Chapter 12: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day*
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, (1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow/ 1872, John Baptiste Calkin)
As Severus had predicted, the Dark Lord wasted no time implementing the next phase of his plan. Maya's mission to America would be sadly postponed. Maya awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of muffled noises out in the hall. She could hear voices in the hall. When she opened her door Tonks was coming out of the room she had taken to using. Both women entered the hallway pulling on their dressing gowns, wands in hand, and headed for the source of the commotion.
As Maya and Tonks entered the kitchen they both began to fire off questions to Remus and Sirius, asking, "What's happened? To whom? And how?" all coming out in an incomprehensible jumble.
Remus was the first to be able to put together a level-headed response. "We've just received word from Dumbledore that Arthur Weasley was attacked while on guard duty tonight. Evidently, Harry witnessed it in a dream and went straight to Dumbledore. The children will be here any second by portkey, and we're assuming Molly's on her way to St. Mungo's."
"I better find Shacklebolt and take care of damage control. If any of the Ministry employees find out about this it could mean big trouble," Tonks said, making for the kitchen door. "I'll notify you as soon as I know anything," she finished as she started up the stairs to change into her Auror's robes.
"Merlin!" Maya gasped as she slumped into a kitchen chair. "Severus and I were correct. Voldemort was testing us to see how well guarded the Department was before sending Lucius to make the snatch," Maya said dejectedly.
"It seems so..." Remus said, still looking ashen. "I think I'll go and check on Molly at St. Mungo's. I'm not sure she should be there alone." Maya and Sirus nodded their agreement.
"I better start getting things ready for when the kids arrive," Sirius said, making for the stairs that Tonks had just taken.
"I'll give you a hand, Sirius. The kids will be here any minute and with two of us it will go faster," Maya said, following Sirius. Remus put a chilling charm on some butter beers and looked about the kitchen for any other treats they could offer the children to help ease their worry. He laid out what he found on the counter and took the kitchen floo to St. Mungo's.
Maya and Sirius finished making up the rooms. They had just returned to the kitchen when four ginger-haired teens and one with a wildly messy mop of black hair appeared forcefully into the kitchen of number twelve. They all lost their footing and sprawled onto the cold stone floor.
Sirius helped the children to their feet and into chairs. The silent and stony looks on their young faces were heartbreaking. The two oldest, the infamous Weasley twins, were carbon copies of each other. Their reputation as pranksters was a common topic at number twelve. The other ginger-haired boy and the dark haired boy looked about the same age. 'That must be Ron, for the other is certainly Harry,' Maya thought to herself. Her eyes finally fell on the youngest Weasley and only girl in the bunch. The girl looked about fourteen or fifteen and resembled what Molly must have looked like as a teen.
Maya stood in the kitchen doorway, a silent observer, listening as Harry told everyone about his dream. She watched with pride as the perpetually irresponsible Sirius fielded questions and angry outbursts from the Weasley children with kindness and patience. After what seemed like forever, word arrived from Molly and Dumbledore via Phoenix feather that Arthur was alive but it had been a close call. With the news that the immediate danger was over, Maya left number twelve to contact Severus and discuss the newest developments.
The next week flew by in a blur as the family of ginger-haired children and an endless stream of Order members visited Arthur at St. Mungo's. The Order held an emergency meeting to figure out how the attack had happened and what should be expected next.
Maya still had not been formally introduced to the Weasley children or Harry Potter because all Order members were swamped with tasks. She had spent much of the time meeting with Snape trying to determine how the Death Eaters got the snake into the Department, how much Voldemort learned from the attack and whether he was aware of Harry's connection. When she wasn't collaborating with Snape, Maya was taking her own shifts on guard duty. She often would not return until late in the night, long after the children had gone to sleep.
In conversations with Sirius, Tonks, and Remus, she learned that the raven-haired boy had taken to staying in his room since the children's first visit to St. Mungo's. Everyone seemed puzzled by his seclusion from his friends and godfather. They believed it had something to do with his newfound ability to see events that were happening miles away.
