Chapter 59, A Merry Christmas To All, And To All A Good Night!
Severus managed to get out of Hogwarts for the holidays without anything else rageful happening by way of the Gryffindor Gang Of Gits. His holiday cheer was fully returned, only to be dampened a bit by the wet blanket presence of his grandfather.
Seeing his Mum was always a joy, though. The two of them spent several laughter filled hours with one of the Christmas presents she'd gotten him. It was a magical board game that took one on a quest through the caves of several dragons in order to locate a magical scroll. This scroll imparted forbidden knowledge which would grant the holder untold power. Some of the traps laid for them were more humerus than expected while others were darkly suspenseful.
The dragons each held a clue that would assist in the progression of the quest. Each dragon had its own personality and would put the players through his own set of rigors to obtain whatever bit he had to further their quest. The game was enthralling and hours could slip by in a blink while playing, rather like magic.
Severus was thrilled that his mum had found a gift that they could enjoy together. The game could have as few as one player or as many as eight, so she suggested that he take it along to Raislen's party. Thinking that Raislen and the others would enjoy it, he did just that. Raislen's party was to be an overnight affair, at least for Severus, Regulus and Heather.
Everyone else would be going home around Two A.M or so, from what Raislen had said. Severus was surprised that Raislen nor Heather's parents objected to her sleeping over, but WestCraven manor was large and there were plenty of guest rooms. That and they were both of age when it came to that. Severus expressed both points to Eileen when she voiced the sentiment that such could be considered improper.
"Of age or not, I won't be allowing you to sleep with a girl under my roof if you aren't married," Eileen remarked hotly.
Severus laughed. "I am not getting married, Mum. And I am not bringing anyone home either. I have too much to do for all that. Not to mention I just can't tolerate most people."
"I would like you to find someone some day, though," Eileen told him, suddenly wistful. "Someone who will be good to you."
"I'd prefer someone with whom I actually get on," Severus snarked, unable to keep from grinning at his mum. "Someone with whom I share common interests. Someone who understands things in the same way that I do. In other words, they won't ever exist. That is alright, though. I really do have too much to do." He had an insane Dark Lord to punish for killing his father, and that wasn't going to happen over night.
Eileen sighed. "I wish you would just have yourself a good life and let the Voldemort agenda go, son. It worries me."
"I will be careful, Mum," Severus promised sincerely. Rising from his seat at the reading table in the Prince library where they were currently having tea, he gave her a tight hug. "If I am not, you could be in danger, and I won't allow him to take you from me too."
She returned his embrace, but made no further comment on the matter. He went to Raislen's party later that evening, wearing his green dress robes to keep in the holiday spirit, and because it was pleasant to have a nice outfit to wear in Raislen's posh manor. When he'd first gone in that summer during his third year, he'd felt so ragged among Raislen's stately furniture and rich carpets. Most of his summer clothes were second hand because that was what Eileen could afford, but it was rarely a problem as he didn't run into anyone he knew in the summer.
At least Raislen and his parents had actually made him forget about it most of the time, which just showed how great they were. Ever since that first visit, he'd tried to bring only his nicer clothes when he could, and he had nicer things to wear for the winter. They did not wear out as quickly as summer clothes as he did not wear them as frequently, considering most of the winter was spent in school robes. Raislen's parents invited Eileen in for a drink when she Apparated him to the party, and she accepted with a flustered smile.
It struck Severus then how little his mum got social interaction these days. She never mentioned going out with old friends, likely due to not having enough money, but this left her alone in Prince manor working on potions and avoiding her dreadful father. Stepping into the WestCraven foyer, one was at once literally struck with holiday cheer.
Red and green garlands festooned the space, and the air was fragrant with the smells of mint and cinnamon. Mistletoe hung near the door, and Severus was ready to bet a pretty Galleon that Raislen had put that up just to get a snog from Heather."We adults are having our rum tea in the parlor as the children have commandeered the library," Mrs. WestCraven told Eileen with a chuckle. "Severus, it's so good to see you again. Just leave your things here and they will be put in your usual guest room." Severus nodded, carefully setting his overnight bag on the winter green hall runner.
"Thank you, Ma'am." It was odd being considered children still, but that was just how parents were. Eileen had told him more than once that he would always be her little baby no matter how old he got. Strange. Parents were strange. "I brought a game, so I'll just get that out," he said, bending to unzip his bag.
