Shall We Dance?

Chapter 11 -- Shall We Dance?

Hermione used all of the spare time she had to get ready for the ball in her rooms. She had chosen out her finest dress robes a lovely cream and gold number, with the inner dress cut snuggly around her curves, thin spaghetti strapped, and cut low down her back: lovely and simple. The outer robe was the same delightful shade, sleeves reaching to her elbows and trimmed with gold lace, trailing a little longer with an intricate pattern woven in gold thread all over the outside, lined with gold silk on the inside and fastening at the front with long strands of gold silk weaving and crossing over.

Once she was satisfied with her dress, she muttered a quick charm that piled her hair on top of her head, sending a few loose ringlets to cascade down her shoulders and back. She left her room not long after and took a couple of shortcuts to the Great Hall, met by a charming Anthony in black dress robes with a cream coloured waistcoat beneath, as she had instructed he wear in a note.

'Hermione, you look absolutely beautiful!' he exclaimed, eyes wide, drinking in her appearance.

'Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself,' she replied, blushing an attractive shade of red and clasping her hands together nervously.

'There's no need to be nervous, Hermione. You look great. Everyone will be really impressed and the ball will be fine. You organized most of it, remember?' he reassured her kindly.

She replied with a soft thanks and a brilliant smile and walked with Anthony, who had offered his arm to her, to the doors to open them and announced for the ball to begin. They each threw a door open, and a sea of grandly-dressed students went inside to the lavishly decorated hall.

Hermione had decided that pink and red were certainly too overrated and instead decorated the hall in lovely shades of white, gold, and silver. Apparently, it had impressed everyone, and the celebrations began well.

She danced around the hall gracefully with Anthony a few times before Ron and Harry both took her for a turn around the hall each before returning to their dates and leaving Hermione alone for a moment. She went to the refreshment table and watched as Dumbledore waltzed with McGonagall around the hall energetically. She was surprised at the amount of energy the old man had sometimes.

'Shall we dance, Miss Granger?' a familiarly silky voice asked from beside her ear.

Hermione felt a shiver run down her spine when the warm breath washed over her neck. She turned and saw that Snape was standing there with a hand extended to her and an indifferent expression on his face. But his eyes... they were glittering in... mischief? Triumph?

'I suppose,' she said with a shrug, taking his hand as he led her onto the dance floor. Outwardly, she appeared not to care too much, but inside she was a mess. Her stomach was doing flips, and her heart was aching painfully.

He gracefully led them into a slow salsa, and Hermione was delightfully surprised at how well he danced. She had not even been aware that he could. There were only two other couples on the dance floor apart from them, Dumbledore and McGonagall, and Remus Lupin with Professor Sinistra. Apparently not many people knew the dance.

'Miss Granger, I was not aware that you could salsa,' Snape commented silkily.

'Yes, I did dancing lessons when I was younger,' she replied meekly, blushing a little and trying to calm her breathing.

'You dance well,' he complimented smoothly.

'Thank you, so do you,' she said a little breathlessly as the dance sped up a little and he spun her out to arm's length before snapping her back to his body and bearing down on her as the dance required to be successful.

'Thank you,' he replied, moving them perfectly in time with the orchestra.

The dance came to a close, and Hermione had a lump in her throat when Snape bent her backwards and handed her a rose as he pulled her back up smoothly, ending the dance. 'Thank you for the dance, Miss Granger.'

And with that, he left. Hermione stood there breathing heavily and trying to regain her senses. He was a wonderful dancer, and he had practically flirted with her the entire time she was in his arms, bodies pressed together perfectly, breath mingling wonderfully and blood pumping at an unbelievable rate.

She collected herself quickly, holding the black rose he had given her lightly and turning to face Anthony, who had returned to her side and tapped her on the shoulder to gain her attention.

'That was quite a show,' he commented offhandedly. 'You are a brilliant dancer, Hermione. I just had no idea that Snape was capable of that...' he mused afterwards.

'Neither did I,' Hermione replied, almost slipping back into her thoughts of him. She shook her head and pushed the insufferable man out of her thoughts, smiling at Anthony.

'Are you recovered enough for another dance?' he asked, gesturing to the dance floor with one hand and holding the other out to her.

She nodded and didn't give Snape a second thought for the rest of the night. She had a wonderful time dancing with Anthony, who was rather good himself, before Dumbledore approached and asked if he could cut in, which Anthony kindly let him do, leaving to dance with Professor McGonagall.

'How has your evening been, Miss Granger?' he asked, blue eyes twinkling in their regular fashion.

'It has been wonderful, Headmaster, thank you,' she replied.

'Mr. Goldstein is a nice young lad,' he commented. 'A good dancer, and speaking of good dancing, you dance wonderfully yourself.'

'Thank you, Professor. You were quite something with Professor McGonagall earlier,' she said with a blush.

'Yes. I must say, you and Severus were quite the couple. I would have to say that it was the best dance I have seen this evening,' the Headmaster replied with a mischievous grin, one that the likes of even Salazar Slytherin would be proud of.

Hermione raised her eyebrows and remained silent for the remainder of the dance before being returned to her date, who started another dance with her. 'This has been a wonderful evening, Hermione. Thank you for coming as my date,' Anthony said with a smile.

'Thank you. I have enjoyed myself greatly,' she replied with a soft, squinty smile.

Anthony held her a little closer and leaned forward slightly, allowing his lips to brush hers innocently. Hermione gasped softly, but something in her squirmed and stopped her from pulling away. Instead, she clung to him lightly and let the kiss deepen, pressing back on his lips a little more insistently. He traced her lips lightly with his tongue and she allowed him entrance. They kissed for a little while longer until Hermione pulled back and led them off the dance floor.

'I'm sorry, Hermione,' he said, cheeks flushing a little.

She held up a hand to stop him and kissed his cheek. 'I didn't mind it, but I have to ask you, what did you mean by it?' she asked softly.

'Well, I think it means that I like you, Hermione,' he replied now with his normal measure of confidence.

'You're not just doing this on impulse are you?' she pressed, raising an eyebrow.

'Of course not. I've been trying to get your attention for months now. I've just never had the chance, really,' he replied honestly.

Hermione nodded. 'So what does this mean?'

'I think it means that I want us to be together,' he replied with the same amount of straightforward talk as Hermione was famous for.

'I think the only answer I can give you is a yes,' Hermione replied with a smile, leaning forwards and giving him a chaste kiss on the lips. He smiled and pulled her into a hug, which she reciprocated, all thoughts of Snape gone from her mind.

Meanwhile, from the staff table, a furious Snape sat watching as Hermione danced around the hall with the Head Boy. He noticed when they stopped dancing and saw Hermione involved in a passionate kiss with said Head Boy.

His temper became like an active volcano, and he stormed out of the room, unable to watch another torturous moment of the only woman he had ever loved being kissed by another male, a tear desperately trying to escape his eyes.

A.N. Sorry about this chapter. I know, it kills me to have to do this to my Severus, but it is important to have a few ups and downs in relationships. I promise that it gets better along the way, and that this little schoolgirl romance will not last long and Hermione and Severus will be happy in the end [cliché I know] ;p