A/N: This story is driven solely by the songs off of Ne-Yo's 'Year of the Gentleman' album. hence the title. Each chapter is a different story, supported by themselves and connected to each other only by the fact that each is off the aforementioned album. Each chapter is a one-shot, so don't look for connections and don't get confused when the vibe of each chapter shifts between different scenarios. It will all be SS/HG with James and Lily or Ron and Hermione infused, SS before HG because they all are from SS's PoV. Enjoy the story and either buy the CD or listen to it at the site I tout on all my music based stories, www . projectplaylist . com.

Track 1 - Closer

Surrounded by muggles, loud music, skimpy clothes, and the suffocating smell of liqours, Severus felt open in jeans and a sweater. He avoided the dance floor, opting instead for the bar and it's occupants. A tall blonde with bright brown eyes and a million dollar smile waved him over. He hadn't known she quit her job at Starlight and come here to work at Olympia. He walked over to a regular bartender at the old club he'd frequented when under the service of the Dark Lord.

"Severus, I was wondering when you'd stumble in!" She hollered over the blaring music, fixing his normal Firewhiskey and sliding it to him. He joined her by awkwardly sitting on the high stools, leaning on the bar.

"Melanie. When were you going to tell me you worked here?" He asked, taking a sip of the drink.

She served another patron then winked at him. "You live nearby, I just supposed since the war was over you'd start living there at Spinner's End. I was right, it just took you five years to make it so."

He sipped the special drink, knowing she only served it to him and other wizards. She herself wasn't magical, but her husband was and he was just estatic that she could serve the wizards at the muggle clubs. He worked at the Ministry and helped supply her with things. That was what made her valuable to Severus, and they had grown to be friends after the long years slaving over shipments.

The club was just starting to fill-up and the normal lights were still on, the dark and strobe lights off for now. This drew his attention and he looked to Melanie.

"When are they turning on the lights?"

Melanie, currently digging for some ice and pouring the drink, smiled as she turned her eyes to her watch. She looked at the lights and spoke.

"Five. Four. Three. Two. One." and sure enough the lights quickly started going. As if on cue, more people flooded in, many of them rushing to the dance floor. He turned towards them, downing the rest of his drink.

He eyed the dancers, their movements, and was instantly annoyed. Why had he come here?

A couple hours passed and the smell of sweat reached his nose. He had another drink in his hand, a slack grasp on it as he lifted it to his lips and glanced around the club. He was about to leave, get up and bid Melanie farewell when the oddest thing happened.

The group of dancing muggles parted like the Red Sea and in the center was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Clad in low-cut skin-tight leather pants and a deep red bustier with gold trim, a wild haired brunette swayed almost unnaturally to the music. She became a part of it, like the sheen of light off the surface of the ocean, she reflected the lights and consumed his attention.

He couldn't remember why he held the cup in his hand, why the music should annoy him, why he just didn't belong here. He forgot all the things he'd been meaning to come in here to forget, all the petty excuses to drink and lounge about. He felt himself stand and he heard his logical side mumble something about foolishness, but he could care less. He gulped the last drops of the offensive liquid and left the cup on the bar.

He was drawn forward til he was right next to the gorgeous creature captivating his mind. His hand touched her arm and he felt a fire burst into life, consuming his thinking brain. Without warning, he was writhing along with her, dancing to the atrocious music and relishing in her scent and form.

The song kept going as though it wanted them to stay together like this. He ceased to be in the club, he was alone with this perfect creation of the gods. She seemed to notice his presence and began dancing with him. He couldn't see her face, the lights too dark. Now he wanted the song to end, the DJ's break was bound to come soon. The lights would change then, the dance floor would be depleted long enough for everyone to replenish themselves and get back out.

He sensed the end of the song, the beats were slowing, he was tiring, yet he wasn't tired. He couldn't remember the last time he ever had this much fun. He was pressed up against the woman, his body melded with hers.

Closer.

The song ended and he joined in the cheers as the DJ mock-bowed and said his peace. The woman turned in his arms smiling and she seemed to want to thank him. Just as he saw her face and she saw his, the recognition dawned. Shocked, he backed away. Her smile faded and she looked equally shocked. He was supposed to be dead, five years the rumors had said his body had been stolen, four of those years the Potter boy looked for it. Four years he'd been using that said body keeping away from him. Only this year had the boy given up, his friends convincing him finally that his newly beloved Potions Master was indeed lost.

He'd read the papers, seen the articles. Only those he trusted ever knew he was truly alive and those gifted few kept it a secret. Now one of the boy's closest friends had seen him. He turned and made his exit, running out of sight and earshot of the muggles, he headed up the alley behind the club.

Just as he looked around for anyone, the girl came around the corner.

"Always running...."she mumbled, her booted feet clicking along the black top.

Slightly taken aback, his eyes narrowed and he drew himself up for a vicious rebuke and warning. Before he could speak, she had caught up with him and shook her head.

"Severus Snape, you ruddy bastard, we've been looking for you! Hiding out in muggle clubs and dancing with random people....no wonder we couldn't find you." Her voice had matured since last he heard it, she seemed to be a real woman now. This frightened him, the knowledge that he had danced and very briefly fantasized about this person.

"Miss Granger, it seems you haven't changed, still influenced by those dunderheads."

She brushed a few hairs out of her face, grinning from ear to ear. "Rightly so. If they hadn't told me to loosen up, we might not have met tonight."

Sighing as he spoke, he sneered at her. "And you think I enjoy the fact that we met?"

She placed a hand on his forearm, the feelings it made causing him to stare at her. She continued as though she wasn't effected by it.

"You should. How many days have you spent in clubs seeking company? I'm not a fool as you should know." She looked down at her feet then back at him. "I knew you were alive...I told them."

The closeness they shared at this moment physically set him off track. He was supposed to be running, but he couldn't bring himself to move. The emotion in her eyes confused him, was that for him?

"I told them you lived. All this while they looked for a body, I looked for a person." Happily, yet sadly, she looked into his eyes. "And I found him, I found you. I used to think like them, that I'd seen you die. I knew it wasn't so...."

He couldn't help it, she drew him in. The emotion she displayed, the touch of her hand on his arm, the sound of her voice ringing in his ears. He leaned forward and kissed her. The feel of her lips was ten times better than the feel of her hand. When he pulled back, she blinked at him.

"Well, um....yes, I..." She laughed shyly. "I should...um, go." She backed away, her arms swinging at her sides.

She couldn't leave, she had to say something else, say she wasn't completely disgusted by him. Not her, the vile yet somehow glorious creature in front of him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but only a hopeful goodbye left his lips.

"Til we meet again....?"

She smiled slightly and nodded, turning and disappearing around the corner.

A/N: Chapter One completed, though it seemed to take forever. Next chapter...