Filius hurried down the halls of the castle, feeling more of a skip in his step than normal as the holly and Christmas decorations brightened the normally dingy halls. He smiled to himself; he loved Christmas.

It had become tradition for their friend group to go out for drinks each Christmas night. They normally slept in during the day, for Albus always had a party for the staff on Christmas Eve. Some of the staff went home for Christmas Day, but most chose to remain in the castle. For many, including Filius, it was their only semblance of family left. As he opened the door to the staff room, he was greeted by smiles from Pomona and Poppy. "Happy Christmas!" they chimed together. He hugged each of them.

"Happy Christmas, Severus!" he called when he noticed the sullen man in the corner. Severus was sitting, surrounded by papers, looking as miserable as usual. The Christmas lights which they had used to decorate the staff room hung above him, and his dark demeanor looked out of place beneath them. Filius earned only a small nod from him in response. He sighed to himself. Severus sitting in the staff room was a start to becoming more social. Ever since he and Minerva were less about to kill each other, Severus had emerged more from his rooms. That being said, it still wasn't much.

The door to the staff room opened again and in stepped Minerva and Rolanda. Minerva held a bag in her hands, and they all sighed when they saw it. "Minerva, we agreed no gifts this year," Pomona said. Filius and Poppy nodded. They had agreed that instead of buying each other gifts, they would all buy each other drinks at the Three Broomsticks.

Minerva laughed, placing the bag on the table. "Oh, it's just something small for each of you! Let a Deputy care for her staff."

Rolanda shook her head. "When I saw her coming down the hallway with this bloody bag, I just shook my head."

Filius laughed as Minerva handed him a gift. He opened it and found there was a brand-new quill inside. His friend knew how much he loved a good pen. "Thank you, Min," he said, taking her hand and kissing it.

The other women opened their gifts as well, all thanking Minerva for her generosity. When they had all opened their things, Filius noticed there was one gift left in the bag. "Severus," Minerva said, leaving them all wide eyed.

Filius turned to look back at Severus, almost forgetting the young man was there. Severus had looked up, his hair obscuring part of his face. "Yes, Minerva? Do you plan on moving your party somewhere else this evening? I really would like to finish getting through these dreadful papers."
"I have something for you," she replied, walking to where he sat. Severus almost always had the same, emotionless expression, but Filius saw his eyes widen.
"What?" he asked, making no move to take the gift from her extended hand.

"This is for you," she replied, putting the small wrapped gift on top of one of the parchments he sat reading. Severus sat and looked at the box, looking like he had never seen a gift before. The rest of them had fallen silent, unsure of what to say. "You can open it, Severus."

Severus slowly unwrapped the package, all eyes on him. The young man had never looked so awkward. He opened the box to reveal a rather nice set of cufflinks. "Um, Minerva…thank you."

Minerva smiled and turned back to face the others who were unsure of what to say. Filius smiled at her gesture. The past few months, the two of them had come to some sort of truce, and the friendship evolving was rather heartwarming. "Severus, why don't you join us? It's tradition that we all go out for drinks on Christmas day."

Pomona and Poppy looked slightly irritated at Minerva's invitation, but Filius was intrigued by the idea of bringing Severus into a social setting. The only interactions he had with Severus were at staff meetings and Quidditch tournaments. Everything about the situation was out of character for Minerva, but especially Severus. "I have grading to do," he replied, his voice deadpanned.

"Oh come off it, Severus!" Rolanda pipped in. "We know you're not giving too many students high marks anyways. Come have a drink."

Severus narrowed his eyes, and Filius watched as he looked down at his papers and then up at Minerva. "I'm afraid I'll have to decline. Thank you."

When he declined, the other woman wrapped themselves in their coats and were out the door, taking their things with them, not saying another word to Severus, save Rolanda who muttered a few curses as she went. Minerva's face fell for a moment, and Filius thought it best he leave them for a moment. Before he could get out the door to catch up with the others, he heard Minerva speak. "Severus…it's Christmas."

Filius turned around, hoping the two didn't realize he was still listening. "I assure you, Minerva, the holidays have never been something I've found worth celebrating."

"Maybe you just haven't had someone to celebrate with."

Severus's eyes widened. "What?"

"I…what I mean is…I wanted to include you."

"My declining had nothing to do with you."

"But I invited you!"

Severus threw his pen down. "I bloody well know you did!"
"Then why won't you come? We spend countless hours playing chess and talking these past few months…and I've…I've enjoyed it. I was beginning to believe we were friends…"

Filius sunk further behind the partially cracked door, thankful for his small stature. There was pain in Minerva's voice, and it was in that moment he realized the two really had become friends. Countless hours, he thought to himself. There was so much he didn't know went on behind closed doors. "Minerva…"

"Happy Christmas, Severus."

Minerva began for the door and Filius began to duck out of sight when she suddenly stopped. Filius leaned over to see Severus had stood, rather quickly, Filius noted, from the table and grabbed her hand. "Minerva, stop."

He couldn't see Minerva's face, but Severus's had softened in a way he had never seen it. Filius felt his heart warm; it was the first emotion Severus had shown that wasn't anger since he'd started. The Potions' Master dropped her hand. "It's not you. I…I don't know what this is. I've never had a friend before…not like this." He motioned towards the cufflinks, still nestled in the box she'd brought them in. "I appreciate it…all of it. Don't think I don't. I just can't be with all of them. Not now. Not yet." His eyes were pleading. Filius knew it must have taken a great of trust from him to admit this to her.

"I understand," she said softly. "I hope the cufflinks weren't too much…I just…"

"Stop," he said again, this time with more of his usual command. "Do you ever shut up?"

She laughed. "I understand, Severus. I'm sorry to force all of this on you today. I should have known you weren't ready. I suppose I let the holiday spirit get to me…"

"Don't act like you haven't had a drop? he smirked.

"Well now that can stay between you and I, can't it?" Filius covered his mouth from laughing. Minerva drinking before they went out? So, unlike the proper Deputy Headmistress.

"On one condition."
"Which is?"

"You bring me a bottle of whatever got you into these holiday spirits?"

"10 o-clock, my rooms?"

Severus's mouth twitched into what Filius would almost call a smile. "I'll see you then."

As Minerva turned to leave, Filius was certain she was leaving now, he hurried down the hall to see if he could somehow make it look like he hadn't been watching.