A/N: Hi, yes, miss you all! Love you all! Just wanted to remind all you lovely readers that this story is meant to be fast paced.

Two Left Feet

Chapter 10

"Withdrawn"

Posted July 6, 2011

Another year, another Christmas at the Burrow. Harry had left Hogwarts with Ron and his sister Ginny after exchanging hugs with Hermione and Luna, and a casual handshake with Percy. All the way back to the station in London, Harry kept wondering if Ron's dad happened to have in his possession a working tape player. Hopefully he was familiar with the object in question. When they had arrived at Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there along with Bill and Flur, Charlie, Percy, and George. Harry, as always, was welcomed warmly before being brought to his second home.

It was early in the afternoon, yet nevertheless, Mrs. Weasley was scurrying about the house ranting about everything that needed to be done and relaying planned activities for later that evening. Harry was in the kitchen with Arthur, peeling potatoes. He really seemed to have it have mastered the art of peeling swiftly without removing the meat. And Harry was so transfixed on Arthur's performance that he had barely finished one potato. "You're not going to peel it by staring at mine, you know," Arthur chuckled. "Molly likes these done by hand. Says that magic doesn't do a proper job. Of course, I charmed the peeler to guide my hand perfectly. All I have to do are quick flicks of the wrist."

The man was a genius. "That's brilliant sir!"

Arthur gave a brisk nod. "You know, I could always charm your shoes."

Harry hand, about to peel the potato, stopped short. He was afraid Arthur would bring that up.

"Ron tells me you've earned the nickname 'two left feet'."

"Err, I'm getting better."

"Who gave you that nickname by the way?"

"Um, Professor Snape."

Arthur chuckled while shaking his head in amusement. "It's strangely charming. He's still a difficult man to be around, but I think since the end of the war he's softened a bit. Either that or Nagini's venom stupefied his bitter, irritable side."

"Probably both have made him a changed man."

At the moment, Molly walked into the kitchen, hands on her hips and a frown smacked across her face. "Why aren't my potatoes pilled, Mr. Potter?"

Harry's hand rushed to peel the last half of his first potato. "Sorry, Mrs. Weasley!"

"Arthur, are you distracting my good little helper? Keep it up and no present for you." She shook her chubby finger at him as she turned the corner.

When Harry believed she was absolutely gone, he asked Arthur, "Do you happen to have a cassette player?"

"A casket….?" Arthur looked intrigued.

"No a cassette. It plays tapes… here, like this," Harry wouldn't allow himself to compliment on the fact that he has been holding onto the tape, but for now it was a good idea.

Arthur took the strange little rectangular object from Harry's hands with just the tips of his fingers. He held it up and looked through the reels before tapping gently. "Very curious little device you have here, Harry. What's if for?"

"It records… sound I guess. This one will play music."

"Oh! Like a record?"

"…yes."

"Well, let us see what I have in my shed. Perhaps I can be of service!"

Arthur left the kitchen in such a rush, Molly never noticed.

Harry followed pursuit and in a moment Arthur had undone the lock to his shed and was blowing off dust from various objects. "I'm sure I have something here. Feel free to look around, Harry. Just don't break anything."

Harry frowned. That little bit was already taken care of. The challenge was to find something unbroken. Harry took blew off dust, coughed, and continued through a pile of objects that even to Harry were unrecognizable. Mostly rubbish. However, he did not give up hope. Not until nearly forty minutes of endless blowing and searching. Harry exited the shed, not really caring that Arthur was still looking or that he was completely covered in dust. He sneezed a few times, nearly knocking off his footing, but Harry was a big boy and would do no such thing.

It just so happened that Ginny and Hermione were there to greet him. "You look ghastly," said Ginny.

"Honestly, what were you doing in there? Dusting with your hair?" Hermione waved her hands as if to redirect dust coming her way.

Harry swatted his hair in a brief attempt to rid himself of the dust. "I asked Mr. Weasley if he happened to have something. If he does, I don't think we'll find it."

"What are you looking for?" asked Hermione.

"A cassette player of some sort."

While Ginny looked bewildered, Hermione had that aw sort of look. "Why didn't you just ask me? I have one on me."

Next thing Harry knew, he was holding the very much sought after cassette player complete with ear pieces and batteries. Harry locked himself in Ron's room and sat on the bed. He slipped the tape into the player and hit play.

