Please bear with me. This story was written a while ago and I know it's ultimately simple and very corny but I hope you can sift through it and enjoy anyway. ;)

Midnight. How wonderful. I can't wait.

Rebecca Bitters thought as she made her way to the dungeons. Rebecca, currently the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was excited about a surprise awaiting her in another teacher's office. Last semester she fell in love with the Potions Master, Severus Snape. Their dark pasts brought them together until their black hearts opened up to each other's deep red love. Finally the Christmas holidays had arrived so Severus and Rebecca intended to spend time together and really enjoy each other's company without the hustle and bustle of regular school life.

With excitement running through her veins, Rebecca reached the heavy oak door and gently knocked.

Severus crossed the room quickly. "Close your eyes." He called through the door. In response, a muffled giggling came from the other side. With a smile spreading across his face, which seemed much younger and relaxed than it had in previous years, he pulled open the door and took Rebecca's outstretched hand and led her over to the bed. "Sit down."

"Can I open my eyes yet?"

Severus didn't answer. Instead, he whipped out his wand, uttered a spell quietly, and then gently pulled Rebecca's hand away from her eyes.

"Oh my…" Rebecca looked around the room where over two hundred live bats were fluttering around the ceiling. Fifty candles were lit and were floating around the bats. Glittering spider webs were draped delicately and artistically on the ceiling beams. "Severus, it's…it's beautiful." She breathed finally.

Severus sat down beside her on the bed. "You really like it?"

"Yes." She beamed at him. "It's wonderful. Thank you, Severus." She gently took his hand and rubbed it as she stared transfixed at the ceiling, lost in the magical world that the room had become.

After a moment, Severus caught Rebecca's attention again. "Becky?"

"Mmm?"

"I was hoping you'd help me brew a new potion. It's extremely complicated and needs two people to work on it."

"Severus, I'd love to." Rebecca pulled him off the bed at once and led him to the cauldron in the corner. "Where do we start?"

They spent hours together mixing, brewing, and chatting. Once the potion was quietly simmering in the cauldron, Severus and Rebecca shared stories and memories. Of course, most of their memories had been jammed at the back of their minds in attempts to forget them. Other memories, however, sparked chuckles or smiles from both of them. Moments like that were rare and highly prized.

Soon they noticed waves of tiredness spreading over them. Severus looked over at the wall clock after Rebecca had let out a sudden yawn.

"Rebecca… it's four in the morning! I'm sorry I kept you so late."

"Is it really? I hadn't noticed. Don't worry," she added at her companion's queer expression, "I enjoyed every bit of it." She smiled warmly at him who couldn't help but smile back at her soft face.

Rebecca stood up and put away the empty ingredient jars and turned back to the cauldron which was so shimmering with gold flecks which reflected on her face and danced on the dungeon walls.

"Becky, before you go…"

"Yes?" Rebecca waited expectantly to hear what Severus seemed so anxious to say.

"Thank you."

"For what?" She asked with confusion.

"For bringing joy into my life."

Rebecca, a rather annoying lump rising in her throat, looked up at Severus' eyes while blinking back tears. She walked up to him and hugged him tightly. Severus leaned down slightly and softly kissed her neck. "No, thank you." Rebecca mumbled into his hair while the sweet aroma of various potions drifted around her.

A few days later, Severus was tidying his classroom which was in disarray from the last few classes before school dismissed for the holidays. As he directed a book back onto the bookshelf with his wand, his eyes glanced at the title: Curses: From Creation to Solution.

Hmm… I wonder if Becky's curse is in here. Severus grabbed the book from mid-air and opened to the index. Rebecca had never told him the name of the curse but she did tell him the name of the anti-symptoms potion. Skipping to the letter C, Severus skimmed the page until he came across Crutiotis then he turned to the appropriate page. Intrigued, he sat down on a nearby chair and read the entry.

"Crutiotis: Relieves lasting symptoms from an ill-cast Crucio curse.

Those who have been hit by a weak form of the Crucio curse need to stay relaxed and stress-free. Fatigue and worry can result in physical weakness, lack of concentration, mental and/or physical deterioration. Will result in death if not treated promptly.

This potion is highly complicated and must be taken immediately when symptoms arise. Victims must be aware that this form of curse is highly…"

After finishing the entry, Severus placed the book on the bookshelf. Unbeknownst to him, however, there was another entry that he failed to read. Believing himself to be fully educated on Rebecca's condition, Severus thought he knew how to help keep her well. Though glad he was now informed, he still sighed heavily.

That's interesting… poor girl. Well, there's nothing for it. I'll have to watch out for myself as well.