The Spirit of Christmas
By Phoenix Angel
A.N. ^_^ Hehe, hi everyone! I know it's been like forever since I last updated. Sorry! I was so hyped up about Anime North that I didn't feel like sitting down and writing a chapter. Before you read this chappie, I really should answer some of the questions ppl have asked in their reviews...
First, this story will NOT be SLASH. Sry for the people who did want it to be, but I've decided that it just doesn't go with my plotline. Maybe I'll write a sequel where Severus and Harry get together, if some one wants me to, but this story won't be slash. Hehe, the leather pants thing was just an experiment; I wanted to see how ppl would react. Sry.
Secondly, about the snake in chapter one. I did borrow his name from the Redwall series, but I just thought it sounded so cool and I couldn't resist putting it in my fic.
One more thing. I just wanted to thank all the reviewers. You guys are the best! I really thrive on your reviews, and I hope my chapters live up to your expectations. Thanks!
That's really all I have to say. Enjoy the chapter!
Part Six
Severus was surprised at Harry's revelations. He had never thought that the boy had been this troubled. He sat there, petting Harry's head gently as he mulled over what he had discovered today.
~~~
Harry awoke several hours later, feeling the safest he had felt in years. It was as if there was a large blanket over him, protecting him from all harm, sheltering him from the cruel, outside world. He snuggled deeper into the warmth, recalling that this had been the first time he had slept without having a nightmare since the summer. He let out a content sigh. He was startled out of his light doze by a low, deep chuckle. His 'pillow' moved! Startled, he opened his eyes to find Severus Snape staring down at him, eyes filled with amusement. Harry gaped back, surprised.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," came Severus' silky purr. "Did you sleep well?"
Harry raised his head slightly, before realizing that they were still in the study, and that he had fallen asleep in Severus' lap after pouring all his troubles out to Severus. He felt his face flush in embarrassment. He figured that he should move his head from Severus' lap, but it was just too comfortable.
"Yes, thank you," Harry replied, having no intention of moving. His statement was met by another chuckle.
"Well, if you don't mind, I'd like the use of my legs back." Harry sighed in objection, but slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. After a quick glance at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, he realized that it was well past breakfast. At the thought of breakfast, his stomach growled hungrily. He heard an amused snort from behind him, and he blushed.
"Well, Mr. Potter, it seems that you're hungry… Why don't you go to your room and take a shower, and I'll meet you in the dining hall for some brunch," Severus offered.
Harry nodded his acceptance, and headed off to his room. He arrived to find his purchases from the previous day piled up on his bed, awaiting his return. He gaped in surprised. How had they gone from his pocket to his bedroom? A small pop behind him startled him out of his daze.
"Master Potter, sir," a small, squeaky voice came. He turned around to find the house elf from the day before. 'What was her name again? Issue? No, Izzue. That was it…'
"Yes?" Harry replied, still trying to figure out the packages. He didn't realize that the answer he was looking for was right in front of him.
"Master Potter, sir. I am just here to tell you that I removed your packages from your pocket, sir. I assumed you didn't want them to be squished. Is that alright, sir?"
Harry's eyebrows shot up. He decided not to ask how Izzue knew in the first place that they were in his pocket. "That's fine, Izzue. Thank you."
Izzue bowed to him and disappeared with a pop. Harry turned back to his bed, and decided to leave the presents there for now. He'd put them away after he ate some food. He grabbed some fresh clothes and went to the bathroom for a nice, hot shower.
Half an hour later, Harry was seated in front of a dinning table loaded with food. He was ravenous from skipping dinner the night before, and immediately dug in when the food arrived. It was only after his second plate of food that he pushed is plate away, having had enough.
He realized that Severus was staring at him again, and looked up at him. He was surprised when Severus smiled gently at him.
"Harry. Would you…" Severus hesitated. "Would you like to play a game of Quidditch?"
Harry blinked in surprise. Severus? Quidditch? The person who always made fun of Harry's position on the Quidditch team played Quidditch himself?
Severus let out an amused laugh. "What? Did you think I spent all my Hogwarts days making potions?" At Harry's silence, he assumed the answer was a yes. "I actually played beater on the Quidditch team since my second year." He smiled maliciously. "I had the most pleasure in sending bludgers to your father."
Harry could only stare. Snape, being nice and laughing? Inviting him to play a game of Quidditch? This was very out of character for him. Well, it couldn't hurt to play a game of Quidditch, and he did need something to keep his mind off the nightmares…
"Alright, Prof-Severus. I'll just go get my Firebolt…" Harry trailed off. He wondered where they were going to play. Was there a Quidditch pitch here? If there was, he wouldn't be surprised, considering the size of the house. His thoughts were interrupted by Severus.
"Great! I'll meet you in the entrance hall after you get your broom." With that, he walked off down some corridor or another.
Harry shrugged to himself. Things couldn't get any weirder than this!
Severus sighed as he walked out of the dining room. He didn't know how to help Harry with his nightmares, other then keep his mind off them. That was what he was doing now. Quidditch would surely take Harry's mind off his sleeping problems, and plus, he would finally be able to beat a Potter in Quidditch! All in all, it wasn't a bad idea. It would give him some exercise too…
Harry went to his bedroom and carefully took out his Firebolt. It was still in prime condition. He wondered what kind of broom Severus had. A Nimbus 2001 perhaps? Well, he'd soon find out.
He returned back to the entrance hall to find Severus there waiting, carefully cradling a broom in his hand. Harry gasped. It was a custom, hand-made broom. These brooms were very hard to get, because the creators only made them for close friends. They were really rare, and were even better than the Firebolt.
Severus smirked at the look on Harry's face. Being a potions master was very useful in many situations. He allowed Harry to drool over his broom for a couple of minutes, before turning on his heel and heading out the doors, with Harry following close behind. He led Harry to the back of the house, where a large Quidditch Pitch was situated. He mounted his broom and kicked off into the air.
Harry looked around the Quidditch Pitch in interest. There were three large, gold hoops on either side of the field. There were a couple of stands here and there, but the Pitch seemed to be built for recreational reasons. He mounted his Firebolt and joined Severus in the air, smiling happily at the feeling of flying once again.
The pair flew to the center of the Quidditch Pitch, where Severus explained the rules of one-on-one Quidditch. The rules were simple. The first one to score one hundred points with the Quaffle won the game. There were no keepers, just two people and the Quaffle, so you had to watch the hoops carefully and do anything to prevent the other person from scoring.
Severus set the timer to let out a whistle to start the game and let out the Quaffle. Harry tensed up, waiting for the whistle. The timer flashed three, two, one, and there was a loud tweet. The game was on!
A.N. Did you like the chapter? It's kinda jumpy, I know, but I tried… Plz review! Thank you!