"You're going to do just fine Harry." I coo, rubbing his back.

Harry looks at me worriedly, "But I can't figure it out Professor Tingstrom! People are depending on me!"

I smile, "Harry, you just do the best that you can. I'm sure that everything will turn out fine."

He shakes his head, "I hope you're right."

I mess up his hair, "It will."

He smiles at me, "By the way, I wanted to thank you for getting Ron to ask Hermione out. They're really happy now."

I smile back, "Oh of course! It's about time those two admitted that they like each other." I wink.

He laughs. Then he looks thoughtful, "And thanks for warning me about Cho. Though I wish that I could have taken her..."

I nod, "I know Harry, I know. But hey, it could be worse."

Harry laughs sadly, "It always GETS worse."

I rub his back, "Well, at least it's not worse now."

Harry hugs me, "Thank you Professor Tingstrom. I'm glad you're here."

I smile down at him and hug him back, "Well, I'm glad that I can be here."

"You, Professor Lupin, Hagrid, and Dumbledore are like family to me. You've always been there for me." He looks up at me in appreciation.

I chuckle, "Well, everybody needs somebody Harry. Including the boy who lived."

He frowned at first and then decided to take it as teasing (which it was) and smiled.

"Just believe in yourself Harry, and those that help you. You've got everything you need to make a spectacular mark on the world. I don't think we've even seen part of it yet."

He sighs, "I don't want to be spectacular, I want to be normal."

I roll my eyes, "No offense Harry, but normal is overrated. It's boring, shallow, and amazingly hard to pull off. You need a very small mind to be normal. No, stick with spectacular, you're good at it. And while you're doing that you'll find happiness along the way, you'll see."

He shakes his head, "You can't know that."

I shrug, "Hey, everyone finds some happiness at some point or another. It's unavoidable."

He smiles, "You're crazy Professor Tingstrom."

I grin, "Well, I believe that we've already established that Harry. Now, I think that you should go to lunch. We can talk again later."

Harry nods and runs off to lunch.

-----------------------------------

I go down to Severus' office and I see him sulking. I frown, what's happened?

Severus looks up at me, "Oh... hello."

I go over to him and touch his shoulder with a look of concern on my face.

He looks up at me briefly, frowns, and then goes back to what he was doing.

I sit on his desk and he doesn't look up at me, he's considering his quill instead, "I just... I just wish that the past didn't always come back to haunt me."

I frown at him, "Well, that's what the past does I suppose. But you shouldn't let it upset you so much."

He scowls, "I should when it can ruin everything." He stands up and starts to pace, "Every time that I think I'll be able to get some peace, get some happiness, things I've done just come back to bite me in the ass. It only goes to show that I'll never be happy."

I decide not to be insulted by that. "Everybody has things that make them unhappy. But if the things that bring you joy are really that flimsy, then they didn't mean much to you anyway. Or you to them."

He stops and looks at me.

I look straight at him, "You're allowed to be happy Severus. Yes, your life is complicated. But it's nothing that we can't get through together."

He shakes his head, looking bitter, "You act as if I have normal, easy problems."

I frown, "I wouldn't downplay what you're going through like that. What you're going through is hard and complicated, and it's worth noticing; but if we can't through the hard times together then we weren't supposed to be together in the first place. And I know that we're meant to be together. We can get through this. You don't have to be alone anymore."

He sighs and rubs his temples, "I just don't want to see you hurt..."

The gentleness in that statement touches me and I smile slightly, "I'm much stronger than you think Severus. Trust me I can deal with whatever this situation calls for."

He looks at me for a long time; a strange look appears on his face as he cups my cheek. "I'm not going to lose you..." He says softly.

I smile and touch his hand as I look in his eyes, "I know."

He touches his lips to mine.

----------------------------------

I'm late! I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late, I'm LATE! Here I am, sprinting down the hallways of Hogwarts in my jade green Yule ball dress, made of that nice, supple material that I don't know the name of and it's sleeveless and down to my knees and so sprinting is not a good idea in this dress... It's just not! Especially while trying to put on heels.

But nooooo, I had to go help Hermione fix her hair and then I just had to help Luna with her makeup and to get a stain out of her dress. I couldn't even get dressed first, oh no. Now I'm a teacher and I'm late to a ball that I have to chaperone. Really professional, I should get an award!

