Christmas morning came too early. Although a happy day, not all inhabitants of Hogwarts were happy. Severus woke up to a very cold room, but also a few presents at the foot of his bed, delivered by sneaky house elves during the night. He always thought it strange how they were allowed to break into his room. But rules were rules. He looked through the gifts. Some cookies from his mother, a knitted scarf from Narcissa in green and silver, a potions book from Albus, a new Death Eater mask from Lucius, (and oddly, also more cookies), and mittens from the Dark Lord.
Also a knife, from Bellatrix. There's one in every family, Severus thought.
He was happy for a few moments. Glad for once, of his gifts, and also glad that he would have a delicious meal in the great hall, just the staff, and no students. Walking out into the small sitting room containing a few armchairs, a table or two and the fireplace, Severus put on his new scarf and tried on the Voldemort mittens. They were surprisingly soft.
He stored the scarf and mittens in his closet and the book on his shelf and the knife in his desk drawer. He could at least use the pretty emerald dagger to open letters, although he was quite sure that was not the giver's intended purpose.
He spotted the box. That's right…he remembered. He was now sharing his quarters with another. A rabbit. A rabbit which had been surprisingly quiet all night, and all morning. Didn't rabbits purr? Or was that kittens? Severus was no expert at these things. However, something seemed amiss. He peered down into the box. There was no carrot there from last night. At least it was eating. There was also no rabbit. As he searched the room for signs of bunny, he wondered what would happen if he never found it. The thought of a dead rabbit somewhere in his rooms was unnerving, but the guaranteed look of anger and sadness that would be on Lupin's face once he found out, was comforting.
As Severus decided he'd walk to the bedroom and search in there, since he had left the door open after all, he suddenly tripped on something that had appeared in his path. Something that wasn't there before. A carrot. Halfway eaten, but large enough to cause pain if tripped over.
Suspicious behavior for a carrot.
Severus glanced around hopefully, knowing the pet must be close. There it was, sitting on top of the coffee table, next to the box. Severus was sure he'd just looked there not a minute ago. He moved to pick it up and put it in the box, but when he did, it raised a paw and scratched him across the cheek. The nerve of some rabbits. That was uncalled for! He told this to the rabbit. Nevertheless, he placed her into the box, and gave her a new carrot. He also put protective spells around the box so there would be no more break-outs.
Then he realized….that was it. That was perfect.
He had finally found a name for the rabbit. A name that was funny, ironic, and would make Lupin sad all at the same time!
Sirius Black. Likes to break out of his cage. Likes to sneak around Hogwarts. Likes to cause pain to Severus Snape. And coincidentally, both had black hair, what else? Hmm, does Black like carrots?
Severus shook this thought from his mind and smiled evilly at the rabbit. He couldn't wait to tell Lupin all about this.
He passed his day reading his new potions book and eating cookies. Lunch was bearable, but it was dinner he was looking forward to.
Climbing the steps to the Entrance Hall, he took his place at the single table in the middle of the hall next to Minerva, as per usual. Albus sat across from him, and even though the full moon was a night ago, Remus Lupin had staggered down from his bed to eat with his fellow co-workers. It was a meal, although not as elegant as lunch had been, that most teachers didn't want to miss. Besides the few who had taken their places at the table, there was still to join, Sprout, Hagrid, Flitwick, and Sinistra. Everyone else had gone home or stayed in their rooms for the holidays. Oh, well, this was after all a special treat for the teachers. They had some time to talk together without children, a rare reward. They were also allowed to drink. An even better reward.
They enjoyed a small meal and chatter was plentiful and come dessert, everyone was in a good mood. It must have been Christmas spirit. Although, everyone had at least one glass of fire-whiskey. Lupin, who was seated on Snape's other side, finally asked the question Severus had hoped he would ask all night.
"So how is your new pet doing, Severus? Is she comfortable in your rooms?"
"I think she's quite happy. Unfortunately she broke out of her box this morning and tried to kill me by making me trip over a carrot. She also scratched me-" he pointed to the left side of his face, which had a shallow claw mark on it; three small parallel lines.
"-and with all these acts combined I have decided to name it Sirius Black. Isn't that wonderful?" he said with a malicious smile.
Remus narrowed his eyes. He looked like someone had just told him there would be five full moons this month instead of one.
"Severus, that's not nice. I admit…it is clever, they seem to have very much in common. But that still hurts. He was my best friend, and now…"
"-and now his name lives on through a rabbit. Yes."
"That's cruel Severus." Remus muttered in low tones.
"What's cruel?" Albus intruded from directly across the table. He put down his glass to listen.
"Severus named his rabbit Sirius Black just because it doesn't like him and it tried to escape its box!"
Albus' first reaction was to smile, but he quickly changed it to a look of concern.
"Clever. But childish. Did this rabbit also disclose the location of Lily and James Potter to the Lord Voldemort? Because unless that happened, I don't think the name is fitting."
"No, but-"
Then Remus piped up.
"Yeah, and can it turn into a dog?"
Albus gave a confused look.
"What do you-"
"-nothing." Remus said very quickly.
They waved away Remus' strange outburst.
"I still think the name is fitting, Headmaster! I find it quite funny." Severus said, which was odd because he looked like he'd never found anything funny in his entire life.
The dinner progressed nicely, with more light chatter and Severus had to admit this was one of the best Christmas dinners he'd had at Hogwarts for a long time. It was mainly due to Flitwick and Hagrid singing carols and messing up the words, and Lupin telling jokes and funny stories.
Unfortunately, most of the staff had consumed too much alcohol to be perfectly capable of thought. If it was any other time, most would say that nothing they did that night was funny. But it was now. Severus even enjoyed himself, though Albus, Minerva, Filius, Hagrid, Sinistra, Sprout and Lupin obviously enjoyed themselves more.
It was simply a splendid time. However, the teachers had begun to feel a bit chilly. Though a cold winter evening, the castle was generally bearable. Immediately, Albus Dumbledore lifted his head and looked around suspiciously, like an animal that has sensed danger.
"I believe the front doors are open."
Everyone's attention was drawn to the doors of the Great Hall, through which was visible the Entrance Hall. Most there could see icy wind ruffling the draperies and rugs, and even some snow had started to come in. Dumbledore looked miffed.
"Peeves must have done this!" he said, in a voice that might not have been so angry if not for the fire-whiskey he had consumed.
"But how do we fix it?" he pondered further. Severus thought this an odd question since there was such an obvious answer.
Just then Remus Lupin piped up, his speech rather slurred.
"Close…" here he paused, as though he had just had an epiphany and was holding out for a dramatic effect.
"…the doors."
Albus and a few of the other teachers looked absolutely amazed.
"Merlin, you're right!" Minerva explained.
"You should go do that."
Remus looked confused and scared.
"It's cold, Professor. And what if Peeves throws things at me?"
"Take Severus with you!" Minerva said, in an urging tone.
Severus was not pleased to hear this. Can the man not do a simple task without help? Pssh, werewolves.
Outside in the Entrance Hall, Peeves was indeed swooping around through the air with armfuls of objects, though Severus was not quite sure what they were. Which made it much more terrifying.
Severus had obliged, grudgingly, to travel to the Entrance hall with Remus Lupin to shut the oak doors. Though childish, it was most likely best that Severus accompany Remus on this task because Remus, if left to do it alone, would undoubtedly do it wrong. Snape didn't know how you could mess up closing a set of doors, but he knew that if there was a way, Lupin would find it.
As the two crept out into Entrance Hall, they immediately saw Peeves. Remus became scared and hid behind the Potion's Master. Peeves spotted the two and started throwing what appeared to be chalk-covered erasers.
Remus grabbed Severus unceremoniously by the shoulders and moved him in front of him so that Severus received the majority of the damage.
Even as Remus attempted to hide himself, he knew even in his impaired state that it was a very bad idea. He wasn't quite sure why, but he knew that he would regret it afterward. And he certainly did, for when the barrage of erasers was over, and Peeves had laughed and glided away, Severus started by giving Remus a murderous glare and going on a tirade which included insults and death threats and no more Wolfsbane.
But payback was not yet over.
Remus and Severus walked toward the oak doors and stood at the foot of them. However, as they were half closed, Severus had a clever idea.
"Lupin, do you see that?"
"Where?" Remus questioned, looking around frantically.
"There is a unicorn out there on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, do you see it?" from here they had a clear view of the snow white forest, and the matching grounds leading up to it almost a half mile away. Severus pointed into the darkness. There was no unicorn.
"Oh, yes, I can see it." Remus said. "I can't believe they can tolerate this weather."
"They can. And I would really appreciate it if you could go and bring it to me. Unicorns are very valuable as potion's ingredients." They weren't, but luckily Remus was never very skilled at potions.
"But it's a long walk, Severus. "
"You can just ride it back."
The thought of riding a unicorn inspired Remus. "Alright but if I do that for you, will you promise to forgive me for almost attacking you in the Shrieking Shack during school?"
"Sure. Now go outside."
"Thank you, Severus, I'm sure we'll be great friends!" he said as he staggered out into the cold.
Back at the dining table, a few teachers were wondering what happened to their two co-workers. Did they get lost? Maybe something worse? Just then, Severus sauntered into the Great Hall looking indifferent to all the faces before him.
"What happened to Remus?" Sprout asked aloud, voicing the shared opinion of all the teachers.
"I believe he decided to head back to his quarters for the night. He staggered away before I could ask him."
Dumbledore spoke, in a much more sober voice than last time the potion's master had heard him speak.
"I believe you're lying, Severus. Remus would never leave without taking some of the dessert up with him! Where is he?"
"I told you, he ran off!"
Glares from all around.
"Don't fear, he will return eventually." Severus drawled, with the same apathetic voice as he had used the entire time.
A while passed in which the teachers continued their joy and holiday chatter, until a draft was once again felt by all present.
Dumbledore gave Severus an angry look. There was no twinkle in his eyes. Severus immediately began defending himself.
"I closed the doors, I promise. I'm quite sure I locked them also."
Albus and Minerva rose from their seats to go and see why the doors were suddenly open again. When a gasp was heard from the Entrance hall, all present at the dining table stood and followed. Severus was last to leave.
"Oh, my dear boy!" Severus heard Albus call even before he was out the doors of the hall.
One quick glance around the large doors told Snape all he needed to know. There was Remus Lupin, Defense teacher, standing in the middle of the Entrance hall of Hogwarts in the midst of his co-workers. Although covered in snow and nose bright red, that seemed not to have dampened his spirits. He spotted Severus soon after being questioned by Albus and shuffled over to him, clothes dripping freezing cold water along his path.
"It wasn't an easy task, Severus!" he slurred, holding out his clasped hand. He brushed some snow out of his hair not to realize it only landed on his shoulders.
He placed a small snowball in the other mans' hands, apparently convinced it was from the unicorn outside.
And with this, he turned directly around and marched up the grand staircase that would eventually lead to his chambers if he did not first get lost.
Severus vanished the pile of compacted snow with a quick Evenesco and suddenly realized all his co-workers were looking at him suspiciously.
"Did you really lock him outside and tell him to go find you a snowball? Severus, do you have any idea how childish that sounds?" Minerva scolded, motioning to the door with her hands.
Severus accepted his blame and apologized profusely to the staff for his actions, only because he knew a quest for a snowball would go over much better than the truth.
All the teachers left the hall to collect their things from the dining table. Severus knew it was time to retire to his quarters for the night and made to head toward the dungeons. But of course, not before snatching some uneaten carrots for Sirius off the table.