Author's Note: I'm about to post two important chapters to thank you all for being so great and also because I'm impatient and ready to share them now! lol
October came and went, leading into colder days as November passed. Freddie hung out with Daniel and Heather and she got to know the Gryffindor girl, though she still didn't care for her. She still spent most of her time holed up in Snape's office, working on her potions.
When the list came around for students who wanted to remain at school over the Christmas holiday, Freddie immediately put her name down. She was almost giddy at the thought of how much free time she'd have to brew. She wondered if Snape were staying.
When he came around to collect the list at the end of lunch, Freddie got up and followed him out of the Great Hall.
"Hey," she said, catching up to him as he headed down into the dungeons. "Are you staying here over the holiday?"
"I always do, Miss Gray," he answered.
"Always? Don't you have any family?"
"No."
"Friends?" she asked.
He squinted at her and said nothing.
"Jeez," she said. "Do you even have a house or do you just brood around here year round?"
"I have a house, Miss Gray."
"Hm," Freddie said, wondering to herself what sort of house Snape lived in. Alot of purebloods lived in large manors, her family included. She imagined Snape skulking around a large empty house all by himself. The thought made her a little sad.
"Is there a reason you are following me, Miss Gray?" he asked, entering the Potions classroom.
"I'm staying at Hogwarts over the holiday," she said, sitting on the edge of his desk with her legs crossed as he began to prepare for his next class.
"I am aware."
"Is it okay if I still use the Brewing Room?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" he asked, picking up the chalk to write a recipe on the chalkboard.
"I dunno. It's the holiday, no classes, you might want more privacy."
"If I desire 'privacy' I go to my quarters. Or kick you out," he said absently. "For the most part your presence in my lab does not disturb me."
"Good," Freddie said, smiling. "I'll be sure to be extra-quiet in the mornings."
"You have been," he said.
It was true. Freddie tended to her potions most days before breakfast and since the first time she hadn't caught Snape in his pajamas again, much to her disappointment. Sometimes she was done and gone before he ever woke.
"We need to make a large batch of Pepperup Potion for Madam Pomfrey this evening," he said, still writing. "The cold weather has increased the number of students who develop the 'sniffles' and she is running low."
"Sounds fun," she said with a hint of sarcasm but really the prospect of brewing a potion with him excited her. He rarely asked for her help, leaving her to brew her own potions.
"Be in my office at 7 o'clock," he said.
"It's a date," she said, hopping off his desk. Snape paused in his writing but didn't look at her. Freddie felt herself grow warm, realizing what she'd said.
"I should, uh, go write my aunt and uncle. Let them know I'm not coming home for Christmas," she said, heading for the door quickly. "Have a good class."
"I will see you after dinner, Miss Gray," he said, and continued writing.
#
Freddie went to the Common Room and sat down to write her letter. She explained that she had a lot of studying to do and didn't wish to fall behind. She gave them a brief summary of her classes, her grades, and her progress with her Potions apprenticeship. Then she wished them a Merry Christmas and signed the letter. She folded it up and went to her dorm in search of an envelope.
While digging through her trunk she came across the clay statue she'd made in Art class. She figured it would make a decent enough gift for her aunt and uncle. A girl being eaten alive by spiders...it would fit right in with their grotesque decor.
Freddie wrapped the gift and attached her letter to the package. She put on her scarf and hat and left the dungeons. She headed up to the Owlery so she could use one of the Hogwarts owls to send her package. As she climbed the steps to the Owlery, she heard music. It was eerie but familiar.
"Welcome to the Hotel California, such a lovely place, such a lovely face. Plenty of room at the Hotel California. Any time of year, you can find it here..."
She entered the Owlery and wasn't at all surprised to find Daniel sitting in one of the windows, legs danging out the window, his record player behind him.
"Don't owls hate eagles?" she teased.
"Hey Fred!" he said, looking surprised but happy to see her. "What're you doing?"
"Sending a letter to Cecil and Millicent. What about you – besides listening to The Eagles with the owls?"
"Just hanging out – literally," he joked, kicking his legs. "Hey, you recognized the band!"
"Well yeah. They have some pretty good songs – plus I think Don Henley might be a wizard," she said, which caused Daniel to chuckle. "Where's Heather?"
"Class. Charms, I think."
"Ah."
"Hey, you wanna go for a fly? You and I haven't done that in forever, not just the two of us."
"Okay," she agreed. "Let me send this off."
Freddie approached a large barn owl who sat on a perch, preening himself and watching them with intense yellow eyes.
"Hello there," she said softly to the bird. "Would you mind taking a Christmas gift to Gray Manor for me?"
The owl stopped preening and fluffed his mottled white feathers. He hooted loudly and extended his leg.
"Thank you," she said as she tied the parcel to his leg. "Safe flying."
They watched the owl fly off, until it was just a speck in the distance. Then, Daniel leapt up, a smile on his face.
"Hey check this out," he said, pulling out his wand. He pointed it out the window, his face screwed up in concentration. Freddie quirked her eyebrow. She was about to ask what she was supposed to be seeing when she saw it – two broomsticks hurtling towards them across the grounds.
"Holy crap! You did it!" Freddie exclaimed. "You mastered the nonverbal summoning charm!"
"Yeah – I know, you can say it, I'm awesome, right?" he said, smirking.
"You suck!" Freddie said, punching him and grabbing her broom. "And you're awesome. Let's fly."
Daniel strapped his record player to the handle of his broom in front of him.
"Stabilis," he said, tapping it with his wand.
"What're you doing?" Freddie asked, mounting her broom.
"Stability Spell. Keeps the record player steady so I can listen to music while I fly, without having to stick to the Quidditch pitch."
"Nice. You ready?"
"Yup. Let's go!"
Daniel took off and Freddie followed him. The sound of Life in the Fast Lane followed him as well. They flew around the castle, circling the highest towers. As they zoomed down over the light drifts.
"It's snowing!" Freddie laughed delightedly.
They flew skywards, circling each other and laughing. Daniel had his tongue out, trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue.
Another familiar song started and Freddie stopped in mid air.
"I love that song!" she exclaimed. She pulled out her wand and pointed it at the record player. "Sonorous."
The music played louder and Freddie began to sing along.
"Raven hair and ruby lips, sparks fly from her fingertips. Echoed voices in the night, she's a restless spirit on a endless flight."
"Woo hoo, witchy woman, see how high she flies," Daniel joined in. "Woo hoo, witchy woman, she's got the moon in her eyes... Oh my God, it's totally you! This is your song!"
"Hell yeah!" Freddie declared and began the second verse.
#
They flew for the rest of the afternoon. When it was time for Care of Magical Creatures class, they flew down to find Professor Kettleburn but he told them he was canceling class due to the weather. The snow had started coming down thicker and it wasn't due to stop. Freddie and Daniel shared a wicked grin and took off again.
When they were soaked from the snow they touched down outside the broom shed.
"You wanna go inside, work on homework?" Freddie asked. "My hands are practically frozen to my broom. I don't have to meet Snape til 7."
Daniel pulled out his wand and hit her with a spell that dried her clothes. Then he did the same thing to himself.
"Actually, you wanna walk for a bit?" he asked. "I'm not ready to go in quite yet."
"Sure," she agreed.
Freddie cast a spell to keep the snow off of them as they started walking along the edge of the forest. Daniel charmed his record player to float between them.
"I've got something to keep us warm," he said mischievously. Freddie glanced at him and he pulled a bottle of Firewhiskey out of his pocket.
"Where'd you get that?" she gasped as he took a swig.
"Swiped it," he said with a grin. "Want some?"
Freddie nodded and took the bottle. She took a swig and the cinnamon-flavored whiskey burned her throat all the way down to her stomach. The warmth spread through her and she took another drink.
"You really stole this?"
"Yep."
"When did you become such a Slytherin?" she teased.
"Learned from the best," he said with a wink.
"Are you going home for the holiday?" she asked as they continued walking and drinking.
"Yeah – well, Heather wants me to meet her parents, so I'm gonna go home with her."
"Mm. Getting serious, eh?" Freddie said, taking a deep drink from the bottle.
"Yeah. You know I think this may really be something, me and her. Like I could see a future with her, ya know?"
"What, like marriage?" Freddie asked, making a face.
"Would that be so bad?" he asked. "I mean, you like her, right?"
"She's..."
"A Gryffindor, I know."
"Yeah. She's alright, though. She's just...cheery. And she's like...happy. All the time. And she hugs."
"Yeah," Daniel chuckled. "But...what d'you think? I dunno, 5, 10 years from now? Do you think, if I asked her, and she said yes, would you be happy for me? Would you be my best man?"
"You do know that I'm a girl, right?" Freddie asked sardonically.
"Shut up," Daniel said, shoving her and laughing loudly. "I'm serious."
"You're drunk," she snorted.
"Freddie..."
"Yes, okay, fine. I'll be your hypothetical best man at your hypothetical future wedding with the Gryffindor girl."
"Thanks Fred," he said, grinning at her.
"Play my song again, you arse," she said, giving him a shove, smiling. Daniel saluted her and flicked his wand.
Raven hair and ruby lips, sparks fly from her fingertips...