Chapter 10

Un-Happy Christmas to You

The days leading up to Christmas break pass in a blur for Chris. She and Severus both become so embroiled in the lead up to mid-term exams and the Christmas holidays that they barely get a moment to say hello to one another at meal times, let alone have any real time together. Finally her last class of the term ends and Chris heads back to her rooms. She accidently leaves the door open as she collapses onto the plush couch, heels crossed on one arm, her robes awry and her arm over her eyes.

"You know, Miss Smith, you should be more careful to fully close your door, what if a student saw you in this state?" Severus' voice comes from the door way and Chris starts and sits up quickly, her legs tangling in her skirt and causing her to fall towards the floor, though she never lands on it, a wave of Severus' hand and Chris floats gently upright onto the couch.

"Thank you," She sighs, her face a deep red of embarrassment. "You scared the shit out of me."

"Now, Miss Smith, First you leave you door open so that anyone passing might wander in, then you use that language where a student might hear. What shall we do with you?" He is leaning casually against the doorframe half smirking at her. His voice is teasing dark silk.

"You could start by coming in and closing the door behind you," she grins as she pulls her legs up under her in a more comfortable pose.

Severus does just that and without another word he is beside her, pulling her into a deep passionate kiss. This is nothing like before. Their first night together was soft and testing, unsure and wary. What follows is rough, confident, passionate, and yet holds an air of comfort and safety. It is not long before they lie together on the couch, both trying to catch their breath, Chris lays beside him and somewhat on top of him, her fingers still dancing gently and slowly over his bare chest. She giggles a little to herself before she speaks.

"Hello to you to, Severus…" she says with a light air if teasing in her voice. He laughs deeply, a sound Chris has never heard, but instantly decides she wants to hear again.

Severus kisses the top of her head and then sits up slowly, helping her to do the same. "I did not exactly intend for that to happen," he says as he begins dressing, "I have to leave for London in less than an hour now."
Chris retrieves her wand from the floor and waves it, bringing her underthings to her and beginning to dress as well. "Will you be back before break is over?"

"I should be," he answers as he stands, Chris stands with him and moves close to him looking up and smiling.

"I will be here when you get back then," she moves up onto her toes to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him lightly. His arms slip around her waist and he pulls her close, deepening the kiss.

"Sooner, rather than later," he kisses her lightly once more and then moves towards the door. Chris follows him, careful to stay out of view of the hall beyond as she opens it for him. He touches her cheek gently with his cool fingers and holds her gaze for a moment before stepping into the hall. "In case I am not back before then, have a Happy Christmas, Christine"

"You too, Severus" She smiles as he turns to move down the hall, his black cloak trailing him as usual. She sighs as she closes the door and sinks to sit on the floor just inside it. She can't help but smile as she slowly begins to move around the room again, first dressing and then straitening up the rumpled looking living room, all the while humming Christmas Carols to herself.

The days till Christmas pass swiftly. Chris spends a little time in Hogsmead shopping for gifts, though she has few to buy. Christmas eve she ventures to the nearest muggle town and browses through a few of the shops. She picks up a small assortment of muggle candies at the sweet shop, knowing that Professor Dumbledore will appreciate them, and the shops browsing and enjoying the watching the muggles bustling about shopping for their last minute gifts. She is almost ready to head back to school when something catches her eye. A simple, silver fountain pen with an emerald green band around it's middle. Something about it screams Severus' name to her. She is all smiles as she takes her find to the register to pay for it and has it wrapped in blue and silver paper. She has a spring in her step as she heads back to the castle with her few purchases. Chris wraps the few remaining gifts, sends the ones for other teachers to the house elves to be delivered in the morning, just as the student's gifts are, and then heads to bed. She keeps Severus' gift on her desk to give to him when he returns. She wants to see his face when he opens it.

Chris is woken on Christmas morning by the unexpected tapping of an owl on her window. She slips into a heavy robe before opening the window to let it in. She thanks the owl as she takes the letter from his beak and watches as he immediately flies off over the snow covered grounds towards the owlery. She recognizes the thin, though almost feminine handwriting of her name on the front as Severus' and she opens it excitedly.

"Christine,

I was able to return sooner than expected and would be honored if you would grace me with your presence for dinner tonight in my quarters. I will see you at the feast this afternoon and hope for a reply then.

Happy Christmas,

Severus"

Now it will be a happy Christmas , She thinks to herself as she sits at the foot of her bed to open the few packages there. Among her gifts are a tin of cookies from Professor McGonagall, a bottle of fire whiskey from Paige, and from professor Dumbledore, a warm black cloak that has both the Hogwarts crest and her initials embroidered on it as well as a box of Berttie Botts Every Flavor Beans . She looks a long moment at the package on the bottom of the stack. A small, rectangular box wrapped in simple red and green striped paper. The card on top simply says "A beautiful gift for a beautiful witch," and is once again in Severus' unique handwriting. Chris opens the box to find a silver necklace from which hangs an emerald heart surrounded by small rubies and golden citrine. Chris notices her cheeks are very pink as she looks in the mirror to put it on.

Chris takes her time getting ready. She chooses the same red dress she wore on her and Severus' date, but spells it candy cane stripped. She pairs it with high heeled shoes spelled to match and candy cane earrings. She leaves her hair down in the back but pulls the sides back with small red clips and carefully arranges her make up on her face, choosing a bright red lipstick to match her outfit. Satisfied with her outfit she heads down to the great hall. Her eyes brighten as she takes in the beauty of the 12 enormous Christmas trees, each decorated with a different theme around the room. The tables are dressed up and loaded down with Christmas crackers. The students have already begun filling the tables as Chris takes a seat at the head table and leaves an empty seat beside her.

