Lesson 10: Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right But Three Rights Do Make A Left

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 29 – Lesson 10: Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right But Three Rights Do Make A Left

Hermione blinked, and Wednesday was upon her.

She had enjoyed dinner, Monday night, with her friends. Ron regaled them with tales of his travels and the ever-present string of witches that seemed to surround him. She realised Harry had the same groupies, but his interest in Ginny seemed to over-ride all that. All Harry had ever wanted was a 'normal' life. Whatever normal was.

Ron had teased her about Severus, but this weekend's confrontation had left her a bit touchy on the subject of their relationship. It was most fortunate Harry was able to divert the conversation before she was forced to hex Ron into silence.

Hermione glanced at the clock. She still had fifteen minutes before Severus was due for his lesson. His last lesson she amended. 'Ten's the magic number,' she thought. They still had three weeks until Hallowe'en, but tonight's lesson would satisfy the bet. They still had plans to practice the next three Wednesdays.

Severus was worried about embarrassing himself in front of the students, as well as his colleagues. Not to mention any Order members or Ministry officials that always seemed to be present at a Hogwarts feast or celebration. She suspected Albus might even have extended invitations to an extra few in light of the expected 'entertainment.'

Severus's dancing had improved markedly over the last few lessons. He had no need to be embarrassed. Unfortunately, no amount of assurance on her part could convince him otherwise. He had always carried himself with a natural grace, but lately his movements had taken on a more sensual quality. Hermione thought he could have had a career in dance if he had started young and had over-come his natural tendency to shun the world and all those in it.

'Who am I kidding,' she thought, 'Severus Snape - a professional dancer? Right." She laughed at the thought. Well, even if they performed tomorrow, he would not be embarrassed. He had learned to dance the Tango as it was meant to be danced - a vertical expression of a horizontal desire. A desire that always seemed to overwhelm them at the end of the lessons.

Hermione wondered just how many hearts he would capture when the female population of Hogwarts saw him in costume moving to the beat of the music. 'Maybe tattooing "Property of Hermione Granger" in a strategic location might not be such a bad idea after all,' she mused.

Three more weeks until Hallowe'en and they would be through, then what? Maybe she could talk to Severus about stepping up their research at Hogwarts, though she rather liked having him here. With no one to bother them, Severus always seemed a bit more at ease when they were alone in her flat.

They still hadn't discussed the Potions Symposium coming up in November. Severus was expected to present a lecture on Dark Potions. The three masters from the seminar, as well as seven others involved in the intern program at Cambridge, would be attending. Six out of the ten would be presenting lectures, as well. She would have a chance to meet and talk with them before she had to submit her request in January. It was the main reason she had wanted to attend the conference, originally.

Her ending grade and rank would be the final determinate on what weight her request to study with a particular master would be judged. Hermione had every intention of being number one. School and learning had always been a driving force in her life, and still was. But now there was Severus to consider, too. He challenged her to excel, to pursue her studies, but a part of her wanted nothing more than to just be with him, to shut out the outside world. She knew that was a pipe dream; they lived in reality, not some fantasy of their making.

Hermione knew he was right; she could never apprentice with him. It was impossible. Rancine had made a snide comment to the class at large about not relying on the people they knew to get them through the programme and by-pass the requirements. Success or failure was based on what they knew, not who they knew. She was sure the comment was meant as a warning to her. It had set her blood to boil, but it also made her even more determined to come out on top. If only to rub it in Rancine's face.

Hermione felt the tingle of magic as her wards recognised Severus. She sincerely hoped they would not have another row when she brought up the topic of the symposium, later. With a last glance in the mirror, she went out to greet him.

'Well, at the very least she hasn't locked me out,' he thought with wry amusement as he hung up his cloak. Sunday's quarrel had been a minor disagreement of sorts. He was sure they were well past it; at least he hoped so. He still had a hard time shaking the feeling she'd left too abruptly. Severus stood silently, listening for a clue as to her whereabouts. The sound of a floorboard creaking in the hallway told him her location.

