Author's Note: I do not own A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, or the Harry Potter characters, I merely borrowed them for a little holiday fun! Also, there are spoilers for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in this story.
-Foodie

Chapter 2

Snape woke up several hours later, and looked at the clock on his night stand. Twelve fifty nine, it read. His heart lurched at the sudden memory of what had take place earlier that evening. Was Lucius being earnest when he had told him of his plans? Perhaps he had merely been tormenting him, something he had enjoyed very much while alive. Snape wouldn't put it past him to arrange some sort of elaborate hoax just to annoy him. He glanced at the clock at it turned to one, and he couldn't stop his heart from pounding.

This was the hour the first ghost was to appear. He began to look around his room, trying to see anything out of the ordinary. Nothing seemed out of place, and there was nothing new or missing from the room. With a sniff, he settled back into bed, convinced that the mutton stew he'd eaten for dinner had turned, and that was why he'd had such a vivid dream. Nothing was going to happen to him.

He'd just drifted back to sleep when a loud thump startled him. He sat up in bed to see a tall figure standing before him. His mouth opened to speak, but he was rendered speechless by who he saw. Albus Dumbledore stood next to him, smiling broadly, his eyes twinkling joyfully. He looked younger than Snape had ever remembered him to be. There were no longer wrinkles on his face, and his hair and beard were not as long anymore. Light seemed to radiate from every point and angle of him as well, causing Snape's eyes to well up with tears as they adjusted to it.

"Severus, how are you?" Albus's ghost asked. "You're looking well."

Snape sat up in his bed again, and looked at him, his eyes having adjusted to the brightness. "I am well," he croaked, unsure of what else to say.

"I'm glad to hear that," Albus replied, "because we have a journey to embark upon, and it will require a lot of stamina. Are you ready then? Shall we go?"

"I'm not dressed," Snape replied, not moving a muscle.

"That's all right, you don't need to be where we're going," Albus replied. "Come now, up you get."

Snape sighed resignedly, and slowly got out of bed. "I don't suppose there's any way to get out of doing whatever it is we'll be doing?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Albus shook his head, and laughed. "My dear Severus, I promise that it won't be too horrible," he assured him while holding out his hand. "You will need to hold on in order to come with me. Otherwise you might fall."

Snape balked at this, but Albus shrugged his shoulders. "You will be fine as long as you hold on." Snape looked warily at Albus as he grabbed onto his arm. Together, they walked towards the window, which opened of its own accord. "All right then, now, just think happy thoughts," Albus continued with a wink.

Snape frowned. "What?" he asked.

Albus chuckled lightly. "Never mind," he replied with a wave of his hand. They stepped up to the edge of the window, and jumped off.

Snape thought he would plummet to his doom, but found himself flying alongside Albus, over the fog that had enveloped his house. "Where are you going?" he called out.

"You will see," Albus replied as he steered them in a southerly direction.

Snape took the time to watch as they passed over houses, villages, and larger cities, as well as pastoral scenes. Even though it was a freezing cold night, he couldn't feel it. The light that Albus radiated seemed to be keeping him warm as well.

Finally, Albus steered them back to the ground. They were in front of a house that Snape recognized, but hadn't seen in almost forty years. "This is my old house," he said in little more than a whisper. Before he could say anything else, he was interrupted by a boy who ran past him.

The boy had chin-length black hair, and appeared to be six or seven years of age. He was dressed in thick winter robes, and held a small red sled in his hands. As he climbed to the top of a nearby hill, he turned and waved. "Look mum! Watch me!" he cried while placing the sled on the snow and sitting on it. He pushed himself along for a couple of feet before gaining speed and flying down the hill. He screamed with glee the entire time. When he reached the foot of the hill, he ran to the porch and gave his mother a hug. "I wish father would spend every Christmas on a business trip!" he said. "This is the best Christmas ever!" With that, he ran off to continue sledding.

Snape stood in utter silence as he watched the scene unfold. "What is this?" he finally demanded. "We didn't enter into a pensieve. Where is this coming from?"

Albus was quiet for a moment before responding. "Then I take it you know who that is?" he asked.

"Of course I do, it's me," Snape spat angrily, folding his arms. "What the devil is going on here?"

"I was brought to show you memories of your past, Severus. More specifically, of Christmases past."

"How dare you intrude upon my past? I never said you could," Snape snarled. As angry as he was, he couldn't help but look at his younger self as he sled down the hill. He had a haunted look on his face as he watched. Had he really ever been that young and carefree? The memory grew stronger as he watched. He felt the rush of cold air upon his face, and the wind flying through his hair. The thrill of speeding down the hill incited in him glorious joyful feelings. The pure joy of being a child and loving nothing more in life than a sled ride down a hill. He heard his younger self laughing, and felt his own face break out into a smile. He turned and began to walk towards the child. He knew he wasn't going to be seen, for he had no memory of seeing two men at the house on that snowy night.

Snape looked at Albus, who had followed him. Before he could say anything, Albus spoke. "Yes, Severus, you were that young once," he said with a chuckle. "And look at what fun you're having."

Severus nodded his head. "I played on that sled until I fell asleep on top of it," he murmured. "My mother must have come to get me at some point in time." His father had stayed in Paris on a business trip. Severus had the best Christmas of his childhood that year, with just him and his mother in the house.

Albus smiled sadly and held out his arm. "Come Severus, it is time to move on now," he said quietly. Snape didn't take his arm for a full minute, for he was so engrossed by what he was witnessing. Finally, though, he put his hand on Albus's arm, and they flew off into the air again.

