A/N: I adore J.K. Rowling's amazing world and she is the owner of it all, the only thing I claim here is my love for her books.

Chapter Three: Just dance

December 10th, 1994. 5:56 P.M.

The walk to the Quidditch field had been rushed due her anxiousness. Thoughts regarding what had been planned to her and her professor's first dance practice together roamed her mind. Yet, she still found in her a moment to collect her mind on why she felt so apprehensive to be going on a late study session with a professor. Well, it isn't any professor. It's Madam Hooch, for Merlin's beard. She is one of the professors that I had least contact with since I came to Hogwarts. Maybe I don't feel comfortable with her because we didn't really have anything in common until now. That must be it.

Hermione cast a quick Tempus in order to check if she was on time before approaching the area Madam Hooch had suggested for their practice. Okay, I still have four minutes left until 6 P.M. I might just look around so I can become acquainted with this space.

Walking around, the girl was surprised to learn that the Quidditch teams of Hogwarts had a fully equipped gym with both muggle and wizarding machines and half a dozen rooms to practice indoor activities in case there was rain or if the field was scheduled to be used by the other Houses' teams. She was instructed to wait in the biggest room that had a large court, which reminded her of a volleyball court. There were not, however, any tennis nets or even goal posts to make it look like a regular muggle sports' court. In addition, the floor looked to be made of some sort of oily plastic or maybe a very shiny malleable white stone. Actually, she thought, everything in this room seems a bit white or ivory in a very clean way. I kind of feel cold, like it has a winter breeze or something. Besides the broad space, the room had a few benches and shelves that held garments and… Helmets? Did they play hockey in Hogwarts? Hermione approached the familiar looking item and was reaching to get one to inspect when a voice startled her.

"Curious, aren't we?" asked the its owner with amusement.

"I'm sorry, profes…" started the girl looking towards the voice when she noticed that she and her partner for the evening had very different ideas of what was considered adequate clothing for dance training. While her attire was a basic sports outfit with matching black running pants and tank top, the flying instructor clothes looked like something that reminded her of a ballet garment. She wore a black leotard with a silver long see through skirt and high heels. Realizing she was staring, Hermione tried to correct her lapse in response. "Hm …er… I mean, Madam Hooch". Great, Hermione, how eloquent of you this whole 'I can't speak' posture.

"No need to. I was just having some fun because you seemed really akin to understand what a Skiiditch helmet was doing in that shelf" the older woman said nonchalantly.

"I beg you pardon? Skiiditch?" the now recovering girl blurted out of curiosity.

"Yes. It's one of the most ancient sports in the Wizarding World. It looks like a mix of hockey, ski and Quidditch. This is a Skiiditch court, in fact. Or used to be, at least. You see, during matches and practices the whole court had ice on it. The teams could make three modifications towards the ceiling with ice so they had frozen ramps and barricades throughout the court. The players have obstacles that are charmed to appear from time to time in specific places by a set of players of both teams and the aim of this sport is making points throwing the Zing, a sort of disk, into the opponent's team goal while dodging snowballs that are charmed from both teams to appear from everywhere. After two hours, the team that holds more goals on the score chart is the winner", she explained in a secure teacher voice. "However, since Quidditch became the most famous sport in wizarding Britain, the school no longer has Skiiditch teams".

Hermione was astounded at the thought that she had not really considered that wizards could have other sports other than Quidditch. Even in Hogwarts: A History she only read about the sport she now found out was the traditional one, but not the unique. How naïve of me. "I didn't know this sport existed", she said still distant in her musings.

"I believe you would be great at it", Madam Hooch stated as an afterthought.

"You can't be serious", Hermione seemed determined not to take the affirmation as something honest. "Do you actually? I mean, do you actually believe that I could play it, Ma'am?"

"You see, Miss Granger, among the players in Skiiditch there are the physically huge ones that are the ones that defend the area close to the goal posts, the agile ones that attack and dodge the snow balls and obstacles, the goal keepers avoiding the entrance of the Zing in the goals… Moreover, there is an additional pair of players called side players that are strategists and work as a double tactic force understanding the opponent's thoughts, changing the aim of the snowballs, and charming the obstacles on the court that I mentioned previously. I believe you would be a great side player, Miss Granger. Somehow, I think you would be more thrilled to play something that required you to be agile and in an offense position that demanded a quick mind and response than one that required using mostly your strength or physical speed."

