Lesson Three - A Dance of a Different Kind

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 ~~~~~

4. Lesson Three - A Dance of a Different Kind

Thursday rolled around faster than Hermione would have thought possible. She had just moved back into her University flat the day before and would be starting her third and final year at Cambridge next week. The program was at an accelerated level. It encompassed intensive class work for three years and then a one-year hands-on internship. She was carrying a double major of potions and charms. Her advisor said she could complete the charms course by correspondence while satisfying her internship. Once a month she would be required to return to Cambridge for testing on her Charms skills. She had always excelled at Charms and did not think meeting these requirements would pose any difficulties for her. The young witch was busier than she would have liked tonight. She had a final dance lesson with an elderly wizard who wanted to surprise his witch with his dancing ability on their 90th anniversary. Professor Snape's third dance lesson was also tonight. To top it off, the dance exposition was Saturday and she started classes on Monday. She sighed heavily wishing she knew a charm to make the day thirty-six hours long.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The final notes of "Summer Wind" sung by Frank Sinatra faded in the background. Being Muggle, Hermione had been surprised when she found out Sinatra was a wizard. But the more she thought about it, she realized his blue eyes twinkled just like Albus's did.

Hermione smiled at the elderly wizard. "Mister Willit, I think your wife will be thrilled with your new found dance ability and congratulations on ninety years of marriage. That is an amazing accomplishment."

"Thank you my dear. You've been very sweet to such an old codger like me." The elderly man smiled back at Hermione.

Hermione was reminded of Albus. Mr. Willit had a beard that would have rivaled the Headmaster's. He told her he was 130 years young. She thought he was quite fit for his age. "Nonsense, I've enjoyed our lessons. Take care and tell your wife congratulations too." She walked back to the front counter to record their lesson in her book.

Severus had arrived early and watched the last few minutes of the previous dance lesson. Even though Hermione's attire was more demure this week, he thought the outfit still showed her figure to its best advantage. He thought she would probably look good in a sack as well. Where did that come from? He wondered. He stood quietly watching her, waiting for her to turn around. She was humming a wordless tune as she continued to write in the ledger, her hips swaying hypnotically to the tune she hummed.

"Miss Granger." His voice cut through the silence in the studio.

"Professor Snape," she said brightly, turning around to face the Potions Master. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you come in. Ready for your lesson, Sir?"

"May we get on with it, Miss Granger?" Severus really did not want to move. He had been enjoying the view from behind and would have gladly stood there awhile longer but the first rule of Slytherin was to keep the upper hand.

"Of course. Why don't we use the back studio again?" Hermione pointed her wand at the front door, locking and warding it and then repeated the movements aiming her wand at the break room door.

Severus's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Why are you locking up the studio now?"

Hermione led the way to the back studio, explaining as they walked, "The other girls have left. Actually they finished Tuesday with the last of their students. Most of the instructors are part time for the summer. There will be a few instructors who will return in two weeks now that their children are gone for the school year. Which brings up another issue."

Severus looked questioningly at the witch. "An issue?"

"Yes, issue. I start classes on Monday. Do you think it would be a problem if starting next Thursday we meet at my flat for your lessons? Ted is closing the studio for a week's holiday after Saturday's exposition and I have a study group that meets on Thursday's at my place. We usually finish around 6:45pm so there should not be any conflict. Professor?" Hermione was waving her hand in front of his face.

"Stop that silly hand waving immediately." Severus had stopped listening after her suggestion of meeting at her flat. "How large is this flat that you can hold dance lessons?"

"Professor, we live in a magical world. The room can be changed or enlarged as needed, for any event. University flats have always reminded me of an offshoot of the room of requirement. I can give you the location before we leave tonight." Hermione was watching his eyes.

"Very well, if only so that I may complete these ridiculous lessons."

"Thank you. That will be one less thing I have to worry about. Professor, your robes?"

Severus had been standing listening to her instead of removing his robes and frock coat. The coat stand appeared as he opened the clasp on his robes. "Does your employer often close his establishment to take a holiday?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, watching her ex-professor unbutton a seemingly endless row of buttons. "I don't know. This is the first summer I've ever worked for him. I think the studio has only been open a year or so anyway."

