10
"Now, since it's getting colder I've got a couple supplement potions in the mix, too. If you think you feel a headache again, take this - and don't forget -"
Madam Pomfrey had caught wind of Sephiroth's migraines. He suspected Hermione was the cause for this, but he couldn't prove anything, and Harry didn't seem to care very much. As it was, Sephiroth wasn't particularly broken up about it, either, especially with the headache relief potions she gave him. In hindsight, he probably should have gone to the Hospital Wing earlier, but stubbornness and irrationality had stopped him.
Now, Madam Pomfrey was berating him for just that. She was Very Unhappy, stemming from the fact he had almost fainted a couple weeks ago (which was apparently a bad sign) and even angrier that he didn't come to her immediately. Despite being a mere medic-witch, or perhaps because of it, no one wanted an irate Madam Pomfrey on their hands. She was the one who would be healing them if they were to get injured, after all, and it was best to have no grudges.
"Can't believe the nerve - lucky the cause wasn't a tumor -"
She was still going strong.
Just as he was starting to think Madam Pomfrey would keep him in the Hospital Wing until the holidays, she released him with another strict warning. Sephiroth made a mental note, as he walked out of the hospital, to never almost faint in front of people again. At least, not in front of Harry or Hermione. Genesis and Angeal could be reasoned with; his brother and Hermione, on the other hand, were prone to excessive worrying. He found it somewhat irritating, given the fact Harry knew he was strong enough to withstand an incredible amount of damage - like an out-of-control vehicle. (Long story - it was Halloween).
Sephiroth stepped out into the courtyard, the brisk, chilly air sending his breath up in small wispy clouds. He pulled his scarf closer around his face, breathing onto his fingers to warm them. Even his cold tolerance had its limits and Hogwarts during the dead of winter was one of them. His boots scuffed on the icy ground, where only hours ago feet of snow had rested. It had been shoveled out by someone. Sephiroth didn't really know who and he seriously doubted it was Filch or a student volunteer, but he would sort away with the other mysteries; such as who was capable of cooking enough food to fill even Sephiroth's stomach.
Outside the castle, on the grounds, there was feet upon feet of unhindered collected snow that had piled up in large drifts from the strong gales of wind. The lake was completely frozen over and he could see several people had transfigured the bottoms of their shoes into blades to skate on. Fred and George were causing all sorts of ruckus with the perfect, white prank material that lay around, ripe for the bewitching. Sephiroth joined in after a couple minutes of watching them.
For a whole five minutes, Sephiroth, Fred, and George ruled the courtyard with snowballs and laughter. They sent at least three students running with snow stuck down their collar, and Fred and George enchanted a snowman to chase after several Slytherin students they reportedly had a grudge against.
They all ended up getting up in trouble with Professor Snape, who was downright furious, for their antics, but as the Weasley twins delicately put it, "It was bloody worth it."
Ten points from Gryffindor for freezing Pansy Parkinson's hair into a pair of dog ears on the top of her head? Yes, he definitely agreed with their sentiments.
After a round of muffled snickering as they set up another cheery surprise in the corridor (it consisted of several rubber balls and bouncing charms), they parted ways to go to their respective classes. Sephiroth had potions, while they were stuck with Professor Quirrel and no doubt they would receive the cold shoulder. They shared grins and quiet laughter as they rounded the hallway corner anyway. Sephiroth suspected they had something new planned for Professor Quirrel.
Potions was uneventful, with Malfoy remaining as stunned and silent as ever, and Sephiroth was beginning to think Snape had them paired up like that on purpose. Perhaps he found the lame and irritating comments Malfoy spewed just as annoying as everyone else. Sephiroth didn't care very much, to be honest - Hermione was obviously still angry with him and had turned the color of her ribbon to pink.
Sephiroth hated pink.
The only thing keeping him from dissolving into a storm of anger and humiliation was the fact he didn't have to go back to the Dursleys for the holidays. Harry had signed them both down to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Ron, Angeal, Genesis, Fred, and George would be staying as well. Apparently their parents were going on a trip, he could remember something about dragons being involved. Hermione was returning home for Christmas, though, and he hoped that when the holidays ended, she'd have forgotten about him fainting.
He was envious of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley going to see dragons, though. No matter what Harry said about flying dragons and flying brooms being the same, he knew it had to be very different. Sure, the dragon would probably try to claw at him and eat him, but at least he could trust the dragon to try and kill him. A broom, on the other hand, could go spastic at the drop of a hat without any warning.
