A/N: Hello Everyone. Thank you all who are still adding me to their faves and alerts. Thank you too to everyone who took the time to leave me reviews. I loved them all. Good or bad. Take Care everyone, and as always, please Read and Review.

Special thanks to Kristine Thorne, my wonderful Beta. You have done an awesome job on this for me and I appreciate it.

Chapter 10

Hermione woke Christmas morning, stretching as she thought over the few days prior to today. She had been busy with her lessons with Snape. Teaching him wandless magic and silent spells while he tried to teach her Legilimency.

Each progressing a little each time. She sometimes was able to scan his thoughts he allowed her to see. He sometimes was able to float things with only his hand but no major spells yet. He even had been able to do a few spells silently, but with his wand.

Hermione had gone to Minerva several days ago and asked the woman if she could go shopping in Diagon Alley. Minerva had raised a brow at her and asked why. When Hermione explained that she wanted to do some Christmas shopping for her friends, Minerva had smiled and said she would speak to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore had called her to his office that very same day. Inside he had told her that Minerva had told him of Hermione's request and given her permission to go with an escort.

Hermione had thanked him and he had surprised her by handing her a small purse. Hermione had a little money that Dumbledore had given her earlier for any trips to Hogsmead. But now with the purse she had more than she'd need for the rest of the year.

Hermione had tried to say that she didn't need the extra purse, but Dumbledore wouldn't hear of it. Saying he didn't want her to worry about such trivial things as currency while she was here. She had enough on her plate already.

Hermione had taken it, but vowed to make sure she paid the school back when she got home. She didn't ever think in terms of if, she knew she would get home and that was all there was too it.

While talking to Dumbledore, he had cocked his head and asked her a question. "Are you planning on talking to me about your large friend any time soon?"

Hermione had blushed, knowing he knew about her seeing Hagrid on the grounds. Hermione had proceeded to explain about the Hagrid she knew of in the future. A man that Dumbledore trusted to do anything he asked. A game keeper that later becomes a professor of magical creatures. A man she called a very dear friend.

"I've known Hagrid for a very long time. He was a student here back when…" He trailed off.

Hermione swallowed. "When Tom Riddle was a student."

Dumbledore smiled at her. "I see you already know this story."

Hermione nodded. "Yes sir. Hagrid didn't do what everyone thought he did back then sir."

Dumbledore looked at her, assessing her. "How would you know this my dear?"

Hermione smiled. "You told me sir. Years from now. I was only a second year student, but you shared much with me and…my friends."

Dumbledore couldn't resist so he took a quick peak and saw much about her second year. Many things surprising him, especially at seeing three students do so much while so young. He knew there would be much work and sadness ahead of them, but knowing they won in the end was all that mattered. He knew too that he would do whatever he could to aid those same future students be successful in their ventures to save them all.

"My dear, I see what you mean about Hagrid. I had been thinking about bringing him on to do things here at the castle. He was a good student who didn't deserve what happened to him. Seeing what he means not only to you, but to this school, I'll have to bring him by for a chat." Dumbledore had told her.

Hermione had beamed, thanking the Headmaster before leaving his office. She had gone to see Minerva and told the woman that she could go, but with an escort. Minerva had smiled and told her to go grab her coat.

Skipping happily to her dorm room, she had run into Snape. Giving him a smile, she walked with him to her rooms before telling him that she had to go. Telling him to meet her later in the Room of Requirement to have another teaching session.

He had nodded, curious as to why she was so happy. But when he asked, she had shrugged saying that it was simply that Christmas was so very close. It made him smile slightly at her enthusiasm.

Made him realize that he had no idea what she might like for Christmas too. When he left her at her door, he went about trying to think on his new problem. Deciding to make a trip into Hogsmead to see what he might find for her. He didn't have much to spend, but he would find her something.

Hermione had gotten her coat and all but run back to Minerva's office. Once inside, the older woman had smiled at seeing Hermione's happiness. She knew the girl had suffered much in her life while helping save all of them. Seeing her so happy warmed the older woman.

They floo'd to Diagon Alley where Hermione went from one store to the next searching for gifts for her friends. For James and Sirius she found a kit to help keep their brooms maintained and looking good.

