Disclaimer: You may be right, I may be crazy....if I thought any of this was mine. It is not mine so I am not crazy...or am I?

Chapter 12 I Can't Dance

No, I can't dance, I can't talk.
The only thing about me is the way I walk.
No, I can't dance, I can't sing
I'm just standing here selling everything.
Genesis "I Can't Dance"

How do I always manage to get myself into these things? You know no good deed goes unpunished so why did you volunteer for this? Where exactly do you think you are going to do this? I'm sure Professor Snape would let you use his classroom. NOT! Alexis's musings were brought to an abrupt halt as she turned a corner and slammed into someone.

Professor Lupin was heading back to his classroom when he turned a corner and wham! He had to grab hold of the human dynamo who had rammed him to prevent them both from falling to the floor.

Soft, warm, hmmm roses and vanilla. Professor Lupin realized that he had an armful of the very sexy new teaching assistant, Alexis Draluck. He also realized when she wiggled to get loose that he was holding her very close and very tightly and had held her slightly to long for proprieties sake. Loosening his hold and stepping back slightly, "Are you alright?"

"I am so sorry about that, I was totally distracted," came the breathless apology. Alexis looked up into the concerned eyes of Remus Lupin.

"Is it anything I might be able to help you with?"

"I beg your pardon?" Alexis trying to figure out what he was offering to help her with.

"Can I help you with whatever was distracting you?" Lupin clarified with a friendly smile.

Alexis knew the offer was probablygenuine. Giving him a considering look, "Do you know how to dance?"

Not expecting that question at all Lupin looked at her in bewilderment and then started laughing.

Realizing how strange the question must have sounded, Alexis started laughing and found it hard to stop. It was a wonderful way to relieve some of the tension she had been under for the last few days. When she finally stopped laughing she realized that she was still in Lupin's arms but some how was now leaning comfortably up against him with her head buried under his chin.

At the sound of giggles behind her, Alexis pulled back from the comforting embrace and turned to find three third years staring at the tableau in front of them. "Continue on your way," Professor Lupin's stern tone was belied by the kind look in his eyes.

"Yes sir," the three girls chorused and ran off giggling.

"Do you think they were kissing?" one of the girls whispered under the mistaken impression that they were now out of earshot.

Lupin looked down at the now shaking form in front of him with concern, until he discovered that Alexis was trying to hold back even more laughter instead of tears.

"You realize that it will be all over school by dinner time that you and I were in a torrid embrace in the upstairs hall and that we are in the midst of a steamy affair?" Lupin asked.

"Yes, and you were dragging me down the hallway to have your wicked way with me." Alexis barely got out for the laughter.

Lupin was thinking as he looked at the prettily disheveled young woman in front of him that it might indeed be fun to have some wicked ways with her.

"I really needed that laugh. And I have to apologize, Remus, I usually do not hang all over the staff."

"Glad I could be of service. Why don't you join me in my office for a cup of tea and you can tell me about your distraction and why you want to know if I can dance," Lupin offered invitingly.

"Thank you that would be nice." Alexis accepted with a warm smile.

Lupin motioned for Alexis to take the chair next to his desk as they entered his office and apologized, "I'm afraid all I have are tea bags," as he tapped the kettle causing steam to rise out of the spout.

"That is all I ever use myself. I have never gotten the hang of using tea leaves and it gives me the perfect excuse not to allow Professor Trelawney to 'read' for me," Alexis said with a wicked grin.

"I'll have to remember that." Lupin laughed. "Now tell me all about whatever is going on that has you so distracted."

"It all started last week when I was supervising a detention for Severus. Neville Longbottom had managed to melt another cauldron and for detention he was having to dissect a barrel of toads and separate the various parts for potions. You know, eyes into one container, spleen into another, etc."

"Doesn't Neville have a pet toad?" Lupin questioned quietly.

"Yes, Severus was in a particularly foul mood when he came up with that detention."

More like he's trying to get revenge for the bogart, Lupin thought to himself.

"To get his mind off of what he was dissecting I started talking to him. He told me one of the reasons he had been so distracted that he had put the powdered sea urchin in before the stinging nettles," at that Lupin winced, even as bad at potions as he had been he knew what an explosive mistake that was, "is that he had received a letter from his Grandmother letting him know that she considered him old enough to attend the round of Christmas Parties this year."

Again Lupin winced in sympathy with Neville.

Alexis continued, "He told me this with the same look on his face as if he had been told he only had two more months to live and he was going to have to live them in the Slytherin Dorms. I asked him why the thought of Christmas Parties was so horrifying."

"You don't remember the Christmas Crush?"

"No, there are so many things I don't remember that I should," Alexis gave the familiar lie to cover her secret.

"I am sorry I forgot about your situation," Lupin apologized.

"Don't apologize, please."

