I own nothing! Just playing in J. K. Rowling's amazing universe!

Hermione's POV
Hermione was more stressed than ever. Christmas was closing in, and with it, came exams in potions and charms. She was scheduled to take her exams the week before the Christmas holidays started, and that only left her with one week left to study. She was extremely nervous. Both her professors kept saying she would have no problem taking the exams, but Hermione's natural phobia for failing overruled both professors' words.

She just about lived in the library these days, only leaving to go to class, sleep or eat. She even ate with her nose in a book. In the evening she was exhausted, and crashed into bed, instantly falling asleep.

She hadn't visited Professor Snape in what felt like forever. She didn't have the time. She hadn't written in the book either, not having anything new to share. She only saw him in class, and it was weird. She felt so natural around him after spending time with him. It was hard to not make a joke, or chat casually with him in class. The other students would faint with shock if she did. She laughed as she pictured the situation. "Good morning, Professor! Coming to give me silly criticism we all know is bullshit, eh? Indeed. Oh, by the way, I will stop by your chambers later to chat. And I would just love to borrow that book we talked about the other night. Alright then, see you later, Snapy." The whole class would drop dead. And then the world would probably end.

It seemed like he felt some of the same that she did. He didn't snap at her that often, and he actually gave her compliments. That is, compliments in a very Snape-like manner. Glancing down at her obviously perfectly brewed potion, he would give her an extremely bored look, and say something like; "Adequate, Miss Granger. Of course I would expect nothing less from a NEWTS student." Then he would give her another look of utter boredom, and walk away. Since she knew the potions he was making her brew were usually more advanced than NEWT level, she took this as a backhanded compliment. Whenever she received them she would beam at him while thanking him. He would sometimes roll his eyes at her before walking away.

She was sitting in the library as usual when she heard someone enter, and steps coming in her direction. She had decided to take a break, and was now sitting in the windowsill, playing with a light orb. When she heard the steps closing in, she closed her hands around the orb, waiting to see if the person would come to where she was sitting. The steps stopped a few shelves away from her, and she relaxed. She opened her hands to play with the orb again, and instantly the orb took off, and zipped away towards the place she had heard the steps. Oh no. She tried to snap her fingers to recall the orb, but nothing happened. Oh no! She pondered what to do. She could just pretend she didn't know anything about it of course, and just wait. She decided to do just that. Leaning back in the windowsill, she waited nervously. Then she heard shuffling, and the steps took off towards her again. It sounded like angry steps this time. She froze.

Appearing from behind a book shelf, she saw the owner of the angry steps. Professor Snape. He looked furious, and she was shocked to see the reason why. The light orb had zipped over to him and split in to dozens of tiny orbs that were currently resting in the Professor's hair. They were nicely settled all over his head, and his hair shone. She realized that his hair was in fact not greasy. The orbs reflected on his hair like it was silk. It was beautiful. He is beautiful. She slapped her hand over her mouth, from the shock of both seeing him like this, and the thought she just had. She almost wanted to laugh for a moment, but remembering the last time she had laughed at him, the laughter inside her died out instantly.

"Is this your attempt on a joke, Miss Granger? Because I do not find it even remotely amusing." She widened her eyes. "No sir, definitely not sir! They flew over to you on their own! I didn't send them!" He rolled his eyes. "Do recall them, Miss Granger. I know it's almost Christmas, but I have no desire to walk around looking like a Christmas ornament!" He seemed like he had lost the edge of his anger and she relaxed a bit. She talked to the orbs. "Please stop tormenting my dear professor and come back" the orbs moved a little, but made no attempt to return. She let out a small laugh. "I think they like you, Professor. Maybe you should try sending them back?" Professor Snape was looking at her with a shocked expression, but recovered quickly and rolled his eyes. "Gods! Please go away!" The orbs instantly left his hair, and flew back to Hermione. They landed in her hand, and she snapped her fingers. The lights disappeared. She looked up at Snape, really nervous now. He gave her a piercing, black look, and she winced. "I am sure you can make an educated guess on to what I am about to say Miss Granger." She could. Answering him in a small voice, she said; "Never mention this to anyone?" "Correct Miss Granger." He started to turn around to leave, before hesitating for a second. Looking over his shoulder, he gave her a look she couldn't decipher. "Do try to avoid killing yourself with your studying Miss Granger. Your pretend-eating during meals with your face virtually glued in a book aren't fooling anyone." And with that, he turned around and swept out of the library. She just sat there, staring at the place he had occupied just moments before. Was that just Professor Snape expressing worry for me? He watches me during meals? She sat up. Well, stranger things have happened. She thought about it for a second. No, stranger things have not happened. She decided to listen to her professor and take an early night, so she left the library to get to bed.

Severus' POV
Severus was sitting at his desk in his chambers, thinking about the day's events. He rolled his eyes when remembering the event in the library. He remembered Hermione's reaction and her words; "Please stop tormenting my dear professor and come back" My dear professor, she had called him. He was dear to her? No one had ever called him dear anything before. Severus Snape, everyone's dear professor. Of course she couldn't have meant it like that.

"I think they like you, Professor." He almost had to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. The light orbs liked him. Yes indeed. That's great. Just what I needed. New friends in the shape of light orbs. He looked at the miniature statue of him. "Oh don't give me that look. You, being me, should see the irony of the situation. Former death eater, master of the Dark Arts since age 16, and lights like me. That is truly ironic. And now I'm talking to a statue. I am really going insane aren't I?" He sighed heavily, and left his desk to get ready to go to sleep.

