Chapter 22: Christmas

A/N: Love ya guys lots! The reviews are wonderful! You are the best! Oh, and as far as my other stories go, they will be updated soon1 I'm in the middle of A.P. testing (for those who don't know, if you pass the test it counts as 8 units of college credit, but they are like 4 hours long, each and I'm taking 6 of them!) After the tests, though, my work load should lighten significantly, so prepare for updates!

Ok, I'm done making excuses, on with the chapter:

Ebony could not fathom how her life had transformed so completely in a matter of days. Snape knew her secret; she knew his secret; their relationship had begun to take a tighter form.

A much tighter form she mused. It was Christmas Eve and Ebony found herself sitting by the fire, reading a book. While she refused to give into this pleasure often, she felt that this holiday called for it.

Snape, respecting her privacy, was busying himself in the kitchen. His house elf was dutifully taking down orders for tomorrow night's dinner.

"Yes, sir." Duffy squeaked and in a flash was gone.

"Are people coming over?" Ebony asked, not taking her nose out of her book.

"Nope." Snape responded and he walked towards her.

"Why would they? Spend Christmas with me?" he smirked.

"Well, you ordered so much food. We cannot possibly eat it all." She muttered, deeply lost in the throes of Lizzy Bennet's romance. Darcy is such an idiot…

"Hello?" came a voice came that interrupted her thoughts. Shaking her head, Ebony spoke: "What?"
"You didn't hear a word of what I just said, did you?" Snape smiled. She was so cute.

"No, sorry."

"I said I didn't know what you wanted so I ordered everything. We can pick and chose what we want for dinner."

"Oh," was all Ebony said as Snape sat down on the floor beside her.

"What are you reading? It must be pretty interesting."

"A muggle book, Pride and Prejudice. It's about a romance and society in the 1800s." she laughed when Snape's questionable gaze met her own. "It's good, trust me."

"I guess I have to." He told her as he started to play with the ends of her hair. She fascinated him completely.

Distracted now, Ebony could find no way to keep her mind on the page. Putting her book down, she said: "You win."

"Good." He muttered, giving her a quick kiss. Soon, however, it became heated. Laying her down on he floor, Snape found himself on top of her. He longed to do more, but kept it simply to a kiss.

Ebony, finding herself trapped, felt a rush of excitement. How long had it been since she had felt this good.

Since Draco, her mind whispered and she tried hard to shake loose the name.

He cheated, he hurt me she told herself. But for some reason, she couldn't help but feel guilty.

Christmas day had come and Ebony found herself waking to sweet smells drifting towards her. She knew they came from the kitchen where Duffey would be cooking.

She had spent a week with Snape and had found happiness where she least expected it. Her lie had been turned upside-down, but she was content. She knew that she was supposedly "the one" of the vampires,. She knew this would be hard and even painful, yet she felt prepared. She would learn all she needed to and do what had to be done. It was her destiny.

What about Snape? She questioned as she began to get dressed. She knew she cared about him and that she relied on him, but could they have a relationship? She doubted it. Once the7y were back at school he would be the same old Snape and they would continue hiding the fact that they could tolerate each other.

Draco's more my style anyways she found herself thinking, yet it pained her to do so. Draco had hurt her and she would have to deal with that. Either he will have a good explanation or we're done, permanently she fumed. She didn't think she should forgive him at all, but she still cared about him. Somewhere in her heart, she still longed to be with him. Which is why Snape and I will never work…

Snape had everything prepared. Dinner was going to be perfect. He had turkey, potatoes, asparagus, corn and anything else he could think of. The decorations were exquisite and beautifully arranged. Life was sweet and Snape was enjoying it. He wanted everything to be put in place when he asked Ebony. He sighed, then went to get her.

"Come in," Ebony spoke to the knock on her door.

Snape opened it and walked in, flowers in his hand. The pink roses were beautiful and sweet. Ebony recognized them as both, with just a twinge of regret. She knew she had to break this off-tonight.

Dinner that night was fabulous. Snape and Ebony spent hours just enjoying the floor and each other. Each growing more nervous for very different reasons.

After an hour or so after the meal was complete Snape knew it was time.

"Ebony." He said as he took her hand.

"Yes," she smiled weakly.

:I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" she asked when he hesitated.

"Will you be my…my mate?" he asked in once breath.

"Your mate?" she questioned quizzically.

"Yes. Vampires don't marry. They have mates." He explained, holding his breath for her to answer.

"That's a very sweet offer, but-" as Ebony searched for the right words Snape could feel his heart sink.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because," she breathed,

"I care about someone else."

"Draco." Snape spat the word.

"I thought he hurt you."

"He did, but I need to work things out with him. You see…" and with that she proceeded to tell him had happened on that night. As she did, Snape felt a range of emotions. Hurt, anger, frustration, pity and compassion ran through him. In the end, he felt a strange resignation.

"He cheated, why would you still want him?" Snape asked, annoyed at Draco's treatment of Ebony.

"Because while I've had a good time here, I can't help but think of him." As soon as she had spoken this, Snape realized something that Ebony had not yet seen.

"You love him" Snape whispered.

"What?"

"You are really in love with him. I can see." He was hurt still, but he knew he no choice but to let her go.

"No, I don't. I care, but love, no." she countered.

"You love him. You would choose him over anyone else, including me." He stated dryly.

"Well," she thought,

"Maybe I do love him…I'm sorry to hurt you, I do care about you."

"You can't help how you feel. Just as I can't. But promise me something, ok?"

"Anything."

"If Draco ever leaves you, you will come to me and consider what I have offered you."

Ebony thought about this for a moment, then said:

"Ok, I will, I promise."

Draco was making promises of his own. He had promised to do whatever the Dark Lord wished. Right at this moment he was waiting to receive his instruction.

Voldemort had long since left the mansion, yet Lucius still stood in conference with some of the older Death Eaters. They were in the midst of devising a plan that was supposed to gather more followers.

Draco was sitting in a plush leather chair, fingers strumming. He wondered what part he would have in this project and how small it would probably be.

"Draco." His father called.

"Yes." Draco stood and walked to where Lucius stood.

"We have a mission for you."

"Yes."

"Our spies placed at Hogwarts have discovered second vampire." Lucius began.

"You are to remove this vampire, permanently. The vampire species is a threat to our survival. They hold no side, but they do not like the Dark Lord nor do they give him the respect he requires. This specific vampire needs to be disposed of, immediately, but I must be done in an organized manner. Killing a vampire isn't easy, especially one of her strength."

Draco was stunned. This was a huge job for someone who just became a Death Eater. It showed that Voldemort really trusted him.

"Her?" he asked confidently, he figured a female would be simply.

"Yes, but don't under-estimate Ebony's strength. She has been prophesied of."

Ebony! Draco's mind raced.

A/N: Hehe! I'm so god at these…well, you guys have to R&R to read more…buah hahaha…