Chapter 12
T'was the morning of Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring
not even the house-elf.
…Well, that's not entirely, strictly true. There were two people creeping through the halls. Tiptoeing down the hall, trying to make it to the room that they were aiming for without being caught.
Passing room after room. One of them stepped on a loose floorboard. Wincing as the groan echoed off the walls. Freezing, motionless in the middle of the hallway, waiting for some kind of reaction. When none came, they nodded to each other, and continued on.
Nudging the well oiled hinged door open, they slid into the room. Like a thief in the night.
Spying their target, they readied themselves. The target changed positions once. They glanced at each other, and then they pounced.
Jumping onto the still sleeping Sirius on his bed they shouted, "Merry Christmas!"
Sirius startled awake. And, once he realized what had woken him, he laughed, "Merry Christmas Harry, Ahsoka!"
"Come on Dad! Presents!" Ahsoka said, grabbing Sirius' hand, trying to drag him out of bed.
"What time is it?" Sirius yawned. Picking up his wand as the two thirteen year old successfully dragged him out of bed, he stuffed his feet into his slippers as he cast the tempest charm. Stopping in his tracks as he saw the time.
Sighing deeply, as he rubbed his face, "Guys, it's six in the morning. Go back to bed."
"But Siri! You promised!" Harry pulled out his best pouty face.
"That's not fair." Sirius said, continuing his walk out of his bedroom, "you dare use my own tricks against me, Pup?"
"Oh yes. I dare." Harry smirked, glorifying in knowing he won.
After getting Penelope up, Ahsoka and Harry pulled the two of them into the family room for the glorious, annual ritual of wrapping paper mutilation.
Neville sat in the posh and richly furnished family room of his grandmother's home. After unwrapping and thanking those who had given him gifts (those who were there at least), he came to the last one.
He picked up the small bag, detaching the card that went with it. He unfolded it, and read.
Dear Lorax,
I am the Jedi
I speak for myself.
And on behalf of myself,
I'd like to invite you
To come over and hang out.
Merry Christmas
The Jedi
P.S. This is Ahsoka if that wasn't obvious.
Neville smiled, and chuckled, though he still had no idea who or what "The Lorax" was. Opening the bag, his eyes almost bugged out his eyes. He ever so carefully, lifted the sapling out of the bag and placed it on the table next to him. Looking at the tag on it, he couldn't believe his eyes.
He'd only heard of these. Gravity Resistant Trees. He thought that they were only a rumor. But, he could see the smallest piece of wrapping paper float and circle around it.
He needed to know how and where she got this.
Luna was having a pleasant morning. She had woken up in her four-poster bed in Ravenclaw Tower, to find a small pile of gifts at the foot of his bed. As she opened one gift after another, and the pile slowly shrank, she came to a rather curious one.
Reading the card piqued her interest.
Dear Sidney Lu Who,
In case you're doubting the Christmas spirit, here is a gift from me to you. Hope you are having a Grinch free Christmas (pre Christmas morning Grinch that is).
Merry Christmas
Ahsoka
Luna giggled as she pulled the wrapping from the present. Her smile grew when she saw that Ahsoka had gifted her a Zoology book on North American animals. Both magical and muggle.
She gave herself a mental note that she needs to send an extra good thank you note to Ahsoka later.
Snape glided into the great hall glaring at all the students, and their festive nature. Sitting in his chair, all he wanted was to eat his breakfast, and then hide in his private chambers.
Just then owls swooped in, delivering the mail. Snape noticed curiously, that including the newspaper, all of the Professors also got a Christmas card.
His eyebrows raised, almost into his hairline, when the same card was also delivered to him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the others had opened theirs, and seemed to enjoy theirs. Really enjoy them, actually. His curiosity piqued, he quickly checked for any spells or potions. When none could be found, he waved his wand, and the card opened.
He faintly noticed that a picture fell out, and landed next to his bowl. Reading the card, he was mildly disappointed with how generic and bland it was. Simply wishing him a merry Christmas. Setting it to the side, he turned his attention to the picture.
His eyebrows slowly rose up, completely disappearing into his hairline. His eyes bugged out of his sockets. His lips began to twitch, and his chest spasmed. The Wizarding picture shook in his hands.
It started with spasmed coughs. Which grew to chuckles. And less than a minute later, Severus Snape was full on belly cackling. His head was thrown back, as his laughter echoed and bounced off the stone walls.
The entire hall froze, and stopped what they were doing. Staring at Snape. The professors, while somewhat concerned, knew why he was laughing. And so joined in.
The Slytherins, on one hand were silently freaking out, but on the other hand, looked on at the other houses, and snickered.
It is time! Our time has finally come! Mwahahahaha!
The Hufflepuffs dove under their table. As if the ceiling was going to fall on top of them at any second. They clung to each other, like a life support.
The Ravenclaws had quill and parchment out. Calculating the odds of survival. Luna looked at her housemates, and shook her head, giggling.
The Gryffindors were pretty evenly split. Half of them had their goblets raised in the air. Toasting to the end of the world. The other half however, had run out into the hall. Jumping into the nearest suit of armor, they ran back into the great hall.
Shouting, "FIGHT ME!"
As if they could fight off the apocalypse with an ancient medieval sword.
(*shaking my head, sighing* Gryffindors… wait, I'm a Gryffindor. *shrug*)
As Snape continued to laugh (and subsequently scare the living daylights out of everyone), the picture that started it all sat limply in his hand.
Snape took a breath, and continued on laughing, after taking a look at the picture. Right as it started over at the beginning.
Over and over again, the photo showed Sirius Black running out of the Gryffindor boy's dormitory, covered in pink paint and glitter. Leaping across the common room, he shifted from human to giant black dog. Still covered in paint and glitter.
Across the top and bottom of the picture, in bright pink ink, was written.
I do believe in fairies!
Look at TinkerBell go!
Snape would have to be admitted to the hospital wing, for lack of oxygen to the brain. After almost an hour of laughing straight.