While Lorelei and Filch were cleaning up the extra ornaments and stacking the boxes by the door, a House Elf had dropped off two cups of hot cocoa and a plate of marshmallows on the bench by the tree.

"Oh look!" Lorelei pointed at the cocoa. "Is this part of your surprise too?"

Filch gave Lorelei a sly smile. "You better drink it before it gets cold."

Lorelei grabbed a cup and sat on the bench. She handed Filch his cup as he sat next to her. They sat on the bench, sipping their cocoa and admiring their work.

"Mmm. This is really good." Lorelei popped a marshmallow into her mouth. "And these marshmallows are divine! Here, you try one!" Lorelei shoved one in Filch's mouth before he could protest. She laughed at his shocked expression.

Filch swallowed the marshmallow with a swig of cocoa.

"Good, right?"

"Too sweet for my liking." Filch grumbled.

"I hope I'm not too sweet for you." Lorelei said.

"Huh?" Filch looked at her. "What did you say?"

Lorelei's face turned bright red. "Nothing… I mean…" She looked into her cocoa and whispered. "I hope I'm not too sweet for you. It was stupid."

Filch raised a questioning eyebrow. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, nothing in particular." Lorelei's hands began to sweat, and not from the hot cup of cocoa. "I like you, Filch."

"You must if you keep hanging around." Filch stated.

"You don't understand…" Lorelei put her cocoa down and looked at Filch, trying to keep her voice steady as she said, "I like you, yes. But I think I like you as more than just a friend."

Filch's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open.

Lorelei held up her hand before Filch could speak. "I know it doesn't make sense, or seem right. The more I'm around you, the more I like you. No one besides my two friends has ever taken the time to get to know me, or to do thoughtful things for me like this." Lorelei gestured at the decorated tree. "I find myself thinking of you more often than not. I look forward to our night walks around the castle together. They are the highlight of my days. I know I can't make you feel the same way, but I couldn't keep it inside any longer." Lorelei clasped her hands in her lap and waited in nervous silence for Filch's response.

They sat in tense silence for what felt like hours before Filch spoke. "Lorelei…" Filch sighed. "I'm a poor, old man, not to mention a squib. What could you possibly want to be with me for?"

Tears slipped down Lorelei's cheeks and fell into her lap. "That's not how I see you though. Sure, you hate misbehaving students and you tend to keep to yourself, but there's a lot more to you than that. To me, you're a kind man hiding behind a scary facade. Whether that's to protect yourself or because you've never known any different, I don't know."

Lorelei looked back at Filch again. "You've let me be your friend, and I think we've both been enjoying our time together..." She ended the statement in a question.

Filch looked out of the corner of his eye at the caring, earnest person sitting next to him who wore her heart on her sleeve. Her green eyes glistened with tears and worry about his next words. He took a breath of the cool winter air and let it out in a steamy gust.

"You make no sense, Lorelei." Filch said, shaking his head.

Lorelei's lower lip began to tremble. 'He's going to reject me and say he never wants to see me again.'

Filch finally met Lorelei's gaze. "I'm not good with words. I'm not good with feelings either for that matter. Lorelei, if you're willing to keep this cranky old man company, I won't say no."

"Oh, Filch!" Lorelei said quietly, her face lighting up. "You know I will."

Filch couldn't help it, a lopsided smile crept over his worn face.

"You should smile more. It suits you."

The two spent the rest of the holiday break wandering Hogwarts castle, ice skating with Mrs. Norris, and sneaking food out of the kitchens, much to the House Elves dismay.

It was the last day of Christmas break and students were already beginning to return to Hogwarts. Lorelei knew she wouldn't be seeing much of Filch for awhile as he would be plenty busy confiscating the many distracting and destructive wizard Christmas toys.

'I have to do it today before we part at the statue.' Lorelei thought to herself as Filch and Mrs. Norris walked next to her down the still abandoned Slytherin corridors. Lorelei found herself lagging behind, lost in nervous thought.

Filch stopped and looked back at her. "What's wrong?" He waited for her to catch up.

Lorelei could fell her face getting warm. "I've just been thinking."

"Oh? You seem to do that a lot." Filch teased her, something he was getting good at.

"I'm sure I won't get to see you for awhile once all the students are back and classes start again. So I just wanted to…" Lorelei swallowed. "I mean I was wondering if …"

Filch was looking at Lorelei like she was going mad.

"Oh bollocks!" Lorelei grabbed Filch's tie and pulled him into a kiss.

Filch put his hands up in shock, although he didn't try to pull away.

Lorelei pulled back and let go of Filch's tie like it was on fire. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I should have asked! I was just so scared and knew if I didn't go for it I never would be able to."

Filch's face was frozen in a look of bewilderment. "It's- It's okay." He managed.

"It is? You mean it?"

Filch shook his coat out, trying to compose himself. "Yes. I'm just not used to … that."

Lorelei laughed. "Neither am I." She blushed. "It was nice though."

Filch smirked at Lorelei. "That it was."

They stood looking awkwardly at each other before Filch leaned down and kissed Lorelei gently on the top of the head. "Come on, let's keep moving before someone sees us. I heard your friends were coming back a day early to have a little celebration with you."

"Really?! That's so thoughtful of them. All right, lead the way sir." Lorelei grabbed Filch's hand and they set off back to Slytherin dorms.