The Dance – Part 1
The two stepped through the double doors and were greeted with shouts and applause.
As they entered, A few students and the staff were clapping in approval. The shouting, much to Severus' relief, came mostly from students and was directed at the live band. But there was still a lot of attention being paid to the older couple; that was for sure.
Severus thought they were nothing special to look at – well, Hermione was beautiful, but that wasn't too shocking. The sparkly blue dress that she had finally picked out hugged her curves well. Other than that, they were just two ordinary professors here to chaperone the Yule Ball. Why, then, were several pairs of eyes on them?
"It's the couple of the night! Hello, Severus and Hermione!" Professor McGonagall shouted from the middle of the crowd with a drink in hand. Oh dear, Hermione thought.
The kids were not drinking, obviously, but Hermione could still sense that something was going on. She swore that the lead band member on stage winked at her before playing a hard rock song. Hermione glanced at Severus with confusion.
"They're probably just shocked that I came out of the dungeons for a night," he joked.
"Probably."
They were about half an hour late, so they missed the first dances performed by the Triwizard Champions. "I wonder if we'll see Harry and Ginny tonight," Hermione murmured. The Great Hall was so packed with students that she doubted they would run into one another, unless they were hanging about with the other adults. Hermione dismissed that thought immediately. Those two are out here partying like the two kids they are.
The band began to play a Muggle song, the leather-clad leader of the band still looking at Hermione.
Her voice is echoed in my mind
I count the days till she is mine
Can't tell my friends 'cause they will laugh
I love a member of the staff
I fight my way to front of class
To get the best view of her ass
I drop a pencil on the floor
She bends down and shows me more….
"Oh my God," Hermione muttered. The guitar player winked at her again and there were cheers erupting in the crowd. Severus' grip on her hand tightened.
"Of all the inappropriate things to play…"
That's what I go to school for
Even though it is a real bore
You can call me crazy
I know that she craves me
That's what I go to school for
Even though it is a real bore
Girlfriends I've had plenty
None like Miss Mackenzie
That's what I go to school for
That's what I go to school for
Hermione gasped in laughter as many of the older make students substituted "Miss Mackenzie" for "Miss Hermione." She doubled over and tried to catch her breath as Severus held back his blind fury.
"Ridiculous," he muttered. They made their way into the middle of the dance floor.
Hermione felt herself getting pumped up for the night, despite the inappropriate attention she was being paid. Oh well, let them have their night of fun. She for one did not want to ruin the ball by taking away house points unless absolutely necessary.
It really was amazing. The dance floor was covered in glittery fake snow, and the ceiling showed a peaceful night sky. The stage where the band played was lit with blue Christmas lights. To top it all off, the man next to her looked absolutely delectable.
Oh yes, this night would be one to remember.
"Are we going to dance?" Hermione asked her date as the next song began to play. It was a slower song that was magical in origin, thankfully.
"Of course."
He took her hands and placed them around his neck. Ignoring the fact that numerous people were watching their every move, Severus began to sway with Hermione nervously. He hoped she couldn't detect his self-consciousness.
"I can't believe those students had the audacity to substitute your name into that cringe-worthy Muggle song."
Hermione laughed. "Me either. It was the band's idea, though. That lead guitar player was giving me creepy looks."
"You want me to take care of him?"
"No! Well, actually, perhaps we can let him know that I'm taken. Really taken."
Severus looked at her with an arched eyebrow. "How so?"
"Like this," she replied, leading him backwards until they were in front of the stage. Hermione looked up at the lead band member over the top of Severus' head and smirked. He gave her a creepy smile, which she returned by leaning into Severus and kissing him with such passion that she hoped the Headmistress wouldn't kick them out.
"Mmm!" Severus muttered. She had completely caught him by surprise. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew they shouldn't be making out in the middle of a school dance. When her tongue grazed his bottom lip, all coherent thought was lost.
She reluctantly pulled away when she heard a catcall from the back of the room.
"Ahem, sorry about that."
"No need to apologize, my dear." Hermione laughed at the ridiculously content look on his face.
"I think that worked," she said with a smug smile. The band leader now looked thoroughly grossed out.
"Alright you crazy kids, we're taking a break. 'Till then, my boy Ray is gonna take it away with some more of that hot Muggle music. See you in ten."
"Ray?" Hermione laughed. The buff brunette teenager made his way onto the stage and gave Severus and Hermione a look that she wasn't quite sure she liked.
"Hope you kids like slow, mushy music," he said simply before walking back off the empty stage.
"Wait a minute…" Hermione said, turning to Severus. "What did he mean by that?"
"You said the music player only works with a small range of people, correct? Perhaps Ray...modified it to only play our music."
Hermione stared at him for a moment. "Our music? As in…"
I stared up at the sun,
Thought of all of the people, places and things I've loved.
I stared up just to see
With all of the faces, you were the one next to me.
You can feel the light start to tremble,
Washing what you know out to sea.
You can see your life out of the window tonight.
If I lose myself tonight,
It'll be by your side.
I lose myself tonight...
"Looks like it," Severus finished. He quickly scanned the room. "It seems as if this little secret is between us and the two Gryffindor imbeciles."
Hermione followed his gaze to the back table where Ray Thompson and Daniel Willoughby were leaning against the wall.
"Those two really are friends, huh? Who would have thought."
"Would you like a drink?" Severus asked. They both realized that they were standing amongst dancing students and felt simultaneously uncomfortable.
"Sure."
They made their way to a table and took a few shots of firewhiskey with the other professors. "I can't believe you're allowing this, Minerva."
"Shh, the students don't know about the alcohol!"
"Ha. Right," he responded. The Headmistress was clearly drunk already.
Severus looked at the witch seated next to him – really looked at her – and realized how far they had both come in just a couple of weeks. She sat in her chair with her legs crossed and her head resting on one hand. He remembered vaguely wondering what habits she had that no one else knew about, and here he was now, witnessing them. She pushed her bangs behind her ear when she was nervous. She cast her beautiful brown eyes down when she didn't want to answer a question she was asked. She bit her bottom lip when she caught him looking at her.
Hermione was thinking along the same lines. She thought of how cruel Severus Snape seemed before all of this: before the bold flirting, before the drunken kiss. She was suddenly so grateful that it all happened precisely the way it had. Every wrong move had paved the way to this. Every moment had led up to their first date, the Yule Ball. And this dance really was all about them, thanks to Daniel and Ray.
She looked up and caught Severus looking at her with such an intense expression that she gasped. Then, as he predicted, she bit her lip. Suddenly, without any sort of hesitation or warning, a thought entered his mind.
I love her.
Hermione watched as her date's eyes grew slightly wider, and somehow, she knew what this meant. It was so intense that it was almost palpable.
"Want to dance?" she said, breaking the sudden tension.
"Sure."
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
They made their way to the middle of the dance floor, in between students awkwardly slow dancing. Hermione giggled.
"I'm guessing this is yours?" she whispered in Severus' ear.
"By process of deduction, yes." He smiled nervously. Was she ready to know exactly how he felt, or would she end up running the other way?
Hermione took his hand and brought it to her waist gracefully. Being this close to him was intoxicating.
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
Severus leaned forward and kissed Hermione briefly. Oh my…butterflies fluttered in her stomach. This is real.
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
"Hermione," Severus began. I'm just going to tell her. She needs to know.
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world?
"Yes?"
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
He shook his head as if to say "never mind."
Hermione felt immensely turned on by his shy expression and sweet song. When the song began to change, Hermione hoped it would show Severus all the feelings she was too afraid to say aloud.
They didn't even stop dancing.
I don't know but I think I maybe
Falling for you dropping so quickly
Maybe I should keep this to myself
Waiting 'til I know you better
I am trying not to tell you
But I want to
I'm scared of what you'll say
So I'm hiding what I'm feeling
But I'm tired of holding this inside my head
I've been spending all my time
Just thinking about you
I don't know what to do
I think I'm falling for you
Severus had the widest grin on his face. She feels the same as you do! This was the happiest he had been in so long. He bent down and gave Hermione a slow, passionate kiss that awakened her entire body.
I've been waiting all my life and now I found you
I don't know what to do
I think I'm falling for you.
I'm falling for you.
As I'm standing here and you hold my hand
Pull me towards you and we start to dance
All around us
I see nobody
Here in silence
It's just you and me
They pulled away from each other reluctantly with the same three words in mind. Hermione searched Severus' eyes for answers that she didn't even have the questions to. Maybe it wasn't the right time. Maybe they should wait just a bit longer, perhaps until the song ended…
And then, before they could even finish their internal battles, the band was back on stage. They cut off the music and screamed, "Are you ready to party?!"
Students threw their hands in the air and yelled. Hermione smiled weakly at Severus. Oh yes, the moment had definitely passed.
"Want to try dancing like the kids?" Hermione asked with a smirk.
"If you are referring to the repulsive style of dance in which the female grinds her bum on the male, imitating the act of sex, then…of course."
Hermione doubled over in laughter. "Who knows? Maybe seeing their old teachers doing it will make them want to stop."
Severus scoffed. "I think not. We'll be the hottest couple out there."
Hermione fought back the urge to tell this amazing man that she loved him. The words formed at the back of her throat, but she swallowed them quickly. Not the time, she reminded herself.
Tonight it's on play, my song, it's a celebration
I worked a long week and now there is no hesitation
I need a drink or two make that a few I ain't waiting
Yes, yes, I'm grown and you know I got no time for wasting
"Definitely not the time," Hermione muttered.
"Are we going to dance?" Severus asked bemusedly.
"Oh, right. Umm, don't make fun of me," she warned.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Gonna forget my trouble 'cause it's a special night
Not gonna stress for nothing, I'm feeling quite alright
If it's your birthday, baby, I'm gonna grant your wish
This is a private party, V-I-P in this bitch
I'm a prima donna, I can rule the world
Don't care who's around me, I can rule the world
So hands up, catch this feeling, there's no stop in this
Right now in this moment I can rule the world
When the beat dropped, Hermione turned into full seductive mode, as Severus referred to it as. He stood there motionless as she bend down and dragged her body back up towards him. She turned around and grabbed his neck while grinding on him, moving her hands down his head. Oh, Merlin…
This was absolute heaven. He wondered if he should move at all. I think I may be completely immobilized.
So ladies, pop, pop, pop, blow it up
Make it pop, pop, pop, turn it up
Speakers pop, pop, pop 'til I'm drunk
Bottles pop, pop, pop
(Take it back to the verse right now)
A little fun never killed, never hurt nobody
So grab a glass and raise it up, baby, work your body
Ain't nothing wrong, just go on if you're feeling naughty
Yes, yes, I'm grown and I don't need no judgment on me
She turned around and smiled at him shyly. Severus couldn't help but let out a small groan.
"You like this?" she asked.
"Is that a joke?"
Gonna forget my trouble 'cause it's a special night
Not gonna stress for nothing, I'm feeling quite alright
If it's your birthday, baby, I'm gonna grant your wish
This is a private party, V-I-P in this bitch
I'm a prima donna, I can rule the world
Don't care who's around me, I can rule the world
So hands up, catch this feeling, there's no stop in this
Right now in this moment I can rule the world
Hermione continued to circle her hips in the most delicious of ways. She really is good, Severus thought. Several pairs of eyes had already drifted towards them, much to his dismay. He looked like a fourteen-year-old getting his first lap dance.
Not far from the truth, he mused.
Professor McGonagall was in the back cheering them on drunkenly as the other professors tried to keep her in line. Somewhere in the midst of the chaos were Ray and Daniel high fiving one another as they found two single girls to dance with. Kids were doing the same dirty dancing as they were all around them, but Hermione and Severus' only focus was on one another.
When the song ended, Severus let out a grunt of disapproval, but another song began to play soon after. Hermione turned to face him confidently.
"I would turn it up a notch, but we might need to take off some of our clothes first."
"That is highly inappropriate for a school dance, Miss Granger."
Hermione laughed. "That's the first time you've called me Miss Granger since…"
"Since you called me a jerk? Yes, I recall that quite well."
Hey, over there
Please, forgive me
If I'm coming on too strong
Hate to stare
But, you're winning
And they're playing my favorite song
So, come here
A little closer
Wanna whisper in your ear
Make it clear
A little question
Wanna know just how you feel
Hermione was at it again, and this time, Severus grabbed her hips and moved along with her. Hermione gasped at the feeling and felt herself becoming wet at the erotic sensation.
If I said my heart was beating loud
If we could escape the crowd somehow
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
'Cause, you feel like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
So, if I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
She turned around and whispered in his ear, "I can't take this much longer. Please tell me you have the same thing in mind for tonight as I do."
Her words melted his insides. "If you mean a nice cup of tea and some light reading, then yes."
She playfully smacked him on the arm. I'm really liking this new, relaxed Severus Snape, she thought. Time to step up my game.
Hey, you might think
That I'm crazy
But, you know I'm just your type
I might be
A little hazy
But, you just cannot deny
There's a spark
In between us
When we're dancing on the floor
I want more
Wanna see it
So, I'm asking you tonight
If I said my heart was beating loud
If we could escape the crowd somehow
If I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
'Cause, you feel like paradise
And I need a vacation tonight
So, if I said I want your body now
Would you hold it against me?
If I said I want your body
Would you hold it against me?
Yeah
Uh-huh
Oh
Give me something good
Don't wanna wait
I want it now
Pop it like a hood
And show me how you work it out
Needless to say, after the song ended, the two were trying to catch their breath and ignore the amused stares from the teenagers surrounding them.
"Nothing to see here, kids," Hermione said. Everyone laughed, including herself.
"This is too much fun. How many more dances until you take me to your room and…"
"Don't say it, or the answer will most definitely be zero," Severus finished.
"Fine. One it is, then," she responded with a smile.
Just then, a song started to play that neither Severus nor Hermione would soon forget.
…
A/N: Cliffhanger! Haha. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. The songs used were: What I Go to School For by Busted, If I Lose Myself by OneRepublic, Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, Falling for You by Colbie Caillat, Prima Donna by Christina Aguilera, and Hold it Against me by Britney Spears.
By the way, how many of you guys are Ravenclaws? Just curious! My secondary house is Slytherin. I'm still convinced that if Severus Snape were real, I would be able to seduce him despite my Ravenclaw origins. Ha.
Also, remember to give me some reviews to let me know if I'm doing an okay job here!