It was nearly four when they finished the last of the stockings. The small horde of people who had been working when they first arrived had dwindled considerably, and there were now only a few brave souls left, fighting yawns with laughter and bustling around to finish everything. Severus had his doubts that everything would be done by morning, but when he voiced this doubt, Aislinn merely laughed.

"It always looks hopeless," she said lightly, tying the last tag onto a stocking, "and then it always comes out all right in the end."

He found himself hoping she was right as they hurriedly cleaned up their mess and each picked up a box laden with stockings, carrying them to the tree. The tree was a masterpiece, and Severus couldn't help but admire it for a moment, awestruck by the simplicity of it. He'd never thought that a tree could possibly look like a Christmas tree without the help of magic, but this one shimmered and glowed, and as tall as it was, it was impressive in its own right. It was magnificent, from the crimson skirt that surrounded it to the golden star that topped it and every shining glass ball in between.

"Well," a voice caught his attention and Severus looked up to Nancy, who was standing on a chair now. The other volunteers were crowding around, looking up at her, and Severus set down his box and put his attention on the woman. She looked tired, but there was still the glitter of energy in her eyes that said she was not ready to give up yet. "We're closing in on the two-hour mark," she told them all, and there was a slight twitter, "and it looks like we're down to ten people. Now, I'm not going to insist that anyone stay, of course, but we could certainly use all the help we can get. The last thing we need to do is get the presents in order under the tree, and clear out the evidence of our passing and be ready to see the children pouring in at 6:30."

Severus glanced at the clock on the wall, and then looked around the room. He had his doubts that those who were left could even manage to straighten everything up within that time, let alone do anything else. There was an energetic cheer from the small group, though, and they busted up, Aislinn grabbing his arm and pulling him into the fray. "Just start grabbing some of those gifts," she pointed at the massive pile of boxes against one wall, "and bring them this way." He shrugged slightly, but did as he was told, noting that a couple others were doing the same. He brought back three in his first trip, and deposited them at the feet of an elderly woman who picked one up, squinted at the tag, then began calling out family names. After a few minutes, the process was working smoothly, with three of them carting gifts over, and two calling out names and the remaining five sorting the gifts into piles, and an hour later, all the boxes had been brought from the wall, and Severus joined the elderly couple in calling out the names and sorting the packages to the remaining people who were quickly amassing a small mountain of presents. At six o'clock, Aislinn and two other women were making plaquards for each of the families and finishing the arrangements, so Severus joined the others in a quick and imprecise cleaning of the tables.

He couldn't help but grin as someone shoved a box into his hand and told him to put anything that wasn't edible or a gift in it, and he found himself brushing scissors, tape, scraps of paper, pens and dirty dishes indiscriminately into the box. "Someone will sort through it later," he was told by a middle-aged woman who looked too large to move as swiftly as she did. At 6:15, someone brought out a box full of red, white and green napkins, followed by a rolling cart of dishes, and the ten of them were laughing and chattering as they set the tables. Severus didn't know he could lay out flatware so quickly, but he did, and at 6:25, the last spoon clinked into place, and Nancy clapped her hands, drawing all their attentions again.

"If you will all come with me," she called, and Severus looked aruond for Aislinn. He found her looking tired, frazzled and happy, and he beckoned to her. She joined him, sliding her hand into the crook of his arm again, and they followed the rest of the volunteers to a corner where they were less conspicuous but had a marvelous view of the door through which the children would be pouring. It was 6:28 by the digital clock on the wall, and there was a restlessness to all who had spent the night working on the Miracle. And it was a Miracle indeed.

Someone had set up a buffet, which he hadnt noticed until just now, but it was piled high with pastries and fruit, and pitchers of milk and orange juice sat on each of the tables. The tables, which had seemed so disorganized and mismatched only moments before, looked like confections from a distance, and the lollipop centerpieces sparkled slightly. The lights were dimming, so that only the flashing, colorful light from the Christmas tree, splaying colorful shadows on the ceiling and wall, illuminated the room. And the presents were waist-high and spread all across the front of the room and halfway down one side.

