"Merry Christmas, Severus."

"Happy Christmas, Alex." The potions master shoved a small box at her with his typical lack of charm.

"Ooh, I love presents." The box had obviously been gift-wrapped at the store. She tore the paper off with child-like enthusiasm, then blinked at the familiar pale-green box with its white ribbon. Whoa, this is from Christina's. She opened it, revealing an emerald pendant. "Wow, Severus, it's beautiful."

"The setting is white gold," he told her. "I can have it changed to the usual yellow color, if you prefer..."

"Are you kidding ? I love it, it's perfect." She took the necklace out of the box to examine it closer. "The stone's enchanted," she remarked. Alex read from a small scroll included with the box. "The stone is keyed to an individual's life force. If the person/creature is in danger, the color of the gem will darken proportionally. Cool ! I assume it's keyed to you ?"

Snape nodded, looking uncomfortable. "It's just a fad," he said diffidently. "Very popular nowadays, as I understand it. Lucius Malfoy got two opals for his wife, keyed to himself and Draco."

She kissed him. "It's the best Christmas present I ever got. I love it," she repeated, putting it on. "Okay, your turn. Accio gifts."

Severus blinked as several large boxes flew into the room. "What's all this ?"

"Open them, open them !" The little witch was literally bouncing up and down on the sofa with excitement. "That one first." He grinned at her and began to slowly unfasten the paper, trying to remove it without tearing it. "Argh. I should have known, you're one of those," Alex said with disgust. "Rip it, dammit !" she commanded. He smirked at her and folded the paper neatly before opening the first box. Inside was a featureless black cube.

He turned it in his hands, examining all six sides, then drew his wand and tapped on it. "Reveal your secret." Nothing happened. Snape tried several other spells, none of which had any apparent effect. He raised an eyebrow. "Thank you for the lovely paperweight, Alex."

She giggled. "It's got a password." She tapped the box with her wand. "Snape, Severus," she intoned. A variety of buttons, ports, and and openings appeared. "You can change the password later," she assured him. "Open the rest !" The next box released a cloud of bubbles when he finally got the wrapping paper off. "I love bubble wrap," Alex remarked, popping several with her wand. Snape withdrew a large framed mirror – the computer screen. Subsequent boxes revealed a familiar-looking quill pen with its distinctive cord, a cumbersome keyboard, and an assortment of snake-like cables.

Severus opened the last box and blinked in bemusement, pulling a tiny mechanical creature out by the tail. "It's a mouse."

"That's the power source," Alex explained. "There's a battery you can charge with magic, or you can use the mouse." She indicated a little wire wheel.

"A computer," Severus marveled. He suddenly gave Alex a suspicious glare. "This must have been very costly. How did you afford it ?"

She grinned. "What a relief. You haven't sneered or glowered in days. I was beginning to think you were possessed or something." He rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah. There's the Snape I know," she smirked. "You're right, I couldn't afford a new computer. Bob Gerber and the guys at Roswell's department of Thaumaturgy put this one together for me."

"Oh." Severus looked distinctly uncomfortable. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

"The printer's supposed to be pretty good. Better than the one we've been using, for what it's worth. The keyboard's ancient. Bob said it belongs in a museum." The American laughed. "Actually, he said the whole thing's held together with spellotape and bubblegum, but I figured you'd have fun with it."

He was about to reply when an owl appeared, beating its wings against the window. Crossing the room, Snape opened the casement and accepted a large envelope from the bird. "It's addressed to Alexandria Corwin."

Alex frowned as she opened the heavy, cream-colored envelope. Inside was a Christmas card. Under the generic 'Happy Holidays' was a hand-written note. She read it, then angrily crumpled the card and tossed it into the fire. "It was from my father," she explained when Severus gave her an inquiring look. "Wishing me a merry Christmas and hoping for a reconciliation in the new year." She blinked back tears. "He said he loved me."

Severus wrapped his arms around her. "That's...terrible ?" he ventured cautiously.

"It's not funny," she sniffled. After a moment, she regained control, wiping away her tears. "Look at it this way, what would you think if your mother sent you a Christmas card from...wherever you said she lived ?"

"Majorca," he said curtly. "As far as I know. We haven't spoken in years. I suppose I'd think she wanted money," he added.

Alex's laugh was somewhat forced. "At least I don't have to worry about that." She gave him a brief kiss, then stood up, smiling resolutely. "Well, I'm not going to let it ruin my Christmas. I know you're going to want to play with your new toy," she grinned, "so I've got a full day of my own planned." He raised his eyebrows. "Girly stuff," she elaborated. "I'm going to soak in a bubble bath with a deep-conditioning potion for my hair, then I'm going to do my nails, eat the chocolates I got from Minerva McGonagall, and read a trashy romance novel." She leered at Snape. "Taming the Warlock, by Judith Krunke," she quoted. "It's one of those Charlatan Romances, should be good and smutty. Oh, and at three-thirty I'm expecting a trans-Atlantic fire call from John Chavez."

Snape's eyes gleamed during Alex's recitation. "Enjoy yourself," he grinned. As she left the room, he turned eagerly to begin assembling the computer.

-----

Severus Snape shut down the computer, watching with interest as the little mechanical mouse hopped out of its wheel and curled up on the table, wrapping its tail around itself. He stretched and stood up, glancing at the clock on the mantel, then crossed to the bedroom, his lips quirking into a smile at the sight of the little witch. She'd fallen asleep; her romance novel lay open on the bed beside her. He picked up the paperback, giving the bare-chested warlock on the cover a sneer. "Alex, it's past three o'clock, wake up."

"Wake up," she echoed. She opened her eyes, staring up at him blankly for a moment. She blinked. "I hate that," she commented. "The disorientation; I was just standing there where you are now, waking myself up. Weird." Alex gave Severus a quizzical look. "Does it work both ways ? I mean, do you have visions where you're me ?"

"An owl came while you were sleeping," Snape told her. "The Order wants to run some tests, determine how to fully exploit your visions. We'll have to go to Order headquarters tomorrow."

"Ugh," remarked Alex. "I suppose Asshole wants to dissect me ?"

"Asshole ? Who, Lupin ?"

"No, he seems okay. Mad-Man Moody. What a jerk."

"Mad-Eye," Severus corrected her. "Like it or not, Alex, you're part of the Order now. Having a witness who can report on the Dark Lord's secret meetings, as they happen, is just too valuable a resource." He bent and kissed her. "You'd better get ready for your fire call."

It wasn't until later that Alex realized he'd sidestepped her questions once again.