Harry Potter and the Dominus Potion by Winky and Dobby
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co. are the property of J. K. Rowling and Scholastic. We own nothing, though we'd love to get our hands on any or all of the Weasley boys. This story is the product of boredom during a ballroom dancing class, reminiscing about the Yule Ball in Book Four, a bunch of late nights, and a few too many peanut M&Ms.
Prologue: The Announcement
The four tables in Hogwarts' Great Hall buzzed with excitement as the last students straggled in from their classes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, having just survived another harrowing session with Professor Snape, slid into their usual seats with the Gryffindors just in time to see Professor Dumbledore step forward from the head table.
"Ooh, you three barely made it in time for the big announcement," whispered Nearly Headless Nick dramatically, hovering near Harry's ear. "This is going to be so entertaining!"
Harry looked questioningly at Ron. "What's going on?" Ron shrugged and started to reply but was interrupted by Hermione's elbow nudging him in the ribs.
"Would you two be quiet?" she chided. "We're about to find out."
Dumbledore held up his hands and the remaining whispers died down.
"Good evening, students. Before we begin dinner I have a short announcement which I am sure you will all be glad to hear. I am very pleased to report that last year's Yule Ball was such a success that the staff and I have decided to make it an annual tradition." Most of the students cheered at this happy bit of news, but Harry only exchanged a nervous glance with Ron. Neither had quite forgotten their experience from the previous year.
When the commotion died down Dumbledore continued.
"Much as that may please you, I have another announcement which I think at least half of you will find very appealing." He smiled mysteriously and Harry could tell his eyes were twinkling. "Since some of you seemed to have a bit more trouble than others negotiating the dance floor,"--his kind gaze swept briefly in Neville's direction--"Professor McGonagall has agreed to conduct a course on the finer points of dance. Those of you who plan to attend this year's Ball would be well advised to take advantage of this opportunity. Now, I can see you're anxious to discuss this matter with your friends, so without further ado, let dinner begin."
There was a flurry of noise as the dinner dishes appeared and everyone began talking at once. Harry noticed that most of the girls looked extremely excited, but he gathered that Neville's miserable expression mirrored his own. He turned to Ron with a weak attempt at a smile.
"Well, how bad could it be?" Arms crossed, Ron raised his eyebrow and stared back at him fixedly. "Yeah, that's what I thought," Harry sighed.
Hermione was eyeing them both with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. "What is wrong with you two?" she demanded. "I think this class could be a lot of fun." The boys were unconvinced, and Hermione sighed and turned to Harry. "Don't you see? This is your chance to learn so you don't have to worry about embarrassing yourself. Isn't that what you were so afraid of last year?"
Harry nodded reluctantly. "I guess you're right," he agreed with more optimism than he felt.
"Of course I'm right," Hermione smiled. She noticed Ron's skeptical frown and waved a finger at him defiantly. "You'll see." The redhead made a face at Harry, but wisely opted to keep his comments to himself.
Chapter 1: The First Lesson
On Friday afternoon Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood in the hallway outside the classroom where the dreaded dance lessons were about to begin. The tables and chairs had all been removed to make a large dance floor, and Harry noticed with dismay that the walls were lined with floor-length mirrors all around the room.
"Great!" he muttered to Ron. "Now everyone will have a perfect view of our mistakes!"
Ron looked a little green. "Maybe we should just forget the Ball. That way we wouldn't have to be here at all." He brightened a little at this new idea. "It wasn't much fun last year, anyway."
Harry had to agree with that, but Hermione had overheard and stepped in front of them before they could turn away.
"What are you talking about? You can't miss the Yule Ball just because you're afraid of a few silly dance steps! Now come on, we're going to be late." She tugged on their robes to make them follow, ignoring their gloomy expressions. "Honestly!" she murmured to herself, "You'd think they were about to face their doom against You-Know-Who!"
