Questions or Just Another Day In An Enchanted Castle

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 30. Questions or Just Another Day In An Enchanted Castle

It was rare that he received anything other than the usual Potions journals or occasional correspondence with another master. So it became an occasion of note when the morning post-owls dropped a shimmering gold envelope, larger than normal and humming the latest love ballad by the popular Wizard band, The Stone Hedges, on his plate. Everyone at the High Table turned expectant eyes in his direction, waiting to find out what the strange envelope contained.

He was prepared to let them wait.

Severus reached for a muffin while idly stirring his coffee and ignoring the obnoxious envelope.

"Would you like me to open that for you?" Remus asked him with a grin.

"Sod off, Lupin. It is of no consequence to you or anyone else here." Severus levelled his usual glare at the werewolf. It seemed the student body had also taken note of the delivery by the number of heads attempting to not look while looking at the dreaded Potions master. It was rather difficult to ignore an envelope that sang, "You've Turned My Heart of Stone To Mush" in three-part harmony, no less, and played it loudly in a continuous loop.

The envelope contained information about accommodations for the symposium. Severus would rather have stayed at a different hotel than where the actual conference was being held. As one of the presenters, this was not an option. The organizers of the event required all participants to stay at the same location in case of sudden changes in the schedule.

Severus recalled one conference years ago when two of the presenters were unable to speak after the first lecture. The series had focused on using potions in transfiguration work. Two of the keynote speakers volunteered as 'guinea pigs' when the speaker wanted to demonstrate his latest potion. Unfortunately, neither wizard responded to the reversal potion and had to be sent off to St Mungo's in a glass terrarium. They had inadvertently been transformed into horn-backed toads, and the speaker was unable to change them back. They were still missing when the conference ended. He never did find out if they ever became human again.

He tried several silencing and containment spells, all having no effect on the offending envelope. Severus assumed it was an advertising ploy by the hotel to attract attention to their establishment. Attention was the last thing he craved.

"Why don't you just open it?" Albus's voice was rich with amusement as he watched Severus colour at the suggestion.

"And why don't you just suck on a sherbet lemon, Headmaster." Severus grabbed the envelope and exited the back door.

"Thank you, I think I will." Albus's cheery voice and the laughter of those closest to the exit reached his ears before the door slammed shut.

He managed to muffle most of the sound by stuffing the annoying envelope in the pocket of his teaching robes. He had a few minutes before classes started and an unusually strong desire to blow up the offending envelope. It was only a matter of minutes before he reached his office.

After warding his door, he sat at his desk and examined the envelope. Several reveal spells confirmed that the envelope in question was indeed from the hotel and was no more noxious than the words of the song that was being played for the sixth time.

Severus used his wand to slice open the gold envelope and was immediately grateful he had not done so at the High Table. The envelope jumped from his grasp and stood upright on the desk. A tiny light show, similar to Muggle fireworks, shot out of the top. Mystic confetti jumped out of the slit and formed a loose chorus line around the envelope. A multi-coloured letter jumped up out of the top and hovered in mid air. The music swelled one last time before the letter started to read itself.

The Jungle Suite, well that sounded like something Hermione would like. A tree house? He just hoped it came with a bed and not a hammock to sleep in. He looked at the invoice accompanying the letter. For what he was paying, it better well have a bed complete with satin sheets and any other luxuries they could think of.

Severus sighed. The sound of his students gathering for Potions could be heard from the adjoining classroom. Looking at the clock, he discovered class was due to start in just minutes. Wistfully he looked at the letter and the now silent envelope. Hermione, she would be arriving tomorrow afternoon. He supposed the weekend would come soon enough.

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Hermione checked her bag for the last time. She planned on Apparating to Hogwarts after her revision group. Crookshanks was meowing softly while winding around her legs. Hermione picked up the half-Kneazle, hugging him to her.

"I know, Crooks, but you'll be all right. The food and water are set to replenish magically when you need it, and I'll be back tomorrow. Maybe next time you can come with me. You might as well use my guest room if I'm not going to." She had agreed to use the guest room Albus had assigned her. Well, she had agreed to be 'seen' using the guest room she had been assigned. She was fairly certain no one else knew that the door to her linen closet in the bathroom actually opened up into Severus's bedroom and not a closet.

