When I got back to my room, I found Luna sitting there doing homework, or at least intense writing. I glanced in her direction but she was so deep in what she was doing she didn't realize that I was back. I laughed and lied down on my bed. I couldn't think what i wanted to buy tomorrow for Severus. I didn't want to buy potions gear because that would be lame, and he is so clever that a book about the dark arts would be redundant. Seeing as we had only been seeing each other for a few months something really expensive didn't seem fitting and he knew I didn't have the money so he'd take it back. I just decided that I was going to leave it and see what I found. Luna came in a bit later when I was dozing off and she jumped.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were on the grounds?"

"I got here about two hours ago. You were studying so I left you. How long till dinner do you think, is it worth me going for a nap?"

"About an hour so I wouldn't say so. When you go for little naps the wrackspurts do the most damage," she ran over to my bed and jumped. "Look at my plan; it's how I'm going to ask Neville out." I took the pieces of paper out of Luna's hand and nearly cracked up laughing. She had made a flip book with giant pictures of her running to him and the way he reacted was just like he would. He said 'No.' in the book and scuttled off shy and it seemed very fitting, but Luna was still bopping happily.

"Luna, he may not say no, what will you do if he does?"

"Tell him that we can't go out yet because it isn't part of the plan. Let's go to dinner now." She pulled me off and took me to the Ravenclaw table. She worries me sometimes but she's the best friend I've ever had. It was really early and there weren't many people around only Professor McGonagall and her first years. I leaned my head on the table as the people started to pour in, thinking about Severus and whether he'd even get me anything. I imagined Christmas; snow falling, Severus and I by the fire, falling asleep together, being stabbed in the leg with a fork.

Uuuggguuuu... What's going on? I thought. I looked up and dinner was about to be served. Everyone was in and waiting to eat. Professor McGonagall was standing at the podium notifying us to be quiet.

"Good Evening. Professor Dumbledore is out of the school at the moment so I am taking his place. I would like to let all third years and above that we will be having supervised visits to Hogsmeade tomorrow. Third and Fourth years will go in the morning, and the elder students for the afternoon. Your heads of house will explain more after dinner. Enjoy."

As the food appeared I wasn't hungry. I was tired from my nap and confused why Severus wasn't there. Luna placed half a dozen small potatoes on a plate and told me to eat them; I just picked at what I could. I was too tired but excited to think about food, I needed to plan the trip. Finally after waiting for dinner to be over and for Professor Flitwick to tell us more about Hogsmeade, I went to bed and dreamed sweet... sensual dreams.

"Adele, I've wanted you for so long." I feel his hand through my hair as nuzzles my neck...

I hate it when people wake you up from dreams. It was already late morning and only a few hours before Hogsmeade. Luna left me asleep for a little while but that doesn't mean she doesn't have great timing when it comes to waking me up. I had a shower and dressed warmly and waited in the great hall for out turn. The teachers supervising our group were McGonagall, Sinistra and Severus, much to my dismay.

Luna and I shopped separately and I had a wonderful time. I didn't see Professor Snape so that was good, but I found the most wonderful presents. There was a quirky little bookshop hidden behind Zonko's in which I bought a very descriptive book for Luna about mysterious creatures; wrackspurts were one of them. Seeing as Fred and George had let me stay with them I decided to buy them a small gift as well. It was difficult knowing how they could buy anything with their new fortunes but I bought them each a muggle joke toy; a flower when someone smells it, it spits water at them by your command. Lastly, Severus.

His was very difficult to buy. I walked around all over Hogsmeade and I couldn't find a thing. I considered buying him a broomstick but that would have been too much for my budget. I was flustered and confused when a deep voice coughed behind me.

"Miss. Reynolds, I should like to advise you that your cash flow is limited, therefore it is not suitable for you to be buying me a gift." It was said in a quiet voice but still teacher talk for those eavesdropping.

"I disagree sir-"

"You would. You are to come to my office tomorrow evening, Christmas Eve, and I'll cook." He winked at me. I still didn't know what to get him when I heard his voice in my mind. Legilimency?

"Don't. Get. Me. Anything. Just come to dinner." So I didn't, but not without buying an outfit for the occasion.

Everyone left to go home on Christmas Eve morning, which meant giving Luna her present early. She loved it a lot and began reading it in the carriage, and she gave me a book as well. But hers was about luring men; a joke on her part... I think. I gave Ron the packages for the twins and wished Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Himself a happy Christmas. The rest of the day went smoothly and only six pupils stayed this year, making the evening easier for myself.