"Oh wonderful," Mrs. Westcraven said cheerfully.
Severus hurried toward the library, honestly more eager to bask in the room's glory and breathe in the old book smell than he was to see anyone. Of course he wanted to see his friends but he had seen them far more recently than he'd seen his, that was, Raislen's library to be fair. Candelabras set into the walls cast a warm light along the hall as Severus hurried down its length. The closed door to the library was hung with more mistletoe, and Severus sighed.
Hopefully Raislen had gotten all the snogging out of his system before his other guests had arrived. Such behavior was unsightly and made Severus feel uncomfortable and out of place. He'd never considered the snogging when deciding to travel the world with Heather and Raislen seeking adventures. He supposed he'd assumed that they would keep such displays private if they felt the need to indulge themselves. Frowning at the mistletoe as though it had done something, he opened the door. Holiday music played softly from the ceiling. A simple transference enchantment, but he always admired it nonetheless. The scent of cinnamon struck him as he stepped into the room. A glance about showed the large holiday candle jars decorated with images of Christmas trees and gingerbread cookies strewn around the expanse of the library. Surely the scent was coming from them. It was properly festive and made him feel a little hungry. "Severus!" Raislen shouted happily. "You're here!"
Severus's lips twitched and he chuckled as he closed the library door behind him. "And you are already drunk?"
"Getting there," Raislen sang out. As he spoke he was filling a glass from a crystal pitcher in the center of the reading table that stood in the middle of the stately room. The table was full of platters of meat and cheese as well as sliced vegetables. There were also miniature meat pies and cookies for dessert. They were Christmas cookies extravagantly decorated with red and green frosting and shaped like bells, Christmas trees, Santa and reindeer. The holiday scents from the candles were nearly covering the old book smells, but Severus would try to get over that in favor of holiday cheer.
"You did enchant those candles not to set the books on fire, didn't you?" He asked Raislen. Though he was quite certain of Raislen's answer, he still needed to hear it regardless. He would not be able to relax and enjoy anything until fully reassured that those precious beautiful books were safe!
"You know it!" Raislen's tone was affronted and Severus chuckled again. Rather than drinking from the crystal goblet that he'd just filled, he glided over to Severus and pressed it into his free hand. "Eggnog for you. Drink up. We have things to celebrate! More than i expected, actually, for Regulus also has his own brilliant holiday news."
"Also," Severus asked and Raislen nodded.
"We'll get there. What's this?" He plucked the game from Severus's hand. "OOh this looks fun!" Raislen grinned as he turned the box around in his hands, admiring the pictures that covered it of the dragons, their caves and the golden scroll that was the game's objective.
Severus grinned. "It is! Mum and I have played it a ton since I got it from her for Christmas. I thought it would make for a fun party game, so I brought it along."
"Awesome, Kid! Thanks. Come sit and hear the news while you enjoy your drink. I haven't told anyone because I was waiting for you."
Severus couldn't help but feel honored, so he followed Raislen across the room, settling beside him on the long sofa. Heather already sat on his other side with Kreacher and Regulus a bit further down. The room was scattered with chairs and each held a Hogwarts student. All were from Raislen and Heather's year. There were three Slytherins, two Hufflepuffs and two Ravenclaws. Severus did not know them well, but they'd never bullied him, so they were alright. Of all the seventh year students,these were clearly those the two liked best. Regulus and Kreacher both clutched crystal goblets of eggnog and grinned like happy loons, clearly already drunk.
"Oh Severus! He's gone forever," Regulus said happily.
"Forever," Kreacher shouted in gleeful agreement before draining his glass and passing it to Raislen with a sly grin. Raislen chuckled and went to fill it.
"I told him to allow someone else to wait on him for a change," Raislen explained to a bemused Severus.
"Ah," Severus said, nodding and valiantly trying to keep up. Glancing back to Regulus he asked, "Who is gone forever?"
"Bloody Sirius, of course," Regulus said. "That is my wonderful, fabulous, very good holiday news! "Mum even burned his name off the family tree! It's really over!"
"So... Is he dead," Severus asked, still struggling to understand. Dare he hope?"
"Almost as good," Kreacher replied with a titter as he took the now full glass back from Raislen with a nod of thanks.
