he next two weeks passed by rather uneventfully. Severus and Olivia had a few more brewing sessions which Olivia found thrilling and Severus found frustrating.
How dare she strut around his dungeons, dressed in tight muggle clothing and dancing about.
Severus was 100% sure she was doing this on purpose. Surely, he was being punished for that damn caterwaul charm. He supposed he should apologize; pull her close to his body and shag her until they collapsed from fatigue, only to start again when they were rested. But Severus was a proud man and refused to apologize for something that didn't warrant an apology.
Severus ended up despising himself, as usual. Sure, he and Olivia continued to talk and flirt, but Ivan was slowly making progress with her as well. Severus thought about fighting for the witch. He really liked her, but in the grand scheme, what was the point? If they slept together, she'd no doubt see his Dark Mark - which had been steadily growing darker by the day - and she'd leave him anyway. Better to not even attempt a relationship. The train of thought got him a slap to the back of the head by Minerva during one of her nosey interrogations.
XOX
On the second Thursday of December, the Yule ball was announced to the school. The Hogwarts staff and visiting headmasters were aware, of course, but Olivia, Ivan, and the rest of the students were pleasantly surprised.
Minerva had chuckled to herself as she plotted to get the students all riled up at the end of her transfiguration class with her announcement. Dumbledore had mentioned that the heads of house would have to instruct their students in the Waltz. She would sell her soul to watch Severus teach a bunch of hormonal teenagers to dance. She wasn't even sure if he could dance.
Minerva did the next best thing and bribed Dumbledore. He'd set up a schedule for the dance lessons. It did actually make sense, since all the students would have to miss classes for this. The Great Hall would be booked for the lessons, Gryffindor first, then Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and then Slytherin. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang would have their own lessons in their living quarters.
XOX
Minerva stepped into the middle of the hall, as Filch set up the enchanted record player. The girls were seated to the left and the boys to the right, sitting on makeshift bleachers. "The Yule Ball," she stammered, distracted with the crackling static Filch was causing, "has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception". Minerva clasped her hands together while she promenaded around the room, lecturing the students on the history. "On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather here, in the Great Hall, for a night of well-mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, each and every one of you to put your best foot forward. And I mean this literally, because do you board is, first and foremost, for dance". Minerva pauses as the female students began chattering excitedly amongst each other, whilst the boys groaned at the idea.
"Silence!" She called out, raising her hands to hush the students. When she was satisfied, she continued. "The House of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you, in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons," she scolded as she glanced around the room, attempting to make eye contact with her troublemakers that were scattered around. She heard the Weasley twins in the background, attempting her tongue twister as she struggled to block them out.
"Now," she shot them a look, hoping to Merlin they'd shut their mouths. "To dance is to let the body breathe," she gestured to her own diaphragm as she inhaled deeply before outstretching her arms in a gesticulation towards her pupils. " Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers, longing to burst forth and take flight. Inside every boy, a lordly lion is prepared to prance," she shot a look at the youngest Weasley boy who was talking to young Mr. Finnegan.
"Mr. Weasley," she called out to him as she glided over towards the bleachers.
"Yes," he muttered, sinking down in his seat.
"Will you join me please?" Finnegan ducked his head while Potter sniggered, his arm still in a sling from the dragon weeks previous.
Reluctantly, the red-haired boy stood and followed his professor onto the dance floor. "Now... place your right hand on my waist".
The boy blanched and looked around the room before rasping out "where?"
"My waist," she grabbed hold of his shoulders as he hesitantly grabbed her waist. Somewhere in the audience a boy whistled, but Minerva chose to ignore him. "Now, extend your arm. Mr. Filch, if you please?". Filch started the music while Minerva tried to bury her frustration at the boy. He was incredibly dense, not that she'd ever mention that to Severus. The music started and she began to instruct the class, calling for everyone to pair up and follow her lead.
XOX
Severus growled at the headmaster once he determined each head of house must instruct the fatuous fledglings of their own houses. Thankfully, pure bloods were required to undergo a typical Cotillion education so Severus hoped he wouldn't have to educate too deeply, although there were a few half-bloods hidden within the house. He had volunteered every Hogsmeade weekend in an attempt to get out of his duties, but Dumbledore didn't fold. He scowled and stormed off, refusing to speak to the headmaster for the time being.
