Enchantment

Dances with Witches by Pearle

Summary: Severus Snape loses a magical bet. The consequences? The Tango! My answer to the codpiece challenge on Wiktt. HG/SS

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, etc. of the Harry Potter series are not mine they belong to J.K. Rowling and Co. I promise to return them when I am through. Well, most of them anyway.

~~~~~ Dances with Witches ~~~~~

5. Enchantment

Severus studied his image in the mirror. He was wearing a black cable knit jumper with his black twill trousers. A tweed coat, transfigured from his teaching robes, lay across the bed. Black of course. He had dealt with these academic types before. They liked to dress the same as the young witches and wizards they were teaching. He regarded his reflection. He thought he looked like any of the instructors at the University. Tonight he wanted to blend in, remain inconspicuous. Why had he told her he would attend the dance exposition? 'And don't forget the symposium,' a small voice in his head chimed in. He sighed, not wanting to address either issue right now.

Severus left his quarters through a side entrance to the castle. The night air felt cool on his skin. He thought about tonight's performance and wondered how the dancers would be dressed. His thoughts turned to his own costume as well as Miss Granger's. The parchment clearly stated he had to wear tights with a codpiece. He had taken stock of himself earlier after his shower. His back and chest were a road map of scars but his body was firm and in good shape. His stomach was relatively flat and muscular and his legs were long and lean. Even a look at his arse showed firm buttocks. He would never admit it to anyone, but he thought he would probably look good in tights. Severus wondered if the codpiece came in sizes. He chuckled as he thought he should tell Miss Granger to order an extra large for him. He wondered what her costume would look like. What did 16th century woman wear?

He had caught her blushing a few times in the last few weeks. He did not believe her to be an innocent. It was near impossible to make it through Hogwarts without at least one or two sexual interludes. He'd had a few encounters himself during his student years. Another 5th year Slytherin had been just as eager to rid herself of her virginity as he had been. As far as experiences went, it had been adequate. His jaw clenched as he wondered who Hermione's first had been, or her second for that matter. It was in a decidedly blacker mood he reached the apparation point outside the main gates of Hogwarts. A load crack wrenched the air as he apparated to the Cambridge Enchanted Union.

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Hermione paced nervously behind the makeshift curtain. She couldn't seem to settle down. She had spent seven years as the Professor's student. He had never offered her a word of praise or encouragement. She knew she was intelligent but she would have liked if once, just once he had said, "Good work, Miss Granger." Even when she had answered all the extra credit correctly on an exam his comments were intended to wound her, "It is a pity there are no more extra points you can try for, Miss Granger."

"Are you trying to wear a hole in the floor boards?" Sam asked with a good-natured smile.

Hermione's head snapped up. She smiled sheepishly at the girls. "Sorry. I guess my mind was elsewhere."

"On tall, dark, and gothic perhaps?" Katherine had a huge grin on her face.

Seven years in his presence had taught Hermione something. The glare she gave Katherine would have rivaled the Potions Master's at his best. "I told you there is nothing going on. He's just a former professor of mine."

A tall young man with blond hair was standing behind Sam listening to the girls. "Your boyfriend's coming tonight, Hermione?" She turned to glare at the young man too.

Katherine and Samantha looked at each other. "Right, Hermione. Whatever you say."

Hermione ignored them as she scanned the backstage area. "Did you see where Ted went? He was here a minute ago and now he's gone."

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The Cambridge Enchanted Union was built in the shape of an 'L'. The first floor of the shortened end of the building was often annexed to present special programs for the students. It was here the make shift stage had been set up for the dance expo.

Severus stood to the side, hidden in the shadows. A large group of students were sitting in chairs that had been set up in front of the stage. The students talked among themselves waiting for the show to start. He looked over the crowd and the other people standing on the sides. He assumed the small knot of men wearing robes and engaged in an animated discussion were professors in the magical section of Cambridge. The students all appeared to be in Muggle clothing. The majority seemed to be wearing jeans. Severus shook his head. He preferred a more formal style of dress. He approved of the uniforms the students wore at Hogwarts. It allowed the students to start out on an even level and put the emphasis on the instruction.

Severus was satisfied he had dressed appropriately and would blend in with the others waiting for the performance to begin. He had no desire to be noticed tonight. He would watch the damn performance just so he could see how the Tango should be danced and then get the hell out of there. He was annoyed with himself for even coming tonight. He told the voice in his head to bugger off when it suggested he had come for another reason.

The lights dimmed as a man Severus recognized as an older version of the Thaddeus Prittchard he had known in school step out between the curtains. Prittchard was about the same height as Severus but with a broader build. The noise of the crowd died down as the man greeted the spectators. "Good evening, my name is Thaddeus Prittchard and I would like to thank you all for coming tonight. I run a small dance studio in town called 'Lighter Than Air'. Tonight we would like you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a demonstration of the dances our studio offers. New lessons and classes will be starting soon. We have a special introductory offer tonight for anyone requesting information about the lessons. If you are interested there will be table at the side where you can leave your name and we will be glad to send you an owl with information regarding the studio. Tonight we will be performing a variety of dances for you. The Meringue, the Samba, the Fox trot are just a few of the many you will see. And as a special treat, my partner and I will dance the Argentine Tango. So sit back, tap your toes, feel the music, and enjoy the performance."

The lights dimmed. The silhouette of two people standing motionless could be seen against the back curtain. The man and woman on stage were in profile to the audience. They appeared to be frozen in time. The man held the woman in his arms, ready to dance. The woman appeared to be looking down. As the lights brightened, an overhead announcement proclaimed, "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Samba."

A sharp note sounded into the silence. The woman's head snapped up. A second and third note sounded as the two looked into each other's eyes. A strong Latin beat started to play in earnest as the couple moved into the dance. Severus's breath caught in his throat as he watched the woman move. Hermione Granger was dancing with Prittchard on stage. Their moves were exact as he spun her around turn after turn. A smooth rocking of her hips and the suggestive movement of their lower torsos punctuated the forward and backward steps. Hermione was wearing a black dress with silver trim that hugged her ample curves. The front had a deep V. The left side of the dress ended at the middle of her calf while the right side was slit to her hip and angled. Severus was just as willing to look at her legs as the next man, but it was the back that held his attention. The back or rather lack of it. The dress was completely backless to just above the cleft of her buttocks. Severus decided the dress had to be magiced on. The material defied the laws of gravity as it followed the curve of her shoulders and moved down her sides. The fabric stayed against her skin through every movement, every spin. Her hair was a wild cascade of curls down her back that moved back and forth as she turned. Severus was mesmerized with the vision on stage.

The dance continued through its sensual moves. Hermione shifted around Ted's body. The music increased in tempo and the dancers steps mimicked the beat. The two appeared to ignore their surroundings as they concentrated on each other, moving in step with one another. Severus watched Prittchard's hand glide along Hermione's hip as they stepped out to do a forward and backward walk together. He pulled Hermione in and spun her around again. The spin ended with her landing hard against his body. Severus felt an unfamiliar wrench in his gut. His mood turned angry again without reason.

Prittchard had stopped moving. He spun Hermione out and back one last time. Prittchard's arm around Hermione's lower back seemed to anchor her in place. Hermione arched her back, threw her head back and kicked her foot back as the music reached its downbeat. She held this stance for the last few notes of the song. Severus could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest as she tried to catch her breath after the last series of steps. Prittchard and Hermione stood side by side as the music ended and bowed to thunderous applause from the crowd. They turned and slipped back through the curtain. As if coming out of a daze, Severus suddenly noticed the crowd around the stage and chairs had grown considerably. The sound of the music had attracted the people walking through the student union and the crowd had doubled in size.

