There is snow on the ground covering the castle in white. Gwen doesn't like the cold but Severus is worth braving the elements for, she puts on her big fur coat and walking shoes because the ice is treacherous at least three people fell over this morning in the courtyard. Lily is excited about going home for Christmas and Gwen wishes that she could share her friend's excitement but Christmas in the Llewellyn household isn't exactly fun.
"Are you going to meet Snape?" Lily asks.
"Of course," Gwen smiles, "I have to give him his present," she hopes to Merlin that he likes it. Sev is hardly the easiest person to buy for but hopefully he will like the book that she took from her father's extensive library. She wrapped it simply in brown parcel paper with string and a sprig of mistletoe.
"What does one buy for dear Severus?" Lily asks teasingly.
"A book," Gwen sighs because it doesn't sound like the greatest gift in the world. "Did you buy James anything Miss Evans?"
Lily actually blushes, "No, of course not, why would I have done that? I don't even like Potter!"
Gwen laughs, "Lily you're adorable," she kisses her friend on the forehead. "I'll see you at dinner," she picks up the present and skips down the stairs.
She finds the Marauders in the common room lounging out like they owe the place. They go completely silent as she walks past with Sirius' eyes bearing into her like daggers or fire pokers as they make her skin feel hot. They haven't forgiven her for her betrayal. She keeps her head down and continues. The stairs move away just as she reaches them so she has to wait for them to go by again. She never thought that she could get used to the school back in her first year she was always getting lost and now she knows enough secret passages to get by.
Severus is waiting in their regular spot by the lake that has now frozen over. His dark hair and dark cloak are the perfect contrast to the snowy white background. He is engrossed in some giant tome so he doesn't see her. She sneaks up behind him.
"Bella I have told you before..." He looks at her and there's a flash of anger in those gorgeous eyes. "You should not sneak up on people my love," he smiles trying too hard to be kind.
"You thought I was Bella?" She asks trying to hide her jealously unconvincingly. "Does she often sneak up on you when I'm not looking?" She should not be asking that, he is hers and she should be able to accept it as easy as she accepts that soon the spring will conquer the snow.
Snape doesn't help matters, "Sometimes," he smiles. The jealousy she is so blatantly displaying fascinates him, fancy two such beautiful women fighting over him. How did he ever get so popular?
She pouts, "I was going to give you your present but I don't think I'll bother now!" He's mocking her and she doesn't like it, he's meant to be the one not some slippery Slitherine.
His cold hand strokes her cheek, "There is no one else for me," he declares and his sweet words comfort her. He kisses her and she closes her eyes lost in his lips, Severus however is looking over her shoulder to where Bella is smiling at him.
Gwen pulls from him her face a picture of bliss, "I'm sorry Sev, but I love you so much and I can't help wanting to keep you all to myself." She smiles her head on his narrow shoulders.
"You have me," he smiles. "What can I do to prove my love?" He muses.
"Like your gift," she suggests. She hopes that he likes it and her hands tremble as she hands it over. "Merry Christmas," she smiles.
He takes it and tears gently at the brown paper; he likes the elegance of her simple wrapping because sappiness is not his thing. Inside is a big ancient book that is so aged that the pages have turned gold, his long fingers trace the engravings that read Occulemcy. He looks at her with wonder, "How did you acquire this? It is hardly a common book?"
"I took it from my father's library, do you really like it?" She answers wishing that she could be more confident. Bella wouldn't be so worried or feel so under scrutiny, she would be comfortable in his gaze.
He kisses her again and once more his lips silence her worries emptying her mind of any doubts that harbour in the dark corners. "It is perfect, just like the woman who gave it to me."
She feels her cheeks heat up with colour making her look like a beetroot at his compliment. "Ooh my turn," she smiles.
Severus takes a small velvet box the colour of the night sky in London where the pollution stops it from getting completely black. He places it in her hand with a smile, "I hope you like it."
She opens it finding a stunning silver pendent heart with one green and one red stone side by side. "Oh Sev it's beautiful," she beams. "Help me put it on?" She asks.
He takes it out of its box and wraps it around her delicate neck, "Our houses entwined for eternity." He tells her knowing that if his friends could see him now they would tease him relentlessly for being so soppy but he really is in love with her. He never thought he would ever love someone like he used to love Evans but Gwen is perfect and sweet, she's also willing to stick up for him to her friends.
She leans against him, "I wish that I didn't have to go home, I could quite happily just stay here like this." She sighs with all those lovely Welsh vowels. She sounds like a lullaby and Severus wishes that she could be in his bed whispering him to sleep.
"You could stay here, if you really wanted to, you could stay here with me," he smiles and there's an edge to his velvet voice. "I'm sure your father wouldn't as much as notice,"
"Sev, I have to go home," Gwen smiles thinly. She kisses him, "I'll send you plenty of owls ok?" She's on her feet now and already walking towards the castle where Sirius Black is waiting for her. He's leaning against one of the archways that lead into the main corridor looking all cool and sexy. "Oh Merlin's beard now what?" She moans because he has that naughty boy look in his grey eyes.
He says nothing but just stares at her so she shrugs and goes to walk past but he blocks her path. "Oh grow up Padfoot," she glares but every time she goes to move he is one step ahead, "Don't make me jinx you," she warns reaching for her wand.
He pushes her against the stone wall, "You're too good for Snevly Gwen," he smiles stroking her face. This time last year she would be melting for him but now, she loves Severus and no one else is getting a look in. She spent so long waiting and wanting but now here he is the great Sirius Black wanting her and she's no longer is under his spell. She pushes him away. "You're choosing Snape over me?"
"Yes," she nods, "That's exactly what I'm doing." She holds his hand to her cheek, "You had your chance honey and you blew it try not to miss me too much." She walks away from him.
Bellatrix LeStrange wraps an arm around Snape's skinny shoulders, "I did try to warn you that she couldn't be trusted," she smiles as her hideous blood traitor cousin has his hands all over poor innocent little Gwen. "She's not like us love."
Severus can feel his blood boil, "She said that she loved me."
"She lied, how can anyone love you?" Malfoy teases, "But of course I could be wrong," he looks at the book in Snape's hand that belongs in the Llewellyn library. "There's only one to check the lady's intentions."
Snape nods, "Occulemcy."