Knock knock... He answered the door and the strong aroma of roast filled my nose. When he said he was going to cook I hadn't imagined something this big; especially after staying at his house. He welcomed me in and shut the door behind me. I turned around and he picked me up and I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Happy Christmas to you too!" When he placed me down he kissed me softly.

"Happy Christmas," I looked on the floor in front of the fireplace and there was a picnic set up with roast vegetables and a giant roasted beef cut.

"You didn't have to do this, I would've beenmmmm..." he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and kissed me again. I nearly melted to the floor. I reveled in being the only person in the school who knew the romantic, sensitive Severus. It was a beautiful secret. I wandered to the floor where he had set up the meal and took in the aroma.

"Dig in Adele, would you like a drink?"

"Yes, anything. Thank you." I didn't touch my plate until he sat down and we talked and ate and he told me about things that happened on the Hogsmeade trip.

"Your friend Luna is interesting to say the least. She was following Longbottom everywhere but not talking at all. Is that normal for someone your... at school?"

"It's normal for Luna, she likes him but she's just a bit different." I sipped on my butterbeer.

"You do look amazing tonight, by the way. Have I told you that?" I looked down at my outfit. I was wearing a turtleneck long sleeved red knit dress, with black stocking socks, shoes and a belt; nothing fancy but in the holiday cheer. I started to think about the previous Christmas get-togethers and a teardrop fell from my eye. He pulled my chin up with his hand and asked me what was wrong.

"This is the first Christmas I've spent without my family. Even if we didn't get along all the time, I actually miss them." I frowned and we finished our food silently. I hadn't meant to make things awkward for him, but I don't know if he knew what to say.

By the time I had eaten my whole meal I felt as if I would burst but I was feeling much lighter in spirits and I crawled over to Severus and kissed him sweetly on the lips and rested my head on his neck and he held me there while we sat in front of the fire. I started to fall asleep when he moved suddenly and walked over to his room. I didn't know what he was doing but he came back with a box wrapped in paper.

"Severus, you shouldn't have bought me a gift. I didn't get you anything."

"I asked you not to, your gift is being with me. Now open it." It was a small, long rectangular box and I had an idea what it was but I was nervous. Necklaces are very expensive; as I took the lid off the box I nearly had a heart attack. It was beautiful, and definitely a necklace but... also definitely expensive.

"No, I can't, how-"

"It didn't cost me a thing; I actually gained money from it. It's an heirloom which my mother left to me. I replace the rubies with sapphires and it turns out the rubies were worth more." As he took it out and placed it around my neck; I admired it even more. My cheeks were going red but I didn't care, it was exquisite.

"Do you like it?" The white-gold chain had small diamond chips encrusted into it and there was a lone emerald sitting right in the center, with a sapphire on each side.

"Green and blue; Slytherin and Ravenclaw. I love it, more than you know." I turned around and kissed him again. His soft lips taking mine in and then he held me and whispered to himself.

"And I love you more than you know."

He pulled away and I saw that he was embarrassed by what he said, and my eyes were wide and I couldn't lower them. I held my hand over the necklace and watched him pack up the dishes and mumble about idiocy and being ludicrous. He was by his sink scrubbing dishes.

"Just call an elf."

"No, I... I need to do this." I sat on the floor and thought about what he had said. We'd only been dating for around 3 months including the times where we didn't talk and only been friends for maybe 5 at the most, but when he said that he loved me, in my head I replied, "I love you too." And I meant it.

Standing and stepping over to him I turned him around to face me, and he had a look of utter anguish on his face. I put one hand of mine on his cheek and he put one on top of that.

"I shouldn't have said anythi-" I kissed him to shut him up.

"I love you too Severus Snape. I love you too."

The smile that creeped on to his face made me laugh and I dragged him back to the fireplace and we laid there and talked again. Talking lead to kissing and I was lying on top of him kissing his neck when I realized he was probably going be a gentleman again.

"It's getting late, so maybe I should go." Concerned, he looked at me.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I... I don't want you to have to stop me tonight, and if I stay for much longer..."

"I only do it because I want to protect you. My work is hard and if something were to go wrong I don't want you to fall apart. Once everything is settled down maybe we-"

"If you're scared about something happening it's even more reason to live your life," I put my fingers through his hair. "Sex is supposed to be passionate and about love and sharing your whole being with someone. Setting a time or planning it in advance isn't about love, it's a schedule." And then he kissed me.

"But, what about...?"

"Shh... You're right." I kissed his neck, and then captured his mouth with mine. Strong arms holding me tenderly and stroking my back. I kicked off my shoes and we made-out like school kids. We got more heated with our kissing and I was grinding against him, my stockings coming down my thighs and I peeled off his shirt.

I traced my mouth up his torso and sucked on his collarbone. He closed his eyes and sighed as I pushed my pelvis harder into him. His hands were resting on my upper thighs and he slid them up more. I could feel his 'person' strengthen and my breathing was becoming shorter. We looked into each other's eyes and we both smiled and he kissed me again. I lifted myself up and straightened out. I wanted more but I knew things had to stop. When Severus got up however, he was very much alive, noticeably too. I tried not to focus on the tent in his pants and became very distracted rapidly

He pulled me towards him, and held me close, making me realize the height difference. He was actually rather handsome his only downfall was his nose, which wasn't proportioned but it didn't ruin his face. I slid my arms around his neck and jumped up to his level; his arms catching my legs... And he took me to the bed.

It was the most exciting, nerve-racking, romantic evening of my life. He rested me down and we kissed softly again for a while, undressing each other slowly. I didn't think i was self conscious but as each piece of clothing started to move I got scared. Severus was in nothing but boxers (finally an answer to the boxers/briefs question of Luna's) and my stockings were off and my belt; he was about to take off the dress. He could see the fear in my eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you too." I pushed my head up and we kissed... again... the amount of saliva we shared was amazing. He slid his hand up my shirt and pulled the dress off; underneath, now in view, a plain black and white bra and matching cotton underwear. He kissed my neck and pulled me up and he stroked my back. I felt through his hair and he sucked harder on my skin, I knew he'd left a mark and I laughed.

"Marking the territory?" we said simultaneously. I pushed him back down and grinded against him, only thin material between myself and him.

"Adele, there isn't a spell for this so we have to use muggle methods." I moved a little.

"What do you mean 'this'?"

"Protection; birth control," I nodded in understanding and he got out from under me. He came back with a rubbery thing and now he looked nervous. "We're doing this? Even though it's incredibly illegal..." I stood up and thought how weird but wonderful the situation was. We'd dragged it out enough; it was now or never and I wasn't going for the latter. I wrapped my arms around his waist and he held me back. As we separated I lifted my arms up and he took off my bra, then I stepped back and crawled backwards on the bed and him on top of me and then got underneath the blanket. I took my underwear off as he put on the condom.

I lied on my side and nibbled on his neck with our legs entwined. He rolled me onto my back and he gulped. He wasn't nervous or afraid for himself, he'd had sex before. He was worried about me and how I was throughout it, he didn't want me hurt or to regret anything. He rubbed his hand up my thigh and stuck two fingers into me. He looked into my eyes as he caressed me, checking if I was okay. I winced from the pain. It was bad but the pleasure was worse. He shuffled up and I felt his hardon tease the hole and he looked at me again. I lifted myself up and kissed him so he'd know that I wanted it. Then he entered me. Slowly and gently he pulled out and back in, still looking in my eyes. I grabbed his back and bit my lip until the pain subsided and only pleasure was left.

When I started to moan he kissed my neck again and I thrusted him in to me more and my hands moved down lower. We spent a while like that but he moved me on top of him and he asked where I was most comfortable, but I felt best underneath. I felt safer and I liked having him look at me from there. Faster and faster he moved into me and my muscles began to tighten and I wrapped my legs around him, driving him as deep into me as I could get him.

It was amazing, and a blur. My head was tilted back and he was breathing haphazarding and moaning louder with every motion of our bodies. Then an ecstasy of euphoria filled me and I unexpectedly let out a scream. He moaned loud too but laughed at me when I screamed. Then we kissed, and I hoped he didn't regret anything because it was better to me than I had expected. I felt a little sticky and sore but looking up Severus I felt complete; I smiled at him nervously. Was it good for him too?

I turned on my side thinking about the night and he turned in the same direction, wrapping his arms around me he held me close and rested his head on my neck. He whispered things to me as I fell asleep and he played with my hair. It was the most exciting, nerve-racking, romantic evening of my life; it was perfect.