Chapter 1
By
Heather Granger
A/N: This is a response to my own challenge, I hope you like it, and
if you have any suggestions please review. (Oh and if you are
going to flame me, please remember that I do have feelings.)
"Gather round everyone! The staff meeting shall commence.
Now, most of you are probably wondering why I called you here
today, seeing that it is the first day of the Christmas holiday. This
year I thought we should get to know each other a little better, and
so we are going to do a Secret Santa gift exchange!" Albus boomed
happily. Severus Snape got up from the chair in the corner of his
office and turned for the door.
"Severus, where would you be going?" Albus asked peering
over his glasses.
"I needed cause myself more inflicted pain this year,
Headmaster, I was just going to excuse myself from this merry little
gift exchange." The words came dripping off his tongue.
"Ah, Severus I shall indeed need to call you a scrooge if you
refuse to participate, and I daresay if you refuse, I might have to
overlook your request to attend the book signing of Extremely
Potent Potions by Gurdinline Browling." Albus whispered in his ear.
He had stabbed him, directly where he knew it would hurt him
the most. All Albus had heard from the PotionÕs Master in the last
two weeks was about using BrowlingÕs books for the Seventh years.
Severus turned and made himself comfortable in the chair
again, with a most disgusted look upon his face.
"Now, then, I have taken the liberty of writing down all of your
names on these slips of paper. They have had an invisibility charm
cast on them, so there will be no cheating."
Severus could have sworn seeing a strange glimmer in his
eye, and became very suspicious.
"Everyone will grab one slip of paper, and cast a reveling
charm on the paper to see who you will be getting gifts for." Albus
stated jovially.
"Excuse me, Professor. How long does this Secret Santa gift
exchange last?" Hermione Granger, the new librarian at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry asked.
"Oh, yes, thank you Hermione, We will be starting on the 18th
of December, and you will give one present a day, mind you it
neednÕt be a large gift, something you might think the person might
like. On the last day, which will be Boxing Day, you will exchange a
slightly larger gift, and reveal yourself to that person.
Does that clear things up? Good! Now the sorting hat has
kindly volunteered itself, and I will walk around and take one piece
of paper."
Hermione glanced at Severus, he was looking very foul, and
she could tell he was not looking forward to the festivities that the
Headmaster had planned. Ever since Voldermort had come back in
her Fourth year, she noted that his health and what little spirit he
had, had been slowly deteriorating. She couldnÕt help but feel sorry
for him, not only did he not have any friends, it looked as if the way
he was acting he would never have any.
Hermione was stirred from her daydreaming when she heard
Albus whisper something to the hat, what he said she couldnÕt tell,
but it seemed highly suspicious to her.
"Now, remember what we discussed earlier, make sure that
she takes this one, and he takes that one." Albus whispered to the
sorting hat. Pointing to two pieces of white paper.
"Shall we begin? Remember who you receive should remain
a secret to everyone." Albus said as he walked around and
Minivera grabbed the first slip and the rest of the faculty followed.
When hat reached Severus, he could have sworn that the piece of
paper that he grabbed was not the same size as the one he came
up without of the hat. He gave the hat a piercing look, and went
back to the corner.
"Right then, cast your reveling charm, and find out who you
have." Albus instructed.
"Reveolo!" Everyone shouted, as the ink on the parchment
began to come into focus.
Hermione glanced down and saw she had Severus. She
sighed, she may have felt sorry for him, but that didnÕt mean she
particularly liked him. It seemed as if he enjoyed going out of his
way to point out every little error that she made. This was going to
be much more difficult than she originally thought.
At the same moment, Severus gave a quick glance down at
his parchment and saw Hermione GrangerÕs name scribbled down.
ÔGreat, just what I wanted, a young Gryffindor know-it-all.Õ He
thought to himself. He glanced over at her. She was playing with
her hair, deep in useless thought. ÔI thought I would have been rid
of her after she graduated, but of course she had to come back,
show everyone how perfect she was.Ô
ÔWhat in MerlinÕs name am I going to get her? I donÕt even
know her middle name, let alone what gift she would like.Õ
This was going to be a long week.