Severus ignored the comments and wolf whistles as the lights dimmed yet again. The couple had reappeared on stage and was silhouetted against the back curtain. The lights brightened in time to the start of the music. A voice overhead announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Fox trot." Severus had leaned forward in anticipation of seeing Hermione dancing again. He was disappointed to see the blond chit from the studio dancing with a young man. He watched the couple dance with an air of indifference. They were good, but not as good as Hermione and Prittchard had been, their dancing spoke of a higher level of expertise. The two had moved together with a natural grace.

The blood pounded in his ears as he thought of Hermione dancing the Argentine Tango with Prittchard. She had said the Tango was the vertical expression of a horizontal desire. Well, the Samba didn't seem too far off that description either he thought sourly. He had no reason to care what Granger did or with who. All he wanted was to see the Tango danced properly so he would not make a complete fool out of himself when it came time for him to dance at the damn Halloween dance. He would hex Albus to tomorrow and back next chance he got. He groaned inwardly as he thought of dancing with Hermione at the dance and wondered once again what her costume would look like, especially in light of what she had worn tonight. He was sure his dreams tonight would incorporate this new image of the young woman. He had felt a stirring in his groin as she moved on stage as it was. It annoyed and appalled him to even think about a former student in any manner other than professionally. This was the Gryffindor know-it-all, one third of the golden trio, and a pain in his arse for seven years. While he had always admired her mind that was as far as his interest went. The voice in his head spoke up again, 'But she is not your student anymore and she certainly did not look like this back then.'

In all her seven years, from first year potions to advance potion theory, he had never been able to get the better of her. He had tried. He would ask her questions on obscure facts and the little chit would still answer correctly. He could have really advanced her knowledge if she had been in Slytherin. She could have been his protégé. But it was not until the end of her seventh year that the defeat of the Dark Lord occurred. The end of Voldemort caused Severus to take a long hard look at himself. He had spent more than twenty years playing out the deception of who he was. But who was he really? Did he believe the views he had spouted for so long? The fact was he did not know what to think anymore. His anxiety in the future, a future he had helped to bring about increased. He was suffering from shell-shocked, though he would not have recognized the term even if someone had told him about it. It had been a summer of self-discovery after the defeat of Voldemort before he could realign his thoughts and join this new future.

His past students would be surprise if they witnessed any of his classes today. He still favored Slytherin, he was Head of their House, but he was fairer to the other houses now. The first Gryffindor student he had awarded five points to for the correct brewing of the Draught of the Living Death had actually passed out. His personality remained the same. He was a loner, an intellectual who preferred books and potions to people. He was uncomfortable in social situations but his outlook had improved with the thought of a future without the Dark Lord. Even his sarcastic comments held a little less sting and a bit more humor in dealing with his colleagues. Various witches had sought him out after the final battle and the publishing of that ill-fated photo. He still did not understand what the uproar about the photographer he had hexed had been about. The man recovered in less than three months. More witches had tried to contact him after the ceremony awarding him an Order of Merlin, first class. He had received owls declaring how desirable he was and how sexy they thought his mysterious manner was. Severus chuckled to himself. He was sure ten minutes in his presence and they would not find his person so desirable. He had kept his liaisons private in the past and would continue to do so in the future. These other witches were glory seekers and he wanted no part of them. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of applause. He looked up to see the young couple bow and leave the stage.

The other witch Severus had seen at the studio took the stage with a young man her age. The opening strains of classical music could be heard as the overhead announcement declared, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Waltz." The young couple moved with an exaggerated sway as they danced around the stage. He was impatient for Hermione to come out and dance so he could leave this dreadful place. His dungeons would be a welcome respite. The song seemed to drag on as the young couple danced on stage. The dance finally ended to the enthusiastic applause of the assembled.

