What's this?
The streets are lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?

Over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas break the professors pile on work. Unfortunately for me that means no time for flying lessons. Instead, Draco, Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, Goyle, and myself as sprawl out in front of the green flames trying to help each other through all the papers that are due. I never thought anyone would give first years this much work.

"How much more do we have to do?" Crabbe demands about half way through our paper explaining different properties of protection potions for Snape.

"Well, seems as we've only made it through Transfiguration so far, quite a bit more. You don't have to continue if you don't want to," I answer back sharply.

He really shouldn't be complaining. Draco, Pansy and I are doing most of the work. The others are just kind of copying, changing a sentence here or there to make it not as obvious. In truth it's rather frustrating.

As Crabbe goes to stand up, the ink bottle in between us spills, jet black ink soaking into the corner of my parchment. Glowering up at him, I clutch my wand tightly in my fist, ready to strike. All this fat, stupid oaf has ever been is trouble. I'd like to blast him bits, though I know that would only land me a trip to Azkaban.

"I can fix it," Pansy says, pointing the tip of her wand at my paper. As she mumbles under her breath the ink spot is pulled away from the parchment up into the wand.

"That was brilliant," I answer back, as I flip the yellowed paper over. I've never seen anything like that before.

Pansy nods before going back to writing her own paper.

No further incidents occur. Within the next couple of hours our group gets two more class assignments finished. Perhaps we'll actually get to do something this weekend.

A Few Days Later

"Are you sure you don't want to accompany me home. My parents wouldn't mind at all," Draco says as he lugs his trunk towards the Great Hall.

I shake my head, red curls hitting me in the face, "No, I'm just going to stay here. Severus will be staying, along with some other teachers. I'll have company."

"It seems awfully terrible to have to spend your Christmas with a bunch of stuffy teachers," Draco answers.

Shrugging, I glance around the Great Hall. The ceiling has been bewitched so that it looks like snow is falling down onto us. I don't think I'll ever get over the magnificence of this. If I had the choice I'd never leave Hogwarts. For me it's the only real home I'll ever have. Out in the muggle world I just don't fit in.

"I'll see you at the end of the holiday," I manage, as Harry and Ron take a seat at the Gryffindor table.

Draco nods before going off to stand with the other group of first years who are going to be going home for the Christmas holiday. I wonder what it's like to have a family to go home to. Due to the fact I've never had a real family I don't really feel like I'm missing anything. All the people who care about me are right here at Hogwarts. I've got Snape and Dumbledore and the other teachers. In truth they're my real family.

Trying to keep myself entertained over the holiday proves to be difficult. Without Draco I really don't have anyone my age to talk to. Snape has started to act normal around me again and sometimes even takes me out to teach me how to fly. I've gotten much better and can't wait to show Draco all that I've learned.

"Severus," I start, sitting in the cold, gloomy poisons classroom. "Am I doing to stay with you over the summer?"

"I suppose so, unless the headmaster finds it more suitable to go elsewhere," he answers, moving about his room with a graceful step. I think I like Snape a lot more when he's not teaching.

"Why would he do that?"

"Stir this," Severus instructs, moving about the room, gathering various bottles from the cabinets the cover the walls.

"I asked why," I respond, moving the wooden spoon around inside the black cauldron.

The dark haired wizard sighs, "I'm your teacher now Elizabeth. It's hardly appropriate for me to be your guardian as well. Dumbledore will probably find another witch or wizard for you to spend the summer with."

My smile falls. Snape is by far the best person I've lived with. How can they just up and take me away from him? So what if he teaches at the school? I'm so tired of moving from family to family.

"They can't do that," I say, trying to keep my temper under control. I don't want to ruin Severus' potion by doing something stupid out of anger. "Please don't let them."

For a few minutes the potions master doesn't say anything. Instead he stirs a little bit of this and that into the bright green mixture that bubbles fiercely over the fire. I watch him closely, taking in his motions, reading his body language. He can't even try to lie to me. I've gotten to know him too well over the past summer.

"I've talked to the headmaster and he is going to review my request to keep you over the summer. Seems as you really have nowhere else to go, and it would be silly to stick you with a caretaker just for the summer, I feel that you will stay with me. Nothing is set in stone yet," Snape answers, his beady black eyes set on mine.

Nodding, I swing my feet through the air. I don't really have anything else to say. Severus is going to try his best to have me live with him again, that's all I can really ask for. "Thank you."

Snape nods before sending me off to have lunch in the Great Hall.

Christmas Morning

Under the small tree set up in the girl's room are two packages wrapped in bright red paper. Seems as I'm the only girl who didn't go home for the holidays I assume both are mine. Plopping down on the wooden floor I pick up the first package. It's from Snape.

Tearing off the paper I open the box within. Out of the box I pull a leather bound book, milky white pages holding a few photos. It looks like an old family scrapbook but I don't recognize anyone in the pictures. Placing it to the side I grab the other package. It's smaller than the other but it too is a box. I take off the lid surprised at what I see inside. There is a necklace, a small snake charm at the end. Taped to the inside of the lid is a letter.

Unfolding it I read over the scrawling print,

Dear Elizabeth,

Congratulations on making it into Slytherin. Here is a small gift from the family.

Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy

Smiling, I put the necklace around my neck, twisting the charm between my thumb and middle finger. This is by far my favorite Christmas present.

"Merry Christmas Elizabeth," I speak aloud before getting up and heading towards the Great Hall for breakfast.