Two Left Feet

A/N: Thank you for joining me in a fresh, new tale.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. It all belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Inc., Warner Bros., and any other entities involved. I do not make money/profit from this.

Warnings: There is some Ginny/Harry, but that will be resolved as we move further into our story. This fic takes place after the Deathly Hallows, but in order for this story to work, there have been a few adjustments. And I am in desperate need of a competent beta.

Posted on December 25, 2009

"The First Steps"

Professor Minerva McGonagall stood before the congregated seventh years of all four houses, many of which looked on with very worrisome countenances. Others with glazed over eyes and a few, like Ron and Hermione, with troubled eyes that darted around the classroom frantically. McGonagall had in her eyes the set of two. She was missing the third and main figure head. "Where is Potter?" she asked in an exhausted tone. "Can't he ever be on time?" She paced the front of the classroom, until ten after, the doors to the Great Hall burst open and Harry scrambled forwards to join his cluster of friends.

"First day of school and you're late," she shook her head. "You know what to expect from me, Mr. Potter. I will not tolerate tardiness."

"Sorry, professor, but-"

"No excuses. Let's move on, shall we?" She folded her hands and her very annoyed frown suddenly lightened. "I'm sure you are all wondering why I assembled you this late evening. I do not wish to keep you from your studies for too long, so if you will all bear with me, we can move through this fairly quickly. This year, I am making an attempt to join the Houses together in a way it has never been done before. This year, you will all learn together through dance."

There was a pause to allow the students a few moments to either express their eager anticipation, indifference, or dread. Among the many whispering voices, McGonagall distinguished Luna's voice commenting upon how lovely this was and several Ravenclaw girls thinking that this was both brilliant and awful. Some boys groaned and slapped their hands over their faces. But the Gryffindors seemed to be beaming. "Before you impose upon me the weight of your classes, I will have you know that these dance classes will occur three times a week for one hour, thirty minutes after dinner. That should give you time to refresh yourselves, digest, and put on your dancing shoes. These dance classes will happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, unless posted otherwise, here in the Great Hall. As of right now, I am still seeking the assistance of another professor, but for the first few weeks, Professor Slughorn has kindly offered his help. Any questions?"

As the students, mainly the Ravenclaws, questioned the teacher, Harry leaned over the table towards Ron and Hermione. "I guess this year is really going to be unlike any other."

"I'll say," said Ron looking very unsure of himself. "Dancing? With the lot of them? Can you see me dancing with some Slytherin?"

"That's the whole point, Ron. To encourage friendship, or at least, tolerance. Just because we've been divided doesn't mean that we should restrict our friendship to only those of certain houses. I think this is a wonderful idea. And we get to dance."

"Doesn't mean I have to like it. I don't want any Slytherin dancing with you." Ron put his arms around Hermione and pulled her in.

"This has nothing to do with that!"

Harry snickered then turned to look at his Ginny, who was seated several chairs away, whispering with Luna and blushing. She then turned to give McGonagall her attention when she caught Harry's eyes and smiled. Harry waved then smiled a very broad and toothy smile. Ginny gave him this hesitant smile in return and Harry turned away, wishing that he didn't always smile so oddly around her. Hermione laughed at her long time friend then McGonagall called everyone's attention. "If there are no more questions, then you are free to return to your dorms. Remember, be here at nine thirty sharp. Good night."

There was an eruption of noise as students pushed themselves away from the tables, grabbed their belongings, and headed for the door in a very rushed and chatty manner. Harry told Hermione and Ron that he'd meet them in the dorms. He wanted to catch up with Ginny and see how her day was going. He hadn't seen her since earlier in the summer.

Ginny was smiling at Luna. They were so engrossed in a conversation about Woodlyn fairies that she hadn't heard Harry creep up behind her. Only once Harry touched her shoulder did she look upon him. "Harry!" she smiled and her dazzling eyes held his. "Luna and I were just talking about the fairies in the forest."

"I can imagine," Harry responded, not really listening to Ginny at all. He was too busy admiring her glossy, perfect pair of pink, delicate lips. "You look brilliant today."

Luna's eyes wandered elsewhere, as if captured by something far more interesting. And as they neared the moving stairway, Luna turned the corner to join her fellow Ravenclaws while Ginny and Harry continued upwards. "Are we heading straight to the dormitories?" asked Ginny softly.

"Well, yeah. We have to get some sleep. We have early classes in the morning."

"Yes, that's right. Oh, if only…"

"If only what?"

"Nothing," Ginny smiled as they reached the Fat Lady.

Ginny and Harry exchanged a few words and brief kisses before they went their ways. As Harry fell onto his bed later that night, he thought that dance classes wouldn't be so bad, so long as he had Ginny there to tango with.

Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter

It was time for their first class. Harry was hurrying along with Ron and Hermione by his side. First class, and they would be late if they weren't two floors down and in the Great Hall within the next seven minutes. "I knew we should've just left your dancing shoes!" Shouted Ron as he panted along.

"You can't expect me to dance in those bricks they call shoes!"

"Well, Harry and I are going to do it, and it'll be just fine."

"Would you two cut it out?" said Harry as they turned the corner and hurried down the flight of stairs. If they weren't snogging, they were arguing. It was madness!

"Hermione, you are mental. What makes you think that those heels are going to make you a better dancer?"

"Clearly you don't have a lot of experience in this sort of thing."

"I have enough," Ron attempted to defend himself. "I have had my share of dances."

"That one time at the Yule ball doesn't count. You never left your chair."

"I saw what had to be done. I could do it if I had to."

Finally, the Great Hall. Harry hurried from his friends and into the hall. There, he was greeted by every eye in the room. Several Slytherins snickered as Harry entered the room and McGonagall was looking at the clock. "Barely made it, Mr. Potter." She looked at Ron and Hermione and instead of wasting precious time, checked them off on the list.

McGonagall then proceeded to mention what would be expected of them in the class when a seated figure caught Harry's attention. To his great dismay, it was Professor Trelawney. She fiddled with her glasses and the hem of her robes. She kept checking her bag and looking at the clock. Harry wondered why she was here. "Professor Trelawney has graciously accepted by offer to assist with today's class as Professor Slughorn cannot make it."

McGonagall urged Trelawney closer, who nodded then in her hurry to rise, collided her pelvis with the table and nearly fell backwards. Once she was free of her chair and table, she hurried over to McGonagall. "Professor," she smiled, "I'm not so sure I can do this…."

"You'll be fine, professor," McGonagall then beckoned the awkward professor forward. "Hurry along."

Trelawney moved forwards, only to trip slightly then regain her balance. "Really, professor, I am not made for this sort of thing."

McGonagall passed something much like a glare before Trelawney looked down then hurried to her side.

Harry and the rest of the class began to think that McGonagall had tried some Slytherin tactic and blackmailed Trelawney into assisting her.

A moment later and music began to play. Acoustic guitars, trumpets, shakers, and even more foreign instruments filled the room with an upbeat rhythm. "Today, class, we will be starting you off with the most basic of Salsa dancing."

The entire class may have been familiar with that term, but most definitely not the style of dancing. Harry looked over his shoulders to see if anyone even remotely knew what they were supposed to do. Standing around and looking like disorder just struck seemed to be the thing to do. Harry resumed staring.

"I will need an assistant." McGonagall walked over to Hermione and offered her a hand.

Hermione seemed surprised, but accepted it hastily. She was pulled forwards and spun around before everyone's eyes. The class nodded and a few boys raised a brow. Maybe they could use dancing to entice the ladies.

"The Salsa, Mambo, Cha Cha, and Rumba have a common heritage and to some extent similar step patterns. The most universal basic step for Salsa starts with a tap left on the first beat, a step forward for men on the same foot, a step backwards for ladies, a rock step on the same foot and the sequence is finished by stepping back left, or forward, to close. Observe."

McGonagall took Hermione's hands in her and then noted, "Girls, try to have some firmness in your arms so that the boys can direct you. If you have spaghetti arms, you won't know when to turn or what the guy is trying to do."

She then had the music start from the beginning. After a series of beats, McGonagall stepped forwards on her left foot, using her left arm to push Hermione slightly back, then another beat and she moved back into place. The music continued and the students watched as they kept this simple move of moving on foot forwards, back, then backwards. "Though you should count the beats at first to familiarize yourself, the most important thing if that you dance constantly to the feel that both you and your partner find in the music."

A few more minutes passed in which everyone tried to understand how the Salsa worked. "The Salsa music is four beats to a bar of music, and therefore, four dance steps. For the more advanced Salsa dancers, you can think of this as quick-quick-slow. For everyone else, it's probably better to think of the movement as rock, rock, close, and tap." Hermione was released and McGonagall turned to her students. "Well, everyone find a partner, if there are more girls, or boys, just make do." McGonagall clapped her hands the students started swarming in masses to find a partner. Harry quickly found Ginny and they both laughed as they watched their fellow friends accidentally ending up with Slytherins.

"Mr. McGoldrick just dance with Mr. Samsung and get it over with. Or you can dance with Professor Trelawney and me."

Much to everyone's amusement, McGoldrick and Samsung chose McGonagall and Trelawney. "Well, now everyone form a circle. Boys on the inside and we shall begin."

