Chapter 10: On Christmas Day

A/N: Again sorry it took me so long but a Christmas chapter for the holidays. Enjoy.

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"Ah Christmas break the time we've all been waiting for." Ethan sighed in happiness as he collapsed on one of the plush couches in the Slytherin common room. Their last class of the first term had just ended and many Slytherins were grabbing their trunks before they went home for the break.

"Are you guys going home for the break?" Lydia asked as she and Molly sat down on a couch opposite Ethan's.

Ripper snorted, "I rather think not."

"What about you Sev? You usually go home for the break right?" Molly asked.

"I talked my mom into letting me stay this year." Severus answered as he shoved Ethan's legs off the couch and sat next to him.

"And what about you two lovely ladies?" Ethan asked as he put his feet on top of Severus's lap. Severus rolled his eyes but didn't do anything about it.

"Going home." Both of them responded in unison.

"Don't you have two have to go get your trunks, I mean the train leaves soon." Ripper said.

"I suppose." Molly sighed. She got up hugged Ethan and Ripper. Severus held out his hand for her to shake, but she used it to pull him closer and pecked him on the mouth.

"That's two." Lydia smirked. Severus rolled his eyes and Lydia gave him a hug. Then she kissed both Ethan and Ripper on the cheek before following Molly up the stairs.

Practically all of the Slytherins started to leave with their trunks, some had them levitated off the ground, others had shrunk them, and the younger ones were just dragging theirs behind them. Narcissa Black made her way to where Severus was sitting on the couch.

"I just wanted to say I hope you have a nice Christmas." Narcissa said before calmly leaning down kissing Severus. Then she winked and walked out of the common room.

"Why in the bloody hell do people keep kissing me today?" Severus shouted as Lydia and Molly were coming down the stairs.

"Yes three," Lydia crowed throwing a fist into the air, "go Narcissa Black!"

"You didn't see her… You told her to kiss me." Severus pointed a finger in Lydia's direction.

Lydia put a hand to her chest as if shocked, "I most certainly did not." Severus glared at her. "I merely planted the thought in her head and that above yours." Lydia pointed to a piece of mistletoe hanging about a foot above Severus's head. Lydia was halfway out the door by the time Severus got his wand out. A rolling dive saved her from the hex Severus threw.

Molly laughed as she went out the door behind Lydia, "Always with the king killing. Have a good Christmas boys."

Severus slowly looked up above him at the hanging mistletoe, "Incendio." Severus smiled as the offending plant was burned to ash.

-----------christmas day---------------

"12 Christmas trees, 11 flying owls, 10 hanging mistletoe, 9 drunk elves, 8 singing portraits, 7 smart professors, 6 floating ghosts, 5 Ravenclaw girls, 4 Gryffindors, 3 Slytherin boys, 2 Hufflepuffs all in a castle on Christmas day." Ripper sang loudly as they were walking through the halls after the Christmas feast.

Severus raised his eyebrows at Ripper, "9 drunk elves?"

"Didn't you see them? They kept popping up and would stumble around until one of the other house elves grabbed them. Though I counted twelve." Ethan said.

Severus smirked, "Okay, um are we going anywhere in particular?"

Ripper shrugged, "Just wanted to explore the halls a bit, you know when there aren't three hundred other kids around. We can go back to the common room if you want."

"Tired of our walk buc—" Ethan stopped and put a finger to his lips. He crept closer to a classroom where he heard voices. He went on one side of the door while Ripper and Severus went on the other side.

"What do you mean he's not here?" A rough male voice asked angrily.

"I sent you an owl didn't you……… oh right of course not. Would you please stop shooting my owls when you see them. Anyway he didn't stay for the break." A different person responded. Ethan mouthed 'Professor Marlic' and Severus nodded in agreement.

"What do you mean? You said he always stays over Christmas break." The other voice said.

"He went home with one of his friends. Don't worry we can do it in a month or so, the week before the next full moon. A week before and there shouldn't be any problem with him." Professor Marlic said.

Ethan gasped loudly and hit the door by accident. "What was that? I heard something." The other voice said.

"I'll go check." Professor Marlic said.

'Dumb ass' Ripper mouthed at Ethan before grabbing Severus and pulling him behind a statue. "Janus help me, abdo de cunctus." Ethan muttered before closing his eyes.

Professor Marlic opened the door and peered about the hallway. He went back inside the classroom. "You better get going. Here let me, Hunter's cabin."