Sometime during the week, another teenage girl with bushy brown hair, named Hermione Granger arrived at headquarters. The teens in the house launched an offensive to pry the sullen boy from his room. Three days after their arrival at Grimmauld Place, he had returned to the festivities with the rest of his friends. He seemed to be doing just fine for someone who had the thoughts and emotions of the Dark Lord running through his subconscious.
Christmas Day soon arrived. Number Twelve Grimauld Place was decorated with sprigs of holly, twinkling fairy lights and the heads of House Elves past donned with Santa hats and white beards. It was nothing out of the ordinary to find Sirius bustling through the halls with armloads of Christmas trimmings, singing carols at the top of his lungs. He had even arranged for a large tree to be brought in and trimmed it one night after dinner with the help of Maya, Tonks and Remus.
Maya woke early Christmas morning to find sunlight flooding her window, a change from the gloomy winter weather in London. To her astonishment, she also found a small pile of brightly wrapped packages at the foot of her bed. Maya hadn't really expected anything and was pleasantly surprised.
She picked up the first package wrapped in shining gold foil adorned with twinkling moons and stars. "From, A. D.," she read as she opened the gift. Inside she found a matching pair of midnight blue socks with golden stars and moons that were charmed to float and twinkle on and off. 'I thought they were all joking when they said the old man had a sock fetish?' she thought as she grinned at the pair of socks.
She took up the next package. It was soft and squishy to the touch. She read with a smile, 'From Molly and Arthur' and unwrapped a beautiful wool sweater of bright blue with a shimmering silver letter 'M' on the front. Maya smiled at Molly's thoughtfulness and thought of her own grandmother who used to love to knit.
The next package she picked up was from Charlie Weasley. 'What ever made him think of getting me something? We've only met a few times,' she thought as she carefully unwrapped the small box. When she opened it she was not sure what to make of the gift at first. Then she saw the note taped to the lip with spello-tape and read:
Ms. Ladon,
I was overjoyed to find another member of the Order who shares my appreciation of these amazingly beautiful yet extremely powerful creatures. This is one of the models we used for the Triwizards Tournament last year. It's charmed, just wave your wand and do a simple Ennervate spell. The Imobilous spell will reverse the effects. You definitely want to immobilize it before you leave it alone. The fire is quite real and it will bite. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Christmas.
Sincerely, Charlie Weasley.
Maya reached for her wand from the bedside table and muttered, "Enervate!" The tiny blue dragon came to life before her eyes. 'Very thoughtful, Mr. Weasley, but I'm still not into younger men,' she thought as she delicately sat the tiny dragon on the bedside table and watched as it began to walk around and investigate the items on its surface. "Now, no fire or flying around, young man," Maya chided the dragon and picked up her next present.
"From Sirius," she read with a quirked eyebrow. "What do you suppose this is?" she asked, directing her attention to the tiny blue dragon making it's way across the bedside table. She unwrapped the gift and gently opened the lid to the box, then gasped and slammed the lid closed again. "He must be completely barmy if he thinks I'm wearing this! The git," She huffed, tossing the box on the bed with her other gifts.
She picked up the last package and was surprised to see that it wasn't from Tonks but from Remus. She smiled, thinking how perfect the two were for each other. The entire Order had begun to notice how they flushed and stammered around each other but made a formidable team out in the field. She opened the gift and gently lifted the worn copy of Best Loved Poems by Wizards of the Sixteenth Century. Maya and Remus had discovered their mutual interest in classical literature during one of the late nights that they spent talking around the kitchen table.
At that moment Tonks burst through the bedroom door announcing, "Happy Christmas! I wanted to give you your present in person." Her Christmas red hair, topped with a candy cane striped bow, was bouncing in curls as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed next to Maya. "You have quite the bounty, Maya," Tonks grinned as she looked over the presents spread across Maya's bed.
"Yes, it seems I'm loved. What can I say?" Maya laughed. "Happy Christmas, Tonks. The red works for you, I think."
