A/N: Hello readers! This fanfiction is written in equal parts by both myself (animalwriter, author of "The Serpent's Kiss") and CommanderValeria (author of "Don't Leave Me"). So, although I am posting it through my profile, when reading and reviewing keep in mind that it is also CommanderValeria's work, so please leave comments for both of us!

This story it is set in the same universe as "The Serpent's Kiss" and "Don't Leave Me", which tell the tales of two new Hogwarts Professors, Dinah Samson and Lucy Ketteridge, who find themselves romantically involved with Severus Snape and Sirius Black, respectively. The two become friends, but the friendship is marred with difficulty along the way because, as we all know, their significant others do NOT get along with each other.

What you are about to read chronicles the attempt of the two couples to spend a few days during the holiday together, with what we hope are rather interesting results :). Please check out both of the main stories if you are curious about the history of the characters and their back stories, because we won't be going into them in too much detail here. There are a few important relationship developments for both couples in this story, so if you are reading the main ones you should also definitely check this one out.

Finally, disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter!

Hope you enjoy our holiday gift to you! :)

CHRISTMAS AT GRIMMAULD PLACE

by

animalwriter and CommanderValeria

Dinah gazed up at the dark frame of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. It looked rather creepy at night, and that didn't help the nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach. Though she knew it wasn't exactly polite, she found that she was not looking forward to this.

"I still can't believe Lucy would invite both of us here for the holiday," she shot Severus a quick glance, but his expression was stoic, as usual. She shook her head and turned back, looking up at the looming building before her, "Imagine! You and Sirius!"

"I expect that dog won't be pleased when she tells him," Severus finally spoke.

Dinah shook her head again and turned to face him, "I still don't understand why you agreed to come."

"It seemed like it was important to you," he frowned. "But you don't seem very excited about it now."

"I'm just not sure if we're ready for this."

"Well, we can't leave now," he muttered, "Ring the bell and let's get this over with."

Dinah walked up the steps, her stomach sinking further every time her feet hit the cold stone. She did want to spend time with Lucy, but the two men were not going to like this. She held her hand above the knocker, but it seemed frozen in place. It refused to reach down and grab the handle. She winced when she saw Severus frowning at her out of the corner of her eye; "Sorry. I can't seem to move."

He sighed, coming forward and gesturing for her to get out of the way.

He knocked.

Lucy paced back and forth across the room where the Black family tree was displayed. She had to tell him soon, as in now. It wouldn't be right to leave them out on the front porch while she explained what she had done and they were due to arrive in an hour or so.

"Are you sure there's nothing wrong?" Sirius asked from the couch.

"Yes, quite," she sighed, "Actually no. I need to tell you something, but I'm pretty sure you're not going to like it."

Sirius sat up straighter. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

"What? No! And so what if I was? It'd be your doing."

"I wouldn't be upset; I just think it's a bit soon for us is all. Now, what do you want to tell me?"

"I've invited a couple of colleagues to spend the break with us."

"Why wouldn't I like that? It's just a couple of professors. At least I'm assuming so; I highly doubt you invited Filch to stay with us."

"Filch never leaves Hogwarts so why would I invite him? No, I invited Dinah. You know her. We've become pretty good friends and I thought it would be nice to see her over the holiday." Lucy hesitated before going on, "I've also invited Severus Snape."

"Snivellus? Why on Earth would you invite him?"

"Because he's dating Dinah! And he was standing right there when I invited her. I couldn't very well not invite him!"

"Yes, you could have. Luce he's—"

"I know what he is. I work with the man day in and day out, but that is no reason to be rude."

"Lucy!" Sirius started to whine.

"Can you please just do me a favor and be polite? I happen to like Dinah and I don't really need her to be upset because my boyfriend can't be in the same room as her boyfriend."

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Promise me you'll be nice. And please for the love of everything sacred don't call him Snivellus!"

He sighed, "I promise to be on my best behavior in front of you."

Lucy crossed her arms in front of her chest and stared at him. That answer wasn't good enough.

