? Spit it out!" Weasley yelled impatiently.

"I know who it was, but I had nothing to do with it, I swear," he said defensively.

"Don't play innocent now, Mr. Malfoy! I know you've been up to something from the start! The Veritaserum for one," Snape said glowering over him.

Malfoy's eyes grew big. "What? No... I did not do that!" This time he looked truly indignant.

"Don't test my patience, Mr. Malfoy. Just tell me who took Hermione!" Snape's voice was menacing and his sharp eyes were burning holes through Malfoy's skin.

"It was Father... he had this idea of revenge from the moment he left Azkaban. He seems to think it's all your fault, sir," Malfoy said without meeting Snape's eyes. "He came to me asking to help him with this crazy plan to lure you into the Forbidden Forest, so he could kill you..."

Gasps were heard throughout the room.

The group of reporters and photographers who had cowered away, when the Great Hall was in total darkness, had come back and couldn't believe the amount of news they would have in the morning. It was better than winning wizard lottery!

Snape didn't think twice, he ran in the direction of the front door.

"Wait Professor, what do we do now?" Harry asked.

"I don't know about you, but I'm going after her," he said without even a glance back.

The others turned back to Malfoy, who looked sickly pale. The Headmaster approached the young man with a sad expression and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Why didn't you warn me Draco?"

"I didn't actually think he was going to go on with it!" Malfoy replied shaking his head. "Father has been off his rocket lately. When I said I wouldn't be part of it, I thought he would just give it up."

Dumbledore nodded and turned to the other ex-students. "Now I believe we'll have to wait."

"Well, I can't sit around here and wait!" said Weasley.

"Yeah, I think we should help," Seamus agreed.

"I'm with you!" Lavender cut in, to everyone's surprise.

In moments, everybody left together to help find Hermione. The Headmaster stood at the entrance watching the group move into the Forbidden Forest, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight.

Back in the Great Hall, Malfoy slumped down on a chair, muttering, "I can't believe this..."

"Hey Draco." Millicent Bulstrode was in front of him with a raised eyebrow and a strange smile.

Draco looked up at the chubby witch and shivered slightly. The woman hadn't changed a bit; she still looked like a feminine version of Goyle. She was wearing cobalt blue robes and platform shoes.

She said, "What do you say we leave this boring party?"

"I-I don't think I can Millicent," he said trying to dismiss her. "I am working and I can't just leave."

She looked at him seductively. "There's something about hard working men that really turns me on..."

He eyed her suspiciously. 'That's why she was always chasing those Hufflepuff boys,' he thought.

"You know it would be a shame to go home to all that money I inherited after my Death Eater parents were killed in the war." She paused to bend closer to his ear. "And I have no one to spend it with..."

Draco's eyes lit up immediately. "Sure, come to think of it, I suppose this party is already over anyway..." With a smirk, he threw his apron on the floor and let himself be dragged by Millicent. Both disapparated outside Hogwarts' gates.

Neville and Luna watched them go while sitting outside near a rose garden. Unlike everyone else, they both seemed unaffected by the Veritaserum. They were acting just the same.

"I like your dress," Neville said with a shy smile.

"I made it myself," Luna replied proudly.

They stared at each other, dreamily unaware of anything else around them.

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Snape left Hogwarts determined to get Hermione back, but he needed to be fast. Thinking quickly, he yelled, "Accio broom!" It came flying from his quarters to stop right in front of him.

He could hear the voices of the others approaching, but paid little attention.

Giving it a little impulse, he was in the air within seconds and proceeded to fly over the Forbidding Forest, trying to find a trace of Lucius and Hermione.

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Hermione's eyes flew open. She blinked wondering how long she had been unconscious. She tried to move, but her hands were painfully bound behind her back. Taking in the surroundings, she was sure this was the Forbidden Forest. Still a bit confused, she focused her eyes on Lucius Malfoy. Instantly, it all came to her.

