I'm sorry for the lack of updates lately, but my life is VERY busy. I hope I'll get some more writing done soon. Today is my birthday, so please be nice when you review! LOL


When everybody was full to the top with the most delicious food, Minerva decided that it was time for presents

When everybody was filled to the brim with the most delicious food, Minerva decided that it was time for presents.

"Why don't we sit down in the living room and admire our wonderful Christmas tree?"

"Ah, Minerva, I think you just want to see your Christmas gifts now."

"Yes, Albus, you're right of course. I can't wait to see you give me another scratching post or the newest assortment of Weasley products."

The old man tried very much to look as hurt as possible. "Minerva, one might think you didn't like my presents."

"Oh Albus, you didn't, did you?!" Hermione covered her mouth with her hand laughing until tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped them away very quickly upon seeing her mentors' look.

"Of course, he did!" The older woman's voice sounded much higher than usual as she lead the way to the living room.

Albus sat contently in front of the tree, pulling his wife down with him. "Look at it."

"It is lovely, Albus." Minerva rested her head on her husbands shoulder, enjoying the sight of the tree.

"It is, my love. It is. But it is not perfect. Somehow I feel that there is something missing." He looked at the tree like someone who would stand in front of a modern art painting trying to figure out what it meant, when Hermione's voice brought him back. "That is because something is indeed missing."

Minerva turned to look at her student. "It is? What?"

"The presents." The young woman was suddenly very unsure if her professors were making fun of her, but the look on Albus' face told her that he really had forgotten this particular issue.

"Oh yes, of course! Accio presents!" With a wave of his wand several beautifully wrapped parcels found their way beneath the tree.

Minerva got up and quickly rearranged them to her liking and, with a satisfied nod of her head she said, "That looks much better."

"Shall we start, then?" Seeing all the nice presets, Hermione became very excited, though she was trying very hard not to let it show.

"I'm not in the right mood yet. If you allow me, I'd ask our dear Hermione to sing a Christmas song for us first. She has a wonderful singing voice."

"Pardon!?" Hermione hoped so dearly she had misunderstood what Albus just said. She hated to embarrass herself in front of her professors, but as soon as she saw Minerva's face fill with so much hope and joy she knew she would do it.

"Oh that would be so lovely. Would you sing something for us?" The older woman smiled at her in a way Hermione had never seen before.

"But I can't… I mean, I never…" She was at a loss for words, unable to find a good excuse to refuse what was asked of her.

Minerva and Albus looked at her with such puppy dog eyes that she finally gave in.

She knew when she was defeated. "What song?"

"Do you know 'Silent night'?" Minerva asked shyly.

Hermione nodded and with a slight wave of the headmaster's wand, the piano began to play

"Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin mother and child

Holy infant so tender and mild…."

Though the young woman was nervous about singing before her professors, she knew it was worth it when she saw Minerva cuddled up in the arms of her husband, eyes closed and absolutely relaxed. That moment she looked much younger than Hermione had ever seen her, and even Albus seemed to lose years while he listened to his student, a peaceful expression on his face.

When Hermione finished her song, no one spoke or moved for a while, knowing that even the slightest of movements would break the spell of the moment.

It was Fawkes who finally decided that he had no patience left and he ruffled his feathers in annoyance.

"Oh all right, my old friend. We will start now. Thank you very much my dear. It was lovely."

Minerva couldn't find any words to complete the moment, so she simply stood up and drew her student into a warm embrace. As Hermione relaxed in the older woman's arms, she whispered a soft "You are welcome," into Minerva's ear.

After they parted, Hermione lead her mentor to the big couch again and picked up a very nice looking gift and handed it to her mentor. "This is for you. Merry Christmas."

Minerva turned it in her hands a few times, before she started to unwrap it. "A book?"

"Open it and you will see!" The young woman said encouragingly.

"A scrapbook! Oh Hermione, it is beautiful!" The older woman carefully opened the red and gold book and was greeted by a wonderful photo of her and Albus dancing at the Yuleball. "Aww, look at that, Albus."

"Mhmm. I look quite handsome, eh?!"

She gave him one of those looks that told him a compliment was in order.

"Not as beautiful as my lovely wife, of course." Minerva blushed a nice shade of pink and placed a small kiss on her husband's cheek.

"Let's look through that later, please. I am excited to see what our Hermione has for me."

"Albus!!" Minerva was shocked how rude her husband could be.

Hermione, on the other hand, was highly amused and bent down to grab the headmaster's present. "I hope you like it. It is not easy to find a present for you, you know!"

Albus loved presents and he was very happy that the gift from his young student didn't look like a book. It was beyond his understanding why everybody gave him books. He unwrapped the gift in excitement and beamed with joy when he held his new camera in his hands. "I lost my camera ages ago! Thank you so much my dear. It is a wonderful gift for an old man such as myself."

There was no doubt that he really was happy, because he took his first set of photos right there and then, annoying his wife who thought that she never looked good in a picture.

"That is quite enough Albus! I want to give our Hermione her gift." She said and gave her youthful student a beautifully wrapped parcel. The young girl took it like she was given something very precious, even without knowing what it was. When she opened it, she knew this was more precious to her than all the money in the world.

"I'm sorry, but as your visit surprised me I didn't have the chance to get you something new. Albus suggested that I give you something that once belonged to me." She didn't look very comfortable giving Hermione something she didn't buy.

The young girl stared in amazement at a whole pile of advanced transfiguration books and a beautiful green scarf that Hermione had seen Minerva wear not so long ago. She placed the scarf around her shoulder, and when she carefully opened one of the books, she was greeted by her mentor's familiar handwriting.

"These are my old college books. They are full of comments and I hope they will do you some good." The old woman could barely finish her sentence when Hermione engulfed her in a bone crushing hug. "Thank you, Minerva. Thank you so very, very much. I can't tell you how happy I am. I have never received a present like this."

"You mean nobody ever gave you old books?" the older woman chuckled. Hearing that, the young girl let go of her mentor and took her hands to make sure she had the older woman's full attention.

"These are not just old books. They are special, because they belong to you and I am so grateful you gave them to me." Minerva saw the seriousness in Hermione's eyes and pulled her back in her arms to prevent the young woman from seeing her teary eyes. "You are more than welcome, my darling."

Albus watched the scene fondly and took another photo of the two ladies hugging. He knew that picture would find a place on the mantelpiece.