Severus pulled himself up, grasping the wall for support as his feet slid in the small pool of blood below. Immediately, long fingers gripped his hair and jerked tightly, making him wince in pain. From the corner of the room his mother pleaded softly, crying, "Tobias, don't..."
His father's face was fifty-seven years worth of chiseled flesh - hollow and deeply lined from day after day of working in dreary factories. It had become unrecognizable, completely veiled by a mask of rage and hate. He jerked his hands again and Severus lost his footing, crying out as hairs ripped from his skull. "Think you're gonna play your tricks in my house, think you're gonna read your damned books under my roof, well I'll tell you what sonny, I'm not standing for this ungodly nonsense any longer." He gave Severus a hard shove, then grabbed a nearby suitcase and flung it open. "Take your things and get out! I don't care whether you have anywhere to go. Get out."
Five minutes later, Severus was standing outside in the snow, clutching his belongings and listening to the screaming still coming from the house. Cheap tinsel was strung along the drain pipe, and a few scraggly branches of holly hung on the door. Still in a daze and with the blood on his face beginning to freeze, he asked himself, "What now?"
There were only two functioning streetlights in Spinner's End. He chose the farthest one from where his house was and sat under it, shivering a little. His watch had shattered when he had fallen, and the hands were pointing to ten-thirty-nine. The heavy clouds covered the moon, and Severus felt extremely exposed and nervous sitting there in the city's most violent neighborhood. Glancing around to make sure he wasn't being watched, he pulled a pen from his suitcase and scribbled a short note. He folded the parchment and gently opened the door to his owl's cage. Cinnabar was a tiny hawk owl, black and sleek with a sharp, intelligent gaze. "Take this to the school, and please hurry. You can hunt next time, I promise."
Without a sound, the bird ruffled her feathers and took off, leaving the skinny boy waiting alone in one solitary circle of light.
Remus sang Carol of the Bells to himself as he hung mistletoe and holly wreaths around the Great Hall. It was unusual for him to be anywhere on his own, but this holiday he was the only one of his friends who wasn't elsewhere for Christmas. Sirius had gone skiing with the Potters, and Pettigrew was spending the holiday in the hospital wing with scales for skin after one of his potions had erupted in class. In truth, Remus was feeling rather deserted and lonely, but he didn't want to ruin anybody else's vacations by expressing any negative feelings. Instead, he sang louder.
"Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away..."
The tables were already laid out for the evening feast, emerald and ruby candles glittering every few seats down. The silver plates and goblets were polished to a shine, the checkered napkins folded neatly, and fir needles were scattered on the shimmering gold tablecloth. Around him, other students were hanging wreaths and laughing cheerfully. A couple of second year girls were watching Remus from the corner, giggling and listening to him sing. He tried his best to ignore them, but he couldn't help smiling and raising his voice a little more.
"Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold..."
Back in the the Marauders' dorm, Remus had laid out hand wrapped presents on the three other beds. He frowned slightly as he thought of how he wouldn't be able to spend the holiday with them, and how he had been anxiously waiting to see them open the gifts. For James he had bought a Snitch designed to stay within twelve meters of its owner, so that he could practice catching it without worrying about it flying into McGonagall's room. The last time that had happened...well, he didn't want to think about it. For Sirius he'd gotten a muggle chew toy for dogs, just for laughs. He knew the present would be far more appreciated than anything serious.
As for Peter… Remus had tried to do his best. He'd wrapped up a couple of holiday treats and thrown in a new pair of dragonhide gloves. They were expensive, but he'd felt bad for not knowing what his friend really wanted, so he hoped something practical would make up for the neglect.
"Cut it out," he muttered to himself, and forced a content expression back on his face. It wasn't fair to begrudge his friends. After all, James and Sirius were having fun, so why should he wish they were here with him instead? And poor Peter was half a lizard. But his self-held conversation was cut short by a gasp from one of the second years, and he turned in time to see a tiny black owl hurdling through one of the windows directly into his face. The next thing he knew, he was on his back, surrounded by a group of very anxious looking girls.
"Are you okay?"
"You were knocked out...just for a minute though."
"Here, you can lean on me if you want!"
He sat up and brushed himself off. He ignored the girls and looked around for the owl. It was perched on the ladder he had been climbing moments before. There was a tiny piece of parchment tied to one leg, and Remus walked over and pulled it off. The owl waited patiently as Remus unfolded the note. It read:
West Spinner's End with nowhere to go and not a safe place to be alone. Need someone to get me, quickly.
-S. Snape
Solemnly, Remus folded the note up and slid it into his pocket. Nodding at the bird, he said, "We'll get him back, don't worry."
