Author's Note: I do so apologize to all of the readers who have been waiting for the next chapter. Personal, family and job issues took priority, plus I had a major case of writer's block as Severus decided to pull a temper tantrum and quit "talking" to me . He begrudgingly gave me some of his precious time and hopefully I will be back on track. My best wishes to all for a great and safe holiday season.

Chapter 35: Home for the Holidays

Disclaimer: While I am borrowing many of the characters created by J.K. Rowling, all rights to those characters remain solely with her. I am neither receiving nor soliciting any monetary recompense for this story.

Severus rubbed his aching forehead as he capped the bottle that contained what was left of his red ink; he'd have to resupply before term started again after the holidays. He also made a mental note to have a serious chat with his snakes, all of them, after term opened again. They all knew full well his expectations on grades, nearly half had obviously not taken him seriously. While the failures had been "high" failures, they were still failures and not something Severus was willing to accept, particularly in his class. Katherine had managed a very marginal passing grade and that was another thing he intended to take care of, though that would be done much sooner than the start of term. 'Still,' he thought, 'I'll give her some time until the day after Christmas but she had better enjoy it while she can'

Technically she had been grounded from Hogsmeade until the end of term, which didn't actually start for another few hours, however, he also knew from experience the need to get away from the castle, if just for a few hours, after the crush of exams were completed. As such, and after informing Harry of his plans, he had given Katherine the choice to accompany her friends down to the train platform with strict instructions that if she were to go, she was to be back within 3 hours. Taking the olive branch of sorts Katherine had jumped at the idea as he knew she would. Glancing up he noted the train was due to pull out in an hour which meant Katherine should be back in about 90 minutes or so and with any luck they would be free of the castle very soon thereafter.

Originally he had intended to spend the entire holiday at Spinners End but then changed his mind, sending Carly to Prince Manor a few days ahead to ready things there. The little elf all but exploded in merriment; Prince Manor being her favorite location and promising profusely that all would be ready when "Master Snapes Sir and Miss Katherine arrived." Rolling his eyes Severus had waved her off grimacing slightly at the idea of what Carly would do to "decorate" the manor for Christmas. He had a feeling he was going to regret his decision to give the little elf free reign in the large manor rather than restricting her efforts to the smaller townhouse at Spinners End. They would spend the weekend at Spinners End and then head to the manor.

Severus made one last check of his gradebook to make sure everything had been filled in correctly and started on the onerous task of filling out the student reports; fortunately he only had these last thirty to go. He had created a spell where he could simply tap the report and the student's name in the gradebook and the grade and comments would automatically transfer to the report so the transfer of grades only took a few minutes. After a quick check to make sure everything had transferred properly, he placed the reports in the already addressed envelopes and added them to the waiting stack. Tapping the stack with his wand they were instantly transported to Minerva who would see that they were sent out. Glancing at the clock again he knew Katherine wouldn't be long. They were both already packed, their weekend bags sent to Spinners End that morning after breakfast and their larger bags sent ahead to the manor. He poured himself some coffee, picked up his potions journal and sat by the fire to await his apprentice.

Aurors Office: Ministry of Magic

Harry took a contemplative sip of his tea; the day was almost over. He'd submitted his quarterly reports that morning after finally closing two minor cases that had dragged on. He had made arrangement to work from home for the holiday period and he was hoping that the criminal wizard set would take a breather for the ten day stretch. He wouldn't have to see the office again until after the New Year unless something urgent came up. He and Ginny had plans to spend a few days at home before heading over the Weasley's for the annual Christmas gathering. Snapping his fingers he remembered what he had forgotten to do. Molly and Arthur knew of the issues Severus and Katherine were having and had wanted to invite Severus and Katherine to the Christmas gathering and Harry had said he would send the invite. Having made arrangements with Severus to allow Katherine off radar for a few hours, he knew they were still at the castle. Dashing off a quick note he activated the floo, calling out Severus' office, and tossed in the missive, watching as it whirled away. Everything was quiet and Harry, having already released his aurors for the weekend, made the decision to go home. If he was needed they knew how to get a hold of him and the monitoring would automatically notify him when Katherine returned to the castle or alarm if she didn't return on time.

Hogwarts

Severus was startled when his blazing fire turned green for a moment and spit out a letter. Standing up he bent down to pick up the letter, instantly recognizing Harry's handwriting. Hoping it wasn't more bad news he opened it and read

"Severus, hope you and Katherine are well. Molly has extended an invitation for you and Katherine to join us at the Weasley's on Christmas Day. I am headed home so please reply there. If you decide not to attend my best wishes to you and Katherine for a Happy Christmas.

Harry"

Severus contemplated for a moment. A day at the Weasley's on their annual Christmas gathering, which included the entire Weasley clan including their assorted kids and grandkids and any other friends? It would be a madhouse. Still, Severus couldn't see a reason not to accept; it wouldn't be the first gathering there he had attended, and Katherine might like the change from the school atmosphere to a more family oriented gathering; he'd ask her before making his reply.

