"I really don't see what the point of this is." Lucia said, strapping on a pair of heels she hadn't even looked at since unpacking over the summer.

"As a professor you have certain expectations." Severus said, strolling across his chambers. He had vanished his couch and chair, leaving only the stone ground. He looked at the floor with a sneer before transforming it into a smooth marble, ideal for turning a dance partner.

Lucia scoffed. "I hardly think anyone expects me to be a dancer."

"Why not? You're musically inclined."

"Yes and when I'm on stage I specifically choose not to dance because I move like a wounded goose."

"I am having a difficult time imagining that."

"Oh just you wait." Lucia said, standing up tall. She was wearing a long dress, hoping that it would hide the uselessness of her legs.

Severus stood in the center of the room, extending an arm in invitation. Lucia had brought her record player with her when he had invited her to learn how to dance.

In truth it was more of a command, which Lucia was only somewhat bothered by.

"We are expected as professors to teach the students how to ballroom dance." He had said while they were working on course material together.

Lucia examined her nails closely. "I'll have to look over my employment contract. I don't believe that duty was included."

"Perhaps but neither was letting students know that the broom cupboard on the third floor doesn't get checked on patrols." Severus said casually. "That has been changed by the way."

"How did you find out?" Lucia said, looking up from her nails at him.

Severus sat casually in his chair, revising the fifth year exams he planned to issue before Christmas break. "I heard it mentioned in the dueling club."

"Fucking Cecilia. She can't keep quiet, can she?" Lucia muttered.

"It was actually Astoria, which I was greatly surprised by. She seems like quite the proper pureblood witch."

Lucia looked at him coyly. "Looks can be very deceiving."

Severus nearly cracked a smile. "If you are implying you look even remotely innocent, may I please point out that you always look as if you have cakes stuffed in your pockets."

"What if I do? You'll just have to get a little closer to find out."

"Fortunately we will be very close when I teach you how to viennese waltz."

Lucia grimaced and then resumed pouting. "They couldn't even make the name appealing could they? It sounds like a strange german sausage dish."

"Says the woman whose last name is an adverb."

Lucia feigned shock before grinning at him. "Why Severus, I never knew being insulted with grammar phrases could be so sensual."

Severus snorted in response, enjoying her banter.

Lucia began speaking again. "As much as I would love to have you teach me how to float across the floor, I'm afraid I have to say-"

Severus interrupted her. "You don't have the ability to choose. The ball is in a month and we need to begin teaching students sooner rather than later."

Lucia rolled her eyes, struggling to maintain her inner need to defy anyone telling her not to do something.

"If it will make the situation more appealing, I do have a rather rare vintage of Primitivo red."

Lucia raised an eyebrow. "You know I will drink literal swill and you think a rare vintage will appeal to me."

"You're correct, I should have offered you the dreck that you normally offer me."

"Quite right." Lucia imitated a posh british accent. "What time should I come over?"

Severus had not expected Lucia to dress the part, instead assuming she would show up in her typical brightly colored attire. Instead she arrived in a white dress that swept the floor, held up only by thin straps. The material looked to be satin and he assumed it was her wedding dress.

Lucia approached him in the center of the room, making sure to do her best imitation of what she assumed dancers walked like. Her arms were extended to her sides and her chest was puffed out. She looked a bit like a goose after all, with her head bobbing forward and back.

"I can't see your feet." Severus said.

"That" Lucia said, tapping his nose "Is precisely the point."

"I cannot teach you how to dance without being able to see where you are stepping."

Lucia huffed, quickly transforming her long dress into a knee length skirt.

"Wandless magic? Very impressive."

"I am the transfigurations professor for a reason." Lucia said with a proud smile.

"The first thing that we must discuss is isolating the upper body." Severus began, demonstrating a lifted posture.

Lucia attempted to imitate him, puffing out her chest.

"Not quite like an ape initiating a fight." Severus laughed.

"I'm just trying to channel what I feel on the inside." Lucia replied.

Severus reached forward, placing a hand on her stomach and back and straightening her posture. He then put his hand under her chin, lifting her face so she looked to be gazing past him before pressing her shoulders back to open her chest.