For Lily, she remembered that Harry had told her once that Lily had a fondness for little trinkets. She had collected some kind of glass figurines so she looked until she found what she was looking for. She didn't know what they were called but she knew she would know them when she saw them. She knew they were figurines from classic childhood books. Cinderella, Snow White, and so on.

Next came Remus. He was hard to shop for, but knowing his fondness of chocolate. She bought him a huge chunk of the sweetest Belgian chocolate she could find. She knew he would love it.

She knew she had to do something for Peter so the others wouldn't get suspicious, so she got him a small selection of candies that she remembered him eating and liking as Ron's rat. She didn't want to, but she couldn't tell them of her distrust and dislike of the slimy git.

She waited until Minerva was busy doing a bit of her own shopping and then got the older woman something. She even set it up that Dumbledore would get a small package of muggle candies each month for a year, the first one delivered by her personally. She knew he loved muggle candies as much as he did wizard candy.

For Hagrid she got him a book on dragons and other magical creatures that she knew he would love. It would help him start to learn more for when he became a professor later on.

Last was Severus. She paused, wondering what to get him. She didn't know what all he liked. He was a very private person when she knew him as her professor. Now…she still wasn't really all that sure on what he'd like.

Then she smiled. She knew what to get him. Harry had told her of his love for books and she had seen this as well. She knew he loved potions and gardening herbs. So it was obvious.

She went with Minerva to Flourish and Blotts. She scanned over several books, then went to the rare book section. Her hands itched to simply start loading them up in her arms. She knew that she could have bought tons of them with the pouch of money Dumbledore gave her. But knew too that she couldn't do that. She didn't even know if she could take anything with her back to her time.

Scanning the titles of several books and forcing her own desires away. She found one that she swore she had seen before. She racked her brain as she tried to remember why this one was familiar to her.

Then, it clicked in her mind. She had seen this exact one on his desk at school. She had seen him reading through it several times when they were doing their potions. Had seen him reading it several times when they were in the middle of testing. He had to like this book to have read it so many times.

She picked it up, seeing the cost she winced, but knew she would buy it anyway. She carried it up and paid for it. She knew that with her respect for books, she hated to write in any book but wanted to personalize this one for him.

She asked the clerk if there was any way to add a written note that could be removed via magic if she needed to. The clerk had smiled and shown her labels that could be removed with nothing more than a simple spell without ruining or damaging the pages in a book. She had bought one of those too. Using a quill to write a note on the label before it was wrapped up.

All of her purchases wrapped and in her pocket, she and Minerva headed back to the castle. Hermione thanked the woman and went back to her rooms. She bundled the boys' packages together since they were at James' house together. Then went and sent them all to her friends via owl. She even sent Peter his present, though she really wanted to jinx the candies before sending them. But she refrained. She sent Lily's and then Hagrid's present last.

She had debated calling to an elf to let them deliver Snape's present along with his other ones on Christmas morning, or to give to him herself. She smiled and decided to give it to him herself. So she just hid his present in her trunk and charmed it to not open for anyone but her. She called an elf to deliver Dumbledore's and Minerva's present on Christmas morning.

Now it was Christmas morning. She sat up and stretched. She found a small pile of packages at the foot of her bed. She smiled and dug into them.

All her friends sent her something. Each one special since she hadn't expected it. Even Peter sent her a small stash of wizard candy. Which she simply tossed out without eating. She didn't know if he would have done anything to it.

With as much time as he was gone, she knew he was a Death Eater already. So she wasn't taking a chance of him doing something to her. So far he didn't know she was muggle born. At least she didn't think he did. She hadn't told anyone but Dumbledore and Minerva.

She found a small package from Dumbledore and smiled. Dumbledore gave her a book that was one of Hermione's favorites. A muggle story she had read many times. A Midsummer Night's Dream.

She normally read it at least a few times a year and didn't have a copy of it here. Minerva sent her a silver necklace with a small pendant made of amethyst wrapped in silver wire. Amethysts were her favorite stone.

She was a bit perplexed how they knew what she liked. But then remembered that Dumbledore had been able to see past her walls. He must have scanned her memories, and seen a few things about her. He probably told Minerva what Hermione liked.

