Day 3:

Snape stared at his plate. He wasn't particularly hungry, but since someone had seemed to like sending during the meal, he knew that he needed to try to let the person see his reaction. He was slightly intimidated. He hated the feeling that he might not be making Harry happy. In fact, when the young man had arrived at breakfast that morning, he didn't even have the snakes with him. He hoped for the Snake's feelings, that Harry had at least opened the gift. The Snakes had been from a pet shop that treated animals that couldn't be released into the wild. They were too small to survive on their own in the wild, but perfectly healthy otherwise.

Snape sighed and placed his fork down, grabbing his goblet to get a sip of pumpkin juice. He took a look at Harry who was making conversation with Ron and Hermione. They seemed deep in conversation. He watched Harry smile and pat Ron on the back. The redhead blushed and looked at Hermione and shook his head. Whatever they were saying, the three were very interested in themselves. Snape looked around, just trying to not let anyone know he was watching one particular student. Harry whispered something in Ron's ear and stood up, walking out of the dining hall.

Ron and Hermione scooted closer together and Snape shook his head as Hermione nuzzled into Ron. Snape turned back to his food. He took his fork and took another bite. Owls had begun arriving and among his hopes, he still had fears of getting something from his secret santa, or anyone else for that matter. Though the day before had been a pleasant surprise. Maybe people were just joking with him for the first day. He had a history with students that wasn't exactly in the best light, so perhaps that was their way of getting back at him.

Snape watched an owl drop a paper wrapped gift with twine surrounding it and paused, looking up. People were watching him. Apparently word had gone around that he wasn't just receiving joke gifts anymore and people were interested in just who might have him. Even Snape wondered.

He snapped the twine and began opening the paper when he blanched, seeing what appeared to be one male straddling another. He coughed and turned it over, but not before Hagrid noticed. "Whatcha got?" He asked.

Snape shook his head. "Nothing. It's just another damn gag gift." Snape growled and shook his head.

Hagrid frowned and picked up the packaging which fell off revealing three male on male porn books. The look on Hagrid's face would have been priceless if it wasn't already obvious that the books were meant for Snape. He blushed furiously and shook his head. Students began giggling and pointing and whispering. It was far too much. Snape growled and looked across the hall. "I don't know who did this!" He said, waving towards the books Hagrid still held, curious and confused. "But DO NOT send me anymore gifts! None! I don't care about this 12 days of Christmas! I DO NOT WANT ANYMORE GIFTS! I GIVE UP!" Snape announced and turned and stormed out of the Hall.

Harry sat in his bed with a quill and parchment in hand. He didn't know what he wanted to write. He couldn't get the right words out. He wanted them to be meaningful, special, but he'd never told anyone his true feelings. He wasn't even sure where to begin. A while ago, he would have said that it was easy. He'd even gotten Ron and Hermione to tell each other when they had feelings for each other as soon as they knew. "Nothing will happen if you never say anything." He'd told them. Well, perhaps it was different for him. He did like an older man. He'd been finding himself thinking more and more about their professor as a potential lover once school let out, but he never truly had the guts to tell the man. Why would he? But perhaps this game Dumbledore had set up was perfect. He could let things out slowly and see if Snape reciprocated any feelings past the 12 days. And if not, Harry could always hide at his Aunt and Uncles for one Christmas at the very least.

Harry laughed at the thought and then groaned. He really wasn't sure if this was the smartest thing to do. All he knew was that he didn't want Snape to think he was completely hated. He'd given him today's gift yesterday. Now he had to come up with something new. And his something new was that he wanted to tell Snape 3 facts about how he felt about him. Even in secret, that gave Harry a little time to decide whether Snape would be happy or flip out by the idea of someone liking him as more than just a teacher or a member of the order. He wanted to let him know about his feelings.

Harry massaged circles into his forehead as he thought. Finally he placed the quill down:

'Three facts is my gift for you:

I like the way you can stand up to people and make them fear you. It makes you seem very in control of life and all things. I respect that and wouldn't mind gaining some of that control you have one day.

I like the way you smile, when you think nobody's looking, at a joke a Slytherin has said or because someone got a potion right. It's a little out of place sometimes on your face, but when it's there, it makes the room bright.

I like...'

"Harry, you won't believe what happened!" Ron said, jumping onto the bed beside Harry and looking at the parchment in his hand. He leaned over, trying to read what Harry was writing, when Harry pulled it away and put it in the drawer beside him.