Lucia felt herself flush for a moment, unsure how to respond to the intimate touch.

"Try to keep your back straight and your core engaged. It will prevent your neck from… well from looking like a goose."

"I fucking told you." Lucia said.

"Place your left hand on my shoulder."

Lucia reached out, grabbing on to him.

"No no, just rest your hand there. It's like an anchor. Press your palm into my shoulder, but try not to grip."

Lucia tentatively released her grip, doing as he asked. She nearly clasped his robes again when he placed his hand in the middle of her back, with her arm now resting on his.

He must have noticed her tense because he looked at her quizzically.

"Just very ticklish." Lucia said with a nervous smile.

Severus nodded before he grasped her other hand. "The next step is having the correct body contact." He used the hand on her back to press her chest and ribcage into him. "It's important to try and maintain the connection of our torsos while dancing. It will make everything else much easier."

"Will it though?" Lucia asked, feeling herself begin to sweat.

"The next important concept is keeping our feet close to each other but slightly offset."

Lucia felt him step closer and closed her eyes. She didn't want to learn how to dance because she knew she'd embarrass herself. She did not anticipate that she'd be this flustered.

"Let's see if you can sense where I want you to step." Severus said.

"Wait which foot do I use first?"

"Step left, step right and then step together with your left. Then right step, left step and together with right."

"I'm doomed." Lucia despaired.

"When you feel me turn in a direction with my upper body, attempt to mirror it using only your ribcage and upper body."

Lucia inhaled through her nose, trying to not think about the fact that they were just a few layers of clothing away from a very intimate scenario.

The music began to play behind them, a traditional slow waltz that Lucia had heard before but never danced to. She felt Severus press into her, indicating that she should step back. It took all her concentration to step with her left foot.

"Your step was much too large." Severus said. "Don't think so much about stepping. Think more about lifting your foot and feeling our connection send you back."

Lucia nodded. They tried again, this time making it the second part of the pattern where she was expected to step right first. She stepped left by mistake and swore, losing her posture.

Severus let go of her back, moving to grab the back of her neck and correct her posture.

Lucia nearly let out a moan, the feeling of his hand on her neck guiding her eliciting images she could barely contain.

"Don't let your posture drop." Severus chided.

"Says the man whose composure is apparently made of steel." Lucia commented.

Severus couldn't help but notice her breathing seemed a bit heavier despite them not doing anything more rigorous than a handful of steps. He couldn't help but smirk at the realization.

"It takes quite a bit more than a warm body to make me lose my composure." He teased.

In truth Severus had been quite distracted as well. She was quite a bit shorter than him and he had an excellent view of her breasts when he glanced down at her to check her posture, especially when she leaned back and opened her shoulders as the dance required. She was more buxom than he remembered at the beginning of the year, with the school's desserts causing her to fill out. It wasn't an unpleasant change, he had noted. Her hips had also become more round, something she emphasized often in her high waisted pants.

He noted that she was getting warmer as well, and was thankful he had layers of clothing to hide his flushing skin. This was the closest they had been besides a lingering hug and he couldn't help but appreciate how she felt under his hands.

Lucia was always a strong woman, sometimes to a fault. She was stubborn and often more than a bit contrarian. He felt it in the way she moved and the tension she held in her back. She was stiff and moved in the way she wanted. It made her a terrible dance partner, but those characteristics were something he was beginning to love about her.

"You should relax more." He commented after she had stumbled again.

"I am finding that physically impossible at the moment." Lucia muttered.

"Perhaps a different style of dance is better suited to you?" Severus asked, finally releasing her from his hold.

"I was really good at rubbing my butt on people in school."

"What?" Severus asked, confused as to what she meant.

"Ilvermorney was much less… formal about dances." Lucia said casually. "Perhaps I can teach you sometime." She winked.

"I hardly think that would be appropriate to do in front of students." Severus replied.

"Well then we will just have to do it privately."

Severus was silent for a moment. "I think I will request Minerva to help me teach the students."