"It seems you're loved indeed," Tonks said cheekily, wiggling her eyebrows as she opened the box from Sirius.
"Close that unless you plan on burning it," Maya scowled.
"Who gave it to you? I didn't think you had gotten uhh…. friendly with anyone yet?" Tonks asked.
"I haven't. I think it's supposed to be your dear cousin's idea of a subtle suggestion," Maya snorted and both women burst out in a fit of giggles.
"Merlin, he has bad taste and horrible tact," Tonks giggled. "How he ever got the reputation as the Gryffindor Casanova is beyond me. Here. Open your present."
Maya unwrapped the gift from the candy cane striped paper and took out a copy of Advanced Healing Charms & Potions for Use Against the Dark Arts and a photo album filled with photos of Maya and members of the Order.
"Thank you, Tonks! It's wonderful," she said, placing the album carefully on her nightstand and immobilizing the tiny dragon to avoid fire or chewing damage. "Did you get my present this morning? I didn't know if you had duty this morning and I wanted to make sure you got it if you had to leave out early."
"Yes, thanks! I've been waiting for that Weird Sisters album for months, and the foe glass was a wonderful idea. Moody will be impressed," she said, smiling at Maya.
"No problem, but in all seriousness, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use it once in a while. Things are starting to get dangerous out there." Maya was silent for a moment and then asked, "Speaking of Casanova, how goes it with a certain mild-mannered professor we all know and love?" Maya's eyes twinkled in a way that told Tonks that she wanted all the details and was not going to take no for an answer.
Unfortunately, Maya would have to wait for the juicy details concerning Tonks' progress with the sandy-haired professor because at that moment Sirius entered the room. "Molly said to let you know that breakfast was ready …" Any further comments were cut off as a pillow flew threw the air and hit him squarely in the face. "Hey, what was that for? It's Christmas, for Merlin's sake."
"That, Mr. Black, is for your idea of a present," Maya said as she and Tonks walked past Sirius and out into the hall.
"What are you talking about? You didn't like it? Tonks said you were fond of dancing," Sirius said with wagging eyebrows as he followed the two women down to the kitchen.
"I meant like at a club or a ball, you randy git!" Tonks hissed over her shoulder.
"Do I look like a belly dancer?" Maya said as they entered the kitchen with Sirius hot on their heels. "What makes you think that I would go for that sort of thing or that I would wear it for you?" It was her turn to smirk as Sirius looked on dumbfounded. It had never really crossed his mind that a girl would not be interested in him. This was something that had never happened to him before, to James occasionally, Remus yes, and definitely to Peter, but never to him.
"Sirius, what did you do this time?" Remus said from his seat at the table. Molly bustled about the kitchen, setting out plates of eggs, sausage, pancakes, and other wonderful smelling dishes, oblivious to the conversation that had continued into the kitchen.
"Nothing, if you don't count giving Maya a Turkish belly dancer's costume for Christmas," Tonks said, shaking her head and giving the befuddled Sirius a sad look.
Remus smirked at Sirius and said, "Losing your touch, Padfoot? You used to be so good with the ladies?"
"Shut it, Mooney," Sirius mumbled and slumped into a chair, taking a cup of coffee.
"Really, Remus, you should enlighten you mate on proper gifts for a lady. Thank you, by the way, for the wonderful gift," Maya said, leaning down and giving Remus a quick hug and peck on the cheek, causing the older man to flush slightly. Maya glanced at Sirius, amused by the shocked look on his face.
'Since when did Mooney impress girls better than me?' Sirius thought in disbelief.
"Sirius, I forgive you for the lewd present if you promise to behave yourself."
Sirius flashed her his instant swoon grin. "Maybe you'd let me make it up to you later?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow in her direction.
"Perhaps," was all she said before the conversation was cut off by the arrival of the teens.
