Thanks a lot to my wonderful beta, saiyanwizardgurl, for correcting my story and improving it.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J.K. Rowling, and I am not earning anything by writing this story.

Dear readers,

here is the final chapter now. :) I really hope you liked the story and will go on reading the sequel "The Potions Master's Assistant".

At the end of this chapter I have a challenge for you!

Sunny


Chapter 7 – Dining

Minutes later, Poppy came back with Albus, Rolanda, and Minerva in tow.

"Merry Christmas, Severus," Minerva said, leaning down to kiss him.

"Hmmm." Severus made a sound like a purr and tried to hold Minerva in place when she attempted to end the kiss.

"Severus," she whispered warningly against his lips.

"Just one more, please," Severus pleaded, still not letting go of her and pressing his lips against hers.

"No wonder Poppy instructed all of us to keep an eye on you while you were released. It seems that some of your potions have overactive hormones as side effects," Rolanda teased.

This caused him to let go of Minerva and look at Rolanda. "What a pity that Poppy decided you were harmless enough to visit me. It's beyond my imagination what could have caused this change of mind."

"Unsatisfied sexual desire can lead to a great amount of frustration, Severus. Tsk, tsk. And letting it out on your best friend. That's not nice, Severus," Rolanda said sarcastically.

"Rolanda, I warned you. Behave or I will send you out!" Poppy said warningly. Then she faced Severus. "And you will put on your bathrobe and come to the table." She handed him the bathrobe and pulled slippers out from under the bed.

Severus pulled on the bathrobe with Minerva's help and tossed the bed covers back. When he let his feet dangle over the edge of the bed, his eyes fell on green socks with little red snakes on it. "Albus?!" Severus growled.

"Oh, we didn't want to break tradition, did we?" Albus said, chuckling.

Damn the old codger. How does he know that I wear this first pair of socks he ever gave me every Christmas night? And I thought I had hidden them deep down in my drawer. "You broke into my quarters?"

Albus' eyes were twinkling. "I'm the headmaster of this school, so only a simple Summoning Charm was necessary to get them."

The little snakes were moving frantically when Poppy helped him into the slippers.

Rolanda had climbed onto the bed and was now kneeling beside Severus, looking down at his feet. "Oh, so cute. You told me you had thrown them away."

"Humph." Severus was annoyed that they all had seen his stupid yet beloved socks.

"Down from the bed, Rolanda," Poppy ordered.

"Yes, Mother," she said cheekily and crawled down from the bed.

Minutes later, they were chatting happily at the dining table and enjoying their meal. Thanks to the Strengthening Potion, Severus felt full of energy.

"Have you already spoken with Charlie, Severus?" Albus asked.

"Yes, he will take over my classes until Poppy lets me teach again, and he helps brew for the hospital wing. Nevertheless I hope that I'll be released soon." He gazed nervously over to Poppy.

"We will speak about this in two days if your temperature is down and you have rested a little more."

All Severus did after this comment was roll his eyes. "Now, now, behave, my boy. Poppy only has your best interest in mind," Albus scolded him.

The rest of the meal passed uneventful, and soon they were all full and satisfied.

"Let's unpack the presents," Rolanda said as she jumped up from her chair and headed in the direction of the table of Severus' presents. On her way, she patted Severus playfully on his head to gesture him to follow.

"You are such a child, Ro," he said, but could not suppress an amused smile. "Start bouncing up and down in front of the presents, and I will call for the mental emergency service."

"Like this?" Rolanda started to bounce on the spot and clap her hands. When she tilted her head sideways and fluttered her eyelashes, Severus could not help but laugh out loud.

"Yes, exactly like that. And you really ask yourself why Poppy did not let you visit me before?"

It feels so good to have her around. He could feel easy around her. It was a good change from always feeling like a boy around the others.

The others had followed them and were now watching Severus unwrap his presents. He got tickets for the next Montrose Magpies game, his favorite Quidditch team, from Rolanda. Albus had given him a scarf matching his socks and there was also a present from Charlie under them. He had given him a fiberglass stirrer. Severus had to grin because he had sent Charlie one of the new fiberglass cauldrons for Christmas. We really seem to have much in common.

Minerva's present was the last he opened. She had presented him with a very rare edition of Potions of the Middle Ages. It was a great gift, and Severus let his fingers wander over the leather cover. "Thank you." He turned to her and kissed her, quickly this time because he knew she did not want to attract attention.

"I have something for you as well," Severus said, leading the group over to his bed. He handed Albus and Rolanda their gifts, but kept Minerva's in his hand.

Rolanda was thrilled by the Chudley Cannons scarf and hat. "Oh, so have you given up trying to persuade me to favor your Montrose Magpies instead of the Cannons?"

"Yes, it is useless to reason with you, and you will see in the end that the Magpies are much better than the Cannons."

"Dream on!" Rolanda replied.

Albus grinned madly at the latest pair of ugly socks Severus had bought for him. He really enjoyed their little game and was quite found of the socks Severus gave him every year. Immediately, he bent over and put them on.

"Merlin, Albus. I hoped that after passing out yesterday, I would have been spared one Christmas of your childish behavior. Must you put the socks on the moment you get them in your hands?" He rolled his eyes, but inwardly, he loved Albus for doing it.

"They fit me very well," Albus said while wiggling his toes in the socks. That made them all chuckle.

Minerva had sat down beside Severus while Albus was pulling on his socks. She snuck one arm around him and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I think you would prefer to give your present to Minerva in private. So let's say goodbye," Poppy said, and she ushered the others out of the infirmary.

When they were alone, Severus handed Minerva her present. She needed both hands to open it and removed her arm from Severus' waist. He immediately missed her warm touch.

"It is so beautiful, Severus. I don't know what to say," she said, admiring the beautiful pendant.

"Then don't say anything. Just kiss me, Minerva," he said seductively.

"You are unbelievable, Severus." Minerva laughed, but then leaned over to kiss him. When she ended the kiss, she whispered, breathless, "And I love you so much for it."

"Not as much as I love you, Minerva." With that, he pulled her into another passionate kiss.

FINITE

You can read more in the sequel, "The Potions Master's Assistant," which you can find here at !

Please review!


Challenge:

Write a story for me and I write one for you regarding your plot wishes.

Rules:

Main rule:

The story has to be about a friendship between Alastor and Severus (friendship!/ No slash!). No character death please!

Pairing:

What ever you want. Het/Slash/Femslash. I don't care but no Alastor/Severus!

Other characters:

I would love when Poppy and Albus would be included in the fic, but it is not necessary.

Genre:

all; even when I prefer Hurt/Comfort

Special

You can use one of my stories for the background if you want. It could be like a missing scene of the "Taking Care" series or "A better Childhood"! But you can also write something totally different.

So if you have written one and uploaded it (here or at another fan fiction site), let me know and tell me what kind of story you want me to write for you! I will do my best! :)