Chapter 10 – Dancing Lessons
"Are you ok?" Draco asked Ron as he leant against the boy's bedpost and watched as he held an ice pack to his eye – one of the very lucky punches Arden had managed to throw. Ron turned to him and smiled, saying,
"I'm fine, won't be able to see out of my left eye for a couple of days, but I'll live. Hey, at least now we match."
Draco gave a half-hearted smile and sat next to Ron on the bed. He looked down at his hands for a few moments, feeling awkward and uncomfortable, before finally saying quietly, "You didn't have to do that you know."
Ron frowned at him and said, "What do you mean?"
Draco looked away and began to fiddle with the edge of the duvet. "It's my fight," he murmured, "you shouldn't have to get involved in all this mess. Look what's happened to you today, all because of me. You'd be better off just leaving me alone."
"That's not going to happen," Ron replied firmly, setting the ice pack aside.
"You don't have to get involved in all this, you shouldn't be getting hurt because of me."
Ron sighed and said, "Draco look at me." The blond made no movement so Ron placed his hand on his shoulder and tried to turn him around. Draco resisted at first and tried to shrug him off but Ron was persistent and he eventually pulled Draco round to face him. "No one is making me do this, no one's making me get involved and I'm not going to bail out the first time it gets a little difficult."
"A little difficult? Ron you can't see out your left eye! Your face is black and blue and you can't lift your arm because you wrenched your shoulder! And all because some prick wanted a go at me. You shouldn't be suffering because of me," Draco said agitatedly, getting up and ostensibly beginning to tidy his things.
"I'm hardly suffering! So we got into a fight, big deal! It's hardly my first and I'm sure it won't be my last. I've had worse fights with you for Merlin's sake!" Ron said, his eyes following Draco around the room.
"But this is different," Draco insisted. "I just feel...so responsible."
"Well you're not, I am. I'm responsible for my decisions and my actions and it just so happens that those actions include standing by you and sometimes even fighting for you, and if you don't like it then tough shit!" He stood up and moved over to the blond, stilling his actions and saying, "Draco stop. This isn't your fault, none of this is. I'm involved now, whether you like it or not, and a few bumps and bruises aren't going to change that."
"I don't understand," said Draco, shaking his head. "I don't understand why you'd want this," he said, looking Ron firmly in the eyes. Ron held his gaze and smiled slightly, saying,
"Because we're friends, and that's what friends do."
"But why?" Draco asked, clearly bewildered. "Why do you want to have anything to do with me?"
"You really don't get the concept of friendship do you?" At Draco's look of discomfort Ron sighed and said, "Stop feeling so guilty about everything. No one blames you, least of all me. We're friends, and this is what friends do for one another. If it takes me all bloody year I'm going to make you understand that."
"Would you stop trying to do everything yourself and just ask me if you need something?" Severus berated Harry as he saw the boy reach up to one of the kitchen cupboards and wince in pain as the previous night's injuries made themselves known.
"I can manage, I'm just a little sore," Harry insisted, but nevertheless stepped aside to let Severus retrieve the tea from the top shelf. "That prick managed to get in one hell of a punch to my ribs," Harry complained, holding his side and leaning against the counter. Severus raised an eyebrow at Harry's language, but said nothing, setting about making the tea.
"If you're still in pain later I'll give you a salve that should sort you out. I trust you shan't be doing anything today to worsen your condition."
Harry grinned at him and replied, "I'll try, no promises though."
Severus rolled his eyes and handed the boy his tea, which he accepted with thanks. They moved to sit in the living room, enjoying the moment of peace and quiet before the day's activities began. "It's not a bad day today anyway, I've got a couple of frees so I can just take it easy," Harry said, stretching out his legs and sipping at his tea, the taste of which, he had to admit, he was beginning to grow accustomed to.
"Well see that you do, you're in no fit state to be over-exerting yourself."
"Oh a couple of days and I'll be fine, we gave as good as we got anyway, so hopefully they'll be having a few aches and pains of their own. I'm just waiting for the next lot to have a pop."
"Let us hope that is a long way off, and a lot less physical. I'm having a word with Arden and his friends this morning; they'll feel the full force of my displeasure over their treatment of my husband," Severus said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Harry grinned back at him and replied, "Ah the perks of being married to a man with power. Can you put them in detention for the rest of their lives?"
"Oh I think we can come up with something more inventive than that," Severus replied smoothly, to which Harry smirked and said,
"I knew there was a reason I married you."
