Close Or Far From The Law

Chapter 13 : 12. At the gates of winter

-I'm going to teach you the waltz.

-What ?

Harry would like to say that he could have guessed Voldemort's intentions against him but in reality, all he guessed was that he really couldn't escape the dark wizard. Even when the man wasn't near him, Harry thought about him at least two or three times a day. Sometimes more when he tried in vain to understand his elder's plans for him, which happened especially in History of Magic class.

-The waltz ? Do we agree that it's a dance?

-Exactly, little lion. Thanks to your learning to dodge, you are a little more flexible and dexterous. But that's not enough, it's not yet instinctive. Learning to dance will give you more intuitions about your movement in space.

Voldemort was still sitting in his armchair, his cup of tea in hand, Harry had just demonstrated to him that he managed to cast the last spells that the dark wizard had taught him without difficulty. The teenager often wondered if it was dark magic while seeing no harm in the spells he was holding back. They were often offensive but knowing how to attack to defend themselves was a good thing, right? And he had also learned much more practical spells like healing a broken bone, wounds. Find your way. Become disillusioned. And many others. Besides, it was so easy with the dark wizard that he really would have preferred Voldemort to be his only teacher. Pure heresy, isn't it?

Stepping down from the dais, Harry pocketed his wand, something that seemed to increasingly annoy his mentor, although he had no idea why exactly. He moved closer, aware that he could read this man a little better, without being sure that he was not making up stories. Voldemort must still be hiding things from him.

-I think I'm going to be clumsy.

-Maybe you will be. And it doesn't matter, as long as you put the heart into improving yourself. The waltz is the simplest dance. One day we will tango.

Tango? Harry thought he had already heard this name but he was unable to imagine what it sounded like, unlike the waltz, which he had more or less seen in an animated film. Besides, remembering that, he felt himself turn pink. He was going to be stuck with Voldemort again! As if the black mage knew very well what he was thinking, he stood up with a small laugh and held out his hand.

-Will you give me your first dance, Harry?

His blush increased, he glared at his elder who continued to smile, too amused by his embarrassment. Harry wanted to grumble to waste their time. Except that it was childish and he didn't like appearing like a child in front of Voldemort. Without really knowing why. He put his hand in his eldest's, noted how the eldest's was larger, with long, thin, pale fingers. Voldemort didn't seem to know the sun. He had a hard time imagining the man walking down the street like anyone else, it had to be said.

Harry was dragged towards the empty space left by the dais which had shifted against the wall. He hadn't noticed anything, too immersed in his embarrassment and his analysis. Voldemort invited him to place one hand higher on his arm, saying that normally it should rest on his shoulder, the other tightly in his mentor's. He held back a shiver of he knew not what when Voldemort placed his hand on the small of his back. It seemed so intimate, like cuddling. And people did this in public? There was still a small distance between their bodies, but difficult to guess because of the wizard robes. Harry swallowed and looked up, his green eyes meeting the dark wizard's red ones.

-There are several styles of waltzes, the English invented their own. We will start with the basics, the Viennese waltz. Normally, this is danced quite quickly but I assure you, we will go slowly at first.

Classical music began to be heard from a sort of large funnel that Voldemort called a gramophone. Harry found a certain charm there even if inevitably the radio seemed better. Voldemort showed him the steps, without moving at first, then added that Harry only had to let himself be guided for a first time and that he would eventually understand how his body moved in space. Unsure of himself, Harry nodded despite missing from the first step of stepping on Voldemort's foot. Would he be punished if that happened? No... After all, he hadn't asked for anything.