Note: Don't worry, I'm not neglecting my other story. I'd actually started this one first, but then set it aside when I had the idea for the other. I'm in the middle of writing chapter four for the other story, it'll be out soon, I promise. Also, thank you for reviewing everybody! I didn't really expect this to get much of a response...::shrug:: ..proved me wrong, heh, thank you so much!



The Christmas Gift

by Severitus

--Chapter 2



Harry was frustrated. There was only one day left till Christmas, and he still had no idea of how to get Snape in the Christmas spirit. A gift was the most obvious idea, but that left the question of /what/ to give. Snape really didn't seem the type that would enjoy a box of Berty Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and he definitely wouldn't appreciate a bag of the Weasley's recently commercialized Ton Tongue Taffy. In fact, candy in general seemed out of the question. Snape already had the top of the line in potions equipment, and Harry really didn't think he'd appreciate a pair of Christmas socks either. In short, Snape was the worst possible person to try and get a gift for.

Harry had run through all the options over and over again in his head, struggling to find at least something that Snape wouldn't kill him for. In the end, he'd given up on brainstorming and had trudged down to the library. Maybe he could get an idea from one of the books there. He might even be lucky enough to find a biography on him, though considering Snape's shady past, such a thing probably didn't exist.

An hour later Harry discovered that he'd been correct. Aside from McGonagall and the librarian, Harry had been completely alone in the library and had thus gained the benefit of the librarians aid. Together they'd pulled down every book that had any information on the teachers at Hogwarts. Not a single one had more than two sentences referring to Snape; neither revealing anything useful.

"Okay..." Harry said to himself, raising his head from a pile of dusty tomes, "What do I know about Snape?" He mulled the list over in his head. Potions Master. Head of Slytherin House. A pet snake perhaps? No, that wouldn't work, and Snape would probably take it as some sort of insult.

"Well, he's mean, unfair, and undeniably the /darkest/ person I've ever met." Harry muttered. The man was a former Death Eater, though that presented no ideas whatsoever. He hated Harry and Harry's father something fierce....and though a few unusual ideas surfaced with that thought, Harry didn't think that they'd go over too well either. And besides, Harry wasn't desperate enough to give Snape a dartboard with the message, 'Die, Potter!' engraved on it's surface; complete with 'Avada Kedavra' inscribed darts, of course. The only other thing that Harry knew about Snape was that he'd been a student at Hogwarts, though that produced no bolts of inspiration either.

"Wait..." Harry thought, glancing at a seated figure across the library "If he was a student at Hogwarts, then McGonagall would probably know /something/ more about him....." Harry thought with a grin. How better to find out about someone, than to simply ask? McGongall would have an idea, Harry had every faith that she would. Without another thought on the matter, he stood and walked across the room to where the Transfiguration professor sat in a cushioned chair, perusing a muggle romance novel.

"Professor McGonagall?" he asked after a quiet moment, loathe to disrupt her if she turned out to be in one of her less appealing moods. She looked up after a moment, and to Harry's relief gave a bright smile.

"Harry! What are you doing spending your vacation in the library?" she asked with a hint of amusement, folding the book shut across her lap. She appeared to be very much in the holiday spirit, her robes were a rich holly green with Christmas trees and silver bells embroidered on the trim.

"I was just looking for some information, and I was hoping that you could help me..." he began, but then McGonagall's expression began to falter.

"If this is for another one of your adventures, Harry...." she began, scolding slightly. Harry shook his head vigorously and waved his hands.

"Oh no, it's nothing of the sort, Professor. I'm trying to figure out what to get someone as a Christmas gift, and I was hoping you could help me get an idea." he said, and the teacher's expression immediately softened.

"Well, that's an entirely different story! I'd be delighted to help you Harry, but I'm not sure why you'd need /my/ help for such a thing. Surely you know your friends better than I do..." she began.

"I've already gotten gifts for Ron and Hermione. I wanted to get a gift for..." Harry paused, and McGonagall watched him expectantly.

"For who, dear?" she asked after a moment, leaning forward in her chair.

"For Professor Snape, Mam." he said quickly. He wasn't quite sure what type of reaction to expect. It was obvious that no one but Dumbledore was especially fond of Snape, everyone respected him enough, there was no doubt about that, but as to giving him a gift?

At first McGonagall just looked surprised, after all, it was the very last name she'd expected Harry to say. Then her expression softened into a genuine smile as she looked at her student. He never ceased to surprise her, and she couldn't help the faint flutter of pride in her chest. That one of her students, Harry especially, could have a heart large enough (and brave enough) to want to give his least favorite person a Christmas gift, why, it pleased her to no end.

"Well, that's definitely not who I expected." she laughed, and Harry visibly relaxed. "Of course I'll help you Harry, though he's a difficult one indeed....." she continued, scratching her chin thoughtfully.

"Did you know him when he was a student here, Professor?" he asked, and her attention shifted back from her thoughts.

"Oh yes of course, dear. I'd just started teaching here when he was a student."

"Maybe could you tell me a bit about him? Maybe I could get some ideas from that..." he said, and McGonagall nodded.

"Certainly, that's a good idea." she paused a moment to gather her thoughts, setting her book up on a nearby table. Harry settled himself in the chair next to her own, twisting to face her politely.

"Alright....I can't tell you about him before he came to the school, it wouldn't be polite for one matter, and I don't know much about it for the other. But when he was here, he was very different from the way he is now in many ways. He was a brilliant student, I remember that well enough; and he hated your father, of which I'm sure you're aware," she said with a smile, "Now I know he used to like Quidditch, he was the Slytherin Seeker I remember, which was another sour point between him and your father. And he /loved/ to read, he was always sneaking into the 'Restricted Section' of the library, though I don't think he realized we knew about it." she paused again, her eyes lost in distant memories as she searched for her next thought, "He had a pet the first two years he was here, a scrawny black cat that got into more trouble than your father and his friends combined. It disappeared his third year, probably wandered into the forbidden forest. I remember him being especially bitter that year....his grades dropped and everything." she paused a second time, smiling at Harry, "You know.....you and he have quite a bit in common. He always stayed here for the winter holidays too, you know.....I imagine he would have stayed for the summer too if he could have managed it." she stopped to stifle a yawn, and Harry leaned back in his chair, frowning slightly. He did /not/ like the idea of having anything in common with the Potions Master.

"Pardon," she muttered with a smile, then continued, "Let's see.....he was a loner, definitely....and he had a fascination with Wizard's Chess, I remember that quite clearly. He never turned down a challenge.....I remember having to deduct /so/ many points from people for placing bets on the chess matches. I don't think I've seen him play a game since, now that I think about it. I think your father cursed Severus' chess set during their seventh year; it probably ruined the fun of the game for him. A shame, really...." she said with a sigh, "I'm afraid that's about all there is, Harry. Do you think it will help you any?" she asked, her expression hopeful. Harry nodded, smiling.

"Oh yes, I think I know just the thing...." Harry said, rising from his chair, "Thank you very much, Professor McGonagall." he said.

"What are you going to get him, dear?" she asked, retrieving her book from the table-top.

"You'll find out on Christmas, Professor. Bye, and thank you!" he said, turning to dash toward the exit. The librarian scowled at him from her desk, but he was out the door before she could say a word. His next stop; Hogsmeade, for the perfect Christmas gift.



---------------End Chapter 2---

Note: Okay, I'm not sure if they're allowed to go to Hogsmeade over Christmas break, but for my purposes, Harry goes. It doesn't really matter, after all, he could have always snuck out with the invisibility cloak, right?