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Chapter 8 – Let the matchmaking begin!

December 25th 1977

Narrator

And so Christmas came. Young Severus Snape recovered in no time, thanks to Hermione's potion making and Fawkes' teary contribute in the matter and both friends had a late breakfast in Slytherin. Both took their leave for a lonely walk only meeting in the Great Hall for the next meals. Presents had been forgotten with so much on those poor heads, so they opened them at night, between dinner and bedtime.

Now, what did our two best buddies do? Hermione took a stroll to the Headmaster's office, where Albus had already opened her present. A giant box of Lemon Drops. Despite his advanced age, which should give him a bit more sense, Albus Dumbledore was found by her niece, good friend, former student, Hermione Granger, on a sugar rush (and, therefore, in "an obnoxious jolly goody goody mood" - as Severus Snape would later add in that same day) from excessive consuming of Lemon Drops – he clearly never heard of Diabetes. But since he is a wizard, if he is immune to anything that is Muggle diseases – lucky him. The old coot.

One way or another, the strange phoenix was already there, watching Albus crazy behaviour and, if Hermione would take notice to such a thing, clearly amused – even more than a phoenix can be – and perched on her shoulder, immediately starting to nuzzle her hair. Two sugarless black coffees later, Albus Dumbledore was finally his eye-twinkling usual self.

"So what brings you here, my dear? Oh, jolly good, I made a rhyme – I'll say it more often today, since it is Christmas." Christine just stared, blinked twice and then spoke.

"Well, Albus, I just thought you should know. Lucius Malfoy, Avery, Macnair, Nott and a few more purebloods from Slytherin joined Voldemort's ranks. And there was also a joining from Gryffindor House." his twinkle wavered for a bit.

"It is to be expected, no?" she nodded. "Then why are you so worried? Did young Severus join too?"

"As his father expected him to." she paused. "I will give him the training his mind needs. The Death Tards (AN – from retards, hehe) will surely handle the rest. I don't teach Unforgivables, obviously." she sighed and turned to the elder man. "Still, there is an even more important matter in my mind. When Harry fought Voldemort, their wands connected, just like mine and Grindelwald's. Meaning we share the same wand core. Now, according to records, when YOU defeated Grindelwald, the same thing happened during the battle. How could it be? As far as I know, your wand core is NOT the same as Grindy's."

"That, my dear, is something I cannot tell you."

'So, if Albus did not defeat Grindelwald then...' Christine thought, 'who did?'

"You keep telling me that Albus. Fine. My mother met Tom Riddle. They became friends."

"More than friends, considering we are talking about Tom. He had started the Death Eaters sometime ago and their connection began to interfere in that. His followers were not happy. They tried to attack her. Tried – and Tom was even more fascinated with her then. With her as a person, or with her power? I do not know, maybe your mother's journal can tell you that."

"It's getting confuse. She stopped putting dates in her entries. I don't know how long each thing took. She was there you know. When Tom asked about the Horcruxes."

Only silence followed Christine's words, and then her exit from the office.

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AN – I know I didn't focus Christmas enough – at least the presents part. But come on – this is not Xmas NOW, and sometimes I hate chapters with it. Oh, I loved this gift, thank you Severus, it means so much to me... (sob) Oh please! Hermione has Albus, but their relationship, albeit friendly, is not as before. Severus was just attacked in Xmas eve and they have much in those brains of them. And Xmas is just not the same without Erik, if you catch my drift. Please... review...