Hello all! I would just like to say, this is a nervous chapter for me. Firstly it's longer than what I'm used to writing. Secondly I'm trying to incorporate relationship development and dialog. And comments or suggestions are, as always, very very welcome. This chapter is dedicated to my official new beta Kei! Yay!

Summary: "As you all know, today is the annual 6th year Christmas Market Expedition, which has been a tradition since the founding of our great school. This year, due to pressing threats to the student's security, chaperones will be instituted into this tradition. There is to be one chaperone per group of 4 students, so, before you leave the great hall, please pair off into groups before getting on the train, 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 with in its ranks, your free to roam about until midnight, upon which 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!"

New Writings:

…

As Harry pushed open the heavy oak door to Flourish and Botts Bookshop, he was immediately hit full in the face with the bitter scent of ink, and crisp new paper. He moved aside to allow Snape to enter, and then quickly closed the door of the shop against the flurry of snowy wind that buffeted the ally that morning. The shop was full of ear muffed students, all scouring the shelves, clumsily bumping into one another in their bulky clothing.

"Alright Potter, what are we getting?" Severus asked as he surveyed the jostling students with distaste.

"Well Professor, I was going to get Hermione a set of The Encyclopedia's of Magic. I figured they would be perfect for all the research she does."

Snape nodded slowly "I received a set the year I graduated. I still use them frequently today."

Harry smiled at the approval in his professor's voice. Moving off to secure a sales assistant in buying and packaging, he left Snape sulking by a display for 'Miranda Quigley's Guide to Magical Economics". As Harry wrote out a bank note for the books, he felt oddly elated. He was shopping, with Snape, and they were actually being civil to one another. The sales assistant carefully packaged the heavy books (32 in all) and bound them in colorful paper and spiraling ribbons. When they were all wrapped Harry was starting to wonder how on earth he was going to carry all of these around all day, he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Move over Potter" Snape said gently. Waving his wand in a circular pattern he muttered "fio vegrandi" And gestured at the package until it becomes the size of a small mobile phone.

"Wow thanks Professor!" Harry exclaims gratefully. Snape rolls his eyes impatiently.

"It's a shrinking charm Potter. Not a miracle." Harry drops the package into his pocket and they hurry out of the crowded shop.

The wind hit them full in the face as they emerged, stinging their faces like a thousand pinpricks.

"I'm heading into the Quidich Shop over there, for Ron." Harry said, gesturing to the shop, with a window crowded and foggy with the collected width and breath of dozens of little boys. Snape's upper lip went pale.

"I'll wait out here." He muttered leaning against the doorway sulkily.

…

Severus was being jostled from all sides by blasted adolescents. Using his cloak he cleared a small hole through the fog of the glass and peered in at Harry. The boy was being perfectly civil. Severus was shocked. Genuinely shocked. He was at the point in his life were few things shocked him, startled him, or exceeded his expectations. Harry was becoming an exception. As if feeling Severus's eyes on him, Harry turned suddenly and caught his eye.

And for some unexplainable reason Severus subconsciously smiled. It wasn't a large, teeth bearing, Polaroid snapshot of a smile. It was just a lift of the foreboding brows, a small tug at the corner of his stiff lips, and an overall lightening of his countenance. Harry dropped the small parcel he had carried to the register. Shaking his head slightly, he placed the box safely on the counter, then turned to gawk at Severus again. Severus had turned back by that time and was gazing across the street sullenly at the café across the way. What on earth possessed me to do such a sentimental frivolous thing? If it hadn't been so undignified, Severus would have smacked his hand to his forehead. What came over me? Then Severus realized that he wasn't going crazy, he wasn't losing his self control. He had owed Harry a secret, and they were even now.

…

Harry was in a state of shock. In a brief moment all his perceptions of Snape changed. He had smiled at him. He was past all eloquence, all subtly. It wasn't much of a smile, but for a brief moment, Snape wasn't the foreboding dungeon dwelling, insult hurling, monster. He was simply a man, and a handsome one at that. Were did THAT come from? Hearing a commotion behind him, he turned around and realized that he'd been standing with his hand on the door handle for the past three minutes.

Blushing, he yanked the door open and walked out into the snow. Snape turned to him, and Harry almost giggled when he saw that his potions masters' prominent nose was a rather dramatic shade of pink. Harry gestured to the café across the way.

