The holidays were a nice little break from work, but my heart started missing Hogwarts more and more every day. Christmas Eve came faster then I imagined it would. Dumbledore advised that I don't try to see Sirius on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day because that's the days that he would suspect Umbridge to be really watching.

It was oddly cold this afternoon then usual.

I curled up with Snape on the couch. My head resting against his shoulder as my legs draped over his. I had my music on low and Snape was reading one of his many books. There were three small knocks on the front door.

"It's probably Umbridge again." I said as I took one of my headphones out.

Snape sighed got to his feet and checked the peep hole before opening the door.

"Is it Umbridge?" I asked.

Snape swiftly crossed the room and grabbed my arm and pulled me up off the couch.

"Sev, what…?" I asked.

Snape quickly covered my mouth with his hand. Three more small knocks on the door.

"Kate, listen to me. Hide in the bedroom and don't make a sound." Snape whispered franticly.

He pulled me into the bedroom and uncovered my mouth.

"What's going on?" I asked

"There's no time to explain, please just stay in here and don't make a sound." Snape pleaded with me.

He left the room, closing the door behind him. On the floor in front of the door and pushed my ear against it.

"Severus… I was beginning to think you weren't home." a sinister voice commented.

"Sorry my lord." Snape quietly replied back.

"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" he asked Snape.

"No, of course not." Snape replied.

I heard the front door close and soft footsteps walk further into the house.

"I came down here to personally ask something from you." He said.

"Anything." Snape replied.

There was a few moments of silence.

"I need that person… brought in. Don't fail me Severus." He said.

"Yes, right away." Snape replied.

"I gave you this assignment because you've never let me down Severus. It's important that you don't let me down now. You could say your life depends on it." He said.

I gasped, then suddenly clapped my hands over my mouth realizing that I had made a sound. It was silent.

"Is there someone else here Severus?" He asked him.

"No, it's just me here." Snape replied.

Another moment of silence. I held my breath

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Of course. Who would possibly be here with me?" Snape replied.

Another moment of silence.

"Lucious is waiting for you at the first location. I suggest leaving immediately." He added.

"Yes." Snape replied.

"Excellent. I must be going now, So many people too see." He commented.

I heard the front door open.

"Both of you report back to me once you captured him." He added.

"Of course my Lord." Snape replied.

A small moment of silence before I heard the front door close. Swift foot print approached the bedroom. I quickly stood up just as Snape opened the bedroom door.

"Severus was that Vol…" I started to say.

"I don't have much time. Please stay here Kate, Don't leave the house until I come back" Snape told me.

"Sev, please tell me what's going on." I pleaded.

"I'll explain everything when I return." He replied.

He gave me a quick kiss before I could respond. Snape pulled away from me and walked out.

Waiting was making me crazy. I paced almost every inch of his house, waiting for him to return. What if something happened to him?

I shook my head and took a deep breath in. I couldn't think like that.

I stood in front of the window. The night sky twinkled at me. Spinner's end looked lonelier and darker then usual.

I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and then my heart skipped a beat when I saw Snape limping down Spinner's End near the house.

I ran out of the house with my bare feet as the ice cold wrapped them like a frozen blanket as I ran down Spinner's End.

"Kate." Snape breathed as I wrapped my arms tightly around him

"You're hurt." I said as I pulled away from him slightly.

"Just a little." Snape admitted as he looked down at his right leg. "It's an easy fix."

I wrapped his arm around my shoulder and started helping him down the street back to his house.

"What are you doing wearing no shoes?" Snape asked

"Get mad at me later, let's just get you inside." I said as I helped him up his front stairs.

I helped him inside and lead him to the couch. I torn open his right pant leg to examine his leg.

"Did someone already try and mend this?" I asked "Lucious." Snape replied threw clenched teeth.

"But it's still painful?" I asked

"Very." Snape replied.

I looked up at him.

"You're going to have to re-break it Kate." Snape told me.

"Sev, I don't think I can…" I replied

"It's the only way. Please." Snape pleaded.

I took out my wand and pointed it at his leg. I heisted.

"Kate… " Snape said

I heard his leg crack as I mumbled the spell. Snape's hands balled into fists and his whole body tightened up as he suppressed his pain. I hovered my wand over his leg and muttered the proper spell to fix it. Snape exhaled sharply.

"It's already starting to feel better. Thank you" Snape said as he closed his eyes and rested his head on the back of couch.

I sat down beside him.

"What happened?" I asked.

Snape lifted his head and looked at me with his dark eyes.

"I don't want you to know, but if you really want to know… then I won't keep anything from you." He replied.

"I want to know." I said.

He placed his hand gently on my cheek.

"Voldemort wanted someone brought in for questioning. He sent Lucious Malfoy and myself to capture him and bring him in for interrogation. We didn't expect that he would put up a fight." Snape said as he looked down at his leg.

