Bound Freedom

Chapter 7: Christmas

Disclaimer: Not mine.

I woke up and dragged myself to the kitchen. I couldn't get the images I saw last night out of my head.

"Master you should eat." Severus snapped my head out of the clouds.

"I'm not hungry."

He looked at me strangely, but he couldn't tell me what to do…

Realizing that I was taking advantage of his position I quickly grabbed a piece of toast.

Everyone seemed gloomy...oh yeah. I didn't tell Ron and Hermione what happened…but I didn't want to tell them just yet.

"What do you want to do today ?" I grinned at my friends hoping they would think everything was good.

"I think we should set up Christmas decorations...the muggle way." Hermione said.

Severus had an emotionless attitude again and said "Are you sure Miss Granger, I could just..."

"This will be fun!" Ron yelled.

For the first time in hours I smiled.

We spent the whole day finding a tree. After Severus chopped it down magically we floated it inside.

"I thought we were going to do this the muggle way?" Hermione pouted.

Ron playfully said "Well if you want to drag this tree into the house be my guest."

We hung decorations around the house amusing ourselves by getting a reation by Severus. Around dinner the whole house was bright, even the outside.

"My father would barely..." Severus whispered. I looked and saw he was biting down on his lip.

"What did you say Professor?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing I was just admiring the lights."

Something was wrong with Severus. He seemed secretive…well more than usual.

For the next couple of days I laid low playing around with my friends and hiding the presents we received by owl from Ron…but I wanted to find out what was wrong with Severus.

I woke up unaffected that today was Christmas. I heard the three teens running towards the tree.

'Why is this day so different, it feels just like the rest?'

As I went out of my room I saw they were already opening their presents.

"Excuse me Master." Harry dropped a book. Probally Miss. Granger's present I noted.

"Could I go to the study, I don't want to be in your way?"

"What do you mean, your presents are here?" I stood there shocked. I had gotten presents? Was this a dream?

"What do you mean presents?"

The only presents I had remembered were the ones he got once daily either from James Potter or my father, and those presents never made me happy.

"Well they're gifts...Ouch" Ronald started to say as Hermione pinched him.

"He knows what presents are you idiot."

I made himself more forward.

"There's your pile." Harry said. "You can open them they're yours."

"Well they're not really mine." I said stubbornly.

"Just open them Severus."

I bowed my head submissively. This was an order.

"Y...Yes Master."

I grabbed a box with neatly wrapped paper. This was my first real present after all. I read the card quickly and had to reread it twice.

Dear Severus, I know that we didn't know each other much during our years at Hogwarts, well thanks for taking Ron to your house over the Holidays, you know I have enough kids as it is and Ron seemed exited to see your place. Have a wonderful holiday, Molly and Arthur Weasly.

Someone actually cared to get him something, he didn't care what was in that box...somebody has given present.

"Professor?" I looked up to see Ronald leaning over me looking at the letter.

"Sorry bout' the mushy letter, my mom can be like that."

"Mr. Weasly don't worry, I just never received a present before."

The three of them stared at me…Hermione and Ronald seemed at bit shocked…yet Harry looked empathetic.

"Well you should open it, if its from mum its...well she made Harry a sweater again she probably made you one too."

I neatly started tearing the wrappings apart. I realized they were still staring at me and noticed how all of their wrapping paper was mercilessly ripped to pieces.

"I wish to do things my way.'' With that they began attacking their presents again. Ah to be young again.

Inside was a box, and inside the box was a scarf...a handmade scarf! This took someone's time to make. It was green and silver with a snake on each end.

"Sorry my mum made something like that look what I got." Ronald held up a wool jacket with a big R in the middle.

"I think it's...perfect." I whispered.

I quickly was about to pick up another package, but Hermione stood up and came to me.

"Is something the matter Miss. Granger?"

"No, well I was looking in your library and noticed you didn't have this book."

She handed me a very new looking book.

This was unnatural. Presents from a parent I could maybe understand, but from a student.

"I don't know what to say Miss Granger."

"Don't worry about it you still have a couple of more presents." I looked at my small pile, and saw still had two more.

I picked one that was in a paper bag, a note was taped on. I ripped the note off.

The writing was scrawled, but the writing was not as bad as some assignments that some students gave to me.

Severus, I'm sorry for what we did, like I said the past is the past. Right now I'm in a situation where I could barely get food, so don't be too mad at me. I did the best I could. Well anyways thanks for taking care of Harry. Sirius

I shook. My enemy giving me a present?

I quickly opened up the bag. In it was something I could never get without spending a fortune. It was full of very rare magical herbs and even more rare magical wood.

Harry looked over "Wow my godfather gave you some plants!"

"Sorry to say Master these are not just any plants…can I put them in my storage room?"

"Sure." I went upstairs and placed the bag in a container.

'Where in the world is Harry's godfather, these things could only be found in the worst place in the world.'

When I came back I realized there was one more present.

It was a brown box. I opened it nothing was inside.

"Oh that's mine." Harry said enthusiastically.

"Master I didn't realize how generous you were." I tried not to be sarcastic. It's not like Master's gave presents to their slave's anyway.

"Well that's cause it's not really the present. I order you to go to the library all day, and don't come out unless you're hungry or have to go to the bathroom." Harry smiled as he happily gave me the command.

I was a bit confused. I could read books any day…but then as I entered my library I saw I new shelf…and a row of new books. I felt stange inside….I had never had this feeling before so maybe it was happiness…