After an uncomfortable silence Alexis continued, "He explained that the parties were not simply social gatherings but a way for young witches and wizards to meet and get to know their possible future spouses."

"Yes the infamous 'Marriage Mart'," Lupin sighed.

"Neville is afraid that he will embarrass his Grandmother because no one will want to dance with him. He doesn't know how to dance and he isn't comfortable talking to girls and what if he asks a girl to dance and she just laughs at him. By this time Neville had worked himself up to the verge of a panic attack and was about to split a toad in half instead of just slicing its belly," the look on Alexis's face was half amusement half empathy.

"You offered to teach him to dance," Lupin stated rather than questioned.

"What else could I do? The poor boy was practically in tears at this point."

"There has to be more. I cannot believe that the thought of teaching one thirteen year old boy how to waltz would have you so distracted," Lupin was trying very hard not to laugh.

"How about fifteen boys from thirteen to seventeen?" was the wry response.

"What? How did you get from teaching Neville to teaching fourteen other boys?" Lupin wasn't even trying to hold back the laughter any longer.

"Neville told a few of his friends, who told a few of their friends, ad infinitum. The thing that really puzzles me is that none of the girls have asked for lessons."

"Girls are born knowing how to dance," Lupin snickered.

"Maybe so, but I still need partners for all these boys, and a place to teach them, and music and," with a smirk, "a partner for myself to show them how the dance is supposed to look when done properly."

"So that is why you wanted to know if I could dance?"

"And they say Gryffindors aren't smart."

"I'm sorry I thought you were asking me for a favor?" Lupin mocked.

"Yes, I am," was Alexis's contrite response.

Lupin looked thoughtful, "I can help you with the old standbys: waltz, foxtrot, jitterbug, and tango. But from what my students tell me they are doing some of the more modern dances too."

"Like what?"

"An American import Lime Dancing I think it is called."

"Could you mean Line Dancing?" Alexis remembering she was asking him a favor controlled the snickers.

"Yes that's it, Line Dancing. I've been told that American Country Music is very popular now."

"I can waltz, foxtrot, tango, jitterbug, and Line Dance. I can also two-step and shag."

Lupin choked on his tea, "I don't think the parents would approve of us teaching them to shag" he gasped out wetly.

Realizing what she had said Alicia blushed, "Same word, WAY different meaning. The Shag is an American Dance that is popular in the American Southern State of South Carolina."

"Oh, well I think we better leave that one alone and stick with the others." Lupin shuddered at the thought of a third year going home and telling his parents that he had learned to shag from the professors at Hogwarts.

Lupin pulled his thoughts away from the blizzard of owls he was imagining getting if they taught the shag, "We can use my classroom, just push the desks against the wall. Hogsmeade should be able to provide an inexpensive music box. Now the girls are something I will leave in your capable hands."

"I'll just let the word out that we are looking for victims, I mean dance partners and see what happens. Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley will probably participate since Neville has talked Harry Potter and Ron Weasley into taking lessons," Alexis pondered the problem.

Lupin smiled as he thought of a way to spend some more time with Alexis without an audience of students. "Do you think we should practice dancing together before we offer to teach anyone else? I don't know about you but it has been a while since I have 'tripped the light fantastic.'"

"That might not be a bad idea. I don't have a class to assist tomorrow afternoon so I can pick up a music box in Hogsmeade and we could meet here."

That is not exactly what Lupin was hoping for, "That would work, or if you wanted to see how everyone is dancing, we could go to a club I know in London on Friday night."

"Would a club have the old and new dances?" Alexis looked interested in the suggestion.

"The Wizard's Club would. They have three floors of dancing: traditional, rock, and country."

"I hate to put you to any more trouble. Especially since you didn't volunteer for any of this" Alexis looked undecided.

Lupin at his sincerest, "It would not be any trouble at all."

"Do you think we will have any problems getting the time off? And I do not know how to Apparate yet so how would we get to London?"

Lupin, sensing that she was about to capitulate, "I am sure that Dumbledore will not have a problem with our taking a well deserved break and I'm also sure we can arrange a port key for the evening."

"If we can arrange it then it sounds like a plan," Alexis grinned at him beginning to get excited by the thought of getting away from Hogwarts for an evening.

"I'll talk to Dumbledore, make the arrangements and then let you know the final details tonight," Lupin also grinned. Sneaky way to get a date but at least he had one.

Just then the end of class bell rang, realizing they both had classes to get to they said hurried goodbyes and swiftly headed out the door.

Snape looked up as Alexis entered the classroom slightly out of breath and with only a moment before the start of class bell rang. Usually she was in the classroom a good fifteen minutes before the class started in case there was anything he needed her to do. "Miss. Draluck, so nice of you to join us," Snape sneered. "Collect the essays and bring them to my desk."

As Snape began teaching the intricacies of an engorging potion to thethird year Gryffindorsand Slytherians, Alexis gathered the student essays and a few sympathetic glances too. Since her back was to Snape she gave a quick smile to the class to let them know she could handle Snape at his snarkiest and to pay attention to him instead of her.

Snape had noticed that he was collecting a few dirty looks as Alexis collected the essays. Alexis was a favorite with most of the student, surprisingly even the Slytherins liked her. The Slytherins had started out with a grudging respect for her pureblood and wealth that had evolved into a genuine respect and liking for the witch. She did not play favorites and gave help freely to any who asked. But she was no push over and she was no body's fool. That, in spite of her generous nature, was what the Slytherins respected.

He also noticed when the dirty looks disappeared and some of the tension faded from the room. No potions class was every completely free from tension but the extra level brought on by his shortness to Alexis had faded. When she brought the essays to his desk he quirked an inquiring brow at her, letting her know he knew she had done something. An innocent look and a bland smile were the only answers he got.

Alexis began working on the list of things that Snape had for her to do. By the time Snape had dismissed the class she had moved into the store room to check the list of supplies needed for the next day's classes.

"Alexis, are you feeling well?" Snape asked, genuine concern hidden behind the icy tone.

Alexis looked up surprised, "Yes, I feel fine," she controlled the urge to step up to him and ask Wanna feel for yourself, "Why do you ask?"

"You barely made it to class on time and you seem distracted."

"I apologize for not being here early to help set up the class," Snape waved the apology aside, more concerned about why she was late, "Remus has offered to help me with the dance class I told you about and we were finalizing some details."

Snape's voice could have frozen flames, "Dance class? I thought you were simply going to teach Longbottom to waltz? Since when has this developed into a dance class? And why is Lupin helping?"

Alexis had finished with the list, "We have some time until dinner and it is a very amusing story, why don't we discuss it in your office?" As this was the last class before dinner they had fallen into the habit of sharing a pre-dinner drink in his office and discussing how her classes were going and he would answer any questions she might have and help her with any lessons with which she was having trouble.

Snape nodded and led the way to his office but instead of stopping there continued through into his personal quarters. Alexis had never been in these rooms. They were larger than hers and had a separate sitting room and bedroom. She could just glimpse what looked to be a huge bed through the almost shut door leading into the other room.

With a flick of his wand Snape lit the fire and waved her to the loveseat pulled up invitingly in front of it. Alexis looked around the room as she took her seat. Filled bookshelves covered the walls. There was a thick rug in front of the fireplace that her feet sank into, she wanted to slip her shoes off and see if it was as soft as it looked.

Snape handed Alexis a glass of her favorite white wine and took his seat next to her.

Alexis shifted on the loveseat to face him better, bending her left leg so that she was sitting with her back against the arm of the loveseat. Snape adjusted his position to mirror hers causing Alexis to smile at the way he could make even the most casual posture seem elegant and sexy. If either of them were to slip even slightly their legs would be touching. She wondered what he would do if she were to start to crawl up that long, lean body of his and nibble her way up his neck not stopping until she reached that sensual mouth. Tingles of excitement were running through her body and her eyes were starting to glaze as she lost herself in the fantasy of unwrapping the potions master like an early Christmas present.

Snape tried to catch her eyes to see if he could use occulmency to see what thoughts had brought the flush to her checks and had put the glazed look on her face. However, she was staring at his lips and he could not look directly into her eyes unless he adjusted his position. Trying to shift subtly he broke her revere, "What were you just thinking about?"

Alexis started and looked at him and blushed a bright red, "Nootthingg," she stuttered slightly and took a sip of her wine.

Burning with curiosity but hiding it, Snape let it go for now, "You were going to tell me an amusing story."

Trying to push the image of an unwrapped Snape to the back of her mind to be enjoyed later, Alicia regaled him with the story of the incident with Lupin. For some odd reason, Snape didn't seem to find it funny at all.

"So the whole school is going to think you are Lupin's slu…mistress?" Snape hissed.

Alexis's eyes flashed as she caught his almost slip of the tongue, "It will be titillating gossip for the next few days and then it will all blow over."

Snape was disturbed that someone would even think that someone else had a claim on Alexis. She is mine! I saw her first and I will not lose her to that animal. He struggled to control the anger and possessiveness he felt. Finishing his wine in one large gulp, "How did you go from being pawed in the hall by Lupin to him helping you teach Longbottom to waltz?"

Remembering Snape's history with Lupin, Alexis decided to ignore the slur, "Actually I have gone from one dance student to fifteen," with a big sigh, "and I'm looking for fifteen girls to partner the boys. I'm still trying to figure out how I got myself into this."

"You are entirely to nice," Snape sneered, "and you still have not told me what Lupin has to do with this."

"Two instructors are better than one with that many students."

