Saturday morning found Hermione in Gryffindor tower making sure the first and second years were managing to pack up what they needed to take home. She also wanted them in the Great Hall for breakfast so they wouldn't be starved on the train going back to London.

By 9:30 she had the 1st years all packed and their bags and pets waiting to go to the train, the 2nd years were for the most part packed and on their way to the Great Hall. Hermione followed a 3rd year out of the portrait hole and headed towards the Great Hall; she was so hungry, the baby seemed to be making her hungry all the time.

Hermione sat down beside Severus, "Do you have your cubs all packed up Madame Snape?"

Hermione smiled, "Yes, the 1st years are packed and the 2nd year only had 2 more students and they were waiting for their older brothers and sisters. So my cubs are all packed and ready to go home; now are your Snakes as organized? Or will you need to go back and threaten to hex them to be ready?"

"My Slytherin are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves."

"Oh yes, they call for their house elf's and have them pack for them!"

"Like I said they are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves; they know how to get someone else to do it for them." Severus sneered at Hermione's laugh!

"Yep they do know how to do that! Call the house elves in and let them do all the work! I guess we know why Gryffindor is in the house cup lead."

Of course this got to Severus, "Just remember that we are together for the next three weeks without dunderheads around us; and I am the head of Slytherin."

"Oh, is that right; for some reason I think I'm head of Gryffindor and that my house right now is up almost 100 points on your Slytherins."

Hermione and Severus had spent the whole first part of the year teasing each other about their houses. They truly did love each other but they were both highly competitive so this gave them an outlet on their competitiveness! They continually snipped at each other about their houses all the time and at any one time had as many as 3 bets going at one time over something to do with their houses.

Breakfast finished Hermione and Severus went to the hall and started sending students to the carriages; the train would be arriving shortly and all the students needed to be on the train by 11:30 to start for London. They worked until shortly after 11 when they looked around and realized that all of the students and their baggage were gone. The entrance hall was very quiet, just the two of them and a few of the ghosts.

Hermione took a deep breath and sighed, "They are gone!"

"Well most of them are gone, I have one Slytherin left and I believe we have one or two Ravenclaw and a couple of Hufflepuffs."



"I have none staying this Christmas, I thought I would have Mr. Dunley but he decided to go home after we had a talk. I'm really looking forward to an almost empty castle."

"So am I and it will mean you can get off of your feet and rest for a few weeks?"

"Well except I've still got almost all of my Christmas shopping to do so I do need to go into Diagon Alley in the next week."

"Can't you just Owl order your gifts? I really don't want you in an unsafe situation; there are still Death Eaters out and about. I just don't feel it's safe for you to be out shopping."

"Severus there will always be Death Eaters still on the move; all we can do is be alert and live our lives."

Severus sighed and led his wife towards their quarters. "I realize that it's possible we will never catch all of them; but I'm still worried look what Draco did."

By this time Hermione's temper was starting to escalate, "Severus I realize you are worried, but I fought in the war and survived. I will be with Ginny, and Luna; Harry and Ron will be in Diagon Alley also and if you want you can be there and other then the first hour or so while I hunt for your present you can stay with me if you want to."

Severus realizing that he was going to be kicked out of his bed if he didn't give in finally gave in. "Fine I will allow you an hour or so on your own to do your shopping that you want to keep hidden if you make sure the Weasley boy and Harry stays with you. Then I'll join you and Mrs. Potter and Ms. Lovegood while you do rest of your shopping."

The couple settled onto their couch and spent rest of the day reading and talking with each other.