Christmas Day – 1992
As always on this particular day, Severus dragged himself out of bed with a groan and laboriously pulled on a fresh set of black robes before heading out into the bright and cheerful world.
The enchanted sprigs of mistletoe were still hanging around the school, grim potential hazards. Bright decorations hung everywhere (curtesy of Albus Dumbledore). Snow rained gently from the sky to enforce the deep, rolling white blanket that already enveloped the hills. It was almost easy to forget about the monster lurking beneath the castle.
Sighing, Severus marched his way to the staffroom and unceremoniously plonked himself down in a chair with a mug of hot chocolate. The rest of the staff had already arrived (Eowyn was for once on time) and were already exchanging presents.
Presently Eowyn detached herself from the main body (who were sitting by the fire) and moved over to the corner where Severus was sitting. As had become her habit, she sat down on the floor next to his chair and kicked off her boots. For a few moments they sat in companionable silence before Eowyn said, "It's cold here – you should come sit by the fire."
"I think you will find it is rather too jovial for me over there," said Severus stiffly.
Eowyn arched an eyebrow at him and then said, "Well let's see if we can make you more jovial." She fished around inside her white trimmed green robes (thank goodness she had the sense not to dress in red and green like Dumbledore) and pulled out a package wrapped in brown paper. "It's for you," she said rather unnecessarily as she held it up to him.
Severus blinked at her for a second and then reached over and took it, laying it in his lap. It was heavy, he noticed, probably made of metal. There was a small card attached which said:
To Severus,
Hope you have a lovely Christmas and enjoy the gift!
Eowyn
"Have a lovely Christmas?" Severus asked, eyebrow raised.
Eowyn shrugged and smiled. "The day's not over yet, Severus. There's still a chance for you to enjoy it. A chance I intend to exploit."
For a few seconds Severus just stared at her. She had worn her hair down today, so it hung around her face and shoulders in a golden-brown frame that glinted in the candlelight. Her eyes seemed to dance, like the ocean in a breeze and all he could think was he wished those dratted Weasley twins had put there mistletoe around the place more liberally.
"Well go on," said Eowyn, blissfully unaware of the thoughts going through his head, "presents don't open themselves!"
So he complied, slowly and clinically tearing the brown paper from what was wrapped within.
He was right, it had been made out of metal. It was a small model of the four hourglasses that represented house points. It was small enough to be put on his desk even, so that he could keep a close watch on which house was winning.
"How did you –?"
For about the first time in his life, Severus Snape was speechless. He stared at the little models, watching the little jewels glinting in the small glass hourglasses. Eowyn smiled and said, "Did I mention that one of my nephews was an engineer. Well I got some help from him and some other auror friends and made you these. They have a magical bond with the full-scale ones so that they will change as the real ones do.
Don't kiss her.
Don't kiss her.
"Well since now seems to be the appropriate time, I have a present for you," said Severus.
"Is it alive?" Eowyn teased.
"Not last I looked," drawled Severus. "It's at the bottom of the tree."
Eowyn raised an eyebrow at him. "Well, that's very traditional for someone who hates Christmas."
"I don't hate Christmas," said Severus, "I just hate everything that comes with it."
Eowyn collected the parcel from beneath the tree. It was obviously a book, heavy, rectangular shaped and radiating a feeling of magic. She went back to sit beside Severus, opening the small card that came with it.
To Eowyn,
Merry Christmas
From Severus
Well, he was very to the point. Laying the card to one side she ripped the wrapping paper off. The book was bound in metal but, unlike many books she came across, did not look like it had been languishing away in a bats' grotto for several hundred centuries. In raised copper letters the title Beasts of the Wizarding World stood out.
Eowyn frowned as she looked at it. "I've never heard of this book before," she said.
"That's because it's only due to come out next year," said Severus rather smugly.
Eowyn grinned up at him as she said, "I don't suppose the great Severus Snape has been doing something illegal."
The book was crammed full of diagrams, photographs, maps and samples, whether of fur, feathers, claws or scales. It contained information on almost every single magical animal that had ever existed and provided extensive background into their historical roles.
"Wow," was all Eowyn could manage.
"You like it?" Severus asked.
