When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 54: The Dual Pleasing Invite

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 54: The Dual Pleasing Invite

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. JK Rowling owns Harry Potter.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

December 1996

He watched as his students added the final touches to their potions. Only simmering could be heard throughout the room. He felt their nerves spiking with the last minutes of the test.

His eyes rested on Granger. She was focusing on her stirs, her lips moving silently as they counted. Their talk had calmed her somewhat, but he knew the witch still blamed herself and the fear of failure was still active within her.

He understood that fear. He'd made mistakes, lots of them, but he wouldn't let her fall into darkness the way he had.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class and of the term.

"Fill the vials and place them on my desk, now." Without hesitation or complaint, the three students filled their vials with antivenin. Each one had a specific venom and had to develop the remedy without knowing its nature. From what he could tell by color, all the students did quite well.

One by one, they left the vials on his desk before turning their backs to him to clean their cauldrons and their workspace. The first one to finish was the Slytherin, and after grabbing his things, he turned and bowed to him.

"Have a nice holiday, sir." He nodded in reply, not letting the severity of his face drop, and he watched the boy leave. Some of his house still respected him, but Malfoy's actions were creating tension inside Slytherin. The boy was a true serpent, able to slip away every time he tried to talk with him.

His eyes focused back to his classroom, and he noticed Granger's delay on gathering her things as the Ravenclaw left, not bothering with saying goodbye to him. That was what he preferred.

Placing his focus on the remaining witch, he relaxed and waited, knowing by her behaviour that she wanted to talk to him.

She turned in his direction, her bag crushing her shoulder under the massive number of books that she had. He had to hide a snort as she came closer to him.

"So, Miss Granger. I assume you are going home and want to wish me a good holiday?" A small hint of soft teasing escaped his voice. Most people would have considered it as a cruel mock, but the glint of her eyes and her smile widening confirmed that she didn't consider it such.

"Not this year, sir. I wanted to spend it here. I heard that only a handful of students are going to stay, so it would be calm enough to put my thoughts in order and..." The witch hesitated but he waited patiently. "I could spend more time with you too. I-If you allow it, sir."

With others, he would have reduced them to tears already, but not with her. He found her nervous babbling amusing, but her words were surprising. People tended to avoid him, not want to spend time with him.

When he nodded, her smile widened even more, to the point it looked like she was trying to overstretch her mouth.

He grinned. "But let's calm things down during the holidays. I might kill a student when they come back if I don't get a rest from the constant academic babbling with no sense."

She looked offended. "I don't say things with no sense." She bit her lip for a second. "Not always."

Her face turned serious and she took a deep breath.

"Something wrong, Miss Granger?"

"Um... Are you aware that Professor Slughorn is having a winter party for some students?" she asked.

"I am aware. That man has always loved to surround himself with people he thinks will be great," he replied with a bored tone. Slughorn sought glory under the wings of others. He liked being able to say, "I taught him or her" as if their accomplishments were his more than theirs.

"Well, I'm invited to this club of his."

"Why am I not surprised?"

She let a grin flash on her lips. "The thing is that I have to go to the party, and I thought that...maybe..."

"Spill it, Granger, I don't have all day."

Her cheeks flushed and her lips parted again, but no voice came from her.

Out of words? Her? That was strange.

After a moment, her eyes changed, the fierce bravery practically burning in them.

"I wanted to ask if you would like to come with me."

His eyes widened. Had she just invited him? To a party? With Slughorn?

No one had ever asked him to a party for the sole reason of spending time with him. Merlin, he'd never thought he could experience these kinds of feelings. He had given up on friends and social interactions when he chose to give up his life to destroy Voldemort. To pay his debt to Lily.

He swallowed as the name tainted the joy and corroded it with pain. It was a nice cascade of coldness to bring him back to reality. Granger was waiting for his response.

"I was invited already," he said.

"Oh." She sounded a bit disappointed.

"I wasn't going to go, but seeing that someone with brains will attend, I think I'll attend."

"Really?" Her tone was so happy, so hopeful. He was going for her.

He gave a single nod.

"So, I expect to see you then."

"We will see, Miss Granger." His voice was filled with a tone of indifference though he felt anything but that. "Now, go get to your other finals."

"Yes, sir," she said. She switched her bag over to her other shoulder and practically hopped out of the dungeons.

It was odd to make someone happy in such a small way.

But it was pleasant to do it.

AN: What had just happened here? Mmmmmm Changes... perhaps...Hope you liked it and let me know what you think! I know these chapters are short but I wanted them to make sense and not throw them when they don't fit. See you on Wednesday!

PS: I had problems to log in in Wattpad so at the end I had to change the way of Long-in I finally took the chance to put my nickname correctly lol. Now. Not confusion.