by Empress Sarah
Ch 5. All Hallows Eve
Classes that next week were a breeze. Everyone was talking about how they were going to dress up at the dance. She found herself thinking about that too. When she had to speak with Snape about the house she always had to hold in her grin. What she had planned....
"Snape, what are you going to dress up as for the dance....we have to
be there you know"
Snape scowled, or at least tried while he sighed.
"How about a Potions master?" he said with a hint of sarcasm.
"Well that's original."
She shifted in her chair to cross her legs letting her robes reveal
her leg up to her mid-thigh.
She noted the slight change in his demeanor.
He seemed to tense a bit and tried to look as if he wasnt staring at
the exposed flesh.
"Yes well....I don't like dances so..."
"Well I do. I just love to dance. There's a dance contest too. I think
I'm going to enter."
He nodded, dropping his quill on the ground. As he moved to pick it
up she caught him sneaking a glance.
"Well what are you going as? Elvira?"
He let a flash of humor into his eyes and she caught it otherwise she
would have been upset.
"Funny. No....I don't know yet....but I think I have a good idea."
"Well I'm sure whatever you choose will be highly creative given your
gift for fashion."
"Why Professor Snape I think that was a compliment."
She smiled.
He looked up in shock for a moment as if he didn't realize what he
had said.
"No, just a bad try at an insult. Ill put more sarcasm into it next
time. Goodnight Ms. Broomsworth."
"Goodnight."
If you only knew, she thought.
Finally the dance came. Everyone looked wonderful. Dumbledore was dressed
up like a giant lemon drop, McGongall was a nurse......she looked for Snape
and found him. He wasn't kidding. He was a Potions master....though he
was dressed in fancy old wizard robes with the stars and moons in silver
against black velvet. Aurelia chose to come as a Spanish dancer. She wore
a black dress that cut low at the neck and had no sleeves with ruffles
on the bottom and a slit to the mid-thigh. Her hair
was up in a tight bun on her head and she had a red rose tied around
her neck and one in her hand as well, dethorned of course. As she walked
into the room with her highly made up face, the students almost didn't
recognize her. She smiled a little. Snape turned and saw her. She was looking
rather striking this evening. Very striking, in fact.
He watched her walk from person to person, greeting them. He didn't
realize he was staring until she turned around and she caught him looking
at her. Their eyes locked for a moment and he found he couldn't look away.
Smiling weakly, he smoothed out his robe and walked over to greet her.
*I'm supposed to look at her, she's my assistant. Just keep telling
yourself that Sevrus....*
"Good evening Ms Broomsworth."
"Same to you."
"So, did you enter the contest?"
Her eyes lit up. Time to put the plan in motion.
"No, I didn't have a partner. But you know what?"
"What?" he asked with a confused look.
"You can be my partner."
He looked mortified.
"Umm...actually...no...really...I...you know...not good at dancing
and all..."
"Oh come now." she tapped his shoulder lightly and motioned for him
to come closer. When he complied she whispered in his ear.
"I would have thought that after watching me do it so many times you
would have picked up some things..."
She moved away to gauge his reaction.
He looked like he was going to run and hide.
"You knew? But how..."
She silenced him.
"I know everything don't you know?"
He looked at her sternly. Just then Dumbledore came by.
"So are you in Aurelia?"
Before Snape could say a word she replied.
"Of course! Snape volunteered to be my partner!"
"But I-"
"Excellent!!! Good luck you two!"
He slapped a number on their backs and walked off.
"How did I get into this?"
"Maybe you should be more careful who you spy on?"
"I TOLD you I would be watching you silly girl!"
She turned on him angrily.
"I am not a girl!" she shouted.
He took a step back.
He remembered how she reacted to that boy outside the club.
He sighed.
"How long do we have to do this?"
"Until we are out "
He sighed again. This crazy woman would be the death of him someday,
he was sure of it. But wait...why should he have to do anything? She didn't
really want to dance
with him, just wanted him to look foolish in front of his students.
"No! I will not let myself be made a fool of!" he then turned and stomped
off.
She sighed this time.
Him and his stupid pride.
She followed after him outside.
"Snape...Snape..stop!" she bellowed and lightning cracked.
He stopped suddenly and turned.
"look...ok so I threw you into this but you know what you deserve it.
The way you treat people....ugh! I get so frustrated sometimes. If it makes
you feel better you can
tell everyone it was my idea and I forced you and that after all it
was a way to get points for Slytherin. All you have to do is keep dancing...if
you stop you're out. When
It's down to about 3 couples they expect you to show off bit
then the best couple wins. That's not so hard is it?"
He turned to face her.
"I'm doing it for the Slytherins...that's all. Lets go."
Dumbledore got up and began to speak to the students as Snape and Aurelia trickled back in.
"Alright, as long as there are no questions about the rules, we'll begin the contest! Good luck everyone and to your houses!"
The first song was a slow song to get everyone warmed up a little.
Aurelia led Snape to the floor. She stopped and turned to face him.
He was looking around at the stunned faces looking at them.
He looked at her quizzingly.
"I don't know about this."
"Look Snape. Its not like I'm going to kiss you or rape you in front
of them. We're just going to dance."
"They're surprised because they've never seen me dance."
"Out of all the dances at Hogwarts you've never danced at one of them?"
He shook his head.
"ok look..."
She put his arm around her waist and his other hand in hers and pulled
him closer.
"They don't matter. Act as if they aren't even here. All that matters
is you and I. We just have to keep moving for now. We don't have to do
any fancy stuff until later."
He sighed inside his mind. This was going to be a long night.