The rest of the morning was spent sitting in the parlour listening to Christmas carols on Remus' old phonograph. They sang along with the carols and talked about just about anything to divert their attention from Arthur's condition. Maya sat in an overstuffed chair, feet curled up under her, reading from her new poetry book. Remus sat on the sofa feet resting on the table in front of him. Tonks' feet were in his lap, as she lay lengthwise on the sofa watching the fire. Sirius sat in a corner talking with Harry, while the Weasleys chatted around them. Bill's new relationship with a Veela seemed to be a hot topic of conversation. The group sat drinking cider and eating a variety of biscuits, cakes and other sweets that Molly had prepared, mostly to take her mind from the missing presence of her husband.
Soon it was time for the guests of number twelve to sit down and eat a huge Christmas lunch before they went to visit Arthur for the holiday. Maya, for her part, had one last present to deliver in person while the others were at St. Mungo's.
As they sat eating Molly's delicious lunch discussing their presents, Quittich and everything else under the sun, Maya noticed the teens eyeing her with curiosity. They had seen her passing in the halls or going into Order meetings over the last week but had not had a proper conversation.
"So, are you staying here then?" asked the ginger-haired boy who must be Ron.
"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione. Maya smiled. She noticed Harry smirking at the two across the table.
"No, it's quite alright, Ms. Granger. None of us have been properly introduced with all of the commotion going on. My name is Maya, Maya Ladon. Just joined the Order this fall."
This time it was Harry that spoke up. "You've got an interesting accent," he said, giving her a questioning look.
"Very perceptive, Mr. Potter. I've lived in America for quite some time. I've only just returned this year. Like yourself I spent a great deal of my time living amongst muggles." Maya held her hand out to him in a show of official greeting. He shook it firmly. "Your godfather is very proud of you, you know. You've made him a very happy man." Harry's face lit up.
"Well," said Harry, "You seem to know Hermione already, so I'm sure you know Ron and Ginny as well." Maya nodded, smiling at the teens and shaking each of their hands.
At that moment Tonks squeezed in next to Maya at the large kitchen table. "This lot isn't giving you too much trouble, are they? Don't go listening to Snape about them, Maya. They're good kids," she said changing her nose rapidly from one to another and another making Ginny and Hermione break out into fits of giggles.
"Hold on. You know Snape?" said Ron sharply. Harry narrowed his eyes at her.
"Actually, we've been working together on Order business," she said, noting their look of distaste at the mention of their Potions Master. "Yes, I can only imagine what he's like as a professor. But don't tell him I said that," she said. The teens chuckled. "That reminds me. I have to drop off his Christmas present. I really should be off."
"Ugh, you got Snape a present? Why?" Ron said. Hermione and Ginny simply rolled their eyes, but it was Harry that spoke up.
"Everyone deserves presents on Christmas, Ron," he mumbled, looking down at his half eaten treacle tart. It was all too easy for him to remember the Christmases before he came to Hogwarts and met the Weasleys, when he got matchsticks, tissues or no presents at all from his aunt and uncle.
"Quite right, Mr. Potter. Quite right. I'm sure we'll all have time to get to know each other better before you head back to school, but for now I must be off," she said, smiling at the quartet as she stood up.
"Yeah," said Tonks as she stood to join Maya. "We should be going soon to visit Arthur before it gets too late. Remus and I pulled guard duty tonight. Dumbledore wants us to go in pairs now."
"I know. He pulled me off the roster yesterday. Since I don't have a partner I can only fill in when someone's sick," Maya said as the two women walked to the kitchen door. Maya's hand wrapped around the small box in her coat pocket and excited butterflies swooped in the pit of her stomach at the thought of giving Severus his present.
The Weasley' plus Harry and Hermione, left to visit Arthur for Christmas. This time Remus joined Tonks and Mad-Eye in making up the family's advanced guard for the hospital visit. Maya followed them out the front door and quickly apparated to the gates of Hogwarts.