They entered the classroom to see that all of the Gryffindor fourth through seventh years were already assembled before Professor McGonagall. Unfortunately, so were the students from Slytherin. Harry groaned. He really did not need Malfoy taunting him on top of everything else.
Ron was looking meaningfully at the Slytherins and glaring at Hermione. "Oh, yeah, this is a great idea!" he hissed at her peevishly. "Another class with Malfoy--good one, Hermione!"
"How was I to know we'd be stuck with them?" Hermione retorted crossly, moving to stand with Ginny, Neville, and the other Gryffindors.
"All right, class." Fortunately, Professor McGonagall called them to order before the argument got any worse. "Today we're going to learn the basic steps to the waltz. But first, we have to arrange partners."
The students shifted with unease, eyeing each other warily. Draco Malfoy snickered as several Gryffindor girls inched away from Neville, and Hermione shot him an evil scowl. Harry smiled sympathetically at Neville, noticing that Ginny stayed where she was, though she looked a little concerned for the welfare of her feet. When she caught him staring at her she ducked her head, and Harry quickly looked away. His thoughts turned wistfully to Cho Chang, and he wished that they were sharing the class with the Ravenclaws instead. But it occurred to him that Cho would be no more anxious than he to be here after everything that had happened last year, and Harry suddenly found it difficult to swallow. He blinked hard and tried to concentrate on what Professor McGonagall was saying.
"In my experience people do not always choose the partners best suited to them," she smiled wisely, "and so to save time and embarrassment I will be assigning your partners for the class. Of course you are still free to choose your own dates for the Ball, should you decide to attend. We'll start with the Slytherins. Mr. Malfoy, please join Miss Parkinson..."
Neville sighed with relief as McGonagall began pairing off students. "Thank goodness!" he whispered to Harry. "I'm such a horrible dancer no one would have picked me!"
"You're not horrible, Neville," Ginny said kindly, touching his arm. "I had a nice time at the Ball with you." Neville's eyes lit up and he smiled gratefully at Ginny.
"Don't worry, Neville," Ron added. "You can't be worse than me." He chewed his lip nervously. "I can't believe we're doing this." He glared at Hermione again for good measure.
"I don't know why you're glaring at me, Ron," she snapped. "You're making this harder than it is."
"Oh, that's fine for you to say!" Ron huffed. "The girls get the easy part. We're the ones who have to do all the work!"
"What?" Hermione's voice rose slightly and she turned to face Ron more fully. "Easy? We have to keep our feet out of the way of clodhoppers like you!"
Ron's ears flushed crimson. "Well too bad your boyfriend Vicky isn't here, then! You didn't seem to have any trouble with him!"
"He's not my boyfriend!" Hermione bristled instantly. "I only went with him because--"
"Ahem."
Harry cringed as Professor McGonagall approached his bickering friends.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. Since the two of you seem determined to disrupt this class I think it fitting you should be paired together. Perhaps being partners will make you either set aside your differences or work them out. Now, step over here with the others, please."
Subdued but still glaring, Ron and Hermione followed her instructions and took their place on the dance floor. They crossed their arms sullenly and refused to look at each other. Harry sighed. So far the class was not going well.
Professor McGonagall had nearly finished pairing off the rest of the Gryffindors. With a few exceptions, everyone kept the partners they had taken to last year's Ball. Ginny looked very surprised when Neville was paired with Parvati, leaving only her and Harry without partners.
"Miss Patil, I think Mr. Longbottom could benefit from a little guidance from you," McGonagall smiled, "which leaves Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley. Yes, you two seem very well matched." She clapped her hands together briskly. "Now, we're ready to begin as soon as my partner arrives for the demonstration. Why don't you all spread out around the floor and give each other some room."
Harry took Ginny's hand timidly and led her off to one side, feeling very awkward. Ron was constantly teasing him about his little sister's crush on him, and the way Ginny's eyes refused to leave the floor made her look even more uncomfortable than Harry felt. He swallowed nervously and tried to think of something to say.
"That was nice of you to make Neville feel better," Harry began at last, gesturing towards an equally apprehensive Neville.
Ginny blushed and continued to stare at the floor. "Well, it was nice of him to ask me to the Ball," she managed to shrug. "I wouldn't have gotten to go otherwise."
"Right," Harry said, feeling stupid. It occurred to him that he could have taken her to the Ball if he hadn't waited so long to ask someone. She wasn't Cho, but she was a sweet girl and he owed her family a lot. It wouldn't have hurt to do something nice for her. Harry straightened with new resolve. Maybe he could make it up to her by working extra hard in dance class. "Ginny?" he tapped her arm. "I'll try not to step on your feet."
For a moment Ginny looked up at him with serious eyes. She shook her head earnestly, fiery hair shimmering across her shoulders. "I bet you can dance just as well as you play Quidditch, once you learn the steps," she offered with rare boldness before dropping her eyes again, pink-cheeked.
Ginny's obvious faith in his abilities only made Harry feel worse. "I hope so," he replied. "For both our sakes."
Just then the classroom door opened and Professor Dumbledore entered with a wide smile. "Ah, Professor McGonagall, I see the students are ready to begin. I hope I haven't kept you waiting."
"No, no, you're right on time." Professor McGonagall returned his smile as he joined her in the middle of the floor. "Now, class," she began, "the Headmaster and I will demonstrate the correct dance form. It is very important that you and your partner maintain a steady dance frame--it makes the steps much easier." She turned to face Dumbledore and motioned the students to do the same with their partners. Ron and Hermione reluctantly complied, wearing matching sour expressions.
"Gentlemen, take your partner's right hand in your left and place your right behind her left shoulder blade. Ladies, your left hand should rest on your partner's right shoulder, like so." Professor McGonagall stepped easily into position with Professor Dumbledore. "Remember, gentlemen, you will be guiding your partners with your right hand, not your left, so you must always keep a firm grip at her back."
"Not a problem!" whispered Fred Weasley, winking devilishly at Angelina.
Professor McGonagall flashed him a warning look and stepped away from Dumbledore. "Now, everybody practice the dance position while Professor Dumbledore and I come around the room and help you."
Harry took a deep breath and turned back to Ginny. Fred and George had already grabbed their partners and begun waltzing in crazy circles in the corner, and even Malfoy stood smugly with his partner in a stiff embrace. At least Ron and Hermione looked equally uncomfortable. Harry smiled weakly at Ginny, whose eyes still seemed to be glued to the floor.
"Ready?"
Ginny nodded slightly and let him take her hand. He moved closer to rest his other palm against her back, and after a moment she let her arm fall gingerly into place below his shoulder. When Professor McGonagall came by to compliment them on their good form, Ginny at last seemed to find the courage to smile up at Harry for a brief moment. He wondered why he had never seen before how bright her eyes were.
A few couples away, Ron and Hermione faced each other with clenched fists. Harry could hear them continuing their argument in heated whispers.
"I can't believe I'm stuck with you!" Ron raked his fingers through his hair in exasperation, making it stick up almost as much as Harry's.
"It wasn't my choice, either!" Hermione retorted irritably. "But I'm not going to let you ruin this class for me, so you better do like the Professor says. Give me your left hand."
"Hey! I'm the leader here, not you!" Ron barked. "This is one time you can't boss me around! Now hold still!" He stepped closer to Hermione and took her right hand, pulling her swiftly into a fairly accurate rendition of the proper dance hold. Harry was surprised, and apparently so was Hermione. She blinked up at Ron with a strange expression on her face.
"What?" Harry thought Ron's tone sounded even harsher than usual, which seemed odd compared to the way he was holding Hermione, as if afraid to touch her.
Hermione shook her head. "Nothing."
It was going to be a long term.
