Chapter 11 - Preparations

Draco was glad, now, that he'd gone to get Harry and Ron. No one would have believed him if he'd just told them that Snape and Deesia were engaged. It was funny how things had worked out, really. Learning Occlumency with Harry had given him a lot of insight into his rival's mind. It was disconcerting to realize that Harry honestly had no use for his fame.

Harry, likewise, had learned just what Draco dealt with from Lucius. The truce had been pretty shaky at first, but this latest piece of news was certain to bring them together.

"I can't believe anyone would want to KISS that greasy git!" Ron said savagely, through his laughter. Harry and Draco each smacked him on an arm.

"He really hasn't been that bad this year. Of course, he's been gone most of the time –" Harry didn't exactly LIKE their Potions Master, but he had to admit something was different about him.

"You're right, he's not that bad when he's gone," Ron interjected spiritedly.

"He's actually really nice. He always took care of me when father – " Draco left off suddenly. He didn't have any secrets from Harry, and now that Ron had stopped calling him Malfoy, he was getting along pretty well with him, too. But Hermione had just come around the corner looking for them, and she looked rather annoyed to find them all laughing here together.

Since he had apologized to her, and they'd agreed not to call each other ferret boy or mudblood anymore, they'd been getting along much better. She'd even stopped calling him Malfoy, which made life a lot easier on everyone.

"Professor McGonagall suggested that we all stay in Gryffindor Tower today, since the Slytherins probably know by now that you showed your father's letter to Professor Deesia," she said matter-of-factly. Draco paled, and Harry and Ron stopped smiling at once. He hadn't thought about that. He'd spent last night in the hospital ward because Tonks had accidentally tripped him, then landed on top of him, breaking his wrist and bruising his chin nicely. He nodded, then exchanged glances with Ron and Harry before following her up the stairs.

Muriel spoke the transfiguration spell rather breathlessly and Severus was chagrined to see that she was dressed once again in her robes. But she had a mischievous look in her eye as she headed toward the door. "Where are you going? You know I can't leave here. I'm supposed to be a captive."

"I'll be back," she said, grinning. He shook his head as the door closed behind her and threw himself back on the bed. What was she up to now?

Mur made her way to the Headmaster's office and he quickly agreed to donate 4 hours of his day to her needs. Then she asked to use his fire.

She threw the floo powder in, "12 Grimmauld Place," she said quickly, sticking her head into the fire. The first thing she saw was a very startled Remus Lupin, who had obviously been sleeping in the armchair by the fire.

"Happy Christmas, Remus!" she said, trying not to laugh at the crescent moon covered pajama pants that were his only covering. His hair stuck up wildly and she was reminded forcibly of James, and Harry too, for that matter.

"Happy Christmas, Mur," he said quietly. "What are you up to?"

She winked at him. "Planning a small party. Is Lupso around?" Remus called for the house elf, who appeared instantly before the fire. Mur didn't wait to be asked.

"Lupso, I need you to go back to Deesia Manor. You have 2 hours to recreate the pavilion out on the lake. Can you do it?" The aging elf looked shocked.

"Of course, Mistress." It sounded like he was going to say more, but Muriel cut him off.

"Good. Get Severus' elves to help too. And take the charm off his house so he can go back in there. His father put wards around the house to keep him out!"

"Yes, Mistress, Lupso saw Mr. Snape putting on wards. Nasty ones they was, too! To bring down whole house!" Lupso shuddered. Mur cast a look up at Remus, who looked very confused.

"Be at Deesia Manor at noon, Remus. I need your autograph." A moment later she was gone, and Lupso disappeared soon after. Remus threw himself heavily back into the chair, chilled in spite of the fire. It was a hard thing to sit in his best friend's house alone on Christmas Day. But he didn't feel much like going to a party, either. He closed his eyes and conjured a blanket.

He'd almost made it back to sleep when another head appeared in the fire and called out a laughing, "Happy Christmas, Professor Lupin!"

"Harry?" He was surprised by the grin on his young friend's face. He wondered how long it had been since his own face had looked like that. A long time, he supposed.

"You aren't going to believe this, but Professor Snape and Professor Deesia are engaged!" Harry was laughing as though this was the funniest thing in the world. But then, no one had ever told him that Muriel had once been engaged to Sirius. Remus managed a weak smile.

"That's great!" he said, as enthusiastically as he could. But Harry was too observant to let that slide.

"Professor? Why don't you come and spend Christmas with us in Gryffindor Tower?" he asked hopefully. Harry could guess why Remus was so despondent, and didn't want his parents' and Sirius' best friend to be alone on Christmas. He heard Ron, Hermione and Draco yelling encouragement behind him. Funny. He thought Draco hadn't liked Professor Lupin.

"I can't, Harry, I have someplace to be at noon." Then it clicked. He felt a smile spreading across his face in spite of himself. "And so do you," he said quickly. Harry looked confused, but Remus jumped down off the chair to sit on the floor by the fire.

"I should have known she wouldn't wait! Ha! I wonder if he knows what she's up to? Harry – All four of you should get out your dress robes. I'll floo the rest of the Order. If she wants a party, we'll give her one!"

An hour later found the entirety of the Order of the Phoenix milling about the pavilion behind Severus Snape's childhood home as the house elves tried desperately to convince fairies to stay in the huge Christmas tree for just a few hours.

The pillars holding up the roof were decorated with vining ivy and fairies already fluttered delicately among the leaves, some holding red poinsettia leaves. Lupso had taken it upon himself to add a few touches that his previous masters had never thought of.

The Weasleys looked about in astonishment as they apparated onto the pavilion, which rotated languidly in the center of the lake. Everyone was here. They were a little startled to see Macnair, sitting alone with an untouched shot of fire whiskey in front of him. His memories of this pavilion were strong. It was a time when things had been, if not much simpler, at least less dark. He was trying hard not to think of all the things he and Severus had done since that time, and failing.

The members of the Order of the Phoenix walked past him, chatting together. Their stares were not unfriendly, but not accepting either. He wondered if this is how Severus had felt as a spy all these years. Surrounded by Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, and even the occasional Hufflepuff, all of whom looked down on Slytherins as the embodiment of evil. He was just about to throw back his drink when someone sat down heavily in front of him.

"Macnair?" It was Arthur Weasley, and Macnair flinched, remembering that only last night he'd been trying to hand this man over to the Dark Lord. He had been only a few moments from doing so. He looked up and met the older man's eye. Arthur had been out of school by the time Macnair was old enough to attend, so they'd never actually met, except for the various duels and scuffles they'd both been involved in.

Arthur was holding out a hand, and Macnair narrowed his eyes. What kind of foolish –

"No hard feelings, then? Muriel says you're alright, you know." Before he quite realized what he was doing, he'd taken the man's hand. A wave of gratitude swept over him. Forgiveness was not something he'd had much experience with in his lifetime.

"Thanks," he managed to choke out as Arthur smiled at him warmly. Someone clapped him on the back, and sat down beside him. He looked an awful lot like Arthur, but Macnair didn't know which Weasley he was. There were so many of them!

"Charlie," he said, holding out a callused hand. Macnair shook it, too. The next hour passed amiably. Professor Dumbledore arrived, bringing Professor McGonagall. The last of the Order was here. All they had to do was wait for the guests of honor.

Remus smiled to himself. Knowing Mur, she'd only invited him, and probably Macnair, to sign the certificate as witnesses. Dumbledore's wink had confirmed that for him only a moment before. And he knew Severus would never imagine that the whole Order would be anxious to be with him today. But Remus knew better. He had flooed every single member of the Order who knew about Severus' position as spy. And every one of them had been delighted to hear that he was getting married. Many had uprooted their entire families on Christmas day just to be here. As he looked around, he realized that there wasn't a single person missing.

It was this thought that caused him to stop a house elf and ask for another drink. He turned to look at the lake as he swallowed his fourth shot of fire whiskey. Who was he kidding? No one missing? EVERYONE was missing. Everyone important to him, at least.

Harry watched the last of the marauders down another drink and left his own half finished to go and look over the lake with him. He rested his arms on the railing, not knowing if Remus had even noticed him yet. "What would they think, if they were here now?" he asked quietly. Remus didn't look at him.

"James would be impressed with the pavilion in spite of himself and mutter that it must have been Deesia's idea. Peter would agree with James. Lily would already be dancing, and Sirius would be heartbroken." Remus replied in monotone. He barely realized what he'd said until Harry suddenly straightened up.

"Why?" Finally Remus turned to face him.

"He and Muriel were engaged. It was a long time ago. Before Azkaban." He said quietly. Harry's brow creased. His Godfather's fiancée was going to marry Snape? "He would have wanted her to be happy," Remus added quietly, as much for his own benefit as Harry's.

Harry nodded silently. Sirius would have wanted them all to be happy.