She carefully took the form of the raven-haired, olive-skinned woman in the dark teaching robes as she walked across the grounds and to the secret entrance of the dungeons that Snape had used to get them back to the castle last week. Once inside she walked the long length of the tunnel and came to the inner door that led to his private study. She sent a Patronus message to his quarters to announce her presence. Though she knew the password it was only polite to announce herself. She was pretty sure that barging in unannounced with a man like Snape would be a bad idea.
After a few moments the door swung open and Maya could make out Severus' tall slender form at the desk, his face hooded by his curtain of ebony hair. His face was so close to the page his long nose almost touched the desk. "Happy Christmas, Severus," she said cheerfully.
He looked up and eyed her questioningly. "Your Patronus did not state the reason for your visit," he drawled.
"It's Christmas, silly. I didn't think it needed further explanation," she said, rolling her eyes at his dowerness. "I came to give you a Christmas present, you old scrooge," she said, exasperated. She reached into her robes and brought out the package she had wrapped the night before.
This time both his eyebrows raised, a look of surprise revealed there before he recovered his unreadable mask. Maya felt a stab of compassion in her chest as it occurred to her that he probably wasn't used to getting gifts on Christmas, let alone people delivering them in person.
"You could have had it delivered you know. And change back into yourself. I feel like I'm talking to Bella LaStrange. It's quite unnerving really," he scowled.
"If you insist," she said, removing the transfiguration spell, returning to her own features. "And don't be ridiculous. I didn't want that toad Umbridge to go rooting through your present before you had a chance to open it. Besides, it's more fun this way. Who wants to open presents all alone on Christmas?" She sat the brightly wrapped package in front of him on the desk. "Go on, open it."
His long pale hands lifted the gift off the desk and silently unwrapped it. He felt the velvet of the jewel box with his fingertips. As he opened the hinged lid his eyes took in the silver cufflinks ornately sculpted into the shape of the Slytherin house serpent with emeralds for eyes. For the first time in many, many years Severus Snape was speechless. His shock quickly morphed into an emotion he was much more accustomed to…suspicion. Why had she done something like this for him? Two weeks ago she had almost hexed him into oblivion.
Maya beamed at him waiting for his reaction, pleased that he seemed to be speechless. "Take them out Sev! Turn them over." He did so and noticed that each cufflink had been engraved with two elaborately scripted S's on the underside. He softly ran a fingertip over his initials engraved in the silver and looked up into her soft face.
"Do you like them? The jeweler said that they were an antique design and that it was unlikely that you would have a pair like them. I didn't know your middle name so I had to go just with first and last. I hope that's alright?" she asked, his silence unnerving her.
"It's Tobias, after my father," he said, face expressionless.
"In that case, I'm glad I didn't know. Knowing how you felt about him I wouldn't want you wearing that around on your sleeve." She chuckled in an attempt to lighten the mood. "So, do you like them?" she asked again.
"Their craftsmanship looks of the highest quality," he said, getting as close to a 'yes' as he could without actually doing so.
"Take off your jacket. Don't give me that look!" she said, as he began to scowl at her again. "I've already seen your mark so you have nothing to hide." She gave him a stern look like one might give a small child refusing to take his medicine. "I have a strict rule that everyone must wear something new on Christmas day." She walked around his desk and behind his chair sliding his robes off of his shoulders and down his long arms.
Severus could feel the warmth of her body behind him and had to take a deep breath to steady himself. He was still suspicious of her motives, but her actions were so similar to the intense dream he had experienced a few weeks ago, he was stunned, both excited and terrified to find out what she would do next.
"Give me your cuffs," she directed as she sat on his desk. He obeyed, something very un-Snape like. She gently removed the plain tarnished pewter cufflinks he had donned this morning and threaded the new cufflinks through the small holes in his cuffs, admiring how the silver and emeralds sparkled in the candlelight.
"Not bad if I do say so myself, very elegant and distinguished," she said with a nod of approval, still holding his wrist. He could feel the warmth of her slender hand through his shirtsleeve and struggled to pull his mind together. As usual, when Snape was caught mentally off balance he opted for his first reaction…sarcasm and a sharp tongue.
