A/N: Sorry this took so long to post. I had things going on that ended up delaying me for a few days. My brother in law is in the hospital and I don't know if I'll get to post again for a few days. I'll try though.

I have made a few changes in my story, the first is in this chapter. Both twins are alive and have both ears too. They are still running their joke shop. I hated how one of them died at the end so I brought them back together to be happy. I don't think George would ever be happy without Fred.

Also thank you everyone for the wonderful reviews. I'm enjoying them all. Keep on Reading and Reviewing. Take Care.

Chapter 10

Since Christmas was so close, Hermione decided to wait before starting on any extra classes. She had gone ahead with her final exam with her transfiguration class. She had found it to be easier than she had expected, but it was still a difficult test.

She was sitting at breakfast when an owl came by and dropped a letter to her. It turned out she finally had gotten her Herbology and Ancient Ruins tests back.

She was smiling as she went back to her breakfast. Then quickly walked out and went in search of a certain potions professor. She was half way to the dungeon when a voice stopped her.

"Ms Granger?" She turned at the voice and smiled politely.

"Yes, Professor McLeoud?"

He smiled at her. "You know I'm not your professor anymore. You can call me Justin."

She frowned slightly not understanding why he stopped her. "Um, okay. Justin, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you were going to Hogsmead this weekend for the final visit before Christmas break?"

"Oh, um...I hadn't really thought about it. I am taking a bit of a break until after the new year from my extra studies. So maybe." Granted she could go whenever she liked, but she did have everyone's presents to buy. Angry at Harry and Ron for not writing to her or not, she always gave them a Christmas present.

He smiled down at her. "Maybe I'll see you there."

"Sure, maybe. I must go Profess...um Justin. See you later." She turned with an utter perplexed look on her face as she watched him walk away before she1 continued down the hall. What was all that about? She wondered, just before she found herself pulled into a shadowed niche again.

She smiled up the man holding her. She leaned in and kissed him quickly. "Severus, I was just on my way to see you. I wanted to tell you the good news."

He raised an eyebrow at her, having seen her exchange with the transfiguration professor. "Oh, what would that be?" His voice harsh in his annoyance at the damn teacher that was trying to get Hermione. He had seen her confusion at McLeoud, so he knew she wasn't excited over him.

She paused, looking at him curiously. "Are you alright? You seem more agitated than usual."

He frowned down at her before sighing. "Yes I'm fine. Now what is your news?" He asked, his voice a bit softer and silkier as he forced his annoyance away.

She grinned at him. "I got my first two scores back and did wonderfully. O in Herbology and and E in Ancient Ruins. I"m now just have to wait for potions and transfiguration."

That explained it. He thought. She had finally taken the exam for that class too. It explained the odd conversation that he came upon. Bloody transfiguration bloke telling his Mione to call him Justin. It had annoyed the hell out him, but now it made sense.

He paused. His Mione? When had that happened? Seeing her smiling up at him, he stumbled over his words as his mind started to race in thought and panic. "Um, well that's....good. I have to go." He kissed her quickly on the lips and pulled away, quickly striding towards his dungeon.

Hermione stared after him a bit confused. Was everyone just acting oddly this morning? She wondered before rushing off to her first class.

It was during one of her breaks that she saw the Headmistress heading towards her. She smiled at her old head of house as the woman waved for her to stop.

"Ms. Granger, may I have a moment?" She asked the now grown up girl she had looked upon as an adopted daughter.

"Yes Headmistress, what can I do for you?" She asked with a small smile.

Minerva smiled at the young woman. "I was wondering what you were planning to do after leaving Hogswarts."

Hermione's smile faded. "I'm not sure yet. My parents want me join them in the muggle workforce, but I don't want to do that. Other than not wanting to be an Auror, I just don't know."

Minerva frowned just a bit. "Why wouldn't you want to be an Auror dear? You did wonderfully during the war and I know you're brilliant in all of your classes. You could be a great one if you wanted to."

Hermione smiled softly at her again. "That's just it. I know I could be a great Auror if I wanted to but I just don't want to. I saw enough death and danger during the war. I don't think I have the stomach to see any more of it. I've had enough running and hiding from danger to last me a lifetime."

Minerva smiled and nodded her head. "I understand dear. I know that year you went with your friends to find the pieces of Dark Lord's soul was hard on all of you."

Both women were silent before the Headmistress spoke again. "So something safe and boring is what you have in mind dear?"

Hermione laughed. "That sounds wonderful to me ma'am. Something safe, boring is negotiable, but definitely somewhere I can use my magic too. I just have to figure out what that leaves."

Minerva laughed as well. "Just keep in mind that boring is in the mind of the beholder. What might be boring to some isn't boring for others."

"Thank you Headmistress. I'll keep that in mind. Oh, I had a bit of a question to ask you. I know you have been very understanding and lenient towards me this year. But I needed to ask one last favor if you don't mind."

Minerva frowned at the girl. "I make no promises Ms. Granger, not until I hear what you need. But you are always welcome to ask me anything."

Hermione smiled. "I need to get some studying done while on break, so I've decided not to leave for Christmas. I was wondering if it would be alright to apparate to my parents for one day before Christmas and then to the burrow on Christmas day."

Minerva personally thought the girl was working too hard, but kept quiet about it. So far she seemed alright, in fact she seemed a bit happier now than when she started the year. She had her suspicions as to why, but again kept them to herself until she was sure.

"Ms. Granger, you will be on break, and are of age and licensed to apparate. So as long as you keep me posted of when you are going to come or go I don't mind at all if you leave the grounds during your breaks."

Herminone was almost jumping up and down in her excitement. "So, I don't want to push it, but if I needed to go to Diagon Alley during my break one day if that would be okay too?"

Minerva chuckled at Hermione's excitement. "It would be fine, just let me know what day and how long you should be gone so I know to keep an eye out. If you're running late just let me know so we don't worry that something happened. If you don't mind my asking, why do you need go to Diagon Alley?"

Hermione beamed in her happiness. "A spot of Christmas shopping. If it's alright, I thought I might see if Hagrid would mind joining me."

The headmistress bit her lip to keep from laughing again. "That would be fine dear. If he wants to join you he is welcome to. I would feel better if someone did indeed go with you anyway."

Minerva smiled and headed on to her other tasks she needed to do. An idea forming in her mind at speaking with the young woman.

Hermione went to the library to decide which class she would be starting on next. She did intend to study some for it, but she was mostly going to take a breather from it all. Give her over worked brain a rest. She wondered briefly what Severus was doing for is Christmas break.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tapping at the library window. She walked over and opened it to find Hedwig on the other side. She let her inside, calling to an elf, who when she appeared, Hermione asked her for a bit of something to feed the owl.

The elf happily left and brought her some sliced meat to feed the owl. Hedwig happily tore at it while Hermione took the rolled up parchment from her leg. She asked if Harry was waiting for a reply, which the owl hooted and nodded slightly as she perched on a chair still eating the fresh meat.

Opening the letter Hermione smiled. Harry apologized over and over again for not writing sooner. Saying he had been terribly busy with his training which seemed to be going well. He did say he smacked Ron in the back of the head for not writing either. He intended to write to Ginny today too. He asked if Ginny was terribly upset at him about his lack of writing to her as well, asking her to let him know if Ginny was so he could properly prepare his apology to his fiancee too. Then he asked her about her Christmas plans.

Hermione sighed. She didn't think it was her place to break the new about Ginny's kiss, but she felt he did deserve to know and didn't know if Ginny intended to tell him. She decided to wait and see what Ginny did and then go from there.

She pulled out her own parchment and scribbled out a note. "Dear Harry. Ginny is a bit upset, so be prepared for her anger about not writing. I'm glad you smacked Ron, but did you add a good smacking to your own head for you failing to write to me too? I intend on staying here for Christmas, but I'll go to the Burrow for Christmas dinner. I need to finish up my studies so I can decide what on earth I'm going to do after leaving here. Any ideas? No, I wont join you and be an Auror. Any input other than that would help immensely. Your dear and loving friend always. Hermione Jane Granger."

She reread over the note and tied it to Hedwig, who she stroked softly a few times before sending her on her way. She watched the owl fly away and turned from closing the window and gave a startled yelp.

Severus was standing not a few feet away from her table she had been sitting at. An odd look on his face. Her hand to her heart, she smiled at him. "You startled me. I think I need to add a spell to your shoes so you make more noise when you walk." She said with a slight laugh as her heart rate returned to normal.

He cocked his head just a bit as he continued to stare at her. Fighting the urge to fidget under his piercing black gaze, she walked back to the table holding her books and sitting down. She didn't know why he wasn't saying anything.

When he finally spoke, his rich and silky voice sent a shiver down her spine like it always did. "I wasn't aware you were staying here for Christmas break."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "How did you know I was? I only decided today that I would."

He shrugged. "You were reading your reply to your friend out loud. I came in as you were finishing up writing it."