"Do you want to get a coffee sir? Get out of the cold for a bit?"

Snape rolled his eyes dramatically. "Tired already Potter?" he countered snidely.

"No sir." Harry said stiffly. Apparently there were repercussions for the smile.

"What next?" Severus tartly replied.

"well, to tell you the truth sir, that's all I need here. The rest I'm getting at Hogsmead."

Severus's arched brows jerked up in disbelief. " Do you mean to tell me that we have until midnight until the train comes, and nothing to do?"

"Well sir that's why I was suggesting Coffee."

Severus rolled his eyes. "Fine."

…

If some one would have told Severus Snape two months ago that he would be sitting in a Café, drinking Cappuccino with Harry Potter, voluntarily he would have laughed in their face. But to his surprise, he found himself enjoying watching potter squirm under his intense gaze. The boy had grown up over the past summer. His boyish frame was still lithe and thin, but now there was a barley contained element of power and agility to it. His features had a new angular quality to them that was more reminiscent of his mother than his father. Severus came to the conclusion that over the summer, Harry had grown into…a very spare person. There was nothing excessive about him or his actions, except for the perpetual glow that lit his eyes.

The waiter soon bustled up to ask them if they wanted anything else. Severus, upon reflection on his recent almost sentimental thoughts, tersely ordered two brandies. Harry's eyebrows arched but he said nothing, simply added another packet of sugar to his cappuccino and stirred nervously, sloshing cream all over the rim. The waiter bustled back with the brandies setting one before Severus, and one before Harry. Harry glanced at the brandy suspiciously then at Severus. Severus had intended to down both himself, but decided Harry looked nervous enough, with out his snarky potions master snatching his drink away. Raising his glass to Harry he quickly tipped the amber liquid back all in one effective swallow. Harry raised his glass in return and tenitivly took a small sip.

Snape laughed throatily "my my Potter, they'll accuse me of corrupting you."

Harry smiled caustically "At least you're not beating me."

"I'll drink to that." Snape replied, with a quick gesture to the waiter.

…

Three hours latter, Harry and Snape walked quickly through the cold towards the train station. Harry felt like he was lit from within. The alcohol was like a symphony singing through his veins. He felt that he could read the hidden messages within the streetlights, the chorus in the volleys of snow that buffeted their faces. For a moment, his dead godfather, impeding doom, and slipping potions grade where miles away. A joyful laugh bubbled out of Harry, and he slipped his arm comradely through Snape's. Snape, though frowning, allowed it.

"Do you think any one will know were pissed?" Harry giggled.

"You're not to talk to any one. If any one asks what we did, we went from shop to shop and had a miserable time."

Raising his hand in a mock salute Harry resolutely replied "yes sir!"

…

When they had boarded the train, with out incident, Severus, quickly located their compartment. Their room had one bunk on either wall, with a little lamp and table, and a dividing curtain. Harry stood drunkenly leaning against the door, smiling innocently up at Severus.

"I'll take this bunk." Severus said tossing his cloak on the bed closest to the door.

"Okay sir!" Harry said, half collapsing on the remaining bunk.

Severus quickly drew the curtains, and sat on the springy bunk to remove his boots. As he sat back and slipped, fully clothed, under the covers the train began gently moving, rocking like ship at sea. He heard Harry giggling quietly on the other side of the thin curtain. Their conversation that night had been rather limited, as Harry had never before experienced the enlightening effects of alcohol, and Severus didn't trust himself to contain his words and thoughts around this waifish and oddly companionable apparition.

"Harry..?" Snape said silently across the expanse of the curtain.

"Yes sir?" Harry replied quietly.

"This was irresponsible and unforgivable of me…I propose that-"

Harry cut him off sharply. "I won't tell sir. Tonight, you and I, were just two people with allot on their minds."

"Potter I meant to say that I had realized this night how severely wrong I was in my prior judgment of you."

Silence proceeded for a few moments on either side of the red curtain, interrupted by the gentle swaying of the train.

"I think we've both misjudged each other. Goodnight sir."

And with that Harry blew out the lamp, and the room was shrouded in smoke scented darkness.

Though Harry fell asleep immediately, Severus wouldn't sleep all night, keeping a silent vigil on the door.