Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. But oh, how I wish they did……

"Hermoine, wake up and get out here!" Snape called through her door.

Hermoine opened her eyes and groaned. It was not even daylight, she noted as her eyes caught silvery moonlight filtering through her curtains. She stepped from the bed and stumbled out into the sitting room, where her mouth promptly dropped. Sitting in the middle of the floor, barefoot and bare chested, in only a pair of black pajama pants, was Severus Snape. Surrounding him on all sides was a mountain of gaily-wrapped boxes.

"We have presents, Hermoine," he informed her, as she sat down in a chair near him. "Oh, Happy Christmas!" he grinned at her like a small boy.

"Presents, I see," Hermoine smiled back at him, unable to help herself. "Happy Christmas to you too."

"I've never received real Christmas presents before, other than the little gifts Dumbledore used to give the staff. But look here, I have a present from all the instructors this year, plus from the Weasley's and look even Moody sent a box," Snape exclaimed as he picked each box up and gave it a shake. "I even received a few from some students."

Hermoine felt tears gathering in her eyes as she took in the information that Snape had just provided about his personal life. To imagine that he had been teaching in the school for almost twenty years, and had never had a proper Christmas.

"Come on, don't just sit there. I want to open these together," he told her, handing her a large box. They sat together in the middle of the floor and unwrapped the gifts. Hermoine did not know whether to laugh or cry over the way Snape exclaimed and went on about each gift he received.

Hermoine, herself, had received her usual supply of books, a jumper from Mrs. Weasley and surprisingly, only an envelope from Snape. She turned this over in her hands before turning to him.

She had to laugh as he enthusiastically pulled his own black sweater from Mrs. Weasley over his head. For a short moment, he head was lost in the sweater and his arms a tangle in the sleeves. Hermoine noted that the front of the sweater beheld a brilliantly, green dragon with wings outstretched across his chest. It suited him perfectly.

Opening the envelope, she found a note inside. Tomorrow we begin the Wolfsbane potion. You are in charge.

Snape saw her reading the note and quickly dug around in the pile of wrapping littering the floor.

"That's not the only gift," he stated, handing her a small, beautifully wrapped, gold box. She took the box from him and carefully removed the gold ribbon. He in turn picked up his box from her, which she had placed at his feet earlier.

Nestled inside of her box was a stunning, silver locket. The front was engraved with a heart, a silver snake wrapper around it. Inside she found a picture of a dark haired little boy. He appeared to only be one or two, but she immediately knew who it was, from the scowl on the toddler's face.

"It belonged to my mother. I hope you don't mind that the gift is not new," he began, but Hermoine had already stopped any other words from exiting his mouth by raising her hand. Too emotional to speak clearly, she whispered, "It's perfect." She than leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "Open yours."

Snape removed the lid from his own box and then slowly removed the dagger from the packaging. "Hermoine, do you have any idea what this is?" he asked, turning the blade over in his hands.

Hermoine looked at the dagger closely and saw that the picture engraved on the handle was the same that was engraved on the locket she had just clasped around her neck. "This belonged to your mother too?" she asked.

Snape rose and pulled Hermoine to her feet. Together they sat on the couch. Snape placed one arm around Hermoine's shoulder, tucking her close to him, as he looked at the knife in his hand.

"When my mother started school here, many years ago, her father gave her the locket as a gift. When she graduated, after proving herself in the realm of potion making, he gave her the matching dagger in honor of her achievements. Later, when my mother married a muggle, Tobias Snape, my grandparents where more than upset. They blasted her name from the family tree and denounced her inheritance.

My mother decided to leave the wizarding world behind her. She had not told my father of her magic, and decided to keep it a secret, however, when I was four, my father discovered the truth. He had come home from work early one day, to find my mother entertaining me by shooting sparks from her wand. I had never seen my father that angry, or that scared. I hid in the corner as he yelled at her, calling her a freak. He left and never came back.

