The Christmas holidays approached with a swiftness that was startling. The students became restless at the prospect of a much desired break from their classes. Harry, Ron and Hermione were looking forward to spending Christmas at the Burrow. Hermione felt more than ready to begin the holidays. Professor Snape had decided in the last month to allow her to oversee some of the first and second year classes. Hermione, consequently, began to understand why Snape could be in such a foul mood at the end of classes.

"You'd think that the entire class was illiterate," she fumed one Thursday afternoon in the hallway. "It was ridiculous. One second year managed to explode the potion while I was checking another student's work. I looked up at him and he just looked back at me blankly. Then his hair just fell out." Hermione shook her head in frustration.

"What do you mean 'his hair just fell out'?" Ron asked raising his eyebrows curiously.

"I mean he was just gaping at me like an idiot and then all of his hair fell right off of his head," Hermione said with a smirk. "Including his eyebrows," she added.

Harry laughed. "Talk about strange looking. I'd like to see that."

"Harry it's not funny," Hermione said in exasperation. "That explosion could have been worse. Luckily, Madam Pomfrey will be able to fix the problem. Professor Snape was no help," she said scowling.

"What did Snape do?" Ron asked her.

"Well, when I turned around to ask him what he wanted me to do, he was actually covering his mouth with his hand to keep himself from laughing," Hermione replied. "After I sent the student to the infirmary, I looked back at Snape and he just smirked at me. There was nothing funny about it," she said huffily.

"Well, it does sound pretty funny Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "Come on, even Snape thought it was funny."

Hermione smiled reluctantly. "It would have been more funny if I hadn't been the one that was supervising the class at the time," she admitted. She rubbed her temples tiredly. "I don't know how Professor Snape does that all week."

"Firewhiskey takes the edge off," said a velvety voice. Hermione looked up quickly to see Professor Snape standing in front of her. He smirked and handed her a vial of some crimson liquid. She looked at the vial apprehensively. "I would not bother poisoning you," Snape said silkily. "I would be stuck with more paperwork than you are worth. And, no doubt, I would be forced to endure the headmaster's incessant lecturing. That potion should relieve you of your headache."

"How did you know I had a headache?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Miss Granger, I've been teaching for quite a while now," Snape said with a smirk. "I am well aware of which classes are headache inducing." He took a moment to sneer at Harry and Ron and then continued talking to Hermione as if they weren't there. "I took the liberty of going to the hospital wing to check up on the hairless wonder. He will be fully recovered by tomorrow morning. On that note, we will be brewing two more potions after dinner for Madam Pomfrey. We will not be meeting tomorrow afternoon due to the fact that we will be starting the holidays."

"Yes, Professor Snape," Hermione said with a small smile. She watched as Snape turned and walked away, his black robes swirling around him.

"The hairless wonder?" Ron said with a smirk.

"Well," Harry said with a surprised smile. "Snape has a sense of humor."

Ron frowned slightly. "He's still a greasy git," he said decisively. Harry and Hermione snorted with laughter. Ron grinned and said "Let's go to dinner." He led the way to the Great Hall.

The next day, the professor tried in vain to keep the focus of their students on their class work. Only Professor Snape seemed capable of keeping his students excitement about the holidays reigned in. He deducted points with a fierceness that easily kept the students' attention on their potions.

That evening, Ron and Harry were sitting on Hermione's bed while she packed her trunk. They had already finished packing and were content to sit and inform her when she forgot something. She paused several times to tell them to "do something useful or shut up." Hermione closed her trunk in satisfaction when she had finished.

"Took you long enough," Ron muttered. He was forced to duck when Hermione charmed a pillow to fly at his head. "

"You two get out of here so I can get some sleep," Hermione said gently pushing the boys through the door. "I'll see you at breakfast." She closed the door behind them and began changing her clothes for bed.

Out in the hallway, Harry and Ron walked toward the kitchen. Ron had stated that he wanted to get something to eat before going to bed. Harry shook his head. "You're a bloody bottomless pit," he said with a laugh.

"I just love food mate," Ron replied grinning. He stopped suddenly when he saw Draco Malfoy in the hallway ahead of them.

"Potter and Weasel," Malfoy said coldly. "What are you two doing out here? Aren't you afraid of the dark?"

"Shut it, Malfoy," Ron said scowling. "Where are your thugs? Forgotten how to work a doorknob again?" Harry smirked.

Malfoy sneered at them. "Better watch yourself Weasley," he spat viciously. He turned to look at Harry. "Enjoy the peace while you can Scar-head. You'll get yours in the end. Granger won't always be around to stop you from doing something ridiculously stupid." With that, he swept past the two perplexed Gryffindors.

"What the bloody hell was that all about?" Ron asked in confusion. He looked at Harry who was looking at the retreating Slytherin thoughtfully.

"He knows something," Harry muttered quietly. "He knows about something and he's trying to flaunt it. I wonder what's going on." He looked over at Ron. "We'll have to see what Hermione thinks about it tomorrow."

"Yeah," Ron replied quietly. "Let's go." He led the way to the kitchen. Harry followed with a thoughtful frown on his face.