"Ten… nine… eight…" someone had started a countdown, and others took up the chant soon. "five… four…" Severus noticed that Aislinn was chanting with them, and he joined in the last of it. "Two… one…"

The doors swung open, and there was a collective gasp and a roar of noise as children suddenly flooded into the room, chattering wildly. The initial burst was children who ran in, but they were followed soon by wheelchairs and children with crutches and walkers… And suddenly Severus' heart was aching for the ones who couldn't run in. And, something else he hadn't been prepared for—some of the children were so young. Aislinn had said she was five years old when she was diagnosed with cancer, and now, as children whose heads barely reached his waist hopped past him, Severus was struck by how small they were, and how frail-looking. There were children toddling around, holding the thumbs of adults, there were teenagers lingering near the doorway, trying to look uninterested. There were children of five and six who were already ripping into presents, and others who held back, looking timid and shy.

Aislinn suddenly sidled closer, and he put an arm around her. She reached for his hand, and leaned her head against his, watching the scene unfolding.

As the children began to settle into the opening of presents, and the roar of cheer subsided to a dull din punctuated by the occasional shriek of delight, Severus had time to look more carefully at the children. Many of them were painfully thin, and most of them had no hair, or just a few thin strands still clinging to their heads. About half of them seemed to be hooked to bags suspended from metal hooks that rolled around with them, and all of them were wearing bracelets, many with bandages around their wrists. Several of them were missing limbs, and several more seemed barely strong enough to sit upright, and had to have help opening the packages. And every one of them was smiling.

He tightened his hold on Aislinn, and finally tore his eyes away from the children for long enough to look at her, and he wasn't surprised to see that she was crying. He pulled her closer, wrapping both arms around her. "I don't have a handkerchief for you," he whispered into her hair.

A box of tissues appeared practically from nowhere, and Severus looked over at the elderly woman who had been calling out the names earlier as they sorted the packages. "Here," she offered, her own eyes glistening. "No one has dry eyes on Christmas morning."

He smiled thankfully and plucked a few tissues from the box, handing one to Aislinn and holding the others. He had a feeling she was going to need more before the morning was over. As he stroked her hair, he found his eyes drifting back to the scene in front of them, and a feeling of peace that he'd never known crept over him as he knew that he was a part of making so many children so very happy on Christmas morning.

"Thank you." It was a new voice, and Severus looked up, tearing his eyes away from the children, and he saw a man holding a woman, both of them crying. "I didn't know how we were going to see that our girls had Christmas this year," the man was whispering hoarsely. "Thank you all so much."

Aislinn was out of his arms, suddenly, and she was hugging the man, and Severus found himself holding a woman he didn't know and offering her another tissue while she cried. When the woman pulled away, Aislinn moved to hug her, and for a minute, Severus had an unexplainable fear that he was expected to hug the man as well, but it seemed a handshake sufficed there.

And that couple was just the beginning. Slowly, one by one, adults in various states of composure were drifting forward, thanking them, hugging them, talking to them. Aislinn must have hugged and kissed everyone in the room, and Severus felt that he more than tripled his lifetime accumulation of hugs in the space of half an hour. And then, if it wasn't enough to have the parents there, a pair of children came up to them. The kids couldn't have been more than seven or so, but they were solemn, both with big eyes. Aislinn crouched in front of them, and Severus followed their lead.

"Did you guys do this?" one of the children asked. A boy with a mess of red hair, one of the few who had hair, and big blue eyes. He reminded Severus quite a bit of the Weasley bunch. "'Cuz I know there ain't a Santa Claus," the boy was saying, "but it was real nice of you guys to do this."

"And how do you know that there is no Santa Claus?" Severus asked, shocking even himself.

"Santa Claus is for kids," the boy proclaimed, and the way he puffed out his chest when he said it spoke very clearly the fact that he did not consider himself a kid anymore.

"What's your name?" he asked the boy.

"Justin," the red-head replied.

Smiling slightly, Severus took the boy's hand. "You know, Justin," he said softly, "I believed that too, until last night. But some time very early this morning, I learned that Santa Claus is, indeed, quite real. You know how I know that?"

