X-mas Time Part 1

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters

To sweet-tang-honney: Thank you very much, I'm glad you like it

To sjrodgers108: Thank you I will update as much as I can

To georgia_ girl: I'm so sorry dear, it was not my intention to make you cry, it will work out

I swear. (By the way, I don't consider this a flame; I've received much worse ones before.)

To Heidi191976: I'm glad you like it, who doesn't like a little smut

To LK-HoGwArTs-hEaDgIrL: I'm happy to hear you love it

To loveismagic: I know, who wouldn't want him? Thanks I'm glad my first time writing

smut was successful.

Ever since that night a week ago in the room of requirement, Hermione had been positively giddy. As a fire danced in her eyes and a peaceful smile grazed her face, she noticed that Severus was in a much better mood. He would never be giddy of coarse because that just wasn't him, but he seemed to be much more relaxed and less grouchy around others.

What relieved Hermione the most was that their feelings were now out in the open and they no longer had to worry about how they felt about each other, not to mention worrying about a certain royal pain in the ass trying to keep them apart.

They had made love several more times since that night and each time seem to feel better then the last, however the challenge now was their brewing since she was still his apprentice. As much time as they had alone together in that steamy potions lab, it was a struggle to keep off of each other.

Hermione had just finished the latest batch of wolfsbane when she felt Severus wrap his arms around her from behind and gently kiss her neck.

"You are lucky I finished the potion at all Severus, I noticed those lusty looks you have been giving me all morning." Hermione said while leaning back into his embrace.

"I can't help it Hermione, I love being with you. You are the best medicine and you make me feel young again." Severus said after ceasing his kisses and just held her.

Hermione turned around to face her lover and gave him a stern look, one he rarely ever saw.

"Severus Snape how many times do I need to tell you? You are not old, believe me if you were old you couldn't do half the things we do in bed." Hermione said before kissing him.

"I'm just lucky you have become quite the tiger with a healthy sexual appetite."

Hermione smiled before pulling away and checking her watch, it was just a little after eleven. They had been brewing nonstop since seven that morning and Hermione was ready for a change of scenery.

"I have an idea, let's do something fun." She said while hanging up her lab coat.

"Okay what do you have in mind?" Severus said perversely hoping that was what she was thinking of.

"I know! Let's go ice skating. It's cold enough now that the lake would be frozen solid." She said.

Severus' face fell when he heard her idea, he was worried that there would be too many eyes watching them.

"Hermione I don't know if that's a good idea. What if we are seen together?"

"Oh Severus think about it. Almost everyone has gone home for Christmas and the castle is virtually empty, besides if we want our relationship to work, we need to spend some time together out in the open instead of just having sex all the time." She said.

Severus sighed, he knew she was right. He didn't want her to feel as though sex was all he wanted and he would do just about anything for her.

"Okay Hermione we can go ice skating but I'm afraid you will have to teach me." He said embarrassed.

"You don't know how to ice skate?" She asked

"No I don't, I never had a reason to learn."

"That's okay I can teach you, but if I do you must listen to my instructions, understand?"

"Yes my dear." He said before taking her hand and kissing it.

Once they bundled up so they were nice and warm, they took a shortcut from the dungeons that lead outside, never letting go of each other's hands the whole way.

Christmas was only a few days away, therefore winter had came full force and dumped at least two feet of snow onto the frozen wasteland. Just as Hermione predicted, the lake was frozen solid and there was no sign of the squid.

Hermione transfigured her snow boots into white ice skates and tread carefully onto the ice.

"Come on Severus, you can't learn standing on the earth." She said waiting for him.

Severus sighed and transfigured his snow boots into a pair of black ice skates. He was trying to figure out how he would get on the ice without killing himself until Hermione moved closer and extended her hand.

"Take my hand, I won't let you fall." She said while smiling.

"I highly doubt you could keep me from falling Hermione." Severus said before taking her hands and slowly moving one foot in front of the other.

"Severus you do realize that it is normal if you do fall the first time, it takes practice to get it right." She said, pulling back slightly so that he finally made it on the ice.

