Sunday at Hogwarts: Act One ? A New Duet

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 ~~~~~

11. Sunday at Hogwarts: Act One – A New Duet

Severus was in a rare mood as he stalked the hallways from the Great Hall to the Slytherin common room. He had managed to take a combined total of fifty points in the last half hour from all four houses. Some offenses had been minor, twenty-five points from a second year Gryffindor for coughing and disturbing the afternoon quiet. Others had been a bit more serious, two points from four seventh year Slytherins, a full one-half point each, for setting fire to three tapestries while practicing hexes in the hallway. All four houses had been affected. The students scrambled out of the way in the wake of Severus's obvious bad mood.

Hermione was already an hour late. 'Not an hour late,' he told himself, the voice in his head taunting him. 'She is not coming. Why are you surprised she failed to show up? Would you show up if you were meeting you?' He sighed, all right, face it. Hermione had decided not to come. She must have reconsidered her actions Thursday night and come to her senses. It really should not have come as a surprise to him.

Hermione seemed to have taken up residence in his mind over the last few days. She was all he could think about. He found it hard to believe she had expressed any interest in him. He did not believe fate would allow him even this small pleasure.

His dreams of the last three nights had been filled with Hermione. Hermione working in the lab with him; he and Hermione talking; Hermione in various stages of undress; Hermione dancing in The Thong. Hermione in as many compromising positions as his wretched mind could come up with. Wanting someone did not make it reality.

'You could have had her the other night and been done with her,' the voice in his head reminded him. But he had wanted more from her than just a quick release. He had hoped for some type of relationship with the young woman. Obviously that was not going to happen now. Best just to forget her. He had essays to grade, potions to make, and a case of Old Ogden's waiting for him. He sighed heavily as he turned into the hallway leading to his office.

Hermione's face lit up when she saw the Potions Master in the hallway. "Severus" she called out. "Hello. I am so sorry I am late, but Edmund was just impossible. Reminds me a little of Neville when I was in school."

Severus barely acknowledged her presence, his expression cold.

Hermione noticed his standoffish manner. "Is something wrong?"

Ignoring her question, Severus turned in the direction of his office, expecting her to follow. His robes billowed out behind him. He tone was curt, and tinged with a bit of annoyance, "Do you realize you are more than an hour late, Miss Granger? I had assumed you were not coming." He knew he was acting childish, but could not seem to stop himself. Right or wrong, he had decided to reject her before she could reject him. He chided himself for being a fool. It did not matter any more that she was here. He should have never allowed it to get this far in the first place. Why the hell did he ever listen to Lupin?

Hermione followed him. He was obviously mad because she was late. She tried again. "I know I should have sent an owl but I was in a hurry to get here. I'm sorry." They were standing in the hall outside his office. Severus's attitude and tone were confusing Hermione. He had told her he wanted her. She could not have imagined his feelings for her. What exactly was going on?

"If you will follow me?" Severus walked into his office and held the door open for the confused witch. He locked and warded the door before turning to Hermione.

"Severus, what is the problem?" Hermione was at the end of her rope. Either he explained what was wrong, right now, or she was leaving.

The hurt and anger in Hermione's voice finally caught Severus's attention. He could see the anger flashing in her eyes but chose to disregard it. He had convinced himself she had changed her mind. It did not matter that he was being unreasonable. "You are late and I would rather not have my association with you announced in that manner."

"What manner? All I said was hello?" What the hell was wrong with him?

"You called me Severus."

"What did you expect me to call you?"

"There were students in the hall. I would have assumed you would address me as Professor Snape."

"We're back to, Professor Snape? Maybe coming here was a mistake." Hermione rose from the chair she was sitting in, anger surging through her.

"Perhaps I was not thinking clearly," Severus said quickly, opposing feeling for the witch warring in his brain. Want and need were fighting with rejection and hurt, causing him to doubt himself.

Hermione's anger was coming to the forefront. "No. You were not thinking at all. The last two days seemed to drag by for me. I can't tell you how much I was looking forward to seeing you. If you have a problem being seen with me, I suggest you tell me now. In fact, maybe it would be a good idea if I just leave right now and we can forget the whole thing." Hermione grabbed the doorknob and tried to open the door. "Professor Snape, will you please unlock this door?"

Severus ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "Hermione, I am sorry. I am not used to being in this type of relationship. You were late. I thought you had changed your mind and decided not to come."

"You're sorry? That's it? I'm a little late and you decide to cut me down to size. And what relationship are you talking about? We haven't even started on a relationship yet. Please unlock the door, Professor Snape."

"Hermione, be reasonable."

"Be reasonable? I am the one acting unreasonable? It is Miss Granger remember? I suggest you unlock this door now." She'd had enough of him. "Why did I ever think there could be something between us?"

