As Christmas holiday was coming I got a letter from Severus asking (in that round-about way of his) if I would like to spend the holidays with him. To plan for more 'pranks,' of course.

So, the first day of Christmas holidays found me on my way to Albus's office. I arrived at the gargoyle, said the password, and walked up the staircase. After gaining entry to his office, Albus bid me sit down, but I declined. "Well, my boy" Albus asked me cautiously, as if I was a loose cannon (which I supposed that I was trying to be) "What can I do for you today?"

"I would like to take a short vacation to visit…friends." My focus did not waver and I made sure to keep my voice steady, as I knew Severus did.

Albus gaped at me for a second before replacing that with a serene gaze and said quite jovially "Of course, my boy, have fun. I suppose I will see you in a few weeks."

"Indeed" I replied coolly, and left. I was soon in Severus's rooms and from there I flooed to where Severus was staying.

He greeted me with a nod, not even doing a double-take at my (still Snape-like) appearance. I mean, most people would at least have to take a while to get used to someone else wearing their face, but not him. Nothing surprises Severus.

"You're late" he said, bending over a cauldron. I stuck my tongue out at him, but didn't say anything because I knew that that was how he said "Hello, nice to see you."

"Albus and Minerva keep looking at me like I'm going to explode any minute." I complained, taking a seat near him. I could feel my body reverting to my actual form and I didn't stop it. I was on vacation after all.

Severus added an ingredient to the cauldron and marked something down in a journal with his quill. "Will you explode?" he asked with no interest in his voice, though I knew that he was curious.

Blond hair framed my face and I quickly transfigured the loose robes I was wearing into something my size. "Not yet," I answered, "I'm trying to think of something really good that will throw them all off their game."

What Severus did next was not a snort, because anti-social potions professors (and Slytherins to boot) do not snort. If I had to compare what he did to something else, however, I would have to classify it as a snort for lack of a better word. He looked at me, taking his eyes off his potion for only a moment, just long enough to say "I do not envy Albus having you working against him" with complete sincerity. However, he did seem to derive some perverse pleasure at having me thrust upon the headmaster that he hadn't always agreed with, to put it kindly. I laughed.

My stay with Severus was very calm. We would spend the days talking about potions or his and my colleagues. Christmas was a quiet affair; we exchanged gifts and had a house-elf prepared feast. It was delicious.

Near the end of my stay with my friend, he finally brought up the subject of my escapades at Hogwarts. "I have been thinking." Severus started, in his usual manner. I motioned for him to continue. "Well," he began again, perpetual scowl in place, "I thought that it might be in your best interest if I were somehow able to communicate with you at all times, so that if anything unexpected comes up, I would be available to give advice, especially when involving old enemies." I didn't point out that some of those enemies probably didn't think of him as an enemy because he already knew it, though he wouldn't say it.

"Yes" I agreed without hesitation, "that would be nice. What did you have in mind? Two-way mirrors?"

He sighed. "No, those are not always reliable. I have, however, recently come upon an old text involving at two-way telepathic connection that is created through a variation on the Pepper-up potion."

"Great!"

Severus sighed again. "Breana, you don't even know what it entails."

I shrugged. "I trust you."

He nodded, showing that he understood my agreement. "I will tell you anyway. It is a connection of the mind; we will be able to communicate with each other, and if we wish, see through the other's eyes, with their permission, of course. We won't be able to read the thoughts that we aren't projecting, however. Do you know occulmency?" I nodded "It won't be a problem then."

The next day he started on the potion. I did not offer to help (knowing that it would be seen as an affront on his skills), and he did not ask. The night before I left for good we downed the potion. I heard an echo in the front of my skull, asking if the potion was working. I grinned happily and sent a response in the affirmative. The next morning I took a gulp of my polyjuice, grimaced, said goodbye, and flooed back into Severus's chambers.

As I sat down in a comfortable armchair by the fire I realized something. I hadn't even asked where we were. I didn't know where I had spent the last few weeks. I laughed out loud at my own stupidity, changed into something dignified (by Severus's ideals) and left for the Great Hall in search of breakfast.

And, indeed, I did find what I was looking for. The tables were filled with delicious looking breakfast material, and as I was early enough to be almost alone in the Great Hall, I dug into my breakfast with gusto. Or, as much gusto as I could without causing the few people in the room to have heart attacks.

As the students and teachers trickled in, the seat to my left was taken by Albus. He turned towards me and said "And how was your vacation, Severus? I hope it was enjoyable?"

"Indeed" I answered shortly. I didn't actually mind him asking, but Severus would probably think something along the lines of 'manipulative old fool, he should mind his own business,' so I said what I hoped would show my lack of interest in the conversation.

However, I guessed that Albus wouldn't leave it there. He didn't. "Oh?" he went on, as if I had said something of interest. "This friend of yours, would I happen to know him?"

Without looking Albus in the eyes, I mentally shouted for Severus to watch this, thinking (and rightly so) that my answer could cause a reaction that he would want to see. I said coolly "No, I am afraid that you don't have the pleasure of knowing her."

From my right, I saw Poppy whip her head around (from her conversation with Filius) to stare at me. To Albus's left, I heard a choking sound and soon saw Minerva peer at me from around Albus's form. Albus just looked at me with a twinkle in his eye, as if all was right with the world.

I cackled maniacally, (in my head), and felt Severus agree with the sentiment, if not with my choice of showing it.

Minerva said "The friend you stayed with over Christmas Holidays, was a girl?"

"Yes," I said, a warning in my words, "Is that a problem? Cannot I have friends who are female?" I knew Severus was asking the same sarcastic question at her in my head.

Minerva looked uneasy, shocked. She sputtered a little before finding her wits and said "No, that's fine, I just assumed that you would be visiting a fellow potions master, not a girl."

My vision turned red for a second, a rushing sound in my ears. Now I was angry! I pulled myself up to my full height (forgetting that I was no longer a short, blonde woman, but a tall, menacing-looking man) and was about to give her a piece of my mind, when I felt a calming touch to my brain. Severus said: Calm down. Breana, she is in shock. She is not thinking about what she is saying. Do not give the game away so soon. Remember: you are right now not a little blonde chit, but a snarky potions master, use that power.

The only reply I could think of was: You called me a chit! You prat! He just chuckled lightly.

I answered Minerva in a steady voice, though every word dripped venom. "I did not know, Minerva, that being one completely ruled out any chance of being the other. That girl happens to be potions mistress." And with that I was on my feet and billowing out of the Great Hall like a bat out of hell. And I could proudly say that I was doing a good job of it too.

I didn't even look back to see how Minerva had reacted to my statement. I had been calmed slightly by Severus's words, enough to play my part, however I was still angry over the absolutely sexist comment made by one of my fellow females. To think that someone whom Severus had lightly praised as being open-minded and un-prejudiced, would not only make a bigoted remark, but one against her own gender. I was fuming!

I stormed down through dungeons to my classroom. I opened the door, walked inside, slammed the door, and strode forward to begin setting up for my first class. Every one of my actions was punctuated with anger. I found myself hurling the materials around the room, hearing them crash and crack. My chest was heaving and I felt like my blood was boiling. I had enough mind to cast a silencing charm on the room before I let loose and screamed my fury to the heavens.

How dare she? What, am I not good enough to be a potions mistress? Just because I'm a girl? Does she think that gender matters to the bubbling cauldron? Does the wooden spoon prefer a masculine hand to stir it, rather than my dainty female one? Does the fire care the sex of the one who coaxes its flames? Will the ingredients not mix if the person standing over them is a woman? Will the components of the potion jump and scamper away at my touch? Will I find it impossible to chop nettles into a fine grain, or crush the sopophorous beans beneath my blade? No, so why should people care the gender of the ones brewing the potions?

I heard a mental sigh. I hadn't realized until then that I had been projecting my thoughts in my frenzy. Severus spoke; I don't think that Minerva meant it like that. It is to my chagrin that I realize she probably saw some nonexistent implication in your words. I believe that she was under the impression that you, or rather I, was spending time with a girl in an intimate way. That is, opposed to spending time with a colleague. I rather think that you caused quite a stir back there. I'm sure that my reputation shall be forever ruined thanks to you. His voice was stern, but I heard the underlying kindness. I sighed in compliance and thanked him. I could practically hear the scowl as he said you're welcome and he exited my mind.

Officially calmed down, I raised my wand and set the room to rights, repairing all the damage I had done. I also lowered the silencing charm, just in time for me to hear the pounding of feet, alerting me to the presence of the third year Slytherin and Gryffindor demons that I had to teach for the next two hours. I sagged in defeat, knowing that I had to teach those monsters right after an emotional breakdown. I would sneak away after classes for a pick-me-up. That thought only cheered me enough to be able to straighten up, re-apply my Severus-scowling mask, and open the door.