This time they traveled north. Far north, where the sky was thick with snow, and blew about in flurries around them. When they landed, they were at a very familiar place for both of them. "I know you haven't set foot in here since the war ended, but do humour me, Severus," Albus said as they walked up the stairs to Hogwarts. Snape took a deep breath, but followed.

Once inside, they turned to the right and went into the Great Hall. It was Christmas again, for all the usual festive holiday decorations were up, and a small table of professors and students sat around eating a rather large Christmas meal.

Snape saw himself, as a third year student, at the table, eating a gingersnap and talking to a red-haired girl who sat next to him, who was dunking a biscuit of her own in a glass of milk. Severus felt his heart skip a beat to see Lily again, so young, innocent…and alive. She had been the only girl he'd ever loved, and as he looked at the scene from a different perspective, though he couldn't tell then, he could see now that she clearly felt the same.

Snape smiled as his younger self pulled a Christmas cracker with her. Lily took the tricornered naval captain's hat and set it on his head. They laughed as she read the jokes from the slip of paper.

"Apples and oranges," Snape murmured with a sad shake of his head.

"What was that?" Albus asked.

"Apples and oranges," Snape repeated. "That was the punch line of the joke she was telling."

Albus didn't say anything, but allowed Snape a chance to watch the memory uninterrupted. The meal continued, with the laughter growing and the merry-making increasing. After the last biscuit had been eaten, one of the professors cleared away the table and chairs, and music began to emanate from all around them.

The younger Snape tried to disappear into a corner, but Lily wouldn't let him. She grabbed his hand and led him out onto the dance floor. He turned beet red while she slipped her hands in his and began to dance. "Come on, Severus, don't be such a stick in the mud!" she cried. Snape looked around, and seeing that nobody was paying any attention to them, he slowly started shuffling his feet to the music.

The older Snape cringed and turned away. "I can't watch that, it's too horrible," he sighed. "I think I stepped on her toes at least four times that night."

Albus craned his neck to keep watching the younger couple as they danced. "Looks like five times, actually," he replied. "Well, it seems as though the party is over," he continued as the music stopped and the students began to leave the Great Hall. This is a good time for our last stop."

Snape watched as Lily held his hand. She led him out the door, leaned up towards him, and kissed his cheek. "Merry Christmas, Severus," she said while letting go of his hand and walking towards the stairs.

"Merry Christmas, Lily," both of the Severus's replied.

Albus walked after them as they left the Hall, Severus followed behind. When they emerged from the doorway, they'd entered into another memory.

This time, he was a fifth year student. He was standing at the foot of the stairs, watching the front door. It opened, and Lily entered the school. "Severus, Happy Christmas!" she cried while walking up to him.

Snape watched with a look of horror as he relived the memory. "No, not this one," he whispered.

"Lily," his younger self replied, holding his arm out to stop her from approaching him too closely. "I received your owl saying you were returning from your family's house early. I trust you enjoyed your holiday?" he said formally.

Lily stepped back and frowned. "Yes, I had a great time," she replied. "What's the matter?"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking about my future," he said stiffly. "OWLS are approaching this spring, and I've been corresponding with Lucius Malfoy over the past couple of months. He says he'll be able to get me a job with him once I leave school."

Lily narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "Lucius Malfoy?" she said quietly. "Severus, he's bad news, you know that. What are you doing talking with him?"

"He's good for my future. He's going to get me a job. He's going places," Snape replied.

Lily took another step back from him. "I…I…you know how I feel about those people," she whispered.

"They're the future of our world, Lily."

"They'll be the end of it, you mark my words, Severus Snape." She began to walk up the staircase, away from him. Halfway up the stairs, she stopped and turned to look down at him. "I have always valued our friendship," she said while tears welled up in her eyes. "But I will not be a part of your life if you're going to let them suck you into their fight. If you join up with them, this is the end of our friendship. The choice is yours."

Snape looked up at Lily and shook his head. "I have made my choice," he said coldly. "Goodbye, Lily." Without saying another word, he turned and walked down the stairs to the dungeons.

The older Snape watched as Lily burst into tears and ran up the stairs towards Gryffindor tower. His face was red as he took the memory in.

"How could you show me this, Albus?" he snarled at the older man. "What were you thinking? This was the worst moment, and you dredged it up again. What is wrong with you?" He was angry at the emotions the memories had reopened. He'd spent a lifetime trying to bury the pain, and in the course of an hour or so, all his efforts had been completely undone.

"No more!" he growled while turning away from the scene. "Take me back, right now."

He whirled around to glare at Albus, and was startled by what he saw. The older man no longer looked as old as he had. His once-white hair and beard were now a brilliant red, and his skin was completely free of any wrinkles. "What's going on?" Snape demanded.

"I grow younger as the time passes," Albus explained. "Much like a memory fades in time, so do I." Even then he was growing even younger. His facial hair shortened, and he seemed to grow shorter, until he stood before Snape as a child. "Don't worry, Severus," he continued in his unbroken voice. "I may fade away, but I will never truly be gone." With that, he changed again, into an infant.

Snape stepped forward and picked him up, looking into the baby's face. Albus gave one anguished cry, and blinked out of existence in a flood of the bright light that had enveloped him. Snape was now inside the light, but it didn't hurt his eyes or burn him to be there. It was very peaceful there, and he didn't want to leave, but the next thing he knew, the light was fading around him, and he was back in his house in Spinners End.

He staggered over to the bed, reeling from his experiences. He had hoped to never see those images again. It felt as though he had a gaping mortal wound that was threatening to overtake him, but before he had a chance to do anything about it, a powerful fatigue came upon him, and he fell into a deep sleep.