"What happened?" Harry asked, ignoring his friend's disappointed look.

"Well, Snape got another gift."

"He did?" Harry asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Apparently someone thought it would be funny to send him some male nudes. Snape opened them and you should have seen the blush! He was so embarrassed! Anyways, Hagrid grabbed them and wasn't sure what they were depicting and held them up where everyone could see. It was so amusing! Well, Snape then yelled that no one should send him anymore gifts. Apparently he's done with this 12 days of Christmas. Too bad for him. I'm enjoying it."

Harry blanched at Ron's description of how Snape took it and frowned. "I don't think that's fair to him. Someone took a joke too far."

"Oh Harry, it's just a joke. Snape should just get over it."

"And how would you feel if that's what your person got you Ron?" Harry asked, angrily, standing and grabbing his quill and parchment from the drawer. "I daresay you wouldn't be too happy in his position. See you later Ronald!"

Harry stormed out and made his way up to the owlery where he finally breathed. He disliked his friend's total disregard for the Potion Master's feelings. He shook his head. At least he knew what he wanted to write though. He quickly finished his note to Snape and sent it off. The Potions Master may have said no more gifts, but hopefully he'd at least read it before throwing it out. Harry found himself shaking angrily. He had wanted to make this the best Christmas he'd have before he had to face Voldemort. Apparently, that was not something he'd get this Christmas.

Harry found himself teary-eyed, but he knew he had to feel better. He pet owls for a few minutes before heading back. He began to walk back to his dorms. On the way back he noticed a lack of students and frowned. Snape was walking the other direction and he was slightly surprised when he heard Snape say "Stop Potter. I know what you did and I will not put up with it."

"Professor, I…"

"Potter, you've already done enough damage. You have 3 hours of detention tonight. Do you want to get more?"

"No, sir." Harry felt his face fall as he looked down at his hands.

"Meet me in the Potions lab after dinner and I'll have you help me prep stuff for classes tonight. That should take you right til ten."

Harry nodded. "I'll see you then Sir."

"And Harry?"

"Yes, Professor?"

"I…" Snape paused. "Bring gloves. Some of the ingredients are slightly toxic." Snape said and turned to walk away. He clutched a parchment in his hand and shook his head. He didn't dare confirm that he'd gotten it, because when he got to the third line, he knew that he was in a terrible position. A person he didn't know was revealing far too much about feelings he couldn't ever have. He couldn't feel 'the energy that surrounds us when we talk. I know it's a little early to call it love, but I know that it feels that strong to me.' He didn't feel anything like that with anyone but Harry and he already knew that that was beyond the young boy's grasp of knowledge. The times they'd been together had been class time or Order business. So whoever sent this had feelings far too strong for Snape to take easily.

"I just hope it's not McGonagall." Snape said and put his head in his hand. He walked into his room and closed the door. He'd planned on talking to Harry tonight. Just get a feeling for what the boy had planned after school. Perhaps they'd be able to get to know each other better. Harry was getting to an age where he could make his own decisions. Dumbledore couldn't take that much away from him. He sighed. It was stupid, thinking that he could get Harry to like him during one of these stupid events Dumbledore put on. But it was worth a shot, wasn't it?

Harry made his way into his dorm and lay on his bed, ignoring Ron as he tried to get his attention. He turned over and noticed that the food he had sent for for the Snakes had arrived. They had a diet that the gifter had described was ordered from a shop that provided specialty foods for animals with special needs. He pulled out one of the dead baby mice and put it in the drawer where the snakes looked up at him and then to the food. "Thankssssss." One said and curled around the dead mouse. The other looked up in anticipation as Harry grabbed the other and dropped it in. He hoped that the Aquarium he ordered for them would arrive within the next day so they could have simulated fresh air as well as other natural effects, such as bird chirping and other things they might hear outdoors. It would also simulate the time of day. Harry was sure they would like it.

He noticed Ron watching him and shrugged. "What?"

"You haven't been listening to a word I've been saying, have you bloke?" He asked with slight annoyance. "I said, I'm sorry. You're right, even Snape deserves to have a decent giftee. It's too bad he's decided no one can gift him now. But that was his choice."

"I know, I know." Harry said. "Doesn't matter anyways. Apparently he thought it was me. I have detention with him tonight."

"What? That's not fair!" Ron said and walked over. "Whoever gifted him that smut should get in trouble. Not you!"

"I know. But apparently he thinks it was me. Can't change Snape's mind if he's got it set."

"We know that's true." Ron said with a sigh, thinking on Snape's poor judgement with the Gryffindor house. "Maybe you could go to Dumbledore and tell him that Snape's punishing you unfairly!"

"No. I don't need to cause more issues between Snape and me. I'll go and suffer through detention."

"Well, don't let it get you too down Mate." Ron said and hugged Harry close to him. "We can play exploding snaps after!"

"Sounds like a plan." Harry said and rolled his eyes. He nudged Ron. "So what did you get Hermione."

"Mate!" Ron said and his eyes got wide. He looked at Harry with a frown. "You knew?"

"Only you could get her those books she'd like. No one else would know of books she didn't have." Harry said with a laugh. "Besides, the looks she makes when she gets them kinds of gives it away. She knows too, yeah?"

"Yeah." Ron said with a frown. "I thought it would be somewhat secret. Ah well, at least she likes them."

Harry shrugged. "At least you got someone easy to gift. My person is harder than I thought."

"Can I help?"

"Not really." Harry said with a frown. Nor would he tell Ron that Snape was his giftee. "I'll think of something."

"Well, if there's anything I can do mate, let me know."

"Will do. Hey Ron… remember those students we were talking about who gifted Snape. Who were they again? I need to get more creative like them." He said and grinned. Ron would never understand, but Harry was happy to listen as he excitedly told Harry all about the students who had pranked their professor.

"It was so hilarious to see his face!" He said.

"Yeah." Harry said, struggling to show the same excitement.

"You ok mate?" Ron asked Harry, worry crossing his face.

"I'm fine Ron. Just feeling stressed about detention tonight."

"It'll come and go Mate. Just one night, right? And you're not polishing anything."

"True!" Harry said with relief. "Although working with his potions ingredients is very daunting. Can you imagine if I make a mistake?"

"Then let it blow up in his face and not yours." Ron laughed at his own joke. Harry managed to crack a fake smile.

"I guess. Anyways, we should get to class. No need for him docking points too!" Harry said.

"True. Mione would kill me if we lost points this close to the holidays. Teachers are harsher then. You'd think they'd be nicer. You know, Holiday spirit and all."

Harry shook his head and grabbed his textbooks and equipment. "Let's go."

He didn't dare think about a detention with snape, because in reality he was slightly looking forward to it. He'd not had the time to really talk to him and perhaps he'd get his chance.

Later that night as Harry was walking to his dorms he thought about the detention he'd just come from. Snape and him had gotten along decent. Snape hadn't even made fun of him when he'd accidentally tried cutting the herbs with the wrong side of the blade! It had been an amusing mistake that had them both laughing. Harry was surprised with the Potion Master's mood. For getting pranked and picked on during this event, he was in a better mood than Harry had ever seen him. Harry had talked about his life growing up, ignoring the Dursleys as much as he could. He'd told Snape how he could cook (but this was before the knife incident. It was possible Snape didn't believe that now). When Snape asked about his plans for after school, Harry had paused. He didn't have any. He wasn't allowed to. He would do what he had to for this war, but that wasn't something he wanted to talk about.

Snape was quick to change the conversation. He'd allowed Harry to pick a topic. Somehow foods that they couldn't stand and strange quirks came up. All in all, detention hadn't been horrible. Snape had been a good sport, despite thinking Harry had sent one of those heinous gifts. He sighed. He would not be happy when he met the person who sent the gift for that day. Harry had had plans before, but now they were ruined. He just hoped that Snape would forgive his gifter. But for now, Harry had no way to get Snape to do so. He wasn't about to ask him to, because that would give him away. And after the letter he had sent, he was NOT revealing himself.

Harry made his way to bed and when he fell asleep he found himself dreaming of himself and Snape in a cottage doing potions together. Harry looked older, maybe 30. As they were finishing it a little boy ran into the room and hugged him and then Snape.. "I love you daddies!" Harry smiled in his sleep.

Snape lay in bed thinking about the detention. Things had not gone too horribly. He would not say Potter was the best with Potions ingredients, but he could probably be taught. He smiled and remembered the knife incident. He had to say, if he didn't know better, he'd think potter was distracted. Perhaps detention wasn't the best gift he could have given Harry, but he had thoroughly enjoyed the conversation to a point. He only wished he hadn't asked Harry about the future. Harry had gone pale. Was the future really so horrible in the young boy's mind? Snape sighed. He only hoped his future gifts would be better. At least one thing had come out of the detention. He'd gained some information that would be useful for the next day's gift.