Saving Granger

All things Harry Potter belong to JKR. I just twist them for my own pleasure and then give them back.

Chapter 4
Who Knew a Bat Could Dance?

Snape entered the kitchen and greeted everyone with a grunt. He couldn’t help it, he was so worked up over the leather pants he was actually grumpy. Draco just smirked at him, “Did Hermione get a chance to say Hi to you?” Snape scowled and grunted again. Draco knew his god father was attracted to his favorite witch but this was serious. He would need to speak to him later tonight.

In short order the last of the plans were finalized and the staggering total of guests was tallied. This promised to be the biggest social event of the decade. Good thing they had hired the biggest hall and church available, both promised to be packed to the rafters with guests. “Well, who’s up for dancing and few drinks?” Harry said cheerfully. Everyone was but most wanted to run home to change clothes first. Draco pulled Severus aside and asked him to stay a moment.

“Actually I wanted to talk to you about a matter anyway.” Snape said quietly. Letting everyone leave the room he turned to Draco and said “ I feel silly saying this but how would one go about getting a much younger woman to notice then as something other than a snarky bat from the dungeons?”

Draco kept the famous Malfoy mask in place while his thoughts reeled. Good gad Snape really did like Hermione. Draco knew that at one time Snape and his father had been very popular wizards with the ladies. He decided to take that approach. “Well what did you and my father do to attract so many witches in the early days?” he asked in his most innocent voice.

Snape rolled his eyes and felt very old. His early days indeed. Taking a deep breath, “We simply wore the latest fashions and did the latest dances and gave them lots of alcohol.” He knew he must sound like a first year with his first crush. Gods how the mighty have fallen.

Draco sneered, “That still works especially with the tall, dark, and handsome factor. But we will need to change your clothes.” Pulling his godfather to the hall he yelled for Harry. When Harry came into sight from the study Draco said, “I feel a “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” moment coming on”. The only answer he got was “Awesome” as Harry made for their closet.

As the dynamic duo explained to their victim about the muggle American telly show they tried several different outfits on him. They tried everything from leather pants to mesh shirts. Most of then made Severus very unhappy. With a final wave of his wand Draco said “how’s this?’. Snape had to admit he liked it a lot. He turned in front of the three sided full length mirror. The black dress pants hung just right over his bum to show it to perfection. The emerald green silk men dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar showed his black hair and pale skin to perfection. Harry pulled Snape’s hair back into a silver clasp and added a silver necklace with the Slytherin symbol on the pendant. Yes this would do. Harry and Draco high fived and swept Severus out the door before he could change his mind.

Hermione arrived at the club via the back room floo that was there for the magical folk. The bouncer took one look at her ID and showed her to a large table next to the dance floor. He removed the reserved sign and said her waitress would be with her in a moment. Hermione was confused she hadn’t made reservations. She looked out over the crowd already dancing and saw her friends. She waived them over. As she sat down she placed her order with the waitress and ordered for her friends too.

The club was packed and she could feel the beat of the music in her chest. As she sipped her drink she thought of the look on Pro… Severus’ face as he stepped into the room earlier. He face had gone from surprise to as close to happy as he gets to a sight frown when he looked at her clothes. You would think the man had never been to muggle club, wait, maybe he hadn’t. Hmm he probably wouldn’t come tonight anyway.

Kiki, Deb, and Katja took that moment to plop down at the table. “How did you score these seats?” Kiki asked. “I didn’t. I thought you did” Hermione said confused. “Nope, we tried but the big bouncer in the back room said they were reserved by the owner and ran us out.” Katja scowled. The light of inspiration came on in Hermione’s eyes “Draco probably called ahead. Leave it to him to know the owner and make sure he had the best table in the house.” she said. “Yea, that sounds like him. Too bad he’s taken.” Deb responded. The girl’s first round of drinks came and the waitress said the drinks were on the house.

The girls were soon on the dance floor lost in the music. Hermione let the music carry her away as she closed her eyes and danced. Several young gentlemen came over the dance with the girls. They never invited them back to the table so as to leave room for the rest who would be coming later.

On one of the trips back to the table for another round of drinks the girls saw Tonks and Remus come in from the floo room and called them over. Very soon Neville and Luna joined them also. Remus and Neville decided to stay at the table as the girls hit the dance floor.

As Snape stepped out of the floo behind Draco and Harry the beat hit him like a blast. He didn’t recognize the music. Now he really felt old and out of place. The club was dark with colored lights flashing across the dance floor and small spot lights directed down on each table that ringed the outer edge. The bouncer greeted Draco as Boss. “Did you buy something when I wasn’t looking?” Harry asked. Draco just smirked. Spotting Remus and Neville at a large table the men worked their way over.