"They are indeed most unique, Ms. Ladon, but you needn't have gone through such effort. After all, I doubt that Black would approve," he hissed, scowling back at her and taking his wrist from her hand roughly. Maya didn't let his comment ruffle her. After two months she was getting use to his moods and had taken it on as her personal quest to crack through that wall of rock and ice that he used to keep everyone away.
"You mean Sirius? I don't know why he should come into the matter at all," she said, meeting his black eyes directly. "We are colleagues and friends, and if I want to give you a Christmas present it's up to me."
He raised a questioning eyebrow at her and said, "As you wish," feeling the corners of his mouth quirk into the barest hint of a smirk. After coming home to find her curled up at his desk, he was continuing to dream about what it would feel like to run his fingers through those dark curls, very alluring dreams, dreams that involved the desk she was now sitting on. As an added bonus, he would enjoy the opportunity to see Black's jealousy at the thought of being out maneuvered by Snape.
He stood putting some space between them, before Maya became aware of the physical evidence of the images in his imagination. Then he remembered that he had something for her as well. Not exactly a Christmas present, but now was as good a time as any. "Wait here," he demanded, walking through the passage that led to his sitting room.
She looked after him curiously and took his place in the leather chair behind his desk. It hadn't ever occurred to her that he would get her something. She had bought the cufflinks because the Slytherin symbols were simple and distinguished, so perfectly him and she had thought he would appreciate the serpent symbolism.
He returned with a plain unwrapped garment box and a small velvet pouch and handed them to her. "Here. I thought these would be useful. I think Albus will be stepping up our 'information gathering' to the next level soon, and these seemed very practical for field work."
Maya took the box from his hands and removed the lid, pulling back the protective tissue paper to reveal a heavy black velvet cloak with a silken lining. She gently lifted the cloak out of the box to examine it, noticing that it greatly resembled the cloak she had transfigured the night she showed him her dragon form. Now it was her turn to be speechless. The cloak was beautiful. The velvet was unbelievably soft and heavy enough to block out any winter chill. It did not have the ordinary tie fastening at the neck; instead it had a traditional chain clasp made of silver, decorated on each side with sapphires.
"Severus, I don't know what to say. Its beautiful," she said breathlessly.
"Don't thank me," he snapped. "It's not a Christmas present. I told you it's practical. Dumbledore and I thought given what you will most likely be doing for the Order you should probably have one." She looked at him puzzled. "You haven't figured out what that is, then," he said in annoyance as if speaking to one of his first year students.
Maya looked more closely at the fabric and noticed for the first time that the silken lining had a shimmering silvery look to it. "Is it what I think it is?" she asked in a whisper.
"If by that you mean an invisibility cloak than yes it is. If worn with the velvet out then it appears as a normal, if not ornate velvet cloak. But if worn silken side out it will mask you from just about anyone except Moody's magical eye. It's charmed with a warming spell for winter and a cooling charm for warmer weather." He scowled. "Here, this goes with it," he said, handing her the small velvet pouch.
Maya took the velvet pouch from him. She gently teased open the drawstring top and tipped it to the side, its contents spilling into her open palm. For the second time that day she let out a small gasp of breath. "It's beautiful," she said holding the necklace up to the candlelight. The silver chain was thin and delicate. The pendant was made of silver and featured an entwined snake and dragon.
"It's charmed to notify myself and Dumbledore if you've gotten yourself into trouble. Actually, the cufflinks will be useful as well," he thought aloud. "We could link the cufflinks and the necklace as a way to contact each other when a patronus might be too dangerous," he said.
Maya nodded, raising her hands to clasp the necklace behind her neck. She felt a flush rise on her chest when his warm hands took the fine chain from hers and fastened the clasp. His calloused fingers brushed the back of her neck as he drew away and gooseflesh broke out along her spine. Her hands went to her chest, fingertips touching the pendent that rested at her collarbone. "It's wonderful," she said softly, standing to face him.
