A Good Time Was Had By All? Or The Thin and Thick of It

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 ~~~~~

6. A Good Time Was Had By All? Or The Thin and Thick of It

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?"

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Severus had finally managed to slip from Vanessa's hold. They were standing outside the student union. He patted and rearranged his clothing. His scowl was fierce as he turned to the detestable witch. "Madam, I do not have time for such flippancy. And you may not call me..." The words died in his throat.

Vanessa was smiling up at him, her eyes held a bright twinkle. In her hand was a white card with his name on it. "Ted," she called out, "why don't you get us a table for eight? We will be there in a minute."

Severus sighed heavily. His head ached. "Who are you? What exactly do you want from me?"

Vanessa's laugh was melodious as she said, "I believe this is for you."

Severus eyed the card in her hand. With quiet resignation he accepted the offending piece of parchment. Hermione was still standing on the side, watching the two. She watched as the card transformed itself. It was the same type of card as the one he had given Samantha at the studio.

The card glowed and grew in size. Writing now covered a legal size piece of parchment. Severus looked at the parchment in his hands. He heard a clicking sound as a paragraph in the middle of the page glowed a bright pink. "Ah, Severus, my boy. You have obviously violated one of the rules of the bet or you would not have received this parchment." Albus Dumbledore's voice was coming from the glowing paragraph. Amusement was evident in the Headmaster's voice as he continued, "Paragraph 5, section 7, subsection Z394 clearly states you are not to negotiate for cancellation of classes, either by force, intimidation, or request once they have begun."

Severus held the parchment closer to his face. "Where in the bloody hell does it say that?"

A chuckle could be heard from the parchment. "It is in the fine print. In any event you are now subject to a detention. Since Miss Granger is acting as your instructor, she may determine your detention. Or you could always return to the castle and have dinner with Remus, Harry and myself and we can discuss it. They are here visiting Miss Weasley, it seems she is not on duty in the Hospital wing tonight."

Severus's voice was deadly, "Where are you Albus? When I am through with you, there will not be enough left of you to identify."

Albus or the parchment ignored the threat. "Do try to have some fun my boy and bring me back the leftovers. Miss Granger, Vanessa, my best wishes to you both." The paragraph went dark, a few seconds later the parchment turned to dust in the Professor's hands.

Vanessa looked at Hermione, a twinkle still evident in her eyes. "Do you suppose it would be punishment enough to force him to accompany us?"

Hermione ignored the glare the Potions Master was giving her as she spoke to Vanessa. "I'm starving. Shall we go?" The two women had turned and started to walk away. Hermione's voice drifted back to him. "What type of pizza do you like, Professor?"

He would never enter into another bet again. Why didn't someone just kill him now? He followed the witches in front of him. His mind occupied with methods of revenge.

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The interior resembled any other wizarding pub in England. Drinks floated through the air and pizzas appeared on large round platters in much the same manner as the food appeared at Hogwarts. Hermione looked around for their table.

Vanessa touched her arm. "There they are, in the corner." Two tables had been moved together. The very end of the table and the seats on either side were still vacant. Severus continued to sulk as he took the seat at the end of the table. Hermione was at his right and Vanessa at his left. Ted was seated on the other side of Vanessa and one of the young wizards was on the other side of Hermione.

Severus looked around at the other tables. "Miss Granger, why are those people not using utensils?"

Hermione looked to where Severus was staring and started to laugh. "Haven't you ever had pizza before? You don't use a fork, you pick it up with your hands."

Severus was astonished, "You are joking aren't you?"

"No. Usually you eat thin crust with your hands and thick crust with a knife and fork."

Severus looked at her questioningly. "Thin crust? Thick crust?"

"I don't assume you have a favorite pizza then? Vanessa, how about one of each, a plain cheese and a sausage pizza?" Hermione was looking at a menu. "And garlic bread."

"Sounds good. Severus, wine, butterbeer, or pumpkin juice?" Vanessa was smiling at him again.

Severus glared at the witch. Unfortunately it did not appear to have any affect. "Wine." He decided not to waste his breath correcting her about his name. He did not think it would do any good anyway. Who the hell was she and how did she get that card?

A waitress appeared at the side of the table. "Okay, everyone ready to order?"

Vanessa took charge, "We would like a small cheese pizza, a medium sausage, and a medium garbage pizza." Severus arched one brow in question. Garbage?

"Thin or thick?"

"All of them thin crust and a bottle of your house burgundy, what would you like to drink?" She had turned to the dancers at the other end of the table.

