There was a chorus of cheers as the clock struck twelve in the common room.

Elise smiled at her companion from her position of hanging upside down on the green couch, her knee length skirt sliding slowly towards her head. "Happy New Year!"

Severus smirked. "Happy New Year." He took another gulp of firewhiskey.

"Feel the cheerfulness, Snape."

He didn't reply.

"Severus?"

He frowned; she rarely used his first name. "Hmm?"

"Would you try to save me if I was dying?"

A snort escaped him before he could stop it. "What a senseless question to -"

"Well, the new year got me thinking," Elise paused at someone's scream in the background of the party. "One year done, couple ten more to go and -"

"You've had far too much firewhiskey I think. Caused you to hallucinate silly, pointless subjects of cruel mirth."

"You're just avoiding the question."

Severus remained silent for a while, struggling to think of a sensible answer to the preposterous question.

"Not only that but it's our last year here in Hogwarts. The only reason I stayed for the holidays." He watched as her skirt continued to lower, her thighs coming into view. "And quit staring, it's unbecoming."

He rolled his eyes at the unnecessary word before tearing his eyes off of her legs and looking into her eyes. "It depends." He took another sip from his goblet.

"On what? Whether I'm dying fast or not?" Elise snapped at the vague answer.

"No," Snape stirred his goblet absent – mindedly. "Just…" His eyes began to fade as his mind wandered.

Her gaze softened slightly. He had been quiet for the last couple months and because of it, their friendship that started twelve years ago had become strained.

"What?"

His eyes snapped back into focus and he immediately broke off the rare eye contact, staring into his drink pensively. His free hand touched his left forearm, almost like he was in pain.

"Well, I know I would save you. If I could. You know." Her head bobbled up and down as her light brown hair touch the filthy floor that was littered with confetti.

When her friend didn't reply, Elise sighed and sat right up, shoving the confetti on her Christmas sweater to the floor. "Well, night Snape. See you in potions." Leaning forward, she pretended not to notice his slight flinch as she kissed his right cheek.

"Night, gum drop." He murmured, his lips brushing against her ear. He gave her waist a gentle squeeze as he got up from his seat; she blushed. Gum drop was an old pet name that Snape used to call her when they were five after the time when they first meet during a New Year's party with their parents. They had stayed up the whole night in the playroom; eating all the gumdrop candies the host had left while the other children slept.

Elise nodded, stilling flushed and left the common room without a backwards glance.

A/N – I might continue this, I haven't decided. Also, if there are any NCIS or Twilight fans out there, I have some stories posted. Feel free to read them.