To Tango or Not To Tango, That Is The Question

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 ~~~~~

1. To Tango or Not To Tango, That Is The Question

Samantha walked into the break room with a card in her hand. "Hermione, you are not going to believe what is waiting for you out there! He looks like something from a gothic horror novel. He handed me this card. Your name appeared on it." Samantha held up the card for the other girls to see before handing it to Hermione.

Hermione Granger put down the cup of tea she was holding and reached for the card. Her name was printed in script on the front of what seemed to be a plain white business card. As Hermione touched the card, it started to glow and grow in size. Writing now covered what appeared to be a legal size piece of parchment.

"Whoa! That is so cool." Katherine's eyes were wide as she watched the card magically change.

Margaret and Samantha had cracked the door to the break room and were peeking out at the man impatiently waiting for Hermione. "Look at that scowl. He looks like he ate a lemon whole."

"Hmmm. Dressed all in black? Tall, sort of big nose?" Hermione asked absentmindedly as she read the letter.

"Yeah. You know who he is?"

Hermione sighed. "Yes. He was my potions professor at Hogwarts. That, ladies, is Severus Snape." While Severus's efforts during the war and final battle were well publicized, pictures of the man were not. He detested publicity of any kind. Very few photographers were brave enough to try for his picture during the Ministry ceremony awarding the Order of Merlin medals when it was made public knowledge what he did to the photographer that took his picture after the final battle. Though to Snape's credit, he did warn the man before hexing him. Snape never did understand what all the fuss was about, the boils healed completely in only three months.

Margaret's eyes were wide. "Severus Snape the war hero? You've got to be kidding."

"The wizard that brought You-Know-Who down with Harry Potter?" Katherine walked to the door to get a peek at Snape.

"What's he doing here?" asked Samantha, as she moved to let Katherine have a look at the man.

"Oh my god," said Katherine. "Actually, he's kind of sexy in a dark, bad boy way."

Katherine turned to find the other girls looking oddly at her. "What?"

"It would seem he's here because he lost a bet with Albus. At least that's the gist of this letter. I have been hired to teach him to, I don't believe it." Hermione had been reading through the parchment as she spoke.

"Teach him what?" asked Margaret.

Hermione groaned. "Teach him to dance the Tango. I am so going to hex Dumbledore when I see him." Hermione was working for the summer at The Lighter Than Air wizarding dancing school. She had taken various classes as a child and had continued to dance summers when she was home visiting her parents during breaks. Dancing was excellent exercise and helped to keep her fit. Hermione had graduated two years ago from Hogwarts and was now part of an experimental program at Cambridge. Most of her classes were in a new wizarding section of the school, but the program called for a few Muggle classes as well. Hermione carried a double major of potions and charms. She had set her sights on becoming a Potions Mistress. She worked summers to earn pocket money.

"I'd better get out there before he decides to destroy the building. He has never been known for his patience." Hermione sighed as she went out to face Snape.

Samantha called after her, "Good luck. I'm just glad it's not me."

Severus turned as he heard the door open. He hoped it was not the same little chit that took the card from him. His scowl deepened as he saw who was walking towards him. He shook his head and backed up a step, his hands coming up in front of him as if to ward off some form of evil. "Miss Granger. Please tell me you are a hallucination caused by too many curses and not actually here."

Hermione's voice sounded weary as she said, "Hello, Professor."

Severus covered his face with his hand. "The rest of the golden trio isn't going to jump out of that room, are they? What are you doing here? What am I doing here for that matter?" Severus looked around the room. "Where are we? Merlin help me, this looks like some kind of dance hall."

Hermione looked curiously at the man. "You don't know what you're doing here?"

"No," answered Snape bitterly, "I was standing talking to Albus in his office, when he handed me that card I gave the girl. It was obviously some sort of port key."

Hermione's voice was gentle as she said, "Would you like a cup of tea and I'll explain it to you?"

Severus drew himself to his full height while pulling his robes protectively around him. He glared at the young woman in front of him as he arrogantly said, "I would like you to tell me what this is about so that I may leave this ridiculous place immediately. Something is stopping me from Apparating or I would have left already." His indignation was palpable in his response.

Hermione held up the parchment in her hand. "Do you remember losing a magical bet with the Headmaster?"

Severus's shoulders slumped. His hands came up to cover his face as Hermione's words sunk in. "I don't believe it. I am going to kill Albus when I get back."

