It was Christmas Eve and the corridors of Hogwarts were almost silent, with the exception of a few house elves scurrying about doing last minute cleaning. Harry and Ginny were cuddling in the common room on a red suede sofa near the fire. Hermione and Ron were in the room of requirement practicing spells for their upcoming N.E.W.T.s.

The fire crackling and Ginny's soft breathing was the only sounds Harry could hear. Her hair smelled like vanilla and her skin was extremely soft. "Ginny Weasley, I love you." He whispered in her ear. She looked at him and beamed sincerely.

"You bring out the best in me…" she replied. But the one I really want to be with right now brings out the worst.

Severus Snape was sitting in his office, which was located in the dank dungeon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, pretending to correct essays on powdered root of asphodel. Why can't I stop thinking about her? If I'm caught, I could—no I WILL lose my job. And she'll, no doubt, be expelled and probably lose her friends for cheating on that…that…POTTER! Just like his father, though… will constantly think about himself and not what Ginny really wants. She deserves better…I'm not saying I'm the best, but I'm certainly better than… him.

Ginny was sitting by a cauldron practicing some of the potions she'd need in her N.E.W.T.s year. Their relationship was harder to keep a secret these days. They could hardly find an excuse to spend time together with break upon them. Plus, she could never seem to break away from Harry. He wanted to be with her twenty-four/seven, as if she was his source of life. She'd lie and say she had to go to remedial potions. Recently, Severus would become aggravated with her and was always jealous when she said she had to go find Harry.

"Severus, you know I want to be with you. Why won't you act like you believe me…can't you even pretend?" Ginny had her brilliant red hair tied up with a gold ribbon, and was wearing her charcoal robes. Her amber eyes shined remarkably at Snape and he couldn't help but feel ignorant for being jealous of Harry. He knew he was number one in Ginny's mind.

He grabbed her silky hand with his left hand, and with his right, he flicked his wrist, sound proofed his office like he did during one of their detentions, bolted the door, and turned on some music. "May I have this dance?"

Ginny couldn't hold back her smile. " Of course…" He slipped his hand around her waist and she glided her hands up his chest, resting them on his shoulders. He gazed into her beautiful eyes and tried to read what she was thinking.

"What am I doing? Bloody hell, this can't be happening. I want to be with Severus, I really do. But I can't stand hiding it any longer. I should just break it off with Harry…

"But what would Harry say? He'd know something was up. He swears he loves me, and truthfully, I believe him. He did buy me that astonishing ruby and diamond necklace…

"Why am I thinking this? I can't be bought. I'm Ginny Fucking Weasley! I'm better than this! I'm not materialistic, and I can live without Harry Potter! He doesn't own me… But he has those amazing green eyes that seem to peer into my soul. He knows what I'm thinking, and I don't have to be extremely careful what I say around him as long as I don't talk all mushy-gushy about Snape. I must admit, that it's pretty hard."

Snape broke the eye contact and couldn't stand to hear anymore. Did Ginny love Harry? Who did she really want to be with? Can I really want to give her what she wants, what she needs, and what she deserves? Every doubt that he had before suddenly came back to him.

The music had long stopped playing, but Ginny and Severus were still holding each other. She looked up at him realized that Severus looked befuddled. "What's wrong? Am I really that horrible at dancing?"

"Oh, no. Not at all… You're actually a very good dancer. It's just that… I think I have too unhealthy of feelings for you, Ginny. And I'm putting your education on the line for this relationship of ours which isn't fair to you." Severus moved to his desk and opened the corner drawer, pulling out a small box. "Here, this is for you… just say it's from a secret admirer or something if anyone asks about it. But we need to end this, Ginny. It can't go on any longer."

"But… Severus…" Ginny's eyes were rimmed with tears. "What—what did I do?"

" You didn't do anything wrong. Enjoy the rest of your break, enjoy the rest of your term…"

"Was I just some sort of a fling to you? Is that it? Use me until I no longer make you happy and then just cast me aside? How dare you Severus! You're as evil as everyone says you are!" Tears were now sliding down her freckled cheek and she didn't seem to care. "I hope you are miserable and alone for the rest of your life! I hope you realize what a big mistake you have just made. I don't give second chances!" Ginny screamed the last bit at Snape, and stormed to the door to exit the room.

The door was still bolted shut and so, reluctantly, Snape decided to let her go. Holding her captive here wasn't exactly fair… but then again, neither was dumping her the day before Christmas. I just let the best damn thing that ever walked into my life storm out of it, crying tears of hate. I really fucked this up…