SUSPECT

MOTIVE

Potter

Has done so before. (Apparently)

Moody

Has searched the office and would know where things are

Karkaroff

Shady character. May not be trustworthy

A/N I tried to be creative with his birthday so it would fit it in with personalities that go with that month. But I failed so I settled on AR's birthday.

Chapter 12 February Celebrations

To the dismay of Severus, Ellen spent most of her time trying to find out who broke into his office. She had even drawn up a list of suspects.

SUSPECT

MOTIVE

Potter

Has done so before. (Apparently)

Moody

Has searched the office and would know where things are

Karkaroff

Shady character. May not be trustworthy

'Now Severus, what else do you have in that store cupboard, anything illegal?' Ellen asked in her most formal voice

'Not that it is any of your business but yes there are illegal things in that cupboard.'

'Like drugs?'

'No, not that kind of illegal don't be stupid.' He snapped. He picked up a quill and scribbled another name on Ellen's list. When he had finished she turned the piece of paper around it now said:

SUSPECT

MOTIVE

Potter

Has done so before. (Apparently)

Moody

Has searched the office and would know where things are

Karkaroff

Grey, Ellen

Shady character. May not be trustworthy

Will not leave me alone

'Oh god' Ellen shuddered as she walked into the great hall for breakfast 'I'm in hell.'

The Hall was decorated with flowers, harts and flying cherubs, which made it look like a blur of red and pink. Ellen grabbed an apple and quickly exited. Not ever having very good relationships made St Valentines day her most hated holiday. She met Snape just outside the door.

'I wouldn't go in there if I were you. It's pink.'

'Pink?' Severus asked not understanding what she meant. Ellen decided not to protest when he went inside the Great Hall. He came back almost before he went in, closing the door with a bang.

'It is pink in there.' He said like it had surfaced a lot of painful memories.

Severus turned back to his office deciding it was better to skip breakfast. Ellen followed with lack of anything better to do.

'Is someone crabby because they didn't get a Valentine?' She asked teasingly when he didn't say anything more.

'Certainly not' He replied like she was out of her mind. Severus sat at his desk and unrolled the morning paper. Ellen moved a pile of books and sat down on the desk and bit into her apple. Snape looked at her disapprovingly but did not comment. There was a comfortable silence that was only broken by a faint gurgling sound. Ellen hid a giggle behind her hand.

'Was that your stomach?' She asked already knowing the answer.

'Yes.' Snape replied not looking up from the paper. Ellen took a large bite out of her apple making sure it made a crunching sound.

'Bite?' Ellen asked holding her apple out to him.

'No thanks.' Severus declined her odd offer.

'Do you know what?' she asked after a moment of silence

'No and I don't care.'

'I've never gotten a Valentines card.' She said ignoring what he had said.

'Wow I care so little I nearly blacked out.'

'Have you ever gotten one?'

'No and it does not bother me.' He said turning a page of the newspaper

'Me neither.'

'Then why did you bring it up?'

'Just wanted to make conversation.'

'Well don't.'

Ellen lay wide-awake in bed she had been awake for ages waiting for a suitable time. Suddenly she got up and snatched up something from her desk and crept into Severus' room, it was time. He was asleep. He was very peaceful. He didn't frown or sneer. He did nothing.

She placed the gift on his bedside table. She began to turn back but turned again to look at him. She wanted to get closer, to see if he would wake up. She knew he would be furious if he found her there while he was in his nightshirt. But she crept closer. Sat on the edge of the bed, lay down, and soon her face was only about two inches from his.

Then his eyes flicked open and Ellen jumped.

'DON'T DO THAT!' She yelled in her surprise

'DON'T DO THAT!' he yelled back both shocked and confused. 'Is there a reason why you are in my room and on my bed?' Snape said angrily, this was a situation he didn't think he would ever deal with. Ellen hesitated then reached behind her.

'Yes there is, I got you a present.' She held out the box to him but he didn't take it. 'Go on it's not going to bite.'

'Its not my birthday.' He said plainly

'Isn't it? I thought it was the 21st of February.'

'Twenty-first… ' Snape paused and calculated backwards. 'Wait ok maybe it is my birthday. Anyway' he said coming back to the present 'how did you know it was my birthday? Nobody knows when it is'

'I have my ways.' She said with a cheeky smile. She didn't want to tell him that she had gone though his draws in his office and found a very old piece of paper with his birth date on it.

Severus Snape surveyed Ellen for a moment; she was wearing a short black silk nightdress that looked very thin, something not suitable for the climate. But pretty, very pretty. In fact, it was more than pretty. She was … but he couldn't describe it. Not on Ellen.

'Open the box before I freeze to death.' Ellen rubbed her arms.

'Umm…err…thank you.' Snape hesitated before taking the box. He didn't know what to say in the situation. When he took it and sat it on his lap and lifted up the lid slowly. This was the fist time someone other than family had given him a present and even then it would be less than this.

Ellen shifted impatiently lifting up the bedspread and rapped it around herself. Snape looked at her curiously he didn't know what to think.

'Sorry, it's cold.' She pulled the cover up to her chin. Severus resumed opening his present glancing every now and then at Ellen, who was watching him with anticipation as he pulled out the unevenly wrapped ball that was inside.

'Why are you giving me a present?' he asked suspiciously. Ellen shrugged.

'I just thought you would like it. And you don't seem to have any other presents.' There was a short silence before she said 'Open you're bloody present already, or I'll do it for you.'

'Ok, ok.' Snape said, tearing off the lumpy wrapping; it revealed a funny squishy yellow ball.

'And this is a…?' he asked

'It's a stress ball.' Ellen said delightfully 'It relives stress.' Severus looked the small ball over and sighed.

He held it in the palm of his hand, balancing it.

'It's not working.'