"Oi, watch out!" said Ron loudly.
Sephiroth stopped just in time to keep from running face-first into a large fir tree. He blinked at the dark green branches. The tree blinked back with beady black eyes.
For a whole three seconds, Sephiroth fought the urge to shriek and point and that the tree was looking at him, until he saw the rest of Hagrid standing behind it. He immediately relaxed, flushing a little and hoped no one noticed his moment of panic.
"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" asked Ron nonchalantly.
"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."
"Are you sure?" said Genesis, peering around the branches. "I can trim down the sides."
His hand burst into flames.
Hagrid yanked the tree away with surprising speed, apparently overcoming his obstacle. He eyed the flames warily.
"Nah, I mean it, thanks."
Angeal swatted the back of Genesis's head. Nobody looked twice, yet another thing that happened all the time that people had gotten used to.
"Don't burn the Christmas tree."
"You know, burning the Christmas tree in a tradition in some places -"
"You're not burning the Christmas tree."
"Ripples form on the water's surface," mumbled Genesis to himself.
"I highly doubt anything's going to happen to me," said Angeal flatly.
Now Sephiroth and Harry were staring in bemusement.
"He speaks Loveless?" asked Sephiroth.
"We've all had a lot of practice," said Ron sourly
It occurred to Sephiroth with a jolt that Christmas holidays meant a feast and he found himself, if possible, looking forward to Christmas even more. The Halloween feast had fallen somewhat flat, with the sudden arrival of a troll and being dragged off to the Hospital Wing by Snape. He would take a troll any day, too, over having to endure Snape's proposition of acquiring samples of Genesis's and his blood. Punching a troll was easy, but doing that to a professor would end with him being expelled - unfortunately.
Christmas would give them a chance to have an uninterrupted feast. Although, even if the feast was interrupted, Sephiroth thought he might just leave the chaos to the professors and eat anyway. No way was he letting another random incident get in the way of a tasty feast.
Sephiroth heard Malfoy come up behind them before he even had the chance to speak recognizing the heavy shuffling footfalls of Crabbe and Goyle. He didn't move, hoping that Malfoy would move along if no one reacted. However, he seemed to be looking for a fight this time around and wasn't daunted by Sephiroth's presence for the first time in a while.
"Would you mind moving out of the way?" said Malfoy imperiously. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be a gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose - that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to."
Genesis, Ron, and Angeal lunged at him.
"What do you know about our family?" asked Angeal coldly, gripping the front of Malfoy's robes as Genesis's fists steamed threateningly. "At least we know humility and honor you little -"
"WEASLEY!"
Professor Snape came storming up the stairs, robes swirling around his feet and as bat-like as ever. Scowling fiercely, Angeal released Malfoy, but not before aiming a dark glare at him.
"He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid quickly. "Malfoy was insultin' their family."
"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," Snape demurred. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you."
Sephiroth almost stuck his foot out as Malfoy passed. The only reason he didn't was because Snape still stood there, watching them closely, and the peculiar expression that flitted across Malfoy's face. They made eye contact for a second, Sephiroth feeling more than a little amused by the reactions he was inducing, and Malfoy just about tripped over himself getting away. Sephiroth was really going to have to get to the bottom of this, because it was downright useful having Malfoy avoid him all the time.
Ron was still red-faced and nearly spitting angry, promising sweet vengeance one day, while Angeal looked regretful he hadn't put his fist through Malfoy's face. There was a look of contemplation on Genesis's face that was nothing less than unnerving. Then he snapped his fingers, enlightenment in his eyes.
"I bet he thinks you're a crossdresser!"
Sephiroth, pretending he had suddenly gone deaf, turned and walked into the Great Hall. He was not having this conversation. Except, fate wasn't so kind and Genesis was like a dog with a bone and wouldn't let it go.
"He's been jumpy since last month, probably because he's not quite sure and it's messing with his head."
Maybe if he ignored Genesis long enough, he would give up.
Angeal hummed in agreement and Sephiroth felt what little hope he had they would switch subjects during this side of the hour crumble and die. It wasn't as though he could help the way he looked.