A different song started, but the tempo was just as quick. Ginny looked at Harry and Harry took both her hands in his as McGonagall had done. He then pushed her right arm back. She didn't really move. "Try to stiffen your arms a bit, Gin."

Ginny laughed and tried to oblige. They counted the four beats then attempted it again. Ginny smiled. They were doing it, only they seemed a bit awkward as everyone else in the classroom did. "We can do this!" said Harry as he looked up. Almost everyone seemed to be dancing on their own beat. Except for a few students who were already twirling their girls and doing much more advanced moves. Surprisingly, Trelawney was better at this than Harry had expected. Maybe she had done some studying abroad?

"Let's twirl some girls, or boys, now shall we?" McGonagall released her partner then took Hermione's hand again. "Observe."

They stood in the center of the classroom. "Generally, the woman always mirrors the man's step, so while the man performs a forward movement, the woman performs a backward movement and visa versa. Now, how do you spin a girl? Well, the girl spins herself. If you try to force the spin you will injure her. The aim should be to build up sufficient momentum in the dance preceding the spin that when you indicate the spin she should have enough energy to do it." McGonagall continued dancing then at just the right beat, lifted and arm and Hermione followed it. It looked simple enough. They just had to time it and make sure the girl was paying attention… right?

They resumed dancing and Harry had a few chance to turn Ginny, who later, felt slightly ill at having been spun so many times.

"Girls, try to focus on one spot when turning." Called McGonagall. Then, to everyone's horror, she said, "Rotate partners. Boys, move one to the right. Girls, stay where you are. I will know if you've moved."

Ginny and Harry looked upon each other sadly as they moved over. Harry then found himself looking at some Ravenclaw girl. She smiled and Harry grinned. This was going to be slightly uncomfortable. As he offered his hands, she took them. They were dry and hot. It was strange. Harry then looked down the line. At some point, he was going to dance with each and every single girl here… possibly even some of the boys. Harry nodded. "Well, let's do this."

Severus Snape Severus Snape Severus Snape

Harry looked once more upon his schedule to remind himself which classes he was going to have today. He had Potions with Slughorn, Transfigurations with a new professor from Spain, Professor Yzaguirre, and as Harry went down the list, for Defense Against the Dark Arts there was only staff, which implied that a professor either has not been chosen or they were doomed to a substitute until they could find a permanent professor. At least Snape's name was no where on the list… or anyone's for that matter.

Feeling rather like rejoicing, Harry stabbed his red and golden coloured egg, added some salt and pepper, covered it with toast and ate. It was not like he had anything against the man. At least, not now. In fact, now he wasn't sure how he should feel towards Snape. The man had spared him his memories and… well… apparently lived. He didn't die like Harry anticipated. Or Snape for that matter. Poor fool. He was probably rolling on the hospital bed with embarrassment once he realised Nagaini's bite had not finished him off like it was supposed to. Harry chuckled.

Then the whole Hall lowered their voices into whispers. This was always an ominous sign. He dared to look up, and though he thought he had left all feelings of resentment back in Dumbledore's office, a feeling of utter animosity returned with vengeance. Severus Snape was alive and walking. Well, he knew he was alive, but… damn, it's so different when you see the person for yourself. Kind of like seeing a famous celebrity. They don't actually exist until you see them.

Snape was moving towards his seat with a cane in one hand and his neck… what was that thing around his neck? "It's a neck brace," Hermione explained to Ron who seemed completely baffled. "Muggles use it to help support the head when the neck has retained injury."

Both Ron and Harry let out a prolonged 'oh'. "Well, he doesn't look so intimidating with that brace thing. Lets us know that the bloody git is human after all."

"Ron, that's not necessary. He did a lot of us and for the Order."

"I know, but that doesn't change a thing. He's still a bloody bastard and I'm sure he will never change."

Hermione looked sadly upon her boyfriend. Harry directed his attention back to Snape, and as he did, the word 'staff' on his schedule morphed into Severus Snape. He pursed his lips. Wonderful.

"Hush, Ron, you make it sound like this is terrible."

"This is terrible! He's alive."

That thought made Harry's cringe even more so. How dare he live when so many others had fallen? And he got away with just a cane and a neck brace? Harry's fist clenched. He wanted so badly to do something, but what? It was not like he could yank Snape's soul from his body and thrust it into… say Remus'. Or Tonk's, or even Fred's body.

