title: Yuletide Surprises

author: lisa roquin

rating:

fandom: BtVS/HP

series/sequel: semi sequel to Mistletoe Mischief

Pairings: Neville/Parvati, Cordelia/Severus

disclaimer: all copyrighted characters and their "universes" belong to their respective authors, writers, creators, production companies, producers and long lists of people that are so very much not me. Quite simply, if you recognize it, it isn't mine. No profit made, no harm intended, just having fun.

summary: Neville and Cordelia are plotting out very special Holiday surprises for their significant others.

author's note: TtH Fic For All 2004

"C'mon, let's see...Oh. My. God. Did your grandmother pick that out?"

Neville swallowed and blushed. "Er, yes,"

"Not your color. Severus, get your cute butt in here."

Neville's eyes widened. "Professor--"

"What!"

"Navy blue please."

Severus growled. "You have a wand."

"Can't. You have to."

Severus glowered.

"Remember what happened last year with the Mistletoe?"

Severus growled and pointed his wand.

"Really it-"

"Shut up, Longbottom," Severus growled and cast the spell. "Is that it?"

"Never mind. C'mon Neville. Minnie can help us."

"Help with what?"

"Getting Neville decked out for the Yule Ball."

"Oh. That."

"Yeah, that." Cordelia laughed.

~*~*~

"You--you're crazy to make him mad." Neville whispered as he and Cordelia made their way down the hall.

"Neville, you're a professor here now. You've got to stop being afraid of Severus some day."

"Professor Snape hates me!"

"Hey, you got through his class without blowing anyone up, and you've graduated. That's brought you well out of the 'dunderhead needs strung up by his toes' category," Cordelia smiled.

"You haven't told him yet have you?"

Cordelia shook her head. "Nope, Christmas Eve. Poppy's making the tea for the morning sickness til then. Thanks again for growing the whatchamacallits."

Neville nodded. "We're even, if Parvati accepts."

"Of course she will, she's nuts about you." Cordelia grinned.

"The Professor's going to go spare that you waited a whole three weeks to tell him, Professor Chase-Snape"

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Neville, you can call me by my name."

"You're married to Professor Snape" Neville shook his head, wide eyed.

Cordelia laughed. "He's just a big ole pussycat."

Neville gaped.

"Big ole cranky pussycat, but still a pussy cat."

"Maybe with you, but no one else."

~*~*~

"What are you two up to?" Minerva McGonagall smiled fondly as Cordelia marched Neville into her office.

"He's proposing to Parvati after the Yule ball. His grandmother picked out his robe." Cordelia announced bluntly.

"Well congratualtions, Neville."

"She hasn't said yes yet, Professor."

"Minerva," she corrected. "What were you thinking Cordelia? And something needs to be done with that hair as well...let my floo Tonks and get her in here as well."

Neville stared in wide-eyed horror, he'd only wanted Cordelia to make sure his dress robes looked alright.

~*~*~

"What have you been up to?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you, you impossible woman. You've been fussing over Longbottom like a mother dragon with only one egg. Minverva and Tonks have as well."

"Can you keep a secret?" Cordelia asked with an eager grin.

He gave her a baleful glare. "No, I survived 20 years of spying wholly unable to keep a secret."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Apples and oranges. THis is the nobody dies you can torment someone with the information kind of secret."

"I won't say a word."

"Promise?"

"Merlin," Severus groaned. "You are impossible."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Neville's going to propose to Parvati."

"WHen?"

"The after the Yule Ball. You promised!"

"I'm not saying a word on the matter, simply wondering how long it will be until I see my wife again." Severus snorted. "That boy needs all the help he can get."

"Be nice," Cordelia swatted Severus' arm playfully.

~*~*~

Christmas Eve both Neville and Cordelia were nervous wrecks. Cordelia informed Neville he was being a twit. Parvati adored him. She'd hinted for the past year she was waiting on a ring from Neville. The wedding could easily be held at Hogwarts during the summer, just as Cordelia and Severus' had been and that was before Cordelia had officially taken over Muggle Studies. It was that much more justifiable with Parvati teaching Divination and Neville teaching Herbology.

Neville thought Cordelia was being silly. The only thing Cordelia had to worry about Severus going spare over not telling him for three weeks.

"The silly chit will accept and in twelve years or so I'll have his spawn in my classroom attempting to kill me."

Cordelia laughed. "I thought Parvati was 'barely acceptable' while a student."

"I fully expect their progeny to be deadly with a cauldron."

~*~*~

At Christmas Dinner Albus Dumbledore cheerfully announced that Professor Patil and Professor Longbottom were engaged and Professor Snape and Professor Chase-Snape were expecting their first child in July.