Severus suddenly realized that she was not moving away, and was still standing very close to him. He stared transfixed at the sight of the pendent resting delicately just below the hollow of her throat, he tried to swallow but suddenly his collar was too tight. His hands itched to touch the soft skin at the base of her neck again.
"Thank you again for the cloak and pendant, Severus," she said, reaching up to give him a quick hug.
Severus stiffened, uncomfortable with the contact at first, then relaxed. He liked the way she said his name – not with disgust but a warmth that spread through him like sun on a summer day. "I told you it wasn't a present-." His words died on his lips as Maya placed a swift kiss on his pale cheek. His mind went completely blank. All he could do was look into her eyes, framed by long dark lashes, he felt as if he could have read her soul itself if he but stared long enough into the intense bottomless pools that swirled with a kaleidoscope of emotions.
"I should probably get back," she said, turning away from the intensity of his dark eyes. His searching gaze made her breathless and her lips still tingled where they touched his skin. "Don't want to be caught by Umbridge and bring you any unwanted attention." Severus merely nodded as she removed her worn traveling cloak and replaced it with the heavy velvet one he had just given her. She shrunk the old one and placed it in her pocket. "Hopefully Albus will give us an assignment soon. Since you can't do guard duty I've been pulled off the roster. I'll be going barmy if we don't get assigned to something soon." She smiled at him as they walked towards the entrance to the secret passage leading back out to the grounds.
"Barmy? I think you're spending too much time with Ms. Tonks. However, it's an improvement over the Americanisms you were spouting when you first arrived," he said as he waved his wand to open the entrance to the passage. At that moment they both heard the fire in his study roar into life. Maya ducked into the passage, kissing him once more on the cheek.
"Happy Christmas, Severus," she said, and with that she was gone down the passage to the grounds beyond, leaving a confused Severus to ponder the events of her visit.
"Happy Christmas, Maya," he muttered to himself once she was well out of sight. He looked down to admire the cufflinks she had placed at his wrists. They really were nicer than any gift he had ever received. He never thought to buy things like that for himself and he couldn't remember the last time someone else had bought him something like this…his mother maybe?
"She is quite lovely, if an old man is permitted to say so," came a voice from behind him and Severus turned to look into the face of Albus Dumbledore, eyes twinkling madly as usual.
"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," Severus lied, having no desire to discuss her or debate her loveliness with Dumbledore. Merlin! Did he just admit to himself that he thought she was lovely? Why did Albus feel the need to come and torture him on Christmas Day like some specter from a Dickens novel?
"Of course, of course. Now, on to business. I have some things to discuss with you, and I think a glass of mulled wine would do nicely." Severus sighed and walked back out to the sitting room with Albus to pour them both a goblet of mulled wine.
Tonks and Remus entered the front hall behind the gaggle of teens as they returned from their trip to St. Mungos. Tonks clapped her hands and rubbed her arms, trying to warm them and bring back the feeling in them. "It's so cold out there I'm pretty sure my eye lids have frozen," she exclaimed.
"Indeed," said Remus. "And we wouldn't want that now would we? Why don't we get in by the fire and warm up?"
"Oh! A fire sounds wonderful," Tonks said through her shivering teeth as she made her way down the hall to the parlor and the promise of warmth from the large fireplace there.
The teens made their way upstairs, no doubt to gossip about their adventure into London. "Oi, look! someone's decorated!"
"Well I'll be! It must have been Sirius," Remus wondered as he took in the grand Christmas tree in the corner of the room covered in dazzling tinsel and ornaments of every size and color. The fire place mantel was strung with garland and stockings for all of the children. There was even a steam locomotive that was spelled to circle the tree and puff real steam from the engine.
"Remus, do you hear music?" Tonks asked, sure she could hear the faint sound of a Christmas carol coming from somewhere.
"I think it's coming from the tree. Look at those miniature brass horns," he said, laughing at Sirius' effort and previously unknown Christmas spirit.
