Albus Dumbledore looked over his tea cup at his unusually silent companion. Severus Snape seemed distant and brooding, even for him; his drink practically untouched. It was Friday evening and they had settled in the Headmaster's quarters for a cup of tea; a tradition continued from when the younger wizard had first spied for him.
"Problem Severus?" Dumbledore finally asked, breaking the silence. Snape jerked slightly, coming out of his daze and scowled. "Yes, and it's all your fault." Dumbledore smiled, amused.
"Is it now?" he asked as he leaned back into his chair. Snape nodded with conviction.
"Yes. You are the one who decided to make this year's ball a mandatory attendance for the staff. Therefore you are the source of my problem."
Dumbledore smirked at the irritated man. "If you had graced us with your presence last year instead of patrolling the grounds I might not have had to make attendance mandatory." Snape growled something inaudible under his breath causing Dumbledore to laugh aloud. "Come now Severus, what seems to be the problem I have created for you?"
Snape paused, seeming to muse over exactly how to put what he had to say. Finally, with a sigh he gave up and decided to opt for blunt. "I can't dance."
Dumbledore's eyes flickered in surprise. It never occurred to him that the Potions Master could be anything but graceful with his almost feline movement. It would be such a shame really, to make something so pretty look foolish or clumsy.
Dumbledore set his cup back on the tea tray and retrieved his wand. A quick wave and all the furniture was pushed back against the wall.
"Albus, what are you up to?" Snape asked cautiously from his seat now at the edge of the room. Dumbledore disappeared into his bedroom for a second and came out with a Muggle tape player.
"I am going to teach you to dance," he announced to the horrified professor. "Oh no you're not," Snape declared, putting his cup down and standing.
Dumbledore crossed the room with surprising speed and reached for Snape's hand, rubbing it gently. "Come on, it'll be fun. I promise." Snape glanced towards the door and then back at his friend before nodding and letting the Headmaster lead him to the center of the room. "We'll start with a waltz," Dumbledore announced as he pointed his wand at the little Muggle device. "I'll lead first."
As the music began to play Dumbledore took one of Snape's pale white hands and placed it on his shoulder. He took Snape's other hand in his own and then Dumbledore gently placed his free hand on Snape's waist.
He assessed their dancing position and arched his eyebrow at his companion. "You need to stand closer to me than that Severus." Snape felt his cheeks grow slightly warm but he took a step closer to shrink the person-wide space between them. Dumbledore nodded in satisfaction and began the dance. At first Snape fought Dumbledore, not depending on the older wizard to lead him and causing several injured toes. Dumbledore stopped and looked at Snape's face, slightly pink in frustration and embarrassment. "Severus," he said calmly, "relax. Let me lead you."
Snape let out a sigh of pent up annoyance but nodded. Dumbledore began again and noticed Snape really try to follow him and improving somewhat, but the movements were still too abrupt and jerky.
"Relax," Dumbledore said again. "Don't think about it. Just let yourself flow with the music." Snape closed his eyes and tried to do as he was instructed. Dumbledore was pleased to feel the tension drain out of the professor and the movement become more natural. At the end of the third song it seemed as though Snape had always known how to dance, and dance well, for that matter. Dumbledore was about to suggest that they change positions now that Snape was comfortable with dancing when the new song began to play. Dumbledore paused; it wasn't another waltz. Then he shrugged and looked down at Snape. "We'll just move on to slow dancing then," he said adjusting Snape's hands so that they were both around his neck.
Dumbledore shifted his hold to low around Snape's hips causing the younger wizard to blush again. Dumbledore smiled and took a single step closer, effectively closing the remaining space between them. Snape kept his eyes averted, refusing to look up at Dumbledore's face. Dumbledore raised one hand and gently paced it on Snape's head, guiding it closer to his body until Snape's cheek rested on his chest. Dumbledore started to stroke the silky black hair as they began to sway gently in time with the song. He continued to play with the dark locks a minute and then moved down the younger wizard's neck, rubbing and petting. "I don't understand why you don't like to dance Severus," he murmured softly into the exposed ear, "I quite enjoy it."
Snape shivered slightly and pressed closer to the Headmaster's body.
"It's different with you," he whispered back in his defense. As they continued to dance to the soft, slow song, Snape's body grew warmer against Dumbledore's while the older wizard breathed in the alluring scent of younger man. When Dumbledore noted the song was about to finish he was deeply reluctant to let go. What kind of excuse could he make to keep the Potions Master in his arms a little longer?
"Is there anything else that you need help learning, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, his lips brushing against Snape's dark hair.
Snape glanced up, his black eyes sparkling evilly. "Do you want to teach me how to kiss?" Dumbledore considered the statement a moment. Not 'can you,' Severus said 'do you.' Well, he certainly had a reply for that one. Slowly he lowered his head to gently meet Snape's lips with his own, feeling the younger man start in surprise.
'I didn't think you would,' Snape thought briefly before loosing his train of thought. Dumbledore deepened the kiss and Snape found himself returning it with a smothered moan. The kiss half thrilled half terrified him. He hadn't been this close anyone in years. The last time he had let anyone kiss him, really kiss him, had been when he was twenty-two. And even then he hadn't felt like this. A warm tongue was requesting entrance to his mouth. He hesitated slightly before opening it, sneaking a quick breath before the warm, inviting mouth closed down on his again. Their tongues mingled feverishly and then Dumbledore continued to explore the rest of Snape's mouth. Snape moaned again and leaned harder against him. Finally they reluctantly separated to breathe. Still breathing harder than normal, Dumbledore looked down at the young man in his arms. So pretty, so beautiful. He had always been attracted to Severus. Always watched him out of the corner of his eye. His raven haired beauty. He wondered to himself as he brushed the dark strands of hair away from Snape's temple, why it had taken so long for them to get together. It was clearly evident that they wanted each other. Then he shrugged it off as irrelevant; they were here together now.
Snape looked up shyly at Dumbledore who smiled back. "And if I were to ask you to..." Snape dropped off and blushed again. Maybe asking Albus to make love to him was going to far. He didn't know what he'd do if the older wizard said no. As long as he didn't ask for an answer there was always a probable yes. Dumbledore grinned at the pretty rose color that lit Snape's cheeks and leaned forward to kiss him again, working skillfully from mouth to soft throat and nipping gently; Severus was so cute when he was embarrassed. Snape gasped softly in pleasure and suddenly found himself being pulled towards the bedroom. "We can continue in here," Dumbledore informed him, his warm breath tickling Snape's ear. Later when Snape lay entwined in his lover's arms, their passion and lust momentarily satisfied, he smiled and realized that he didn't need to ask at all.
Title: Lessons and Teaching
Author: Jazz
Rating: R Just to be safe. Nothing too graphic, just implied
Paring: SS/AD
Category: Romance/First Time
Disclaimer: They are not my characters, I don't own them and I'm
not making any money. Warning, this story is slash which means a
same gender paring. In this case male/male. If this disturbs you,
don't read on.
A/N: My vision of the characters has always had Snape shorter than
Dumbledore. Just wanted to let you know that before you got
started.