He tried to focus on the Christmas decorations instead, the candles suspended in glittering icy baubles. Green, red, and gold will-o'-the-wisps floated aimlessly around the ceiling like large, colorful stars against the dusky gray enchanted sky. Twelve, thirteen once Hagrid set up the fir he was hauling in, Christmas trees were set around the hall, frost sparkling on their needles. Icicles hung off their branches, along with gold and silver garland that seemed to be fidgeting when it thought no one was looking.
"How many days you got left until yer holidays?" asked Hagrid once he finished setting up the thirteenth tree.
Hermione, who had already been in the hall, her head bowed over a book, answered first. "Just one. And that reminds me - Harry, Ron, Genesis, Angeal, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."
"You didn't mention me?" said Sephiroth.
She cast him an appraising look.
"Are you really going to sit and read?" she asked wryly.
"I read," said Sephiroth defensively.
"Only what you like reading," she countered.
He didn't answer, which was answer enough in and of itself. Hermione nodded sharply and turned back to the others, whose attention had already been stolen Professor Flitwick. He was levitating bubbles of gold onto the Christmas trees to join the icicles and garland.
They all left the hall, as there wasn't any food laid out yet (that was Sephiroth's reason), and they wanted to visit the library (that was everyone else's reason). Hagrid followed closely behind them, shooting out questions.
"The library? Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
Sephiroth knew exactly what Hagrid was hoping for and that he was about to experience a crushing disappointment. He felt a little sorry for Hagrid, who must have berated himself endlessly for letting information out to a couple of first years.
"Oh, we're not working. Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel, we've been trying to find out more about him and the Philosopher's Stone."
Harry aimed a cheery smile at Hagrid.
"You wh - don't say it so loudly!" Hagrid glanced around quickly, expression full of surprise. "Listen here - I've told yeh - drop it. It's nothin' to you what's goin' on with Dumbledore and Flamel!"
"We just want to make sure something as powerful as the Philosopher's Stone is well protected," said Genesis innocently.
Sephiroth eyed him suspiciously. Genesis had never done "innocent" in his life, unless he was trying to get away with something he should not. Standing behind them, Hagrid looked like he was thinking along the same lines. He might as well give Genesis (all of them, really, but it was Genesis he should be afraid of) the answers they were looking for, before something went up in flames.
"But I just don't understand why we even have to do this," said Sephiroth in what was most definitely not a whine. He didn't get an answer.
They headed to the library after parting with Hagrid and now Harry and Ron were piled up to their necks in books as they attempted to find more information on Flamel and the Stone. Hermione had left about an hour ago for the rest of the holidays, but not before she threatened to use a permanent sticking charm on the pink ribbon should something happen again, and he "forgot" to go to the Hospital. She was impressively terrifying and Sephiroth thought they needed to limit her time with Genesis from here on.
At one point, Harry almost tried to convince Madam Pince to give them a permission slip to go into the Restricted Section, but was dissuaded by Angeal. They couldn't think of a good excuse, that didn't involve the truth, as to why they needed to be allowed there. Since they didn't want to risk Madam Pince throwing them out (she was infamous for doing to students who aggravated her), they all unanimously agreed against it.
Eventually, boredom drove Sephiroth to desperation and he started picking out books to read and none of them had anything to do with alchemy or Flamel. He flipped through a book on dragons, his face propped up with his hand. Oliver Wood hadn't been exaggerating when he said they were territorial; according to the book, they would attack mercilessly if anything bigger than a rabbit stepped into their territory. Their aggression varied depending on the species, a couple actually showing potential for taming.
Sephiroth supposed it was that minuscule seed of potential that had dragon enthusiasts like Charlie Weasley running to Romania. He paused on a sketch of a dragon, one hundred foot wingspan with serrated claws and jagged teeth, and had to stop himself smiling. He was tempted to shove the book in Harry's face, because look a dragon bigger than Fluffy, the three-headed short-haired dog, how cool! but remembered Harry hadn't let go of the "dragons try to kill people" thing.
He settled with pulling down half the shelf on dragons instead. It didn't look like Harry, Ron, or Genesis planned on moving anytime soon, even if Sephiroth highly doubted Genesis was actually reading anything other than Loveless. There was no way he could look so enthralled with a book on famous old wizards. Sephiroth was soon joined by Angeal, who, after several hours, was as enthusiastic as Sephiroth about their library visit.
This peace only lasted for another half hour before Sephiroth started getting hungry.
"Let's go!"
"One more book, Seph," said Harry distractedly.