The day passed without incident, which Harry was exceptionally thankful for. His two free periods he spent in the library with Ron and Draco, the latter noticeably quiet but surprisingly pleasant. He seemed to be sticking closer than ever to Ron, but Ron didn't seem to mind. All three boys were rather stiff and sore and they laughed over their pathetic attempts at movement, though Draco seemed more subdued in his amusement. They saw nothing of Arden and his thugs, and Harry imagined, with great mirth, the punishment Severus might be subjecting them to.
Although the day had been largely uneventful, Harry was nevertheless tired by the end of it and so he decided to skip dinner with his friends and gratefully returned to his quarters. He was sitting curled up in one of the armchairs getting his homework done when Severus returned, looking almost as tired as Harry felt.
"You weren't at dinner," Severus commented as he hung his outer robes up, leaving him in trousers and a shirt. "Are you unwell?" he asked, taking a seat on the sofa.
"No I'm fine," Harry replied, looking up from his work, "I was just tired and I wanted to come home; it's been a long day and the sofa was beckoning," he said with a smile. "Are you alright? You look tired."
"I am," Severus admitted, tiredly placing his head in his hands, trying to let the day's tension ease away. "I had to avert several disasters today and all in all it's just been rather tiring," he said with a sigh.
"I'll make you a tea, or would you prefer coffee?" Harry asked, moving from the sofa to the kitchen and putting the kettle on the hob.
"Coffee would be most welcome," Severus replied gratefully. "Though of course I should be making it for you, you're the invalid after all."
"Don't be daft," Harry replied. "You can just sit there and let someone take care of you for a change," he ordered, setting out the mugs.
"You're going to take care of me?" Severus asked with an amused snort.
Harry grinned at the man and replied, "Well you've caught me on one of my more generous days. I'd take advantage if I were you."
"Oh I will," said Severus with a smirk, "although something tells me I should be worried. Perhaps I should check to make sure my coffee isn't laced with anything?"
"Oh be quiet, can't someone want to be helpful without any underlying motives?" Harry replied cheekily, handing Severus the cup he was cradling.
"At least you make an adequate coffee now Potter, my efforts of teaching you have not been a complete waste of time. I'm surprised," Severus commented as he took the first sip.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Harry replied returning to the armchair. The two sat in a strange kind of companionable silence for a while.
Harry had noticed of late that they were capable of fairly decent conversations and he enjoyed the easy banter they always seemed to fall into. He was loathe to admit it, but he was actually beginning to like the man. He was funny and clever and he could even show moments of kindness. It confused him, but throughout the most recent weeks, he had felt that his situation was not all bad and that it was even becoming quite bearable. He had no idea how Severus felt about the whole thing, but the man was certainly far less hostile these days, and could even be nice at times.
"I'm glad I've caught you on one of your 'more generous days' as you put it," Severus said, breaking the easy silence.
"Oh? And why's that?" Harry asked, tucking his feet beneath him and making himself comfortable.
"I have a favour to ask you." Harry raised his eyebrows in interest and Severus continued, "I have been invited to the annual Winter Festival Ball at Drayton Manor; an intensely boring and tedious affair, but one I must nevertheless attend. It's a Pureblood event, held every year at this time to signify the start of the Winter period and it signals the beginning of all the social functions that are held at this time. The invitation is extended to spouses and I would be most grateful if you would assent to coming with me. It's only for appearance's sake of course, to maintain our façade of marriage and to maintain my standing in society – it's seen as something of a snub if spouses don't attend," Severus finished, slightly uncomfortable at having to ask Harry for such a favour, and hoping that the boy would comply.
"Um...of course I'll come, if you need me to," Harry replied, slightly taken aback at the request.
"It isn't for another couple of weeks yet. Believe me, it's the last thing I want to do, but it is a necessary evil. We'll be going the weekend after next, and we'll be staying the night so I'll leave it to you to make preparations."
Harry nodded, not entirely thrilled at the prospect, but prepared to endure it nevertheless. A thought occurred to him and he asked, "Will Aldrington be there?"
Severus nodded and replied, "It's a pureblood function so it is more than likely he will be there, he has been every other year. But don't worry, he wouldn't dare try anything at such an occasion."
"No," said Harry slowly, a calculating smirk forming on his lips, "but wouldn't it be a wonderful opportunity to show him just how solid our marriage is?"
"My my, aren't we becoming a good little Slytherin?" Severus replied with a raised eyebrow.
