Dungeons. Snape room. He leaned his back. Harry sees his blood legs. No. Just forget about it. Now, Hermione is the problem.

Why is she staying in the girls bathroom while other students are eating in the great hall? Why is her eyes swelling up? Is it because she is crying?

Yes. Snape saw Hermione walk in tears. What exactly happened he needed to know. Could it be Potter who hurt her? Weasley? That red hair.

Snape sighed so loud. His mouth was gasping. He should comfort her. No, he can't. He's a teacher. Hermione is his student. He never likes children. He hates students.

But this witch?

Day. Dungeons. Snape office. He's waiting. Waiting for who? Guess? Reading daily prophets. Someone knocked at the door. The door swung it open.

"Professor, you like to see me?"

It was Hermione he was waiting for. Looking up from the daily prophet, he met her eyes as she walked towards his table.

He studied her again. Hermione may have bushy hair but something stole his heart.

"Miss Granger". She stood in front of him. "Yes. It's about last night I am concerned about hearing from you". Snape stands. "What exactly are you doing in the girls bathroom? Alone".

"I've told Professor Mcgonagall already. I'm looking for a troll, I know the troll will be there. So I wait in the girls bathroom".

"Lies. I hate to hear.. lie". Snape circling around her. "I asked you again, Miss Granger. What exactly are you doing in the girls.. bathroom?"

Hermione clicks her tongue. "I've told you, Professor..."

"STOP lying!" His face leaned closer to her. Her lips stuttered. "What.. you.. doing..?"

"I'm looking for a troll. That's my final answer, Professor".

"Did the troll make you cry, Miss Granger?" His eyes lured into hers. "Is it?"

Hermione couldn't say anything. Of course Snape saw her crying, she bumped into him. Then she walked away straight to the girls bathroom.

Crying, sniffling, sobbing. Everything, until the troll showed up in the girls bathroom. The troll destroyed everything inside. Almost killed her too.

"I ask you again, Miss Granger. You can't hide from me because I will find out by myself what exactly happened to you last night".

"Is none of your concern Professor".

"Indeed". He leaned his face closer to her again. "But I will find out". He stood straight. His eyes down to hers. "You may go, Miss Granger".

Hermione bolts out from Snape's office. He watches her, then takes a seat, back to his chair.

Great hall. Hermione walks to Harry and Ron. They sit together. Harry ignores his breakfast. Ron, as usual, is stuffing his face.

"Take a bit of toast, mate. Go on".

"Ron's right, Harry. You're going to need your strength today".

Harry looks up from the plate, he exchanges looks. "I'm not hungry". Ron turns to Hermione.

"Where are you going, Hermione. Should you be here early".

"I was in Professor Snape's office".

"What are you doing at the greasy git office early in the morning. Something you like to share with us". Ron asks.

Hermione shakes her head. Snape suddenly appeared behind them.

"Good luck today, Potter. Then again, now that you've proven yourself against a troll, a little game of Quidditch should be easy work for you. Even if it is against my boy".

Snape smiles, limps away towards the Slytherin table. "That was.. disturbing".

"I tell you what's disturbing.. Snape smiling".

"That explains the blood". Whisper Harry.

"Blood?" ask Hermione.

"Last night, Ron and I saw Snape heading for the third floor. I'm guessing he let the troll in as a diversion, tried to get past the three-headed dog and got himself bit. That's why he's limping".

"But why would anyone go near that dog?"

"You've been to his office this morning, Hermione. Can't you see?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I wasn't looking at his legs, Ron".

"Funny, I thought you saw everything".

Harry shakes his head. Hermione speaks again. "Well, whatever it is, it must be really valuable".

Hermione felt something. Felt someone was watching her. She turned to look at the Slytherin table where Snape stood. No wonder she felt heavier. Snape exactly stared straight at her for a reason.

Limping git.

