Christmas Day
Florence and Eileen spent a beautiful Christmas day in Hogsmeade – despite the sadness they both could feel hanging in the air every time they fell into an unusual and uncomfortable silence.
But the village was beautifully decorated and there was even a band in the main square singing Christmas songs.
Eileen asked Tiffany to pop into her house a few times during the day to check on her son.
"He's drinking," reported the elf that evening, "Expensive firewhisky, for the bottle Tiffany could see on the table."
"Drinking?" Eileen was furious, "He's an underage dunderhead if he thinks I will allow that!" and she walked outside to the backyard, finding the apparition spot and disapparating to her own backyard.
She stormed into the house, quickly reaching the kitchen, too angry to be deterred by the dizziness that apparating usually caused her.
She saw the bottle Tiffany had mentioned still on the table so she picked it up, going to the sink to dump it down the drain.
"Mum!" Severus shouted from the kitchen door, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" she vociferated, "What do you think you'll find at the bottom of this bottle, Severus?"
"I wasn't going to drink it all! I was just-"
"You shouldn't even be drinking at all!" she shouted, tears in her eyes, "I don't care how shitty you feel, you must promise me you'll never drown your pain inside a bottle!" she put the empty bottle in the trash can.
He stared at her in shock, realising where her fear was coming from, "Mum, I wasn't going to drink the whole bottle. I am not father."
Eileen sobbed, tears running down her face as she tried to control the fear that was running through her body, making her shake.
Severus walked to her, pulling her into a hug, letting her cry against his chest, noticing for the first time that he had grown taller than his mother.
Eileen's hands grabbed his shirt, holding him close.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, mum, I..."
"Promise me you will never use alcohol to forget your problems. I don't want to see you turn into him."
He nodded. "I promise. I won't ever become father. I'll look after you, mum. I won't drink myself senseless and leave you to fend for yourself."
She wiped her eyes and touched the face of the son she loved dearly.
"Just... be careful, my son. You haven't been thinking before making decisions lately."
Severus knew what she was talking about, so he just nodded silently.
Eileen continued: "Florence is heartbroken. And I'm so worried about you."
"I'm just their potions master, mum," he shrugged.
"Didn't you kill someone last night, to pass their test?"
He hesitated, choosing not to lie: "Yes. I did. But... it was merciful, mum," his voice soft and sad, "They had tortured this girl to an inch of her life, she couldn't have been more than fourteen," he looked disturbed as he remembered, "Then they wanted me to keep torturing her and they even..." he closed his eyes briefly, "They even said I could do whatever I wanted with her," he paused again, the memory making him want to vomit, "I killed her because I couldn't save her. And I couldn't let them keep torturing and raping her. So, yes, I killed someone."
Eileen shook her head, brow furrowed as she stared at him, "What will this life you've chosen do to you, my son?"
"I will only work in a lab. I'll rarely be sent to do that kind of thing again. It was just a test."
She just nodded, for there was nothing else she could say to him. He knew he had chosen the wrong path, giving up now would only mean his death. So she just pulled him to another hug before walking outside, going to the backyard to disapparate back to Florence's house.
As she walked into her goddaughter's house again, Eileen lost her footing, the dizziness of apparition catching up to her.
She managed to sit on the sofa and waited for the room to stop spinning.
"Is Miss Eileen ok?" asked Tiffany walking close to her.
"Yes. Just dizzy, dear," she sighed heavily and looked at the elf, "I know you don't like my son, Tiff. And I'm sorry I'm asking you to do this, but... could you take him something to eat?"
Tiffany made an unhappy face.
"It's Christmas, Tiff. Please."
Then the elf nodded, albeit reluctantly.
After his mother left, Severus took a shower and walked downstairs wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.
He stopped when he saw the little elf putting a large tray of food on the table.
Tiffany looked at him, unhappily, and said: "Miss Eileen asked Tiffany to bring food to Snape-boy. Because it's Christmas. If it were for Tiffany, Snape-boy could starve," then she disapparated.
Severus smiled at the elf's honesty. Then he sat at the table and started to eat, looking around the beautifully decorated living room, wishing he could have a Christmas like the one they had had the previous year – when his mother was happy with him and he had Florence in his bed.
New Year's eve
After the disastrous Christmas Eve, Florence decided to not go to Eileen's for the New Year's. She was going to stay home and welcome the new year with a good book and some tea.
Which was exactly what she was doing that afternoon, sitting at Madam's Puddifoot's Tea House, enjoying a new Herbology for Healers book she had bought just that morning.
Being so focused on her book, she didn't notice when Lily and James walked into the small Tea shop.
"Mind if we join you, Miss?" James asked, stopping bybher table.
Florence looked up startled and smiled, "My favourite Gryffindor couple! Of course you can join me!"
"How are you, Flor?" asked Lily as they sat.
"I'm fine," she replied with a smile that she hoped was good enough to fool them.
