Disclaimer: Don't own it, unfortunately…..
Thanks Mak for being such an awesome beta
I just want to give a shout out to Amarthiel for being my 50th reviewer! You rock!
Alright, let's try for maybe 10 reviews this chapter. I'll probably wait until I get 10 reviews to post the next chapter so please review. Thanks!
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Chapter Twenty
Christmas
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Alex woke the next morning in his bed. He didn't remember how he got there but he assumed his father put him there. The last thing he remembered from the previous evening was talking to his grandparents about Christmas. It had been decided that Severus and Alex would go to New York City, where Alex and his mother had lived for most of the year, to celebrate Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Albus and Minerva would arrive and stay until after dinner on Christmas day.
Alex smiled at the thought of Christmas. It was his favorite holiday and this was going to be a great one. He just knew it.
Throwing on a red hoodie he walked out of his room and into the kitchen. His father was fixing breakfast. "Hi, Dad," he said as he opened the refrigerator to grab some orange juice. It was strange for him to say it, but it was something he wished he could have said for so many years.
Severus turned and greeted his son, "Good morning and please use a cup, its poor manners to drink from the carton."
Alex sighed and took the carton from his lips. He grabbed a cup and poured some in as he slid into his chair at the table. "What are you fixing?"
"Bacon and eggs," was Severus' only reply as he turned over a few pieces of bacon.
"So you like American breakfasts now?" Alex asked with a smile. His father had made a fuss the first morning Alex fixed breakfast. He complained about American breakfasts and how unhealthy and unsavory they were. Now it seemed the man could not get enough of it.
"I have grown accustomed to them," Severus answered as he put some eggs in another pan.
"When did you get so good at cooking in the kitchen?"
"I've always been a good cook," Severus replied nonchalantly.
"What? I've been cooking all the meals and you didn't say a word!" Alex asked outraged.
"You never asked me to cook so I did not volunteer. You seemed to like cooking and I was enjoying your meals."
"Hmph!" Alex said as he crossed his arms. "You could have at least helped me out."
"Like I said, you did not ask," Severus said smirking.
"Well, now that I know you can cook, you can help." Alex had set the table and was waiting for Severus to finish with the eggs. He went to grab a piece of bacon, hoping his father would not see him. As he was reaching for a piece on the corner of the plate Severus smacked his hand.
"Ow!" Alex screamed, pulling his hand back quickly.
"You should not have tried to steal the bacon." Severus emptied the eggs into a bowl and took the bowl and plate full of bacon to the table.
Alex sat down glaring at his father. "Oh, please son, do not glare at me. Have some eggs," he said mockingly pleasant as he passed the plate.
Alex was shocked speechless as Severus passed him the plate. He took it while staring at him with his mouth a little open. "Close your mouth."
The boy scooped out the eggs and glared at his plate. Jerk, he thought to himself.
Severus noticed how aggravated his son had become and sighed, setting his fork and knife down. "Sebastian," Severus waited until his son looked up at him. He looked furious, though he tried to hide it. "You do understand I was just kidding with you, correct?"
Alex looked out the window and replied quietly, "Mom always called me Sebastian, even though everyone else calls me Alex."
"Well, it is your name. It suits you," Severus said as he watched his son.
Alex turned to his father, "I guess," he said shrugging his shoulders.
They did not speak much more the rest of the meal. As Alex was walking back to his room he looked over his shoulder. "What time did you want to leave?"
"Whenever you are ready is fine with me," Severus replied as he started to walk towards the door leading down to the basement.
"I'll be ready before lunch. I guess we can eat when we get to the city."
"Very well," Severus said as he closed the door.
XXX
Alex cleaned out the refrigerator and made sure the cabinets were in order before he let his father know he was ready to leave. His trunk was packed and shrunk and he stepped out onto the deck to look at the frozen lake. He thought about what the last few days had brought him and he smiled. It was a blessing for him. The thought of having no one to spend the holiday with did not sit well with him and he was elated that he did not have to.
The glass door slide open and Alex felt his father stand beside him. "Are you ready?"
The boy looked up to his father and shook his head, "Yeah, I'm ready."
Severus simply turned on his heel and walked back into the cabin. Alex followed and closed everything up. They apparated into a small alleyway between two very tall buildings. Severus was shocked when he walked to the street. The city was huge and there were so many people around. He did not like big crowds in the first place and this did not help at all.
