Pomona dragged Severus with her down the hall, pulling him in the direction of the Transfigurations room. "Where exactly is it you're taking me?" he asked angrily. "I have a stack of parchments the size of the astronomy tower to mark."
His hand was sweating in hers, but Pomona didn't let go of the Potion's Master, determined that he would be satisfied with what she was about to show him. "Just trust me for once."
"I'm not the trusting type," he muttered. The sight of the brooding man being dragged down the hall by the Herbology professor earned a couple of snickers from students in the corridors. Pomona drank in the embarrassment it was causing him.
As they approached Minerva's classroom, Pomona saw Rolanda and Poppy still peeking around the doorway. "What in Merlin's name-!" Severus began to shout, but Rolanda reached out and covered his mouth as he glared at them.
"Shove it, Severus!" Rolanda hissed. "Or you'll give us away."
"And what exactly is it you're spying on this time?" he asked.
Pomona grabbed Severus by the shoulders and physically moved his body to face the inside of Minerva's classroom. Along with Severus, she saw young Ronald Weasley, his hands awkwardly on her waist, waltzing across, or rather, being clearly forced to waltz, across the room. Severus's face turned bright ride, and a smirk overtook the angry expression that had marred it moments before. "We thought you'd appreciate this," Pomona whispered.
Severus crossed his arms, and Pomona noticed the smirk turn into a smile. "It looks like trusting you pays off."
"Jealous?" Rolanda asked lightly.
"No, but she should be."
"And why is that?" Pomona jumped in.
"This beats anything she's ever had on me."
"Even the dueling club with Lockhart?" Poppy asked.
"Even the dueling club," he replied.
"You didn't know about the dance lessons?" Rolanda asked.
"No; did any of you?"
"No, but I'm not surprised," Pomona replied honestly. "Minerva has made it her goal this year to make her Gryffindors look as dignified as possible. She's still angry about Maxime's comment in the staff room about Fred and George."
"That was months ago," Severus said incredulously.
"Yes, well, she's been pestering Filius and I about what we're doing to prepare our students for the ball," Pomona said. "She keeps saying how Gryffindor will not make fools of themselves."
"She hasn't said a word to me," Severus said.
"Nobody expected you to do anything to make your Slytherins appealing for a dance."
"Fair enough," Severus muttered.
The group turned their attention back to the dance lessons they'd come to watch and saw that the entire room was full of boys and girls dancing together. Merlin, she's forgotten how awkward the children were. It was easy to go through classes without seeing them as any more than a head to teach but seeing them put in a position with any romantic inclination reminded Pomona how young they were. "She's a good dancer," Rolanda said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Pomona smiled as Severus's face blushed slightly.
"Minerva's dancing abilities do not interest me. What interests me is how in the world I am going to use this against her. Slytherin is behind on points; I could use some extortion."
"You're not even thinking a bit about dancing with her?" Pomona said, jabbing him in the ribs.
Severus straightened himself up, and Pomona could see from the look in Rolanda's eye that she too was not fooled by his stuffy demeanor. The man's eyes hadn't left his lover. "Do you three have to constantly make our life into your own fairy tale?"
"I resent that accusation," Poppy pipped up. "These two are your problem."
"No matter," Severus replied, ignoring Poppy's comment. "I appreciate you three for bringing me here."
As the students began to clear the room, the professors flattened themselves against the wall, trying to blend into the crowd. A few students caught notice of them, but they were all gossiping too much to pay them any attention. "That will be all, Mr. Filch," Minerva's voice came.
"Want me to put the tables back?" the caretaker asked.
"I'll take care of it," she replied. "And, remember, Argus, not a word to the other staff."
"And if they ask?'
"Those ten galleons should keep you quiet."
"Good day, ma'am," he muttered. Pomona saw him leaving the room, stumbling as he carried the record player away.
Pushing Severus into the doorway, Pomona watched as the other two laughed. He glared at her and adjusted his robes. "Min?"
Unable to see what was going on, Pomona wished that she could have seen Minerva's face. "Severus! What are you doing here? Don't you have essays you need to be marking?"
"I do," Severus replied, his voice back to its usual smoothness. "I could ask the same of you."
"I had some duties to attend to for my students."
"That required Filch and a record player?"
Silence fell over them for a moment until she asked, "How much did you see?"
Rolanda pushed past Pomona and then proceeded to pull her into the doorway. Minerva was standing in the middle of her classroom, hands on her hips, face bright red. "Poppy and I saw the whole thing. Severus only came when you and Mr. Weasley began your duet."
Minerva bit her lip, and Pomona was trying with great difficulty not to laugh. "Snooping is something I'd expect from the two of you, but Severus?"
"Don't forget Poppy!" Rolanda chimed in.
Poppy glared at her, but reluctantly stepped in the doorway as well. "I'm sorry, Min."
"I can't do one thing without all of you knowing, can I?"
"Not a chance," Severus muttered.
"Well, at least my students won't embarrass themselves next week at the Yule Ball. I don't see any of you making an effort to put Hogwarts on the up and up."
"You really think a few forced dance lessons will have the Weasley twins acting like Godric Gryffindor?" Severus asked, clearly amused.
"Someone's got to show up those snobs!" Minerva huffed, pulling her robe tightly around her.
"I expect a top-notch performance from you then," Severus replied.
Minerva glared at them. "If you all are done, I have marking to do." She pushed past them without another word, and Pomona watched as Severus's eyes followed her down the hall.
"Did we deliver?" Rolanda asked, breaking the silence.
"Indeed," Severus replied. "I thank you, ladies. If you don't mind, I also have marking to do."