My utmost thanks to my lovely Beta, YumeNoTsuzuki. This story wouldn't even get this far without her help. ^_^ And also much thanks to all readers for still following this story. Now please enjoy~

Chapter 6

Severus's POV

Severus paced around his apartment like a caged beast. He had been feeling restless since he had taken the day off yesterday. He tried to avoid going home and preferred to sleep over at the hospital because the place reminded him too much of Potter. The times they shared a hug, kiss or made love inside of it were haunting his conscience every waking moment. It was a painful reminder of the fact that Potter would never be there for him again.

XxXxX

"Dr. Snape, I thought you're on holiday?" asked the Matron – a very senior nurse at St. Mungo – who was surprised to see him on the hospital.

Severus froze in his steps, briefly looking around nervously, before focusing his attention on the woman with brown, speckling grey hair who was standing in front of him. He hadn't done anything wrong. He was just checking because he was a good doctor, right?

Though, if he was truthful with himself, Minerva would have his hide if she spotted him here.

"No—no emergency?" he asked her with difficulty, cringing inwardly at his own flustered voice.

"Yes, it's strangely quiet this year, Dr. Snape," answered the Matron, giving him a smile.

"I see—that's good to hear," he replied quietly, his eyes downcast, feeling mildly disappointed even though it was supposed to be good news for everyone.

"Is there something that I can help you, Dr. Snape?" asked the matron.

"No, I…" Suddenly feeling awkward, Severus cleared his throat and said with more composure, "You know where to reach me if they need me."

"Don't worry, Dr. Snape. I do have your number just right there," the nurse assured him, pointing to the nurse station, then added more warmly, "And Happy Christmas to you, sir."

"Happy Christmas to you too, Poppy," Severus replied to the holiday greetings without much thought.

XxXxX

Severus walked back to his apartment then took out his car and visited his tailor, taking a long time to choose the color and material for his new suit, which earned himself a strange look from the old woman who owned the store since he usually ordered it via phone. After that he went to get a haircut and left the barber shop with a hair much shorter than he would have preferred. He also went to the local store to buy enough groceries to feed a king's entire army.

He had considered watching a movie to spend his time but it was full of Christmas themed movies that made him shy away sooner than the idea of going to a blind-date like Minerva had always suggested. And all the couples that gathered around the theatre seemed to mock how he was going to spend his Christmas alone.

XxXxX

Harry's POV

"What are you doing here?" hissed Harry to the black haired man who had just approached him.

"Like everyone else, I was invited," said Riddle smoothly, waving to a blonde haired woman. "She's my date for the evening."

Harry grumbled with dislike. He knew that woman. She was Ron's ex-girlfriend and also an A & E nurse with a penchant for gossip and always obviously thirsted for more, seeing that she invited Riddle to St. Mungo's annual Christmas ball.

"Leave me alone, I've already got a date," said Harry crossly.

"I know, Ron Weasley's sister," Riddle replied easily. "How kind of you to go out with her because she broke up with her boyfriend."

Harry' eyes flashed with annoyance then he sneered with disdain, "What are you, a stalker?"

"I'd rather to say that I'm knowledgeable," said Riddle, not looking the least bit insulted.

Harry rolled his eyes. How could anyone be that thick-skinned?

"Harry," called his date, frowning at the way Riddle leaned closely to him. "Who is this?"

"Tom Riddle, pleased to make your acquaintance," said Riddle with a smile that told her that he was actually looking down at her.

Ginny bristled at the rude behavior and didn't welcome Riddle's outstretched hand. "Ginny Weasley, though I can't say that I'm pleased to meet you."

Harry looked at the ceiling, sighing ruefully as Ginny grabbed his arm to pull him closer to her. He felt like a bone being fought over by two dogs. And it wasn't a pleasant feeling. This was going to be the worst evening of his life. Why did he even agree to come again? Oh, yes, Hermione said something about it being too sad to mope alone in his own apartment at Christmas.

"I'm going to get a drink," said Harry glumly. When both of them argued who would accompany him, he snapped irritably, "Alone!"

XxXxX

Harry was holding his punch, weaving his way through the crowd when a laughing woman took a step back and accidentally knocked his glass out of his hand. He winced as some of it splashed onto his white shirt, dying it with red.

"Oh my… I'm so sorry," said the woman with a panicked gesture, trying to dab at his ruined shirt with tissues.

"That's all right," Harry assured her politely, and froze when he looked properly at her.

Harry stared sharply at her, not because she was an attractive woman with a pretty face but because of entirely different reason. "You…"

"Oh, honey, I told you to take it easy with your drink," reprimanded the man with a brown hair who stood beside her. "Please forgive my wife, sir, she's quite clumsy sometimes."

"Your wife? Are you sure?" Harry choked, his eyes widening in disbelief.

The man laughed wholeheartedly. "I'm very sure, sir, for I have endured her clumsiness for years."

"How? Snape and you…?" gasped Harry, revulsion and fury rose in him like vomit.

She frowned and took a hold on his arm. "Let's go to the restroom, sir. I can prevent it from staining your clothes."

XxXxX

"Your husband didn't know, did he?" Harry cornered her as soon as they entered the restroom. "That you're cheating on him with Snape?"

