I find myself in the same spot, Mike's Tavern, nursing a drink. It's the same as the last time I felt overwhelmed, and that I had something to hide. I don't have anything exactly to hide; well, except myself.."

The seat next to me becomes occupied by my previous companion, of the previous time.

"I didn't know I threw out an invitation," I say, eyes ahead, but even then I know the look on his face.

"I didn't know you owned the tavern," he retorts back sarcastically.

"I'm surprised. I never expect you to frequent a Muggle establishment."

"I knew you'd be here."

"Well aren't you perceptive," I reply lamely.

The bartender comes over. He orders a drink. I'm still nursing mine. I order a shot though.

"Well you aren't, otherwise you wouldn't be pouring yourself over your glass."

"If you're here to tell me something I already heard, then the door is over there. I'm not interested. My opinion isn't going to change, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat." I down the rest of my drink, and the shot that is placed right in front of me.

He takes a sip out of the drink that is placed in front of him. He has a long scratch across his knuckles. He must've needed 'blood of evil' for one of his Potions.

Maybe he needs more. According to others, my veins must contain 'blood of evil.'

"I'm not here to tell you that."

My head is really starting to feel fuzzy. I rest my elbows on the bar so I don't fall over. My neck feels stiff. It should just snow already. It was forecasted to start snowing tonight, and yet it hasn't.

"Do you want to spend the night with me again? I'm all for it." I offer. I don't know why I feel embarrassed, because any sort of "decency" between us has already gone out the window. I'm not having an affair, or anything. I'm still single, and from the looks of things, that's how its going to stay.

He gives a small nod of agreeance. At least I wont be alone tonight. I won't be any good either. I'll probably just pass out on the bed.

The lights dim, the twinkle lights go on, and the Christmas music starts up. Déjà vu.

Couples get up to dance. Someone starts singing. Badly. Everyone is having a good time when all I want is quiet and dull. I don't need another reminder that not only am I ruining my life, but I'm not having any fun either. Well, I did have fun and its sort of ruining my life.

I look sideways at him to gauge his emotions, and there are none as usual. He sips from his glass.

I take a drink. "Do you want to leave now?" I question, "we can go somewhere else. Somewhere qui-"

"No." He says. He modestly looks over his shoulder to gauge the room. He turns back. If he wants to go dance with a beautiful woman I will not stop him. I can get back to my sulking, drink some more, and then stumble home. Even if I only get to the hallway that's okay too.

I call the bartender over, order another shot. He must feel pity on me because he pours me a double, gets me another drink, questions if he wants another one; he does, and walks away.

I down it, but it goes down wrong. I cough for a second until I am able to wash it down with my drink. My belly feels full now. I better cool it for a little while.

"Is this your favorite song?" I question, "because it sure as hell isn't mine."

"I don't care about the song. I'm just trying to figure out how oblivious you can be. I know from past experien-"

"Exactly my point!" I rise from my chair, stumble as I look for money, and use one hand for support. He halts my searching. "Sit down Nymphadora. Please. For both our sake."

The bartender's eyes watch us from down the way. He's probably assessing the situation, and whether he should step in or not.

"Give me a good reason why I should sit down?" I don't know what the volume of my voice is, but no one has noticed over the tone of their conversations, the music and their good time.

"Because I have not finished my drink," he says only loud enough for me to hear, "and you are going to cause a scene that will get us both kicked out. Besides, I still haven't said what you need to hear- before you pour yourself over one more drink that will drive you over the edge."

We lock eyes. I'm still standing because I know I need to sit down slowly. Also, I'm pretty sure I'm already over the edge.

"Okay," I reluctantly agree. I sit down slowly, and face the bar. I rest my elbows down. My head is a spinning just slightly. I can float on air, and still have my feet grounded on the floor.

Maybe not me.

He takes a sip. He doesn't make a face, but I can tell its not the best drink he's ever had. Maybe its just his "go to" drink when he's doing something evil- with the knuckle blood.

He eyes the room again, subtly, and then the bartender. He must deem my situation safe, because he engages in conversation with a couple to my left. They're both drunk and laughing just a little too loud.

I wish that was me.

"Okay, talk to me now. Tell me what I need to hear. I need to hear something apparently, and it's not what I heard lately."

My sentence turns his lips into a smirk. I don't think I have ever seen that reaction from him before. It must b because I made a fool out of myself.

"You have a gift-"

It must be Christmas, if I am getting a compliment from Professor Snape.

"-a gift that only a few have. Out of all my years of teaching, I've only met two- with you being the only one that can control it and use it."

I snort. It's very unladylike, but I don't care. "Hence, my mini vacation." I eye his glass. His hands wrap around it.

The couple's laughter erupts again. A cheerful song strikes up. I don't know the words, and I'm not going to sing along. I tap my nails against the bar.

He turns in my direction and looks directly into my soul. His eyes squint with distaste. "You're obviously oblivious."

"Then spell it out!" I burp into my fist, and my belly feels better. I must be full of hot air.

"Why. Were. You. Being. Followed." His eyes cast around while he pronounces every word. It's a room full of Muggles. No one is going to know us or know what we do.

"Because I associate myself with people like you." I smirk.

"Who exactly knows that?"

He's got me there. Some fog clears. In my head. Not much. But the airiness of the liquid confidence is going to slowly evaporate.

"No one. No one knows anything. They speculate. I come from an interesting background, and very interesting people." Who they should really be chasing after.

"So that makes you-"

"The target around the office." I recall the situation at the Ministry and smirk upon my victory.

The bartender comes over. "Anything else ma'am?"

"No, thank you."

He declines anything else as well.

When the bartender walks away he shakes his head. He removes the band from his hair. He ruffles it out, but its limp and lifeless. "He only came over here to make sure you were okay. Pointless. Let's walk. You need air."

"Great." I stand up slowly. I'm a little wobbly- at least I want to believe that. I hold out my arm. "Care to escort?"

He doesn't say anything. He hooks his arm with mine, and steers me out. We take the repeated path of last year. He lets go, and we walk slowly, side by side.

"What was so pointless about the bartender checking up on me?" I question.

"You don't need it. He doesn't see what you don't see."

"What is that?"

"The reason you were followed, the reason they fear you. You're powerful! That's what you are not seeing! You bring out their worst fears. You can do something they cannot. Your unpaid suspension is proof. You pulled a fast one which gave you a victory over their suspicions."

"And if I worked hard to be where I am, they should know that I'm not going anywhere, and I have nothing to hide—well mostly. Thank you for breaking me of my misery. I don't need to worry about their scrutiny anymore."

He just shakes his head. "Keep your eyes on the papers, things are only going to get worse for you."

"I know, but when has it ever been easy for me? Actually don't answer that. I don't want to change the direction your words have steered me in."

"I'll just sit back and watch you self destruct."

I shake my head this time. "No matter how many times I fall down, I always get back up. I just needed a hand this time, one that wasn't shoving me down, but actually lifting me up."

I just cant believe it is him.

Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas!