Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I've been extremely busy. But here's the next chapter. I hope it's as good as I want it to be. Thank you to my reviewers: Ailah and Carpathia. You guys are awesome! Yes, I know "darling" seemed a little OOC but that's what the Snape in my head told me to write. (I promise I'm not crazy, I don't hear voices in my head other than those of my characters.) :)
Together At Last
Katya had just finished wrapping gifts and was now hurriedly trying to find something festive for dinner. It was Christmas Day and most of the students had gone home last week. It had been three weeks since she had met Cordelia and Severus had kissed her. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a real kiss, but still, it was more than the usual wave farewell. Subconsciously she raised her hand to her cheek. Pulling herself out of her reverie she shook her head and continued searching through her wardrobe. There was her plain red one, but she had just worn it yesterday. Then another, deeper red with gold embroidery and a lace collar. It was a gift her grandmother had given her three Christmases ago. The thing looked ancient, of course, her grandmother had said it had been her's. Katya had just about given up when she spotted something green in the back of the wardrobe. Pulling it out she found it to be a simple, elegant forest green robe with silver thread. Where on earth had it come from? How much had it cost? Grabbing what she assumed was the tag she realized it was actually a note.
Dear Katya,
I wasn't exactly sure what to get you for Christmas, I noticed you admiring this in a catalogue. I know we were going to wait until after dinner to exchange gifts but I thought you might want to wear it to dinner. I hope you like it and that it fits.
- Severus Snape
P.S. I had a house elf put this in your wardrobe. Don't worry your privacy was respected.
Katya smiled. Putting the note on her dresser she quickly began to change.
* * *
"Katya, how are you?" Professor McGonagall greeted as Katya sat down.
"Just fine, thank you. And you?"
"Good, good. My, that robe is beautiful. Where did you get it?"
"Oh, it was a gift"
"Yes, well, Severus has excellent taste"
Katya felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, "What makes you think it's from Severus?"
"Besides the fact that the colors are Slytherin? I'm the one who ordered it for him."
"You did?"
"Yes, that man would have probably gotten one two sizes too small! Honestly, he can measure potion ingredients perfectly but when it comes to estimating sizes!"
"Are you telling her about my embarrassing order form blunder?" A quiet, but distinct voice said from behind them.
"Severus!" Katya exclaimed. It was all she could do not to jump up and hug him while thanking him profusely.
"Hello darling," he'd been calling her that more and more often lately. And it still confused Katya to no end. How could he use a term of endearment when referring to her but treat her like a good pal? She realized he was saying something.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I was just commenting on how beautiful you look. I especially like your robe. Of course, I've always been partial to the colors green and silver."
Katya rolled her eyes, "Yes, and I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you bought it for me. Thank you, by the way."
"Do you like it?"
"Very much"
"Good," he said as he sat down beside her.
Their conversation was cut short as Dumbledore stood up.
"I only have two things to say," he said, "Happy Christmas and boople loo"
Everyone was quiet. Boople loo? Dumbledore was getting weirder every year it seemed.
"Well, let's eat!" he said and sat down. Food magically appeared on the tables and everyone commenced to eat.
* * *
"Happy Christmas Professor Poiston!" Harry called as she passed him in the corridor on her way to Snape's rooms.
"Happy Christmas Harry," she replied.
Stopping in front of the Salazar portrait she whispered the password ("beetle juice") and walked in.
"Severus," she called as she looked around the front room. Realizing he must either be in the bedroom or still in the Great Hall she walked to the window and pulled back the heavy green curtains. She looked out at the spectacular view of the snow-covered grounds and ice covered lake. To the right she saw Hagrid's hut with smoke rising from the chimney and the Forbidden Forest in the background. She had stood at this window many times with Severus but the view still managed to leave her breathless.
"You know you're too close when your friend knows your password and comes in on their own," a joking voice came from behind causing Katya to jump.
"Severus! You scared me!" she exclaimed. She turned around to find out he was standing much closer than she had thought. She was practically pinned between him and the window.
"I'm sorry, I thought you heard me come in."
"Where were you?" she asked looking up into his shining black eyes.
"I had to wrap your present," he replied. He remained where he was either unaware of what his proximity was doing to her or choosing to ignore it.
"Just like a man to wait until the last minute," she teased trying to ignore her pounding heart.
Severus smiled, "It was either that or miss dinner."
"Wait a minute, didn't you already give me a gift?" she touched the collar of her robe.
He smiled sheepishly, "Well, I kind of got carried away and bought you two. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course I don't mind. The more presents the better. I just feel bad because I only got you one gift and it isn't all that great."
"I'm sure whatever it is I'll love it," he reassured.
He's such a dear man, she thought to herself. She slipped her arms around his shoulders. "Is that so?" she said flirtatiously.
Severus looked into her blue eyes. Then his gaze moved down to her soft pink lips. Giving into the urge he had been feeling ever since she had turned around he leaned down and gently kissed her. It was electrifying. What are you doing! a voice screamed in his head. Do you want to ruin everything?! You're going to scare her away! Deciding that the voice inside his head was probably right he prepared to pull away. But then he felt her kissing him back. Well her journal did say she loves me. Putting his hands on her waist he drew her closer.
Katya was both surprised and elated when Severus leaned down to kiss her. Her entire body started to tingle with delight. Closing her eyes she eagerly began to kiss him back. Feeling him pull her closer she gave an silent squeal of delight. She began to rub her hands through his hair. She was more than disappointed when he pulled back. Her heart was beating rapidly and her lips were still tingling from the kiss.
Severus didn't want to stop kissing Katya but his better judgment told him not to get carried away. So he pulled away.
He cleared his throat. "Well, why don't we open presents," he suggested.
Katya tried to hide her disappointment. She tried to reply but found she was still a little breathless. She nodded and walked over to the black couch where she had set his gift. Severus sat down next to her.
She handed him his gift and watched as he opened it. "It isn't that great," she said, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"Litldel legs!" he exclaimed, "I've been wanting some of these for a long time. Now I can try out some of those potions I've always wanted to do. Thank you darling it's wonderful!" He gave her a peck on the cheek. "Now, here's your present." He handed her a small box. Unwrapping it she discovered a beautiful charm in the shape of a coiled snake on a delicate silver chain. The snake's eye was a red stone.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, "Help me put it on." She picked up her hair as he put the necklace on her neck.
"Yes, I thought so too," he said trying to focus on what he was doing and not on her graceful neck, "It's more than a necklace though. Apparently the red stone lets the wearer know when a loved one is in trouble. It's even supposed to make it possible to find the person no matter where they are. At least, that's what the jeweler said."
"Do you believe it?"
"Truthfully? I think it's a tale made up to use as a sales pitch."
"You must admit that it sounds rather romantic," Katya said.
"Romantic; yes. Possible? I think not. It's a very old form of magic that does that and it takes a very powerful wizard to perform it. No known witch or wizard has been powerful enough since the school's founders were alive. Not even You-Know-Who."
"What if the stone is from the time of the school's founders?" she asked. More to herself than to Severus. "What if one of them enchanted the stone; perhaps Salazar Slytherin."
Severus began to laugh.
"What?" she asked, "It's not funny! It's possible!"
Unable to talk through his laughter he shook his head.
"Oh you're going to pay for your disrespect Severus Snape!" she mockingly threatened. Pushing him down so that he was now lying on the couch she straddled across his abdomen and began to tickle him. She had discovered this weakness of his during a lively game of Exploding Snap.
"Stop! Stop!" he pleaded through his laughter.
"Never!" she cried, "Or at least not until you stop laughing at me."
"How can you expect me to stop laughing when you're tickling me?!" he sputtered.
Katya just smiled and continued to tickle him. Deciding there was no escape without sending her flying he settled for the next best thing. Pulling her face down to his he kissed her. Immediately the tickling stopped as her hands made their way up to his face. Putting a palm on each cheek she began to kiss him enthusiastically. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Her hands began to stray through his hair. Smiling to himself Severus brought his hands around so that they were under her and . . . began to tickle her. Putting her hands on his chest she pushed herself up.
"Severus!" she squealed.
"Revenge is mine!" he shouted.
She began to wiggle; trying to get out of his reach. It worked. She fell off him and onto the floor.
"That was evil," she said trying to look mad.
"And tickling me wasn't?"
"No, because you deserved it."
Severus rolled his eyes, "I'm sorry"
"No you're not"
"I'm sorry," he repeated this time trying to look repentant. "Will you ever forgive me?"
"Hmmmm, I suppose. But on one condition."
"What's that?" he asked worried by her sudden seriousness.
"I want to know what this means."
"What what means?" he asked knowing fully well what she meant.
"This," she swept her hands across the room, "the kissing, I mean. What does it mean? Did you just get carried away? Are you toying with my feelings? Do you have feelings for me? This."
Severus slowly let out a breath, "It means whatever you want it to mean."
"Sev don't be that way. Just answer the question."
He remained silent.
"Fine, you want to know what I meant by it?" she said, "I have feelings for you that go far beyond friendship. I was hoping that this meant you feel the same way. I was hoping that it meant you want to start a relationship."
He tried to hold back a smile. "Well, you're right. That's exactly what it meant."
"Really?"
Severus nodded. "You know, you look kind of cute all sprawled out on the floor like that."
It was then that Katya realized she was still on the floor tangled up in her robes. Quickly detangling herself she stood up. "So . . ."
"So . . ." he mimicked.
"Are we . . . ?" she didn't finish. She suddenly felt very young.
"Do you want to?" he asked.
"Yes"
"Okay then, I guess we are."
She sat in his lap and leaned against him. "I still think the stone is ancient," she said for lack of anything better to say.
Severus didn't reply. Instead he wrapped his arms around her, buried his face into her hair, and inhaled deeply. She smelled so good.
"Sev?"
"Hmmm?"
"Aren't you going to laugh at me?"
"What'd you say?" he muttered into her hair.
"I said I still think that stone may be ancient."
Deciding to appease her he said, "Maybe, just maybe"
"Where did you get it?"
"Why?" he asked pulling his face out of her hair, "Do you want to go see how much I paid for it?"
"No, I'm just curious what store sells such beautiful jewelry."
"Matkins and Roberts Magical Jewels"
"Where's that?"
"It's across the street from Zonko's"
"Oh" They fell silent. Giving a contented sigh Katya began to lazily draw circles on Snape's hand with her finger. The clock chimed indicating that it was now nine o'clock.
"Merlin! I've been here nearly two hours," she said. "I need to go."
"Do you?" Severus asked disappointedly.
"Afraid so I've got too much to do tomorrow. I need a proper night's sleep if I'm going to get all my students' homework graded."
"Alright, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." He got up to walk her to the door.
"Good night darling," he said. Leaning down he gave her a quick kiss.
"Goodnight honey," she said gently mocking him. He made a face at her. She replied by sticking out her tongue.
"What are you suggesting?" he said wiggling his eyebrows up and down. Katya blushed.
"I'm going now," she said.
"Good night"
"Night"
A/N: Hooray!!!! They're FINALLY together. I didn't think I'd ever get to this part. *teehee* Anyways, sorry it's kind of short. PLEASE review!!!!!!