" Now, move one foot in front of the other slowly." She instructed.

They were out there for almost two hours when Severus finally got the hang of skating and had it down enough to do it himself.

He was astounded on how Hermione danced across the ice with such grace and expertise that he forgot to pay attention and almost crashed into a tree near the bank.

He enjoyed skating with her the most, holding her hands and body to him as they spun in a circle, laughing until dizzy. They had so much fun that afternoon that they were oblivious to the pair of twinkling blue eyes watching them from a tower window.

The next day Severus was sitting in his chambers when he remembered that Christmas was only a few days away and he still had no clue as to what to get Hermione. He loved the girl dearly but she was the hardest person to shop for.

"Think Severus think. Who would know what girls like for gifts." He asked himself before the answer smacked him in the face.

"Of course, why didn't I think of him before?" He asked himself before heading to his fireplace and flooing to Malfoy Manor.

Lucius was in his study, going over some business papers when Severus appeared through the fireplace, startling Lucius to the point where he almost fell out of his chair.

" Merlin Severus don't scare me like that, you could have at least sent an owl saying you were coming." Lucius said trying to control his rapid heartbeat.

"I apologize Lucius but I need to talk to Draco immediately, is he here?"

"Yes, yes he is in his room. Is anything wrong?" Lucius asked

"No nothing's wrong I just need his help with something, thanks Lucius and once again I'm sorry for scaring you." Severus said before leaving Lucius' study.

Severus made his way to Draco's room and knocked on is door.

"Come in." Severus heard Draco say from behind it.

Severus walked in and closed the door behind him before casting a muffalito charm on the room. Draco was laying on his bed reading when he saw Severus and immediately sat up.

"Severus what are you doing here?" Draco asked.

" I came to ask for your help Draco." Severus said.

Draco chuckled briefly. " You know I ought to start charging for my services since so many people want my help. I feel like a psychiatrist almost."

Severus raised his eyebrow "a what?" he asked Draco.

"Muggle mind doctor."

"Oh okay, I'm not even going to ask why you know that."

"I'd prefer you didn't, now what seems to be the problem." Draco said while beckoning Severus to sit down.

"Well Christmas is coming in a few days and I haven't the slightest clue as to what to get for Hermione. I love her and I know her very well but she is difficult to shop for."

"And so you want to know what to get her, well my friend you came to the right place. As you know I have been observing the both of you for a while now and I have picked up on some pretty interesting stuff."

"Like what?"

"Well did you know that Hermione is a distinguished piano player?" Draco asked

"No I didn't, I'm not surprised though. She is good at ice skating and I didn't know that either. "

"Severus it sounds like you don't know her as well as you thought."

Severus sighed, Draco was right. He had been so wrapped up in his physical love for Hermione that he didn't remotely know of what she was interested in, her favorite color, or her birthday for that matter, god he felt like a jackass right now.

"Merlin I'm a bad mate Draco, there is so much I don't know about her."

"Well I know a few things about her, ask me then ask the rest to her. I bet she is just as lost about you."

" Okay what's her favorite color?"

"Green"

"Really? I didn't expect that."

"Yes it is surprising but it is green."

" Favorite food?"

" Dark chocolate, must be a girl thing."

" Favorite flower?"

"A rose, you somehow already knew that."

"Favorite book?"

"Oh god Severus you're kidding? Well from what I've seen she enjoys this muggle novel called Pride and Prejudice, I've seen her read that half a dozen times, she also enjoys poetry."

"Hmm you have given me a lot to go on Draco thank you."

"You also can't go wrong with jewelry Severus, every girl likes something sparkly."

"I will remember that Draco. I had better be going but thanks again." Severus said before leaving.

"Oh you poor lovesick fool." Draco said smirking to himself.

Meanwhile at Hogsmeade Hermione was having a very similar conversation about her better half to Ginny.

"Gods Ginny I'm a terrible girlfriend, here it is a few days until Christmas and not only do I not know what to get Severus, but I haven't the slightest clue as to what he is interested in."

