DISCLAIMER and A/N: This is an HG/SS story. For those of you who are new to fanfiction, it refers to a pairing between Hermione Granger and Severus Snape. If this is not your cup of tea, please leave now. I don't own these characters, they are the property of J.K. Rowling.

"I don't believe the Yule Ball is in two days and I haven't got a bloody date!" roared Ron.

"Would you RELAX Ronald?" I said, "Besides, I'm going with Seamus and if he doesn't mind, I'm sure he'll let me dance with you."

"Easy for you to say." He muttered.

"Come on! I'm not going to let you make me late for potions" I said to him and headed out the door.

The tunnel leading down to the dungeons was cold and wet as usual. From under the large wooden door the dungeons, smoke was seeping out into the corridor. Several of the students exchanged glances. As we opened the door, the whole class was engulfed in purple smoke, making all of us cough. Suddenly, a deep baritone voice rang through the room, "Finite Incantium!" The purple smoke shrank into Snape's wand, clearing our vision. "Good afternoon." Snape growled, "You know what we shall be working on today so get our your ingredients." We all stared at him. "NOW!" He bellowed.

Everyone got out their various ingredients and began to work on their potions, cauldrons hissing and spitting as the new ingredients were added. Snape prowled his way through the desks, sneering at some potions and gruffly praising a few select Syltherins. My potion was fine, (I had read the chapter on it a week ago,) but Neville's was starting to look the wrong color. Something was different about the Potions Master today. Behind the mask of gruffness and anger there seemed to be a small flicker of something. I couldn't quite place it, but it was not in the usual repertoire of scowls and eyebrow raising. Probably about the accident before class, I thought, but out of the blue I decided to ask.

"Er.. Professor." I said hesitantly when class was over.

"What!" he snapped, "I am very busy you silly girl, go on to your next class."

"Sorry Professor Snape." I said, a bit scared of his reaction to the question that I was about to ask, "I've. erm. noticed that something seems to be bothering you. Are you OK?" ARE YOU OK? A voice screamed in my head. ARE YOU OK? What the HELL are you thinking Granger, acting like some girl with a crush?

"No, nothing is wrong Miss Granger." He said, careful to emphasize my name. "Just a bloody.."

"A what?" I asked.

"Well if you must know, Miss Granger, the Yule Ball is in a couple of days, and Professor Dumbledore has taken it upon himself toorderallofustolearnhowtodance." He spat the words out as if they tasted bad.

"You need help, don't you?" I smirked. What in Circe's name where those fumes before, I seem to be getting bolder by the second. I was met with a cold stare.

"Yes."

"Well then. If you're asking," his eyes flashed at this, "I'd be glad to help you."

"Tonight, 8:00. Here."

"That's just fine Professor," I said, "I will be here."