He watched as she came toward him. His breath seemed to catch in his throat before returning to normal. It was that way every time he saw her for the 'first time' again. Whenever they were apart, even for a few days, he would thrill at the sight of her once again. She was under his skin, embedded in his very soul, his drug of choice in so many ways.

"Am I still welcome here?" His voice was low, one brow raised questioningly. One long finger traced the side of her face, his hand coming to rest at the sensitive juncture of her shoulder and neck.

His rich baritone sent shivers to her very core. Not so much the words, but the tone. Not quite a whisper, it was the same voice he had used when he had told her how good she felt, how tight she was just before he entered her. She shuddered at the image her mind had dragged up. Hermione shook her head as if to clear it; they still had a lesson to get through.

"Of course, Professor, you still have one lesson left." She turned to kiss the inside of his wrist, softly licking the taunt skin.

Severus drew a sharp breath, his body responding to the heat of her mouth. 'That spot had never counted as an erogenous zone before,' he thought.

'Pin her to the wall. You can rip off her knickers and have your way with her. Show her who's the boss. Dear god, can you feel the heat?' the deranged voice in his head chanted with glee.

He ignored the voice. Tipping her head up, he captured her lips in a searing kiss as he crushed the lithesome witch to him in a fierce embrace. Hermione responded immediately, molding her body to his. It was several minutes before they broke apart, their breathing ragged.

"Lead on, Miss Granger, lead on."

Hermione smiled. A wave of her hand and music filled the flat. "Shall we start from the beginning?"

Severus shifted his hold on her as they moved into position. The music stopped and then restarted itself. They looked deeply into each other's eyes as the opening melody played. As the final note of the introduction ended, they started to move into the beginning sequence of the Tango.

The sensual back beat worked its usual magic. Their bodies slid against each other; with each turn, each movement, Hermione could feel herself becoming more aroused. She felt the play of muscles under her fingertips as they moved. His hips rolled forward before moving into the El Retrocesa, his body shifting as they moved backward into the practiced steps.

They moved through most of the dance with an easy grace. It was the last two steps Hermione had shown him that were not so quick in coming.

"Not bad. You still need work on the Cierre, but your movement during the La Salida is better. Let's try it again." The music restarted as they moved into position.

They worked through the dance steps two more times, Hermione adding an embellishment or two as they danced. The ending notes sounded as they moved into the final stance she'd shown him during their last lesson.

One hand was held high over her head, the other braced around his shoulder. Once again he was presented with a delicious view of Hermione's cleavage as she arched back over his arm. Severus lowered his head to kiss the hollow between her breasts. Instead of meeting the heated flesh of his lover, his lips encountered the feel of parchment. Startled, he lost his hold on Hermione, dropping her to the floor.

"Ow!" She landed with a thud, the air knocked out of her lungs at the unexpected drop. A piece of parchment fluttered to land gently on top of her chest before sliding off onto the floor.

"What in bloody hell...? Hermione, I'm sorry." Severus reached for her hand to help her up.

Not really injured, her dignity hurting more than her backside, Hermione reached for the piece of parchment. "Congratulations, you have successfully completed your ten week course of tango lessons. Here's your certificate, suitable for framing."

Severus looked at the parchment she was holding. He lost his hold on her hand as he started to laugh. Sinking to the floor next to her, he reached for the certificate. "You have got to be kidding?"

Hermione grinned. "Nope. That's your certificate. You are now an official graduate of the 'Lighter Than Air Dance School's Argentine Tango Ten-week course', just as it says right there. It even has a nice wax seal and everything."

"Does anything go with this certificate?"

Hermione batted her eyes at him in mock flirtation. "Whatever do you mean?"

Severus shrank the certificate for safekeeping and dropped it in his pocket.

"Severus, you don't have to keep it. Ted sends them out to the students as a formality. The children's parents like to show them off after the recitals." She shifted closer, no longer thinking about her sudden drop to the floor.

"Actually, I plan on framing this and putting it in my bedroom."

Now it was Hermione's turn to be shocked. "You are kidding, right?"

His voice was soft. "No, it will remind me of you."

"Are you planning on forgetting me anytime soon?" She closed the distance between them, shifting to the side so she could kiss him better.

