1970, Cokeworth

"Must we always go to your Aunt Agatha's for Christmas?" Eileen whined.

"Aunt Agatha is the only one with a big enough place. She's done better for herself than the rest of the family," Tobias replied.

"And she's never let anyone forget it," Eileen muttered.

Severus slunk down as low as he could in the back seat of the Morris Minor. When his parents argued - which was most of the time - he'd found it was wisest not to come to their attention.

"Aunt Agatha married above herself ... only member of the family to do so."

Eileen considered it undignified to respond to his jibe. Especially since she had married below herself. She waited until her husband had drive another half-mile before suggesting, "It would be nice to go to my family's for Christmas, just once."

"And have your lot look down on me, like they did at Easter? Why should I spoil my Christmas putting up with their attitudes? And you, boy, you keep your mouth shut about your Mum's family when we get to Aunt Agatha's, you hear?"

"Yes, Dad." Severus knew better than to discuss his maternal grandparents with his father's family. Next year it would be better. Next year, his mother had promised him, he would be going to Hogwarts. And if he had anything to say about the matter, he'd spend the Christmas holidays at school instead of coming back to Cokeworth.


Severus chewed his roast beef, keeping half an ear on the conversation at the adults' table. There were two card tables set up for the children, and his cousins were boring him to tears with their discussions of Manchester United. The adults weren't much more interesting: complaining about Harold Wilson. At least the food was good - roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, peas, and turnips.

Roger Kemble, Martin's father, started complaining and swearing about the Irish.

A sour expression came over Eileen's face. She pursed her lips; her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

Severus wanted to speak up, to point out that his grandmother was Irish, that his mother was half-Irish. He kept mum. He knew his father would slap his face for interrupting the adults. And he'd probably take a stick to him for mentioning Mum's parents.

Geri, Lee's mother, noticed Eileen's visage She quickly changed the subject. "We haven't seen you since the housewarming, Eileen. Have you settled in to Spinners End?"

"Beats the bloody flat," Tobias said, with his mouth full of turnips.

Again, Severus said nothing. The house in Spinners End was better than their old flat, but nothing compared to Aunt Agatha's house, and less than nothing compared to the Prince home in London. He looked up, suddenly realizing Lee had called his name, and from her tone, and already said it at least once.

"Why didn't you wave back to me when I waved to you at the theatre?" Lee repeated.

"What?"

"At the pantomime - both of our schools had field trips the same day. I waved to you, and I know you saw me. Why didn't you wave back?" she asked.

Severus didn't want to admit the truth. The boys from his school would have teased him mercilessly if he had waved to a girl. He fibbed, "I didn't see you in the crowd."

"I'm too old for pantomimes," William bragged.

Severus had enjoyed the performance of Cinderella, but didn't want to say so, lest William and Rupert tease him. "School trip, not my idea." He shrugged. "Got me out of spelling."

"Who was that girl you were with?" Lee continued. "The pretty redhead?"

"Lily Evans."

"Has Sev got a girlfriend?" Nate asked.

"She's just a girl in my class." The most wonderful girl in the world, and one who would, he was sure, be going to Hogwarts with him next year.


1972, Cokeworth

The goose had been eaten down to the bones. The adults were gathered around the telly, watching Alastair Sim at Fezziwig's. The littlest cousins were playing with their toys. Most of the boys were outside, having a snowball fight. Leona and Severus were tucked up in the attic.

Lee asked, "Why doesn't your Mum divorce your Dad, if he's always that rude to her?"

"He's rude to everyone." Severus turned the page before replying. "Marriage means exchanging vows; vows aren't to be broken."

"What are they fighting about this time?" Lee asked.

"My aunt who married a Frenchman is visiting my grandfather in London. Mum wanted to go there for Christmas; she hasn't seen her sister in years." He had wanted to go, too, and ask the LeCroix cousins how Beauxbatons compared to Hogwarts. "Why are you reading A Boy's Sherlock Holmes? You're a girl."

"A Boy's Sherlock Holmes just means they cut out the hard words, not that it's for boys only," Lee retorted.

"Well, hurry up with it. I'm done with Just So Stories. "