CHAPTER 21

A/N: The Weird Sisters belong to JKR – but the song title is invented by me :-)

peppermintstick and yaoi-fied: Kim is not a reporter. More Howlers – that would be too much :-)

peppermintstick: Snape was present when Harry received the Howlers during breakfast. Inviting Harry to the bar and playing in public was his way of apologising for the mess he caused.

koredik: Harry is not stupid. He realises (but hardly dares to hope) that Snape is sexually interested in him. He dances with someone else to make Snape a bit jealous. Harry is astonished at the attention, but also uncertain, since he hopes for more than sexual interest from Snape. He knows that Snape is snarky – and he will try to turn that snarkiness to his advantage.

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Harry and Snape walked onto the dance floor.

A song with a fast beat began to play.

"Right, Potter. You showed potential when you sang here. Just move along with the music. Like this."

Snape swayed his hips from side to side rhythmically, one hand on Harry's waist, eyes drilling into Harry's. Harry boldly copied his movements.

"Not bad, Potter. You're a quick learner in some things," Snape said. Harry was pleased by this rare compliment.

As the music went on, Harry felt the heat increase. He could hardly believe that Snape, of all people, the social recluse, was dancing so enticingly. With him, Harry Potter.

Harry was disappointed when the fast disco beat ended; but Snape did not move from the dance floor and retained his gentle grip on Harry's waist. A slow song started. It was called "Hex Me, Sexy" and was sung by none other than the Weird Sisters. The song was definitely sexy and seductive.

"Potter, that was my foot."

"Sorry, Severus."

"How Miss Patil survived the Yule Ball with you will always remain a mystery to me."

"I think it will remain a mystery to me too," Harry smiled. "Why did you decide to invite me out here?"

"Well, Potter. I daresay I did contribute indirectly to those Howlers you received this morning."

"And…you decided to use a creative way of…uh…apologising?"

"I suppose you could it put it that way."

Snape approached his lips to Harry's ear, making him shiver.

"I sent a tough Howler to the Prophet, Potter."

Harry stared at him, startled.

"You mean…You also sent a Howler?"

"Also?"

Harry told him about the other people who had sent Howlers for his sake.

Snape actually laughed.

"I would not be surprised if most of the Hogwarts teachers and a large part of the student body had sent Howlers."

"Severus…Thank you."

Can I feel sparks flying between us? The way he is looking at me…Those eyes! Harry thought.

The lyrics of the song were decidedly naughty, and Snape was obviously enjoying the mixed discomfort and excitement they were causing the young introverted wizard. His thin mouth was curved in a sensual smile.

"Potter, when you are dancing to a song like this, you've got to make sure to avoid moving like an automaton. Look at the other couples."

Harry followed Snape's advice and saw that most of them were dancing very close and in a natural manner. Summoning his Gryffindor courage, he placed one hand on Snape's hip and the other on his back.

"That's better, Potter."

Harry looked up into his eyes and shivered with exhilaration at the gleam he discovered in their dark depths. He daringly pulled Snape closer to him.

"Ah, you're learning fast…" Snape murmured.

"You're a good teacher. When it comes to dancing," Harry said cheekily.

"Really?"

"Oh yes."

Snape ground his hips against Harry's as the Weird Sisters repeated "Hex me, hex me, Sexy, Sexy" in breathy voices. A fiery glow spread to Harry's face.

"I am glad to hear this positive assessment, Potter."

Snape's hands travelled up Harry's back lazily, his lips brushing Harry's neck nonchalantly, making Harry arch himself involuntarily against him.

"Of course, romantic couples dance even closer than we are doing, so I don't suppose I can really show you more intimate dancing techniques."

"I, uh, think that this is quite close enough," Harry said, breathing in the scent of his dancing partner as he shifted his position and moved one hand to Snape's shoulder. The dusky hair stroked his fingers like liquid velvet. Snape's own hand darted down to Harry's right thigh, squeezing lightly.

Oh Merlin, this is exquisite, this is too good, Harry sighed inwardly.

Snape's smooth palm stroked his cheek, making Harry renew the eye contact. Snape's mouth was close. Within kissing distance. Harry was on fire; still he hesitated. For too long, because the song ended, and Snape drew back from him.

"So, Potter. I am relieved you did not make a fool of yourself on the dance floor," Snape said in his usual biting tones, gliding back to their table.

"I enjoyed it," Harry said candidly.

Snape raised a sceptical eyebrow and sipped at his Butterbeer.

Harry studied him for a little, finding it difficult to calm down his aroused body.

"You said that you had to teach me everything. So…Maybe you could teach me how to play the piano a little?"

Snape lowerd his glass, his black eyes scanning Harry's face thoroughly.

"Give me your hand, Potter."

Harry obeyed.

Snape ran his index finger over his skin, travelling over the back of Harry's hand and fingers.

"If your mind is as finely built as this hand – which I actually doubt, Potter – then you might stand a chance to play quite passably."