By
Heather Granger
A/N: This is a response to my own challenge, I hope you like it, and
if you have any suggestions please review. (Oh and if you are
going to flame me, please remember that I do have feelings.)
"Gather round everyone! The staff meeting shall commence.
Now, most of you are probably wondering why I called you here
today, seeing that it is the first day of the Christmas holiday. This
year I thought we should get to know each other a little better, and
so we are going to do a Secret Santa gift exchange!" Albus boomed
happily. Severus Snape got up from the chair in the corner of his
office and turned for the door.
"Severus, where would you be going?" Albus asked peering
over his glasses.
"I needed cause myself more inflicted pain this year,
Headmaster, I was just going to excuse myself from this merry little
gift exchange." The words came dripping off his tongue.
"Ah, Severus I shall indeed need to call you a scrooge if you
refuse to participate, and I daresay if you refuse, I might have to
overlook your request to attend the book signing of Extremely
Potent Potions by Gurdinline Browling." Albus whispered in his ear.
He had stabbed him, directly where he knew it would hurt him
the most. All Albus had heard from the PotionÕs Master in the last
two weeks was about using BrowlingÕs books for the Seventh years.
Severus turned and made himself comfortable in the chair
again, with a most disgusted look upon his face.
"Now, then, I have taken the liberty of writing down all of your
names on these slips of paper. They have had an invisibility charm
cast on them, so there will be no cheating."
Severus could have sworn seeing a strange glimmer in his
eye, and became very suspicious.
"Everyone will grab one slip of paper, and cast a reveling
charm on the paper to see who you will be getting gifts for." Albus
stated jovially.
"Excuse me, Professor. How long does this Secret Santa gift
exchange last?" Hermione Granger, the new librarian at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry asked.
"Oh, yes, thank you Hermione, We will be starting on the 18th
of December, and you will give one present a day, mind you it
neednÕt be a large gift, something you might think the person might
like. On the last day, which will be Boxing Day, you will exchange a
slightly larger gift, and reveal yourself to that person.
Does that clear things up? Good! Now the sorting hat has
kindly volunteered itself, and I will walk around and take one piece
of paper."
Hermione glanced at Severus, he was looking very foul, and
she could tell he was not looking forward to the festivities that the
Headmaster had planned. Ever since Voldermort had come back in
her Fourth year, she noted that his health and what little spirit he
had, had been slowly deteriorating. She couldnÕt help but feel sorry
for him, not only did he not have any friends, it looked as if the way
he was acting he would never have any.
Hermione was stirred from her daydreaming when she heard
Albus whisper something to the hat, what he said she couldnÕt tell,
but it seemed highly suspicious to her.
"Now, remember what we discussed earlier, make sure that
she takes this one, and he takes that one." Albus whispered to the
sorting hat. Pointing to two pieces of white paper.
"Shall we begin? Remember who you receive should remain
a secret to everyone." Albus said as he walked around and
Minivera grabbed the first slip and the rest of the faculty followed.
When hat reached Severus, he could have sworn that the piece of
paper that he grabbed was not the same size as the one he came
up without of the hat. He gave the hat a piercing look, and went
back to the corner.
"Right then, cast your reveling charm, and find out who you
have." Albus instructed.
"Reveolo!" Everyone shouted, as the ink on the parchment
began to come into focus.
Hermione glanced down and saw she had Severus. She
sighed, she may have felt sorry for him, but that didnÕt mean she
particularly liked him. It seemed as if he enjoyed going out of his
way to point out every little error that she made. This was going to
be much more difficult than she originally thought.
At the same moment, Severus gave a quick glance down at
his parchment and saw Hermione GrangerÕs name scribbled down.
ÔGreat, just what I wanted, a young Gryffindor know-it-all.Õ He
thought to himself. He glanced over at her. She was playing with
her hair, deep in useless thought. ÔI thought I would have been rid
of her after she graduated, but of course she had to come back,
show everyone how perfect she was.Ô
ÔWhat in MerlinÕs name am I going to get her? I donÕt even
know her middle name, let alone what gift she would like.Õ
This was going to be a long week.