Snape x Reader |To Dance|

It was no secret that Severus Snape despised the Yule Ball. For both obvious and personal reasons, he didn’t enjoy watching all the doe-eyed students trip over their own feet, much less the noise and cheeriness that seemed to possess anyone who walked in.

Save for you, a professor who was one of few that enjoyed quiet as much as he did. However, instead of taking his offer to remain home during the Ball, you insisted that the both of you go. It took a severe amount of coaxing considering he didn’t have to watch over the students this year, and he had every intention of cooping himself up and enjoying a peaceful, silent evening.

But when you told him that you’d never gone to a dance as “wonderful” as the Yule Ball, he couldn’t resist. Your eyes were wide and sparkling, and it was his one weakness. One does not simply say “no” to you, after all.

He regretted that fact the moment they stepped through the grand doors.

“This was a horrible mistake.”

“Wow…!” Your voice broke him out of his self-loathing, and he glanced at you to see a humongous smile on your face. “Would you look at this place? It’s beautiful.”

“And stuffed with hundreds of spoiled brats who will likely never speak to each other again after the evening’s over.” He replied dryly. He’d seen it many a time before; A boy asks out some random girl he sees in the hall, they dance, and the next day it’s as if they never met. It was tragic, but fairly amusing to the Potions teacher.

“Don’t try to ruin the fun yet, dear.” You touched his hand, stepping further into the great room. “I haven’t even gotten a dance in.”

“A dance?” He was glaring at you, the cold stare doing nothing against your impressively bright visage. “I sincerely hope you weren’t planning on dancing with me.” Severus continued, following after you. You didn’t say anything, making his frown deepen in contrast to everyone else’s wide smiles.

“If it really bothers you, you don’t have to dance with me. But I’m not leaving the Yule Ball without having a decent dance with someone. Anyone will do, honestly.”

“Now you just sound desperate.”

“And you still sound depressing.” You looked back at him with a grin. Severus rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath about how an absolute horrible idea this was. What made you think that you could just waltz in here with him and just assume you could dance?

It seemed you hadn’t been married to him long enough to realize that wasn’t going to happen.

“Look, why don’t you go find us somewhere to sit? I’ll go and socialize, maybe find us something to drink. At least let me enjoy this, even if I have to do it alone.” You turned to him, reaching the edge of the floor without attracting too much attention (though that was hard considering Severus’ black robes stuck out like a sore thumb). “And I’m going to be enjoying this, whether you want to or not.”

“Fine.” He snapped, pulling away from you to find the farthest place he could be from this foolish event. “Do what you like.”

“I will, thank you.” You huffed, your smile unfaltering. But it wasn’t hard to see the disappointment in your eyes. He knew you wanted to do this with him, but he knew that you were prepared for him to not join him, too. A twinge of guilt hit his chest.

He didn’t admit it often, but he did love you. It was moments like this it was tested; He wanted to make you happy, but he really didn’t want to dance. ...At all.

So he opted to retreat to a table hidden by the tall, frosted trees. Noting it reserved, he sat and rested his chin in the palm of his hand. And then, he watched.

Anyone who walked by would be able to tell he was the ultimate mixture of bored and annoyed. Yet the only person who would care to notice was currently having the time of her life. Severus sighed, eyes narrowing as he watched you.

There was no reason for you to be so excited; It was a stupid dance. Sure it was the first time you’d ever been to one, but it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Why you couldn’t see that, he wasn’t sure.

’Oh, well. She’ll see what a bore this dance is and she’ll want to leave before the hour’s over.’ He thought to himself, looking forward to telling you “I told you so” when you came back to the table.

But he was drawn out of his thoughts when he heard your laughter. Severus’ brow furrowed, and he looked for you in the crowd. And there you were, standing with a slew of teachers and looking absolutely elated. His gaze softened some, since it was rare for you to look so happy.

Considering the pressure the both of you were under because of his double life, it wasn’t too often that you laughed as happily as you did in that moment. It made his heart beat a little faster (not that he’d ever admit it).

“If it isn’t the lovely Professor (Name)!”

Aaaand there went the fondness.

“I already told you,” Your voice was within earshot, and he could see the patient smile on your lips, “I’m Mrs. Snape, now. Professor Snape is fine too, but it’s rude of you not to address me properly.”

“Always with the rules, Professor. Why not loosen up a little?” Professor Moody, who Severus considered gratingly annoying on a good day, was speaking to you. And he wasn’t sure how to feel about how close he was.

“I think I’m ‘loosened up’ enough, thanks.” You replied curtly, making the Dark Arts teacher chuckle.

“Yet you haven’t even had a proper dance yet. That’s a stiff move if I ever heard one.” He continued. Severus found himself sitting up a little straighter; He knew that look, and he knew where this was going.

“I don’t have to dance if I don’t want to, you know.”

“I recall hearin’ that this was your first time at a Yule Ball, and you aren’t even dancing? What’s the point of goin’ to a ball if you aren’t goin’ to dance?”

“Perhaps it’s because I’m waiting for the right partner, Professor Moody.” You smiled at him, though your gaze suddenly locked with Severus, spotting him even in the shade of the Christmas trees. He wasn’t sure how to feel about that expression, but the urge to intervene was growing.

“Mayhaps I could fill that role for you, madam?” Moody bowed mockingly, wiggling his eyebrows. The look in your eyes was what made Severus stand.

It was definitely time to interfere.

~*~

When you glanced away from Professor Moody, you found that Severus wasn’t sitting at the table anymore. Your brow furrowed in confusion, but you didn’t think too hard on it. Instead you returned your gaze to Moody, a small smile on your face. The man was rough, sure, but he could be charming when he wanted.

“I...suppose it would be all right.” You finally said. ’It’s not like Severus is going to dance with me, and I’d rather not pass up this opportunity anyway-’

“Wonderful! Then let’s take the floor and-”

“-Actually, I believe Mrs. Snape has a previous engagement.” You near jumped out of your skin when you heard Severus’ voice behind you. Turning, you stared at him in surprise. His expression remained passive, glaring evenly at Moody with zero intention of backing down.

“Oh? I thought you didn’t like to dance, Professor.”

“While I admit it is a waste of my...very valuable time,” He paused, extending a hand to you, “There is always an exception.”

“Severus…” You breathed, looking up at him with the happiest (e/c) eyes he’d ever seen. He had yet to smile, taking your hand and guiding you solemnly to the dance floor. It would be a slow waltz, ideal for your lack of experience. It was simple fact you’d be tripping over your feet, but not because you weren’t great at dancing. “Are you-- Are you seriously going to dance with me?”

“Unless you’d prefer not to.” His hand began to retract from yours, but you grasped it.

“N-no! I’d love to. I’ll do anything so long as it’s with you.” Your sincerity made him pause, silently taking you onto the floor.

“You can be such a dramatic woman.” He murmured, placing a hand on your waist and the other holding your hand. Yours moved to his shoulder, watching him carefully.

“I’m just being honest.” You chuckled, allowing him to lead the dance when the song began. Severus’ movements surprised you. He had a dark elegance to him and grace that you almost envied. You were thankful for it though, considering you weren’t the most adept dancer.

“Don’t look at your feet.” Severus corrected you softly when your eyes fell to the floor. They snapped back up to look at him, a surprisingly calm expression on his face. “You needn’t worry about your steps. Lest you overthink it and step on me, which I won’t be happy about.”

“No pressure there, huh.” You smiled nervously, “It’s not as easy as you make it look.”

“If you would stop thinking about the steps and just do them, it would save you a lot of trouble.”

“Just...do?” You repeated, and he nodded, sweeping you across the floor with gentle guidance. You swallowed, giving his hand a squeeze in an attempt to calm yourself.

“It’s the same advice that a young Lily Potter gave me when she taught me to dance. ...Against my will, mind you.”

“Of course.” You grinned, imagining what it must have been like to see a young Severus learning to dance. “I’m surprised you still remember how to do it.”

“How could I forget? It was easily one of the worst days of my life.”

“But...also one of the best, I’m sure.” You added in a quiet voice. It was no secret that Severus still held feelings for his first real friend, and first love. He regarded you for a moment before he spun you around, the both of you finding yourselves in the center of the dance floor.

You had yet to notice the dozens of students watching as you and your husband danced. Even Dumbledore was watching, that familiar twinkle in his eye. Severus brought your attention back to him with a small squeeze of your waist.

“It was one of my fonder memories, yes. But it hardly compares to this.” He murmured, and his words nearly brought tears to your eyes. Lily meant everything to him, and the thought that you might have...meant more...it made you happier beyond understanding.

“You’re such a smooth talker.” You laughed softly, earning that small, pinched smile he always had a knack for.

“That’s the first time anyone’s ever called me that.” He said, just as the song came to its final notes. He glanced towards the musicians, before carefully adjusting his hold to the small of your back and dipping you ever so slightly.

And for the briefest moment, everything was silent. Until…

“Wow! That was amazing!!”

“Did you see how they danced? That was so beautiful!”

“Who knew Snape was so good at dancing?”

“It’s weird, isn’t it?”

“Weird, but it’s so cool too!”

“I wish you’d dance with me like that, Ron.”

“Oh, come on! I wasn’t even supposed to bring you, Padma!”

“Dear me, it seems we’ve brought attention to ourselves.” You mumbled, a surprised smile on your lips. Severus raised you back up, and took your hand, leading you back off the dance floor.

“At the very least, you had your first dance. I hope it was everything you wanted it to be, because we’re not doing that again.”

“It was everything and more, Severus.” You linked your fingers with his, returning to your friends to give a swift goodbye. You could tell Severus was more than happy to get out of there quickly, since he wasn’t one for the limelight.

Though he did dance with you every now and again after that, whether he was instructing you on how to dance better, or simply moving around the living room to your humming.

But he didn’t let you tell anyone else about it, lest he die of embarrassment. No one needed to know that he was actually a decent human being, even to you. That was all right, though; You wanted to keep this secret little side of Severus to yourself, anyways.

~Ende~