"You said that two shelves ago!"
"You could go one without him, you know," said Ron, peering over the top of Wizards and Witches of Then and Now.
Sephiroth spluttered indignantly. Go without Harry? What was he thinking? Before he could formulate a comeback, Ron let out a sigh and set the book down.
"But he's right, I'm getting hungry, too."
They left soon after and to Sephiroth's great relief, there were no long library visits once the holidays swung into motion. With the castle empty of most of the students, it was free for them to wander around all day without receiving odd looks. Sephiroth did a lot of exploring with Fred and George, something Harry wouldn't participate in after the first secret passageway nearly collapsed on them. Food was served almost twenty-four-seven, so Sephiroth munched on food all throughout the day. He had planned on making an excursion into the Forbidden Forest, but had taken one look at the expression on Harry's face and decided not to.
On the day before Christmas Day, the Weasley twins started a giant snowball fight that escalated into a full-on battle of tactics and maneuvers. Sephiroth had teamed with Harry, Genesis, and Angeal, while Ron had ended up as Fred's and George's meat shield. Ron had complained for a long while that the teams weren't fair, even trying to negotiate Sephiroth's transfer to his team. They used the opportunity to ambush the twins and Ron and win the war.
Sephiroth thought Fred and George might have sworn to get back at him for the trickery, but it was lost under the chaos of the snowball fight. He hoped not, because Fred and George had a vicious streak that knew no bounds.
When they went to bed that night, Ron was inordinately overjoyed considering the landsliding loss he suffered only hours ago, but Sephiroth pegged it to the affects of the holidays. He had completely forgotten about another tradition of Christmas that neither Harry nor himself had ever been a part of: presents. This was mostly due to the fact he had never gotten a single Christmas present (or any other present) in his life.
Sephiroth woke later than the others on Christmas Day, nearly kicking his gifts to the floor when he went to spring out of bed. They were wrapped in varying paper, from plain brown packaging to a bright red and green one from Hermione. He stared at the gifts - which thankfully didn't stare back at him, but remained part of reality nonetheless.
"There's presents!" said Harry excitedly.
Sephiroth nodded mutely.
"We've got real presents!"
"What'd you expect, turnips?" said Ron.
Genesis was already tackling his pile of gifts.
"Sephiroth might be happy with food," he said, but he was eyeing them both critically, as though searching for something hidden away.
As Harry set to opening the package from Hagrid, Sephiroth gave his gifts a wary eye. Last time he received presents during Christmas, it had been a particularly nasty gag gift from Dudley, who filled a small box with insects he had personally dismembered. He watched in surprise as Harry unwrapped a carved wooden flute, Angeal hovering close to admire the small owl-faced detail engraved on the end. As Harry put the flute away to work on another package, Sephiroth allowed himself to start hoping.
"What are you waiting for?" asked Genesis impatiently, noticing that he was sitting there motionlessly.
Shaking himself from the daze that had settled over him, Sephiroth started on his pile of gifts as well. The packages from Hagrid were all wrapped in the same paper, but the gift was very different. Instead of a flute, it was a strange, oval-like instrument that fit in both of his hands nicely, with a small mouth piece and several holes dotted along the top. The name was hovering somewhere in the back of his head, but before he could puzzle it out, Hagrid's letter fell out of the packaging to explain everything. It was an ocarina, an instrument that, according to myth, could channel magic if the player was good enough.
He ran his fingers over the surface, polished to the point of silkiness, and could almost hear a strange, but not unwelcoming, melody emanating from the instrument. It was his first Christmas gift. He cradled it delicately, as if the ocarina would break easily, and wondered how. How had Hagrid known this little dream of his?
When he noticed the others watching him with varying degrees of worry and confusion, he set aside the ocarina and moved on to the next parcel. It was from the Dursleys. Sephiroth cringed, waiting until he was sure no one was looking, and then started quietly peeling away the paper. The last thing he wanted was Genesis, Angeal, or Ron to see him given something like orange peels.
His eye twitched when what resembled a bent and battered clothes hanger came free of the paper. He distantly contemplated the likelihood of them having taken one of the hangers from the cupboard. Judging from the dull sheen of rust, it seemed to be the case. They had always tolerated him a little less than Harry. While Harry at least had blood relation, Sephiroth was the stray dog they took in on a whim and begging on Harry's part.