"He got thrown out of the manor," Regulus said, voice and blue eyes full of awe.
"Truly?" Severus was pleasantly shocked. It was odd to be pleasantly shocked. Rarely were shocks pleasant, after all, so he sipped his drink and enjoyed the sensation of his mind adjusting to a pleasant shock. The eggnog was sweet with an undertone of strong butter rum.
"Truly. and. forever." Regulus enunciated firmly. "Never to return! Once they're burned off the family tree, it's done."
Severus laughed. The drink must be hitting him, for he felt quite happy and a little light headed in a way that he did not find unpleasant. That or it was just the heady thrill of Sirius Black finally facing consequences! "Does your family do that a lot? Burn people off the family tree, that is?"
"Define a lot," Kreacher requested, a tiny amused grin playing across his lips. "
"Well," Severus floundered and Kreacher laughed.
"Each and every one deserved it, as they were all Blood Traitors," the elf assured complacently.
Uncertain what to think of that unique and unusual family practice, Severus decided to return his mind to something he did know what to do with. Sirius Bloody Black had lost everything! "He's lost everything!" He whooped. What ever shall he do now?"
Regulus laughed. "Indeed he has, the dreadful prat. He went to his little best friend's, though. The Potty do-good Potters wouldn't allow him to languish on the street as he deserves."
"How do you know?" Severus asked, his heart sinking some in disappointment. It was disheartening to know that Sirius was not freezing to death on the winter streets of London.
"Because Mrs. Potter actually dared to write a scathing note to my parents about it," Regulus huffed.
"Wow," Severus breathed. Then he polished off the rest of his eggnog. Before he could decide if he wanted more, Raislen plucked the glass from his hand and went to fill it again.
"Time for a refill," he sang out. "I enchanted the pitcher to be never ending for tonight," he said happily. "We can get as drunk as we like without worrying we'll run out."
"It's sad that he has a place to stay, but at least he's still lost his inheritance and now you have it all," Severus told Regulus, returning to the bright, joyful side of things.
"Indeed this is true," Regulus said with a satisfied smile.
"Master Regulus deserves to be the heir, not dreadful Sirius Black," Kreacher proclaimed. Severus nodded in sincere agreement.
"I wonder how Sirius feels being a bloody charity case," Heather said with a laugh. "Hi, Severus."
"Hi, Heather T..." Gods he'd nearly said Heather Toy. If he ever slipped and she hit him, he was going to hit Raislen, Severus silently vowed. Just because those two were snogging now did not erase the six years and more of Raislen saying Heather Toy for all to hear and accidentally repeat. Fortunately, Heather was a bit tipsy so hadn't noticed. That or she hadn't heard the tiny slip over the soft Christmas music.
"Well what did Sirius do that was bad enough to make your parents finally toss in the towel," Severus asked eagerly. Though he would put nothing past Sirius, the prat was still astounding at times.
"He called us all evil for wanting to feel free from the Muggle foot on our necks," Regulus said scathingly. "Evil and deranged. He said he hoped Voldemort went down with all the rest of us with him. He said we would all be killed by Aurors and he would just be glad to be free of us. Mum said that he could be free of us now, and that was that. Father literally tossed him from the manor with a spell during Christmas dinner!" He chuckled, sinking back into the sofa with an expression of soul deep satisfaction on his face. "All the Lestranges were there to witness it too, including Rodolphus and Rabastan's parents! It was glorious!"
Kreacher bounced up and down on the sofa at his side, quite unable to contain his excitement at Regulus's recounting of events. "Master Orion is magnificent!" He praised. "He tossed Sirius Black out without even a cloak, allowing him to take nothing with him! He left with precisely what he deserves! Kreacher found it truly poetic!"
"That is certainly poetry I can get behind," Heather chuckled.
"Agreed," Severus said happily. As he spoke, he was relishing the image of Sirius stumbling through the streets with nothing until it occurred to him to go groveling to the Potters. "He must have been shocked to finally have consequences," He said. "This is the best news I've heard all year! Regulus you have truly made this a happy holiday!"
Regulus grinned. "We actually have Sirius to thank for that. A thing I never thought I'd ever say, but it's true!"
"Should we tell our news now," Raislen asked, glancing over at heather.
"Yes, you'd better, because we're all about to burst with curiosity," One of the seventh year girls squealed.
Heather smiled. "Very well. Raislen, you tell it."
Grinning, Raislen reached to take her hand, raising it to his heart. "Heather has agreed to marry me!"
"When," Severus asked, shocked.
"Oh not for a year at least," Heather said. "It takes time to plan a wedding, and we want to enjoy being free of school for a bit. Of course we'll make it during a time that you're out of school, Severus, because you shall be Raislen's best man. I was thinking spring break of next year."
"Sounds fine to me," Raislen agreed. From the adoring look on his face, Severus had the feeling he'd have agreed to about any date Heather wanted.
"Well I can't imagine anyone wanting to get married, but as you two clearly do, congratulations," Severus said with a small chuckle. He was happy for his friends, of course, but the news was shocking. It was so sudden. It had happened so fast.
"It isn't truly a surprise, though," Regulus said. "The two of you have been close for years." Severus supposed that was true, but he was still surprised a bit. Suddenly he sprang to his feet as he recalled he still had something very important to do before he got too drunk to manage it.
"I should make the hangover potion before I forget."
"Yes you should," Raislen agreed firmly. "Else we shall be quite miserable tomorrow. We have a lot of good news to drink to, after all. I'll help you make up the potion if you'd like."
Severus smiled. "Sure. It shall make it go faster." Fortunately, the potion was a simple one, so they could manage to mix it up tipsy. Though there were a goodly number of ingredients, each was simple to open and blend together in the large cauldron that Raislen provided. Unfortunately, Severus had enough of a buzz to forget to tell Raislen how much of each to use, but fortunately, Raislen still functioned well while a bit drunk, so remembered to ask. In the end, the potion came out as Severus had intended with no mistakes. How well it actually worked would only be discovered on the morrow.
"We have bottles to fill for those of you not staying over," Raislen called. "I'll fill them and pass them out now so no one ends up super hungover tomorrow. It's all thanks to Severus, the most brilliant potions master ever, even before graduating. He's such a potions master, that when he was a baby, he slept in a cauldron rather than a crib," he continued expansively as he began carefully filling the small glass bottles that sat around the cauldron on the table. Everyone chuckled, and suddenly, students that Severus had never spoken to were surrounding him to thank him for keeping them hangover free.
"Consider it a holiday gift... or something," he said a bit awkwardly. While the praise was nice, it also felt odd coming from complete strangers that he did not know. Once everyone had gotten their bottle and retreated to their seats, he felt himself relaxing again.
"Here's your refill," Raislen said, pressing a fresh glass of eggnog into his hand. "It's all so great, Kid," he added suddenly, grinning so widely it seemed that his face might crack. "Everyone is going to get what they want out of life, I just know it. I got Heather Toy, so we can all do anything. I know we can."
"I heard you, Raislen," Heather said ominously from across the room.
"Oh hell," Regulus murmured as everyone fell silent. "Does that mean you won't marry him?"
The question filled Severus with horror, but he was wise enough not to speak. "Oh I'll marry him,"Heather said. "As long as he doesn't spill his drink when I get him for calling me that!" suddenly she lunged across the room as Raislen dodged back.
"You're drunk, and acting in haste," he said desperately. "I can't hold my stomach and my drink at the same time!" His large green eyes were wild with panic and Severus couldn't help grinning at the unplanned live entertainment.
"Which means it will only hurt all the more," Heather said. Smiling happily she swung back her fist and let it fly hard into Raislen's stomach. Raislen let out a yell, then forced down a large gulp of his drink, that he had indeed not spilled.
"It helps the pain," he explained. Everyone laughed.
"I doubt you'll ever learn," Heather said tiredly. "You will still slip and I will have to hurt you for it. But in general, you're a good man, Raislen WestCraven, and I couldn't imagine life without you! It would really be quite weird. Now let's dance!"
Severus hastily retreated to the sofa, as he did not dance. As he and Regulus watched, Kreacher drunkenly leapt onto the small table beside the sofa. It held a miniature Christmas tree all decked out in glowing ornaments. Kreacher capered around the tree happily. "Sirius Black is gone forever," he sang to the tune of Deck The Halls, which happened to be playing.
Regulus laughed. "He is so drunk," he called to Severus over the music
"So drunk," Kreacher agreed. "Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la."