A/N: SPOV

Severus was at the Order's 'meeting', though there wasn't anything new to report. He was certain that Molly was going to have them all over at the Burrow for the New Year anyways and Severus had volunteered to help set up for the party as well as the meeting.

"Oh, Severus!" Molly smiled at his flat smile. "I won't need your assistance after all, Fred and George showed up and are doing an absolutely smashing job!"

Severus' lips tightened, a bit worried in trusting the Weasley Menace to be constructive rather than destructive. He decided to go into the back garden and check on Molly's more precarious herbs.

Minerva was outside with a hand behind her back, suspiciously.

"Hello Severus." She greeted him crisply, hesitant to leave herself too exposed to him.

"I know it was you who doused me in snow, Minerva. And don't think I cannot tell the snowball that you have hidden behind your back."

Ruffled, she dropped the snowball and dropped her arm. "I'm not sorry I did it. I got pelted in the face because of you." A corner of her lip twitched in humor.

Severus frowned, hoping she'd admit to having a bit of guilt for intervening on the snowball fight days ago. "I did not throw it it at you. Perhaps you should direct your anger towards the terminally accident-prone Auror, Nymphadora."

She looked at him quizzically, trying to piece something together. "Ah, but you're much more fun to annoy, Severus. Come by my home after the new year?" It was a tradition between them now; it was considered luck if the first person to visit your home were a tall, dark man who gifts you with bread or food. It was considered especially bad luck if your fist visitor were to be a ginger.

Severus nodded his agreement, and Minerva went inside in search for some warm brandy.

As he looked after the garden, his mind wandered on the plant he had given Nymphadora, as well as the flowers that Remus had presented her with. I'm going to have to get along with the werewolf tonight, and not appear completely smitten with her. He cursed himself silently.

Albus and Hagrid apparated together, and Albus nearly trotted off to the Weasley's garage for some unknown reason. Severus quit trying to make sense of the man, and felt a stab of remorse for knowing that his withering finger had spread beyond his forearm and began to rot away at his elbow. Hagrid, among the other faculty members, had no idea that it had spread this far nor that it would claim his life in time.

"'ello, Sev! 'ow did yer conversatin' go with Tonks that night?" He asked jovially, looking over Severus' shoulder to the garden. "Lookin' fer bowtruckles or gnomes? Too cold this time o' year."

"I'm just lost in thought, Hagrid. And we had a wonderful conversation that evening. She is, however, also interested in Lupin, so I'd appreciate your discretion since I do not fancy myself as an interloper."

"Ah. But ye knows, it's like meh mum and dad. There can be love an' passion, but it could never work out n' the long run. Their worlds' were too diff'rent. Yew two are jus' opposite sides of a coin." Hagrid said consolingly, and a large crash in the kitchen was followed by Molly Weasley's ear-piercing shriek.

"WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME MADE YOU TWO IDIOTS THING THAT LEVITATING ALL OF MY FINE PLATES IN ONE HUGE STACK WAS A BRILLIANT IDEA!?"

Severus heard the twins attempt to repair them, but Molly was building up to full steam and Severus knew his calming draught would come in handy.

"I believe that is our cue, Hagrid." Severus said dryly.

As he entered and went towards the kitchen, he spotted Remus and Nymphadora talking just outside the front door. And Severus had to repress the urge to smash any more dishes, though he didn't know why.