Hermione was touched by the way she felt her professor had payed attention to her and her feelings towards sports. She did not imagine that this person could make an association with her and sports that maybe not even her would have thought of. She would think of Ron for this side player position. He was a great strategist, after all. However, yes, she was quicker when it came to responding to unexpected events. Maybe she could play a wizarding sport, after all. Who would have thought that I would not only feel comfortable in such a small amount of time and that I also would even be flattered at how Madam Hooch has accessed my personality and thrives.

"Ma'am, I'll admit that I think I might even have enjoyed it. Thank you for the explanation. I'm sorry, though, that we no longer hold matches of Skiiditch here in Hogwarts. I will search tickets to watch one during the holidays and get back to you with my thoughts for sure", the girl said honestly. "I'm sure you will be able to enlighten me in all the questions I am sure to have after it", she also blurted out not betraying the curious person she has always been.

Madam Hooch laughed heartily at her response and added: "I am sure it will be a terrific meeting. I already can imagine your expression when you see a match. The first one I've ever been to is one of my fondest memories. It has the magic of a duel, but the rush and excitement of a team's sport. Absolutely wonderful", she said with her eyes distant reliving the memory and her facial expression contemplative. "Now, let's not dwell on my old lady's nostalgia and get back to our goals here, eh? First thing I want to know is about your diet. How are you feeling about it, Miss Granger?"

Both of them took easily on the discussion of objective matters towards their practice as Madam Hooch seemed to scan the court and Hermione took notes on the suggestions she had.

"…and other than that, I have only felt really hungry in the mornings. I believe it's due the extra training I am doing after my night run", the girl finished trying to remember if there was something else about her eating habits that she had forgotten to mention.

"That is a manageable consequence, though", started Madam Hooch. "A good breakfast will suffice to keep that in control and to bump your strength to harden your exercises. I am glad, however, that you are not feeling weak. Since we cut almost all meat from your diet and increased the amount of vegetables and grains, sometimes there is an adaptation period. It's important for you to stick to it, though, since we want you strong to train" she continued also making notes now, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Hermione and made her show a tiny smile of appreciation. "Okay. Diet done. What about the exercises, were you able to practice the basics steps of the dances and the stretches?"

With a bit of apprehension, Hermione took a deep breath to admit her total failure, but decided instead to start with the least terrible information: "Well… You see, Ma'am, regarding the stretches, I believe I was able to perform them in a fashion Professor Snape would call adequate." That sole explanation made giggles erupt from the normally stern face of Madam Hooch. She is a giggly person, who would have thought. "The side splits I will have to work harder on, but I managed a full forward split with my left leg on the front and almost completed it with the right leg on the same position. I also believe I accomplished a satisfactory back bend. Apart from that, I am holding all the exercises you suggested from Dance Anatomy up to two minutes each." Though I will never admit, they are killing me each second longer that I do it.

"And are you feeling any discomfort? Any extra pain?" the instructor asked after seen the girl's results and paying attention to her facial expression after her last sentence.

"Hmm, just the regular, I guess, Ma'am. My parents took me to have ballet lessons when I was five or six. They thought it would be a good activity for me to do because I was a very disciplined child and it could turn out to be an environment for me to make friends. For the latter it did not work as intended since I kept becoming irritated with the children that only wanted to play and did not pay attention to class. After a number of complaints to my parents, they decided it was making me more agitated and took me out of it. Ever since, I have just played some muggle sports eventually on family holidays and have recently started running, which has already made an improvement in my health. I am a bit sore, but it's something I would have expected", was the timid answer.

"Well, Ms. Granger, if you feel anything after our practice and in the coming weeks please tell me. I'll have Madam Pomfrey give you an ointment to apply on your body, similar to a lotion, that will relax the sore muscles that we are sure to get this next few days", Madam Hooch said apologetically but with a hint of mischievousness, earning from her student a look of appreciation and apprehension. "What about the basic steps? How are they going?"

"You see, Ma'am. There lies the problem. I have done an extensive research and…"

"I bet you did", came Hooch's hushed comment. Hermione thought it wasn't intended to be heard. Nonetheless, since she did hear it, why not get back at her for scaring her earlier, right? At least before showing her how terrible at dancing you are, you'll get a change to laugh internally a bit.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. Did you say anything?" the girl said with a sweet innocent voice and a polite smile.

