A/N: Sorry for the delay in getting this out. Mass family drama combined with vacation, work, and returning to school have somewhat hampered my writing abilities. I know this is short, but I'm still working!

Chapter 15: Mommy?

Buffy was nearly skipping back into her chambers at half past six. "I got him!" she was shrieking.

The Potions Master wandered out of the bathroom dressed in his black robes and slightly damp hair around his shoulders. "Bloody hell, Buffy, what are you talking about?"

The Slayer smirked and replied, "I'm Harry's new foster mother! Dumbledore had it already set up, it was like he knew I would agree."

"Dear, even I knew you would agree if he asked. You love that boy as if he were your brother or son. Congratulations, love," Severus told her, pulling her slinking figure close and kissing her, "So, we're celebrating Christmas with Mr. Potter then?"

"You don't mind?" Buffy asked.

He shook his head and whispered, "Never, if you love him like a son, then he's worthy of your love. Anyway, he's not so bad."

"Then you won't mind if I take you two out for dinner on the next Hogsmeade weekend. Of course, we'll actually be going to Diagon Alley. I'd just like to spend some time with my two favorite guys."

"While I can't guarantee that I won't kill the impetuous boy if he steps out of line, I will try my best to get along with him, anything to please you, my love," Severus said.

With a grimace, she pulled away, saying, "Sev, I love you, I really do, but please, do things because you want to, not for me. Being the object of some obsession is something that I-I-I can't deal with. It never leads to any good."

"Seriously, Mr. Potter has proven himself to be more than a self-centered young man. Humility, wits, and resolve have shown themselves lately, disproving all of my previous theories concerning the Boy-Who-Lived."

"Thank you, Sev," she whispered in his ear as she began to trail kisses down his neck.

The Potions Master indulged her, but reminded her, "My dear, I think this is something that neither you nor I would like to do. We're too complex still. So many things need ironed out, and we need to work together."

"Can I still sleep with you?"

"Good god, did you not listen to me just now?"

"No, Sev, just sleep next to you. You-you make me feel safe. Loved. Sexy. But I can handle that. You're my safety blanket," she said, quietly.

Severus swept Buffy up into his arms and carried her to what seemed to becoming "their" room. "While it is very tempting to simply fall asleep tonight, both of us have essays to grade. 3rd year potions for me and 2nd year DADA for you. The principles of the uppercut, I believe."

"Oh. Yes."

"Now, move over. I need to get these graded. I do need to maintain my image somehow," he grumbled, "You've turned me into a bloody pouf. A kindly teacher. A.."

"Sev. Shut. Up."

"Well then." With that, the couple graded their essays. Two hours later, each had a stack of 20-40 red-marked essays sitting on the table. Buffy stood up and stretched.

"I really don't wanna go patrolling tonight," she complained.

Severus stared at her for a moment before replying, "Then don't."

"But me not going patrolling would be like you not making a potion for a week. It's my life. It's in my blood. Plus, who knows what's grown up in the Forest in the past few days."

With that, she got up from her spot on the couch and went into her room to get dressed. She emerged dressed in a pair of snug black pants, black boots, a black t-shirt saying "Bite Me," and a long black coat. "I know I'm totally channelling Faith right now, but it just seems to…"

"Fit. You're sexy, love, in anything," Sev said from his seat on the couch, "Now get going so you can get back."

She headed for the door and her tall, dark, and sometimes-handsome man called, "Be careful."

"Well, gosh darn, that just takes all the fun out of it," she told him before sweeping out.

Three hours later, the slim blond-haired, black-clad figure swept back in, sporting a slice in the sleeve of her long coat. "Dear, are you hurt?" Sev asked.

Buffy turned and glared at him. "Severus, that was my favorite jacket. My most favorite, favorite jacket that I stole from a friend. Who is now DEAD. And it's torn. Ruined. God, everything I get gets ruined, friends, clothing, pets…"

"Pets?" the Potions Master asked, determined to get her attention away from her coat as he repaired it.

"Okay, that's a lie. My pets just die. Goldfish, hamsters, hermit crabs, gerbils, AND the plants. My mom refused me a puppy after Alfred the Hamster died."

"And how did he die?"

Buffy giggled and said, "I stepped on him while I was practicing a back handspring-roundoff-pike in my bedroom. Oh god, what if I step on Harry? I'm going to be a horrible temporary foster mom for the Boy-Who-Lived. What kind of irony is it that the Girl-Who-Died-Twice gets to be the foster mummy of the Boy-Who-Lived. I'm gonna get him killed."

"Buffy! Breathe. You're going to be fine. Harry's stayed alive long enough on his own. You killed the hampster because you were young. I'll be here to help you. And you can be confident that Almost-Headless Nick will be watching. The old boy has taken quite a liking to him."

"But you haven't. You have developed 'respect' for him. Not like, not love like a son. You'll do it because I want you to. And Harry'll be afraid of you and you'll only respect him and I'll end up letting him get killed or I won't get him the right present for Christmas," she ranted. Then she paused and seemed to realize something. She cried, "I'm acting like Willow. Whom I got killed. Sev, I'm going to bed." With that she was out of the room and into her bedroom with a locked door.

Classes started the next day again with a very tired looking Slayer and a surprisingly docile Potions Master. The students took this to mean other things, and there was audible 'whispering' by midday.

Severus couldn't find Buffy for the life of him all day. He finally found out from Xander that she was out running. "Hey, Severus, how's that potion coming along for Buffy? The one that'll fix her leg?" he asked, nervous around the taller man.

Sev replied, "Quite well, I think. I need to do some tests on it. At this point, I know it won't hurt her, but I don't know how effective it will be. I might do a few small tests on her later today, providing I can find her."

"Find who?" a perky voice asked from behind him.

"You, Buffy," Xander responded, "Sevvy here has the potion almost done for you. He needs to run some tests and stuff."

"Regardless, we can't do it till Christmas break. I have classes to teach. I can't be laid up for a week. He still has a month and a half to finish it," she told them and then limped off towards her final class of the day.

"If there is a Most Dedicated Teacher Award, she should definitely get it," Xander said.

Severus borrowed one of the words he had picked up from Buffy as he replied, "Yep. That's Buffy, dedicated, even to her detriment."

"Want to go get a drink?"

"Oh hell yes, I need one," Severus told the younger man. The two were soon headed towards the Three Broomsticks.