Severus moved behind his desk and sunk wearily into his chair. 'Well,' he asked himself, 'are you happy now? You knew this would happen.' He had hoped for a relationship with this woman. When had hope ever gotten him anywhere? What difference if he did care for her? He tried to ignore the voice in his head and said to Hermione, "Perhaps you are right. Though I am not in the habit, I will apologize for any inconveniences I may have caused you, Miss Granger." He waved his wand at the door, unlocking it and removing the wards.

Something in his tone made her turn around.

"You are free to leave. I regret we must continue our lessons, but we are both magically bound to finish the contract. In light of the circumstances, perhaps I can persuade Albus to change the consequences to another alternative." Severus felt a headache coming on. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering if he had any headache potion left. Perhaps he could find something lethal and put himself out of his misery. He was startled when he felt Hermione's hands gently massaging his shoulders. His ear had been so occupied listening for the slam of his office door that he never heard her move behind his chair.

"Hermione, what are you doing?" Why was she still here? Understanding and outmaneuvering the Dark Lord had been a piece of cake compared to dealing with this witch. Severus did not want to argue with her, but he seemed to lose control of his emotions when she was around. He was melting under her touch. He could not remember the last time a woman had touched him with such tenderness.

"Bad headache?" Something in his voice had affected her. She could hear the loneliness, the despair. She knew he rarely, if ever, opened up to anyone. Yet he had risked reaching out to her. She suspected it was the same distrust of people that caused him to shut down so quickly. He would reject her before she could reject him.

"Yes. I was just wondering if I had any lethal potions in the lab that could rind me of my headache and perhaps put me out of my misery at the same time. Would you care to help me look?" He raised a brow at her in question.

Hermione continued her massage. "Mmm, your muscles are tense. Relax. No. I am not going to help you look for a lethal potion. I think we need to discuss some ground rules so there will be no further confusion."

She was staying? Severus swiveled in his chair. He grabbed Hermione's hips and pulled her into his lap. "Are you saying you are willing to give...this, another chance?" He had wrapped his arms around her. One hand gently caressed the side of her face and tangled in her hair. The other held her close to him, afraid to let go of her. His voice was soft and seductive, "Hermione."

Hermione slid her arms around his neck. His eyes bore into her, searching. They seemed to peer into her very soul. Severus's lips grazed the side of her neck, sending a tingle straight to her very core. He nipped her earlobe before capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Hermione opened her mouth to his probing tongue. The kiss was heated, passionate. His tongue plundered her mouth, mimicking the action his already aroused member wanted to engage in. Hermione shifted in his lap. She could feel her effect on him, hard against her bum.

"Hermione," he whispered again as they broke apart, a trace of a smile on his lips. "May I assume you are staying?" He stroked the side of her body, alternating between a gentle caress and a firm touch, moving in ever widening circles along her side. She was wearing a silk shirt with black Muggle jeans. His hand slipped under the edge of her shirt, caressing her soft skin and moved slowly along her side, stroking the heated flesh from her waist to her breast. He slowly raked his fingers along the sensitive under side of her breast. A moan escaped her lips.

She shifted again, trying to bring his hand where she needed his touch most. Her nipples were hard pebbles as he ran his thumb across the lace surface of her bra, teasing the hard peak underneath. "Hermione, God, do you have any idea what you do to me?" he said softly. He gently licked and nipped the outer shell of her ear. Her name was smoke and fire. His words sent lust coursing through her blood. She shifted against him, his aroused member pressing into her bottom. She wanted nothing more than to feel him deep within her. He was taking her to a level of passion she had never felt before.

Her hands played across the muscles of his chest and shoulders. She had managed to open the clasp on his robes and the first few buttons of his frock coat. 'What was it with him and buttons?' she wondered. Maybe she could explain Velcro to him. It would make undressing him a hell of a lot easier. She opened the top four buttons of his white linen shirt and slipped her hand under the crisp fabric. His skin was pale, almost translucent, with a dusting of fine black hair. She stroked his exposed skin, tracing the line of a scar. She could feel him tremble under her touch. "So what type are you used to?" she asked softly.

Severus had been kissing and nipping along the length of her neck. His tongue brushed the top of her décolletage. He raised his heated gaze to her eyes. "Pardon me?" What the hell was she talking about?

'You stopped! What in bloody hell are you stopping for? You were at her breasts! What is wrong with you? Get back down there.' The voice in his head seemed to have returned with a vengeance as it yelled at him.

She kept shifting in his lap, causing his already aroused member to harden further. He was ready to sweep everything off his desk and take her right there. He could feel small tremors run through her body as she shook with need. He felt her pulse pound as he kissed the side of her neck. She was as aroused as he was. Her obvious desire only seemed to arouse him even further. He thought he did not have enough blood left to power his brain since he could not seem to follow whatever it was she was asking him.

Hermione's breathing was ragged. "You said you were not used to being in this type of relationship. What type are you used to?"

She wanted to talk about a relationship, now? He sighed. Fine. They would talk. He could be as human as the next person. "I normally do not engage in relationships per say." Severus laughed. He could not believe she wanted to talk. Damn know-it-all. It was probably a good idea. He was rapidly losing control and did not think he would be able to stop if they keep on. He was a step away from magicking their clothes off before impaling her with his very stiff member. While he thought she might not object, he rather hoped they would take their time and explore each other's bodies first. And maybe find some place a little more comfortable than his office chair.