“Where are the girls?” Harry asked. Neville pointed to a close group of women dancing together on the crowded floor. Snape nearly lost it when he saw Hermione dancing very suggestively with two women he didn’t recognize. She looked like she had been out there a while. She was dancing a bump and grind between her two friends with her eyes closed and her hands above her head. Remus leaned over to Severus and said “I love when they dance like no one is watching. The muggle women seem to dance more suggestively with each other than with us males.” “ Muggles? Are some of Hermione’s friends Muggles?” Severus was surprised. “Yes, but they know all about us so you don’t have to hide anything” Remus assured him.


Draco looked over to the bouncer and gave him some sort of instructions. The bouncer nodded and headed straight over to a podium and spoke to the man there. The man nodded at Draco and began tap on the keyboard in front of him. Draco nudged Snape, “Here’s your chance, the next song will be slow. Get down there quick before the music changes or someone else will ask her to dance.” Snape nodded and headed toward her. He had butterflies in the pit of his stomach. Hopefully he would not embarrass himself.

Just as he got there the music changed and he tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and smiled “I didn’t expect you”. Her eyes traveled over him and saw the uncharacteristic clothes he had on. “Do I pass inspection?’ he asked on his best silky voice. “ Most definitely Severus.” she answered a little breathlessly.

This was most definitely Severus, NOT Professor Snape. As his arms slid around her waist to settle in the small of her back, her arms slid around his neck. He smelled like Draco’s favorite cologne, spicy and clean at the same time. She felt a little dizzy and leaned slightly closer to him.

Ahh, yes, I remember this now Severus thought. Suddenly feeling less old with more of his usual confidence flooding back. She was so small and soft in his arms. She smelled of lavender and a hint of sweat from dancing. As she leaned into him he was sure she could hear his heart thundering. He led her in small circles on the dance floor until the song ended. “Shall we sit the next one out?” he said.

Hermione thought his voice sounded like silk and things best done in the dark. “Sure, then I can introduce you to a few people.” She followed as he led her back to the table with his hand resting at the small of her back. She never wanted him to move that hand.

As they came back to the table Hermione sat next to Draco. He leaned over and softly asked “How do you like the make over we gave him?” Turning her head toward him she said “You have been reading my Christmas wish list again.” Draco pulled back and laughed, “Good I was worried for a minute”.

Hermione ordered her fifth rum and Coke and decided after this one she would switch to just Coke. Severus ordered a scotch. The orders reminded Hermione to ask Draco if he had made the reservations. He smiled and told her he owned the club. It was her turn to laugh causing Severus to lean over and ask what was so funny. When she explained it to him he smiled and said “I’m not surprised he owns half the bloody city.” Severus slid his arm around her and they fell into a discussion about nothing and everything.

It seemed to Hermione that in the blink of an eye the hours flew by and it was last call. Kiki leaned over the table and said “Where to next? I’m starved.” “Great idea how about Uncle Williams’ Pancake House?” Hermione replied. It was decided, they were going for breakfast. “What is an Uncle Williams?” Snape asked sounding suspicious. “Only the best late night drunk food in town.” Harry slurred. Well alright then Snape thought.

“We’ll go ahead and get a table, call Mark to pick you guys up and tell him the standard designated driver rule applies” Hermione told Kiki. With a sneer Kiki answered “No it doesn’t you have tall, dark and dangerous with you but I get what you mean.” She and the other two ladies headed to the front doors.

Severus leaned into Hermione and asked “What is the standard rule?” Hermione blushed a deep red and before she could answer Harry spoke up, “Kiki calls her husband to pick them up and they buy him breakfast then, no one sees them until about noon the next day.” Hermione kicked him in the shin and wrapped her arms around Severus and apparated them to the front door of a rather ratty looking restaurant.

They got a table large enough for everyone. As soon as the final group arrived the waitress took their orders. When she brought water and coffee for everyone Hermione took several phials out for her purse and distributed them around the table. Severus recognized it as hangover potion. He was impressed at how she had thought ahead. The food wasn’t half bad and all too soon it was time for the night to end.

As everyone stood to leave Hermione turned to Severus and asked if he wanted to come back for tea. He declined with a smile. Hermione’s heat skipped several beats when he smiled. Severus could not be called handsome but when he smiled he looked wonderful. He wrapped his arms around her and apparated them to Headquarters. They landed in the study. “Home again safe and sound” he breathed into her ear, then touched the lightest of kisses on the shell of her ear. When he let go she thought she might fall over but didn’t. Severus stepped into the floo turned and said “Good night” in his best bedroom voice and immediately vanished in green flame.

Hermione went to her room and fell on the bed asleep immediately. For the first time in a long time she didn’t dream of Ron. This time she dreamed of Severus.