"Now Hermione calm down a minute, think about it, this relationship is in its very early stages now, despite the fact you two have had sex." Ginny said, involuntarily shivering at the thought and earning a glare from Hermione.

"Sorry, anyway what I'm saying is that now is the time to get to know one another better, find out things you didn't know before. Okay let's think, what do you already know about him now?" Ginny asked before taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

"Well I know his birthday is January 9th, he loves reading anything informative, is a fabulous cook." Hermione said causing Ginny's eyebrows to raise.

"Really? I can't see him cooking."

"Yea, he cooked dinner for us one night, I'm not that surprised though. You know how good he is with potions, cooking is practically the same thing except with food."

"True, what else?" Ginny asked.

"Let's see, he has great taste in wine, and obviously loves potions, that's about all I know."

"Well it's not a bad start, let's go into Flourish and Blotts and see if we can find anything that would spark his interest."

"Good idea." Hermione said, leaving a tip before heading to the door.

Today Hogsmeade was busier than normal, but that was no surprise considering Christmas would be here soon, everywhere there were parents with children and young couples carrying parcels. Flourish and Blotts was no exception either, it was busy but not uncomfortably so and books were still in good supply.

"How about this one?" Ginny asked holding a potions book.

"He already has it, in fact I think he has just about every potions and spell book in this place." Hermione said sighing.

"Hermione! It's so good to see one of my best customers, can I help you find anything?" Dr. Atticus Flourish asked her from around the corner. The short, stocky middle aged man never had trouble finding her in the store, good thing he was always civil and helpful otherwise she might have considered his behavior creepy.

"Hello Dr. Flourish, actually I'm looking for a Christmas gift for Professor Snape but he seems to have everything in this store that would spark his interest."

"Hmm" Dr. Flourish said while playing with his gray beard until an idea popped in his head.

"Maybe not everything, both of you come with me." He said to the girls as he led them to the back of the store. With his wand he tapped at two bookcases that were against a wall, they instantly parted revealing a hidden door.

"Now I'm going to ask that both of you keep this a secret, I'm only doing this because you Hermione are a favorite of mine as is Professor Snape." He said before opening the door and revealing a room that was lined from floor to ceiling with books.

"What is this?" Hermione asked in astonishment as Dr. Flourish closed the door.

"This here Hermione, Miss. Weasley is my privet collection that is why I'm asking you to keep this secret because it is not every day I sell someone something from here, I guarantee that Professor Snape will not have any titles in this room though.

Hermione wandered around the room glancing at different titles in amazement, some of these books were hundreds of years old and some she had to open and read since their titles were so old. They were in there for what seemed like hours until Hermione froze at a title she saw on the shelf.

Raphael of Alabaster's potions journal were words that gleamed in gold lettering atop of wine colored leather. Hermione grabbed the book carefully and opened it. Inside the pages were yellowed with age but black cursive ink and drawings were clearly visible.

"Is this?" She began to ask.

"Ah yes, this here is one of the ten copies in existence of the potions journal of Raphael of Alabaster, the same potion's master that taught Merlin himself."

"How did you get this? I thought it was lost in time"

"No my dear, the ten copies were made from the original before the original disappeared."

Hermione knew that Severus would be ecstatic to have this, she knew it was made for him.

"How much?" She asked him

"Well this is a very rare book and it is very old and hard to come by. How about 10,000 galleons?" He asked. Hermione's heart fell into her stomach, as much as she wanted him to have it, there was no way she could afford it. With a sigh she put it back on the shelf.

"I know Severus would love it, but I just can't afford it." She said.

Dr. Flourish raised an eyebrow as to her use of the potions master's first name but chose to ignore it.

"How much do you have on you know Hermione?" He asked her.

"Well since he is that last I had to shop for, I'd say around 500 galleons."

"Tell you what, how about I take your 500 galleons and you work here at the shop for a year. That should pay it off." He said.

Hermione looked at him excitedly and fought hard not to cry.

"Do you mean it? That would be great! However the only days I could work are Sundays and Tuesdays since I have no classes that day. I'm working with Professor Snape on Saturdays for my potions apprenticeship and until Summer that is all I can work." She said cautiously.

