"Oh there you are Alice! What did Dumbledore want?" Hermione questioned as I joined them at the end of Binn's lecture. I thought for a moment about what I would tell her. Fred and I had decided to keep it secret that we were going together, but Harry already knew and I was certain Emily would work it out of me eventually. Smiling I looked over at Hermione.

"Dumbledore wasn't actually looking for me. Fred just wanted to talk."

"Ooooh, talk about what?" Emily gushed.

"It's a secret." I whispered to our small group, noticing the disappointed frown on both Emily and Hermione's faces. "But I will tell you guys, if you promise to tell no one." Hermione and Emily nodded with excitement. Ron who had probably already been told either by his brother or mine, turned to Harry with a bored expression. "Fred wanted to ask me if I would go to the ball with him." Emily squealed and Hermione smiled.

"And what did you say?" Hermione asked.

"I said yes." I answered calmly. As we walked to our next class I continued to recount what happened once I left History of Magic. Emily and Hermione squealing, giggling and aweing the whole way through, Harry and Ron simply trailed behind us rolling their eyes occasionally.

"Are you lot finished yet?" Harry asked when we arrived outside the charms classroom.

"Don't be cross just because you haven't got anyone to go with. " Hermione told him sharply.

"No one to go with? What happened to asking Cho Chang?" I teased.

"She turned him down." Ron s

mirked. "Said she was going with Diggroy."

"Not surprised." I scoffed. "You could always ask Ginny." I suggested.

"Nah Gin already agreed to go with Neville." Ron told me as we took our seats.

"Who are you going with Hermione?" I questioned turning to me left. She looked as if it was a sore subject.

"Ronald and Harry have been trying to get me to tell them for weeks, However they'll just have to wait until Christmas."

"Well I'm looking forward to it then." I smiled trying to ease the tension. Some of the teachers, like little Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach during the week before the Christmas holiday. He instead allowed us to play games in his lesson and spent most of it talking to me about the perfect Summoning Charm I had used during the first task of the Triwizard Tournament. Other teachers were not so generous. Severus of course was among those less enthusiastic about the holiday. He assigned an essay of no less than five scrolls, due by the start of the holiday. Why that man hated Christmas at Hogwarts I would never know.

"Come on Alice let's get out of here." Harry said tugging on the sleeve of my robes.

"I want to ask Professor Snape a few questions about the essay." I told him as I gathered my things together. Harry heaved a great sigh and shook his head disapprovingly.

"Why you love potions so much I'll never understand. See you at dinner!" He called before racing out of the dungeons. Severus stood at the front of the classroom his back to me as he checked the labels on the potions concocted during class.

"Professor Snape," I called out clearing my throat. He turned to face me two potion vials in his hands. "I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about your essay."

"No Allison, writing a potions essay twice as long as require will not excuse you from the Yule Ball." I glanced around the room, we were alone now and able to speak freely.

"Actually I found a date." I told him reluctantly. Being a girl raised by two men, the subject of dating never really came up. I had just always assumed that when the time came Severus would disapprove of any boy I dated and Remus would be happy as long as I was happy. Now that I had my first date it was finally time for us to talk about it. "And I have a few questions." Severus raised his eyebrows at me, clearly caught off guard. He stared at me frozen in thought for a moment or two, but he recovered quickly placing the potion vials back on the stand they had come from.

"Wouldn't you much rather be having this conversation with Remus?" He asked me wiping his hands on his robes.

"Yes." I answer honestly. "However, Remus is not here. He is at home and as much as both you and I do not want to have this conversation, we have to."

"Very well, follow me." He walked out of the classroom and straight through to his private chambers. He skulked around the kitchenette mumbling things like "Should have known this was coming" and "Curse that old fool and his tournament." I could only assume the 'old fool' he was talking about was Dumbledore. Severus opened a drawer and pulled out a two letters. Written in shimmering purple ink, one envelope had my name on it, the other Harry's. "Sit down." He commanded me by pointing to the couch. "This is for you." He said handing me the envelope with 'Allison' printed on it.

"What is it?" I asked taking the envelope from him and sitting as I was told. Sitting down next to me, Severus looked very serious.

"It's a letter." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.

"I had gathered that much Sev. Who is it from?"

"You're parents." I open my mouth as a million questions flood through my mind. Severus holds his hand up silencing me. "Please let me finish. Towards the very end of the war we all knew things would end one way or the other though we were hopeful, it did not look as if the war would go our way. As such many witches and Wizards took action writing out wills and securing futures for their families. Your mother, being the brilliant witch that she was, wrote letters. These letters are to be given to you and your meddlesome brother during life events your parents deemed important. The first of which happens to be, your first date. You may open it here or wait and read it in private. I have no idea what the contents of that letter are nor do I wish to know. It is yours and yours alone, but you should know that if after you read that letter you have any questions, I shall answer them for you."

"Thank you Severus." I looked down at the envelope in my hand. "I think I'd like to read my letter now."

"Very well, I shall leave you here so that you may have some privacy. If you need anything from me I will be in my office. I only ask that you also deliver this letter to your brother." He handed me the second envelope.

"But what do I tell him when he asks me where I got it?"

"You're creative, I'm sure you'll think of something." He answered leaving me alone. I placed Harry's letter down on the side table to my left, and curled my knees up to my chest, opening the letter. I was surprised to see that inside the envelope was not one but two letters. The first written in a swirly dancing script was from my mother, the second in scratchy blotchy writing must have been from my father. I chose to read my mother's letter first since I was most interested in what she would have to say.