Severus pulled her against his body as he deepened the kiss. His eyes were dark with lust, his gaze intense as they came up for air. "Hermione, I'm not as young as I used to be. Any objections to moving this into your bedroom, or should I cast a cushioning charm on the floor boards?"

"This from a man who can make love under a waterfall. Let's move into my bedroom. I have something I want to show you, anyway."

On the bed was a variation of the original costume he had tried on a few weeks ago. The shirt had evolved from its original basic black to a two-tone colour scheme. The top portion of the shirt was a luminescent white, while the bottom half was a dark green in colour. The sleeves ended in a bit of lacy fabric, while the neck of the shirt was cut into a deep 'Vee' and laced together with a piece of black leather. Next to the shirt was a pair of black tights; a black form-fitting codpiece, embellished with an 'S' in the shape of a snake rested on top of the tights.

Hermione sat on the bed, more than ready to enjoy the show he was about to put on. Severus looked silently at the costume. He was still of half a mind to kill Albus. He had completed the required ten lessons; he even had a certificate to prove it. But that wasn't enough. Not only did he have to dance the Tango at the Hallowe'en Dance, he had to wear a 16th century costume, complete with tights and a codpiece, to satisfy the final requirements of the bloody bet.

With a quietly murmured "Divesto", his clothes disappeared.

Hermione unconsciously licked her lips as she watched him.

Severus reached for the tights. He smirked as he watched her reaction. A quick snap and the material hugged his body. He scooped up the shirt. Magically, it appeared on his upper torso. He picked up the codpiece, not sure how it attached to the outfit.

Hermione slid from the bed and took the covering from him. "I charmed it to adhere to the front of your tights. That way it won't shift or fall off as you dance." Gently, she pressed the codpiece over his crotch. She frowned as she realised the sizing was all wrong. The codpiece was too small to cover him.

Severus watched as she said the charms to make the necessary adjustment to his codpiece. Her fingers shifting back and forth across his shaft was having a decided affect on his already aroused member.

"There," she said brightly. "Have a look." Hermione motioned to the mirror above her dresser.

Severus stared at his reflection, he felt almost nude in the ridiculous costume. He muttered an incantation under his breath. The shirt changed from white and green to all black. "It will do, I suppose."

"They did not dress in all black during the 16th century. Are you going for more of a Goth look?" A wave and snap of her wand and the shirt returned to its original colour scheme.

"I detest white. And I suggest you explain this 'Goth' to me." Once again he muttered 'Abeo vestitus'. The shirt turned black again.

"You wear a white shirt under your coat. The collar and cuffs are always visible. I've seen you in the lab in a white dress shirt!" Wave, snap. The shirt was two-tone again.

"Abeo vestitus, but not outside of my private residence. I will not look foolish. It will be black."

Wave, snap. "They didn't wear all black back then!"

In the end, they reached a compromise. The top of the shirt was a luminescent black; the bottom remained a dark green. Severus appraised his costume in the mirror. "It is...acceptable."

"You will capture the attention of half, if not all, of the female population of Hogwarts when they see you dressed like this. I may have to tattoo 'Property of Hermione Granger' in a strategic location just to protect my interests."

"And when am I permitted a glimpse of your attire?"

Hermione smiled. "My costume is not complete. I should have it by next week."

Severus pulled her to him. "Divesto."

Their clothes disappeared and reappeared on the chair across the room.

"I don't have to be back to the castle until 1:00a.m." He lowered them to the bed, all the while alternately nuzzling and biting at her neck.

"Severus."

The tone of her voice was serious and immediately worried him. They had only been lovers for three weeks now. 'Perhaps she has reached the top of her cycle and is unsure how to tell me,' he thought. So far that hadn't been an issue, but it was bound to come up soon. He had been casting a powerful contraception spell, so there was no worry there. As he had explained to her, it would have raised untold problems if anyone had ever said they were pregnant with his child. He had told the Death Eaters' wives he was sterile from one too many potions accidents and secretly cast the contraception spell; no one ever questioned him.

He stopped and looked at her. "Is something wrong?"

