ix- To face unafraid, The plans that we've made
Walking in a winter wonderland
"Meddling smarmy old man. I don't know how I got suckered into watching a whole slew of kids. Accident prone little boogerheads." Rose slammed her front door behind her in frustration.
"I think it wull be gud te stretch yer legs, luv. So te speak. You 'aven't seen any action since we moved back from tha states. An' wit the boy bein' round, you know yer should brush up on defense magicks anyway." Albert moved fluidly to the top of the staff, his fork tongue flicking about, and he sounded oddly serious for his little serpent self. When he's right, he's right. That fact did nothing for Rose's mood.
"Defense Only, Albert. I don't trust myself with anything else just yet. You'll keep an eye on me, right? Let me know if I'm going south?"
"At yer service, m'lady. 'Till da wheels fall uff."
The final Hogsmeade Weekend was not actually a weekend. It was a crisp, snowy Wednesday December 22nd. A final skid into the red and green and gold and silver muck that was Christmas. Tomorrow morning, almost everyone would be boarding the Hogwarts Express and head home for a couple of weeks of decompression before the start of the new term. However, most of the student's minds and manners where already on holiday. Zonko's was more then packed and Honeyduke's inundated with children picking up orders for gifts and scouring through the grab and go shelves of goodies. Just because it is the season of giving to others doesn't mean you can't take a sweet for yourself too, right?
Ron, Hermione and Harry walked from the castle's gate to the village below. Rose lagged behind them a few paces, intent on giving everyone space but able to intervene if trouble should appear. She was snapped out of her own thoughts as Harry dropped back to match her strides.
"If you say thank you for coming one more time, I'll bury you in a snowbank." She quipped. "I promise you won't even know I'm in town." Her black boots and staff crunched through the newly fallen snow on the path. Rose had on a long old woolen winter cloak that was such a dark green, it could have been mistaken for black. Plain, with a cowl neck and hood to protect from the cold. The only decorations were the 4 large silver hook and eyes fastening the front. Her hair was at that odd phase of growth where you can't really do anything with it but hope for the best. Her hands were nestled into mittens that were of a deep plum color that oddly complimented the green. Harry kinda thought she looked a lot younger then, with the snow falling in her hair, large boots looking too big, and mittens holding on to poor, poor Albert.
"This 'hit is for ta birds! Takin' a snake in ta sno. I'm cold blooded, ya know!"
"Heh, careful, Al. She'll throw you in the snowbank with me." Harry pointed out. "So, Rose, where's your flair?"
"I don't know what you mean. I'm trying to blend in today." Rose knew exactly what he meant. Flair had been the term Harry had given to all of Rose's funny or ironic bits of clothing or trinkets and Knick knacks she had about. They were little pieces of her personality she would hold out for all to see.
He sniffed air a few times "Is that unicorn poo I smell?"
She stopped abruptly and feigned aghast by placing a hand on her chest "Huh! The nerve, young man! Why I never!" Her mood brightened by Harry's sniggering, she popped open the hook and eye clasps of her cloak to show off an exquisitely gaudy red and green and white jumper with moving reindeer galloping across the stripes. A holly jolly nightmare.
"Absolutely brilliant, Rose." Harry beamed.
"Splendid you think so! I have one waiting for you at home to wear tomorrow for Christmas Eve!" Rose had what could only be described as a grinchy grin plastered on her face as she buttoned up again.
"Is it too late to stay at the castle for Christmas then?"
"You bet your butt it is!" A mitten clad hand ruffed up his hair. "I've big plans for us the next week! It's been a long time since I've been excited for the holidays."
"Yeah, I'm excited too, Rose. Really I am." Harry smiled inside and out. Despite the frigid breeze rustling the trees, he couldn't help but feel warm. His first real, real Christmas.
The afternoon passed with no sign of trouble. The professors and Rose had barely crossed paths as they set about on their guard. A little after noon, the snow had trickled down to some stray flurries and the sun was peaking out making the ground glitter.
"Just like Magic." She mused to herself.
She was walking down the hill from chasing a few 5th years out from around the Shrieking Shack when she spotted Severus trudging in her direction, looking as imposing as ever, but in each hand, he carried something wisping little tendrils of steam into the chilly air. As he approached, he handed her one of the steaming items. The unmistakable aroma of chocolate and sugar wafted to her nose.
A hot cocoa?
"You looked chilled."
Severus would not admit that he had been watching Pip make her passes around the perimeter of the village all morning. He would not admit that witnessing her stomp through a snowbank in her oafishly large boots or seeing her gnaw on a peppermint stick the clerk outside of Honeyduke's had handed to her made him smile. Certainly, he would never, ever admit how damn pretty she looked atop a hill covered with glittering sun lit snow with flurries all up in her messy, windswept hair.
No.
He was supposed to be distancing himself. For her safety. For the brat's safety. For everyone's safety. He was a silent sentinel. Impenetrable. He was supposed to be acting like a right bastard.
So why was he handing her a cup of cocoa and feeling like an idiot child?
"You looked chilled." He shrugged not meeting her eyes
Slowly shifting her staff into the crook of her arm, she slid off her plum purple mittens to take the warm cup from him. "Thank you." Her cheeks were chapped pink. From the cold, he supposed. Couldn't be anything else.
He finally met her eyes. A thousand words raced through his mind, and he could not bring any to his lips. I should apologize, he thought, but sipped his cup instead.
Rose looked as if to speak when the sky turned dark and a chill swept through the air, sending her into instant shivers. Severus couldn't even contemplate feeling warm ever again.
Dementors. They were heading into the village from overhead. Swooping through the air like ghastly ghoulish vultures.
"Harry!" Rose gasped, dropping her cup into the snow. Severus watched her run full tilt down the rest of the hill into the village square. He was on her tail in seconds.
The boys were standing out front of Spintwitches' window display, basking in the glow of the newest broomstick to hit the circuit, the Firebolt!
"Pretty sure that thing is worth more than the whole of our family vault." Ron deadpanned.
"Sure would be nice to have one of those right now." Harry sighed. "I might ask Rose if I can replace my Nimbus before Quidditch starts again. I'll need something a little faster than the school brooms if we have any chance against Slytherin this year."
"Stupid willow. I really am sorry we couldn't fix your broom, mate." Ron swung his arm over Harry's shoulder to lead him away from the alluring window. "Did your parcel come in? For Rose?"
"Oh, Yeah! It's wicked! I hope she likes it." Harry brought an item out from his satchel for Ron to examine.
"She'd be bonkers if she doesn't love this! Brilliant!"
"Is 'mione still in the apothecary?"
"Nah, she moved on to the bookstore."
"Gah, she's lost for the afternoon then. Zonko's?
"After you, good sir." they laughed their way into the square and passed by vendors selling wares and a cart manned by a wizard who sold Christmas chestnuts roasted by a surly looking fire crab with a Santa hat on top of his shell. He looked anything but merry.
Harry stopped dead when he felt the familiar shiver creep up his spine. The world grew bleak and dark, like the color had all leaked from it. He barely could comprehend the shadowy figure looming over his face. The same shrill scream of what he now believed to be his own mother's last breath sounded in his ears. Until he was knocked away by something, or someone and a what felt like warm bath water washed over him bringing back his senses. He briefly witnessed Rosalie held by the dementor as it sucked all the life and joy from her being. He couldn't get to her for the golden forcefield like shield glowing around he and Ron. Seconds felt like an eternity as they remained helpless inside the protective dome. Finally, three incredibly blinding white misty lights swarmed the ghoul and it released her into a sputtering, coughing heap on the ground. The dome disappeared and Harry ran right to Rose, throwing his cloak on to her as she shivered and chattered her teeth.
"Ha-ha rry, y-ou all rrrighttt-t-t?"
"No! Don't ever do that again!" He cried, throwing his arms around her. He knew what this was like, the absolute bone chill after a dementor attack. He wished he could remember his warming charm.
"Here, Potter. Have her take this. It will help."
Harry looked up to see Professor Snape holding out a steaming cup in one hand, his ebony wand in the other. Professor Lupin and Professor Flitwick were still sending the misty lights out to ward off anymore guests. The square was practically abandoned but for the fire crab who couldn't be bothered. Shocked faces of students and shoppers stared out from store windows and doorways.
Warily, Harry accepted the cup. "Thank you, sir."
Hot Cocoa.
Rose stood in front of a window in the hall outside of the infirmary watching the flurries whip around. The sun was setting, and everything looked very quiet in the courtyard.
"I heard you had an eventful afternoon, Dr. Novack." Albus Dumbledore glided his way to her side.
"I guess you could say that. Harry is getting checked out before we leave if you wanted to see him. Kid hates the hospital wing as much as I do." She chuckled.
"Ironic, then, that you yourself work in a hospital now."
"Yeah, that was a bit of an evolution." She turned to the side to look at him. "Did you need something?"
"Just to say, I am glad you have Harry. You did not run when a "Big Bad" came after him. I believe he would do well having you in his life after all."
"Hnnm, I still don't trust you as far as I can throw you, Headmaster. Apology accepted; I suppose."
He chuckled. "I certain level of skepticism is healthy, especially in today's social climate. I fear we will have great trials on our horizon."
"You'ar very doom an' gloom for someone wot dresses like a chil'ren's cartoon caratter, ya kno." Albert hissed to the bearded man.
"Ah, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how gloomy it may be."
"Hopefully it isn't and on coming train." Rose mumbled. "Thank you for the philosophy lesson, guys."
Clipping of boots against flag stone sounded in the hall. Severus approached the pair by the window.
"Oh, great." She hissed under her breath. Another beratement, she thought.
"Severus, my boy! What perfect timing. Well done this afternoon! I wasn't aware of your proficiency with the Patronus charm! I was just about to inform Dr. Novack of my suggestion that Mr. Potter have some private lessons to learn the Patronus."
"I agree that may be prudent to child's survival this school year. He's a veritable magnet for the creatures." Snape drawled.
"Excellent! And I want you to do it!"
"I beg your pardon? That is ill advised!"
"Excuse me, Dumbledore?!"
"No, no. I think it's a brilliant plan. I can not think of anyone I would trust with such a task then you, Severus. Maybe make some plans to visit the pair in Tyne around the holiday, if you don't mind. Dr. Novack, maybe you could work on picking up the charm as well? It's advanced magic and I don't expect Harry will get it on the first try. The more protection he has the better. Oh my, yes. Now, please, excuse me. I must get ready for the Holiday Feast! It was wonderful seeing you again, Dr. Novack!" And the old man glided away down the hall stroking his beard.
"He's gone round the bend, hasn't he?" Rose stared in awe.
"He's gone round and come back again. I'm sure of it." Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.
"So, what now?" She shrugged and crossed her arms in a self soothing motion.
"As loathe as I am to admit it, the old man is right. Potter should learn the Patronus charm, and…" He grimaced, like the words he was saying tasted like soap. "The boy has demonstrated he can pay attention to my instructions this term. He's averaging an E in potions so far.
Rose slapped the flagstone of the windowsill "Atta'boy! I'd asked him to cut back his sass a bit. He told me "Good Potter" seemed to grate on you more, but you were leaving him be for the most part. How Slytherin of the lion."
"So, this is all your doing? I really should have known! You were always instigating!"
"I take offense to that! I'm not instigating. The kid is learning in your class and just maybe you are beginning to believe he isn't his father's clone after all."
"Irritants! Both of you!"
"Takes one to know one!"
"Uh, Rose, Madam Pomfery says I can go home now." Harry wondered out from the large wooden doors of the infirmary. "I just have ta grab my trunk and say bye to Ron and Hermione."
"Okay, kid. I'll meet you in the entry Hall. We'll floo from there." She patted his shoulder as he walked past.
"What are you doing next Tuesday?" Rose asked, her voice returned level and calm. "Are you available for the lesson?"
"I can be."
"Great. You know where we are. I promise the house will be nicer this time." Rose went to leave, but found her shoes stuck fast to the floor.
Severus did the same and also found he was stuck fast. A quick look around the hall found no sign of witch or wizard to have cast the sticking charm.
"Aw man, guys, look up." Albert spotted the offending charm. There, dangling from the lentil of the window about 3 meters up was a sparkly ball of green sprigs and white shimmery berries. A God Damn Trick Mistletoe.
"Bloody brilliant" Snape mumbled.
"You act like kissing me would be a crime against humanity." He realized now how close they were standing to each other. When had that happened? While they were verbally sparing?
"I never said that." He tutted
Rose sighed and shook her head. "Lean forward." He obeyed, anticipating the eventual repulsion on Rose's face. The thought of kissing her was not disgusting, but for her to have to kiss him. Who would want to do tha..
Light full lips pressed against his right cheek and his nose filled again with the faint smell of raspberry and sage. It was soft and sweet and made something inside of him break. He could not think of anything in his life more tender than her hand on his chin and her lips on his face.
They slowly broke the embrace. Her eyes would not meet his, but a blush graced her cheeks and she tried to move non-existent strands of hair behind her bright red ears. You could feel the hex lift and their feet moved with a pop.
"Uhhh, Hope It wasn't like having a pig or anything kiss you. I have to go meet the kid. Merry Christmas, Severus." Rose scurried down the hall.
Snape was gob smacked. "Merry Christmas."
Behind him on a shadow covered wall was a grinning portrait of a wizard who silently snuck off to let the headmaster know the interesting outcome of his little mistletoe charm…
A/N:
Girl, don't do it...
I'm not gonna do it...
*Mistletoe trope happens*
I did it.
Happy New Years, guys. Thank you for all the lovely feedback!