"No, Miss Granger. I must have thought out loud". The woman's quick response and blushed cheeks were enough for Hermione to crack and laugh.

"It's ok, Ma'am. I do tend to over research things and get psycho over studies", Hermione added just for the sake of self-mocking. "Anyway… I did research the dances we discussed and understood the concept of the basic steps. Yet, it has been an enormous effort to perform them using different reference points as you suggested. I keep losing the reference, the counting, the right position to be at the right time in pace with music. I swear to you that I look like a marching soldier when I try the Jive" she desperately explained using her hands and body to make a proper imitation of what her words meant.

"We agreed on two slow dances and one fast, Miss Granger. Each of them has some difficult points that will need to be addressed. I trust you applied yourself to your studies. So, we will try the basic steps of the Waltz and the Rumba, that are the slow ones; and, after, we try the Jive base with the Boogie Woogie and Lindy Hop variations I suggested to you. It's important for us to find your strengths and weaknesses in order to…" They started warming up while Madam Hooch explained again the basics of the moves they would perform and for the next half hour or so reviewed all the steps that Hermione had been assigned to try. The flying instructor was actually very satisfied with how much the girl threw herself into practice and seemed impressed with her body consciousness. It's not very common to girls at such a young age to have this space notions and such good balance, she reminds me of Minerva when we practiced social dances on those damn pureblood Etiquette Summer Schools our parents made us go to.

"Okay, now that our bodies are warm and we have started understanding separately what we will do together, we can start dancing as a pair", said the older woman indicating that Hermione should come closer to her.

The girl's almost inaudible answer, a very soft "hm… Ok, Ma'am" and tiny steps led Madam Hooch to misinterpret her discomfort towards dancing together.

"Miss Granger, I understand your discomfort and will not impose that we dance together if that is not your wish. I can, of course, guide you through the theory and we may even ask Mister Krum to join us so you can practice with him if you are not willing to do it with me. I just need you to be honest. I strongly believe, though, that as your professor, it would not be a problem and no improprieties would be occurring in our mentor-student relationship since this has happened before and Professor Dumbledore is aware of our training arrangements. It's also no offense for me if you don't want to practice dance with me because I am a woman and you would prefer a man's lead". Madam Hooch said it with kindness, yet a bit of detachment could be noticed from her posture, as if she was bracing herself for a dismissal.

Hermione felt mortified. Morgana's Ti...Language, Hermione! Okay. No, not okay. Bloody Hell, she thinks I am rejecting her because she is a woman. What do I do? What do I do? You will calm down and answer her. Okay? Okay. Oh, bugger. She's staring and waiting for me to say something. Merlin, Hermione. Calm. Down. You'll tell her that she is mistaken. Yeah, sure. Hey, Madam Hooch, you are mistaken. How polite and understanding of me. No, you'll tell her there has been a misunderstanding. Okay. That is better.

"I am very sorry, Ma'am. It seems my reaction led us to a situation with a misunderstanding. Please forgive me", the girl started awkwardly walking towards the instructor. "I was apprehensive because I was afraid you would think I am a terrible dancer. It has nothing to do with your abilities as a professor…" Good. Good. Go on… "I never doubted your skills or propriety, it was just a matter of low self confidence and for that I am sorry". Good. Now, address the other topic, girl. Don't lose the confidence. Hermione took a deep breath and started blurting out words to reassure her professor. "I don't have any problems with dancing with you or… or women. I… I… I don't even have any problems with women who prefer dancing with… with other women, you know…" What? Shut up. Shut up. Shut. Up. Breathe, for Merlin's beards. You need to calm down, girl. Look what I just said. I took the damn subject totally out of the dance realm. Stupid, Hermione. Cool down, woman. You didn't. She will not think that. Just because you almost let your answer slip the subject to a person's sexual orientation doesn't mean she will understand it that way. Oh, come on. Of course she will. Not necessarily. It's possible for a girl to prefer dancing with another girl, is it not? Yes. See!? Cool down. "So… I am truly sorry for the inconvenience, Ma'am".