"Did you…?" I asked.

"Yes and Voldemort killed him as soon as we brought him in." Snape replied.

My eyes widened with fear.

"I'm sorry it took so long; there were a couple of different locations on where he might have been." Snape explained.

A single tear fell lightly down my cheek.

"Kate…" Snape whispered.

"I was just so worried about you." I said as I wrapped my arms around him.

"I'm sorry" Snape whispered in my hair as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I pulled away from him.

"Yeah, my leg barely hurts anymore." Snape replied as he pushed a strand of hair behind my ear.

"What about the death you just witnessed?" I asked.

Snape's dark eyes suddenly filled with sadness.

"There's nothing I could have done. It was a direct order from the Dark Lord." Snape replied.

I nodded. Snape's lips gently touched mine. We both jumped as the clock chimed as it hit midnight.

"Merry Christmas." Snape smirked.

I smirked back at him.

"Merry Christmas." I whispered back.

Ugh, I knew I shouldn't have had that glass of water before bed. I can hold it until later. I don't want to leave this warm comfy bed. Maybe if I turn over I will be more comfy. No, I'm too tired to move…

Okay, I'll just turn over.

I shifted a bit and Snape slowly moved his arm from around my waist. I turned to face away from him. Snape slowly moved his arm back around my waist.

Ah, Much better…

I still need to pee. If I would have just gone when I said it first, I would have been back by now and sleeping. Okay, I should just go…

I actually think I can hold it until morning.

No, I better go now…

I shifted again and Snape lifted up his arm again. I slowly moved my legs off the bed and let my feet touch the cold wood floor. I slowly managed to stand on my own and stumbled to the door.

"Where are you going?" Snape mumbled.

"Washroom." I mumbled back

"You shouldn't have had that glass of water before bed." Snape said as he yawned.

Smartass…

I stumbled back into the bedroom. I just wanted to get back into bed after the ordeal and effort it took just to use the washroom. Not to mention being blinded by the light when I flicked it on in there. I crawled back into the nice warm bed next to Snape. I yawned as Snape placed his arm back around my waist.

"I was afraid that you might have gotten lost." Snape mumbled.

"It took a lot to go up all those stairs." I mumbled back.

"Yes I could see how all of seven stairs would be an issue." Snape said.

"How about I push you down seven stairs and see how much of an issue it is." I mumbled.

Snape lightly chuckled.

"That's not very nice." Snape whispered in my ear.

"I can't be nice all the time." I replied as I turned over onto my other side facing Snape.

"Must you move so much?" Snape smirked.

"Now who's not being very nice?" I mumbled.

"I guess we're just not very nice people." Snape replied.

"I can live with that." I said.

Snape tightened his grip around my waist.

"Go back to sleep." Snape whispered.

I did almost instantly after he said that.

It wasn't until noon until Snape and I decided to get up. I slumped down on the couch wrapped in my house coat. Snape sat down next too me and handed me a cup of coffee.

"Thanks." I smirked

Snape watched me as I took a sip of the fresh delicious coffee.

"I have something for you." Snape said as he handed me wrapped small box.

I put my coffee down and slowly grabbed the gift from Snape.

"Sev, you didn't have too." I said.

"Just open it." Snape replied.

I slowly pulled the ribbon and opened up the lid. I picked up a small bottle filled with a golden liquid.

"Is this Felix Felicis?" I asked.

"Yes. I made it myself." Snape replied.

"This is so awesome! Thank you." I said as I hugged him.

I quickly sat up and dug in my housecoat pockets. I pulled out a smaller box.

"I got something for you as well." I smirked.

"Kate…" Snape said.

"Just open it." I said as I placed it in his hand.

He heisted for a couple of seconds before slowly removing the wrapping paper. He slowly opened up the box.

"Kate… Is this?" He started to ask

"Yeah, it's the gem I found in my dream. I got it formed so it actually looks more like a gem then a hunk of solid nothing." I smirked.

"I can't…" Snape started to say again.

"You can, because I want you too have it. Besides it's named after you." I added.

"It's what?" Snape asked.

"Yeah, I named it Severus' Stone." I smirked.

Snape didn't say anything.

"The goblin who did that for me said he's never seen anything like it." I added.

Still Snape said nothing.

"Please just accept it Sev." I pleaded as I placed my hand on his leg.

Snape's eye's met mine.

"Okay." Snape replied quietly.

"Excellent! Now, I hope you're up for some breakfast!" I said as I jumped up from the couch.

I walked into the kitchen and started pulling out some frying pans from the lower cabinets. I glanced back into the living area and Snape was still sitting on the couch looking at the gem. I smirked as I stood up with the frying pans.

"Sev, you want to come help me with breakfast?" I asked.

Snape snapped out of whatever daze he was in and looked over at me.

"Of course." Snape replied as he set the box down on the side table.