Hermione's POV
The week went by in a flash; Hermione was sitting in her bed, going over her notes one last time before leaving the dormitory. Her potions exam was starting in in thirty minutes, and her nerves were frayed. She was happy that it was Friday, because then she could sleep in tomorrow. She had gotten up early, not able to sleep anymore. She was now dressed and had everything in order. Her head knew she was ready to take the exam, but her feelings had no idea. So she was panicking. Suddenly she heard shuffling of parchment in her bag, and she picked it up and opened it to look. It was the notebook Professor Snape had given her. Words started appearing on the page.

Calm down, Miss Granger. I can almost feel your panic down in the dungeons.

She had to laugh. As usual, he pinpointed her mood. She wrote back.

Sorry sir. I was not aware that you of all people could feel panic.

The reply came instantly.

Ha ha, Miss Granger. Feeling brave enough to make jokes at a former Death Eater are we? In comparison a potions exam should be hardly a challenge at all.

She felt mixed with laughter and panic at this. I shouldn't make jokes at him, should I? Before she could write a reply, his spikey handwriting appeared again.

Though, I do prefer you sending panic over light orbs. The school is already nauseatingly overfilled with Christmas ornaments, and I'm not particularly fond of any of it.

Before she could answer, he wrote again.

Neither do I wish to look like one.

Now, Miss Granger, gather that famous Gryffindor courage of yours and come take your exam.

This time she laughed. She actually loved his dark and sarcastic humor, having much of it herself. Her friends rarely got her jokes, and she had just given up making subtle jokes altogether. Professor Snape on the other hand got all her jokes. Not that he laughed much, but she could see him smirking at times from the subtle points of her jokes. It was truly liberating. She wrote him back.

I'm sorry to hear that sir. Well, I guess I have to change your Christmas present then. Or maybe you secretly like tiny, cheerful Christmas trees? That may or may not sing joy to the world non-stop?

She couldn't help herself from writing it. She had no idea how he would respond. But he had started the subject of Christmas, and she wasn't being rude, so she went for it. She had thought about the idea of getting him a Christmas present, but wasn't sure if he would accept it. Not getting a reply, she got up to put on her shoes and leave. Just when she finished putting her shoes on, she could hear the notebook again.

I do not either secretly, nor publicly enjoy singing Christmas trees. Especially cheerful ones. Not having seen a depressed Christmas tree, I cannot tell you how I would feel about one. I suggest you revisit your Christmas present-list. I am sure you have one. Now stop postponing the inevitable, and come down and take your exam.

She responded right away.

Yes sir! I am on my way!

Walking down towards the dungeons, she suddenly realized something. He wants a Christmas present! He just told me in not so many words! A wry smile appeared on her face. How very Slytherin of him. What in the world should I give him? With this on her mind, she entered the potions classroom and settled down to take her exam.

Severus' POV
Severus was sitting at the desk in the potions classroom, watching the girl, whom at this moment was furiously writing on a parchment. From looking like she was going to her execution when she entered the room, she was now relaxed and focused. She was done with the practical part of the exam, and of course she didn't make a single mistake. He had even given her an extra credit potion that would not count if she failed to produce it. The potion was one of the potions often used on the Potion Master exam. She had managed it without mistakes, making an almost perfect potion. She had actually looked devastated at almost perfect part, but then again, he hadn't told her it was a Potion Master level potion. He would tell her later.

He thought back to this morning, when he had decided to write to her. He strongly suspected she was in the state of full-blown panic, and felt like reminding her she had no need to be. Their conversation had amused him, and he had laughed when he read about the Christmas tree that 'may or may not sing joy to the world' He had felt foolish when he told her to revisit her Christmas list. He realized that he had just stated to her that he wanted a Christmas present. He was originally planning to write something about him not liking cheerful Christmas trees or presents, and to not give him one. But he couldn't help himself. This young woman kept surprising him, and it intrigued him. He knew he was facing another slow Christmas alone, and he was tired of it. I wonder what she is doing for Christmas, he thought, before shaking it off. She would probably go to be with her family, or at the burrows with all the red-headed dunderheads.

Looking at the time, he gazed at her. "Twenty minutes to go, Miss Granger." He could see slight panic in her eyes before she relaxed and gave him a small smile. "Yes Professor, I will be done in time."

He sat back, opening the Daily Prophet. The disappearances had escalated quite rapidly, and it seemed like people were vanishing left and right. There had been a slight increase in mysterious deaths as well. Not good, he thought, as he turned a page.

Twenty minutes later he got up and looked at Hermione."Time's up Miss Granger!" She shuffled her papers, and got up to give them to him. She smiled. "I think it went well! I hope so at least!" He looked at her beaming at him, and couldn't help the small smile he sent in return. "I'm sure it did Miss Granger." She looked at him, smile fading slightly. "I'm not your student anymore." He looked perplexed. "You have a knack for stating the obvious Miss Granger." She looked a bit unsure before looking at him again. "Can I still come visit you? Even though I'm not your apprentice yet?" He was taken aback. She wanted to come visit him? He rolled his eyes at her. "Like I could stop you, Miss Granger. You are a force of nature all on your own." Her face lit up. "Thank you, Professor! Thank you for everything!" And then she surprised him again. She threw her arms around him and hugged him. He didn't even have time to react before she released him, and smiled. "Have a nice day Professor Snape!" And then she skipped out of the classroom. Severus stood frozen in place for a few seconds, before he shook his head and went into his office.

Sitting at his desk, looking at her perfect-score exam, a thought suddenly hit him. I told her to get me a Christmas present. And not being a dunderhead, she has realized this. Which means I am expected to give her one. He put his head in his hands. Gods. Though, she is probably more likely to expect me not to get her one, knowing me as well as she does. He sighed. I will just have to get her one then, won't I?