They gave the waitress their drink orders. "Add two orders of garlic bread please." Vanessa gave Hermione a wink. The waitress waved her wand over the table. The drinks magically appeared as she walked away.

A bottle and four glasses appeared in front of Ted. He poured wine for Severus, Vanessa, Hermione, and himself. The others had opted for butterbeer. Vanessa watched Severus watching Hermione. Albus had asked if she would give him a first hand account of tonight. Justin was sitting next to Hermione. Whatever he said had caused her to burst out laughing. Severus glowered at the two.

Ted raised his glass. "I want to thank you all for a wonderful performance tonight. I cannot tell you how pleased I am with the responses we received." They clinked glasses all around, except Severus.

"Professor? It is bad luck not to complete the circle." She held her glass out to his. His scowl deepened. She shrugged her shoulders and went back to talking to the others.

Severus turned an appraising eye on Vanessa. "Are you going to tell me who you are and where you obtained that card?" He peered closer into the witch's eyes. "You're not really Albus on some sort of polyjuice are you?"

Vanessa laughed. "Perish the thought. How well do you know Albus? How long have you been teaching at Hogwarts? He does seem to take a special interest in you."

What was she getting at? Severus groaned. "I would prefer it if he would turn his attentions elsewhere. I have been teaching class after class of incompetent students for the last twenty years. But that still does not answer my questions, who you are and where did that card come from? What do you mean he seems to take a special interest in me?"

Vanessa seemed to make up her mind. She looked around the table. The others were engaged in various conversations. Severus felt a surge of magic as Vanessa cast a zone charm over the two of them. What could she have to tell him that required secrecy? "Would it help you if I told you my maiden was Morgane? Vanessa Morgane?"

Severus sat back hard in his chair, completely gobsmacked. His eyes were wide. He looked around and decided she must have cast do not notice as well. He was transported back to early October of 1980.

Severus told Dumbledore about two planned attacks by Death Eaters he had heard about at the last revel he had attended. One was going to take place during the up coming Hogsmeade weekend. Dumbledore did not announce the cancellation of the weekend, he just keep the students in the castle. Aurors and Order members were positioned in strategic place in Hogsmeade to trap the anticipated Death Eaters.

All went according to plan when the Death Eaters apparated in until two Muggle born witches wandered out of the Three Broomsticks and into the line of fire. One of the witches was killed instantly and the other was gravely injured. Albus blamed himself for the young witch's injuries. He apparated to St. Mungo's while the Aurors captured the remaining Death Eaters. The young woman was hovering near death. Albus donated three drops of his own blood to a rare life saving potion for the witch. The young woman's name was Vanessa Morgane.

It had taken several months for her to recover completely. Albus visited her regularly during her recovery. Sometime later, Albus had lamented about the death of the other young witch. Severus pointed out that Albus had protected the children and saved Morgane. Albus had given him an odd look and in a quiet voice told him even one death was one too many. He may have not understood it then, but he understood it now. Two weeks after the attack on Hogsmeade, Lily and James Potter were killed setting off a chain of events that would last for the next seventeen years.

Severus looked at Vanessa. She had been sitting quietly observing him. She smiled and her eyes twinkled. Did she receive an added gift from the esteemed Headmaster when she received his blood? Severus swallowed harshly, "What did Albus pass on to you? Are you omniscient too?"

Vanessa laughed, "No, not like Albus. I do seem to have a positive affect on those I meet and sometimes I can anticipate what is going to happen. Ted says it is more women's intuition than anything. I do not believe he passed any real powers on to me but I do owe him my life."

Severus was still not convinced. "But your eyes twinkle?"

"Yes, that did seem to be a side effect from the potion but really nothing else that I could tell." Vanessa's smile was gentle. "He sent me the card earlier this evening with instruction to hand it to you when we left the student union. I really did not know what would happen."

Severus continued to scowl but his voice had lost its sarcastic edge, "And what did he tell you about me?"

Vanessa was amused. She and Albus still visited once or twice a year. They had a long talk when he last visited concerning Severus and their bet. Albus had said Severus was a very private man. Difficult to know but that he had a good heart. He thought of Severus as a son.

Albus worried that he was lonely and still had not forgiven himself for past transgressions. They had hit upon dancing the tango as a consequence of the bet. He thought Severus should learn to loosen up and enjoy life. "He didn't say too much. Only that he was sure you would not be pleased with the consequences he chose, of learning the Tango. That, and he thinks very highly of you."

Severus sat back. He felt a surge of magic as she lifted the charms.

