Chapter 75
Once most of the holiday food was gone, the holiday drinks came out. Sekhmet had brought several bottles of the Egyptian spirits Mag and Severus had so enjoyed on their trip two years ago plus three more bottles that she claimed were even harder. "Don't give any of those last three to the owl," Sekhmet said, frowning at Nightshade.
"It may kill him." She grinned. "Which means Severus should definitely try some."
"She wishes to kill me," Severus said darkly and Sekhmet shook her head.
"Nah. That would make Mag sad, so we're keeping you alive."
Snatching one of the bottles she'd forbidden Nightshade, the Egyptian girl pored a glass and thrust it at Severus. "Drink it," she commanded. "I have a Christmas present for you and you can't see it until you drink this."
Severus scowled. "I want nothing from you."
"Come on. I swear it's something you'll want," Sekhmet insisted. Severus sighed and snatched the glass from her just to shut her up. He took a deep chug from the glass, then nearly dropped it as he choked. His throat and his eyes were on fire!
"Hate her so much," he managed to Mag, who stood at his side.
"He's a baby," Sekhmet said, noting Mag's worried expression and speaking up in her own defense. Turning to Severus she added, "As soon as you finish, you can see your present. I brought it all the way from Egypt just for you."
Severus took another drink, a smaller one this time because his throat was still burning from the last one. "If I die within the next week, this demon in human flesh did it," he told Mag.
"Can I help him drink it," she asked Sekhmet and the dark haired girl shook her head with a frown.
"No cheating, Slytherins."
Mag chuckled. "You'd have so been in Slytherin had you attended Hogwarts."
Sekhmet grinned and nodded. "I know I would have! Watch me carefully because I'd cheat too," she shamelessly declared.
"Sorry we're late, but we brought dessert."
Severus knew the voice, so didn't have to turn to see Millicent Bulstrode standing behind them. Mag had given him such a nice Christmas. Why had she had to invite Millicent?
"Is Griphook arriving next," he asked darkly and Mag grinned, shaking her head.
"I asked Millicent and Wolfgang if Sekhmet could stay with them for her holiday visit. I'd planned to stay with her at WestCraven manor, but if you can't leave I won't leave," Mag said. "I thought they could get to know one another at the party."
Severus couldn't complain about that, he supposed. Not when she was giving up seeing her friend for most of her visit to stay with him.
Severus turned to nod at Bulstrode, who held a delightful looking German chocolate cake. "Thank you," he said, forcing a polite tone. "There is still a bit of food left if you'd like some."
"Oh we ate with Wolfgang's dad, but we saved room for dessert," she said, giving him a rare smile.
Apparently she was trying to be polite as well, at least today. "Don't get distracted. Drink up," Sekhmet told Severus, waving imperiously at the glass in his hand. He sighed and took another drink as Mag introduced Sekhmet to Millicent and Wolfgang.
"I look forward to discussing Egyptian forms of magic with you," Wolfgang was saying as Severus struggled not to choke on his third swallow of the poison Sekhmet had brought three bottles of.
"Oh for sure," Sekhmet said. "I can show you some really neat ways to fuck someone up that they'll never be able to undo."
Millicent grinned, waving at Severus's glass. That one of them?"
Sekhmet shook her head, grinning back. "Nah. I just want him to be in a better mood. Like a thin but jolly Santa...or something."
"Well you're gonna get Krampus," Millicent drawled.
"Bloody right," Severus said, coughing gently.
"Drink some of this shit to prove to me that it won't kill me to finish this glass," he said, shooting a glare at Sekhmet.
"Oh gods he's such a girl," sekhmet complained.
Millicent laughed as Sekhmet reached for more glasses.
"I was gonna use a P word but girl will do for polite company," Bulstrode shared happily.
"Die," Severus suggested, forgetting that he planned to be nice for Christmas. She'd ruined it first, after all.
"You all gonna drink with me while I drink with him," Sekhmet asked, waving the bottle in her hand at Mag, Millicent and Wolfgang. All three nodded, though Mag looked a bit doubtful as her glance moved from Severus's glass to the bottle. She was a very observant girl and had obviously seen how difficult the draft was to get down.
"That's real love," Severus managed through his burning throat, slipping an arm around Mag as he took another sip from the glass.
"I know," she said with a smile. "I want to be supportive."
Sekhmet rolled her eyes and pored three glasses, passing them around. Filling her own she took a deep drink. "See. It's nothing," she said, glancing at Severus scathingly.
Wolfgang took a careful swallow, eyes only widening slightly. The half giant must have a strong constitution or else he was really good at faking it, Severus thought. Millicent took a minute sip and managed not to choke, but Mag doubled over coughing. "Is this bloody bottled fire," she complained.
"No it is not," Sekhmet replied.
It did have a kick to it, though, because Severus noticed he was feeling warmer and happier. The room was going fuzzy around the edges, and he was no longer suffering from the usual low grade panic that he may die this year thanks to Voldemort. Taking a deep breath for fortification, he drained the rest of the glass just to get it over with. The room spun and he clung to Mag.
"Oh maybe you shouldn't have done that," she said, or at least that's what he thought she said, but he couldn't be certain through the roaring in his ears.
"Want my damn present," he managed. He'd just earned it, after all.
"Sekhmet," Mag called, gesturing toward Severus's empty glass. "His present, please."
Sekhmet grinned happily and hurried to the other side of the room. Severus watched through a haze as she bent down and rummaged in a leather bag on the floor. When she returned, she held a gleaming obsidian pyramid in both hands. It had a soaring bird carved into one side of it in raised relief along with the figure of Set in his animal form. "Oh," Severus breathed, reaching eagerly for the piece in something close to awe.
Shaking her head, Sekhmet took several steps back. "I said you could SEE your present. The drink was to warm you up for what I need you to do in order to GET your present."
With a growl, Severus lunged for Sekhmet or rather for the pyramid, but she had warded it quite well. His hands smacked into an invisible barrier before he could touch the gleaming highly polished stone. "Give it!"
"Oh I will. It's polite to exchange gifts, though."
Severus stared. He only exchanged with people he liked. It felt fake to do otherwise. "What do you want," he asked through gritted teeth. "I honestly had no idea you were bringing me anything."
"I know," Sekhmet said, smiling almost gently. "I had to make up for all those times you fucking tried to kill me, though~!"
Severus sighed, eyes hungrily devouring the Egyptian pyramid Sekhmet withheld from him. "Are we doing this again," he asked, feeling his happy drunk fading away slightly. "I never tried to..."
"Yes you did. Trust me," Sekhmet interrupted. "You can at least put a dint in making it good with me tonight, though, with our gift exchange. You did ask me what I wanted and I want you to sing Me So Horny!"
Severus blinked. "You want me to sing what?"
"Oh by all the Gods! Don't tell me you've never heard Me so Horny by 2 Live crew!"
Severus frowned. "I have not. I have no idea who 2 Live Crew is."
Sekhmet swore...a lot...without any other words to break up the monotony of all the swearing.
/Cool,/ Nightshade said, having remained quiet previously due to still stuffing his face with Eileen's holiday turkey filled dressing.
"You are about to be schooled, Boy," Sekhmet told Severus and stalked away.
"Boy," Severus laughed, deciding his drunk may still be around after all. "She's young enough to be my niece."
"And thankfully I am not, because it's extra screwy to try and kill your family," Sekhmet called.
Severus rolled his eyes, but didn't bother saying that he had never tried to kill her because it just wasn't sinking in. Soon she was back with a Muggle tape player in her hand. It began to spew forth vulgar words over a strange beat in a sing-song tone.
/He said sittin at home with my dick on hard,/ Nightshade said gleefully as if Severus could not hear.
"I am not repeating those words," Severus told Sekhmet firmly.
"Oh yes you are...If you want your present," she disagreed happily.
"Oh this is gonna be awesome. I gotta go home real quick to get something to record this priceless shit with," Millicent crowed. "Snape, this is my Christmas present from you too, I decided."
"Call it a first and last," Severus told Bulstrode through gritted teeth. "This, Mag," is why I hate your friends," Severus said, turning to give the red head a glare.
"I don't see why," Mag said mildly. "She likes you, after all. She even promised to help keep you safe." It was Severus's turn to swear...a lot.
"Here's how it's going to work," Sekhmet said. "I'm going to cast a spell that shows the words above the tape player. You may listen to it while reading the words as many times as you like. Then when you're ready, I will cast another spell that removes the guy's vocals so you're left with the music, and the words will still be there for you to read. Take your time looking it over so Millicent will have enough time to bring whatever recording equipment she wishes to use," Sekhmet concluded generously.
Severus glanced longingly at the pyramid, clutched in one of Sekhmet's arms. He spoke words then that he never ever thought he would. "I need a refill on that horrid drink."
Sekhmet nodded. "Mag...Help a girl out and pour your man another drink. I got this tape player and this pyramid here and that's about all I can handle."
Mag nodded and reached for the bottle. "Are you sure you don't want a glass of the more pleasant one," she asked, and Severus shook his head regretfully.
"No. I need to be really drunk for this."
Sekhmet approached and handed Severus the tape player. "I'll just let you get started," she said sweetly, and he glared."Hey Mag. If you want, you can even share the joy with him. There's a girl part that says "Me so horny. Me love you long time." It's sampled from a Vietnamese hooker in some old movie."
"Alright," Mag said, tone mildly hesitant, but she gave Severus a smile that said, we're in this together.'
"We'll share the pyramid," Severus told her, smiling back. The support was nice, but it wouldn't make this any easier...The words were abhorrent!
"How do you know so much about Muggles," Severus asked, and Sekhmet shrugged.
"I get bored and they're funny."
She waved at the tape player, now in Severus's free hand. "Better get to practicing." Severus sighed and pressed play. The words caused him to die a little inside as well as to throw up a little in his own mouth. Or perhaps that bit was the drink. When Bulstrode returned, and had her stupid recording equipment set up, he was ready to go. He tuned out everyone's howls of laughter as he spoke the revolting words, keeping his gaze on the lyrics. He got through it by focusing on the pyramid that would soon be his. When the song was over, he gave Mag an apologetic glance. "I am sorry. That was so rude."
Mag smiled gently. "The things we do for rocks," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"You made a very nice Vietnamese hooker," Sekhmet told Mag with a grin, clapping her on the shoulder as she extended the pyramid to Severus. Setting down the glass and the tape player, he reached for it. The cool smooth stone practically sang in his hands, grounding and protective energy rushing over him in waves. "This is supposed to connect one to their past as well as to their future," Sekhmet said. "So I thought it could help you to recall all those times you tried to kill me as well as maybe giving you a bit of intuitive help for the shit to come. Enjoy. Thank you for my song, it was priceless."
"I'll get you a copy of it to keep too," Millicent promised Sekhmet with a grin before turning a studied gaze to Severus. "Hey Snape. What'll you give me not to sell Potter a copy?"
Rather than replying to Millicent, Severus glared at Mag. "This is why I hate your friends!"