WOW I got the reviews really fast this time thanks all of you who read and reviewed! Ok well here is the next one! Thanks again. Oh and sorry this took so long no excuse…but I do have a few! 1. to much work 2.sore throat 3. I was reading a book that I'm still not done with 4. A bit of a writers block… This chapter is a little ify but I didn't know what else to do… 5 Oh. And I am trying to write my own book so I am a little swamped but I will do better!

Finally I got this up!

Hermione snuggled closer into the warmth of her dreams. Sadly though her mind would not let her sleep and was waking her from her wondrous dream. She laid there for several moments her back stiff and hurting. She was laying in a sloped position her body slanted downwards but her shoulders and head up. She wondered what was wrong when she felt arms tighten around her.

Hermiones mind started to panic as if there was danger. When the events of last night flooded back into her head. The last thing she had remembered was reading a book with Severus beside her. Had she fallen asleep? If so that meant…

She felt the arms shift as the person under her turned on his side. Had she truly fallen asleep in the arms of her future potions master? She felt heat rushing to her face and new that her face was as red as Ron's hair. What would they have thought if she ever told them of this? Harry would stare shocked while Ron would rant and yell like mad most likely. She opened her eyes a little to take in her surroundings. Her head lay on Severus chest his arms wrapped around her waist to hold her from falling. There was a blanket draped over them, no doubt the small quilt Eileen had given them the night before. The small couch made it so that if she moved a great deal she would send Severus and herself tumbling off and into the floor.

She carefully turned so she could see his face and smiled. His eyes were closed with a small smile at the upturned corners of his lips. She wondered why he hadn't woken her and instead allowed her to sleep through the night.

Hermione laid there for several more minutes closing her eyes again her ear over his chest listening to the stead beat of his heart. She only opened her eyes again when she felt his arms loosen and his body stiffen. She turned her head so she could see his face. His eyes were opened and looking at her with a mixture of confusion and something else Hermione couldn't place.

"Good morning I guess we fell asleep last night reading," Hermione said looking at his from atop his chest.

"Indeed," he replied not coldly.

"Would you like to get up?" Hermione asked content to just continue staying were she was, but to her disappointment he did not feel the same way.

"Alright then," he replied a little cold but not so much

"Just a second," Hermione said getting off him and standing her back cracking in the process.

Severus stood a moment later staring at her, "What time is it?" he asked glancing around the room

Hermione looked at the clock on the far wall and answered him, "Noon"

"How late were we up reading?" he asked shocked that he hadn't risen earlier

"I don't know"

"I wonder where mother is…"

"Right here!" came a female voice as Eileen entered the room carrying a tray of food with her, "I thought you two might want some lunch."

"Thank you," Hermione said as Severus took the tray from his mother. Eileen left quickly shutting the double doors as she did so. Leaving behind Severus and Hermione an awkward tension in the air.

Hermione sat on the couch still wearing her pajamas from the last night taking up a sandwich and chewing on the corner of it.

Severus followed suit also still wearing his black outfit from last night taking up a sandwich as well. Neither one of them spoke.

Finally it being too much for Hermione to bear she broke the silence, "Do you think we could go into town today?" she blurted out not sure what town she had even meant

"Town?" Severus asked eyeing her

"Yes…a town I'm not sure were but I think it would be nice to get out we could go to a muggle one so no one we know would see us."

"Perhaps if mother agrees," Severus said taking up a drink.

The tension left the air as Hermione spoke again. "Have you ever heard of America?"

"Of course. I may be an English Wizard but I still know Geography!" Severus said loudly

"Oh…well I apparated their once to a muggle town they had they stores all packed together they called it a mall and other people our age shopped there would you like to go to a mall?"

"A mall," he said thinking the word to be absurd

"Yes it would be an experience for you to come with me of course only if Eileen agrees."

"If I agree to what?" Eileen said throwing open the doors

"To take us to a mall," Hermione said smiling

"What?"

"It is a muggle American thing," Hermione explained

"Well…you both have your apparation license so of course we can go if you two are sure?"