The meal has already begun when Severus enters from a door at the back of the hall and sits beside Chris.

"Happy Christmas, Miss Smith," he greets her professionally, though his eyes linger on the necklace she wears and his lips twitch into what was almost a smile.

"Happy Christmas to you as well, Professor," she smiles openly at him as she pours herself a drink.

Very little is said between them at this meal, as it has been with any other they have shared in the great hall. No one in attendance would know there was anything more than professional courtesy between them. Chris has several drinks, as do many others of the teachers in attendance. Her cheeks are flushed with the alcohol and laughter as she finally turns to offer one end of a cracker to Severus. He takes it, though his eyes don't leave hers as he pulls it with her. They are enveloped in a cloud of smoke for a moment, and Severus uses the opportunity to bring her hand to his lips swiftly and gently. Chris dons the red sparkling Santa Hat that comes out of it and smiles at him before returning wordlessly to her meal.

As the students file out of the hall he looks at her and asks simply. "You received my note?"

"Yes," she answers, her voice revealing that she is more than a little tipsy, "and I accept, Thank you"

Severus looks her over a moment, stands and then says softly, "Miss Smith, I believe you are in need of a sober up potion"

"Why ever would I want one of those?" she asks jokingly as she also stands.

"Perhaps," he says, soft enough that she is the only one who hears him, "as an excuse to join me in my quarters earlier than dinner, and to allow you to remember the evening that follows."

"Okay then," Chris answers with a blush and a giggle, "I suppose it would be a good idea."

They head towards his quarters in silence, save for Chris' humming of "We Wish you a Merry Christmas". As they descend the steps into the dungeons, Chris stops and removes her shoes as she is not steady on her feet in them. When they reach his rooms he opens the door and allows Chris to enter first. He no sooner has the door closed than he has pushed her against the wall, his long fingers on the bare skin near her neck. His lips descend on hers, and she returns his kiss with equal fervor, dropping her shoes to the floor.

"I do hope I am not interrupting," a cold voice comes from deeper in the room. Severus has spun around, wand at the ready before the blonde man even finishes speaking. He lets out a deep breath and lowers his wand upon seeing who it is.

"Lucius, to what do I owe this… surprise?" he asks coolly, deliberately staying in front of Chris. Chris simply closes her eyes, her cheeks flaming red, not only that someone should see them, but that it should be Lucius Malfoy, her least favorite person in the world. When they were at school together Chris was Lucius and his cronies' favorite person to torment. She once spent an entire week with her whole body, head to toe, a sickeningly disgusting green thanks to a hex gone awry. After school ended and the Order of the Phoenix was deep in the fight against Voldermort and his Death Eaters, Malfoy had tried to kill Chris at every opportunity. Chris still bore the scar across her shoulder from one such attempt. Deciding that Severus seems willing and capable of handling the situation, she kept quiet and allows him to do so.

"I just came to wish you a Happy Christmas, to invite you to supper, and to escape from my son's incessant whining for a moment…" he stands, "But as I see you are… otherwise occupied…" Malfoy stops speaking midsentence as he catches sight of Chris over Severus' shoulder. "Severus, might I be correct in recognizing Chris Smith?"

"Yes, you are correct…" Severus answers warily barely stepping to the side, moving from in front of her.

"Happy Christmas Lucius," she says, her smile now gone and her words are forced.

"And the same to you, Miss Smith, though," he looks back to Severus, "I can't imagine what you would be doing here."

"Miss Smith was simply picking up a sober up potion, the wine at the feast was, it seems, a bit stronger than she anticipated." Severus answers, moving towards his cabinet.

"I see, drunkenness in not a good quality in a teacher," he says, as though Chris is not present, "Perhaps Professor Dumbledore should be informed of her… indulgences."
"Perhaps so," Severus answers, "I will see to that myself as soon as the holiday is over." He turns and hands Chris a vial. "If that is all you need, Miss Smith, I suggest you be going." His eyes are cold and unreadable. Chris is swiftly becoming agitated.

"Thank you, Severus," Chris puts emphasis on his name as he is refusing to use hers at the moment. She looks to Malfoy, "For your information, Professor Dumbledore was sitting 2 seats from me at the feast, and I would be pleased to tell him myself how much I had to drink. Also, this is the first time in my teaching career that I have had more than one glass of wine in front of students."

"That is enough, Miss Smith," Severus stops her before she can say more, or Malfoy can answer. "I think it is time you returned to your rooms."

"Yes," Malfoy says laughingly, "The smell of mud is getting thick in the air. You will have to light some candles if she stays much longer, Severus"

Chris looks to Snape for some kind of reply, hoping to hear him defend her, even in the slightest. He doesn't even look at her. Finally, her eyes brimming with tears she takes the thin, rectangular box from the pocket of her dress and looks up at him.

"Very well," she says softly, "Happy Christmas, Severus," she sets the package and the still full potion vial on a small table near the door and turns swiftly. She says nothing to Malfoy as she opens the door, holding her head high and resisting the childlike urge to bolt from the room. As she takes a step away from the door her shoes fly out of the door and hit the opposite wall hard, barely missing hitting her on their way. Malfoy's cold laugh sounds as they thump to the floor, and Severus' voice joins his moments before the door slams closed. Safe from their eyes, Chris picks up her shoes and runs towards her rooms, allowing her tears to spill down her face once she is safe behind her own closed door.