Change Is In The Air

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 ~~~~~

8. Change Is In The Air

Friday found Severus a bit distracted. His mind had been occupied with the possibilities of adapting the Wolfsbane Potion ever since leaving Hermione's flat the night before. There had been a few hours during the night when his sleeping mind had dwelled on other matters. Those matters had included a belly dancing Hermione, but that was not a topic his waking mind intended to address today, if ever. If he was correct, with a slight alteration they might be able to deter or weaken some effects of the werewolf's change depending on the combination of ingredients they altered. He wondered how many other potions could be improved if they were to apply the same principles to the potion's ingredients.

Remus Lupin arrived late Friday afternoon to pick up a new dose of the Wolfsbane Potion. Severus had been sitting in his office since his last class trying to assemble a list of ingredients and their properties to discuss with Hermione when he saw her next. He looked up at the werewolf with a clinical eye.

"What?" Remus considered Severus a friend of sorts, but really the man could be a git at times.

"Has Miss Granger every questioned you about your...condition?" He had wondered where she had gathered her initial information. Lupin was a friend of the Golden Trio and the most likely source for her to question.

"My condition?" he asked with a weary laugh. "Severus, most people prefer to see right through me rather than acknowledge I exist. Being a werewolf is like one of those secrets you sweep under the carpet. Everyone knows it's there but they assume it will go away eventually if you ignore it. Without the Wolfsbane Potion to stay the change, I would hate to think what the Ministry would do to me. What does Hermione have to do with anything?"

Severus rubbed a hand across his eyes. "Lupin, I understand you wish to protect Miss Granger from the bat of the dungeon, but you have not answered my question. Has Miss Granger every questioned you about being a werewolf? I believe the choice is yes or no."

Grey eyes tinged with yellow flecks stared into unreadable black orbs. Remus sighed heavily, "Yes, Severus. She has questioned me. So have Ron and Harry, though I will have to say Hermione's questions were of a more clinical nature then theirs were." Remus was unable to meet Severus eye's as he thought of a few of the questions the boys had thought to ask. "What is this about?"

"I believe Miss Granger may have discovered a way to alter the Wolfsbane Potion. It will require additional research and experimentation before we know for sure."

"Alter it? In what way?" Remus was having difficulty trying to contain his emotions. He had been bitten as a young lad by another werewolf and spent most of his life shunned when others found out about his affliction. It was only the Wolfsbane Potion that allowed him to live as a human being without fear of infecting someone else. Severus was one of only three Potion Masters in Europe that could brew the difficult potion properly. He knew it was selfish, but he shuddered to think what would have happened to him if Severus had succumbed to the Dark Lord.

Severus smirked at the man. "Lupin, we are still in the research and experimentation stage, but I believe she may have found a way to lessen the effects of your transformation. Unfortunately it may take a few months before we will be ready for any type of trials. Am I to assume from your reaction that you are interested in taking on the role of guinea pig?"

"Yes. Of course, I am interested, but isn't Hermione going to Cambridge? I don't recall Harry mentioning her doing research."

Severus handed him two sealed bottles of the potion. "Miss Granger happened to mention her findings to me last night. I was planning to ask her to stay at the castle during the Christmas holidays so that we may work on revising the potion. I believe we will be ready to start the trials at Christmas if we continue to work on the research and formulas until then. Perhaps she could be persuaded to come to the castle on an occasional Saturday once we are further along in our research."

Remus had an amused smile on his face. "She mentioned it to you last night, huh?"

Severus glared at the man. "Don't be a prat, Lupin. I was forced to endure another of those damnable Tango lessons the Headmaster has saddled me with. The only bright spot was finding out about the alteration she has discovered. She mentioned it to one of her professors at Cambridge but those idiots are unable to see her intelligence as anything but threatening. They refused to listen to her theories. I doubt any of those so-called Masters has anywhere near the talent Miss Granger has at brewing potions."

"Is that all that is going on?" It was unheard of for Severus to compliment a student. Especially someone he claimed had been a thorn in his side during her entire attendance at Hogwarts. He had spent seven years berating her as a know-it-all. Remus's nostrils flared. Werewolves had increased senses, even in human form. Severus was giving off a strange sent, one he had never smelled on the man before. It took him a moment to realize what it was. Lust. Or more accurately, an increase in testosterone and pheromones that pretty much amounted to the same thing. Arousal or lust. "How is Hermione?" he asked cautiously.

Severus's scowl deepened as he regarded the werewolf. "I do not believe I have time to play these juvenile games with you. Miss Granger was alive and breathing when I left her flat last evening." His words were dripping with sarcasm and meant to convey the impression of annoyance.

His mind however, was unable to stop the image his brain had created of a barely dressed Hermione wearing nothing but The Thong from entering his thoughts. He shifted his stance as his trousers started to feel a bit snug. For some reason, his sleep-addled brain had decided Hermione would look best belly dancing while wearing The Thong. That was now the image that kept popping uninvited into his mind since waking up this morning. He preferred to think it was her intelligence that was acting as a powerful aphrodisiac instead of just his baser instincts.

'Right,' the voice in his head said, 'that brain, in that body, wearing The Thong, and maybe...reciting the twelve uses of dragons blood as she belly dances around your bedchamber?'

Did Hermione even know how to belly dance? He shook his head. All right, that wasn't even the point. He was nothing but a lecherous old man. She is an ex-student, and the Gryffindor know-it-all ran through his mind once again. He really needed to keep a tighter hold on his emotions.

Remus smiled knowingly at him. "So nothing is going on?"

Severus glared and actually rolled his eyes at the man. "How juvenile are you? Are you asking me if I fancy the girl as if this were some childish crush? She is twenty years younger than I am. She has her whole life in front of her. I am merely interested in how we can change the potion."

"Do you fancy her? I believe the choices are yes or no." Remus chuckled. Severus could complain all he wanted, but his body was giving him away.

"Are you Albus using polyjuice? If you start twinkling I swear I will hex you to tomorrow and back." Severus was looking into Remus's eyes.

"What would be wrong if you did care for her? Maybe she cares for you too? I know you have an image to up hold as the bat of the dungeon but I also know you have a heart somewhere underneath all those robes. And contrary to popular opinion, you have been known to be nice on occasion and help people. Why do you make the Wolfsbane Potion for me?"

"Why indeed? That is exactly the same question I keep asking myself every month. It may be too late to take the potion this month, I suspect you are already suffering from lunar madness."

It was Remus's turn to try and analyze the man in front of him. "What would be so wrong?"

Severus was angry as he moved behind his desk and started to shuffle papers around. "What would be wrong? Oh yes, a witch young enough to be my daughter, who I made life a living hell for seven years is going to be interested in me. Do you think it will be my good looks or my charming personality that will entice her? Perhaps it will be my sterling past?"

Remus smiled broadly, "A hot shower and some shampoo might not hurt." He gave up all pretense of amusement as he faced Severus's scowl. "I believe she will be interested in your intelligence and your personality. Hermione is a lot like you. You two are more alike than you think, even if you do fail to see the similarities. What has age got to do with it? From what I hear the young men her age bore her silly and fail to appreciate her. They don't want to discuss academic theory. All they want to talk about, if I heard her last rant correctly, is Quidditch and other witches."

Severus's eyes glittered in the half-light. "Who told you this?"

"Hermione told me last week when Harry and I had lunch with her. I believe she said she was through with dating. How did she say it? The only difference between the young wizards she meets now and the little boys she used to baby-sit for is the size of their toys?" The two men looked at each other. Remus shrugged his shoulders. "I believe it is a muggle expression. She and Harry were beside themselves with laughter. All I am saying is do not rule yourself out. No matter what you say, it is obvious you are interested in her beyond the potion. You are allowed to be happy you know?"

Severus sighed, "Have you been talking to Albus? Why can't you leave me alone? Is this a Gryffindor trait? I am too old for a liaison of any kind. It was bad enough when I had those witches chasing me last year after the Ministry ceremony honoring the second anniversary of the Dark Lord's defeat, now I have you and Albus pestering me too."

"I seem to recall you did see one or two of those witches, didn't you?" It was all anyone had talked about for weeks. Severus, dating. He had taken out a few of the witches that had expressed an interest in him. "Though I don't think it was for more than one or two dates if I remember correctly."

Severus snorted. "They all seemed to think I wanted to change and that they were the witch to help me turn over a new leaf. Do I look unhappy to you? I have no desire to change my clothing or my living conditions. One silly twit dissolved into tears when she dropped in here one day unexpected."

"Here, at Hogwarts? What happened?"

Severus's smile was fiendish. "I had just finished with fifth year potions and was not in the best of moods. Albus was kind enough to escort the twit to my office before he was called away. The blasted woman had shown up unannounced. Why she thought I would be thrilled to listen to her chatter on about new robe styles or some other foolishness I cannot imagine. I was just about to educate her on why she should not have come, when she started to cry and shake uncontrollably. She seemed to have lost the ability to speak coherently."

"What did you do to her?" Remus had to admit Severus had a talent for story telling if he was in the mood. Even his sarcasm has a wry edge to it if you listened close enough.

Severus looked innocent, as innocent as he was capable of looking. "I did not do anything to her. It seems she had finally noticed the bottles of ingredients behind me. One of the ingredients was apparently looking back at her, when it blinked she went into hysterics. Eventually I made out what she was saying. I assured her the bottle was tightly capped and nothing could escape. For some reason this seemed to upset the chit even more. I finally had to floo Albus and Poppy for help. I believe she was released from the hospital wing after just a few hours. I never heard from her again."

Remus was over come with laughter. "A date with you and the poor witch ends up in the hospital wing. Maybe I should warn Hermione. Than again she may just be an even match for you. I'm sure she would never run off in hysterics. She probably would have wanted to know the characteristics of the ingredient in question."

"Most likely she already knows the characteristic of the ingredient and what potions it would be useful in." Severus sank back into his office chair. He thought of Hermione again. He had no desire to set himself up for failure and ridicule. He had enough to last him a lifetime, thank you. But what if Lupin was right? He had enjoyed debating the Wolfsbane Potion with her last night. She was truly brilliant. He had rarely had occasion to have a conversation of that level with anyone other than another Potions Master. Hermione was only a third year student and knew as much if not more than most experienced Masters. She had seemed more than happy too talk to him about the challenge of adapting the potion. Was it the chance to work on the potion or was there something more between them? There had been a few times over the last few weeks he'd had the feeling she was thinking about him. He had dismissed the idea as ridiculous, but maybe there was something there. She had been extremely pleased when he had said he would like to continue their discussion this week. It was one of the reasons he even entertained the thought that there could possibly be something more between them.

Remus's voice broke into his thoughts. "Are you going to sit there and moon or are you planning to eat dinner tonight?"

Severus looked at the clock above his desk. It was time for dinner. Drawing himself up, he made a show of arranging his robes before answering. With a smirk he said to Remus, "I do not moon. You are a sodding git. You do know that don't you?"

Remus grinned back. "Indeed. After you." And the two headed to the Great Hall for dinner.

.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

"How do you ever expect to pass charms if you do not practice? Honestly, sometimes I think you are worse than Ron and Harry when it comes to studying." Hermione was sitting in the lounge of the Cambridge Student Union with Edmund, Susan, and Kathy. They were supposed to be working on their independent charms project.

Edmund was pleased. "You're comparing me to the great Harry Potter? Well then, I must be doing something right." Susan giggled at the expression on Edmund's face while Hermione just rolled her eyes.

The girls had been a little overwhelmed last year when Hermione had asked if they wanted to study with her. She was the best friend of Harry Potter, the boy who lived and the wizard that had brought down the Dark Lord. Her face, as well as Ron's, Dumbledore's, and Snape's had been plastered everywhere after the final battle. She and her friends had received further recognition that summer when they were awarded Order of Merlin medals, First Class by the Ministry of Magic. Severus had received a medal too but his little stunt with the first photographer after the Final Battle ensured no more notoriety in the form of photographs. His name was well known. But no photos, combined with his past reputation, and his recent heroics all added an air of mystery to the man.