Mother did not to beg her parents for support, so she struggled to keep is afloat. She worked long hours and she sold what she had to in order to pay for the necessities. She sold her dagger when I was five, in order to buy medicine for me. Then when I was nine, a car hit her, and she died. Her locket was the only thing of any value that was left to me"

Snape paused from his story and stared across the room. Hermoine knew he was not looking at the wall, but instead he was revisiting images from his past. "Tell me about your childhood, Severus."

Severus looked down at Hermoine as though just realizing she was still in the room. "You don't want to hear that. It's nothing but gloomy stuff."

Hermoine placed her hand upon his arm, "Yes, I do. I want to know whatever information I can about the man I love. I want to know what made you the man you are. Please continue, what happened to you after your mother died?"

Snape sighed but continued his story, "I was sent to live with my grandparents, whom I had never met. I spent most of my time with them in silence. I didn't know them, and their world was so much different from the world I had known before. They expected silence from a child, and obedience. There was no love in that household.

I was a quite child, so I stayed out of their way. The only time they actually bothered speaking to me was at community gatherings. These weren't your usual backyard barbecues that Muggles have. No, these people who attended the meetings could have been the original Death Eaters. They specialized in Dark Magic, and for two years, I was forced to watch and join some of the dark rituals they performed.

The only refuge I had at my grandparent's home was in the library. As a child, I loved to read. The only books I was allowed to read at their house though, where my own mother's school books, and the books in the library itself, which mostly where on the Dark Arts. I was not allowed the Muggle stories, which I had loved as a boy. It was no wonder, that by the time I left for Hogwarts two years later, I knew more about the Dark Arts then my professor did."

Hermoine listened to the professor as he told her the details of his life. It explained a lot about the man and why he was the way he was. Trying to distract him from the gloom of the moment, she attempted to change the subject, "When are we starting the potion?"

"Right now," he stated as he stood. Lifting her up to her feet to stand next to him, he allowed his hands to drift to her hips. Looking into her eyes, he gave her a small smile, "No, later."

Bending at the knees, he placed a kiss upon her neck. Hermoine wrapped her arms around him and arched her back, giving him better access.

"Severus," she moaned his name, as he gently nipped at her earlobe, "Let me give you another gift this year. I want to give you myself."

Snape looked into her eyes and then captured her mouth with his. His tongue met her own and dueled for power. He pulled back, took her hand and pulled her behind him to his bedroom. Slowly he undressed her, stopping every few moments to kiss the skin he had revealed. Finally, she stood before him completely naked. She fell back on the bed, and pulled herself to the top, to sit against the pillows as he undressed. Instead, after only removing the sweater, he climbed on the bed next to her, still in his sleep pants.

"I told you, I do not think you are ready for intercourse yet. I am not going to take your virginity today."

Hermoine arched one eyebrow at him, in a look that often mirrored his own. "I suppose we are just going to lie here?"

Snape sneered a wicked grin at her, "You are." Looking down, Hermoine saw that he held his wand in his hand. With a quick flick of his wrist, soft streams of cloth appeared and bound her arms above her head, to the bedposts.

A little scared, but more than a little excited, Hermoine asked, "What are you doing?"

Snape ran one hand down the side of her body, "You always have been so inquisitive, Hermoine. For once, just relax and enjoy what will happen. You don't always have to be a know it all."

Bracing himself on one arm, he lay on his side next to her. With his wand, he began to trace soft patterns all over her body, mummering a song like spell as he did so. After the wand gently touched her skin, a tingling sensation would follow. Looking down, Hermoine could see that the wand left a glowing pattern over her skin, as though she was being branded with a strange tattoo. She arched her back as Snape drew circles around her nipples. When he dipped the wand between her legs and softly touched the curls at the apex of her thighs, Hermoine thought she would die.

Placing the wand on the bed stand, Snape began to follow the trail with his hands. To pleasure himself and her more, he bent his head down, to follow his hands with his mouth. He touched her skin with a gentle hand, using just the barest hint of his fingertips. Using his thumbs, he fluttered softly back and forth over her nipples, as soft as a feather, before taking each one in turn into his mouth. He traveled over her body, racking long wet licks across her stomach with his tongue, before moving between her legs.

