Author: QuillofRavenclaw

Story: Prince of the Night

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or make any money off of this fanfiction.

Hermione awoke to the sound of footsteps on the creaking stairs. She thought to herself that somebody needed to go use the bathroom, and curled back up to her pillow. Just as she was drifting off again the door burst open. Quicker than she could cast light upon the room another wand took light.

"What is the meaning of this Severus?" Hermione said groggily.

"I heard screaming and thrashing and I came to make sure Mr. Weasley wasn't trying to kill you," He replied, obviously embarrassed for his mistake, "I take it he isn't here?"

"No, he's not, but thanks the same. You were probably hearing the ghoul in the attic. Every one here is used to him, but he normally puts on a good show the first night someone new stays here," She responded.

"I see," Severus said as he disappeared into the dark hallway.

"Mom what was that?" Rose asked groggily.

"Professor Snape thought the ghoul in the attic was actually an attacker," Hermione said as she rolled over on her side to face her daughter's bed.

"Professor Snape saw me while I was asleep?" Rose panicked.

"He used to be Slytherin's head of house. He's seen many students asleep in their beds," Hermione replied.

"He's so scary," Rose commented.

"You have no Idea. Now go back to bed," Hermione said as she rolled back towards the slightly propped door.

It seemed as if Hermione had barely had a chance to doze off when she was assaulted by a band of little Weasleys. It was six thirty in the morning and the kids wanted to open their presents. By family tradition every member of the household had to be awake and in the living room before even the slightest tear or fold of the wrapping paper was made.

Hermione made her way down to the living room.

"Coffee Hermione?" Arthur asked

"Yes please," she said as she accepted the mug

"Okay let's begin!" Molly Said, "Kids you may each select one present with your name on it. Got it? Okay, one, two, three!" Shredding sounds filled the air as Molly spoke her last syllable.

"Rose, that mirror is a two way mirror. When ever you need to talk just say my name and I'll appear in your mirror," Hermione said gesturing to the blue and silver mirror Rose was holding. Hermione looked at Harry cautiously. Harry was subtly pretending he had something in his eye. Hermione knew it may be a tough gift to give in front of Harry after Sirius's death, but she knew it would be useful to her daughter.

"Grandpa what is this?" Hugo asked Arthur.

"That's one of the new Muggle to Magic Music gadgets," Arthur replied.

"How do you use it?" Hugo asked.

"You speak the name of the song you want to hear and it will play through those tiny pods, which you put in your ears, I confiscated one that was being used during my lesson," Severus answered.

The family looked at him blankly until Rose said "Oh look! I've got one too!"

"Hermione this is from me," Ron said as he withdrew a parcel from his robes. It was shaped once again, like a book. Hermione sighed as she withdrew the wrappings. It was a handsome scale clad date planner. "Read the side, look it says it has an alarm that only you can hear and everything." Ron said.

"Thank you Ron," Hermione said genuinely, after all, this had been the most thoughtful gift he had given her in many years.

"Thanks for the new horse grooming kit mom," Hugo said as he picked up an engraved brush.

"You're welcome. I charmed the engraving myself," Hermione said proudly.

The Weasley festivities drew to a close. Hermione took the kids to her parents by floo powder at a quarter to one. Hermione's mother Jane welcomed them into their living room. Hermione and the kids sat on the couch to the side of the Christmas tree.

"Well kids," said Walter Granger, "We're not going to wait all day for you to open presents!" The kids didn't need reminding they tore into the paper right away.

"Yes!" Rose exclaimed as she raised the new book collection she was holding. "Mom said I can't read them yet though," she said sadly.

"You can now Rose. You're in school and you have just as much of a right to read them as anyone else does. Hugo still has to wait a year."

"But Mom!" Hugo complained.

"No Buts! Those muggles didn't leave out too many details in their interpretation of events. You aren't ready for it yet. Next year."

"But I want to hear about your adventures at school!" Hugo said.

"They are mostly the adventures of Uncle Harry. I only played a supporting role," She replied. "These books were very dangerous. The Magical Law enforcement squad had quite the trouble with modifying the memories of muggle publishers that met with Ms. Rowling. I'm surprised they didn't send her to Azkaban for breaching our code of security. It was lucky the muggles thought the series fake. I'll never know how she got all of her information. Harry gave her an interview after everything was over for the daily prophet. How she managed to get so much detail is still a mystery. Anyway Hugo, there are characters in these books that are real people. There is information that they wouldn't want in young hands.

"Okay, Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the chemistry set, it reminds me of potions," Hugo said dejectedly.

"We also got each of you a present that's waiting in the garage. You can pick out your favorite of the two, please don't fight!" Jane said as she kids rushed to the door. "The one that Rose has is named Despina and the one that Hugo has is Milo. I got them from our neighbor because her cat had too many kittens. I hope you like them,"

"Thanks Grandma, she's adorable," Rose said as she stroked the white patch of fur on the black cat's forehead.

"Don't forget to thank your grandfather."

"Thanks Grandpa!" Hugo said eagerly as he watched Milo play with a loose string.

Clouds overtook the sinking sun later in the evening. Hermione looked at her double sided watch. The first side was a miniature replica of the grand Weasley clock; the second side was a muggle wrist watch. She said farewell to her parents and ushered the kids back through the fireplace with generous amounts of floo powder.

Exhausted, they reached the other side of the grate. The gifts that had been opened earlier now sat in a pile beside the tree.

"Hugo, take your new cauldron and potions kit and put them in the lab please. Rose, Gather up the broom your dad got you and those beauty potions Aunt Angelina gave you to your room. You should find cat beds, trees and toys in your individual rooms, and a litter box has been placed in the bathroom. You are free to do as you like for the night," Hermione said, "I'll be in my office if you need me."

Hermione set the fireplace ablaze to rid the room of the Holliday chill. She pulled out her new date book from Ron and started to condense her already organized calendars and lesson plans into one area. She found herself distracted half way through updating her organizer. She summoned her owl Iris to her office. She withdrew a stone from the box she kept in her desk and transfigured it into a wooden plaque similar to the ones that the Weasleys had in the stables. She engraved it with the name of his pegasus so that it read Prince of the Night. She quickly attached a green leather strap and sent her owl to give it to Snape.

She had originally been angry about him showing up at the burrow after she had told him that her Christmas plans were none of his business, but she felt like he was trying to be nicer than usual. He hadn't gotten a single gift while at the Weasleys and she doubted if he had received any presents at all.

She rose from her office and went back to her chambers. She found Rose curled up with the muggle book "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" and Hugo asleep on the couch with Milo purring in his ear. Overall, it had been a good Christmas.

AUTHORS NOTE: Hello Everybody. As the end of the semester approaches my course work is increasing. I will not be able to write as frequently if at all in the next few weeks. Reviews however, may encourage me to write more frequently, so it's up to you.