"Yes!" Hermione said happy to be going somewhere where others her age would be

"What time shall we leave?" Eileen asked she herself a little excited about apparating so far and overseas to a place called Mall.

"In 30 minutes?" Hermione asked eagerly

"Alright both of you get ready then," Eileen left quickly to adorn herself with muggle clothes.

Severus got up reluctantly followed by an excited Hermione. They reached the door to their rooms and parted Hermione quickly running to the shower.

She was in and out within 15 minutes with only a few to spare if she was to make it in 30 minutes. She pulled out the ugly skirt and shirt she had been given and transformed them into something more muggle appropriate. She cast a drying spell on her hair brushed it out and threw on some socks and shoes. With only 2 minutes to spare she cast a look into the mirror. She was wearing a tight fitting sweater that was a light and dark blue with jeans and a pair of running shoes. She placed her wand into her inner pocket letting her hair fall down freely behind her shoulders. She walked out of her room after the quick transformation and waited for Severus.

When he did not come out and it had been 30 minutes since they had left Eileen she knocked.

"What?" he growled

"Aren't you coming?"

"I have no clothes for muggle use"

"I'm coming in," she said opening the door and walking into the room and walking to wear he stood at the closet, "let me see…"

"I told you I have nothing muggle like"

"Well…your black shirt and black pants will do but don't wear your cloak."

He nodded silently taking off his cloak and walking to the door followed by Hermione.
"Are we ready to go then?" Eileen asked as they stood outside the house. She was dressed in what she thought muggle appropriate a sweater and a skirt going down to her knees and high heeled shoes. The sweater was a bright vivid orange the skirt a deep shade of blue covered in stars that occasionally would shoot by one another to let the viewer see a shooting star. Her shoes were purple and tall making her height taller than that of her sons whom was normally a few inches taller. Her hair was pilled high on her head in a beehive look. And she was wearing makeup as she had seen the muggles wear once or twice. A bright red lipstick and high blue eye shadow. With a mixture of jewelry big silver hoops and a pearl necklace with a brass bracelet.

"Yes," Hermione replied, not commenting on the woman's choice of clothes. It was obvious she hadn't been out to a muggle affair in….ever. She looked around once more leaving with a CRACK followed closely by two more CRACKS

Hermione arrived on the ground of another land taking in the sight before her. The apparation point was an old abandoned house that no one went into and was safe for the wizarding kind to apparate without being seen by muggles. She heard the two CRACKS and looked beside her to see Eileen and Severus.

"Oh are we in the Mall?" Eileen asked looking around the cobwebbed house

"No," Hermione laughed, "follow me the mall is nearby about a block or two up."

They walked out of the house and into the bustling streets. It hadn't snowed here and her sweater was looking ridiculous with the other t-shirts and strapless shirts. There was no snow and she wished she had considered the climate before she had dressed.

They walked up the streets until they reached a large mall.

"That is the mall," Hermione said

"Wow how many people live in the Mall?" Eileen asked

"It isn't a title to a house it is the name of what these places are called people don't live her only come to shop here," Hermione said entering the mall

"Well…" Eileen said, "I don't know how to use muggle money well I only have some because of Severus father Tobias.."

Severus scowled at the mention of his father.

They walked in with several people staring at Eileen and her appearance. Large eyes of children looked up to her one even whispering to her mother that she wanted to see the clown.

"You will do fine," Hermione said trying to get away from he peoples stares, "lets meet back here at seven?"

"Alright," Eileen said happily strolling off to wonder around looking at various items. The stares continued until she was out of sight from Severus and Hermione.

"My mother over dressed I believe…" Severus said looking around

"I agree…"

"So what do we do now? Came all the way to peaceful England to this place"

"Come with me I want to show you the an arcade"

"A what?"

"You'll see"

They walked to a map and Hermione spotted out the arcade leading Severus there by the hand.

He walked into the room full of all sorts of machines and bright lights.

"This is an arcade," she said waving her hand at the menagerie

"When do we leave?" He asked scowling at all the muggles their age walking around and talking and pushing buttons on machines. He saw a vulgar sight before him in the form of two teenagers snogging their heads off no one seeming to be paying much attention.

"Severus…fine we can leave the mall and where do you want to go?"