"I'll see you a week before the full moon." The other guy said and then Professor Marlic walked out of the classroom.

A couple minutes later after he was gone Severus and Ripper stepped out from behind the statue. "Eth where are you?" Ripper called looking around. Ethan opened his eyes and became visible. "Praying to Janus again, were we?"

"Clumsy oaf," Severus smacked the back of Ethan's head, "don't you know how to keep quiet when you're eavesdropping. You can't go about gasping and knocking into things, it'll get you caught." Severus pushed Ethan's head down again for good measure.

"Do you know who they were talking about Eth?" Ripper asked.

"Come on let's get going, he might come back." Ethan started walking back in the direction of their common room.

Severus and Ripper trailed slowly behind Ethan. Ripper leaned towards Severus, "I think he was talking about a student."

"Yes and Ethan knows who. Who do you think it could be?" Severus commented.

"Dunno. That boy knows everybody, he's a bloody social butterfly." They reached the portrait to find that Ethan had already gone in ahead of them.

"Well we'll just see what happens a week before the full moon, won't we?" Severus said before they entered the common room.

Ethan was there with two big wrapped boxes. "Okay lads, I think it's time to exchange our Christmas presents." Ethan glared at Ripper, "Don't know why we had to wait though."

Severus and Ripper went and grabbed the only other presents left under the tree. They pushed three of the smaller armchairs into a small triangle before sitting down. "Eth first, Sev next, me last." Ripper delegated.

Ripper and Severus both handed Ethan a present. Ethan opened Severus's first. "Ooo chocolate frogs, my favorite. Thanks precious." Severus rolled his eyes but smiled. Ethan let out a cry of glee as he saw what Ripper had gotten him. Ethan immediately put the necklace on.

Severus tilted his head, "Is that the Chinese symbol of chaos?"

"Yep. Alright you're next Sevvy boy." Ethan grabbed Ripper's present for Severus. "Open his first." Ethan pushed the gift into Severus's hands.

Severus unwrapped the gift slowly. His eyes widened as it revealed a book. "It's a potions book. Sweet Salazar, this is one of the most sought after books in the world."

Ripper smiled, "I know."

"How'd you get your hands on it?" Severus asked.

Ripper just shook his head, "Just enjoy your gift Sev."

"Thank you Ripper." Severus said smiling. Ethan shoved his present at Severus. Severus gently put his book down beside him. He lovingly stroked the cover before accepting Ethan's present. Severus unwrapped Ethan's present. "A box just what I've always wanted." Ethan glared at Severus. Severus took the top off. He pulled out a silk black shirt along with black pants and combat boots. Severus at first frowned then he smirked, "Stompy boots."

Ethan laughed, "Look deeper in the box." Severus pushed aside another layer of tissue paper, revealing thick black robes with very thin strips of green around the collar, cuffs, and bottom. "Do you like it?" Ethan asked hesitantly.

Severus smirked but nodded, "Yea Ethan I like them." Severus looked over at Ripper who was pretending to gag. "Here open you present." Severus said throwing his gift into Ripper's lap.

Ripper hurriedly ripped off the wrapping paper. "Bloody hell Sev where'd you find a book of demon languages?" Ripper asked excitedly.

"Just enjoy your gift Ripper." Severus said with a slightly evil smile on his face.

"Git." Ripper muttered but he was smiling as he took the present Ethan was handing him. "Oh my god." Ripper said before jumping up and hugging Ethan and kissing him on the cheek.

"What he'd get you?" Severus asked. Ripper pulled out a guitar out of the box. "You play?" Severus asked.

"He sings too." Ethan smiled.

"Oh?" Severus asked.

Ripper began strumming his guitar before he smiled and began to sing.

"No time like the holidays to feel happy and free

Staying with friends and away from family

Stuck in a castle buried under snow

Eth's been hanging 'round the mistletoe

Sev's got new clothes to wear

And Ripper's voice is ringing through the air

Oooo running through the halls

No cares at all

On Christmas day

We're just happy to be away."

Ethan and Severus clapped as Ripper played an ending note on the guitar. Ripper began playing another song, this time one that Ethan knew as well. They began to sing while Severus nodded along to the beat. They spent the rest of the night breaking in Ripper's new guitar and singing. Even Severus sang……………once.

Translation

Abdo de cunctus (Latin) hide from all