"Hermione, what was Snape doing at your flat last night?" Edmund was watching Hermione as she looked between the open book in her lap, her notes to the right, and another book on her left.

"What was Snape doing what?" Hermione liked Edmund. He had been a student at Hogwarts, a Ravenclaw. They had even gone out on a few dates their seventh year but she found he made a better friend than boyfriend. His kiss goodnight was the same as Ron's. More like saying goodnight to your brother. She wanted sparks, fireworks, not nice and friendly.

"Earth to, Hermione, hello? Why was Snape at your flat?" Edmund was waving his hand in front of her face.

Hermione looked up. "Don't you remember? I told you a few weeks ago. He was taking those dance lessons at the studio. Well, he isn't finished with them and I promised Ted I would continue lessons with the Professor for the next few weeks." She and Edmund had stayed in touch and owled each other over the summer. Hermione had told him about teaching dance at the studio. She shrugged her shoulders. "It's really no big deal."

Edmund shook his head. "Our study group for Advanced Potions meets at your flat. We almost killed ourselves getting out of there when he showed up last night. How much longer are these lessons going to last? When we talked last week you never mentioned you were still instructing him."

Susan's eyes were as wide as saucers. "You don't mean Professor Snape from Hogwarts do you? That man terrorized us for seven years and you say it's no big deal? Why would he be taking dance lessons? How can you stand to be near him?"

"Professor Snape lost a bet with the Headmaster. He has to take dance lessons as one of the consequences." Susan and Kathy started to giggle at the thought of Snape taking dance lessons. Hermione's glare cut the girl's giggles short. "Come off it, Susan. Professor Snape is a man not a monster. We learned a lot in his class. I would imagine you would be a bit irritable too if you spent twenty years as a spy, not sure if someone was going to kill you every time you walked out your door. He helped Harry defeat Voldemort and received an Order of Merlin First Class for Circe's sake. Doesn't that count for anything?" Hermione was looking at Edmund as if he were a specimen under a microscope. He was starting to get on her nerves. This was exactly the reason she did not like boys her age. "And why exactly should it matter to you whether I am instructing him or not?"

"The man scares me. You want to instruct him? Fine. You can dance with him all you want. You can fancy him for all I care, but I would rather not run into him again if you don't mind. Seven years was enough. Hero or no hero."

"I do not fancy him but I do respect him and so should you. I have no choice. I agreed to finish his Tango lessons." She was not going to mention the research for the Wolfsbane Potion that she was dying to get started on. That was none of their business. Last night had been amazing. Professor Snape had treated her as an equal. He listened to her theories and then added comments of his own. Dancing with him was not such a chore either when she really thought about it. In her opinion, Thursday night could not come soon enough. She looked at Edmund sitting stiffly with his arms crossed. His mouth was set in a thin line. "Fine. Why don't we meet a half hour earlier? If we start earlier you will be long gone before he arrives." Hermione shook her head. How childish could he get?

"Fine. I'll tell the others." Edmund was relieved. He had absolutely no desire to see Snape again. He had always thought Hermione was a little odd. How in Merlin's name could she be teaching Snape to dance? Then again she had faced He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, so maybe she could stand to be near the old bat.

Hermione was glaring at all three of them. "Can we get back to Charms now or do you have other problems you wish to discuss?"

Edmund shook his head. Maybe it was Hermione and not Snape he should be afraid of.

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.

Remus Lupin's eye color is never mentioned in the books. In my mind they are a pale gray with yellow flecks. Traditional werewolf lore says the eyes turn yellow when they transform. JKR has not included this information in any of the books.

This is from the HP Lexicon: Wolfsbane Potion – While this potion can't cure lycanthropy, it does prevent the extremely dangerous dementia which accompanies the transformation from human into werewolf. A fairly recent invention, very difficult to make. Snape makes it for Lupin. The statement, "Severus was one of only three Potion Masters in Europe that could brew the difficult potion properly" is artistic license on my part.

This is the actual quote. I altered it to fit the story. The only difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys. ~Author Unknown

Does Hermione know how to belly dance? Will Severus ask her? Still to come, another dance lesson and some costume ideas. Enjoy. Review and let me know what you think. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle