Chapter 3
“Miss Granger your posture is atrocious.”
Placing her teacup down she smiled sardonically “Why thank you Sir, as Professor McGonnagall was so kind as to mention earlier I am apparently a nerd and the books aren’t going to carry themselves”.
“Actually they are. Hand me your school bag please.”
“What?”
“The bag you use for school? I’m not sure where the misunderstanding is coming from Granger. Give me the bag” he gestured for it once again as Hermione collected it from the floor handing it to him.
Watching him running his wand over her bag in a spiralling motion she heard him he calmly say “Leviora Semper” and after the bag had stopped glowing, she retrieved it from his outstretched hand and felt..nothing.
“How..?”.
“Everlasting charm for weight alteration” he responded with his fingers steepled in front of him. “Anything you put in that bag from now on will be as light as a feather and your posture should improve from that of Shrek”.
“How..?”.
Pointing to himself he muttered “half-blood” before seeming to lose his patience and standing abruptly.
Moving around the desk he strode to the centre of the room flicking his wand to a cupboard in the corner with the opening doors revealing an old fashioned gramophone that began to play the opening chords to a familiar song.
Rising to join him, Hermione came to stand behind him as he adjusted the volume accordingly and sang along with the lyrics quietly “so you think you can tell, heaven from hell”..
Turning to face her with a look of fascination Snape boomed a low, rhythmical laugh.
“A know-it-all to the core Granger, you know Pink Floyd?”
Blushing she said “Yes Sir, they are one of my favourite bands”.
“Finally a decent Gryffindor, take 10 points Granger”.
“Sir!” She exclaimed aghast. “Surely the first points I have ever received from you will not be based on a 1975 album by Pink Flloyd?”
“I can take them away Granger or you can take off your shoes”.
“Fine” she muttered, reaching down to undo her shoelaces watching her Professor do the same revealing large feet.
“Sir, are those quidditch socks?”
“I can still take the points back Granger”.
“Never mind” she said, stifling a chuckle.
“Granger, I’ll not ask you of your dancing experience. I have seen enough in your day-to-day life to know that it does not stretch beyond that of the Macarena” stretching out his hand he added “so we shall begin with the basics.”
Trying not to show her disappointment at being bad at something she placed her hand in his with renewed purpose and was surprised to feel how rough his hand was and how she was not repulsed at the contact. Lowering her eyes she took a deep breath to steady her breathing and then raised her eyes once more, ready to begin.
“The basic steps of the Foxtrot Miss Granger are 1,2,3,4" he explained placing his hand gently on her waist “and I have chosen this particular song” he gestured to the gramophone “due to its slow pace meaning you are less likely to stand on my feet” he said with a smirk looking down at his wiggling toes.
Suppressing a giggle she nodded seriously and raised her hand to his shoulder not realising until this moment quite how tall he was.
Tightening the grip on her waist he counted her in and on 4 despite his direction she immediately pummelled into his chest and stood on his feet to a resounding groan from both parties.
“Again” he spoke calmly and without reproach.
Nodding she got back into position and began again only stumbling as the lyrics “two lost souls” swam into her existence resulting in a complete breakdown of her concentration which was only brought back by a light squeezing of Snape’s large hand to her waist.
Finishing the song a second time with Hermione managing to step on his feet only twice more was considered a success and as such he announced the lesson to be a success.
“With only 2 weeks until the ball Miss Granger I believe lessons 4 times a week shall suffice if you are able?”
“Yes Sir, I most certainly am. Thank you”. Reaching down to retrieve her featherlike bag she began walking towards the door turning to look back at her Professor sat at his desk with his feet up, his nimbus 2000 socks on display and his eyes closed listening to the rest of the album.
Clearly sensing her thoughts he opened one eye lazily looking at her.
“Why?” she asked.
“You are the brightest and most compassionate person I have had the pleasure of coming across and I will not have you embarrassed in front of the school nor the wizarding community…Dot!”
“Yes favourite Sir”.
“Please see Miss Granger back to her dormitory and en route perhaps advise her on the customs you and your kind follow.”
“Yes Sir! Come Missy’s Granger, a friend to my master is a friend to me and we shall learn together now won’t we??”.
Eye’s sparkling with amusement Severus Snape waved goodnight to his student.