Christmas is on the way and several people go shopping. A nice little break from all the problems.

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Chapter 22

Gifts of the heart

Lierin decided that it would be good to clear her head and think of the coming holiday instead of all that was going on. In the weekend she ventured to Hogsmeade and found that the small village was alive and vibrant and full of expectation for the upcoming celebration. The lively mood that seemed to come from the village itself had a positive effect on her and after just roaming the streets she started gift raiding for her colleagues.

By the late afternoon there was only one gift left to buy. A gift for Severus Snape. And by Merlin, she had no idea what to get him. She knew he wouldn't appreciate a gift from her anyway, but a promise was a promise, he would get a gift whether he wanted it or not. For Remus she had bought a very exquisite looking set of wizards robes, velvet green and embroidered with fine and complicated looking patterns. She hoped he wouldn't be insulted but by Merlin, she had enough about people complaining he looked shabby. He wasn't shabby! Remus was incredible! Besides, the set of robes felt very comfortable and warm. For Minerva she had bought a beautiful looking cameo, a nice pointy hat for Fillius, a new pair of dragon scale gloves for Madam Hooch, warm woollen socks for Dumbledore and so on and so on. She searched every shop in Hogsmeade and additionally she searched every shop in Diagon Alley. She didn't even know why she was going through so much trouble to find Severus a gift. She only knew she wanted to give him something special. But, she soon realised that the one special thing she was looking for was not to be found in stores, but was already safely in her possession. It was a gift that would certainly fit his nature and Lierin hoped that he would appreciate and acknowledge its value. Quickly Lierin turned around to leave Diagon Alley so she failed to see the tall cloaked figure, watching her from the threshold of Pellet's Shop of Owls.

He had been here only for a few supplies for school and for his own private stock. At some point he had noticed her shopping and he had known immediately for what purpose. Determined to neglect her, he had wandered on and lost her out of his sight until he had almost bumped into her near Nocturne Alley. He had followed her around for a bit, curious as to why she would set one foot into that creepy alley, until something dawned into that foggy brain of his, she was looking for a gift for him. Not sure how to react on that fact, he turned around at one point, feeling obliged to buy her something too, his feelings of hate and his want of revenge pressed to the back of his mind.

He knew exactly what he wanted to get her, after all, he had seen her silently sneaking up to the Owelry to admire the snowy female that belonged to Potter. So, it was with determination that he was about to enter the shop, when he noticed her again. Unable to pull his eyes away from her, he noticed how she quickly left Diagon Alley with slightly flushed cheeks from excitement and he couldn't help but wonder what she was up to. After she was long gone and some old hag was trying to get him out of the way, he entered the shop shooting a very cold glare at the old woman. Inside the shop, he was amazed by the large quantity of owls occupying the cages. There were the usual forest Owls, a few church Owls and many others but that wasn't what he was looking for.

Mr. Pellet, the shop owner who was helping him, sighed with annoyance and asked the cloaked stranger what he did want.

"I'm searching for a very special owl. An owl that really catches the eye but he has to be very tame as well. I have no interest in vicious beasts. He also needs to be in good health, preferably a young owl so he can bond easily with his new master."

Mr. Pellet was a little hesitating in his answer.

"Well, I have this one snowy female. Came in yesterday. Only one year old, very sweet, easy going, in extremely good health. But ehr- also very expensive..."

"Let me see her."

Mr. Pellet showed the stranger to a fairly large cage and there she was, exactly what he had been looking for. She was perfect, just lovely. There wasn't a peck of grey on her, even Harry's snowy female wasn't that perfect. And her eyes, by Merlin, they were as blue as the eyes of her soon to be owner, instead of the usual yellow ones. She was indeed a beautiful specimen.

"How much?" he asked Mr. Pellet, stretching his arm out to touch the bars of the cage.

"A-hum, five hundred Galleons."

The stranger immediately pulled back his arm and hesitated for a moment. Then, after a short pause the stranger reached out again, gently stroking the bars of the owl's cage.

"I'll take her," he said softly.