"Care to tell me what the bet was about?" Hermione was enjoying his obvious discomfort. He had put her and her friends through enough bad times at Hogwarts to make this seem all the sweeter.

Severus was angry as he said to Hermione, "Two bloody times in twenty years the old witch was right. How the hell was I supposed to know she could do it again?"

"Professor?"

"Trelawney."

"You and Albus had a bet over a prediction Trelawney made and she was right? What would you have won if she was wrong?" Hermione was trying not to laugh at the corner he had backed himself into and she was failing miserably at doing so as she started to chuckle.

Snape glared at the girl. "Think, Miss Granger. Use that brain of yours that is so famed for operating at such a remarkable level and think."

A light bulb went off in Hermione's head. "You bet him for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position didn't you?" The look on Snape's face confirmed her guess. "Didn't you know what the consequences would be?"

Snape waved his hand. "I vaguely heard Albus mention something about dancing. Who would have thought she could ever be right again? Both her predictions were about the Dark Lord. He's dead! What were the odds, a million to one?"

"Professor, this parchment is a copy of the bet and the consequences. It specifies you have to take ten weeks of dance lessons with me and dance at the Halloween dance at Hogwarts."

Snape roared as he grabbed the parchment from her hand, " I will not bloody dance at the Halloween dance nor do I intend to endure your presence for the next ten weeks. Seven years at Hogwarts was long enough."

"I quite agree, I return to Cambridge in four weeks." Hermione's smile was self-serving. Let him chew on that. She took the parchment back as she looked over the requirements again. "However you are required to fulfill the terms of the bet. The conditions are quite specific. Ten weeks of lessons, one lesson a week and dancing the Tango in full costume at the Halloween dance."

"What do you mean full costume? Let me see that." Snape growled at Hermione as he grabbed the parchment out of her hands again.

Hermione shrugged her shoulders. "It could be worse. He could have specified the welcoming feast. Just say you are in costume for the dance and nobody will be the wiser."

Snape arched one eyebrow questioningly. "What exactly is full 16th century costume, Miss Granger?"

She held her hand out for the parchment again and pointed to a particular paragraph. "It says right here, oh dear lord. Uhm, how do you look in tights Professor?"

"Tights?"

"Yes, it says you are required to dress in a 16th century costume complete with..." Hermione started to laugh.

"WHAT?" Snape looked again. "The man's gone dodgy. And how exactly would I retain any authority dressed in that clothing?"

She snorted as she tried to stop laughing. "I understand sir. But it says tights complete with a codpiece and said codpiece must have the image of a snake on it. Maybe you can think of it as joining in the spirit of Halloween?" She held up her hands to ward off the look he was giving her. "I didn't write this, the Headmaster did. At least he didn't say it had to be a Rhinestone snake and have pink ribbons to hold the piece on."

Snape's glare was murderous. "I do not think it appropriate to adorn my genitalia, Miss Granger."

"Well it's not like you have to tattoo a snake to your......." The words died in her throat as she looked at her former professor's groin. Was she really going to discuss Snape's member with him?

His voice was icy as it cut through her musings. "Miss Granger."

"Hmmm?" Get a grip girl. Actually she did wonder what he would look like in said codpiece and tights. The summer between her sixth and seventh year she had accidentally caught a glimpse of him at 12 Grimmauld Place just before he got in the shower. He had been ready to take his underwear off as she walked into the bathroom. Who knew that a man who would wear such voluminous robes would wear body-hugging briefs underneath? She had had a few erotic dreams about the body those briefs had been hugging. Hermione blushed as she thought of him wearing practically nothing.

Severus rolled his eyes at her apparent discomfort. His tone was harsh as he said, "Miss Granger."

"Oh. Sorry, Professor. This is a magical bet, sir. You have no choice but to comply. I believe you are bond by the terms correct?"

Severus covered his eyes and shook his head. She was right of course. If he did not agree to set up a schedule for the lessons, he would not be able to leave. Or worse. He did not want to know what the consequences would be for defaulting on a magical bet with Albus. He eyed her appraisingly, his voice dropping to a purr, "You could say no, you know. Then I could leave and Albus would be forced to let it drop."

"Unfortunately, Professor, it seems the Headmaster hired my services through a formal contract with my boss. I'm just as stuck as you are," Hermione sighed. "When do you want to start your lessons, sir?"