"You know I would never make you look foolish." For all his bravado, she knew he could be overly sensitive at times. He was worried enough about dancing in front of the entire student body. She didn't want him to think she would ever play any type of joke on him, too.

"I know that. However, you and I have a different view of acceptable sometimes." He moved to kiss the side of her neck again, only to be stopped by the tone of her voice.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Hermione."

"No, what is it I do that you find unacceptable?"

Severus lay back on the bed. "You are younger and do not seem to value your privacy with the same regard I do. It is understandable."

"We're not going to go through that again, are we? I don't care about the difference in our ages. Why does it matter so much to you? What do I do that you find unacceptable?" Hermione shifted to her side so she could glare at him. "You're just like an onion, you know that?"

He had been called many things, but never an onion. In spite of himself, he was curious. "An onion? What does that mean?"

Hermione laughed at his expression. "It was a comment my mum used to make. It means you have your head in the ground. You don't see what is around you."

"I see," he replied stiffly. Is that how she thought of him?

Hermione watched an invisible veil cover his eyes. His body seemed to stiffen as he mentally distanced himself.

Quietly, she said, "Severus, look at me. You don't see. You won't look around you. I care for you. I would never do anything that would make fun of you. I don't care about our ages, but I know you do. I'm not planning on running off with the first young wizard I see. None of them could compare to you. You have to trust me."

Severus watched her eyes. He could see he had touched something deep inside her. He knew she was right; maybe that's what hurt so much. He thought she should have been with someone younger. He agonised over her meeting someone at University, during her internship, whenever she was away from his side.

"Hermione..."

"Would you fight for me?" Her tone was demanding. She was not about to let him brush this conversation aside.

"Would I fight for you? Do you mean a duel?" What was she talking about now?

"You've told me how much I mean to you. I believe you. But if someone expressed an interest in me, some one younger, some one you thought more 'appropriate', and before you lose your temper, there is no one. But if there was, would you fight for me or would just think: 'She's better off, so be it' and hand me over to them?"

He was taken aback by the intensity of her gaze as she waited for him to answer. Would he fight for her, or would he let her go? Even at the cost of his own happiness? He understood she had insecurities of her own to deal with. "I would do whatever made you happy. I happen to believe, however, I am what will make you happy."

In one fluid motion, he pinned her to the bed, the need to possess her stronger than ever before. Jokingly she had said she would tattoo him as hers. He found the desire to mark her as his own was overwhelming. "And, I am not...an onion!"

Hermione shrieked at the sudden shift in position. "Yes, you are. Many layers...." Whatever else she had intended to say was lost as his mouth descended on hers, hot and demanding.

His knee gently nudged her legs apart. One hand snaked between them to find her wet and ready for him. Words were no longer necessary as they expressed their need and desire for each other in a dance as old as time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

She was lying with her head on his shoulder, her leg possessively thrown over one thigh. She traced the thin white line running from just above his left nipple to the edge of his collarbone. They never really talked about his days as a spy. Hermione knew the spidery white lines were the results of various curses and tortures Voldemort had inflicted upon him.

She was surprised Poppy had not been able to heal the skin too during her treatment of his wounds, eliminating the scars altogether. But then, there were so many Dark spells that did not allow for the healing of skin that Hermione had decided long ago not to ask. His eyes were closed, but she knew he wasn't asleep.

"Do you remember our original discussion?" she asked quietly.

She could feel the vibration of his voice through her fingertips as he chuckled before answering her. "We've had many original discussions. Which 'original discussion' in particular are you referring to?" He felt absolutely boneless, totally sated by the luscious witch lying by his side. Slowly, he stroked her side and back and anywhere he could reach, enjoying the feel of her body next to his. The scent of peach clung to her hair and skin tonight. He couldn't remember being this relaxed or this happy in a long time. In forever, really.

"Yes, well, when you agreed to let me attend the symposium with you? That discussion. I saw a notice giving the date as the end of next month."

"Hmm, I vaguely recall the conversation. Wish to change your mind and barter for the internship, instead?" Severus turned to watch her, his gaze soft.

Hermione smiled. "Would you let me?"

