In a world filled with desperation and doubt, you sometimes just need to devote yourself to ecstasy.

When Dumbledore decides to bring back the centuries-old Hogwarts tradition of assigning apprentices to the school's professors, Severus Snape finds himself confronted with having a certain know-it-all invade his beloved potions lab. To his own dismay, however, the Dungeon Bat soon encounters some never before seen feelings bubbling in the cauldron that is his heart.

A Christmas one-shot: Hogwarts' snarky Potions Master, its smart but naïve Head Girl and an enchanted mistletoe – could it get any worse?

Severus knows that he should have died that night in the Shrieking Shack. Nobody could possibly survive that abomination of a snake burying her venomous fangs deep inside one's neck. But as he laid there on the dust-covered floor, alone and on the brink of death, an unexpected figure appeared and wanted to know just one thing: What is it that makes your life worth living, Snape?

A raging alcoholic and complete narcissist, Tobias Snape enjoyed nothing more than cowing his isolated family into submission using both emotional as well as physical abuse. Having cut contact years ago, how will his only son react to the news of his father's recent death?