James quickly placed their orders in the charmed menus and looked at her, "Is that the best you can do? I thought Slytherins were supposed to be good liars."
Florence glared at him, "I could hex your balls for being nosy but I believe my friend here would like to have kids one day."
"Enough, James," said Lily, "We can see you're sad, Flor, but we won't make you tell us what's going on if you don't want to."
"Thanks, Lils," she replied with a grateful smile, "So... what brings you two to my village?"
"Just a romantic trip," said James, kissing Lily's hand.
Florence's heart dropped at that loving gesture; she was happy for her friends but she missed having that kind of attention bestowed on her.
"You're so lucky to live here in Hogsmeade, Flor," added Lily, "I looked at the prices of houses here and they are astronomical."
Florence made an apologetic face, "I inherited my mother's house so I wouldn't know about the prices... but I sure feel lucky to be able to live here. I love Hogsmeade. I'm never moving away. I used to imagine raising my kids here, watching them run and play on the streets, having long-time childhood friends; then they'd go to Hogwarts-" she stopped talking all of a sudden, just adding: "It was a good dream while it lasted."
James and Lily exchanged a glance and frowned, "Why do you say that? You don't want those things anymore?" she asked.
"I have given up on that dream," Florence sipped her tea, sadness in her eyes, "I've decided to become a mediwitch, which I'm sure will keep me busy. I'll enroll in the St. Mungus Healer Program next year, after finishing Hogwarts."
"That's a great career, Flor, but..." Lily hesitated, "Look, I know I've just said you don't have to talk about it, but... you are taking a draught just to be able to study in the same classroom as Severus. Now you tell us you've given up on your dream of having a family. You can deny all you want, but you are miserable away from him."
James nodded: "Yeah, what we've been trying to understand is: why did you break up with him? I can totally understand being against him working for the Death Eaters – however, Severus is not one of them yet, maybe he won't ever be one!" James glanced at Lily before continuing: "We think there's something else, another reason that you've been keeping from us."
"Why have you ended your relationship with Severus, Florence?" asked Lily, concerned.
Florence sighed and pondered for a moment, looking at her friends. They were good friends, they deserved to know the truth.
She grabbed her wand and cast: "Muffliato." before speaking: "I had to stop seeing Severus because of my father. He... is not a nice person," she hesitated, fearing their reaction, "Promise you won't run away from me; promise me you'll still be my friends?"
They frowned, realising that whatever she was about to say was very serious for they had never before seen her that desperate.
"We promise, Florence," Lily said, "You're scaring me."
Florence continued: "I'm sorry... but this is scary. Only a couple of people know, my godmother and Dumbledore. You are my friends and I think... you deserve to know," Florence paused before saying: "He-who-must-not-be-named, he's my father."
Lily and James stared at her for a moment as if expecting Florence to say that she was joking or something. When she didn't say anything, Lily whispered:
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Wow... Florence, that's really awful," said the ginger, holding her hand in sympathy.
"And Severus is working with the Death Eaters..." said James, trying to understand her reasoning for breaking up with him, "Why didn't you just tell him about your father? Couldn't you be together if he knew the truth?"
Florence shook her head, "Think, James. Severus is half-blood, and has no fortune to his name."
James understood before Lily: "Your father would never accept your relationship."
"Not only that... my father has told me personally that the only reason he hasn't killed Severus is because he's brilliant."
The couple in front of her gasped.
"He knows about you two?!" exclaimed Lily, concerned.
"Yes. He found out and threatened to kill Severus if I ever get back with him. So dating him means risking his life," continued Florence, sighing, "And I never had the chance to tell Severus about my father, when we met he was already friends with Malfoy, Avery and Travers. He was already on his way to become one of them. And I'm afraid he's about to be marked any day now," she looked at the window, recalling the night she had found him after his test, "And in the slim chance father doesn't kill him and allow us to marry... I don't want to raise my kids like the Blacks did; I can't bring kids into this world only to see them being turned into my father's puppets. No. I just can't do that. I can't see myself spending a nice weekend at the Rosiers' house, for example."
James nodded, "I understand what you're saying."
The couple just stared at her, feeling sorry for their good friend.
Florence looked at them: "Thanks for not running away screaming."
"We know you, Florence. You're definitely not your father," Lily smiled at her, "But what will you do about Severus? You still love him..."
"I'll always love him," Florence said with a sigh, "But I'll try to move on; maybe find someone that is patient enough to help me forget him..." a tear fell down her face at the mere thought of trying to move on, "I miss him, guys... I miss his dark eyes staring into mine, I miss his kisses, his hands. And his voice whispering in my ear- I miss that so much. He would make me go crazy with just a few touches and some words-"
"TMI!" exclaimed James, "I already got the gist. And I have to say... you're doomed, my friend. Who could ever help you forget him? Just talking about him has you all worked up."
Lily suddenly had an idea: "Well... Sirius could help her forget Severus."
James looked at his fiancée with a broad smile.
