Something New

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 ~~~~~

Chapter 28: Something New

They returned to Hogwarts Sunday afternoon after the seminar. Severus had been annoyed with Rancine. While Hermione's comments amused him, he was still worried about the man. His expression was closed as he questioned her about 'the rumours' she had heard.

He was not expecting her to comment on his prowess in the bedroom nor the dimensions of his member. He had assumed she was referring to a few of the witches he'd had the misfortune to take out, or something to do with his days as a Death Eater, surely not his abilities as a lover.

He seemed to recall the rumours cropping up after the final battle; she had to have been a student then, a seventh year. He wondered where she'd heard them, let alone the fact they still seemed to be floating around. He couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face when he realised what she meant. Her bravado of earlier seemed to disappear a bit as she explained even her roommates at the conference where curious about him.

Well, if there were any doubts as to the validity of their 'relationship', this weekend should have taken care of that. They had been highly visible during their time in Amsterdam. Taking her to dinner one night in Hogsmeade, or out on her birthday, was one thing, but showing up at the seminar and staying together in his suite was quite another. The waterfall had been particularly enjoyable. He wondered if Albus would allow him to install a small pond and waterfall in his quarters if he obtained the charm for it. Considering how much Hermione had enjoyed the water, it would definitely bear looking into.

Things had gone well until their last half hour in the lab. They had even made a small amount of progress on narrowing the number of ingredients and metals to use. The potion they were working on had a half hour to simmer. They had started discussing the Potions masters at the seminar while cleaning up.

Hermione had focused on three specific wizards at the seminar. Shyly, she told him she had ruled out a forth master that taught in Russia. She refused to consider any location that was too far to Apparate to and from on a weekly basis. She started to discuss the wizards she had observed over the weekend, listing the pros and cons of each one. All were registered with the Cambridge program, and all were fully qualified.

"What do you think?" Hermione had stopped to observe his movements.

Severus was scowling, racking the cauldrons with more force than necessary. "They're all good. I'm sure whatever you decide will be fine." The potion was reaching the end of the simmering stage. Two clockwise stirs, six medium petals, and the potion would be complete.

"You don't have to be so rude about it. I would much rather apprentice with you, but you won't even discuss that possibility." She set the journal on the lab table with a decided thud, annoyed with Severus's attitude.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose, a headache threatening to overtake him. "We have been over this before, Hermione. I'm not part of Cambridge's program. After Rancine's comments this weekend, do you have any doubt he would discredit your work with me?"

"You are more than qualified to be part of the program." Her words sounded lame to her own ears. She knew he was right. "All right, fine. You're right. I admit it. What is your problem? I'm considering the alternatives. What do you want me to do?"

"I will not allow you to throw your education away."

"Fine. I agree. So what are you so angry about?" Hermione was virtually yelling at the man.

His eyes seemed to glitter with an inner fire in the dungeon's candlelight. What was he so mad about? All three wizards were located in and around the UK. A was about ten years older than Severus and situated with a private facility that did research in London. B was his age and teaching at private school in Ireland. C was younger and worked for a research branch of the Ministry in Scotland. Any one of them would have suited Hermione.

What was he mad about? Hermione spending her time in the lab with someone else. Hermione debating properties and procedures with another man. Hermione's eyes lighting up as someone else showed her a new technique or method for processing a potion. Hermione bestowing her smile on another man.

Severus sighed; he was aware he was not thinking rationally. An occurrence that seemed more common the more he was with her. She could not apprentice with him, that much was clear. The three wizards she had focused on were top in the field. She would do well with any one of them and anyone of them in turn would welcome a witch of her caliber.

So what was the problem? 'The problem is, mate, you're jealous,' the voice in his head gleefully informed him.

He did not need to be taunted about his love life by his own conscience, or whatever that voice represented. 'Sod off, mate!' The only respite he'd had from it was when he'd been recovering from the Cruciatus Curse. It had been blissfully quiet that weekend. Maybe Poppy knew how to silence it.

"There is no problem." His voice was gruff.

Would she go off and find that any one of the men was easier to be with than him? They would be working together in close quarters for a full year. He could Apparate to her on some weekends; she might be able to come to him once a month. His bed was cold without her now, what would he do when he saw her even less?

He refused to give in to the need he was feeling. That was a year off. One step at a time.

"You can't have it both ways, Severus. You won't let me apprentice with you, but you don't want me to apprentice with anyone else. It doesn't work that way." Her voice was quiet, belying the heartache she was feeling at the moment.

"All three are qualified masters. Each is known as an outstanding researcher. I should think any one of them would be lucky to have you." His voice had a hollow sound to it.

Hermione watched him complete the final steps of the potion, his movements precise as always. She set about bottling the liquid. "All right, I will stay here, then, and see if I can Apparate to one of the satellite locations. I believe there may be a master nearer to Hogwarts."

"You will do no such thing!" he roared. "Your education comes first. You will choose from the list of names you have considered, and that will be the end of it. We will not discuss this again." Severus slammed the cauldron back down on the fire, the milky blue solution sloshing along the rim.

"You have spoken, so it will come to pass. Is that it?" Hermione's glare matched his, the phial in her hands forgotten.

"I'm... sorry. As much as I would like to have you here, it would not be in your best interest." A chime alerted them to the approaching hour. He took a deep breath before asking, "Can you stay for dinner?"

"No, I have an early study group tomorrow and a test on Tuesday that I need to prepare for. Let me just bottle this before I go."

Severus cast a stasis charm on the potion. "Hermione..."

"Don't. Everything is fine. I just have a lot of work to do. I haven't been home all weekend." She was tired and still had hours of work ahead of her.