For the remainder of breakfast, Harry watched Snape closely. He was very much disturbed. The professor didn't seem to make much if any eye contact with anyone. He drank from a straw, touched nothing but liquids, and even then, consumed so very little. Eventually the breakfast feast was over and Harry was making his way to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Harry was the very first student to arrive at the classroom. The place had not been decorated like it had been in his sixth year, two years ago. The room was plain, except for a few empty portraits hanging on the wall. Snape must've just recovered and agreed to take up his post again. Harry chose a random seat and sat down. Soon enough, students began filing in and filling the area around him. Ginny took the seat to his right and Hermione and Ron took his left. Suddenly, the door to the side of the front of the classroom opened. A cane could be heard clicking on the stone floor. Then entered Snape. He eased onto his chair then looked upon his students. To Harry's surprise, he spoke, "Welcome to NEWT Defense Against the Dark Arts," his voice was groggy and raspy.

The students' mouth fell open. Some twitched. It was quite evident that many wondered what had happened to him. Only Harry, Hermione, and Ron seemed to know. Snape preferred to keep it confidential. Then the chalk began to scribble away and instructions became apparent in a matter of time. That, and it seemed that Snape could not speak much. Harry wondered what Snape was doing here if he obviously hadn't fully recovered? The man's eyes began to open and close languidly. "He's going to fall asleep."

"I wonder if they have him on a drug…?" Hermione looked at Harry who shook his head. "Then a potion? He does not look well."

"He got bit by a poisonous snake, Hermione, and was left for dead. He shouldn't even be alive." A preposterous thought crossed Harry's mind. What if he was resurrected by the stone? No! It wasn't possible. Snape must've just been out of it due to something he was taking for his wounds.

Ginny then took his hand. "A snake? What about a snake?"

"I'll explain later," said Harry as stretched and then could hardly resist the urge to wake up his drowsy professor. He yawned, very loudly. The older wizard twitched and then winced in his attempts to survey the room. Harry quickly lowered his eyes to his desk.

A moment later, he dared to look at his professor. He saw Snape looking right at him, but his face was visibly neutral. Did Snape know it was him? Harry tried to make things less obvious by going about his work. Then, several seconds later, Harry's will was overwhelmed with the urge to annoy Snape. To get his attention. To piss him off in any way he could manage. Seeing that Snape is about to fall asleep on the students again, Harry took out his book and dropped it on his desk. Several students jumped. Snape's eyes flare open. He looks at Harry again and narrows his eyes.

Harry evades Snape's eyes by looking at the blackboard. There were instructions. Clearly, Snape had intended them to start off with a rudimentary spell in the hopes that they wouldn't need his assistance. Harry thought different. For once, he wanted to be challenged. He stood up. "Professor." His voice was a bit loud and carried well across the classroom, startling several classmates and the professor.

Snape looked right at Harry with obvious irritation. "What?" his voice sounded like sandpaper against chalkboard.

"We are in an advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. We covered this spell some terms ago. Wouldn't it be prudent to have us learn a more advanced incantation?"

"Review what you have learned. Then we will continue."

"But professor, this spell hardly needs reviewing. Everyone here has…"

"Silence." He glared at Harry. "Review what you have learned before I move on."

Harry opened his mouth to press, but then he felt soft hands on his. He looked down at Ginny who was shaking her head. "He's ill and tired. Next time."

Harry plopped down in his seat with evident irritation. "That man should be in Azkaban for what he did."

Harry Potter Harry Potter Harry Potter

The bell rang and Harry spared Snape one more glare before exiting the room. He was just about to turn the corridor when Ginny caught his hand and asked, "Why were you being such a nuisance?"

"Excuse me?" Harry asked incredulously.

"I know you don't like Snape, but he has helped the Order numerous times, Harry! He has always placed us before himself!"

"He shouldn't be back already though… He got attacked by a giant, poisonous snake, for Merlin sake! They should have made him wait another term or two!"

"What does that have to do with anything? It will only take so long for a person to heal. And we have some of the best Healers in the world here. You aren't making any sense!"

Clearly frustrated, Harry shrugged and stared at the floor to the left of Ginny. "Nevertheless, you can't hope that we will ever get along. Too much history between us. And him and my father."

A closing door called their attention. Harry looked over his shoulder then held his breath. Snape was leaning against his cane, looking directly at Harry with heavy eyes.

If Harry allowed the burning in his gut to guide his actions, then he'd feel shamed, apologize and go his separate way. However, today Harry carried no consideration for Snape and his previously spewed words.

Without sparing Snape another glance, he took Ginny's hand and disappeared around the corridor.

A/N: If there is anything that doesn't sound quite right to those that do dance, please do inform me. I'm just reiterating what my dance professor has told me, or what I remember. That, and if there's anything you are hoping to read in future chapters, tell me. I might not have thought of it yet.

Teasers: "Potter! What did I tell you about blanks?!"

"It's rude to stare, Potter."

"It still bleeds, sir?"

Thank you for reading. Please review. And Happy Holidays!