She tried not to be annoyed at his not letting her know he was there sooner. "Oh. So do you have any Christmas plans?"

He walked over and pulled out a chair next to her, sitting down. "I'll probably do what I always do. Stay in my rooms and read."

She thought that was somewhat sad. Didn't he have anyone to spend Christmas with? "Would you like to join me for dinner at the Burrow? I'm sure Molly wouldn't mind."

He curled his lip at the thought of being surrounded by so many red headed Weasleys. "I think I might pass on that. One can only take so many Weaslys at a time."

She smirked at him. "Trust me, I understand. But its fun watching them all interact though. The twins love playing pranks on everyone and Ron and Ginny get yelled at quite a bit by Molly after retaliating to the twins pranks. Mainly, I just sit back and watch the fireworks happen. All while praying the twins forget I'm there and not get me with a prank too. Bill and Charlie aren't there much these days, and Percy is gone even more than the other two. But the twins more than make up for the lost pranks when they are there and it just adds to the madness and fun."

He frowned at her curiously. "You find this fun?"

She laughed softly. "I do. They're my family. Families tend to irritate each other as much as possible. But they're there if you need a shoulder to lean on too. Besides, the twins attack Ron the worst. I think its because it bothers him worse than anyone else and so he is more fun to mess with. You would have to see it to understand. You're welcome to join me if you want to. You don't have to go as...my lover. You can just go as my friend if you want to."

He tried not to show his surprise at her calling him a friend, but she saw a hint of it anyway and didn't react to it. Knowing he would be angry if he knew she saw it. He liked keeping his thoughts private.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I'll have to think about it."

She smiled and nodded at him before leaning over and kissing him quickly on the lips. "Just let me know. I have to go to my parents home at least one day during the break too. I just hope things go a bit smoother than before I left. I know I have to get some shopping done before Christmas too."

He frowned again. "Shopping? What for?"

She smiled at him. "For everyone's Christmas presents of course. Molly always gives me something knitted, though luckily she doesn't add some tacky initials like she does to the boys. Harry and Ron always get me things for school, I think they just don't know what to get me usually and things for school make it simple and easy for them. The twins always give me something funny and outrageous, and Ginny always gives me clothes that I would never wear or pick out on my own. I think she hates what I wear, not daring enough for her I guess. Though truth be told, I don't think I've ever worn most of them."

He just stared at her. Christmas presents? Was he suppose to get her something? See this is why he hated relationships. Too many complicated rules involved that he just didn't know.

"So what are you planning on getting them?" He was curious. What did you get a person for Christmas?

She shrugged. "I haven't a clue. I just look around a bunch of shops until I'm inspired. Ron is fairly easy, I just need to get him something revolving around quidditch. Ginny always likes jewelry. Harry is the hardest to shop for, so I'll have to see what I find. The twins love anything odd and funny. Arthur loves muggle things, and Molly loves different types of yarns and materials to sew and knit with. Hagrid likes odd things pertaining to magical creatures, so he's hard at times to shop for too. I can't very well buy him a new pet, but my last Christmas here I got him a new quilt for his bed that had little dragons on them. My parents...I just don't know. I always have a hard time finding anything for them since they're not into anything pertaining to magic."

He took all this in. So many people, how did she keep them straight? He saw her do a quick time spell, one that let her know what time it was, and start to pack up her books.

She paused and smiled over at him, leaning in to give him another soft and quick kiss. "I have to get going. I have a class coming up soon." She stood up after her things were all together. Glancing his way she smiled again. "Feel up to some company tonight?"

He smirked at her. "I think you just want to read more of my books you've been engrossed in so much lately."

Her grin grew. "There is that, but I want to spend some time with the owner of the book too."

He told her that she was welcome to stop by whether to read or see him, he didn't mind either way. She set her books down and straddled his lap, sitting on him as he stayed sitting in the uncomfortable library chair. Wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed him passionately, letting him know she wanted to see him. Him, not his books.

His arms came around her, pulling her closer to him as he felt himself respond to her closeness. He always responded to her. No matter if it was something soft and gentle or hot and full of passion. Her body pressed against his just did something to him every time. It wasn't just her body either. He found himself talking to her more than he ever had anyone else. He liked talking to her. Hearing her thoughts on whatever it was they talked about.

She pulled back slightly looking into his black eyes. "I'll see you tonight then." She gave him another quick kiss then moved off of him. With a wave and a small smile she was gone.

Leaving him staring after her, worried once again about when she left for good. He was quickly becoming accustomed to her being around. How would he be able to go about his day after she was gone?