Hermione watched as Harry and his family entered her home, Black Manor was full to the brim, so much so that the extension charms on the house had needed to be brought to their brink.

The Weasleys were there, Ron, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Molly, and Arthur, Bill was the only one who had not yet shown up and he was expected to arrive any day. The Potter family had just joined them, Harry, Rose, Fern, Lily, and James. She glanced around. Remus and Sirius were home, Mad-Eye Moody was skulking about, Professor Dumbledore lounged in a chair speaking amicably with Professors Sprout and McGonagall.

Tonks and Remus were sat off to the edge of the room, faces close together as they spoke and a little smile tugged at her face. She'd been hoping to see Remus settle down someday, he would make an excellent father, if all he'd done for her was any indication. Sirius was flirting with an Auror from the ministry who appeared to be attempting to escape and she almost snorted to herself.

All in all, the library of her home was full to the brim, filled with more people than she'd ever seen inside and it felt good, to see feet on the shaggy rug that covered the floor. The chairs were filled and there were drinks and talking. She glanced to the fireplace.

It was Christmas Eve and they still had not managed to find Ginny. She was the only thing missing from the perfect scene in front of her.

Well, Ginny and a certain brooding Professor who insisted he would join them Christmas Eve. She looked around again, still she didn't see him.

"Hey, 'Mi, you okay?" An arm was slung across her shoulders and she looked over to see Harry, a goofy smile on his face and his green eyes sparkling. She cracked a little smile and hooked her arm around his waist.

"I'm okay, just missing Ginny, I hope she's okay." He squeezed her shoulder comfortingly as she lay her head against his side, he'd grown so much. Where once she'd spent all of her time with a gangly little boy, knobby knees, skinny, and short, now she was towered over by a strong young man, the musculature of a quidditch player and the playful gleam in his eyes that his father sported.

"I'm almost willing to bet whoever has her is regretting she is the one they took." He gave her that goofy smile and she shook her head.
"I wanted to ask, do you think your dad would be okay with my boyfriend coming over for Christmas Dinner? I know you've got a full house already…" Hermione stopped him with a cocked eyebrow.

"Boyfriend? When did this boyfriend happen?" Her eyes sparkled and Harry ran his free hand through his hair, floppy black locks falling all over messily.
"And do I know him?" He rolled his eyes and looked away, a slight pink tinge on his cheeks.

"You, know him…Just answer the question 'Mi." He grumbled and she gave a giggle, unhooked her arm from around him and they turned to face each other. She hated having to look up at him but she still gave a broad grin.

"I think Remus would be tickled to have your boyfriend here. He's been waiting for you to get around to it. Sirius has been wondering when his Godson would bring someone around too." She hooked her arms across her chest and he gave a boyish smile.

"Thanks 'Mi, I'll owl him in a bit, you sure you're going to be okay?" Hermione gave a little nod and her eyes were immediately riveted on the fireplace when green flames sparked and a dark figure loomed out of the hearth.

"I'm going to be perfect." She glanced at Harry while Severus brushed the hair back from his face and raised his wand to pull the ash and soot from his body.

"Couldn't you at least clean the bloody floo?" He growled, Sirius chuckled a laugh and shook his head, black hair mussing around his face as he glanced back at the Auror who was still trying to escape him.

"I did clean it, put the dirt back just for you, Sev." He chuckled at the dark grumble from the other wizard.

Hermione watched him closely and, as if he could feel her eyes on him his head turned to look at her. A blush crawled across her cheeks and she gave a little smile. He smirked and she felt her skin tingle at being under his dark gaze. She nudged her head toward the door, they'd not had a chance to resume their conversation from the night of the attack and she'd been waiting, oh so very patiently for him.

He gave a light nod and she chose to go first, leaving through the large door to the library and slipping into the vacant kitchen. Everyone had been fed their fill for the evening and Molly had insisted she would begin the cooking early next morning for their Christmas meal, despite many protests from other guests.

The poor woman would be getting more help than she wanted, of that Hermione was certain.

Severus joined her only a few moments later, black eyes finding her in the kitchen where she sat on the island counter Sirius had added for her when she'd seen it in a muggle magazine. She'd fallen in love with the idea of sitting at high barstools and eating in the kitchen while Remus and Sirius drank their coffee stood in the kitchen.

"How are you?" A velvet voice rolled over her, settling on her skin in thick waves and making her stomach flip excitedly. She hooked her fingers over the edges of the counter and gripped it tightly, trying to keep herself from squirming with her stomach.