The world was blurry and strange and green. Air burned his lungs with every breath, he couldn't keep his eyes open for longer than a split second.
People stood above him, dispassionate and cold. And a high, young voice -
"He'll die if we just leave him!"
"Is that a hanger?" came Genesis's voice, breaking through Sephiroth's memories.
Sephiroth went to shove the scrap of wire under his blankets, only to have it abruptly seized by Genesis, who looked as though he had been personally offended.
"Seriously? What kind of arse sent you a hanger?" he said angrily.
Sephiroth went to snatch it away, but Genesis was surprisingly fast.
"It's probably metal art or something," he said lamely.
"Did Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia send it?" asked Harry. "I've got a fifty-pence piece."
"They're warming up to you?" said Sephiroth, bemused.
"Your relatives sent this?" said Genesis furiously. "I'm going to punch his face when I see him, mark my words."
Angeal didn't make a sound of disapproval and they all knew where he stood in the situation.
However, Sephiroth knew how the Dursleys would react to something like that and was most definitely not comforted. He had tried not to think about it the entire holidays, and the school days before then, but he and Harry would have to return to Privet Drive for the summer.
"I'd wondered about your folks," said Ron awkwardly. "But they're real pieces of work, aren't they?"
"Yeah," agreed Sephiroth readily. Harry might try to keep it quiet, but he had no qualms badmouthing the Dursleys. "They're the worst."
They all stared at him.
"What?"
"U-um, nothing," said Ron. He noticed Harry reaching for another gift and flushed lightly. "I think I know who that one's from. My mom. I told her you didn't expect any presents and - she's made you a Weasley sweater."
He turned to Sephiroth and poked another parcel.
"I think she got you one, too."
Sephiroth quickly tore open the gift, feeling that warm joy that people spoke of during Christmas for the first time. He was fairly sure he was glowing with happiness. Sure enough, there was a hand-knitted green and silver patterned sweater, thick and warm, with a large box that smelled a lot like sugar and chocolate. He was instantly distracted by the box, disbelieving, because he hadn't met a single person in the entire world who would willingly give him sugar.
Ron's expression fell again.
"Oh, no," he moaned. "I told her you eat a lot . . . because you were malnourished, or whatever Madam Pomfrey said. And . . ."
Sephiroth's box was roughly double to size of Harry's.
"You probably shouldn't eat that all at once," said Harry warningly. "Sugar -"
"It was just one time!"
"A whole box, bloody hell," Ron mumbled. "We're doomed."
"Wait, what happens when he has sugar again?" asked Angeal.
Harry stared at him, vaguely disturbed. Sephiroth thought the action was extremely unwarranted and exaggerated. It wasn't as though the entire house burned down, just the kitchen - and part of the living area. At this point, it was a real mystery why the Dursleys hadn't abandoned him on some dark alleyway.
They all turned to look at the box in Sephiroth's lap and he quickly scooped it up protectively. He didn't care how neurotic (Harry thought) he got after ingesting sugar, he had been given the chocolate fudge and would keep the fudge, no matter what they said.
"Just try to keep the acrobatic tricks to a minimum," said Harry.
Sephiroth blinked innocently.
"What acrobatic tricks?"
"Nothing," said Harry with a strained smile. "Don't worry about it."
They returned to unwrapping their gifts, while Sephiroth absently ate the fudge from Mrs. Weasley. Everyone relaxed when nothing catastrophic happened, making him curious about exactly what Harry told them. Hermione sent Ron a box of Every Flavor Beans, while Harry was given a large package of Chocolate Frogs. Sephiroth had several cauldron cakes and Angeal opened a package of licorice snakes. Genesis was already struggling to eat one of the many round, burning red candies he had received - his face was very red, making Sephiroth believe it was probably spicy. Mrs. Weasley sent everyone else sweaters with boxes of sweets as well, although Angeal had to wrestle Genesis and Ron into theirs.
When Harry came to his final gift, all three of the Weasley family gasped at the same time as a silky blanket-like square of cloth fell to the floor. Sephiroth leaned over to get a better look after Harry retrieved it, finding nothing unusual or spectacular about the cloth, other than its strangely fluid material.
"Is that an invisibility cloak?" said Genesis, his eyes widened. "Those are incredibly rare and valuable. Who sent it?"
"Try it on first!" urged Ron. "Just to be sure."