Lucia let out a bark of laughter. "Probably for the best. I told you it was a waste of time."

"I hardly think it was a waste of time." Severus said. "Now you can at least feign dancing. Though perhaps you should hide your feet."

"That's the plan." Lucia said, transfiguring her dress back to the length she arrived in.

"Though you may need a more voluminous skirt to hide them properly." Severus said. "I can't imagine this dress hid your feet well at your wedding."

"Oh this wasn't my wedding dress. My wedding dress was red. I also didn't dance at my wedding. We eloped. I think I bought this for an Opera performance."

Severus was thoughtful for a moment, trying to imagine Lucia in a red dress.

"Now I believe I was bribed to be here." Lucia said, gesturing to the bottle of wine that was on his table.

"Ah yes, the only thing that makes my company worthwhile."

"At least you are aware of your shortcomings." Lucia teased.

Severus quickly conjured the couch. He paused for a moment, considering forgoing the chair altogether before conjuring it as well, not wanting it to be obvious that he enjoyed being close to her.

Lucia grabbed the wine bottle, casting a spell to open it before pouring two generous glasses. "It's Friday." She said haphazardly.

"As if a day of the week would stop you."

"I'm offended. I'm only drinking because I'm with my favorite colleague."

"Have I usurped Aurora?" Severus asked, surprised at the admission.

"Barely, but if you try to teach me how to do another type of dance I can assure you that your rank will drop below Professor Binns."

"That is quite the threat."

"I'm just letting you know exactly how much I do not enjoy dancing."

"What a terrible shame."

"What do you mean?"

"I quite enjoyed it." Severus said, no deception in his tone.

Lucia was caught off guard, usually the one to flirt openly. "Are you sure you didn't get into the wine prior to our lesson?"

"Unfortunately I do not have that excuse."

Lucia took a large drink of the wine, noting the tart flavor and richness. It was dark and full bodied and intoxicating, far better than what she typically purchased for herself. She was not a wine connoisseur by any measure, but she had been to enough events put on by people who were willing to pay more money to get drunk than she was, and she knew the markings of an expensive wine.

"You're really spoiling me with this wine." Lucia said.

"I couldn't imagine a more special occasion." Severus said.

"A holiday, or perhaps your birthday." Lucia commented.

Severus coughed slightly. "I thought perhaps your birthday would be an appropriate reason to drink it."

Lucia let a grin split across her face. "How in Merlin's name do you know that it's my birthday?" She hadn't even told Aurora, mostly because she hated to be disappointed. After spending her early twenties with very few friends, and even fewer reliable friends, she had grown accustomed to not celebrating her birthday, opting instead to just try to make plans with people that week without the pressure of celebration.

"Minerva let it slip." Severus answered. It was a lie. He had snooped in her file thanks to his access as Deputy Headmaster.

"You really didn't have to. It's not an important day."

"I would argue today is very important." Severus said.

"Oh yes? Why is that?" Lucia asked.

"November 15th is the day that Lucia Sometimes' possible career as a professional dancer came to an abrupt and ungraceful end."

Lucia let out a full bodied laugh, throwing her head back. She looked at him with delight. "I shall celebrate the death of my career then."

"Cheers." Severus said, extending his glass.

"Cent'anni!" Lucia exclaimed, finishing her glass.

Severus rose, extending his hand to take her glass. He refilled it and returned, hesitating for a moment before choosing to sit next to her on the couch.

It was large enough where they were not touching, but he could feel her warmth next to him, something he had missed immediately after they stopped dancing.

"I did get you an actual gift, not just drinks." Severus said.

"Libation is gift enough." Lucia said. "But also, gimme." Her voice was giddy and Severus resisted a chuckle.

"I'm afraid it may disrupt your plans for your Christmas Break." Severus said.

"Oh yes I have a very strict schedule." Lucia said. "I'm not sure I can fit you in between petting my cat and trying to prepare for the Malfoy party."

"Well then I hope you can make time on the 20th." Severus said, pulling an envelope from his pocket.

Lucia opened it gingerly. Inside were two tickets to a performance of various Debussy arias. She noted the venue was in London, a place she had yet to explore.