When the day had arrived for the training, he waited for the Hufflepuffs to skip out of the hall, giggling and overly excited. He withheld the urge to hex one that simply wouldn't Shut. Up. He was already in a foul mood, and they hadn't even started yet. Severus instructed them to sit quietly, ladies on one side, gentlemen on the other. He moved to the center of the room in one sweeping motion of his heavy cloak. He was preparing his speech, glancing about the room and kicking Filch out, (he could control his own music, thank you very much) that he didn't notice the gray striped cat sneak in and hide beneath the stands. Minerva had transformed and crept in unnoticed, purring in delight that she'd get front row seats.
Satisfied the room was prepared, he began to speak in his most intimidating professor voice. "As you all are well aware, we will be forced to participate in this... Yule Ball," his words dripped with malice; the feline beneath the bleachers rolled her eyes. "We are hosting, and I expect my Slytherin House to act accordingly. Any inappropriate behavior will result in punishment. Is that understood?" The House all responded with, "yes professor," in unison. Minerva has to appreciate how commanding the man was. He was so scrawny and studious in his youth - he had certainly grown into a strong and powerful wizard. Minerva turned her ears back to the man just in time to hear "...after all. We mustn't allow the Gryffindors to surpass us, correct?" The Slytherins all cheered at this.
"Right. I assume most of you have formal dance training, so there isn't any need to keep you longer". Severus had just started to dismiss the class, when he noticed that about half the students had admitted to not knowing how to dance. He rolled his eyes.
Merlin's beard, he was going to have to go through with it.
He stomped off to the side, removing his cloak with a flourish before returning back to the center of the room. "Right, then. It appears I will be forced to demonstrate the waltz. Any foolishness or speaking in general will result in detention and loss of house points. Is that clear?". Severus glanced around the room looking for an appropriate partner. He wished Olivia was here, truthfully, he'd enjoy the dance with her. His eyes fell on a 7th year Pure Blood, Ella Sayre.
"Miss Sayre... is it safe to assume you have already attended your family's Cotillion and Debutante training?"
"Yes, sir".
Thank Merlin.
"The first lesson, for those of you who are ignorant to the idea of being a gentleman..." he scowled, "... is to bow and offer your hand to the Witch".
Severus demonstrated, crossing both hands behind his back before bowing deeply to the young Witch. She blushed deeply as he slowly raised his onyx eyes to hers, offering his right hand to help her rise from her seat. He walked backwards for a few steps, leading her away from the bleachers before pivoting in a smooth motion, continuing to escort her towards the middle of the room. "You are to keep your left hand behind your back, gentlemen, and glide across the room. Your upper body is not to move," he demonstrated his instructions flawlessly, suddenly very thankful for his mother demanding he take the lessons to become a proper gentleman.
With a flick of his wrist, he wandlessly started the music as they continued to walk, pulling a wave of astonishment from the audience. "The gentleman will bow again," Severus dropped her hand, turning to face her directly before lowering his head again. "And the lady shall curtsy. Ella took her cue, grasping her imaginary gown before completing a perfect curtsy to her professor. He couldn't help but nod his head in approval. The couple moved together, Severus grasping underneath her shoulder blade, allowing her left arm to rest on top of his right. His left hand closed around her right; both of their arms extended to the side. Her left-hand cupped Severus's shoulder and they locked eyes. Again, she flushed. He had to consciously prevent a scoff; he knew there would be gossip about this tomorrow.
"This is the proper positioning for a waltz. Now... assuming you each can count to three, I want you to count off to the music in your heads while we demonstrate the steps". Severus held her body slightly off to the side as he took a step forward, forcing her to take a step back, before stepping off to the right. They shifted their weight before Severus took a step back and to his left, shifting weight again. They continued this 'box step' as he had called it for a few rotations before he spun the student, eliciting a squeal from her and giggles from the girls in the audience. He bowed to her, wordlessly ending their dance. He instructed the other students to rise and attempt the dancing for themselves.
Severus stood off to the side, near the bleachers as he watched his students perform the dance. Thankfully, they were flawless. He wanted his house to perform best. Once he was sure he was alone, he cleared his throat.
"Here kitty kitty," he deadpanned. The gray cat crawled out from under the bleachers before Severus grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. "Awfully sneaky, even for you, Minerva. I dare say, you might want to start testing your drink before ingesting too much; my patience with your meddling has worn out". Severus pulled the door open before tossing her out, slamming and warding the door behind him.