TWELVE: INDIGO

He didn't want to get up. Especially from the position he was in; his wife's arms tightly around his torso and her face softly snuggling into his neck. He knew the twins would be up soon, and they would try everything short of magic to get their parents out of bed. But he was too comfortable and content to disrupt even his mildly slumbered self. Drifting back to sleep, Severus faintly heard the sounds of his children through the door on the farther left-hand corner of his room.

"Happy Christmas Severus." A soft, coy voice spoke from under his blanket of hair.

"Happy Christmas indeed, one I wish would end earlier this year than last so I can return to this spot." He untangled himself from her and the covers, slipping off the bed and dressing himself.

"And who else would be returning with you to this spot?" Hermione did the same in dressing, something warm and completely covering.

"Don't really care as long as I am comfortable where I am and who I am with." They gathered themselves and started toward the same door that seemed to be hiding all the noise from the other rooms.

"So you would take another woman to bed with you? Without thinking of me?" She sounded hurt.

"Shrewd as you may seem, my dear wife, you are the only woman I would ever contemplate of being, not to mention sleep, with. You will be the only woman in my life, no matter Death or circumstance." As he smiled at her, she reciprocated.

"That is good to hear, for I would hate to have to castrate you with the children nearby." She appeared serious, but her sly smile gave away her truer intentions. Upon entering the room, Severus and Hermione were greeted with Aiden and Aileen sorting the presents. It was strange this year, being their first as Hogwarts students, because there was a pile from their classmates, as well as one to other professors, those of whom were like family. Their pile wasn't as large as their childrens, but it was ample enough for them. Both Severus and Hermione were just happy having Christmas as a family.

The last to arrive were Molly and Arthur Weasley, who brought the games for all the children. Against Minerva's better interest, Albus brought Exploding Snap and Muggle party favours for the children, most of whom enjoyed playing together in the twin's old playroom. Aiden and Aileen, however, were more interested in talking with Katilin, Ginny and Neville's oldest, about Hogwarts because she was a year younger or playing with Martin, Ron and Draco's adopted 3 year old, with some of the toys that Molly and Arthur brought for him. Around noon Hermione called everyone into the main room and Albus took the role of Santa, passing the presents around to everyone.

After everyone had all their gifts, they each took turns opening, so everyone could be thanked and could see what was given. Being that this year they were at Severus and Hermione's, Severus started. The first gift he unwrapped was from Hermione: A new coat, his old having been tampered with by the twins on accident not more than three weeks prior. After finishing his pile, he was left with a book from Albus, the entire collection of Stephen King novels, for Hermione had gotten him into Muggle horror stories; he also received a book from Minerva, a potions/chemistry comparison book for research; from Harry and Luna Severus received a doll of Hermione, which actually smiled at him when he picked her up; Molly and Arthur got him a new set of quills and ink; Ron and Draco, who said they couldn't help themselves, got him a new set of potions robes, which were made to stand the fumes and possible accidents of potions making; Neville and Ginny gave him seeds from many herbological potion ingredients, of which Neville grew himself; and finally the twins gift, which touched him the most, was a pair of gloves that they made entirely with magic this time, because they could finally use it.

Hermione was next, and she started out with a gift from both Albus and Minerva: an expanding bookcase cupboard that was made to hold all her books and allow her to access them by categories. Finishing her presents she was left with three new book series: the one from Draco and Ron was Muggle romance, another from Molly and Arthur was Muggle Classical Literature, and the last from Harry, Luna, Neville, and Ginny, because of it's size, was a complete set of all Muggle fantasy, like that of 'Peter Pan' and 'Narnia. From Aiden and Aileen, she was given a set of Hogwarts House bookmarks, as well as a bookmark with their pictures in it. It was the best possible gift she could have gotten from her children. And from Severus she was surprised to find nothing there. When she was about to ask him about it, he walked over to her, got down on one knee, and held out a small black box. Opening it, he spoke.

"Hermione Granger, will you do me the honour of marrying me again?" She was stunned, not by the question, but by the ring. It was a simple silver band with a small diamond encrusted into it.

"Yes, Severus Snape, I will marry you again!" She latched onto him and hugged tightly, crying onto his shoulder and kissing him wherever she could.

"Well, since those two are happy, maybe we should open the other gifts." Albus spoke up after a few minutes. Everyone was happy to see them happy, for all that had happened over the years. Albus and Minerva got a lot of gag gifts; their favourites begin a book of original Wizarding and Muggle passwords for Albus and a catnip plant for Minerva. Everyone pitched in for Arthur and Molly's gift of a Muggle cruise, which was something they were actually saving up for themselves, but they hadn't quite gotten enough money at the time. Ron got a great new Muggle chess set in marble and Draco got a new outfit that was faux fur, white and fluffy and perfect for him. Their son, Martin, was given so many toys that Ron and Draco had to minimize them to carry them home. Neville was given the newest edition of 'Plants and Potions' by Severus Snape (he decided to do something in his spare time for once) and Ginny got a new set of Muggle kitchen utensils. Harry was given a book on imagery spells, while Luna got a book on 'Childcare for the Young Wizard and Witch'. Aiden and Aileen, who wouldn't tell anyone what their friend's got them, were each given a lifetime pass to 'Disneyland Wizard France'.

There was only one present left, but there was no name on it. Albus claimed it was from him to the twins, but he couldn't explain for the absence of the tag. When Aiden and Aileen finally got the wrapping off, they were surprised to find a cage inside a glass container.

"Go ahead. Open it." Albus smiled slyly, as if this was something he had been waiting to do for years. They unlatched it, opened the glass lid, and while Aiden held the lid, Aileen took out the pewter cage. Inside the cage was a bell, and when Aileen set it down, the bell began to ring. Louder and louder it rang, while a mist filled the room from where the cage sat. When finally the bell began to quiet, the mist rose into the air and started to take on a form. The first thing that showed was a grin, large and long, that showed playfulness.

Looking from each other to the mist, Aiden and Aileen watched as Peeves the Poltergeist began to form solidly before them. He looked around for a moment before setting his gaze on the twins. For a moment, his smile faded, and then came back full force.

"I see the little babies are now ickle firsties!"