A/N: Christmas already! I skipped 2 months, but Christmas is important. Looking at 6 more chapters for OOTP before it moves into HBP, which is the end. BTW, in this AU Zachary and Rial were born in 1979. They are 2 months older than Hermione who is a year older than Ron and Harry in canon. I love this chapter, some quality friendship/mentor between Severus and Rial.

Chapter Sixteen- The Holidays Begin

Before Rial knew it, the winter holidays had arrived. He spent the morning packing his trunk, making sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Smiling at the black and silver trunk he'd bought last year he stared at it in contemplation. He wanted to change its appearance; there were far too many plain black and silver trunks amongst the students. Tracing the silver edge he thought about it, debating what image he wanted.

Suddenly he smiled. He knew the perfect image. Pointing his wand at the trunk he began to murmur a series of incantations, watching as the trunk glowed blue. The colour grew too bright to see through and with a sudden snap, it faded away. Rial lovingly traced the image and grinned as he tried to imagine his father's reaction.

Curled around the trunk was a silver, white and pale green snake. On the lid in the open space between the coils was a faintly outlined image. It took a moment of staring through the echoes of shadows and light to see the large Grim prowling in the viewer's direction. The spell Rial had used gave the Grim a lifelike appearance; the huge animal looked ready to walk right off the trunk.

He turned to the Firebolt sitting on his bed and carefully shrunk it before placing it inside. Schoolbooks and his own tomes were placed in next. Unbreakable and sealing charms were placed on the ink and liquid items before they were shrunk and clustered in a corner. Parchment was placed inside one of his large books to keep it flat. Standing, he flicked his wand at his clothes and they shot out of the dresser, folding them neatly before landing in his trunk. The last thing was his school robes, which he folded by hand before placing on the top of the trunk.

Tracing the Slytherin crest he smiled in happiness. He couldn't imagine what things might have changed had he been placed in Gryffindor. He might have never met his father or befriended Draco and the others. He wouldn't have be able to get to know the snarky but caring soul that was Severus Snape, though the man would probably snort in derision if he said so. He would never have escaped from James Potters' manipulations or Zachary's bullying.

Twisting one end of his now almost shoulder-length hair he considered the room, wanting to make sure he'd packed everything but his wand and the Mediator badge. His wand was ready for use in his wrist holster and the badge was pinned to the pocket of his emerald silk shirt. Looking around the room he finally decided that anything he missed would just have to be retrieved when he came back at the end of the hols.

Just to be sure he walked over to the dresser by his bed and opened the top drawer. Reaching up inside the drawer he found the small recess and pressed. A hidden compartment popped out of the top of the dresser. It was empty, which meant he'd already removed the Marauder's Map. Finally he decided he was ready for some late breakfast and pressed the compartment back into place.

He made his way through the dungeon halls at a leisurely pace, tracing his fingertips over the shadowed stone walls. He was at his most comfortable down here, away from the noise and light of the upper levels. There was a peace in the cool hallways and a certain serenity in the echoing halls. Tilting his head to the side he thought for a moment and diverted his path.

Reaching the closed door of Severus' private potions lab he gave a soft knock before pushing the door open. Sure enough, the onyx-eyed professor was working with multiple cauldrons, completely focused on his task. Rial smiled fondly and said, "Severus?"

Dark eyes met his and Severus' lips twisted into a small smile. "Finished packing for the holidays?"

"Just now," he affirmed, walking into the room. Unlike his classroom, Severus' lab was well-lit; even so the shadows lurked in the corners, flicking feebly at the many lanterns and overhead candle chandelier. Rial loved this room; the ingredients carefully organized in a glass-fronted cupboard, well-cared for and cleaned potions tools neatly hanging on the wall. Eyeing the different colours of smoke rising from the cauldrons he took a deep sniff and smelled peppermint, sage, lemongrass and the overwhelmingly sweet odor of lavender.

Severus watching him with an amused glint in dark eyes and said, "These are the potions for Poppy. It should restore her inventory until a couple of weeks after the term start again. Unfortunately the level of idiots in this school will drain her stores in the first few days."

"Would you like some help?" Rial asked.

Severus considered the potions he was working on and said after a long moment, "That would be appreciated, Rial. I have a spare pair of gloves hanging on the wall. If you recognize the potions, go ahead and name them. The ingredients list and where I am in the process will show up if you are correct."

Rial smirked at his favorite teacher. "Nothing like combining a bit of volunteer help with a quiz, hmm Sev?"

Severus smirked back without replying. Rial retrieved the spare pair of gloves and shrunk them a bit. They were made for Severus' adult hands with his long thin fingers and Rial's were a bit smaller. Once he'd slipped them on he walked over to the row of five potions. Looking at the first he sniffed slightly. Snickering at the amount of times he'd seen and taken this potion he murmured, "Numbing Potion."

The next was the color of mud and splashed quite far up the sides of the cauldron despite its thick texture. Considering the color and the consistency he said, "Skele-Grow."

The next two were correctly labeled as a Burn Potion and Pain-Reliever. The one Severus was working on he hadn't seen before, but he recognized the smell. Looking at the dark gray liquid he thought about it and sighed. "Anti-Cruciatus and I have a feeling this is headed to wherever you retreat for the hols, Professor."

Severus looked at him and smiled. "Correct on all, Rial. Well done, I think that deserves 25 points for Slytherin. And your suspicion on this is correct; I will take this with me to Spinner's End, the small home in a Muggle community where I resided as a child."

"Do you think your father will pop in on the holidays, sir?" Rial asked. He'd found Lucien Snape to be delightful company, just as clever and sarcastic as his son.

"Most likely, why do you ask?"

"I have something for him; I was going to ask if you'd mind giving it to him."

Severus smiled, "Not at all."

"Thank you! You'll have to wait for the one I bought you until you come to the Manor," Rial added teasingly.

Severus chuckled. After a moment he caught something odd in Rial's wording. "The one you bought for me?"

Rial snickered. This was too perfect. "Of course. I believe my father has a couple for you as well."

Looking out of the corner of his eye as he finished the Numbing Potion, Rial caught the faint hint of colour in Sev's cheeks. He resisted a soft laugh; it was fun to tease his Potions Professor, especially as his father tended to be somewhat oblivious at times. Hopefully over the holidays he could get the two to finally admit their feelings, along with some eager accomplices of course.

Between the two of them they finished the five potions in a little under an hour. They needed to simmer for a while so Severus cast a Monitoring Charm and they began to clean the stations. Rial removed the spare gloves when they were done and resized them before wiping with a soft cloth and hanging them.

Turning to Severus with a mock stern gaze he said with humour, "Now that we're done, knowing you like I do we should head up to the Great Hall for some late breakfast."

Severus ruefully laughed and raised his hands slightly in submission. "You caught me as usual, Rial. Come, you meddlesome brat," his tone was fond and held no malice.

Rial grinned at his professor and headed toward the door.

-D-N-S-D—

Severus shook his head and followed Rial out the door, stopping just beyond the lab to ward and lock it against intrusion. He set off along the corridors with the bright-eyed teen, smiling faintly. Looking at his companion he wondered how many people ever saw this side of Rial. Severus heard footsteps approaching and watched the emotions slide from Rial's face like water, leaving an expressionless, composed adult mask.

It was second nature to the teen and so flawlessly done that had Severus not seen the teen just moments before he'd have wondered if Rial ever so much as smiled. Looking up he grimaced. James Potter walked arrogantly down the halls toward them, dark hazel eyes filled with contempt. Not even paying attention to Rial the former Gryffindor looked at Severus and said, "A word, Snivellus?"

Severus gritted his teeth and said coolly, "Go ahead, Potter."

He looked pointedly at the teen standing quietly a paces off of his elbow and said, "Without the eavesdroppers."

Rial said in a flat, cold tone, "Eavesdroppers hang around corners and listen in, Professor. I'm an observer and as you constantly doubt my intelligence it should hardly be a problem for you to speak in front of me."

James' eyes narrowed and after a moment he said jerkily, "The Headmaster wished for me to inform you about the small party being held on the 27th. If you could be so kind as to inform the dog and his brother, Albus would appreciate it. Lupin as well, I suppose. Though he's hardly of any use to us."

"Due to your own actions, or are you not going to own up for the expansion of the Werewolf Edicts?" Rial's voice held venom.

Severus cut off James' reply. "I will do so. Now since I doubt you wish to hang around my slippery presence I will be heading up to the Great Hall. Enjoy your holidays with your precious Zachy."

Severus brushed past the Auror, motioning Rial to follow with a small flick of his wrist. Rial was fuming, but he hid it well. "Who is he to speak of my father and Remus that way? They have more power in their fingers than he does in his whole body!"

"Calm yourself, Rial," Severus said softly. Rial's green eyes hardened in response but he blew out a short, sharp breath and sighed.

"Yes sir. I seem to be unable to resist his comments. When are you coming to the Manor?"

"The 23rd," Severus replied. "I have a meeting with the Guild on the 21st. I believe that is when Lucius and Draco will be arriving as well. It was kind of your father to invite them; I know the holidays are still hard on Lucius."

"Because of Narcissa's death," Rial stated matter-of-factly. "Father told me that even though their marriage was arranged he was still fond of her. I know Draco was affected by his mother's death, he rarely mentions her. Hopefully Lucius' relationship with Remus Lupin will help."

Severus came to a total halt in the hallway. "His relationship with Lupin?" he sputtered. "He's seeing Remus Lupin? How do you know that?"

"Draco told me his father had opened the Manor to Remus and has been paying for his Wolfsbane, which he can't afford with the restrictions. Lucius Malfoy never does anything out of pure generosity and I remember him watching Remus last winter at the Yule Ball."

"Lucius Malfoy and Remus Lupin?" Severus shook his head. "If that doesn't blindside the pureblood society I don't know what will."

Rial snorted. "The purebloods have become uptight, conservative and mindless. They're so far behind the times that their own actions are going to be what eventually reveals our society, not the Muggleborns like Granger. Ones like Arthur Weasley are only going to hurry it along."

"That man and his tinkering," Severus sneered. "Did you ever see that enchanted car of his? The one he made fly of all things?"

"No, but I heard about it. That man should have been fired instead of given a Ministry hearing, but he's a buddy of James'."

"Your ancestors had the right of it when they disowned Cedrella for marrying that idiot Septimus Weasley over the Malfoy she was promised to."

Rial looked at him, smiled sardonically and said in a haughty tone, "We Blacks usually are the intelligent ones."

The teen pushed through the double doors and headed for the Slytherin table. Severus had to resist laughing at his comment, both for the truth and the incredible arrogance. Rial was both commending and making fun of his family with that tone and the teen knew it.

But it was the truth, he thought with a sigh. The only truly insane members of the Black family were Walburga and Bellatrix. Severus believed the latter was due to one too many Crucio's from her beloved master and her time in Azkaban. She was still there, but not for long according to the Dark Lord. Only Merlin knew what had driven Walburga insane in the end.

But enough with the reflections. It was time to play cynical, snarky Potions Master, a role Severus enjoyed all too much. Especially when he could remove that damn twinkle from Dumbledore's eyes in the process.

-D-N-S-D-

A/N: There! Forgive me? I'm sorry this took so long! I promise Draco comes back into things in the next chapter, Christmas! I wanted to show the fun and quirky side of Rial's relationship with Severus. I like the way it came out, Severus is fun to write.