I don't own Hellsing or Harry Potter, and I'm not making any money from this.

Integral Hellsing's desk was covered with stacks of paperwork. It would take forever to do all of it. Usually, she only worked on documents regarding their missions against vampires and other supernatural creatures that attacked the human populace. But within the past several months, they all began facing a more annoying problem.

Iscariot was starting to push the boundaries of what they were allowed to do. A treaty had been drawn up right after the great war, creating very distinct boundary lines between their territories. Hellsing agreed not to trespass on their land as long as they didn't step foot on theirs. However, the treaty had to be renegotiated every two years or so to take new population changes into account. The Vatican always attempted to claim areas with a high Catholic population as their own. They were due for another renegotiation meeting in a few months, but Iscariot had already taken it upon themselves to act as though boundary lines had already been changed. They were slowly, but steadily moving into Hellsing territory – just enough to make a point without backing themselves into the corner of doing something they shouldn't be. When dealing with territorial lines, it was relatively easy to claim not to know exactly where they lay when on the field. Integra knew better though, and didn't appreciate the challenge one bit.

"If they keep doing this, we have every right in the world to engage them." Edmund pointed out.

The knight glanced sideways at her husband. "We can't attack them until there is a clear cut breech of treaty. They haven't moved far enough into our land to draw much attention to themselves. We have enough trouble with the Round Table as it is without them thinking we're trying to start a war."

Hellsing had two options available. They could simply wait for the appointed time for renegotiating the treaty in March, or they could demand an emergency session to be called as soon as possible. With the situation the way it was, Integra didn't feel comfortable waiting it out. However, meetings with Iscariot always took a long time to complete due to harsh and tense feelings held by members of both of their organizations. It could take more than a week to have something new drawn up, and this would be Hellsing's year to host the meeting. There were many things to take into consideration.

"Constance and Mihnea should be coming home for the holidays next week." she commented thoughtfully.

Ed nodded, then studied her. "You don't want them here for it."

Normal negotiations with Iscariot were intense enough. The children had been in the house when those took place, but were never allowed near the conference room. With this being a more serious meeting brought on by accusations of a breech, things were bound to be much more heated than usual. Threats would probably be made by both sides, and if any of the Vatican officials so much as said a word about one of the children, they would probably be shot. She couldn't afford to have a death on her hands.

"I believe it would be best if they remained at school." the knight said finally. "Mihnea could handle himself here, but I don't want Constance left alone at that castle with what's been going on there." she paused. "If they both come home, they'll try to get in the middle of things, and this meeting is going to be uncomfortable enough without having to worry about them too."

Her husband inclined his head in silent agreement. Constance and Mihnea were known for sneaking around and spying on things since they were small children. Alucard and Syn's son usually wound up doing most of the actual work, but Connie was almost always the instigator and brain behind the operation. Once they were older and better prepared, those qualities would be useful to them. But for now, it was too dangerous to drop something inciting before their eyes and order them not to go near it. They both would take that as an invitation to go on one of their famous snooping missions.

"Connie got that from you, Integra."

The knight blinked at Edmund. "Excuse me? I have never been a snoop."

The man grinned. "No, she definitely got the snoopiness from me." he admitted. "But she's bossy and takes control of everything. She got that from you."

Integra studied him for a long moment, then picked up the crystal ashtray she always kept on her desk for when she smoked one of the cigars. "I am very fond of this." she told him. "Don't make me throw it at you."

Edmund smiled like he was laughing on the inside. "Yes ma'am."

Final exams were upon them, and everyone was pouring through their notebooks over breakfast. Hermione and Constance were huddled together trying to formulate a study schedule.

"Alright, the test in Herbology will be on Wednesday, so we can block in an hour on Tuesday after classes." Granger said. "And Astronomy... I suppose we can work on that Thursday afternoon, since that's the last exam."

Harry and Ron were trying to pay attention, though they didn't really understand what they were doing.

"You two study all the time." Harry said, selecting a piece of toast from one of the many trays. "Why are you doing this now?"

Connie shot him a look. "Because the final exams cover the entire term and there are things at the beginning we need to read over again." she told him. "And you had better be writing this down, because you two are coming to study sessions too."

The ginger headed boy coughed on a bite of his food. "I didn't agree to that!"

"Ron, your grades are awful." Hermione said. "You're studying whether you like it or not."

The boys looked at each other and slumped. Harry didn't much like the idea of studying for exams either. Fred and George noticed and leaned over.

"Just do what they say." they both suggested. "It's easier that way."

Constance arched a brow at them. She set down her spoon and clasped her hands in front of her. "You two are going to be working on Potions with me on Wednesday at 4:00, so be ready."

The twins sat back and gaped at her. "Wednesday?" Fred exclaimed. "That's right after Quiddich practice!"

George looked about as happy as his brother. "We'd have to run to make it!" he said. "You can't push the time back?"

She shook her head. "That's the only time I have available, so you're just going to have to deal with it." Constance replied. When they both opened their mouths to say something else, she went on. "And no, I am not going to help you cram the morning of the test."

Fred and George's mouths snapped shut. That was precisely what they were going to ask. Ron looked highly amused.

"Just do what she says." he repeated in a mocking falsetto voice. "It's easier that way."

"Oh, shut up." the twins snapped at him.

Constance just smiled and went back to finishing her cereal. There was supposed to be an intense review in Charms and she wanted to get to the classroom a bit early to prepare. Over their heads, the morning owl post was coming in. A ruffly looking gray owl dropped Ron's copy of The Daily Prophet into his lap. As the boy opened it to read, she felt George tug on her shirt sleeve.

"Isn't that your owl?" he asked.

Connie looked up to see what he was talking about. Archimedes was flying up near the rafters. He swooped down and slowed his speed so he could safely land on her shoulder. He was still bad about misjudging how deep his talons went, and she winced as he settled his weight down.

"Watch the claws!" she told him.

Archimedes readjusted himself to withdraw them, then craned his neck toward her. There were two letters from home in his beak. Mihnea must have sent something to the manor and her owl just stayed there until they wrote something back. He had developed a habit of doing that after all the letters she'd sent to various places over the summer. She took the one with her name on it, noticing that the other was addressed to her cousin.

"Huh. That's strange..." she said to herself. She waved the owl off toward the Slytherin table. "Go on then."

Archimedes hopped down to her arm, then spread his wings to fly off in the direction she indicated. She watched as he landed on Mihnea's shoulder to give him his letter. It was then that she turned her attention back to hers. She ripped open the top of the envelope and pulled out the message inside.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

Constance read the note, careful to hold it so the others couldn't see. It said that Iscariot was causing trouble back home and they were calling an emergency meeting with them over Christmas break. Her mother thought it was best for them to stay at school rather than coming home like they usually did.

"I... think I'm going to be staying here for Christmas." she said after a long pause. "Something is going on back home."

She glanced toward the Slytherin table. Mihnea looked just as confused and taken aback as she felt. Christmas was a special time of year. Their family always made a point of rearranging work schedules so they could spend at least that one day together. Of course, if something important was going on, she could rationally understand the decision. But... not being able to spend the holidays or her birthday at home was... really disappointing.

"Really?" Harry asked, then took in her expression. "It's not so bad. All of us are staying too. Even Hermione."

Constance shook her head to clear it, and looked over at the girl. She usually made such a big deal about being with her family for Christmas. It was strange she'd rather stay at school than go home.

"Why are you staying?" she asked.

Hermione looked worried for only a second. It was a brief change of expression, but Connie saw it. "Oh! I just thought it would be interesting to see how things are done here for the holidays." she replied. "I've heard there's a Christmas feast that's absolutely wonderful."

Uh huh. She thought. It probably had more to do with that thing they all were keeping secret from her. She still hadn't been able to get any hints about what they were doing. She'd pointedly asked Hermione several times and the girl always told her she was imagining things.

"Oh, okay." she said, pretending that she accepted the explanation at face value. "So what all goes on here during Christmas?"

The boys had all spent a Christmas at Hogwarts before, so they told them stories of presents being delivered by owl on Christmas morning, a massive feast laid out for everyone who remained at school, and all the teachers and students of various houses sharing one table for the duration of winter break. It sounded like they'd be allowed to wear muggle clothes during the holiday as well. They were required to wear their school uniforms at all times while on the grounds. The only time you didn't have to was during a visit to Hogsmeade, and those were only for third years and above. It would be nice to wear her own, comfy clothes around the castle for once.

The bell rang to signal the students it was time to head to class. So much for getting there early, Constance thought. She pushed aside all the battling thoughts running through her head and focused on getting through the day. She could feel dejected and depressed later.

"I'm telling you mate, you need to just buck up and do it."

"I will. I'm waiting for the right moment."

"No, you're being a chicken, is what you're doing."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Bock, bock, bock, bock..."

"Shut your face or I'll turn you into a chicken!"

"Fifteen Galleons says you won't do it before Christmas."

"... Thirty says I'll do it by this weekend."

"Deal."

"Deal."

You know, I think of reviews like... jelly donuts. The outside is all warm, chewy awesomeness, and the inside is gooey, yummy wonderfulness.