Chapter 22: Christmas

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"Albus, you're back." Severus Snape glided into the Headmaster's office early on Sunday. "Where have you been?"

"Around, Severus." His voice was laced with fatigue. The Headmaster still had not gotten any rest, and at his age, it was needed. "Things to do, places to go, people to see."

Snape nodded and sat down across from Dumbledore. "You look tired."

"I am tired, Severus."

"Why have you not rested, Headmaster?"

"Like I said, things to do."

"Oh? Am I allowed to know what you did while you were away?"

"I was getting the papers together for Quirrell's resignation. He should be off the property by noon."

"Really? That's terrific. The Stone is safe."

"No, it's not."

Snape didn't bother to hide his initial confusion. "Excuse me?"

Dumbledore leaned his elbows on his desk and rubbed his eyes. "Voldemort is inhabiting Quirrell's body. It would take some effort, but he could switch to another body, any other body. Probably someone we would never expect. A student. A teacher. We cannot even know what to look for. We wouldn't know who it was until he went after the Stone."

"Than what can we do, Albus?"

"We must watch. And wait. Voldemort will not wait long."

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"Monday morning already?" complained Harry.

"It goessss by fast," Vitesse responded, watching her owner dress in his school robes. "Don't complain."

Harry grinned and slipped his book pouch into his pocket. "What's my first class?"

"Double Defense Againsssst the Dark Arts with the Griffindorssss," Vitesse hissed. "Why do they always put thossse two houses together?"

Harry shrugged. Allowing Vitesse to slide around his waist, he exited the dorm. Vanella joined him in the common room, and they headed for the Great Hall.

They sat across from Draco Malfoy and his two goons. "Morning, Harry. Vanella." Malfoy nodded his greetings and returned to his conversation with the goon on his left. "So, anyway, Crabbe, there's a rumor going around that Professor Quirrell hasn't been seen since Saturday." His eyes flickered to Harry's for a millisecond. "Can't imagine why."

Harry turned to Vanella. "Suddenly I'm not very hungry. What do you say we go to class early today?"

The girl raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Sure, why not."

The two left the Great Hall for the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, walking silently.

When they got to the room, the door was closed. "Unusual." He moved to open it, but the knob wouldn't turn. "Locked," he said.

"Alohomora," Vanella whispered. The door creaked open about an inch.

Harry looked around the hallway, checking for witnesses to their breaking-in, but everyone was in the Great Hall.

Vanella slipped inside the room, followed by Harry.

"Burrr," Vanella whispered. "It's cold." Her breath frosted in front of her.

Harry nodded and looked around. He walked between desks, looking for something out of place. Something about the room just didn't feel right. "Only the dungeons ever get this cold. The castle hasn't been like this ever. It's controlled magically to be the perfect temperature. Something's off kilter."

He walked up to Quirrell's desk and stared at it. It was clean. "Look at this. I don't think I've ever seen a teacher's desk this clear."

Vanella leaned over the desk to look beyond it. "Boxes," she said. "Looks like he was packing."

"Dumbledore probably fired him."

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Which is not a very Dumbledore-ish thing to do."

"No."

They both turned to loud banging sounds coming from the back wall, behind them. Suddenly a hidden door opened and a very—very—pale Quirrell stumbled out. He looked like a walking skeleton, all skin and bones.

"Harry Potter," he rasped, with no audible stutter. "You cannot escape him. He will get you eventually. And he will kill you in cold blood." He turned to Vanella, stepping forward up to her. "And you, darling, he knows of you. You will be punished for befriending Harry Potter. Your Daddy doesn't want you being in the wrong company."

The man began to reach into his robe, searching for a wand. The effort must have worn him out, because his limbs sagged and he fell to the ground in a heap.

"Is he…" Vanella choked out after a minute. "Is he… alive?"

Harry stared at the pile on the floor. "I don't think so."

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Dumbledore cleared up the mess quickly. The school was not told of the reason for their teacher's death, though the faculty and five of the students knew.

Because of the school's mourning, Dumbledore scheduled Christmas vacation to start a week early. Students were already sending letters home and signing up for the train ride.

"Four more days," Draco said. "You two leaving?"

Harry shook his head. "No."

Vanella declined also, not lifting her head from her homework.

"Why not?"

Harry shrugged. "Where would I go?"

"Home?"

Harry frowned, staring at Malfoy. "Where's that?"

Draco was reclined in front of the fire of the Slytherin Common Room, across from Harry. The room was mostly empty; it was somewhat late at night.

Malfoy didn't answer, at a loss for words, so Harry changed the subject.

"Is Defense Against the Dark Arts cancelled for the rest of this year?"

Draco yawned and shook his head. "Nah. Dumbledore'll probably hire a temporary for the rest of the year until he can find a replacement." He snorted. "I bet Snape will be angry. From what I've heard, he's wanted that job for years."

Harry nodded, and they sat a few minutes in silence. Eventually, Harry said, "Well, I'm tired. I'll see you two in the morning, but I need some sleep."

"Night."

Vanella waved from her seat, still thoroughly focused on schoolwork.

Harry thumped up the stairs and sneaked into his dorm, careful not to wake either of the sleeping boys up. Two of them were sleeping, Harry couldn't tell which, Draco was in the common room, and one was off causing trouble. Harry grinned and changed into pajamas, then sat down to write a quick letter.

Professor,

I have a favor to ask. I know it is not typical to run errands for students, but I need to buy a gift for someone, and I cannot leave school grounds. If you would, could you please buy a pair of thick, insulated wool socks for me when or if you go Christmas shopping sometime? I would really appreciate it.

Money is enclosed. I don't know how much they will cost, so I gave you two galleons. Buy some really good ones for me, if you will. Please, just don't ask why. It would be hard to explain.

Sincerely,

Harry Potter.

Satisfied, Harry gave the letter to Vitesse to deliver to Severus Snape. Then he retired to bed.

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The last few days before vacation went quickly. Unfortunately for some, the teachers did not become less strict with the loss of a colleague, and the classes were just as difficult for those four days. The Head Boy and Head Girl co-taught Defense Against the Dark Arts together and kept up nicely with the plans.

Vanella was going back to see her mother over the extended Christmas break, and Draco was going back to Malfoy Manor. Even the Weasleys were going back to their home. The only person out of Harry's closer friends that was staying was Hermione Granger.

It's going to be another lonely Christmas for the infamous Harry Potter, Harry thought to himself. He was sitting alone in the common room after everyone left, just laying under a blanket in front of the fire. He and Vitesse were the only ones left awake in the common room by then.

Both were relaxing, watching the flames dance in the hearth.

Then Snape walked in. He looked around the empty common room with a frown before coming to sit by Harry.

"All your little friends leave you?" he asked.

Harry nodded silently.

They sat there quietly for a minute before the Professor broke the silence. "Well," he started, standing, "I got you your socks, for some strange reason. Nice thick ones, like you said." He pulled a pair of wool socks out of his robe, and Harry grinned.

"Thank you," he said.

Snape shrugged. "Not a problem. Just thought I'd give them to you." He started to walk to the door, but stopped in front of it. "You know, if you have absolutely nothing to do over vacation, which I'm assuming you don't, you can help me in the Potions Lab. I can always use an extra set of hands."

Harry smiled and nodded. "That'd be great."

The Professor left.

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"Wake up you pathetic sleepyhead! It's Christmassss!"

Harry spent most of his vacation in the dungeons, so Christmas came quickly. He shushed Vitesse and got up slowly, not expecting presents. Yawning, he wrapped the socks in sparkling wrapping paper and a green bow, and attached a note. It read:

I hope you're a happy man.

Then he gave it to Hedwig, whom he had let stay in his dorm overnight, to deliver it.

"Hurry up, Harry!"

Grumbling, Harry stumbled into the common room to come face-to-face with presents. His eyes widened as he counted out the ones that were for him.

"Four," he said, "not bad."

"Four? You're all excited about four presentsss? That's nothing!"

He shrugged. "It's more than I've ever gotten before," he responded in Parseltongue.

The snake said nothing as Harry gathered his four presents in his arms and carried them over to a reclining chair.

"One from Vanella, Draco, Dumbledore, and… and Snape?" Harry examined the package. "I mean, he's an alright guy and everything, but… I never would have expected a present."

"Jusssst open it already!"

"The others first."

He opened Vanella's first. It was a book on complex curses and spells. With it was a note.

I know you love spells and curses, so here you go. Saw this on the shelves and couldn't think of a better person to own it. Have some fun! Figure you ought to use your gods-given talents with them.

Merry Christmas!

-Vanella

Then he opened Draco's, which was a long green cloak.

Merry Christmas!

Sorry you're there all by yourself, but I hope you didn't resort to the company of the Gryffindors. Here's something to help you remember your loyalties. Besides, I remember your favorite color. Hope you like it.

-Draco

Next he opened the one from Dumbledore. It was a pair of green wool socks. Harry laughed as he read the attached note.

It's going to be a cold winter, Harry. I thought you ought to be prepared. You can never have enough wool socks.

-A. Dumbledore

Vitesse squirmed. "Now open the one from Snape!"

"Hold on, Ess, I'm working on it." Harry slid on the socks and put the green robe on over his pajamas. "Alright. Now I'll open it."

He pulled away the package from Snape to reveal a Potions book. "Advanced Potions for the Gifted," he read. He flipped through the pages.

"What'sss that?" Vitesse hissed, watching a small envelope fall from the book.

Harry glanced inquiringly at the Cobra then stood and retrieved the envelope. Pulling a few papers from it, he read the top one.

Harry,

I know this is strange, but you need a place to stay. I will only file the papers if it is what you want. Just know that I knew your parents and care about your future. I hope you'll think about it.

-Severus Snape

Harry, a bit confused, flipped to the other papers and skimmed through them, eyes widening a bit more with each line.

"Well? What isss it?" Vitesse questioned.

Harry sat heavily in the recliner, gaping at the papers.

"Adoption papers," he whispered.

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Author's note: Okay, now that is a cliffhanger. It was fun, though. Hope you people liked it. It hasn't been such a long update lapse either, which is good. Ah, anyways. I don't know what else to say here so I leave it at that. No translations, three reviews:

starangel2106: Ah, but I have conquered. It's good to be successful. Anyhow, thanks! And you didn't have to wait so long for this one, too, which is good.

shirriez: Awesome. The commentary of the Quidditch match came right from the book. I love the phrase 'curiouser and curiouser'. It's just so wrong it's funny. Yea, I hate Algebra but I'm told it will be good in the long run. Oh well. Thanks!

Kayla Summers: Yea, me too! I figured it would work well. Thanks for the review!

Ah, I'm done. I'll update ASAP.

One more thing. Okay, two more things.

1: I think this needs a new title. Something more appropriate. Just thought I'd warn you before changing it or something.

2: My little 'squigly line, star, squigly line, star, squigly line, star, squigly line, star, squigly line, star, squigly line' thingy isn't working so I now it's all typed like that. I think you know what I mean. Sorry if it's confusing but I had to do something for the scene changes. The characters just don't show up. Something about the site having a bug, I think.

Alright now I'm done.