Hermione and the blond young man from the second dance, the Fox trot, took the stage. Again the overhead announcement proclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Rumba." The two faced each other, not touching, as the beat seemed to match the pounding in his ears. They moved slowly, sensuously around each other. Hips undulating, they joined hands and seemed to slide across each other's bodies. The young man spun Hermione out slowly, and as if calling her to him, brought her back again. Severus released a breath he had not realized he was holding. He thought most of the Latin dances were similar except for the beat and some of the movements. While the Samba was definitely sexy, the Rumba has a more sensual feel to it. Hermione and the young man were exaggerating their movements. The man pulled her in, she arched over backwards, her foot pointed and reached for the sky. Several intricate moves had the audience oohing and aahing as the couple danced. They joined in a final embrace. Hermione's leg stretched out behind her and the young man pulled her into a tight circle while turning Hermione around before pulling her firmly to him at the end of the dance. Once again the applause was over whelming.

Three more dances followed with the two witches from the studio and the two young wizards performing them. The Merengue, the Cha-cha, and a Salsa were all danced with a style and flair all their own as the dancers strutted their stuff. Severus was impatient for the Tango he knew would be coming. After seeing Hermione and Prittchard dance the Samba, he could not imagine what they would look like doing the Tango. He wanted to see the dance and leave without having to face Granger.

The lights dimmed and the overhead voice announced, "Ladies and gentleman, as promised a special treat, the Argentine Tango." The lights brightened, spotlighting the pair on stage. A strong beat sounded as the two started to move. Severus recognized the stance and the opening steps from the lessons he'd had with Hermione but he lost track as they moved into more complicated steps and movements. They moved up and back with a cat-like grace. The movements were more clipped, not fluid as they moved across the floor. The steps were exact and performed in a rapid movement and then just as suddenly they shifted into a slow sensual turn. The shift from side to side and back was more suggestive then he would have first thought. The movement she tried to show him when he had just about crippled her foot came across as a very sexy step when done properly. There was a passionate feel to the dance as Prittchard turned Hermione around. They appeared to be embracing, dancing cheek-to-cheek. Hermione's arm moved across Prittchard's shoulder drawing him closer to her. She hooked her leg around his as they turned. They moved quickly through several steps, turning rapidly and then just as suddenly stopped and moved slowly against each other. Lovers came to mind. They gazed into each other's eyes, ignoring the world around them. Prittchard walked slowly around Hermione as she pivoted on her back leg. His arm shifted lower on her back drawing her upper body sharply against him. Their hips appeared to grind against each other before moving into a series of backward steps.

Severus did not allow the voice in his head to comment on Hermione dancing with Prittchard. Watching the pair seemed to provoke a reaction he was not prepared for. They reached the final stance and struck a dramatic pose. The pair was rewarded with enthusiastic applause as they bowed.

Prittchard stepped forward and the crowd quieted. "I would like to thank you all for your generous applause. We hope you enjoyed our presentation. Dancing is a wonderful form of exercise. We have a wide variety of classes ranging from the beginning student up to the most advanced. Please stop by the table and check out our fall offering. I would also like to thank my dance partner, Hermione Granger." Hermione bowed, a ripple of questions shot through the audience as they recognized her name from the final battle and as a friend of the boy-who-lived to save the wizarding world at large. "I would also like to thank Katherine Acart, Samantha Parke, Justin Rickfield, and Adam Facet." The two young men had joined Hermione and Prittchard on the stage. The young women were standing at a table off to the side. "Katherine and Samantha are at the side table if you have any questions. Thank you all for coming tonight."

Severus was about to make a hasty exit when Hermione spotted him from the stage. "Professor Snape. Professor." Her voice was loud and carried across the crowd. Heads turned as she called his name. Severus turned to acknowledge Hermione. He saw Prittchard's face change as he recognized Snape.

To the side, people were lining up to request information. A few turned to look in their direction. Severus approached the stage as Hermione and Prittchard descended the make shift stairs. The two young wizards were shrinking and disassembling the stage and its surroundings. A short dark-haired woman reached Prittchard's side about the same time Severus did. Something about the woman seemed familiar. Prittchard hugged the woman. She wound her arm behind his back and smiled up at him.