"That's fine Hermione that should still add up to you paying off your debt. How about you work on Tuesday and Sunday here when classes resume from 9:00am until 3:00pm, I will notify Professor Dumbledore about this. Will this work?" He asked

"Yes but please don't tell Dumbledore that I was buying this for Professor Snape, it's just easier that way. She said.

"Fair enough, have a good evening Hermione." Dr. Flourish said to her after she paid him the money and left the shop with Ginny.

*************************************************************************************

Nickolas stroked the chest of his crane while putting the finishing touches on his gift to Hermione.

"Yes my pet I think she will find these lovely, she is just as beautiful as they are." He said before writing out his note to go with the gift.

Christmas morning finally came and brought more falling snow with it. Hermione stretched from her warm cocoon of blankets and pushed an irritable Crookshanks off of her stomach to see the presents she got at the end of her bed.

She walked over and began unwrapping each one. A book from Harry, a bag of sweets from Ron, some beauty trinkets from Ginny that Hermione loved, a Weasley jumper from Ron and Ginny's mother, some odd and ends from her parents, and a note from Severus.

Hermione quickly opened the letter, anxious to see what her lover wrote her.

Dearest Hermione,

Meet me in my chambers after lunch today for your Christmas present, I really hope you will like it.

I love you,

Severus

Hermione jumped excitedly at his letter, apparently they both had the same idea of wanting the other to see their gift opened in person. Hermione was cleaning the paper up as was about to get dressed when she noticed a long black box with a red ribbon wrapped around it.

Hermione was puzzled as to who it could be from since there was no note on the outside.

She slowly untied the ribbon and opened the box to see one of the most beautiful gifts she had ever seen. Twelve long stemmed red roses that were painted lightly in liquid gold lay in the box. She had never seen anything like it before, the gold was noticeable but not tacky in the slightest, in fact it made the red petals of each rose richer, and also around the stem she noticed on each one a satin black ribbon was tied into a bow.

She picked up one of the roses, it was slightly heavy due to the gold on it but was just as lovely and smelled just as sweet. She then noticed a note at the bottom of the box that was folded over.

She picked up the note and began to read.

My dear you are as lovely as a flower, but these cannot compare to you beauty. A natural princess such as yourself has no competitor.

She recognized the aristocratic scrawl immediately and started to shake in fear.

She dropped the rose she was holding to the floor and let out a terrified scream before dropping the note and backing away from the box as if it might hex her.

Harry, Ron, and Ginny heard her screaming and burst into the room to see Hermione against the wall in fear, staring at a box on her bed.

"Mione what is wrong?" Harry asked her, trying to pull her out of her fear.

"Nickolas…" was all Hermione said while pointing to the box.

Ron went over to the box and read the note after looking at the roses carefully. Ron turned three shades of red in anger before crumpling the note in one hand.

"I'm going to kill that fucker if it's the last thing I do." Ron said

Harry and Ginny took turns reading the note and both agreed to Ron's statement.

"What part of leave you alone doesn't he understand?" Ginny asked, pacing back and forth.

"I think we really need to go to Professor Dumbledore about this." Harry said.

"What good will it do Harry? He didn't threaten me or anything in his note, and despite the fact that Dumbledore has been upset at the events surrounding Nickolas I'm not so sure any good will come out of it." Hermione said before starting to cry.

"I'm going to end up like Parvati I just know it, and nobody can help me."

Harry, Ron, and Ginny came over to her and all three enveloped her in a hug as she continued to cry helplessly.

"We won't let that happen Hermione, we promise." Ron said.

"Yea, he tried anything we will turn him into a snack for the giant squid." Harry said.

Severus noticed that Hermione wasn't at breakfast nor did she come to lunch, not only was that out of the ordinary for her but he couldn't shake this feeling that something was not quite right, his suspicions were confirmed when Hermione joined him in his chambers that day.

As much as she tried to cover up the fact that she was upset, the sparkle that was in her eyes when she was happy was not present and tear stains marked her skin.