Hermione marveled at the feel of the vibration from his laugh. "Have I ever told you I like your laugh?"

"No, I do not believe you have ever mentioned that particular fact before." His arms had encircled her body again. He gently played with her hair.

"So what do you engage in?" She giggled as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Okay, maybe I should rephrase that?"

His eyes softened as he looked into the eyes of the witch in his arms. "Hermione, I have spent the last twenty years with only two goals in mind. One was to gather information to bring down the Dark Lord. The other was to try and not get killed in the process. There was a time I would have welcomed death, but I owed it to Albus to try and be useful. He gave me a second chance when I was not deserving of that chance. I owe him my life. It is a debt I will never be able to repay. There is still a large part of the Wizarding World that does not think highly of me. I have a black past I cannot change. There are things in my past I am not proud of. If you are with me, people will judge you too. It does not matter that I won an Order of Merlin. People remember only what they want to remember. You may want to rethink us."

Hermione wiped a tear from her eye as she hugged Severus. Her heart ached for this tortured man. He deserved so much more than the scorn of the Wizarding World for giving up the last twenty years of his life. Her voice was thick with emotion, "Oh, Severus." Her arms tightened around him.

The act of hugging was more intimate than their kisses had been. He clutched her to him, a lifeline to a drowning man. It would take a long time for his soul to heal. But maybe, with her help, he could hope again. It was a few minutes before he could speak. "I would think you might not want to be seen with me. Not the other way around. You mentioned ground rules?"

She laughed softly. "Yes, ground rules. As in, using your given name in public. Understanding I am not trying to hurt you or run away from you. Acknowledging my existence, even if someone else is present. I am not asking you to shag me in the middle of the Great Hall. I understand public displays are not in your nature. They are not in mine either. But if we are to be an 'us', we need to be together. I will not hide our relationship."

"Where would you like me to shag you?" Dear god she was amazing.

"We will have to figure that out. Won't we?" Hermione's hand was caressing the side of his face. Severus's eyes closed for a moment as he leaned into her touch.

"What about your friends? What will you tell them? I am sure they will not approve. Potter and Weasley will believe I have slipped you a potion. Or at the very least, they will believe you have lost your mind." He had never liked the idiotic duo. He supposed he would have to learn to tolerate them if he was to have any type of future with Hermione. Potter was working for the Ministry, being groomed to one day assume the position of Minister of Magic. While not friends, they had come to an unspoken understanding. After their joint effort in destroying the Dark Lord, he and Potter had developed a quiet respect for one another. He thought Potter would think twice before opening his mouth. He was equally sure Weasley would charge forward like a wounded Erumpent.

"Severus, when have I ever worried about what other people think? If either Harry or Ron, or anyone else for that matter, has anything to say, they will answer to me. I think they will see reason. I have been known to be very creative when I hex someone."

Severus nodded. "Perhaps we should start working on your theory?" He knew he could stir the embers and bring them right back to the level of passion they had been at. It was barely contained below the surface. It would not take much, but he thought it would be wiser to stop. He turned his head towards her hand as she caressed his face and started nibbling and softly licking her palm, his words contradicting his actions. His voice was low, silky, "We need to stop. There is still research to do and you have to return to Cambridge tonight."

Hermione sighed. "Right. Okay." She moved off his lap and straightened her clothes. Her eyes were glazed and her cheeks were flushed. Severus thought she looked lovely.

He heard the disappointment in her voice and pulled her back into his embrace. "Hermione, you have no idea what you do to me. I was more than willing to clear the desk a moment ago and just take you right here. But I do not think it would be wise. We were going to take it slow. Remember? While I do not care what anyone else has to say about us, I believe this afternoon should be an indication of just how important it is that we get to know one another better, if only to avoid any misunderstandings in the future." His voice was soft, "believe me, there is nothing more I desire then for you and me to be together."

Hermione's smile was bright as she kissed the man in front of her. "I believe you. The desk, huh? I may just take you up on that some time."

Severus shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the little chit. His smirk was evident as he said, "Shall we try to tame a werewolf? Are you ready to work, partner?" An arched doorway appeared on the back wall of his office. "I have reset my wards to recognize you. We will use my private lab. The equipment and research books are of a higher quality then the classroom."

They walked through the heavy oak door and entered Severus's private quarters.

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.

From the HP Lexicon and Magical Beasts: Erumpent -This huge African magical beast resembles a rhinoceros. Its horn, which can pierce almost anything, contains a fluid, which explodes, destroying what it has hit. Because male Erumpents frequently blow each other up during mating season, the species is somewhat endangered.

Next up, Sunday at Hogwarts – Part Two. Severus's private quarters, the Potion's Lab, a talk with Ginny, Remus, dinner at Hogwarts, and more. Enjoy. Please review and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle