The holidays eventually came around despite Severus' lousy claims of "There is nothing to be excited for. It happens every year." Although Selena never accepted his monotony anyway, as if she'd let him spend Christmas without the season's spirit—at least, even just a little. Hagrid returned from his "mission" earlier than expected, and as soon as he arrived, Selena returned Fang to him with sad coos.

"How are ye' Miss Stellifer? Fang wasn't an inconvenience, I hope?" Hagrid greeted as Selena entered his hut. Fang immediately resumed his seat on the couch, relaxing in the familiarity of his true home after days sleeping in Selena's quarters.

"No, no, he wasn't. On the contrary, he was an actual angel." Selena grinned at the half-dozing dog. "Even when I had to leave him with Professor Flitwick for a short while, he was quiet and polite in the classroom—Oh! I hope that was alright with you, Hagrid. I had a spontaneous errand to make, I didn't have time to write to you about it. I also didn't want to bring Fang outside, it was really cold that day, and he seemed to enjoy staying in the warmth."

"As long as he wasn't a disruption to the education of the students," The half-giant said. "Merlin, Miss Stellifer, ya' might've spoiled him teh' much. Seemed to enjoy stayin' in the warmth… I'm sure Fang can endure the coldness!" Hagrid laughed, and began to boil some water. "What was this errand o' yers' an'way?"

"Oh, just a quick visit to Hogsmeade for a few potion ingredients," Selena said distantly. "We ran out of bicorn horns and other stuff…"

He turned around. "Alone?"

"No, no, I was with Professor Snape."

The gamekeeper hummed to himself, resuming to his work, "Ya' seem to be spending a lot o' time with the Profess'er lately…" And what followed was a smirk not even his shaggy beard could hide.

Selena quirked her eyebrows at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Hagrid shifted quite oddly, as though he was purposefully trying to avoid her gaze. "'Meant it literally, Miss Stellifer. Ya' really spend a lot o' time with him. Tis' all."

She didn't believe him, of course. Hagrid was never a good liar, after all, but the Mediwizard never pursues a topic she invests no curiosity in, such as this one. Whatever the half-giant wanted to imply, with that statement, she wasn't up for a conversation about it. She was afraid it would change what she thought about her potioneer friend, and so with one knowing glance, they went on to talking about Minerva instead. Selena just hoped he wouldn't bring it up again in the near future too.

The next time Selena saw Hagrid, he was dragging freshly chopped pine trees across the castle on the way to the Great Hall, where other members of the faculty were decorating them. She was on her way to the Hospital Wing when the giant fig tree blocked almost the whole corridor and himself. A smile prompted on her face when she pictured the familiar first-year Gryffindors, Harry and Ron, who were chatting with the gamekeeper. She was going to call for their attention until Draco Malfoy and his two other Slytherin friends appeared. He insulted Ron, and before the red-haired boy could do anything more worse than grabbing Draco by the collar, she interfered.

"Malfoy!" Selena scolded, but at the same time, a familiar voice in the same tone said, "Weasley!" And her eyes shot up to meet Severus' own.

A very awkward silence followed; Selena could feel Hagrid's eyes occasionally averting from her form to Severus' while Ron and Draco seemed to slowly back away from each other in the corner of her eye.

The half-giant was the first to speak, his head barely popping out of the tree. "He was provoked, Professor Snape," He explained, though Severus didn't seem to buy it.

"Be that as it may, fighting is against the Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," Severus said, and it morphed irritation on Selena's face. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more."

"Now, now," She caught all their attention. "As much as I agree with you, Professor, and do not condone physical attacks of any kind, I also do not condone verbal degradation." Her gaze went onto the blonde Slytherin. "Five points will be taken from Slytherin House because of Mr. Malfoy's insensitive words." Those of the green-colored House—Professor included—pulled a face at her, though the annoyance was more evident in the first years' faces. Selena almost rolled her eyes, "Move along, everyone. Back to your classes, now."

Draco and his friends stomped away, grumbling amongst themselves, while Harry and Ron accompanied Hagrid to the Great Hall. Selena was naturally left alone with the Potions Master, who refused to meet her eyes out of newfound spite, apparently.

"I have a sudden urge to take away points from Ravenclaw in my next class," Severus muttered for only her to hear, readily looking left and right in case a student from the said House did come waltzing into the corridor.

Selena released a grunt, "I can't believe that if I hadn't come, you'd just take away points from Gryffindor."

"Weasley clearly had his fist tightly gripped on the collar of Malfoy's uniform." He argued. "You saw."

"I understand you taking away points from Weasley, he should've kept his hands to himself. However, you know these students; Ron wouldn't do a thing to hurt anyone unless there was a reason behind it. Would it hurt to, at least, deepen your knowledge of the situation first?" Selena crossed her arms. "Besides, Hagrid said it himself as evidence, Ron was provoked by Draco."

"He could've been lying." Severus said after a few wordless seconds.

"Please!" The witch cried. "You know very well that Hagrid is such a bad liar. I learned that myself last week." The professor released a scoff, but he still didn't look her way. Selena continued, "And I can second what he said, I heard him too… You know, just because Draco's from your House, doesn't mean you should be impartial when taking away points."

"You know, Miss Stellifer, you may as well take up my job if you know so well about it."

Selena rolled her eyes, she's heard that tone before. "That's not what I'm implying and you know it. I'm just… reminding you."

"Reminding," Severus scoffed. "Perhaps the Headmaster's job, then?"

The Mediwizard groaned, "I think it's best if you get back to class as well."

"You already sound so much like him," He continued without any less sarcasm, and Selena couldn't tell if he was trying to annoy her on purpose. "Dumbledore will be quite pleased, I'm sure. One of these days, he might finally retire on that island he always rambles on about."

"Goodbye, Professor Snape." She huffed with a tired smile and stomped her way up the stairs, not having to look back if Severus remained standing there, watching her flee, because his footsteps were also echoing towards the other end of the corridor. When she arrived at the Transfiguration Courtyard, she caught a few Slytherins jinxing one of the plants and turning them into snap-dragons for fun.

"Oh, Merlin," Selena sighed to herself and stalked over to them. "Ms. Parkinson and group," She watched as the mischievous smiles on the students' faces contorted into one of fear. "What is going on here?"

"A project for Herbology, Miss Stellifer." Pansy said at the same time the student beside her replied with, "It's practice for Transfiguration..." The former glared at her Housemate with visible annoyance.

"Is it now?" Selena asked, unamused. She withdrew her wand from within her robes and wordlessly restored the original state of plants. "Did you know that magical snap-dragons are quite dangerous, and if bites are not treated at once, you may or may not be the cause of a death this year. Did you not realize that?" The students didn't initiate any eye contact; their pupils roamed all over the ground. After a soft grunt, "Ten points will be taken from Slytherin for your insensitivity to the other students."

Pansy was the first to show her disgruntlement, her crossed arms abruptly flailing to her side. "But you've already taken five from Malfoy today!" She spat, followed by whines from the girls beside her.

"And I will do it again if Slytherin continues to keep up shenanigans like this. Good morning, ladies." Selena sauntered away immediately, leaving the girls groaning to themselves. Little did she know that she wouldn't be hearing the last of them that day.

Her shift at the Hospital Wing went on as any other day would; students would come and go after some period of time, she tidied up with Poppy at around 3pm and turned to her book for entertainment right after that. However, there was one little odd thing about that afternoon; the students that visited were quiet and seemed to limit their answers whenever the Mediwizard asked them a few health-related questions. Selena brushed it off, thinking today just seemed to be an off-day for… everyone? Now, that was suspicious, not even Potter and his friends came to drop by for after-school chats, nor did the third-year Ravenclaws she acquainted herself with a few weeks ago.

When the sun began to set the two matrons started to get ready for dinner, a few Hufflepuffs appeared at the entrance of the infirmary. Selena first noticed how timid they all looked, especially when they turned to look at her, to the point she had to quickly scan herself for a noticeable stain blotch on her uniform, which there was none. Only one student approached her, however, and she recognized the blonde boy to be Ernest Macmillan, though he didn't speak right away.

"Anything the matter, dear?" Selena questioned first, quite awkwardly. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Actually, Miss Stellifer," He eventually stammered out. "I was just… I was just dared to ask this but… My friends and I were wondering if it's… If it's true?"

Visibly confused, the adult witch blinked once. "Sorry?" She let out an uncomfortable chuckle. "If what is true?"

Ernie seemed to flush more than he already was, frantically looking back to his now-giggling friends lurking by the entrance. "That...er... you slept with the Headmaster to be a Mediwizard here at Hogwarts?"

That I... what?

It was only a few seconds after that when Selena found out the students had learnt of this false information from "a few Slytherins" who had been spreading it around earlier that morning. Poppy had fended out the Hufflepuffs soon after she found out about their nonsense, scolding them that they shouldn't enter the Wing if the only problem with them was lack of common sense.

"A bit harsh, Poppy." Selena said in attempts to hide the aching embarrassment.

"Compared to the rumors they dare spread around and have the audacity to even confirm with you?" The matron countered and let out a huff, "My dear, that's harsh."

Selena tugged her lips up to smile, but her face felt heavier by the second. She turned to look out the window nearby, recently sweating fingers fidgeting together. "I can't believe so much students think that now," She sighed fretfully, the thought made her shiver. "Merlin, no wonder all my patients today were acting odd!"

"Oh, we better tell Albus about this," Poppy clicked her tongue, though her eyes held concern for Selena's state; The Mediwizard could see it in her reflection. "Those kids must be sent for detention."

"I don't feel like seeing him right now, though, Poppy." Selena grunted, her wariness increased by the second, she actually began to feel light headed. "In fact, I lost my appetite," She grabbed her book on the chair and made her movement out of the infirmary. "I'm sorry, Poppy, but I don't think I could be at dinner tonight. I need to clear my head."

"Selena, don't be stubborn, dear," The matron rushed to her side. "You need to eat, you've been working all day. I told you, if you get sick I'm not taking care of you."

The younger pulled out a tired smirk, "I know… I have food in my chambers, some left over pie, I think. It'll suffice until I can visit the kitchens later after curfew."

Poppy stared at her unsurely. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Oh, you better be." The middle aged woman watched her slowly disappear inside the dim stairwell. "Selena Stellifer, I swear to Merlin, if you don't have your dinner tonight I'll turn you into Fluffy's dinner."

Selena let out a soft laugh at that, and had kept that small grin until the bottom of the stairs, when she saw Professor Snape looking like he was waiting for her by the entrance to her chambers. She sighed inaudibly, she wasn't looking forward to bumping into a Slytherin, let alone, their Head of House. From the stern expression on his face, it already looked like this encounter wasn't one to look forward to either, Selena just hoped he wouldn't bring up the rumor.

And he didn't, because he had no idea.

"You took fifteen points today." He said right away. "What could first-years have possibly done to earn that?"

"Oh, I don't know," Selena wrapped her arms around her book. "Maybe they provoked students about their social class, turning bushes into infectious snap-dragons, you tell me."

Severus arched his brow, "I'm not joking around, Miss Stellifer."

"Neither am I." She scoffed incredulously. "Maybe try telling your students that too."

"I beg your pardon?" The potioneer scowled.

"Don't harbour any bitterness when points are taken away from your House, Severus. I don't intend to sound rude, but even Minerva has never argued with me when I take points from Gryffindor, and neither does she to you. I hope you realize you're being a little unfair." Selena moved past him to get to her door, she was exhausted. "It's not like I did that to embarrass Slytherin, so why does it feel like the other way around?"

Severus stood outside without saying anything, he looked genuinely bothered but there was a hint of confusion somewhere. Selena shook her head slowly and eventually closed the door after a soft, "Professor."

The next morning, Selena reported to work looking as pale as the snow that began to paint the castle. She lied to Poppy, she had no food in her chambers, instead, her fatigue and additional stress over the rumor tired her out so much she went straight to sleep the night before. Minerva and Poppy were the first to check up on her, followed by Dumbledore—who she still felt quite weary to be around, especially in front of students—though, they all had the same thing to say; that she need not work today, though, she should take breakfast. And she did eat, but in the staff room, where Flitwick happily gave up his free period to keep her company. The other teachers weren't around, even Severus, though she was unsure if she actually wanted to see him.

After a few hours, when she regained her color, she attempted to head for the infirmary but Poppy immediately shooed her away, and if she hadn't pretended to return to her chambers, the matron may as well have dragged her down. Selena fled to Hagrid's place instead, who warmly greeted her with a cuppa.

"They're not letting me work." She said, staring into her mug.

"An' I'm part o' they're," The half-giant replied. "It ain't a good idea ter' work when yer' not feelin' well, Miss Stellifer. If anythin' it'll onleh' get worse."

A smile was produced on her lips. "I guess," Selena shrugged. "But I really want to do something. I'm feeling a lot better now, trust me."

"Well, if yer' feeling that desperate, I spo'se yeh' could help meh' with some o' the Christmas decorations."

And that's exactly what they were doing twenty minutes later in the Great Hall, hanging ornaments on the trees and wreaths on the walls. She was still receiving a few stares from the students who were present, but it was hard to pay attention to them when Hagrid was right beside her, treating the ornaments like they were eggs. In fact, he almost dropped one, and his face was absolutely priceless.

In the middle of all that, she was decorating the tree near the Ravenclaw table when she unintentionally overheard a conversation between three of the House members.

"Did you hear? Snape took so many points from Slytherin this morning," One girl said.

"Snape? Take points from his own House?" Said another, almost in disbelief. "How many points?"

"I'm not sure, but what I heard from Richmond, a hundred and twenty." A HUNDRED AND TWENTY?

Selena dropped an ornament for real, and the fragile material shattered on the ground as one would naturally expect it to. Her head twisted in the direction of the hourglasses, and inhaled at the very noticeable loss of shining green emeralds compared to when she last saw them. Hagrid made his way to her and asked if she was alright, "I'll be right back." She said. "I need to… I need to clarify something." With a quick assembling spell, the ornament pieced itself together and gently landed on the pile of its kind like nothing has ever happened to it.

Selena practically sped out of the Great Hall, rushing past students on her way to the dungeons. She found Severus just exiting his private potion cupboard, and she slowed in her pace. The professor had his eyebrow raised, and though his face was as unreadable as always, Selena didn't sense the irritation from the night before.

"You took a hundred and twenty points?" She asked in the same level of disbelief as the Ravenclaw she heard the information from. "You do realize this puts you in third place."

"A hundred and fifty points." Severus corrected nonchalantly. This time, it was Selena who seemed baffled, and it made the potioneer roll his eyes. "I don't understand why this is shocking for you."

"It's just… That many points? Professor, that's—"

"Fair." He concluded. "Selena, I'll be honest with you, I didn't understand your outburst yesterday until I found out after dinner that Miss Parkinson had been spreading rumors involving you and our Headmaster." After a sigh, he continued. "You were faultless when assuming my impartiality towards my own House, and while I am no stranger to being the topic of rumors myself, I realized that you don't deserve to go through second-hand humiliation for doing the right thing."

Selena's mouth hung open, she didn't know what to say. She was obviously very surprised, but what nobody knew was how her heart practically glowed at his words. She also tried to ignore how Severus indirectly admitted to him having rumors of his own, it suddenly dawned on Selena that perhaps, the reason behind why he seemed to loathe Gryffindor was because of the Marauders? Though, that was something she would dwell on another time.

"I forgive you." She said.

His lips quirked awkwardly. "I wasn't apologizing."

"You said my name." Selena smiled.

Severus looked down the hallway. "Don't make me regret it, Miss Stellifer."