"Are you kidding me? I love it!" Suddenly she leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek, just like she had on their first night spent together. Then she was up and running off to show Minerva and her friends her new book. Severus looked back down at his present, letting the long strands of black hair that fell about his face hide his smile.
oo0oo
"Bloody hell!" exclaimed Ron, dropping his snowball.
"What?" asked Harry, freezing. "Has Snape come out to tell as that we're going to break the sound barrier or something?"
"Well you're right about the first bit," said Ron, craning his neck around. "But I'm not so sure about the last bit. He looks a bit occupied."
"Occupied?" asked Hermione, trying to see what Ron could see.
"Yup," said Ron. "Come and look."
Hermione and Harry moved forward to stand next to Ron. The instant they saw what he saw their jaws hit the floor along with their snowballs. Snape and Professor Gondolin were having a snowball fight.
Hang on, I'll say that again.
Snape and Professor Gondolin were having a snowball fight.
You heard me.
A snowball fight.
"You're a cheater, Snape!" Eowyn cried, flinging a large lump of ice at Severus.
"You never said not to use magic," Severus pointed out, easily stepping out of the way of the missile intended for his head. "And careful, at the rate you're going you're going to give someone concussion, and not necessarily me."
Eowyn rolled her eyes, surreptitiously flicking her wand to make a dozen or so snowballs. "No surprise how you got into Slytherin, Snape," she said, sending a barrage of snowballs at him with a flick of her wand.
"Says you!" spluttered Severus, staggering back under the barrage of snow.
"Wait, I'm not done!" called Eowyn gleefully. She sent a shot of fire at the snow, melting it to a torrent of frigid water which was guaranteed to freeze into a layer of frost over his black robes.
For a few moments Severus remained frozen (both metaphorically and physically) then he said in the low tone of voice that had students whimpering in fear, "You just bought your ticket to Charon's ferry, my dear."
"Is this the moment when you rip off that mask of yours and the world goes black and you sweep me off to Hades?" Eowyn asked, hands on hips.
"Your sense of humour never ceases to amaze me, Professor Gondolin," said Severus sarcastically. "Or should I say lack of sense of humour?"
"Haha!" said Eowyn, giving him a shove. "Now come on. The wolves in the forest have had their pups. And you don't know anything until you've met a new born baby wolf."
"I'm guessing it's like trying to steal a chick from a vicious mother hen," said Severus, following her as she headed off to the Forbidden Forest.
"Imagine that. The Great Severus Snape being bested by a fluffy bird," said Eowyn with a laugh.
"She was scrawny, not fluffy," said Severus.
So the pair walked off into the Forbidden Forest, still locked in conversation and every now and again one giving the other a playful shove, leaving the Golden Trio staring in awe.
"Did we hallucinate that?" Ron asked, glancing at Hermione for confirmation.
"I don't think so," said Hermione. She didn't sound very certain of herself.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked.
Harry was rolling around on the snow-covered ground, laughing his head off. "Snape got bested by a bird!" he yelled. "Snape got bested by a bird!"
oo0oo
"Well, that wasn't so bad was it?" said Eowyn, handing him a slice of apple pie with cream and a mug of hot chocolate with an extra dollop of cream and three more marshmallows. It was Christmas, after all.
They had retired to his rooms after spending the afternoon in the Forbidden Forest, arguing with a small pack of Acramantulas as to whether they were allowed to try and eat the baby wolves. Then they had stayed for dinner in the Great Hall. Severus had been surprised to find that he enjoyed himself. For once Hagrid actually managed to not put too many spices in the punch and he was seated between Septima and Minerva, making for an intelligent conversation while he was there. Eowyn wasn't so lucky. She had been trapped between Trelawney and Lockhart.
Lockhart. His blood burned slightly when he thought of him. He thought he had made his mark after the duel but apparently the blonde-haired baboon didn't seem to understand that Eowyn was Off Limits And No Exceptions.
But what if he was being too possessive? No, it was only with Lockhart that he felt this feeling. Whenever Eowyn spoke with Filius, Albus or any of the male students (even the handsome ones) he was not bothered. But Lockhart … the man made him see red.
And how can she be 'off limits' if she's not even officially my girlfriend?