Severus hung his frock coat on the rack. "I realize we still have time, but when were you planning on obtaining our costumes? I assume you will need funds if you are renting the dreadful garments. You will need to advise me of the amount."

Hermione's eyes were wide with surprise. "Our costumes? What do you mean, our costumes? Why would I need a costume?"

Severus's eyes snapped with anger. "You do not jolly well expect me to dance the bloody Tango with Albus, do you? You are the one teaching it to me." Who exactly did the little chit think he was going to dance with? It's not as if he wanted to do the bloody dance anyway. Bet or no bet, this was turning into more than he bargained for.

"And you expect me to dance the Tango with you at the Halloween dance at Hogwarts?" The nerve of the old bat.

Sarcasm was his specialty. "No, Miss Granger, I expect you to dance the Tango with me at the Queen's Jubilee. Of course at Hogwarts, where else would we dance?"

"Professor Snape, I was tricked into agreeing to teach you the Tango, nowhere in the contract does it say I have be your partner for the dance."

"Then how the hell am I supposed to dance the bloody dance and resolve the bet? Who would you suggest I ask, Hooch, McGonagall, or Sprout?" His eye blazed with fire as he regarded the witch standing in front of him.

She should have shrunk in fear under his angry glare, instead she broke out in uncontrollable laughter. When she was able to contain herself again she said, "I'm sorry, Sir. It was just the thought of you Tangoing with any one of those witches. The image was almost as funny as it was disturbing." She was still chuckling as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I guess I really hadn't thought about who you might partner with."

"Very well. I shall overlook your lapse in reason this time. Pity I can no longer take house points from you. I do not believe disturbing adequately describes the image of me dancing with anyone let alone dancing a Tango with McGonagall." Severus had faced the Dark Lord and lived to tell the tale, but the thought of McGonagall and the tango... he shook his head, a dozen Cruciatus Curses would have been kinder. "I do not expect you to absorb the cost of your costume. You have reminded me numerous times that you are a poor University student."

"How very kind of you." Hermione was known to be just as sarcastic as the Professor from time to time.

Severus's smirk was evident as he said, "Yes, I thought so."

Hermione gave him an appraising look. Severus shifted uncomfortably. He knew that look. That look said I have something you want. What are you prepared to do for me? "What is it, Miss Granger?"

"What is what, Professor?" Her voice was sweet and innocent and did not fool Severus for a minute.

"I have been on the receiving end of that look too many times not to recognize it. What do you want in payment for agreeing to be my partner? What is your pound of flesh?" He never would have stayed alive the last twenty years if he didn't know how to read people.

"What makes you think I want something?"

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione looked at him. "All right. There is a symposium on the evolution of potions the end of November in Italy. I want to go." She stood quietly waiting for his response.

"And how does this concern me?" She could not be asking what he thought she was asking. Could she?

"Students are not allowed. Only instructors and Potions Masters are invited by special invitation. You could take me as your assistant."

"What makes you think I am going or that I would wish to remain in your presence any longer then absolutely necessary?"

"Professor, I know you are speaking on Dark Potions." Her look was smug as the words left her mouth. Hermione had read about the symposium in Ars Alchemica. She didn't think she would have a chance in hell in attending. Sometimes opportunity came in the strangest form. "I promise you I will remove my offending presence as soon as we arrive at the conference. I just want the chance to listen to the presentations and view the Potions Masters. I'm going to have to petition one of them soon for my internship. I would like to observe them in their natural habitat first, so to speak."

Truth be told, despite his acerbic personality, she would have liked to petition Snape for the internship. He was the leading Potions Master in the United Kingdom and possibly all Europe. He was infinitely more knowledgeable than most on all aspects of potions and potion making. Hermione knew through her work with the Order that he had been spying for the last twenty years. An assistant would have been out of the question in the past. She didn't think he would change his practice now that Voldemort was gone.

