Chapter 7: All I Want For Christmas, Is You

"You didn't go home?" Severus asked as he sat down next to Viktoria. She was sitting alone in the library on Christmas Eve. Considering the fact he had not seen her and the fact that both Viktor and Remus were gone for break, he thought she'd gone home too.

Viktoria looked around and reached out for his hand and turned it palm up. Severus stared at her in silent, immobile shock. He wondered what she was doing as she'd never touched him before. 'I thought Remus and Viktor should spend sometime alone together.' The words magically appeared on his hand in black ink as if she'd written it there herself with a quill. Severus looked up at her in confusion. 'This is the way I communicate when I don't want anyone to read what I am saying,' the words appeared in his hand, replacing the others as she lightly tapped his hand for him to read it.

"Of course," Severus said. It made perfect sense. He looked around the library. Madam Pince was standing nearby having a word with Professor McGonegall. "Would you have liked to go home?" he asked as he stared down into her eyes. She looked so beautiful. She was wearing a simply white dress with long sleeves that made her beauty more radiant. Over the past couple of months he felt like he was falling for her, but he always pushed the thought away bitterly, knowing she would never feel the same.

She touched his palm with her index finger lightly, slowly going over the words that were appearing upon it. 'Of course. I'm all alone in Ravenclaw, which isn't different from usual, but now Remus and Viktor are home with mum and dad.' He stared down at it relishing at the delight of her soft finger.

"Do you miss your parents?" Severus asked.

'A little, but I'm fifteen. It won't kill me to spend one Christmas away,' the words appeared on the palm of his hand as a smile graced her lips. Severus looked up from his hand and looked into her eyes with a furrowed brow.

"I thought that you were fourteen. I mean you're a fourth year," Severus said as he stared into her beautiful amber eyes, if ever he saw Remus he was reminded of her beautiful face. Her eyes were sparkling with joy as she shook her head.

'Viktor and I turned fifteen in October. We're fourth years because our birthday is late,' he looked up into her eyes and nodded.

"Mine too." he said. She furrowed her brow.

'When is your birthday?'

"I'll be of age January nine," he said as he looked at her. She nodded in response. He's older then Remus, she thought to herself. Viktoria then stood up and put on the black cloak she'd laid on the table.

'Are you going down to dinner?' the words appeared in his hand as she lightly grabbed it. Her hand was smaller then his and she had thin fingers with somewhat long nails on them. He looked up at looked at her. 'Come on Sev, you can't let me go down and eat by myself!' She lightly squeezed his hand and he watched as the words replaced the ones before it.

"All right," he said as he stood up. Together they made their way down the stairs and to the Great Hall. In silence they walked together though Severus believed that Viktoria had forgotten she was holding his hand as she held it all the way down to the Great hall. Severus didn't mind. It made his heart race and his blood rush. She'd never before called him Sev or requested his company.

As they walked in there was only one table set up. Including Dumbledore there was only about six teachers that had stayed at the school. In Griffindor there were three students and in Hufflepuff there were two, in total only seven students were staying at Hogwarts for Christmas break. And that was including Severus and Viktoria.

Severus and Viktoria stopped and looked at the table. The two Hufflepuffs were already sitting down with Professor Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey. "Ah, Severus Viktoria, what a delight that you will be joining us for dinner today," Severus and Viktoria both jumped at the sound of Dumbledore's voice, who was standing behind them. Viktoria smiled at Dumbledore and blushed lightly as she had been holding Severus' hand. Severus merely greeted him.

'I've gotten you a Christmas present Professor,' her words glowed before Dumbledore and he smiled kindly at Viktoria. He loved her as he would love a daughter or even granddaughter. Viktoria reached into her cloak pocket and pulled out a small parcel. 'But you must promise not to open it till Christmas morning.'

"All right Viktoria, I promise not to open it before Christmas morning," he said with a smile and his eyes twinkling. He lightly took the parcel in his hand. "Now, please excuse me, but there is a cake calling to me ... Ah, and did you realize that you're both standing beneath the missile-toe?" Dumbledore said as he walked past them and over to the table.

Severus and Viktoria both looked up. They both became pale at the sight of the plant dangling over their heads. They looked into each other's eyes. Severus immediately looked away as Viktoria blushed. For a moment they both stood in awkward silence, both were at least relieved that no one was staring in their direction.

Viktoria looked at Severus who was still watching the people who were eating. Viktoria took in a deep breath. She reached out for his hand, causing him to look down at her and then at the palm of his hand. 'It is tradition.'

"You don't mind?" he asked as he stared down at her. He was incredulous about the fact that she was willing to kiss him. She bit her lower lip as she looked down at her feet.

She looked up into his eyes, her expression serious as her eyes twinkled. She lightly grabbed his hand and looked down at it. 'I can't think of a better Christmas present.'

Severus stared down at her and felt a smile playing on his lips. He slowly leaned down at placed a kiss on her very soft lips. "All right you two break it up," Viktoria and Severus pulled apart as McGonegall walked between them and over to the table. Severus looked down at Viktoria who was merely smiling up at him. She merely grabbed his hand and laced her fingers with his before pulling him over to the table and sitting next to him. For a first kiss, it was very brief, but still the sweetest thing.

TBC…