Harry groaned when Albus announced this year's ball. The bet was lain, now, and he could only hope that he knew his students as well as he thought. He watched the reactions in the Great Hall, and allowed a blossom of hope to spread in his chest as the reactions followed his and Snape's predictions. Finally, the Headmaster began to announce the special conditions that would determine the winner of the bet.

"As a result of the last few years, this ball will be slightly different from the rest, as you will not be allowed to pick your own partners. For the last several years, I have noticed that the students tend to group amongst themselves, and it pains me to see such a social event marred by house rivalry. And so, the professors and I have paired you all together based on our personal observations, and while I will not require you to spend the entire evening with your assigned date, you will be required to share one dance with your partner in the course of the night. If you decide not to follow these instructions, then you are not to be allowed to attend the ball. If you do, however, attend the ball, then any who do not adhere to the simple rule that you share one dance with your partner will be given detention," Albus said with finality. The Great Hall erupted with anger, much as it had done those many years ago when he'd said no one under 17 could participate in the Triwizard Tournament. Harry exchanged a look with the Potions Master, who smirked back over his tea; the prospect looked good for their end of the bet winning out. He turned back when the students quieted all of a sudden, Dumbledore's hand in the air calling for their silence. "If you, the students, are able to prove that House rivalry is not everything, and that you are capable of behaving as we, your teachers, know that you can, as young adults, then you will be rewarded. Professor's Potter and Snape have both agreed to dance the first dance of the evening, together, to prove that it truly is possible to set your differences aside." Harry swung his head around so quickly it nearly gave him whiplash, glaring at the Headmaster in shock and dismay. Snape seemed to share his sentiment, as he was glaring daggers at the manipulative old wizard as well. Albus continued as if he hadn't seen them. "If you find this prospect enough to follow this old man's simple wish of seeing you students get along for just a night, then open the envelopes under your plates and move to sit with your assigned partners."

Harry looked out over the student tables anxiously, chewing on his lower lip and waiting for the cries of outrage. No one in the Hall moved, nor even dared to breathe, as each student digested the name on the cards they'd been given. For several minutes, nothing happened, the students studying their cards and those of their friends. Finally, one brave Seventh year Gryffindor stood and started to make his way over to Slytherin, the Hall watching his progress intensely, holding a collective breath. When he had reached his destination, he located the owner of the name on his place card and walked over to the girl, offering his hand. Hesitantly, distrusting, the girl took the proffered appendage, and he sat beside her on the bench. Harry shot a horrified look at his colleague as the rest of the Fourth through Seventh Year students took this as a sign and stood to find their own partners. When the students had settled at the different tables, crests ranging at each table so much that if a stranger walked in they would never know that each table belonged to a different House, Albus retook his seat. The Headmaster looked at the Potions and Defense Master's with a smirk, Minerva looking between the two sides uncomfortably.

"I look forward to your performance, my boys."

Harry heard Snape growl beside him, even as he frowned angrily himself. He had a feeling that he and Severus were both going to pay a visit to the Headmaster's office following dinner. In the meantime, he returned to his dinner, watching the Great Hall carefully and waiting for hell to break loose. Surprisingly, the students seemed to agree with Dumbledore's request that they at least try and get along, because not a single fight broke out.

SSHPSSHPSSHP

"You cheated, Albus, the bet is off!" Snape shouted angrily.

"You never said I couldn't-"

"It doesn't matter," Harry broke in, just as angry as his companion. "We said you could give the students an incentive, but we never agreed to dance the first dance of the evening!"

"That was your end of the bargain, Harry," Albus said calmly.

"If we lost the bet, Albus! You told the students we would be doing it period! Even if only half of the students had gone along with your ridiculous plan, we still would have had to do it because they were expecting it and we had become the example!" The Potions Master snarled.

Harry groaned for the third time that night as the Headmaster's eyes twinkled mischievously. "We still are," He said softly, rubbing his forehead as he felt a headache start just behind his eyes. Snape rounded on him.

"I am aware, Potter," He spat. "But I refuse to go through with it, as Albus cheated and our differences are too great to be set aside as such!" He turned back to continue arguing with the Headmaster.

"My boys, you made a deal. Do you now claim that you will not honor the bet?"

