Disclaimer: It was my happy duty to write down this 'Night before Christmas' chapter, but there is nothing stopping you from reading something more 'Grinchy', if you prefer that sort of thing. Oftentimes, when writers are filled with Christmas cheer, they want to fill their readers with it too. The writer of this series of stimulating events desires that every reader have a Happy Holiday- a phrase, as I'm sure you know, that is just a simple way of saying, 'I hope you enjoy this chapter, take the time to leave me a review, and get loads of wonderful things from Father Christmas while feeling peace on earth and goodwill toward men."
If you didn't know much about this author before, you now know I am neither Rowling nor Lemony Snicket (whose words and style I boldly borrowed). I am however, a person who admires them both immensely and was inspired, by the film version of books 1-3 in A Series of Unfortunate Events. I'm also inspired by the brilliant people who encourage with every wonderful review:D Happy Christmas, Love Kerichi
Chapter 27- Twas the Night before Christmas
Inside Dungeon 7, a spirited ball was being held. A long table was loaded down with holiday treats, and dancers were twirling in high spirits. Literally...the ghostly couples' feet never touched the stone floor whilst they floated together around the chamber. The pianist, whose head and body moved along with his fingers as he played an ironically lively waltz, winked at a the pig-tailed girl moaning in appreciation of his talent and good looks. While she leaned into the piano and gushed compliments, he flashed the smile that had broken hearts across the continent once upon a time and murmured,
"Please, call me Amadeus."
Across the room, a Regency debutante was smiling up at her partner from the Elizabethan era.
"The weather was rather chilly today, although the falling snow is exceedingly pretty, do you not agree, Sir Nicholas?"
Mimsy-Porpington inclined his head slightly- would never want the old pate to slip sideways, expose the bloody gash and offend delicate sensibilities. He genially agreed with his companion,
"Hmmm...yes, although mere snow cannot begin to compare with the exceeding prettiness of your face, dear lady." Her pink blush made Nervous Nellie's transparent gray cheeks light up. It was a dashed lovely sight. His fair maiden looked over his shoulder and paled. He pulled her closer, until her body was almost passing through his and asked, "Odd's faith, my dear...is something amiss?" Short curls bobbed as she smiled nervously and admitted,
"I fear that the Bloody Baron has taken to following me about the castle, although I do nothing to encourage his admiration, I am sure. Now he is glaring horribly at us from beside the punch table. Oh, I am probably fretting over nothing, pray disregard my foolish ramblings."
Sir Nicholas outwardly acceded to his partner's wishes and completed the dance. After escorting the damsel to the piano where that Austrian rogue was enthralling his pretty phantom's moaning friend, the courtier straightened his doublet, adjusted his ruff, and drifted toward the punch table. The Bloody Baron was a handsome brute, tall, dark and broad-shouldered. Rumor had it that the jealous husband of one of his many mistresses had murdered him. The bloodstains on his robes certainly indicated multiple knife or sword wounds. A transparent black brow was raised in his direction and a sneer curled the Baron's upper lip as he drawled,
"What do you want Pansy-Porpington?"
"That is Mimsy-Porpington to you, churl, and I will thank you not to distress young ladies with your unwanted attentions, sirrah!"
Dark laughter spilled from the sardonic specter,
"And if I choose to keep pressing my attentions...what then, popinjay...you will challenge me to a duel?"
"I would not lower myself to your level, varlet...I will tell Dumbledore!"
A glare of fury momentarily made the Slytherin ghost's eyes glow red. Sir Nicholas involuntarily floated back a pace before collecting himself and giving a stare of steely, or as near as he could make it, resolve. The Bloody Baron gazed at Nellie. She bit her nails, blushed as she met the man's eyes, and then turned away. Smirking, the Baron bowed mockingly to his rival and said menacingly,
"Very well...I will...disturb...the maiden no further...tonight."
Watching the specter sweep out in a swirl of translucent grayish-black, Nearly Headless Nick tried to fathom the man's words. Was the Baron implying that dear, sweet Nellie had some hidden tendre for the brute? Balderdash! His qualms were settled when he drifted back and saw the glowing admiration on gel's face as she praised his gallantry and bravery. Looking askance at the laughing rascal who had started playing another waltz, with Myrtle now sitting 'on' his lap, Sir Nicholas raised his lady-love's hand to press a kiss slightly into the transparent 'flesh' and said,
"Shall we dance?"
Smiling prettily, if anxiously, Nellie placed her hand 'in' his and together they joined the throng of spirited couples enjoying the timeless pleasure of music and dancing.
Within Lorelei's cozy lounge, her father pretended to read a treatise on Scottish marine life while covertly observing the pair sitting in adjoining chairs. His daughter was reading A Christmas Carol and the man- some thick text- probably potions. An Orpheus orb spun on the low table and Gaelic Uprising instrumental holiday music was softly playing. The comfortable atmosphere gladdened Tynan's heart, almost as much as the smiles and affectionate glances the two gave each other from time to time. It had taken awhile to realize that the slight mouth curving, or a corner of thin lips twitching was Snape's smile- demonstrative, the man was not.
When he'd first discovered his only daughter had chosen a mate, the selkie had naturally been curious to meet the man and find out what sort of human had enchanted his Ronan. Whatever he had expected, Severus Snape was not it. Yet his little seal appeared to enjoy the man's sardonic humor and find his tall, dark, and dour appearance incredibly attractive. Amazing... Shrugging, he supposed if a siren could fall in love with a selkie, then their child could fall in love with a sea monster...he meant Severus. Although the man wasn't a monster, Tynan had seen that scowl of Snape's on a Kraken before...
"Are you leaving tomorrow, Father?"
Ronan was looking at him with those big, dark eyes that made it so hard to answer. "Yes" Her smile became misty, but still warmed his heart.
"I'm so glad you came. Everyone's enjoyed your visit tremendously. Perhaps next summer, Severus and I can come see you."
He glanced at the man who was curving his lips in that subdued smile. Why anyone would want to suppress his feelings, the selkie couldn't begin to understand. The Potions Master was a mystery he would gladly leave to his daughter to solve. She'd always enjoyed riddles. Each time her mother had brought Lorelei to Hoy for Midsummer gatherings, she'd begged her seal-kin to tell her 'one more, one more'. The clan would be overjoyed to have their little seal amongst them again. Snape nodded amicably,
"I see no obstacle."
His daughter looked ready to jump onto the smirking man's lap and give a public display of affection. She smiled widely, contenting herself with taking Severus' hand and squeezing it gently. Turning her smiling gaze in her father's direction, she asked,
"Do you think my little brother would like to come and visit me, perhaps even attend school for a short time- as a...exchange student of sorts?"
"You have a brother?"
Tynan laughed softly, "She has a dozen, but they are selkies, not human. Her brother Kieran is sixteen summers now...and very curious about land people. Shall I tell him to come?"
"Are you insane? A selkie boy let loose amongst Merlin knows how many unhappy teenaged girls? Parents will send Howlers, girls will line up and riot to get to him and the school will descend into chaos and anarchy. That is, if the boys don't string the lad up first, for being so bloody handsome and irresistible and stealing every girl's attention!"
Lorelei was giggling madly by the end of the sneering speech, and her father gave a shout of laughter. Tynan explained that empathy did not equate to making girls happy with kisses. The Potions Master seemed more amenable after than and agreed that the start of the next term might be a propitious time for a visit. Slanting a mischievous glance toward his daughter, the older man asked, "When you visit, my love, will you swim with us again?" He couldn't resist teasing, "Diarmid still remembers the last time fondly." His jest caused the man next to her to narrow his eyes and say,
"What's this about swimming...and who is Diarmid?"
His daughter's cheeks turned pink.
"Well, Diarmid's a selkie friend. Every summer I visited, I'd use gillyweed so I could go swimming with the seal-people, be with them in their natural environment. It was amazing and such fun... A couple of years ago, the strings to my top broke, and I discovered, that selkies, when seals...still keep an...uhm...appreciation...of the human form."
Black brows drew together as midnight eyes narrowed into intimidating slits. Her father tried not to laugh. His daughter's mate demanded,
"Just how did you discover this...appreciation?"
A bark of amusement escaped her father as Lorelei covered her burning face with her hands and began to shake with slightly hysterical laughter. Taking pity on his child, Tynan replied for her, "I told the lass right away...after hearing Diarmid bark his admiration."
After making a sour face, Snape remained silent, returning his attention to his text after shooting the selkie a 'bloody piss-poor father' sneer. Uncomfortable silence reigned. The orb had stopped playing, and Lorelei was now gazing appealingly at her lover, who returned her glance briefly with an unfathomable one before looking down. Flipping a page, the man seemed to read, but his lips twitched. Feeling rather de trop, Tynan stood and leaned down to kiss his daughter on the cheek. "I'll leave you to your reading, love. I'll see you later, for the midnight fireworks display. Very nice of those two young Weasleys to send such a gift...must be very fond of you..."
Realizing belatedly that mentioning more young men that were fond of his daughter was not the most politic of observations to make in front of Snape; he smiled apologetically and said quickly, "I'll be in the Divination Tower if you need me. Sybil wants to practice her tango." Harpoon it all, that comment went over even worse...how sharper than a shark's tooth...ah well; fathers had been embarrassing their children since time began- they'd live. Grinning, Tynan exited the quarters and hummed a sea shanty as he headed down the corridor.
Watching the guardian portrait fall back into place after her father's departure, Lorelei glanced at Severus. He had left off pretending to read and was regarding her impassively. She could feel her cheeks heating again. Blast. A muscle in her lover's cheek was flexing. Was that good or bad? She tried to think of something to say. Dark laughter filled the room. It was quite alarming. She'd never seen her lover lose his composure so thoroughly before. Open amusement transformed his face into something less intense, more...boyish...but just as sexy. Boldly, she moved to sit on his lap, trace the amazing smile with her fingertips. He nipped at her fingers. Leaning back a bit to see his face, she asked, "You're not too upset about the story are you?"
"Did you know that your...form...was being appreciated?"
"No"
"Then I fail to see how any responsibility lies with you. Your father should never have allowed you to swim in such a manner in the first place."
The siren nibbled on her upper lip this time. She felt a huff of laughter against her skin. Midnight fires were burning in the obsidian pools that devoured her face. Heartened, she volunteered, "I promise to wear a one piece swimsuit next time."
"What about the appreciation?"
Noticing the way his lips were parting, she said hopefully, "You'll be the one appreciating me?"
She barely got to enjoy his arrogant nod before his mouth covered hers. Immediately, she was adrift on a sea of sensation. Lorelei clung to his lips, his tongue, like a lifeline. Her hands slid over his shoulders and clenched in his hair as though it was a life raft. Floating with the current of sensuality that was swiftly leading her toward an ocean of pleasure, she sighed happily, and allowed a wave of love to carry her away.
Inside the home known as The Burrow, five red-headed brothers and a black-haired friend were sprawled out on sofas and chairs in the large, cluttered lounge. The eldest Weasley brother, Bill, was looking at a photograph. Glancing over at his twin brothers smirking next to him, he said enviously,
"How did you two go from pathetic to players? First a siren and now French twins...who are also sirens. Can you even tell them apart?"
Wicked grins lit irrepressible features,
"Don't say it, you two…and no more bragging about girlfriends when some of us blokes haven't even had a bloody date in way too long."
Charlie grinned while he went on to complain about how hard it was to find romance in Romania. Bill promptly offered to set his brother up with a young witch who worked with the Order. His brother eagerly nodded his agreement and the two began to make plans. Ron listened to his brothers, staring at the twinkling candles on the Christmas tree. He imagined that Hermione was somewhere doing the same thing and thinking about him. A smile spread across his face.
Sitting in a chair next to the sofa Ron and Charlie were lounging on, Harry was staring down at the photograph in his hands. The twins had brought out a set of pictures, once Mr. Weasley had gone to 'fiddle' in his workshop and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny had retreated upstairs to wrap a few last minute presents. The elder brothers had been quite impressed. Eventually, the photograph of Fred and George having a dance with Lorelei had been passed around to Harry- who had somehow forgotten to give it back. It probably wasn't the best idea. He continued to watch the woman dance, knowing that he shouldn't imagine being her partner- but doing it anyway.
"I thought we were going to have fireworks...what are you boys waiting for- Christmas?"
Their sister's question caused her brothers to jump to their feet. Photographs were quickly handed back to Fred, who slipped them into a book The Joke's on You. Nonchalantly sticking the tome on a high shelf, the youth smiled at Ginny and said,
"The clock just struck midnight, sister dear, so I suppose we were. C'mon, blokes, let's go celebrate...the Weasley way..."
Harry trailed after his friends and watched George arrange the fireworks in the middle of the Quiddich pitch, advised by Fred, Bill, and Charlie. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood arm in arm nearby. Ron and Ginny huddled in their cloaks on either side of their friend and rubbed gloved hands together to keep warm. Breath visible in the chilly Christmas morning air, the fiery tresses of the girl swung as she turned her head and told the two boys,
"This has been the best Christmas ever!"
Ron snickered,
"We haven't even opened presents yet. How do you know Father Christmas is giving you anything but coal and switches, Gin?"
"I don't care about the presents. Just being with the one...ones I love makes this the best."
Fireworks began to explode overhead. Everyone looked up, oohing and ahhing over the colorful display. As silver stars whirled away from a burst of gold, Harry looked sideways and contemplated Ginny's face. She was really pretty, and he had kissed her under the mistletoe in his dream. Maybe he should kiss her for real, sometime. If he did, and they felt something, wouldn't a girlfriend make everything better? Harry smiled up at the fireworks lighting the dark, and then unconsciously sighed as a burst of color flashed and then unwound in long, red, spirals against the black sky.
Lying on the rug admiring the small Christmas tree Lorelei had called adorable and 'Charlie Brown' when she'd Apparated over with an armful of presents this morning, Tonks heard the clock chime midnight. She watched Remus, who was roasting chestnuts over an open fire. Shaking the basket one last time, he exclaimed,
"Hurrah, they're finally done!"
Grasping the long handle, the man wearing his new jumper depicting a running wolf removed the roasting basket from the fireplace and emptied the chestnuts into a bowl on the hearth to cool. He smiled at his partner,
"How did I get this job again?"
"I burnt the popcorn...and the marshmallows...and the pumpkin seeds...and..."
Remus laughed and stretched out beside his love. They contemplated the tree illuminated with tiny magicked candles.
"What exactly is a Charlie Brown Tree?"
The metamorphmagus snorted with amusement and explained, "It's another one of those Muggle stories Lorelei loves so much. A group of kids needing a Christmas tree for a school play assign the task to a boy named Charlie Brown, who brings back a sad excuse for a tree. The children become shirty until with love and loads of decorations, the Charlie Brown Tree becomes beautiful."
"Are you crying?"
Hastily wiping tears from the corners of her...natural blue, just for tonight...eyes, the woman denied doing any such thing over a silly story. Really, she'd been a Ravenclaw, not a Hufflepuff. Although, come to think of it, the sorting hat had told her that her love of learning was unusual- hands on instead of book knowledge, and her loyal heart would do just as well dressed in accents of yellow or blue. Reminding herself that she was true blue, Tonks reached out and caressed her lover's cheek.
Her parents had invited them over for Christmas dinner, and her guy was nervous about being paraded in front of her boisterous family. She'd told him a dozen times that they'd love him almost as much as she did, but knew her sweetie needed to see and hear it to believe it. Tomorrow afternoon, after her mother had pressed a third helping of dessert onto his plate, and her aunt had pressed a fourth or fifth kiss on the cheeks her gran had pinched, and her dad had dragged him down to the basement to see his Quiddich memorabilia collection, she would graciously refrain from saying 'I told you so." He would still owe her one...
"What's so amusing?"
Tonks smiled dreamily, "I was just thinking about how good that massage is going to feel tomorrow afternoon, after I win our little wager."
Remus' teeth flashed in a white, wolfish grin,
"You mean how good my massage is going to feel."
"Oh Yeah, you're right, I win either way. Happy Christmas, baby"
Male lips twitched as he said, 'Happy Christmas' and then leaned over her. His hair was untidy and so boyishly cute that she had to run her fingers through it. He tried to keep a straight face when he said,
"Darling...I know you were looking forward to chestnuts, but I'm concerned that they're too hot. I think you need to do something else while they cool."
She widened her eyes and said as innocently as she could, which wasn't very, "But what could I possibly do to pass the time?"
Remus growled in a way that made her smile before her lips were claimed,
"Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas...with me."
Sitting between her parents on a pew listening to the choir sing a carol, Hermione was glad the song was in Latin, even though she'd recognize it in any language because of the familiar tune. Something about a holding a candle during Midnight Mass always made Christmas seem like...well, Christmas. This year, the Grangers had taken their daughter to a small village outside Murren, Switzerland on a ski vacation. Although the cozy, traditional Swiss hotel was picturesque, the other guests congenial, the snow amazing, the skiing fantastic, the food brilliant and scenery spectacular, something had been missing- not for lack of trying.
The brunette had dutifully thrown herself into every activity her parents had wanted her to undertake. Over the last week, Hermione had skied, taken saunas and steam baths, had massages and swum countless laps every day in the indoor pool. Every evening, she and her parents would read books by the fire or sit in the tavern and people watch while listening to the accordion player. This morning, when a letter had been delivered to their suite for her, the writing on the envelope had made her breath catch. Taking the letter to her room, the girl had opened the missive carefully, with trembling hands. Opening the parchment, she read,
Happy Christmas 'Mione!
Harry said he would fly over to Ottery St. Mary with me to help mail this to you the Muggle way. I hope you get it. We've been having loads of fun this holiday, playing games and Quiddich every day. Charlie will be here Christmas Eve and the whole family will be together. Except for Humongous Bastard, also known as my brother Percy...the prat didn't even send a bloody Christmas OWL. Fred and George are sending a little 'present' to the arse at work. I hope it gets him fired.
Anyways, are you enjoying strapping wood to your feet and sliding down hills with them? I bet you've eaten loads of chocolate- any chance of you bringing some home to your mates? Ginny has been missing you. She hasn't been acting like herself lately, and stares out her window for hours. Gin pretends that she's reading, but c'mon, we all know the only real reader around here is you, and you're not here, so... Maybe when you get back, you could talk to her.
I don't suppose you'll be coming home before New Year's Day. I wish you would, 'cause Ginny and Harry really miss you and me too. Well, I guess I better go, Harry's just flown by the window. I wanted to give you something for Christmas, and it had to fit in the envelope, so I found this in that little shop you liked, The Silver Sixpence. I hope you like it too. It reminded me of you.
Love, from everyone,
Ron
Reaching inside the envelope, Hermione had pulled out a silver bookmark, engraved with an image of the Greek goddess Athena with an owl perched on her shoulder. Amber eyes became teary as the girl realized what had been missing- who she had been longing for even while she enjoyed herself. Ron.
Holding her candle now in a symbolic gesture of how each point of light holds back the darkness, Hermione knew tears were rolling down her cheeks. She didn't care. Her parents smiled, thinking she was affected by the beauty of the song which ended, 'Venite adoramus Dominum'.
Standing beside Lorelei in the center castle courtyard, Severus watched Dumbledore light the fireworks with the enthusiasm of a child. Curling his lip, the Potions Master reflected that if ever there was a Poster-Wizard for second childhood, the Headmaster was it. The man's obsession with sweets, pranks, and socks- just the way mother used to knit- would be proof enough, even without the man's continual aiding and abetting of Potter's blatant rule-breaking. Albus should be an authority figure, the head of the school, firm but fair. Instead, he acted like a student himself, turning a blind eye to the shenanigans of his little friends. His mentor always insisted he 'had a plan' or 'knew it would all turn out' after each episode, but Snape wondered if the words were mere sophistry- and really, all the wizard was doing was crossing his fingers and hoping for the best.
Deciding that tonight, he would think no more upon the disturbing subject; he glanced over at the woman gazing up at the colors bursting in air in the shapes of pinwheels, starbursts and spirals. Her face showed a feeling of wonder he'd never felt except in her arms or when they'd tumbled into a fairy ring. Severus wondered how a woman could be so sophisticated and naive at the same time. The swim story illustrated her willingness to take people at face value...to trust. To her, a seal was a seal, even when the creature was a selkie. He watched the fireworks display. Grudgingly, the lean man acknowledged that it was an excellent gift- even if he didn't care for the thought of the senders' fondness for the recipient.
Following the fireworks, the children went off to bed while the adults headed for the staff lounge. Unobtrusively, the Potions Master strolled over to the Headmaster and curled his lip as he held out a small package. White eyebrows rose as the merry eyes twinkled,
"Why Severus, a Christmas gift, thank you, shall I open it now?"
"Don't bother. You know very well what it is, and it's not a gift. That contains your winnings. If you desire a Christmas present, be content with your victory in the wager you manipulated me into accepting the first day of the term. You said I'd be thankful that Lorelei came and I am, so take your socks and be satisfied."
Leaving the chuckling wizard behind, Snape swept into the lounge and sulked in a corner watching everyone wish each other Happy Christmas with Wassail before grudgingly helping himself to some. Nearby, Sybil was reading Lorelei's palm and predicting that the love-line indicated that it would be a long time before she experienced any romance. Peals of laughter greeted that sympathetically dismal reading. Mischievously declaring that she was going to 'kiss every man here', the woman waved her wand and bespelled a floating ball of mistletoe to float over her head. She made her way over to the far corner where the hairy oaf was chatting with McGonagall. The posture-perfect woman's lips twitched when Lorelei pointed to the ball and then gave Hagrid a loud smooch on each cheek. The half giant blushed and protested, after giving the woman a hug that lifted her off the floor,
"Go on wi' ye..."
Allowing his face to show only detached interest, Severus' eyes followed Lorelei's progress around the room. She hugged all the women and kissed and hugged Tynan and Dumbledore, before heading in his direction. The professor knew that he had two choices. He could turn his head, force the woman to kiss his cheeks like she'd done to every other man, or let her have her way with his person. Lorelei stopped in front of him.
Snape affected a mien of wary discomfort. She leaned against him and draped her arms around his neck. He pursed his lips in sour disapproval. The siren rose to kiss him on the lips. The assaulted man stood stiffly, hands at his side, while Lorelei pressed against him, slid her fingers into his hair, and used her mouth in such a way that gasps were heard around the room. When his hands clenched into fists to prevent them from grabbing the beautiful wench and giving the shocked spectators a show they'd never forget, Snape knew it was time to step back.
Gently, his hands disengaged her arms as his lips pulled away from hers. The frustrated pout she gave was so enticing; he almost said to hades with it and snogged her in front of the staff. Prudence won out, and he merely stared at her in silence. She poked her bottom lip out even further, said 'Happy Christmas' to the room in general, and swept out of the chamber. If she hadn't bumped her shoulder into the doorframe on the way out, it would've beenquite an impressive exit.
The other teachers hurried to assure him that Lorelei would no doubt regret her excess of Christmas Cheer on the morrow and grateful if he would forget the incident ever happened. He gave a sigh of long-suffering that made Tynan and Albus have to feign a bout of coughing to cover laughter. While McGonagall and the other women were trying to help the men by pounding their backs, he slipped out of the room and sauntered down the corridor to his chambers. Standing before his guardian portrait, Snape noticed that the painted pair was frowning at him. Isolde hid her face against Tristan's shoulder as the knight declared,
"The song thy mistress sang offended my fair maiden- verily it did, indeed!"
The smirking man spoke the password and said, "Bah, Humbug!" as the painting rose to reveal the entrance. Stopping in the bedroom doorway, a rumble of laughter moved its way up from his chest to manifest in low chuckles. Lorelei was lying on red satin sheets, looking very festive with a small green bow in her hair. She'd found the present he'd left for her- the white gold belly chain with an emerald teardrop. Severus asked, "What were you singing?" Sliding off the bed, Lorelei slithered over to him in a manner that Snape considered as much a gift as the ornate chest full of exotic potions ingredients, and sang, 'Santa Baby' in a breathy voice that made visions sweeter than sugarplums dance in his head.
A/N: Read 'Twas the Night before Christmas, and all through the house... and I had to let lots of characters have a POV. They called me Scrooge when I said no, at first, and haunted me terribly! I hope Father Christmas gives you everything you wish for, as long as you remember to give the gift of a Review! Otherwise, it's to the top of the Naughty List for you lot! Aw, who am I kidding- review or not I love you people, and hope your Christmas is merry and bright-)
If you read the disclaimer for both fics this week, you can see that I do indeed love Lemony Snicket, and will probably go see it again soon. Hope you have a Holly Jolly Christmas!