Justin shook his head, and Severus crooked a finger at him, indicating he should come closer. When he did, Severus leaned forward and said, just loud enough for him and Aislinn to hear, "Because he was here. In this very room, and if you had seen what I saw, you'd believe too. It was magical."

Severus looked at Aislinn over the top of Justin's head, and she was smiling at him, dabbing at her eyes again. Damn her. Severus was beginning to feel an unfamiliar prick behind his own eyes.

"Really?" Justin asked, wide-eyed, and uncertain.

Severus smiled as big a smile as he could manage. "Really," he insisted.

Justin looked skeptical, and Severus couldn't resist it anymore. He pulled the boy into his arms and hugged him tightly for a minute. "Don't doubt it," he whispered. "Just accept that some things are hard to believe, nearly impossible, until you see them with your own eyes. If you're ever lucky enough to see them."

The boy stepped back, and then grabbed Severus' hand. "Come on!" he said, tugging at his hand. "I want you to meet my sister."

Severus followed, vaguely aware that Aislinn was watching him, and he found himself led to a frail-looking child in a wheelchair, and he realized that Justin was not the one who was a patient here. It was the girl before him, not a hair on her head, dark circles under her eyes, looking like she might break if he touched her.

"This is Becky," Justin offered by way of introduction. "She's got leukemia." He pronounced the word very carefully, and Severus wondered if the boy knew any more about it than he did himself.

"Hello, Becky," he said, not really sure what to do now that he was kneeling before her. "I'm Severus," he told her. She smiled at him, and reached for his hand.

"Hello," she whispered, her words filled with a pain that he couldn't imagine, and suddenly he found himself remembering Aislinn's words. I don't know if I could face it again, knowing now what it entails.

He sandwiched the girl's hand between his own, patting softly. "Are you having a good Christmas, Becky?" he asked softly, and she smiled, nodding. "Good," he went on, not making her speak. It seemed all she could do to stay awake, and his heart was breaking for her. "Did you get a lollipop?" he asked, and she shook her head, so he stood and reached for one of the centerpieces. "Do you want a red one?" he asked, "or a green one? Or…"

"Is there a grape one?" she asked, and he peered into the bouquet. It was useless. He knew less about lollipops than he did about stockings and cookies, so he finally crouched next to her again, the entire centerpiece in his hand.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to help me," he told her. "I don't have any idea what a grape one would look like."

She grinned, a big smile that lit up her entire face, and she pointed towards the center. "The purple one," she said weakly, and he plucked out the one she'd pointed at.

"This one?" he asked, and she nodded. He offered it to her, and then stood to put the bouquet back on the table again, and resumed his kneeling beside her. "Do you need some help opening it?" he asked, noticing that she hadn't unwrapped it.

"For later," she whispered.

He nodded, and took her hands again, not really sure what to say or do. Suddenly, though, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Aislinn smiling through her tears at him. "We should go," she whispeed.

Severus nodded, but pulled her closer. "Aislinn," he said softly, "this is Becky. Becky, this is Aislinn."

Becky smiled up at Aislinn, who had crouched beside him. "Your girlfriend?" Becky asked softly, and Severus blinked, then looked at Aislinn. "You make a cute couple," she was whispering.

Aislinn smiled broadly, apparently unperturbed by the question. "Thank you," she replied brightly. "And is your boyfriend here?"

Becky shook her head. "He's with his family."

Severus felt another jolt of a shock. He'd pegged Becky for no more than eight or so, but he was obviously mistaken.

"Well," Aislinn was saying, "when you see him again, you give him a big hug, okay?"

Becky nodded, and Aislinn leaned down and hugged the frail-looking girl until Severus nearly protested that she would break. To his surprise, though, the girl hugged back fiercely, and then Aislinn stood and gestured for him to join her. As they made their way away from the girl, he leaned to her and whispered, "How old do you think she was?"

Aislinn shrugged slightly. "Twelve, maybe? Thirteen?"

Severus was taken aback, but didn't argue. "And were you not afraid you would hurt her, hugging her like that?"

Aislinn smiled and slipped her hand into his. "I probably did hurt her," she admitted. "But I still remember how it felt to never have a real hug because someone was afraid they'd hurt me. I wished they'd hurt me and hug me instead of acting like I was made of glass."

They were outside now, in the cold, crisp air, and Severus stopped, turning her to face him. "You are an amazing woman," he whispered, leaning forward to kiss her.

She smiled up at him, and settled into his arms.

The ride on the Underground back to the Leaky Cauldron was largely silent, and when Aislinn put her head on Severus' shoulder again, he was momentarily stricken by a panic that she'd fall asleep and they'd ride in circles on the Underground until she woke. She apparently did not fall asleep, though, and he apparently did, because he was startled to awareness suddenly by her hand on his neck.

"Our stop is next," she whispered, and they stood, preparing to exit the train.

Stifling a yawn as they stepped onto the dais, Severus slid his arm around her waist. "You are really wreaking havoc on my sleep schedule, did you know that?" She slipped her arm around him as well and hugged him.

"That's okay," she replied lightly, stifling a yawn of her own. "More interesting things to do than sleep, anyway." He chuckled slightly as they mounted the steps and emerged into the street, where she stopped suddenly, squealing. Instinctively, his hand went to where his wand should have been, but it was not there, and he narrowed his eyes, looking for danger. There was none, however. She was holding out her hand, palm up, and he stared at her for a moment before he realized what she was doing. "It's snowing!" she exclaimed.

And it was, indeed, beginning to snow. Big, fluffy flakes of white were drifting and dancing on unseen wisps of breeze, clinging to her hair and her sweater. He smiled, brushing one of the stray flakes from her nose. "So it is," he said softly. "Though I daresay you've seen the snow before."

She slipped her arms around his neck and he slid his around her waist, and she looked into his eyes. "Christmas snow is special," she insisted, then stepped closer to him. "Dance with me," she whispered.

He had no choice but to entertain a twirl from her, but when she was back in his arms again, he held her close. "There's no music," he protested, leaning his head against hers and whispering into her ear.

"And what's that got to do with anything?"

Running his fingers through her ponytail, he smiled slightly. "It's cold," he replied, "and once again we're not wearing coats or cloaks. Or gloves." He held up her hand and blew on her fingertips. "Let's go back to Hogwarts, and we'll light a fire," he kissed her palm, "and we'll find some music," he took one of her fingertips between his lips, "and we'll dance until our feet fall off if that's what you want. But let's get out of the cold."

There was a flicker of disappointment across her face, but she nodded, and a moment later, they were stepping out of the swirl of snow and into the Leaky Cauldron, which, once again was empty. They made their way to the fireplace and retrieved their cloaks from where they'd left them, and a moment later, he stepped out of the fireplace and into Aislinn's rooms, at her side. She was yawning once more, and he took the opportunity to place a kiss on her lips. "Don't start that," he chided softly, "or you'll have me doing it too."

She made a face at him. "You're the one who started it," she accused, covering her mouth as she yawned again, and, on cue, he felt his mouth stretching into a heartfelt yawn. She laughed softly. "Maybe a nap is in order before..."

Before she could finish her sentence, there was a knock on her door, and she crossed the room to open it before he could protest. Dumbledore stood there, smiling brightly, eyes twinkling like stars behind half-moon spectacles, and if he found anything out of the ordinary about their situation, he said nothing. "Ah, I was just coming to see if you were coming down to the Hall for breakfast," he said to Aislinn. "And Severus! You were my next stop, so I'm glad you're here. Save me the extra distance."

Aislinn and Severus exchanged slightly guilty glances, and she cleared her throat softly. "Yes," she replied, "of course! Just give me a few moments to change into something more suitable..."

"Nonsense!" Dumbledore stepped forward and took her arm, then gestured at Severus, leaving him little choice. "You look lovely! Both of you, really, so festive!" The pair of them found themselves ushered into the Great Hall, where, Severus noted, the House tables had been pushed aside and a single table set up in the middle of the room. "There are so few of us this year, I thought this would be more intimate. Have a seat here," he patted a chair for Severus, "and you, here, my dear," he pulled out the chair beside the one he'd indicated for Severus. The other staff members were already at the table, and the three students who were boarding over the holidays, and then Dumbledore seated himself at the head of the table.

The teachers were somewhat less successful than Dumbledore had been in hiding their surprise at seeing the two of them looking rumpled, as though they hadn't slept at all, and both in Muggle clothes, Severus in something other than black. Where there was fleeting surprise on the teachers' faces, though, there was drop-jawed shock on the faces of the three students-- Harry Potter and two Hufflepuffs. He murmured a silent prayer of thanks that none of the Slytherin students were present. Dumbledore said a few words, and then breakfast appeared on the table. It was, thankfully, a silent affair, and the students were excused as soon as they were finished eating, leaving only the staff. At which point the silence was broken.

"So, what did you get up to last night, Aislinn?" An innocent enough question, had it been from anyone but Jordan Mickery. Given the source, though, Severus narrowed his eyes.

"Whatever she was doing, I doubt that it is any of your concern," Severus told him.

Aislinn nudged his leg under the table and he became very interested in his crumpet. "I've been spreading Christmas cheer," she replied evasively, and Severus thought it was bloody obvious that she was lying.

"I see," Mickery said. "I suppose that's why you weren't in your rooms at all?" Aislinn's eyes widened indignantly, but she said nothing. "So I thought it likely you were with Severus, but no one answered there, either. So..." Mickery took a sip of tea as though he were discussing the weather. "Where were you?"

Severus' fork clinked to his plate and he turned a dangerous glare to his invasive colleague. "I really don't see how that is any of your business," he said stiffly.

"Indeed," Mickery raised his eyebrows. "I would think that when this school's reputation is at stake..."

"That is enough, Jordan." It was Dumbledore this time who spoke, and his voice carried an air of finality. "Put your differences aside now."

Severus smirked momentarily before picking up his fork again, feeling quite smug that for once it had been Mickery who received the admonition.

Mickery, however, dropped several degrees in Severus' already dismal esteem. "It's an innocent enough question, Headmaster, if they have nothing to hide. I just find it... intriguing... that both were missing at the same time, and no one else..."

"Jordan Mickery!" This time it was McGonagall who dropped her fork and rounded on him. "Really, Albus, this is..."

Dumbledore was holding up a hand, though, to silence everyone. "Jordan," he said, "I'm sure that there are better places to air your..."

"What do you want me to say?" Aislinn suddenly asked, standing and glaring at Jordan, her hands on her hips. "What are you looking for? An excuse to call me a whore again?" Severus reached to grasp Aislinn's sleeve in an attempt to tug her back to her seat, but she ignored him as though he were a mere fly.

"Well," Jordan was saying, standing as well, "if the shoe fits..."

Severus stood as well, and shouldered his way past Aislinn. "I would watch what I was insinuating, if I were you," he hissed.

Jordan stepped forward confrontationally. "And I wouldn't be so blasted cocky if I were you," he replied bitterly. "There is no pride in sharing a bed with a..."

"SILENCE!"

Dumbledore had stood, and held the three of them in his gaze, the way he did with students. Severus was the first to turn towards the headmaster, who quite suddenly was the Headmaster again instead of a friend.

"You three," he said, pointing at Severus, Jordan and Aislinn, "will join me in my office. Pardon us," he said, nodding his head to the rest of the table, then gesturing for the three of them to preceed him out of the Hall.

Aislinn held her head high as she led the way, and Severus recognized something of the defiant Gryffindor in her again as she folded her arms and stalked ahead, her long stride carrying her quickly. Severus spared Mickery one last glare before stalking after Aislinn, and a moment later he heard two sets of footsteps as Mickery and Dumbledore fell in behind him. He ignored them and rushed to catch up with Aislinn. As he touched her elbow, though, the look he received wasn't quite the grateful look he'd been expecting, but a glower instead. When they reached the Gargoyle guarding the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Aislinn turned her back to Severus and waited, her arms folded, for Dumbledore to come. A moment later, the Headmaster arrived and spoke the password, and the portal opened, the Gargoyle twisting aside to reveal that spiraling staircase. The four of them stepped onto the stairs, and, even in such close proximity, Aislinn did a remarkable job of neither looking at nor speaking to him. Jordan was also silent, as was Dumbledore, so it was a solemn quartet that emerged into the anteroom of Dumbledore's office.

"Jordan, you come with me. Severus, Aislinn, wait here," Dumbledore commanded, and Jordan followed him inside, and the door shut softly.

As soon as the door closed, Aislinn rounded on Severus. "I don't need you to fight my battles for me," she hissed at him, without preamble. "Jordan Mickery is a slimeball, but you could have bloody well stayed out of it!"

Severus' eyes widened. "He called you a--"

"I don't care what he called me!"

"Well, I do happen to care!" Severus replied. "You can't expect me to stand aside and--"

She placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward. "That is exactly what I expect you to do!" she hissed. They stared at each other for a moment, nose to nose, fiery blue eyes to glittering black. Aislinn broke the stare, rolling her eyes and huffing over to a chair, which she flopped unceremoniously into. Severus seated himself with more dignity, but her words still stung. They didn't say another word until the door to Dumbledore's inner office opened, and Jordan came out, looking calmer and somewhat subdued, though his eyes still glinted dangerously.

He walked to stand before Aislinn, and then said stiffly, "I apologize for any offense, Aislinn." Without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked out of the office, leaving Dumbledore shaking his head.

"Well," the headmaster said, coming into the anteroom and offering a bowl of peppermints to the two of them. "I suppose that I will be looking for a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor again at the end of the term."

Severus blinked a few times at Dumbledore. "You dismissed him?" he asked incredulously. Severus had never known Dumbledore to dismiss anyone except... well, no one actually. Undoubtedly, he would have dismissed Quirrell if that stuttering fool hadn't gotten himself killed, but most of the failed teachers left of their own accord.

"I did not," he replied. "I merely intimated that if he expected his contract to be renewed, there were expectations I had of him. He turned in his resignation, effective at the end of the year, rather then fulfill those requests."

Severus looked at Aislinn, who was still glaring past his ear. "Oh," he said softly.

Dumbledore sighed and reached for Aislinn's hand. "My dear," he said softly, and she looked at him, "you must know that Jordan has been plagued with jealousy, and he spoke from bitterness, not honesty."

"I know," she replied softly, not making any effort to remove her hand from the Headmaster's grasp, but also not responding in any apparent manner to his presence.

After a moment, Dumbledore let her hand go, and stood, gesturing to the two of them to indicate they should stay seated. He made a slow circiut of the room, then came to rest behind Severus, a hand on his shoulder.

"I was so pleased to see the two of you becoming friends," he said softly, squeezing Severus' shoulder gently. "I believe you are b oth good for each other. I see changes in the both of you, and I can only attribute those changes to the influences the both of your closeness in the past few weeks." He stepped away, and came to a rest in a chair between them, reaching for Aislinn's hand again, and then taking Severus' hand as well. "I cannot order you to make ammends," he said, looking in Aislinn's direction as he spoke, "and I would not if I could. But I will remind you both," this time he was looking at Severus, and Severus had the impression that this part of the speech was for him, "to not surrender to tension created by a bitter and jealous man. Anything worth having is worth fighting for." He squeezed both their hands, then brought their hands together, placing Aislinn's in Severus'.

Severus squeezed her hand softly, pleading wordlessly with her, and he thought for a moment that it wold be in vain, but after a bit, she squeezed his hand back. Dumbledore smiled, obviously having noticed the exchange, and stood.

"If I may make a suggestion," he said, eyes twinkling, and Severus looked up at him. Aislinn did as well. "Perhaps you both would benefit from a nap before you try to talk. If you were children, I'd swear you were both cranky."

Severus' mouth worked soundlessly, trying to formulate a protest, but it was Aislinn who broke the silence, with laughter. "I think you would be right, on my behalf at least," she said, suddenly wrapping her arms around the Headmaster's neck and hugging him.

Dumbledore chuckled softly, patting her back. "Lunch will be at one," he told them, gesturing towards the door. Aislinn stepped towards it, and, after a momentary hesitation, reached for Severus' hand. He smiled gratefully and took it, joining her on the stairs, and as they began to spiral back down, she offered him a smile.

"Your place or mine?" she asked, winking, and he laughed softly, caressing her face. "Yours," he replied in a whisper. "It's closer."