A Matter of Honor
by Amy McWilliams (McAmy)

Book 1: The Honors Project

Chapter 11: Christmas at Hogwarts

Things were not easily smoothed over between Ron and Hermione. It was a good thing that Ron was going home to spend Christmas with his family, Harry thought. Plus, he wanted some time to talk with Hermione, who'd seemed quieter than usual ever since the Ball. She was staying at Hogwarts over the holidays to work on her project, of course, and he suspected that she was glad to be staying because she'd rather be near him than see her family. Not that either of them had misunderstood their conversation under the Fairy tree. They were just friends, and always would be, but Harry had thought more than once since then that it might have been nice if it had worked out differently. He and Ron were fine, though Ron had been a little embarrassed, but as a trio they had remained in tense silence for a few days before it was time for Ron to leave.

On Christmas Eve, Harry came into the common room late (Neville had lost Trevor…again; he was staying as well, but Dean and Seamus had both gone home) to find that Hermione had returned from her dungeon laboratory (as he liked to call it) and was seated by the fire reading some huge book.

"Oh, not on Christmas Eve, Hermione," he groaned. She gave him a look. "Come on, even Professor Snape would agree that you don't need to read this right now."

She sighed, though he knew she was teasing, and put her book down. "Fine. So what do you propose we do? And don't tell me it's anything that can get us expelled," she said, raising an eyebrow at him.

"Why Hermione, we've been positively angelic this whole year!" he said, in mock surprise. She laughed.

"Why don't you just tell me how you've been," he offered tentatively after a moment.

"I don't want to talk about Ron right now," she said, a little guarded.

"No, no, not about Ron," he said quickly, adding, "unless you want to later. I just meant, well, how were your finals, and how's your project coming, and how's your family?"

She started at that.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," he backtracked, "I know they weren't happy about you staying here…"

She cut him off. "No, it's all right. We…we did have a bit of a fight when I told them I wasn't coming home, but it was really because I made the mistake of telling them in the same letter that Ron and I had broken up. Mum was worried about me, and told me I was working too hard."

"You hadn't told them before?" Harry asked.

"No…I didn't want to be consoled about it, since it turned out to be for the best, but mum had said something about inviting him to come home with me for the hols, and…well, I finally had to explain," she ended.

"Sorry about that," he said. "You know, Mrs. Weasley was planning on asking you to come there, but Ron told her you were staying here to work on your project. I don't know if he's told them or not."

Hermione snorted. "Well, if you had that many siblings to razz you about it, you might not tell them either, I suppose."

They sat in silence for a moment. "Mum was upset because Mywoods sent the forms for next year home instead of here. She's not handling my leaving home very well. And I guess…I…I guess I'm handling it too well. You know?" Harry nodded.

She returned to his other questions, wanting to change the subject. "Finals were fine…"

"Of course," Harry interrupted.

"And my project is going really, really well," she finished, ignoring him. "We're going to start some preliminary work on the Imperius curse just after the start of the term. It's why I'm reading this huge book…" she broke off. "What is it?" she asked, trying to remember what she'd said to put that look on his face.

"You just said…'we'…" Harry explained. He saw her jaw clench, and hurried on, "No, I'm not criticizing. I just never thought I'd hear one of us say 'we' and mean Snape." He smiled a weak smile, hoping that she wasn't mad.

She looked down. "I know it's strange. It's taken me ages to get used to it. But…we work really well together, and…I don't know…I sort of…like him."

Harry sat bolt upright in his chair. "You like him? You mean like him, like him, or just get along with him, like him?"

She laughed out loud. "Oh, honestly, Harry, he's my teacher. I just mean that we seem to get along. Now calm down; you look like Ron."

Harry rested his head on the back of the chair again. "Well I was going to say…"

The next morning Harry woke when Neville poked him in the arm and said, "Come on, Harry, everybody's taking their presents down to the common room. Hurry up!"

Harry rolled over and put on his glasses, looking down towards the end of his bed. He could see what looked like the annual Weasley sweater and several other gifts.

Scooping them up, he headed downstairs. Not many Gryffindors were staying this holiday, but it was nice to have Neville there. He was sitting with two fifth-year boys, and then there was Lavender Brown and a couple of first-year girls. It seemed quiet, and Harry reckoned it was because there were no Weasleys. He didn't see Hermione, so he put his packages in a chair and went up to knock on her door, knowing that there wasn't anybody else staying.

When she didn't immediately answer, he knocked again. "Come on, Hermione, wake up. It's Christmas." Her heard her say, "Come in," and opened the door. He laughed out loud at the sight of her, sitting in bed with Crookshanks and a large book. "We're opening presents, and you're in here reading?"

