SS19's Advent Calendar

I will just say that these stories are meant to be light-hearted and cheerful - don't get me wrong, I love angst, but it's all I seem to write and I find it rather tiring some times! I'll keep the angst to my longer stories, and this one can be cheerful. Yay for cheerfulness! Also - skypeeper - GET OUT OF HERE WITH YOUR ALBUS HATING...I will have to write other fics to keep you entertained my love! :) ~ SS19

4th December: Gingerbread Houses

A little Christmas fun in Albus' cottage. Dedicated to SpencerReid and YenGirl; you gave me very similar prompts, so here is my offering! I hope you enjoy!

Severus opened his eyes a crack and winced when bright light streamed through the gap and burned his brain. He moaned and turned onto his side, away from the light, wondering what on earth was happening -

"Severus! Rise and shine!"

His question was answered by the singsong voice that penetrated the haze around him. "Go away." He managed, "I am trying to sleep."

"But Severus, it is half past ten on this wonderful wintry morning. I also baked some biscuits for you - gingerbread - you like gingerbread, remember?" Weight next to him suggested Albus had sat beside him on the bed, and this meant he was not planning on leaving Severus alone any time soon. Surrendering, Severus turned his face back to Albus and opened his eyes. "Why can you not just let a man sleep?"

Albus seemed to not have an answer to this question. "You cannot sleep in all morning, Severus - that is not good for you." There was a rather bemused smile playing on Albus' lips which alarmed Severus, "What in Merlin's name are you grinning at?"

"My, my, we are miserable in the mornings, are we not?" Albus teased affectionately, "Feeling a little under the weather, are we, my boy?"

Severus glared at Albus, "If you would like to make yourself useful, you could find me a hangover remedy."

Albus laughed, "No, for I am sadistic and I prefer to see you suffer. If you sit up, you can have one of my biscuits and that should make you feel better." He lingered for a moment at the end of the last sentence, "I also, greatly admire your pyjamas…"

Severus looked down at his arms and flinched, "What the hell -" His head shot up, "Why am I wearing your pyjamas?"

Albus had suddenly become very interested in something happening outside the window, twiddling his thumbs together in his lap. Severus seemed horrified by the blue material with golden snitches, "Albus." Now fully awake, he took in his surroundings - for a start, the bed was larger than his usual single, and the bedspread was far too colourful for him to have chosen, and he didn't quite remember the portraits opposite him - he blinked and sat up, despite the dizziness. "What happened last night?"

"I thought you would never ask." Albus joked, "You had a little too much Firewhiskey."

"I can tell that thank you." Severus shot back in return, "What were we doing?"

Albus leaned forward, "Well." He murmured in a conspiratorial tone, eyes latching onto Severus'. He could sense alarm in the younger man and that made him smile. "We were playing chess and I - " Dramatic pause, "Beat you."

"You did not." Severus argued.

"I did. Twice." Albus smiled and patted Severus' arm, "I know, it's terrible, isn't it? You really are losing your edge. So, you, in a normal melodramatic way, had two beakers of Firewhiskey to console yourself. Ten minutes later, you were fast asleep. So I put you here because it is the closest bedroom to the study." Albus explained, and Severus nodded slowly, processing this information. "And - ah - where did you sleep?"

Albus seemed surprised by this question, "Well, next to you of course…" It was the horrified expression on Severus' face that threatened to send Albus into hysterics and he shook his head, unable to keep himself together, "That was a joke, Severus dear. I used the guest bedroom. Your face - oh dear, I should not do that sort of thing to you." He was being rewarded with a rather dark glare and Albus suspected Severus was plotting wicked revenge for his comments. He smiled to diffuse the anger and after a moment, Severus reciprocated the expression. "One day, Headmaster, you will be the death of me." Severus responded, closing his eyes and resting his head back against the headboard. Albus watched him for a moment, "Are you sure you wish to stay the rest of the holiday with me?"

One eye looked at Albus, "Yes, thank you, despite your terrible sense of humour. You know I like this cottage."

"And?" Albus prompted.

"The herb garden - I swear, considering you detest gardening, you have managed to encourage some rather rare herbs to grow here."

"Is that all?" Albus asked softly.

"No." Severus met Albus' gaze, "I also like the extensive library which dwarfs mine." His expression was almost affectionate, "I like the company most of all."

"Excellent. Here, have a biscuit." Albus offered the plate to Severus. Severus, feeling hungry, looked at the plate with an air of concern. "…What…exactly, was this meant to be?"

Albus looked at it, "Well, it was meant to be a snowman…" He trailed off as Severus picked up the twisted, misshapen ball of cooked gingerbread dough and raised one eyebrow at him. "I am sure it still tastes fantastic."

Looking skeptically at Albus, Severus bit into the biscuit and chewed cautiously. Albus watched him for a moment before standing up to check the radiator, "It is cold in here."

Severus continued to chew slowly, a frown crossing his forehead. "What is in this?" He asked, syllables slightly blurred due to the fact his mouth was full. Albus glanced at him while examining the radiator, "The usual - I used a recipe. Why? Is it possibly the most delectable thing you have ever tasted?"

Severus nodded, "It's - interesting, certainly…" A long pause, before Severus shook his head and pulled the napkin from the plate and spat the gingerbread out, "I'm sorry, Albus, but that is revolting." He conjured a glass of water and swallowed several large mouthfuls before looking at Albus, "How much sugar did you use?"