"Hermoine!" In the back of her frustrated mind, Hermoine could hear a pounding noise, which only increased in volume. "We know you're awake! Open the door!"

"It seems as though your friends have ruined my Christmas gift," Snape moaned, as he quickly releases Hermoine from her bonds. "Why couldn't they have had Christmas in London at Harry's?" he groaned.

Hermoine pulled on her clothes and tried to control her breathing. It felt to her as though her heart was beating outside of her chest. Snape pulled a black robe on over his body and left the room. Hermoine followed him into the sitting room and sat on the sofa trying to compose herself. Snape walked to the doors and into the hallway, which allowed passage into their tower.

She could hear Harry questioning Snape about the transporter hallway. A moment later, they appeared in the doorway, along with Fred, Luna and Lupin.

"Luna, my love, your in trouble now. Look at all the mistletoe in here," Fred announced. Her turned to Hermoine, "Mum said Merry Christmas. She and Jolie have unwrapped all of their presents already. Bill said thank you for the Grandolf bag. It will come in handy at work. Mum also said to tell you next year, no matter what McGonagall says, we are all coming home for Christmas."

Luna sat down next to Hermoine on the sofa. "I thought for sure I would be safe up here. It looks like the elves have gone Christmas crazy. There is mistletoe covering every inch of this castle."

Hermoine watched as Fred leaned over Luna and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "The elves always loved me when I was a student here. A few well placed suggestions and voila! You only have to take the hint, Luna."

Luna's face turned a deep crimson as Fred took her hand, "You did all of this? Just to kiss me?"

Everyone watched in amazement as she then burst into tears. Hermoine wrapped her arms around the sobbing woman and led her into her bedroom.

They sat on the bed as Luna's tears flowed. "Luna, what happened?" Hermoine questioned.

The tearful teacher looked at Hermoine with large round eyes, glistening with tears. "I really do know how to make a fool of myself don't I?"

"You didn't make a fool of yourself, but it would be nice to know what you are crying about."

"I really do want to like Fred, Hermoine. I really do, but I can't. I feel like I'm being so unfaithful to Neville!"

Hermoine thought about how the woman before her had lost her fiancé. "Luna, Neville would never want you to turn away from love. He would be very happy that you and Fred have found love again in each other. I am sure he would be happy that it was one of his good friends that has made you happy again."

Luna shook her head as tears welled up again, her cheeks turning red. "It's not that. I'm sure Neville would want me to find someone again."

"Then what is it?" Hermoine asked.

"Neville held my hand; he opened door for me; he not once forgot my birthday! He was so bloody polite!" Luna exclaimed.

Hermoine was confused, "I don't understand. Those sound like good points. He showed you so much respect. Fred is respectful of women too. His mother would kill him if he wasn't."

"Oh Hermoine! It's because when I think about Neville when I'm with Fred, all I can think about is how much fun Fred and I have. Neville was boring! Fred goes out of his way to surprise me. Neville could never have imagined anything like the mistletoe. When Fred touches me, I spark. I never felt that with Neville."

Hermoine at first wanted to feel sorry for the confused woman, but instead she only felt anger rising inside her.

"How dare you?" she began.

"I know. It's wrong of me to think these things of Neville. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I know you hate me." Luna interrupted.

"You dafty, ignorant woman!" Hermoine said, grabbing hold of Luna's shoulders. "I could care less about how polite Neville was. We all knew he was a bloody bore! What I'm upset about is the fact that you obviously are in love with Fred and you're trying to throw it all away on a memory. What is wrong with you people? Trying to give up on love over things that have happened in the past!"

Luna, shocked, regarded Hermoine warily, "I'm sorry. You're right. I am so sorry for being this way. I didn't even stop to think about how your own situation must be. I mean, with Ron and Ginny both gone, it must be so hard on you and Harry's relationship."

Hermoine sputtered, "Me and Harry? What are you talking about?"

"Everyone has watched you these past weeks. You've been walking around the castle with a spring in your step. Your face glows. It's just as obvious to everyone that you are in love too!"