Severus immediately walked over to her and enveloped her in his arms and noticed that she immediately wrapped her arms around him and clung to him like she was dying, whatever had upset her was bad.

"You've been crying" He said while holding her face in his hands and staring into her sad eyes.

"Goodness Hermione whatever is the matter my love?" He asked her as she was fighting back another wave of tears.

She led him over to his couch and proceeded to tell him what had happened that morning, the whole time Severus was getting madder with each passing minute.

"How dare that son of a bitch, I'll kill him." Severus said angrily before Hermione placed her hand over his.

"I'm afraid you will have to get in line Severus, Harry, Ron, and Ginny also said the same thing." Hermione said trying to lighten the moment.

"Yeah well I'm your mate and that automatically give me first dibs." He said before kissing her and embracing her tightly.

"I will never let him hurt you my love. I would die before that would ever happen, you Hermione are my world. I know we may have not been together long but it feels like a lifetime to me and you can't possibly understand how much you mean to me." He said

"I feel the same way Severus, I love you so much, and I feel incomplete without you." She said before kissing him tenderly.

"Turn around" he whispered to her, earning him a questioning look.

"Just do it, turn around and close your eyes." He said

"Okay" she said before doing just that.

She felt him move her hair aside and something slip around her neck and settle itself around her.

"Open your eyes." He whispered in her ear.

She did and looked down to see the most beautiful pendent she ever saw lying against her neck. An emerald surrounded by rubies hung by a gold chain, in the firelight the stones seemed to glow and glitter like the stars in the sky.

Hermione turned back around to Severus and kissed him passionately, feeling her mood brighten considerably.

"Oh Severus it's beautiful, but you didn't have to get me this."

"Nonsense you silly girl, you are my lady and if I want to shower my lady in jewels then I shall, besides that isn't all." Severus said before handing her a green box.

"How did you know my favorite color was green?" she asked him

"Uh lucky guess?"He asked unintentionally, earning a look from Hermione.

"Alright, alright I went to Draco and he told me."

"Draco?" Hermione questioned

"Yes, you know how he has decided to observe us all year? Well he has found out some things about us as individuals such as your favorite color being green. I went to him because I didn't know what to get you and in turn found out that I didn't know as much about you as I thought." He finished looking slightly sad.

"Severus it's okay really, I don't know a whole lot about you either but we can learn. Sure we may have jumped the gun sexually but that doesn't mean anything."

"Tell you what why don't we learn about each other after we open our gifts okay?" He asked

"Sure, I will open this now." She said.

She opened the box to find black leather bound book inside, there was no title and nothing on the cover. She opened the inside cover to see Severus' handwriting.

Severus Snape's Poetry Journal

1973-1979

She flipped through the book to see many poems written by Severus, she stopped to read a few and was amazed at how good they were.

"I didn't know you were a poet." She said

"I didn't know you liked poetry" He retorted

"Severus these are beautiful, I would have never expected this." She said

"Look on the last page." He said

Hermione turned to the last page to see that it was dated last night and that a new poem was there too. She looked down at it and began to read.

Our Love

Our love is such a simple thing.

A happy smile, a tender kiss.

But just to know that you are mine

Makes my heart glad-makes my heart sing.

It sings of happy times we've spent

In small cafes, 'mid country scenes.

And times we've watched the sun come up;

Small things that make our life content.

Our life is one eternal spring.

Each day our love is born anew;

We're happy just to be alive.

Our love is such a simple thing.

At the bottom of the poem there was a note written just for Hermione.

Hermione, this poem barely explains my love for you, but you are my life, my love. I hope we can share these simple things together for the rest of our lives.

Hermione looked at him astounded, not noticing the tears falling freely from her eyes.

"Severus I love you and yes I want to cherish these things for the rest of our lives too." She said before kissing him tenderly.

Authors note: Whew! A monster of a chapter, I wanted to continue it but it was getting too long so I'm breaking it up into 2 parts.

The poem Our Love was written by John J. Bridson. I'm out of practice when it comes to writing poetry so this would have to do. I love you all