Chapter 11 – Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve

Todd was still slightly disturbed and confused about the other night in the Potions classroom. What had been going on? Why had Snape been so... strange? Well, stranger than usual. A couple of days passed, and Christmas was getting closer and closer. Giliana had gone to help Snape last night for a few hours, but she wasn't sure why they'd take that long. In her mind, she had a strong feeling as to what was going on, but every time she thought of it, she felt very strange, like someone was pouring ice down her back. So, she didn't let herself think about that. They couldn't be involved, could they? She tried so hard to make up logical explanations. But deep down, she thought it was a little bit cute... if it was true, that is. They did seem perfect for each other.

It was the morning of the 23rd of December. To Todd at least. It was almost 3:00 p.m. Todd liked to stay up all night, if in her fox form, or not. Yawning, she slipped into some grey sweatpants, slippers and a black and white Rancid T-shirt, making her way down the girl's dorms and out of the Ravenclaw common room. It was completely empty. Most students had families to go to. And maybe, Todd thought, she'd finally be reunited with hers this winter. She smiled at the thought of seeing Sirius again. Lupin would be arriving tonight. Todd climbed down the stairs from the Ravenclaw tower and towards the dungeons, searching for Giliana. She mumbled out loud to herself. "Geeze, we should really get a way of communicating with each other." She put a hand in her already messy red hair and scratched her head, making it more wild. It looked like fire.

Giliana quietly walked down the dungeons alone. It had been a good Christmas Holiday so far. She felt a way she hadn't felt in years...She felt whole again.

As she continued walking, she realized she was a whole hour behind the time she told Todd she would be back. Feeling guilty, she sprinted her way back to the comfort room, where she and Todd had been spending their whole holiday at with no one bothering them.

She walked in through the secret entrance, noticing no one was there.

She walked over and collapsed on one of the couches by the fireplace.

There was a small Christmas tree in the corner of the room, on the opposite side of where the door was. It appeared to have been recently put up, with little decorations. This was where Giliana wanted to spend her Christmas.

Todd gave up after looking around, and was about to head back up the stairs. She walked quickly, the dungeons being cold; she crossed her arms and shivered, watching the ground. Suddenly, she was pushed out of her line of walking. Looking up, she was surprised.

Snape bumped into Todd, he too was staring at the ground, and walking at his normal hurried pace. "Do..." Snape sneered, brushing off his robes. "Watch where you are going." He glared at her. As if she was up to no good.

"Ah...sorry, I guess it was my entire fault that you bumped into me." She rolled her eyes and quickly hurried up the stairs, not hearing Snape move or respond behind her. She was bored. Where was Giliana? Heh, she had one more guess.

Snape growled, his face filled with annoyance. Even she reminds me of her...

Todd climbed the stairs in a hurry, finding the room of requirement after walking past three times... and entered, slightly out of breath. "Ah...hah.." She looked at Giliana with narrowed grey eyes. "THERE you are." She smirked, slowly slipping inside the room and closing it almost silently.

"Hey, where have you been?" Giliana asked, looking up at Todd, smiling.

"Looking for you." She rubbed her arms and moved towards the couch, feeling the warmth on her skin. She looked at the tree. "Like?" Todd had imagined it the other night, thus adding it to the room. She still didn't know what to get Giliana for Christmas... or Lupin, for that matter. She was an embarrassed sort of gift giver...

Yeah, the tree is beautiful. You have a wonderful imagination," Giliana said, smiling.

She sat on the couch, a little dazed, and lost in thought, staring into the fireplace.

"Thank you." Todd smiled, kicking off her slippers and walking around the room, examining things in it. "Soo... I bumped into.. Snape." She quickly turned her head to Giliana, hoping to catch something on her face that could tell her something. "Quite literally, actually..."

Giliana blushed slightly at the thought of Snape.

"Oh, you did...?" She smiled slightly, still staring into the fireplace.

"Yep." Todd smiled a little, seeing the color appear in Giliana's cheeks. She stopped at the tree, the multicolored lights illuminating her in the dark. "You ever gonna tell a girl what's going on?" She grinned.

Giliana turned and looked at her with a slight smile, her cheeks slightly pink.

"What do you mean?"

"The way you blush when I mention him, his strange attitude..." She laughed a little. "I have noticed." Todd leaned against the wall next to the tree, that was in the corner, sparkling.

"There isn't anything going on between us...not really." She looked back at the fireplace. "Well...I enjoy his company..."

Todd clicked her tongue. "Is that really all? Cause..." She didn't want to pry, but she wanted to know once and for all.

"Cause...what...?" Giliana asked, looking into the fireplace.

"I'd really like to know." She shrugged, half smiling. "I think it's cute, you know. You two seem to.. I don't know...fit."

Giliana smiled, blushing.

"I don't know what it is about him...you would think he's just a sour git, but..." she sighed, "deep down, he's really more than that..." she smiled, losing herself in thought.

"Yeah. I knew it." She smirked. "Most people aren't how they seem... I guess Lupin has the right idea, eh?"

"Yes. Most people just misjudge him. I hate when people judge others without getting to know them first." She smiled, "Your Lupin sounds like a smart man."

"Ah, he's a smart cookie." Todd blushed a little, looking down. She paused, then remembered. "Speaking of which...want to go to Hogsmeade tonight? There's a caravan of a few coaches heading down there tonight for the few still here. We could shop for our...well, men." Todd bit her lip. "If you want."

Giliana laughed a little.

"Sounds like a good idea." She smiled at her. "I've got a nice supply of galleons in my money bag here..." She walked over towards the door where her messenger bag lay, and pulled out a small black money bag.

"Right on." Todd pushed away from the wall. "Lupin's supposed to arrive sometime today..." She looked down at her clothes, and could only imagine what she looked like all together. "Hah...maybe I should go change...wanna come? I'm sure the empty Ravenclaw common room wouldn't mind if a Slytherin found her way in."

"Sure."

"Alright." Todd smirked, walked to the door, slipped on her slippers and opened it.

Giliana followed, she was happy she wasn't going to the Slytherin common room instead.

They walked all the way up the long staircase in the Ravenclaw tower, nearing the top. Todd walked up to a portrait of a Victorian dressed lady in blue, and stopped. "Ah...uh... hold on." She paused, thinking. "Bumblebee." The portrait swung open. "And welcome to Ravenclaw tower!" She walked in. The common room was decorated in silver and blue, many bookcases filled with random books filled the room, along with tables and comfortable looking blue chairs. It was sort of like a library.

"It's pretty." Giliana stated, while looking around enviously.

"It's not too bad." She shrugged, walking to the spiraling staircase on the left and beginning to climb it. "You can come up, or you can hang out down here. There are some really interesting muggle books in some of those bookcases. I won't be long." Todd stated casually, before climbing all the way to the girl's dorm, coming to her door that she shared with three other girls and walking in.

Giliana found an old chair and sat down.

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, she thought, what could I get for Todd? The answer to that one was pretty simple. Giliana already had something in mind. But...Severus...She knew she had to get something for him. But what?

Todd walked over to a mirror on the wall and laughed at her reflection. She looked like a bum.. but somehow she didn't mind. Kneeling next to her bed, she pulled out a trunk and got out a pair of black tight pinstripe pants, a red vintage-looking Weird Sister's shirt, and red skating-styled shoes. In a short moment, she was dressed. Walking back to the mirror, she ran her hands through her bright red hair, making it look more tamed, but still messy. Grabbing her dark blue extremely worn looking messenger bag, Todd poured out all the school stuff, and poured in random gold and silver coins, along with her wand.

Todd came down the stairs with high energy. She jumped off of the bottom step and grinned. "Ah." Slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder, she watched Giliana. Her grey eyes sparkled with a sort of electricity. "I'm gonna go down and see if he's here yet... wanna come?"

"No thanks. You go ahead. I'll just wait here. I'm content sitting here." Giliana smiled. She wanted Todd to have her own time with Lupin.

Todd raised an eyebrow. "Sure?" She started to walk to the portrait hole.

"I'll be fine, you go on and enjoy yourself." She smiled.

"Alright. I'll catch up with you later tonight, then?" She smiled back, opening the door.

"Tonight." Giliana smiled, and waved.

Todd shut the door behind her, climbing down the stairs and into the corridors of the large school. She saw a random student every once and a while, but it was so empty. Reaching the main hall, finally, she saw Dumbledore talking to a familiar face. Remus. She automatically smiled. Some other older female was with them. She shook Dumbledore's hand and walked back outside. Todd just stood there, deciding to lean up against the wall. Dumbledore and Lupin turned and started walking towards her, it took a moment for Lupin to notice her, although Dumbledore had his eyes on her from the moment he turned. As they approached her, Dumbledore nodded at Todd, his eyes sparkling with mystery through his half-moon spectacles.

"Miss Black."

"Headmaster." Todd replied.

"I must be off." Dumbledore spoke. "There is so little to do, and so much time." Dumbledore winked and looked at them both before turning and disappearing behind a corner.

Lupin looked down at Todd, smiling a little. "It's been a while."

Todd noticed how tired he looked. His clothes were slightly dressy and ragged as usual. "Yes, it has."

Lupin held out an arm, Todd linked hers with his, grinned, and they started to roam the hallways, with small talk.

"So...do you think, maybe.. I can visit the headquarters and see him sometime?" Todd asked, so anxious for the answer she wanted to hear.

Damien was walking down the hallways, when he noticed Todd.

"Good afternoon Todd." He nodded, and smiled at her with his charming smile.

"I didn't expect to see you around the school during the Christmas Holidays. How have you been doing?" He smiled charmingly.

Todd was surprised a little, and blushed automatically. Woah, this was a weird situation. "Hey Damien." She smiled a little. "I'm very well, and yourself?"

"I'm doing quite lovely, thanks. I just came out from enjoying the snow," he said cheerfully, "The weather is simply beautiful right now." He looked over at Lupin.

"Oh, is this your father?" He smiled politely.

He let out his hand for Lupin to shake.

Todd froze. "Uh..." She felt like she had something caught in her throat.

Lupin did the same. He then broke the silence by chuckling. "Oh, no, just a friend..." He gave Damien a polite smile back, annoyance hidden completely. He reached out and gave Damien a firm handshake, looking him over. He couldn't help it.. he was a little, well.. jealous.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Please Forgive me," he felt a little embarrassed, "But I figured you were her father since it's the Christmas Holidays and all." He smiled, remaining cheerful. "I'm Damien Goodnight," he smiled at Lupin, "And may I inquire your name?"

"Remus Lupin." He glanced over at Todd, who was staring at the ground, with very pink cheeks. "Nice to meet you, Damien." He was struggling to keep his cool.

"Oh that's right!" Damien's eyes lit up. "You were a teacher here my 5th year. Defense against the dark arts. You probably don't remember me." He sighed. "It's a shame you had to leave...we've been most unfortunate with our newer defense against the dark arts teachers ever since you've left." He smiled again, "It's awfully nice to see you again. Any friend of Todd's is a friend of mine!" He said happily.

"You look familiar." Lupin said simply. "I'm flattered." He smiled slightly, nodding his head.

Todd looked up, not feeling that the conversation was as icy as it used to be... She found it strange that Damien didn't seem to back off because of what Lupin was. Most people did when he announced who he was.

"Oh Todd, now that I think of it, there's something I wanted to ask you." He looked over at Todd, cheerfully. "I am going to be hosting a new year's celebration. It's Shakespearean themed, and I am going to be reciting Shakespearean sonnets. It will be held outside on the school grounds of course, and you're welcome to come. You may bring a friend if you want." He smiled at her. "There will be music, refreshments, and games, and hopefully we'll be able to have our much desired discussion on foxes."

Lupin looked blank. Foxes? What did he know? Lupin looked away from them.

Todd smiled after a moment. "I adore Shakespeare!" She read his works often. "Of course. Count me in." She watched him with curiosity, grey eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Wonderful! I really look forward to seeing you there" He smiled, slightly blushing. "Anyway, I better be going. I'll see you later Todd." He smiled sweetly at her. "Mr. Lupin, glad to see you again." He smiled, and nodded respectfully at the both of them. He started to walk away, but then stopped, and walked back to Todd.

"Just incase we don't see each other for a while..." He grabbed her right hand, and kissed it. "Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow" he said, smiling at her charmingly. He nodded at Lupin respectfully again, and turned around, walking away.

Todd was completely shocked. She didn't know what to do or what too say. Her eyes showed shock and confusion, but... she was very content. Damien was so romantic, but Lupin was right there... she didn't know why she was acting this way. Todd looked up at Lupin, scared of what she might see. Lupin was staring at the ground.

"He's a nice boy." And he started walking in the direction they had been before Damien had come. Lupin kept his eyes on the floor, but walked slowly.

Todd bit her lip and walked behind him slowly, still sort of nervous.

"He's...alright." Her eyes shimmered with the slightest bit of tears.

Lupin was upset, she always knew when he was... she wished she could show him that she had no interest in Damien...although he was extremely good looking...and romantic...and...

Lupin stopped walking all of a sudden and sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets and looking around before resting his eyes on Todd. He couldn't help but smile just a little bit, for every time he saw her, everything in the world seemed a little brighter.

Todd ran into Lupin, not paying attention, stepped back and laughed a little to herself.

"Ah...sorry." Todd scratched her head.

"Todd..."

Lupin seemed completely unphased by her bumping into him. He just looked at her sadly.

"Am I keeping you from...things you...want?" A flicker of sadness appeared in his eyes. He knew he was older, and less outgoing than Damien.

Todd's eyes widened. How dare he ask something like that? She...she never had told him that she loved him, however...so how was he to know any different?

"...No." Todd spoke firmly, staring up at him. "There's nothing more I want..." She shrugged a little, and continued to gaze at him.

At this, Lupin's expression softened into a more relieved look. He took his hands out of his pockets and brought her close to him, embracing in a small hug.

"I have to get going now." Lupin spoke very softly. "Meeting in the Headmaster's office. I'll see you soon, okay?"

He pulled back to look down at Todd.

Todd nodded.

"Yep. Ya know where to find me." With that, she pulled back and winked at him. "I've got plenty of things to tell you. Oh, yes..." Todd grinned mischievously. "Many things." And with that, she turned and walked away, towards the Ravenclaw tower.

Lupin watched her until she disappeared, feeling much better than he used to feel.

Todd came through the portrait hole, blushing a little still, closing the portrait with a small click behind her.

"Bored yet?"

"How did it go?" Giliana asked, looking pretty comfortable on an old chair by a fireplace.

Todd walked over to Giliana.

"Oh... it went..." She paused, then laughed for a little bit, rolling her eyes. "It was interesting... Damien showed up."

"Oh my. Damien is so charming...what did he say to you?" Giliana asked with slight excitement.

She didn't know where to begin. "Well, he thought Lupin was my father... and then he invited me to a party on New Year's...and quoted Shakespeare.." Todd ran a hand through her hair, blowing a strand of it out of her eyes.

"Sounds like the perfect conversation." Giliana said, sarcastically.

"How did Lupin feel?"

"Not good." Todd frowned. Then, her expression turned slightly dreamy. "But, I think he'll be okay now.." She smirked.

"Oh well, he can't be upset during Christmas. Especially with the gift you're about to buy him" Giliana smiled, "Come on, let's go to Hogsmeade before it gets too late."

"Hah. Alright." Todd headed back towards the door, grabbing her long black trench coat that was hanging on a coat rack, looking forward to what tonight may bring. "Let's head out." Todd turned back at Giliana with a grin.

Todd and Giliana made their way down the steps, excited for the trip to Hogsmeade. They left the tower through the large black wooden door, and into the dark corridor that lead to it. But, someone was lurking in the dark.

Snape was on his way to the Headmaster's office for a meeting between those at the Order. But he stopped as he heard two people ahead of him, he flicked his wand and it let out a small light, enough for him to see as he approached them.

"Why do you have your wand out...?" Giliana asked, wondering why he had it pointing at her. Was she a threat?

Snape blinked, seeing who it was. His eyes widened a little, but then calmed.

"It was dark..." Snape spoke in his normal brooding way. He looked at Todd, and back to Giliana. "What are you two doing?" He looked a little suspicious. Todd blinked.

"I had to stop by my common room and go in there, ya know...alone... had to get my...things." She motioned to her messenger back and trench coat. "Alone, of course. She waited outside." Todd raised an eyebrow. "What about you? Looking for rare potion constituents?"

Snape growled, his eyebrows forming a v on his forehead.

Giliana looked down. Things were feeling a bit awkward.

"Not quite, Miss Black...and I'd watch your sarcasm if I were you..." He threatened, and meant it. His dark eyes looking mysterious. He pointed the light at Todd as if interrogating her. "..I'm late for a meeting. I have no time for this." He lowered his wand, making a sour face at Todd before glancing at Giliana. "I think that I might need your...assistance...in the dungeons on Christmas.

Giliana looked up at him. "Assistance on Christmas?" She smiled slightly, looking at him through direct eye contact. "Well, okay." She was jumping inside.

Snape nodded, seeming a little... stiffer all of a sudden. "Very well then..." He looked once more at Todd, looking her over, as if searching for something she was doing wrong. He then put out his light and walked away into the darkness.

Giliana watched him walk away until he was out of sight as if he was walking away with a piece of her. She wished they could have at least embraced.

Todd took a moment to let it sink in. Her eyes moved from the vanishing figure of Snape back to Giliana, her mouth open.

"Well. That was... obvious." She grinned.

"Really." Giliana took a short pause. "...Was it?" Her cheeks were a little rosy.

"Oh yeah.. using each other's first names..." she laughed. "It was kinda creepy." Todd teased a little, but wasn't entirely joking...

Giliana stared at her.

"I don't know what it is about him. This will sound strange, but..."she paused as they opened the doors leading to the school grounds. "We don't really say much, and there is much I have yet to learn about him...but..." She smiled slightly "I feel as if I've known him all my life...well, for most of it at least..."

Todd smirked a little.

"Yeah?" She nodded. "It's not that strange...it's really just...seeing him being with someone, that's the strange part." She laughed a little. "Really, though...I'm happy for you." She shivered a little as the cold air met her body, she then put on the trench coat with ease. "Off to Hogsmeade?"

Giliana and Todd journeyed into the cold, snow crunching on their feet, the cool wind nipping at their noses. The horseless carriages took them and a handful of others to Hogsmeade. It was a bumpy, but calm and scenic ride. When they arrived, the place was alive with activity, a sort of energy hung in the air. The energy that only happened around holidays, the greatest of these was Christmas. And, after all, it was the day before Christmas eve. Todd put her hands in her trench coat pockets, her wide eyes looking around, absorbing in everything she could. "So, where should we look?" She spoke to Giliana, hoping for suggestions... because she had no idea even where to begin to shop for Lupin...

Giliana looked around frantically. She hadn't been to Hogsmeade in a longtime. Her eyes lit up in excitement.

"Oh...How about that store?" She pointed to Galdrags wizardwear.

The two of them walked along the snow, and through the door. The place was crowded; there were many students, witches and wizards frantically running around the place, trying to take care of their last-minute shopping for the Holiday. The store had various items besides clothing. There was a smaller section with household items, another small section of fine jewelry, and holiday sweets were found throughout the store. The place was decorated with various floating ornaments and wreaths.

Giliana walked over to the section of household items. There was a beautiful self-stirring cauldron on display, in a beautiful shade of ebony and had a star engraved on its side. Giliana took out her moneybag. The cauldron was very expensive, but she had enough galleons from a couple of years' worth of savings. She took one of them off the shelves, and brought it over to the Wizard at the cashier. The witch at the desk used a shrinking spell on the cauldron to make it easier to carry, and put a slip of parchment with the reverse spell in the bag. Giliana paid her the galleons, and carried the bag around the store with the one gift she had bought for the person she couldn't get off her mind.

Todd blinked, moving over to a glass case, looking at magical jewelry. Some necklaces that turned colors, pocket watches that told where a person was supposed to be, then she stopped. Todd saw a beautiful gold watch, bound in dark brown leather, the color Lupin wore so much...it came in a series that kept track of many things. Some were star charts, some were planet locations, and the one she found... it kept track of the moon's phases. Todd grinned. This would be perfect for Lupin. But when she gazed on the price... she frowned. No way she could afford it. Todd put her hand on top of the glass, watching it's many hands turn and click.

Giliana walked over to Todd, holding a huge paper bag that bore the store's name on it. She held it with both hands.
"Have you decided on what you want to get him?" She smiled, slightly.

Todd jumped a little and hit her knee on the counter. "Ow" She scrunched her nose up, then looked at Giliana with a shrug. "Heh, not really.." She eyed the watch again.

Giliana looked at Todd again, hearing no reply. "You set on getting him that watch? Seems like a good idea..."

"Yeah. I think I will..." She then asked the person behind the desk to get it to buy. Todd bit her lip and pulled out a handful of coins, counting them out on the counter. "Yes.. I have enough." She spoke in a whisper to Giliana to the side, before pushing the coins towards the lady and purchasing it.
Giliana smiled. "Alright. Want to head over to the Three Broomsticks for a bit?"
"Sure." She grabbed the bag, happy, but slightly regretful. How could she admit that it was all of the money she had to Giliana? And how would she get Giliana her present? No matter.. she shook the troubling thoughts from her mind and began to walk out of the door. "Well, what did you get Mr. dark and brooding?" She teased, looking up at the white sky.
Giliana smiled, thoughtfully. She lifted the bag with a bit of a heave, and had Todd notice its size. "Self-stirring cauldron."
"Ooh, nifty." Todd smirked, looking down at the foot of snow on the ground. They reached the Three Broomsticks after passing a group of very young girls, giggling at something unknown, and a couple of lovers who were displaying their affections by snogging against a neighboring building.

They walked into the crowded Pub, and managed to find two empty seats by a table. The whole place was dimly lit with a candle on each table, and various Christmas decorations floating about. Giliana ordered them two butterbeers, and offered to pay for them both. The two of them relaxed and talked. Even though things hadn't been at its best for Giliana, she was very content now. It had been a while since Giliana had someone like Todd. A friend.

Giliana and Todd took their time in the Three Broomsticks, until it turned dark, they rode a carriage back up to the school, and went to sleep right away, dreaming of Christmas eve, and then...Christmas itself. They both slept in very much into the next day, before finally emerging from the Room of Requirement and going about their own ways, vowing to meet late tonight in the room. It was around 7:00 p.m. when Todd and Lupin met up outside, near the edges of the forbidden forest. Snape was being broody and antisocial, his potions classroom locked.

Giliana walked down the dungeons, indecisive on where to go. She thought of Snape, and what he was doing. She was very confused at their relationship. It had happened too quickly, and they didn't talk to each other much. Snape was usually cold, and not affectionate. Giliana wasn't sure if their feelings were mutual. She wasn't even sure of what she felt for him. She stopped walking, and leaned against the cold stone wall in the leaky dungeons. Right now, all she wanted, was to be near him. Nothing else.