"All right! I promise to behave well as long as he's under my roof. Good enough?"

"For now." Several sharp knocks announced the arrival of their guests. Well, that and Mrs. Black's portrait screaming in the entranceway. "We really need to figure out what to do about your mother," Lucy sighed.

Sirius rose from the couch, put his arms around Lucy and gave her a peck. "I'll take care of Mother if you take care of our…guests."

"I'll greet them but you are going to have to acknowledge their presence in our home…maybe even interact with them occasionally."

"Perhaps," Sirius said, following Lucy towards the front door, "I'll just transfigure myself into Snuffles. For the duration."

"Don't you dare!" Lucy hurried past the screaming portrait, her hands over her ears, and reached for the front door. "Dinah! How are you?" Lucy greeted the other professor, wincing as Mrs. Black issued a final few screams. "Sorry about that. We need to be pretty quiet in this area. Otherwise, Sirius's mother screams her head off."

"You live with your mother?" Dinah asked Sirius, looking surprised, and then more confused when her comment elicited a snicker from Snape.

Sirius snorted, walking towards the group, "No."

Lucy swatted at him over her shoulder, "Don't mind him. He's just grumpy. Actually Mrs. Black has been dead for quite awhile. She just left a portrait of herself behind that likes to scream obscenities at people. She made sure we couldn't get rid of her by putting the thing up with a Permanent Sticking Charm, but as long as she's covered up and we don't wake her, she'll keep quiet." She stepped back to allow the couple standing on the stoop in. As Snape passed her she nodded, "Professor Snape," she said by way of greeting.

An elbow to his stomach had Sirius extending his hand towards the other man,

"Snivell—"

"Sirius!" Lucy exclaimed, stamping on his foot to shut him up. Unfortunately her yelling awakened Walburga Black again.

"Let's hurry and get out of this room," Dinah said before Snape could make a comment, "I can't hear myself think."

"Follow me!" Lucy shouted, hurrying up the stairs and leaving Sirius to once again deal with his mother.

Dinah nodded at Snape, looking relieved to be separating the two men for a few moments, and they followed Lucy up the stairs.

On one of the upper floors Lucy stopped at a closed door. "Dinah, this is going to be your room. I, uh," she hesitated, blushing, "well there's really no smooth way to say this but I also prepared the room across the hall for you, Severus. That is, uh, if you guys want separate rooms. I didn't know so…"

Dinah and Snape exchanged glances but both their expressions were unreadable. Finally, Dinah spoke, "Whatever is more convenient for you is fine with us."

"Um, well, I've already cleaned both rooms so it's not inconvenient for you to have separate rooms but I don't really care if the two of you want to…you know. Sirius and I are staying upstairs so you don't have to worry about that…" Lucy sighed, "I have to clean a room upstairs anyway for when the family comes in. Honestly, Uncle Arthur and Aunt Molly know we've been living here by ourselves since the summer, but if they come here and we're sharing a bedroom…well, let's just say I'll probably end up married a lot sooner then I expect to be." Lucy grimaced, "Sorry. I'm babbling again. I'm a bit nervous. I know Severus and Sirius don't get along and it's my first time hosting the family for the holidays…"

Dinah's face remained expressionless for the most part, but she looked mildly uncertain as she turned to Snape, a question in her eyes.

Snape sighed, "The two rooms are fine, since you've gone to the trouble. If, however, you need to clean one of them as the time for the rest of your family to arrive approaches we'd be happy to switch to sharing a single room."

Lucy laughed, waving him off, "Sorry, it's just, well, I'm sure you know this house has plenty of rooms and that it wasn't lived in for at least ten years. We have plenty of room. I just tend to ramble about semi-related topics when I'm nervous. Anyway, I'll leave you two to settle in now that you know where your rooms are. I'll go get some food ready for us to eat down in the kitchen, pretty informal. I'm sure you remember where the kitchen is at Severus, so I'll see you down there whenever you two are ready." Lucy said, quietly descending the once again silent staircase.