"And if anyone says anything besides praise about it they'll just have
to lose some points then, wont they?" she said with a smirk.
He chuckled.
"Alright then. Lets move." she commanded.
They began to move to the music slowly getting more comfortable with
each other's movements to find their sync.
"Ron, is that Snape and Broomsworth?" Harry called over his shoulder.
Ron and Hermione spun around and he turned his head towards Harry.
"Yeah. That's just weird."
"I didn't think he danced or even liked this stuff."
"Just because you've never seen it doesn't mean he's not capable Harry.
Geesh....Snape is a man and she's a woman and they're dancing. That's the
same as what we're
doing." Hermione said.
"Oh come on Hermione...this is Snape we're talking about."
"For once Harry just give him SOME credit please? Look, it seems he's
enjoying it a little."
Harry turned and looked past his date and saw the couple.
"Maybe....that still doesn't mean it's not weird."
Hermione sighed. She turned her attentions back to Ron and smiled when
she saw a couple get tapped out.
The songs became more upbeat and Snape started to feel at a loss as
to what to do. They couldn't just dance like it was still a slow dance.
He took an unsure glance
around the hall then let go of Aurelia's waist.
For a moment she thought he was giving up but smiled when he proceeded
to turn her to where her back was facing him and their arms were crisscrossed
over each
other in front of her. They stayed that way for a moment then he spun
her back. He laughed a little.
Dumbledore made a quick announcement.
"Just to remind everyone if you are tapped on the shoulder that you're
out. The music will vary and all types will be played. Keep it up!"
Aurelia looked around to see that more than 3/4 of the people were out.
She turned back to Snape to find him eyeing her.
Suddenly he looked away and she spoke.
"Well, not too much longer. You're really not a bad dancer."
"I haven't danced in a while. I used to be quite good at it I think.."
"Well you haven't stepped on my feet." He made a move to try to step
on her foot and she moved it quickly giggling.
"Oh no you don't." she stuck her tongue out at him and he smiled.
She smiled back and noticed he looked quite handsome when he smiled.
"You should do that more often."
"Do what?"
"Smile."
There was an odd silence and as another slow song played she leaned
her head on his shoulder.
Snape was lost. He couldn't understand this girl..no woman...Why would
she care at all, even a little...and now she was putting her head on his
shoulder...he told himself
she was just doing it as part of the dancing..
Why am I leaning on him? Why am I caring at all if he smiled or not? He's an ass...well not all of time I guess.
A couple songs later there were only 3 couples left: Snape and Aurelia,
Ron and Hermione, and a couple of Ravenclaws.
Snape was surprised they had lasted that long. They were both looking
a little tired but kept going.
"Ok Snape, this is where we actually have to dance. We have to show
off in a sense so the judges will pick us."
"Great. and I'm guessing we want the judges to pick us, right?"
"Of course."
Snape looked around at everyone staring at them.
She turned his head towards her with her hand.
"Hey..they don't matter remember. You don't have to answer to them.
They're just your students. You have to only worry about yourself. You
are an adult with your own life and you cant let them dictate what you
can and cant do or shouldn't do especially if you are having fun.Besides,
dont tell me you're chicken Professor Snape."she said with a grin.
He was doing it again, eyeing her. She could have swore she saw something
in his eyes she hadn't seem before but it was gone before she could be
certain.
He had looked her over in that spilt second that she had seen in his
eyes and found himself instinctively drawn to this woman. She could be
so stubborn at times and he liked it. Ha, and chicken? Oh no.
"Im sorry Ms Broomsworth but I am definately not chicken. I just wonder
if you really are up to the challenge?"
"Bring it on."she replied.
"Very well then. Oh, and who says I'm having fun?" he replied sarcastically
whilling spinning her out as a Salsa song came on.
*Time to bring out the old dance moves* he thought. He untied the heavy
wizard robe and threw it to the side leaving only his black shirt and pants.
They began to REALLY dance. Their hips moved in rhythm as they moved
towards and away from each other. Aurelia kicked her foot out to the side
from time to time
and Snape proceeded to spin her, dip her, and twirl her. He brought
their bodies close together as they moved back and then to the front and
back again before spinning her
out and letting go. She moved to the music herself for a moment bringing
her hands up to the ceiling and twirling them. They moved back towards
each other and he
outstretched his hand for hers. She put her hand in his and he spun
her to him causing her body to come in contact with his with her back against
him. They danced liked
that and she slid down his leg sensuously before turning around to
face him. His eyes bore into hers and they continued to move until the
end of the song at which he
dipped her low and slowly lifted her up until the last note.
They stopped, breathing heavily, and heard loud cheering. They looked
around to find that they were the only couple left. Snape hadn't even noticed
anyone else but her.
She had been right.
They won and 100 points went to Slytherin.
At the end of the night, everyone went back to their houses a little
shocked at their potions teacher, but not with less respect for him. He
had danced really well and no
one could deny that. No one realized their DADA teacher could dance
that well either.
"Goodnight Fred." Aurelia told Snape.
"Fred?"
"Fred Astaire...."
"Oh..muggle culture...yes well goodnight Ginger."
"So did I meet your challenge's expectations?"
"I think you get an B+ today, but next time maybe you should try to
keep up with me better."he said sarcastically.
"Ah yes, but I thought you were the one who couldn't dance?"
"Yes well I guess I just needed a good teacher." he replied, not yet
recognizing the possible double meaning in that.
"...hmmm....well maybe now you'll at least TRY to not be a total ass
all of the time."
"We'll see. Goodnight again."
She nodded and went her way to her room and he his.
