I suppose it's good having no readers….Having no pressure to update all the time, not having to take bad reviews, no need to write these stupid author's notes. It's great, really. Don't worry about me, you just read this and don't review. I'll be in the corner. Crying.
Chapter Six, Snape today, Gone tomorrow.
The residents of the cottage woke with almost a sense of happiness that morning. It was Christmas Day! Harry was the first awake, he threw the sheets off of himself and tore off to see if he had any presents. He had sat sorting them into piles for each of them when he noticed there was only two from Snape. One was a copy of Where There's a Wand, There's a Way with a red ribbon on it from Dumbledore. "If only." Harry whispered. The other was a bag of Cauldron Cakes from Professor Sprout. The cakes didn't mean much though, she loved to bake and sent every teacher a case eachChristmas.
Malfoy was next to race towards the little Christmas with its huge pile of presents for him. He glared at Harry when he saw him sitting there. Obediently he bowed to Harry, he looked as if it was a giant hand pushing down a rusty lever, the way he jerked. "Get up, Malfoy." Harry smiled sympathetically at him. Malfoy nodded emotionlessly. "Merry Christmas." Were the only words exchanged between the two boys.
Harry excused himself and went back to his bedroom, he was sure he had to have something he could give to Snape. He found a few bags of liquorice allsorts, he did search some more but that was all he had that he could give away to Snape. It could be a present for Dumbledore as well, he enjoyed muggle sweets. He done a quick spin around the room to check he had all his presents when something caught his eye. It was a badge with two intertwining snakes on it that had once been Dudley's. He'd got rid of it after the incident at the zoo. Harry didn't want it so it became his present for Malfoy. He added the two packets of sweets and the badge to his rucksack of presents and took it downstairs to find Snape and Malfoy both sitting on the couch.
"Merry Christmas, Sir." Snape jolted in pain but wished Harry the same. Harry apologised sheepishly, whenever he called Snape 'Sir' the curse got angry at Snape. Harry once again felt guilty. He could have avoided that.
Malfoy hadn't touched any of his presents, it was either Snape or he curse that prevented him from doing so because it certainly wasn't his own conscience. Harry wasted no more time and handed over the make-do items he had used for their presents. "Thank you. I do apologise for not getting you anything, I will buy you something shortly." Snape opened the bag and tried one. His face showing that he did like them.
"Don't bother." Harry replied.
"I have to, it would be bad manners." The way Snape was talking a little out of character but Harry and Malfoy both knew that he thought manners were very important. They knew that very well indeed. Malfoy didn't say thank you, instead he just put the badge on. Harry knew that was probably the most he was getting from him and accepted it. "Professor," Harry paused to check that didn't cause any pain. Snape continued to listen so Harry assumed it didn't, "Are you feeling ok?"
"Of course," Snape said suspiciously, "What makes you ask?"
Harry replied, "You're talking to me and you don't look like you want to kill me." Snape nodded understandingly, it was not the reply Harry had expected.
"I have fully excepted that it is not your fault that I am in this situation and although I'm definitely not thrilled about it, I know I have to keep living to find a way out."
No more was said between the three of them as they opened all the presents that had been under the little tree. It was the most tense Christmas morning ever.