She could be observed entering and leaving the guest room at various times during her stay at the castle, as the Headmaster had requested. In reality, the connection worked as a shortcut between the dungeons and the library. It was much faster to go from Severus's bedroom to the guest room and avoid the endless climb up the staircases from the dungeons.

Hermione smiled as Crooks butted his head against her arm. Maybe she could start taking him with her when she stayed over. Crooks was used to the castle after living there for so many years. He was just as at home at Hogwarts as she was. She hated leaving him alone for the weekend.

Reaching a decision, she looked Crooks in the eye. "Care for a road trip, boy? I'll be back after group to pick you up. There really is no reason you can't come with me." Hermione swore the cat looked like he was smiling as he stretched one long orange leg out and started to clean his paw.

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Hermione held the cat carrier tightly as she steadied herself. While not as difficult as Apparating two people, Apparating with an animal still required additional concentration. She walked up the main walk and through the front doors of the castle.

"I will not chaperone the bloody dance and be the entertainment, too. Find someone else to take that hour, or assign someone two shifts. I don't care who you get, enough is enough." Severus's outraged voice could be heard clearly from the open doorway next to the Great Hall.

"Really, Severus, you know the entire staff always pitches in at these affairs and monitors the students. And language, please. There are students in the corridors. " From Minerva's tone it was obvious she was aggravated with her friend and colleague.

"I don't care what the rest of the staff does." The two professors burst through the doorway as Hermione reached the centre of the Entrance Hall. "I am not... Hermione!" Severus smiled as he caught sight of the young witch. His smile quickly changed to a scowl as he noticed the now meowing cat carrier in her hand. He really had nothing against the cat; he just didn't want anything around that would distract Hermione's attention.

"Hermione, how lovely to see you." Minerva hugged her warmly. "You must stop by for tea and tell me how you are."

Hermione hugged her mentor. "Of course. I'll stop by later."

"I'll talk to Albus about changing the schedule." Minerva nodded to the two before moving on.

"Hi. We're here." Hermione smiled as she indicated the cat carrier.

"So I see." He should have known the damn half-Kneazle would show up. It was only a matter of time. He recalled her threatening to hex him when he expressed his displeasure with the animal on his first visit to her flat for his dance lessons. "Where are you planning on keeping...that?"

Hermione moved toward the stairway to the guest suites. "I thought I would let him loose in my room. Crooks lived here for four years. He knows the castle as well as you do."

"Ah, your room." Severus stopped at the foot of the stairs. He ran one long finger down her bare forearm, watching with fascination as goose flesh seemed to spread in its wake. He felt Hermione shiver slightly. "Cold?" he asked with a smirk.

"Not exactly." It amazed her how just a simple touch from this man could turn her on so.

"And your plans for the evening?" He deliberately lowered the volume and tone of his voice, enjoying the effect he had on the witch.

Hermione gazed directly into his eyes. "What did you have in mind?" From the way he shifted, it seemed she had just as much of an effect on him.

The sound of approaching students broke the mood. The castle had been relatively quiet that morning. A Hogsmeade weekend normally gave the staff some much need quiet time while the students were out.

Hermione watched as Severus disappeared and the Potions master made his appearance. He stood taller, a scowl firmly in place, and his hands dropped to his sides. Severus cast a glare at the students, moving them to silence without a word. Three girls, a Hufflepuff and two Ravenclaws, skittered up the steps, barely looking at the imposing figure in black.

Hermione leaned into him, lowering her voice. She whispered in his ear, "I suppose that means doing it over the railing is out of the question?"

He turned his patented glare on her, but the mirth in his eyes belied his tone. "For someone who graduated at the top of her class, you have a lot to learn about concealment and do-not-notice charms." Severus turned with a sweep of his robes. "Go unpack that beast you call a pet. Visit with the lioness in her den. I shall be in my office when you care to grace me with your presence."

The young witch laughed at his haughty manner. "How does an hour from now sound?"

Severus stopped as he reached the stairway to the dungeons and turned back to face her. "Keep that question in mind, I may be asking you that later tonight." He could hear Hermione's laughter as he headed for his office and yet another stack of essays to mark.

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"May I assume from your continued presence in the castle that things are progressing well between the two of you?" Minerva offered Hermione another biscuit, which she politely declined.

"We've made some great progress with the alterations to the Wolfsbane Potion in the last two sessions. I'll be glad when the Hallowe'en dance is over and we can concentrate our efforts on the research." Hermione stirred her tea with one eye on the clock. She enjoyed talking with Minerva, but she didn't want to keep Severus waiting. After hurrying to her 'room,' she had let Crooks run free and rushed over to visit with her former Head of House.