"That's right," came a booming voice from the other side of the tree. Sirius emerged from where he had been adjusting ornaments and making sure that the tinsel was evenly arranged. "I pulled out all the stops. Harry and the Weasleys should have a marvelous Christmas, or as close as we can get with Arthur in St. Mungos."
"Padfoot, you've done a terrific job. This is wonderful," Remus said, still trying to absorb the breathtakingly decorated room.
"It really is, Sirius. It's like something out of a magazine!" Tonks gaped, trying to take it all in.
"Glad you think so, Mooney," said Sirius with a mischievous grin. "Look up you two."
Remus and Tonks had only made it a few feet into the room. They looked at each other questioningly then slowly lifted their eyes to the air above their heads. To Tonks' giddy surprise there was a small sprig of mistletoe levitating just above their heads. "Is that -?"
"I do believe it is," Remus said warily. Why would Sirius put him in this position? He had to know that he was probably the last person Tonks would want to kiss.
Tonk's brow furrowed a bit at his response. 'Why would he sound worried? Doesn't he want to kiss me?'
"Alright you two, pucker up, and no cheating with a peck on the cheek." Sirius looked as if he could hardly sit still. He practically bounced on the balls of his feet in anticipation.
Remus looked shyly down at the witch standing next to him. His sandy fringe had fallen into his eyes but he was too focused on Tonks to move it away. Tonks, for her part, could hardly believe her luck. She was beginning to think that the polite professor was going to need a push or she was going to have to make the first move. She stood on her toes, lifting her face to his.
Remus hesitated for a moment, then moved to meet her halfway, capturing her lips with his. As her lips moved gently against his, Remus could feel the Wolf growl contentedly. The Wolf was always with him, just under the surface. It was a common myth about werewolves and the main reason he avoided romantic relationships. He had less control over the Wolf, as the full moon got closer. To his amazement Tonks didn't shy away from him or the Wolf, she answered with a moan of her own.
Tonks was terrified she would lose her balance and completely ruin the moment. She was determined that would not happen. She raised both her arms and grasped the lapels of his jacket in both hands. Time stopped. All she could focus on was the presence surrounding her that was uniquely Remus. She could feel the start of stubble on his chin. He smelled of soap and aftershave and something that was just him. It hinted there was something a little more wild to the proper professor then he let on. He tasted of peppermint and chocolate and tea with honey. Tonks pulled away regrettably, missing his warmth the moment her lips left his. When she opened her eyes, his were still right in front of her. They were bright and shown a little more golden then amber. The feral possessive look she found there left her speechless.
"Not bad, not bad," Sirius smirked, seeming very pleased with himself. "Oh. I should warn you. That particular sprig of mistletoe is spelled to wander the house looking for unsuspecting couples. You'll never know where it might show up," he said nonchalantly as he passed them and headed downstairs towards the kitchen.
"Happy Christmas, Remus," Tonks said breathily.
"Happy Christmas, Tonks," Remus said, barely able to believe what had just happened. He might just have to thank Sirius for this one.
As Maya arrived at number twelve Grimauld Place on Christmas evening she couldn't help smiling. She pulled her new cloak tighter around her and nuzzled the soft velvet before removing the cloak. As she entered the sitting room she joined in the verse of 'God Rest Ye Merry Hippogriffs' being sung by Sirius and the Weasleys. The joy that filled the house upon her return was immense. The healers had given Arthur a good prognosis and they thought he would be returning home in a few weeks. The Weasley children all seemed to be more relaxed for having this good news and Molly, though angrily telling everyone who would listen about Arthur's attempt at "sewing his skin back together," seemed much relieved after her visit today.
Maya sank into an overstuffed armchair, taking a mug of hot cider from Sirius as he came to sit in the chair next to her. She touched the pendant on her neck with her fingertips, looked at the beautifully decorated Christmas tree and decided that this indeed was the nicest Christmas she had spent in many years. She joined in the caroling and even chatted with Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley about girl things and what not until the wee hours of the morning.