"There is nothing to honor! You forfeited the bet when-"

"We'll do it," Harry murmured, his soft voice cutting off the Potions Master. He caught the Potion Master's surprised glare before the man stomped off in a swirl of cloth and a rumbling mutter about spineless Gryffindors. Harry rolled his eyes and took off after his dramatic colleague. Despite his quick pace, he only caught up to the Potions Master in a little used corridor three floors down. "Snape, wait."

The man rounded on him. "I have nothing to say to you, Potter." He started to turn back, but Harry grabbed his arm.

"You can't seriously think I'm doing this to please Albus, Snape," The Defense Master demanded, keeping the man from walking away by tightening his grip. "We can find some way of getting revenge on him for cheating the bet later, but the fact is we are professor's at this school, and we have to set the example."

Snape wrenched his arm free and continued down the corridor. "Keep your damned hands off of me, Potter. You can tell the students I have fallen suddenly ill for all I care; I will not dance with you!"

SSHP

The next week was spent with Harry angry with Snape, still planning to attend the ball with or without his dance partner. Twice, Snape had confronted him about his attitude, and at the end of the second, Harry had demanded why the man cared if he was pissed, since Harry's feelings obviously meant little if Snape was so willing to throw him under the bus at the ball. The Potions Master had growled in frustration and stomped off, nothing resolved.

Barely even friends.

Harry stood at the bottom of the Grand Staircase, keeping an eye on the students to be sure nothing untoward occurred before they even made it into the Great Hall. He didn't know why he was so angry with Snape, they were hardly colleagues, and he shouldn't expect anything better from the absolutely selfish, stupid-

The Defense Master cut off his internal diatribe, seeing that several of the students had begun giving him a wide berth the angrier he got. He took a deep breath as the last of the mass crowd trickled into the Great Hall, and followed the students in, gliding past them all without a word to join his fellow teachers. Several of his students over the course of the week had asked him what he would do if the Potions Master didn't show, or refused to dance, and he looked to the same students now, who were explaining to anyone within ear shot that he planned to dance alone. He allowed himself a moment of self-pity, certain that he looked utterly rejected, whilst the Headmaster welcomed everyone to the gala and announced the start of the ball. After several long minutes, the time came for his and Severus' dance, and he moved into the center of the designated dance floor alone, holding his head high. He would not allow the students to see how ashamed and embarrassed he felt, no matter how stupid he was sure he looked.

The music started and Harry spared a glare for the Headmaster before moving into a slow waltz, holding his arms up as though he were being held by an invisible partner. He continued through the movements for nearly a minute, waiting for the first burst of laughter from his students, though it never came. He chanced a glance around the room as his imaginary partner spun him, and saw that a few of the students, from all four of the houses, had begun dancing alone as well. When he spun back into the turn, he met a solid chest, and gave into a moment of stunned surprise before he was led further into the dance. He looked up into unreadable, but soft, black eyes.

"You came." He murmured.

Then somebody bends

Unexpectedly

Snape tilted his head ever so slightly in a nod as they continued through the motions of the dance. "I am sorry, Potter, I allowed my pride to rule my decisions. The fact is, I was embarrassed. It has been many years since last I danced, especially with a partner, and I was afraid to look foolish. I was prepared for Albus to lose the bet, not for this."

Harry smiled sheepishly. "I know how you feel, I was scared of making an ass of myself as well, and totally unprepared for that stunt that Albus pulled."

Both a little scared

Neither one prepared

They moved together with sure, practiced steps, never stumbling or slowing as the music continued, the students joining them on the dance floor. "I'm glad that we've proven the students can put aside their differences," Harry murmured, glancing at the couples around them.

"I'm glad we've proven that we can as well, despite what I said," Snape murmured.

Harry moved his eyes back to stare into the onyx orbs, struggling to define the emotion he saw there. "Me, too."

Finding you can change

Learning you were wrong

They danced, the world around them disappearing as they stared into one another's eyes. As the song crescendo'd and moved into its final notes, Snape spun them with a flourish. As the final note held, he dipped Harry slightly, just enough that his head tipped back, then slowly raised him back into his arms. The two professor's, adversaries for so long, stood in their own world, deaf to the cacophonous applause from those in the Great Hall. As if it had been written in the stars long ago, they both leant forward simultaneously and, before either could realize what was happening, sealed the dance with a kiss. Harry waited for Snape to regret the action, to pull away in disgust, but after a long moment where neither showed any sign of giving in, they both melted into the kiss as if it were exactly where they were meant to be.

Tale as old as time