"Four cups, as the recipe said." Albus answered, hurt at Severus' reaction. "A little too much?"

"How big were the cups?" Severus demanded, pushing the plate away. "Albus, can you actually cook?"

"Well - I can follow instructions - or at least, I thought I could." He looked rather put out. "I wanted to build a gingerbread house, too."

Severus watched him and then groaned, "Fine. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and then I will help you."

Albus straightened, "You know how to make a gingerbread house?" He seemed delighted by this when Severus nodded. "Excellent. I must say, I do like this Severus - you are much more agreeable than you normally are."

Severus swung his legs over the edge of the bed and glanced at Albus, "I am not at Hogwarts, the Dark Lord promised me a two week break, I do not need to sit next to Sirius Black for three weeks and - finally - I no longer have to stare at Potter every day." He stood, "Thus, I have enough time to show you how to properly construct a gingerbread house."

"Those pyjamas really are quite adorable, Severus." Albus complimented, and Severus folded his arms over his chest, "Simply darling, aren't they?"

Ten minutes later, Albus and Severus were stood in the kitchen of Albus' seaside cottage, lights bright despite the curtains being open. Albus' seaside retreat was a second home for the older wizard and his guests - which most often included Severus. Albus had made sure Severus knew he was always welcome in the small cottage - and during the holidays, they had often stayed together so Severus could collect herbs from the woods and enjoy the sea air. At Christmas, the cottage was decorated with various trinkets and other such things, a large tree dominated the living room covered in flickering candles, and fairy lights adorned nearly every surface. Albus called it home, and he had heard Severus use the same noun once - although at the current moment, Severus was rifling through one of the cupboards looking for something while Albus was contemplating the recipe book he had consulted earlier that day. "See here, Severus. Cups."

"Yes, Albus, cups. Not - as you thought - goblets. They are not the same thing in brewing or in cooking." Severus' voice was muffled by the cupboard as he withdrew with a glass mixing bowl in hand. "Here. Watch and learn, Albus."

"Just because you are a brewer, does not mean you can cook."

"Oh, please, Albus. The two skills go hand in hand. Where is the recipe you were using?" He looked through the instructions, pressing the page down with the palm of his hand. "First - do you have some scales?"

Albus considered for a moment, "No, why would I need scales?"

Severus stared at him. "You plan to cook with no scales?" He shook his head, "No. Not possible. We'll use mine." He disappeared from the room and left Albus to pick up a pencil and his parchment and sketch what he wanted the house to look like. He was so absorbed in this drawing that he did not see Severus come back and look over his shoulder. "Somehow I doubt we will be recreating Hogwarts castle Albus."

"You never know, Severus. How can I help?" There was some childlike excitement in his voice, which made Severus smile as he placed his scales on the table. "We'll use actual measurements this time, Albus. There - use my scales and measure those out." He gestured to the recipe while putting the saucepan on the stove and melting butter on the low heat. He kept one eye on Albus and his measuring, slightly alarmed at how careless Albus was - "It says two hundred grams - not two hundred and thirteen…"

Albus turned and faced Severus, "I doubt thirteen grams will make much difference, Severus…"

"Much difference? If everybody said that when making potions, everything would be too sweet and there would be many more accidents!" Severus exclaimed.

Albus folded his arms, "If you weren't such a damned perfectionist - we are not making a dangerous potion, we are making a cake."

Severus narrowed his eyes, "If you don't want my help…"

"I'd like your help if you can put your scholarly side away and just enjoy the relaxed atmosphere here…" Albus finished, and Severus turned away to stir his butter. There was an awkward pause before Albus came to stand by Severus' shoulder and examine his melting butter. "You're stirring it the wrong direction."

Severus turned to glare at Albus and Albus dabbed the tip of his nose with flour with a playful grin. The ice was gone and Severus rubbed his nose with his sleeve, "You can be chief architect, Albus."

"This pleases me - what's next?"

"Icing." Severus responded, "We put the walls and the roof in the oven, and then you seal the walls with icing."

"Cement, Severus. Cement. I would not try building a house with icing, I doubt it would be very weatherproof…"

The hours passed and the colour drained from the sky leaving inky black behind.

"Well." Severus broke the silence. "I suppose it does look like a house." He straightened his head back to it usual vertical position, "From a particular angle, of course." They were examining the crumpled house on the plate before them. Albus seemed rather desolate, "I do not understand what happened. It was a sturdy enough structure and we made sure the architecture did not weigh down the walls. Then the roof collapsed, and that was the end."

Severus crossed to kneel beside Albus, "I think they all escaped safely." He said seriously, and this made Albus laugh. "Would you like to say a few words, Albus?" He patted Albus' hand and passed him a piece of the gingerbread. "At least it's edible this time." They were both quiet for a moment as they tucked into the house and the icing.

Albus watched Severus for a long moment and then started to laugh again. Severus glanced at him, bemused. "Severus, you are covered in flour and icing sugar."

Severus seemed amused by this, "I cannot tell with you - your beard is so white - "

Albus reached over and pulled a piece of cake from Severus' collar. "Such a respectful tone. Well, this was certainly more fun than staying in bed all day."

"I concur." Severus murmured. "It's nice cake."

"Very nice cake, Severus." Albus paused, "Now. How about a game of chess?"

Still accepting prompts!