Severus Snape was livid. Those wretched Marauders couldn't let him have a happy Christmas they had to get one last attack in before their train rides to their happy go lucky homes. He scowled again and rolled his shoulder. Potter had nailed him with a hammer jinx right on his shoulder blade. Pomfrey had given him some pain potion to relive the ache but it wasn't enough.

"Infernal woman thinks I'm a child" He grumbled rubbing his shoulder. She had likely given him too little. She had a habit of treating the 7th year Slytherin like he was still the scrawny first year who stumbled into her infirmary for the first time after a potions mishap. Severus smirked at the memory; his face had been positively black with soot from the explosion.

Severus continued toward the Great Hall growing more irritable as he neared. Damn Dumbledore and his bossiness.

"You're the only student Severus, My boy" Severus's face pinched and he made a overly high-pitched and flamboyant voice for his headmaster. "You must come to dinner lad," He grumbled. As he reached and climbed the last set of stairs before the Entrance Hall a dull ringing began in his ears.

Ow stoooppp, His mind whispered for fear of his headache hearing and worsening. Apparently the headache did for as he took the final stair the ringing became a dull roar. He groaned making a face. Whhhyy?, headaches had always been a struggle for Severus but normally a pounding not this. This was not normal, he realized.

Perhaps it was something he'd been hit with earlier. Fucking Potter, I hope all you get is coal you asrewhipe.

If he could just make it to the Great Hall before the sound was overwhelming Pomfrey would be there, she could help him. If he passed out in the Entrance Hall who knows how long it would be before anyone found him.

The screaming in his head was at a peek and Severus had never found the Entrance Hall to be so long. His vision tunneled and with his last push of fight adrenaline Severus Snape ran threw the double doors.

There was a loud BANG followed by an almost comical CRASH as he entered. Something collided with his back and his body and the something slammed into the table the staff was seated around expressions of shock on every face.

"Oh bugger" He groaned. The roar was gone, Thank Merlin, but now his body ached from whatever was on him and his collision with the table.

"What the fuck?" he heard a voice. The weight lifted and he rolled onto his back and his mouth dropped.

/H&S/

Hermione gazed unblinkily at the teenager before her on the ground. His long black hair was hanging in his eyes. His eyes, his beautiful black eyes, were round as tea saucers.

"Sir?" She croaked. Gods her throat was dry. Someone cleared theirs above the boy. The moment was broken and he blinked tilting his head thoughtfully. His hair fell over one shoulder and Hermione found it oddly endearing.

"Miss, may I ask you are you?" Hermione searched for the speaker. Her eyes found the Headmaster. Dumbledore.

"I've died?" She asked. "But How? I was just coming to look for Professor Snape!" She was babbling. She was panicking. What had happened? She was just walking to the Great Hall. She felt an odd resistance at the door but pushed threw and then what? Onto this attractive young man.

"Hey." She looked down. His black eyes were warm and he clambered to his feet holding out his hand. "Hey now it's okay you're safe" His voice was so silky. Baritone was the word.

"Are you Professor Snape?" She asked. She felt like screaming, like crying, like laughing hysterically. How had Snape become a teenager in Heaven? Maybe she was becoming a child!

"I'm Severus Snape" He replied. He kept his hand held out to her and with the other reached into his pocket. Hermione reeled back pulling her wand desperately.

"Whoa whoa!" He said. "I'm getting a handkerchief love, your head's bleeding." He said showing her the dark green cloth. "Come here" he waved it.

Her fingers touched her face. It did have blood on it.

"How did it happen?" She demanded wand still trained on the boy. "How'd I die?" She asked.

"You didn't die love. You're okay!" the Slytherin boy gave a puff of laughter. "You're okay. Let me fix you up and we'll figure it out."

"Sir?"

"Yes love?"

"I don't.." Hermione's world spun. "I can't.." She put both hands on her head it felt like it was tumbling in a drier. "Please!" She cried. "I can't"

"You don't have too. Come here." He held open both his arms. Hermione took a shaky step toward the boy and collapsed into his sturdy arms.

/H&S/

Severus felt her go completely limp in his arms. He sighed with relief.

"Who is she Severus?" Pomfrey broke the silence first.

Severus smirked and sank into his seat still holding her pulling the curly haired girl into his lap. He swiped at her bleeding face with his cloth.

"No idea." He shrugged. "Pretty enough" as soon as the words escaped his mouth he glowered. Why on Earth had he said that?

"Be that as it may." Pomfrey pursed her lips. Severus shrugged again. Pomfrey ran her wand over the girl. "Exhaustion, Dehydration, Under Nourished." She clucked her tongue. "Whoever she is she looks like she's been threw quite the ordeal."

"Clearly, she was under the impression she died" Severus pointed out smartly. Pomfrey swatted his arm.

"Cheeky boy." Severus shrugged again not sure what was happening to him. He may act that way privately but not to Pomfrey's face much less in front of the other teachers. "I'll take her to the hospital wing now Mr. Snape."

The girl was lifted out of his lap and the nurse began to walk away. Severus turned around to watch them leave. The brown curls tumbled toward the ground madly but hovered just above the stone flood.

Wild, she was wild. Her brown eyes were like that of a child or a frightened animal. Her hair was wild, mad, bushy and for some reason he couldn't really put words to why, she made his heart beat wildly.

"Well a Happy Christmas indeed!" Dumbledore said and he stood exiting the hall at full stride followed by the Transfiguration teacher.

"Happy Christmas" Severus muttered sassily.

Professor Flitwick spat pumpkin juice everywhere and began to choke.

"Well then." And the only student in left in the castle began to eat.