"Merlin forbid. You were not planning on petitioning me. Were you?" He liked his privacy just fine. An assistant would only interfere with his life. Knowing Albus and Minerva, he would be forced to take on Granger regardless of how he felt. He was sure Albus would trick him into it somehow.

"No, sir. I know you have never taken an assistant. You would not have been at liberty to come and go if you had an assistant before Voldemort's defeat. I cannot imagine you would change your practice now."

And what was so wrong with him that she would not even consider asking him? Her seven years at school, his general personality and moodiness, his past. He chuckled as more reasons presented themselves. Severus eyed the young witch. "You know a Slytherin would trade the dance for the internship not just the symposium?"

Hermione glared at Snape. "I'm sure they would, Sir, however I do not intend to spend my internship angry, annoyed, and insulted. It is getting late, Professor, we need to start your lesson. What is your decision?"

Just like that? Where was the fun in being so straightforward? "Touché, Miss Granger. I see no need to take on an assistant regardless of the existence or nonexistence of the Dark Lord. I will allow you to accompany me to the symposium provided we do not have to see one another after our arrival. Does that meet with your approval?"

Hermione smiled. "I will disappear the minute we check in. You won't even know I'm there."

Severus looked skeptical. What was he getting himself into? "I highly doubt that, Miss Granger."

"In the meantime, I will look into costumes and let you know what I find. May we get on with the lesson now? I believe we have wasted enough time already. We'll never get through the whole lesson as it is."

Severus moved forward to take Hermione in his arms. The scent of her perfume tickled his nostrils. A mix of spices he couldn't quite place. He wondered if she brewed her own scent. His mind was distracted. Why did he agree to let her attend the symposium with him?

"Professor." Hermione's voice was a little louder this time, "Professor."

Severus brought his attention back to the present with a jolt. He shot Hermione his best glare.

"Thank you for joining me. All right let's review what we learned last time."

Severus shifted his weight forward onto the balls of his feet. He had felt like an idiot, but he had actually practiced in his chambers all week. His legs had ached after last weeks lesson. He would practice during class, when he would stop at a student's desk. He would shift to the balls of his feet as he looked into the cauldrons. He didn't think the students noticed the change in his stance but it helped to build the muscles in his feet and ankles. He thought he would probably make a complete ass of himself at the Halloween dance. He could then kill Albus with a clear conscious. But somewhere in the back of his mind he held out hope, if he danced with Granger and danced with any skill at all, he might not come off as a complete jackass. Twisted logic maybe, but it seemed to be all that was getting him through these lessons.

Hermione felt him shift forward as her breasts pressed into his chest. He white shirt was silk this week. Was he playing her game? She felt the play of muscles under the smooth fabric. The image of him in just his brief's rose unbidden in her mind. A gentle shudder ran through the witch as she tried to clear the thought away.

They moved through the opening dance steps and the slide. Hermione was impressed. It was obvious he had practiced. They moved through the slower beat fine. He was still having trouble following the rhythm when they moved to the faster tempo.

"All right, we'll try the faster tempo again in a minute, I want to show you the next step we are going to work on, it's called a sacada. A sacada is a body displacement across the path of your partner to provoke a change of direction. What that means is this, displacement is placing a part of your body in the path of mine to move me in another direction. In this case, the displacement will be your foot stopping my movement, a mark with your leg that will cause a change of direction." Severus was at a total loss to understand a word she said. Hermione smiled. "It's easier to understand as we walk through the steps."

"Face me in position. We walk three steps forward on a slow walk. Now, if your leg touches me it is a signal to stop my movement, you will arc around me and remember to count the beat. The stopping point is when my right side is lined up with the middle of your chest. Our shoulders should be at a 45-degree angle to each another. Facing opposite directions, my right foot moves forward. You slide your right leg through my legs. You should have your weight equally displaced between both you legs. When you shift your weight to the right, this will throw my weight to my front leg. The shift will turn me around."

Severus raised an eyebrow, "I slide my leg through your legs?"

Hermione looked at him. Were all men little boys underneath it all? "That's just a dance move, nothing more. Shall we?"

