A/N: Obligatory post, I don't own the Harry Potter franchise, no characters, places, nothing. I also don't own any songs either. Darn. Enjoy!
Hermione Granger sighed to herself as she watched her students dancing around her. It was her third year teaching at Hogwarts, and including the dance in her fourth year, this was her fourth Yule Ball she attended; however this year the dance was opened to all grade levels. Usually she loved to dance along with the students and other staff, but this year was different. The enchanted speakers were playing a new wizarding band, the name of which she had conveniently forgotten, and it was terrible. The sounds grated against her eardrums, and looking around, Hermione found that there were many who seemed to agree with her opinion. Then suddenly, Professor Granger had a most wonderful idea.
"Jack, Brian, please come here for a moment if you don't mind." Hermione snagged a sixth and a seventh year student from her right hand side.
"Yes, Professor?" Jack McDonnell questioned. He was a devious child, one whom had felt Hermione's wrath many times before.
"What is it?" Brian Roth, Jack's right hand man, chimed in helpfully.
Hermione found herself grinning as she began to speak, "The two of you are muggle born, am I right?" At their nods she continued, "Then perhaps you can help me out. It's no secret that I had a muggle childhood, and I find that the music from the wizarding world can be a bit stressful to keep up with. I long for the days of my childhood where us children were taught a certain number of dances, if you catch my drift."
Moments after the words had left her lips, Jack's lips split into a grin as he mouthed "The Macarena." Brian's grin came just as quickly, quietly saying "The Electric Slide."
"Well boys," Hermione straightened as Professor Snape walked by them discreetly, as though trying to listen in on their conversation. "Next time, don't let me catch you tampering with the magic that Professor Flitwick has worked so hard on to create such a nice atmosphere." Snape continued on his path, nodding in her direction. She returned his acknowledgement then turned to Jack and Brian once more.
"Oh, and by the way, there's two speakers on each wall. This conversation never happened, and don't get caught." The two boys ducked their heads and walked away somberly, and a sound at Hermione's back made her turn and simultaneously pray that they weren't overheard.
Sighing in relief she greeted Severus Snape politely. "Evening. Enjoying yourself?"
His glare softened and he sighed, "Only if you are. To be completely honest, I hate this sort of music. It's too...rough."
"Was there a problem with those two boys? I have heard my fair share of tales about their exploits. Determined to put the Weasley twins to shame." Severus' change of subject came quickly and caught Hermione off guard.
"Oh no, not really. I just thought I should remind them not to be waving their wands about in relation to Filius' handiwork for the ball." She lied through her teeth, praying that she could keep Severus' mind occupied, and on anything other than Jack and Brian as they forged their path around the Great Hall.
Luckily she didn't have to wait long, as the boys soon delivered. She made eye contact with Brian across the room, who nodded to her as Jack jabbed his wand at the speaker situated behind the high table. The sound of grinding metal playing across the speakers cut off with a squeal, replaced by an unexpected silence. Movement throughout the hall came to a sudden halt as students and teachers alike looked around the room in confusion. Severus spotted Jack and Brian across the Great Hall and made to stride in their direction, but Hermione quickly reached out and tugged on his sleeve, shaking her head emphatically.
The beginning notes of "The Macarena" began to play loudly through the magically enhanced speakers and in that moment Hermione could have sworn that every muggle born child's eyes widened as the sound of their childhood rang about the room. Students from every year swarmed to the center of the Great Hall, easily forming parallel lines, beginning the synchronized dance they all had come to know and love. Hermione had to laugh at the astounded looks the group was receiving from around the room, anyone who had grown up in a magical household had no idea what sort of possession had taken hold of their friends, forcing them to dance in such a manner.
Mouths gaped in bafflement as the group of students as a whole all yelled "AYYYY MACARENA" and clapped while turning ninety degrees to their right, repeating the synchronized dancing. Hermione was pleased to see Jack and Brian joining in on the fun, and sorely wished she could join them. She glanced to the left where Severus was watching with an impassive look. He turned his head and raised an eyebrow in question. Hermione shrugged, "I was sick of the music, and thought the muggle borns would like something they might recognize." He shook his head at her, and turned back to watch the students in the center as they shouted one last time as a group.
"The Electric Slide" started and a few squeals came from the group as the students realized that something had happened to the speakers causing them to play music that they knew. The group spread out and began the dance that had been ingrained in their minds since early childhood. Professor McGonnagal walked out towards the students, but seemed to change her mind and retook her place by Professor Sprout at the refreshment table, which pleased Hermione to no end. Who was she to ruin the harmless fun, right?
As the "Electric Slide" ended, another relic from her childhood began, "The Cha-Cha Slide". It was at this point that Hermione Granger shed her Professor outside and became a kid once again, joining Jack and Brian in the center of the group as they all began to follow the song's instructions. A few students laughed, but most were pleased that there was a teacher joining them, saving them from being in trouble later.
"Three hops this time!" Hermione and the students shouted as they hopped in place in time to the music. She looked over to where Severus was standing against a wall, and was shocked to see him almost imperceptibly directing the students with his hands in his pockets. A grin covered her face and she was rewarded with a small smile in return.
Moments later the song ended and Jack shouted out "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Mambo No. 5!" A cheer went up from the students around him as they continued to dance along to the music. Students who previously had no idea what was happening began to dance along the walls as well, enjoying themselves, but leaving a visible gap between them and the students in the middle of the floor. Hermione danced with Brian, the two of them singing every word of the catchy song to one another. Occasionally he would change the names of the girls in the song to some of the girls in his year, but that only added to the fun, even if some did shock Hermione.
Visibly winded the students seemed grateful when the music ended, but they all perked up as soon as "The Y.M.C.A" began to play. Hermione was thankful that it didn't require any complicated moves, and thrust her arms up with everyone else, laughing along with them as the outer ring of students hurried to copy their movements. It was great fun while it lasted, and as the music faded away Brian punched Jack in the arm as a celebratory gesture. They grinned at her, and she returned the smile before proudly striding out of the group to retake her place next to Severus.
The two were soon surrounded by several other teachers vying for Hermione's attention, she waved them all off with the explanation she had given to Severus, "Not all the children grew up with wizarding music, I thought they might like to hear something they recognize, that's all."
"You'll have to teach us sometime, it seemed like fun, being out on the floor like that" Professor Sprout voiced her opinion, and Hermione smiled at the elderly, but sprightly witch.
"Maybe next time, but if you'll excuse me, I do believe it is past my bedtime, I am thoroughly exhausted." With that she took her leave, heading upstairs into her quarters, before falling into bed with a contented smile. Maybe next time.
A/N: And that's it. This little plot bunny has been running around in my head all day. Someone needed to write this fanfiction, so why not me, right? I rushed through this, so there may be some grammatical errors, feel free to point them out to me! I found this to be incredibly fun to write while listening to the songs mentioned throughout the story. If you don't recognize them, I suggest you take a listen. Keep an eye out for my next story. Until next time.