You were a new teacher who had just graduated from Hogwarts a few years ago. And now you've returned as a teacher and taken over the Defence Against the Dark Arts professorship. You were young and bright. And also you were everything what Potions professor hated. Snape could hide his disdain towards younger female teacher who took his place. He was stuck between potion vials and frog thighs, even though he knew he would be perfectly suited for the schoolsubject you covered. He felt especially humiliated because not so long ago you had been his student.

Somehow you endured the fall semester, occasionally teasing the older professor who always responded to you with cold irony and even reluctance. But now is Yule Ball time. The winter decorations are already up, the students are excitedly preparing their outfits and looking for a date to go to the ball. And you too got caught up in this whirlwind of joyful preparations, because you still remembered those balls from your student days. But then the esteemed Professor McGonagall announced that it was your honor to open the ball with the first dance. Your partner? Busy with organizational matters, McGonagall said something to ask Severus, since he is almost your age. Almost because he was still around 10 years older.

And Severus listened to your proposal with almost polite surprise as you burst into his office after class.

"I'm afraid either you or Professor McGonagall has gone mad." He says with nonchalant but cold tone. "I don't dance. Especially with the loudmouthed, arrogant alumnus."