"What would be in it for me?" They both knew he was joking. He gently circled her nipple before rolling it between his fingers, the hardened bud deepening in colour, responding to his ministrations. His other arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer.

"I could sue you for sexual harassment."

Severus looked puzzled. "You want me to harass you sexually?"

Hermione laughed. They'd had enough misunderstandings for one night. "Forget it. Have you reserved our rooms yet? Did you want me to pay the hotel directly? If you tell me how much it is, I can have the amount transferred to your Gringotts account."

His brow shot up. "Rooms?"

"I did promise you I would remove my offending presence as soon as we arrive at the conference. You won't even know I'm there. Remember? You even agreed to allow me to accompany you, provided we did not have to see one another after we arrived. I just assumed separate rooms would be in order." They'd come a long way in the last few months since their original discussion of these terms.

"I see. I appologise for not informing you sooner, but circumstances have changed. We will be forced to share accommodations as well as socialise together. Perhaps you'd like to change your mind?" He had decided not to dwell on her reasons for attending the symposium. She would be with him - that would be enough. Her apprenticeship was still almost a year away; he had no desire to spend that time arguing with her.

Hermione smiled. "What about your girlfriend?"

"Don't worry about her. What she doesn't know won't hurt her."

"Would you like to see my certificate for duelling and hexing?"

Severus chuckled. "I have not received the information for our accommodations yet. And before you object, you have told me, many times over, that you are a struggling University student. At the moment, I happen to be gainfully employed, so I will cover the expenses connected with the symposium. Since you seemed to enjoy the suite at the conference so much, I have requested an upgrade to a suite at this hotel."

Hermione's eyes sparkled. "Do they have waterfalls in the rooms, too?" She was pleased they could discuss the symposium with-out getting into another argument. Though she thought he was making an attempt at being reasonable in light of tonight's revelations, she would take what she could get.

"I'm not sure. I could check if you like. If I intend to remain gainfully employed, I need to dress and return to Hogwarts. It is almost time for my shift to begin." Severus slid gracefully from the bed. A quick spell and his clothes, fully cleaned and pressed, draped his body once again. He leaned down to kiss Hermione good-bye.

"Hang on. I'll walk you to the door." She slid nude from the bed and padded softly into the other room.

Her hair was wild; her lips red from his heated kisses, a slight blush still clung to her breasts from their earlier lovemaking. 'All this, and brilliant, too,' he thought. He felt his heart pull as he looked at her. Not only would he fight for her, he thought he would kill anyone else that came within a hundred feet of her, the idiotic duo included.

"In answer to your earlier question: Yes, I would fight for you. I could never let you go."

Hermione watched his eyes darken. They shared a passionate kiss at her front door.

"I'll see you Saturday. I have a revision session at 9:00a.m. I should be at Hogwarts by noon."

Severus nodded. "We still have reservations for dinner Sunday night at Witchcraft. Will that be acceptable?"

"I forgot, but it's fine, I don't have to be home early."

Severus pulled her close again. His kiss was surprisingly gentle.

"You need to go. You'll be late."

"Saturday."

"Saturday," she agreed.

And he was gone.

Hermione leaned back against the door, hugging herself. Something had changed between them again. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was, but a feeling of contentment stole over her. She hummed as she went into the kitchen to make a cuppa. She still had some revising to finish before bed.

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.

To all those who asked, Rancine is a name of my own creation, and yes, the idea was to make you think of something foul, something rancid when you thought of him. I'm glad it worked.

The title of the chapter: Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right but Three Rights Do Make a Left is from the book of the same name by Seymour Papert. It's classified as a 'learning story', whatever that is. I have never read the book, so I have no opinion on it. The title caught my eye when browsing at Amazondotcom.

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.

Still to come: Hermione's costume, a Ministry celebration, a weekend 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.

You are welcome to browse my LiveJournal. Drabbles, photomanips, and general ramblings are the standard fare. You are welcome to 'friend me' if you like, one can never have too many friends!

Ancient Magic - http://www.livejournal.com/users/pearle9240/

I would like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and well wishes. The surgery was successful. I am on the mend with a few weeks of recovery left. Enough time to relax and recharge.

Regards, Pearle

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