Rolanda had to admit that she felt a bit offended when she saw the girl's reticence to join her for dancing together and honestly believed that it was a consequence of the rumours that she knew the students perpetuated regarding her sexual orientation and her supposed affair with Madam Pomfrey. If they knew whom I used to date, though, they would definitely have something to chat on for weeks. However, once she saw the colour her bushy haired student acquired when her words stuck in she felt almost regretful for bringing the subject up. Almost. She could see that the girl was really embarrassed for making her feel rejected and that she was being honest in her reply. However, the instructor also detected some awkwardness towards the topic the girl unintentionally brought up. Could it be that Miss Granger…? No, it's probably something in your head. She was just being a regular teenager who is unable to discuss some topics without feeling shy or weird. It's just her age. That's all.

"I see…" Madam Hooch decided not to dwell on the matter further in order to avoid worsening the situation. "Well, then, let's practice! We won't learn anything by just standing still, will we?"

Smiling relieved, Hermione agreed: "No, we won't, Ma'am!" However, before joining hands with her professor's she decided to ask something that made her wonder a while on the previous days. "I have a question, beforehand. How does this work? I mean, how will we dance together?"

"That's, in fact, a good question. On social dances that are danced in pairs, there are, traditionally, the roles of leader and follower. You see, it has nothing to do with being male or female. Culturally, it has been understood that men should be the leaders and women show be the followers. I, personally, think that is just prejudiced and not inclusive at all since dancing should be accessible to everyone and one should be able to dance in any role as far as this dance role is comfortable to the person. That been said, I normally dance as a follower because we are inserted in a culture and not many people are willing to be led by a woman. I do, though, prefer to follow instead of lead, which leaves me thinking that I might ask for the help of a much more skilled leader in the future, if she so agrees… Anyhow, at least for teaching you how to dance to an intermediate level I am confident that I am more than capable of leading our meetings away. If we were to continue practicing after the ball then I might really be going out of my reach", she said with a cheeky smile that made Hermione giggle. "So, let's get to business!"

Hermione entwined her right hand on Madam Hooch's left one. Okay, the leader leads with the left hand. Noted. Her left hand came to rest on the instructor's shoulder. Keep your elbows down. It's your dancing circle that expands, not your elbow that lifts. Her professor's right hand rested on her shoulder blade applying soft pressure. Slowly they started moving together at the sound of a slow Waltz. Minutes later, Hermione who had sweaty hands asked for a water break. Soon, they went back to work and danced a few more Waltz, until Madam Hooch felt Hermione had understood all the necessary points of contact and balance. They managed a whole song without the girl saying "I'm sorry" or "Oops" and Rolanda felt they were pretty successful for their first try.

After a break to catch their breaths, they started dancing the Rumba, a slower and more romantic dance. Surprisingly to the instructor, Hermione was much better at this rhythm. Probably because she is not feeling weird anymore. Half an hour later they changed to the swing dances. The fastest ones always give the students some trouble. The young Griffindor was no exception. After almost an hour of training the basic steps of Lindy Hop, Jive and Boogie Woogie, the bushy haired girl who now held her mane tamed in a ponytail was distraught.

"I am just terrible at this Lindy Hop thing, Ma'am. How can my legs be so adamant to disobey me on the triple step?" she said annoyed.

"It's ok, Miss Granger. It was only our first practice together. It will improve soon, you will see. Fancy a short run to relax our bodies?"

"Definitely. Thank you so much, though. I know this must be hard on you too. My shoulders are killing me and I am following. I can't imagine what must be to lead. I'm just lucky I'll be dancing with Viktor" the girl said while charming her things to fit on her pants' pocket.

"You have no idea…" joked the professor. "Don't be so confident, though. One day you might find yourself in a position in which you might need to lead. And worse, you might even like it" she said while laughing her tiredness of and beginning a jog.

"Okay, Ma'am. I won't", Hermione smiling lightly while following her. "Tomorrow, 6 P.M. again?"

"Sharp. I'll see if I can bring a special guest with me" was the enigmatic response of her instructor.

They both ran for almost an hour feeling a lot tired, but light, and thinking that the journey they were starting together until the Yule Ball was sure to be interesting. That night Hermione went to bed with a smile on her face and a lot of unanswered questions on her mind. Are the rumours about Madam Hooch correct? How do I feel about it? Do I have to feel anything about it? It's not my life, after all. Moreover, who is the mysterious person that might join us for dance practice?

A/N: I decided to try a new way to write the character's thoughts. Since we all have internal debates, I used both bold and italic to make the difference more discernible. I hope you enjoyed reading it as I did writing it. Reviews are always welcome –and encouraged!-. Thank you for reading!