She grabbed some parchment and wrote out small notes to all of her friends, her two professors as well. Thanking them for the wonderful presents. She even sent Peter a small but brief note thanking him for the candy. She was frowning as she wrote this one out. She didn't want to be rude, but she couldn't find it in herself to be overly friendly either.

When she was done, she dressed in a long jean skirt that came to her calves and lightweight deep blue sweater that she thought looked very good on her, and slipped on her leather boots that came to just below her knees to keep her feet warm. She slipped on her pendant and spritzed on her perfume. She pulled her hair up away from her face in small clip and used a small makeup charm.

Then, she ran to the owlery and sent all the notes off. She had given notes of thanks to an elf to deliver to Dumbledore and Minerva.

She had taken Snape's present and put it in her bag that she always carried. With everything ready, she made her way down to breakfast. Not many students stayed for Christmas but they still kept the separate house tables.

Hermione took this time as she ate to practice scanning different student's thoughts. Sometimes it worked, but sometimes it didn't. She wasn't good enough at it yet to fully clear her mind before trying to enter someone elses.

Snape watched her staring at different students and took a peek of his own in her mind. He realized what she was trying to do and smirked. With trying to focus on other's thoughts, she left her own open. Plus, with her focus on others she didn't feel him probing her mind.

He didn't do more than a surface scan so he didn't see any memories, only thoughts. He knew she might be upset that he even did that much since she liked keeping her mind private. So he didn't push his luck. She might hex him otherwise and he knew of her skills with a wand and without one.

He saw her glance his way and smile before returning to her breakfast. Chatting with a few remaining students at her house table. He saw her staring intently at them while the few students in her house talked back and forth with her and the others in her group and knew she was trying to scan their thoughts too.

After a bit, he saw her meet his eyes again. She motioned her head to the door before smiling to the others at her table and saying goodbye. She got up and met his gaze and motioned to the door again, so he put down his napkin and stood. He was done eating anyway so he didn't mind.

She walked out and he found her waiting just outside the Great Hall. She took his arm and led him outside. It wasn't that cold so the sweater she was wearing and his long coat he always wore were more than enough to keep them warm.

She didn't say anything as they walked, which was fine with him. He found she talked a lot at times, so he enjoyed the quiet when she gave it to him.

She led them down to the lake and took a seat on top of one of the smooth boulders. He joined her and waited for her to speak.

She looked at him, blushing a bit. "I wanted to wish you a Happy Christmas. I got something for you."

He was surprised since he hadn't expected her to and watched as she reached into her bag. She pulled out a gaily wrapped present and handed it to him. Seeing she expected him to open it now, he slowly ripped open the package.

She held her breath, waiting to see if he liked it. She knew that just because he liked the book later didn't mean he'd like it now in his younger days.

Seeing a book, he turned it over to scan the title and inhaled sharply. He had always wanted to read this book but never thought he'd ever own a copy of his own. It was rare to find this book even in print anymore. His eyes met hers.

"How did you find this? How did you know I wanted this?" He asked still surprised.

She grinned at him. "I just saw it and thought of you. Do you like it?" She knew he did, she had never seen him look so happy over anything. Glad to have remembered about it when she did.

He nodded. "Yes, I've always wanted to read it. It must have cost you a fortune Hermione, you didn't have to do this for me."

She blushed again. "It wasn't that expensive. I found a good deal on it. Besides I wanted to. I wanted you to have something to remember me by later in life." The book had been expensive, but the lie had been easy with how much she wanted to give it to him.

He didn't want to think about her possibly leaving. He couldn't imagine her not in his life somehow. "I doubt I'll need a book to remember you."

He opened the top cover and saw she had written something inside.

'To my dear friend Severus Snape.

May this help you find the knowledge you seek and help you go on to do something great. I know you will do many wonderful and inspiring things in your life. Always remember that no matter what, you are a great man inside. Even if no one else knows how truly wonderful you are.

Your friend always,

Hermione.'

He met her eyes again. She called me a great man. He didn't think he was all that great, but her faith in him astounded him. "Thank you Hermione." He didn't know how to tell her what this meant to him. He had never been good with words.

He wanted her to understand, so he did the only thing he could think of. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He brushed his lips against hers gently, letting what he felt pour into the kiss.

She closed her eyes and moved her lips with his. She didn't think about whether this was right or wrong. She didn't think about the possible consequences. She didn't think period. She couldn't think even if she wanted to.

He brushed his tongue over hers, still keeping it slow and sweet. She slipped her arms around his neck lightly and let her body naturally sway towards him. One of his arms coming to hold her close against him as his other hand cupped her cheek.

When he pulled back, he met her gaze as her scent surrounded him. The light scent tickling his nose as he breathed her in. Seeing her chocolate eyes slightly glazed he bit back a smile.

He let her go slowly. Let her ease away from him before he let his desire to take more make him lose control and forget that they weren't ready for that yet. He knew that she at least wasn't.

Hermione swallowed and blushed as her thought processes slowly returned to her. She had kissed him again and it had been nice. She really needed to think about this, but found at that moment she just couldn't.

His hand reached up and lightly stroked her cheek. "You are a very beautiful person Hermione. Inside and out. I don't know what I did to deserve you as my friend. But I'm glad I did it." Surprised with himself at finding what he actually wanted to say that told her what he was feeling. He always had trouble before.

Hermione looked away as she blushed even more. She didn't want him to see the sudden sadness that filled her with his words. She knew what he had done to deserve her friendship. He had died for them. For all of them. She just wasn't sure she deserved him as a friend.

He let her have a moment, sensing she needed it. Then, he reached into his own pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. It wasn't wrapped but he still wanted her to have it.

He saw her swallow again before meeting his eyes and giving him a small smile. "Hermione…Happy Christmas." He said and handed her the small box.

Hermione's eyes grew wide. "You didn't have to…"

But he cut her off. "No. But I wanted to. Open it. Please." He added softly.

She looked down at the box in her hand and slowly lifted the lid. She gasped at what was inside. A small silver ring with a tiny garnet set in it to match her house color. She met his eyes. "Snape…thank you. Its…its so beautiful."

He looked at her quizzically. "Why do you never use my first name?" He asked quietly.

She smiled softly. "I…I didn't think I should…you know…unless you said I could." It was true. She wouldn't have dared use his given name when she was younger, he would have hexed the hell out of her. Even now she didn't dare for what his future self would do to her.

He smiled at her, thinking once again that he had never met anyone like her. She was odd and he found he liked it. "If that is your only reason…then I'm saying you can. You may call me what you wish."

Her smile deepened and a small flush graced her cheeks. "Thank you…Severus. The ring is wonderful and I love it."

She went to slip on her right hand, but he stopped her. She met his eyes, not understanding. When he flipped it over for her to see inside the band.

She looked and saw the tiny engraving. 'Hermione + Severus.' With their long names it took up the whole inside of the band. Knew that magic was the only reason the engraving fit at all. She knew it would always make her think of him after she returned. Think of her time with him here. She felt tears sting her eyes at the thought of what lay ahead of her with her return, but forced them away.

"Thank you. It's more than I ever expected and I'll treasure it forever." She leaned in and softly touched his lips with hers, her hand cupping his cheek. She kept it soft and sweet. She didn't deepen it and neither did he.

They spent the day walking the grounds and talking. When the wind picked up and it got too chilly they went inside and together went to the Room of Requirement. The room gave them a homey little area with a sofa and a few chairs.

They sat together on the sofa and when she asked, he started to read to her from the book she gave him. She saw instantly why he loved it so much.

She stretched out to get comfortable and listened. After a while, he lifted her feet onto his lap so she would be even more comfortable as he continued reading.

It wasn't until much later, after dinner in the Great Hall, that she was lying in bed and about to fall asleep that she remembered something. Hermione had seen Severus' memories during the battle with Harry.

Harry had seen his love of Lily and Hermione had seen it too. She looked down at the ring on her right hand. She remembered seeing that he had bought Lily a ring this year and tried to give it to her. Only Lily hadn't been able to accept it.

It had crushed him.

Now, instead of giving Lily the ring, he had given it to Hermione. She was already changing things unintentionally. She feared what that might mean for them in the future.

A/N: Okay everyone, I hope you liked the new chapter. I know several of ya'll were wondering why she still called him Snape, so I hope this answers that for you. Personally, I really liked the inscription on the book she gave him. Take care everyone and please leave me your thoughts on this chapter.