Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money from this in any way.

Slash of the male/male kind will eventually be appearing in this story. If you don't like slash, or the idea of Harry/Severus, then please leave. Don't read what you don't like.

I dedicate this story to DT – for pushing, pulling and prodding me into it.

I apologise for taking so long to get this chapter out – but RL has been really busy (finishing Year Twelve in six weeks. W00t!) and to be totally honest – I haven't had any ideas about where this is going.

Sorry for the shortness of Chapter Eight, hopefully this chapter will make up for the shortness of it. If you have ideas about what you would like to see incorporated into the story, then please share them with me – I love useful feedback and such.

Especially as to whom Hermione should end up going to the dance with. I would prefer if it wasn't Ron. Suggestions are welcome.

As a note – I still can't figure out how to get my little star-thingies to work, so instead you'll have to put up with horizontal rules instead. Bler.

Chapter Nine

But more importantly... WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT THE DANCING?

Relax.

Just breathe deeply and relax. No you can not hex the young git into oblivion. Dumbledore wouldn't like you to do that to his surrogate grandson. You would get the 'I'm-very-disappointed-in-you-Severus' speech from him. You hate that speech – so you can not hex the blabbering fool, or else you will have to sit through that infernal speech. Again.

Slowly re-opening my eyes, I watch the young boy pace in front of me from my position on the couch.

He is flushed in the face, and his hair is a wild tangle. "... I can't believe you goaded Professor McGonagall into assuming we'll be dancing. You put me in a difficult position back at dinner... I can't get over why you would do that..."

It's a wonder Potter hasn't run out of breath, the way he's gasbagging around, ranting and occasionally turning to shout and wave his arms in my direction. He does look very sexy all hot and messy, but I mean, how long can he keep this up – it's already been fifteen minutes.

Actually – this isn't how Potter usually reacts to anything. Usually he simmers and bubbles, till he's about to blow over. This tantrum is more in the style of...

Ahhh... I see what he's trying to do now. And it's bloody well not going to happen. McGonagall would have already told all of the staff, and have been sure to let some of the biggest gossipers among the students overhear as well.

Right then. All I have to do is keep up this classic impersonation of a Ron Weasley temper outburst. Hrm... I think I'm doing a terrific job – even Ron would be impressed with this.

Wave my arms around a bit. A little bit more shouting.

Sooner or later Snape's gonna crack and admit that he was wrong and will go and personally tell McGonagall that we will not be dancing at Dumbledore's ball together.

It will work. It has to.

And hopefully soon.

My voice is starting to go hoarse and these heels are killing my feet.

Alright, it's been another five minutes and Potter's voice is going hoarse. I'm stopping it here. Obviously he's going to keep up the ridiculous act, so I'm going to have to be the one to stop it.

"Pott... Harry. If you would please stop your impersonation of Mr. Weasley I would be very grateful. Your theatrics are starting to give me a headache."

Thankfully the boy stops dead in his track, a shocked look on his face. Oh gods – did he actually think that he was fooling me. Ha. I haven't been a Deatheater spy for seventeen years for nothing...

"There is a perfectly good reason why I can't go straight up to Professor McGonagall right now and tell her that we will not be attending together." The boy just keeps on looking at me. I stifle a sigh – I bet he is still hung up that I saw through his little act.

Slowly, Potter replied "And why would that be Severus?" There was a curious look on his face.

Don't tell me he hasn't heard the rumours going round Hogwarts at the moment. "Because of what the majority of people inside this school think at the moment," including some of the staff, damn McGonagall and Dumbledore, "It would be suspicious if we didn't attend together – and may I remind you that Harry Potter is still very much wanted by the Dark Lord."

I watched as all energy drained out of Potter and he blushed a light pink, "Those bloody rumours" I heard him mumble. He walked over to the couch I was on and flopped down beside me.

"Bloody hell. I do get that part." I could hear him sigh beside me, "I don't mind attending with you – but the problem is actually..." Here he mumbled something inaudible.

Ahhh... It must be the dancing part. Heh – if he thinks he's getting out of that, there is no way in hell. McGonagall would have way too much fun. I try to never let McGonagall have fun. Especially if it involves me.

I turned towards him so we were facing each other, "So what is the problem?"

"So what is the problem?" Damn. Snape's waiting for me to answer.

I don't want to actually admit to not being able to dance. I mean – he was there at the Yule Ball in Fourth grade. And I never dance at any of the other little things that Dumbledore continually puts on. Isn't that enough of a clue.

Yes. But Snape just wants me to admit it.

I look up into his inquisitive face, with one delicate eyebrow raised. I have to stop myself from reaching out and tracing my fingers down along the side of his face.

Eventually, I sigh and run my hands through my hair, blushing and looking in the opposite direction of Snape, "I don't know how to dance."

I can't help but laugh. Potter looked so embarrassed. So adorable and naïve.

Wait up – adorable? Naïve? I shouldn't be thinking that about Potter of all people...

When Snape laughed, he actually smiled, and his eyes seemed to glow with a hidden mirth. I couldn't help but smile a little bit – even if I was still blushing. I had make Snape laugh. I want to try and do it again. Hrmm...

But, come on – Harry Potter, the so called saviour of the wizarding world, was scared of dancing. Who would have ever thought that? But it's true. Totally true. I remember the time Hermione had tried to teach me, shudder.

Hrmm... Snape's giving me one of those funny looks again. Does he even realise he's doing it?

"So you see now, why we can attend the ball but not actually dance?" I ask. Hopefully he would understand – but being Snape, even if he did look delicious, he would still be difficult about it.

Snape just kept on looking at him, the eyebrow still raised. "Actually, I don't understand."

What the... No. This wasn't how it was meant to go. Snape was meant to agree. I don't know how to dance. It's as simple as that.

"But I don't know how to dance. I can't dance. I've tried. It always ends up badly. I'll make a fool of myself," I stopped talking and thought, "And of you as well."

And me as well. Isn't he a conniving young man trying to play on my hatred of looking foolish. Of course he's not going to get out of this. There's no way that I'm letting McGonagall laugh at me. Plus – the rumours will run rampant if we don't dance together. More so than if we did.

"Have you ever tired to learn how to dance then?" I ask him. I am honestly curious. Mostly by his statement of 'I've tried. It always ends up badly.' I wonder who he tried with...

Potter blushed a deeper red than before and made a grimace, but looked resigned that he would have to tell me the whole story. What ever his experience was, it seemed like it was painful for him to recollect it.

Damn. Somehow I knew he was going to ask me this. Now I'll have to tell him the whole story. I snuggle deeper in the soft couch and kick of my high heels – at least I'll be comfortable while I confess.

"It was at the beginning of Sixth Year, when Dumbledore announced that there would be a Welcome Back ball for the seniors and a dancing contest. Since Ron had been asked to the ball by Lavender, Hermione and I decided to attend together."

Snape cut in, a slight frown dragging at his forehead, "I don't remember either you or Hermione at the ball though."

Sigh.

"I was just getting to that." Snape made a motion to continue. Hrmm... Could Snape actually be interested in what I'm telling him? Strange.

"So with the ball a couple days away – Hermione wanted to prove that she could be just as elegant as the pure-born witches, with all of their ingrained knowledge of wizarding customs and such. This was bought on by a comment made by Malfoy – something about how, while Hermione was book-smart, she didn't have the natural grace or class of pure-born witches that is essential in high society."

I shook my head. How bloody untrue. Hermione was more beautiful than all of them put together.

"So she decided that to prove herself, she would win the dancing contest. Unfortunately, while she knew how to dance – I didn't."

Once again Snape cut in, "So she tried to teach you?"

"Yes. And it didn't end up well. We had only started two hours before I tripped over her ankle, and broke it."

The memory of how depressed Hermione was that she didn't get to participate in the dance was terrible. She had argued and raged with Madame Pomfrey to let her go. I can feel the burning shame and guilt still at having done that to Hermione. Even if it was by accident.

I sighed. I wonder who Hermione is going to go with to this ball? I hope that they can dance.

Potter actually looks depressed. I had to stile a laugh when he mentioned he broke her ankle just because he looked so sad about it. Though, I do remember putting Potter in an abnormal amount of detentions the week after that ball for fighting with Malfoy. Obviously he had been defending Ms. Granger.

I raked a hand through my loose hair. I actually felt bad for doing that now. I haven't felt guilty about such a trivial thing for a long time – it's a strange experience.

"I'll teach you how to dance."

Wait up. Did I just say that? Where did that come from?

Though honestly – I can't think of any way out of this other than teaching Har - Potter to dance. Either we'll both be embarrassed and McGonagall will get her kicks, or people will start to question the authenticity of Jamari Paton.

It really is the only way. I sit and wait for an answer.

Damn – when is the git going to answer me?

Did Snape just offer to teach me how to dance? No. Of course he didn't. I'm imaging it.

Am I?

Looking at Snape, who seems like he's waiting for an answer – I would say he did actually offer.

Should I take him up on it? Yes? No?

It will have to be yes. People will start to get suspicious if we don't dance. And Professor McGonagall will think it strange when I professed such a love for dancing at dinner this evening, and didn't dance at all.

If I take Snape up on his offer, then I will learn how to dance. Properly. For real. He won't let me make him look stupid in front of most of the school. Then, when I become Harry Potter again, I can take Hermione out dancing and show that I can dance.

"Alright then. I'll take you up on that offer."

Potter smiled at me. He's eyes lighting up brightly. I can't believe that I, Severus Snape, am going to teach Harry Potter how to dance. What have I gotten myself into?

Some Answers to questions and statements made by reviewers

Eve27 – Thanks so much for the suggestion about the teaching Harry how to dance. I loved it so much, that I'm using it. g I'm actually trying to move the relationship forward, but I don't want to rush it and make it seem hastily done. Everything will happen in good time... or just eventually. ;-)

Celestial light – Hrmm... Good question about the clothing and different body shapes. I could go back into previous chapters and mention that the clothing is spelling to work to fit both ways, but I don't see myself having the time (or patience) to go back and rewrite it in anywhere. Can I just leave it as an enigma for now? ;-) If an opportunity comes up – I'll try and work in a solution for it. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Walker-of-the-shadow-path – I like tonguetied!Malfoy as well. So cute! Perhaps we can have some more of him soon.

Cloudy Sky – I love the pink goo. It came from a sort of similar experience that happened to me at school one day.

Xikum – I'm actually trying to work some more stuff about the Hogwarts rumour mill into You Want What?!? And it will probably play a much larger part later on, especially concerning Malfoy and Hermione.

Thank you to every body who reads and reviews You Want What?!? I am happy to try and answer any questions that you have about it.