Severus looked questioningly at the young witch. "You mentioned you are leaving for Cambridge in four weeks did you not?"

"Yes, but Albus must have set this up. Last night my boss asked if I would be willing to instruct someone after I left as a favor to him. He said he owed an old friend a debt and would pay me a bonus if I would agree. I'm at University. The bonus will come in handy so of course I agreed. Albus must have been that friend." She indicated the parchment he was holding. "It says right there in item three. I have been hired by formal contract. It appears the Headmaster covered all the angles, sir."

"Why you, Miss Granger?" He was sure he would have hexed one of the other twits by now, most of them just stood and giggled annoyingly.

"Because I happen to be one of the few instructors that teaches the Argentine Tango here in London," she answered with a grin.

"Argentine Tango?"

"Yes. The Argentine Tango is a cultural dance that has its own style, pauses, musicality, body language, and movement. The Argentine Tango requires a man and woman to embrace as they move around the dance in unison. It's the only style of Tango I teach."

Snape cheeks tinged a light pink. "Embrace?"

"Yes, Professor, embrace." Hermione stepped forward and took his right hand. "Your right hand goes around my back and rest lightly on my left shoulder blade." Snape stiffly moved his hand to the location she described.

"Lower this elbow a bit, sir, and bring it in closer to our bodies. My arm needs to rest gently on the upper part of your arm." Severus lowered his elbow and Hermione rested her left arm on his right bicep as she placed her left hand on his shoulder.

Severus swallowed harshly. "Next?"

"Next extend your left arm out and bend it up at a ninety degree angle." He did as she instructed. She brought her right hand up to his and rested the palm of her right hand against the palm of his left hand. "You're a bit tall. Bring your hand down a little. There, that's right. Close your fingers around my hand more. You need to hold me against you. As the man, it's up to you to create the space I occupy and move in. And loosen up, your very stiff. When we begin dancing, we dance almost cheek to cheek. It helps to keep our movements flowing as one."

Hermione looked up into Snape's black eyes as she realized she was encompassed firmly in his embrace. His hands were large and supple. She could feel the warmth of his hand as it lay against her back. She could feel the strength in his arms as he held her, the sheer power of the man in her arms. The scent of spices assaulted her nose. His expression was unreadable. His eyes seemed to glow as he watched her. Hermione took a step backward out of his embrace. "So, when do you want to schedule your lessons?"

TBC

A/N: My answer to the codpiece challenge on Wiktt. The Argentine Tango is considered the main dance in Buenos Aires. I took the steps and form of the dance (as well as those that appear in future chapters) from this web site: Tango tutorial - http://64.70.140.102/ourdance.htm. Enjoy and let me know what you think. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle

Cod-piece challenge

This challenge is brought to you by Adora, because influenza1918 asked for it during WIKTT chat on August 7. Some parts of this challenge have come from the minds of Madeline, caeruleussum and one_demonicangel

Storyline: Snape can't dance, but he has to learn. Why he has to learn how to dance is your decision. Hermione has to be the dancing instructor.

Somewhere, somehow, a cod-piece has to show up. Extra points if it has a Rhinestone snake on it and pink ribbons.

Crookshanks has to feature.

Mandatory quotes:

"It's not a cod-piece Miss Granger."

"I do not think it appropriate to adorn my genitalia"

"Professor, do I want to know what that is, pressing against my leg?"

"Step on my toes one more time, Professor, and I'll... (finish your own sentence)

Mandatory situations:

Snape and Hermione dancing the tango together

Some public display of Severus's dancing

Severus can't be a quick learner (would be too easy)

Hermione has to be of age, and because this is WIKTT, they must develop a relationship throughout the story.

Optional sentences (you may also use a part of this, or make these longer):

"A waltz doesn't have 4 beats"

"My, my, Severus, how you've grown"

"Don't worry, I won't drop you..... Oops! I guess I was wrong"

"What are you, joined at the hip?"

"That was just a dance move, nothing more"

"I have to dance on heels?!"

"Over your dead body"

"If you manage that, I'll dance with the first Hippogriff I see"

"Steel-toed boots... Hmmm.... might come in handy"

"Stiletto's, roses... you're feeling very prickly today, aren't you?"

"I only have that during that time of the month" with the reply: "It must be that time of the month all year round then."

"I will not do that 'Dirty Dancing lift' with you. I'm ticklish."

"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses"