Chapter 51 : Christmas Holiday Work Party

As the whistle of the departing Hogwarts Express echoed down the valley from Hogsmeade Station, the holiday residents of Hogwarts gathered in the Great Hall. Minerva called for attention and looked at the teachers and students gathered before her.

"First off, let me say, I am honored to be your temporary Headmistress, but our Headmaster is perfectly capable of resuming his duties, so . . . " She motioned toward the doors, which opened to reveal Albus Dumbledore standing there. Pomona Sprout, Madam Pince and Sybil Trelawney let out little shrieks, but the others stood and applauded as Albus came down the center of the room to the huge round communal table used during holiday meals.

"Greetings all, I hope I'm not late?" Dumbledore smiled, coming round to take his place at the head chair.

"Headmaster!" Professor Sprout was totally at a loss for words, just waving her hand at Albus, brows knit and eyes wide.

"Ah, Pomona, Irma, Sybil . . . I'm afraid you've been kept in the dark, for your own safety, I might add, until today. My 'death' was a giant ruse to throw Voldemort off track and let him get overconfident as to his 'control' of Hogwarts. And . . .we will continue that deception after the holiday concludes; I will go back into hiding and only those gathered here, plus a few select students who went home, know the real story. I will, of course, make my presence known to all, at the proper time."

The three stunned faculty members looked at each other, then shaking their heads, looked back at the man standing before them.

"But what about Severus Snape," asked Irma Pince. "He obviously didn't kill you, so why would he put himself in such a bad light, literally ruining his reputation?"

"I've been asking myself that very question, Madam Pince," stated Severus Snape, as Healer Treiber pushed his wheelchair to an open space at the table and then took her seat beside him. "Greetings, everyone."

There were hellos from the other members of the group seated around the table, with Madam Pince, Pomona Sprout and Sybil Trelawney waving silently, stunned.

Turning his head to look at the school librarian, he answered her question. "I will not lie; it was a gut wrenching decision, killing my best friend, but things are not always what they seem. In this case, we used a mannequin fitted to look like the Headmaster and, as evidenced by your statement, got away with murder."

" 'Got away with murder'! Oh, I say, Severus, that was a good one!" giggled Filius Flitwick, as the others joined in the laughter, thereby defusing the tense atmosphere at the table.

"Well, I, for one, am heartily glad to see you, Albus," breathed Sybil Trelawney, hand over her heart. "I was beginning to doubt my own 'Inner Eye' . . . I could not see you dead, Headmaster and Professor Snape just didn't seem to have an evil aura around him . . . I just didn't believe he could murder you!"

"Oh, I could," Severus smiled at her. "If the circumstances called for it, but fortunately, that wasn't necessary."

"What?" Trelawney looked at Severus in disbelief but then sat back, catching her breath. "I really think you mean that, Professor . . . let's hope it never comes to that point."

"I'll second that!" laughed Dumbledore. "Let's eat, shall we . . . I'm feeling a bit peckish!"

Just then, the Malfoys entered the Great Hall, with Draco in tow. Narcissa was obviously fussing with him about something, but stopped and turned to greet the others.

"Hello all, sorry we're late. I was bemoaning the state of Draco's wardrobe . . . he's grown two inches in the last year, I swear to you!" Narcissa smiled.

"Mother!" Draco rolled his eyes. "Could we leave this discussion until later?"

"Of course, dear." Narcissa sat down next to Minerva, smiling at her, as she picked up her napkin.

"Alright! " Professor Sprout spoke up. "Now would you mind telling us why the Malfoys are here, Albus? We saw them when Draco was removed by Mister Potter, but . . . I really don't understand any of this!" Pomona Sprout fixed Albus with an intense glare, pointing her finger at the Headmaster. "You've got a fair bit of explaining to do!"

"Ah, indeed . . . well, let's see, where to start?" Dumbledore mused, putting a bit of food in his mouth, chewing it and then swallowing while he contemplated his answer. "I suppose at the beginning, which was over the Christmas holiday, two years ago. We had a visit from some people from our future, Muggles in fact, who used a modified "Time Turner" to come back and warn us of certain events, hoping we could change our collective fates."

Healer Treiber leaned over and whispered in Severus' ear. "A group of Muggles with a Time Turner are helping change our lives?"

Severus gasped as he realized Katie had not been part of their past trip through the war with Voldemort. How could he possibly explain what they'd done without her wishing her husband could have been saved? He turned to look at Harry, who had heard her question and had an equally shocked look on his face. What could he say? But it was Albus who spoke up, when he saw them exchanging looks.

"Healer Treiber . . . Katie, my dear. . . it appears you have stumbled upon our secret. In the future, the year 2012 in fact, Draco, Harry, Ron and Hermione enlist the help of four young Muggles, who used a special 'Time Turner' to go back to Christmas holiday two years ago and tell us some information that is enabling us, now, to defeat Voldemort. We didn't fare so well the first time we traveled through our lives; Sirius and myself were already dead at this point in time and many more would lose their lives, Severus included, even though Harry does defeat Voldemort in the end. This time, we have tried to save as many as we could, with warnings and interceptions of Voldemort's plans. I am pained to realize that your husband was not one of those we managed to save."

"No, Headmaster, don't be . . . Edward did get one of those warnings, which is why he was trying to get his group moved that night . . . they were ready to leave but then . . . he held the Snatchers off long enough for the group to 'Apparate' away . He died a hero, Headmaster and I'm proud of what he did . . . it was his fate and I've come to accept that. I imagine he died in the other voyage through time, too, as he was a Muggle-born and a marked Wizard. And those he saved this time were probably not so lucky the first time, either. So, he was an unknowing part of your plans and that is why I want to help; so his death truly means something."

"Well said, my dear," murmured Minerva McGonagall, as she gave Katie's shoulder a squeeze.

Severus was watching Katie as she listened to the discussion continuing around her. He reached over and took her hand, making her start and turn to look at him.

"Are you alright?" he said, softly.

"Yes," she answered, raising her chin. "I'm not so foolish as to think you all would do this again, just to add Edward to your list of 'must save' people. You all did include him, unknowingly . . . it just wasn't meant to be. I'm sure others you have warned have still fallen to the Snatchers or Death Eaters . . . I'm glad for the time Edward and I had together, Severus. Thank you for your concern, though." She smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

Severus nodded but continued to hold her hand, not an unpleasant activity, he was surprised to realize . . . he looked up to see Sirius watching him, without his usual smirk and raised eyebrow . . . Sirius simply looked between the two of them and then nodded before he turned his attention back to Albus' explanation of their activities.

X X X

"If all of this is really happening a second time, Albus," Pomona Sprout asked, after Albus finished his story. "What's to keep someone else from using this new 'Time Turner' to come back and change everything again? For the wrong reasons? What if it's stolen?"

"Professor Sprout," Draco interrupted, before Albus could say anything. "I'm the one responsible for making the new "Time Turner" and in the future, after all of this is over and we've caught up with what I refer to, myself, as 'real time' and our four Muggle friends are returned to their present day, I will, personally, bury that machine so deep in the 'Department of Mysteries' that if it is ever found, no one will know what it was used for, or when. And our lives will be ancient history. OR, if that option isn't really as secure as I would like, I'll destroy it . . . I made it, I can take it apart."

"Sounds like a plan, Draco," Harry smiled at him.

"That and the fact that only this group, plus Neville and Ginny, know about the 'Time Turner' and what's been done. That small number will keep the secret of what really happened with our lives, and the changes to our history from the general knowledge of the rest of the Wizarding World." Albus added.

X X X

Draco hung back as the majority of the group drifted away from the table after dinner was concluded. The Headmaster had asked him to stay for a few minutes. As the Malfoys, Severus and Healer Treiber turned the corner leading to the stairs, Albus came up beside Draco and motioned him to have a seat, even as he settled on one of the chairs himself.

"This was a perfect example of why we need to be careful about the 'Time Turner'. Our Katie knew what dangers her husband was facing and he was doing his best to save his friends. He did, indeed, die a noble death, " Albus said, sadness aging his face. "I think, though, that her understanding and acceptance of his fate is the exception, not the norm . . . you will need to destroy it, I'm afraid, Draco. Also any notes you may have made for its construction should be disposed of, for extra measure."

"First thing I'll do when we catch up and all is back on track, time wise." Draco nodded.

"For the greater good," Albus intoned.

"My thoughts, exactly," replied Draco. "Which is a bit backward, considering I haven't even built it yet - this time," he added, smiling.

"Ah, then you can start a short ' To do' list: invent, use, destroy!" laughed Albus.

X X X

"So, by the end of today, the 'Time Turner' we used will be history . . . if you'll pardon the pun," Rupert added.

"Yes," Draco answered, looking down at his hands, clenched in his lap. "It's for the best, for all of us."

Emma felt a tear slide down her cheek and quickly wiped it away.

"Okay then," said Dan, rubbing his hands together. "We're getting to the good bit, rigging the castle to thwart the invasion . . . why does this remind me of "Home Alone" on steroids?"

Rupert, Tom and Emma burst out laughing as the Wizarding crowd looked at each other, wondering what was so funny.

"You all have to watch that movie sometime! Our director for the first two movies, Chris Columbus, had done a film about a eight year old who was accidentally left at home while his family took a trip from Chicago, in the States, to Paris. By the time they realized he was missing, they were in the air on a non-stop flight and can't turn around to get to him. It is a story of how he survives, using all kinds of traps when two crazy burglars try to invade the house. Also his Mother's frantic attempts to get back home are pretty funny, too. You have to remember, Muggles don't 'Apparate', so it takes almost three days for her to get home."

"I'd be frantic!" gasped Mrs. Weasley.

"You'd be more worried about the house, Molly, especially if it was Fred and George who were left behind," laughed Sirius.

"Oh, dear, I believe you might be right," laughed Molly.

"We heard that!" George called, from two tables away.

"But Sirius is right, too," added Fred, which caused everyone to laugh.

"So, what all DID you do to get this old rock pile ready?' asked Dan, leaning forward, eager to hear all the details.

"Well . . . " Hermione started to speak. "I actually had seen that particular movie, over my first Christmas holiday from Hogwarts. My parents took me to the cinema while I was home and I did come up with a few suggestions for our defenses," she admitted.

"No . . . did you?" Emma grinned at her friend. "Which bits? I watched that movie while we were filming, so I could say I'd seen some of Chris' work."

"Suck up," whispered Rupert, which earned him an elbow in the ribs. "Ow!"

"We all watched Chris' movies at some point . . . they are really funny and we could see his touch in the staging and little bits of business," Dan informed them.

"Yeah, there's 'Goonies', 'Gremlins', 'Adventures in Babysitting' . . . you could have a Chris Columbus Film Festival some weekend and . . " Tom enthused.

"I don't know about that, Tom . . . too many ideas for little, and older, minds," Emma injected, looking pointedly at the Weasley twins and their children

"What?" Fred asked, innocently. "Who us? "

" 'Adventures in babysitting' . .got it! Anymore?" George asked, pretending to write on his hand.

" 'Oh dear, oh dear, we are in trouble now'," Angelina leaned over and whispered to her sister-in-law, Alicia, who nodded and rolled her eyes.

X X X

"Slowly, Severus . . . make sure you have your weight on one foot before trying to move the other," instructed Healer Treiber, as Severus pushed her, in his wheelchair, around the Hospital wing.

"I believe you are having a bit too much fun, being pampered like this," Severus remarked, as he navigated a turn in the maze that Katie had formed by re-arranging the beds. "Shouldn't you be walking alongside me, in case I start to topple over?"

"Nonsense! You aren't going to 'topple over'," giggled the Medi-Witch. "This is for improving your balance and strengthening your leg muscles. Plus, my being seated in this wheelchair makes for a bit of weigh resistance. I'm just making sure you are ready to start walking without assistance and you're doing quite well, I might add; apart from the dent in the doorframe . . . and the overturned stool . . .and . . ."

"Cheeky little . . . " Severus growled, just as he made a turn and was presented with a fairly long straightaway. He picked up his pace and hurried, as quickly as he dared, toward the end of the room.

"Severus! Oh, no! Stop! STOP!" Katie squealed, covering her eyes as the wall loomed in front of her.

Severus slowed but put the chair right up against the low wall, so when his Healer opened her eyes she had a view of the Black Lake and Forbidden Forest spread out before her. It was snowing, and the late afternoon sunlight was fading quickly. She could see Severus' reflection in the glass; he was standing, looking down at her, smirk on his face but a twinkle in his eye.

Katie turned to face Severus, kneeling on the seat, wagging her finger at him.

"You, Professor Snape, are a naughty, naughty boy and Father Christmas won't bring you presents tonight, if you don't say you're sorry!" she huffed at him, trying to look stern.

"Father Christmas hasn't visited the dungeons of Hogwarts for years, so I'm off the hook, as far as he's concerned," replied Severus, as he straightened up and rocked from one leg to the other, bending his knees to work the kinks out of his muscles. He looked up to see the stricken look on Katie's face and immediately realized he'd said the wrong thing. "But," he quickly added. "If you think it would make a difference; I'm sorry if I worried you. I really do feel my legs are responding a lot better today."

"I'm sorry, too, Severus, for . . . well, I wasn't being very . . . I didn't know . . . ." She stumbled to a halt, looking up at her former teacher, now her patient, as he stood there with his usual stoic face firmly in place. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, or imply . . ."

"I know you didn't." Severus offered her a small smile. "I've been alone for so long, I hardly notice holidays at all, birthdays, either." He shrugged. "One gets used to it."

"Well, not this year! Not this Christmas, Severus Snape!" With that, she reached up and put her hands on his cheeks and pulled his face down to her level. "Happy Christmas, Severus Snape!"

She leaned forward and kissed Severus, before he could think to pull away . . . and then his mind told him that was a singularly foolish thing to do, in any case. As his arms went around Katie's waist, he threw caution to the wind and kissed her back, knowing this was the start of a cautious, but hopefully, fulfilling relationship.