Authors' Note: Will Ron and Hermione survive this partnership? Will the other Gryffindors survive another class with the Slytherins? Will this story ever be more than pure foof? Will Harry/Hermione fans ever grow a brain? Sorry, just kidding! Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions in the next exciting installment.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co. are the property of J. K. Rowling and Scholastic. We own nothing, though we'd love to get our hands on any or all of the Weasley boys. This story is the product of boredom during a ballroom dancing class, reminiscing about the Yule Ball in Book Four, a bunch of late nights, and a few too many peanut M&Ms.
Prologue: The Announcement
The four tables in Hogwarts' Great Hall buzzed with excitement as the last students straggled in from their classes. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, having just survived another harrowing session with Professor Snape, slid into their usual seats with the Gryffindors just in time to see Professor Dumbledore step forward from the head table.
"Ooh, you three barely made it in time for the big announcement," whispered Nearly Headless Nick dramatically, hovering near Harry's ear. "This is going to be so entertaining!"
Harry looked questioningly at Ron. "What's going on?" Ron shrugged and started to reply but was interrupted by Hermione's elbow nudging him in the ribs.
"Would you two be quiet?" she chided. "We're about to find out."
Dumbledore held up his hands and the remaining whispers died down.
"Good evening, students. Before we begin dinner I have a short announcement which I am sure you will all be glad to hear. I am very pleased to report that last year's Yule Ball was such a success that the staff and I have decided to make it an annual tradition." Most of the students cheered at this happy bit of news, but Harry only exchanged a nervous glance with Ron. Neither had quite forgotten their experience from the previous year.
When the commotion died down Dumbledore continued.
"Much as that may please you, I have another announcement which I think at least half of you will find very appealing." He smiled mysteriously and Harry could tell his eyes were twinkling. "Since some of you seemed to have a bit more trouble than others negotiating the dance floor,"--his kind gaze swept briefly in Neville's direction--"Professor McGonagall has agreed to conduct a course on the finer points of dance. Those of you who plan to attend this year's Ball would be well advised to take advantage of this opportunity. Now, I can see you're anxious to discuss this matter with your friends, so without further ado, let dinner begin."
There was a flurry of noise as the dinner dishes appeared and everyone began talking at once. Harry noticed that most of the girls looked extremely excited, but he gathered that Neville's miserable expression mirrored his own. He turned to Ron with a weak attempt at a smile.
"Well, how bad could it be?" Arms crossed, Ron raised his eyebrow and stared back at him fixedly. "Yeah, that's what I thought," Harry sighed.
Hermione was eyeing them both with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. "What is wrong with you two?" she demanded. "I think this class could be a lot of fun." The boys were unconvinced, and Hermione sighed and turned to Harry. "Don't you see? This is your chance to learn so you don't have to worry about embarrassing yourself. Isn't that what you were so afraid of last year?"
Harry nodded reluctantly. "I guess you're right," he agreed with more optimism than he felt.
"Of course I'm right," Hermione smiled. She noticed Ron's skeptical frown and waved a finger at him defiantly. "You'll see." The redhead made a face at Harry, but wisely opted to keep his comments to himself.
Chapter 1: The First Lesson
On Friday afternoon Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood in the hallway outside the classroom where the dreaded dance lessons were about to begin. The tables and chairs had all been removed to make a large dance floor, and Harry noticed with dismay that the walls were lined with floor-length mirrors all around the room.
"Great!" he muttered to Ron. "Now everyone will have a perfect view of our mistakes!"
Ron looked a little green. "Maybe we should just forget the Ball. That way we wouldn't have to be here at all." He brightened a little at this new idea. "It wasn't much fun last year, anyway."
Harry had to agree with that, but Hermione had overheard and stepped in front of them before they could turn away.
"What are you talking about? You can't miss the Yule Ball just because you're afraid of a few silly dance steps! Now come on, we're going to be late." She tugged on their robes to make them follow, ignoring their gloomy expressions. "Honestly!" she murmured to herself, "You'd think they were about to face their doom against You-Know-Who!"
They entered the classroom to see that all of the Gryffindor fourth through seventh years were already assembled before Professor McGonagall. Unfortunately, so were the students from Slytherin. Harry groaned. He really did not need Malfoy taunting him on top of everything else.
