uSlow Dances Don't Mean Anything/u
Seventh year, Yule Ball. Hermione learned that slow dances don't mean anything.
"Mionee!!!" shouted Harry and Ron as they saw her coming down the staircase from the girls' dorms to the Gryffindor Common Room. "Wow…you look good…" Ron said eyeing her. "Be quiet Ron," Hermione snapped at him, "I already told you I'm not going as anyone's date and I will not dance with one person exclusively." "Sure, you won't," Harry said suggestively. "What are you suggesting Harry?!" asked Hermione in a dangerous tone. "You don't want to know," replied Harry in a tone to match hers. "What are you guys talking about?" asked Ron, who had become lost in this conversation. "Whatever, let's go down to the ball," Harry said, offering his arm to Hermione but taking it back when she glared at him menacingly.
As they walked down to the dance, Hermione felt uncomfortable. All the guys were looking at her as if she was a prize they were just waiting to win. They were looking at Harry and Ron jealously. When they reached the Yule Ball, they were amazed at how well it had been decorated. The theme was love so the ceiling had been enchanted to show hearts instead of stars that night. Ron looked slyly at some mistletoe on the other side of the floor and pulled Hermione over there. "Hey look at that," he said pointing above. Hermione looked up and said, "YOU PLANNED THIS RONALD WEASLEY!!! THE DAY I KISS YOU WILL BE THE DAY I DANCE WITH SNAPE!!!!!" "Whoa, harsh," Harry whispered in Ron's ear, "But she might not object to dancing with Snape if you know what I mean…" "You're wrong," Ron hissed back, "She doesn't like him and she dances with him, so what? Students dance with teachers all the time." "Whatever you say…" Harry said before running so Ron couldn't hex him.
This left Hermione on her own for awhile and after dancing with Seamus, Dean, and *gag* Draco Malfoy, she sat down to rest. A few minutes after she sat down, she heard a voice form above her say, "Ahem… Miss Granger, would you like to dance?" Hermione froze. It was Him, HIM, He who she longed to dance with every year and never got up the courage to ask. "She looked up at him and got out a wobbly "Yes."
A slow song started and Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck while he put his on her waist. She felt quite uncomfortable at first. She kept her hands firm and he felt a little sweaty. She knew she was shaking but as the music went on she got a little more confident. She dropped her arms a little bit so they rested on his neck and shoulders. He put his arms a little farther around her waist. The music seemed to last forever. Near what sounded like the end of the song, Hermione and Snape got bold. She put her arms even farther and drew him to her as he wrapped his hands all the way around her waist and pulled her closer. She tilted her head up and he put his down a little. Their faces were inches apart. They got closer and closer until she could feel his hot breath on her face and vice versa. They leaned in to kiss and-
the song ended with a quavering note that left them feeling empty.
They quickly pulled away as to not be seen this close to each other. Snape left to go to the teachers' table and was asked to dance by Professor Sprout. Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder and a voice, "Mionee, will you dance with me now?" She wrapped her arms around Ron's neck. He turned so she was looking Snape in the eyes. Their eyes locked. It was just for a moment but it was enough to know. The moment had been lost and would never be regained. Slow dances don't mean anything.