Genesis argued it was definitely an invisibility cloak, but even if they were already sure, they all wanted to see it in action, Sephiroth included. Harry pulled the slippery cloak around his shoulders, instantly disappearing from the neck down. Ron gave a shout and Harry ran for the mirror.
"That'll make sneaking around so much easier!" crowed Genesis.
Sephiroth's excitement for the invisibility cloak dwindled. Next thing he knew, Genesis would be asking to see the three-headed dog (he refused to call it Fluffy) or something.
"What's this?" said Angeal, grabbing a letter from off the floor. "It fell out of the cloak, Harry."
Sephiroth read over Harry's shoulder: Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A Very Merry Christmas to you. Whoever wrote the letter had the same kind of loopy, fancy handwriting as Genesis. He tried to think, out of all the professors, who would have handwriting like that. And then it occurred to him the sender wasn't even a professor.
"No signature?" Genesis leaned away from their shoulders, humming thoughtfully. "That is somewhat disappointing."
Sephiroth reached over, letting his fingers slide through the fabric with a faintly wry smile. Harry had gotten a memento from his father, proof the man had once existed, right in his arms. Even if learning the secrets of his power was unappealing, Sephiroth couldn't deny he wasn't curious about his own parents. At the very least, Harry had names, and now an invisibility cloak, to go off of. He thought he should be incredibly jealous, but really, he only felt happiness for his brother.
"That wonderful," Sephiroth said quietly. "Right? This belonged to your Dad once."
"Yeah," said Harry, giving a slight smile. "Yeah, I guess -"
The dormitory door slammed open and Fred and George came trampling in, shouting and merrily inquiring as to what was taking them so long. Sephiroth noticed Harry hide the cloak and immediately understood he would rather keep it to himself before showing anyone else. Sephiroth thought he might do the same if he found something of his parents.
"Hey, look - they've got Weasley sweaters, too!"
George rolled over one of the beds to get to them sooner, inspecting Sephiroth's sweater closely with the air of a professional critic. Fred was commending Angeal for getting Genesis and Ron in their sweaters - especially noting that Genesis's was even untouched by fire, which was a feat. Genesis and Ron scowled, the latter grumbling about the color maroon, whilst Genesis complained he wanted a real leather trench coat, not another hand-knitted sweater.
"Harry's and Sephiroth's are better than ours, though," said Fred, inspecting the big H stitched onto the front. "She obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family."
"Ron, you haven't got a letter on yours," said George pointedly. "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid - we know we're called Gred and Forge."
Sephiroth's eyebrows flew up and he couldn't help but laugh at their antics.
"Oh, and you're Angesis and Gengeal, of course," said Fred.
"Please, don't," said Genesis in a moan.
"What's all this noise?" came Percy Weasley's voice as he peered around the door. There was a sweater under his arm, which the twins immediately zeroed on. Sephiroth already knew what was about to happen and stifled a snicker under his hand.
Fred grabbed the sweater with lightning reflexes.
"P for prefect! Get it on, Percy, come one, we're all wearing ours, even Harry and Sephiroth got one."
"Although Sephiroth's is a little big," said George. "Think that's the size she plans on fattening him up to?"
"Probably," agreed Fred.
Sephiroth really hoped not, because the sweater was roughly double his size. He was practically swimming in it.
Moments later, Percy was flushed with anger and embarrassment, the sweater having been forced down over his head. His glasses were crooked on his nose, his arms pinned by the sweater, and Sephiroth would bet the twins did it on purpose.
"And you're not sitting with the prefects today, either," George was saying. "Christmas is a time for family."
Sephiroth would have sat there, thinking deeply about family and Christmas, except Fred came marching back a couple minutes after dragging Percy forcibly down the stairs. He didn't get the chance before the world went upside down rather suddenly.
"Come on, minion! You're coming with us," said Fred, Sephiroth tossed on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Wha - put me down!"
Sephiroth aimed a kick, but didn't put any real force behind it. He didn't want to hurt Fred.
"You really are a midget!" laughed Fred.
Sephiroth started thrashing and kicking him with plenty of force. He eventually managed to get free, but not before Fred and George paraded him around the common room and named him their new mascot. Sephiroth was dismayed by the good reception the remaining students gave that decision.
