Severus didn't see Hermione again until they were seated around a grand table set with all the trimmings. Unfortunately, she had been placed on the opposite side, too far down to even speak to, and he had the pleasure of conversing with Dorien Peesy. He'd be sure to give Lucius, who had cheekily winked at him from the end of the table, a piece of his mind when it was all over, knowing very well her placement next to his was not a mistake.

The woman hadn't stopped talking, even through cheeks filled with mashed potatoes and stuffing, she had managed to not choke as she rambled on and on. Severus found himself bored, imagining how it would feel stabbing his fork into her hand that repeatedly grabbed his arm. He could feel the stickiness of her fingers through his sleeve when she would lift her hand away.

"...and so I told him, oh gosh, you'll get a kick out of this, I told him that the rabbit was...all ears!" Her laugh was enough to curdle his glass of wine, if such a thing could happen. He forced a smile, unable to do much else, then hurriedly stuffed a fork full of roast beef between his teeth to save him from commenting. To his right sat an elderly witch. It was no used speaking with her, she could hear as well as she could see and in that case half of the gravy dish had landed in her lap thinking she had poured it on her plate, giving a good sign she'd not be one for communication. Settling back in his chair, he rubbed at his temple as Dorine continued. She either never breathed, or held an uncanny ability to store air in the ways camels store their water.

"...And Mr. Anders, he's the guy that runs the flower shop the next street over said he positively adored my hat, you know the one? With the Raven on it? Well anyway, he asked me where I had purchased it so as he may get one for his wife! Can you believe it? I told him that there was a darling little place just down the road from Exubiars' Emporium and Trinkets...do you know the place?...No?...well I'll tell you, if you are ever looking for a quick gift, Exubiar's has it all. I've found many curious things in his store, I got my yard fountain there, actually, have you seen it? The one with the three trolls? Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, see, I told him it's just down the road from Exubiar's and-"

Severus groaned. Any thought of courting her let alone taking her on as a wife only excelled his thoughts toward Hermione. He searched her out, seeing she had been speaking with her neighbor, swirling her fork above her plate. It looked like she was drawing a map of some sort in her food, the person next to her leaning in with interest. A clinking glass was the only thing that brought the room to silence, even Dorien had managed to fall silent, sure to start back up afterward. He took the break to feel at his ears, to make sure she hadn't talked them off. Lucius rose from his seat, a glass in his hands.

"Thank you all for coming." He said. "Narcissa, Draco, and I are especially overjoyed that each of you have spent your Christmas with us. I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. Here's to friends as good as family, and family as good as friends."

A chorus of 'here, here' spread around the table, glasses clinked together in cheer as the toast was made, and then just like that, everything fell back to normal. Severus reduced himself to sulking, finding it hard to do much of anything else. Dorine reminisced about the speeches her father used to give; elaborate ones that used to put his guests to sleep right there at the table! It became evident she took after him.

His break came near the meals end when he had noticed Hermione had vanished from her seat, having been gone for too long, and excused himself. He followed the long wall of the dining room, veering right at the door and took a moment to relax, enjoying the sound of silence and solitary. He pressed his back to the wall, closed his eyes and breathed. Eventually, Severus had wandered the hallways continuing his search, following faint voices until he came across Hermione conversing with a painting.

"Well I'll be damned." The man in the painting was known as Uncle Albert. He wasn't Malfoy relation, just an heirloom someone had bought at a yard sale. Uncle Albert had hung in the same hallway, in the same spot since Severus could remember and always enjoyed seeing him. Uncle Albert was more grandfatherly; a thick fluffy mustache hid his upper lip, a full beard covered half his face, a smoking pipe always tucked away in his right hand. Uncle Albert had changed for the occasion, resembling St. Nick so much it was hard to tell the difference between the Saint and the Wizard.

"Miss Granger had told me she was in your arm tonight." He said. Severus chuckled.

"I've watched Severus grow up, you know. I remember he and his friends always roaming the halls, looking for the next thing to destroy."

"Fibs. Such fibbary. You should be ashamed of yourself, Uncle Albert." Severus tsked. Uncle Albert scoffed.

"I've never told a fib in my life." He leaned to Hermione, cupping his hand over his mouth as if to tell her a secret, though every word was audible.

"You're the first gal I've seen with him that hasn't been forced upon him. Consider yourself lucky."

Severus winced, knowing better and feeling slightly guilty. Hermione had been forced on him, causing Uncle Albert to lie without having knowing. Hermione grinned devishly.

"Is that so?" She asked. Uncle Albert gave a great nod.

"Master Malfoy threw a party once. No witch would go near him, even a foot within his aura. He'd be sweating so bad the poor thing could never present himself properly."

"I can hear you." Severus willed his face to cool down. Hermione laughed light-heartedly. Uncle Albert continued as if Severus wasn't there.

"Can't say I blame him, though. They picked on him a lot, they did. Master Malfoy and the gang that is. Used to wrestle him to the ground right here in front of me and tickle him until he cried!" Uncle Albert burst into a tremendous laugh. Severus, sure his face was redder than Rudolph's nose, had grabbed Hermione around the waist and pulled her away from the painting. Uncle Albert was in hysterics too much to notice their departure, doubled over bent knees, slapping the hand that held the pipe on one. Severus was mumbling under his breath the things he'd like to do to the painting, and Hermione tagged along beside him, having to double step to keep up with him.

"Don't be angry at him." Hermione was obviously keeping herself from laughing. "I'm sure he has worse stories to tell."

Severus considered this and slowed his walk, noticing her quick feet, and had to agree. Uncle Albert had seen many things and could destroy his reputation given enough time.

"You spent a lot of time here then?" Hermione asked. Severus nodded after a few steps.

"I did. It was better than home." He grimaced at his memories. Home had been filled with a father who beat him and a mother who drank to escape the heat, often too drunk to care. Not being able to withstand much of it, he made it a habit to spend as much time as possible within the Manor after Lucius had befriended him. "Spent most of my time here reading, however."

"You weren't part of the gang?"

"No, I was, we constantly stirred up trouble. I just preferred the solitude of the library on occasion rather than the company of rebels."

"A library?" Hermione asked. Severus smirked as she sounded interested. He guided her through another hallway, to a far corner of the Manor and pushed open a pair of double doors, revealing a wide room that took up two stories and cram-packed with books. Hermione looked blissful as she took it all in, turning first her head, then her body to match. She was speechless as she turned, and he followed suit. No matter how familiar he was with the library, it still managed to take his breath away every time.

"This is amazing." She breathed, approaching the closest shelf to her right and followed it around the room slowly, letting her fingers run across the bindings as if they were fragile and made from glass. Severus couldn't help but watch with respect. It wasn't a secret Hermione had a love affair for the written word, and just seeing her weak in the knees from the tomes brought to him a sense of satisfaction. If the night had a chance to end badly, at least he could remember this moment.

"Severus?"

Draco announced his arrival, watching Hermione closely as she fondled his library, but didn't seem to mind.

"We're taking off, are you joining?"

"We'll be a minute." Severus said. Draco nodded at the both of them and left. Hermione tore herself away, placing a book she had taken from the shelf to flip through back into its spot.

"We'll be a minute for what?" Hermione asked. Severus offered his arm, guiding her out of the room.

"A Christmas tradition." He answered.

They gathered in the back lawn. Only a handful of guests had remained; those close enough with the Malfoy's to know of the tradition. Draco approached them, two brooms in hand.

"You remember how to get there?" He asked, Severus grabbing his broom while Hermione stared quizzically at it. She hesitantly reached out and took it.

"How can I forget?" Severus mounted his broom. Hermione still staring daggers at hers. She waited until Draco had left before leaning to Severus.

"I would like to leave." She said. Severus pouted slightly. "I'm not fond of flying. Please, can we go?"

"We aren't going that far." Severus said, sitting upright. Hermione shook her head again.

"Please? I just-"

"-there's room for two on that broom, you know." Draco had flown past, whizzing by them, looking over his shoulder and winked at Severus. Severus looked back to Hermione, swallowing a lump that had formed in his throat. He hadn't even considered sharing a broom, the thought even feeling uncomfortable, but he lifted his hand for her to take if she wanted it. She didn't appear too delightful either, her lips forming a tight line as she fit herself sideways in front of him.

"Would you mind if I just-"

He didn't give her time to finish asking, kicking off the ground and rising quickly as he saw the group beginning to leave. He knew the way like the back of his own hand, but didn't want to get left behind. She cried out some, her arms tightly finding hold around his neck and she buried her head into his shoulder. He pitied her, flying with or without a broom had been one of his favorite things. There was something liberating about it, it was refreshing letting the wind hit his face and the current carry him wherever. He wasn't disappointed, however, finding he was slowly enjoying the feel of her arms around his neck and the warm scent of cinnamon and sugar cookies from her hair. So trusting, albeit forced upon her, but invigorating.

It took fifteen minutes to reach the hilltop, the moon their only natural source of light; any disturbance from surrounding cities had been left far behind them. Hermione clinched to him after his feet were safely on the ground and he gave the okay to let go. He helped her off the broom, then led the way to where the rest of the group stood. They were staring into a sky being painted with the Aurora Borealis. Soft blues, vivid greens and pinks waved through the sky. A slow and steady tide, brilliant enough to bring a perfect and still ending to the night. Especially when Hermione had stepped up beside him and fitted her hand slyly into his.

...

"Thank you for inviting me." Hermione turned to him on her top step, her keys dangling from her fingers. He had escorted her safely home, wanting to appear as gentlemanly as possible and knew Lucius would give him an ear load if he didn't.

"Thank you for coming." Severus said likewise, allowing a true smile to appear. He hesitated, wanting to speak but felt sudden dread, maybe fear of being let down fighting him, but he forced the words. "Would you like to go for tea sometime?" He felt like all the bones had left his body, "Next weekend, perhaps?" He felt shaky as he waited her reply. She seemed to ponder the invitation, before her eyes sparkled.

"That sounds wonderful." She said. Severus blinked a few times, taking in her answer in amazement, she hadn't turned him down. The bones regrew in him, giving him the strength to keep standing even though his body still felt like jelly. The feeling only intensified when she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He couldn't help but stand there, frozen. She unlocked her door, then turned once more to him.

"Good night." She whispered, smiling, then went inside. Severus turned stiffly, his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyebrows raised as he assessed the situation just encountered, replaying the night in his head. When he reached the end of her driveway, he was chuckling. When he reached a dark stretch between the street lamps, he was grinning, and he leapt into the air for a late night soar through the clouds.

A/N: Thanks again to all my reviewers, followers and favoriters! All of you keep my spirits up and the words flowing.