She looked up from the book she had open in her lap. "I didn't know what this one was, and then I saw the seal…" she showed him the card with the Slytherin serpent in dark green wax. "It's the volume on the history of the Unforgivable Curses that I've checked out of the library so often…and a subscription to Ars Alchemica that runs through the end of the summer."

She handed him the card; he put the subscription notice aside to read it.

Dear Miss Granger,

As you did not return home for the holidays this year, I wanted to be sure that you had something to occupy your time. I hope that this volume is the one you most wanted; Madam Pince tells me that you have almost worn the binding off of the library's copy. I am certain that you will know what to do when the first copy of Ars Alchemica arrives; I hear that there will be an article on the Avada Kadavra Curse that will most certainly show up in our meeting shortly after it appears.

Sincerely,
Prof. Severus Snape

"Gods, he manages to make even a Christmas present seem like homework." Harry wrinkled his nose at the card.

Hermione didn't see him; she was looking up something in the index of her new book. "He's only teasing," she said, and didn't notice when Harry almost fell off the bed in response.

"It's a really good thing Ron isn't here," he thought to himself.

There were so few students staying for the holidays that Professor McGonagall had decided that they should all eat in their common rooms for breakfast and lunch so that they would feel like they were with family. She had stopped by Gryffindor Tower towards the end of lunch and they had asked her to stay for dessert. She seemed pleased. Over the years, Harry had realized that--although she was very strict with her students, especially Gryffindors--she was one of the kindest people he knew. He could see that she cared about all of them, and was happy that they could show her in some small way that they appreciated having her as their Head of House.

That evening, though, dinner was in the Great Hall, with all who were present eating around a central table. It was always sort of strange, Harry thought, and Hermione agreed, to eat at the same table as the professors, but with Dumbledore at the head, it had always turned out to be a pleasant experience.

The Gryffindors arrived en masse, and Harry could see the professors who were already there grouped around one end of the table: Professors Dumbledore and Flitwick, Madam Hooch, Professor McGonagall, and Remus, who waved at Harry to come and sit next to him. Harry looked at Hermione, who nodded and took a seat directly across from him. Neville and the rest of the Gryffindors sat in a row next to her, and there were two spaces on her left between her and Madam Hooch.

The rest filed in soon after, and Professor Sprout sat next to Harry, with her four students beside her. There were no Slytherins staying over ("not surprising," Hermione had remarked), so the two remaining seats at the end were taken by the Ravenclaw students. That left Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape, who arrived behind the Ravenclaws, talking together about some ingredients she would need for the next term. Pomfrey moved automatically to sit next to Madam Hooch, one of her best friends, and Snape took the seat next to Hermione. They were still deep in discussion about some sort of ointment when Dumbledore stood and raised his glass.

"Happy Christmas, everyone," he said, and all around the table they echoed his sentiments. "I always look forward to this meal, as my fellow professors know, and I am glad to see all of you here. Do enjoy the food, and the company. But first, a toast, borrowed from one of my favorite Muggle authors: 'And God Bless Us, Every One.'"

"Cheers," said Remus, and clinked glasses with Harry before drinking.

"Cheers, Remus," Harry replied, and looked across at Hermione, who was toasting with Professor Snape. She turned to Harry, smiling, and their glasses met across the table.

After the meal was finished, Remus, McGonagall, and Snape were still discussing the finer points of something-or-other, and Harry gave Hermione a look. She turned her head away from Snape and smiled. Professor Sprout clucked and led her students out of the hall, and the Ravenclaws and most of Gryffindor followed.

As Neville rose to leave, Dumbledore looked at Harry and said, "Now, don't let us drive you away. You're most welcome to stay with us and have a nightcap. And you as well, my dear," he said, turning to Hermione.

As he motioned for Professor McGonagall to ring for the House-Elves to send up the brandy, Hermione looked at Harry, wide-eyed.

They were saved from a fit of giggles by Madam Hooch standing to say, "Well, Albus, I'm afraid I'll have to leave the nightcaps to you all just now. I have to make a call to my sister before it gets any later."

"Of course, of course--though I remind you that it is Christmas," his eyes twinkled.

"I'm afraid I need to go as well," said Madam Pomfrey. There's a little one who's been left by himself for too long."

Remus looked at Harry, who whispered, "She means her cat." Hermione shot him a look. Remus nodded.

"Well then, that leaves the seven of us. A lucky number." Dumbledore smiled, and began to pour. After setting a glass in front of Professor Flitwick, he said, "Now, Minerva, if you'll pass these around…" she handed glasses down to Remus, who in turn gave one to Hermione, Professor Snape, and Harry.

When everyone had a glass, Dumbledore said, "I know that I've already made my toast, and Minerva always reminds me to stop while I'm ahead…" Everyone smiled (even Snape managed a bit of a smirk, Harry noticed). "But I'm going to say something that I don't say often enough, to any of you."