Alex quickly walked down the block and Severus followed him keeping the boy in his sight as much as possible. Thankfully the walk was not long and they stopped in front of another tall building. This one had an awning in front of the building and a red carpet leading up a walkway. There was a man in a uniform, opening and closing the door.
Alex and Severus made their way up the stairs. Alex smiled, "Hello, George."
"Good afternoon, Alex. How are you doing?" George asked as he opened the door for the pair.
"Good. This is my father, so don't give him too much trouble when he tries to get in," Alex said with a wink at Severus.
"It's nice to meet you, sir," George said nodding his head.
"A pleasure," Severus said, not meaning it at all.
Alex picked it up and rolled his eyes. "You can give him a bit of trouble if you feel the need George. Bye!" Alex quickly entered the building and went directly to the elevator.
"The stairs work just as well Sebastian," Severus said as he approached the elevator.
"Nah, this is much faster. Trust me." The elevator dinged and the metal doors opened. Alex slide a card into the slot and the machine registered the card and the 56th floor light lit up. Severus's widened his eyes and Alex smirked. "Still want to take the stairs?"
Severus simply glared at him and then focused his gaze on the black screen indicating they were passing the 5th floor. In just a quick ride they arrived. The doors opened and Alex stepped out into a small hallway. There was a single door with the numbers PH30.
He opened the door and smiled as he entered his home. It felt good to be back. Severus took two steps and froze in awe at what he was seeing. His Aurora had done well for herself in New York. To his right, on the side of the wall was a black marble table used for keys and smaller items. To his left were pegs on the wall that held jackets. Alex had already placed his jacket on one of the pegs. Directly in front of him was a door. "That door leads to a kitchen and dinning area," Alex said as he started up the stairs. On either side of that door was a winding staircase leading up to another level. Alex was half way up the staircase on the right when he stopped at looked at his father. "Come on Dad, let me show you around."
The wood flooring was shinny as he walked to the staircase. The walls on the lower level were painted white and there were a few paintings along them. As he walked up the stairs he was still shocked. His son was walking on the opposite staircase smiling broadly at him. It was a surreal feeling for Severus. The top level was breathtaking. The room was open and wide. Across from the top of the staircase was a wall of windows. They went from the ground to the ceiling and he gazed out into the skyline of the city. "You can see out of them, but no one can see in. It's nerve-wracking sometimes," he heard his son say. There was a huge area rug, about fifty feet by fifty feet. It was oriental style with red, black, tan, blue, and white colors intermixed. An L shaped leather couch was seated in front of a large screen television. A small wooden coffee table was placed between the couch and a large leather chair. A longer coffee table was in front of the L shaped leather couch.
To the left of the couches and television was a pool table. Past that on the left wall was a door that leads to a patio outside. To the right of the couches was a glass computer table with a laptop sitting on top of it. Around the wall were tons of photographs of Alex growing up in various activities. Severus was still overwhelmed with everything he was seeing and viewing all the pictures of his wife and son was harder than he expected. He quickly walked past the pictures and into the hallway. There were four doors. Alex opened the first door on the right and walked in. This is the guest bedroom. Inside was a brass queen sized bed with a blue comforter and light mahogany wood furniture.
The next door was a large bathroom. The door beside it was Alex's bedroom. It was what Severus had expected from his son. Slightly messy but organized. There were posters of bands hanging on the walls and a queen sized bed with a brown suede comforter was at an angle in the corner across from the door. A desk with a television and a laptop was on the left of the door. An armchair with clothes on it was on the opposite wall facing the table. A large closet spanned the length of the left wall.
Alex took out his trunk and enlarged it. He left it on his floor and led Severus to the final door at the end of the hallway. It was the master suite which was immense. The walls were painted a light tan color. The king sized bed, which was opposite the door was adorned in a dark green and white checkered comforter. Severus smiled at the Slytherin colors in the room. In front of the bed was a large wooden trunk. He narrowed his eyes when he looked at it because he saw no hinges. "It's a television. The remote is on the right table," he said pointing to the remote. Alex picked it up, "it raises when you press this button." The television emerged from the top of the chest.
Severus raised his right brow at his son. "I know you don't watch much TV but who knows you might find a channel you really like." Alex smiled at his father and pressed the button to lower the television. There were two dark wooden dressers on different walls. Double doors on the right wall lead to a bathroom. There was one huge sink with drawers and cabinets under it. A large mirror with eight lights gleamed down. A Jacuzzi bathtub was beside it. A window with curtains gave another spectacular view of the city. Beside the Jacuzzi bathtub, on the wall facing the doors was a shower stall. A wall from the shower stall hid a toilet and bidet.
