Yours truly | Severus Snape - Sequel to Sincerely yours

Enchanted snowballs

Soon, a month had passed since Severus and Mary had been caught by Albus Dumbledore. Although it had been utterly terrifying at first, and Mary head feared that both Severus and she had to leave Hogwarts. But somehow, when Severus had confessed that he loved Mary, Dumbledore had changed his mind. Mary didn't know why, but she was happy he did.

"Can't believe it's Christmas again!" Clary clapped her hands happily, bouncing on her bed like an excited child. Alison, who was folding her clothes on her own bed, rolled her dark blue eyes.

"It's not Christmas yet, may I remind you?" Alison pointed out and placed a pile of shirts in her bag. Clary groaned and threw herself on her bed, dramatically placing the back of her hand on her forehead. Mary giggled quietly.

"I know, Ali. But it will be soon enough," Clary complained, looking at her girlfriend with her blue-grey eyes an annoyed glint glittering in them. Alison smirked knowingly, but didn't say anything. Instead, she turned her deep eyes to Mary, a hint of concern in them.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Alison asked, suggesting that Mary could join Alison, Clary, and Alison's family for Christmas holidays.

Mary nodded her head and gave Alison an assuring smile.

"I'm sure," Mary replied. "I want to stay here."

A mischievous grin spread on Clary's lips as she rolled over and rested her head against her hands.

"You mean you want to stay with you Batman?" Clary suggested, a teasing tone in her cheery voice. Mary rolled her eyes but couldn't help blushing. Clary noticed the deep red climbing up Mary's cheeks and jumped up.

"A-ha!" Clary exclaimed, jumped on her knees, and pointed at Mary. "You plan on doing something nasty with him, aren't you?"

Mary's ears burned.

"Clary!" Mary muttered, turning her face away so that Clary and Alison couldn't see how embarrassed she was. Alison, who had remained quiet so far, broke the silence as she dropped a pile of books in her bag with a loud thud.

"Fine!" Clary groaned and fell on her bed again, muttering quietly how Mary and Alison were no fun.

Although Mary tried to pretend that she found Clary's suggestions annoying, she was actually glad. Not because Clary was teasing her about Severus, but because Clary had seemed to turn back to her normal self. And that she and Mary could even discuss about Severus in a way that any normal young women would talk about their boyfriends/girlfriends.

***

"Bye, Mary!" "Have a great Christmas!"

Alison and Clary waved to Mary as they walked out of the castle, making their way towards the carriages which would take them to the train station. Mary waved back at them, telling Alison to say hi to her parents from her.

"So, your friends are going away for the holiday?" a deep, velvety voice interrupted Mary's thoughts as she watched her friends disappear in the distance. Mary flinched slightly and turned toward the source of the voice, seeing the dark-haired Potions Master standing next to her, his eyes locked somewhere far away.

"Yeah, they are", Mary said, causing Severus to glance at her from the corner of his dark eyes.

"I see", Severus muttered, returning his gaze back to the distance. Mary eyed the raven-haired man for a while, before taking a look around. As she noticed that all the other students had disappeared from around them, a sly smirk spread on Mary's lips.

"This means that you have me all by yourself for the entire holidays."

Severus smirked and glanced at Mary with a raised eyebrow, as if Mary had suggested something improper. Perhaps, Mary had done just that.

"Is that so?" Severus murmured and turned to look at Mary. He too had just realised that they were now alone in Entrance Hall as all the other students had left to spend their holidays in their common rooms or going out and playing in the snow.

Mary blushed slightly as she nodded. Severus leaned in, his breath ticking Mary's face.

"Severus!" Mary whispered, a slight panic in her voice. "We're in public!"

Severus smirked but pulled away slightly.

"I suppose you are right", he admitted, crossing his arms over his chest. He eyed their surroundings before lowering his voice into a deep, suggestive whisper.

"We could change that, you know?"

Mary's ears burned.

"I-I... Well..." Mary stuttered. Severus raised his eyebrow with a playful glitter in his eyes.

"No one would be missing you, would they?" he pointed out. Mary had realised that as well. Severus was right. Mary could spend as much time as she wanted in Severus classroom or even in his personal chambers without no one ever wondering where she had gone.

"You know", Severus continued as he leaned closer, his voice a deep murmur, "no one would even notice if you didn't go to your own bed at night."

Mary gasped silently, the suggestion clear and unambiguous.

The grin on Severus' lips changed into a gentler and understanding smile as he eyes Mary for a moment. Then, he straightened his back and took a breath.

"No pressure, Mary", he reassured as he placed his hand gently on Mary's shoulder. Mary froze at the sensation – it was both calming and exciting at the same time.

"I'd like to see you this evening, but if that doesn't feel comfortable with you, it's completely alright."

Severus hand lingered on Mary's shoulder for a moment longer before he brushed it off and headed towards the stairs leading to the dungeons.

Mary watched as Severus disappeared in the dark staircase, wondering what just had happened. A part of her was very curious about what it would be like to spend a night in Severus' room, but another part of her vas quite nervous. She knew Severus wouldn't push her into anything she wasn't comfortable with, but still.

As Severus' echoing footsteps faded away, Mary took a deep breath and was about to take a step toward the dimly lit staircase, but a cheery voice interrupted her.

"Oi! Mary!" Fred Weasley yelped as he entered the Entrance Hall through the great oak doors of Hogwarts Castle. Mary stopped midway through the motion and turned her face towards the redhaired boy.

"Hi Fred", Mary smiled, eyeing the young boy who was covered in snow. Fred, whose cheeks were red from the cold, wiped his hair off his face as he steadied his breath,

"Do you want to come out with us?" he suggested and motioned towards the door. Mary glanced out the window, which was half-frozen. Mary could see Fred's twin brother, George, their younger brother Ron and Harry Potter jumping in the snow. A sly smirk crept on Mary's lips.

"I don't know, Fred. I don't want to get into trouble", Mary smirked at the young Gryffindor boy. Fred's eyes twinkled mischievously.

"So you heard?"

Mary nodded, a small laughter escaping her lips.

"Jinxing snowballs after Quirrel? Seriously?" Mary asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "The poor man's already afraid of his own damn shadow. No need to haunt him with snowballs as well..."

Fred rolled his eyes and groaned dramatically as he turned his heel, heading back toward the oak doors.

"You're starting to sound like our mom!" Fred complained as he pushed open the door and jumped back into the snow. Mary shook her head, a warm smile on her lips as she watched the young boy join the others outside. Then, Mary took a deep breath and turned her attention back toward the staircase and what lie beneath it.