They moved through the walk and the first arc with ease. Hermione's right foot slid forward. Severus moved to slide his right leg though her legs and kicked her left foot.

"Oww!" The two moved apart.

"Miss Granger. Are you all right?"

Hermione rubbed her foot. "It's all right, Professor. That sometimes happens with this move. Let's try again. Ready?"

They moved through the walk and the first arc again, this time Severus moved too quickly and accidentally kicked her right foot as it moved forward. In his haste to back up he stepped on the toes of her left foot.

"Professor!" Hermione was moving from foot to foot, not sure which one hurt more. This was a difficult step in the dance but she felt it captured the essence of the Tango. It was one of the reasons she taught it. She had been stepped on before teaching this step, but not like this. Severus had conjured a chair for her to sit in.

"Miss Granger, I must apologize." Severus was at a loss for words. "I am normally much lighter on my feet."

"Maybe you could try being lighter on my feet? Step on my toes one more time, Professor, and I'll hex off all the protruding bits on your body. You will not have to worry about wearing a codpiece when I am through with you." Hermione was still rubbing her left foot. It had taken the brunt of two attacks by the Professor. Her words might have stung if not for the smile in her voice as well as the one on her face despite the ache in her feet.

Severus chuckled at her words. "Perhaps I can transfigure a pair of steel toed boots for your safety? I will still need a partner for the Halloween dance," he said with a smirk.

"Steel-toed boots... Hmmm.... might come in handy, especially if we are to continue. Shall we try one more time, carefully?" Hermione stood and waved the chair to the side of the room. "We only have a few minutes left. I'm not too sure my feet could stand anymore tonight anyway."

They slowly and carefully worked on the new step. They were on the second try when the buzzer sounded. "You're going to have to work on that step this week. It will take practice if you're going to get it right. If you really want me to be your partner, I will have to be able to stand."

Severus had always appreciated a dry wit. Her humor must have been lost in the shuffle every time one of the idiotic duo had opened their mouth, he thought. He was still concerned, he was taller and heavier then she. "Miss Granger, are you really all right?"

"Afraid you will have to dance with Professor McGonagall instead?"

Severus grinned. "Hardly, that was never an option. I believe Albus would be forced to substitute. I would rather not get that close to his beard thank you. You will have to do." Severus had donned his frock coat and was closing the endless row of buttons.

Hermione watched fascinated at the sheer volume of little black buttons that seemed to be on the coat. "Have you decided to come to the dance exposition this Saturday?"

He was closing the clasp on his robes as they walked to the front door. "I suppose I will have to attend just to be sure you can still stand."

Hermione smiled. "You can also see how that step is performed without crippling me for life. Remember we will meet at my flat this Thursday for your next lesson."

Severus nodded his head as she gave him the locations of her flat and the Cambridge Enchanted Union. She let them out the front door, then locked and warded it. "Great, I will see you this Saturday then. Goodnight, Professor."

"Saturday. Goodnight, Miss Granger."

Hermione disappeared with a pop.

Severus stood for several long minutes looking at the empty space she had occupied. Why did he ever agree to let her attend the conference with him? What was he getting himself into? She had invaded his dreams on an irregular basis for the last three weeks. The smell of the young witch combined with the times he held her lithe body while they danced seemed to fill his nights with a few erotic dreams of his own. He would hex Albus for forcing this on him. While he enjoyed her obvious intelligence, he was an old man who had no right to think anything of his ex-student. He shook his head. He was a fool. Time to return to the castle. He would have another chance to make a fool out of himself Saturday night when he attended the dance exposition. Why had he ever agreed to go?

Why indeed.

With a crack, he was gone.

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.

Next up, another dance lesson and the exposition at the University. Hermione and her flat. Crooks and the Professor. I know I have said "Hermione popped out" and Severus creates a loud crack when describing the two appararting. Before questions arise, my view is this, a short distance, a pop. Severus is traveling a longer distance, thus a crack. Frank Sinatra and Summer Wind in particular happen to be one of my favorite Muggle singers/songs. Enjoy and let me know what you think. As always thoughts, comments, reviews, whatever are always welcome.

Regards, Pearle