"Do you want to stay here?" Alex asked from the bed. He still had to show his father the walk in closet, but he was sure his father could find it on his own.
Severus turned and looked at his son. He did not know exactly how to feel at this moment. His wife had lived here. All her possessions were here. It was going to be difficult seeing this all, but he felt it was something he needed to do. Severus shook his head in the affirmative and walked out of the bathroom. Alex jumped off the bed and walked to his father. He wrapped his arms around his father's chest and was soon enveloped in a tight hug. Alex knew his father would have a difficult time here but he was hoping that with Christmas on the way he would feel better.
Severus would never have admitted it, but he was thankful for the hug from his son. It gave him strength to work through the pain and grief he was feeling. He had to make this work for his son.
"I'm going to unpack. You want to eat after that?" Alex asked as he stepped back from his father.
"That will be fine, Sebastian." Alex smiled and walked out of the room with a huge smile on his face.
Severus sat on the bed and simply took it all in. This was going to be an emotional test for him. One he was dead set on winning.
XXX
Alex and Severus walked around the city looking for a place to eat. Alex showed his father Times Square and the surrounding area. They finally settled on Italian, so Alex and Severus took the R subway train to the 59th and Lexington Ave stop. There they walked the two and a half blocks to Alex's favorite Italian restaurant, Felidia.
They sat in a nice booth in the corner. "This was our favorite restaurant," Alex said as they were looking over the menus. Severus nodded his head and asked what he suggested. "The lunch special is great. You get a lot of choices too."
"Very well," Severus replied as he looked over the lunch special items. When the waiter arrived with water they both ordered. They talked about the city while they waited and Alex laughed when Severus said it was "interesting."
After their first plate, of antipasti, they settled into their main dishes. "How's the fish?" Alex asked as he wrinkled his face up as he looked at it.
"The salmon is delicious," Severus said, taking another bite. "And how is your pasta?"
"Excellent! I get this all the time."
"You never get tired of it?" Severus asked.
"Nah, I mean I don't eat here much so I might as well get something I know I like right?"
Severus simply set his fork down and looked at his son finishing his pasta. "If you say so."
As dessert arrived Alex started to giggle. "What is so funny Sebastian?" Severus did not know what was funny about Tiramisu, but his boy sometimes astounded him.
"It's just something I remember Mom saying one time. We were eating here and she was eating Tiramisu." Alex suddenly stopped laughing and looked down remembering what she had told him. "It was one of the few things she ever said about you actually."
Severus nodded his head and waited for Alex to continue. "I asked her why she liked it so much and she said 'because it was dark, but sweet and dense, like your father.'" Alex smirked as he waited for his father's reaction.
Severus simply looked at Alex with a blank look. He could not react for some reason. In his mind he knew it was something Aurora would say about him. Severus didn't know if he should be appalled to be compared to a dessert or humored that Aurora would think of him like that.
Alex couldn't help but laugh at the look his father was giving him. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights and Alex couldn't hold back. Severus was jolted from his thoughts and blank stare at the sound of Alex laughing. "Hmph," he replied as he waved for the check.
XXX
Severus was still very weary of the city. He did not trust people and being in a city with so many people kept his senses going non-stop. On the way back to the penthouse he realized he needed to get something special for his son for Christmas. Slyly, he asked his son, about the shops around the area. Alex talked and talked about the different stores and what you could get and where they were located. Severus loved his son's passion about different things. It gave him great information about where he could shop for his son, but it did not help with what he should get him.
It dawned on him that even though he had grown emotionally close to Alex, he did not know exactly what would be meaningful to the boy. Severus decided to wait until tomorrow to shop for him, hopefully getting some ideas as to what to purchase.
Alex was thinking on the same lines as his father. He needed to get a present for his father. He had thought of a present for his professor, but now, he needed to get something for his father. Tomorrow, he would brave the crowds and find something for his father and grandparents.
The two walked the rest of the way home thinking about what to get for the other, not coming up with much. Alex watched a movie, lying out on the couch, while Severus sat in the leather chair, reading a book. Every now and then his son would laugh and he would observe his boy. He had a great laugh and he wished he could have heard his son laugh the past fifteen years.
