The pain was still there. It wasn't stopping. Why wouldn't it stop? The girls were begging it to stop.
"What are you doing?" a voice called out. "Get away from them!"
The pain stopped and they heard their attackers footsteps hurry away, and they heard their wands hit the ground. But then another figure came into view. Minerva McGonagall was staring down at them with concern on her face.
She conjured two stretchers, although the girls couldn't see, and put them on then grabbed their wands, and she levitated them and ran into the school, the stretchers bobbing along behind them. She went up a few flights of stairs and then into the hospital wing.
"Madam Pomfrey!" she called.
Madam Pomfrey came hurrying out of her office. She gasped at the sight of the girls.
"Put them in beds at once!" she shrieked.
McGonagall did as she was told, and put them onto beds next to each other. Madam Pomfrey bustled about them, trying to firgure out what exactly happened to them. The girls couldn't get the breath to explain what happened.
"Severus," Violet groaned.
"Go get him!" Madam Pomfrey ordered.
McGonagall hurried off and came back moments later with Snape far ahead of her. He had burst through the door with his black robes billowing behind him. He rushed between the two and looked at both, his features covered in fear.
"What happened?" he asked loudly.
"We don't know," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Attacked," Evangeline gasped.
"Attacked? Good gracious by who?" McGonagall said.
"Dunno," Violet said, starting to feel a bit stronger but still weak.
"What did they do to you?" Snape asked, looking at both of them.
"Couldn't see," Evangeline said.
"Said 'Crucio'," Violet added.
"My lord!" Madam Pomfrey gasped. "An Unforgivable Curse!"
"What?" Evangeline squeaked.
"I'll explain later," Snape said, brushing their different shades of blue hair out of their faces.
"So they hurt your eyesight?" McGonagall said.
"Yeah," Violet muttered.
Madam Pomfrey performed a few spells and it was fixed. Everything came into perfect view, the black spots disappearing.
"Arms broken," Evangeline said.
Madam Pomfrey preformed another spell and their arms were soon feeling better.
"But the other one," Violet said, "was hell. It hurt so much."
"That's what it's desinged to do," Snape said.
"A snake bit our legs," Evangeline said.
Madam Pomfrey looked their legs over and decieded on what type of snake bit them. She healed the wounds and then turned to Snape.
"Thay'll be fine, but they will need a few days of rest," she said. "Have someone arrange to bring their work to them, so they don't fall behind."
"I will," Snape said, then kneeled down between them, holding their hands and talking soothingly to them.
The days passed, and they soon arrived to the Winter holidays. The snow was falling softly to the ground and the blue sky turned to a gray. Hot chocolate was now served with every meal, and common room fireplaces were lit. People traded presents back and forth, but mostly people were packing to leave Hogwarts.
"Christmas break with Severus," Violet said as she packed her Hogwarts sweater.
"That'll be interesting," Evangeline grinned. There was a soft knock on the door.
"You girls ready to go?" Snape asked.
The girls nodded and rolled their trunks and pets over towards Severus. He took their hands in his.
"Hold on tight," he muttered. There was a loud pop, and the girls squeezed their eyes shut. They felt as if they were being squeezed against two walls. Then, they appeared back at Snape's house.
"I have buissness to take care of," he said softly, "Don't destroy anything while I'm gone."
Then he left with a swish of his cloak and a slam of the door.
"Now what?" Violet asked taking books off the shelves, glancing at the title, then tossing them to the floor.
"Let's decorate!" Evangeline smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
Violet cackled. "I'm positive Severus would just love it if we decorated his house."
Evangeline narrowed her eyes.
"With Christmas decorations," she said, "It's Christmas time! I'm sure he has some joy-filled items locked away in his house. I mean, who doesn't love Christmas?"
"Uhh, Severus?" Violet suggested. Evangeline tisked and started opening and closing doors. She looked up at the ceiling and saw a faint outline.
"Violet, can I get up on your shoulders?" she asked. Violet shrugged and hoisted Evangeline up. She pushed in the door and glanced around.
"Violet?" she said.
"Yes?" violet asked breathless. "Hurry up, your heavy!"
"We found the decorations!"
A couple hours later, the door opened. Snape stepped into a dark room.
"What the hell?" he muttered and flipped on the switch.
"Surprise!" the girls yelled. Snape looked around wide eyed.
There was a large white tree extending up to the ceiling. It was wrapped in red ribbons and an angel playing a trumpet rested on the top. A dancing elf was put into a corner. A Santa Clause was laughing by the fire place, and it was surrounded by fake presents. Lights hung over the bookcases. There was even a bit of misletoe in the corner where none of them would ever go. They had even set up snow falling from the ceiling.
"What have you done?" he shouted.
"We decorated!" Evangeline said.
"It was her idea," Violet shrugged.
"My house," he moaned.
"Do you like it?" Evangline asked with a wide grin and huge, delighted eyes
"If I say no she'll probably burst into tears," Snape thought, "If I say yes it'll be one of the hardest things to lie about."
"Umm, yeeaahh, kind of," he said.
Evangeline smiled wider while Violet grunted.
"I'll start making dinner," he said, "You girls go get my special red wine for dinner. It's on the left shelf in the third cabinet to the right."
The girls nodded and started to walk away.
"Wait, what did he say?" Evangeline said.
"The right shelf in the third cabinet to the left," Violet replied.
"Are you sure?" Evangeline asked.
Violet nodded. "Positive."
They picked up a bottle and returned to the kitchen. Snape was setting the table.
"I'll get the glasses!" Evageline said.
"Don't!" Snape shrieked. "You'll break them all."
Evangeline grummbled and took a seat at the table. Snape left and grabbed three crystal goblets. He sat them in front of the girls and then one at his own seat. Violet poured the drinks and sat down next to Evangeline.
Snape had left to the kitchen and then came back with food floating behind him. There were three steaks and a salad. A steak sat in front of each of them and the salad positioned itself in the center of the table.
"Yeah, just eat," Snape said. "I don't do prayers or toasts or anything."
"Food!" the girls cried and started to dig into their steaks.
Snape smiled a small smile and took a sip from his goblet. He kept drinking more and more and was soon flushed and giggling at nothing.
Violet and Evangeline shared a concrened look.
"What happened to him?" Violet whispered.
"It was something he drank," Evangeline said.
They looked at the goblets. Then each took a small drink. They spat out the firey liquid. Violet grabbed the bottle and read the lable.
"Firewhiskey!" she exclaimed.
Snape was hiccuping and giggling still.
"I love you guys!" he said, getting up and wrapping his arms around them. "You're the best!"
Violet and Evangeline's eyes grew wide.
"I like him this way!" Evangeline stated. "He's funny!"
"You two are the most wonderful little girls!" he said, his pale face turning red.
Violet whispered a secret plan in Evangeline's hair.
"Sit down, Severus," Violet said, leading him into the living room. He sat down on the couch and Violet and Evangeline sat on their knees in front of him.
"What are you doing?" he said hiccuping.
Violet turned her nose into a pig's snout.
Snape burst out laughing, his face turning redder.
Evangeline made her arms like an octopus's.
Snape laughed even harder.
They continued making their body parts change into amusing things. Snape had kept drinking until the bottle of firewhiskey was completely empty. He passed out at a little after two that morning.
The girls went up to their room and changed into pajamas. They both got into their separate beds.
"I think we figured out what to get him for Christmas," Violet said.
"More firewhiskey!" Evangeline declared, laughing.
"Yep! He was hilarious when he was drunk!" Violet said. "Although I get the idea he'll have a horrible hangover tomorrow."
"I wonder what he'll get us," Evangeline said rolling over onto her back.
"I don't know," Violet said. "But we ned more clothes. Dude, I have a great idea!"
"What?" Evangeline said.
"Let's make Severus take us shopping tomorrow! In the Muggle world!" Violet said.
"Perfect!" Evangeline said.
They laughed and then started yawning.
"Well, good night," Violet said.
"Good night," Evangeline yawned.
The two girls pulled the blankets around themselves and fell fast asleep.
The next morning, Snape had a horrible headache, the lights of the tree and the lights on the bookshelves bothered him. He flicked his wand and turned all lights off.
"Why's it so dark?" Violet called loudly, walking into the room in a pair of jeans and a long shirt with a jacket over it.
"My head," Snape moaned.
"Aww, does Sevvey's head hurt?" Evangeline said in a mock-baby voice.
"Yes," he growled.
"Sucks for you," Violet said. "We're going shopping! In the Muggle world!"
"D-did you say Muggle world?" Snape asked.
"Yes, yes we did," Evangeline said.
"Which means you can't wear robes," Violet said.
"But jeans and a normal shirt," Evangeline added.
"I have to wear what?" Snape said.
"Jeans and a t-shirt," Evangeline repeated.
"Uh," Snape said.
"You do have some, right?" Violet said.
"Er - yeah," he said.
"Then go put them on!" Evangeline said.
Snape got up, clutched his head and then stumbled off to his room. Violet and Evangeline high-fived each other and then sat on the couch were Snape had been.
He came back dressed in light blue jeans, that stopped just above his ankles. He had black socks underneath, tan shoes, and his white button-down shirt was tucked in. He had a bow tie and he was wearing glasses.
Violet and Evangeline's jaws dropped and their eyes grew wide.
"You look like a dork!" Violet shouted roaring with laughter.
"A WHAT?" he said.
"Oh, nothing," she said quickly.
"Let's go shopping now!" Evangeline said.
"Stop shouting," Snape moaned.
"Nah," they said.
They followed Snape out of his house and then grabbed his hand. There was a pop and then they were in the Leaky Cauldron. They followed him out and into the bustling streets of London. They walked around, exploring different shops.
They stepped into a shop without too much pink. They walked around and Evangeline found a skirt. It was black with gray and white plaid. She found a plain black shirt to go with it. Violet found a black dress. It had wide shoulder straps and down the front were six gold buttons. The skirt portion of it fell to the knees.
They also got more shirts, jeans, shorts, and -
"CONVERSE!" the girls shouted, running to the shoe section. Snape followed after them, all the clothes piled in his arms.
Violet picked up a pair of black high tops. She said, "I wonder what Severus would like in Converse?"
"Hmmmm," the girls said, pretending to think. Then they looked at each other, and then at Snape. "No."
"What?" he said.
"Nothing," they said. They each got two pairs of high tops and put them on top of the clothes.
They started to check out. The man read the total, and Snape started to pull out Wizard money.
"Uh, sir," the young chasier said taking the money, "what is this?"
"It's mo-"
"Uh, Severus, that's not the right currency," Evangeline said pulling his hand away and taking the money from Snape.
"Sorry," Violet said, handing him the REAL money. "He's a bit confused. We just got back from vacation in Saudi Arabi. Much different currency."
"Saudi Arabi?" the chasier asks, putting the money up and giving them change. "What was it like?"
"Uh, full of Arabs," Violet replied. "Now, come on, Severus. It's time for your medicine."
As soon as they stepped out of the store, Snape said, "What the fuck was that?"
"A quick lie to cover up the fact that you tried to use Wizard money," Violet explained, picking at the underside of her nails, as if bored by the subject.
"But, it was so believeable. How do you do that?" he asked.
"It's my special skill," Violet shrugged. "Now come on, Severus, let's go home!"
The next day was Christmas Eve. The girls bounded into the living room then cocked their heads to the left.
"Where's the presents?" Evangeline asked. Snape walked into the room.
"What are you staring at?" he asked glancing at the tree then back at them.
"There's no presents," said Violet, "Where are they?"
"Presents?" Snape asked confused.
"We're children Severus," Violet stated matter-of-factly. "That's why we celebrate Christmas!"
Snape smirked.
"What?" Evangeline asked.
"I hid them," he said, "And I almost fooled you."
"Why did you hide them?" Violet asked confused.
"Both of your parents were very snoopy people. I figured you'd be the same," Snape explained, sitting down on the couch with a book.
Violet glared at Evangeline. Evangeline smiled guiltily. She was usually quiet and snooped through people's things when they weren't looking and eavesdropped on people's coversations. It was obvious she had inherited the snoopiness.
"Well, you know what?" Violet said.
"What?" Snape asked.
"We have a present for you!"
"We do?" Evangeline said outloud. Violet elbowed her in the ribs. "Umm, yeah, definitely!"
"So, when's supper?" Violet asked, smiling like an angel.
That night, Snape had them all sit at the table.
"I'll bring dinner out," he said.
"Should we find some beer or something?" Violet whispered. "He's so funny drunk!"
"Nah," Evangeline whispered back. "We want him pleasant tomorrow, for once. Come on, let's be nice."
Then the scent of food hit their noses. Roast chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, noodles, and beer bread floated into the room behind Snape. He flicked his wand and all the food floated into their proper places. Snape sat down at his place.
"It smells good!" Violet and Evangeline said together.
"Thank you," Snape said.
The girls started piling food onto their plates and Snape took smaller amounts. The twins started shovling food in their mouthes.
The next morning, the girls woke up much earlier than usual. They looked down the stairs and saw presents under the tree.
"Let's go get Severus!" Evangeline said.
Violet nodded, and they turned around and ran down the hall to his room.
"Severus!" they shouted, running into his room and jumping onto bed. "GET UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS! PRESENT TIME!"
"Get off me," Snape muttered, pulling the blanket over his head.
"But the presents!" they shouted.
"SHUT UP, BRATS!" Snape shouted. "OR YOU AREN'T GETTING ANYTHING!"
"Ehh," they said and crawled off and walked away. They went downstairs and sat the edge of the presents.
"Want to open them?" Evangeline said, pulling a present with her name on it towards her.
"Sure," Violet said and grabbed one with her name on it.
"You want to go first?" Evangeline asked.
"No, you go," Violet said.
"No, you."
"YOU!"
"Okay!"
Evangline started to rip off the green paper. When she got it all off, she was holding a small black velvet box. She gave a quizicall look to Violet and then opened it. Inside was a necklace. It was a choker with a gem hanging from it. The gem was a dark emerald, shiny and well polished. The choker portion was made with inter-linked silver rings, like chain mail.
"It's so pretty!" Evangeline said, placing it on her knee.
"It is!" Violet said. She looked at the box in her hand and started pulling off the wrappings. When she had it opened, it was the same necklace as Evangeline. "Sweet!"
"These are so pretty!" Evangeline said again.
"Here, let me put it on you, and you do mine," Violet said.
"Okay," Evangeline said and turned so Violet could put it on. Violet clipped it and then Evangeline put on her necklace.
"Next?" Violet asked.
"Next!" Evangline declared.
They attacked the presents that were theirs, and tossed Snape's aside.
Finally, Snape walked downstairs.
"What are you doing?" he asked groggily, rubbing his right eye.
"We opened presents," Evangeline said sweetly.
"How is that not obvious?" Violet asked.
Snape rolled his eyes.
"Did I get anything?" he asked.
They each held up the few presents that were his. "Yeah."
He shurgged and then sat down between them, taking a present from Violet. He pulled off the wrapping and took out a bottle of firewhiskey.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yep," Evangline said.
"You're funny drunk," Violet stated.
He shurgged and sat it behind him. He opened three more bottles of firewhiskey. He picked up a huge square one.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Open it, genius, and find out," Violet said sarcastically.
He pulled off the wrappings and then held a stack of books on the Dark Arts.
"How did you get these?" he whispered.
"We got a letter from the Death Eaters a few weeks ago," Violet explained. "And they wanted us to join them. We said we'd consider it if they sent us these."
"The Death Eaters want you?" he asked.
"Uh-huh," they said with sweet smiles. "Aren't we special?"
"Shit," he muttered.
"What was that?" Violet asked, batting her eye lashes.
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head.
That night, Violet was tossing and turning in her bed. In her dream, someone she didn't know was standing with Snape in a dirty room. Snape looked much older than he did now. The man was almost as pale as them, with red, snake-like eyes and two small slits for nostrils. The man was holding a wand in his hand. Something told Violet that it was her seventh year at Hogwarts. There was also a large snake, coiling and uncoiling in a round cage that hung off the ground.
The man swiped the air with the wand in his hand. It did nothing to Snape, who for a slip second thought he had be reprived: but then the man's intentions became clear. The snake's cage was rolling trough the air, and before Snape could do anything more than yell, the cage had encased him, head and shoulders, and the man spoke some hissing language.
There was a terrible scream. Violet saw Snape's face lose the little color left in his face, it whitened as his black eyes widened, as the snake's fangs pierced his neck, as he failed to push the enchantened cage off himself, as his knees gave way and he fell to the floor.
"I regret it," the man said coldly.
Violet woke with a start. She pulled her knees to her chest for a second and then jumped off her bed, walking down the hallway. She stopped outside the hallway for a second, and then opened the door. She stepped in and sat on Snape's chest, so she was towering over him. Violet began poking his large nose.
His face twitched, but then his black eyes popped open, lazy with sleep.
"What do you want?" he asked. "I'm trying to sleep."
"I had a dream," Violet said with a strange voice.
"About what?" Snape asked.
"You died in my seventh year," Violet explained, her voice getting creepy. "Some man with red, snake-ish eyes set a snake on you that was floating in a cage."
They stared at each other for a second. Then Violet shook her head and got off him.
"Well, I'm going back to bed," she said. "Good night!"
Snape stared after her for a moment.
"She's insane," he muttered before going back to sleep.
Voilet went back to her room, and she attempted to go back to sleep. But she was wide awake. She stared at the ceiling for a while before crawling out of bed and tip toeing downstairs. Voilet looked around for a good book once she got in the library. She found one of dreams that tell about the future and sat down to read it on the old couch that was in the room.