Lucius looked really creepy. His hair was loose and messy; wild strands fell over his grey eyes and he was wearing a beat up, dirty, poor imitation of a cloak like the ones Death Eaters used to wear. He reminded her of the way Sirius looked when he escaped from Azkaban.

Lucius regarded her with a strange gleam in his eyes. "Ah, you're awaken... good. Snape should be here soon, looking for you."

"What makes you think Snape of all people would be looking for me?" she asked, trying to confuse him.

"Do you think I'm daft, mudblood? I saw the little entertainment you two put on in the library! If anyone is going to attract him here, it's you." He looked at her with pure loathing.

"You're only going to get yourself back to Azkaban and this time you don't even have any money for lawyers!" she shot back.

"I could care less! Do you think I enjoy being a janitor? As long as I kill that traitor, I can even get the Dementors' kiss and I'll be glad!" He was pacing maniacally and Hermione could tell he wasn't right in the head. But even so, she couldn't shake his words out of her mind. What if he killed Severus? She had to think of something...

She looked at the wand in his hand and tried to see if she could reach her own. She felt her skirt for the hidden pocket, only to find her wand was gone. Looking curiously at Lucius she said, "I thought the Ministry had confiscated your wand."

"I stole this one from the 'lost and found' department. It's not perfect but it should work... I stunned you with it, didn't I? I suppose it won't be a problem to perform an Unforgivable," he said in a soft voice that sent shivers down her spine.

At that moment, Hermione saw something dark pass over the trees. She quickly looked at Lucius and was relieved that he hadn't noticed anything.

Suddenly she heard someone muttering a spell over her shoulder and in a few seconds, her hands were free. She turned around at the same time Lucius did and before Severus could utter another word, Lucius yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Severus' wand flew several feet away and Lucius drew near, pointing his wand at both of them. Severus instinctively put himself in front of her.

"You know how long I've waited for this opportunity, traitor?" Lucius had a triumphant grin on his face.

"Are you going to throw your freedom away again Lucius? Is that what you want?" Severus talked in a very calm and collected voice, but his shaking hands were betraying his cold demeanor.

"Freedom..." Lucius chuckled. "What freedom?" The chuckle turned into a hysterical laughter. Slowly recovering from his sudden fit, he pointed his wand straight at Severus and started to say, "Avad..."

His words were interrupted by loud voices coming from all sides, in the forest. He looked around frantically, his attention faltering from his victims.

That was all it took for Severus to pull Hermione's hand and rush for his wand. Lucius tried to curse him on the way, but they rolled to the ground just in time. Quickly Severus got a hold of his broom and both mounted, barely missing another curse aimed at them. As they were distancing themselves in the air, Hermione looked down and could still see the angry mob closing in on Lucius. Flashes of red light illuminated the dark forest.

She leaned back on Severus, who tightened the embrace, burying his nose in her soft hair. They didn't speak, just enjoyed the broom ride, feeling the cool breeze of the night on their faces.

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Back in the Great Hall, the group of ex-students gathered around Dumbledore, telling all the events that succeeded after they entered the Forbidden Forest.

"He got so many stunning spells at the same time, that I doubt he will wake up for a week," Harry commented.

"And when he does, the first thing he'll see is the ugly face of a Dementor!" Ron joked.

Dumbledore and McGonagall were positively beaming.

"The Aurors from the Ministry only arrived after we had knocked him down," said Seamus.

"Typical," added Lavender.

"What about Hermione and Severus?" asked McGonagall looking around the room.

"Last time I saw them, they were flying towards the castle," Parvati replied.

"We saw them landing on the roof," Luna said, entering the Great Hall, holding Neville's hand.

Dumbledore conjured some music and with a smile said, "Why don't we all enjoy the rest of the party?"

