Tango!

Dumbledore clapped his hands together in a request of silence. The excited bubble of conversation died away. Everyone in the whole entire hall stared intently at the front bench, holding his or her breath.

"As you all know," Dumbledore began, "In a matter of a few weeks time, the Yule ball shall be commencing. I feel that it's in my best interests to reveal to you, the theme of this year's ball," he paused, leaving tense teachers and students hanging on his every last words. "As per usual, the Ball shall entertain those only from sixth year and upwards, all pairings must be boy girl and... the ball shall take place here in the Hall," again he paused.

" And now for what you have all been waiting for...The theme for this year's ball is ...Muggle.... Dancing."

The hall remained silent. No one moved, rows of students sat gaping at each other, until a small timid voice spoke up.

"B...but...sir. Isn't the dancing the same?" the tiny voice asked.

Everyone whipped round to stare at the light haired, Ravenclaw who had spoken. He blushed bright red and shrank back into his chair.

Dumbledore smiled.

"The Tango? Tap Dancing? Ballet...I don't think many of you know how to do those.

Do you?" he said with a raised eyebrow.

The crowd began bustling with confusion. It was true no one could dance like Muggles particularly well, so what was the point in theming the ball like this?

The professor raised his hand again for silence.

"I know that not many of you can dance so I have arranged for Professor Trelawney to provide several sessions of different dances for all those attending the ball. The group lists will be posted up soon, in the meantime, Have Fun!"

The Hall remained in a horrified silence. Faces contorted in confusion...'muggle dancing? Lessons? Trelawney? How dose she know?'

The horror lasted only a few seconds however, and it soon melted into a frenzy of excitement.

'What do Muggles wear?' 'What is Tango?' 'Oooh I hope I'm in Malfoy's group!'

Dumbledore smiled, this could yet prove to be as good a Ball as the others had been, and after all, stranger things have happened!

* * *

Not much less that a week later, a group of students were found crowded round the notice board all pushing forward to get a decent view.

The list was up, the list they'd all been waiting for.

Up by the front of the crowd, Draco Malfoy ran his finger down the list.

Attention all Students. Below you will see the groups in which you will be attending your dance lessons. The groups have been assorted by ability and cannot be changed. Enjoy your selves!

Group One.

Seamus Finnegan

Alice Scott

Ellie Aylwin foster

Bryan McMide

Edward Thames

Draco Malfoy (Oh! Me!)

Emma Atkins.

Neville Longbottom (" By ability? How did he get in?"* Neville blushes* "My Grand mother used to dancer... she taught me some." *Snickers*)

Hermione Granger (Draco cringed "Oh god No.")

Lavender Brown

Dean Thomas

Harry Potter (HIM!)

This really could not get much worse, not only did Draco have the school idiot, and the school tart in his group; he also had the one person he would rather run madly round the school screaming "I'm a blue elephant someone bring me a bag of bananas!" than dance infront of, in his group.

Harry Potter.

Harry Fucking potter!

Well smack the pony and call me Arnold, I think I just hit rock bottom.

He turned abruptly away from the board and fought his was through the crowd of eager people waiting to see their groups, and marched swiftly through the corridor, sneering at any one poor student he happened to meet.

* * *

First class.

Uh oh!

Group One sat nervously in the hall waiting for the arrival of Professor Trelawney; Draco stared round at the group.

"They seem excited!" Draco noted in disgust "All intrigued to see Potter make a fool out if himself I bet."

At last a flustered Professor Trelawney arrived full of bad temper, and as soon as she saw the group, her temper increased.

"Fancy sending me a group of students, expecting me to teach them the Tango...with more boys than girls!" she snapped, more to herself than anyone else. She had made the whole group jump. It had never occurred to anyone of them that there were more boys than girls.

She scanned down the list of names, and began pairing people up.

"Seamus Finnegan and Alice Scott,

Ellie Aylwin foster and Bryan McMide,

Edward Thames and Emma Atkins,

Neville Long Bottom and Hermione Granger,

Lavender Brown and Dean Thomas,

Harry Potter and... ah, it would appear we have a small problem."

Draco stared at her blankly, until, to his horror, everything clicked into place.

"I am NOT dancing the Tango with HIM!" he yelled, staring angrily at Trelawney. She bristled a little and folded the paper neatly, sliding it carefully back into her bag.

"I am sorry, my dear. But it would appear you have no choice."

Draco stared at her speechless for a while, and then turned to look at Harry, who mirrored his horrified expression to perfection.

"Right then class, stand together with your partners."

Both boys froze.

"This is a joke, right?" Draco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No Mr Malfoy, I assure you this is not, this is a dance lesson and you will learn to dance! Now stand with your partner!" You could see that Professor Trelawney was annoyed by the way she was speaking, forcing herself to not shout.

"B...B...we can't...I mean we won't, its just ...impossible!" he said, beginning to panic.

"Yeah," Harry said, "we can't. It won't...work."

The class was beginning to snigger now, and Harry's cheeks were glowing a fetching shade of pink.

The professor rested her hands on her hips, and walked slowly over to them.

" I can give you two options. One, you can stay here and dance, and therefore go to the ball. Or you can leave now and enjoy cleaning out the broom closet with the caretaker."

She raised her eyebrows. "So what's it going to be, hmm?"

Harry looked at Draco.

Draco looked at Harry.

"Well?" the professor pursued.

Without shifting the steely gaze he had rested upon Trelawney, Draco slowly walked across the room and stopped by Harry's side.

"Not a word to anyone 'bout this, all right?" he said through gritted teeth. Harry turned to him.

"Like I would! But I can't help pointing out, that they-" he gestured to those around them, "Might."

Draco scowled.

Among all the most ridiculously bad things Dumbledore had ever thought up.

This was by far the worst.