Snape nodded, there was always safety in numbers when dealing with the untamed student masses.

"I also need someone who can help me illustrate how the dances will look when performed properly. Remus knows all the couple dances and has agreed to partner me and help me teach the dances."

Snape was surprised at the rejection he felt when Alexis said she had asked someone else to partner her.

Alexis had been watching him idly while they were talking, enjoying the way the firelight played across his hair. The way his lips moved when he spoke. If she hadn't been watching him she would have missed the brief flicker of hurt in his eyes.

Thinking back over what she just said she nudged his knee with hers to get him to look up at her, "You of course were my first choice for dance partner. However, I could only imagine your response to me begging you to spend several more hours a week with Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley. Since I am currently enjoying my life with no desire to end up a dancing frog and I value our friendship, when Remus asked if he could help me, I took him up on it."

Snape pushed aside the feeling of relief her words brought him and sneered, "Obviously you are as smart as you look. However, since you have not had the opportunity to dance recently, perhaps we should make a trip to London. That way you will not embarrass yourself in front of the students." Snape's body responded to the thought of holding Alexis in the tight embrace of a tango.

"How generous of you," Alexis was also thinking about an evening of being held close by Snape.

"Yes, we should make a night of it. Dinner and dancing. I will make arrangements with Dumbledore for us to go this Friday," Snape was contemplating reserving a room at a discreet bed and breakfast he knew of. Always better to be prepared and they would be out late….

Alexis interrupted, "I can't make it this Friday. Remus is making arrangements with Dumbledore for us to go to the Wizards Club this Friday."

Snape froze, "You have a date with Lupin this Friday?"

Alexis looked at him puzzled, "I don't have a date with him. He just suggested we get together to practice dancing. I had suggested we do it here but Remus thought we should do some research on what the popular dances are so he suggested we go to the Wizard's Club in London."

"You and he are going to a nightclub and are going to dance?

"Yes"

"That is a date," Snape snapped.

"We are two colleagues doing research on a work project. We are not going on a date," Alexis was adamant.

"If you are not going on a date then you will not mind if I accompany you?" Snape said silkily.

"You are most welcome to accompany us. But don't think you get out of taking me to dinner and dancing just because you are tagging along Friday night," Alexis allowed.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Snape smirked. He would bet anything that while Alexis did not consider it a date, that wretched werewolf did.

Lupin was smiling as he came up to Alexis after dinner, "Professor Dumbledore agreed to the port key and that we could have Friday night free."

Before Alexis could respond, Snape stepped up with a satisfied sneer, "Excellent, I believe we should meet at 8:00 in the front hall."

Lupin looked from Snape to Alexis, "Were you going somewhere Severus?"

"I believe we are going to the Wizards Club," Snape smirked.

"Alexis and I were planning on going, but I don't believe you were invited," Lupin replied.

"Oh but Alexis invited me. I also spoke with the Headmaster and he agreed that with thirty students in the dance class it would be better if three teachers were involved," Snape said.

So that's where he got off to, Alexis thought. Snape had brought her to the Great Hall early and then disappeared until right before dinner was to start.

Alexis looked at Lupin and realized that he had considered this to be a date. How could I have been so stupid? Now I have hurt and embarrassed him. Severus is enjoying himself way to much.

"Severus, if you will excuse us, Remus and I have a few things to discuss," not giving the disgruntled Snape a chance to respond, Alexis grabbed Lupin's arm and pulled him from the Great Hall.

Alexis found a deserted classroom and motioned to Lupin to enter it. As she turned to close the door she saw Snape heading in their direction. Giving him a dirty look, she closed the door and then put a locking and silencing charm on it that Snape had just taught her.

Alexis turned and looked at Lupin. "I don't know what to say Remus, except I apologize for any misunderstanding."

Lupin just looked at her. Finally he asked, "Exactly what is your relationship with Snape?"

Alexis sank wearily into a chair, "That is the million galleon question. We are friends. And I believe there is a mutual attraction. However…..where it is going or if any action is going to be taken on the attraction: that I do not know," the last was said with a wry smile of apology.

Lupin was finding it hard to stay angry. She had honestly mistaken his invitation. He had been sneaky and it had backfired.

"Look if you want to back out of helping me with the dance class, I totally understand. It would serve Severus right if I made him help me."

Lupin grinned at the thought of Snape having to teach thirty students to waltz.

Just then Snape managed to counter the locking charm Alexis had placed on the classroom door and burst inside glaring from one to the other.

Because he knew it would aggravate Snape, Lupin smiled at Alexis and said, "I'm looking forward to working more closely with you Alexis. Until Friday then?" He swept past Snape, "Oh and I found out this Friday night at the Wizard's Club is Muggle night. We are all supposed to dress like Muggles going out to a nightclub."

Lupin couldn't help a grin as he noticed the look of dawning horror on Snape's face.