Slip… fall… OW! I look up at the ceiling thinking, "I should have seen this coming."

Someone stands over me, a man, and smiles before asking in a hardly distinguishable accent, "Are you alright Miss?"

I nod, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I didn't break my head open."

He chuckles and puts a hand down to help me up, "Here."

I take his hand and he helps me up. I rest my hand on a wall and put on my other shoe, then smooth down my dress before smiling at the man, "Thank you."

He grins at me, "You're welcome."

I nod and start back toward the ball.

He follows me, "I'm assuming that you're not a student here?"

I try not to look horrified, "No, of course not, I'm a professor here. I teach philosophy."

He grins even brighter, "Philosophy? An enlightened woman, I like that."

Shit, he's hitting on me isn't he? I'm not good at catching people at flirting with me, but I'm pretty sure that's flirting. "I suppose..." I say cautiously.

He wraps his arm around mine, "Would you mind if I escort you to the ball Miss...?"

"Uhm, I already have an escort to the ball." I say, trying to free myself.

He frowns, "Than why isn't he with you?"

"Because I'm late. Now, if you'll excuse me." I start to walk faster.

He catches up, "If you are embarrassed, there is no reason to make up a date. I found your fall quite graceful." He teases me, smiling.

I scowl at him, "I'm not embarrassed."

He obviously doesn't believe me, "Then why don't you let me escort you?"

I stop, point, and open my mouth to say something when I see the man's eyes go wide. Someone puts an arm around my waist and I see a pale hand coming out of a black sleeve. I smile... Severus.

"I'm sorry I..." The man starts.

"You're just leaving? Good." Severus snarls at him while holding me possessively.

The man nods and walks off.

I rest against Severus, "I told him that I had a date. He didn't believe me." I smile up at him.

He's still scowling, "He probably didn't care, the bastard."

I turn around and hug him around his waist, "Good thing you came along then."

He's still stiff.

I frown up at him, "In case you didn't notice, I was in the process of telling him to shove off."

He sighs and looks down at me, losing the scowl, "I know you were. I just don't like it when other men flirt with you."

I smile and rest my chin on his chest, "I know, I've noticed. But there's no reason to get so very upset about it. You're the only one that I want."

He smirks, "I've noticed."

I chuckle, smiling at him fondly.

He takes me by the hand, "Come with me." He leads me outside. I look up at the stars as we walk out to the lake. He stops and lets go of my hand, clasping his hands behind his back.

I look at him, concerned, "What is it?"

He clears his throat and doesn't look at me, seeming nervous, "We've been... romantic, for a year now."

I smile, how nice that he remembers. "Yes, I know."

He fidgets around a little, clearing his throat, "You see… the thing is… I happen to rather… uhm… love you. And I was wondering if you would…"

My eyes go wide, is he doing what I think he's doing? If he is, then I may die of happiness. "If I would...?"

He looks at me and he's obviously trying to keep a cool exterior, "Katherine... I believe that it's time we… that we married."

I blinked and my throat tightened for a moment with emotion. I put my hands on my mouth and just stared at him for a long time, speechless.

Severus was still trying to look calm, but he was clenching his fists.

I pull my hands down from my mouth and try not to cry happily. I sniff slightly and try to keep control of my voice as I say, "I think… I think that's quite… quite a good idea Severus. I agree."

He blinked at me, "You… agree?"

I nod, "Yes Severus, I agree. I will."

He looks at me and, slowly but surely; a smile appeared on his face. He crosses over to me, taking me in his arms, "Katherine… Katherine my love."

I wrap my fingers in his hair, "Severus… Severus, you want to marry me…"

He nuzzled my temple, "I do." He pulls away and takes my hand in his, getting something out of his pocket. Then he slips a small, silver band with a moonstone on it onto my hand.

I smile and then look up at him with what I know is pure affection, "I love you Severus."

"I love you too Katherine." He says, still smiling, as he brings me close again.

We stay out there a long time, mostly in silence, until we finally decide to go back into the ball. As we go back in, I can't help but remember the last time we experienced the Yule Ball together; All the mixed emotions and misunderstandings that had been involved. The difference is that, this time, we both know exactly where we stand with each other. Or at least… one would hope.