Disclaimer: It's J.K.'s world, I just play in it.
A/N: I just got done doing Hello Dolly at school, so I'm afraid I'm a bit stuck in the mood for it, so forgive the big reference to "Dancing" from that musical. Actually, that was the entire inspiration for the story. Of course the person I thought of was Severus, however whom to place him with? Surely only another professor would dare and try to dance with him at the Yule Ball, and since he doesn't know how, of course he'll have this professor be a good instructor. At first I was thinking McGonagall, but she's not saucy enough, and Hooch, well she's a bit too saucy and more of the "I'll teach you how to wrestle before I teach you ball room dancing." Sybil Trewlaney was far too batty, and Sprout far too dumpy and fat, Pompfrey and Pince didn't come close, nor did Sinistra and I'll leave it at that. So this teacher is one of my own creation, hope you like her, for cliché, she's the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
The cheeriest time of year and all were gathered in the great hall for the Yule ball. All of the young ladies looked lovely in their dresses and the gentlemen simply handsome in their dress robes. Even all the professors were enjoying themselves. Well, almost all the professors anyway. Severus Snape stood against the wall, in his long black dress robes, sneering as giddy couple swirled around the dance floor. There was no doubt that Weasley twins had spiked the punch bowl with a bit more then just butter beer, but no one really seemed to mind. No one except Severus Snape, who remained as far away from the punch bowl and his giddy stumbling colleagues as possible.
The music slowed a bit and so did the dancing couples. "What's the matter Severus?" asked a cool voice. He focused his gaze, as he had been staring off into the throngs of dancing couples. Professor Madelyn Levi stood before him, decked out in her scarlet dress. She was smiling, her long blonde hair pinned in a semi bun at the back of her head, but still tumbling down in thick strands to well past her waist. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle up at him, and she seemed to be the only professor on which the spiked punch had not taken affect, aside from himself. "Why aren't you out there dancing?"
He didn't care for her much, though wasn't bothered by her. In fact he was rather apathetic toward her and didn't know much about her at all. She had started at the beginning of the term as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and she was very sociable with the other staff members. However, he made it a point to steer clear of most social gatherings, unless otherwise forced, even if they were just among his colleagues.
Severus Snape figured she couldn't have been more then twenty something, if that. Her skin was pale and creamy, and her hair almost a white blonde, that matter how she tried to deny it, he could tell it was all natural. She was indeed pretty, though out loud he'd never admit it. He began to wonder how long he'd been staring at her as the thoughts swan about rather moderately in his head. "Well what's the trouble? All your partner choices too drunk?"
He smiled wearily gazing out onto the dance floor as Madam Hooch spun Professor Flitwick around the room in time with the music. "Hardly, you seem to be fairing quite well for all the punch you've consumed."
"Assuming I've consumed any," she added.
"Point Madelyn," he rolled his eyes slightly and nodded in Professor McGonagall's direction as she waltzed Professor Dumbledore over to the punch table. "Look at them, waltzing around blitzed like muggle Christmas lights."
"And what's the problem with that? I don't see why you don't join them," her voice was teasingly amusing he thought as Sybil Trewlaney dragged a reluctant Rubeus Hagrid to the middle of the floor and started tangoing to the waltz. He snorted and she merely chuckled. "So tell me Severus, what is it that's keeping you over here instead of out there?"
"You honestly don't quit do you Madelyn?" he sighed. "To be honest, it's the dancing."
"The dancing is keeping you from dancing?" she looked momentarily confused, but then it seemed to dawn on her. "Oh I see, you don't know how to dance." He stared at the ground and scuffed his feet about. "It's really not that hard, you see if you just-"
"It won't do you any good, I have no sense of rhythm."
"Well that's one of the primary requirements for learning how dance according to the Levi method…" He cocked his eyebrow at her and she smiled. Madelyn reached down her front into her dress, withdrew a small business card, and handed it to him.
"Miss Madelyn Levi, Potions Masters taught how to dance," he read aloud.
"Yes…it's quite simple…" she took his hand and pulled him gently off the wall. "Put your hand on her waist and stand," she said in a singsong voice, while placing his right hand on her waist. "With her right in your left hand," he joined hands with him and began to step slowly, "And one two three…one two three…one two three…"
"Look…I'm dancing!" he exclaimed quietly to her.
"Well of course you were Mr. Snape…" she smiled knowingly "Now…" she began to turn in time to the music as they made their way out onto the dance floor. "Take the someone whose arms you're in, hold onto her tight and spin. And one two three, one two three, one two three…"
"Wow, I'm dancing," he smiled at her as he spun her round, the other professors to giddy and involved in their own spinning to notice him. Her smile radiated, and though he would not look her directly in the eye, he could see her eyes sparkling brightly. It was almost as if he had been born dancing, how could he ever have thought that dancing was hard?
"Turn around and turn around, try floating through the air…can't you be a little more aesthetic?" He spun her quickly and leapt up into the air and suddenly they were floating a few inches off the floor. She gasped, but smiled all the same.
"Don't you think my dancing has a polish and a flare?"
Blushing she sang, "I believe the word I'd use is athletic." She began to hum the tune of the dancing song she had been singing as the floated around the floor, literally. Though no one else noticed, most of the students were busy guzzling down the punch, or sneaking off to darkened corners of the great hall, while the other staff members tripped dizzily around arm in arm with one another. "And now that we're dancing who cares if we ever stop?"
The music faded away and she laughed as the two of them landed gracefully back on the floor. "Can't dance my foot. You act like a ballerina out there, it's a wonder you aren't in Riverdance!" He smiled back at her, a full smile coming from him was rare and she took a moment to just enjoy it before it faded from his face.
"Don't go announcing that to my Potions class after the new year, else I might have to turn you into a toad."
"Duly noted," she said and nodded her head at him. "Would you care for some water Severus? I'm afraid to touch the punch."
He nodded his head, "An excellent idea, allow me to go and fetch it since you were so kind as to pull me from my wall hold of the evening, 'tis the least I can do to return the favor."
"Very well…" she smiled and stood idly as he walked over to the drink table looking for unused goblets. The night was young and only half over, and Severus Snape was feeling more alive and happy about the holidays then he had felt in years. Perhaps he had consumed some of the holiday punch and it had made him feeling giddy. Though he was sure he hadn't drank anything since dinner.