Quidditch field. Day. The stadium is full. Ron and Hermione join Neville and Seamus in the Gryffindors section, unfurl a banner that reads POTTER FOR PRESIDENT.

As the Slytherin and Gryffindors teams take the field, the crowd roars. Oliver Wood runs up alongside a nervous Harry, who clutches his new Nimbus 2000.

"Ah, Severus. Happy to see you join us here".

"Of course. It's my boys against the Gryffindors. I should be here to see them crush".

"That's so like you, Severus".

"Indeed. I Am". As his eyes search at Gryffindors section whereas Hermione cheering up from her houses. That WITCH!

The whistle blast. And the game BEGIN!

Hogwarts corridor. Later. Snape limped quickly back to his office. Before he could do that. Hermione already blocked his way by standing in the middle of the corridor.

Snape looks around and there's no students or teachers walking past here. Snape turns to her.

"Miss Granger".

"How rude!" She snarled. "You jinxed Harry's broom for a reason so then your house teams could win the games".

Snape stood in silence. He let Hermione let out her anger towards him. Snape like that.

"It's foul! You think by jinxed Harry's broom you can get away from this. Let's hear Professor Dumbledore then".

Snape smirking. He walked closer to her. "Are you threatening me, Miss Granger? So, you the one who uses that spell, so, I'm on fire and stop muttering my spell".

"So, you jinx Harry's broom". Hermione crossed her arm on chest. "You an evil, Professor!"

"Take your words back, Miss Granger". He walked past her. Then he stops, his foot turns to her. "Answer of your concern. I didn't jinxed anything". Then resuming his walk back to dungeons.

Hogwarts castle. Day. December. Snow falls, dusting the castle turrets and blanketing the grounds. Hagrid drags a giant Christmas fire toward the castle.

Great hall. Nearly Headless Nick swoops about a towering Christmas tree, running garland over the limbs, while Peeves plucks ornaments from the branch, hurling them to the floor.

Harry and Ron pay no attention to the students bustling about them, sitting alone playing wizard chess. Unlike muggle chess, these figures are alive.

Hermione, huge trunk in tow, arrives just in time to witness the carnage. "That's totally barbaric!"

"Wizard chess. I see you're packed".

"I see you haven't".

"Change of plan. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother, Charlie. He's studying dragons there".

"Alright. You can help Harry then. He promised to keep looking in the library for Nicholas Flamel".

"We have looked a hundred times!"

Hermione bowed half, whispering. "Not in the restricted section". As she exits. "Happy Christmas".

"Happy Christmas, Severus my boy". Dumbledore greeted Snape in excitement. "What a great celebration. Have you wished for Miss Granger".

"Miss Granger will think of me as a weird potions teacher wishing for her Christmas".

Dumbledore and Snape stood in front of the window. From far, Snape sees Hermione drag her trunk to Hogsmeade station. He feels sad as she leaves Hogwarts for Christmas to be with her family.

"You can visit her if you want, Severus". Dumbledore said in a smile. "It would be great to have a family gathering around the Christmas tree".

Late at night. Outside the Granger's house. Snape stood. He watch his little witch happy to see her parents back. Sits under the Christmas tree. Sharing the happiness, the stories. Drinking hot cocoa and cookies.

He smiles as the family is happy. He wanted to be happy. He wants Hermione to be happy.

Snape stood there for moments before vanishing into thin air. Hermione noticed something whooshing sound outside their house. She looked at the window where Snape stood.

No one.

Spinner's End. A sorrowful street, Snape walks. A house he'd grow strongly stood on the grounds. He stood in front of the door for a while. Letting out breath, he reached the knob and swung the door open.

From his eyes, he saw an old woman sitting in front of the fireplace. Knitting and humming a song he knows. The old woman didn't notice.

She realized and heard, as someone shut the door behind. She looked over her shoulder and saw Snape's strong figure standing in the middle of the room.

The old woman smiled wider, happy to see him. Snape walks up to her. "Happy Christmas, Mum".