"In other words…?"

The slightest hint of a smile flitted over Snape's stern face.

"I will teach you, Potter. I actually thought I had done with your education for good after you graduated."

"Bad mistake," Harry laughed.

Snape stroked the bridge of his haughty nose with a thoughtful finger before tracing the contours of his upper lip. Harry hastily sipped some more Butterbeer.

"Every Saturday night from nine till ten o'clock. I can't believe I am wasting more of my precious time on someone like you, Potter. And if you damage my piano…"

"…then you will guillotine me. Got the picture," Harry grinned. "Thanks for offering to waste your time on me, Severus."

Snape directed a decidedly glacial glance at him.

When they had finished their drinks, they got up and Harry said:

"Let's leave through the back door. There are too many people."

Snape nodded. There were indeed less people using the back exit, and Lucifer happened to be among them. His smile disappeared when he caught sight of Harry and Snape. At the exit, he intentionally scraped past Harry roughly, making him bump into Snape, who, unpleasantly surprised by this turn of events, fell over with Harry on top of him.

"POTTER!"

"I'm sorry, Severus, Lucifer banged into me and I couldn't keep my balance."

He got off Snape quickly and held out his hands. Snape seized them, and Harry pulled him to his feet. They gazed at each other in the dim glow of the streetlight, the tall wizard and the smaller one.

"Close your eyes, Potter," Snape whispered to him gently.

"Why?"

"Just close them. I will show you what you need to feel when learning to dance to the music…and learning to play it."

"And I have to close my eyes for that?"

Snape sighed.

"You will cheat. I know you."

With a quick spell, Snape conjured a black scarf out of nowhere and tied it around Harry's eyes.

"Take my hand."

Harry complied, feeling the long fingers wrap around his firmly.

"Follow my movements."

It was a special trip home for Harry. Without sight, everything seemed completely unfamiliar to him; and even with Snape's hand guiding him, he tripped a few times, but was supported by Snape, who did not say a word. They stopped at last, and Snape raised Harry's hand, running it over something rough.

"What is this, Potter?" Snape's voice breathed into his ear.

Harry moved his hand around, caressing the material.

"A…tree? The bark of a tree?"

"Yes, exactly. But that was easy." Snape drew out the first word seductively.

They continued their route.

"Now, Potter-"

"When will you ever call me Harry?"

"When a Bowtruckle jumps over the moon. Tell me what this is."

Something cold was put into his hands.

"Hm. It feels…stiff. Cold. And sort of…bristly."

The object smelt funny. He wrinkled his nose and touched something thin and long and suddenly realised what he was holding.

"Severus! Is this a dead animal?"

"Wonderful, Potter. A dead rat, to be exact." A faint hint of amusement was in the low voice.

"A dead…! Severus!"

Harry flung the object from him. Snape murmured a cleaning spell over his hands.

"I WANT TO WASH MY HANDS!" Harry exclaimed angrily.

"The spell is quite thorough, Potter. I wouldn't want to hold your hand otherwise."

They resumed their walk, Harry grumbling underneath his breath.

"We are nearly there, Potter."

"I guess we could gone on for hours and I would still be trying to find something familiar around here."

"We are nearly at the gates."

Where we watched the sunrise, Harry thought with a sharp pang, where you almost kissed me.

He turned towards Snape, placing his hands on his forearms. Snape remained completely still. Harry moved his exploring palms upwards, slowly, carefully; now and then, a strand of silky hair grazed his knuckles. He felt the collar of Snape's thick cloak. His neck. His cheek. His mouth. Snape exhaled, his warm breath making Harry tense with arousal. His long fingers sneaked to the back of Harry's head and undid the blindfold, which fell onto the ground.

"I want to show you something else besides using your other senses, Potter."

"And that is?"

"That to learn music from me, you have to trust me."

"Blindly?"

"Not blindly, Potter. What are your other senses for? Decoration?"

Harry smiled.

"I don't suppose so," he whispered.

They stared into each other's eyes.

"I think I am starting to like learning from you now," Harry informed him.

"My dear boys, there you are."

The two wizards turned around swiftly.

Dumbledore was standing on the stairs, smiling.

"Yes, we just came back from a drink at the karaoke bar," Snape said smoothly.

"I am pleased that you are socialising," Dumbledore observed, "come on in before you both get colds."

Harry and Snape obeyed, hurrying up the stairs into the castle.

"Severus," Dumbledore called.

Snape turned.

"You forgot something."

Dumbledore Summoned the black scarf and handed it to Snape.

"Thank you, Albus. Good night."

As they parted ways, Snape said to Harry:

"Nine o'clock, Potter. And not a minute earlier or later."

"I'll be there, Severus. Nice scarf, by the way." He made sure to give Snape an intense look from his green eyes before retiring.

Neither of them noticed the thrilled expression on Albus Dumbledore's wise face.

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