Ron was looking meaningfully at the Slytherins and glaring at Hermione. "Oh, yeah, this is a great idea!" he hissed at her peevishly. "Another class with Malfoy--good one, Hermione!"
"How was I to know we'd be stuck with them?" Hermione retorted crossly, moving to stand with Ginny, Neville, and the other Gryffindors.
"All right, class." Fortunately, Professor McGonagall called them to order before the argument got any worse. "Today we're going to learn the basic steps to the waltz. But first, we have to arrange partners."
The students shifted with unease, eyeing each other warily. Draco Malfoy snickered as several Gryffindor girls inched away from Neville, and Hermione shot him an evil scowl. Harry smiled sympathetically at Neville, noticing that Ginny stayed where she was, though she looked a little concerned for the welfare of her feet. When she caught him staring at her she ducked her head, and Harry quickly looked away. His thoughts turned wistfully to Cho Chang, and he wished that they were sharing the class with the Ravenclaws instead. But it occurred to him that Cho would be no more anxious than he to be here after everything that had happened last year, and Harry suddenly found it difficult to swallow. He blinked hard and tried to concentrate on what Professor McGonagall was saying.
"In my experience people do not always choose the partners best suited to them," she smiled wisely, "and so to save time and embarrassment I will be assigning your partners for the class. Of course you are still free to choose your own dates for the Ball, should you decide to attend. We'll start with the Slytherins. Mr. Malfoy, please join Miss Parkinson..."
Neville sighed with relief as McGonagall began pairing off students. "Thank goodness!" he whispered to Harry. "I'm such a horrible dancer no one would have picked me!"
"You're not horrible, Neville," Ginny said kindly, touching his arm. "I had a nice time at the Ball with you." Neville's eyes lit up and he smiled gratefully at Ginny.
"Don't worry, Neville," Ron added. "You can't be worse than me." He chewed his lip nervously. "I can't believe we're doing this." He glared at Hermione again for good measure.
"I don't know why you're glaring at me, Ron," she snapped. "You're making this harder than it is."
"Oh, that's fine for you to say!" Ron huffed. "The girls get the easy part. We're the ones who have to do all the work!"
"What?" Hermione's voice rose slightly and she turned to face Ron more fully. "Easy? We have to keep our feet out of the way of clodhoppers like you!"
Ron's ears flushed crimson. "Well too bad your boyfriend Vicky isn't here, then! You didn't seem to have any trouble with him!"
"He's not my boyfriend!" Hermione bristled instantly. "I only went with him because--"
"Ahem."
Harry cringed as Professor McGonagall approached his bickering friends.
"Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley. Since the two of you seem determined to disrupt this class I think it fitting you should be paired together. Perhaps being partners will make you either set aside your differences or work them out. Now, step over here with the others, please."
Subdued but still glaring, Ron and Hermione followed her instructions and took their place on the dance floor. They crossed their arms sullenly and refused to look at each other. Harry sighed. So far the class was not going well.
Professor McGonagall had nearly finished pairing off the rest of the Gryffindors. With a few exceptions, everyone kept the partners they had taken to last year's Ball. Ginny looked very surprised when Neville was paired with Parvati, leaving only her and Harry without partners.
"Miss Patil, I think Mr. Longbottom could benefit from a little guidance from you," McGonagall smiled, "which leaves Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley. Yes, you two seem very well matched." She clapped her hands together briskly. "Now, we're ready to begin as soon as my partner arrives for the demonstration. Why don't you all spread out around the floor and give each other some room."
Harry took Ginny's hand timidly and led her off to one side, feeling very awkward. Ron was constantly teasing him about his little sister's crush on him, and the way Ginny's eyes refused to leave the floor made her look even more uncomfortable than Harry felt. He swallowed nervously and tried to think of something to say.
"That was nice of you to make Neville feel better," Harry began at last, gesturing towards an equally apprehensive Neville.
Ginny blushed and continued to stare at the floor. "Well, it was nice of him to ask me to the Ball," she managed to shrug. "I wouldn't have gotten to go otherwise."
"Right," Harry said, feeling stupid. It occurred to him that he could have taken her to the Ball if he hadn't waited so long to ask someone. She wasn't Cho, but she was a sweet girl and he owed her family a lot. It wouldn't have hurt to do something nice for her. Harry straightened with new resolve. Maybe he could make it up to her by working extra hard in dance class. "Ginny?" he tapped her arm. "I'll try not to step on your feet."
For a moment Ginny looked up at him with serious eyes. She shook her head earnestly, fiery hair shimmering across her shoulders. "I bet you can dance just as well as you play Quidditch, once you learn the steps," she offered with rare boldness before dropping her eyes again, pink-cheeked.
Ginny's obvious faith in his abilities only made Harry feel worse. "I hope so," he replied. "For both our sakes."
Just then the classroom door opened and Professor Dumbledore entered with a wide smile. "Ah, Professor McGonagall, I see the students are ready to begin. I hope I haven't kept you waiting."
"No, no, you're right on time." Professor McGonagall returned his smile as he joined her in the middle of the floor. "Now, class," she began, "the Headmaster and I will demonstrate the correct dance form. It is very important that you and your partner maintain a steady dance frame--it makes the steps much easier." She turned to face Dumbledore and motioned the students to do the same with their partners. Ron and Hermione reluctantly complied, wearing matching sour expressions.
"Gentlemen, take your partner's right hand in your left and place your right behind her left shoulder blade. Ladies, your left hand should rest on your partner's right shoulder, like so." Professor McGonagall stepped easily into position with Professor Dumbledore. "Remember, gentlemen, you will be guiding your partners with your right hand, not your left, so you must always keep a firm grip at her back."
"Not a problem!" whispered Fred Weasley, winking devilishly at Angelina.
Professor McGonagall flashed him a warning look and stepped away from Dumbledore. "Now, everybody practice the dance position while Professor Dumbledore and I come around the room and help you."
Harry took a deep breath and turned back to Ginny. Fred and George had already grabbed their partners and begun waltzing in crazy circles in the corner, and even Malfoy stood smugly with his partner in a stiff embrace. At least Ron and Hermione looked equally uncomfortable. Harry smiled weakly at Ginny, whose eyes still seemed to be glued to the floor.
"Ready?"
Ginny nodded slightly and let him take her hand. He moved closer to rest his other palm against her back, and after a moment she let her arm fall gingerly into place below his shoulder. When Professor McGonagall came by to compliment them on their good form, Ginny at last seemed to find the courage to smile up at Harry for a brief moment. He wondered why he had never seen before how bright her eyes were.
A few couples away, Ron and Hermione faced each other with clenched fists. Harry could hear them continuing their argument in heated whispers.
"I can't believe I'm stuck with you!" Ron raked his fingers through his hair in exasperation, making it stick up almost as much as Harry's.
"It wasn't my choice, either!" Hermione retorted irritably. "But I'm not going to let you ruin this class for me, so you better do like the Professor says. Give me your left hand."
"Hey! I'm the leader here, not you!" Ron barked. "This is one time you can't boss me around! Now hold still!" He stepped closer to Hermione and took her right hand, pulling her swiftly into a fairly accurate rendition of the proper dance hold. Harry was surprised, and apparently so was Hermione. She blinked up at Ron with a strange expression on her face.
"What?" Harry thought Ron's tone sounded even harsher than usual, which seemed odd compared to the way he was holding Hermione, as if afraid to touch her.
Hermione shook her head. "Nothing."
It was going to be a long term.
Authors' Note: Will Ron and Hermione survive this partnership? Will the other Gryffindors survive another class with the Slytherins? Will this story ever be more than pure foof? Will Harry/Hermione fans ever grow a brain? Sorry, just kidding! Find out the answers to these and other pressing questions in the next exciting installment.