Severus nodded, not sure how to change the mood. "I can bottle this later. I'll walk you out to the gate."

The silence was awkward as they walked along. "Severus, I really did have a great time this weekend, thank you."

"It was probably the most enjoyable seminar I have ever had the pleasure of attending. Do you think Albus will allow me to install a waterfall in my bathroom?"

Hermione laughed. "I don't think so, but it would be nice." She felt the tingle of magic as he cast a silencing charm mixed with do not notice.

Severus pulled her tight against him. Her arms encircled his neck as she hugged him. He didn't want to argue, he wanted to see her smile, hear her laugh. He lowered his head and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. A kiss that said more than he was capable of putting into words at the moment.

"I'll see you Wednesday." She stepped back and, with a loud crack, she was gone.

Severus turned and made his way back to the castle. The sudden screeching of birds filled the air as he blasted the bushes he encountered on his return trip.

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Monday. Hermione groaned as she adjusted her book bag again. Why did Mondays have to be so...Mondayish?

She could have used a charm to lighten the bag, but the weight of the bag was reassuring against her side. It gave her a feeling of purpose; books had always held an important place in her life. The knowledge they held was priceless. It was that knowledge that served her in life. Books had always been her number one interest, until now. Severus seemed to be occupying that spot more and more. Of course, Severus and books went together almost interchangeable, really.

Hermione dropped her bag on the table and collapsed wearily into the seat. She had a few minutes to spare before the others showed up. The weekend in Amsterdam had been like something out of a fairy tale: Severus, her dark knight, showing up to save the fair maiden, dinner, the waterfall, the seminar. All of it had been wonderful. Until later, at Hogwarts, when their 'discussion' took a turn for the worse.

She chuckled. It looked like they had survived their first argument, even if Severus was being pig headed about her apprenticeship. Pigheaded - the image did suit him at the moment. She supposed he would calm down. They would work something out. She still had three months to declare a master to work with.

"I cannot believe Snape showed up at the seminar like that!" Edmund exclaimed.

"Did you hurt your head when you fainted?" Hermione asked with amusement.

"Why didn't you warn us he was going to be there?" he demanded.

Susan looked surprised. "Professor Snape was at the seminar?"

"Because I didn't know he was going to attend and, even if I did, I wasn't aware I had to clear it with you! Really, Severus is allowed to leave the dungeons every now and then. A vampire he knows steps in to take his place; wouldn't want to leave the dungeons without a bat, would we? Though he does seem incapable of taking as many points from the students as Severus does." Hermione smiled brightly. "Well, now that that is settled, can we review for tomorrow's test?"

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"I think that's the final charm for this group. That's what he ended with on Friday." Hermione was reviewing her advanced Charms notes.

"That's what I have, too. A least this exam doesn't seem as hard as the last one."

An odd buzz seemed to fill the air around them. Hermione looked up to see Harry and Ron walk through the student union. Harry nodded as students pointed and timidly waved at him.

"Oi, 'Mione. This looks way too familiar for my tastes." Ron smiled at Kathy, always happy to see a pretty witch.

"Hi, Hermione. You about ready?" Harry's boyish smile still warmed her heart after all these year.

She was lucky to have them as friends. Not because he was the boy-that-lived-to-save-the-world, but because he really cared. Harry had a heart as big as all outdoors, and Ron cared more than he could ever say. When all was said and done, they had put action to their words and willingly put their lives on the line for each other during the final battle. They were bound in a way that few friends could ever be.

Hermione rechecked her notes. "I think that about does it." She packed her bag while they waited, her study group quiet in the face of such greatness. Edmund had been in school with the Golden Trio, but that was before Harry had dispatched Voldemort. He was larger than life these days, a fact that got on his nerves sometimes.

Ron looked around, relieved as they walked away from the group. "Just the three of us, then?"

"Who were you expecting, Ginny?" Hermione asked, smiling. "I promise not to stuff Severus down your throat every time we're together, Ron. I just expect you to be civil to each other when the occasion arises. It's usually just the three of us anyway, when Harry and I can tear you away from the Quidditch field or your gaggle of witches, that is."

Ron had the good grace to blush. "You two always come first. So, where to?"

Harry and Hermione looked at each other and then at Ron. All three nodded. "Pizza Magic." The three friends took off to lament their love lives, friends, co-workers, and the world in general.

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 can't say when the next update will be. I go in for surgery tomorrow. If all goes well and they let me have a pencil (or a crayon) and paper, I may have another chapter up in two or three weeks. Could be sooner if the pain pills kick in.

Melanie has been a sweetheart and drawn the costumes for Dances. Severus is not happy, I'm not sure he will leave them as is. They can be found here: http://usagistu.deviantart.com/gallery/

Still to come: the last dance lesson, costumes, a heartfelt talk, 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

A grateful thank you to my beta, Nakhash, for her corrections and suggestions. Another set of eyes is always helpful, the mistakes, however, are still mine

Regards, Pearle

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And now for something completely different:

For those of you privy to the PLAYWITCH photo by the very talented Marquise, comes a new and exciting web site. Under Marquise's watchful eye – Marquise, Ancientgirl, and myself have put together the first issue of PLAYWITCH magazine online. This issue contains interviews, ads, fan fiction, fan art, and columns. It is an adult site, with adult content, that will be 'published' on a monthly basis.

The hope is that you will find this site to be a place to visit time and time again: a place to laugh and relax, a place to let your hair down at the end of a hard day. We welcome your contributions, suggestions, letters, and submissions. With luck, the site will be launched on Sunday. You can follow the link below to the main entrance to PLAYWITCH.

http://www.playwitch.net/

(We are presently under construction – keep checking next weekend for the grand opening!)