"What?" Florence asked, confused.
"Yes! It's perfect! Sirius's crazy about you!" agreed James.
Florence frowned, "I don't know, guys. I wouldn't be comfortable using Sirius like that. As much as I enjoy his company now, I'm nowhere near infatuated with him."
"Oh, he wouldn't mind being used by you, I can assure you of that," added James with a smirk.
"What about Remus?" Florence asked.
"Isn't he too sweet for your liking?" asked Lily, surprised by her question.
"Maybe," Florence shrugged, "It's not like I'm really looking for a boyfriend, I just find Remus cute."
"He had a very hard Christmas," said James, "It was full moon, he still hasn't recovered."
"I wish I could help him," Florence said, "He's such a sweet guy."
"Yeah, let's hope someone comes up with a Potion soon." said Lily.
"What are you doing tonight?" James asked then.
"Nothing. Just stay home with my book and some tea," she tilted her head, having an idea: "We could all have dinner at my place tonight, and celebrate the new year together, if you don't have any plans."
"We'd love to!" said Lily.
"Tell me your address, I'll let Sirius know," said James, casting: "Expecto patronum," and a stag ran out of his wand, galloped through the air and vanished with a message for Sirius Black.
After they had finished their tea and pastries, Lily and James followed Florence to her house, walking through the snow-covered village.
"You live here?" asked Lily, impressed, as Florence walked into the porch of a large two-story house. The door was four meters tall, almost two meters wide, a third of the wall on the right side of the house was made of glass from top to bottom.
"Yes. I grew up here, it was my mum's house," she touched her wand to the door, opening it and they walked in, "What would you like for dinner?"
"Anything is fine," replied James, looking around her house, admiring the beautiful architecture. He startled when he heard:
"Mistress Florence, friends of Mistress Florence."
And he turned to see a very clean house-elf greeting them.
"You have a house-elf?!" Lily exclaimed.
"Yes. This is Tiffany. She was my mother's; she's been with me since I was three."
The doorbell rang and Tiffany went to open it, showing Sirius on the porch, looking at the house in awe. He turned to them and smiled: "I wondered if I was at the right place," he walked in, going straight to Florence, hugging her, "What a fucking beautiful house, Flor!"
"Thanks, Sirius."
His blue eyes looked into hers and she could see he clearly cared for her; she smiled at him, thinking that she did like him – although not romantically.
"And you look more beautiful every time I see you," he added, affectionately, touching a hand to her face.
"Thanks," Florence repeated, blushing this time.
"Pleasure to meet you, friends of Mistress Florence," said Tiffany, interrupting the moment between Sirius and Florence. The elf looked at them all with a smile, "Tiff likes you, you're more polite than Snape-boy."
Sirius, Lily and James burst out laughing.
"She doesn't like Severus," explained Florence.
"I like you already, Tiffany!" said Sirius, winking playfully at the elf.
And it was Tiffany's turn to blush.
During a delicious dinner of roast duck, rice and green salad, Florence decided to share her secret with Sirius as well.
"Are you freaking shitting me?" he exclaimed after she finished telling him about her father.
"No. Unfortunately, I'm not. I found out about all of that a few days before our O.W.L.s."
"Do my parents know about that?" Sirius asked.
"Yes. According to Tiffany, your parents and Elric Avery are the only ones who know about Lord Peverell being my father; however, considering they have never taken advantage of that knowledge, I suspect there's either a threat or a curse attached to telling others I'm Voldemort's daughter."
They all winced as she said that name.
"Why Avery?" asked James.
"Apparently, he is a spells master and for that reason he was chosen by my father to be my bodyguard," she paused, deciding to share something with them: "It was his the muggle woman my father had had murdered the night I ran from home."
"Have you seen your father since then?" asked Lily.
"Yes. Twice. The first morning of our O.W.L.s we met right here. And a few months ago at Florean Fortescue's."
"Here? Your father has access to this house?" Sirius sounded suddenly terrified.
"Not anymore," Florence shook her head, "I changed all the protection spells after I moved in. We're safe here. Not even-" she stopped herself.
"Not even Severus can get here?" James finished her sentence for her.
"No. He's never been here, actually."
Tiffany appeared by Florence's chair, as if she'd sensed they were talking about the-one-she-didn't-like.
"Would Mistress like to offer wine for her friends?"
"Wine?" Florence frowned, but then she remembered: "Tiff, are you talking about my father's wine collection?"
"Yes, Mistress, it's still in the wine cellar in the room beneath the library. He never took them."
Florence looked at her friends, a mischievous smile on her lips, "So what do you all think? Shall we celebrate the new year by drinking our way through the Dark Lord's wine collection?"
"Hell, yeah!" shouted Sirius, laughing.
And the three Gryffindors followed their Slytherin friend to the library where Tiffany showed them how to gain access to the underground wine cellar.
There, they drank eight bottles of wine amidst jokes, spells and one snogging couple.