He winced somewhat at that word. Girlfriend. So childish. So … he didn't know what. The fact was that she didn't have any connection to him beyond that of a close friend so, if you thought about it, she was actually out there for Lockhart to take if he wanted.
Looking across at her he admitted that he could see why Lockhart would be interested. He was a material man. If something looked nice, he wanted it. Eowyn had what material men wanted. Lockhart wasn't alone, now Severus came to think of it. There were more than a few senior boys who he had caught staring after her with big eyes and drooling mouths. He had experienced a vindictive feeling of joy when he docked twenty points each from their houses, Slytherin or otherwise. The fact was, she had what men wanted. She had the pretty face, the full lips, the perfect figure, the slender waist – everything.
He found himself wondering what she thought of him – grim, sour-faced and greasy-haired and swathed in black like Death's emissary. He knew she was not the sort to judge by appearances but still …
"Severus! Earth to Severus Snape, we want you back!" She was smiling slightly as she called his name, tapping a finger on the chair arm.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" he asked. He couldn't help but feel guilty. She had made him hot chocolate in his rooms and he had spent the past fifteen minutes ignoring her.
"Just that my sister has been needling me for the past ten years to bring a man to the table and that she really wants to meet the one male who actually appears more than twice in each letter I send her. Long story short, do you want to come to my sister's humble abode for Boxing Day?"
The one male who actually appears more than twice in each letter I send.
Maybe she …
He shook his head to clear it. Now he was just being fanciful. It was perfectly natural for her to want him to meet her family. She was a warm, welcoming person and she would want him, as her friend, to meet her family.
Would it be a good idea? From what he had heard, her family were not exactly pro Death Eaters, especially after the deaths of her parents. And he was not exactly the most sociable person.
"You needn't worry about being ripped apart as soon as you step in the door," said Eowyn with a grin. "She knows all about you. Though don't be surprised if you get quizzed on exactly why you left Voldemort's cause and all that. Between Kili and I we'll try to make sure she doesn't tear you limb from limb."
It was a chance. A chance to spy out the lie of the land. He might not have a clue as to where he stood in her life, but he was certain of one thing, he loved her. And if he ever wanted her to be anything more than someone he admired from afar, he would have to find out how to play his cards.
"I'll come," he said.
Eowyn's grin suddenly grew impossibly wider. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. It was all she could do not to clap her hands for joy. "We'll leave just before lunch and travel by portkey to Limerick. Remember to dress like a Muggle. You've got Muggle clothes haven't you?"
"I'll find some somewhere," he said.
"Right," said Eowyn. "And be sure to hide your wand. If Tauriel gets hold of it there might be trouble."
"Charming," he said.
oo0oo
She remained in his rooms until almost midnight, talking and arguing as usual. As they spoke he took his time to watch her. Maybe it was seeing Lockhart trying to seduce her, but he suddenly became even more acutely aware of how beautiful she was and how much she had come to mean in his life.
He had subconsciously changed the way he lived his life since she came. When he would once have sat glowering by his fire, brooding over his students' incompetence and old miseries or stalking through the corridors docking points from the innocent and guilty alike he now spent out walking in the forest or talking in the staffroom or his or her private quarters. Smiles had become a normal part of life. Laughter had become a daily procedure. He had never told anyone so many stories to a single person in his life.
"Severus?"
"Hmm?" he asked, focusing on her face. It occurred to him that the light was dying and he could barely see her face save for her eyes, which glittered softly.
"Penny for your thoughts?" There was a hint of laughter in her voice. No doubt he had fallen into another silent lapse.
"My whats?" he asked. His brain was slowly becoming clogged up with the warmth and the food and the exertion of the day (cough, cough, snowball fight, cough, cough).
She was really smiling now. "I think I'd better go, Severus. You're going to need to keep your energy reserves high for tomorrow."
She stood, rubbing her back slightly and setting her mug down. As she passed she gave him a quick pat on the shoulder. "Christmas wasn't so bad was it, Severus?" she said, smiling.
"Not with you here."
She paused on hearing his words, freezing in the doorway as she turned to look at him. His breath caught slightly when saw her figure standing out against the torchlit glow outside. Shaking his head, he looked back at the fire.
Pervert.
Effing pervert.
"I'm glad to hear that," he heard her say. "Merry Christmas, Severus."