The Spirit of Christmas
By Phoenix Angel
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything else recognizable.
A.N. ~I know this chapter was supposed to be out ages ago, but what can I say? I had exams to write, assignments to complete, and stuff to do. Sorry…~
Part Three
The next morning, Harry awoke quite early. He got out of bed and got dressed before walking over to the window. He watched the birds settle on the tree just outside his window, and observed the beautiful scenery of Snape's gardens. He figured that Snape's place was somewhere south, because it was the middle of winter and there was no sign of snow anywhere.
Harry glanced at his watch, which said that it was breakfast time. He sighed, not wanting to see Snape, but he was hungry, so he headed down towards dining room.
He arrived there a minute before eight, which was right before breakfast was served. He entered to find Snape sitting on the table, reading a copy of the daily prophet. He took a seat at the other end of the table, and waited for the food to arrive. Snape glanced up when he entered, then went back to his paper after seeing who it was. Harry sat there tensely, waiting for Snape's insulting comment, but it never came.
The house elves brought plates of food into the dining room, and Harry filled his plate. He started eating slowly, savouring the great taste of the food. Halfway through the meal, Snape put down his paper and turned to the food. He filled his plate, and began to eat as well.
"Potter, why were you screaming last night?" he asked casually.
Harry immediately stiffened, and carefully answered the question. "I had a nightmare, professor," he replied tensely, while mentally scolding himself for forgetting to put some silencing charms up.
"I see," Snape answered without emotion. "Do you usually get nightmares?" he asked, watching as Harry squirmed in his seat.
"Occasionally I do, professor."
That was a downright lie. Harry had nightmares almost every night, but he told no one about them. They were bloody and vicious, and Harry had no wish to spread around what happened in them.
Snape knew Potter was lying. He could tell by the way Potter squirmed and moved around that Potter was keeping something from him. 'But why would Potter lie about something like this?' he wondered. 'Unless...he's trying to hide the object of his nightmares.' "Potter, what are your nightmares about?"
Harry slowly paled. He had no desire to confess to Snape about his nightmares, his deepest, darkest secrets. "Uh, just normal nightmares, like everyone else's."
Now Snape knew for sure that Potter was hiding something. He figured he'd find out later. After all, Potter was staying with him for a bloody two weeks. Instead, he just raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You have nightmares about big, hairy monsters that live in your closet?"
Harry blushed furiously. 'Greasy git!' he thought.
Snape returned to his breakfast, signaling that the conversation was over. Harry quickly finished his breakfast and got up, heading back towards his room. Just before he left the dining room, Snape spoke up once more. "By the way, Potter, stop calling me 'Professor'. I'm not teaching over the holidays, and I have no desire to be reminded of my job daily."
Harry quickly spun around. "Then what should I call you?"
"You can call me Severus, or Snape, if you prefer," came his reply.
Harry's jaw dropped. Snape, the greasy git, was allowing him, Harry Potter, to call him by his first name? What had gotten into him? "Could you call me Harry then?" he asked cautiously.
Severus looked up, studying the boy. Harry looked unsure of himself, standing in the doorway, as if ready to bolt at short notice, as if a deer caught in headlights. He nodded briskly. "Alright then…Harry."
Harry nodded, and left, while Severus sat there, pondering about what he had just learned. Potter had a secret…but what could be so bad in his nightmares? He was determined to find out.
~*~
Back in his room, Harry sat perched on the edge of his bed. His thoughts were focused on one person…the one currently sitting in the dining room. He wondered what had gotten into the potions professor. Had he gone crazy? Why was he acting nice? Well, not nice, but at least tolerable. He just shrugged, and figured that maybe Snape wanted a peaceful holiday or something.
He got up, and walked over to the foot of his bed, where his trunk stood. He opened the lid and pulled out his wand, then proceeded to place silencing charms all around the room, ensuring that no sound would ever leave it. He didn't want Snape to hear any screaming that he might let out during his nightmares. He then grabbed his broomstick and headed outside for some Quidditch practice.
Several hours later, Harry trooped back in for dinner. He had chosen to skip lunch and continue to practice Quidditch, a favourite pastime. He wondered if Snape cared at all. Probably not, he figured. He entered the dining room again to find Snape seated at the table. Snape's attention had snapped to Harry the moment he entered the room, and Harry felt uneasy with the gaze of obsidian eyes settled on him. He sat down, squirming away from the gaze. At last, Snape turned his eyes away from Harry.
"I suppose you got all the excess energy out of your system, then?" he spoke, twirling a quill between his long, elegant fingers. Harry squirmed, before replying a weak, "yes sir". "Good. After dinner, you will be joining me in my lab." At this, he sneered. "I was requested by Professor Dumbledore to give you extra lessons in potions. It seems that your marks weren't good enough."
Harry thought about it for a second, before nodding resignedly. "They were rather low," he admitted reluctantly.
Snape nodded. "Alright, have Izzue bring you to my workroom. I shall be waiting there. Don't dawdle." He rose from the table, and swept to the door. As he was about to leave, Harry snapped out of his daze.
"Severus?" The name felt strange on his tongue. He flushed, embarrassed, when Snape turned back to look at him. "You're not going to eat?" he muttered.
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Unlike you, I ate my lunch, and I'm not hungry right now." He turned and left the room.
Harry inhaled his dinner, and ran back to his room to change into fresh clothes. He then called for Izzue, who came instantaneously. She led him to a large, solid wood door. He tentatively knocked on it, and pushed it open when he heard a "come in".
He entered to find a large room full of cauldrons and work desks. His eyes were drawn to Snape, who stood beside a cauldron in the corner, mixing it. When Harry entered, he carefully placed the ladle down and strode towards him. "Follow me."
Snape led Harry to another, smaller room, which contained only two cauldrons and a worktable. On it was a pile of parchment, covered in neat, precise writing. Snape turned to Harry. "Now, we shall begin with something you will find useful…the dreamless sleep potion."
A.N. ~Like? Dislike? Well, anyways, sorry again, I'll try to update faster next time.
~Phoenix Angel