To my Darling Daughter Allison Lillian Potter,

If you are reading this that means that something horrible had happened to me. However I'm certain you've grown to be a beautiful smart young lady and that you're living happily with Severus and Remus. If you are reading this, you must also be preparing to go on your first date, otherwise Remus has given you the wrong envelope and you should have him fetch you the right one. Believe it or not my first date was with your father to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. I say it was a date because it was the first length of time we spent together without Sirius, Remus or Peter tagging along. Now I'm sure you have many questions about dating, many of which can be answered by Severus or Remus so I will not fill the entire length of page with things you can and can't do. Besides your father is scratching away furiously at his parchment so I'm certain he's taking care of all of that. The most important thing to remember is that no one can make you do something if you don't want to dear. If you are uncomfortable with a situation simply let the boy know. Anyone worth dating will want you to feel comfortable. If you run into any trouble remember you have Severus and Remus there to help. I know Severus is rough around the edges but once you get to know him, he's one of the most caring men in the world. And Remus worries a lot but that is because he's had a lot of trouble in his life and he tries to protect everyone. I can only imagine your brother has grown to be as troublesome as your father. He's currently rolling around on the floor with Sirius, who has volunteered to watch the pair of you while your father and I write these letters. Be patient with Harry, he's just a boy after all. Remember my gentle little girl you're father and I love you very much and I can only hope with all of my heart that you never have to read this letter. Please watch over the boys.

Your Mother,

Lillian Potter

Please watch over the boys. I repeated to myself as my eyes began to water. It was the closest I would ever get to have a dating talk with my mother. I was sad and angry that I'd never get to meet the wonderful person who had thought far enough ahead to write that letter, but I was also grateful that she did write it. Whipping my eyes I looked to the second letter.

Dear Little Ali,

If you're reading this, Voldyshorts or one of his greasy followers has taken to offing your mum and I. No worries though I'm sure we're happy wherever we are. This letter is also for your first date. When your mother told me to write this letter I was confused, because as I'm sure you remember, you and I made an agreement the day you were born. No dating. Ever. Your mother then told me that it is very possible you'll become a rule breaker like me, so I've sat down to pen this letter to you. No dating until you're at least seventeen. Alright no dating until you're 300 like Dumbledore. Just no dating ever, ok Ali?

Here he stopped writing and instead sketched a large detailed drawing of a golden snitch. The letter began abruptly across the middle of the snitch.

Your mother just kicked me under the table when she saw I was doodling instead writing. Well what does she expect she's had me here writing these things for hours. When I tried explaining that you'll never read these letters because we're all going to be just fine, she had your Uncle Remus join in on her lecture. He's supposed to be babysitting you and Harry not me! Then again I suppose he hasn't got much to do see as how your sleeping in his arms and Harry and Sirius are playing on the floor. What was I even supposed to be writing about? Oh right dating. No dating ever. If you absolutely must date someone make sure it's not a greasy Slytherin alright? Remember, stay away from boys, and look forward to the hippogriff I plan on sketching in your wedding letter.

Love always,

James Potter.

I smirked. No wonder everyone said Harry was exactly like my dad. The man obviously never worried about anything. It was sad how naïve he had been about their situation. Here he was writing letters in case of his death but all he was thinking about was what he'd draw next on one of my letters. I also began to wonder how that guy had mentally survived being in hiding. Just his letter alone was filled with a dozen preoccupied thoughts. I would have loved nothing more than to stay curled up re-reading my parents' letters, but Severus was waiting for me and dinner would be starting soon. Reluctantly I folded the letters up and put them back in my envelope. Grabbing my school bag and Harry's letter, I headed out to Severus' office.

"Did that answer all of your questions?" Severus asked.

"Not all of them." I told him. "But it did make me feel a lot better about going on my first date."

"What questions do you have?"

"Well firstly how in the world did my father last in hiding as long as he did? The guy must have gotten an intense case of cabin fever." A low chuckle erupted from deep in Severus' throat.

"And Second?"

"What if the boy I'm with wants to kiss me or something and I don't want to kiss him back?" Severus shifted in his chair looking incredibly uncomfortable.

"Then you tell him that you do not wish to kiss him or advance your physical relationship any further. If this boy is a decent human being he will leave it at that. If not you tell someone immediately, and this boy will have me to deal with." Severus' expression changed from uneasy to dark. "Who, may I ask is your date for the Yule Ball?"

"Fred Weasley." I told him. Severus' features relaxed and he leaned back in his chair.

"Molly and Arthur have raised their children to be acceptable members of society and I am confident that young Mr. Weasley will treat you well. Have we addressed all of your concerns?"

"One last thing." I began choosing my next words very carefully. I hated asking Severus for money even though he was more than generous with the money he had. "The attire for the Yule Ball is formal, and so I'll need a pair of dress robes…" I let my sentence trail off. Severus knew what I was asking and he rose from his chair.

"I had assumed this subject would come up. AS such I had taken the liberty of ordering you a set of dress robes I thought you would find, acceptable." Severus walked back to his chambers and returned with a large parcel. "They are a Christmas gift and shall not be opened until Christmas is that clear?" This idea concerned me a little. I had seen the dress robes that Molly had picked out for Ron. They were hideous. Though I thought of the way Severus dressed. He tended to prefer expensive fabrics and above all things the color black. Worst case scenario he had bought me a set of plain black dress robes.

"Yes Sir." I nodded excitedly taking the box from Severus.