The spirits were up again and for some reason, fighting against Lucius brought them together, like it used to be when they were just students. So, not bothering about fights or who was right or wrong, Dean extended a hand to Ginny who had been sitting in the back sadly alone. They started dancing and were followed by Lavender and Seamus. Ron looked at Fleur who was expectantly waiting for him to invite her to dance. With a glare, he moved right past her and took Parvati's hand guiding her to the dance floor.

Harry was frowning at what the night had come to, when he noticed there was only him and Fleur left, so he shrugged and pulled her hand without saying a word. Back in a dark corner, Neville and Luna were snogging madly, while the couples slowly swayed at the sound of the soft music.

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Severus and Hermione landed on the roof of the castle. Hermione looked back at him inquisitively and he just smirked.

"Why are we on the roof Severus?" she asked.

"I don't think I want to see anybody right now, let them deal with it," he said smiling and pulling her to him. "Besides I don't want to lose sight of you ever again."

She grinned at him and snaked her arms around his neck, as he claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss.

A Muggle song started to play in the distance.

.....I'm wild again, beguiled again, a simpering whimpering child again... Bewitched bothered and bewildered... Am I....

"Is that music I hear?" Hermione murmured in Severus' ear.

"I suppose the party is back on," he answered through her soft hair.

"Is this the Great Hall's roof?" she asked incredulous.

"Yes, we're standing exactly above the enchanted ceiling... would you care to dance?" he asked pulling away from her embrace to look into her big brown eyes.

She nodded amazed at the idea that Professor Snape could actually dance.

"I'd love to!"

He swept her around, making her giggle and led her into a slow dance.

.... Lost my heart, but what of it? He is cold, I agree... He can laugh but I love it.... I'll sing to him, each spring to him... And long for the day when I'll cling to him... Bewitched bothered and bewildered... Am I.....

The soft music enveloped them into a trance and as they locked their eyes, Hermione could see a relaxed expression in her former Potion Professor's demeanor. There was something else... was it happiness? Hope?

He gracefully leaned her back, bending over her and taking her breath away as the song continued.

..... When he talks... He is seeking.... Words to get... On his chest... Harsh until he's speaking... He's at his very best... Jest again... Oh yes perplexed again.... Then, God, I can be oversexed again... Bewitched bothered and bewildered... Am I....

Never breaking their eye contact, they were making a silent agreement, for the first time knowing what the future held for them, and were happy about it.

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Dumbledore and McGonagall sat together happily watching the couples dance and gazing at the enchanted ceiling from time to time.

"Do you think they know we can see them from here?" McGonagall asked.

"If they do, I don't think they care, Minerva," the old man answered admiring Severus and Hermione dance away among clouds and stars, as if floating in the night sky. "That's quite a sight, I must say."

McGonagall smiled. "I guess things worked out well, considering everything..." she trailed off.

"Indeed, my dear, I always find honesty the best solution," he said with his eyes twinkling.

"Well Albus, You'd better take that bottle of Veritaserum back to Severus' store room, before he finds it missing," she said with a raised eyebrow.

"True, Minerva, true," the old man said standing up.

No one noticed as he left the Great Hall humming contently, holding a small bottle with a clear liquid in it.

THE END.

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A/N: First, I'd like to thank Shauna for Beta-reading for me.

That's it, the end is here, I hope you all enjoyed this fic, it was sure fun to write it! The song is called "Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered" and it's also the tittle of this chapter. It's one of those 40's old jazz songs that in my opinion are wonderful to dance and awfully romantic. Many people have recorded this one, I have a lovely version with Rod Stewart. The composers are Rogers & Hart. So there you go.

I'd like to thank : Chainmailgirl, hp-lover-fifi (i'm glad you enjoyed the veritaserum idea) Stacey Pointe, Parody-of-an-Angel, Cow as White as Milk, Countess Vladislaus Dragu, the-sexy-flower, Zozochick, jean jelly bean and havensdevil for your wonderful reviews, I'm really happy you guys enjoyed the story and reviewed, it means a lot to have such good responde.