Note: I wrote this some time ago, and it didn't end up piecing together quite the way I wanted it to. The tone didn't end up the way I'd pictured it, so I'm not entirely pleased with the end result, but not really up to changing it around, either. But I truly adore this pairing and wish more people did as well…so, enjoy it for what it's worth, and tell me what you think. Snape is probably ridiculously OOC throughout most of it, but hey, I'm no JK Rowling.

Also, I split it into chapters for organization's sake, but it's really meant to be read all at once, for effect.

one

Yes, there was the time…the very first…yes, the first time he remembered noticing her…

It was Christmas Eve at Hogwarts, and Severus was in his sixth year. So close, yet so far from graduation, and another year of staying at the castle for the holiday.

His mother had sent him an owl, it was best for him to stay where he was, yes. Some of his father's relatives from Cambridge were visiting and…well, she thought he'd be more comfortable…not being around. Even her note was barely convincing, he could remember that vividly. He wondered which limb he had broken on her this time, which "accident" she didn't want him to see.

Either way, he was, again, the only Slytherin to stick around. Severus had found out the hard way that most every child sorted into Slytherin came from, of course, a pureblood family of copious wealth.

He had joined the rest of the students, no more than 20, and staff for Christmas dinner, only out of requirement of a growling stomach. He sometimes secretly wished he had no physical needs for nourishment, so that he could stay to himself always, with no need to socialize with his peers unless he wanted to. And rest assured, he would never want to.

As there was only one table, he was forced to sit with a cluster of Ravenclaws, the least of three remaining evils. At least most of the Griffyndors had gone as well, including Potter and Black. Although his shoulders still slumped and he kept his face hidden at all costs, at least he had the relief of knowing he wouldn't be openly tortured or ridiculed this Christmas.

"…has the mumps, I guess; horrid Muggle disease, highly contagious. So I'm staying away, obviously."

The tinkling voice caught Severus' attention and he looked up, possibly for the first time all night, from his golden plate. It was a younger girl, sitting diagonally from him, wearing a red sweater. Her brown hair was half curly, half not, and mostly just messy, but pulled into an attempt at a smooth ponytail. She had those ridiculous metal braces on her teeth, which suggested she was from a Muggle family. He couldn't recall ever seeing her before, and wondered her name.

He only wondered for a moment before she noticed his gaze. Instead of looking away from the "creepy Slytherin boy", as most girls her age probably would have done, she met his eyes and held his stare.

"Hello," she greeted, and her voice sounded neither ridiculing or judgmental. "Happy Christmas, Severus."

He was inwardly shocked that she knew his name, and looked back down at his plate, mumbling an unintelligible reply. The Ravenclaws continued in conversation, not attempting to include him further, though he knew, through furtive glances underneath the curtain of his hair, that this girl continued to regard him occasionally.

After the main courses and desserts, students began to leave the table in twos and threes, headed back to their common rooms with full bellies and thoughts of gifts under the tree the next morning. Severus dawdled, pushing his pudding around his plate idly. He had no unrealistic dreams of presents, no. He'd given that up long ago. Perhaps his mother would send him a book, or some chocolate. Maybe a couple sickles. But that was it. He had no other friends, no other family.

Finally, the table mostly cleared, he pushed his plate away and stood to return back down to the dungeons, alone.

"Goodnight," called that same tinkling voice, and he stopped in his tracks. How had he not noticed that the girl had remained at the table with him? He turned, slightly, noticed she was sitting behind an empty plate, as if she'd finished ages ago. How long had she remained, watching him?

"Er, goodnight," he murmured, and began to turn away.

"D'you know my name?" the voice called out again, seemingly echoing throughout the Great Hall. Severus hesitated. Should he keep walking as if he hadn't heard? Or respond?

The better half of him won out.

"Uhm, no," he admitted, turning to face her again. "I'm…sorry, I don't."

"That's okay," she chirped, and held out her hand across the table. "I'm Aurora Sinistra. I'm a 5th year, so we don't have any classes together."

Severus stared at her and swallowed. He couldn't remember the last time he'd touched a girl that was not his mother. Maybe Lily Evans but…he tried not to think of her much anymore. He made no attempt to take her hand.

"S-severus Snape," he replied, dumbly remembering too late that she apparently already knew his name. But she only nodded and smiled, dropping her offered hand back to her lap, only slightly awkwardly.

"I know. I heard you're very good in Potions."

He frowned. "From who?"

"Professor Slughorn," she responded. "He talks about you in our block all the time. Snape this, Snape that. 'Snape concocted a brilliant Drought of the Living Death last week, I don't know how he does it! Perfectly clear, like glass, what a wonder!'" Her imitation of Slughorn's voice was spot on, and Severus could not help but smirk.

Aurora Sinistra shrugged. "He reckons you may become Potions Master someday, at least hopes. Everyone knows he's dying to retire."

She spoke with a lofty kind of know-it-all authority. Typical Ravenclaw. Severus pursed his lips and sneered inwardly. Potions teacher at Hogwarts, him? No, no. He had much higher dreams than that. Much larger hurdles he wished to overcome. But he needn't tell this girl.

She must have realized he wasn't much of a conversationalist, because she shrugged and stood up. No wonder she looked so much younger than a 5th year, she was very slight. Her poofy hair maybe added a few inches on to her height, but she still barely broke 5 and half feet.

"I guess I'll be off." She hesitated slightly, but Severus offered no reply. "Well, happy Christmas again. Nice talking with you."

Severus nodded, and turned on his heel, ready to head in the opposite direction as quickly as possible. His conversation skills were certainly sub-par, and now that she knew this, he doubted Aurora Sinistra would even bother chatting at him again.

Oh well, wasn't like he needed friends, not where he was headed.

Ravenclaws weren't really worth it, anyway, he thought, making his descent down into the dungeons. Too smart for their own good.