"Where exactly are we?"

"Florida, there are beaches and whatnots all over as long as we meet Eileen back here seven"

"As long as we leave this rat hole," he said taking another look at the two snogging teens frowning and leaving the room.

They were on the beach sitting. Or rather Hermione was sitting while Severus stood his arms crossed dressed in black scowling at the people.

"Do you not like it here either?" Hermione asked seeing him staring straight ahead

"It is indecent girls are walking around in their undergarments"

Hermione laughed loudly putting a hand over her mouth to calm herself. "They are bathing suits they swim in them they are perfectly normal here in the muggle world."

"Muggles take bathe together?" He asked as one eyebrow rose

Hermione sighed seeing she was not going to be able to convince him this was a good idea.

"So do we leave here…"

Hermione caught sight of Severus face looking up and seeing him with a slight blush, his mouth opened a little bit, and his eyes large. Following his gaze she saw he was staring at a woman in her early twenties in a small bikini no bigger than a handkerchief.

She stood taking him by the hand and leaving muttering as she went, "Well if you're sure you want to leave…"

He didn't say a word and the blush didn't leave his face until they were far away from the beach now standing on a street not sure which way to go.

"Now what?" he asked straightening and getting his composer back.

"I don't know why not a…." There were many loud screams that filled the air and a loud rumbling noise to their left. Severus instinctively reached for his wand Hermione stopping him.

"It's an amusement park," she said staying his hand

"Screams, snogging sessions, and nudity. I am going back to England! America is no place to ever be!" He looked around grabbed Hermione by the hand pulling her towards him

"We will come back for mother and hope she is alive!" With a light CRACK Severus apparted both of them back to his home and to safety in his mind.

Hermione sighed annoyed as Severus sighed relieved

"Now what are we going to do?" she asked seeing the snow all around them once again

"I don't know…"

"We still have five hours, it's only two, not what?"

"What would you like to spend your time doing now Hermione? We could work on the potion…no we need the rest of the ingredients from Hogwarts… We could go…"

"See a movie!"

"Another muggle ideal?"

"Yes but its lovely my parents and I always go when I'm home and Ron…" She stopped dead in her sentence about to say, "Ron and Harry had gone once and loved it."

"Ron? Who is that?"

Oh no… she had done it slipped up told him something to much she new changing the subject was the only thing she could do. Just to forget the whole movie idea and go inside and do a bit of reading or something that would keep his mind off of Ron like a potion or something.

"No one of any importance forget the muggle ideas let's go inside and read a book or two while we wait to go get Eileen."

She walked quickly into the house followed by Severus whose brow was furrowed trying to recall anyone named Ron.

She scanned a few books picking up one she had read before and sat on the couch waiting for him to join her.

"Hermione put the book down who is this Ron?"

"Nothing at all Severus by the way how is Narcissa?"

He scowled and she frowned. She knew it had been cold but hoped he would drop the subject.

"Alright I will drop the matter completely."

They sat there Hermione frowning her arms crossed at her own stupidity. Severus scowling thinking of what this Ron person could be to his Hermione.

"I'm sorry Severus it was stupid of me to yell at you," she said breaking the tension

"Apology accepted"

"Severus?"

"What exactly are we?" he demanded facing her fully

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean what are we to each other?"

"A couple"

"Who is this Ron fellow?"

"A friend," she said honestly

"I see," he said turning away from her

She looked at him sadly feeling guilty for slipping up and hurting him. She placed a hand on his shoulder his eyes snapping back towards hers. His face unguarded and hurt clearly in the depths of his eyes.

"Severus I didn't mean to hurt you," she said lifting his hand and holding it, their fingers intertwined, within her own.

"But who is this person? You would tell me unless you were hiding something"

"You don't trust me do you?" she asked hurt also in her eyes

It was true he had a hard time trusting people that being in his Slytherin nature. He only trusted two people completely his mother and her.

"I do trust you but you keep secrets don't you?"

"So do you Severus you know you do."

"Yes…"

"Can we do something better than making each other upset or angry?" she asked laughing trying to lighten the mood in return Severus gave her a small smile.