Hermione's eyes sparkled. "Professor, did you get to see the whole show? What did you think? How did you like the Tango?"

Before Severus ever got the chance to answer her questions, Prittchard asked, "Snape? Severus Snape?"

The woman's eyes seemed to light up. "You're one of the instructors from Hogwarts, aren't you?"

Severus nodded at the couple in front of him, wishing he could be anywhere else on Earth.

"I'm sorry, I just assumed you all knew each other." Hermione stepped forward. "Ted and Vanessa Prittchard, this is Professor Severus Snape. The Professor is the Potions Master at Hogwarts," she said by way of explanation to Vanessa.

A smile lit Vanessa's face. "Then you know the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore?"

Severus could not help but smirk as he answered, "Yes, the Headmaster and I are well acquainted."

Prittchard's eyes danced with amusement. He held out his hand to Severus, "I think we all owe you a thank you if not more." Severus was still not used to people coming up to him and thanking him for his part in the final battle. He still did not like Potter, but he felt some sympathy for the boy considering all the years he had endured the unwanted attention he had received. He found it hard to swallow himself. "How are you enjoying the lessons?" asked Prittchard with a smile.

Severus eyed the man before reluctantly shaking his hand. "The lessons have been...interesting. I am not sure what debt of gratitude you owe the Headmaster, but if you truly want to thank me, tell Albus you have to cancel the remainder of the classes."

Prittchard laughed at the comment. Hermione turned to Severus. "Thanks a lot, Professor. I risk life and limb, literally, to teach you and you want to quit?"

Severus could not tell if her indignation was real or feigned. He felt a headache coming on. "It is not your teaching, Miss Granger. It is the entire bet!" Severus' black eyes bore into Hermione's. She had better not spell out the details or he would hex her where she stood.

The other dancers had gathered around. Severus noticed the stage and chairs were gone and the crowd had started to dissipate. Vanessa's eyes twinkled. She smiled at him, saying, "Professor, we are heading out to Pizza Magic for a bit to eat. Why don't you join us?"

He did not want to 'join' them. He wanted to get as far away from them as possible. And why did the woman remind him of Albus? Still, he was curious, "Pizza Magic?"

Hermione laughed, "Yes, it's a wizarding pizza place modeled after the Muggle pizza places near most colleges. It opened just after the new extension to Cambridge opened. Come with us, Professor."

"I do not really have time, I must be returning to..." Severus did not get the chance to finish his sentence. Vanessa grabbed his arm with all the strength of a giant and the tenacity of devil's snare. Who in the bloody hell did this woman think she was?

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course you have time. It's just around the corner. Ted, come on everyone." She was still holding his arm. The others were following behind. "So, do you enjoy teaching at Hogwarts?"

Severus looked back at Hermione. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders. It took all of Severus's restraint not to hex the woman. Who the hell was she? Molly Weasley could take a few lessons from this one, he thought. Severus tried to untangle his arm. "Mrs. Prittchard..."

Vanessa's voice could be heard as they walked, "Please, call me Vanessa. You don't mind if I call you Severus do you?"

TBC

A/N: The steps and form of the dance (as well as those that appear in future chapters) are from this web site: Tango tutorial - . Challenge rules can be found following chapter one.

There is a real Pizza Magic located in the U.K. Information can be found at this site: . I don't know the exact location, so I'm not sure if it is the restaurant located next to the new wizarding section of Cambridge or not.

Questions: Who is Vanessa and why do her eyes twinkle? Will Severus Go to Pizza Magic? Does he even like pizza? If so, what kind? Still to come, another dance lesson, a discussion of costumes, Crookshanks, and Hermione's flat. Enjoy and let me know what you think. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle