ELEVEN: VIOLET

The Feast was over, at last. It seemed to take forever for it to end, and Hermione couldn't be happier. Not only would she be able to see her children, but from what Severus said, she would finally be working. She knew it was something she always wanted, deep down. But she had devoted her time to her children; giving them something she knew they needed, as did Severus. He had admitting, years ago, that his parents were never there for him unless his father was beating him up, his mother hiding behind him, or if they wanted him to do something because they were too lazy. The twins were happy about it as well, because they were never comfortable with Poppy treating them when they were young, but since their mother had her medi-witch degree, she treated them. Severus, on the other hand, was proud above all the other emotions that he was feeling. The twins did take after their parents, and truth-be-told; Hermione was quite the little Slytherin when she put her mind to it. And now that his children were following his footsteps into the Slytherin Common Room, he couldn't be prouder than he was both moments in which his children were Sorted.

Aileen didn't like her roommates, so she was happy to see them leave. They were frivolous girls who thought of nothing but their hair and clothes. She would be surprised if they made it into second-year the way they were acting about their studies. School had been in session for three months now, and the winter break was just starting. Since her parents lived in the castle, she was staying, but she would have rather liked to go somewhere. Maybe the Alps…

Aiden, on the other hand, didn't just dislike his roommates; he hated them with a fiery passion. They couldn't get over how young his mother looked, or how old his father appeared, but worst of all: they ruthlessly harped about his sister whenever she wasn't around. Now, unlike most siblings, Aiden and Aileen were very close. So close that they could almost always tell when the other was nearby…

It was a day like any other day, with the snow falling like flakes onto the ground, sticking here and there. If it were worse, the thestrals would have been noticed, since the snow was appearing on their backs. Hermione and Severus both told the children about them, and since they witnessed the death of Crookshanks (who died the sad death of choking on a hairball at the age of 24 human years) they had been able to see the deathly looking creatures.

Students, who had plans for the holiday, were leaving around ten, breakfast having been cleaned up; most of the remaining students were in Hogsmeade, and most of those who were not allowed in Hogsmeade were playing in the snow. Aiden was in the library finishing his holiday homework; Aileen was beside him, helping. She had finished hers the night before, and was dead-set on having Aiden done with his so that they would have an uninterrupted holiday with their parents, this being their first. Because of the season, and Hermione was busy dealing with the recent flu that was spreading through Hogwarts, the twins were taken into Hogsmeade by Harry, who asked to spend some time with them as it was.

The flickering of the fire was soothing to his nerves. If truth be told, he was reliving Neville Longbottom again, only that Neville was able to brew potions adequately now and he was not a Hufflepuff. He was from a Gryffindor family, nothing could change that. As well as being able to brew potions, he was also somewhat of a friend, since Hermione had gotten Severus to 'lighten up' so to speak. No longer afraid of him, Neville came down to the dungeons with fresh ingredients at least once a week, around tea-time on Saturdays most of the time, as well that he also came to Severus when he needed anything in the line of potions, ailments, or anything else that the older man was known for. The two often went together into the Dark Forest for ingredients; Neville for compost, since the weeds and such from the Forest was so rich for such things and Severus for his Darker ingredients because the fresher, the better.

Hermione, just at that moment, walked in. Smiling wide, and completely forgetting why he had a headache, he motioned for her to come over. She sat on his lap, snuggling into his chest, and started telling him of her day. Once she finished the boring part, she began contemplating on what to get everyone for Christmas. Truth be told, Severus already had his Christmas presents bought and wrapped, but he was going to spoil her fun.

"You haven't bought for Christmas yet? I'm shocked!" He hid that sly smile that he knew was coming onto his face as best he could; he did not succeed.

"And you already have, I can tell. It's alright Severus; you just need to tell me what you got the twins so I won't accidentally get the same thing."

"What about everyone else?"

"Them too, so I don't get them anything you got either."

"Alright, but you have to take a dictation, because I got everyone something this year."

"That, my dear husband, is not a problem." She rose from her seat and walked ever so slowly over to the desk that sat solemnly in the right corner to the fireplace. Sitting at it, slowly as ever, she took out a muggle ink pen and a pad of paper. After a moment of preparing the paper (stating what the list was for) she motioned for him to begin. He spoke softly, in case the twins came in, and dictated everything that he had bought. After finishing the list, Hermione began writing down what she had bought so far, and then made herself a list of whom she still had to shop for.

"Are you going into Hogsmeade soon?"

"Next chance I get. The twins are with Harry and Luna, and Neville will be helping you tomorrow evening with that solution and all. Perhaps Poppy will cover for my duties so I can."

"Offer to do the same for her; it'll make the deal sweeter." He smiled his sly smile. She returned her own, folding the papers up and placing them into the inner pocket of her traveling cloak.