Just as he turned to refill his coffee, Katherine walked in. She looked better he thought. The walk and time away had done some good; had taken the look of ever present doom out of her eyes and she looked almost happy.

"Train pulled out?" he asked her.

"Yeah," Katherine answered. "I was overwhelmed with wishes of good luck and commiserations over my having to spend Christmas with the 'bat'", she said impishly. "We really do have to work on your reputation."

Severus snorted. "My reputation is right where it needs to be to keep dimwitted students from blowing up themselves, my lab or the school. Are you ready to head out?"

"I was ready a week ago," Katherine said, eager to get away from the castle for a while.

Taking his cloak from the rack, Severus dropped it over his shoulders, and much to Katherine's amusement, actually did up the ornate silver clasp. They would be flooing in directly to Spinners End so wouldn't be outside at all, but, she knew Severus' habits very well by now and knew he wouldn't be caught dead simply carrying his cloak. It was either off or on, not anything in-between.

Spinner's End

Severus and Katherine arrived at Spinners End a few minutes later to be greeted by Carly who took their cloaks and announced their tea was ready in the sitting room. Walking into the room, Katherine made her way to the short table where the tray was set and poured herself and Severus a cup of the hot tea before sitting on the couch across from the fire and Severus took up his favorite chair. He sipped his tea, studying Katherine.

"What?" she finally asked, unnerved by his long stare and silence.

"We have been invited over to the Weasley's on Christmas Day. Their family is rather, voluminous, and can be a bit overwhelming but they are good people, kind and giving. I can certainly understand if you would prefer a quiet holiday but thought you might enjoy some company other than just my own."

Katherine shrugged "sure, why not unless you would rather not go."

"I will let Auror Potter know then," Severus said, secretly pleased she had said yes. While a day with the Weasley clan couldn't come close to being described as relaxing, he also knew the ability of the Weasley's to make one forget about what was worrying a person, if only for a short period of time. He knew that Molly, in her usual motherly fashion, would take to Katherine almost immediately.

"I also wished to speak to you about your grades," he said, watching as Katherine stiffened slightly. "You had passed your other courses, though you did not do as well as I would have liked, and just barely managed a passing score for potions. Still, I take into consideration what has been going on with the trial but will still require you to do some catch-up work once Christmas has passed. Your OWLS are at the end of the next term and if you go in to the beginning of the term with only a fleeting understanding of the previous term's material, you are not going to get through the OWLS or the apprentice program progress exam."

Katherine sighed but didn't say anything. She knew she hadn't done as well as she should have and thought to herself she was lucky he wasn't putting her on yet another endless restriction and burying her in work; or worse.

She looked up at him.

"I'm sorry" she said, somewhat lamely. "I tried to catch up closer to the end of term but didn't manage it."

"No matter," he said, "you WILL be caught up by the time term starts again."

"Yes Sir" she said immediately, not sure a response was required but answered just in case.

"Since I usually take this time to do some brewing we can catch up with that portion easily enough. I will have other smaller assignments for you to complete that, while admittedly won't go into extreme detail of the information, will at least give you a decent summary; enough to be caught up for the next term without being drowned in work."

"You're all heart" Katherine said, in such a dry tone that Severus' lips quivered for a moment in what was almost a smile; "manners brat" he said automatically.

"So," Katherine went on, what's on the agenda this weekend…"

Prince Manor

As per Severus' plans they apparated in to a spot just outside a gate that split the low stone wall surrounding the manor.

Taking out his wand, he gestured to Katherine to come closer to the gate.

Placing his hand in the depression in the wall, he intoned some words in Latin and the stone glowed blue for a moment. "Place your hand in the depression and say the password 'nightshade'. The stone will grow warm for a moment, turn gold then green. Once it has turned green remove your hand."

Stepping a little closer, Katherine removed her glove placed her hand in the shallow depression and said the password. The stone grew warm, a comfort to the winter chill, and then shone gold. A few heartbeats later, the stone went to green and once again turned cold. Removing her hand she stepped back and watched as Severus once again placed his hand in the depression and intoned a different phrase. The stone turned blue again before fading back to its original gray and black color.

"The wards to the grounds will now recognize your magical signature. Anytime you arrive or leave, you will need to place your hand in the depression, there is an identical one on the other side, and say the password. Anyone attempting to pass through the wards from the outside without authorization will be instantly hit with a full body bind. Attempt to pass through the wards from the inside, or in your case from the outside, without completing the process will initiate a strong stinging hex as a reminder," here he smirked. "You won't forget more than once."

Rolling her eyes, and earning a mild glare from Severus, she deliberately placed her hand back in the depression. "Nightshade" she said and watched as the air over the gate took on a silver shimmer. Opening the gate and waving Katherine through, Severus shut it and Katherine watched as the shimmer disappeared.

Taking little notice Severus led her up the stone walk. It had snowed the night before so the trees and bushes were dotted with snow and the lawn covered in an undisturbed sheet of white making the entire scene look like something on the front of a Christmas card. Her throat tightened a bit as she took in the overall view, remembering the many Christmases at home with her parents and siblings.

Opening the front door Severus allowed Katherine to precede him and then stepped in behind her, closing the door against the winter chill. The front entrance was warm and inviting, the floors a light blue with streaks of green and silver running through the marble. A long carpet runner in a deep blue ran the length of the hallway.

Katherine jumped in surprise when Carly popped in in front of them with a huge smile on her face. "Welcome home Master Snape Sir and Miss Katherine," she said, even as she stepped forward to take their cloaks, vanishing them instantly. "All is ready for you and tea can be ready at any time. Master Snape Sir Master Potter sent a message and Carly put it in your study and has let Hedwig into the solarium until you have a reply."

"Thank you Carly," Severus said, bemused at the run on commentary. "I'll see to the message and show Katherine around. Please have tea served in the sitting room in 15 minutes."

"Oh of course Master Snape Sir," Carly brightened even more, popping back out.

Severus almost chuckled at the look on Katherine's face. "She is a bit more animated when we are at home; I think she prefers it here to the rushing that happens at Hogwarts.

The stairway leads to the upstairs bedrooms to the left and to a guest wing to the right. Down here," he gestured, "to your right is the library and my study, to the left is the sitting room, formal dining room and kitchen in order front to back." Walking down the large open hallway, he turned left into another entrance. "My private lab and stores are in this wing and across the hall is the entrance to the solarium and back gardens."

Heading across, with Katherine following, he opened the large double doors and she was instantly draped in warmth as she stepped into the glass solarium. She was surrounded by plants of all shapes and sizes, some she recognized specifically as those used in potions that could only be found in warm climates, and others were decorative in nature. A brook ran throughout the room, with bridges strategically placed here and there for someone to gain access to the plants or sitting areas that dotted the room. There were small birds that flitted about the room and other than the burbling of the brook, it and the birds were the only noise inside the room. She spotted the snowy owl she recognized as belonging to Auror Potter, sitting on a branch and watching, Katherine would have to say in amusement, at the activity of the smaller birds as they flitted about.

Severus came up behind her. "I had this room added on five years ago. It is a relaxing place and allows me to grow those potions herbs and plants I can't grow at Hogwarts due to the temperature differences required. These doors," he gestured to yet another set of glass doors that led to the outside, "lead to the outside gardens. This hallway," he gestured again, "leads to the two greenhouses that I use to grow everything else."

Taking her back inside the manor he gestured to the stairs. "The upstairs splits as you can see. The entrance from the right of the stairs is a guest wing. The general living quarters for the manor are to the left. Your room will be the second on the left from entrance to the general quarters; the bathroom is straight across the hall. My room is the first on the right. Straight back is a sitting area and another smaller library that are centered to accommodate either the guest wing or general quarters."

Katherine looked at Severus. "I hadn't thought of you as the mansion type," she said with a grin. Spinners seems to better suit your personality.

Severus grimaced slightly. "Normally you would be right and I would generally use Spinners for short term stays of only a day or two. This is the Prince estate, a bequeath from my mother, in which I spend the major holiday periods and summer of course. The townhouse also does not have the room for the all the plants I prefer to grow myself. While the Hogwarts gardens are adequate, there are certain plants I need for potions not grown at Hogwarts due to space and the safety, or maybe a better word would be curiosity, of the students."

Turning, Severus went down the hallway, stopping at the sitting room where Carly had laid out the tea tray covered in scones and fruits with a pot of tea and cups.

"Help yourself," Severus said, gesturing towards the tray. "I am going to see what Auror Potter wants and will join you shortly."

Severus walked down the hall to his study, opening the double doors. Walking to his desk he found the letter from Harry and opening it read:

'I let Molly know you are going to come by…she was ecstatic as always and also curious so prepare for the third degree when you get here.

I received a message from the Americans who have confirmed the trial date for 8 January; they have set-up a safehouse for our use but still ask that we arrive on the 6th for pre-trial processing.

Agent Benson has assured me that Katherine will not be taken into custody but will remain under your guardianship for the duration of the trial. What happens after that we don't know as yet but of course we are going to do everything possible here to make sure Katherine comes back here when we depart.

My best to you and Katherine and we will see you in a couple of days.

Harry'

Severus tapped the letter thoughtfully against his hand for a moment. Deciding that no reply was necessary he locked the letter in his desk and then strode to the solarium to let Hedwig out.

"Time to go home" he said gently, allowing the owl to step up on his arm; sitting calmly as he went to open the door. "Safe flight" he said rolling his eyes at Hewdwig's gentle and affectionate nip to his ear just as she took flight. For some reason Hedwig had decided she liked him despite the problems the two had had with each other during Harry's school years. At that time she was more apt to take a chunk out of his ear than anything else.

Walking back to the parlor he stopped just outside the door and observed Katherine for a moment as she walked quietly about the room, touching some Christmas bauble here and there or inhaling the fragrance of the pine boughs Carly had used to decorate the mantel. The look on her face was both wistful, and sad. Given her story he could imagine she couldn't help but think of her lost family, and Severus vowed to himself then and there that he would do everything he could to help her through the holiday and the time afterwards as the trial drew closer.