Pomona almost dropped the Mandrake that was screaming in her hand when the door to the Greenhouse burst open. While she couldn't hear it with her earmuffs on, she could feel the vibrations of the door hitting the thin walls. Luckily, years of treating dangerous plants had left her with excellent reflexes to avoid serious injury. Stuffing the Mandrake back in the pot, Pomona tore off her earmuffs to see her best friend keeled over with uncharacteristic laughter. "Min? What's going on?"

Wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, Minerva looked up at her. "You have to come with me!"

"Where? I'm waiting on class of second years who are all running late."
Minerva bit her lip, looking as if she were trying not to continue laughing. "I know why they aren't here. Come with me, Pomona."

Pomona rolled her eyes, equally amused and perplexed by the situation. Minerva was gripping her by the arm, practically pulling her down the stairs towards the dungeons. "What are we doing down here?"

Holding a hand up, Minerva replied, "Just wait," as they heard an uproar of laughter coming from students. As they rounded the corner to Severus's classroom, Pomona stopped dead in her tracks. The normally stale and intimidating Potions classroom had snow falling from the ceiling, piling thickly on the floor. Children were laughing hysterically as Severus stood looking angrier than he ever had, his clothes transfigured into a Santa suit. His black hair stood out starkly against the bright red of the suit. Pomona's mouth fell wide open at the sight, barely able to control her laughter. Minerva had never looked more pleased in her life.

As Pomona looked closer, she saw Peeves flying across the room in an elf suit, laughing and shouting, "Happy Christmas, Professor Santa Snape!"

Minerva made no effort to quell the laughing children nor to stop Peeves from forming the snow into snowballs and throwing them throughout the room. Snape looked like he was going to lose it, but he said nothing, simply attempting to shoo the children out of the classroom. "Oh Merlin, this is absolutely fucking priceless," came a voice from behind.

Pomona turned and saw Rolanda with her hands on her hips, shaking her head with a smile on her face. "Minerva, please tell me this was you."

Shrugging, Minerva stepped into the snow-covered classroom and motioned for Peeves to come near. Peeves flew over to where the three women stood and laughed hysterically. "Is this what you wanted Miss Deputy ma'am?"
"You listened well."

Peeves smiled, looking proud of his work. "Snape is going to have a lot to clean up." He flew off, continuing to throw snowballs at the crowd of second years that remained wandering around the room.
"No, Minerva is going to have a lot to clean up." Severus had come to stand behind them, crossing his arms. "What was this about, Minerva?"

"I told you Minerva has been known to ally with Peeves when she's mad enough."

Severus's mouth practically fell open. "Do not tell me this is about McNeil on the Quidditch team…that was over a year ago. Are you out of your mind?"

Minerva smiled smugly. "Did you think I was going to do something right after it happened?"

Severus looked angrily at her, tearing off the hat on his head. "Pomona, aren't they supposed to be with you?" Pomona laughed and replied in the affirmative. "Then do me a favor and get them out of her while we clean this up," he said, grabbing Minerva by the hand. Minerva lost her balance slightly, almost falling from the wet floor, but Severus had wrapped an arm around her back and caught her. Minerva quickly pulled from him, her face flushed.

Pomona and Rolanda exchanged a look, Rolanda clearly noticing the way he grabbed her as well. No matter what Poppy would insist, Rolanda had her convinced that there was something between the two of them. The rival heads of houses had far too much chemistry for it to never be acted on. "Well, we'll let you two get to work then, won't we, Pomona?"

"Oh absolutely. Can I borrow that whistle, Ro?" Rolanda nodded and handed her the whistle that normally hung around her neck. Pomona blew into it, drawing the attention of most of the second years. "All of you a lot, that's enough fun for now. Off to the Greenhouse with you." The children looked disappointed, but seemed to know that they were going to be taken from the fun at some point. Pomona followed behind them as they made their way up the stairs to the greenhouse, but strayed behind to hear the two talk alone.

"Severus, the red suits you."

"Not a word, Minerva, not another damn word."

Pomona laughed to herself and was slightly disappointed herself that they had to leave the fun.