"You can attend with anyone you like." Severus said.

Lucia slapped him on the arm. "Clearly I'm taking you. Don't be ridiculous." She looked at the tickets in awe. "How did you know I loved Debussy?"

"In truth I didn't. I always appreciated Debussy's influence on modern music, especially jazz, and there aren't often shows dedicated to him because he only finished one Opera in its entirety."

"He was so particular about the libretto, but also so profound." Lucia said, smiling at Severus; before grasping his hand. "I can't tell you how excited I am! Not to mention impressed. I can't say any man has taken me to the Opera before. I usually have to drag them."

Severus was pleased to hear that. "If you would like, we could also go to dinner beforehand."

"Why Severus, if I didn't know better I'd call that a date." Lucia teased, squeezing his hand.

Severus flushed, looking down at their clasped hands. Suddenly he felt like a shy schoolboy again. A shy school boy that was an idiot to think the head girl would ever fall in love with him.

Lucia noticed his change in demeanor and placed her other hand on his knee, turning into him. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm really happy to go. With you. If things were different, if I weren't well… you know, maybe it could be a date." Lucia stumbled over the words, trying to be both comforting and not expose her weak underbelly of affection.

Severus pulled back his hand but did not move his leg away from her. "It's not as if I would expect a young woman such as yourself to be interested in- in someone like me."

"Someone kind and intelligent? An excellent dancer and potioneer? Someone who makes me laugh? No I imagine not. I'm aiming for the dreadfully dull, daft and disrespectful." Lucia said, squeezing his thigh lightly. "Besides, I'm the murderous widow who probably drinks too much and definitely would be constituted as 'used goods' by any self respecting wizard."

"Has anyone said that about you?" Severus asked, shocked.

"Not in so many words, but certainly it has been implied. I had a man tell me he wouldn't trust me to raise a child with the right values." Lucia sipped her wine.

"Well you have been telling the older students where to have sex." Severus said.

"They are doing it anyway. And do you know what happens when you do it in an unsafe place? You make mistakes. You rush things. You forget to cast a spell or take potion. I'm doing it for their health."

Severus sighed, knowing she had a point. "Regardless, you aren't used goods. And you would make an excellent mother."

Lucia smiled sadly at him. "I almost was one you know?"

Severus assumed she meant that she and her husband had considered having kids.

"It was an accident. I had just gotten a promotion with MACUSA. Ryan and I talked about it for weeks. It was really difficult because I think we both wanted to have kids someday, but we both felt like it was too early. I mean we had barely gotten engaged at that point and I had wanted to really enjoy that time together. We were so happy living in the city, but neither of us wanted to raise a kid there. It was selfish but we deserved to be selfish."

Severus realized what she was talking about and thought for a moment that perhaps he should hold her hand.

Lucia continued. "I don't really regret it. I think if he were still alive I would think it was the right choice, and fuck, it probably was regardless." She smiled sadly. "But you see, I am used goods."

"Not at all. You made the right choice for yourself. People have made terrible mistakes, more foul than anything you could imagine, and still been loved." Severus said.

Lucia glanced at his left forearm, covered by his robes. "Some people have also been redeemed many times over. I've what? Saved a couple horny teenagers from having an accidental pregnancy? Nominate me for an Order of Merlin!" The sarcasm was rich in her tone.

"You've saved people from more than that." He said, thinking back to his night in the Shrieking Shack.

"Yeah well, I could have saved a lot more than that." She finished her glass of wine. "I think I'm going to retire for the evening. I told Myron Wagtail I'd meet him in Hogsmeade tomorrow to rehearse for the Yule Ball." Lucia said, feeling like the mood had soured.

"I can escort you to your chambers." He offered.

"Fortunately I am a grown ass woman and can walk myself." Lucia said tersely, perhaps a bit harsher than she intended. "I'm sorry, I'm just a bit tired. Dancing really took a toll on me."

"Perhaps." Severus responded, unsure of what to say.

"And for the record, I do wish it were a date." Lucia said, and then began walking back to her chambers.