Hermoine gave Luna a stern look, "Luna, if I tell you something, promise you won't go all nuts on me again?"

Luna promised and Hermoine went on to inform her about the relationship with Snape. Like Harry, Luna was shocked, but more than a little understanding.

"I can see where you could fall for him. I, myself, had a crush on him during our third year. His voice can be so… compelling." The other woman confided.

Hermoine laughed, "That's not the half of it!"

The girls cheered up and went back into the sitting room. Entering, they took in the sight of Snape, Harry, Fred and Lupin all sitting around the room, with frowns on their faces.

"What's all the gloom in here?" Hermoine asked. "It's Christmas. Why don't we all go outside and enjoy the day?" The room agreed and her guests left as Hermoine promised to meet the group outside.

Hermoine turned back to enter her room to change, when she noticed Snape still sitting in his chair. "What are you sitting there for? Hurry up and change."

"I don't like the cold," he replied.

Hermoine gave him a 'I'm not going to take no for an answer' look. "Then you'll just have to put on a heavier coat."

Hermoine stepped into her room. When she came out a moment later, she noted that Snape was dressed in his new sweater, a heavy black wool coat, along with a long, black and green muffler, and black leather gloves.

The pair traveled outside, to a place next to a large tree beside the lake. Lupin and Snape both decided to sit on a bench and watch the younger teachers at play. However, once the snowballs went flying they had no choice but to join in, as several flew their way.

Using magic to pack the balls and hurl, the fight was on, and they all had a wonderful day. At one point, they retired back inside for awhile, for a warm lunch of chicken soup and bread. Coming back outside, they decided to build snow castles. Making a contest of it, Fred and Harry, Luna and Hermoine and Snape and Lupin joined against each other in the building.

As the sun begin to lower, they judged their castles. The women won, of course. Hermoine conjured a portable fire and the group sat around, roasting marshmallows, drinking hot coca and telling stories, until a cool breeze started to blow across the frozen lake.

Luna started to shiver and the group decided it was time to go inside. To everyone's surprise, Snape helped to life Hermoine to her feet. Under the pretext of helping her up the slippery steps, he held her hand. As they reached the top step, Fred drew one last snowball from behind his back, which he threw at his former instructor.

Not missing a beat, Snape whipped his wand arm around, still holding tight to Hermoine. He shot a blue streak towards the snowball. It immediately turned course and flew at Fred, where it struck him full in the face.

Everyone laughed as Fred wiped snow from his face. Hermoine had tilted her head back while laughing and she noticed that she and Snape where standing beneath one of the many bunches of mistletoe that hung above the entranceway.

"Hey, Snape. Do you think I'll ever get to be as good as you?" Fred asked, trying to pull a last bit of snow from his collar. Hermoine nudged Snape, directing his gaze to the plant above them.

"What do you mean, if you practiced a lot?" Snape asked, as he head drifted downward. Placing a long, soft kiss on Hermoine's lips, he then looked back at the startled faces watching. "No," he answered, as he grabbed a laughing Hermoine's hand and walked back with her to the dungeons.

Upon entering the quarters, Hermoine drew her arms up and entwined her fingers into the hair that she loved to touch. She pulled the man downward towards her, to lock him into a fiery kiss. Snape returned the kiss with a fervor, before pulling himself from her grasp and backing against the wall. "Much more of that, and we won't have to worry about your virginity anymore," he gasped, taking in deep breathes of air.

"I'm not the one who is worried," Hermoine retorted.

"I'm so very well of that. However, I have another promise to take care of first."

"We're going to finish what we started this morning in the bedroom?" Hermoine's eyes lit up.

Snape laughed, "No, we'll save that promise for a later day. I think it's time we began the potion. Hopefully, it will take our minds of our bodies."

Hermoine wanted to protest, but thought better than to push him. However, feeling a bit naughty, she decided that she would tempt him just a small bit more. Grabbing the ends of her flannel shirt, she raised it up to her chin, revealing to the man that she wore nothing beneath.

"Let's see how well you concentrate now," she grinned, before turning her back on him and bounding down the stairs to the private lab.