This moment would have been perfect if his beautiful wife were there. He looked out the window as he thought about what she would have been doing at this exact moment. Probably laughing along with Sebastian, he thought. His life would have been amazing if he had not agreed to join the Dark Lord. Staring at the book in his hands, he could not help but imagine the different things he missed out in his son's life. Shaking his head he decided he could not concentrate on the past, but look forward to the future he would share with his son. His thoughts did not focus on the presence of the Dark Lord or even if he would survive. He knew he had to survive this. The sound of his son's laughter made his resolve firmer.
XXX
The next afternoon Albus and Minerva arrived. Their reaction to the penthouse was similar to that of Severus's. They loved everything about the place, but especially all the pictures of their daughter and grandson. The four of them decided to walk around the city. Albus transfigured his long beard and hair into a much shorter version.
Alex was happier than he had been in the past year as he walked down the sidewalk with his father and grandparents. They had a late lunch and decided to split up and venture around. Severus had a quick conversation with Albus and Minerva about what to get his son for Christmas. "I have a lot of years to make up for," Severus said as he stared intently into Albus' eyes.
"Severus, you do not have make up for the years you lost with your son. It's enough you are with him now," Albus said as he gazed at his son-in-law.
"Don't worry too much about it," Minerva added in her thick Scottish accent. "Whatever you get him, he will adore it."
"I need to get him something important. I have no clue what to get my son," Severus said nervously.
They could both hear the sadness in his voice and Minerva reached her hand out and placed it on top of his. "Give him something from your heart, my boy. He loves you already. It's easy to see."
"Severus, look around a few places and go with your gut feeling. You are very good at that you know," Albus said smiling at the man before him. It was endearing to Albus to see Severus so worried about finding the perfect gift for his son.
Severus was getting no where with these two, so he nodded his head and wished them a good day. He needed to get going if he was going to have enough time to buy something for his boy.
Severus spent the next several hours looking in different shops. Finally, he figured out what he needed to get his son.
XXX
Alex woke up slowly Christmas morning. After a few minutes he realized it was Christmas. He looked at his alarm clock and found out it was ten o'clock. Jumping out of bed he threw on a t-shirt and some sweatpants. His grandparents were sitting on the couch talking quietly sipping some tea. "Merry Christmas!" he said loudly, startling the two.
"Happy Christmas, my boy!" Albus said merrily.
Minerva walked over to Alex and wrapped him in a hug. "It's good to have you here," she spoke quietly to him.
"Where's Dad?"
"I believe he is still asleep. Why don't you go wake him?" Albus said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Alex smiled mischievously and walked silently to his father's room. He slipped into the room without making a noise. From the door, he could see the outline of his father asleep in the large bed. He wished his mom was here, he would be so happy if he had both of his parents together.
Alex took two huge steps towards the bed and jumped up as high as he could, landing soundly on his father. Severus was sound asleep when his son jolted him awake. He had been up late into the evening and he did not realize he had slept so late.
"Merry Christmas Dad!" Alex said smiling brightly. Alex rolled off of his father and laid his head on a pillow, staring at his father.
"Happy Christmas, son. What time is it?" he asked sleepily.
"It's ten. Come on! We have to open presents," Alex said as he started to drag his father out of bed by one of his hands.
"Alright, alright. Just give me a moment," Severus said, still not awake. He could not be mad at his boy for waking him like that. If he had loved his father, he might have done the same thing on Christmas morning.
Severus came out of the bedroom five minutes later having properly waken up. His hair looked disheveled and he wore a black, ankle length robe. It was clear he was still disoriented, but he found his way to his second favorite chair. The tree was setting to the left of the television, giving him a great view of the unwrapping that was about to begin.
"Go ahead Sebastian. Open away," Severus said as a tea cup flew into his hand.
Alex was all smiles as he looked under the tree. He found three presents and handed them out to his father, grandfather, and grandmother. Alex picked out one present, with red and green wrapping, and ripped into it. It was from his grandmother. Inside the box lay a picture frame. His mother was flying a broom for the first time and she was laughing and smiling. "Thank you," he said sincerely as he looked at his grandmother.
Minerva smiled at Alex and said, "You're certainly welcome, my boy."
"Go ahead and open yours," Alex responded as he got up to sit on the couch with his grandparents. When Alex handed out the presents he made sure to give them the exact same thing. They both started opening their presents and as they opened their boxes a look of bewilderment grew on their faces. Albus and Minerva were staring at one leather bound journal each, with the words Dad and Mum written in gold on top, respectively.