Later that day came the Christmas feast. If Sephiroth thought the start-of-term feast was large, the Christmas feast was colossal. He thought he might start crying tears of pure joy. Right in front of him, as if the chef (he still didn't know who really cooked and baked all the food at Hogwarts) knew exactly what he wanted, was a roast turkey. He would be able to finish off a couple of those by himself. Then there was the vegetables that Sephiroth remembered to eat, due to the thought of Madam Pomfrey. He had another eating contest with Ron, who lost soundly yet again.
Those little wizard crackers ended up putting a pair of cat ears on his head and Fred and George once again tried to parade him around as a mascot. Harry was absolutely no help, as he was too busy eating and laughing and watching the professors humiliate themselves periodically. The professors, who were supposed to keep an eye on their students, were dipping in the wine and either didn't notice or didn't care that Sephiroth was being manhandled.
"I'm not a cat and I'm not Gryffindor team's mascot!" he all but screeched as they tried to toss him up on their shoulders again. This time, he was ready for it and dodged them on every try. "Aniki!"
Harry glanced up, only to burst into giggles when he saw the cat ears.
"It's a nice look, Seph."
Fred almost caught him again, he was so surprised by Harry's response.
"Where's a camera when you need one?" grumbled Genesis.
Sephiroth realized suddenly his life could have been a lot worse and stopped complaining. He solemnly hoped no one ever came to Hogwarts with a camera. After the twins finally stopped chasing him around, he noticed the white mice Harry had corralled in a large bowl.
"Looks like Shinra's getting a Christmas feast, too," said Sephiroth cheerily. The black and white cat mewled on his shoulder.
"No he's not!" said Harry, alarmed. He scooped the mice-filled bowl closer to his chest.
Sephiroth thought that if Shinra didn't eat the mice, Mrs. Norris definitely would. He didn't say that out loud, though.
For desert was flaming Christmas pudding, which was something Sephiroth had heard of for a change, but never had tried. Everyone was too busy with their wizard crackers and pudding to even worry about him having even more sugar in the same day.
He blew off the extra energy when Fred and George started another snowball fight that far outshone the last one. It was the battle of the century, spreading out of the grounds and into the castle, with all the professors far too tipsy to stop them from using magic in the corridors. Sephiroth ended up teaming with Genesis and Angeal, the three of them annihilating the opposing teams, while Fred and George loudly proclaimed their mascot had betrayed them. Sephiroth made sure to aim specifically at the twins.
The three of them made an excellent team, with Genesis always leading the first attack and Angeal following up. While the others were distracted by them (and the occasional ball of fire that Genesis "accidentally" lobbed, which melted any snow forts), Sephiroth would pelt them with as many snowballs as he could enchant. It was a very one-sided snowball fight, but they were all laughing too hard to care.
Evening fell, turning the sky dusky blue, and they finally crashed into the Gryffindor common room for the night. Sephiroth sat with everyone around the fireplace as they all worked on thawing from their long snowball fight, although Genesis was already dry and neither Angeal nor Sephiroth was bothered by the cold. Fred and George told what they claimed were Christmas stories, but Sephiroth suspected they had just taken the scariest ghost stories they knew and altered them.
Sephiroth watched Harry play his new wizard chess set against Ron. Harry blamed his complete loss on Percy's faulty suggestions - Sephiroth knew it was because Harry wasn't nearly at Ron's level when it came to strategy. Neither of them said this out loud and chose to blame it on Percy.
That night, Sephiroth fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He suspected this would be one of the best days of his entire life. He was just drifting into the deeper, dreamless sleeps resulting from a long, hard day at play, when he was shaken back to wakefulness.
"Sephiroth."
Harry was hovering over him, invisibility cloak in one hand, the other on his shoulder.
"Wake up," he said softly.
He didn't have to say anything for Sephiroth to know that he wanted to go exploring with his father's cloak. And for all Sephiroth had complained that he didn't want to go on another late-night excursion, after such a long and enjoyable day, he couldn't say no.
Sephiroth sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes and nodded in understanding. Harry's eyes were shining with eagerness.
"Let's go!"
A/N: Yes I gave Sephiroth an ocarina. And it doesn't even completely have to do with my obsession of Legend of Zelda! It just so happens the plot allows for my obsession to shine.
Guest: Yeah, I do have plans for that. I don't know about a magical choir and orchestra (although that's freaking hilarious XD), but it's really important. ...Um, yeah. That's all I'll say. :D
Thanks for the follows, favs and reviews! Special thanks to Kairitrion Cerulean and FireEmblemLover39!