"Hermione." The older woman admonished her. "You know that's not what I mean. I love Severus dearly, and I will be the first to admit he seems to be calmer and happier - well happy for him - than ever before. But he is not an easy man. Is there anything you want to talk about? Can I help in any way?"

"Minerva, thank you, but really, I'm fine. I know Severus can seem aloof, but he really seems to relax when we're together. He has a great sense of humour. His sarcasm is wicked when it's not directed at me. I really do enjoy our time together." Hermione felt an overwhelming sense of love for this woman.

"Actually, I've enjoyed his sarcasm for years. There is no one I would rather trade barbs with." Minerva sipped her tea. "So should I ask how serious you two are?"

Hermione choked on her tea. Coughing and sputtering, she tried to catch her breath. "Excuse me? Are you asking what his intentions are?"

"I'm asking what intentions the two of you have? How serious is this relationship?" Minerva sat calmly watching the young witch.

"I don't know how to answer you. We...we care about each other. I think for now we're just enjoying being together. We really haven't talked about it." Minerva had become a second mother to her in the years since she had lost her parents. She didn't want to upset the woman, but Hermione had no clue how to answer her.

"You do plan on finishing school?

"Of course. Severus keeps telling me that should be my main priority. As a matter of fact, there is a Potions symposium we're attending the end of November. Ten of the masters present are part of the apprentice program. He has been helping me decide on what master I should request an apprenticeship with."

Minerva looked surprised. "And not with him?"

"He doesn't feel anyone would take my apprenticeship seriously if I interned with him. As much as I hate to admit it, I know he's right. He and Professor Rancine have already had a run-in at the last conference."

"Rancine."

It surprised Hermione how much venom she infused the man's name with. It was obvious Minerva had heard of him.

"I'm sure he's right." Minerva was pleased to see Hermione had not abandoned her plans, though the more she thought about it, she was sure Severus would push education at the witch. Force her to strive to be the best she could be. She was pleased they seemed to be happy together.

They next hour passed pleasantly as they discussed the future, the past, and a few other things in between. Hermione hugged Minerva and promised to stop by again soon, as she was leaving.

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Severus felt his wards shift as Hermione entered his office. He continued demolishing second-year essays. It was amazing to him the quality of the assignments some people turned in. While Hermione had turned in five times the required length on a topic, most of his students struggled to meet even the desired minimum. And what they did write was usually filled with misspelt words and erroneous conclusions.

"And how is Minerva these days?" He didn't look up; his quill dragged across the parchment as yet another answer offended his senses.

Hermione sank into the straight-backed chair in front of his desk. The chair was hard and uncomfortable, and was meant to discourage anyone from lingering in his office. "She's fine. She wanted to know what was going on between us."

Severus looked up, his quill poised to slash through yet another answer. "And what did you tell her?"

"I told her the truth. That we're fine. That we enjoy each other's company. Oh, and that I definitely plan on finishing school. She had some concern there."

"I see." Well of course she would finish school, what did Minerva think he was going to do, abscond with her to the dungeons, chain her to his bed, and disappear forever? Now that he thought about it, that might not be such a bad idea: a naked-chained Hermione waiting to do his bidding.

When did she get naked? 'Not naked, wearing The Thong, you idiot,' screamed the voice in his head. Hermione's voice cut through his musings.

"You do? Then explain it to me. I know Minerva feels protective towards me, but why doesn't everyone else just butt out!"

Severus smiled; he expected steam to come out of her ears shortly. "Would you like to see our accommodations for the symposium?" He reached into a side drawer and drew out the gold envelope and the folded letter. Hermione reached for the parchment, but he stopped her hand. "Watch."

He slid the letter back into the envelope, having learned the hard way the day before, with his fourth-year students waiting in the classroom, that this action triggered the envelope's 'song and dance' routine. As soon as the parchment was fully sealed in the envelope, it jumped from his fingers and stood upright in the middle if his desk. The Stone Hedges' song poured out of the top slit with the light display. Severus sat back in his chair, choosing to watch Hermione's delighted expression instead of the advertisement.

Hermione was enthralled with the show. Her laughter rang out in the close room as the mystic confetti completed its dance and dropped to the desk along side the now silent parchment. "Severus, this is wonderful! I hate to ask, where were you when you received it?"