"Open it," Alex said anxiously.
The first page in each book was a little memo from Aurora written to them about the contents of the book and explaining a few things about why she did what she had to do. They both finished reading their excerpts at the same time and looked at Alex. Minerva had tears in her eyes and Albus' eyes were twinkling. Alex was wrapped in his grandparents embraces and receiving their thanks at such a lovely gift. "It means the world to us," Minerva said as she wiped her eyes.
"Why don't we see what Severus has?" Albus asked as smiled at Alex and Minerva.
Severus nodded and started to unwrap his present. Under the Christmas tree wrapping paper was a leather bound photo album two inches thick. Severus looked through it and found pictures of Alex growing up, from his very first baby picture, to his first steps, and class pictures. Severus thanked his son as he set it down gently on the coffee table.
"Sebastian, do you see the present wrapped in green with the silver bow?" Severus asked.
"Yes," Alex answered as he walked over to the tree.
"Open that one."
"Alright." He opened the square present quickly and opened the box. Alex gasped as he reached in and took out the broken winged snitch from the game against Slytherin, where he got hurt. "How-when did you get this?" Alex asked in shock.
"When you were in the hospital wing after the game I pried it from your fingers and put a spell on it to keep it from moving. There is also a little stand you can put it on."
Alex found the stand among the tissue paper and set the snitch on it. He placed it on the coffee table next to the photo album and hugged his father. "Thanks, Dad.
Severus received a bottle of cognac and a few potions tomes from Albus and Minerva, along with a dreadful pair of red socks with Christmas trees and presents on them. Severus glared at Albus and then at Alex when he started to laugh hysterically. Of course, Albus received socks from everyone, and American candy from Alex. He loved them all, but he really enjoyed a pair of pink socks with white bunnies on them. Minerva received jewelry and various books she had wanted to read. Alex was excited to get state of the art quidditch gear and a few books he couldn't wait to delve into.
There were two presents left, one for Alex and one for Severus. "You open yours first Dad," Alex insisted. Severus held the thin present in his hand and inspected it for a few seconds between his thumb and index finger. "It won't bite, I promise," Alex said. Severus wasn't too sure about that, especially with the grin his son was giving him. He slowly opened the gift and raised an eyebrow at his son, as he waved a picture of an arm chair. "It's a lazy boy. Like the one at the cabin, but this one is also a massager. It's being delivered to Hogwarts so you will have it when we get back."
"Thank you, I'm sure I will enjoy it." Severus liked that gift the most. He had thoroughly enjoyed the arm chair at the cabin and, at the time, was sad to leave because he was going to miss it. "You have your last gift to open," he said waving his hand toward the gift.
Alex looked at his last gift and picked it up. It was small and rectangular, wrapped in Slytherin green, addressed to him. He knew it was from his father and smiled before slowly opening the box. Inside was a note with his name on it written in his father's elegant handwriting. Lifting it up he found what lay underneath. A silver pendent hung on a silver chain. Alex had never seen a design like the one he was looking at now. A 'P', in Old English style, laid on top of a crown, and above the crown was stars. Alex held the pendent in one hand while he opened the letter with his other hand.
Sebastian,
My mother gave me this pendent when I was your age. It's been passed down from the eldest Prince to the next. Your mother was correct when she called you a prince; she had her subtle hints, after all, she is a Dumbledore. I know you will do great things in your life and bring honor to the Prince and Snape names.
We have only found out about our connection a few days ago, but, I want you to know how much it means to me to have you in my life. I might not say it much, but I love you son. You've changed my life already and I cannot say that I mind it one bit.
Keep the pendent on you at all times for it will keep you safe even when I am not there to do so.
Love,
Your father
Alex read through the letter and by the end he had tears in his eyes. He folded up the letter and slipped the necklace over his head. Tucking it under his shirt he felt a rush of magic wash over his skin. Wide eyed, he looked at his father for clarification.
"It's recognizing you as the oldest Prince," Severus said. "Its power of protection is already working."
Alex simply nodded his head and walked over to his father. This time he flung his arms around Severus and buried his head in his father's shoulder. "I love you, Dad," he chocked out.
Severus's voice caught in his throat when he heard his son tell him he loved him. The honesty in what his son had said struck him right in the heart. He knew his son cared about him and having him say it with such emotion rendered him momentarily speechless.
"I love you too, Sebastian," he managed to say after a few minutes.
