A/N: Apologies for the delay in posting, life decided to happen and I didn't have time to write. No letters this chapter and a little bit of angst. Thank you again to all my wonderful reviewers, I promise more Severus/Hermione interaction next chapter and I think it's about time these two kids meet up again…don't you?

Diagon Alley

Severus was grateful that the crowds had been chased away by the bitter winter weather than had descended upon the country in the week running up to Christmas. Now, two days before the day itself, Diagon Alley should have been heaving with shoppers and merry makers but instead it was all but silent with only a few people dodging the freezing sleet as they ran from shop to shop.

Severus opened the large black umbrella he had brought with him as he exited Madam Malkin's Shop, a package tucked underneath his arm, and headed to the apothecary across the way. He had barely gone a few steps when he questioned his intent once more, nearly turning back to return the parcel but impulse spurred him on and he crossed the street as swiftly as he could to avoid the weather.

He swiftly purchased the items he needed to work on a few potions over the holiday period before he headed off to hire an owl to bear the gift he carried to its new home. He was grateful the Madam Malkin offered a gift-wrapping service during the festive season, the parcel beneath the simple brown paper far more exquisite than anything he could muster. The witch had of course given him a strange look when he had requested it but she soon amended her expression when he had given her a well-patented look of his own.

When he reached the shop, he found one of the side benches and set the parcel down. He drew an envelope from his coat pocket and slipped it inside the parcel before he drew the strings tightly around it once more. With a wave of his wand, the recipient's name and location appeared on the brown paper in his own spiky writing, certain that it would have reached her even without it but wanting to make doubly sure it arrived.

Content all was ready; he joined the short queue and soon found himself at the counter, an owl swiftly dispatched to Hogwarts with its cargo. He turned as soon as the transaction was complete, intent on heading outside and finding a suitable spot from which to apparate home but his path was blocked as he saw the door open to admit two very familiar figures.

He briefly considered apparating away from the spot he stood in but he knew he had been seen when a pair of painfully familiar eyes met his. He had met with Harry several times since the end of the war, the boy unfailingly noble and full of forgiveness in light of the memories he had given to him. Forgiveness he had never sought or felt he deserved but he had not the words to deny the younger man who had decided that he would be in his company.

"Snape," said Harry, his smile bright, "How are you?"

"Well, Potter, I thank you," said Severus, before he nodded to the woman beside him, "Miss Weasley."

"Professor Snape," she said, her smile a little more tentative but there all the same, "We seem to be bumping into a lot of old faces today, must be the season."

"You mean everyone has forgotten to buy Christmas presents," said Harry, "Including us. We made a list but still forgot Charlie so we're having to send something to Romania in the hope it will get there for Christmas day."

"Carrying on as you did at school then," said Severus, "You always succeeded in arriving to my lessons with at least one item of your required equipment missing."

Harry laughed, "If it wasn't for Hermione I'd have forgotten what classes I had regardless of whether I had the right equipment or not," he said, "Did you hear that she has taken on the role of Potions Mistress there?"

"I am aware," said Severus, unsure why it jarred him so that she had not confided in her friends about their letters, "Minerva's powers of persuasion remain strong it seems."

"Well at least she looks happier than she did at the beginning of term," said Ginny, "I felt sure she was going to give it up when we saw her in September but she looked happier than I've seen her in a long time today."

"I thought Miss Granger was remaining at the school for the holidays?" said Severus, realising he had said too much when he received almost identical looks from the pair before him, "Minerva mentioned it in a letter."

"She is, technically," said Harry, clearly accepting his excuse, "But she said she needed to get a few things from Flourish and Blotts today. We just left her actually; she was heading to see George at his shop."

"Well," said Severus, hoping his tone was more measured then it seemed as an emotion he dared not name but that felt vaguely akin to ho[e swelled through his veins, "I must not keep you. Seasons greetings to you both."

He offered them both a small bow before he moved passed them too the door, cursing silently as Harry called out to him once more.

"Snape…Severus," said the boy, "Come for Christmas, unless you have plans."

"I have to work," said Severus, barely turning but still meeting Harry's gaze, "But if it is convenient…I will call on you before the New Year."

"We'll look forward to it," said Ginny, taking Harry's arm, "Merry Christmas, sir."

"Merry Christmas," said Severus, turning away and heading to the door.

He prided himself that he kept his pace measured until he was out of sight of the shop, not caring for the sleet as he hurried through the streets once he was sure he would not be seen. He had never been to the Weasley shop but he knew where it was. The garish colours and cartoonish decorations standing out in stark contrast to the dark traditionalism of the Alley.

The shop was almost in view when he slowed his pace, reality and reason catching up with him. Hermione wrote to him and received his letters with pleasure but she had not expressly asked to meet with him. She had invited him to the castle in a way but he was certain it was more in view of the books than to be company for her, the invite to have come through Minerva if it was truly issued.

He came to a dead stop, caring nothing for the sleet that began to seep through his coat. He was an acquaintance, an advisor. She called him friend in her letters but it was an easy enough word for her to write upon the page. He had no right to force his presence upon her without her invitation, especially not in the middle of the street where propriety would demand she speak to him even if she had no wish to.

He gave thought to his home, preparing to apparate there but stopped, necessity urging his feet on where his reason wanted him to stop. Finally, the shop came into view and with it, a sight he had not seen in person since the night he thought his life had ended.

Hermione stood on the doorstep of the strange little shop, George Weasley before her holding an umbrella over them both. They were speaking but he could not here their words. He knew he should leave but he also wanted to be seen, an accidental meeting so much easier to explain away. He took several steps closer but realised he had left it too long as he watched her hug her friend briefly before she raised her wand and disappeared from view.

His eyes fell closed, cursing a missed opportunity and feeling a leaden weight replace the flicker of hope than had been within him. He opened his eyes, meeting the curious stare of George Weasley before the younger man nodded in recognition, turning back into his shop as Severus returned the gesture.

With no purpose to remain in the Alley, Severus conjured thoughts of his home once more. The crack of apparition and the boot prints in the snow the only thing to indicate that he had been there at all.