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. It was the first time he had initiated the kiss and it left Hermione smiling at the small gesture. Severus cleared his throat and picked up the book.

"Well… what is it you wanted to read "The…" he never finish his sentence his lips captured up in Hermiones as she leaned towards him kissing him full on the mouth her arms wrapping around him. He kissed her back with just as much force yet gentle. He put his hands around her waist pulling her closer to him. The kiss deepened as his hands went up and down her spine hers moving from him shoulders to around his neck.

It was now 3 in the afternoon their snogging session lasting only an hour. They sat there now holding hands and trying to thing of something to do.

"Hmmm," Hermione thought

"Why not go outside, Severus?" she asked getting to her feet. He stood and they walked out of the door after putting on their cloaks.

Now in the cold snow they stood looking over at of the white. Hermione smiled dropping Severus hand heading towards a tree. Severus looked after her and smiled again. He hadn't smiled this much in a very long time. He was lost in his own thoughts until the voice of his angle called him back.

"Severus…" Hermione said

Severus looked up towards her the next thing he knew a white blur flew towards him and hit him in the face the cold spreading the wild fire. Had she just thrown a snowball at him? He could here her laughing as another one hit him in the chest.

He smiled also picking up a hand full and beginning to throw it at her. Before he could do so, however, Hermione hit him with another one this time on his arm. He hurled the snowball at her but she ran behind the tree and it missed.

Hermione laughed more as Severus came after her advancing on the tree.

She threw three more at him before he reached her.

"I have you now Hermione Granger!" he shouted half laughing half teasing and ran after her. She shrieked and ran away towards the big field behind the house.

"Try and catch me Severus Snape and you will unleash my snowball wrath!" she yelled stopping and picking up a chunk of snow.

He stopped standing there laughing and smiling a Severus Hermione had only glimpsed at now fully out in the open light shining in his eyes.

"I think I will take upon your wrath dear one," he said coming towards her as Hermione hit him with a snowball. He caught hold of her pulling her towards him.

"I've caught you," he said triumphantly

"And now that you have what are you going to do with me?" she asked still laughing.

"Never let you go," he whispered

Hermione kissed him quick on the lips and then ran off again after his guard was let down.

He laughed resuming the chase once more as Hermione threw a few more snowballs at him.

He caught her again this time hugging her to him wrapping his arms about her waist.

She laughed leaning into his embrace.

It began to snow and they both looked up into the sky.

Hermione smiled kissing Severus once more on the lips this time not pulling away but staying. He kissed her back, and Hermione felt him smile against her lips.

It was now finally seven and Severus and Hermione were freezing as they apparated back to the mall heading to get Eileen. They had spent the last 3 hours in the snow and in the final hour they had went inside trying to get warm but they were still freezing as they entered the mall looking for Eileen.

Hermione and Severus spotted Eileen carrying about 10 large bags in her hands. As she reached them Severus took most of them asking her what they were.

"Well gifts of course! For Hermione and yourself," Eileen said smiling brightly adjusting her orange sweater.

"Is there anything else here we need to get?" Hermione asked before they started the journey home.

"No, but by the way do you like to bake?" Eileen asked Hermione

"It's alright why do you ask?"

"I picked up some cookie batter did you know these muggles make it themselves from scratch!" Eileen said nodding, "I've never tried baking and hoped you could do it with me?"

"That would be great," Hermione replied taking a bag out of Eileen's hand.

"Can you imagine scratch!" Eileen said scratching her hand looking at it them shaking her head muttering again can you imagine.

They arrived back home Hermione and Eileen going into the kitchen while Severus went to work on a few potions he said he wanted to start

"So Hermione dear how do we start this?" Eileen asked taking out five cookie boxes.

"Well we read the directions," Hermione said washing her hands.

"Alright then!" Eileen said looking at the box, "it says ingredients needed are flour, eggs, milk, and chocolate chips." Eileen frowned and put the box down, "Hermione I don't think we will be able to make these there aren't any flowers outside…I will just do it the magic way," Eileen waved her wand and about 3 trays full of cookies appeared, "there it's done!"

Hermione smiled at Eileen inwardly laughing at the women's mistakes. Eileen left the room smiling followed by Hermione with her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing.

Eliza Withworthy sat staring into the fire a glass of firewhisky clasped in her hand. She was due to return to Hogwarts right after the Christmas holidays were over. She was surprised to have been called back so early but once was more than enough. She had only been there a brief moment last time and never wanted to return. It had brought back painful memories of the past or the future whichever one it was…

She stare deep into the fire her blonde hair falling around her long and wavy. Her icy blue gaze went deep within the fire her glasses and notes left forgotten on a desk beside her. The room was dark and perfect for a widower as herself. She was still young in years only a ripe 36 but she had aged in her heart, mind, and soul from all the hardship she had endured. She wondered what would have become of herself if she hadn't tangoed with fate or had it been fate to tango with her? She took another drink of firewhisky draining the glass.

She walked to the three portraits that sat over the fireplace. One of herself as a young girl of 19. To the right of her portrait was that of another older looking man in years. The picture having been taken later on in his life. It portrayed her late husband William his figure standing proud and tall waving at her and bowing. She looked back to her 19 year old self and saw it was staring at the man in the portrait to it's left her late love, Orion. It had been taken the same day and the boy of 19 grinned and waved glancing in to his right at the young girl and winking making the girl giggle and laugh. The figure of William seeing and frowning looking at the girl with a protective gaze.

Eliza smiled meekly at her young self's innocents dreading when that lively thing would now they horrors of her life in later years. She stood leaning on the mantle staring up at Orion. Wishing that he had not died so young. He had only been 24 at the time of his death. She knew it was her fault entirely having killed him with the first "I do."

She had luckily gotten to stay with him for five years within the past. Only to return at the age of 23 to the future or her present. It had taken three years of research and another year of dreading before she told him where she had come from and left him to return knowing she had to. It killed both their hearts but she knew she must. Only to discover a month later that he to had found a way to follow her journeying more than 200 years into the future and meeting her betrothed, William.

He had begged her not to marry him but she had refused saying she knew it was fate that she had to. He had stayed more than a year after her marriage at 23 only 2 months after returning to vows a happiness and people saying they had thought her to be dead. She had told them she had had a charm on her that had only lifted some crazy story she had thought up. To her horror she had to make up another one to explain Orion. But as she was married he stood in the back watching her with pleading and somber eyes. It was with a sob that she kissed William not from happiness but from despair. A year Orion stayed and she loved him deeply and met with him frequently to talk, but they never kissed or told one another again they loved they other. For she couldn't and wouldn't cheat on her husband.

And so at Orion's death at 24 she had cried and cried knowing it was her own fault for leaving him. William told her he was sorry over and over saying that he was a good friend. Only once he found out about the truth of Eliza's love he had drunk himself to death 2 years prior. Again another death to be attributed to herself.

Soon she would return to Hogwarts and talk with the young girl again. For she had not forgotten Hermione one of the players and a girl who had caught her interest in something deep within her. Could it be the same thing once within Eliza? Fate?

It was now Christmas Eve the break passing fast with Severus and Hermione spending all the time they could together. Kisses her and hugs there. She had gotten him the perfect Christmas gift (the only one she could think to get him) a potion kit large and full or rare ingredients and blue and red vials. The case was even engraved with his initials S.S.

She was standing next to Severus he was dressed in a green baggy shirt and black pants. She herself wore a beautiful blue grown an early Christmas gift from Eileen. Eileen also was wearing a gown except it was simple and discreet a lush green matching her sons' shirt.

Hermione had talked Severus into going to a Midnight Mass at a Catholic church. She had even chosen Eileen's gown herself as to not have a repeat of the mall incident. It was 11:30 and they were going to church, two witches and a wizard. Severus looked nervous about another muggle engagement but had agreed as a present to Hermione. His mother had also agreed delighted to meet the muggles again. Hermione loved Eileen now like a second mother and was glad that the woman was having a good time with the muggles. After the Mass they were all going to a Christmas party that started at 1 in the morning.

They entered the church people looking at the two teenagers and the older mother looking at them and asking their neighbors if they had ever seen them before. The preacher started out welcoming all the people to celebrate the birth of Christ. They had a few people act out a manger scene about the birth of Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Eileen looked interested and watched intently. Severus also was watching with an expression of curiosity. Finally the scene ended with Mary and Joseph carrying the baby Jesus away followed by the three kings and the animals (a live donkey and two sheep's). The preacher took to his stand again and asked everyone to pray.

Hermione bent her head down seeing Severus and Eileen looking around at the bent heads and finale bent them their selves. Eileen looked as though she had taken the sermon to heart and was praying earnestly to God. Severus to had his eyes closed though he didn't have his mother's earnestness.

Hermione closed her eyes again and began to pray blessing all the ones she loved in this time and in the time to come. Hoping that her parents were having a happy Christmas. Again the preacher stood and dismissed them with a Happy Christmas! And they headed out into the bitter cold again.

"Are we going to the party now?" Eileen asked seeing it was already two in the morning

"Yes I think it's down the street," Hermione replied leading the way following many other groups from the church.

They entered the large building handing their coats to a man standing to take them and headed into the gigantic room filled with food laughter and dancing.

Severus stopped, whispering something in his mother's ear and turned to Hermione offering her his hand. She took it and they walked out onto the dance floor to the beat of a slow song.

"Dance with me," he whispered pulling her close to him.

She laid her head on his should two arms wrapped around his neck while he had his wrapped around her waist. She felt content and safe as they danced holding each other.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you having a good Christmas so far?"

"I am now," she said wrapping her arms tighter around his neck. She could fell him smiling.

"And what about you Severus? Are you having a good Christmas so far?" Hermione asked kissing his cheek

"Of course"

Hermione closed her eyes slipping into her own world while they danced. Not known to Hermione but Severus also had his eyes closed and he was also in another world where only he and Hermione existed.

"Severus…"

"Yes Hermione?"

"This is the best Christmas I have ever had and it only just begun"

"I agree"

"So tell me what you want for Christmas so I know if I got a good gift or not"

"I can't tell you but whatever it is you got me I know I will love it"

"What did you get me?"

"I can't tell you now it would ruin it"

"But…"

"No I can't"

"I wish we were alone," Hermione said dropping the subject"

"We are," he whispered into her ear kissing it as he said so

Hermione smiled sighing contently

"Severus how long have when been here?"

"Only a minute"

Hermione opened her eyes and looked for a muggle clock spotting one she gasped seeing it was now 4 in the morning had Severus and her truly been dancing for almost two hours?

"What is it?" he asked hearing her gasp

"We have been dancing for almost 2 hours"

Wow we were really gone from the world… they both thought

"Where is your mother?" Hermione asked reluctantly pulling away from Severus

Severus looked around and spotting his mother dancing with a muggle man to the music. He nodded to his mother and Hermione smiled seeing what she was doing.

"Want to get something to eat?" Hermione asked feeling very hungry all of the sudden

"Of course," Severus said taking Hermiones hand in his and walking, smiling, over to the table of food and punch.

Hermione grabbed a little sandwich and a glass of punch and began eating Severus smiling at her also picking up a few more sandwiches and following her over to a little table.

"When do you think you'll want to go home?" Severus asked her filling tired.

"Anytime but I think Eileen is having a good time"

"I am getting a bit tired and we still have a full day of Christmas in front of us…"

"We can all sleep then wake up and open presents"

"Yes your…." Severus sucked in a deep breath rising to his feet

"Severus?"

"I have to go," he said clutching his arm and heading for the door.

Hermione stood found Eileen and told her that Severus had been called away. They both went home to get some sleep and wait for Severus return.

Hermione sat on her bed worried what would happen to Severus on Christmas day at only 4 in the morning. What could be so important he would have to call the Death Eaters in at 4? Hermione couldn't keep her eyes open and reluctantly fell into a fitful sleep with nightmares of what would and could happen to Severus.

Sorry it took so long to get out I was a bit crushed by a review and sad so I didn't write for a few days then I sucked it up and wrote! Thanks for reading and please review! 10 please and I will get the next one up (the next ones going to be good!) THANKS