Author's Notes: Christmas has arrived in Hogsmeade. A most fluffy
chapter, with no action whatsoever.
Extra chapters than usual this week. I've really been making time to work on the story, I very much want to finish it before the fifth book comes out in June. Not only because I'll be spending every free moment reading it, and reading it again, but it'll probably contain material that conflicts with my story so much that it just blows it away. So, Enjoy the extra chapters every week, and cross your fingers that the story doesn't become woefully "off-canon" the morning of June 21!
If you enjoyed it, please drop a review and let me know, if not, that's fine, let me know too.
Disclaimers: Nothing from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 46: Christmas Eve
Harry slept in and awoke to the smell of spiced cider bubbling in a cauldron on the cookstove. Sirius had been up early, stringing their Christmas Cards over the mantle, and brewing up the cider. Not wanting to spoil the happy mood, Harry decided to wait and tell Sirius about the dream after Christmas was over. The two spent the morning decorating the Christmas tree and hanging garland around the cabin. Harry spent the afternoon wrapping gifts, which he would be bringing to Christmas Dinner at the Burrow. He and Sirius had been invited to spend the day with the Weasleys. Hermione would be dropping by as well, later on in the day.
Mira and Maddie called a holiday truce and no mention was made of either the professor or Sirius Black. They worked through lunchtime, helping the last customers finish their holiday shopping. Several of the villagers dropped by and gave Mira and Maddie holiday candies and assorted baked goodies. The owl post brought a slew of Holiday cards from Albert's business contacts. A large box of French chocolates arrived from the textile trader Susan was trying to set Mira up with. She removed the card and tied it up with a fresh length of ribbon. At two, Mira closed the door, turned the sign, and handed Maddie her pay along with a small Christmas bonus. The young woman hugged Mira as she went to grab her cloak. With Maddie on her way home, Mira locked the door and went upstairs to pack for the weekend. After bathing and fussing with her hair, she packed her nice fur trimmed robe, and as an afterthought, tossed a gold mesh scarf in her bag. She packed light for the weekend. Her nice robe, a sleeping chemise, and a change of day-robes along with a few other odds and ends. On the way back downstairs, she grabbed a bunch of fresh holly and tucked it into her bag as well. The wall clock showed it to be just after five. She shouldered her large bag, fastened her cloak, picked up the box of chocolates and tucked it under her arm. Lastly, she picked up the box containing the professor's gift and headed out the door.
When she arrived at the train station, there was a Hogwarts carriage waiting for her with her name written in fancy script on a sheet of parchment in the window. Mira deposited her belongings on the seat across from her and the carriage left the station for the short ride around the lake, to the school. The large gates opened to admit the carriage, and it followed the curving drive to the main entrance. The large doors opened, and two tiny house elves approached the carriage. One opened the door, and motioned for her to follow him.
"If you come this way Missus, the headmaster and professor will be meeting you in the headmaster's office. Us house elves will make sure your things make it to your room before you get there."
Mira followed the little elf down a long corridor to the elaborate moving staircase that led to the headmaster's office. She stepped onto the first step, and the elf snapped its fingers. The staircase started to rotate, lifting her to the headmaster's door. She had just raised her hand to knock when the door opened. Headmaster Dumbledore took her hand and showed her in.
"Come in dear, warm yourself in front of the fire. The carriages don't have warming cauldrons in them I'm afraid, but at least the ride was short."
Professor Snape rose from his seat in front of the fire, and Mira crossed the room to him. They started to embrace, and then remembered where they were. Mira nodded a greeting to him, and he took her hand and gave it a most proper and chaste kiss. Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. He put his hand on Mira's shoulder. She turned around to face him, and he handed her a brass key on a red ribbon.
"Now, I'm sure you would like to see the guest quarters so that you can freshen up and get ready for the feast. Come. Let me show you where you'll be staying."
She looked at the professor; he nodded to her, and motioned for her to go.
"I'll be right there, go on ahead."
Dumbledore took her arm and led her down the staircase and a little farther down the main corridor to a narrow intersecting corridor and turned off to the left. At the end of the short corridor was a wooden door, flanked by two torches.
"Your quarters."
