Disclaimer: I own nothing. A bit of fluff but some fun and games too.
AN: Thank you Midnight Lilly for being my beta and all the great ideas.
Thank you Drew for being my muse.
I apologize for not responding tomy reviewers:
Mark Darcy: I haven't tried writing any non-fanfic, yet. But thanks to you and JennSmith for the encouragement and all the many, many kind words.
Don Raphiel: Glad to have you back with us and thank you for taking the time to review.
Everyone else who is reading but not reviewing: I'm going to take it as a compliment. I must be staying pretty true to characters and the basic Harry Potter story line or someone would (hopefully) have corrected me by now. I paid for the enhanced services so now I can tell there really are people, other than my faithful few, reading it by the hit counter.
Chapter 32 I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won't have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door, that's the easy thing to do
I can see me now on Christmas morning, creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there
I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too
Dr. Demento "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas"
Alexis woke up Christmas morning to the feeling of soft lips gently nibbling her neck and warm hands caressing her hips pulling her close. She was snuggled spoon fashion with her amazing lover. With one deft move he entered her and began to slowly make love to her. This was the polar opposite of the hot, hard, sweaty sex they had experienced last night.
Alexis shifted slightly to allow Snape a better angle. She couldn't hold back a moan as she felt his fingers reach around between her legs. When he felt her climax around him he let go and experienced his own release.
When they had both recovered, Alexis rolled over to face Snape, "Good morning and Merry Christmas."
"Bah Humbug," Snape replied as his hand made lazy circles on her back.
"If that is your response, I don't suppose you want your Christmas presents?" Alexis teased with a mock pout.
"I thought that is what I just got?" Snape teased back.
"Nope, that was just a wonderful way to wake up. Hurry up, I want to see if you like what I got you," Alexis was sitting up and had crawled over Snape to get to the side of the bed. Snape grunted as her leg came down on his stomach.
"Stop being such a baby and come on," Alexis was hurrying into the sitting room. Snape was enjoying the view since in her excitement she had forgotten to put a robe on.
A few minutes later Alexis came hurrying back into the bedroom covered in goose-bumps, "Where are all the presents?"
Snape had propped pillows up against the headboard and was sitting up waiting on Alexis. He pointed to the bench at the end of the bed where a rather large pile of presents was sitting.
"Oh, I forgot," Alexis hurried over to the bed and tried to lift the covers and get under them but Snape was holding them down. Alexis was bouncing up and down and rubbing her arms trying to stay warm. Snape just smirked at her: it was amazing what the cold and bouncing did to the female anatomy.
"Are you going to let me in the bed or not?" Alexis asked through chattering teeth.
"I don't know, what will you give me if I let your cold, frozen body get under my nice warm blankets?"
"I'll give you your share of the pneumonia I am sure to catch if you don't let me under the covers," Alexis threatened.
Snape lifted the covers and pulled her in next to him, "You are like a block of ice."
Alexis was trying to crawl under Snape in order to get warm. Castles were romantic to look at but a trifle drafty to live in. Snape rolled over so that he was covering as much of Alexis's body as possible. He flinched as her cold nose found his warm neck and burrowed.
When she was finally warm, Alexis nudged Snape who obligingly rolled over. She quickly ran around to the foot of the bed and scooped up as many presents as she could carry and hurried to dumped them on the bed next to Snape. She returned to the end of the bed and grabbed up the rest of the presents and scurried back and added them to the pile on the bed and then climbed back under the covers.
Alexis was sorting through the stack of gifts dividing them into a pile for Snape and her own pile. Snape was surprised to discover that his pile was just as big as Alexis's. Normally he only received a present from Albus. He had thought that Alexis might get him something, but he really hadn't expected the small mountain of presents that now rested in front of him.
Alexis poked through his pile and pulled out a box wrapped in green paper with silver ribbon, "Here open this one first," she said eagerly.
Snape took the box and seeing how impatiently she was waiting for him to open it made a big production out of holding the box to his ear and shaking it. Then he held it in his hands and pretended to weigh it, "It isn't heavy enough to be a book. Hmmm, I wonder what it could be?"
Alexis threw a pillow at him, "Hurry up and open it you aggravating git!"
Snape smirked at her as he very carefully untied the ribbon and placed it neatly to one side. He then slid a careful finger under the tape and loosened it so that the paper would not tear. Alexis lunged for him and he had to hold the box above his head to keep her from grabbing it and tearing it open herself.
"Patience is a virtue," Snape cautioned her as he held her off with one hand.
"I'll give you patience if you don't stop teasing me and start opening presents," Alexis was still trying to reach the gift Snape was holding just out of her reach.
"Fine. If you want to ruin my enjoyment of opening presents then we will do it your way," Snape huffed.
"Excellent. Now rip that paper off," Alexis settled back with a grin.
Snape ripped the paper off and threw it on the floor, "Satisfied?"
"Well, after this morning, I am for right now, but ..." Alexis gave him a cheeky smile, "now open the box."
Snape lifted the top off the box and moved tissue paper to reveal a green knitted scarf. Snape pulled it free from the package. He was fingering the softness of the yarn when he saw that silver serpents had been worked into the pattern.
Alexis looked at him, "Not to bad for my second attempt at knitting."
"You made this?" Snape looked at the scarf again.
"Yes, all those nights alone. I had to do something so I learned to knit. It helped to pass the time making something for you even if I couldn't be with you. So do you like it?" Alexis looked up at him anxiously.
Snape looped the scarf around Alexis's neck and used it to pull her close, "It is perhaps the nicest scarf I have ever seen," then he kissed her gently. Alexis cupped his face in her hand and returned the kiss trying to infuse it with all the love she felt for this complicated and confusing man.
When they broke apart Alexis smiled at Snape, "I'm glad you like it, now open another one."
Snape pulled out another package which was wrapped in silver paper with green ribbon. This time he didn't tease: he just tore off the paper and opened the box. Inside he found a book with a plain leather cover. Opening it he found the title page, Kama Sutra. Noticing that pages were marked with braided silk threads, he opened the book to the first marker and discovered that it was a Wizard's edition of the Muggle book. He watched as the illustrations moved to show the Traivikrama position. Turning to the next marker he saw the Dolita position. He looked up at Alexis who he was amused to see was blushing a becoming shade of crimson.
"I just marked a few pages I found interesting."
"So is the book the present...or the promise implied by the page markers?" Snape smirked.
Alexis's eyes heated with desire as she answered, "Both."
"Now it is your turn," Snape handed Alexis a box wrapped in green and silver stripped paper.
With childish abandon, Alexis ripped the paper off and opened the box. Moving the silver tissue paper aside she found a red rose pin. "It's lovely Severus."
"It is the first rose I gave you. I reduced it, and used a preservation potion on it so that it will never fade or wither." Snape became worried as Alexis's eyes filled with tears, "If you don't like it I'll just throw it away, don't cry."
Alexis had clutched the rose protectively to her chest, "I love it. Don't you even consider throwing it away."
Snape handed Alexis a handkerchief and thought to himself that he would never understand women. Alexis dried her eyes and gave Snape a kiss before reaching for another present for him to open.
Snape protested that he had already opened two presents to Alexis's one and handed her another. This box contained a silver locket. Opening it Alexis found the inside engraved with 'Je t'aime aussi'. Alexis immediately put on the necklace. Snape found it very distracting as that was all she was wearing.
They quickly made their way through the rest of their presents. Alexis laughed at the red and gold lion paw undies Minerva had given her while Snape threatened to burn them until he opened a present containing a matching pair of men's silk boxers.
Albus had given them each a pair of insanely garish socks. Alexis's had roaring lions on a background of green and silver stripes. Snape's socks were red and gold plaid with green snakes hissing and slithering through the pattern.
Filius had given them their very own music box. When Snape opened it and saw what it was he shuddered and tied it shut with a piece of left over Christmas ribbon.
Hagrid had sent them a tin of his treacle fudge. Snape put it to one side after telling Alexis that it was his secret ingredient in the impenetrable sealing potion
They reached the last present and Alexis picked up the box that had both her name and Severus's name on it. The card said it was from Poppy. Snape motioned for Alexis to open the box. When she removed the top and pushed the packing material aside her eyes got huge. Snape wondered what could possible have caused such a reaction and pulled the box over. Looking inside he pulled out a small jar that had a paint brush tied to it. He looked over at Alexis for an explanation and saw that she had her fist in her mouth trying to hold back the laughter, "Read the label." she managed to say.
"Chocolate Body Paint, Rich Creamy Edible Fun," Snape blinked and read the label again. He dropped the jar onto the bed and reached into the box and pulled out a long thin box reading the label, "Lover's Paintbox." Snape dropped that on the bed next to the jar of chocolate body paint and then just turned the box over and dumped out the rest of the contents: a package of his and her edible undies; edible body powder complete with feather duster applicator; gummi love cuffs; a pot of 'Pussy Licker' fruit flavored oral sex gel; and because it was a gift for both of them a matching pot of 'Peter Licker' in big banana flavor; flavored massage oil; and last but not least, 'Night Cap Liqueurs' edible body lotion that warms when breathed upon. "We'll have to make sure to send Poppy a very nice thank you note," Snape managed to get out over Alexis's giggles.
The bed and floor were littered with wrapping paper. Alexis was leaning back against Snape's chest admiring her locket. Snape shifted her for a moment and leaned over the far side of the bed and retrieved a covered basket. Settling Alexis back against his chest he handed her the basket. "What's this?"
"Open it and find out," Snape replied.
Alexis carefully took the top off the basket. Curled on the blanket inside was a small animal about the size of a new born kitten. It was unlike anything Alexis had ever seen before, "What is it?"
"It is a dragon lizard," Snape replied as he gave her a slip of paper, "this is her true name. Once you call her she will be bonded to you and only you unless you give her true name to someone else. You will have to give her a pet name that everyone can use."
Alexis's eyes were wide with amazement and awe, "What do I do?"
"Just call her name."
Alexis read the name on the piece of parchment, "Slithstien."
The tiny mound stirred and stretched and then unfurled miniature wings before gazing up at her new mistress. Alexis held out a cautious finger for the tiny beast. She reared up on her hind legs and her tongue darted out to catch Alexis's scent. Then she rubbed her head against Alexis's hand. "What should I call her?" Alexis asked Snape. Suddenly there was a vivid picture of a star in Alexis's mind. "So your name is Star?" Alexis smiled in delight as the teeny dragon began to purr.
AN: I found out where smut bunnies come from...they are the offspring of plot bunnies and dust bunnies.