"I'm worried for Ginny, to be honest." He gave a soft nod, his looming figure coming closer, not nearly close enough in her opinion. She wanted, so desperately to be in his arms and she wasn't sure why. She just knew, there would be comfort there, more comfort than she would have anywhere else.

If only he would come a bit closer.

"Is there anything else, Hermione?" He was watching her so closely she could feel the burn of his eyes across her skin. The eyes that caught the little light in the room and gleamed black. She wet her lips and against her will her leg kicked back and forth gently.

"About our conversation last week…" She trailed, his eyes flashed.

She wasn't exactly sure what emotion it was she saw there but it made her stomach flip over.

"I understand you do not wish to continue the conversation. I have been understanding of this, have I not?" The witch was dumbstruck, her jaw clenched as she watched him, his eyes were averted, not looking at her anymore.

"You thought…?" She blinked, swallowed dryly and wet her lips again, her instinct was to go to him, she fought it with everything in her being.
"You thought I didn't want to talk about it anymore?" He glanced up at her, the bafflement in her tone drew his eyes and he watched her quizzically for a moment. She'd been so distant, just when he'd thought he was getting somewhere she'd ripped herself away from him.

It made his throat constrict in pain, the mere thought of having lost his chance.

He was aware her best friend was gone, missing and possibly in danger. Still he'd thought they would pick up the conversation in a day or two.

No such thing had happened, however, instead she'd simply left for Black Manor and while Remus had written him, she had not. He was very good at understanding when he was not wanted, when he was not at the front of someone's mind, and it was very clear he'd not been at the front of hers.

"Is that why you didn't come sooner?" He gave a blunt nod and she brushed wild brown curls over her shoulder, Severus caught the flash in her eyes out of the corner of his own.
"You have to know I pestered Remus into writing you so often because I wanted you here." She sounded exasperated, his brow furrowed as he looked up at her.

"I'm sorry, repeat that." Hermione fitted her hands beneath her thighs, the sharp pinch on the small digits of her fingers helped to keep her grounded.

"Remus, Remus wrote you because I ask him to, over and over and over. He made fun of me quite a lot." She glanced down at her swinging feet, unable to keep them under control any longer. The nervous energy that surged through her body was enough to make her twitch.

"Why would you not write me yourself?" She shook her head, she would have if she'd known he'd accept her letters, without annoyance.

"I didn't want to seem desperate, I don't honestly know what is going on, what is happening to me. You're on my mind all of the time. I was trying to tell you, I have these dreams, we're together and you look at me and you love me so much and I can see it in your eyes." She paused to take a breath, her face came up to look him in the eye and his heart stalled.
"I don't know why it happens, but I've been having them for years, they've- very recently- become a bit more intimate." She tinged a beautiful pink that rushed down her neck and chest and Severus balled his hands at his sides.

He was nearly vibrating with his need to snatch her off of the bloody countertop and carry her far, far away to have her for himself.

"I see."

"Shurrup George!" A voice called from outside the door and Hermione tensed, her lip trapped between her teeth.

Severus, thinking quickly on his feet made his way to the cabinet to begin preparing himself tea just as the door opened and the two rowdy, redheaded twins stumbled in.

"There you are 'Mi! Ron and Rose are snogging and Fern won't give us the time of day!" George exclaimed, Hermione gave them a broad smile, Severus cleared his throat behind her making his tea.

"Ah! Hurlo Professor, fancy a candy?" Fred procured a bright pink candy, wrapped in clear wrapping with little black spots all over.

"I would not take a candy from you if it were the last food available." Severus scoffed, his eyes still on his tea and Hermione had to curl her lips in to stifle her laugh.

"Fine then!" Fred huffed.

"You'll give'er a try though, won'tcha 'Mi?" George waggled his brows.

"Not a chance, boys." She hopped off of the counter, landed gracefully on her feet and turned to look at Severus quickly before she glanced back at the two redheads.
"Now, if you'll excuse me it is snowing and the garden is beautiful in the winter."

"We'll come with." The twins said in unison and Hermione shook her head.

"No, I think I'd like to be alone." She tipped a bit of emphasis on the word before she strolled from the room. Severus smirked into his tea. Clever girl, that was an invitation if he'd ever received one.

Still, he wanted to scowl as well, it would be near impossible to have time alone with the witch in a house full, with only more expected to arrive after boxing day.

"Good evening, gentleman." He strode out past them, tea forgotten on the counter.

"Me thinks there be some weirdness going ons." George glanced to Fred who gave a nod.

"Me thinks this warrants further investigation." They both nodded and left the kitchen as well.