They were silent, waiting, as he looked at each of them in turn. He then said softly, "Seated here before me are some of my favorite people in this world. Each and every one of you--yes, yes, even you two--" he smiled at Harry and Hermione, "is special to me. And I am so very grateful that we could spend a part of this holiday together."

Harry looked towards Hermione. Catching her eye, he smiled. She smiled back, and then Remus had put his hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry looked towards him. He was smiling at McGonagall then, and Dumbledore, and didn't see Snape, who--though he didn't turn to look at her--placed his hand briefly on Hermione's arm before reaching again for his glass.

As they left with Remus, several stories from Flitwick and a couple of songs from Dumbledore later (even McGonagall had joined in on the last one), Harry said, "Thanks for the photo album Remus. I love it."

Remus had given him a second photo album, which not only contained a few more photos of his father and mother, but also two photos of him with Sirius, taken during a secret visit last summer, as well as a few snapshots by Colin Creevey (now the school photographer) of Harry playing Quidditch, and standing with Hermione and Ron. There was even a copy of the photo that had run with Rita Skeeter's article on Harry during the Triwizard Tournament.

"That reminds me…" Hermione suddenly said, "I'll be right back." She hurried to catch up with Professor Snape, who was walking towards the dungeons, and Harry heard her say, "Professor Snape, I just wanted to thank you for the gift…" as he and Remus headed up the stairs.

"I never would have imagined that they would get along so well," confided Remus.

"You never imagined…" Harry said, and they laughed.

Snape enjoyed the Christmas break because there were almost no students around. He hadn't been surprised when Hermione Granger had told him that she would be staying this year; he knew she would want to continue her work, uninterrupted, and from some small comments she had made here and there, he also knew that she wasn't really getting on with her parents just now. Or with Ron Weasley--though she'd never said a word about him. Snape hadn't even realized they had dated, until he overheard the Slytherin students talking about them one day. Not that he'd ever thought much about it before Weasley had made a nuisance of himself at the Yule Ball--with Draco Malfoy's help, he thought, not missing the irony.

He had noticed her immediately when she had entered on Potter's arm; she looked beautiful. He had been surprised by the thought, as he generally never concerned himself with his students' appearances, unless their face was covered with boils or their hair was falling out because of some error made in Potions class. He had noticed her, though, and had thought, "This is how a proud father must feel."

When Weasley was gone, he had wanted to make sure that she was all right, but knew he wouldn't be welcome. He had to admit that he was glad Lupin had stepped in; he had kept an eye on her for the rest of the evening, though, to make sure that she was cared for. He had admired her bravery in staying for the rest of the party, and was glad--for the first time in his life--to see Harry Potter, returning for her.

Because of everything he knew, he had thought he might send her a present--nothing sentimental, but something useful. Something she would appreciate, and that would be appropriate, coming from a professor. Others gave their favorite students tokens at the holidays, but he never had, and not only because it was officially--if not in practice--frowned upon. He'd never wanted to single a Slytherin out, since it would cause all kinds of trouble. Besides, he'd never had a…he'd hesitated over the word the first time it crossed his mind…favorite before. Couldn't remember liking many students, much less feeling as though he wanted to give them a Christmas gift. (When Dumbledore had toasted them all as his favorite people, he had reached out to touch her arm without thinking…was surprised at how pleased he was that she hadn't pulled away….)

When Madam Pince had mentioned to him that Miss Granger seemed to be working harder than usual, and had joked about the volume on the Unforgivable Curses being her favorite, judging by the number of times she'd borrowed it, he realized that it was something she would enjoy owning, especially when she went to Mywoods (he, like the rest of her professors, had no doubt that she would be accepted). Though they would certainly have multiple copies in their library, he knew that she wanted to pursue her work on the Curses past this school year, and would put the volume to good use. The subscription to Ars Alchemica was an afterthought, really; he had planned to order a second copy for the spring term so that she would have one of her own. The library didn't carry it; it was above the level of the students (and most of the teachers, he noted). At the last minute, he decided to include it as part of gift.

He was certain that she would be discreet, and so hadn't expected her to thank him at all, or at least not until their next meeting. When she stopped him in the hallway, he was surprised, and her thanks were so gracious, her appreciation so genuine, that he hadn't quite known what to say. He had put his hand on her shoulder, smiled, and said, "I'm glad you liked the gift. Now, shouldn't you head upstairs?" She'd smiled at him--a beaming smile that she'd never given him before--and gone.

He poured himself a cup of tea and sat in front of the fire, leaving his work for the next day. It was Christmas, after all.

A/N: My Christmas with Snape was inspired in part by Riley's Pawn to Queen. Dumbledore's toast is from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

On to Chapter 12