The tempo was clear, it was a waltz. And while Harry thought it would be foolish for him to try and dance this alone in the room and risk getting caught, he had only to close his eyes. He stood and stepped. One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three… And Harry was dancing in a sort of triangle around the room, remembering to pause and step carefully. Also to bend the knees and remember his right foot. After a few rounds of this safe practice, Harry twirled and counted his steps. Everything was going well. Everything was just perfect.

The second song had quicker, lively tempo which quickly jarred Harry's hearted. Harry's feet stepped in beat and he found himself trying to move his hips with the tempo and snap his fingers. He thought he looked silly, but he was putting forth effort and he was going to show everyone he could dance. He spun and threw his arms up, really feeling the beat. It wasn't until he spun to the side did he notice several pairs of eyes on him. He had been discovered too soon.

"You're not half bad. You just have to work on that hip thing," George pointed to Harry's butt.

"He's gotten better since I last danced with him," Ginny giggled behind Hermione who was displaying her approval in a slow nod.

Ron was munching on something and didn't have anything to say.

Stricken with the anxiety of being caught, Harry had nothing to say back. He stuck his hands in his pocket and exhaled. He really didn't want to talk. He wanted to slam the door closed and make sure he thoroughly locked it.

"Don't worry mate, they'll be laughing at both of us tonight."

"What?" Harry wasn't sure he wanted to understand Ron's comment.

"Mum's going to make us dance. She wants to see what we've learned," Ginny smiled. "It'll be fun. Don't worry."

"What?" Harry shot back, looking flabbergasted.

"We'll all be doing it. Even Flur said she'll dance."

"When was this decided?"

"When you were fiddling around in the shed," Hermione responded. "Shall we leave you to your practise?"

Hermione's question was answered with a door shut right in their faces.

No one saw Harry again until dinner.

When the clock stroke seven Harry finally descended the stairs. He had thrown on a red polo shirt and jean and his usual shoes. All the girls were dressed up. Ginny was wearing a velvety red dress with her hair flowing freely. Hermione had an egg shell white dress with her hair gathered up. Flur wore silver and Molly wore green. Ron, like Harry had paid no attention to his attire. "Harry dear, would you like some roast?"

"Yes please!" Harry was hurrying to the table, but stopped short when he saw only two open seats. Fortunate was his, because the closest seat was between Hermione and Flur. He slipped in and reached for the offered plate which was filled with wonderful smelling food that gave his stomach a sort of pull. He was so hungry and immediately dove in, not really caring that Ron was behind, staring down at him with a very discontented frown.

Hermione gave Ron a sort of shrug, and so Ron made his way to the seat between Ginny and his mom.

Lemon pies and cherry cakes, along with frosted cookies and cranberry scones followed dinner. Like every year, there were more delectable treats than could be consumed, and so Harry filled his plate before having a seat on the couch. He knew what was coming next, because an old friend of the family, a man whom Harry had not met, picked up his violin.

The swift rhythm reminded Harry of the green plains of Scotland and girls with long, curly red hair. Ginny and Hermione had linked arms and were swinging around in beat to the music, kicking their feet and waving their other arms. Before long, George jumped from the couch and yanked Charlie from his seat. "Whooo!" He spun them both and Bill joined by clapping and tapping his feet in the quickening tempo of the music.

Flur remained seat with her hand placed over her small stomach.

Harry's hand reached for a bowl of cranberries, and began to shove small handfuls into his mouth. Ginny then reached out for Harry, who shook his head and pointed at his nearly empty bowl. "C'mon!" She called. Her hair was bouncing everywhere, so Harry could hardly see her face. He wasn't sure if she was being serious.

It was Hermione who pulled a very reluctant Harry from his seat. He joined with her and did his best to keep with the rhythm. He had to remember to kick at every swing and to occasionally let go and link arms with someone else.

Before long, drinks were being passed around and Harry thought for sure he would need a few of those in order to keep his wits. "Harry, why don't you and Ron show us what you've been learning in dance?"

Harry really wanted to decline. He'd rather sit and not do anything. "Ah, side cramp!" Harry wobbled over, hunchbacked, and sat on the floor. "I need to sit for a few."

"Aww, it's all that food you ate," said Ginny disappointedly.

"Mm… yeah. I believe it was," Harry replied.

The music began again, and while everyone joined hands in a collective dance, Harry slipped away out into the snowy night. Even from the here, Harry could hear the faint sound of laugher, family, and the violin.

Then a quick pat pat pat was approaching him. He turned and saw Hermione with a curious look. "Harry? What are you doing out here?"

"Just getting some air."

Hermione was always able to see through Harry and so she said, "Something isn't right. I know."

"Everything is fine."

"No… you don't look at her the way you used to. I've seen you. Every time she is near, you seem… trapped. You look for a scapegoat every time, hoping to get away."

"What are you talking about?"

"Ginny. You don't feel for her anymore. And from what I can recall, you haven't for a while now."

There was no use denying the obvious. Just, why couldn't she see it? Ginny… why couldn't she tell for herself.

"Maybe she knows, but she's still hoping."

"To what? The notion that I'll want her again? I don't… not at all."

"Can I ask why? Is there someone else?"

Harry's eyes closed. "Yes," he almost hissed.

Hermione was in the least surprised. "Who?"

"Someone… at our school."

Hermione's brow twitched. She had never seen him with anyone else. And between his classes and other activities, when did he have time to see someone else?

"Do I know this person?"

"Yeah."

"Does Ginny?"

"Yes."

"Does this person know us?"

Harry nodded, stopped, then ran a hand through his hair as if frustrated.

"It's complicated?" Hermione wanted to be as compassionate as she could in order to help her dear friend.

Harry's head dropped backwards as he gazed into the endless night. "There are billions of people on this planet, and I just happened to find the most difficult one."

Hermione placed her hand over her mouth just before she gasped. "Could I ask for their name?"

Brilliant green eyes were upon her and never before did they look so lost, so hopeless, so desperate for answers. "I'm not gay, Hermione. I'm not like that. I'm not a pansy! A fairy! A queer!"

"I never accused you of such."

"I promise. I like girls. I've had two girlfriends. Two! That's more than Ron, Neville, or even Percy!"

"Maybe you're curious?" Hermione tried suggesting with the softest voice she could muster. "I've had a lady crush before."

"Really?" there was a gleam in Harry's eyes as he gripped Hermione's hand. "So it's normal?"

"Harry, really, there's no such thing as normal."

"But this means I'm not sick or anything, right?"

"Of course not. First and foremost, you are human. We are as curious as we are diverse."

"Yeah!" Harry nodded vigorously. "I'm just different from some blokes."

"You are different from every bloke I've ever met, silly. You are your own unique person."

Harry smiled and threw an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "So, out of curiosity, who was it?"

"Who was it? You mean my lady crush?" Hermione giggled, "Tonks… actually." And then her voice lost its sparkle. "I never meant to tell her… but it might've made an interesting story one day."

Harry's own head lower.

"She's in a better place, right? And we'll always look after Ted. For her and for Remus."

Harry touched Hermione's face then whispered softly, in the hopes of dragging her attention away from their departed friends, "Severus Snape."

Hermione's head snapped up, and her eyes widened with surprise. She seemed to be searching for something to say, but nothing came out.

"I know. Who could desire him? He's rotten to the core, his personality is just as nasty as his temper, and it's impossible to tell his friends from foes. Yet… he stirs this beast in me, Hermione. When he's there, alone with me, I feel so alive. I feel vulnerable, yet guarded. I feel flames again! He makes my tummy do that little flip thingy, and my heart do that funny dance. It's exhausting and nauseating, and even if he remains unattainable, it's bliss."

"Professor Snape… That's really farfetched, Harry. I could list countless reasons why even attempting to lure the man is completely mental, but at the same time, it's really incredible. You being able to see beyond his bitter self. Surely you see something in him, no?"

"Maybe I'm reading too much into it."

"Nevertheless, if you are going to pursue him, you must do something about Ginny. I do not wish to hurt her because she is my friend too, but I do not want to see her hurt because you went behind her back. Before you even consider making a move on him, even if I think nothing will come of it, you have to clear your conscience and break up with her. Kindly and respectfully."

Just then, they heard a door close softly, and Ginny was standing at the porch, watching them. "What's going on?"

A/N: If you can't tell, this chapter has been unedited. I'd like to spend more time editing it, but I'm about to enter another period during which I may not be able to write for a bit. I'd like to ask for an editor, but I know I'm a horrible writer to keep up with. I don't update regularly, and I tend to misplace emails. But if anyone is willing to put up with my habits, I'd appreciate the help.