"Well I do have a rather good exposure to its master. Besides, I need to start living up to my surname, don't want to disgrace the family name," Harry said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
"Indeed."
"Argh this buggering shoulder," Ron groaned as he pulled his sweater off over his head and a sharp pain shot through his shoulder and down his arm. Draco, who was sitting cross-legged on his bed reading, looked up at Ron's hiss of pain and said,
"Is it still giving you trouble? It's been days."
"Tell that to my shoulder," Ron muttered, "the bloody thing refuses to get better, every movement's agony," he complained, rotating it around in the socket and wincing as the pain shot through him again.
"Stop moving it," Draco ordered, "you'll only make it worse." He slipped off his bed and joined Ron on his. "Where's that salve you used on my ribs?" he asked.
"On the nightstand," Ron replied and Draco fetched it, saying,
"Right, take off your shirt." Ron raised his eyebrow and Draco said, "Oh just do it." Ron chuckled and proceeded to do as he was told, again wincing at the pain the movement caused him. Draco dipped his fingers in the salve and gently applied it to Ron's shoulder. He moved in small, circular motions, applying a careful amount of pressure to the injured area. Ron's skin was smooth and pale and dusted with freckles and Draco's fingers slid over it, soothing away the pain. He became mesmerised by the movements of his own hands and the way in which his own paleness contrasted with Ron's. He heard Ron draw in a sharp breath and he looked at the boy in concern, asking, "Did I hurt you?"
Ron shook his head and replied," No, no I'm just a bit ticklish that's all."
"You shouldn't put information like that in the hands of a Slytherin," Draco warned teasingly as he rubbed in the last of the salve.
"But you're not a Slytherin anymore," Ron countered.
"No," Draco conceded, "but I still possess many of the qualities that put me there in the first place."
"Such as?" Ron asked slowly, sure that he would regret doing so.
"Such as using an opponent's weakness against them," Draco replied, his voice suddenly becoming low and smooth as honey. Ron chanced a look up at him and caught the playful glint in his eye.
"Draco...Draco what – " but he was cut off. Draco descended on him and began to tickle him mercilessly, attacking any exposed flesh he could lay hands on. "Dray...Draco," Ron managed through fits of giggles, "this is...isn't fair!"
"No it's not," Draco agreed cheerfully, continuing his assault. Ron was not to remain under attack for long though, he soon found the energy to haul himself up and reverse their positions so he had Draco pinned to the mattress.
"Not so smug now are we?" he asked the blond, grinning down at him.
"I've got you right where I want you," Draco insisted.
"Is that so?" Ron replied with a smirk before suddenly becoming aware of just how close he was to the boy. Their noses were almost touching and they were very nearly pressed chest to chest. He met Draco's eyes and his smirk faded. There was a softness in the boy's face that he'd never seen before and it completely undid him. He was aware that he was leaning down towards him and would have continued to do so had a noise from the staircase not stopped him. The other boys' voices became audible and Ron quickly moved away and stood aside. "Um...thanks for helping with my shoulder," he muttered as Draco also stood up, looking as befuddled as he was.
"Oh...no problem, any time...I mean, any time you need it," Draco mumbled in response.
Dean, Seamus and Neville came crashing into the dorm and whatever it was that had happened was instantly broken. Draco shook himself and returned to his book, whilst Ron continued to change, feeling a strange sense of loss and a good deal of resentment towards the other boys.
Harry lay sprawled on the sofa, his schoolwork abandoned and forgotten on the table beside him. He was far too comfortable to even consider continuing it, and he was content to simply lie tracing the pattern of the ceiling with his eyes and fading into the realm of daydreams. Finishing early on a Friday was such a wonderful facet to his timetable and he was cheerfully indulging in his freedom. He released a gentle sigh and was almost drifting off when he heard the bizarre question, "Can you dance?" He turned his head round and saw Severus standing there, waiting for an answer. "Well? Can you dance?" he repeated.
Harry snorted and replied, "Don't you remember my performance at the Yule Ball in 4th year?"
"Potter, hard as it may be for you to believe, your performance at the Yule Ball was not at the top of my priority list; I had more important things to occupy my mind that night."
"Well if you had have been paying attention, you would remember that I was dire, and I am in no way exaggerating."
"Well you're going to have to dance at this function so you're going to have to learn."
"Well can you dance?" Harry asked, hauling himself up and looking in amusement at the man.
"Of course, breeding don't you know," Severus replied with a smirk.