"Snape?" She looked at him with surprise. "You mean, Severus Snape? How ridiculous!"

"You won't say the same if your husband finds out about what you have done," said Harry coldly, feeling terribly disgusted with her, then turned to leave.

"Wait!" She stopped him, clutching his wrist tightly. "I really don't know what you are talking about!"

Harry snorted with disbelief and contempt, "I saw you with my own eyes, naked, in Snape's bed."

"Bed?" she frowned at him. "How did you—? Oh! I see… you're his lover, aren't you?"

"I was," Harry corrected her. "Not anymore thanks to you."

"Was…?" She repeated and stared open mouthed at him before muttering a low curse. "He didn't explain it to you?"

"Explain what?" Harry spat crossly at her.

"I— my mother's maiden name is Prince," she said with an expectant look but then looked disappointed when he said nothing and gave her a blank stare.

"He really didn't tell you anything, did he?" She muttered, "Not that I blame him, wanting to forget about that manipulative old fox." She licked her lips and went on, "How can I make you believe me…? Oh, I know!" she exclaimed. "Do you know that Severus's mother was Eileen Prince?"

"Prince?" Harry blurted out in surprise. "Then you are…?"

"I'm Rosmerta, his cousin," she answered it for him.

"That means…" said Harry breathlessly, hope against hope, as he put two and two together.

"Obviously, I never slept with him," she affirmed it for him, smiling slightly with dimples on her cheeks which made her look even prettier.

"That still doesn't explain why you were naked in his bed," said Harry, staring at her doubtfully. She was the sort of a woman with a very curvy body, just like every man had always preferred – even Harry, himself, had to admit that her figure was pleasant to the eyes. He had a feeling that it was very easy for her to seduce anyone that she wanted. "Or why Snape was in his bathrobe."

Rosmerta blushed and looked positively embarrassed at this point. "I… I thought my husband was cheating on me – he and Severus are quite a bit younger than me – so I always feel..." She paused at her unintentional blabber, blushed harder, then went on, "Oh, never mind… So I was dead drunk that night – Severus and I were rather close, you know, when we were young – somehow, I gave his address to the taxi driver, so the man hauled me there, and…" She gave him a sheepish smile. "…when he opened the door, I just sort of puked on him and myself. Except for that, nothing happened, I swear! Severus just helped me and that's all."

Harry blinked as the bits and pieces of the story all come back together. He vaguely remembered the nasty odor that he had smelt on the front porch. His eyebrow twitched in annoyance, betraying what he truly felt inside. Snape was an idiot! Why didn't he tell him?

"Don't be too hard on Severus," said Rosmerta, biting her lips, as she looked at him worriedly.

Harry closed his eyes, trying to curb his anger – not wanting to unleash it on the wrong person – then opened them again with a sigh, "I—I'll try not to. Thank you for explaining it to me."

"No, it is me who should apologize to you, it's all my fault," said Rosmerta, looking guilty. "I can't tell you how sorry I am."

"It's alright…" Harry assured her softly. All of this was just a complicated misunderstanding. He couldn't hate her – although she had unknowingly caused him pain – simply because he knew perfectly well how hard it was for not knowing whether the other party returned your feeling or not. It seemed everyone was a coward when it came to love. But now, he would rather be hurt than not knowing Snape' feeling towards him anymore. "I… I really should go now."

"Ah, yes, of course," Rosmerta said with a knowing smile. "May I know your name?"

"Harry, Harry Potter, but you can call me Harry," replied Harry much more warmly to her now as he walked to the door.

"Then I wish you good luck, Harry," said Rosmerta earnestly.

Harry smiled at her and once more said his thanks before leaving the restroom.

XxXxX

"Harry, where have you been?" asked Ginny before paused and gasped at his ruined shirt with unhidden shock. "What—what happened to you?"

"I have to go now," Harry told her, feeling both impatient and slightly desperate.

"What?" Ginny and Riddle exclaimed together before briefly glaring at each other with mutual dislike.

Ginny turned to him and said in an incredulous tone, "You can't just go, Harry!"

"She is right, there is a warning that there's a storm coming," Riddle agreed reluctantly with her then went on, "Most people decided to book a room in this hotel for tonight."

"Storm?" Harry repeated with a frown and strode to the beautifully crafted window, peering out. It was raining heavily outside but the storm hadn't arrived yet. Logically, it was foolish to go out in this kind of weather. But the matters of heart were different from the matters of mind. And his heart demanded him to go at this very minute.

"I'm sorry Ginny, but I really have to go now," said Harry before running to the exit as fast as he could, pushing his way through the crowd.

"Harry, wait!" Ginny shouted desperately at him when she failed to follow him. "Where are you going?"

"Home!" he shouted back. "I'm going home!"

End of Chapter 6

XxXxX

First things first, don't kill me… *cowers under the bed, hiding from bloodthirsty readers* This chapter finally revealed the mystery woman. Madam Rosmerta's unknown life background and the fact that she was an acquaintance of many of the Hogwarts teaching staff are giving me a room to be creative. I hope it's not a disappointment to you all XD

And the good news is that I'm going to publish the next two chapters before the Christmas ends, as presents to you, readers, for giving much love to this story. So please come and check again within these few days for the next chapters. As usual any review will be welcomed (very) warmly~ ^_^