Her words seemed to have a calming effect on him. It could also have been the three glasses of wine. The waitress appeared at the side of their table with three large platters. She placed them on the table. Three pizzas magically appeared. Ted signaled for another bottle of wine as he poured the remainder of the second bottle into Severus's glass.

His brow arched in question, "What is that one? I believed you called it...garbage?"

Hermione laughed. "Garbage means everything on it, Professor, sausage, onions, green peppers, ham, mushrooms, black olives, pepperoni, anchovy, prawns, cockles, mussels, sliced tomatoes, and pineapple. Try this."

Severus visibly cringed at the thought of the garbage pizza. He accepted a plate from Hermione with a slice of cheese, a slice of sausage, and a piece of garlic bread.

"Actually, Albus would like you to bring back any leftover garbage pizza. It's one of his favorites." Vanessa was helping herself to more wine.

"Do you mean to tell me they do not make a lemon drop pizza?" He eyed the slices on his plate, reluctant to pick them up with his hands.

Hermione and Vanessa looked at one another and burst out laughing. Hermione snorted as she said, "Maybe they could add Canary Creams and chocolate frogs. Or licorice wands and jelly slugs. They could call it a Headmaster special."

"It would most likely send you into sugar shock." Vanessa could not help but chuckle at the thought of such a pizza. "What do you think, Severus?"

"The wine is very good."

"I think Vanessa meant the pizza, Professor."

Severus looked at Hermione, a slight smirk on his lips. "I know." He took another sip of wine, "The pizza is tolerable." He would admit nothing. He had actually enjoyed the meal but he was still annoyed at the coercion used against him.

The bill came and Ted settled it. A wave of the waitress's wand and the remaining pizza was packed to go. Severus tried to give Ted money but he refused saying it was his way of thanking the dancers for the show.

Vanessa handed Severus a small greasy box, "Would you take this to Albus?"

Severus looked at the box with obvious disdain. He took his wand out and waved it over the leftovers. The box immediately became wrapped and sealed in plastic before being shrunk into a small square no larger than a postage stamp. Satisfied the grease would not leak out of the package, Severus dropped the tiny box into his pocket.

The small group headed out the door. Hermione turned to Severus, "Our next lesson is Thursday, Professor. You have the directions to my flat?"

Severus glared at the young woman, "Yes, Miss Granger, I believe I am capable of recalling simple instructions."

"Miss Granger? Try Hermione." Severus turned to glare at Vanessa.

They were standing outside the restaurant. Severus stood awkwardly to the side. Ted and Vanessa were hugging Hermione and the others while saying their goodbyes. Vanessa grinned as she turned to Severus and put her hand out, "It was nice to meet you, Professor." The smile and teasing tone did not go unnoticed.

Severus took the woman's hand and bowed low. His voice was silky smooth as he said, "It was interesting, Vanessa." Severus would swear the twinkle in her eyes got momentarily brighter.

Ted and Severus nodded to each other. With a crack, Vanessa and Ted apparated out. Samantha turned to Hermione. "Are you coming?"

Hermione nodded. "Start walking, I'll join you in a minute."

Severus looked questioningly at Hermione. "They live in the student housing across from my flat. Good night, Professor. See you Thursday."

Severus leaned towards Hermione. For one impossible moment she thought he was going to kiss her but he moved to whisper in her ear. The scent of spices invaded her senses. His breath was hot and tickled the sensitive flesh of her ear. His voice was seductive, sending a tingle through her body as he whispered, "Goodnight, Hermione."

Severus straightened up. The air around them seemed to crackle. Their eyes locked. Severus nodded, a slight smile played at his mouth and with a crack he was gone.

Hermione heard her friends calling her from farther up the street. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at the space the Potions Master had just occupied.

Hermione shook her head. "I am in such trouble."

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 - http://64.70.140.102/ourdance.htm. Challenge rules can be found following chapter one.

I know Paragraph 5, section 7, subsection Z394 states Severus is not to negotiate for cancellation of classes, either by force, intimidation, or request once they have begun or he will be subjected to a 'detention.' Before anyone points out he tried to get Hermione to cancel lessons in Chapter 2, may I remind you the subsection states once lessons have begun. They had not yet started his lessons. Severus was there for his first lesson in that chapter.

According to the Harry Potter Lexicon, Hermione and company will end their seventh year in June of 1999. In the story Hermione is starting her third and final year at Cambridge, August 2001 ending in June 2002. The lexicon states Snape started teaching in 1981, thus he has been teaching 20 years.

Vanessa cast a Zone charm, think cone of silence but invisible.

Still to come, another dance lesson and Hermione's flat. Enjoy and let me know what you think. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle