Ch. 21 Embraces and Christmas Eve

Severus and Tabatha sat at a small table the house elves set up for them in Tabatha's chambers enjoying their Christmas Eve dinner. The food was delicious as always, but Tabatha noticed that Severus was more so moving his food around his plate then actually eating, and was being even less talkative than usual. After a few moments she could hardly take the silence and spoke up.

"I don't bit you know" she cocked her eye brow at him.

Severus jumped a bit to her voice, and looked down embarrassed, his pale skin gave way to just the hint of pink. His mind raced he had no idea how to act in this situation, what was he to talk about with her? Was there a certain protocol for this? What exactly was this? Surly not a date, he was almost positive of that; those were more formal weren't they?

"Of course I know that!" he spat finally looking up "It's just… I don't know what to say" he looked away again more flushed.

Tabatha's gaze deepened, Severus Snape was a very interesting man to say the least. He walked around Hogwarts with this projection of a cold, unemotional, controlled entity when in reality he was a shy, insecure, introverted but caring man who, she would stake her life on, was much warmer then he would ever want or allow anyone to see, anyone but her it seemed.

Still looking at her friend she knew that right now the true Severus was sinking fast in a sea of social awkwardness, and she had to throw him a life line.

"Well I know something that will spark some interest in you, my dear Potions Master" Tabatha shot him her mischievous half smile. "Guess what I learned how to do?"

Severus' eyes came back to hers, and he gaze steadied waiting for the response.

Tabatha pushed off her chair and leaned halfway across the table looked around in a playful manor to make sure there was no one overhearing her in the empty room and whispered in a very loud voice.

"I can make "Soul of Midas". With that she smiled sat back down and took a sip of elf wine.

Severus' eyes widened, since that day in Hogsmead he was going out of his head trying to come up with a way to bring that up without looking like a creepy stalker, and now she handed him this, this prize of information. A genuine full smile appeared on Severus face.

"Really!" he sounded more excited than Tabatha could ever think possible, and then he slowed his tone down to his silky dark Potions Master voice "Now Ms. Rewolf you know that its extremely rude to keep such a tantalizing discovery from your very best friend, and if it wasn't for the fact your American and thus not as versed in the skills of etiquette I would have to say I could never forgive you."

Severus then leaned himself across the table and said in a lower smoother voice, "however since I understand it's not your fault I will allow you one reprieve, that is if you share you secrete with me, my dear"

Tabatha smiled and took another sip of wine and wondered if he had any idea how sexy his voice could be when he wasn't being cold as ice or shy as hell.

"Fine after dinner I will show you my talent" Tabatha tried to keep her voice as even as possible. "If you're good".

"I was not aware that you could be such a tease Tabatha" Severus smiled again but this time much more controlled. "Could you not even give me the slightest hint?"

Tabatha could not hold back anymore and gave a chuckle "Fine, you win!" she got up from her seat and walked over to her book shelf and removed a thick book entitled "Ancient Greek Mythology", opened to the chapter on King Midas and the golden touch and removed a piece of folded parchment.

"Really?" Severus scoffed mentally displeased with himself for not thinking to look there "You kept it hidden there?"

Tabatha walked back to the table and handed him the parchment "sometimes it's what hidden right under your nose that you tend to not notice the most." She then took her chair and slid it over to be closer to Severus as he studied the parchment.

Severus eye's read up and down the paper his mouth hung half open, "It's…beautiful, but how did you get the fine hair of unicorn horn?" he asked dryly.

Tabatha smiled, "They rub their horns on the birch trees in the forbidden forest."

Severus shot her a dark look "You went in the forest alone? What if you got hurt?"

"Don't worry so much" Tabatha shook her head "Hagrid went with me."

Severus' eyes softened again and looked back to the parchment "Does he know what you made?"

"No, I haven't told anyone" Tabatha got up and pored herself another glass of wine "Soul of Midas is too risky to share; greed can be a cause of evil things."

Severus looked up at her "you told me though" he said softly.

"Well I trust you, and truth is I believe if you really wanted to learn this potion, you would have found it and tried it yourself" She sat back down next to Severus.

Severus looked at his friend, she was right he never had much want or need for money, and if it was more the excitement that Tabatha could actually pull off this advanced level of magic that made him so excited for her to share this discovery with him.

"So what are you going to do with this now?" Severus asked earnestly.

Tabatha took a deep breath, got up, walked over to her night stand and pulled out a tiny vial "Well I made enough to last me for years, I don't want for much money either. Maybe I'll hide the formula or burn it."

Severus was saddened by the idea of destroying something so precious. "Maybe I have a way we could keep this but not have to worry about anyone finding it. Hide it back in your book, and I'll do some research on it." He handed the parchment to Tabatha.

Tabatha took the parchment back from Severus and replace it back into the book and then onto the shelf. She then sat down on the sofa, and looked back at Severus.

"The fire is nice Sev, you should join me" her eyes again sparkled in the glow of the fire and Severus remembered the last time he saw her by firelight.

Feeling a small lump in his throat Severus got up from the table and made his way to join Tabatha on the sofa. As he sat down Tabatha noticed again he was sinking into awkwardness. Tabatha decided to try something a bit different and hoped it would work.

"It must be hard" She murmured and then let her head fall onto Severus shoulder.

Severus eyes glanced down at her confused "what must be hard?"

"Being two different people all the time" she took Severus hand in hers.

Severus looked around nervously "What… what are you talking about?"

"Severus" Tabatha whispered "You don't act like this with anyone else, but me."

Severus mind silently reeled. No that's was not true; there was one other person, one other girl that could him act like this. His mind went back to Lily, it was because he couldn't keep the two separated that he lost her, more than likely the same thing would drive Tabatha away too. This wasn't fair, even worse than that was that Severus seemed almost powerless when it came to Tabatha, the persona he had worked so hard to create seemed to fail around her more and more. Severus had no choice but to try to explain the best he could.

Severus licked his drying lips. "I.. I know. Tabatha I.. I can't be just this way, you don't understand… I have things, promises, vows I have to keep." Looking down at her confusion he continued "I can't tell what they are, all I can say is that I act the way I do for a reason, a very important reason, bigger then you could even understand."

Severus eyes grew dim and he looked into the fire as the realization of what Dumbledore was implying to him that morning sunk in "I'm sorry, and I'm afraid that I might have to abandon our friendship soon if I can't get a hold of myself."

Tabatha squeezed his hand and whispered "No you don't."

Severus looked down at her with a furrowed brow didn't she just hear what he said? Did she understand how hard this was for him to say? "What do you mean, No I don't? It seems your failing to understand what I just told you." Severus jumped up and paced in front of Tabatha "I can't let people see me acting this way, I will risk too much!"

Tabatha looked up straight faced. "No I understand perfectly" she then pointed past Severus to the small Christmas tree. "Open the box"

Severus looked at Tabatha confused, and then glanced to the tree and back at her, "the box?" he spat, but his curiosity was peeked.

"Yes the box" Tabatha finally chuckled "open the box."

Severus walked over to the tree and picked up the box, pulling the top off he looked down at the paired onyx amulets. "What is this" he said quietly as he lifted up them out of the package.

"Well" Tabatha smirked "It's not football, or a dolphin."

Severus gave her a dark look and small chuckle "Obviously, don't be absurd."

"It's a projection amulet" Tabatha beamed.

"A what?" Severus mused

Tabatha continued "A projection amulet, the person wearing it is always viewed in their projected form. People see what you want them too."

"And there are two of them because?" Severus inquired

"One for you to wear, and one for me to wear." Tabatha walked over to Severus and took one of the amulets and put it around his neck, and the other around her own. "This way were always connected, it's our own secrete world.

Severus looked down at the black stone he was speechless. She had gone out of her way to make sure they could stay together. Emotions ran over him and before he could stop himself, he reached out and wrapped his arms around Tabatha pulling her close to him in soft embrace.

Tabatha breath paused, this was the first time Severus had ever initiated physical contact between them. She felt his hand move up her back and his fingers lightly touched the tips of her hair. Tabatha pulled a bit back and looked in Severus eyes, they were dark as ever, but there was something more there, something she had never seen before. Severus hand reached up to her cheek a brushed a stray piece of hair away slowly.

Severus' eyes locked on to Tabatha, he swallowed hard and licked his dry lips again. He felt like a strange force was overtaking him and for a second he felt his neck muscles move his face closer to Tabatha's.

That's when they both heard the knock. Jumping a bit and pulling away from each other quickly, Severus marched over to the door.

"Who is it?" Severus spat, his face flushed a deep pink, and as he looked over at Tabatha nervously he saw that she matched.

" Ppprofesssor Ssssnape…" A small voice shook.

Tabatha recognized the voice instantly "Mipsy... Is that you?" and made her way over to the door opening it.

Before Tabatha and Severus the small house elf stood shaking, "Yyyes Ma'am Mipsy is so sorry for disturbing you and Ppprofessor Snape, but I have a message from the Head master."

Tabatha smiled down as she took the envelope. "It's fine Mipsy"

"Speak for yourself" Severus mumbled under his breath.

Tabatha turned around with a sharp look "what was that Sev?"

"Oh nothing, I didn't say anything… what does the Headmaster want? Severus quickly recovered.

Opening the envelope Tabatha took out the parchment and read it over.

"Looks like the other Professors are having a little Christmas get together this evening at ten o'clock and would like us to join." Tabatha smiled at Severus.

Severus could tell by that smile she wanted to go, and since it would be much easier to do that then try to forget what almost happened here he saw this is a perfect way out of embarrassment, plus he could give this amulet a try.

"Well I suppose we could go for a little while" he said dryly.

"Thank you Severus." Tabatha's smile widened as she turned back to Mipsy "Tell Headmaster Dumbledore we will be there."