"Fine," said Harry, rising to his feet, "you'll have to teach me then."
"Me?"
"Well I don't see any other candidates, and we want to look good in front of all those Pureblood snobs, no offence, not to mention Aldrington. Come on, it can't be that difficult, teach me," Harry insisted, holding out his arms.
"You will tell no one about this," Severus instructed as he took Harry by the waist and grabbed his hand.
"Right like I'm in a hurry to shout about this from the rooftops," Harry said, rolling his eyes as he placed a hand on Severus' shoulder. "Hang on a minute, am I being the girl?"
"Do you know how to lead? Right then, shut up and do as you're told," Harry pulled a face but bit back a response. "Right now, left foot back, then step to the side, now step towards me and off to the other side – without stepping on my foot please," Severus bit out as Harry fumbled through the dance steps.
"Sorry, this isn't exactly my forte," Harry muttered as Severus steadied him.
"Just concentrate," Severus ordered. "Now, back, side, forward, side and turn with me," which Harry did, only the opposite way to Severus. They continued to try and move around the room, Severus' hand a steadying force on Harry's waist, trying to keep him upright as he tried to master the dance steps. Harry's hand was clammy in Severus' hold, and he tried very hard to focus on the instructions Severus was giving him. He bumped into the coffee table several times and after a couple more ridiculous attempts, he finally extricated himself from Severus.
"Maybe we could just skip the dancing?" Harry asked hopefully, rubbing his wrist, which he'd twisted in his pathetic attempt at turning.
"We're doing this if it kills us," Severus ground out.
"Which it probably will," Harry countered. "I'm awful at this kind of thing, is there no way around it? I mean, do we have to dance?"
"It's customary, it's also seen as an insult if you don't dance at a host's function, it's like you're saying the event isn't worth your enjoyment."
Harry rolled his eyes and replied, "God you Purebloods are uptight. Well is there not another dance we can do? Something with one step perhaps?" he asked hopefully.
"Well I suppose we could just settle for a slow dance."
"Slow dance? Isn't that kind of...intimate?" Harry asked, his cheeks flushing.
"Well we are married," Severus reminded him. "Besides, it doesn't seem as though we have much of an option. Right, come here," said Severus with a sigh, holding out his arms. Harry resignedly moved forward and wrapped an arm around the man's shoulder, took his hand and rested his head on the man's chest. It was awkward and uncomfortable and Harry had no idea how they were going to manage to look like a real married couple. "Right, now just move slowly round and follow where my feet go...without stepping on them," he added as an afterthought as they began to move around.
As they continued to move slowly around the room, Harry relaxed slightly into the man's hold, figuring that he'd better get used to it if he was going to be required to do it in the next couple of weeks. He was going to put on the best damn show of his life and if it meant dancing with Severus, then so be it. He was very aware of Severus' arm wrapped around his waist and he hoped he wasn't holding the man's neck too tightly, but the situation did make him rather nervous; it wasn't every day he found himself being held by the most terrifying professor Hogwarts possessed.
"Ok, ok this I can do," Harry said as he simply allowed himself to be led by the man. He let himself lean a little more on Severus chest, feeling surprising strength beneath him. He breathed in the faint aroma of the potions Severus had been making that day, all spices and unusual ingredients, mixed together with the clean smell of soap. It wasn't entirely unpleasant. "Can we get away with just this?" he asked quietly.
"Hopefully," Severus replied, shifting his feet as he held Harry close to his chest. "As long as we convince Aldrington, that's all that matters. Right, that's enough now," he said, disentangling himself from the boy. "I think we'll be fine."
"Let's hope so. Do you think Aldrington will give us any trouble?"
"Probably, in one way or another. We'll have to be on our guard. No wandering off on your own," he said gravely.
"Where would I go? Off mingling with the upper crust?" Harry replied with a snort.
"One can never be too careful where you're concerned."
"Well dear husband of mine," said Harry, throwing himself back down on the sofa, "you'll just have to keep me by your side and make sure I don't get my pretty little head into any trouble."
AN: Hehe, Sev and Harry slow dancing together, what an image! Well my absolute favourite chapter that I've written so far is coming up next and I hope you all like it, it was so much fun to write! I think you'll all enjoy it, it's going to give some of you the Snarry fix you've all been craving ; )
Thank you to my wonderful beta Adaptive, her help really was invaluable on this chapter, and she really helped it flow much better. Thanks hun : )
Other than that, all I have to say is that I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I hope you'll all let me know what you think.