Chapter Four

The night of the Ball had dawned. Snape made his way grumpily to the GreatHall. Carmen had gone all out. It looked magnificent. Snape sat in his usual spot. The house tables were gone. There were small tables around the Hall with a vast space in the middle.

I think I'm going to be ill.

"Severus, lighten up! Enjoy yourself" Dumbledore winked at him and welcomed them all, the Ball had begun.

"Professor's dance!" Dumbledore called.

Dammit

All the professors rose and chose their partners quickly. Andrea and Snape glanced at each other.

"Damn him", she muttered, grabbing his arm "Lets get this over with."

Halfway through the song she said, "To be honest, when you said you didn't dnce, I thought you just couldn't"

"Likewise" he sneered.

"all women can dance, it just comes naturally"

"Lucky them"

"Well, where did you learn how to dance?" she asked.

"He had these damn Balls I my day as well, you know."

"well, duh!" she muttered, slapping a hand to her forehead, "Poor you!"

"Beaubatons didn't have balls? He smirked.

"They weren't fuckin' mandatory"

"Lucky them" he said again.

The dance was over, Snape let go of her waist quickly and they walked back to the staff table. He found himself regretting it was over. She felt so delicate in his arms.

What the hell am I thinking?

"That wasn't so bad was it?" Dumbledore asked them.

"Same thing a dentist says after a root canal" Andrea whispered to Snape, then added "No." to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore left for the floor and they were the only teachers left. Snape turned to her. Conversation was unavoidable.

"So what's wrong with you? I thought women loved to dance."

"Nothing's wrong with me!…I just don't dance"

"but why?"

"If you MUST know…the first Ball I went to was where I met Ryan. He was in his 7th year and I was in 4th." Andrea hissed.

"Ah, the boyfriend again".

"He's not--"

"--your boyfriend? Then move on!" Snape said, surprising himself.

"Student/Teacher dance" Dumbledore said.

"Damn!" they muttered together.

Carmen's already dancing with Harry…Where's Ron? Andrea thought., then she saw him, heading for her. Thank God! . Ron and Harry were two of her favorite students. They chatted as they danced. Ron suddenly laughed.

"How much you want to bet she asked him to dance?" he sniggered, jerking his head towards Snape and Pansy Parkinson. Andrea laughed.

"I don't have to bet…he hates dancing."

"He danced with you…" Ron grinned.

"Dumbledore will pay!" She muttered and Ron laughed. They broke apart and he winked at her before rejoining his friends.

Great kid. She sat back down next to Snape.

"So…how--?"

"Don't!" he hissed. She tried to supress a laugh.

Dumbledore was walking towards them with a mile on his face. They groaned miserably.

"How many dances to I have to think up to keep you two on the floor?" he asked.

"How many songs are you planning on playing?" Andrea asked in a mock sweet voice.

"I'll make you a deal, you dance one more dance and you can leave early" he smiled. Both Andrea and Snape jumped up and headed for the floor.

"Thank God! He muttered and she laughed.

"Am I that horrible?" she teased.

"no…not as horrible as I thought you'd be…but -"

"But what?" she asked.

"I HATE dancing."

The two of them finished their dance and left the Great Hall silently. Snape stopped when they reached her quarters. He didn't know why and was suddenly embarrassed.

"Er…"

"thanks for the dances," she muttered, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight" he said. Then he did something neither of them had expected. He bent down and kissed her quickly. He pulled away, shocked, and left quickly. Andrea stood watching him…frozen. Then she slowly turned and went to bed.