Hello all! This is going to be a very experimental chapter for me, there is a lot of dialogue involved, which I haven't used much yet, and I hope it works out realistically and naturally. I would like to say thank you to all my wonderful reviewers, and yet again, and suggestions or comments are completely welcome! Enjoy!

Summary: Severus half gags at the idea of leading Potter around by the nose all weekend while he shops for overpriced gifts for Severus's least favorite holiday.

"But Headmaster-" Severus sputters indignantly. He argues for the next half an hour to no avail. By the time he returns to his quarters, he is ready to get genuinely pissed, and with good cause. As he kicks open the door to his bed chamber, tosses his robe onto the bed and scuttles into the adjoining bathroom, he is struck by the overwhelming sensation that some thing is not quite right. Retreating slowly into his bedchamber, he notices the tawny owl perched smugly on the corner of his night stand. Snatching the letter from the owls outstretched leg, he tosses the offending creature out his window, not pausing to watch it soar indignantly off.

I read Muggle poems,

Then copy them out and slip them

In between the pages of library

Books and return them

So that other people

Stumble upon them, and fall in love with them as I have.

Harry falls asleep quickly, with a smile translucent as a bride's veil hovering over his lips.

Chapter Five: The Expedition, Part A

The Great Hall had gone unusually silent. It was Saturday morning, the day of the sixth year expedition to the Diagon Ally Christmas Market. The Hall was charged with emotions that wafted across it like spiced breezes. The sixth years all had identical looks of anticipation and excitement plastered across their faces. The seventh years all were unusually quiet, reminiscing about their trip, and the first through fifth years all shared envious frowns. Albus tapped his wand against his wine glass for the second time to dispel the remaining whispers that flitted across the tables. When all was silent, he began the obligatory instructions for the proceedings of the trip.

"As you all know, today is the annual sixth year Christmas Market Expedition, which has been a tradition since the founding of our great school. This year, due to pressing threats to the students' security, chaperones will be instituted into this tradition. There is to be one chaperone per group of four students, so, before you leave the Great Hall, please form groups. Chaperones will be assigned to your group as you board the train. On the train ride, all of the chaperones wish their students to make lists of the presents they will need to buy, as time will be short, and dilly dallying will not be tolerated. Once you get off the train, and every group has its chaperone firmly within its ranks, you're free to roam about until midnight, at which time your group must be at the platform. The train will be arranged to accommodate bunks for sleeping, and by the time all of you wake up you will be back here at Hogwarts! So," Albus's eyes twinkled merrily, "Get to your groups!"

The Hall was filled with excited shouts, as sixth years in every house rushed to group off into sects. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville promptly agreed to group up and rushed to the doors of the Entrance Hall, eager to get a car of their own on the train. As they rushed down the long sweeping drive up to the castle, Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "Wait a tick! I'm willing to bet that 'heightened security' means we will get an Auror as our chaperone! I wonder if it will be Remus! Or Tonks!"

Harry brightened visibly at the prospect.

"That'll be awesome! Hey Ron, race you to the front gates!"

Ron chuckled and took off at full speed, calling out, "GO!" behind him to a very indignant Harry.

…

The boys were still panting as they stood in line to climb the ladder onto the train. Hermione was scolding them half heartedly about spraining their ankles, and Neville was trying unconvincingly to act as though he hadn't eagerly wanted to participate. As Harry swung himself up into the train, bypassing the steps in his eagerness, he came nose to nose with his very surprised Transfiguration teacher.

"Ah, Mr. Potter," she bleated weakly. "Mr. Potter, I'm afraid you're a separate case altogether. You will have your own chaperone for the day. Your friends, for security reasons, will have their own."

Harry gaped disbelievingly. "But that's not fair! Why do I have to have my own escort? Why can't I go with my friends?"

Minerva was not moved. "Mr. Potter," she replied imperiously, "You are lucky to be allowed to go on this trip at all, least of all question the special arrangements we have made for your safety. You will meet Professor Snape at the station, and I suggest you do not give him any trouble." With that, she pushed him into the compartment. His friends shortly burst in, and for a moment Harry was swamped in sympathetic condolences offered by his disappointed friends.

"...And Professor Snape! Of all the people you could get, you get HIM!" Ron exclaimed peevishly.

"Nah, Ron, this summer, I was thinking," Harry mused, "Snape, while a pain in the ass, is just someone I have to deal with, just like anyone else. I've got to stop being so damn immature about his insults."

"WHAT?" Ron, Hermione, and Neville exclaimed in unison.

"Well…" Harry stammered, "Listen, I've got to show everyone that I'm not some pliable little brat they can just instruct, and expect nothing but complacence! This is my chance! Professor Snape is the worst of them, and if I can get his respect, then, well, anything is possible."

"Harry…" Hermione began quietly, "I think we have all underestimated you…since that night-"

Harry grimaced and tried to cut her off but she waved her hands at him impatiently.

"No Harry, lets get this out. None of us have been the same since that night. We saw some one we love die, and Ron and I haven't given nearly the support you need right now. "

Harry smiled. "You guys are all I need, but if you're there, I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this."

Hermione began to cry quietly, and Ron sniffled stealthily behind his palm. They rushed to embrace him and Neville, sitting in the corner looked on in slight fright and awe at this display.

…

Severus was not enjoying this day. He had spent the entire train ride in brooding silence as the other teachers and Auror chaperones chatted merrily with one another, exchanging holiday pleasantries and sipping too-sweet cocoa.

He now stood, with the scent of mulled wine stuck stubbornly in his nostrils, waiting for his 'pen pal' (he gagged at the thought), better known as Harry Potter. He shoved his hands deeper into his soft woolen robes, and glanced up in time to catch a glimpse of Potter's messy raven hair as he hopped down from the train. The Weasley Brat whispered something in his ear, and Harry threw his head back, laughing heartily and unreservedly.

Wait…HARRY! When is he Harry? He isn't Harry. He's Potter. Strictly Potter. Severus mentally chastised himself, as he adjusted his shoulder so he could lean more comfortably again the platform wall. Alright, I'm not going to be civil today. Ever since he had experienced the slightest trace of regret the other morning, he had decided that civility was close enough to the common ground of tolerance at which the vast majority of his relationships were based.

Harry spotting him from across the platform gave a happy wave to his friends, and with the traces of his smile still tugging at the corners of his mouth, began weaving his way through the crowd towards him. With his longer hair, and the angularity led by time to his face, Harry looked almost handsome in the crisp morning air. Severus scowled inwardly. God I'm getting all seasonally sentimental. God help me. When Harry reached him and plastered on a tentative smile, Severus decided that one day of civility couldn't hurt.

"Do you have your list filled out?" He asked evenly.

Harry nodded eagerly and yanked the item in question out of his pocket, accidentally taking the lining out with it. Shoving the silk lining back in his coat, he opened his list and did a quick scan.

"Well Professor, the bookshop is close, and I need to pick up a book for Hermione. Is it ok if we head there first?"

Severus nodded amicably. "Yes Mr. Potter, it's perfectly 'Ok.' "

…

Sorry to leave you hanging, but trust me, there will be tones of holiday fun and witty dialogue in the next chapter! You'll love it, trust me. :D