"The Great Hall. It came in yesterday's owl delivery. Luckily, I didn't open it until I had returned to my office, but the bloody thing sang all the way back here."

She could just imagine him trying to silence the envelope as he hurried through the corridors. "The Jungle Suite? That sounds great." She eyed the dark man seductively. " And another waterfall."

"Why don't you come around this side of the desk, so I can say hello properly?" Severus held his hand out to her, his eyes darkening with desire.

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It was sometime later, when the chair became uncomfortable, that Severus suggested they head to the lab. The idea of taking her then and there had occurred to him, but they had the night together, might as well build the anticipation.

Up until now he had refrained from some of his more ... adventurous desires; perhaps they could discuss them later.

'What discuss? Just rip her clothes off and take her, man. Who are you? You've changed; I don't think I know you any more.' He told the voice to sod off; he had no desire to scare the witch. Though in truth, she reacted so passionately to anything he did, he didn't think she would object too much, if approached properly.

They were measuring out another set of ingredients for trial in the four metal cauldrons they had agreed upon. So far the silver and the iron cauldron appeared to be the most promising. "I'm sorry, Severus, did you say something?" Hermione asked distractedly. She was trying to cut the dragon's heart into thirty-two equal pieces.

Had he told the voice to sod off out loud? He didn't think so. "You may find that easier if you cut mathematically."

"Mathematically? I don't think we covered that yet."

"No, I don't imagine you will. It's my own method. Cut the heart in half. You now have two equal pieces. Cut each half in half. Four equal pieces. Each of those in half." He looked at her expectantly.

"Eight pieces. In half again, sixteen pieces. In half again, thirty-two pieces."

Severus smirked. "So it would seem, but no. The last step is to cut through each piece diagonally after you have sixteen pieces. As long as you have an even number of cuts across the top as the side, it will work."

Hermione smiled at him. "Why not measure the heart and divide it by thirty-two? Then you will know exactly what one thirty-second should equal and cut and measure accordingly."

Severus shook his head. "Still the know-it-all." The smile he gave her made the statement a compliment. He waved his hand in her direction. "If you wish to do it the easy way..."

"I believe I will take what I can get, Professor."

"So will I, Miss Granger."

Hermione looked into his glittering black eyes. "I believe I will take you up on that later."

They spent the rest of the afternoon cutting, measuring, chopping, comparing, and enjoying the scientific process of researching the changes they hoped to make in the Wolfsbane Potion. Harry and Ron would have tried to drag her off to watch Quidditch practice, not understanding that the chance to work with Severus in his private lab, a lab outfitted with the finest equipment available, was the equivalent of catching the Snitch for her, not to mention the opportunity to work on a potion so difficult that only a select few Potions Masters in the world could brew it correctly.

The clock on the wall chimed. The hand moved to 'Fifteen minutes until dinner in the Great Hall.'

Severus looked up at the clock. "I am still on call this evening and need to attend dinner in the Great Hall; however, you are under no such compulsion. You can stay here and work and I will order dinner in for you, or you may join me."

Hermione smiled, Severus willingly offering to accompany her to dinner in the Great Hall. Was there any choice? "I would much rather eat with you, even if it is in front of the entire castle."

They cleaned the lab and left for the Great Hall.

As they walked through the corridors, Severus once again became Professor Snape. The simple act of putting his teaching robes back on was not quite enough to create the feared professor from her school days, though it did help complete the illusion. As they walked, his back became straighter, he squared his shoulders, and his entire demeanour radiated authority. His seemingly perpetual scowl completed the look.

She had become too familiar with the body and man beneath those robes to associate him with her past memories of the professor, anymore. It was as if he had become two different men to her. The Professor Snape of her youth was not Severus, the man she was currently involved with. Harry had seemed to understand that difference when she mentioned it at dinner the other night. Ron didn't seem to follow any conversation these days unless it involved something spherical: a Snitch or a pair of feminine assets. Perspective was all in how you looked at it, she supposed.

"I see the bat is back."

"Ten points from Gryffindor for insulting a professor."

"You can't take points off of me. I'm not a student. However, I could be less inclined to fooling around later, with that attitude." Hermione tried to look serious; pleased she could play the game with him. She was not expecting him to pull her into a small alcove as they rounded the next turn.

The alcove was shadowed and still at the dungeon level. It was not an entirely private location; she felt the tingle of magic as he cast do-not-notice. His body pinned her to the stone wall. She could feel the heat radiating off of him and the hard edge of his erection as it pressed into her belly. Without warning, his lips captured hers in a searing kiss. His hand snaked between them to gently cup and stroke her mound before he pulled back.

"To fool around or not, the choice is yours. It has always been." His tone was solemn, but his eyes glittered in the half light. He noted her obvious arousal with approval. Leaning in, allowing just the barest touch of his shoulder against hers, he whispered in her ear. His breath was warm against her skin, sending shockwaves straight to her core. "We can discuss this later, when I'm buried between your legs." A soft brush of his lips against her neck and Severus was gone, leaving Professor Snape standing in his wake.

He gestured for her to precede him. "Hermione, if you will? Dinner will be starting shortly."

Hermione was speechless as they walked to the Great Hall.

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Dinner went as dinners usually do. Hermione sat between Severus and Remus. They discussed progress on the Wolfsbane Potion and when they thought it would probably be ready for testing. Severus lost interest when the talk turned to Harry and Ron.

He divided his time between listening to Albus and Minerva discussing the Hallowe'en dance on his left, glaring at the students, and just relaxing, though it was hard to tell by the scowl on his face.

Hermione's hand on his forearm drew his attention. "Severus, I want to talk to Ginny for a minute after dinner. If you don't mind, I'll catch up with you in your chambers."

Before he could answer, two students burst into the Great Hall and ran up to the High Table. The students were soaking wet: one was green with silver polka dots. The other was orange with blue dots. Both were sprouting feathers in their hair. "Professor Snape, sir, you'd better come quick. Williams and Girdwood accidentally set off a Weasley Waterfall in the common room."

The Headmaster held up his hand. "Calm down, Mr. Verbeck. Is anyone hurt? Can you tell me where the feathers came from, and why the two of you are polka-dotted?"

Severus glared at the Headmaster. The common room was most likely underwater, and he wanted to know about feathers?

The boys looked sheepish. "No one is actually hurt, sir. Uhm, the feathers are from a Weasley cracker. You pull it and get all kinds of really cool explosions: bubbles, and feathers, and such. Everyone in the common room is multi-coloured. I think it's from the waterfall."

The Headmaster stood up. "Very well. Severus, Minerva, if you will accompany me, please. Oh, Madam Weasley, I believe your help is needed, too."

Severus had just enough time to nod and glare at a laughing Hermione before storming off to deal with his house.

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It was a while later when he made it back to his chambers. Cleaning up the waterfall had not been as difficult as he feared. Between the three of them, the room was restored in short order. It took a while longer to determine counterspells for the feathers, the spots, and the coloured skin. All but the original two students had been returned to normal. Williams and Girdwood were still in the hospital wing recovering. They would start serving two weeks detention with Filch the following night.

He had been forced to take eight points from his own house, four from each boy, at Minerva's insistence. She demanded more, but Albus had come to his rescue. No one was seriously hurt. Just boys letting off steam, and serving two weeks detention was really punishment enough. He left an angry Minerva in a somewhat better mood than he would have thought possible under the circumstances.

He entered his quarters expecting to see Hermione sitting by the fire reading a book. The empty room surprised him. He knew she was still in the castle; he had run into her damn cat in the corridor earlier. She could be off to the library, though he thought she would have left him a note if that were the case. He walked through to his bedchamber, intent on getting out of his now-sodden robes. He stopped when he noticed Hermione's clothes on the bed and a note hovering in front of the closed bathroom door.

The note was lilac scented and written in purple ink. 'What cheek,' he thought.

Severus magicked his clothes off. 'Leave his attitude at the door? We'll see about that,' he thought. The sight that met his eyes when he stepped into the room brought him up short.

The room was lit with dozens of floating candles. The subtle scent of lilac tinged the air. Two glasses of white wine hovered by the side of the tub, moisture gathering on the outside of their chilled surfaces. Soft music played in the background. But the sight that took his breath away was Hermione, floating in the oversized tub, purple bubbles gently lapping at her body. Her breasts were barely visible through the bubbles, one tantalising nipple poking through the suds.

Hermione opened her eyes and smiled. "Hi, I missed you. Join me?"

Severus told his attitude to get lost as he joined her in the tub. No one heard from them again until lunch the next day.

TBC

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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.

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: Practicing for the dance, Hermione's costume, a Ministry celebration, 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