Mira used the brass key and unlocked the heavy door. She entered and several wall lanterns and a small fireplace flared to life. She walked into a small sitting room with a pair of armchairs and tea table in front of the fireplace. Against the back wall was a small dining table that had a small Christmas tree on it. The two packages sat on the table, next to the tree. An archway led to a spacious bedroom that housed a large four- poster bed, hung with gold velvet draperies, a large carved armoire, and a small dressing table and stool. There was a smaller fireplace across from the bed, and two little doors, one on either side of the room. One was open; it led to a large and well-appointed bathroom with a bathtub the likes Mira had never seen before. It was larger than her bed at home, and had several gold taps running along one edge. There was a small fireplace in the bathroom, and the other plumbing fixtures were discreetly hidden behind an ornate pierced sandalwood screen. The other door was closed and locked, Mira assumed it to be a storage closet of some sort. The theme of the guest chambers was gold. Gilded lanterns hung from the ceilings, and there were gilded mirrors on the walls.
"Oh Headmaster! It's incredible! I don't know what to say! Thank you for going to so much trouble for me."
Dumbledore nodded at her with a warm smile.
"No trouble at all, it's my pleasure to offer the school's hospitality to the friends and families of my staff. Consider Hogwarts your home for the next few days. If you should need anything, you may ring the brass bell on the fireplace mantel, it will summon the first available house-elf. I'm afraid I must make my way back to my office and prepare for the feast as well. Severus will be here shortly to answer any of your questions about the school and your accommodations. I will see the both of you at seven."
Dumbledore turned to leave, and Mira remembered the box of chocolates.
"Headmaster, wait! I almost forgot. I brought you something."
She handed the old man the box of candy. His eyes sparkled and he gave her a very warm smile.
"French chocolate? Why I must say that my reputation for having a bit of a sweet tooth must be universally known by now. How delightful, and thank you."
Dumbledore left the guest chambers just as the professor arrived. He shut the door behind him, and Mira ran across the room to him.
"This is incredible! I've never seen accommodations this luxurious, not even in the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. Have you seen it yet?"
"Yes, the headmaster gave me a quick tour before you arrived. I must say I'm impressed, it's nicer that my quarters down in the dungeons. You've got a larger bedchamber and a fancier bath."
"I didn't want to seem stupid by asking, but how does that bathtub work? I've never seen so many taps before."
"You want to take a bath before the feast? I don't think you have that much time Mira."
"Oh no, all I have to do is change clothes and fix my hair and such. I was just curious."
"There's not enough time now, but after the feast, I promise I'll show you how everything works here at Hogwarts. I also have something I want to give you, it's back in my quarters."
"Oh, I brought something for you as well. It can wait too. You better hurry if you're going to make it all the way down to the dungeons to get ready, and then back up to walk me to the feast in less than an hour."
"It's not as far as you'd think."
"What do you mean? I thought the dungeons were in another wing of the building, and down several flights of stairs?"
"Yes, but then again, no. Let me show you something."
Professor Snape led Mira through the sitting room, and into the bedroom. He walked to the closed and locked door and held his hand out to her.
"May I have the key?"
Mira handed the professor the key Dumbledore had given to her and he unlocked the door. He opened it, to reveal a narrow short corridor with a few steps leading down to a small landing. At the base of the landing was another heavy wooden door.
"Follow me and watch carefully."
The professor approached the second door and then used his wand to trace an intricate symbol on it. A large bolt released, and the door creaked open on its hinges. The professor stepped back to reveal a dark room with gray stone floor and walls, which held a few pieces of ornate dark wood furnishings.
"My chambers."
Mira stepped through the doorway, and took in the sight. A similar large bed with dark green draperies, a massive, heavily carved armoire, and another little door leading to a bathroom. She could smell the professor's scent in the air. A musky, and vaguely spicy scent, with the pungent smell of the potions lab mixed in. It was certainly his chambers, that she was certain of.
"Wow! Did you do that? Make that secret passage from chamber to chamber?"
"Actually, that was Albus' doing. He mentioned something to me about a shortcut, and let me figure it out on my own. Of course, when a door appeared on my wall where none had previously existed, I knew exactly what he had done."
"The headmaster did this? He connected our rooms? I'm shocked. I thought traditional wizarding folk were very Victorian in their sense of what is moral and proper."
"You would be surprised at how close to the surface those Victorian values actually run. He's a grown man, he knows we're grown adults. Those affects of propriety are just that, affects. Putting on of airs, you could say."
"So, you're telling me that underneath your buttoned-up exteriors, high- born witches and wizards are pretty wild behind closed doors?"
"In a sense yes, but not in the way you're thinking. But enough of this fascinating discussion on wizarding cultural mores. We've got a little over a half hour left before we need to start making our way to the great hall. Go get changed into your dinner robe, I will fetch you shortly." Mira leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, and passed back through the secret passage into her quarters.
Extra chapters than usual this week. I've really been making time to work on the story, I very much want to finish it before the fifth book comes out in June. Not only because I'll be spending every free moment reading it, and reading it again, but it'll probably contain material that conflicts with my story so much that it just blows it away. So, Enjoy the extra chapters every week, and cross your fingers that the story doesn't become woefully "off-canon" the morning of June 21!
If you enjoyed it, please drop a review and let me know, if not, that's fine, let me know too.
Disclaimers: Nothing from the books or movies belongs to me.
Chapter 46: Christmas Eve
Harry slept in and awoke to the smell of spiced cider bubbling in a cauldron on the cookstove. Sirius had been up early, stringing their Christmas Cards over the mantle, and brewing up the cider. Not wanting to spoil the happy mood, Harry decided to wait and tell Sirius about the dream after Christmas was over. The two spent the morning decorating the Christmas tree and hanging garland around the cabin. Harry spent the afternoon wrapping gifts, which he would be bringing to Christmas Dinner at the Burrow. He and Sirius had been invited to spend the day with the Weasleys. Hermione would be dropping by as well, later on in the day.
Mira and Maddie called a holiday truce and no mention was made of either the professor or Sirius Black. They worked through lunchtime, helping the last customers finish their holiday shopping. Several of the villagers dropped by and gave Mira and Maddie holiday candies and assorted baked goodies. The owl post brought a slew of Holiday cards from Albert's business contacts. A large box of French chocolates arrived from the textile trader Susan was trying to set Mira up with. She removed the card and tied it up with a fresh length of ribbon. At two, Mira closed the door, turned the sign, and handed Maddie her pay along with a small Christmas bonus. The young woman hugged Mira as she went to grab her cloak. With Maddie on her way home, Mira locked the door and went upstairs to pack for the weekend. After bathing and fussing with her hair, she packed her nice fur trimmed robe, and as an afterthought, tossed a gold mesh scarf in her bag. She packed light for the weekend. Her nice robe, a sleeping chemise, and a change of day-robes along with a few other odds and ends. On the way back downstairs, she grabbed a bunch of fresh holly and tucked it into her bag as well. The wall clock showed it to be just after five. She shouldered her large bag, fastened her cloak, picked up the box of chocolates and tucked it under her arm. Lastly, she picked up the box containing the professor's gift and headed out the door.
When she arrived at the train station, there was a Hogwarts carriage waiting for her with her name written in fancy script on a sheet of parchment in the window. Mira deposited her belongings on the seat across from her and the carriage left the station for the short ride around the lake, to the school. The large gates opened to admit the carriage, and it followed the curving drive to the main entrance. The large doors opened, and two tiny house elves approached the carriage. One opened the door, and motioned for her to follow him.
"If you come this way Missus, the headmaster and professor will be meeting you in the headmaster's office. Us house elves will make sure your things make it to your room before you get there."
Mira followed the little elf down a long corridor to the elaborate moving staircase that led to the headmaster's office. She stepped onto the first step, and the elf snapped its fingers. The staircase started to rotate, lifting her to the headmaster's door. She had just raised her hand to knock when the door opened. Headmaster Dumbledore took her hand and showed her in.
"Come in dear, warm yourself in front of the fire. The carriages don't have warming cauldrons in them I'm afraid, but at least the ride was short."
Professor Snape rose from his seat in front of the fire, and Mira crossed the room to him. They started to embrace, and then remembered where they were. Mira nodded a greeting to him, and he took her hand and gave it a most proper and chaste kiss. Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. He put his hand on Mira's shoulder. She turned around to face him, and he handed her a brass key on a red ribbon.
"Now, I'm sure you would like to see the guest quarters so that you can freshen up and get ready for the feast. Come. Let me show you where you'll be staying."
She looked at the professor; he nodded to her, and motioned for her to go.
"I'll be right there, go on ahead."
Dumbledore took her arm and led her down the staircase and a little farther down the main corridor to a narrow intersecting corridor and turned off to the left. At the end of the short corridor was a wooden door, flanked by two torches.
"Your quarters."
Mira used the brass key and unlocked the heavy door. She entered and several wall lanterns and a small fireplace flared to life. She walked into a small sitting room with a pair of armchairs and tea table in front of the fireplace. Against the back wall was a small dining table that had a small Christmas tree on it. The two packages sat on the table, next to the tree. An archway led to a spacious bedroom that housed a large four- poster bed, hung with gold velvet draperies, a large carved armoire, and a small dressing table and stool. There was a smaller fireplace across from the bed, and two little doors, one on either side of the room. One was open; it led to a large and well-appointed bathroom with a bathtub the likes Mira had never seen before. It was larger than her bed at home, and had several gold taps running along one edge. There was a small fireplace in the bathroom, and the other plumbing fixtures were discreetly hidden behind an ornate pierced sandalwood screen. The other door was closed and locked, Mira assumed it to be a storage closet of some sort. The theme of the guest chambers was gold. Gilded lanterns hung from the ceilings, and there were gilded mirrors on the walls.
"Oh Headmaster! It's incredible! I don't know what to say! Thank you for going to so much trouble for me."
Dumbledore nodded at her with a warm smile.
"No trouble at all, it's my pleasure to offer the school's hospitality to the friends and families of my staff. Consider Hogwarts your home for the next few days. If you should need anything, you may ring the brass bell on the fireplace mantel, it will summon the first available house-elf. I'm afraid I must make my way back to my office and prepare for the feast as well. Severus will be here shortly to answer any of your questions about the school and your accommodations. I will see the both of you at seven."
Dumbledore turned to leave, and Mira remembered the box of chocolates.
"Headmaster, wait! I almost forgot. I brought you something."
She handed the old man the box of candy. His eyes sparkled and he gave her a very warm smile.
"French chocolate? Why I must say that my reputation for having a bit of a sweet tooth must be universally known by now. How delightful, and thank you."
Dumbledore left the guest chambers just as the professor arrived. He shut the door behind him, and Mira ran across the room to him.
"This is incredible! I've never seen accommodations this luxurious, not even in the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. Have you seen it yet?"
"Yes, the headmaster gave me a quick tour before you arrived. I must say I'm impressed, it's nicer that my quarters down in the dungeons. You've got a larger bedchamber and a fancier bath."
"I didn't want to seem stupid by asking, but how does that bathtub work? I've never seen so many taps before."
"You want to take a bath before the feast? I don't think you have that much time Mira."
"Oh no, all I have to do is change clothes and fix my hair and such. I was just curious."
"There's not enough time now, but after the feast, I promise I'll show you how everything works here at Hogwarts. I also have something I want to give you, it's back in my quarters."
"Oh, I brought something for you as well. It can wait too. You better hurry if you're going to make it all the way down to the dungeons to get ready, and then back up to walk me to the feast in less than an hour."
"It's not as far as you'd think."
"What do you mean? I thought the dungeons were in another wing of the building, and down several flights of stairs?"
"Yes, but then again, no. Let me show you something."
Professor Snape led Mira through the sitting room, and into the bedroom. He walked to the closed and locked door and held his hand out to her.
"May I have the key?"
Mira handed the professor the key Dumbledore had given to her and he unlocked the door. He opened it, to reveal a narrow short corridor with a few steps leading down to a small landing. At the base of the landing was another heavy wooden door.
"Follow me and watch carefully."
The professor approached the second door and then used his wand to trace an intricate symbol on it. A large bolt released, and the door creaked open on its hinges. The professor stepped back to reveal a dark room with gray stone floor and walls, which held a few pieces of ornate dark wood furnishings.
"My chambers."
Mira stepped through the doorway, and took in the sight. A similar large bed with dark green draperies, a massive, heavily carved armoire, and another little door leading to a bathroom. She could smell the professor's scent in the air. A musky, and vaguely spicy scent, with the pungent smell of the potions lab mixed in. It was certainly his chambers, that she was certain of.
"Wow! Did you do that? Make that secret passage from chamber to chamber?"
"Actually, that was Albus' doing. He mentioned something to me about a shortcut, and let me figure it out on my own. Of course, when a door appeared on my wall where none had previously existed, I knew exactly what he had done."
"The headmaster did this? He connected our rooms? I'm shocked. I thought traditional wizarding folk were very Victorian in their sense of what is moral and proper."
"You would be surprised at how close to the surface those Victorian values actually run. He's a grown man, he knows we're grown adults. Those affects of propriety are just that, affects. Putting on of airs, you could say."
"So, you're telling me that underneath your buttoned-up exteriors, high- born witches and wizards are pretty wild behind closed doors?"
"In a sense yes, but not in the way you're thinking. But enough of this fascinating discussion on wizarding cultural mores. We've got a little over a half hour left before we need to start making our way to the great hall. Go get changed into your dinner robe, I will fetch you shortly." Mira leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, and passed back through the secret passage into her quarters.